Chapter 31:

On the world of Gardania, I.T.C.H. Caleb, Matt, Nigel, Eric, and Peter fund themselves in a cave tunnel that had torches hanging on the cave walls ten feet from each other leading both in front of them and behind them. It didn't take them long to see that they were in Nolan's lair.

"Okay, so we know where we are.", Nigel said. "Question is; where is Will?"

"Let me try something.", Cornelia said as she placed her right hand on the cave wall and began to focus her powers.

Within seconds, Cornelia was able to what was inside the lair like a radar. She was able to see where the Dark Guardians were. But she could find Will.

"Okay. I've found the Dark Guardains.", Cornelia said as she removed her hand from the cave wall. "But, for some reason, I can't find Will."

"But, the Oracle said she was here.", Taranee said getting worried.

"She still may be.", Cornelia said. "There's a hidden room here, that I couldn't get into. My guess is that Will might be in there."

"Worth a shot.", Matt said.

"Lead the way, Corny!", Irma said ready to go.

"Don't call me Corny!", Cornelia said as she took the lead and led the others down the tunnels of the cave, in hopes of not running into any of the Dark Guardians.

As they were walking through the tunnels, one of them had a thought that he felt he had to talk about.

"Yeah. Not to question your boss or anything, Hay Lin.", Eric said. "But what's his deal? He's more concerned about us getting the Heart back than us rescuing Will."

"I know.", Cornelia said as they turned a corner. "What's up with that? Normally, he's all, you must do what you can to save the Keeper. Now it's you must bring back the Heart."

"It's like he's a totally different person.", Taranee said.

"Well, I say we get Will and the Heart back.", Irma said. "That'll show Old Baldly why we're the Guardains!"

"Then let's hurry and find Will and get out of here!", Hay Lin said. "I want to avoid a fight if we can."

"I hear you there.", Nigel said.

After a good forty minutes of walking down the cave tunnel, our brave heroes came to a fork in the road. So to speak. The nine of them were facing four tunnel entrances and they all knew that they all led to trouble.

"What now?", Matt questioned.

"We split up.", Caleb said surprising the others.

"Are you kidding me?", Irma questioned. "That's the last thing you do in a case like this!"

"What choice do we have?", Cornelia questioned. "We have to find Will. And I have a feeling that no matter what we do, we'll run into trouble."

"Then why not stick together?", Eric questioned. "There's strength in numbers."

"True.", Taranee said. "But I have a feeling that no matter what we do, the Dark Guardians will be ready for us."

"Hmmmmm... Good point.", Irma said. "So, how we going to do this?"

"Me and Matt take one tunnel, while Peter, Nigel, and Eric take another.", Caleb suggested getting nods from the boys. "As for the other two tunnels, you girls can split into teams of two and take one each."

"I call me and Hay-Hay.", Irma said putting an arm around Hay Lin's shoulders making the Air Guardian smile.

"Looks like it's you and me.", Taranee said to a smiling Cornelia before she walked up to her brother and Nigel. "You two be careful."

"We will.", they both said before Taranee hugged her brother.

"You be careful, too.", Peter said to his sister as they pulled away from each other.

"I will.", Taranee said before walking towards Nigel. "Stay safe."

"You, too.", Nigel said before they shared a kiss.

"You be careful, too.", Peter said to Irma.

"Same goes for you.", Irma said to Peter before they shared a kiss.

"Be careful, Eric.", Hay Lin said to Eric as they shared a hug.

"Funny. I was going to say the same to you.", Eric said with a grin getting a giggle out of Hay Lin before they shared a kiss.

"Ummmmm... Caleb?", Cornelia said to the Meridian knight. "I just want to say...", she began to say before Caleb kissed her on the cheek making her blush a bit.

"Be careful, Cornelia.", Caleb said making her smile.

"You too.", she said making him smile a bit.

Everyone then split up into the teams they agreed on and headed down the tunnel they chose. Not knowing what lied ahead of them. Meanwhile, in another part of the cave which was really Nolan's hidden lair, Kadma and Angelo was using their powers to sense where the Guardians and their allies were. And it didn't take them long to find them and sense that they had split up.

"They split up.", Angelo said as he took his hand off the wall of the tunnel.

"Just as we thought they would.", Kadma said doing the same.

"This should be fun.", Cassidy said with a smirk.

"Remember the plan.", Halinor said.

"I go and keep Nigel, Eric, and Peter busy.", Angelo said going over his part of the plan.

"While I'll go and keep Matt and Caleb busy.", Joe said.

"And while you guys are doing that, I'll be going after Irma.", Cassidy said.

"And I'll be taking on Cornelia.", Kadma replied.

