Chapter 23:
Soon Lunch rolled around and Irma, Hay, Lin, and Cornelia had gathered outside, with their lunches, under a tree to eat and do what they planned to do. Once they were together, the three of them focused their minds to block Taranee from trying to read their minds. It was a trick, Yan Lin, Cassidy, and Kadma taught them and Will so they could have their moments of privacy. The girls knew Taranee wasn't one to pry, but after what happened yesterday, they weren't taking no chances. Soon Eric, Peter, and Nigel joined them, followed by Elyon and Caleb. As they all sat together, Caleb didn't sit no where near Cornelia. She didn't like it, but accepted it knowing that it could be worse after all that has happned. She mentally promised herself that she'd take her anger out on the Dark Guardians when next they meet in battle.
'Friends or not, they're going down!', Cornelia thought to herself before Hay Lin got everyone's attention.
"Okay, guys. We are all gathered here for a reason.", Hay Lin said.
"After what happened yesterday, when Will said what she said to Cornelia, Hay Lin, and I, we decided to do something about it.", Irma said.
"We're going to make up our own training ideas and manuvers.", Cornelia said. "We want to show Will and Taranee that we even though we may not be as smart as Taranee, we can pull or own weight!"
"And we decided to ask you guys to help as well.", Hay Lin said with her beaming smile. "After all, you guys are part of the gang to!"
"And with all of our combined knowledge, we'll be able to think of some stuff!", Peter said. "So, I'm in."
"Me, too!", Elyon said.
"Me, three!", Eric said.
"Same here.", Caleb said. "I actually have some ideas that may come in handy."
"What about you, Nigel?", Cornelia asked. "I know Taranee is your girlsfriend and all. So, if you don't want to do this, we'll understand."
"Thanks, but I want to help.", Nigel said. "I have some ideas, too."
"Then it's settled.", Irma said. "We keep this to ourselves until it's time to put our plans into action."
"And hopefully, one of the plans we make up will be good enough to beat the Dark Guardians or capture them so we can try and free them from Nolan's hold.", Hay Lin said.
"Let's hope so.", Elyon said.
"So... Does anybody have any ideas?", Irma asked.
"I do.", Caleb said. "Have you five ever tried combining your powers?"
"Of course we have.", Irma said. "Remember how we did that to beat the Dark Guardains during our last fight?"
"No. Not that way.", Caleb said. "I mean element wise. Like how you and Hay Lin combine your powers to make ice. Or how Taranee and Hay Lin did that one time."
"I get it!", Eric said. "If they combine their elements together, you think they'll be able to make some kind of new attack or something!"
"That's the idea.", Caleb said.
"Combine elements.", Hay Lin said as she wrote it down in her notebook. "Any other ideas?"
"How about working on other combos.", Nigel said. "Like fire and earth. Or fire and quintessence."
"Or earth and quintessence.", Caleb said looking at Cornelia out of the corner of his eye who smiled when she saw him.
'Who is he kidding?', Elyon thought to herself with a small smile. 'He still loves her! He might as well just talk to her!'
"Oh! Water and earth!", Irma said. "You'd be surprised at what you can do with a thing of mud."
"Ewww!", Cornelia said. "Let's save that for last! Oh! How about fire and energy? You know, combine Taranee's fire with Matt's eyebeams, or your energy orbs, Elyon."
"Combined with Taranee's fire, they would make some powerful bombs.", Nigel said.
"They would, wouldn't they?", Elyon questioned thinking about it all.
"Work on combining powers!", Hay Lin said as she wrote it down in her notebook along with all the combos that were said. "Oh! Work on our fighting skills!", Hay Lin said as she wrote it down. "Cause let's face it, girls. Just because we have our powers, doesn't mean that we should rely on them so much."
"Good point.", Cornelia said. "There may be a chance that we'll be in an area where our powers are weakened or we are powerless. We may have to fight hand to hand."
"Well, I'm sure Mr. Vanders will be able to teach you a thing or two.", Peter said thinking about Angelo's Uncle John.
"What about that new thing you all can do?", Elyon questioned.
"What new thing?", Irma asked.
"You know.", Elyon said. "You ability to transform on your own without Will."
"Oh yeah!", Irma said. "What about it?"
"Well, how about learning totransform a bit faster just in case you're in a jam.", Elyon said.
"That does make sense.", Cornelia said. "I mean it takes us a good minute to a minute and a half to work up the energy to transform on our own. If we work at it, we may be able to do it quicker."
