Chapter 5: Trip into a New World

Aki-san: *sitting in Emo Corner/Corner of Woe*

Kiara: Umm, Aki is just sitting there and is disappointed that almost nobody reviewed for chapters 3 and 4. She'll just have to SUCK IT UP! Be glad at least one person did. (and thank you, Dark-Automaton.)

Morgan: Anyways, she decided to quickly write chapter 5 out of: 1) Boredom and 2) Because curiosity has killed the cat. She's trying to see if someone will review. Oh, and to clarify things up, if we haven't in the last chappie, the ogre-like creature was Frost, who escaped from Kandrakar's prison(?).

Kiara: So without further ado, proceed!

Disclaimer: Aki will never own W.I.T.C.H. She only owns the OCs and the plot line. Do not forget this is based off of the BOOK, not the show! (although it may have show-elements later on...)

Ashley's POV:

[next day]

It was morning and we headed home. There was no school, but Rin had Japanese class and martial arts' classes, including kendo, aikido and karate. Aliyah and I were walking home, Aliyah listening to "Here's To Never Growing Up" by Avril Lavigne and me kicking a pebble across the sidewalk. After that attack and the incident with Rin's mom, we were mostly quiet after that and got ready for bed (the attack was at around 10:00 p.m).

We improvised a quick 'lie' about why we were dressing up. Our mother worked with the famous Hitachiin [1] family, partnered up with the wife of the head of their family overseas, who was a designer in clothes, so we told her that Mrs. Hitachiin wanted us to wear her latest fashion trend, "Bloody Fairy Warriors". Wow, what a lame name. But, hey! It's half true. We WERE trying the outfits on.

I sighed and looked at Aliyah, who seemed more calm than usual. I sighed once more and continued kicking the pebble.

Phobos' POV:

A knock was heard upon the door to my chambers. My servants, the Whisperers, went and opened the door. In came Cedric in his human form. He bowed low to me.

"Have you completed the mission?" I snapped.

"We have not been able to extinguish them, my Prince, but we have confirmed that they are the new Guardians of the Veil, and that Rin girl has the Heart."

I ignored the "good" news. "Why didn't you finish erasing them off of the face of Earth?!" I bellowed.

"You-you told us to keep a low profile, and that is what we did. Rin's mother entered and we had to hide, as you have commanded." Cedric replied.

I growled. He continued on talking. "But, we have some more very good news!"

"What? I have no time to waste with your mockery and failures."

Cedric nodded. He turned to the open doors and hollered, "Bring him in!"

And in came two of my guards with a rebel all shackled up. I smirked. "Excellent! Now THIS is wonderful news, just wonderful!" I glared at Cedric and the guards. "Leave my chambers at once!" I ordered. They all bowed and left the room, Cedric closing the doors.

I turned to the prey and chuckled in a sinister way at him.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my good friend, or should I say traitor, Caleb!" My voice became more darker at the "or traitor" part.

Caleb, one of my older Whisperers, looked up at me. Oh, what a mess he was! My smirk grew. "Where's your little group now, Rebel?"

"You'll never find them!" he yelled back.

"Oh my! Still hot-headed, aren't we?" I chuckled. I walked up to him and grabbed his hair. "You and I both know very well that my armies will find them." I let go of his hair and turned to Cedric. "Lock him up. And tell the armies to move forward and find the remaining rebels. If any villagers are hiding some, take them as prisoners. Show no mercy!"

"Yessss, ssssire!" my servant bowed, taking the chains that bound Caleb's hands.

After they left, I fell back into the throne, closing my eyes and dreaming of the day when I would truly rule over Meridian with no opposition.

And that's when I remembered her.

The new keeper of the Heart, the foreign girl who looked up at me with no fear shown in her eyes. Only pride and determination. I growled. The reason why I told Cedric to stay low was so that she wouldn't recognize him and think of me as an enemy.

But I still wanted her.

I liked how she can be so hot-headed and witty, and how she will stand up to me; not a single trace of sadness hanging from her lips! More like excitement with a fiery passion. I liked her.

I was hoping that she would come back real soon, with the others or not.

Rin's POV:

Ah, man! Martial arts' class are tough, but Japanese Language and Customs school is worst!

I sat on the ground at a low table, brush in hand while half-listening to the sensei that was showing us how to write, whatever sentence that was on the board, in kanji.

I sighed, tiered until I noticed a faint, pink glow. Widening my eyes, I quickly asked to be dismissed to use the restroom.

Entering and locking a stall, I took the Heart of Kandrakar out as a glowed more furiously.

Was it showing me something? I thought when the light blinded me for a whole three minutes.

I screamed before I landed in something wet, slimy, dark, smelly and not to mention disgusting. I looked down to see me and my friends in our Guardian outfits. Wait, my friends?

Looking around me, I saw Aliyah, Ashley, Morgan and Kiara in their own outfits, lying in the sewage-like water.

Groaning, Ashley got off Aliyah. "Where are we?"

"I- I don't know." I answered, looking around.

From the shadows, a big blue ogre-like creature appeared. I was about to scream when he "Shh-ed" me.

"Shh! I'm Vathek, a friend of the previous Guardians of the Veil. They told me that you would come. I'm a Rebel. Our leader, Caleb, has been captured by Phobos, and you must save him!"

Breaking the silence, I asked "Phobos? He was... pretty nice to me... when I got lost here." No need for explanations, really. My friends know.

"It's either a trap or he's really smitten and deciding whether to court you or not."

I deadpanned. Courting? Seriously? In Japanese history, during the Feudal era/warring state era of Japan, I've heard of yokai courting humans and having a hanyo child, but still. Him court me? This Vathek-dude must either be dead serious or he's been living down here too long.

"Ugh," I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Well, can we get out of here, please?"

"Of course. Follow me. I'll lead you to the other rebels."

The others were whispering among each-other while I walked and followed Vathek. I knew the others would follow. Besides, if you back-stab me, I'll give you a Chuck Norris round-kick. It's no different for blue ogres from another dimension.

After walking for awhile, we came to a village.

"Welcome to Meridian." Vathek said.

Kiara's POV:

Rin looked distressed. Probably because of this Phobos dude. If he dares hurt Rin, I'll give 'im a piece of my mind!

Green ogres-creatures were everywhere. This place seemed poor. People in ragged brown cloth walked the streets.

Vathek led us in another tunnel before appearing in front of a set of large gates.

"Soooo... what now?" I asked.

"I'll go in, since Phobos knows me. I'll see what he's up too." Rin stated.

Before anyone could protest, she was allowed in the gates. The guards were escorting her, giving us a chance to get in.

Be safe!

Rin's POV:

I was led to Phobos' throne room by the guards. I wanted to see if what Vathek said was true.

"Prince Phobos! Sorry to intrude, but Lady Rin is back." Right Guard said, bowing.

"Ah! My little black rose has come back, hasn't she?" Phobos chuckled in a friendly manner. He rose from his throne and walked to me.

Giving him a slight smile, I replied, "Yeah, I have. How's it been?" My attitude was certainly not to be presented to a prince, but Phobos just chuckled again.

"Well, my dear. I've been well. Beautiful outfit, my rose." he purred, hugging me.

I stayed still as he hugged me for awhile, leaning on my shoulder until...

"PHOBOS!"

Aki-san: I'm ok... Just being dramatic! ^^' Please review! :D I changed a lot of POVs because I wanted to make this chapter slightly longer.

Next chapter: "Choices".