Lessons From Our Elders

A/N: Hey guys, thanks again for all the support so far. It means so much to me that I have these amazing readers backing me. Now on to Mystic Force – ENJOY R&R PLZ!

"Do you really think we should be doing this?"

"Will you relax! Nothing is going to happen."

"How exactly are we going to get caught?"

"Seems like a bad idea to me," Chip said doggedly while Xander and Nick shook their heads. Last training practice, Leanbow and Daggeron had entertained the boys with stories from the old days. One tale in particular, was the time Daggeron and Calendor discovered a spell that could let them hear what was being said in particular place with some interesting results. And it just so happened that the very next day the girls plus Udonna were having some female time in Rootcore. The opportunity was too perfect to pass up. They managed to rope Phineas into it but Chip wasn't budging.

"Come on Chip," Xander persisted. "Daggeron, your mentor, said the spell was foolproof. Leanbow, the great leader, used it too. They're still in one piece, the girls didn't catch them."

Chip's lips mashed together, "Fine I'll help but I am NOT taking the fall for you guys."

"Done," Nick agreed automatically, flipping open his wand. "Ready boys?"

"On your word amigos," Phineas said cheerfully.

"Ready," Xander said with an excited gleam in his eye, his wand already out.

"Ready," Chip said less enthusiastically but opening his nonetheless.

"Alright then," Nick tilted his head. "Together. Remember think about Rootcore."

They nodded and chanted together, "GOWEN AURIBIS CIRCULI!" A golden spell seal appeared in midair and their excitement increased. Focusing on the destination, they continued chanting and the seal split, forming two seals. The second seal took off towards the prominent tree, ten tense seconds later the seal turned green meaning the connection was established. Immediately, they heard voices issuing from it like a strange speaker.

"It worked!" Xander could barely contain his excitement. It was petulant and childish but they all felt the same way, even Chip couldn't stop smiling. Settling down around the seal, they leant against various trees to hear what the women had to say.

Udonna – "Did you feel something?" The boys sat straight up, holding their breath.

Vida – "I didn't notice anything."

Udonna – "Hmmmm must've been a breeze." They got comfortable again.

Claire – "Where are the guys?"

Leelee – "They got Phineas and took off somewhere, said something about boys only."

Madison – "Well if that doesn't feel like kindergarten…"

Vida – snort "Yeah what's next? Xander pulling on our hair and screaming 'COOTIES'!"

Leelee – derisive sound "He'd never do that."

Vida – "How do you figure?"

Leelee – "Then he couldn't date any girls."

Madison – laughing "Good one Lees."

"That's my girl, damn smart," Phineas said proudly.

"In that case remind me never to call cooties," Xander joked.

Claire – "Is Xander seeing anyone?"

Madison – "He goes on plenty of dates but in terms of an actual girlfriend…nope!"

Vida – "Whassamatter Claire? You look kind of down."

Claire – "Nothing, just thinking…"

Leelee – "About…"

Claire – "Okay you have to promise you won't laugh at me."

Udonna – "Why would we laugh at you? You can tell us anything."

Claire – "Well… I… I… IHaveACrushOnXander!" Every single guy gave the circle a wide-eyed stare.

"I told you this would be a good idea," Nick reached over to push Xander playfully.

Madison – "That's…great Claire. I'm sure you and Xander would be very happy together."

Claire – "Don't kid yourself Mads, why would Xander want anything to do with me?"

Udonna – "Why wouldn't he?"

Claire – "I don't see why he'd want the witch who turned her hair into marshmallow or made half her body disappear. I'm just clumsy Claire."

"That's not true," Xander was staring at the seal with a very serious expression, "That's not true at all Claire. You're wonderful - I just thought you'd never want anything to do with the self-absorbed jerk."

"Well now you know," Daggeron's voice had them jumping out of their skin. He and Leanbow leant against either side Xander's tree with entertained expressions.

"Having fun son?" Leanbow moved to sit by his son.

"They haven't gotten to me yet," Nick shrugged.

"What did we miss?" Daggeron sat down heavily on a flat stone.

"Claire has a crush on Xander but – wait you're not mad?" Chip looked at his teacher.

"There was a reason we told you that story. We knew you wouldn't be able to resist," Daggeron chuckled.

"Um fellas," Phineas interrupted. "We're missing out on some quality eavesdropping here." With silent conceding gestures they went back to listening.

Vida - "- an idiot if he didn't."

Madison – "Yeah, you should be proud of how far you've come. Even if it doesn't work out, it doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be friends anymore. Look at me and Nick."

Vida – "That reminds me sis, what did happen?"

Madison – "He's your boyfriend, why don't you ask him?"

Vida – "Yeah, that's totally not awkward. 'Hey babe, what happened that one time you went out with my little sister?'" This was met with chorus of laughs on both sides.

"I will never understand how you managed to date BOTH sisters," Xander huffed amused.

"I told you, nothing happened with Maddy," Nick said exasperatedly. "We went out to the movies once but it didn't work. One date and we decided we were better off being friends."

Madison – "It's just didn't click, that's all."

Vida – "So who's the new guy? I know you've got your eye on someone."

Madison – "How do you figure?"

Leelee – "You've been really obvious. Daydreaming, sighing, some days you're on cloud nine, other days you look like you've just spent the night in the underworld."

Claire – "Even I saw it."

Udonna – "I must admit, you have been acting rather odd as of late."

Vida – "See! Now dish dear sister, give me a name."

Madison – "It doesn't matter."

