Chapter Thirteen: Misunderstandings
About an hour past and Irma and Taranee were still sleeping from under the effects of being in their crystal shells. Seeing this worried those that were down there with them.
"Why won't they wake up, Mr. Vanders?", Hay Lin asked Angelo's Uncle John.
"It may depend on how long they were in those crystal shells.", John said thinking things through. "You and Cornelia were the first two rescued. So, you two woke up quicker, but needed to get more rest."
"So, you're saying that they're getting their full rest now?", Nigel asked as he held Taranee's hand.
"Quite possibly.", John said. "Then again, we could let them know they need to get up."
"How?", Eric asked.
"Just tell them, maybe.", John said. "Who knows."
"Worth a shot.", Nigel said as he leaned down towards Taranee's ear. "Taranee, if you can hear me, it's time to wake up."
Somehow, hearing Nigel speak to her so gently, Taranee slowly opened her eyes to see Nigel smiling down at her.
"Nigel?", Taranee questioned as she sat up rubbing her head. "What happened?"
Taranee then looked around the room she was in, not knowing where she was.
"Where am I? The last thing I remember was being blasted by the Shadon guy and........", she said as she looked down to see that she was still in her Guardian form. "Oh no! Nigel look, I can explain!"
"Relax Taranee.", Nigel said as he placed his hand on her shoulders to calm her down. "I already know."
"You do?!", Taranee asked a bit puzzled.
"Yeah!", Eric said getting her attention. "We've even been to Kondra...... Kandro........ What's it called again?"
"Kandrakar.", Cassidy said as she covered Phobos with a blanket.
"How are you going to forget the place where we got our armour and weapons?", Nigel asked Eric.
"I haven't forgotten the place.", Eric said. "I just can't say it's name right."
"It is kind of hard to say.", Nigel said in agreement.
Taranee then looked over at Hay Lin who was quite, with a few tears in her eyes.
"Are you okay Hay Lin?", Taranee asked her friend.
Hay Lin then wrapped Taranee in a hug as she let the tears flow.
"I'm glad to see you too, Hay Lin.", Taranee said as she hugged her back.
"Now we just have to wake Irma up.", Eric said. "After that, we can explain everything to you both."
"Leave that to me.", Hay Lin said as she leaned down to Irma's ear. "Irma? Phobos is here! Phobos is here!"
"What?! Where?! Who?! What?!", Irma exclaimed as she jumped up in a panic.
"Now that's priceless!", Uncle John laughed.
"And me with out a camera!", Cassidy laughed with everyone else.
Irma then looked around to see everyone in the room. She then spotted Phobos on the couch.
"Phobos!", Irma yelled as she jumped to her feet.
"What?!", Taranee exclaimed as she jumped to her feet also.
"Hold up you two!", Uncle John said as he jumped in front of the two. "A lot has happened since you were captured by Shadon."
"How do you know about that?!", Irma asked. "And why are we still in our Guardian form, for everyone to see?!"
"Like Mr. Vanders said, a lot has happened.", Nigel said. "So take a seat, cause this may take awhile."
Meanwhile, in Shadon's palace, Shadon observed as his two Shadow Generals were defeated by the Dragon Knights, two of Earth's Regents and one of Meridian's Knights. He then slammed his fist down on the arm of his throne, angry that his plan of divide and conquer had failed. Suddenly, two small purple and black marble sized orbs appeared in front of Shadon.
"Shada, and Shade.", Shadon said as he grabbed the two orbs. "Both of you have failed me. And for that, you two will be joining Shadoo, and Shadina."
He then swallowed one orb first. And the other soon followed.
"So, the other two Dragon Knights were found and they're former Guardians.", Shadon pondered. "And one of those two is, a Shadow Specter free, Nerissa. Not to mention Phobos is free of his Shadow Specter as well. Things have gotten most interesting. Shadar! Shadin! Come forth!"
From the shadows walked forth walked a set of twins. One, was a male, the other a female, both clad in armour. Both had wine-colored eyes with silverish gray hair, and fair looking skin. The male, Shadar, wielded a pair of katana blades, while the female, Shadin, wielded small shield on each hand.
"You called for us, Master Shadon?", Shadar said as he and his sister got on one knee before Shadon.
"On your feet, both of you.", Shadon ordered as he got up from his throne. "By now, you two should know that your fellow Shadow Generals have fallen at the hands of those bothersome Dragon Knights and their allies."
"Even Shada, sir?!", Shadin questioned in shock as Shadon walked down towards them.
