19: News

The sun rose above Heatherfield signalling the new day, the skies were clear of clouds meaning it was a looking to be a good day. At Holly's home she was already up sitting in the kitchen area dressed in a dark yellow top that had loose sleeves that came down to her elbows, jeans and her trainers on, she also was already wearing the heart around her neck as she ate some leaves. Before her she had a holo display up with the news and weather displayed. As she read through it seeing it was reported to be a nice day, she sighed knowing that it had the possibility of not being one. As she read some of the headlines in the news as she ate, a envelope symbol with her name on it flashed up on the bottom right of the screen which she quickly pressed. It opened up a message for her that filled the whole display, which she read through

"Dear Miss Davis,

We are sorry to report your genetic abnormality is beyond the medical abilities we have available on this world and any other we have links to. Because of this the it has to be ruled as incurable. While we can still provide you with medication to slow the effects of your abnormality down we believe the toxins found in your father's body during his autopsy that are believed to have been there before your mother became pregnant with you, and a side effect can lead to genetic problems in offspring that can only start to manifest itself in the teenage years which you are certainly aware we are seeing in you. At most we can give you a few more months or possibly a year or two before your body starts to experience major organ failure depending to how soon your body starts to reject your medication, and due to the nature of the genetic problems we are unable to provide transplants for you due to they will be rejected or just fail due to any cloning of organs will also have the same faults.

Despite the advance state of medicine we have once again I have to apologise for not being able to do more to help you, but hope I can see you soon to do a physical examination to see if we can work out a better time scale for how long you may have.

My deepest regards and apologies,

Doctor Hillary Reed

Heatherfield General Hospital"

Holly wiped away some tears of her eyes once she read it, the moment she read the word 'incurable' it felt like she had a large blade shoved right through her, cutting her into pieces. She lowered her head disappointed as she took a couple of her tablets and had a quick drink to wash them down. She then closed the message, deciding to tell her aunt later when she heard footsteps coming from the back of the house knowing she was up. She took some deep breaths and calmed herself before seeing Sophie walk out of the corridor that leads to the back of the house wearing a ¾ length light green sleeveless dress with pink slippers on too. "Morning Sophie" Holly spoke trying to not let on something was up as she placed some cabbage leaves into her mouth.

"Morning sweetie, you are up early" Sophie replied happily as she got herself a plate of food.

"Want to make the most of the day as the weather is going to be good, so possibly long swim before it gets too cold for me to go in open water" Holly smiled between mouthfuls of food.

"That is a good idea to make the most of it" Sophie smiled back to her as she sat down opposite Holly. "Speaking of ideas what would you say to the idea having someone else moving in with us?"

Holly looked up at what Sophie when she mentioned the idea of having someone else in the house. "You met someone then?" She asked.

"Sort of but it is not what you are probably thinking, I am not in a relationship with anyone" Sophie giggles as she replied and started to eat. "No, I have been thinking about that girl Rachel who was here the other week, I looked into her in my spare time as when she was here with the other girls to see you and I took a likening to her after chatting with her. Then after reading her public information record well I couldn't help feeling sorry for her, being in that orphanage with no idea about what she is or where she comes from. Anyway I have spoken to the chief care worker at the orphanage about the possibility of fostering her so she would end up move in here, but I will only start the process if you are happy to share a room with her as I can't afford to move to a bigger house."

Holly thought for a moment, despite the news she just got having someone else around the place would make the place feel more like a family home, least for the time she had left. And it would also mean she could have someone her age around the place and there was the possibility of some fun, despite she wasn't certain that Rachel would catch on to making some mischief but she did like the idea overall. "I don't mind giving her space in my room, be like having a sister around the place." She smiled.

"Well I would be fully adopting her like I did with you so in a way she would be your adopted sister, and thank you for agreeing to this, I just felt when talking to her she needed to be around someone she can relax with and she did seem rather relaxed the moment she came in here considering what her record says about how she tends to avoid hanging around people" Sophie smiled back as she ate and gave Holly a gentle rub on the head with her right hand to which she gave off a little happy growl.

'Get past today and then I can focus on my own problem' Holly thought to herself as she ate. 'But if we are able to stop Demal how can I tell the others about this.' Her tail hung low as she was a little down emotionally inside. 'Why did I get chosen as a guardian considering I won't be living too much longer.'

Once she finished eating she went back to her room quietly to make certain she had everything sorted in there and placed on her medical band before she left her room putting on a green zip-up jumper and made her way to the front door, waving bye to Sophie who was still eating and now reading the news from the same screen she had been using before Sophie got there.

