Chapter 30:

During that same morning, on Earth, the remaining Guardians and friends did what they normally did. They went to school, with Elyon glamoured as Will, and went through the school day getting through their classes as best they could with them being worried about not only Will but the Dark Guardians as well. For most of them feared that the more they were they way they were, the harder it might be to bright them back from it. Days passed and they were starting to get on edge. They didn't know if or when the Dark Guardians would attack. Not to mention what kind of condition Will was in. For all they knew she could be starving from hunger and dying of thirst now. As well as battered and bruised from who knows what they might be doing to her.

Out of all of them, Matt was the most worried about Will. I mean he was really worried and ready to act when the Oracle found out where Will was. As for Will, the best she could do was sit in her room and relax as best she could in hopes of a rescue. She worked out when she had the time as not to go stir crazy. And believe it or not, she talked with any of the Dark Guardians when they came to bring her something to eat or when Cassidy would draw her a bath. She knew that she couldn't get them to change just like they weren't going to get her to surrender the Heart of Kandrakar. But now, she didn't want to be alone. So, she was willing to talk to anyone so not to be alone.

Right now, Will is eating a lunch that Halinor brought to her. In the room with them is Angelo, who was in there to keep an eye on Will. Just in case.

"So, Halinor.", Will said getting the Dark Fire Guardian's attention. "If we manage to free you, Angelo, and the other Dark Guardians from what Nolan did to you, do you think Kandraka will take you back as part of their council?", she asked before eating some of her food.

"Like I'd want to go back.", Halinor said with a smirk. "When you find out that you're expendable, you tend to want little to do with the one you once trusted. Besides. Once this is all over, I intend to live out my new-found youth and do what I couldn't do due to me joining the Council of Kandrakar."

"Speaking of Kandrakar. Tell me about this whole quick to replace us thing.", Will requested.

"Do you really want to know?", Halinor asked Will who nodded. "Very well. It's like this. As you know, Himerish is the Oracle of Kandrakar."

"Himerish?", Will questioned with a grin. "His name is Himerish? Boy would Irma have a field day with that!", she said with a laugh before Halinor cleared her throat. "Sorry. Continue."

"As I was saying.", Halinor said. "As the Oracle of Kandrakar, it is Himerish's duty to give guidance to the Guardians when they need it. But a few generations ago, the Oracle decided that the Guardians were replacable if need be.", she explained making Will raise an eyebrow getting more curious. "So, for the last few generations, the Oracle has had replacement Guardians for any of the first ones of that generation."

"So, when Cornelia quit that one time. There was somebody that could have taken her place?", Will question.

"Yes.", Halinor said. "You."

"Me?", Will questioned in surprise.

"Okay. Now I'm confused.", Angelo said.

"It's quite simple really.", Halinor replied. "You see, the Oracle and the Council of the Known Worlds agreed that if one of the four elemental Guardians were to quit or wasn't able to carry out their duties, the present Keeper would take their place and a new Keeper would come into play."

"And that would be?", Will asked.

"A girl named Orube.", Halinor answered. "She lives on the world of Balsilide. The same world the Oracle and Lubu come from. Actually, Lubu taught Orube all she knows about fighting."

"So if something were to happen to me, old Himerish would have Orube ready to take my place.", Will figured. "So we are expendable.", she said in a hurt tone as she sat on her bed.

"It sucks, but it's true.", Angelo said. "Which is why things need to change on Kandrakar."

"Maybe so.", Will said. "But I won't turn on my friends!"

"Suit yourself.", Angelo said. "With or without you, Kandrakar is going down.", he said before he and Halinor teleported away.

Will then curled up on the bed and laid on her side trying to focus on a way to stop Nolan. Watching what just happen was Nolan who was liking how things were going.

"Perhaps the Keeper can be turned to my side.", he said as he sat back in his chair. "If the right strings are pulled that is."

Nolan then began to think of a way to turn Will to his side. Back on Earth everyone decided to call off training and be alone to find their resolve while clearing their heads.

As he lies on his bed, in his bedroom, Eric Lyndon looks up at the ceiling of his bedroom thinking of what he must do to help when the time comes.

