Part 3
The next day, Zafyra didn't appear. That didn't take away that Shagon was still lurking the hallways. Cornelia had told the rest about her conversation with Kadma. The Heart and Taranee were both not happy with the advice, but both knew better than to hide behind their pride. The only problem was, if they wanted to talk with Zafyra they had to find her and seeing that she wasn't in school, things were only more difficult.
Unbeknownst to them, Shagon had been trailing them for the day. He'd listened in on their conversation and had been relying everything to Zafyra and Will.
*Now they want to talk!* Zafyra complained. *First they attack me and now they want to talk because someone else told them?*
Will remained silent while Zafyra raged, though Matt was concerned about something else. He turned to Shagon who was still paying attention on the outside world.
*And they don't realize that their Yan Lin is an Altermere?* He asked concerned. *Or that she is already a thrall of Nerissa?*
Shagon merely shook his head and Matt sighed. He turned to Will who looked as concerned as he felt while Zafyra was still cursing in the background and berating Will on her choice of friends.
*We need to break free, as soon as possible.* Matt said concerned.
*Yeah, I don't think Nerissa is keen on waiting.* Will agreed. *Can you and Shagon persuade the Heart to meet us during the Battle of the Bands?*
*Why only the Heart?* Matt asked surprised. *Don't you think the others won't be happy to see you again?*
Will sighed.
*I don't doubt that.* She replied. *But we need to convince the Heart and having any of the girls with it will only make it more difficult. You try to convince it while Irma keeps jesting, Hay Lin keeps glaring, Taranee keeps making rightful and difficult observations and Cornelia keeps being stubborn.*
*Point made.* Matt said with a serious nod. *Don't worry. We'll get a moment alone. You just wait and we'll give you the details tonight.*
Matt and Will kissed before they parted.
*Be careful.* Will said. *And don't do anything stupid.*
Matt gave her a goofy grin.
*Sure. You go and stop Zafyra from raging. I think it will be noticed if she starts pacing and cursing in her chambers.*
Will blew a raspberry at him before disappearing. Matt grinned before turning to Shagon. He raised an eyebrow when he found him sitting on the floor.
*You heard about the plan?* He asked.
*Between Zafyra's curses?* Shagon replied. *Yeah.*
*Let's make this work.*
The rest of the day went calmly, during which the stage for the Battle of the Bands was build. Martin along with Irma, Nigel, Alchemy, Uriah and Georgiana were standing near or on the stage, where Martin explained to Irma how to create the order in which the bands would play.
"We'll decide which band performs first with a game of musical chairs!" Martin said with glee. "It's so appropriate!"
Irma wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea and crossed her arms.
"We drew straws." She said dryly. "Alchemy's first, Dunnsters are second, G.E.N.I.E. is third and Wreck's last."
Irma pointed at the people before the stage, where Georgiana waved with a smile and Alchemy merely grinned. Eric came by to take Uriah with him to God knows where while Nigel sighed.
"If I could only find my A-wall guitarist." He said with a sigh.
Now that he mentioned it, Irma had noticed that Matt had been annoyingly close to them all day, but now he was nowhere to be seen. A frown found her face as she wondered where he was and if he was causing mayhem. She hoped not, cause she didn't want to miss the Battle of the Bands because Nerissa decided to stir her ugly head.
As we follow Uriah, he was still being pulled along by Eric, who was now seriously annoyed. The Battle of the Bands was tomorrow and they only had time to rehearse once. Eric pulled him into the music room, where Kurt, Clubber and Hay Lin were already sitting. Kurt sat behind the drums, Hay Lin sat on a stool nearby and Clubber stood against the wall.
"This is it." Eric said annoyed. "No stalling! We got just enough time for one rehearsal."
Uriah grinned at him as Eric placed him in front of the microphone.
"Dude, don't freak. I'm a..." He began to say.
"You're a genius on the guitar and Kurt started playing the drums when he was six." Eric interrupted annoyed. "But I need to hear what song you wanna play or I won't be able to keep up!"
"Okay, we'll give you your training wheels." Uriah said with a smug grin. "Besides, my mom bought me this new axe. Time for a test drive!"
He weighed the guitar in his hands, looking surprised at it.
"Huh, who knew a real guitar was so heavy?" He asked out loud.
Hay Lin and Eric raised an eyebrow, not sure if they'd heard him right.
"A real guitar?" Hay Lin asked, already having her feeling she was right all along.
"What do you usually play?" Eric asked, dreading the answer.
"Duh, air guitar." Uriah said as he was stunting to place the guitar right around his shoulder. "What's the diff?"
Kurt played a simple beat on the drums, causing Eric to almost sigh in frustration while Hay Lin wasn't sure if she should giggle or feel sorry for him.
"Started at age six, quit at age seven." Kurt said proudly. "You never know, right?"
Eric felt himself hit by a blast of stupidity and turned to the last member of the group.
"What about Clubber?" He asked, hoping to find one good musician.
Unfortunately for him, he was met with a tambourine. Dread filled Eric as he watched how the three started to play... No, they were pretty much destroying his eardrums. Never had he'd seen such a bad band, but they were registered and he didn't want to back out.
