Chapter Twelve:
Stand Our Ground
The girls were at the park enjoying their weekend at last. Wanda leaned against a tree, today having decided to wear her hair back in a purple headband, a purple shirt with a light blue jean jacket, blue jean pants, and white shoes.
Cerella sat on a nearby swing, wearing a pink skirt, a floral pink shirt with puffed sleeves with a bell shape, her blond hair back in an elegant braid that hung down a short way beyond her waist.
HuiLing kept her long black hair in its traditional half Chinese style braid, but she wore a bright yellow tank top, blue jean shorts, and light yellow sandals. On her wrist was a watch that was slightly too big for her so she wore it backwards.
Ingrid had her hair in blue pigtails, wearing a blue tank top, a blue mini skirt, and blue shoes. She smirked from her spot on the picnic blanket.
Tress wore her black hair in a single pony tail. Her shirt was fire orange, her pants were a color of brown that helped bring out the color of the shirt, and her shoes were black.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Asked Ingrid, reaching for a sandwich.
"I don't know..." Shrugged Cerella from her spot on the swing.
"Didn't we come here for some training?" Asked HuiLing.
"Yeah, but Derek isn't here yet." Wanda looked around.
"Oh well. Let's just have some fun until then." Cerella gave a giant push with her legs on the swing, and jumped from it on the upward arch, landing elegantly near the blanket.
"Show off." Ingrid rolled her eyes.
"Hey! You guys know that Valentine's Day is next month, right?" Asked HuiLing suddenly.
"Yeah? What about it?" Asked Ingrid.
"Well, are you guys going to give anything to your crushes?" Smiled HuiLing.
"You know I am." Cerella spun around elegantly on the spot. "Odin Lars in the next class up from us."
"That computer geek that's always hanging out with my Dad?" Blinked Ingrid in surprise.
"The very one." Smiled Cerella, flipping her hair around.
"Who would've thought the prima-donna of our class would go for the geek of another." Ingrid took a bite of tuna sandwich.
"Well, it just goes to show that opposites attract." Smiled Tress.
"What about you guys?" Asked Cerella.
"Stevie Goodwin." Smiled HuiLing. "You know, the sports jokey in our class. He's always been so nice to me, ever since we were kids."
"We're still kids, technically... preteens." Shrugged Wanda.
"So? We're not getting technical here." HuiLing looked sharply at her.
"And you guys?" Cerella grilled the remaining girls who had not stated their targets for Valentine's Day gifting.
"I'm going to give something to Roger Smith." Said Ingrid in a matter of fact tone of voice.
"Please, you two always give something to each other. Why don't you just start dating and be done with it?" Asked Tress.
"Yeah? What about with you and Loren Holmes?" Snapped Ingrid.
"So? We're good friends, and it's just traditional on Valentine's to send one." The two continued to argue for a few more minutes.
"Hey! There's one more of us who hasn't stated who she's going to give a gift to..." HuiLing realized, and they all turned on Wanda, who blinked from her spot at the tree.
"I don't even like anybody, so why would I give a gift?" She asked, even if her face was bright magenta.
"Come on, you're going to give something to Derek. We all know it." HuiLing pointed at her. "You know you can't hide anything from us." She added.
"Oh, and for the record, my brother loves your cooking." Cerella put in mischievously.
Wanda shot a glare at Cerella.
"Well, good to see everyone's here. Now if you're all done talking about boys, let's get to work." Derek surprised the group out of their conversation.
"Kill joy." Cerella glared at Derek, who shrugged.
Wanda stood up, noting that he seemed rather grouchier than usual.
"Oh well. We still have a month to plan!" HuiLing said enthusiastically as she, Ingrid, Tress and Cerella got in to a circle around Wanda.
Wanda rolled her eyes.
"Can we move on now?" Asked Derek, slightly irritated.
"Please." Agreed Wanda. The girls fell awkwardly silent and she held up the Heart of Kandrikor. "Guardians Unite!" She called out.
When the group reemerged as the Guardians of Meridian, they looked over at Derek.
"So now what?" Asked Cerella.
"We need to work on your team work. I've seen you guys do great at the last moment, but we need to get that going all the time." He said, his arms crossed.
"So, what's your plan?" Asked Ingrid.
"Some training in Meridian against some of Phobos' former supporters who now work with the Queen." Derek said.
"Then why did you have us come here first?" Asked Cerella.
"To tell you before just ordering you to Meridian. Unless you would rather head in to the storm unprepared." Derek shrugged.
"Well... Looks like your brother's brain does work sometimes." Smiled HuiLing.
"Nice... Wanda, do the honors." Derek rolled his eyes, slightly irritated at the comment.
Wanda held up the Heart of Kandrikor and and did the slicing motion in mid air, creating a veil for them to walk through.
They reemerged back in the throne room of Elyons' castle, which was surprisingly empty. The Queen was out for the day.
"Let's go." Said Derek, and he led the way outside the castle, and to an open field nearby where a bunch of soldiers stood waiting. "The basic run down is this: The soldiers attack you and attempt to split you up because you're not as strong individually as you are united. And since they were once the enemy, then they know how to fight the Guardians. I'll watch from the sideline and call a halt when I think you've done enough for one day."
