Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H.
Chapter 8: Warped Games
As the forces of good watched Phobos's mystical army march closer and closer, Taranee Cook decided to wait until after the battle before she informed Caleb and the others exactly what she knew about Will's fate. If she were to tell them prematurely, they would not be concentrating on Phobos.
It was weird, almost like she'd forgotten about what happened until a few moments ago.
"Caleb concentrate on the battle ahead," she said seriously.
"I am," he muttered. "It is difficult to be devoted to two causes that mean so much to me." This isn't going to end well. She's in trouble and I can't help her. He raised his sword, signaling for the archers to get their bows ready.
Cornelia's hand rose in the air. "Earth!" On her command a sandstorm brewed between the castle and the marching army making visibility impossible.
Hay Lin became transparent as she began to concentrate. She became one with the air around her. She was able to feel the approaching army's breathing. "Alright," she whispered to Caleb.
Caleb brought the sword down. The archers nocked their arrows, aimed, and shot upwards. Hay Lin took over with her powers. "Air." She guided the arrows through the sandstorm, and through the soldiers on the first and second line of the approaching army. They embedded in the soldiers in the third line, stopping there.
Her aim true, the creatures turned to a black vapor and then dissipated. Queen Elyon and her brother had enchanted the arrows earlier the previous night.
The Meridian forces prepared to shoot more arrows.
Queen Elyon watched Will as she stood near the window trying to see through the sandstorm, but failing. "I am sorry about ordering you to stay here," she said sincerely. "You must realize it's for your own safety."
"Her safety you mean," Will said bitterly, her attention still on the flying sand outside. "What's so great about her anyway?" She folded her arms, a frown decorating her face.
"Will, you two are one in the same," Elyon said amused. Only Will Vandom would find away to be jealous of herself. "We all care about you. We do not want to see you hurt."
Will made a face. "If you go out there, something could happen, and then she won't exist," she said mimicking Caleb's voice. "I really felt the love then." Jerk.
"I apologize if we made you feel inferior to your future self," Elyon said trying to be serious.
"Today sucks!" Will ranted. "I don't see this ever being topped as the worse day of my life!"
Her words sobered Elyon. Oh Will, you don't realize the significance of those words, she thought sadly. She chewed on her lower lip nervously.
"Blunk don't want Will to get hurt," he said firmly. He, Will, Elyon, the queen's advisors, and a few guards were the only ones in the throne room.
In fear that her people would be hurt, she sent them to the Infinite City. Phobos would have to destroy Aldarn, the Meridian Royal Guard, the Guardians, and the royal siblings to get to them.
"At least you two care," Will muttered.
"So do the other guardians," Elyon replied. "In fact, the only one who appeared to want otherwise was Caleb."
"I do not know why I put up with that showoff, know-it-all, jerk," she muttered her emotions matching the stupid sand, flying around obstructing her view. "Once Cornelia started making goo-goo eyes at him, he left me in peace. Apparently he's back in full idiot form." She missed Elyon tumble over in silent laughter.
"I don't see what's wrong with him worrying about you," Elyon replied, sitting up straight trying to get herself under control. Blunk nodded his agreement. "I like when Aldarn worries about me." Not that she would tell him that aloud. She blushed prettily.
"He was worrying about the other me," Will said through gritted teeth. "I bet if she was dangling over a cliff, he'd kicked me over the edge to get to her." She was too irritated to care that that statement made no logical sense.
"Do you like Caleb?" Elyon asked teasingly.
Will finally turned to look at her, in horror. "I'm not that desperate," she declared, her skin tone slowly turning the color of her hair. "I just think he could've been a lot nicer."
"Will," Lei Lin whispered.
"Yes, Lei," she replied softly.
"I'm not," his eyes closed again; her eyes widened as she strained to hear. He crumbled to the ground. The word "alone" never got a chance to grace his lips.
Will fell to her knees beside him to check to see if he had a pulse. She hoped she had not caused him any brain damage.
As she reached toward his neck, the archer took aim and let loose his arrow. It descended through the air toward her.
Taranee, who was tired from using so much of her energy, was startled as the arrow whistled passed her, just over her right wing.
It all seemed like slow motion when she realized what exactly had sailed through the air so near her. "Will!" Her friends name tore from her lips as the arrow embedded in the vicinity of her heart.
Will's startled brown eyes looked down at the arrow. For some reason, she felt no pain. Before she could reach to remove the arrow, it turned to black ooze seeping through the wound, and then it closed. She looked up at Taranee in disbelief. Why don't I feel pain?
Taranee flew to her side. "Are you alright?" she asked frantically.
"I don't know," Will replied confused. What kind of arrow was that and why am I not hurt? They both looked up in the direction the arrow came from.
The archer stood on the ledge, his dark hair blowing in the wind. He calmly took aim and let loose another arrow from his bow. Matt!
"Lightning!" She threw a bolt of lightning at the arrow, disintegrating it. Pain shot through her body. Pain so intense, she fell to her knees, a tortured scream escaping her lips.
"Will!" Taranee exclaimed, hovering over her friend.
"We have to help him," she muttered, her voice sounding far off; like a weird echo.
"You're hurt," Taranee said worried. "Let me stop him."
"He's my friend," Will said stubbornly, breathing hard. "I have to change him back."
"Stay here and I'll relinquish him of his weapon," Taranee commanded, her eyes focusing on Matt in determination.
"Try not to hurt him," Will requested trying to focus on Taranee.
She silently nodded. She flew upwards, flames of anger dancing in her eyes.