After, what was perhaps the worst demonstration ever, Uriah seemed to realise how screwed he was.
"We stink!" He pronounced, something Hay Lin would full heartedly agree on if it weren't for Eric's sake.
Eric had his face placed in his hands and looked up to see the distraught Uriah.
"It's alright." He said, even though he had no hope. "We can fix this...I think... You know any song? Any song at all?"
Uriah seemed to think for a moment when a blush of embarrassment crept over his face.
"Itsy bitsy spider?" He said with a sheepish grin.
Eric frowned and sighed.
"Okay...That's...Something."
"That's nothing!" Uriah whined. "We're gonna totally punk ourselves!"
Before either Hay Lin or Eric could say something about it, Uriah grinned smugly.
"But don't worry." He said. "I'm a genius at trouble and Kurt's been making mischief since he was six."
Hay Lin sighed tiredly. She wondered if either Taranee or Will ever had to go through something like this. A sad smile found her face as she thought of it. Even if Will had been with them, she wouldn't have been near Matt...Seeing he wasn't Matt at all. Sometimes his appearance alone frustrated her more than the absence of Will. Perhaps because he was a reminder of someone she missed.
Now as for Shagon, he was leaning against the stairs of which he knew the Heart would descend. The Heart noticed him before he'd seen her and a sneer was already on her face.
"Don't you have eardrums to shatter for tomorrow?" She sneered at him.
Shagon sighed and rolled his eyes. He grabbed his bag and followed her.
"No, I'm...We're done." He said.
'Will' turned around, an eyebrow raised as she looked at him.
"Oh-o, don't tell me." She mocked. "Stage fright?"
"No." Shagon replied a bit annoyed. "I mean Zafyra and I are done slaving for Nerissa."
'Will's' eyes widened in surprise. Was Kadma's advice right on the spot? She felt troubled believing the boy, but his eyes told no lie. Her hopes were already rising and even if she reminded herself that this could be a cruel joke of Nerissa, she couldn't help but feel happier.
"But she isn't done with us." Shagon continued, as if he knew he was catching her.
Her eyes went back to his and it was as if she could almost read her own fears in his eyes. Was Nerissa truly planning on using Matt and Will as batteries? And what role would Shagon and Zafyra play in it?
"Hea.. Will, I need your protection." He said, closing in on her. "Zafyra and I cannot protect the Keeper and Matt alone."
"Do you really know where they are?" The Heart breathed.
Shagon gave her a sad smile, something the Heart was wondering if it were fake or real. If it were fake, then Shagon was one heck of an actor.
"They are safe...For now." Shagon said softly. "But if Nerissa is done with us, it's game over for them."
'Will' bit her lip. There was only one way to figure out if he was lying and that was to find Matt and her Keeper. She sighed, because despite her better judgement, she felt like she had to go. Had to see for herself.
"Fine." She said. "I'm guessing you prefer to see me alone?"
Shagon smiled again at her, perhaps relieved she was stupid enough to believe him.
"Tomorrow, at the roof top overlooking the Battle of the Bands. We'll show you Matt and the Keeper and you'll help us."
'Will' sighed darkly. She still wasn't too happy with the idea but decided it was her only option.
"Tomorrow it is."
The school day ended peacefully, with the Heart not saying a word about her agreement to the other girls and Hay Lin being anxious about Eric. Irma was getting hyped up because of the Battle while also silently wondering how Will would have liked it.
Shagon left as well, seeing no reason to stay behind. Once he was out of sight from anyone who might see him, he teletransported. At Mt. Thanos he deglamoured and entered the cave, where Zafyra was waiting. She nodded at him and looked around, finding no one in the cave. Nerissa had taken her minions somewhere for the moment and Ember and Tridart were on some recon mission, or so they'd told her. Khor was sleeping in the corner but that didn't matter. He couldn't speak anyway.
She went and hugged him before the two sat on the rocks.
"And?" She asked impatient.
"You'll be surprised what a few right words can do." He said with a chuckle.
This caused him a slap on the head by Zafyra, who was growing impatient.
"Sorry." Shagon apologized. "Anyway, tomorrow on the rooftop overlooking the Battle of the Bands."
Zafyra nearly squealed out of delight.
"The Heart said yes?" She asked.
Shagon scratched the back of his head.
"I didn't explain the situation." He said softly. "I merely created the interest and sympathy for her to come and listen."
Even though it was still good news, it did deflate Zafyra's enthusiasm a bit. She sighed.
"Oh well, it's better than nothing." She said softly.
A silence fell in the cave, where both Zafyra and Shagon sunk away in their thoughts. What would they do if the Heart refused? What would they do if the Heart accepted? How would their lives go? Would they be placed in an orphanage or would the magic of the Heart cheat a bit? Would they find friends? Could they?
"To be human." Shagon said softly.
"To be alive again." Zafyra added.
Unbeknownst to them, Ember and Tridart were listening in. Both looked surprised at each other before an identical evil grin spread on their faces. They took off and once they were far out of the reach of the caves, they landed.
"You heard that?" Ember said with a grin. "Shagon and Zafyra are plotting something with the Heart."