"I'm afraid so, Shadin.", Shadon said as he turned his back to the two Shadow Generals. "It will be up to you two to set up the final Guardian in the final spot. Once you do, be prepared to take on the Dragon Knights!"
"And where is the final spot, master?", Shadin asked.
"In the place where the dark clouds are slowly fading away as we speak.", Shadon said as he turned to face them. "In the Dragon Knights' home town. In the city of....... Heatherfield!"
"We will take the final Guardian, and restore the dark cloud over their home, and show them true darkness!", Shadar said as he and his sister vanished in a dark mist.
"Fools.", Shadon said with a cruel smile. "If you only knew what you were really made for. Soon, I'll have the power I need to open a fold to Kandrakar, and take it over!"
"And when you do, you shall be able to get what you've wanted this whole time!"
Shadon looked to see a slim, yet muscular man, with tanned skin, long blonde hair and green eyes, walked up to him.
"My dear friend Necros.", Shadon said as he looked down towards his loyal warrior. "You, my head Shadow General, have done well with my six puppets. Once Shadin and Shadar are beaten, I'll soon be ready for my assult on Kandrakar."
"Yes, my master.", Necros said as he bowed to Shadon.
"Now, I want you two prepare for an assault on the kingdom of Meridian.", Shadon ordered with a grin. "After all, they are excepting us to attack there. Might as well give them what they want."
"Yes master.", Necros said as he walked back into the shadows.
"Soon, very soon, I will have everything!", Shadon said as he made a fist. "And all the Dragon Knights will be no more!"
Through out Shadon's palace, evil laughter could be heard.
At the Vander's residents...............
"Wow!", Taranee said after hearing about what happened in the last few days.
"Hold up!", Irma said trying to understand everything that was told to her and Taranee. "Now let me get this whole thing straight! This Shadon guy trapped me and the other Guardians in crystal shell so he could use us as a power source to make these dark clouds to cover the Earth, so his Shadow Horde could rome around and take over."
"Yeah.", Nigel said.
"And Eric, Nigel, and Angelo were the first three chosen to be these chosen Dragon Knights to wield these Star Weapons that they used to free Corny, and Hay Lin.", Irma went on to say.
"You got it so far!", Hay Lin said with a smile.
"Then, after Cassidy became a Dragon Knight, Angelo had a dream about Nerissa, of all people, being taken away by some dark force, which turned out to be something called a Shadow Specter.", Irma continued on.
"Yes.", Eric said confirming what she said so far. "Go on."
"So, Angelo, his grandfather, Cassidy and Corny went to Meridian, and freed Nerissa, and Phobos, from their Shadow Specters. And now Nerissa's a Dragon Knight, and Phobos is helping us as well. And with their help, you guys were able to save me and Taranee.", Irma concluded.
"By George I think she's got it!", Cassidy joked. "I hope."
Irma then groaned as she laid back down on the air mattress, she was laying on.
"Has the whole world gone nuts?!", Irma questioned.
"Think of it like this, Irma.", Eric said. "With Phobos and Nerissa's help, you were save from the Shadow Generals."
"That makes it even weirder.", Irma said sitting up. "So, where's Nerissa anyway? Heck, where's Corny!"
"Both are up in the guest rooms, getting some rest.", Cassidy said yawning.
"Which is what you need, Cassidy.", John said. "Go to your room and rest. You'll need it, when we find out where Will is."
"I guess you're right.", Cassidy said as she got to her feet. "I do need the rest."
"We'll keep an eye on Phobos, for you.", Hay Lin said with a kind smile.
"Thanks.", Cassidy said as she went upstairs.
"So what do we do about the Shadow Horde attacking Meridian?", Taranee asked.
"I've thought about that.", John said. "When Phobos wakes up, he along with Caleb and the Regents will head for Meridian to warn the queen there, and get ready for their attack."
"What about us and the Dragon Knights?", Hay Lin asked.
"The Dragon Knights will be needed to go save Will when the time comes.", John said. "As for you four Guardians, don't take this the wrong way, but you're not strong enough."
"HEY!", Hay Lin, Irma, and Taranee said.
"I'm not saying you're weak!", John said. "I'm saying that you four aren't at full power. And until Will is found and saved, you're no good in a fight."
"Well, that's just great!", Irma pouted. "While everyone's out kicking butt, we're stuck here, doing nothing!"
"Don't worry.", John said sitting in a chair. "If I'm right, the Shadow Horde are setting up the crystal shell, that's holding Will, in the final spot to make their dark clouds."
"And that's when we'll strike.", Nigel said.
"We'll beat the Shadow General, guarding her and bring her back!", Eric said proudly. "Then you all will be back to full strenght."
