23: Destruction

Meridian Underground, Large cavern

"Do you think?" Amy asked in fear as suddenly several more black lightning bolts came from the tunnel and hit all the girls, knocking back the 4 real ones into the wall hard and then they fell to the floor, the spirits felt the blasts as it passed through them, everyone screamed a little from the pain.

"I think he must have" Terri managed to speak as she recovered from the pain. They all looked at the tunnel again and more black lightning was emerging from it, hitting anything in its path.

"Get to the surface" Mille called to the living girls.

"But our friend is down there" Emma called to her as they managed to stand up.

"You just felt whatever is coming from there, it sent you flying and that was probably only a small amount of power from it" Ellie told them as the living girls got back up. "You saved us from being trapped, and well...we can't let you become like us."

"We are just spirits and it will pass through us, granted with pain, but we will go and find your friend and do what we can to help her" Isabelle told them as the 4 spirits started to move towards the tunnel they needed, being hit by a few stray bolts that pass through them and caused them some pain.

"As soon as the energy reaches the surface it will start to destroy the planet and then the other dimensions, so if that happens, collapse the whole mountain on us, try to bury this place enough to seal it" Sally called back to them as they disappeared down the tunnel.

"We are not abandoning her" Terri cried out as she tried to fly after the spirits, only for Amy and Emma to pull her back as they and Rachel started for the tunnel back to the surface, Rachel held both arms out before her forming her shield to protect them from a few more bolts as slowly a few more shot out of the other tunnel.

"You are meant to be the smart one, and you felt that bolt, you go down there you will not make it to Holly, we have to trust the others" Amy yelled at Terri.

"Amy is right, trust that our predecessors can find her before we have to collapse this place, or failing that get her to fold out of here" Emma also called at Terri.

"I don't like leaving her either, but us dying won't help her" Rachel shouted.

"Fine" Terri sighed as some tears fell from her. "Holly, please be safe" She quietly muttered as she turned around and they all flew back towards the surface with Rachel flying behind them all backwards so she could keep her shield protecting them in case of any bolts that followed them.

Kandrakar

Will, Janet and Jessica arrived in the man chamber as the place shook more. Along the way they had past guards, other council members and some visitors to the place that were all panicking. Upon entry to the main chamber Will could see that her former team were all unsettled by what was going on while Yan Lin stood in the middle, eyes closed trying to keep calm, Luba was within the sub-chamber that held the aurameres.

"It's happened hasn't it?" Will asked rather unsettled herself.

"I think so, but grandma hasn't said a word since the place started to shake" Hay Lin replied as Will and the others reached them.

"Hold on, if it is what you think it is..." Janet spoke before a look of horror appeared on her face. "SIS!" She then screamed out as she fiddled around to get the Tonga tooth from her neck into her free left hand while she took some steps away from everyone.

"Don't" Yan Lin calmly spoke as she opened her eyes.

"I have to go help her" Janet cried at Yan Lin as she stopped trying to get at the tooth and walked up to her.

"I understand you wish to go and make sure she is safe, but if you open that fold it will allow more of the energy that is starting to tear at the dimensions through to here, and should this place falls it will allow everywhere else to be destroyed more quickly." She calmly replied. "And if you go via another world, you will just put that world at more risk the moment you open the fold to Meridian."

"I know you don't want to hear this but she is right" Taranee told Janet, hating to agree to this. "Open that fold and not only would the energy likely destroy you trying to cross a dimension, but it will flood in to any world that the fold links to and accelerate the damage to them."

"Same applies to anyone who cross's a fold at the moment, they all risk not surviving the process and damage to those worlds" Irma added.

"There is still time for this to be stopped" Cornelia spoke more calmly then the others. "We just need to hope they can do it, or have a alternative plan to seal the doorway, even if it means using zenith power."

"I didn't like telling them about zenith, considering the consequences of using that level power without something to focus it" Taranee sighed.

"Hope alone won't do it, but we know what hope combined with guardian powers is able to unleash" Will spoke after a few moments of silence. "But just as a precaution I told Holly of the other way to make the power needed without running the risk of losing herself to zenith power."

"You can't of told her..." Cornelia looked at her a little horrified.

"...Not that..." Hay Lin looked on in utter fear.