"If we play our cards right, then not only will Shagon and Zafyra fall from grace but we can also manage to capture the Heart." Tridart said, mirroring her grin.
Ember cackled evilly.
"What someone can learn from shadowing." She said with a grin.
Next day, Sheffield Institute
The day had gone peacefully. Yan Lin was again at her post, though Shagon knew she was already a thrall. Irma had been busy with the Battle of the Bands while Hay Lin had been searching for Eric, who stayed close to Uriah and his gang. 'Will', Cornelia and Taranee acted as if Shagon was not there and so no trouble was created. Once the school ended and everyone rushed to their houses to dress up for the Battle of the Bands.
Irma was already at the stage, checking the sounds with Martin, while Hay Lin found Eric near the kitchen's of the school, giving her a bad feeling. Cornelia and Taranee would arrive together and 'Will' was already at school, waiting for both Shagon and Zafyra.
She tapped her foot annoyed, looking at her watch. In the distance she could already hear Irma announce Alchemy and the Grumper sisters. Steps resounded through the empty hallway and the Heart looked up. She found Matt and Lisa walking towards her, both looking extremely anxious. Was it true they were planning on leaving Nerissa?
A sudden movement caught her attention and yet another boy, this one with surprisingly white hair and green eyes, followed the two, almost obediently.
"You're late." She said testily.
"We had to make sure neither Nerissa or the other Knights would see us leave." Matt replied.
"Who's the other boy?" 'Will' asked, looking cautiously at him.
The boy in question did not look up and only took a step back, looking at the ground. Matt stepped in front of him and gave the Heart a sheepish smile.
"If I told you now, you wouldn't believe us." He replied, gesturing for the Heart to open the door to the rooftop.
The Heart raised an eyebrow and again against her better judgement did she let it slide. Why was she so keen on trusting him?
A sigh escaped her lips and she turned to the door. It opened easily and 'Will' had to frown upon the lack of security this school had. Seriously, who would leave a rooftop door open?
The four of them entered the rooftop and closed the door. With that, 'Will' turned around and crossed her arms.
"Well?" She said impatiently. "You said you would show me my Keeper and her boyfriend."
Matt and Lisa glanced at each other, wondering how the Heart would react when seeing them. Lisa sighed when she remembered what happened a couple of days before and wasn't so sure it would work now.
*Come on already!* Will complained. *Give us control and see how things will go!*
*Are you sure you two can handle it?* Shagon asked. *Not only your lives are at stake here.*
*Don't worry. We'll get through.* Matt replied.
*Then good luck. And know we'll fry you if you end up betraying us.* Zafyra said with a warning.
*Oh, how I love the trust we have.* Will replied sarcastically.
The Heart kept looking at the two and she raised an eyebrow when both deglamoured. She already got into offense when Zafyra raised her hands.
"Wow! Calm down!" She said, though her voice seemed a bit off. "This is the only way to do this, okay?"
The Heart raised another eyebrow, wondering what Zafyra meant. Her pose slumped a bit but she quickly returned to it when she watched how Shagon and Zafyra glamoured again. Shagon again wearing his disguise of Matt while Zafyra had the bloody nerve to glamour as her Keeper.
"Funny." The Heart said, crackling with magic. "I see your sense of humour is still there!"
Tears forced their way up and 'Will' had to brush them away angrily or they would cloud her eyes. She threw out her crystal self.
"Guardian, unite!"
Both Matt and Will covered their eyes as they watched the Heart transform. Once the transformation ended, Will seemed speechless.
"Wow." She said impressed. "I've never seen it before. This is really awesome."
Matt grinned at her.
"I know." He said.
Their light conversation was interrupted by some violent lightning crackling around the Heart. With its glowing pink eyes and lightning coursing all over, it gave a pretty intimidating look.
"I hope you two are ready to say your prayers, because it won't be Nerissa who'll be ending your lives." She said darkly.
Both Will and Matt threw their hands in the air, trying to show they really meant no harm. The boy behind them suddenly deglamoured and Khor stood behind them, growling cautiously. Matt held up his hand, signalling him to stay put.
"Please Heart, listen to us!" Will tried, ending up dodging a lightning bolt.
"We're truly Matt and Will!" Matt tried, but it was only thanks to Khor's quick handling that he wasn't hit by the lightning bolt.
The Heart didn't seem to listen and fired yet another bolt at them. They evaded it and Will gritted her teeth.
"Why don't you believe me?" She yelled, almost panicked. "Can't you feel me? I know Nerissa's barrier is up, but I thought our bond was as deep as the one I have with the girls! I even saved you once!"
The Heart stopped her attacks, blinking in surprise. She remembered the girls saying something about it. They'd thought they'd found Will who stopped Ember from crushing her, but ended up being a glamoured Zafyra. Could it be that it truly had been Will? The lightning slowly seemed to stop and her eyes widened.
"No..." She whispered shocked. "This can't be..."
Will smiled sadly at her, while Matt stayed cautious.
"Our hatred was turned against us..." She started, only to be interrupted by a fire ball.
"NO!" The Heart yelled shocked, turning around to find Ember and Tridart flying above them.
