Welcome Pitters. Thanks for sticking with this story. A special thanks to all my reviewers: XV-Dragon; Knightof Faerun; Shocklance; Nemrut; Lilly Tiger; Invader Spyder; Kirric; Krystal of Nol; Ice Silver Crystal; Zestychicken2; Guardian's Light; Laserleg; Lily312; DayDreamer9; and Nerd4eva. I appreciate all of you so very much.
Donut club: Shocklance and Invader Spyder; well done kids.
Again I thank my editor Visigoth for catching my mistakes and for letting me bounce my crazy ideas off of him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Now without further ado, may I present:
Chapter 32
Yan Lin paced the kitchen of the Silver Dragon. She had just "hung up" with Taranee and she was nervous for her girls. Taranee had said they were headed for a showdown with Nerissa. Their last run-in with the evil witch had nearly seen the girls' deaths, and Yan Lin worried they were unprepared for what lay ahead.
After ten minutes of anxious pacing, the old woman made a decision. As a former Guardian, the privilege to visit Candracar at any time belonged to her. Calling upon unseen powers, she summoned a portal to the world between worlds. Taking a deep breath, she stepped through and found herself outside the mighty incandescent fortress.
With a stride belying her advanced years, the former Guardian paced to the huge doors and threw them open. Yan Lin knew the corridors well and headed straight for the Chamber of the Aurameres. The Guardians would need backup and the old woman had a plan.
As usual, Luba was tending the glowing balls of power when Yan Lin arrived. The Caretaker did not find it strange to see her; Yan Lin often visited. What the cat did find strange was the expression on the old woman's face.
"Honorable One, you look troubled."
"I am troubled, Luba. The Guardians are heading for a showdown with Nerissa and I'm worried for them...scared even."
"That is troubling," Luba responded pensively.
"They will need backup and I need your help."
Luba's blue eyes narrowed as she gazed intently at her companion. "What do you propose?"
At that moment, the doors opened again and Halinor strode into the Chamber. Seeing her friend, she rushed close and threw her arms around Yan Lin's slightly-stooped shoulders.
"Yanni, it's so good to see you!"
"Halinor, my friend," Yan Lin replied warmly. "How are you?"
"I'm happy to say I have made a full recovery."
"As have I," Yan Lin said. The two women gazed at one another for a moment before turning to Luba.
"Luba, how are you?" Halinor asked.
"I am well." Luba replied.
Halinor nodded and turned once more to Yan Lin. Seeing her friend's nervous posture, Halinor furrowed her brow.
"What's wrong Yanni?"
Yan Lin explained what Taranee had told her. Halinor gasped and covered her mouth.
"No they can't go. It's an obvious trap!"
"Yes, Halli, I know; but if they don't go, something far worse may happen."
"What could be worse than getting themselves killed?" Halinor asked, crossing her arms.
"They are worried for their families, Halli. Nerissa has gone after them before. The girls fear she may do it again if they don't face her."
"Shouldn't we cross that bridge when we come to it? This is suicide!" Halinor said, beside herself with worry.
"I fear for them, too, but it is already done. The girls are on their way to Mount Thanos by now. We cannot hope to stop them."
"But we have to do something. I can't just sit here and let them walk into a trap." Halinor wailed.
"I do not believe they are walking blindly," Yan Lin said.
"But they likely will not have clear minds," Luba chimed in. "They will be thinking of vengeance for the Water Guardian, not of simply defeating their enemy."
"Yes, and that kind of mindset can get them killed," Halinor intoned.
"Which is why they will need our help," Yan Lin said firmly.
"What is your plan?" Luba asked.
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The Guardians arrived at Mount Thanos, prepared for anything...or so they hoped. Taranee reached out telepathically, searching for any sign of the trap they all knew must be present.
She felt nothing except a single presence.
"I don't feel anything except one person; and it feels like the same presence I felt in Irma's mind. It has to be Nerissa."
Will nodded as she hovered in mid-air with the other Guardians. Where were the Knights of Vengeance? They had to be here...somewhere.
"Maybe she really is alone," Hay Lin suggested.
"Right, and Uriah will be voted most likely to succeed," Irma zinged.
"Taranee are you certain there's no one else here?" Will asked nervously.
"I don't feel anyone else, Will."
"Then maybe your receptors are off," Cornelia said.