'There's no question.', he thinks to himself. 'I'll be there to help Hay Lin in any way I can. I'll be there to fight by her side or give her a shoulder to cry on. Either way, I'll be there for her. Irma can say what she wants. I've always and will alway be there for Hay Lin.', he thought with a smile as he turned his head to look at a picture of him and Hay Lin sitting in the park together.

Meanwhile, in the Ashcroft home, one Nigel Ashcroft was in his bedroom tuning his guitar, thinking of things.

'To think that I'll be going to another world to help rescue the girl who didn't want me to know about what she and the other girls do.', Nigel thought to himself with a grin. 'Talk about irony! But that doesn't matter! All that matters is that I'm there to help Taranee and Matt! I may not have any powers, but that doesn't mean I'm useless!', he thought as he finished tuning his guitar and playing a beat smiling at how good it sounded.

As for Peter Cook, he was shooting some hoops in the park, to clear his head, knowing that sooner or later he was going to have to be ready to go help his sister and girlfriend when the time came.

'Who would have thought that my little sister would end up going to other worlds and fighting all kinds of evil and helping those in need.', he thought to himself as she shot and made a basket. 'She used to be so shy and timid. Now look at her. She's willing to charge head first into any kind of danger to rescue one of her friends. And I won't let her do it alone.', he thought as he shot another basket. 'I'll do everything within my power to help her and Irma rescue Will.', he thought before he let out a grin when thinking of Irma. 'Who'd of thought that I'd end up getting with Irma Lair? Never saw that happening.', he thought with a smile as he shot another basket.

Now in the Meridian Kingdom, on the world of Metamoor, Caleb Hart had just finished with his duties and was now in his quarters thinking about a few things.

'When it comes to rescuing Will, I'm as ready as I'll ever be.', he thought to himself as he looked out his window. 'But when it comes to Cornelia, it's different. I mean how could she do what she did? If it were me who pulled something like that, she'd be ready to chew me out and break up with me! Part of me wants to end things with her, while another part wants to try to work things out. But for now, I need to focus on the task at hand. Rescuing Will.', he thought as he sat in a chair to get some rest.

In the Royal Garden of the palace, Queen Elyon Brown had her sketchbook and was drawing a bird that was on the water fountain. Drawing was one of the ways she could clear her head and focus on things. And right now she really needed this.

'Out of everybody, I know what it's like to be held captive with no way out.', she thought to herself. 'The feeling of not knowing what's going to happen. Not knowing when you'll be set free. If it wasn't for Yan Lin, I would have went nuts when I was trapped in that jewel! I not only have to help save Will, but Yan Lin and the other Dark Guardians from Nolan's hold on them! And I'll do everything within my power to do it.', she said as she finished her drawing and smiled at her work.

Back on Earth, Irma Lair was at home taking on of her long baths, clearing her mind.

'Who would have thought that any of this would be happening?', she thought to herself a she was soaking in the tub. 'First, C.H.Y.K.N. along with Angelo and his grandfather getting turned into Dark Guardians. And now, Will gets kidnapped and we can't find her. We have to find her and kick those Dark Guardians' butts! And then we can go after that Nolan guy and save the Known World. Like we always do.', she thought with a smirk. 'No one beats W.I.T.C.H.! No one!', she thought as she got out of the tub and dried herself off before she drained the tub and headed for her bedroom to get dressed before dinner.

As for Hay Lin, she was in her bedroom painting on her canvas. It was one of the ways she cleared her head when she felt troubled.

'It feels good to be painting after all that has happened.', the young Air Guardian thought to herself as she made her strokes on the canvas. 'My Grandma get turned evil along with her other friends and Angelo. Then they give us all kinds of trouble before they go and take Will captive. We have to save Will and the Dark Guardians before it's to late! Oh! I do hope the Oracle can find Will in time!', she said as she finished her painting.

"There!", she said with a smile as she got a good look at the painting she did. "Wow! Could this be the future?", she questioned as she looked in amazement at her painting and smiled. "It could be."

At the Heatherfiled ice skating rink, Cornelia Hale was doing some skating to clear her head and think about what to do when the Oracle found Will and they had to rescue her.