"Ain't that sweet?" Ember sneered. "Two traitors, a pet and a prize. All in one place."
Tridart glowed briefly, suddenly creating four copies of himself while growing a bit as well. He chuckled softly.
"And not only that, but they are stinking of despair." He gloated.
The four copies fired icicles at the four. The Heart evaded them by flying around them and Khor jumped out of the way. Will and Matt on the other hand weren't so lucky and, even though they evaded some of the icy spears, they were still hit.
The Heart glared at the remaining two Knights of Destruction. She'd known that Ember and Zafyra hadn't been exactly close, but this was by far an exaggeration. Not only that, but seeing that they arrived at the worst possible moment made her almost believe Zafyra's and Shagon's claim. And if that claim was true, than those two were delaying her chance to reunite with her Keeper as well as attacking her.
Lightning found her hands and she blasted the Tridart copy closest to her, making him fall apart. Unfortunately, Tridart had made another who sent new ice spears at her. She dodged them, while she could see Ember from the corner of her eyes.
"No!" She yelled as Ember launched an attack on Zafyra and Shagon.
That attack was met with a strong lightning bolt and the Heart found herself looking at Zafyra, whose face was contorted in rage and aimed at Ember. She could see how the eye colour changed to the grey eyes Will's mother had before they shifted to the silver eyes of the mask Zafyra wore.
It confused her. Why would her eye colour change in a glamour? That didn't make sense at all. It would be more of a waste of magic than anything else.
Or that was what she thought until she saw Zafyra transform to her Knight of Destruction form. Instead of the simple deglamour ring, Will grew and morphed, similar to how Cedric changed between his human and snake form.
"I've been waiting far too long to kick your butt." Zafyra said darkly. "I don't care how the diplomatic conversation went but this fight is mine."
Strange, it was as if Zafyra didn't follow their conversation, but hadn't she been the one talking? There wasn't more time to think about it because Tridart and a clone of him shot ice beams at her. With no time to dodge, the only thing she could do was shield her head with her arms and awaiting the impact. A crushing sound and the sensation of small ice particles hitting her made her look up, finding that the ice beams were stopped by Shagon's eye beam. He gave her a sort of salute with his fingers before focussing on the task. The Heart could see him struggle, trying to keep two ice beams at bay.
"A little help would be appreciated." He groaned with difficulty.
The Heart blinked in surprise, still not fully knowing how to handle the situation. Another groan from Shagon snapped her out of it and she aided him by shooting lightning at the beams as well, helping him to push the attacks back.
They seemed to be holding out quite well, if it weren't for the two remaining clones who sneaked up to them and knocked both the Heart and Shagon to the ground. The two clones, together with Tridart and another clone of his landed nearby, gloating over their victory. The last remaining clone was in a deadlock with Khor, but that didn't matter. This only meant that Shagon would be finished and the Heart captured.
Or, that's what Tridart thought until the door was thrown open, revealing the untransformed Earth and Fire Guardians.
Cornelia and Taranee had left the concert when they'd noticed neither Matt or the Heart were present. They'd left Irma to keep appearances up and knew that Hay Lin wasn't exactly reachable now with her predicament with Eric, so they left to search for the Heart instead. Taranee had done a short search with her telepathy and found the Heart on the rooftop overlooking the Battle of the Bands, though she couldn't get through. As if the Heart's thoughts were creating a barrier she couldn't pass. So she and Cornelia hurried to the Heart's location, finding her laying on the ground next to Shagon while Tridart and four clones were surrounding them, Khor fighting yet another clone and Zafyra and Ember fighting like their lives depended on it.
"Heart!" Cornelia gasped upon seeing her.
She focused on her telekinetic powers and forced the two closed Tridart clones to fly at each other, banging heads before being thrown into Tridart and the other clone. Taranee followed quickly by creating a protective fire barrier around the Heart, keeping Shagon outside it, if not burning his wings ever so lightly.
The Heart came by, only because Shagon was cursing loudly at the Fire Guardian about burning his wings and relief filled her when she found the Earth and Fire Guardian standing in front of her. She raised the crystal and transformed them, vaguely aware that Shagon engaged another fight with a Tridart clone.
"Do we know why the Knights are clubbing each other?" Cornelia asked, raising an eyebrow as she watched the fights going on.
"For now, don't hurt Shagon, Zafyra or Khor." The Heart replied, getting raised eyebrows from the remaining Guardians.
"Why?" Taranee asked.
"They may or may not be my Keeper and boyfriend." The Heart said with a frown, ignoring the gasps of the others and afterwards the unbelieving shakes of their heads. "Khor...I don't know what he is, but he is aiding us, and beggars cannot be choosers."
Taranee and Cornelia, who'd been looking in shock at Zafyra and Shagon, wondering if they'd been fighting Will all along, couldn't argue with the logic. They flew up when they found Tridart and two clones flying at them.
"Let the battle begin." Taranee said, recounting the words Irma had used to open the concert.
Cornelia started with pulling vines along, taking one clone out with ease. The Heart seemed to be the target of Tridart and his clone, but before Taranee could attack one of them, she was suddenly faced by Ember who had a smug grin on her face. Wait, hadn't she been fighting Zafyra before?
