Last chapter...

"What is this?", Himerish questioned.

"This, Himerish, is our elemental armour!", Nerissa said. "And you are through!"

Chapter 40:

"Am I now?", Himerish questioned with a smirk before he made a mad dash towards Nerissa only to be stopped by some unknown force. "What's happening to me?"

"That would be me.", Kadma said as she was using her telekinesis to hold Himerish at bay. "Cornelia. Show him what we Earth Guardians are made of."

"Gladly.", Cornelia said as she floated up to Himerish. "This may hurt a bit.", she said as she hovered a few feet away from Himerish.

Cornelia then used her powers over earth to break off chunks of the fortress walls and made a pair of large marble hands out of them. She then held up her hands and balled them up making fist. When she did this, the marble hands did the same. Seeing this, Himerish knew what was coming and braced himself for the beating that was to come. And just as he figured, Cornelia began to swing her arms at Himerish, but it was the marble fist that were striking him! After a few seconds of getting struck by the marble fist, Cornelia let the fist drop and fall apart. Just then Kadma used her telekinesis to slam Himerish against the walls a few times and ended it by tossing him high in the air!

"Are turn, Hay Lin!", Yan Lin said as she flew up after Himerish.

"Right behind you, Grandma!", Hay Lin said as they both rocketed towards Himerish.

Once they were close enough to him, the two Air Guardians began to strike Balsilidian like a battering ram from different directions, with their elemental armour, busting him up! If Hay Lin came in from one direction, Yan Lin come in from another one. With in seconds, they had given Himerish the best they had as they let him fall to the floor.

"All your, Joe!", Yan Lin said to her friend.

"About time!", Joe said as he grew thirty feet tall with he barrier around him. "This may hurt a little, Himerish!", Joe said before hitting Himerish with a powerful uppercut that sent him flying up and through the roof of the fortress.

"A little much, don't you think?", Nerisssa questioned her best friend as he shrunk back down to normal size while Yan Lin and Hay Lin landed among them.

"Sometimes I don't know my own strenght.", Joe said with a smirk as Himerish came crashing down to the floor of the room they were in.

Grunting to himself, Himerish slowly got to his feet glaring at the Guardians.

"It'll take a lot more than that to defeat me!", Himerish snapped as he staggered towards them.

But before he got a few steps towards them, Irma and Cassidy trapped him in ice from the waist down.

"And now for the fun part!", Cassidy said as she and Irma took to the air.

"Iceball fury!", Irma yelled as they began to fire a barrage of iceballs at Himerish.

At first, it didn't phase Himerish. But after a while the balls were hitting him faster and harder leaving cuts and bruises all over th top half of his body. When they were done with their attack, Cassidy and Irma removed the shattered ice from the iceballs allowing Angelo to use his super-speed to run around Himerish creating a twister while laying into the top half of his body with multiple punches. As the twister grew, Will, Nerissa, Halinor, and Taranee took to the air and were hovering above the twister. The four of them nodded to each other, as they knew what they were going to do. The four of them moved into a cross like formation in which Will was north of the twister while Nerissa was south of the twister, Taranee was west of the twister and Halinor was west of the twister.

"Now!", Nerissa shouted as they each charged their element in their hands.

Nerissa and Will fired lightning in the center above the twister, while Taranee and Halinor fired some fire at the center creating a ball of fire and lightning. Suddenly, Caleb jumped up above them all and swung his sword down at the combined elements unleashing a wave of energy at it! Once it hit, the elements combined ans flew down at Himerish! Seeing this, Angelo ended his attacks and ran from Himerish, who was trying to get free of the ice he was trapped in. He then noticed a bright light lighting up the room. He looked up to see the attack, made by the Fire and Quintessence Guardians coming at him.

"Clever.", he said with a grin before the attack hit him causing an explosion that knocked the Guardians back a bit.

As the smoke cleared, everyone gathered together and waited to see if Himerish was finished or not.

"After all of those attacks, he has to be done for.", Caleb said.

"Let's just wait and see.", Kadma said.

"How about some air to clear the smoke, Yan Lin.", JOe said.

"On it!", Yan Lin said as she blew a powerful gust of wind to blow the smoke away. "Whoa!"

Everyone was shocked to see that Himerish was still standing!

"No way!", Irma said.

"It's not possible!", Halinor said.

"Wait a minute!", Hay Lin said after getting a good look at Himerish. "Look at his eyes!"

Everyone looked at Himerish's face and saw that his eyes had a blank look in them as he just stood there battered and bruised. Taking a chance, Angelo walked up to Himerish and waved his hand in front of his face. It was then Angelo saw that Himerish was out of it.

