Chapter 9: Test of Earth
Hey everyone! It's me, sakuraphoenix, and I'm back with a new chapter! I know, it's been a while, but I've been busy with my final exams, and believe me, they've been driving me crazy. Before I go off into a rant, it's time for a disclaimer.
Disclaimer: Keybladeauraofpie and I do not own W.I.T.C.H. We just own our OC's.
Enjoy!
The girls were at the ice rink, sitting in the stands as they were watching various people on the ice trying out for the town's speed skating team. They waved as they saw Naomi on the ice, having a difficult time recognizing her now that her hair was brown and her pink hair dye had washed out.
"I had no idea Naomi knew how to ice skate." Said Mei-Xing
"I had no idea she was into speed skating! When she heard about the team tryouts, she signed up for them immediately! She must really want to do this." Said McKenna
"Hello ladies." Ian said as he scooted over to them
"What are you doing here?" asked Tina
"One of my friends is trying out, so I came to support him. He's been skating since he was a kid. He's gonna leave the competition in the dust." Said Ian
The coach blew his whistle, and all the skaters in question lined up. He looked at Naomi weirdly when he saw that she was wearing regular skates.
"Man. That girl's an amateur. Doesn't she know that you need special skates to speed skate?" asked Ian
The coach blew his whistle again, and all the skaters took off. The boys were in the lead at first, but Naomi surprised them all with her own speed, as she managed to catch up with Ian's friend, the guy up front.
"No one's beat me in a race before girly!" exclaimed the boy
"Well today's the day you get beat!" Naomi exclaimed as she sped ahead
With the finish line in view, both he and Naomi sped up to see who would get across the finish first. It seemed that they were going to tie, but in the end, Naomi crossed the finish line first, effectively shocking the coach and Ian's friend.
"Hey. You got skills. No one's bested me in a speed skate race, even with figure skates. Name's Austin." Said Austin
"I know. We're in the same biology class at Sheffield." Said Naomi
"We are?" asked Austin
"Imagine me with pink hair." Naomi said while she pointed to her now-brown hair
"Wait, you're Naomi?! I totally didn't recognize you with the brown hair." Said Austin
"Yeah, comes with the hair dye. It washed out the other day." Said Naomi
"Sorry that I thought that you were the new girl in town. So, how long have you been skating? You beat me in a race." Said Austin
"Um, since I was like, five maybe?" Naomi said with a confused look on her face
"That's longer than me. I've been skating since I was ten." Said Austin
"You're trained in Speed Skating. I was trained for Figure Skating, that is, until I learned that I couldn't skate backwards." Naomi said while scratching the back of her head
Meanwhile, in Taranee's house, Harmony was studying the crystal heart she obtained the other day from the bottom of the lake, with a look of concern on her face.
*Flashback*
As I swam in the underwater labyrinth, the pedestal in front of me began to glow before the Crystal Heart showed up. I replaced it with the fake crystal the others bought before swimming out of there.
*End Flashback*
"Why did the pedestal react to me? Or did it react to Cornelia's presence?" Harmony wondered in confusion
"Just sitting there thinking isn't going to answer your problems sooner." Taranee said as she set down a plate of cookies and hot chocolate
"What's the drink?" asked Harmony
"It's hot cocoa. You don't have it in Meridian?" asked Taranee
"After Elyon, the queen before Cornelia's mom, returned to Meridian, she brought with her cocoa plants to make chocolate, but none of the people in Meridian have access to it. It's reserved for the royal family. It wasn't before, but after Cornelia's mom took the throne, she kept chocolate as a delicacy. Some of the castle workers are lucky to have some with their pay." Harmony explained to Taranee
"Back in my day, no one in Meridian even knew what chocolate was." Taranee said as she sat down next to her
"Well, I do know one thing in Meridian tradition. According to this book, the princess has to wait three days at the bare minimum for the next trial. Knowing Princess Evil, she doesn't want to wait that long, so she'll be plotting something. Except it's been more than three days. Maybe she's busy with her coronation decorating or something." Said Harmony
"Then what's the next trial?" asked Taranee
Harmony opened the book, and found the information on the next trial.