Taranee shook her head. "No way. I can feel all of nature around me. If someone else were here, I would know it."
"Alright then, it's time to kick some evil," Will said confidently. "This time we focus everything we've got on Nerissa. If we attack her all at once, we can overwhelm her. Teamwork will be the key."
"Right," The Guardians echoed.
"Irma, are you sure you're up to this?" Will asked worriedly.
"I've already told you, I don't feel nearly as bad in my Guardian form. Honestly, the pain is more annoying than anything."
Will looked skeptical, but what could she do? "Alright," she sighed, "if you're sure..."
"I'm sure. Now let's go get some."
"And about time too," Cornelia chirped.
Will couldn't help but grin at her friends' confidence. The practices had gone so well of late that she felt the same confidence. She knew this would be the final battle with Nerissa...and she knew the Guardians would be victorious.
If only Will's good feelings extended to Taranee. She knew Nerissa was a liar and an evil hag. Why would she tell them the truth now? The Fire Guardian still felt trepidation as she followed her friends to the snowy summit of the mountain.
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"And that is what we must do," Yan Lin explained to her audience.
The Oracle stood with his eyes locked on Yan Lin's. The youthful-looking ruler of Candracar mulled over her words in his mind. He was prevented from interfering directly in the coming conflict; but Yan Lin's plan was not a direct interference. He could let others be his agents and in that way, he could assist the Guardians.
"Only if Candracar is under attack may I enter any battle," the Oracle explained. "However, you plan has merit, Honorable One. I will abide by your request."
"Thank you, Oracle," Yan Lin bowed her head.
"Yes, thank you," Halinor echoed.
With a nod and a smile, the Oracle began to summon his powers.
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As the Guardians neared the top of Mount Thanos, they began to feel drifting snow. The higher they went, the heavier it became. Irma used her powers over water to clear a path through the driving snow.
Reaching the top of the mountain, the Guardians hovered in mid-air, their eyes searching intently for an ambush.
"I don't see anything," Cornelia said as she scanned the mountain.
"And I don't hear anything unusual," Hay Lin added as she strained her ears. The winds held no clues for her.
"Then we wait," Will said..
"Why don't we just follow Taranee's mental whatever and go get her?" Cornelia asked.
"Because I want her to come to us," Will answered, shivering slightly in the cold.
"In that case, everyone gather over here," Taranee said. The Guardians gathered in a huddle and Taranee summoned her powers. Presently, a ring of fire encircled the girls, staving off the chill. Irma used her powers to keep the snow away.
After thirty minutes a figure emerged through the snow.
"Look," Cornelia shouted, pointing.
The Guardians turned to follow their friend's pointing finger. They felt a chill as Nerissa strode towards them.
"Spread out," Will ordered.
The girls immediately obeyed their leader and took their positions. Irma and Hay Lin looked at one another nervously. Irma grinned and flashed a thumbs-up. Hay Lin winked and returned the sign.
"You have come, Guardians," Nerissa intoned as she reached the girls. "I assure you this will be your last day as Guardians."
"Think again, hag," Will yelled. "You're gonna pay for what you did to Irma. Guardians, attack!"
As one, the Guardians released their powers against the evil witch. As the beams raced towards her, Nerissa raised a shield and laughed.
"Is this the best you can offer?"
"Keep it up," Will shouted. "She can't hold that shield forever!"
The Guardians called on more power and soon Nerissa's shield began to flicker. The hag screamed in defiance, but she knew her protection was waning.
Then it happened.
Without warning, the Knights of Vengeance surged from beneath the snows of Mount Thanos...behind the Guardians. The enormous Gargoyle attacked first.
With a loud roar he hammered Cornelia from behind, knocking the Earth Guardian from the sky. She hit the snow hard, and lay there, stunned. Gargoyle did not let up as he raised his enormous foot into the air.
Taranee aw the scene as if in slow motion, but was powerless to help. Frozen with terror, she could only watch as Gargoyle's huge foot came crashing down on her friend. Cornelia's scream brought the attention of the other Guardians as she felt her bones crack.
"Cornelia!" Taranee shouted as she flew towards the gigantic creature. She fired huge fireballs as she flew, but stone does not burn. Gargoyle snatched the Fire Witch out of the sky and began to squeeze. Taranee was powerless to scream as her chest constricted painfully.
