Chapter 20:
"Angelo!", Cassidy cried as she ran up to him.
Once she got to Angelo, who was in a sitting position against the tree he was shot against, Cassidy dropped to her knees and held Angelo close as Nolan walked up to them.
"That was only a taste of what will happen if you fail one to many times at geting the Heart of Kandrakar for me.", Nolan said as he had his staff pointed at Angelo and Cassidy, who wasn't going to leave Angelo's side.
"We will not fail you!", Nerissa said. "We will get you the Heart of Kandrakar!"
"Even if we have to bring you the Keeper herself!", Joe added.
"As long as you bring me the Heart, I'll be happy.", Nolan said as he looked down at Angelo, who had a slight glare as he looked up at Nolan. "I wonder what's running through that head of yours."
Angelo then raised an eyebrow to what Nolan said as he turned to walk away from them.
"From what I've seen, so far, some of the Guardians and their allies aren't on good terms with each other because of your actions. Impressive.", Nolan said as he walked away from them all. "If I were you all, I'd see if you could stir the pot some more."
"That's the plan.", Joe said.
"Good.", Nolan said as he opened a fold to return back to his world. "I do wish you luck, my Dark Guardians. I would hate to have to replace you."
With that said, Nolan went through the fold. The Dark Guardians watched the fold close. Once it closed, Cassidy and Joe helped Angelo to his feet.
"You okay there, boy.", Joe asked as Angelo was able to stand up.
"Yeah.", Angelo said as Cassidy hugged him. "Don't worry, Cass. I'm okay."
"Just let me have this moment.", Cassidy said. "I was scared that Nolan was going to really hurt you."
"He won't hurt any of us to bad.", Angelo said. "Not yet anyway."
"Well, I don't think he was kidding when he said that he'd hate to replace us.", Nerissa said. "And by that, he meant that he will replace us if he needs to!"
"Not if we show him how powerful we are.", Angelo said as he wrapped an arm around Cassidy, who was still hugging him on his left side.
"What are you talking about?", Kadma asked.
"For now, nothing.", Angelo said. "But if we play our cards right, Nolan will be showing us some respect."
"Don't do anything foolish.", Yan Lin said as Cassidy stopped hugging Angelo. "Nolan may not look it, but he isn't one to mess with. I could sense that when we first met him."
"I'll be careful, Yannie.", Angelo said as Nerissa opened a fold back to Earth. "Now let's head home."
As everyone headed throught the fold, Angelo noticed Halinor looking at him with concern.
"I told you that I'd take the blunt of the punishment Nolan had for us.", he said with a grin and a smirk.
Halinor then hugged and kissed him on his cheek and smiled at him before going through the fold, with Angelo right behind her.
'You'll pay for that blast, Nolan!', Angelo thought to himself as he went through the fold. 'You will pay!'
Back on Earth, Nigel and Eric has finished telling Taranee about what Angelo told them when they were all seperated by the Dark Guardians.
"You've got to be kidding me!", Taranee said. "I can't believe Cornelia did that to Peter and Caleb!"
"Believe it.", Peter said as he came walking up to the three of them. "And Caleb is mad!"
"I would be, too.", Eric said. "But I know that Hay Lin wouldn't do that to me."
"And I know that you wouldn't do that to me, Taranee.", Nigel said as he looked at Taranee making her smile.
"Of course I wouldn't.", Taranee said as she gently placed her hand on the side of Nigel's face making him smile.
"Okay. Seeing all this mush makes me want to be with Irma right now.", Peter said with a grin. "See you all later."
"Peter! Wait!", Taranee said to her brother.
"What's up, Sis?", Peter asked his little sister.
"About Will not wanting you, Nigel, and Eric knowing about us.", Taranee said.
"No offence, Sis, but I want to hear it from Will's lips.", Peter said. "You, Irma, and Hay Lin wanted to tell us, while Caleb, Matt, and Cornelia were neutral about it all."
"It was Will who was against it.", Eric said.
"And being a team, you all went with what Will said to avoid a heated argument.", Nigel said. "It's Will who needs to explain herself."
"But, didn't Angelo tell you why she didn't want to tell you guys about us?", Taranee asked.
"Yeah. But, I want to hear it from her.", Peter said. "Please understand, Taranee. It's a matter of principal."
"I... I understand.", Taranee said understanding how the three guys felt.
For if it were her, she'd feel the same way too.
