Witches United: The Next Generation

Chapter 5: From the Shadows Comes Life

The week after the loss of Caleb and Melinda to the shadow beast had seen the Halliwell brothers and the guardians pulled to the end of their strings, but yet they kept searching. Months later they were forced to give up when no mention of a shadow beast was ever found and tracing their friends was no longer possible - magic was good but not that good.

In honour of the loss they held a memorial service and all of them wept for their lost friends.

At the conclusion of the ceremony Chris and Cornelia were the last two standing at the monuments used to represent their lost family and friends - they just stood and stared until Cornelia spoke up, "I don't think we should see each other anymore Chris..."

It was not until 5 years had passed that Chris and Cornelia met again at Hay-Lin's birthday party. The young air guardian had invited both Chris and Wyatt because the Halliwell's and the guardians had become closer ever since the incident. She was also aware of the fact that neither Cornelia nor Chris had dated anyone else since their split. Cornelia was depressed and turned down every guy that asked her out: the number of which she had lost count, but that's what happens when you're a famous model/ actress and from what she had heard from Wyatt, Chris was no better, he just kept throwing himself into managing P3 - the boys had managed to reclaim the club thanks to help from their mother Piper.

Currently both Chris and Cornelia were outside.

Hay-Lin watched the two interact carefully from where she stood. They were out on the balcony outside her restaurant (yes that's right Hay-Lin became a chef! What do you expect she loves to try crazy new things, and all worked out well because her restaurant is a 3 Michelin star!). She left the two alone when she heard Cornelia laugh. She knew everything would be alright from then on.

Over the next few months Chris and Cornelia had begun to see each other again. Although this time it was a little more hectic what with Cornelia's shoot schedule and Chris's business meetings (he ran a few of the most successful clubs in America), but they made it work.

Taranee was happy for the blonde, ever since she had started to see Chris again her spirit was lifted, she could see it every time the girls met up. Cornelia's face would light up when she talked about Chris, much like how Taranee's did when she talked about her relationship with Nigel. It was even worse since he had proposed the year after they had both graduated from Harvard law school.

Of course the day of her engagement party Chris had proposed to Cornelia.

Irma was never the type to get jealous of Cornelia but on the blonde's wedding day she couldn't help it. Yes she was happy for her friend but sometimes she wondered if she would ever meet her Mr. Right. She had dated nearly every guy she knew - inclusive of Wyatt but neither liked to talk of that drunken night - and still no Mr. Right. She wondered if she would ever have what Cornelia and Chris had, but she supposed not - I mean working as a teacher only let you meet so many people.

"IRMA!" Cornelia screamed at the water guardian.
"Owww! What the hell Cornelia?" Irma shook her head just to make sure she could still feel it after that auditory torture.

"Why do you keep spacing out? Stay focused yeah? This is my wedding day and my maid of honour needs to stay with reality" Cornelia huffed at her friend.

Irma just smirked, nodded and took her place with the other girls at Cornelia's train. The church doors opened and the wedding march began to play.

Will had always valued her friends dearly even more so when she was in the maternity ward going through labour. The pain was supposed to be excruciating but thanks to the forward thinking of her husband Matt she felt no pain. And in this anaesthesia her mind began to wonder to her friends waiting outside the ward for news. It had been over a six years since Cornelia's wedding and the girls were still close and even helped Chris and Wyatt out with a few demons. They were like a massive family and just like family would, the girls had rushed themselves to the hospital on Matt's call.

They had wished her luck as she rolled by and she replied a hearty thank you. She remembers their looks of joy as she was wheeled through the ward doors.

Hay-Lin was in tears and Eric had his arms wrapped around his wife as he smiled happily. Taranee and Nigel chuckled as they held their own little 10 month old girl - Kendra, who was gurgling happily and seemed to give a small wave to Will as she passed.

Irma and her new beau Santiago were both waving excitedly whilst holding on to their 4 month old girl - Abigail and their 2 year old son Aiden. The couple had met through Chris as both men worked together: well Santiago worked for Chris but still...

Cornelia wished her luck as she and Chris held on to their two 5 and 2 year old boys - Orion and Nicolas - their 3 year old girl - Hayley and the 18 month olds - Hilary and Lyndsey (My god were they busy)

Suddenly Will heard a babies cry and turned to see a young nurse holding a bundle of pink blankets. The nurse happily handed the new mother her baby girl Isabelle.

2 months from Isabelle's birth Hay- Lin announced that she and Eric were set to have their first baby. At this announcement the 5 friends met up once again telling stories of their lives.