Hay Lin released a powerful whirlwind, hoping to unbalance the big rock-creature
"Eat this you crotchdweller!" Hay Lin shouted as the whirlwind knocked the enormous creature from his feet.
The battle stopped momentarily as all eyes turned to Hay Lin.
"What?" she shrugged innocently.
Gargoyle crashed to the snow, but did not release his prisoner. Taranee could feel darkness descending as her lungs struggled vainly to take in air.
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Focused solely on freeing Taranee, Hay Lin never saw Miranda...or the webbing she shot. The Air Guardian became quickly entangled in the powerful strands, her wings unable to flutter. She crashed to the ground.
"Hay Lin!" Irma shouted, a moment of indecision gripping her. That was all Nerissa needed to knock the young Guardian out of the sky with a well-placed lightning strike.
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Will faced off against Tracker, Sniffer, and Raythor. She saw Frost and Crimson charge past her, but had no time to wonder what they were doing. She shot a bolt of lightning towards Raythor and hit him squarely in the chest. The former castle guard dropped like a stone and lay unmoving in the snow. Sniffer charged towards the redhead and leaped for her throat. Will dodged with a cry and shot a bolt towards Tracker. It hit him in the leg and the evil creature stumbled, but did not go down. Another bolt later and Tracker hit the ground next to Raythor.
As Will turned towards her friend, something large hit her in the stomach, forcing her to the ground. With the wind knocked out of her, the Guardian Leader tried in vain to rise.
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Miranda closed in on Hay Lin as the Guardian struggled vainly with the powerful webbing. The spider-like creature leaped on Hay Lin's stomach and began to cocoon the helpless girl. Hay Lin summoned another powerful whirlwind, but Miranda was one step ahead of her. Drawing her long, silver knife, the pseudo-spider plunged its blade into Hay Lin's exposed shoulder, using it as an anchor against the winds. Hay Lin screamed in pain as the knife pierced her flesh, her whirlwind dying immediately. Miranda laughed coldly and began to mummify the Guardian once again.
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Irma raised herself from the snow, shaking her head to clear it. She could hear Nerissa's laugh of derision behind her and she froze with terror. Rolling to her back she fired off a jet of water, hoping to freeze the evil hag. Nerissa tumbled to the snow, unbalanced by the jetstream.
"Ha, take that!" Irma shouted triumphantly, surging to her feet. She closed in on Nerissa, firing stream after freezing stream. For a moment, the ploy seemed to be working as ice formed around the sorceress.
The Irma was hit from behind by something heavy.
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Taranee felt dizzy as her oxygen-deprived brain began to black out. She tried desperately to burn Gargoyle's hand, but to no avail. She needed help...fast.
Cornelia, can you hear me?
Taranee, I can't move. What's happening to me?
Cornelia I need help
Where are you?
But Taranee could speak no further...her mind refused to obey her commands. Darkness descended.
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Will couldn't breathe. Something heavy sat on her chest. Something sharp rested against her throat. It took her a moment to review her surroundings...and she wished she hadn't.
Crimson was holding her throat in his huge jaws, while Sniffer sat squarely on her chest. Any movement caused those jaws to tighten ever so slightly, so Will was obliged to hold very still. She tried to reach out to Taranee.
Taranee...can you hear me?
Receiving no response, Will began to panic.
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Hay Lin was completely mummified from shoulders to feet. She struggled against her bonds until Miranda placed the knife at her throat, pricking the tender flesh.
Hay Lin drew a deep breath and held it, fear causing a panic to rise in her chest. Her shoulder screamed with pain as she struggled to control her fear. Where were the other Guardians? What was happening? She tried to call out to Taranee but received no response.
Suddenly, she was dragged into a sitting position and Miranda moved behind her. The knife never left her exposed throat.
What she saw caused her to scream with terror.
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Frost threw his body into Irma's back, knocking her to the ground. He pounded her in the back of her head twice, thrice, then drove the butt of his enormous axe into the small of her back. Irma groaned, and sank into the snow.
Frost pulled the young girl to her knees and placed the haft of his axe at her throat. Choking and sputtering, Irma tried vainly to throw the big man off...but he was too strong. She had almost blacked out when the Knight suddenly let her go.
Still on her knees and coughing violently, Irma fell to her hands and struggled for breath.