Once Holly had left Sophie opened up the mail screen and sent a message to the orphanage confirming she wanted to begin the process of fostering Rachel. Once it was sent and she was about to return to the news she spotted Holly had left a message open, while she respected her niece's privacy she decided to read the message as it was from the hospital, and as her legal guardian it was something she had a right to look at. "Oh Holly" She sighed deeply and a little upset after reading it. "Why have you had to suffer so much in life."

For Emma she had to be quiet due her being up early so she didn't wake up her brother as from what she has heard from the neighbours once a baby wakes up they will be noisy and not let anyone else sleep and they all sort of had a long night with Gary waking up regularly through the night. She was dressed in her normal grey wrappings around her feet, black leggings and a thick green tank top. She had spotted her nose was slowly showing a slight sign of becoming yellow like her lips tho it was barely noticeable, she also felt around her nose and it felt a little harder, she sighed knowing it would only be a matter of time till her beak grew out, merging her lips and nose together, she thought it was a bit of a advantage that she knew what to expect from it because of her guardian form that used a slightly older version of herself as she is young but the sudden transition from having lips and a nose to just a beak like her father has did felt strange for her. She finished eating some yogurts and placed the pot and spoon in the sink before creeping her way quietly up to the upper level, passing her parents bed area which had their certain pulled around it, while Gary was sleeping in a basket on the opposite side of that level covered by a white blanket, the tips of his featherless wings could be seen poking out. As she passed her brother she saw he was slowly waking up, she quietly waved her right hand towards him summoning a gentle breeze that kept him quiet because she had found from yesterday he gets mesmerised by her ability as he woke. She walked over and gently rocked the basket.

"Sussh Gary, don't wake mum and dad yet, let them sleep for now so I can go and do what is needed of me as a guardian" she whispered as he stared at her, his eyes were open wide but clearly still sleepy. "I will return when this is over, I will protect you from darkness that is out there and threatens you." As she quietly whispered and rocked him he slowly fell back to sleep. She smiled before waking up to the tunnel entrance to get to the surface, looking back she felt like she should say something to her parents in case she didn't return. "Love you all" She decided to whisper knowing they would not have heard it due to their sleep, but she felt better for saying it. She then walked up the tunnel quietly making her way out the door and started the long walk to get to the training area, wiping a tear from her eye for she couldn't stand the thought of loosing any of them today.

Amy was still enjoying her sleep while Janet was already up and raiding the wardrobes for something suitable to wear for the day that she could fight in. Their parents had gone out early to get to another town as a work college of their mum's was getting married today and even before this whole guardian thing had started neither of them wanted to go as they didn't know anyone else who was going to be there. Both the girls were in matching red night dress's (well matching in design, size's were different). Getting a little concerned for her sister sleeping in so much on this day and considering that she had tried a few different things to wake Amy up Janet went to the kitchen tap and got a very cold glass of water and walked back to the bed and climbed up a little on the ladder attached to the bed and grinned a little as she lifted the glass above Amy's head and held it carefully between her thumb and index finger.

"Sis, this is your only warning" Janet softly spoke. "Wake up or I shall open a fold to wherever Demal is and give our address to him saying there is a sleeping guardian here, come and take her out so he can weaken you lot." She giggled quietly to herself once she finished.

Amy despite seemingly being asleep reacted to what Janet said and quickly jumped in her bed as she woke up, knocking the glass out of Janet's hand with her head causing it to spill the water over herself. Janet stood on the ladder and laughed seeing her sister who was sitting up now dripping wet on her head and had her fists held out before her in a position ready to attack anyone who came at her and was breathing fast.

"Not very nice doing that sis, but it was effective" Amy said a little annoyed as she turned to face Janet who was still laughing and she then threw her pillow at Janet. "So why did you wake me now, I was enjoying that sleep and want some more."

"Because it is 9:30, and we need to leave here by 10 if we are to meet the others at the time agreed" Janet spoke as she threw Amy back her pillow and then got down the ladder.

"It is what time?!" Amy exclaimed as she quickly threw her quilt back and scrambled across her bed and jumped down to the floor. "Why didn't you wake me sooner" She called out as ran around the house to get to the washroom.

"I did try other things for the last half hour but you didn't respond. Anyway you still have those guard pads from when you learned to do hover boarding?" Janet called out as she found some body armour at the back of one of the wardrobes.

"Lowest right draw of my personal wardrobe if mum didn't get rid of them yet" Amy called back as the sound of a tap running filled the house.