"I... I think he's out of it.", Angelo said.

"Are you sure?", Will questioned. "I mean, he's still standing."

"It's his pride.", Joe said. "He doesn't want to admit defeat by falling."

"Wow!", Cassidy said. "Talk about being full of yourself."

"Well I say we still tie him up or something.", Caleb said. "Just to be safe."

"No argument there.", Will said as she, Nerissa, and Caleb bound Himerish's arms and legs with energy ropes and laid him down on the floor.

"So, what do we do with him now?", Taranee questioned.

"I say we lock him up.", Cornelia suggested.

"I have a better idea.", Halinor said. "We strip him of his powers as Oracle and send him back to Balsilide."

"Can't he just find some of his people to help him come after us?", Hay Lin asked.

"No.", Yan Lin said. "No one on Balsilide knows Himerish, due to the fact that he became the Oracle centuries ago."

"Oh yeah.", Hay Lin said.

"So how do we strip him of his powers?", Cornelia asked.

"I have no idea.", Halinor said. "But I know at least three people who might know how! "Can I borrow your fold crystal, Joe?"

"Here you go.", Joe said as he pulled his fold crystal out of his pocket and handed it to Halinor.

"Thanks.", Halinor said as she opened a fold. "I'll be right back.", she said as she walked through the fold.

"Any idea where she's going?", Cassidy asked Yan Lin.

"I have an idea.", Yan Lin said.

Five minutes later, Halinor returned with Luba, Alfor, and Tibor who were more than surprised to see Himerish beaten and bound.

"I see it but don't believe it!", Tibor said.

"Believe it!", Irma said. "We beat him! And boy are we tired!", she said as she sat on a nearby bench.

"So, is there any way to strip him of his powers and send him back to Balsilide?", Kadma asked Alfor.

"There is a way.", Alfor said. "Himerish is a powerful warrior. And that is without his extra powers as the Oracle. But when he became the Oracle, all of his natural powers and abilities were increased ten fold."

"Where does all that power come from?", Taranee asked.

"From the fortress itself.", Tibor answered earning gasp from the Guardians.

"How can the fortress give Himerish the power he needs?", Caleb questioned.

"In a hidden chamber, under the Fortress of Infinity, is a large crystal that keeps the fortress floating in the air.", Tibor explained. "It is also from this crystal that Himerish draws his extra power from."

"So if we cut his link to the crystal, he'll be the way he was before he became the Oracle.", Halinor figured.

"Question.", Angelo said. "Why isn't Himerish drawing power from the crystal now to heal himself?"

"He can only draw so much at a time.", Luba explained.

"So when we beat him, he had drawn all he could before hand.", Cornelia figured.

"So, maybe we better cut his link, before he comes to and powers up.", Joe said.

"Use the Heart of Kandrakar, Will.", Alfor said. "With it, you can cut Himerish's link to the crystal."

"It won't kill him, will it?", Will questioned.

"No.", Luba said. "He'll just be his normal self. Before he became Oracle."

"Okay.", Will said as she held up the Heart. "Here goes."

"Just focus on Himerish's link to te crystal.", Tibor instructed. "And then sever it."

"Okay.", Will said taking a deep breath. "Focus on the link. Focus on the link and sever it."

Will then fired a beam of energy from the Heart of Kandrakar at Himerish. Once it hit him, a sky blue aura began to appear around Himerish.

"What's that?", Hay Lin questioned.

"Himerish's aura.", Yan Lin explained. "Or his chi, if you will. It is something we all have within us."

Just then, a white strand of energy appeared from Himerish's chest and went through the floor of the room.

"What's that?", Irma questioned.

"I think that's that link Himerish has to the crystal.", Taranee said.

"You would be right.", Tibor said. "Now all that's left is for Will to cut the link."

"I'm trying!", Will said. "But, it's tough!"

"Maybe I can help!", Nerissa said as she pulled out her Heart. "I mean our Heart is just as strong as the Heart of Kandrakar!"

"As you would say, it's worth a shot.", Tibor said.

With a nod, Nerissa used her Heart to fire a beam of energy at the link between Himerish and the crystal! Once it hit the link, it began to cut through it slowly. The link was strong, but with the combined efforts of Will and Nerissa, they were able to cut the link between Himerish and the crystal. Once the deed was done, both Nerissa and Will fell backwards only to be caught by Caleb and Angelo.

"You okay, mother?", Caleb asked Nerissa who smiled at him.

"I'll be okay. Just a bit drained", Nerissa said as Caleb helped her to her feet. "How about Will?"

"I've been better.", Will said as Angelo helped her to her feet. "Nothing a good night's sleep won't fix."