"Taranee is mine.", Halinor said.

"And my dear little Hay Lin is mine.", Yan Lin said with a smirk.

"And while fighting them, you'll be herding the girls here, to our Aurameres.", Nerissa said. "Where I'll be waiting to help beat them one at a time."

"If we play this right, then they'll be out of the way so we can take Kandrakar.", Joe said.

"Then let's get this party started!", Angelo said ready to go.

The other Dark Guardians all nodded before they all teleported away to go fight who they planned on fighting. As for I.T.C.H. and the others, they were of course split up and heading down different paths in hopes of finding Will.

Caleb & Matt

"When is this tunnel going to end?", Matt questioned as he and Caleb walking down the tunnel of the cave, which was Nolan's lair.

"I have no idea.", Caleb said. "This place reminds me a bit of the Infinite City tunnels."

"Which means that these tunnels could lead anywhere.", Matt figured.

"I believe so.", Caleb replied as he got a closer look ay the tunnel walls. "From the looks of the tunnel walls, I believe that these passage ways have been here for a very long time."

"Then I wonder where this one leads to.". Matt pondered as they continued their way down the tunnel.

"I think we're about to find out.", Caleb said as he looked forward to see a bright light. "I think we're at the end of the tunnel."

Both warriors ran to the end of the tunnel to see that they had enter what looked like an arena. The walls had seats for people to sit and the ceiling was at least fifty feet tall with a large crystal in the center of the ceiling giving off a light bright enough to light the arena.

"Didn't expect to see this.", Matt said.

"Question is, who do we have to fight in this arena.", Caleb said as he looked around the area.

"Does that answer your question?", Matt asked as he pointed in front of them.

Caleb looked to see Joe Vanders walking out of the shadows in his Dark Guardian form with a smirk on his face. Knowing what was coming, Caleb had his sword and shield at the ready while Matt transformed into his Regent form.

"Looks like you boys are ready to battle.", Joe said. "But can you take me down?"

"Let's find out.", Matt said as he took to the air.

"Matt, wait!", Caleb said getting the Regent's attention.

"Wait?", Matt questioned. "For what?"

"Just hold on!", Caleb said before he turned to Joe. "Mr. Vanders, please! We don't have to do this! All we want is to take Will back with us. There's no need for any blood shed!"

"Sorry, kid.", Joe said as he grew seventeen feet. "But if you want Will, you'll have to beat me first!"

"I'm sorry to hear that.", Caleb said. "Cause we're not leaving without her!", he said as he charged at Joe with Caleb flying next to him.

"Then bring it on, boys!", Joe said taking a fighting position. "Bring! It! On!"

"Gladly!", Matt said before firing a powerful eyebeam at Joe.

Taranee & Cornelia

"Do you know what these tunnels remind me of?", Cornelia questioned as she and Taranee were walking down the tunnel they chose.

"The pathways of the Infinite City?", Taranee questioned before they both laughed a bit. "You, know? I'm still surprised that Elyon wants to map out the Infinite City."

"Yeah.", Cornelia agreed. "But Caleb made a point in when he said that it would come in handy if the people had to go back into hiding."

"I hope that doesn't have to happen.", Taranee said.

"You and me both.", Cornelia agreed. "But now let's try to find Will and get the heck out of here!"

"What's the rush?", came a familiar voice.

"Yeah!", came another familiar voice. "The fun is about to begin!"

Knowing those voices, Taranee and Cornelia wasted no time flying down the tunnel and into what looked like an arena. The walls had seats for people to sit and the ceiling was at least fifty feet tall with a large crystal in the center of the ceiling giving off a light bright enough to light the arena.(In other words, it was like the spot where Caleb and Matt are fighting Joe.) In the center of the arena, were Halinor and Kadma, in their Dark Guardian forms.

"Look who finally showed up, Kadma.", Halinor said.

"Took them long enough.", Kadma said. "But then again, Nolan did a good job of hiding us from the Oracle's vision."

"Well, now we're here!", Cornelia said. "And we're not leaving without Will!"

"So hand her over!", Taranee demanded as she lit her fist up.

"You want her, you'll have to get past us first!", Kadma said as she and Halinor took to the air

"And that will not be easy!", Halinor said as she lit her fist up.

"Even with it being a two on two fight, we're still in trouble with the extra fire power they have!", Taranee said.

"Not this time!", Halinor said getting their attention.

"That's right!", Kadma said. "We're running off of one Heart! We want this to be an even match!"

"Ooooookay.", Cornelia said. "That's a bit of good news."

"Shall we begin?", Kadma questioned.

"Let's!", Taranee said as she and Halinor flew at each other and Kadma and Cornelia flew at each other.