"Thanks, Sis.", Peter said as he hugged his sister who returned the hug.
"No problem, big brother.", Taranee said.
With a smile, Peter then left the park to go see Irma, who he hoped was at home.
"I'm going to go check up on Hay Lin.", Eric said as he walked off with a smile. "See ya later!"
"See ya!", Nigel and Taranee said.
"So, what do you want to do?", Nigel asked.
"Well, part of me wants to go look for Will.", Taranee said. "But she might still be talking with Matt about the whole Neil thing. So, I think I'll leave her be for now."
"Well, how about we stay here and enjoy the sunset together.", Nigel said as they sat on the bench that was there.
"I'd like that.", Taranee said as Nigel held her left hand as she rested her head on his shoulder.
The young couple enjoyed the sunset together after all that happened that day. It was peaceful and quiet. And for them, that was just fine. About a half an hour later, Peter was at the Lair's home and about to knock on the door when she saw Irma out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting on what looked like a rope swing that was made from two ropes and a board.
"Reminds me of the one we had back in Sesamo.", Peter said as he quietly walked up to his girlfriend.
As for Irma, she didn't notice Peter coming towards her as she was deep in thought about what happened earlier that day. Her feekings were hurt about what Will told her, Hay Lin, and Cornelia. Not to mention that Will made a big decidsion without talking to the them about it. Will's words kept playing in her head as she thought back to it.
Flashback
"That's why I chose Taranee. She's the smartest and has helped made all of our battle plans, in the past! So, that's why she's second in command. If you don't like it, I'm sorry, but to bad. That's the way it is.", Will said
End Flashback
"So, what if Taranee's smarter than me! I have ideas!", Irma said as she was looking down at the flower she had in her hand. "We all do! But Nnnnooooooo! Will trust Taranee more than the rest of us! What happened to all that talk about teamwork and stuff? Some leader! Rather listen to one of us than all of us! What kind of leader is that?"
"One that needs to hear what you just said."
Irma looked around knowing it was Peter's voice she heard. She then looked up to her boyfriend smiling down at her as he held on to the ropes of the swing.
"Hey.", she said with a smile.
"Hey yourself.", Peter said with a smile of his own.
"So, you heard all that, huh?", Irma asked.
"Pretty much.", Peter said as he began to push Irma on her swing. "I understand how you feel about all of this. It's like when me and my family go to our family reunions. Me, Taranee, and all of the younger members had ideas about the fun and games we all could do, but the adults go and plan everything out. So, you know what us teens and kids did?"
"What?", Irma asked as she was enjoying being pushed on the swing.
"We went and planned our own fun and games for the reunion.", Peter said. "What we did was after we did what the adults had planned for that day, we took some rest and then went and did what we wanted to do."
"Get out!", Irma said with a grin.
"I will not!", Peter said with a small laugh. "We had the time of our lives! And the adults saw that, too. That was two years ago. And after that, the adults let us help pick out what we wanted to do during our family reunions."
"So, you got your voices heard in the end.", Irma said with a smile.
"You got it.", Peter said.
"So, maybe we should do the same.", Irma said. "Me, Hay-Hay, and Corny I mean."
"Now you're getting it!", Peter said as Irma jumped off the swing in mid-swing and landed on her feet with a bit of a stumble.
"This could work!", Irma said as Peter caught the swing, stopping it from moving. "If the three of us work together, we can make up some plans and formation plans as stuff like that!"
"Don't see why not!", Peter said as he walked up to Irma.
"Oh, Peter! Your the best!", Irma said as she hugged him.
"Thanks.", he said as he returned the hug. "There's just one thing you have to do."
"What's that?", Irma asked as they pulled away from each other.
"You have to apologize to Eric.", Peter said. "And before you say anything, think about this. How did you feel when Will said why she picked my sister to be your second in command?"
"It didn't feel good at all.", Irma said sadly. "When Will said that she picked Taranee because she was the smartest, it made me feel dumb and stupid. It hurt that Will might think that about me, Hay Lin, and Cornelia. And as I said before I came back here, if she picked Corny as second in command, I may not of liked it at first, but I would of accepted it. But she just jumped to the conclusions she had about us. That wasn't cool at all!"
"Well, how do you think Eric felt when you said what you said in school today?", Peter said.
Irma then began to think back to what she said.
Flashback
"Well I, unlike her boyfriend, wasn't going to sit there and let them hurt Hay Lin the way they did!"