Suddenly, the fortress began to rumble startling everyone.

"What's going on?", Joe questioned.

"If I didn't know any better, I would say that we are moving.", Tibor said.

"We are moving!", Yan Lin said as she looked out one of the windows to see that they were moving downward. "The fortress is moving downward! But it's going down slow!"

"So, where are we falling?", Caleb questioned.

"Only one way to find out!", Yan Lin said as she flew out a window with Hay Lin right behind her.

The two Air Guardians few from the fortress to see that it was moving slowly to the ground, as if it was landing somewhere.

'You guys won't believe this!', Yan Lin said to the other Guardians through their telepathic link. 'But it looks like the fortress is landing somewhere.'

'Where is it landing?', Taranee asked.

'There!', Hay Lin said pointing to a spot on the ground.

Through Hay Lin's eyes, the other Guardians saw a spot that looked like a crater.

'I think that's where the fortress used to be before it became a flying fortress.', Halinor replied.

'So now it's returning back to where it once was.', Kadma figured.

'That's what it looks like.', Joe said.

Sure enough, that's what happened. The Fortress of Infinity landed where the crater was and fitted the spot easily. Once that happened, Yan Lin and Hay Lin flew back into the fortress to see if the others were okay.

"You guys okay?", Hay Lin asked everybody.

"After all that's happened, I'm dandy.", Irma said sarcastically.

"Well, Irma's okay.", Hay Lin said with a grin. "How about the rest of you guys?"

"We're okay, Hay Lin.", Will said. "Now we just have to take care of Himerish."

Suddenly, a multi-colored fold open in which Draganos flew out from. Only he was a bit smaller than the last time the Guardians and Luba saw him.

'Hello, my friends.', Draganos said.

"Hi, Draganos.", Nerissa said. "You look smaller."

'I decided to make myself smaller to fit in here.', Draganos explained. 'And I see that you have beaten Himerish.', he said as he looked at the defeated man.

"Yeah!", Cassidy said. "And now we're going to take him back to Balsilide."

'Allow me to do that task for you.', Draganos said as he used his telekinesis to lift Himerish into the air and towards him. 'The elders there know of me and will know what to do with Himerish.'

"Knock yourself.", Cornelia said. "You'll be saving us the trouble.", she said getting a small laugh out of Draganos.

'Very well.', Draganos said. 'But first there is one more thing that need to be done. Will! Nerissa! Give me the Hearts."

"Ummmm... Sure.", Nerissa said as she and Will pulled out their Hearts.

Draganos then made the Hearts float up to him. He then had the Aurameres that belonged to C.H.Y.K.N., Joe, and Angelo come out from the Heart Nerissa had.

'Follow me.', Draganos said to everybody as he moved towards the Chamber of the Aurameres with Himerish floating right next to him.

Once in the Chamber, Draganos had Joe and Angelo's Aurameres float above W.I.T.C.H.'s Aurameres. Draganos then made a white Auramere appear and move towards Angelo and Joe's Auramere and joined them as they were circling above W.I.T.C.H.'s Aurameres.

"I know the Orange Auramere is Joe's and the yellow one is Angelo's.", Kadma said. "So, I'm guessing that the white one is Caleb's."

'You'd be correct, Kadma.', Draganos said and now for the other ones.', he said as he made the Aurameres of C.H.Y.K.N. float above Angelo, Caleb, and Joe's Aurameres and begin to circle around.

When all was said ans done, there was the stand that the Aurameres were circling above. Above the stand circled the Aurameres of W.I.T.C.H. And above them were the Aurameres of Caleb, Joe, and Angelo. And above them were the Aurameres of C.H.Y.K.N.

'There. It is done.', Draganos said.

"Thirteen Aurameres.", Alfor said. "Incredible!"

"Indeed it is, my friend.", Tibor said. "Indeed it is."

"If I may ask, Draganos, what do you intend on doing with the Hearts?", Luba asked. "Won't the Guardians need them to transform?"

'No.', Draganos said. 'They do not need the Hearts to transform, for these Aurameres are different now. These Aurameres are directly linked to the Guardians. The Hearts are not needed.'

Just then, the Hearts merged into one and floated towards Luba.

'I leave the new Heart of Kandrakar in your hands, my friends.', Draganos said. 'It shall aid you when you need it.', he said as he opened a fold. 'I'll leave you with this.', he said while looking at the Guardians. 'You twelve are now a team. You proved that by working together to defeat Himerish. But there still are dangers out there that need fighting. But as long as you all work together, you shall overcome these dangers. Until next we meet!', Draganos said before going through the fold with Himerish in tow.