Nerissa approached the wounded Guardian.
Kneeling down, she placed her hand under Irma's chin and held it fast. Irma cried out in terror, and tried to get away, but Frost held her arms behind her back. His weight kept her on her knees.
"There, there, Guardian; no need to be afraid...yet," Nerissa cooed. "I promise you after today you won't feel any pain."
Irma struggled against Frost, but he was too strong even for a Guardian's strength. She tried to be brave.
"Get your filthy hands off me, both of you!"
Nerissa smiled and slapped Irma hard across her cheek. "That is no way to speak to your masters, Guardian."
"Masters my ass," Irma spat at the evil old hag.
Nerissa calmly wiped the spittle from her face. "Look around you, dear heart. Your friends are finished; they cannot help you. You are completely in my power and you will once again be my prisoner. But then again, you never escaped me did you?"
At that, a jolt of electricity shot through Irma's mind, searing white-hot into her brain. The Guardian screamed in pain and thrashed her head about.
"You will never be free of me, Guardian; you and now your friends will be mine to toy with for however long I choose."
White-hot fire licked at Irma's back as Nerissa activated the spell once again. Irma screamed and writhed in Frost's grip.
"Miranda, pull up the Air Guardian. I want Yan Lin's granddaughter to see and remember this forever."
Irma gasped as she heard those words. "No, please, don't do this."
You wish to spare your friend. That is touching, but I'm afraid your pleas for mercy will go unheard."
The former Guardian rose to her full, imposing height. "Frost, you know what to do."
Frost laughed and pushed Irma face-down into the snow. Irma sputtered as she slowly suffocated, the snow entering her mouth and choking her. As quickly as it had begun, it was over. A great weight lifted off her, and she could pull her head from the snow. Suddenly Irma felt a sharp sting against her back. She arched painfully as it struck again and again...and again.
Somewhere, Irma heard Hay Lin's scream of terror mix with her own scream of agony. Heavy fists took over for the whip as Frost beat the young Guardian over and over. He wrapped the whip around her throat and choked her again and again, always letting up just before the moment of unconsciousness...the sweet oblivion that never came.
Hay Lin screamed for him to stop, but her cries fell on deaf ears as Frost continued his merciless beating of her best friend and sister. Finally after several minutes, and a silent command from Nerissa, the big man stopped. Irma lay broken and bleeding in the snow.
Again Nerissa knelt and took Irma's chin in her hand. This time the Guardian did not struggle, only moaned in pain.
"This is what awaits you and your friends, Guardian. This and so much worse for all of eternity."
"N-no," Irma croaked out. "W-we defeated you once, w-we'll do it a-again. S-smash your m-machines..."
Nerissa laughed derisively. "Do you believe I need a machine to shackle your powers? No dear heart, no; I can do that myself. That machine was there to fill you and your friends with a false-confidence. All you had to do was destroy that contraption and you would be free. It was a useless piece of junk, Guardian. It meant nothing. It was I who allowed you to escape; for that was always my plan."
Irma was confused, but she refused to give up now. "I d-don't believe you."
"You can believe what you want, little one. That does not change the truth."
As Nerissa stood up she stretched a hand towards the helpless Water Guardian.
"You will learn the true meaning of pain, Guardian."
Lightning tendrils snaked out and struck Irma. The Guardian's body twisted and contorted painfully as she writhed this way and that. Her screams echoed around the mountain. Hay Lin sobbed and begged for mercy for her sister.
After what seemed like hours, Nerissa ceased her attack. Irma lay shaking and sobbing.
"I can give you your freedom, Guardian," Nerissa cooed gently in Irma's ear. "I just need one small, little thing from you."
Irma gave no response; she was in too much pain to talk. So Nerissa continued.
"Bring me the Heart of Candracar."
Irma''s breath caught in her chest. No, she couldn't do that; the entire universe would be in danger.
"I will let you and your friends go if you do this. You can go back to living normal lives, to being normal teenagers. Your families will be safe from any retribution. And as a token of my good will, I will now free you from my spell."
The sorceress reached a hand towards Irma and placed it against her face. Irma did not struggle; she could barely move anyway. Again white-hot tendrils shot through the girl's mind and into her skull. Again, Irma screamed in agony. For several seconds the torture continued, then it was over.