Janet went to the spot Amy told her opening up the door of the wardrobe and then the draw. Moving some bits around she then found what she was looking for: upper leg, shin, knee, elbow, lower and upper arm guards along with some fingerless gloves that were armoured around the back of the hands and padded on the inside. "Got them!" she called out as she took them out, now all she needed was something suitable to wear under the protective gear.

"That is good mum hadn't got rid of them, despite my board being broken for a while" Amy spoke as she returned. She then dressed in a grey knee-length skirt and a dull grey jumper with a picture of a cartoonish cat on the front. "I assume you have had food already then" she then asked as she went off to the kitchen.

"Yep I did, mum left some bits out for us before she and dad left" Janet replied as she rummaged through more clothes.

In the kitchen Amy grabbed some nutrient cubes and started to eat them while dwelling on what her sister asked her overnight. Eventually Janet walked into the room wearing matching black running trousers and long sleeve top, she had the armour parts in a large dark yellow backpack. Amy finished off a bottle of treated water as Janet put on her hiking boots and finally the Tonga tooth around her neck.

"Ready for this then sis?" Amy asked as she put her pair of boots on.

"As ready as anyone could be I guess" Janet replied before they both set off from the house to meet up with the others.

Rachel had been busy and in a hurry all morning, for once she had actually been down early to get food as soon as the meal area opened to serve breakfast, having a bowl of cereal and some toast quickly before she returned to her room. Using the time to get changed from her pyjama's into a dark blue sweater as she was now starting to be feeling the cooler air around the city despite it being sunny as summer had past. She also put on some thick light blue trousers and a pair of furry boots to help keep her warm. While she getting dressed she was still reading from her holo displays having attempted a little more research based on the prophesy, but nothing told her any more then she and the other girls already knew, and that was mostly from piecing things together that either she or Terri had found or were told at Kandrakar.

"Rachel I have some news for you" James's voice came from behind her door making her jump a little, she looked at the time...9:45 it read 'Worst possible timing for him, I need to move' she thought to herself as she closed the screens down while James's voice came again. "Look I know you are up I saw you down having food earlier so can you talk to me please."

Rachel quickly went to her door and opened it trying to get out only for him to be standing in the way, looking rather calm. "Sorry but I want to go to the archives and look up something" She muttered to him as she slid past and started walking down the corridor.

"Rachel wait, you don't want to know what the news is?" James asked her as he followed after, dodging around other kids in the place as they charged through the corridors between rooms.

"Is it finally an answer about who I really am, otherwise it can wait till I get back" Rachel spoke up, clearly not wanting to hang around. This attitude caught James of guard, not having heard her speak like this before, and it was something she realised too before speaking in her normal shy nature he knew "Sorry, I just want to be somewhere quiet today so I can think through some things."

"Look, I get that because you are a young teenager things get harder as you need someone there for you to talk to openly because you go through changes as you go through these years and being here doesn't help that, but someone has expressed interest in adopting you" James replied as they got to the entrance and Rachel was about to sign herself out.

"What?" She said as she turned around to face him in shock. "Who, when, why me?"

"Someone who you met and took a likening to you it seems, we have spoken for a few days now doing interviews and background checks and she has passed them. She said to me when I told her we can move to a test phase of fostering she said she would need to check with the child she has if this would be all right as she didn't want to tell them if she couldn't move into the trial stage, and she messaged me back this morning to say you are welcomed by the child, who knows you too because you are both in the same school" James explained to her. "If you all are happy after the test phase we can do the full adoption forms and you will have a family to be with."

Rachel stood there for a few moments just taking it all in, someone had expressed interest in fostering her and it apparently was someone she had met, being she never had contact with too many adults it would be a short list, but she couldn't think as to who. "I will think it over while out today" Rachel told him quietly as she turned around again and signed out.

"That is all I ask of you Rachel is to consider this option" He smiled to her as she looked at him before she walked out the door. He sighed a little watching her walk off. "You do your best to help someone in a hard place to have a proper life, but what can you do when they don't know how to live a life properly" He quietly muttered to himself a little sad for her as he walked back off into the depths of the building.

Terri sat in her room wearing her swimming costume as she ate some shrimp and kelp while looking at her holo screens. Like Rachel had been doing she was looking into any mention of Kandrakar or its guardians in the history logs, or anything that contains the slightest reference them but to no avail apart from a series of fantasy books all by the same writer (the same one Rachel was writing about the other day for her homework) from the 21st century and the names for bits didn't quite match up so she discounted them. She was now looking though anything that covered heroes from earth which brought up a few results, most noticeably 2 major groups of powered heroes from Japan that seemed to draw her attention as some of them did use magic (while others had technology and other means for their powers). As she read up on those she had also been looking into anything more in-depth about the type of powers they have beyond what she originally found to see what users of water, fire, earth, air and quintessence powers are able to do, but that didn't teach her anything more.