"...Why?..." Taranee asked as she was annoyed by this.

Irma spoke last of them to speak, clearly upset. "After everything we have seen and done, that way of getting power is dangerous, far more than going zenith. And what guarantee do you have she would be able to do it? Just because they aren't evolved like we were so they have less power isn't a good reason, especially because requires a sacrifice that very few are able to do."

"Yes they aren't evolved like we were so they already are at a power disadvantage, and without someone using the wizard powers the safer way of zenith can't be used. So the reason I told her because she understands the sacrifice needed in doing it" Will stubbornly replied. "No-one can give more than one who doesn't have time."

"What are you on about?" Janet asked rather concerned by what they were talking about. Jessica had by now been placed on the benches around the area to lie down. "What does she understand?"

"I am in agreement with Will" Yan Lin spoke with a little sigh. "It may be the only other chance left."

"Granma, asking someone to do that is..." Hay Lin looked on like she was about to cry.

"...A decision made of desperation, maybe" Yan Lin replied. "But she was only told of it and the consequences as just something that can be done, Will never asked her to actually do it. So if she does that will be a decision of her own free will. And Janet, what we are on about is..."

Earth, Heatherfield

In the city police station there was panic as a storm had suddenly appeared in the skies, earthquakes and the sea had become very rough, reports coming in were not just for Heatherfield, but all of earth and every other world that they had a radio-based communication link with. Everyone was rushing around trying to organise some sort of plan and speak on the phones to help those who called. Over at her desk Spoke was trying to call Holly.

"Come on, pick up" She muttered both frustrated in concern and in panic. "Please answer so I know you are safe." She kept trying to call back but every time is came up as 'Unable to Connect'.

"Officer Davis, as our profiler, can you give any help for things to keep the public calm?" A senior officer spoke to her from behind.

"Sadly sir, in this situation, only way would be to keep people safe and wait till this stops." She replied as she tried to focus, but the whole time everything went back to Holly. 'Don't let what is coming for you mean you give up and use this deadly situation as a way out.' She thought to herself

In the hospital panic was the same, doctors and nurses ran around trying to keep patients calm and deal with those who were coming in having taken a injury from the chaos outside. In 1 ward May lay on a bed under a white sheet, holding hands with Jack who sat next to her.

"You think Terri is alright out there?" She asked weakly.

"You raised her well, I am certain she found a place to hide this out" He replied with a smile.

"We raised her, remember what she said, she sees you as her father." She replied back.

"I know, but she does take after you" He spoke. "And she will be fine, you'll see."

In the mountains both Kim and Rob had made certain everything was secure as they cuddled together on the bed with Gary. It was too dangerous for them to leave the house, so they had to hope it was strong enough to take everything going on.

"In a way Emma but being able to fly is an advantage" Rob calmly spoke. "Her legs will be strong so she would have been able to run to safety then try flying it."

"But not knowing where she is pains me the most" Kim replied as she held her husband and baby close as he cried out. "Sussh Gary, we will all be fine, and you will have your sister back soon."

"He does seem to be calmer when she is around" Rob commented as he helped try to calm Gary as another hard quake hit.

Within the woods everyone had retreated into basements they had in their houses while those too big for the houses or that lived outside held tight to the ground, the winds and quakes already bringing some trees down while lightning raged in the storm.

"The girls, should be fine, Janet will have got Amy somewhere." Julia spoke trying to keep herself calm.

"They are both strong, plus being in the city means there is plenty of places to hide" David spoke to re-assure her.

"Unless they end up in some of the older ones" She panicked a little.

"I am certain they know better than that, they would be in a safe spot" He gave her a cuddle as they tucked up into a back corner of their basement.

The orphanage had lowered shutters over the windows as James stood by the door letting others inside who needed shelter from the storm.

"All kids that hadn't signed out are in the main hall" Margret spoke as she came up behind him. "We are placing all our visitors in the dining hall."

"Good work" James replied as he kept watch. "Go with the kids and do what you can to keep them calm, I will stay here in case anyone else comes." He looked at Margret, giving a stare at her to show she couldn't say anything to get him to leave, so she just walked off after giving a nod to him, but clearly looking concerned. 'Of all days to have pushed her outside, this had to happen' He thought to himself rather annoyed. 'If anything bad happens to her because I pushed her away, I will never be able forgive myself.'