"Let's see what you've got!", Halinor said as she fired a fireball at Taranee.

"As you wish!", Taranee said as she did the same causing both fireballs to collide and explode.

Peter, Nigel, & Eric

"So, who do you think we'll have to fight?", Eric questioned as he , Nigel and Eric made their way down the tunnel.

"Does it matter?", Nigel questioned. "We'll be clearly outmatched with whoever we have to fight!"

"Maybe.", Peter said getting their attention. "But we've done our fair share of training.", he said getting nods from Eric and Nigel. "So I say, bring it on!"

"Be careful what you ask for, Petey.", came a familiar voice. "You just may get it!"

"Is that...?", Nigel questioned.

"It has to be!", Eric said.

"Let's go!", Peter said as they ran down the tunnel and exited out into another arena. "Whoa!"

"This place is huge!", Eric said.

"All we need is an audience.", Nigel said.

"Sorry, fells! No viewers today!"

The trio looked forward to see Angelo standing in the center of the arena in his Dark Guardian form ready to fight.

"How's it going guys?", Angelo asked as Eric, Nigel, and Peter walked towards him. "I take it that it's just you three here to take me on."

"Yep.", Peter said.

"But we don't have to fight.", Eric said. "All we want is to get Will and take her home."

"That's nice and everything.", Angelo said. "Buuuuuut, Nolan needs her to give hin the Heart of Kandrakar. So, she's not going anywhere until she does."

"Then I guess we have to get past you to get to her.", Nigel said as he had his double-bladed axe and shield at the ready.

"Looks like.", Angelo said as Peter got his sword and shield at the ready and Eric got his mace and shield at the ready. "So, it's from staves to deadly weapons, huh?", Angelo questioned as he reached into his pocket and pulled out two steel bars and clinched them in his fist. "Looks like Kandrakar means business."

Angelo then took the steel bars and used them to coat himself in the steel. When he was done, all of him was coated in steel that moved with him like a second skin. The two steel bars then sunk into the coating making the it stronger. As for his face, it wasn't all covered. It was more like a grill.

"Show me what you've got, guys!", Angelo said as he ran at them.

Peter, Eric, and Nigel gave out a battle cry as they charged at Angelo ready to give it their all.

Hay Lin & Irma

As the two Guardians were walking down the tunnel, Irma noticed how worried Hay Lin looked. And she knew why.

"Worried about having to fight your grandmother?", Irma asked getting a nod from Hay Lin.

"I don't want to fight her!", Hay Lin said sadly. "But I know that it's going to happen. I just know it."

"I know it upsets you, Hay-Hay.", Irma said as they continued walking. "But see it like this. The sooner we end this, the sooner your grandmother will be back to her old self."

"Old Yannie, huh?", came a voice that they knew all to well. "You hear that, Yanne? They can't wait to get you old again."

"And here I thought my grand-daughter would like me being young again.", came the voice of another familiar voice. "Such a shame."

Both Hay Lin and Irma flew down the tunnel and exited out into another arena like the others did. And in the center of the arena were Cassidy and Yan Lin in their Dark Guardian forms.

"Wow!", Irma said getting a good look at the place. "Talk about roomy."

"Is there nothing you don't talk about?", Yan Lin questioned.

"Please, Grandma.", Hay Lin said pleading with Yan Lin. "I don't want to fight you! We just want to take Will back home with us."

"Sorry, Kiddo.", Yan Lin said. "But you have to get past us to do that."

"And we're not going to be any pushovers.", Cassidy said with a smirk.

"Hey, Cass? How's Angelo?", Irma asked hoping to make Cassidy angry.

"Fine actually.", Cassidy said surprising Irma. "What? Did you really think I'd fall for something like that? You get me all angry and fighting sloppy so you can get a few good hits in. Nice try, Lair, but it ain't happening!"

"So much for that plan.", Irma said as she and Hay Lin took to the air with Yan Lin and Cassidy.

Both Cassidy and Irma then formed a large ball of water in their hands and fired powerful streams of water from them at each other! Both streams collided spraying water everywhere. Watching all the battles was Nolan, who had four crystal balls each showing one of the four battles.

"Excellent!", Nolan said. "My Dark Guardians' plan is working perfectly! Soon, Kandrakar's mighty heroes will be defeated allowing me to storm Kandrakar and take over. After that, the Keeper will have no choice but to give me the Heart! Soon, all will be mine!", he said before breaking into laughter.

A/N: Well, the battles have begun and Nolan sees victory in his favor. Is he right? Will our heroes fall? Will Nolan take Kandrakar? And shall Will give him the Heart? All of these questions will be answered in the next few chapters.

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