Chapter Sixteen: The Calm Before The Storm
Once one the roof, Angelo and Irma sat in two of the, few chairs that were on the roof. At first, there was silence between the two, until Irma broke the silence.
"You don't like me, do you?", she asked.
"Irma, I didn't think you like me like that.", Angelo said looking at her. "I mean we only had a few dates in the last two months. So, I figured that it be best we were friends for now and see what happens. I know you still like Andrew Hornby."
"Used to like him.", Irma replied. "I'm over him now."
"You have the worst timing sometimes.", Angelo said.
"Meaning?", Irma asked.
"I think......... I like someone else.", Angelo said with a small smile.
"Nerissa?", Irma questioned.
"Y-yeah.", Angelo said softly. "Weird, huh?"
"Not as weird as Cassidy liking Phobos.", Irma grinned.
"You see that too, huh?", Angelo said grinning. "Irma look. I will alway be your friend. And who knows, maybe things won't work out between me and Nerissa, and you and me may end up getting together. But until then, don't be afraid to play the field."
"Got any cousins?", Irma asked.
"Actually, two are coming to live with us soon.", Angelo replied.
Both then looked at each other, and laughed as a flock of birds flew buy above them. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile, in Shadon's palace, Shadon watched as the Dragon Knights defeated his last two Shadow Generals.
"Again they beat my Shadow Generals to soon!", Shadon snapped as he jumped up from his throne. "No matter. I always have my back up plan. Nerco! Come forth!"
"You called my master?", Necro said as he stepped forth.
"Prepare my forces for an attack on Meridian!", Shadon ordered. "Have Shadowron lead the attack within two hours!"
"Yes master.", Necro said as he bowed and walked away.
Just then two small purple and black marble sized orbs appeared in front of Shadon.
"Shadar and Shadin.", Shadon said as he grabbed the two orbs. "You've served your master well."
He then swallowed one orb first. And the other soon followed.
"Soon Kandrakar, your power shall be mine!", Shadon said as he went to sit back on his throne.
Back at the Vanders home................
"Whoa!", Will said after she heard the whole story. "Dragon Knights, huh?"
"Pretty cool, isn't it?!", Hay Lin said as she leaned close to Eric as they sat on one of the couches.
"And Nerissa's one of you guys?", Will asked Nigel.
"Why does that sound so weird?", Nigel asked. "You were just told about the whole Shadow Specters thing."
"It still sounds weird.", Will said. "Even finding out about Phobos being on our side!"
"You'll get used to it.", Yan Lin said.
Just then, Nerissa came walking back downstairs wearing a purple martial arts uniform with short sleeves with a white belt and boots.
"That shower felt good.", Nerissa said as she was drying her hair, with her towel. "Thanks for the outfit, Joe. Who ever wants to take a shower can take one now."
"Good, cause I need one!", Nigel said before he gave Taranee a quick kiss. "Be right back."
"Take this, Nigel.", John said handing him a green martail arts uniform like Nerissa's, only green.
"Cool.", Nigel said taking the uniform.
John then handed Cassidy a blue one and Eric a white one.
"Now this is cool!", Eric said looking at the uniform.
"Ladies first!", Cassidy teased as she ran upstairs to take a shower.
"Funny.", Nigel said as he sat back down. "Shouldn't Angelo and Irma be back down by now?"
"They could be doing more than just talking.", Eric grinned.
"Eric!", Hay Lin whispered as she elbowed her boyfriend in the stomach.
"What?!", Eric asked his girlfriend.
Hay Lin them tilted her head towards Nerissa who looked a little upset, after hearing what Eric said.
"Oh!", Eric said after seeing Nerissa's face. "I'm sorry Nerissa!"
"It's okay.", Nerissa said with a small smile. "I mean we've only just met. And after all that's happen, I don't think I deserve to........."
WHACK!
"Ow!", Nerissa yelled as she rubbed the spot on her head where Grandpa Joe popped her. "That hurt Joe!"
"Quite putting yourself down like that!", Joe demanded. "We all know it wasn't you who did all those things! So, quite punishing yourself!"
"But........."
"No buts!", Kadma said walking up to Nerissa. "If we all can let it go, then so can you!"
"You must learn to let it go, if you are to move on my friend.", Yan Lin said as she held Nerissa's hand.
"I don't think I can.", Nerissa said softly. "Not now at least."
"In time you will.", Yan Lin said.
"And until then, know that we're not going to let you be a loner."