Hay-Lin was beyond happy not only was she having a baby with her high school sweet heart but she had support from all her friends. Yet she noticed Cornelia was looking down not really making eye contact with anyone. She wondered what had gotten into the Earth guardian and then she caught Cornelia's eyes and immediately knew what was wrong.

"Cornelia, I'm sorry we just forgot today... It doesn't mean we don't miss him." The air guardian spoke silently.

At this the others all turned to Cornelia and had a group epiphany. Exactly 6 years ago today, Caleb and Melinda had been taken away from them swallowed forever by the shadow beast.

8 months later...

Today was most probably the scariest day of Chris Halliwell's life. His wife Cornelia had found out she was pregnant not just 7 months ago and yet she had gone into an early labour.

He had been called at his office by his youngest girl Lyndsey saying that "mommy was in pain and she didn't know what to do". After a hurried calming of his little girl he managed to call an ambulance for Cornelia and left work heading straight to the elementary and pre-school to pick up his other 3 kids. From here he called Wyatt and rushed to the hospital his 3 children in tow.

When he got there he found his two littlest girls - Hilary and Lyndsey - sitting down with a nurse. The nurse confirmed his identity and then left the two girls with him.

After getting everybody settled Wyatt walked in to the waiting room and asked his brother all sorts of questions that Chris had no answer to.

This caused Chris to go into a panic and try to run into the ER operating theatre to find Cornelia and make sure she and their youngest were going to be ok. Luckily Wyatt held his brother back, managed to calm him down and get him to sit down.

Naturally this didn't last long and soon Chris was up and pacing the room. His boys thought it was amusing to imitate their father and begun to pace along with him.

Hayley sat with her little sisters trying to cheer them up and make them understand that their mother was going to be ok. Chris heard this and came to sit with his girls - the boys immediately following. He sat and looked them all in the eyes and told them that Mommy would be fine; it was just a case of their little sibling making themself known a little earlier. Upon hearing about their sibling the children flew into a frenzy of excitement.

At that moment a large African-American nurse came in to the waiting room and upon seeing the little family proceeded up, to talk to Chris.

"Mrhm...," she cleared her throat gaining Chris's attention, "Mr. Halliwell your wife and daughter are doing fine. If you'd like you may come with me to see them." Chris nodded and asked his brother to watch the kids and then left with the nurse.

When he got to the room he found a sleepy Cornelia lying in a bed next to a small incubator bassinet. Upon seeing her husband Cornelia smiled and introduced her husband to their littlest girl - Jasmine.

Chris beamed at the little bundle in the bassinet and held his wife's hand.

Meanwhile whilst Chris and Cornelia were fawning over their daughter Melinda had just kicked the head off a battle droid. Caleb was currently sword fighting with another droid.

Suddenly the room went dark and a voice spoke up.

"My servants - Queen Melinda and King Caleb it is time for you to reclaim my throne and rule over the world with the darkness I have given you."

The two once good warriors smirked.

"Finally we can wreak havoc in the world that deserted us and left us in these shadows to rot!" Melinda hissed her eyes were pitch black expressing only hatred.

"Yes my love we shall!" Caleb said taking Melinda's hand a gently kissing it. He looked up into her black orbs with dark orbs of his own and smirked.

The two then proceeded to laugh. Along with them came the laughter of a little baby girl - born not 3 months ago - her skin a pale white, hair black and eyes a mystic shade of purple. She looked up at the King and Queen her arms flailing about.

The royal couple looked at the little girl and then Caleb spoke, "It would seem, my love, that our little princess is just as excited as we are!"

In the chambers of Kandrakar an old woman stood near a fountain. The fountain was covered in vines and a top it a flame danced in the breeze. The old woman had her eyes closed as she meditated and the suddenly she opened them. Her face was a mixture of awe and horror.

She stood up bowed to the fountain and then walked out of the chamber. As she closed the door behind her she was met with a cat like creature.

"Luba we must prepare the ceremony. But first we must find the Dias of the Spirits for something terrible is going to happen."

The cat woman - Luba - simply stared shocked at the old woman.

"What did you see Oracle Yan Lin?"

The old oracle replied, "Something both tragic and wonderful..."

A/N: first off sorry for the late update I have been massively busy as of late. Secondly I know I said this chapter would be the beginning of the "actual" story but I kind of thought this chapter was needed just to explain some key points for the next chapters. Hope you enjoyed it :) Stay tuned for the next Chapter and just a heads up - it will take place after a time skip.