Meridian, Castle

Queen Miriam stood looking out of a window at the top of the tallest tower of the castle, the room she was in was empty, apart from a wooden stool in there as it is used as a lookout, the back of the small room was a wooden door. She could see the bad conditions of the storm outside striking everywhere and getting worse as entering the castle came people from the surrounding area. Behind her in the room the door opened Grelan walked in.

"How are the preparations coming?" She asked a little sad.

"The lower levels have been stocked with supplies and everyone is being sent down there my queen" He replied as she walked up and looked out as well. "You should get down below too before the tower becomes unstable." There was then another hard quake that shook the tower hard.

"I will remain, what sort of queen would I be if I hid when disaster came, even tho I asked everyone else to hide. No I accept that if I am to die this day, then so be it." She spoke back firmly. "And before you say you will remain, don't, because someone needs to look after them. And you are best for that, so old friend please don't remain here because your duty says you must, please go and protect the people by keeping them safe below." There was a little tear as she begged him.

"Very well, I wish you the best then my queen" He replied with a bow before turning to leave.

"And Grelan, thank you for all these years" She quickly said to him in a sad voice.

"We will survive this day" He smiled a little to her as he looked back at her. "Don't give up on your people, they will need you once this is over to lead them in the aftermath, be strong for them." He then left the room as she also smiled a little to herself as she looked back outside.

Meridian, Tunnel

As the 4 girls flew up the tunnels a slight light started to appear in the distance, Rachel by now had lowered the shield so she could fly with them at full speed, the bolts hadn't started to travel this far yet, but the effects were being felt as the quakes were getting more frequent and stronger.

"Nearly there!" Amy called as she led the group seeing a faint light in the distance.

"I still say we shouldn't have left her" Terri sadly spoke.

"We didn't have a choice, none of us could make it" Emma called before she then spotted behind her Rachel had stopped flying and was just hovering in place. "Rachel why have you stopped?"

"Because I will go get her" She muttered a bit, turning back to face the way they just came.

"What?" Amy called back as the others flew up to Rachel.

"You say none of us could make it, but I can" Rachel stubbornly told them. "My shield, it protected us getting away from it, so it can protect me getting down to her."

"Closer to the source the stronger it will be" Terri sighed. "I want help her, but they are right."

"I left her behind once before and paid the price for that by giving Demal a chance there to get rid of her, I won't leave her again." Rachel angrily spoke to them. In the 2 weeks that she had been opening up to them, she never showed this much emotion.

"What about burying this place then, we can't wait for you to go all the way back in and come out if it reaches the outside first" Emma clicked back.

"If it comes to that then do it, we know my shield can take a lot so I will use that to protect me and Holly if I have her from falling rocks then once that is over we ether fold out or I melt the rocks in the way" Rachel said as she turned her back to the others.

"Then I will come with you" Terri called to her.

"If you are right that at the source it will be stronger I will struggle to just keep myself protected and her, I know you want her back the most of all of us, but you know that even your hardening ability won't protect you from it if you are outside my shield, as the shock will still effect you, and protecting 3 of us in a large area will be hard, especially moving." Rachel sighed to Terri.

"Ok, but just be fast" Emma reluctantly said as she rested her right hand on Rachel's right shoulder before she and the other 2 girls turned towards the exit and flew off. Rachel took a deep breath before flying back the way she just came from, ready to raise her shield around her once she reached where the energy had got.

After a few moments the 3 girls finally reached the exit and flew outside to see the stormy sky and the area around the valley had already started to suffer rock slides, the forces were slowly trying to get out of the area.

"Guardians what happened?" Undia called to them as she ran over while they landed.

"We ended up being separated, Holly went after Demal, and after we dealt with Dolgag's we got hit by black energy that came from where she went." Amy quickly explained. "We made our way back to the surface with a plan from the spirits from the guardians that Demal killed."

"What about the fire one?" Undia asked counting off only 3 of them. "And the spirits?!"

"Long story short, Demal caught 4 of the 5 spirits of our predecessors and put them in Dolgag's, we released them and they told us to bury the door as they think it is open by bringing down the mountain on it, they went to see what was going on as they can't be harmed by falling rock or the energy that is being released too much" Emma quickly replied. "As for Rachel, well on the way out she decided to go back for Holly. Both she and Terri don't want her left behind."