"Okay flame girl. Let's see just how much heat you can take!" Ember glowered, apparently still pissed over the fact that Taranee had absorbed her flame on Zamballa.
She fired a series of fireballs, but Taranee effectively created a tornado of fire which would redirect the attack.
"More than your boyfriend!" Taranee quipped, watching how the attack intended for her went and destroyed the clone that was attacking the Heart.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Ember yelled in annoyance, before a lightning bolt caught her square in the back.
Taranee looked up to find Zafyra flying towards her and her hands were already coated in fire when Zafyra unleashed a new electric attack, forcing Ember to the ground.
"Sorry for the wait, but a fire tornado is damned difficult to get out of." Zafyra said, not giving Taranee a look.
Taranee, now flying in mid-air with her mouth wide open, closed it while shaking her head.
"A-At least you came in time." She replied, though her surprise was obvious.
A girlish giggle escaped Zafyra and Taranee rose an eyebrow. Zafyra on the other hand shook her head in with some annoyance before heading to the Heart, who was busy subduing the final Knight. Taranee followed quickly, keeping an eye on the female Knight just in case.
Once they landed, Cornelia, Khor and Shagon were also standing nearby. Cornelia eyed Shagon with the same suspicion as Taranee watched Zafyra, but neither of them did something. The Heart knocked out Tridart and Khor went to collect the knocked out Ember, laying her next to him. Zafyra created an energy cage around them, to which the Heart raised her eyebrow.
"Just a little trick we learned." Zafyra replied calmly. "Beggars can't be choosers."
The Heart frowned and found herself accompanied by Taranee and Cornelia, who now stood on either side of her. Both had their arms crossed and looked expectantly at Zafyra and Shagon, who now glanced at each other.
"Now could anyone be so kind to explain what the hell just happened?" Cornelia asked, clearly losing her cool.
The Heart frowned as well, glancing at the two Angels of Malice.
"They claim to be the people we lost some time ago." She said.
"You said something like that before." Taranee said with a nod. "But is there evidence?"
"We were explaining that before being so rudely interrupted." Shagon said, nodding at the still knocked out Ember and Tridart.
As if on cue, the two groaned and woke up. When they found they were captured by a lightning cage, both cursed and tried to blast their way out of it, only for the cage to blast them again. In the end they remained silent and glared at Zafyra, who actually laughed out loud when that happened. Taranee scraped her throat, causing the Angel of Malice to stop her laughing and sober up.
"Yes, well." Zafyra said, no longer sparing Ember another glance. "As uhm... As Will was saying."
"Will?" Taranee and Cornelia interrupted, looking around to find their lost friend, not finding her.
Zafyra sighed.
"Fine, she'll get the control back for now. Just don't fry us." She said before apparently glamouring into Will.
Taranee and Cornelia gasped and seeing that Taranee's hands were again engulfed in flames, they thought it to be a trick. Will raised her hands in defence and the Heart held her hand up, stopping the two Guardians from their potential attacks.
"Let her speak before frying her." The Heart admonished, causing both Cornelia and Taranee to frown but stand back.
Will didn't look surprised, but a touch of sadness was evident on her face.
"Guys... Sorry for all this." She said softly. "This whole thing was just torture. Not that Zafyra could do something about it..."
"You speak of Zafyra and yourself as two separate identities, care to explain?" The Heart interrupted.
"When we were caught, Nerissa used our hatred against us." Will explained. "She created two alter ego's of Matt and me, which you guys know as Shagon and Zafyra. But somewhere along the line...She messed up."
Taranee raised an eyebrow. Deep within, she was practically cheering and wishing she was truly speaking with Will, but why did she have the feeling her eyes were playing tricks on her? Will couldn't appear so easily, could she?
"Explain." The Heart said stiffly.
Will shrugged.
"I don't know about Shagon and Matt, but Nerissa accidentally used my Altermere as my prison. She turned my Altermere into Zafyra."
If it were possible, the eyebrows of the Heart, Taranee and Cornelia would have fallen from their heads. The looks of incredibility were evident and Will couldn't really blame them. She wouldn't have believed it if she would hear it. Yet she had to push on.
"Shagon and Zafyra developed complete personalities and see that Nerissa is just plain crazy. So we want to ask if the Heart could split us and free us at the same time." She finished.
A new silence fell, where strangely enough the song 'Itsy, bitsy spider' floated through the air. Neither Cornelia nor Taranee seemed to believe the story, though the Heart seemed to think it over. All Will, Zafyra, Shagon and Matt could do was wait and hope for the best.
"I fail to see any evidence." Cornelia pointed out, breaking the silence and causing Will to sigh in annoyance. Why couldn't Hay Lin be here instead of Cornelia?
"Well, she did mention the Altermere and who besides the real Will and us know about it?" Taranee argued, though she didn't seem that convinced.
"Nerissa could have told Zafyra." Cornelia replied, getting a nod from Taranee.
"Yet, Nerissa wasn't there when my Keeper pretty much broke the taboo." The Heart said, glaring at Will, which also held a reprimanding look in it.