Immediately, Irma's mind felt clearer than it had in over a month. The voices ceased, and she no longer felt the ooze of fingers in her brain. The Water Guardian shuddered and breathed deeply.
"There now, isn't that better? You see I can be trusted when I get what I want. Now bring me the Heart of Candracar."
Irma screwed up her last bit of courage. "Never!"
Nerissa smiled and summoned lightning once more. Again the tendrils struck the young Guardian. Again her body contorted and twisted as she screamed and screamed.
Frost's whip struck her back, cleaving the flesh from her body. Hay Lin cried out for them both to stop, but to no avail. The Air Guardian's cheeks were wet with tears.
Will and Cornelia also lent their voices and their tears, but their cried went unheeded.
"Bring me the Heart," Nerissa growled. "Bring it to me and all of this will stop. If you don't, I will torture your friends until I get what I want."
Irma was crying freely now, the tears streaming down her bloodied face. Frost's beatings and Nerissa's lightning had broken her body and her spirit. Painfully she crawled towards Will. Frost growled and carried the young girl to her leader.
Dumping her unceremoniously into the snow, Frost hefted his axe and held it above Irma's neck.
"W-will, p-please," Irma stammered, "give m-me the H-Heart."
Will hesitated. Irma was taking a terrible beating and Will knew she wouldn't last much longer. "Irma, I can't."
Irma cried harder as she reached out to her friend and leader. "Will, p-please. I c-can't take it anymore."
"Do it, Guardian, or I lop off her head here and now," Frost growled. Crimson's jaws tightened around the redhead's throat.
Faced with Irma's impending death, Will had no choice. Carefully she summoned the Heart and handed it to Irma. As soon as the Heart left her presence, Will's face contorted and became scarred once again. With a cry of triumph, Frost scooped the badly injured Guardian over his massive shoulder and carried her back to Nerissa.
"Good, Guardian, very good, indeed. Now give me the Heart and I will let you go," Nerissa said gently.
Irma fought an inner war with herself. On the one hand, Nerissa was likely lying just to get the Heart. If Irma gave it to her, she and her friends would be her prisoners forever. On the other hand, if there was any chance at all that Nerissa would let them go...Irma couldn't take the pain anymore, nor could she subject her friends to it. She knew Hay Lin, in particular, would take the brunt of it because of her grandmother. How could she subject her best friend to that? Irma closed her eyes and made the hardest decision of her life.
Just then, a strange noise sounded in the distance. A portal had appeared and through it stepped Luba and Elyon.
"Nerissa!" Elyon shouted. "Stop this madness and face me, the Queen of Meridian!"
Nerissa smiled and turned to face the newcomers. "You wish to face me alone? Or shall I destroy your dog along with you?"
"This is between you and me, Nerissa. Everyone else stays out of it," Elyon said angrily.
"As you wish, my queen," Nerissa gave a mock bow. With that she shot lightning at the young queen, which Elyon blocked easily. She returned fire, only to be blocked in turn.
As the two dueled, Luba turned her attention towards the Guardians. Seeing their peril, she held very still. The cat growled openly and defiantly.
"Face me, cowards. Let them go and face me now."
Tracker said nothing but only launched his bats towards the cat. Luba dodged easily and dove at Tracker. She buried her claws into his chest again and again.
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Will watched hopefully as Luba attacked Tracker. She waited for an opening...and soon got one as Sniffer rushed to help his master. She fired a bolt of lightning into Crimson's exposed stomach, knocking the beast away from her throat. Will rolled to her knee and fired again. Crimson lay in the snow unmoving.
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Cornelia could see what was happening to Irma and it enraged her. Though the two didn't always see eye-to-eye, they were still friends. She couldn't move her legs, but she could still use her powers. Concentrating hard on Gargoyle, she saw him in her mind's eye. Slowly she began to manipulate the rocks of his body, causing them to crack. With a roar, Gargoyle began to break apart, rock by rock. Soon he was nothing but a pile of stones in the snow. Taranee lay unconscious among the debris.
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Luba continued to stab at Tracker until she was bowled over by Sniffer. Quickly the large dog snapped his jaws around the cat's throat and began to squeeze. Luba howled in pain and and clawed desperately at Sniffer's belly. Still the dog did not relinquish his hold. Luba knew her days were finally over.