"Great. I'm going to need Naomi to help me with this. How in the world does she understand this nonsense?" Harmony asked Taranee
Back with the girls, they were shopping around Hale's, with Naomi looking for some winter gear to wear, when Harmony walked into the store with the book.
"Girls! I found information on the next trial!" exclaimed Harmony
"What is it?" asked Rene
The girls gathered around the book as Harmony opened it and began to read it.
"One task done and four remain. Thine hath found the symbol of thy future queen's heart. Thy champion of the throne will accomplish thy next test, a test that will test thine champion's courage and friendship. Thou will prove to thine queen and self, and wilt be worthy of thine wings." Harmony read from the book
"We got one task down, so there are four left. The crystal heart we found is the symbol of a good heart, a physical representation of what a true queen of Meridian should be. Except this time, Cornelia can't do this trial. She needs to choose a champion, like how Lancelot was King Arthur's champion, the one whom the princess trusts completely. This test is gonna prove that champion's courage and faith to Princess Evil. The last part is what I don't get." Said Naomi
"The last part?" asked Harmony
"Thou will prove to thine queen and self, and wilt be worthy of thine wings. That means the champion will not only prove themselves to Princess Evil but to themselves, but wings? That's the part I don't get." Said Naomi
Meanwhile in Meridian, Cornelia was ice skating on a frozen lake, and she wasn't alone. If there was a secret Cornelia managed to keep from everyone in the royal family, it was that she was in love, and the man she was skating with was proof of that love. When Cornelia skated to a stop, the man she was with wrapped two arms around her waist.
"So, this coronation thing. It means we won't see each other again, will it?" the man asked Cornelia
"It doesn't have to be. I still want to see you, even though I'll be queen. I mean, you're from a family of nobility, while I'm the princess. But to me, you're the one I love and I always will love you Kevin." Cornelia said as she looked into his eyes
"But with the majority of the populous of Meridian already thinking that you shouldn't be on the throne, who know what will happen between us." Said Kevin
"That's where they're wrong. I have an idea. But I'll need your help." Said Cornelia
The next day at Sheffield…
The girls were in class while Naomi had a worried look on her face. What if she didn't make the Speed Skating team?
"You look worried." Austin said as he sat next to Naomi
"Austin. I am. I'm just worried that I might not make the team." Said Naomi
"Hey, if anyone's gonna make it, it's you. You outraced me with normal skates. Not a lot of people can do that, and by that I mean outrace speed skaters with regular skates. You'll make the team. I know you will." Said Austin
"Thanks. You're really good at giving advice. You know that, right?" asked Naomi
"I do now." Said Austin
"Okay kids. Settle down. Today, we have two exchange students joining our class. They both come from Switzerland. You may come in." the teacher said
Two people walked through the door and into the classroom, and the Guardians, and Harmony looked shocked as they recognized Princess Evil, AKA, Cornelia.
"Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Cornelia Brown. This is my cousin, Kevin Brown. We'll be staying in the country for a while, so I hope we can be good friends." Cornelia said with a smile on her face
Everyone but the guardians and Harmony bought her act, as knowing Princess Evil; she's got something evil cooking her way.
Lunch time at Sheffield…
Both Kevin and Cornelia were getting lunch as Cornelia spotted the guardians, but didn't see Naomi. The main reason? She was looking for someone with pink hair.
"What in the world is Cornelia doing here?" asked Harmony
"Who knows?" asked Mei-Xing
"I don't, and I for sure don't wanna find out." Said Tina
"Whatever her game is, I don't know, but I'm sure as hell that I am not gonna like it." Said McKenna
"Neither will Naomi, but the only thing I'm confused over is why she and Austin are hanging out." Rene said as she pointed to the two at another table
"He's just giving Naomi pointers. She's worried that she's not going to make the speed skating team, so Austin's giving her advice to do so." Said Mei-Xing
"You guys do realize that if she joins the team, we'll be one guardian short, right?" Tina reminded everyone
What they didn't know was that Naomi and Austin knew about the speed skating team results.