Will's shoulders shot to her ears, yet another typical characteristic of hers and grinned sheepishly.
"No one said it was." She replied softly.
"No one said you could..." The Heart replied annoyed before her eyes widened.
Both Cornelia and Taranee had sensed it as well. A small pulse of magic came from Will, but it didn't feel as hostile as it did whenever Zafyra released her magic. A smile appeared on Will's face while her eyes glimmered with pleasant surprise.
"I broke through." She muttered softly, getting a mental pat on the back from Zafyra.
"K-Keeper?" The Heart said softly, reaching out for Will.
Will reached out as well and the moment the two touched, the Heart's body started to glow pink. The two smiled at each other and new tears were forming in the Heart's eyes, mirroring Will's. Taranee and Cornelia, surprised to find what was happening, slowly started to realize that this was the real Will. That they had been fighting her ever since she disappeared.
A little earlier, during the fight on the rooftop, in Metamoor at the volcano
Nerissa smiled fondly. She'd managed to collect all of her former friends. They were all there, with her and they would obey her. No longer the annoying questions or pointing out flaws that were nonexistent. No more complaining. Total obedience and so, total control.
Granted, they were all old and one of them even dead, but that could be rearranged.
"Finally, the gang's all here." She purred pleased. "And I think we've earned a little power trip. On the courtesy of our dear Knights of Destruction."
As she said that, she felt a small pang of regret. Will was one of her Knights, but regrettably she only showed an act of defiance once and wasn't strong enough to fight off her obedience spell for a second time. Which was a pity. If she'd been any stronger, Nerissa might have taken her as an apprentice. Someone with such talent was rare after all and she doubted that her son would hold the capacity to control any power without going mad himself.
She opened a fold, using a locating spell she'd placed on her Knights, and found herself looking at a rooftop. She faintly recognized it as a rooftop from Sheffield Institute, but what peaked her interest was the fact that her Knights were battling amongst themselves. Shagon and Zafyra had apparently changed sides, taking Khor along for the ride. She watched interested how the two Guardians, the Heart, Zafyra, Khor and Shagon defeated Ember and Tridart.
So Will had managed to break her obedience spell yet again? Perhaps she was more than she let on. Nerissa remained silent at Will and the Heart started to converse and was even more surprised to find out Will had actually absorbed her Altermere. She could have been powerful enough to avoid the transformation and the obedience spell on her own. The fact that Zafyra and Shagon developed own personalities was slightly concerning. That Zafyra developed one was predictable, being the Altermere, but Shagon was a surprise. He was, or had been, an embodiment of hatred. Yet now he had a personality?
Nerissa started to become a bit restless when she felt a wave of magic bursting from Will, recognizing it as the elemental energy a Guardian held. She even broke the barrier. Nerissa had to admit that she was now truly surprised. She hadn't thought that the girl could break the barrier, though she attributed it on her own negligence. She should have been watching more carefully. But Will's powers could also be troublesome. She silently debated, wondering if she should spoil this talent or find a way to use it.
"Will!"
Nerissa watched how the Fire Guardian went to hug Will while the Earth Guardian frowned at Shagon.
"And you're Matt?" She asked.
"No. I am Shagon." Shagon replied before glamouring into Will's boyfriend. "I am Matt."
The Earth Guardian looked slightly confused, something Nerissa could understand.
"And who's Khor, or is he just a piece of fur magicked alive?" She proceeded to ask.
"He's Huggles." Will replied casually and even Nerissa had to laugh though she kept it in.
The Fire and Earth Guardian looked completely shocked at her beast and Nerissa could only feel a bit of pride. Her powers were still something that could awe the simple of mind.
The silence returned and she watched how the Heart looked pensively at Will. Nerissa knew it would try to separate them, if only to rid her from Nerissa's influence. She couldn't let the Heart do that. She needed Will. Someone with so much potential would be wasted in Kandrakar. But she could teach her. If only that girl wasn't so stubborn.
A frown settled on her face as she thought about the possibilities. She could take her now, but that would only increase her defiance. She could also sacrifice Zafyra for her initial plan and somehow twist Will's way of thinking so she would think Nerissa felt pity for her. She did like the second option, but it also went together with a risk. It could kill Will as well.
The nod from the Heart made Nerissa choose for the second option. With more time she would have figured a new one, but if she didn't handle now, her chance to keep Will and get the necessary life energy would slip through her fingers. She sighed and raised the Seal of the Nerissa.
"Time for the Knight's powers to serve a higher goal." She said calmly. "Guardians Unite."
At the rooftop, Sheffield Institute, Heatherfield
"You will split us?" Will asked, though her voice went dual, proving that Zafyra was there as well.
The Heart nodded, though she wasn't sure if it was a good idea. Both Zafyra and Shagon were created by hatred. What were the chances of them turning evil themselves? Granted, Zafyra was Will's Altermere but could she trust her solely on those grounds?
Regardless of her doubts, she raised her hands. It was a difficult spell and would take a lot of her, probably preventing the Guardians from transforming for at least two days. She just hoped it was worth it.