Nerissa turned to see Irma walking towards her.
"And what were you and Angelo doing up there?", Cornelia asked.
"Just talking.", Irma said with a smile. "He decided to stay up there a while longer. Said something about enjoying the calm before the storm."
Will then got up, and went upstairs.
"Where's she going?", Eric asked.
"To talk to Angelo.", John said. "Those two were always close, when they were kids."
"Not to change the subject, but there is something we need to talk about.", Joe said. "You all need to pick a leader."
Once Will walked onto roof of the building, she spotted Angelo laying down on a large blanket, looking up at the sky. With a small smile, Will walked over and laid down on the blanket next to Angelo.
"So, Guardian, huh?", Angelo asked still looking up at the sky.
"Yep.", Will said doing the same thing. "So, you're one of these Dragon Knights, huh?"
"Yep.", Angelo said with a grin. "You know what this reminds me of?"
"What?", Will asked.
"Remember when we were eight, and for Halloween you dressed as a fairy........."
"And you were a knight!", Will finished with a grin.
"Who of thought it would of really happened?!", Angelo began to laugh.
Soon both were laughing at the whole thing. Soon, the laughter died down as they sat up.
"But honestly, this is a lot to take in.", Angelo said as he ran his hand over his hair. "How do you handle it all?"
"Who says I do?", Will said holding the Heart in her hand. "There are times that I question why I was picked to be the Keeper of the Heart."
"Well, the way I see it, everyone is meant to do something with there lives.", Angelo said. "Maybe this is what we're meant to do."
"And after we're no longer able to?", Will asked.
"That'll be up to us.", Angelo said. "I may end up running the dojo here. But, I do plan on finding that speacial someone, getting married, and starting a family. Hopefully all in my mid-twenties."
"Don't we have everything planned out.", Will said with a smirk.
"Planned out, yes.", Angelo said. "Do I know it'll happen the way I want it to, no idea. But, that's the fun of it all."
"Really now?", Will questioned her friend.
"Totally.", Angelo said. "To be honest, when we got together, back in Fadden Hills, I thought that you and me would end up growing up and getting married."
"Really?!", Will asked Angelo with a light shade of pink on her cheeks.
"Y-yeah.", Angelo said as he looked at Will feeling his cheeks warm up a bit.
"I kind of thought the same thing, back then too.", she said as she was making circles on the blanket, with her fingers. "Guess things changed, when I moved."
"Maybe, but the future isn't totally written in stone.", Angelo said calmly. "Maybe we'll end up getting back together, in the future. If it doesn't happen, we can still be friends."
"Nothing will change that.", Will said.
"A fairy and a knight.", Angelo said with a smile. "Best friends for life."
"Darn straight!", Will said as they high fived each other.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I need a shower.", Angelo said as he got to his feet.
"And I'm hungry.", Will said getting to her feet.
"You know you're welcomed to the fridge.", Angelo said.
"Never say that around Irma.", Will grinned.
"Don't worry, I won't.", Angelo said, as they made their way to the door leading to the stairs, leading down to the lower floor. "I've seen that girl eat enough egg rolls in one meal that would put most gluttons to same."
"I don't know where she puts it!", Will grinned.
Once at his room, which as one of the apartments in the building, Angelo was about to go in when his Grandpa Joe was walking up toward him and Will, with a thing of red clothes and white boots and fingerless gloves.
"What's up Grandpa Joe?", Angelo asked.
"Put these on.", Joe said handing him the clothes.
"Okay.", Angelo said. "I'm going to shower first, then put these on."
"I should hope so.", Joe said as he turned to head back downstairs, while Angelo and Will went into his place.
"Take a seat on the couch, and watch some TV.", Angelo offered. "When I'm done cleaning up, we can head downstairs, and have some shrimp, pineapple, and chicken pizza."
"I haven't had that in a long time.", Will grinned. "How old were we when we made that up?"
"Nine or ten if I'm right.", Angelo said as he walked into the bathroom. "Give me seven minutes!"
"Yeah sure.", Will said as she laid down on the couch. "I'll just rest my eyes for a bit."
That was the last thing Will said before she slowly went to sleep. A few minutes later, Angelo came out of the bathroom, dressed in the red martial arts uniform, that Grandpa Joe gave him.
"This is pretty nice.", Angelo said looking himself over. "What do you think Will?"
Angelo looked over at Will to see she was laying down on his couch, fast asleep.