"So, congrats, I guess. You made the slot for the team. Guess figure skating does do wonders for someone." Austin said while looking away
"It really meant a lot for you, didn't it?" asked Naomi
"More than anything. See, I don't have the best grades in school for some subjects, and the only way I can really impress my parents is when I do sports. Now that I know who got the slot, I'm not sure if I'm good at that anymore." Said Austin
"If this team means so much to you, then take my place. If I were a few seconds slower in all of the other parts of the tryouts, you would've made the team, not me. I wanted to try out for the team because I love skating, but not as a competition, but for fun. Maybe that's what you're missing Austin, having fun with your sport." Said Naomi
"Fun… thanks Naomi. I mean it. Now you're the one who's good at giving me advice." Said Austin
"And I wasn't even trying. Still, tell the coach I said that. I'll come with you this afternoon just in case he needs confirmation." Said Naomi
"You aren't going to act as if I said really bad things to you, and get banned for life from ever trying out again, are you?" asked Austin
"Of course not. What kind of person would I be if I did that?" asked Naomi
"A heartless one." Said Austin
"Now you're making me think of bad Kingdom Hearts jokes!" exclaimed Naomi
Both Austin and Naomi both laughed at Naomi's statement. As for Cornelia and Kevin, they were secretly looking at the guardians, minus Naomi, with interest.
"So they're the guardians." Said Kevin
"No, one of them is the Resistance's leader, Harmony. Co-Leader I should say. We still have no idea where the alluded Phantom is. As for the Earth Guardian, I would imagine that she would be with her friends. By this afternoon, all the guardians will become displays in the throne room." Cornelia said as she closed the compact mirror she was holding
Later that day, while the guardians were walking home with Harmony, Austin, Naomi, and Sora were at the ice rink, though Sora was outside the door while Naomi and Austin were talking with the coach.
"And that's what I have to say. I may have made the team coach, but Austin deserves it more than I do." Said Naomi
"Although I don't change my mind easily through persuasion, you two had guts coming here with this problem. Had Austin here come alone, I would've thought that he was lying, but this… this is real teamwork." The coach said
"Huh?" Both Austin and Naomi asked in unison
"You two actually made the team. My assistant was in charge of the e-mail and she accidentally sent the wrong spreadsheet to everyone who tried out. You both made the team, and Jones, you're gonna need these." The coach said as he gave Naomi a pair of speed skates
"Thanks coach." Said Naomi
Before she could try them on, the power suddenly went out, not just in the ice rink, but in the whole city! There was a reason for that, the whole city was experiencing a blizzard! Even the roads became ice tracks!
"Something's wrong. I have to go." Naomi said as she ran out of the door with her skates
The moment she exited the door, the blizzard was starting to prove too much for her, until the replica heart created a baby blue barrier around her, protecting her from the blizzard.
"The heart… it's protecting me. Then that means… this isn't a normal blizzard. Sora! Let's go!" Naomi exclaimed as she laced on her new skates
With the guardians, they were doing their best to fend off against Cornelia and Kevin. Unfortunately, they were stuck as ice statues for the moment.
"Here's to the fall of the guardians. We just need to find the Earth Guardian, and we'll have the complete set." Said Cornelia
"Hey! Princess Evil! Looking for me?!" Naomi exclaimed as she skid to a stop in front of her
"You're the Earth Guardian?!" exclaimed Cornelia
"I'm not surprised. No one recognized me without the pink hair. Anyways, I'd love to keep this chat up, but well, I'm powerless at the moment." Naomi said while shrugging
"You bet you are." Cornelia said as she was charging up another ice spell
"Wait, I have a deal. You and your boyfriend against me." Said Naomi
"Huh?" asked Cornelia
"I win, and you free my friends and you swear on the power of Kandrakar to never return to Heatherfield without the permission of the Guardians of the Veil." Said Naomi
"And if I win?" asked Cornelia
"It's only fair if you choose." Said Naomi
"Hmm… I win, and you swear on the power of Kandrakar to come to Meridian with me, forever, never to return to your friends and family, and serve me for eternity." Said Cornelia
Naomi paled at the thought of never returning to Earth, but with her friends on the line, she had only one answer.