The unknown guy took aim at Will. Refusing to be ignored any longer, Taranee focused her smothering eyes on his bow. It started to smoke. He shot his arrow, before having to drop the weapon.
Taranee threw a fireball at the arrow, burning into cinders.
The archer looked at her smiling charmingly.
Taranee gasped, recognizing the handsome young man. "Matt?" She wasn't completely sure it was him because he was older, but Will had collected many pictures of Matt and she'd estimate this was exactly how the handsome young man would look older.
He bowed in a dramatic fashion, straightened and then stepped off the edge. "No!" She flew toward him. I won't make it in time, she thought frantically.
Meanwhile, Caleb read Will's note carefully. He frowned, wondering why she would be joking about jumping off the bridge.
"Well, what does it say?" Cornelia demanded, arms folded in impatience.
"She went back to the bridge," he replied.
"What are we waiting for?" Hay Lin demanded. "Lets go!"
"Where's Taranee?" Irma asked.
"She probably slipped home to watch a boring History Channel documentary," Cornelia muttered. "Lets get going."
Caleb looked around, for his coat. "Has anyone seen my coat?" he asked rubbing the back of his head confused.
"Hopefully, Blunk traded it for something more useful," Cornelia replied. "Like lice."
A pink light streaked toward Matt, at the speed of light. Will turned back to her solid guardian form and caught him just before he crashed to the asphalt.
Taranee sighed with relief, stopping beside her friend. Will grabbed the Heart and laid it against Matt's forehead. The light engulfing them, made seeing what was going on inside impossible.
In the blink of an eye, Taranee changed from her Guardian form back to her normal thirteen-year-old self. She fell the few feet, to the ground, landing ungracefully on her feet.
When the bright pink light faded, both Will and Matt were unconscious on the ground. "Will!" she shouted in horror. This cannot be happening. She looked from Will to Matt to the other unknown guy.
Phobos watched the Guardians from his position behind his massive army. He could see through the thick sand storm. He frowned in displeasure.
Those no count creatures should not have powers like my own. It was bad enough his ugly hag of a sister, as he labeled Elyon, had more power than him but also these no count girls of inferior breeding and birth.
He shook his head, caressing the staff of Malin. It would right all the wrongs handed down to him.
Blunk met Caleb and the other Guardians, as they hurried in the direction of the old bridge. "Help! Girls in trouble!" he exclaimed frantically. The girls looked at each other frightened.
"Where?" Caleb asked calmly.
"Follow Blunk!" The passling commanded. He ran toward the Warehouse district with Caleb and the girls at his heels.
Cornelia again found herself running in her to tight ankle length skirt. So much for looking cute for Caleb.
Could this day get any weirder? Irma thought. First Will acts all crazy on us. Then she goes and gets herself trapped in the future. Now Will's future self is stirring up trouble. I knew making friends with her would be cool! She felt like a penguin.
What has Will gotten herself into now? Hay Lin wondered silently. Future Will is so cool! I hope I'm that cool when I get older.
"Will you have to wake up," Taranee knelt beside her unconscious friend, holding her hand tightly. "Please." Her eyes filled with tears.
Many thoughts raced through her head, the most prominent being, if she left to go for help would the two guys wake up still under the spells? Will would be defenseless. I can't leave her.
She knew there wasn't much she could do outside of her Guardian form. She did not stand a chance against the Matt look alike and his companion, but she stayed.
"Blunk!" she called looking around. "Blunk!" Where'd he go? The one time I actually want him in my vicinity and he's disappeared. "Blunk!"
After the arrows ran out, the Guardians flew over the side of the castle toward Aldarn and the army, who were waiting in front of the castle.
"Grab your weapons of choice," Caleb commanded turning to his men. Some were new faces. Others were once enemies. The majority were the rebels of old. "Lets capture that creep for the last time." The saluted him and hurried to do his command.
He turned his back to them to watch the Guardians fly ahead of Aldarn and the other part of the Royal Guard, disappearing inside of the sand cloud.
A lost memory crept into his being. A memory of fear as he, Cornelia, Irma, and Hay Lin followed Blunk to Will's location. He closed his eyes, his hand balling into fists. Damn . . . .
You have to concentrate Caleb, he commanded himself silently. Win this battle before worrying over another. Meridian is your home. You've fought for it your whole life. He could honestly say he didn't care about Meridian. What would missing one man do to tip the scale? Nothing. The loss of a Guardian could be devastating to all the worlds the girls protected. Devastating to him . . . .
A hand resting on his right shoulder jolted him from his meandering thoughts. He glanced back over his shoulder at his father, Julian.
"Are you well, Caleb?" he asked in concern.
"Yes," he replied automatically.
"Where is Will?"
"Dying," he replied, "and I'm stuck here playing babysitter to a spoiled prince who should have been put out of his misery years ago."
"Fate would not be so cruel," Julian said. His son could not be destined for a life of heartache like him.
"Fate has little to do with it," Caleb replied. "Let us go."
Phobos "The Good" sat in his room reading an absurd novel given to him from Irma. It was from her world. How he longed to see it, with her and her dry humor as his guide.
It was a dream never to be fulfilled. His time in this world slowly ticked away. He knew he was destine to finish this nightmare once and for all.
If Irma and Elyon had even the tiniest inkling of what he had planned, they would find a way to lock him inside the castle.
It must be done, he thought, concentration on the novel lost. Elyon and I are the only beings strong enough to destroy him. Elyon is to merciful to do what needs to be done. I cannot allow him to live on. I cannot. Damn him for his warped games . . . .