'Guess she was more tired than she thought.', Angelo thought as he walked over and covered her with a blanket.
"Get some rest, Will.", he said softly as he kissed her forehead and left his room.
Once downstairs, Angelo saw that his fellow Dragon Knights were wearing the same kind of uniforms. The only difference was that they were different colors. Mainly, the colors of their armour.
"I see we're all wearing the same kind of outfits.", Angelo said.
"They are pretty nice.", Cassidy said.
"You know what this reminds me of?", Irma asked with a grin, while rubbing her chin.
"Don't say it Irma!", Nigel said.
"Please don't say it.", Angelo pleaded.
"Oh! I know, I know!", Hay Lin said cheerfully. "The Power Rangers!"
Angelo and Nigel both groaned as they slapped their foreheads.
"Who are these Power Rangers?", Nerissa asked. "Do you think they'll us in our fight?"
Everyone the busted out laughing at Nerissa's question. This confused Nerissa a bit.
"What's so funny?", she asked feeling a bit hurt.
"Nerissa, you've got a lot to learn, girl!", Cassidy said as she calmed down from all the laughing.
"I have to get something to eat.", Angelo said as he went into the kitchen.
After everyone calmed down, Angelo came back into the living room with an empty pizza tray.
"Which one of you ate the last four pieces of my shrimp, pineapple, and chicken pizza?!", he asked.
"That was yours?", Hay Lin asked shyly. "Me and Cornelia ate it when you guys went to save Irma and Taranee."
"It was good though.", Cornelia replied. "Where did you get that from?"
"Nowhere.", Angelo said. "I made that myself."
"Really?!", Hay Lin and Cornelia asked.
"Yes, I did.", Angelo said. "It was something me and Will created, when we were about nine or ten. And now I have to make another one."
"Make some more for me too please!", Hay Lin said with a smile.
"Anyone else want some?", Angelo asked.
Angelo looked to see all the Guardians and Dragon Knights, in the room raising their hands.
"Fine.", Angelo said as he rolled his eyes, with a smile as he walked into the kitchen.
Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Meridian, the troops were being prepared for the upcoming battle against the Shadow Horde.
"Did they say when they were going to attack?", Elyon asked her brother and Caleb.
"All the Shadow General said was that when me and Nerissa were freed from the Shadow Specters, that were in us, some sort of signal was sent to their master.", Phobos said to his sister. "She then said that an army of Shadow Minions would attack Meridian, before going after the rest of Metamoor."
"It could be today or a few days from now when they attack.", Rathor said. "They may wait until we're to tired to do anything, and then strike. Either way, it's a gamble."
"They could be just trying to throw us off.", Matt said. "You know to get all your forces in one spot, to wipe then out."
"Then again the Shadow General did shoot Phobos with an arrow in an attempt to weaken our forces.", Caleb replied as they walked onto a balcony over looking the courtyard.
"Are you sure you're okay to fight, Phobos?", Elyon asked her brother.
"I'll be okay, Elyon.", Phobos said as he placed his hand on top of his sister's head. "You just be sure to be some place safe when the fighting starts. Meridian needs it's Queen safe when this is over."
"He's right, your Majesty.", Raythor said. "They may be expecting you to be out there when the battle starts."
"Which is what they want, so they can have one of their Shadow Specters possess you.", Caleb added.
"And trust me, dear sister, that's something you do not want to experiance.", Phobos said as he place his hands on her shoulders. "To see yourself do things, with no control over your body. Watching people suffer and being able to do nothing about it. It was true suffering. Promise me that you'll go somewhere safe when the fighting starts. For I don't want you to go through the same pain I went through."
Elyon looked at her brothers face. She saw the warmth and love in it, that she always wanted to see for a long time.
"Okay. I promise, brother.", Elyon said taking her brothers hand in both of hers. "But, if I see that the Shadow Horde may win the fight, I will jump in and help."
"But Elyon..........."
Phobos was cut off when the skies were suddenly covered in dark clouds.
"They're coming!", Phobos exclaimed looking up at the clouds.
"How can you tell?!", Elyon asked.
"These are the same dark clouds that were in certain areas on Earth.", Phobos said. "They live in darkness!"
"I'll fly out to see where they're gathering!", Matt said as he changed into his Regent form and took to the skies.
"All forces prepare for battle!", Raythor ordered. "We will be leaving soon!"
A/N: Looks like the battle for Meridian is about to begin. Let's just hope that things turn out okay.
Please review.