'Finding the world Will is on is one thing. Finding er and getting her out is another.', she thought to herself as she did a jump with a triple spin and landed gracefully. 'It's times like this that I wish I asked Kadma for any ways at using my powers better. Now we have to take her and the other former Guardians on. Again! And this time, we have Angelo and his grandfather to deal with as well! Boy it would be nice to be fighting alongside them instead of against them.', she thought as she began to spin around multiple times before skating towards the rink exit. 'Nolan has to be stopped. One way or another!', she thought as she sat on one of the benches and took off her skates and put her shoes on.

She then put her skates in her gym bag and headed home for dinner.

In the Cook home, Taranee Cook had just finished her homework and was now sitting on the porch of her home think of any ways of saving Will and defeating Nolan and the Dark Guardians.

'There has to be a way to end this.', she thought to herself. 'They're not unstoppable! We will defeat them and things will go back to normal. At least... I hope they do. But knowing our luck, that's not going to happen. Things never go the way we plan them. I just hope that the Oracle can find Will before Nolan or any of the Dark Guardians does something to her.', she thought before she heard her mother call her in for dinner.

"Coming, Mom!", Taranee said as she headed inside the house.

Matt Olsen was in his garage playing his "The Will To Love" song on his guitar. He grinned to himself thinking that after all that has happened, this would be the song he'd be playing now before he began to sing the words to the song.

So many strangers on the street.
Yeah, nearly everyone you meet.
Can't relate, can't translate, can't create A connection. No.

Easier to keep your distance.
Tread the path of least resistance.
Don't engage, keep to your cage, stay offstage For protection.

Then everything changes.
She's there. Life rearranges.
Winged angel from above Helped me find the Will the Will to love The Will to love The Will to love

I figured I'd stay on the shelf.
Truth be told, didn't trust myself:
Always fade, don't make the grade, too afraid Of rejection. Oh!

I didn't think I had the strength To find a girl on my wavelength.
Just a runt, always punt. No will to hunt For perfection.

Then everything changes.
She's there. Life rearranges.
Winged angel from above Helped me find the Will the Will to love The Will to love The Will to love

Game's full of surprises.
Live our share of compromises.
Still when push comes to shove She's just the Will to love.
She's just the Will to love.
I found the Will to love.

And everything changes.
She's here. Life rearranges.
Winged angel from above She is just the Will the Will to love.
The Will to love The Will to love Oh The Will to loooooooove.

With a calm and somber smile, Matt headed inside his home for dinner, knowing that he was ready to go rescue Will when the time came to do so.

'One way or another, We will end this.' he thought to himself as he headed towards his bedroom.

The next day, school was closed due to teacher meetings, which meant that the teens could relax a bit. But that was cut short when Blunk popped out from an alley.

"What are you doing here, Blunk?", Caleb asked the little Passling.

"Blunk bring news from Kandrakar!", he said getting their attention. "Oracle tell Blunk to tell Guardians that he find red-headed girl."

"Alright!", Tararnee said happy to hear some good news. "Now we can go save Will!"

"Well what are we waiting for?", Matt said as they ducked into the alley.

Once in the alley, Elyon opened a fold for Kandrakar which they all went through. Once through the fold, they found themselves in the Grand Hall of the fortress.

"Welcome, everyone.", the Oracle said getting their attention. "I take it that you are all ready to rescue the Keeper?"

"Yes, we are.", Cornelia said as the others nodded.

"Excellent.", the Oracle said. "Those of you with out powers will be needing these.", he said with a wave of his hand.

Once he did this, Caleb, Nigel, Eric, and Peter each got a shield in their left hands and a weapon in their right hands. Caleb got a long sword, Nigel got a double-bladed axe, Eric got a mace, and Peter got a long sword.

"What's with the deadly weapons?", Elyon questioned.

"Yeah!", Hay Lin said with some worry. "We don't want to hurt my Grandma and the others!"

"I'm afraid that Yan Lin and the others might be to far gone to help, young ones.", the Oracle said causing Hay Lin to gasp as her eyes began to water. "I am sorry, but you all must be ready to fight for your lives."

"I don't believe it.", Cornelia said getting everyone's attention. "I think we can save them. We just have to capture them and bring them here."

"And with Elyon's powers we can do it.", Taranee added.

"I'm sorry, but I will need Queen Elyon's help in opening the fold.", the Oracle said. "And doing this will weaken her greatly which will make it dangerous for her to go."