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Will downed Raythor again with a well-placed lightning bolt then turned immediately to Hay Lin. Miranda had begun carving the young Guardian's shoulders with her knife. Rather than cutting her throat, the spider creature had chosen to torture her victim instead.
Will fired a lightning bolt at the spider, catching her in the "face" and knocking her back. Miranda dropped the knife and howled with pain. Will flew quickly to Hay Lin's side and tried to break the webbing.
"You doing okay?"
Hay Lin shook her head. "Not even close. We have to get to Irma!"
"I know, but we have to get you free first."
"No, get to Irma. Frost has got her again, and he's beating her. You can't let him. Go get him now!"
While Will was certainly grateful that Irma still had her head, she wondered why. Why had Frost not killed her already?
"Will, go!"
With an exasperated sigh, Will took off and flew straight for Frost. He was concentrating so much on Irma, he never saw the Guardian Leader as she took aim. The bolt struck him between his shoulder blades and dropped him to the snow. Will landed next to Irma and took the Water Guardian in her arms. Thankfully, she was unconscious. The Heart was still tightly clutched in her left fist.
Gently, Will pried her friend's fingers apart and took possession of the Heart once more. Immediately, Will's beautiful features returned.
"Irma, wake up. Come on wake up," Will pleaded. She felt for a pulse.
"Irma please, wake up," Will cried desperately.
The redhead never saw Frost behind her as he pulled his axe back. With a mighty swing, it drove towards her head.
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Taranee's head was swimming. Her eyes struggled to focus and her ears were ringing as she regained consciousness. The first thing she noticed was she was sitting in a pile of rubble and snow. Confused she tried to remember what was happening.
Then it hit her...Nerissa, the Knights, ambush!
She surged to her feet, and immediately wished she hadn't. She fell back to the snow, still dizzy. Grabbing her head, she tried to focus and willed her mind to clear. It was then she heard a howl she thought she recognized.
"Luba," Taranee groaned aloud.
On her hands and knees, Taranee scanned the battlefield. She saw Sniffer pinning the big cat to the ground, his jaws clamped around her throat.
"Oh no you don't," the Fire Guardian said as she lined up Sniffer. "Fire!" She yelled as she released a fireball at the hound. It struck him in the side and knocked him off Luba. He lay in the snow unmoving.
Luba nodded her thanks and rose to her feet. She approached the young Fire Witch and extended her paw.
"My thanks, Guardian. Are you alright?"
"I feel a little squished, but I think I'm okay," Taranee answered, taking the proffered paw. As she was helped to her feet, Taranee gasped in pain, her hand flying to her ribs.
"Guardian?"
"Ooo, my ribs," the Fire Guardian moaned.
"Sit down, Guardian. I will see to the others," Luba offered. Taranee nodded and sat back down on a boulder.
"Cornelia, how's Cornelia?"
"I will find her."
Luba turned to search for Cornelia and instead found Hay Lin struggling against her bonds. Racing over, the big cat extended her claws and cut through the webbing.
"Thanks, Luba," Hay Lin said gratefully.
Luba nodded and looked around for Miranda. "Where is the spider?"
Hay Lin stood up and looked around. "I don't know. Guess she ran off."
Hay Lin turned her attention to Irma and saw Frost swinging his axe towards Will's head.
Without thinking, Hay Lin threw a powerful whirlwind and caught the big Knight just before his axe hit. He was thrown, howling, across the mountain. Hay Lin and Luba ran towards Will and Irma.
"Will, are you okay?" Hay Lin asked breathlessly.
"Yeah, thanks to you," Will answered.
"How is the Water Guardian?" Luba asked.
"I don't know," Will answered. "I can't wake her up."
Luba knelt and placed a paw against Irma's wrist. Then she brushed stray hairs away from the young Guardian's closed and already-swollen eyes.
"Keep trying; I must find the Earth Guardian."
"She's near Taranee I think," Hay Lin said as she gently brushed Irma's cheek.
"Taranee!" Will exclaimed. "Is she okay?"
"Her ribs are injured, but she is alright," Luba answered.
"Hay Lin, stay with Irma. I need to go with Luba and see to Taranee and Corny."
Hay Lin nodded and took over for Will.
Luba and Will strode through the snow towards Taranee. The Fire Guardian was already up and attending to Cornelia.
"How is she," Will asked as she and Luba approached.