"Terri" Her mum's voice came into the room a little weak. She turned around seeing her mum in the doorway looking a bit uneasy and clearly struggling to move around.

"Mum what's wrong?" She asked as she quickly swam over to her, taking her onto her shoulder when she reached her.

"I feel like I am going to be sick, really badly sick, can you help me onto the upper level as I can't seem to pull myself out" May asked her as they slowly moved along the tunnel to the vertical shaft that went to the upper level.

Terri swam up pulling her mother to the surface and when they broke the surface she quickly moved to the side then sat on the edge of the pool so she could help pull her out and then once she was out too, she helped her onto her feet, moving her over to the sofa and finally helped her to lie down. She then quickly get a decent sized red bucket for her from an alcove along with a large black towel and placed it over her, while the tip of her tail poked out of the end, as long as she was mostly covered that was important.

"You going to be all right?" She asked a little unsettled and she felt her mother's forehead and she was felt rather hot.

"Possibly, but I don't think I should have gone underwater last night to sleep" May weakly replied as she tried to position herself more comfortably for the position she was in.

"I'll call dad" Terri calmly said hiding the concern for her mother as she then got up fully and ran across the room to an alcove with a holo tile in it, waving her hand over it to bring up the menu she went to a call icon and then contacts, scrolling through it to find Jack and then selecting him. A small window appeared with the word 'Connecting' flashed up displayed in red. After a few moments Jacks face appeared on the screen.

"Terri? what's wrong my sweet girl?" He asked her seeing she was a little concerned.

"Mum is looking really badly ill dad, she says she feels really sick, and feels rather hot" She spoke back in a little bit of panic.

"Look I will contact a doctor and get back as fast as I can, you called at a good time as we got a shift change about to happen so I won't be too long" He told her before the screen closed.

"Terri" May called out still really weak as Terri closed the holo display.

"What is it mum?" Terri called over as she ran back.

"Don't let me hold you up in going out to be with friends, Jack won't be long, I heard him say it was shift change and he can get back fast and I can't go anywhere so go out and enjoy your day" May insisted to her child.

"You really sure you can be left here alone mum?" Terri asked concerned.

"I will be fine and you said something last night about meeting up with the others at 10:30 and you need to move, so go and don't worry about me" May spoke as she reached up her left hand and stroked her daughter on the head. "Plus last time I was sick you couldn't stand being around because the sight, smell and sound makes you be sick too" She smiled to her.

"Ok mum, just don't do anything stupid, or at least something that will make me regret going" Terri smiled back at her as she stroked her mum's head back and then ran to the pool and jumped into the water, swimming down to her room and grabbed her bag and quickly swam to out of the house and made her way to the shore and into the changing huts. Once she had changed into a black hoodie with a red t-shirt underneath, dark red jogging trousers and her trainers she made her way off to the meeting point.

Holly had arrived 1st at their practice area, she sat down on a little wall as she thought more on her situation before deciding to place it at the back of her head tho it still nagged away at her, but the situation for today had to take priority because if she wasn't focused on it then she wouldn't be able to fight properly, but as to how they were going to defeat Demal, let alone the copy of the Overseer and Jessica who while neither had proven to be as strong as Demal they both had proven to be a problem, plus they never truly have beaten the 2 of them. Then there was the Dolgag's for while they have beaten them twice before but the second encounter they were smarter to their methods, and from what both Amy and Terri had said their third encounters they were even smarter against them.

"Holly, you feeing all right? Rachel asked as she stood there before her staring at her.

"Yea I'm good, just trying to think of a way to weaken Demal's forces so we can defeat him" Holly muttered as Rachel walked a little closer.

"Well sis may have a plan on how to do part of that" Amy called out from behind her causing Holly to look around.

"Sis, I didn't want it known yet, I wanted to speak to the Oracle first so I would know if it would work" Janet moaned at Amy, leading them both to playfully argue with each other bringing a smile to Holly's face as Rachel stood and watched a little intrigued.

'Is that what siblings do?' She thought to herself as she watched the 2 mess around a bit as they argued. 'Play argue?'

"Hope we are not too late" Terri called out as both she and Emma ran up which ended the argument between the two sisters.

"Let's get moving cos I want to get this whole thing over and done with fast" Emma spoke a little exhausted from the running.