"Great..." Tress sighed. "Fighting former enemies of our parents."
"Just because we are now your allies doesn't mean we won't hold back." The leader said, holding up his sword.
"Well, then, neither will we." Said Wanda, holding up her hands and lightning sparking from them in all directions.
"Ready guys?" Asked Cerella, getting her own hands ready.
"Time to raise the roof." Smiled Ingrid, flexing her fingers.
"Just remember, you're not aiming to kill." Derek stepped back from the group. "Just defeat. There is a difference."
"Yeah, yeah. We know." HuiLing was looking exited nonetheless. She cracked her knuckles before taking to the air, followed by the others.
Derek watched as the girls used their powers and learned teamwork. When one girl was being attacked, the others would come to their aid. When another girl came up with an idea, they went with it even if it turned out to be not so great in the end- like HuiLing's idea of trying to attack from behind.
It was a long day, but by the end of it, Derek was pleased with their progress. Even as the girls landed on the ground, looking exhausted and sweaty.
"I'm beat." Said Ingrid.
"I'm going to need to bathe twice tonight to get all this mud out of my hair!" Cerella was wringing her hair to get the mud out of it from when she had been knocked to the ground by an attacker.
"What a tragedy should you need to lop it off." Grumbled Ingrid.
"Good job, girls." Derek came over with the men who helped in the training exercise. "We'll take a break tomorrow so you can get some rest.
"Not yet..." A voice came from behind the group.
Cedric had appeared at their training grounds, having been sent again by Phobos.
The group whipped around to see the giant green lizard staring down at them.
"Get to the castle and alert the Queen!" Derek ordered the group of soldiers. "The Guardians and I will handle lizard boy."
"It's time for 'how to take down a giant lizard one oh one' today..." Said Ingrid, balling her hands in to fists.
"Derek, you distract him." Wanda looked at him, and he nodded.
"Right." Just as Derek started to run at Cedric, a figure jumped from behind the giant lizard and landed, with sharp needles in her hands.
"It's her..." Wanda froze on the spot, having not forgotten the shoulder wound Rhea had given her.
Rhea's steely eyes were glinting as she observed the group. Her eyes focussed on Wanda, and Derek knew what his real duty in this fight would be- keeping Rhea away from Wanda.
"Serve me well and you will be rewarded." Cedric hissed at Rhea, who prepared for a fight with Derek, who was already heading straight at her.
"Of course." Replied Rhea.
"Let's go!" Wanda called out.
Just as she was about to fly with the girls, he a searing pain shot through her by from her shoulder and she was forced to stop, falling to the ground holding on to it.
"Wanda!" HuiLing went to her side at once. "You girls go on ahead, I'll take care of her!" She shouted, taking charge at once. "You okay? I thought Auntie Cornelia got you all better."
"Not all of it..." Wanda said through gritted teeth. She'd hoped not to have to tell her friends about it.
"No one can ever truly get my poison out once it's inside a body..." Rhea said. "Only I know the cure, and I will never tell you."
"How about I beat it out of you?" Asked Derek, unsheathing his sword that he kept with him whenever he was on Meridian. He managed to block several of Rhea's needles and dodge the rest.
"Think Derek can handle her points?" Asked Ingrid.
"He'll be fine, he's a big strong lad, after all." Cerella couldn't help but giggle at her own insult at her big brother. "Besides, he's got someone to worry about." She pointed back at Wanda, whom was being helped by HuiLing.
"Let's worry about lizard boy, okay?" Tress raised her hands as though holding an invisible bow and arrow. Then flame erupted in a completely controlled manner, and took the shape of her now known fire arrows. She aimed with the precision of a professional at Cedric as he began to race towards them. "You've made your point, King Lizard, now it's time for the Guardian of Fire to make hers." Her eyes glinted behind her glasses and her black hair swirled around as she fired her arrows once Cedric got close enough.
The one arrow turned in to at least twenty in the blink of an eye.
Cedric brought his tail up and whipped it at the arrows. Ingrid meantime had raised her hands and a giant wave of water rose from the ground with a loud rumble before forming in to what looked like a dragon.
"Nice touch." Cerella commented.
"Thought I'd go with an Oriental flare today." Smiled Ingrid.
"I'd like to know your secret sometime." Cerella watched as the dragon went straight for Cedric and knocked Cedric from the ground.
"My turn!" Cerella raised one hand, then directed it to the ground. "Going up, anyone?" She smirked as a giant pillar of rock shot up from below Cedric, forcing him to the ground.
"Watch it!" Derek shouted from below, having just now dodged several rogue rocks.
"Sorry big brother." Replied Cerella.
Wanda was slowly standing up with HuiLing, still holding on to her shoulders. What good was the training earlier if she couldn't fight? She watched the girls fighting, but also Derek, who was working his way towards Rhea, and the woman was shooting what looked like an endless supply of sharp needles at him. A boiling anger burned inside Wanda as she watched several needles get dangerously close to piercing Derek, and she forgot about her shoulder pain.