Taranee stood up and turned to her leader. "Will, I think her back is broken. She said she can't feel her legs."
"Well couldn't that just be because she's lying in the snow?"
"I don't think so," Taranee said solemnly.
"Then we must not move her."
"We have to move her, Luba," Will replied. "We have to get her back to Candracar for healing."
"I believe the Air Guardian can assist with that."
"Wait a second," Taranee said as she noticed some unusual lights in the distance. "What is that?"
"That, I believe, is the Queen of Meridian battling Nerissa," Luba replied calmly.
"Elyon's here?" Taranee exclaimed.
"You must have been unconscious; she arrived with Luba," Will explained.
"We have to go help her!"
Luba placed a hand on Taranee's shoulder. "She will handle things on her own. I do not believe she needs our help; but the Earth Guardian does."
Will could see Taranee was torn. "It's okay, T," she said placing her hand on Taranee's other shoulder. "It's what Elyon wants. She needs to do this herself."
"Like hell! Nerissa lied to us and she cheated. Why can't we do the same thing?"
"Because Corny needs our help now," Will said soothingly. "We have to see to her."
Taranee seemed unconvinced, but she knew Cornelia was in bad shape. So she knelt once more with her friend to try to offer comfort as best she could.
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Lightning and raw power flashed again and again as Elyon and Nerissa battled with one another. They blocked and dodged and no one could get the upper hand...until Elyon landed a lucky blow.
Nerissa staggered back and fought to raise her shield.
But she was too late.
Elyon saw her opening and attacked with a vengeance. Her powers lashed out at the old sorceress and struck again and again. Nerissa screamed in pain and frustration as the Queen of Meridian forced her back.
"No, you will not defeat me. Not like this!"
"Your days of terror are over, Nerissa! I'm going to make sure you never harm another living soul again!"
With that, another well-placed blow of magic shattered Nerissa's left arm, and the old hag staggered to the ground. Elyon stood over her fallen opponent and unleashed raw power into Nerissa's stomach. The force began to push her into the snow.
Nerissa screamed with rage and agony, but was powerless against the young queen's magic. She was driven down ten feet into the snow...another prison for her evil.
Elyon summoned her powers again and buried the fallen Guardian under ten feet of snow. She wished she had Irma available to seal the prison with ice, but still...
With her task completed, and Nerissa defeated forever, Elyon made her way back to her friends. She reached Cornelia and knelt near her closest friend.
"Cornelia..."
"Elyon. Oh Elyon, I can't feel my legs. What's happening to me?"
"Don't worry Cornelia, we'll get you some help, okay?"
Cornelia nodded bravely, but she was still scared. "What happened out there with you and Nerissa? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Cornelia; I buried that bitch alive in the snow. She won't be coming back...ever."
"How did you know to come here?" Taranee asked.
"Yan Lin and Luba came to me about an hour ago. They told me everything and said you guys might need some help."
"Good thing you showed up, Elyon," Will said quietly. "I don't think we would have survived this one."
"Hey what are friends for?" Elyon quipped. She lowered her voice then and looked across the snow to Hay Lin. "How's Irma been holding up?"
"She's really bad," Will said. "Honestly I don't know is she's even alive right now."
Elyon shook her head angrily. "What was the point of it all anyway? Why would Nerissa do such a thing? Kidnap and torture someone like that...what was she thinking?"
"It was a ploy to get the Heart of Candracar," Will answered. "Nerissa promised Irma she wouldn't have to go through it again if she gave up the Heart. If Irma didn't, then Nerissa was going to torture all of us and our families for eternity."
"Eternity? How is that even possible? Could she really have done that?" Elyon asked.
"Nerissa has the power to extend natural life," Luba answered. "It is possible she would have been able to torture you Guardians for a very, very long time."
Taranee gulped and hugged Will tightly. "I'm so glad we don't have to go through that."
"Me too, T; me too."
"Luba and I will stay with Cornelia; you guys should go to Irma. See how she's doing," Elyon said.
"Thanks Elyon," Taranee said as she and Will made their way towards Hay Lin and Irma.
As they approached, they could hear Hay Lin speaking but couldn't make out any words.
Taranee wanted to run, but the pain in her ribs prevented that.