End Flashback
She then thought back to what Eric did and said.
Flashback
Irma then felt a hand in her shoulder. She was then whipped around to be face to face with a glaring Eric.
"Don't you ever, EVER question how much I care about Hay Lin!", Eric snapped at the Water Guardian. "You hear me, Lair!"
End Flashback
"Oh, I hate it when you're right sometimes!", Irma said with a huff.
"And I still love you.", Peter said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Hush you!", Irma said with a smile as she enjoyed the feel of Peter's arms around her. "I'll apologize to Eric tomorrow."
"That's all I ask.", Peter said as they looked at each other.
They then shared a loving kiss happy that something went well, for them after all that happened today. As for Eric, he was at a place called 'The Doughnut/Ice Cream Fort'. It was a place that sold doughnuts and ice cream. He learned a long time ago, that this was a place Hay Lin came to for two reasons. One, to have ice cream and doughnuts when she had the craving for it. And two, to eat ice cream and doughnuts when she was REALLY upset about something. And sure enough, there was Hay Lin sitting at a table for two, in a corner where hardly anyone could see or hear her, eatting what looked like her third ice cream sundae by the two empty sundae glasses that were sitting there, along with five out of a dozen doughnuts.
'Wow!', he thought to himself as he watched his girlfriend eat. 'She could put Irma to shame!'
Eric went up to the counter and got two mugs of warm cocco and then walked up to the table Hay Lin was at and sat at the table. He just sat there and waited for her to finish her third sundae. Once she was finished, she dropped her spoon and grabbed her head.
"OW!", she whined as she felt the ice cream headache hit her. "Stupid ice cream headache!"
With a grin, Eric placed one of the mugs of cocoa in front of Hay Lin. Hay Lin saw the cocoa and looked forward to see Eric smiling at her.
"When did you get here?", Hay Lin asked.
"A few minutes ago.", Eric said before taking a sip of his cocoa. "I sort of figured you were here and came here first. And sure enough you were here eating sundaes. So, I got you a thing of warm cocoa for the ice cream headache I knew you would get."
"Thanks.", Hay Lin said with a small smile as she drank some of the cocoa. "Mmmm! That hit the spot!"
"Feeling a bit better?", Eric asked.
"A little.", Hay Lin said with a small smile.
"Still upset about what Will said?", Eric asked with concern.
"Yeah.", Hay Lin said. "It's just, sure, I know I'm the last person that wants to be leader. But the fact that Will didn't talk to us about it hurts. And to say that one of the reasons she picked Taarnee as second in command was because she was the smartest didn't help either. I may not be the smartest, but I'm not dumb either!"
"I know how you feel.", Eric said.
"What do you mean?", Hay Lin questioned.
"Well, when we all were seperated, Nigel, Peter, and I were left with Angelo.", Eric began to explian. "And he told us about how Will didn't want us guys to know about you all when you, Taranee, and Irma wanted to tell us about yourselves. Had we known about your secret and what Cedric and Miranda looked like then we wouldn't of been captured by them. You know?"
"Yeah.", Hay Lin said sadly as she thought back to how Eric, Nigel, and Peter were captured by Cedric and Miranda. "I was so scared when I found out that you were captured by them. And trust me when I say that me, Irma, and Taranee gave Will a peice of our mind afterwards."
"I bet you did.", Eric said with a grin. "I just can't believe that Will thought that me, Nigel, or Peter would go and blab your secret if we broke up! That kind of hurts. I would never do anything to hurt you like that, Hay Lin."
"I know, Eric.", Hay Lin said smiling at Eric as he moved his chair closer to her. "I know Will was trying to watch out for us, but from our point of view, Matt knew and he said nothing. So, me, Irma, and Taranee figured why not tell you."
"And yet, Will said no.", Eric said. "Goes to show you not all your friends trust you as you thought they did."
"Can I ask you something, Eric?", Hay Lin asked her boyfriend.
"What is it?", Eric asked.
"If it was you, and the other guys who had the powers and not me, and the girls would you of told me about it?", Hay Lin asked.
"Well, not at first. Seeing as we had just started dating.", Eric said. "But after some time, I would of told you."
Hay Lin then kissed Eric lovingly. It surprised him at first, but he soon returned the kiss making Hay Lin happy. After the kiss, they looked at each other smiling.
"Not that I'm complaining, but where did that come from?", Eric asked with a smile.