"If the door is open we must act quickly to bury it" Undia responded. "Will the plan work?"

"We don't know for certain, the spirits think it will, but there is nothing to guarantee it" Terri sadly replied. "But we are not bringing it down while there is a chance of our 2 getting out. We are giving them until things get extreme to get out before doing anything." That part she spoke in a stubborn manner.

"I understand" Undia nodded to Terri.

They looked on at the tunnel, seeing sparks flickering in the distance in it, Terri knew there wasn't much time left.

Within the tunnel, Rachel had made it back to the large chamber which now had a lot of bolts flying around in it, and because of the amount in there, she had to land and keep low, surrounded by a dome shield to protect herself as she slowly made her way towards the other tunnel in that chamber.

"I am coming, just hold on" She struggled to speak, using most of her energy just for the shield. "I won't leave you with him again."

Meridian, Deep Chamber

Holly dragged herself along the ground using her hands and left leg to move towards Demal, the top half of the chamber was filled by bolts of black energy that came out of the door and were making their way down the only tunnel from the chamber like some sort of weed, growing out over the place. Eventually she got to his body and pushed him over up against a wall, her dragging had got her right leg back in position, but there was a lot of pain. She pulled herself up and placed her head on his chest and listened, she could hear a faint heart beat.

"Come on, we need to stop this" She weakly said to him as she sat right up. "We just need remove the key right?"

"It is pointless" He sighed to her. "The key is now the relay, it became that once it was in place, it channels the power through it. So while it is channelling the power it can't be removed, only way to stop it now is to destroy the whole thing, and my power went when I was struck by the power it is releasing, and with the key having now fulfilled its role, its own power is gone, I have nothing holding me here, my body is failing."

Holly sat there for a moment and just looked at the key. "How much power is needed to destroy it now it activated?"

"More then you can channel with just a strike of quintessence, and the rest of your friends powers." He coughed. "After all this time, what I thought would let me rule to worlds to prevent needless destruction, it just going to destroy everything. You were right, I did loose myself to the dark powers, before I ever used them I would use my power to help farm, heal the ill, and those sort of things, but in the end I caused harm to too many...I am sorry guardian for bringing you into this, at least I can go into the afterlife as myself not a dark shadow that have been this whole time."

"Time" Holly muttered as she thought over what was told back in Kandrakar.

"Zenith power, tapping into the core power of the dragons that the guardian powers come from, but you lose yourself in the process, unless you time a transfer of power along with life force into the heart. A person's life force can be sacrificed for magic, but it damages the body as it drains the body of the energy it needs to survive. And even then, the heart won't let someone just give their life force without them truly knowing of the sacrifice they are making" Will's voice ran though her head. The zenith bit was told to them all by Will and the spirits, but the life force bit was only Will to her. "Only someone who understands the shortness of life can do it, as they have to sacrifice their dreams because of the short time they are on, something I know you feel."

"I live on short time" She muttered again as she looked down at the heart. She stared at it for a moment before looking back to the stand the key was on. "I know what to do" She firmly spoke before she started to drag herself towards the stand.

"Don't be foolish girl" Demal weakly called to her as he pushed himself to sit up against the wall as he watched her make her way towards the stand.

As she closed in on her target the energy seemed to react and start launching quick bolts at her, she cried out in pain with each hit, pulling herself along the floor all the time, and as she got even closer she was getting hit by stronger and stronger bolts. She finally reached the base of the stand, but a strong bolt that struck her prevented her from begin able to grab onto it so she could try and stand. She twitched her fingers as she tried to reach out again and another large bolt came her way, Demal closed his eyes, afraid to watch, as did Holly prepared for what could be about to happen, but it never came, she opened her eyes and saw a spirit hovering between her and the bolt while the heart was glowing a little brighter.

"Don't give up" The spirit spoke in its female voice, clearly struggling to hold the bolt back.

Holly looked on and saw she had her hair tied back at the base of her head and came halfway down her back. She grabbed onto the stand and pulled herself up it slowly to stand over the key, she looked back at the spirit and weakly asked "Who and how?"