Hay Lin stood up as her friends approached. "She's awake and talking, but she's in a lot of pain. She's been coughing blood, and she only talks in whispers. She says she's okay, but I don't believe her. We need to get her to her Chamber fast."
Will knelt beside her fallen friend and took her hand. Irma opened her right eye...the left was swollen shut.
"Will," she whispered, with a slight cough.
"Hey Irma," Will said with mock cheerfulness. "How you doing?"
"Peachy; I feel g-great."
"Still cracking jokes, I see."
"W-wouldn't be m-me otherwise."
"No I suppose it wouldn't. We're gonna get you some help, Irma. Just hang on okay?"
"S-sure Boss."
"Stop that; my name is Will, not Boss."
"I didn't d-do it, Will."
"Didn't do what?"
"I d-didn't give up t-the Heart."
Will smiled sadly and stroked Irma's blood-soaked hair. "Of course you didn't; I never thought you would."
Irma coughed again and spat blood into the crimson snow. "Liar," she whispered.
Will laughed then and tried to scoop up her friend. Irma coughed violently and shook her head.
"Don't...p-please. It h-hurts to m-move."
"Irma, I'm sorry but we need to get you back to your Chamber. We have to move you."
"I can do it," Hay Lin piped up. "I can use air to create a cushion for her."
Will shook her head. "We need you to do that for Corny. Her back is broken."
Hay Lin gasped and covered her mouth.
"T-take Corny first; c-come b-back for me."
"Uh uh, no way; not happening.
"L-Luba," Irma whispered.
"Sorry?" Will said.
"Luba can do it...she c-can move me."
"What, because she can do it without hurting you?"
"No, but I l-like being m-mad at her, s-so it's okay."
Will almost laughed. "Taranee, would you get Luba please?"
Taranee turned and whistled loudly. "Luba!" she yelled.
Will sighed. "I could have done that myself, Taranee."
"Then why didn't you?" Taranee asked innocently.
Irma laughed and went into another coughing fit.
Will tried to comfort Irma as best she could. "Irma..."
"Will?"
"Irma...I'm gonna do the Joining. You know, to fix my face and all."
Irma swallowed hard and grinned as best she could. "G-good for you, Boss. It'll suck, but the end r-result will be g-good."
Luba appeared then. "You summoned me?" she asked, peering at Taranee.
"Luba," Will said, standing up. "Irma says it hurts to move, but we have to move her in order to get her back to Candracar. It would take two of us to do that, and I don't think Taranee is in any condition for that. We need Hay Lin to move Corny, so..."
"You wish me to move the Water Guardian."
"Can you do it?" Will asked hopefully.
Without a word, the big cat leaned down and flipped the injured Guardian into a classic fireman's carry. Irma cried out, but it was done.
Taranee heard Irma swear under her breath and grinned in spite of herself.
"Alright, let's go get Corny real fast and then we can get out of here," Will said.
Hay Lin raced to Cornelia's side and immediately summoned up a bed of air. Gently lifting Cornelia she made sure to remain as stable as possible. The Air Mistress slowly floated the stricken Guardian towards Will, closely followed by Elyon.
Will summoned a portal and the friends immediately stepped through for some much-needed healing...and rest. Nerissa was vanquished, her spell was broken, and the Guardians could finally feel safe once again.
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The portal dissipated, leaving Mount Thanos quiet and snow-driven as before. At the summit, the Knights of Vengeance awoke and found themselves alone. They knew they had tasted defeat, and decided the best course of action was to regroup elsewhere. So they limped off, leaving the shattered Gargoyle behind...and Nerissa as well.
Over one-hundred feet away, a large pile of snow marked the grave of the evil sorceress. Buried alive, there was no hope for her return. This time her prison would be permanent.
The Knights had no way of knowing this, however, so they left their leader behind. They thought she had abandoned them and saved herself when the battle went sour. After all, how could a mere teenager defeat the most powerful sorceress in the universe?
And so they fled into the snow, hoping Nerissa had a new plan for defeating the Guardians. They had come so close...so close. It had been a perfect plan, a flawless plan. If not for the Queen of Meridian, it would have worked.
As the Knights of Vengeance staggered away, one-by-one, the huge pile of snow began to move. And slowly, ever so slowly, it began to shift.
Until a gauntleted fist shattered its way through to the sky.
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Thank you to all who read this. Please let me know what you think.