"You have a deal." Said Naomi
"Oh, and by the way, you'll just be going against Kevin. So, what's the challenge?" asked Cornelia
"Speed Skating. We'll use the city as the race course. We all make one complete lap around the city. Of course since it's a big race track, your boyfriend and I are allowed to have a break at certain intervals within the race, no matter where we are. When it's time for the break, I'll trust you to shoot some kind of signal into the sky, since I can't do anything." Said Naomi
"How often?" asked Cornelia
"Hmm… every ten minutes." Naomi said while looking at her watch
"Sounds fair to me." Said Cornelia
"Oh, and no one can move until the break is over." I said
"Fine. I'm sure you'll lose guardian." Said Cornelia
"Oh we'll see about that." I said
The moment Cornelia gave the green light to start the race, both Kevin and Naomi were off, and Kevin initially had the lead, but when they got to the hilly part of Heatherfield, Kevin kept tripping and falling onto his butt while Naomi continued skating up and down the hills when she saw Kevin's skates.
"Figure skates! Word of advice Kevin, that's your name, right?" Naomi asked
"Yeah, that's right." Said Kevin
"When you skate down a hill, watch out for the ice pick." Naomi said as she skated down the hill before skating up another hill
The moment she reached the top, the first signal for a break lit up in the sky, prompting both Naomi and Kevin to stop in their tracks for the first break before Naomi skated over to the sidewalk.
"I thought we weren't supposed to move." Said Kevin
"I'm sitting down. Your legs will recover faster if you do that." Said Naomi
"Oh. You know a lot about skating fast." Kevin stated as he sat down near Naomi
"Not that I want to. If anything, my mom wanted me to be a figure skater, while I didn't have the body for it, so I just did the next best thing, learning how to skate fast." Said Naomi
"Wow. Sounds like you had a boring life." Said Kevin
"Boring?! What makes you think my life's boring?! What are you, a noble?" asked Naomi
"Actually yes." Said Kevin
Naomi was about to open her mouth to speak when another signal lit the air, prompting both Kevin and Naomi to race once more. The two seemed to be equally neck and neck within the whole race when, as they reached the finish line, with a renewed determination, Naomi skated like she never skated before. Cornelia wanted to make sure that Naomi lost the race, so she threw every single spell she had at her, but none of them deterred her from her goal of the finish line, to which she had reached just in time. The moment she stopped to catch her breath, a bright flash of light appeared in her face as some kind of necklace just appeared in front of her. She cupped her hands as the necklace floated into her cupped hands before the light faded away.
"I won Cornelia. Now you keep your end of the deal!" exclaimed Naomi
"Fine, I swear on the power of Kandrakar to never return to Earth, and I will free your friends, after you give that to me!" exclaimed Cornelia
She knows about the second trial. Okay, if you want it so badly, I'll give you something.
"Fine. Take it." Naomi said as she threw her bracelet towards Cornelia as she caught it
"Thank you guardian. Let's go." Said Cornelia
With a snap of her fingers, everyone else was freed from Cornelia's ice block while she disappeared into a nearby portal. Naomi's replica heart started glowing in reaction with the portal, and the next thing that happened was the replica heart sealing away the portal. As soon as that happened, Naomi ran-slash-skated over to the others.
"Guys, you okay?" asked Naomi
"Why did you give her the necklace?! If we kept that…" started Harmony
"Chill out Harmony. I didn't give her the necklace." Naomi said while showing her the winged necklace
"Wait, if you didn't give it to her, then what did you give?" asked Tina
"My winged bracelet from Claire's. I shop there all the time." Naomi sheepishly admitted
"So that's why you go to the mall every month." Said McKenna
"McKenna! Don't start on me!" exclaimed Naomi
That only got the girls to laugh before Harmony took the necklace.
"In any case, two down, and three to go." Said Harmony
Done and done! Wow, this took a while, but I finally finished it! I'm sorry that I've been AWOL for so long, but I'll make up for it. I promise. Please review, and until next time, I'm sakuraphoenix, saying I heart you, signing off for now. Kan dao ni!