However, before she could start the spell, a brilliant white light, something she associated with the transformation of the Guardians, came from the door. A quick look showed her a fold had opened there. How had she not seen it? She watched in horror as the white light split up in five different beams, each hitting a Knight of Destruction.
"My flame!" Ember moaned in agony as she slowly dissolved into nothing.
"Mistress!" Tridart pleaded, but that didn't stop him from dissolving as well.
Will and Matt cried out in agony, switching forms between their real bodies and their forms of Zafyra and Shagon. Khor writhed in pain and howled loudly while the Heart, along with the Fire and Earth Guardian, looked hopeless and afraid. The Heart tried to stop the energy sucking but found she had no powers over it. The powers of Zafyra and Shagon belonged to another Heart after all.
Will and Matt were screaming in pain, not just in real life but also in their minds. In their minds, Zafyra and Shagon shared the white beam with their hosts, but that didn't make it any less painful. If anything, it was only hurting more.
*We were too late!* Will cursed through her own screams of agony, tears rolling down.
She hadn't thought Nerissa would drain them so quickly. She had hoped for just an extra hour, ten minutes if an hour was too much. Now she would just lose everything. Her friends, her family, her life. New tears pushed through and she fell to the ground, too weak to stand up. She hugged her knees, knowing she couldn't do anything at this point.
*Are you giving up?*
She looked up, seeing Zafyra still standing and glaring her down. If it wasn't for the pain Will would have felt embarrassed. But any feeling was replaced by surprise when Zafyra went to stand in Will's beam, taking the beam as well. She extended her hand, though she was trembling a lot.
*Get up. You're the Guardian Leader for God's sake. Act like one.* Zafyra reprimanded.
Will accepted the hand, but as she did, she pulled Zafyra away from the beams and took them for herself. Zafyra turned around, enraged to see what Will had done.
*Why are you doing this?* She said angered.
Will gave her a sad smile.
*That's what sister's are for.* She said. *You never had a chance to live. I had.*
*Don't be all hero like now.* Zafyra said angered as she grabbed Will.
The moment she grabbed Will, the beams hit the two of them equally, just like before.
*It's all or nothing.* Zafyra said angered. *I can't absorb you into me and I won't live happily ever after, knowing you gave your life for a copy.*
Will looked at Zafyra, knowing what her Altermere felt. The two hugged and slowly felt how their power was being depleted. They closed their eyes, silently regretting that their relationship always ended with a death. Slowly the pain seemed to diminish and they looked up, expecting to see the other fade. Instead they found that the beams had disappeared and when they turned they found Shagon and Matt taking them. Matt was struggling to stand while Shagon remained impassive.
*Matt!*
*Shagon!*
The two boys turned their heads and nodded at the girls, their face contorted in grim determination.
*Get away here now!* Zafyra demanded.
*Don't sacrifice yourself for me!* Will cried out.
The two tried to stand but found themselves too weak to do so. Matt fell on one knee, causing Will to call out for him again.
*Urgh.* Matt said before giving Will a loving smile. *I'm sorry, but this is the least I could do.*
*This is my way to repay the love you've given me.* Shagon said, not looking back.
*Damn it!* Zafyra cursed, angry and frustrated. *You don't die for your friends, Shagon!*
Shagon laughed hollowly, but they could hear the pain in his voice.
*Now that you mention it.*
To the surprise of everyone, Shagon went to stand in front of Matt as well, adding his beam of light to him. Matt screamed out, in both relief as in shock.
*What are you doing?* Matt and Zafyra yelled.
Slowly they could see how the beams were diminishing, but also how Shagon started to fade away. Only now did he turn around, looking at them. It was the first time they'd seen him cry, with a smile on his face.
*I love you, Zafyra.* He said softly. *More than I ever thought to be capable of. But you are more than me. You aren't a personification of a negative emotion, but a real person. So promise me to live. Live and enjoy life. And watch over your sister and my brother.*
With that he disappeared, black feathers fluttering around while the white beams disappeared. Matt, Zafyra and Will felt torn and broken. It all was so surreal. Matt touched the feathers and Zafyra let out a pained howl. Will took her in an embrace while crying silently. Slowly Will noticed how Matt disappeared, guessing that Nerissa's magic no longer lingered within them, but instead she felt a new pain coming up. Zafyra felt it as well as she stiffened under her arms and both let go, screaming in a new, unknown pain. Neither could look to the outside to see what was happening, but they knew it couldn't be good.
The Heart and the two Guardians had been watching in horror, not knowing how to stop the beams. They'd even yelled in surprise when Shagon stepped in front of the beam that was hitting Will...Zafyra. When the beams finally disappeared, Khor had indeed turned back to Matt's dormouse and was surprisingly still alive. Shagon's form had disappeared as well and Matt lay on the ground. He wasn't unconscious, but he didn't seem to be far from it. Tears rolled down his cheek and strangled sobs escaped him. He slowly pushed himself up and only because Cornelia was there to support him did he manage to get up.
"Matt! What happened?" Taranee asked, paling as she saw him shake.
"Sh-Shagon..." Matt sobbed out, clearly too battered to speak. "He..."