Vida – "AHA! So there IS someone, come on tell me. Pretty, pretty please."

Madison – sigh "Just leave it alone Vida."

Vida – "Come on, we're all friends. No one is going laugh, just like with Claire."

….

Vida – "No…"

Leelee – "You're joking!"

Claire – "Talk about putting me to shame…"

"What did we miss?!" demanded Xander.

Udonna – "I think we're going to need more tea."

Vida – "I didn't know you had it in you!"

Madison – "What are you talking about? I haven't done anything."

Leelee – "Yeah but even just thinking about it, that takes guts."

Claire – "Does he know?"

Madison – "Obviously not!"

"WHO?!" Nick cried.

Vida – "I can't believe it…"

"Just say it!" Chip sat back on his heels.

Vida – "MY little sister…"

"They know," Xander ran a hand through his hair. "They know and they are torturing us."

Vida – "Has the hots for…" light laughing.

"V, just say it!" Leanbow had to put a calming hand on his son's shoulder.

Vida – "DAGGERON!" Silence. Pure Silence. You could hear every individual leaf rustle in the branches. The Solaris knight slid from his rock, landing on the ground with a dull thud. Nick covered his wide-open mouth, Chip mouthed OH-MY-GOD, Phineas scratched his head, while Xander gaped like fish just pulled from the water.

"Did not see that one coming," Xander shook his head rapidly.

"Teach, you okay there?" Chip's hand hovered over Daggeron's arm, not sure whether to comfort the knight or slap him for shock.

"Has she gone mad?" Daggeron muttered. "Have I? Why am I even thinking about this?"

"Wait are you saying you'd want a relationship with Maddy?" Nick blinked.

"No! Well I mean yes, NO I mean no, I mean…" Daggeron probably decided it was better to just stop talking. "Nick don't torture me right now."

"After a bombshell like that, I don't think I have the heart for it," Nick looked at the Solaris knight sympathetically. Daggeron sighed relieved until Nick tacked on, "We'll start on you tomorrow." Leanbow chuckled and patted Nick's back.

"Like father, like son," Daggeron rolled his eyes. "Back in the day when Cleo said she thought I was handsome Leanbow didn't shut up for a week."

"Come now Daggeron what are you so worried about?" Leanbow asked. "Madison is a fine young woman. Besides no one is saying you have to decide today, unless of course you've already decided." Daggeron said nothing but turned an interesting shade of red.

"I think we have an answer," Xander smirked.

"No you do not," Daggeron said firmly getting back on his rock.

Udonna – "Girls we're out of tea, I'll go get some more."

Claire – "Do you need any help?"

Udonna – "No, no you girls stay and chat, I shouldn't be long."

Madison – "I really wonder what the guys are upto? What was so secret that they couldn't even tell us?"

Vida – snorts "Probably some stupid trick they're desperate to try out. Maybe a spell to make their muscles bigger or make them better looking."

"Close but not quite V," Nick chuckled.

Leelee – "I'll kill Phineas if he's been messing with spells again. Remember the gardening charm?"

"Aw don't be like that," Phineas waved the air. "So I sprouted a few rutabagas on my back, no big deal."

Claire – "I hope they're not getting into any mischief, magic isn't foolproof."

"Seems to be working so far," Xander said smugly.

"Are you sure about that?" They never thought they'd see the day when Claire's voice would send ice water through their veins but lo and behold it had come. Leanbow and Daggeron sprung to their feet while the younger warriors remained on the ground facing their demise. All the girls were there with Udonna in the lead, the other half of seal floating above her palms up hands.

"FINICIO," Udonna said coldly and both seals shattered. The white witch walked straight up to her husband who gulped.

"How did you know?" Leanbow dared to ask.

"I built Rootcore, my magic is in tune with it. I felt the disturbance," Udonna crossed her arms. "You my dear are coming with me, I know you're the one who taught the spell and I shall be ever so happy to hear how it came about." She began leading the knight away, looking very much an executioner escorting a prisoner to gallows. She paused to glance at the others, "I shall you to them." The girls growled menacingly, stepping forward.

"Phineas is coming with me," Leelee purposely charged forward, nearly picking up her troblin boyfriend clean off the floor and hauling him deeper into the woods.

"And then there were four," Vida crossed her arms.

"Now hang on a second ladies," Xander got up, gesturing for the others to do the same, and attempted to charm the irate females. "Violence is never the answer, you know that."

"Violence?" Claire repeated politely confused. "Who said anything about violence?" She snapped her fingers and their feet were suddenly encased in cement blocks.

"What is this? The mafia?" Nick struggled to get free. "Cement Mary Janes?"

"Awww don't worry, you won't be sleeping with the fishes," Vida crooned.

Maddy sauntered around all of them like a statuary garden, "For your complete lack of respect for our privacy, these blocks will only allow you to move one step at a time but only after you say nice and loud, 'I am sorry for eavesdropping on the girls.' Remember to speak clearly." She patted the Solaris knight's cheek sweetly.

"And they'll disappear when you get to Rootcore," Claire concluded.

"Bye boys," they chanted, disappearing in a shower of sparks.

"Just fantastic," Chip picked up a pebble and threw at Xander. "You got us into this mess."

"Technically he did," Nick pointed at Daggeorn. "Him and Dad. They baited us."

Daggeron shrugged, "I'd take this over telling Udonna what happened all those years ago, your father may not survive."

"And to think people say we're supposed to listen to our elders," Xander groused. "Alright let's get this over with."

I AM SORRY FOR EAVESDROPPING ON THE GIRLS!