Last time Nerissa and Pai-Mey Matoya returned to settle accounts with Will and her friends. After explaining how he and Nerissa met, Pai-Mey informed Will that Matt was poisoned ant had about five minutes to live. Pai-Mey said she'd give Will the antidote, but only after giving The Heart of Candracar to Nerissa. Will gave the crystal to Nerissa, but Pai-Mey wouldn't give Will the antidote. Nerissa had to force her comrade to give up the antidote, which Will then used to save Matt. With Matt out of danger, Will saw that her enemies had left. On with the show!

Chapter 3: Return of The Stranger

"Enjoy The Heart of Candracar while you can Nerissa," said Will out loud, "Because I'm gonna get it back. I don't know how, but I'm gonna get it back." "How?" asked Cornelia, "How are we going to get the crystal back? Our powers are barely at half strength without it. And now Nerissa's powers have doubled."

"You would have done exactly as Will did if you were in her position," said Taranee, "If you had the crystal and Caleb were poisoned, and the same goes with me and Nigel." "I'm not blaming Will or anyone," said Cornelia, "I'm just saying that the situation looks really bad." "You can say that again," said Caleb, "With those two working together, we're really up the creek without a paddle."

"Caleb's right," said Taranee, "We've never been in a situation where two of our enemies teamed up." "So what do we do?" asked Nigel. "First," said Will, "We wait for Irma and Hay Lin. Then we'll think of something." Will then noticed a mixed look of anger and disappointment on Jaden's face. "You all right cousin?" asked Will. "I should have done something," said Jaden, "I could have helped."

"There was nothing you could have done to make things turn out differently," said Will, but was interrupted by Jaden, "I could have done something instead stand there like an idiot!" He held out the medallion that was around his neck. "This is the Osiris Pendant, with it I could have brought my cards to life and fight Nerissa and Pai-Mey Matoya, but I just stood there!"

"You're blaming yourself for something that was totally out of your control," said Will, "Nerissa and Pai-Mey are two of the strongest forms of evil out there, even if you did bring your cards to life, I doubt it would have made any difference." "I should have at least tried," said Jaden, "I'm the one who defeated five of the seven Shadow Riders back at school. I managed to defeat the Three Sacred Beast cards."

"From what you told me," said Will, "You had help." "I did," said Jaden, "And today I wanted to help you. But I did nothing! I just stood there!" It was then that Will did something drastic, it was the right thing, but still drastic; she slapped Jaden across the face. "What's wrong with you!" exclaimed Will, "The Jaden I know would never drown himself in self pity! He'd get back on his feet and keep moving forward!"

Just then the spirit of Winged Kuribo appeared and patted Jaden's shoulder in a reassuring way. "You're right little guy," said Jaden to Winged Kuribo, "And you're right too Will. I shouldn't let it get to me. I need to get up and face the music!"

Just then Irma and Hay Lin came running towards Will and the others. Irma was with Martin Tubbs: super genius and long time stalker of Irma. Hay Lin was with Eric Landon (Note that Hay Lin and Eric was a couple, but they broke up when she told him the truth. They are still friends though).

"What happened?" asked Irma as she, Martin, Hay Lin and Eric skidded to a halt. "Here's the short version," said Cornelia, "Nerissa and Pai-Mey Matoya are alive and have teamed up. Pai-Mey poisoned Matt, and Nerissa forced Will to give her the Heart of Candracar. Any questions? Oh, this is Will's cousin Jaden." There was a short round of greetings as Irma, Martin, Hay Lin and Eric said 'hello' to Jaden.

Just as Jaden was finishing saying 'hello', there was a bright blue flash all around Will. The next thing she knew, she and the others, including Jaden, were in the Temple of Candracar. The Oracle and his ever-present aide Tibor were standing at the edge of the room Will and the others had arrived in. "Welcome Guardians," said The Oracle, "I regret that we see each other again under such circumstances."

"Oracle," said Will, "Did you bring us here? I mean how else could we if Nerissa has the crystal?" "He didn't bring you here," a voice coming from Will's left, "I did." There stood a tall man in a blue cloak. The hood of the cloak hid his face, but what could be seen were his eyes, which were glowing bright blue. "I too regret that we met again during such circumstances," said Allen Shockley, a.k.a. The Stranger, "But I must speak with you of a matter of utmost importance."

"So this is Candracar," said an amazed Eric to Hay Lin, "It's everything you said it was, and more." "Forgive me for sounding confused again," said Jaden, "But where we?" "This is the Temple of Candracar," said Will, "The center of infinity." "It's like a world between worlds," said Martin, "All dimensions can be accessible from here. I am so geeking out here!"

"You really do have a bad habit of getting aroused when it's not appropriate," said an annoyed Irma, "Nerissa and Pai-Mey Matoya have teamed up and have taken the crystal! Who knows what they're up to by now?" "Whatever they're up to," said Caleb, "They'll have a hard time agreeing over it." "He's right," said Nigel, "Nerissa nearly had to kill Pai-Mey to make her give Will the antidote." "I'm not surprised," said Matt as he tried to stand up, "Whenever two villains join forces, they usually try to stab each other in the back. Sooner or later, Nerissa and Pai-Mey are going to turn against each other."

"Don't try to stand up," said Will, "You've been through a lot." "I'm fine Will," said Matt as he stood up, "And here's my proof." Without any further hesitation, Matt kissed Will. The kiss lasted about 10 seconds. "Is that proof enough for you?" asked Matt. "I don't know," said Will, a huge smile on her blushing face, "I think I need to examine the evidence a bit more closely." And just like that, she reached up, wrapped her arms around Matt's neck and kissed him.

"I hate to interrupt the romance," said Taranee, "And really I do, but I think there someone here who wants to talk with you Will." "There is no need to rush Taranee Cook," said The Stranger, "Patience is one of my stronger virtues."

After five more minutes of tenderness, Will left Matt's embrace and said to Allen Shockley, "You wanted to talk to me, so talk." "Your greatest challenge as Keeper of the Heart of Candracar is at hand Wilma Vandom," said the Stranger. Will didn't even blink as The Stranger used her full name, something she despises. "My comrades and I have foreseen certain events of this day approaching for some time now."

"If you knew Nerissa and Pai-Mey were going to show up," said Cornelia, "And that they would force Will to hand over the crystal, why didn't you and your people do something to stop it?" "What happened today had to have happen," said Allen Shockley, "Will had to choose to surrender the crystal, or watch Matt die. It was the first part of her challenge, and I must say she passed. You did the right thing by giving The Heart of Candracar to Nerissa."

"If giving the crystal to Nerissa was the right thing," said Will, "What do I have to do to get it back before she and Pai-Mey use it to cause any further chaos?" "That you must figure out on your own," said The Stranger, "But I am allowed to tell you two things; before one day passes on your Earth, you will have the chance to get the crystal back. That's the first thing. The second thing is that before recovering the crystal, you must face yourself. That is all."

"What do you mean she must face herself?" asked Matt. "That she must figure out on her own," said The Stranger, who then faced Jaden, "As for you young Duelist, you are to play a crucial part in the recovery of the crystal." "What am I supposed to do to help Will?" asked Jaden. "That," said Allen Shockley "is also something you must figure out on your own." With a bright blue flash, The Stranger vanished. "I hate it when he does that," said Irma.

The end of chapter 3. Next chapter, we look in on Nerissa and Pai-Mey, 'nuff said. See you next time!