"I guess I'll be stuck here.", Elyon said sounding disappointed. "Sorry, guys."

"Don't worry about it, Elyon.", Cornelia said to her best friend as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You'll still be helping us. Just in another way.", she said putting a smile on Elyon's face.

"Not to ruin the mood, but I think we better get going.", Irma said to which everyone agreed.

"I only have one more thing to say, young ones.", the Oracle said. "Above all else, no matter what happens, you must retrieve the Heart of Kandrakar."

"But... What about Will?", Matt questioned.

"Rescuing the Keeper is important.", the Oracle said. "But if Nolan somehow gets the Heart of Kandraker, all is lost. So that must be your top priority.", he said in a serious and stern tone. "Now if you will help me with opening the fold, Queen Elyon.", he said as he got into position to open the fold.

"Ummmm... Right.", Elyon said as she took a position a few feet away from the Oracle and did what he did.

They both held out both of their hands and focused their energies. First was the Oracle who fired a beam of energy at a wall opening a small fold somewhere. Seeing this, Elyon fired a beam of energy at the fold opening it a bit more. With both of their energies they were able to open a complete fold. Once the fold was opened, Elyon fainted from using so much power in opening the fold, while the Oracle dropped to one knee.

"Elyon!", Cornelia cried out as she and Caleb ran to the queen of Meridian and knelt down next to her.

"She will be fine. She just needs some rest.", the Oracle said as Alfor walked up to them and used his powers to make Elyon float in the air and began to take her to another room to rest. "As for this fold, it leads to the world of Gardania, where Nolan is hiding. I sense that he is using something powerful with that world's Heart to put up a powerful Veil."

"Which made it hard to find him, Will, and the Dark Guardians!", Taranee figured as Luba entered the room with Tibor.

"Yes.", the Oracle said. "But for a moment, the veil was dropped allowing me to sense all of them before it was put back up again."

"Can we say trap, anyone.", Peter said.

"I believe you are right.", Tibor said. "I recommend that you all take caution when go through the fold. Nolan can have an assortment of traps waiting for you."

"We'll be careful.", Caleb said before they went through the fold.

Once it closed, the Oracle turned to Luba, who had a worried look on her face, fearing foe the young heroes' safety.

"Luba.", the Oracle called out getting the Balsilidian's attention.

"Yes, Oracle?", Luba questioned as Alfor entered te room.

"It has come to my attention that the Guardians are not performing up to the expectations of the Council of the Known Worlds.", the Oracle said surprising Luba, Alfor, and Tibor. "So, I along with the council have decided that it's time they were replaced with those we feel that are more qualified. I need you to go and bring Orube here to become the new Keeper of the Heart once the present Keeper is rescued and brought back to here to Kandrakar."

"Surely you jest, Oracle!", Tibor said before the Oracle gave him a stern look.

"No. I do not, Tibor.", the Oracle said as he turned and walked away. "Soon we shall have a new team of Guardians.", he said as he left the room.

Once he was gone, Luba, Alfor, and Tibor looked at each other still shocked at what the Oracle just told them.

"I can't believe this is happening!", Alfor said.

"But it is, my friend.", Tibor said as Luba opened a fold for Balsilide. "Where are you going, Luba?", he questioned.

"To Balsilide.", Luba replied. "I must bring Orube back here. But I know that she will need time to pack her things.", she said getting surprised looks from Tibor and Alfor. "I do not like this either. But what can we do? Both the Oracle and the Council of the Known Worlds have voted on this. We can do nothing.", she said before going through the fold.

"She is right.", Alfor said.

"Sad but true, my friend.", Tibor said as the fold closed. "Sad but true."

As for the Oracle, he was in his chambers pouring a drink of wine.

"Soon, I shall have new Guardians to mold into the fighting force Kandrakar needs to force our ways onto the Known Worlds.", he said before sitting in a chair and taking a drink of his wine.

A/N: Well how do you like those apples, folks? Looks like old Himerish and the Council of the Known Worlds have plan to replace W.I.T.C.H.! Talk about you let downs! But now the four present Guardians and their allies are on Gardania in an attempt to rescue Will and get her out of there. Can they pull it off only to get the mother of all pink slips? Or will they prove to be the chosen Guardians for the job? Only time will tell.

Please review.