"Work on faster transformation time.", Hay Lin said as she wrote it down. "How about manuvers, guys?"
"I say that you should work on that together with Will and Taarnee.", Nigel said. "I mean, the five you of will be needed to pull of any manuvers you come up with."
"Good point.", Cornelia said. "Cause with Grandpa Joe's growing power, we're going to need to work together. I'm thinking that a combo of Will and Irma's powers might to the trick."
"Or Hay Lin can make a air funnel and suck out enough air around him to knock him out.", Eric suggeted.
"That can work.", Irma said. "But what about Angelo?"
"I could use my telekinesis to hold him in the air.", Cornelia said.
"Not to mention me and Irma combining our powers to freeze the ground around him to give him the slip.", Hay Lin said.
"Or me and Corny combining our powers to make the ground muddy enough for him to slip around and fall.", Irma said.
"I say we have a net ready to hold him when we get him either way.", Peter said. "Can't take a chance of him getting up and getting away."
"I can get one from the palace.", Caleb said.
"So, does anyone else have any ideas?", Hay Lin asked as she wrote down what they planned to do about Angelo.
"I got nothing.", Eric said.
"Same here.", Nigel said.
"I'm out of ideas for now.", Peter said.
"Same here.", Caleb said.
"I think we've come up with enough ideas.", Cornelia said before eating a grape.
"I agree.", Hay Lin said as she looked over what she wrote down. "I say we go to Will and Taranee and tell them what we thought of."
"Now might not be a good time.", Elyon said. "When I last saw her, she was still a bit upset about what happened this morning."
"And yet, she's probably talking with Taranee.", Irma said in a upset tone. "What happened to all of us being there for each other?"
"I guess Will really does trust Taranee more than us.", Hay Lin said sadly.
"It'll be okay, Hay Lin.", Eric said as he wrapped an arm around Hay Lin in comfort. "Stuff like this happens sometimes. All you can do is hope for the best."
"That's nice and all, but still.", Irma said. "The Guardians are suppose to be a team! Things like this shouldn't happen between us! Will should of talked to us about picking a second in command before making her choice!"
"So, you're saying that you don't think Taranee was a wise choice?", Caleb asked.
"No. That's not what I'm saying.", Irma said as she shook her head. "It's just that I feel that Will didn't take our feeling into account when she made her choice. Had she done that, then I wouldn't be so upset about it all."
"That's how I feel.", Hay Lin said. "When we first became Guardians, we always got together and talked about things that would affect the team. But now look at us! Will goes and chooses a second in command without talking to the rest of us about it and here we are doing this! We have to fix this guys!"
"You're right, Hay Lin!", Cornelia said getting the attention of the others. "Now isn't the time for us to be actting like this with the Dark Guardians around! We can't change what happened, but we can do our best to move forward and be a team again."
"She has a point, Irma.", Peter said.
"I know. I know.", Irma said as she scratched her head. "So, where do we go from here?"
"Well, I say we give Will her space. Maybe let her come to us when she's ready. Or until Matt's suspension is over with.", Elyon said.
"And until then, we can work on some of the things we thought of!", Hay Lin said.
"Good idea.", Caleb said. "That way when we do have to fight the Dark Guardians, we'll be ready for them."
"So, when do we start?", Nigel asked.
"How about tomorrow afternoon.", Caleb suggested. "We can do our training at the HQ on Metamoor."
"We haven't been there for a while.", Peter said. "Do you think the the Dark Guardians are there or have been there?"
"I doubt it.", Caleb said. "They know that would be the first place we'd look for them."
"They're somewhere.", Cornelia said. "We just have to find out where."
"Easier said that done.", Elyon said. "They can be anywhere."
"And strike at anytime.", Eric said.
"We'll be ready.", Irma said. "We have to be."
Just then the bell rang signaling the end of Lunch. Everyone then got up and headed back into the school. But what they didn't know was that they were being watched by an unseen enemy. Standing under a nearby bush was one Joe Vanders, who had shrunk down to a good three inches and teletransported under the bush to spy on the young heroes.
"So, they plan on doing some special training are they.", Joe said as he teletransported to one of the bathrooms in the school. "And without Will and Taranee.", he said as he grew back to his normal height. "If done right, we can use this to our advantage. These kids just keep making this way to easy for us!", he said as he walked out of the bathroom to meet up with his fellow Dark Guardians.