Nothing more came from him, for he lost his consciousness. Cornelia immediately groaned under the extra weight. She looked for guidance at the Heart, but paled as she found her. The Heart was sitting next to Will, who was still alternating between her own body and that of Zafyra. The Heart grabbed her hand, and paled as she did so.
"Heart?" Taranee whispered, already being at Will's other side.
"She...They are dying." The Heart whispered hoarsely.
"Who is dyin... WILL!"
Taranee, the Heart and Cornelia looked up in surprise, finding Hay Lin and Irma rushing out of the entrance to the rooftop, both being extremely pale under their blush.
"What the hell happened?" Irma questioned, her eyes wide and shock being evident on her face.
She was pointedly ignored by the others, while the Heart looked feverishly at Will and then at the others. Irma went to help supporting Matt while Hay Lin rushed over as well.
"Can you save her?" Taranee asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
In the distance, a song was played, presumably by the band G.E.N.I.E., holding a sad and suspense holding tune. It didn't go well with the feeling of unrest the Guardians had and Will's screams only made the situation worse.
"I-I can." The Heart stuttered feverishly. "I'll split them, only I give Zafyra my body as a replacement instead of letting her create her own. It will change according to her own wishes, but it won't use any life force to do so. If it works then they'll stop using each other's life force to replenish their own."
Nobody seemed to question the Heart and all looked expectantly at her. The Heart bit her lip before feeling a squeeze from her Keeper. This made her decide it was the only option and she turned to the Water Guardian.
"Cancel the concert." She said, getting wide eyes. "Create a heavy rainstorm, forcing people inside for at least two days."
"B..." She started to say, but a new scream from Will interrupted any complaints.
"Now!" The Heart ordered.
Irma nodded and focussed. Rain quickly poured down, thick drips falling mercilessly from a suddenly dark grey sky. The Heart nodded as a compliment before closing her eyes. Within seconds the Guardians, Will, Matt and Huggles disappeared in a flash of green light.
They arrived in the Silver Dragon basement. Irma and Cornelia places Matt down on a spare bunk bed, left after the last sleep-over, while the Heart, Hay Lin and Taranee brought Will to Caleb's old bed. Hay Lin then went to pick up Huggles and placed it with Matt.
The Heart had not let go of Will's hand and Will had stopped her screaming, as if she knew what was going on. The Heart's gaze went around one more time, realizing that this would be the last time. She'd thought of her moment to return as simply a crystal a lot of times, but had always hoped that it would be a more happy happening. Tears leaked from her eyes as she gently squeezed her Keeper's hand. She could feel how the real Will shuddered from pain. These were truly the very last seconds of the existence of the Heart as a human being and she'd never thought she would miss it.
"Heart?"
She looked through her tears at the concerned face of the Fire Guardian. Was she concerned about the Keeper or her?
"It's funny." The Heart said with a sob. "This is the first time since long that so many people cared about me like a human instead of a mere jewel. Only two have done that since the first group of Guardians and one of them is dying thanks to the other..."
The Guardians looked sadly at her and the Heart faked a smile. If she didn't split her Keeper and her Altermere, they would both die and she would become dormant once more. She prepared her magic and started to glow softly.
"Heart.."
The Heart look around and saw the Guardians looking at her.
"You're our friend too." Hay Lin said, tears in her eyes.
"We'll never forget you." Cornelia added.
"Thanks for everything." Irma whispered hoarsely.
"You can always talk to me." Taranee sobbed. "Through Will or dreams."
The Heart felt how Will squeezed her hand gently.
"I told you... That they accept you...Like I do..." Will wheezed out in pain.
The Heart smiled as light started to shine from her body. Will let out one more agonizing cry and the girls gasped in fear. The light became brighter, impossible for them to look at it. They turned their heads away, suddenly hearing a soft thump. The light vanished and slowly the girls blinked. Once their vision returned they found themselves looking at Will, who was now breathing slowly and steadily, and another figure laying half on top of her. This girl was older, around the age of seventeen. She had long red hair which reached the middle of her back, though it seemed to flow more than Will's messy hair. The girls shared a look before slowly moving the girl next to Will, finding that she had many resemblances to Will in appearance, though her face was rounder and her breasts were about Will's size in Guardian form. All in all, she looked a bit like Susan and Will mixed.
"Zafyra..." Taranee said softly.
A new silence ruled the basement, where the sounds of the heavy rain that clashed with the street resounded. The girls looked at each other and back to the Heart, which hang now limb in Will's hand. It shined softly in the dark environment, pulsing at Will's breath.
The uncomfortable silence grew, where tears were shed for losing a friend as well as finally finding the other. Taranee went to set next to Will, squeezing the hand with the Heart gently. The other girls crowded around them and Matt, looking silently at their unconscious leader.
"Can anyone explain to me what I missed?" Irma asked in a hushed and broken voice, finding her tears reflected in the eyes of the others. She'd never thought that this day could have gone so great and so wrong at the same time.
[A/N] WOW! Sorry for the big text, but I think it was worth it! Next episode/story will be a special called ST is for Starting over. Information you may have lacked will appear in it as well as additional things. Now I hope you enjoyed it! I enjoyed writing it!
Review!