She had had it with Rhea. Storm clouds suddenly raged over head and the wind picked up.
Cerella looked over and saw Wanda was practically glowing with the power from the Heart of Kandrikor.
"What's got in to her?" Blinked Ingrid.
"I dunno, but I think we'd better get out of the way and pronto." Cerella could tell Wanda now meant business.
"Derek, get out of the way!" Shouted Wanda.
As much as Derek would have loved to play the role of hero in this fight and save Wanda, he could tell that something set her off. And he realized now that even with the training and practice, she still had little control over her power, along with little control over the Heart of Kandrikor. Anger shone in her eyes as she looked at Rhea, who's own eyes were glittering again at the sight before her.
"Shall I kill you now, Guardian?" Rhea gave an unseen sneer at Wanda.
Cedric looked on, wondering what his servant would do next.
Lightning crackled in Wanda's hands, even while HuiLing held her back.
"Let me go!" Demanded a furious Wanda.
"NO!" Shouted HuiLing. Something inside her was telling her that Wanda should not fight in this state. And she should keep Wanda back.
"Wanda..." Derek said, walking up, sheathing his sword. "You don't need to get so upset." He put a hand on her head. "We can all work together to beat them, you know that. Just because you're the leader of the Guardians doesn't mean all of the duties has to be your burden alone."
Wanda blinked several times at Derek and something about his words seemed to sink in. The light faded, and the lightning in her hands vanished. She fell limp again in HuiLing's arms from the pain in her shoulder.
"Enough of your useless dribble..." Growled Rhea.
"No..." Hissed Cedric. "We have accomplished our mission. We need to retreat to tell Phobos what we discovered."
"Mission?" Blinked Ingrid. "What mission?"
"You shall know soon enough, Young Guardian." Replied Cedric as he turned with a disappointed Rhea. "You all shall know."
"And here I thought I was finally going to get to off that little boy." Rhea looked like she was actually pouting.
Something rose in Derek. Something that was more like a protest. Little boy? He certainly was not a little boy. After all, he managed to avoid being hit by those poisoned needles while holding up his own against that woman. Before he could think up a snappy retort, the two had gone.
"Let's get back. She needs her rest." Said Cerella, with a hand on Wanda's forehead. "She's overworked herself again."
"We all need rest." Nodded Tress, who for once couldn't agree more with Cerella on something.
Derek looked back at the group, but more particularly, Wanda. There was a strangely serious look on his face as he observed her getting to her feet with slight difficulty.
"Yeah, let's go." He agreed after a short while. "It will be safe to walk if you want to undo your transformation."
The girls nodded. There was a flash, and they returned to their normal human forms. HuiLing supported Wanda while the six walked up to the castle. Elyon was waiting for them.
"Are you all right?" She asked, running up.
"Yes, but we're all tired." Smiled Wanda, who hadn't complained one bit on the way over. "Cedric and his crony left before we could do any real damage to them."
"All right, return to your homes on Earth then, and get some rest. Derek, you best do the same." The Queen smiled, seeing how tired and wore out they all really were.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Derek bowed.
Everyone looked at Wanda, who opened the veil with the Heart of Kandrikor once again for them to travel safely back to Earth and their homes.
Derek was too locked up in his own thoughts to really say anything as the girls were saying goodbye to each other on the streets.
"I'm going with you to make sure you get your rest!" Said HuiLing to Wanda.
"No, I'm fine now. I can make it down the block. REALLY." Replied Wanda with emphasis on the last word. She did not like anyone making a fuss over her over anything. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
She blinked when she saw the look on Derek's face. Particularly when he said nothing. It was as though he was trying to tell her something, or make up his mind over something. She turned before she would see anything else, and walked back to her home with a kind of backwards wave at the group.
Upon returning, it was near dark.
"Hi Wanda." Smiled Will. "How did your training go?"
"Good, but I'm beat." Sighed Wanda.
"Dinner's waiting for you in the dining room." Will pointed. "Your Grandma and Grandpa are out for the night."
"Thank you." Smiled Wanda, stretching her sore shoulder as she went to eat her dinner before hugging her father, and kissing her mother goodnight. She went up the stairs without saying much.
Once in her room, she changed in to a purple night gown and flopped on to her bed, looking out her window lost in thought about that day. She lost control when she thought Derek got hurt, but when he came up to her and started talking to her calmly, she regained control. The others were able to use their powers without worry. She wondered if this was how it had been for her mother, having to take a longer time than any of her friends to learn how to use her power properly.
Just before she fell to sleep, she realized she still wore the Heart of Kandrikor around her neck. She removed it, and looked at it glittering in the starlight and moonlight coming in from the window. It was a beautiful crystal, but its powers were amazing to behold. If not for her friends and Derek, she thought as she looked at it while sitting up cross legged on her bed, she might have destroyed herself easily that day. She placed it carefully on her bedside lamp, hooping the chain over the curve of the lamp so it would not fall or get lost, and went under her covers falling asleep quickly that night.