Earlier, during the middle of Lunch...
There Will and Taranee were sitting at a smaller table, with their lunch, seeing as everyone else was outside eatting their lunch. Taranee tried to contact the other Guardians telepathiclly, but for some reason, she couldn't reach them.
"Don't worry about it, Taranee.", Will said. "If they don't want to be talked to, then forget it. I guess they're still mad at me."
"Maybe so.", Taranee said. "But you'd think they'd be worried about you, after what happened this morning."
"Well after what I said to them, yesterday, I wouldn't blame them for not talking to me.", Will said as she played with her mashed potatoes with a spoon.
"Well, maybe things will cool off in a day or two.", Taranee said. "But I do wonder what they're talking about out there."
"Who knows.", Will said. "But after what Caleb told me about what Cornelia did, a year ago, I'm amazed that he's out there when she's out there, too. Then again, I can't really talk."
"Maybe Elyon asked him to come out there.", Taranee said.
"Wouldn't be surprised.", Will said before eatting some of her lunch.
Will then looked down at her wrist where she wore the bracelet Matt got her for her birthday. Then everything that happened since the Dark Guardians showed up came running through her head.
"Their fault.", Will said softly as her eyes began to water. "This is all their fault!"
"Will?", Taranee questioned. "What's who's fault?"
"Them!", Will snapped a she looked over to where the Dark Guardians were sitting. "They're the reason why all of this is happening to us! From us five being seperated like this, to Matt getting suspened from school!"
"And who knows what else they're thinking of doing.", Taranee said.
"Well, I do know this!", Will said as she gripped her spoon tightly. "They're going down! Hard and fast!"
"Don't let them get to you, Will.", Taranee said calmly. "Remember, they're not themselves. They're the victims as well as our enemies."
"What about Nerissa?", Will questioned. "She's..."
"A victim, too.", Taranee said cutting her off. "Remember, her mind was wiped back to that of a sixteen year old. Like it or not, she's not the enemy we all know and loathed."
"You're right, Taranee.", Will said with a sigh. "It's Nolan who we have to go after. We just have to get past the Dark Guardians to get to him."
"We'll find a way.", Taranee said. "But before we do anything, I think we should give the others their space."
"I think you're right.", Will said. "But for how long?"
"I say until the end of Matt's suspension.", Taranee suggested. "Between now and then, Irma's four day detention will be over as well."
"Good point.", Will said.
"Also, maybe you should pick someone else to be second in command.", Taranee said.
"But, I picked you.", Will said.
"And I'm honored that you did.", Taranee said. "But we both know that Cornelia is the best one to be second in command. Remember when the Knights of Destruction first came?"
"How can I forget.", Will said.
"Well, it was Cornelia who figured out how they got their strenght.", Taranee said. "Heck! She was the only one who they couldn't feed off of."
"That's our Cornelia for you.", Will said with a grin. "She's way to stubborn to let much get to her."
"Yeah!", Taranee said as she and Will shared a small laugh.
"You're right, Taranee.", Will said. "Cornelia was even right when she said that the reason why I picked you to be second in command was that I trusted you more than the other girls. It's not that I don't trust them. It's just that, I feel like I can talk to you about certian things. It's the same with Angelo. Well, used to be anyway."
"Don't worry, Will. We'll get him back. We'll get them all back.", Taranee said with a smile making Will smile as well. "But for now I think we need to talk to the others, when things cool off that is."
Will nodded in agreement. Just then the bell rung signaling the end of Lunch. Will and Taranee then threw their trash away and left the Lunch Hall and headed for their next class. As they split up to go to their seperate classes, Will walked down the hall, wishing Matt was there to walk with her to their next class. But he wasn't going to be at school for the next few days.
'I wish you were here, Matt.', Will thought to herself. 'I'd tell you how sorry I am about all of this.'
Soon, Will was in her next class, which Cassidy was in, too. As she looked at Cassidy, one thought ran through Will's head.
'This has to end, before something even worse happens.', Will thought to herself. 'And that's the last thing we need.'
Once the bell rang, the teacher began the class. Will paid attention, praying that thing would work out in the end.
A/N: Well, things could be better for our heroes. But what can you do? And with what Joe overheard while spying on Cornelia and the others, things look bad for our heroes. Will they be able to pull through or will the Dark Guardians be able to pull another one on over the Guardians?
Please review.