"There may be two of them there this time, seeing as this is their last chance at making the dark clouds.", John said. "And there are only two Shadow Generals left. They'll pull out all the stops this time."
"And we'll be ready!", Nigel said.
After about two hours of talking with each other, Irma decided to go see Angelo.
"Well, I'm going to walk around for a bit.", Irma said getting to her feet. "I need to stretch my legs a little."
"You mean go see Angelo.", Taranee teased.
"Maybe.", Irma said with a smile as she headed upstairs.
As Irma slowly headed towards Angelo's room, she was thinking about what she would say to him.
'Angelo, I like you!', she thought to herself. 'No, to simple. Angelo, I really like you! That's a bit overboard. I know! I'll just tell him how I feel about him!'
Once Irma was at his door, she saw that it was cracked opened a bit. She was about to go in when..........
"I want to thank you for what you did for me.", came a female voice, from inside Angelo's room.
'Who's that?!', Irma questioned as she peeked into the room, through the small opening.
Irma then saw the backs of Angelo and some girl with black hair that went down to her waist.
'Is that........... Nerissa?!', Irma thought to herself. 'What's she doing in there?!'
"Thank me?", Angelo questioned Nerissa. "It was me, Cassidy, Cornelia, and my Grandpa Joe who helped free you."
"True, but if you didn't meet me in your dream, I may not of been here.", Nerissa said.
"So that was really you in my dream?!", Angelo asked in shock. "But how?!"
"I don't know.", Nerissa said. "One minute, I'm running in darkness. The next, I see you standing there."
"Maybe it was our connection as Dragon Knights that brought me to you in my dream.", Angelo guested. "Who knows."
"Either way, it was you that saw that I was in need of help.", Nerissa said. "You saved me from total darkness. And I want to thank you for that."
Irma was about to walk in, when she saw something that hurt her more than any attack could, at that moment.
"No!", Irma whispered as she saw Angelo and Nerissa kiss.
Irma then ran down the hall and down the stairs. Once down the stairs, Irma just dropped to her knees crying, as Hay Lin and Taranee came up to her.
"What happened, Irma?", Hay Lin asked her friend. "Did Angelo turn you down?"
"Worse!", Irma cried as they lead her to one of the couches. "I saw him........ kiss Nerissa!"
"Did not see that coming.", Nigel whispered to Eric.
"You and me both, man!", Eric whispered back. "There has to be more to this!"
"What's wrong guys?", Cornelia asked as she came walking downstairs, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Irma saw Angelo kiss Nerissa.", Taranee informed Cornelia while comforting Irma.
"What?!", Cornelia questioned. "When?!"
"I'm guessing a few minutes ago.", Hay Lin replied.
"What is it about me that turns guys away from me?!", Irma cried with her hand over her face.
"It's not you, Irma.", Cornelia said as she sat next to Irma. "And don't you ever think it! You just haven't met the right guy yet."
"The right guy's out there for you somewhere, Irma.", Hay Lin said. "And when you find him, don't let go!"
"Thanks guys.", Irma said in between sobs. "You're the best."
The girls then shared a group hug, making Irma feel a lot better. Just then, Angelo and Nerissa came walking down the stairs. Angelo noticed the group hug the girls were having.
"Something we miss?", Angelo asked Nigel and Eric.
The girls then got to their feet and gave Angelo and Nerissa an angry glare. Seeing this made them both backup a little.
"Was it something I said?", Angelo asked.
Irma then walked up to Angelo and slapped him across the face. Nerissa gasped in shock after seeing this.
"Whoa!", Eric and Nigel said as they saw the whole thing unfold.
"You jerk!", Irma snapped at Angelo.
"OW!", Angelo yelled as he placed his hand on his check. "What the heck was that for?!"
"You know what that was for!", Hay Lin yelled.
"No I don't!", Angelo said. "I didn't do anything wrong!"
"Oh really?!", Irma said glaring at Angelo. "Let me refresh your memory! I saw you and Nerissa kissing!"
"It's not what you think, Irma.", Nerissa said in Angelo's defense. "What happened was..........."
"Oh save it, Nerissa!", Irma said cutting her off. "I know what I saw up there! You're no better than what you were, when you were our enemy!"
Hearing that truly hurt Nerissa, as tears started to well up in her eyes. Irma saw this, but wasn't about to go soft on her former enemy. As far as Irma was concerned, she was still her enemy. Not saying a word, Nerissa ran back upstairs in tears.
A/N: Poor, poor Nerissa. She barely got a word in edge wise, when she tried to explain things th Irma! Hopefully things will work out. You'll just have to read on to find out.
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