"Guest we best move as we don't know when show time will be I guess" Holly spoke as she stood up, looked across the others to see if any of them had managed to get a time but it seemed they hadn't so walked a few steps to one side before taking hold of the heart in both her hands and lifting it away from her a bit, it glowed a little brighter and a pink spark fired from it and a fold then opened before them. "Kandrakar awaits" She smiled as they then all walked through with it closing behind them.

Kandrakar

Within the council chamber the spirits of the 4 guardians from the past sat on some of the seating to one side of the chamber while Luba stood before the door into the auramere chamber and Yan Lin and Will stood near the middle of the chamber with Undia talking over things who had not been there for very long. They were then interrupted by a fold opening near them and the 6 girls stepping through.

"Guardians welcome back" Yan Lin spoke with a smile seeing them all walk through.

"Oracle we are ready for the mission" Holly spoke as they all bowed their heads to her.

"That is good to hear girls" She replied. "I hope you remember Undia here as you will be working alongside her and the combined forces of both Mechanax Meridian today that are available to aid you, the rest will be protecting populated area's in case Demal decided to attack those area's as a distraction to you."

"Guardians I am ready to serve beside you all in your task" Undia replied as she bowed to them.

"Serve us?" Amy questioned rather confused.

"In their decision to stand as warriors for Kandrakar they kind of took the view of the guardians as one of the most senior members of command after the Oracle" Will informed them. "Something even we didn't feel comfortable with, rather we just saw them as friends and comrades in the task to keep the infinite dimensions at peace, working as equals if you follow."

"Well as we are new to this understand we will be relying on your kind to teach us a bit in how to do full scale combat like what we are expecting, so let's just work together as a single team, and I think the Overseer is right, we should be comrades together all as equals, not having ranks" Terri spoke to Undia as she moved over to her and lifter her back up to stand up fully, she just looked back at Terri a little uncertain of what to say for a few moments.

"Well you arrived here in good time guardians, the queen of Meridian wishes to speak with you all before the eclipse starts, which is in about a earth hour" Undia informed them when she remembered one of the tasks she was sent to Kandrakar for.

"Before you go me and the others need to discuss something with the guardians about the key" Will said as she singled for the girls to follow her as she turned and walked over to where her team sat.

"That will give me time to speak with you Oracle if I may because I may have a idea on saving Jessica" Janet asked as the other 5 went over to where Will went and Undia looked at Yan Lin who gave a nod so she walked over to once side to allow the two of them to speak privately, she used the time to fully understand what both Will and Terri had said about being equals.

Once they were all done with their chats they all re-grouped in the middle tho Will and Holly held back for a moment with the spirits talking about something before they came back across and Undia walked back to join them when she was signalled for.

"So everyone happy with what you all are needing to know of for the task at hand?" Yan Lin asked.

"We are" Rachel spoke for the 5 guardians who nodded in response.

"As am I in what I will be doing" Janet replied.

"Then go guardians and defend the infinite dimensions from this darkness that rises again" Yan Lin spoke before turning to Janet. "Don't worry, I will have Will ready waiting for your plan."

"I will take you straight to the queen's castle" Undia spoke as she turned away from them holding out her right hand before her and started muttering something in a language none of them could understand and the cyan marking on her right arm started to glow and then before her a fold opened and she lowered her arm as the markings stopped glowing.

"Wow, glad we have the heart and tooth for folds, seems quicker" Emma whispered to the other girls who Amy just elbowed her back in the arm gently. "Ouch."

"Be nice as we have to work alongside her as she is a ally of Kandrakar so we don't want to anger her or any of the species otherwise things could be awkward" Terri scolded her as they all walked up to the fold and followed Undia through it and once they all were through it closed.

"Grandma you ok?" Hay Lin asked as she and the other 4 spirits came over to the middle.

"I am, but the prophesy makes me feel like I am sending someone to their death today like my predecessor did all those years ago when he sent you and your allies" Yan Lin replied with a sigh.

"The prophesy troubles us all, but we have been able to beat one before, as have other teams, so there is a chance that none of them will suffer" Cornelia spoke trying to sooth Yan Lin's nerves.

"They will all come back, you will see" Irma smiled. "Everyone will."

"We all have belief in them, plus maybe a way to finally destroy the key" Taranee said.

Will stood there holding in her hand her hope ring in a way that the others were unable to see she had it. 'Fear not girls, for we all have our hope with you' she thought thinking of the man who gave her that ring, and his words of the power hope brings.

Next Time: The queen and the path revealed.