"For being a great boyfriend.", Hay Lin said smiling. "When you found out about me and the girls, along with Matt, Caleb, and Elyon, you didn't break up with me. You even wanted to help when you could. And today, when Irma said what she said, you stood up to her, letting her know that you cared for me. If that's not a great boyfriend then I don't know what is."
"Thanks, Hay Lin.", Eric said. "That means a lot."
They then shared another kiss, happy that something was going right for them after all that has happened today. As for Matt, he was home in his room laying on his bed with Huggles curled up on his chest sleeping.
"What a day, Huggles.", Matt said as he was stroking Huggles' fur. "How could Will do that? Flirting with another guy and then going to the movies with him! How would she feel if I flirted with another girl and went to the movies with her. And let's not forget the ice cream! She'd flip out and yell at me! Followed by breaking up with me! But I wouldn't even dream of hurting her like that. I still care for Will. I just can't face her right now. What am I going to do, little buddy?"
Matt looked down at Huggles to see that he was asleep.
"If only I could sleep my troubles away.", Matt said with a grin.
"Matt! Dinner's ready!"
"Coming, Mom!", Matt said as he gently got up from his bed and laid Huggles on the bed gently. "Sleep well, little buddy."
Matt then left the room and went to eat dinner after washing his hands. At the Vandom's home, Will had just gotten home and was about to head to her room, when her mom came out of the kitchen.
"Well, you're home early.", Susan said. "Weren't you going to the movies with Matt?"
"Keyword being 'was'.", Will said sadly.
"What's wrong, Will?", Susan asked as she saw the sad look on her daughters face.
Will then broke down and cried as she ran to her mother and hugged her. At that moment, Susan's motherly instincts kicked in as she held her daughter.
"Oh, my poor little girl.", Susan said as they made their way to the couch and sat down. "Let it out Will. Just let it out."
And that's what Will did. She cried out all the hurt and pain she had. From what happened between her and Matt, to what happened between her and the girls. It took a while, but Susan was there for her daughter, for she knew she needed to be there for her.
Moments later...
"Feel better?", Susan asked as she handed Will a tissue.
Will nodded as she took the tissue and wiped her tears away.
"Good.", Susan said as she sat the tissue box next to Will. "Now tell me what happened."
"Well, me and some of the girls got into an argument.", Will said. "It didn't end well. Then me and Matt got into an argument in which he left at the end."
"And what was you and Matt's argument about?", Susan asked.
"Well..."
Will then told Susan about her and Neil, which surrised Susan. She never thought that Will would flirt with another guy, let alone got to the movies with him. If it were Angelo, she nor Matt wouldn't say anything seeing as they were best friends. But this Neil boy was something different.
"Well, I don't know what to think about this, Will.", Susan said. "I get it that part of you liked it when another guy was flirting with you, but for you to flirt back instead of telling him that you had a boyfriend was pretty much wrong. And then to go to the movies with him was just as bad. I'm not turning against you or anything, but I have to say that you were wrong on this one."
"I know.", Will said. "I tried to apologize to Matt, but he doesn't want to talk to me."
"Then give him his space.", Susan said. "In time one out of two things will happen. Either he'll forgive you and things will be okay. Or, you two will end up breaking up."
"But, I don't want to lose Matt!", Will said as her eyes began to water.
"I know it's sad to think about, but you have to realise that things like this can happen.", Susan said. "I'm sorry, but it's one of those facts of life, baby. But I do hope things work out for you and Matt, Will."
"Thanks.", Will said with a small smile before more tears began to flow.
Seeing this made Susan reached out and pulled Will closer to her and let her daughter cry on her shoulder. Susan held her daughter close as her daughter let out all he pain.
'You'll be okay, Will.', Susan thought to herself as she comforted her daughter. 'It may seem bad right now, but things will work out in the end.'
A few hours later, after eating her dinner and spending a little more time with her mother, Will was dressed for bed and ready for some sleep.
'I need to make things right with Matt, Hay Lin, Irma, Cornelia, and Elyon.', Will thought to herself as she set her alarm and got in bed. 'I just need to find a way to do it.'
With that thought in mind, Will drifted off to sleep, hoping that things would work out in the end.
A/N: Well, things are working out for some of our heroes, while there are still troubles for some of them. Can they find a way to make up or will the Dark Guardians have the advantage during their next battle. And then there's Angelo. What will he do to Nolan for the blast he got? And will he be able to pull off whatever it is he has planned? Only time will tell.
Please review.