"I'm Laura, the previous air guardian, and as for how, I contained my spirit in the heart so our friend couldn't get me at the time" She smiled to Holly as the bolt stopped. "I still have a bit of power left that keeps me in the realm of the living."

Demal had opened his eyes to see what had happened and was amazed by what he saw, the one that got away was there, he thought in is rage against her he destroyed it, a little bit of relief fell across him that her spirit was still alive.

Suddenly another large bolt came and Laura moved to shield Holly from it, taking the bolt between her hands as she struggled to hold it. "I heard all that was said, look within yourself, and do what you choose to do" She told Holly as she spoke in pain from the strain of the bolt.

Holly turned to face the key, she took the heart in her hands as she managed to get herself standing under her own strength, her tail just hanging down, unresponsive. She removed the heart from her neck as she then held it before her face and closed her eyes and started speaking out loud to which both Laura and Demal both heard what she was saying.

"Time, someone who doesn't have much time knows it best. I only have months to a couple of years left. There is so much I wish to do in that: finish school, fall in love, enjoy being with my friends. Anyone could do those, but they can take as many years as they wish as they have a long life to do that. Someone with short time has to choose what dreams to sacrifice to do others in what little they have. I choose to sacrifice what little life I have and all my dreams to give everyone the time to live out their life." As she spoke she thought through everyone she knew, and what she had been through this last 2 weeks with Emma, Amy, Rachel and Terri. "Emma, you have overcome your fear of flying, and now have your brother, something that makes you able to keep us grounded in reality. Amy, you may come across as someone who only wants a fight, but you are someone who does deeply care for others. Rachel, I feel you have so much you hold within and don't let anyone close enough to bond to, just open your heart to others and they will accept you. Terri, you were always able to make me smile when I have been down, use that to being happiness to others that need it." While she was speaking 4 more bolts were launched at her, only for the other spirits to appear while the heart started to glow brighter, giving them the power to shield and they each took a bolt and stopped them progressing. Demal just watched on as a force stated to emanate from the heart and push back like when the transformations happen.

Holly then focused on her powers as a pink aura appeared over her and the quintessence symbol appeared on her body where it did before. She reached down, pulling everything she could, blue lighting started to jump all around her as she felt the power starting to overwhelm her body. "Heart of Kandrakar, feel my desires, my pain, hopes, dreams. Now take everything from me, every last bit of power" She firmly spoke as she opened her eyes, having now changed to a glowing blue that matched her lightning. The heart was still getting brighter as the force from it stronger, so much now that that the bolt that were being launched at her were all being deflected away. Demal had to cover his eyes from the light.

"I offer what I have left too" Laura's voice came as she placed a hand over the heart.

"And mine" Millie said as she added hers.

"I add my powers" Was then said by Ellie as she also joined.

"Mine is also to join" Sally spoke while she placed her hand.

"Finally my power" Isabelle finished as she joined at the end.

The power surged in all of them as the heart's glow got brighter and brighter, all 6 of them pulling everything they could, and finally Holly spoke when her body felt like it could hold no more as she was now covered with blue lightning bolts jumping around her. "Our powers, together to protect those we care about and those who will never know, we have no time to do what we wish, and what we have got left, we give to allow others to have." She then felt the heart reach deep into all of them as she called out for what she knew would be the last time along with Mille shouting "Guardians, unite!"

There was a massive surge of energy through the room as each of them started to glow white.

"Earth" Sally shouted.

"Water" Called out Isabelle.

"Air" Came from Laura.

"Fire" Ellie added to the calls.

As they were calling out Rachel slowly walked into the room, her shield at full strain from the dark energy she had been blocking that had mostly drained her, and then for the last few steps the force from the heart had been pushing her back, she looked on at what was happening as she tried to get closer and she started to call out. "Hol..."

Holly was unable to hear Rachel as she raised the heart up above her head, the spirits moving with her, lining it up with the key, a pink energy started to fire at the key from the heart, to which the key responded by firing a red energy back. Then when she was ready both she and Millie shouted out "Quintessence!" Before she then swing the heart down as a massive pink energy flowed from her and the spirits into the heart.

The heart made contact with the key and a massive pink flash filled the room and a large white force fired outwards from the collision, shattering Rachel's shield and throwing her back into the wall, she lost consciousness while the energy flew down the tunnel.

Next Time: The Aftermath