"I'm glad that's over.", Caleb said as the fold closed.

"I don't know about you all, but I want to see what Kandrakar looks like.", Joe said.

"You know something, why not?", Angelo questioned as he headed towards the entrance with the others.

Once at the entrance, to which the front doors were still open, everyone looked to see that there was a vast field before them as well as large mountains and a long and wide river flowing nearby. The skies were clear with white clouds moving across the sky.

"Wow!", Cornelia said looking at the land before them. "I didn't know Kandrakar looked like this!"

"Nor did I.", Tibor said. "It seems that Himerish hid a lot from everyone."

"I do not believe it was Himerish who made the Fortress of Infinity a floating fortress.", Alfor replied. "According to the records in the fortresss' library, the fortress has been afloat for a very long time. Even before Himerish became Oracle."

"Well, now it's back on land.", Luba said. "I believe we should make sure the area is safe for it to be here."

"Agreed.", Alfor said. "But for now, I suggest we simply put up a force field around the fortress. A lot has happened and I think we could use some much-needed rest.", he said with a smile.

"On that I think we can all agree.", Kadma said. "I'm so looking forward to sleeping in our bed again.", she said as she leaned a bit against Joe.

"You and me both, Dear.", Joe said as he wrapped an arm around his wife's waist.

"Hold up!", Irma said. "Isn't there a way to make those that were older, their regular age again?"

"And why would you want to do that, Irma?", Luba questioned.

"Yes, Irma.", Will questioned. "Why would you want to do that?", she questioned with her hands on her waist.

"It would be the right thing to do.", Irma answered in a serious tone.

"She does make a good point.", Cornelia said. "One should not mess with the natural order of things."

"Okay. Something's up.", Cassidy said. "What are you two up to?"

"I know what they're up to!", Angelo said. "They want to get their hands on some of the close we got from Paris!"

"Correction. The close you STOLE from Paris.", Cornelia said.

"And you two are willing to go so far as make us old to get them?", Yan Lin questioned Irma and Cornelia. "For shame on you two!"

"Well, if you were to be returned back to your true age, it would a shame to let those clothes go to waste.", Cornelia said with an innocent smile.

"After all we've been through.", Halinor said while shaking her head. "That's just sad."

"Very sad.", Cassidy said.

"I don't want Grandma to be old yet!", Hay Lin said as she hugged Yan Lin. "We can have fun growing old together! We can go on double dates, once you find a boyfriend! We can go shopping together, make our own clothes, all kinds of stuff! This is going to be so cool!", she said as she began to hop up and down happily.

"I think she wants you to stay young, Yannie.", Cassidy said with a grin.

"I think you're right, Cassidy.", Yan Lin said with a small laugh.

"Well, I'm not complaining about my grandparents growing up with me.", Angelo said.

"Oh really?", Kadma questioned with a smirk and raised eyebrow.

"Yep!", Angelo said. "Now when I ask if you two can come with me somewhere, you now have the youth and pep to do it.", he said with a smile.

"That may be true.", Joe said. "But me and your grandmother might be busy doing something else sometimes. If you know what I mean.", he said with a smirk as he and Kadma had their foreheads pressed against each other as he wrapped his arms around Kadma's waist while she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Figures!", Angelo said as his grandparents kissed. "And besides. Those clothes we got from Paris, aren't stolen anymore.", Angelo said to Cornelia and Irma.

"How so?", Halinor questioned.

"Well, back when you all were telling Nerissa the truth about her past, I headed to back to Earth and went to our place and found all the price tags to the stuff we found.", Angelo explained. "Once I found them, I went to the stores' websites and found out how much the clothes cost, teleported to Paris, got the cash needed to pay off the stuff and finally used my speed to drop off the cash in each store equal to what we took with a letter of apology."

"So, in other words, you get nothing.", Cassidy said to Irma and Cornelia with a smirk.

"Besides. The effects from the Fountain of Youth can not be reversed.", Luba replied. "Halinor, Nerissa, Yan Lin, Kadma, and Joe will age normally. But they will begin to act like normal teenagers in time. They'll have their current memories, mind you, but they'll, as the saying goes start to act their age."

"That may be a good thing.", Halinor said. "With us acting our age, no one will think we're being weird or anything."

"Works for me.", Yan Lin said. "But we have another problem. The rebuilding of Kandrakar. And I mean from the inside out."

"We can worry about that later.", Nerissa said with a yawn. "Right now I need some rest. And I know where to get some.", she said as she opened a fold. "Good to know I can still do that."

"Back to Nune-Boreal!", Cassidy said as they headed through the fold.

"We'll be back after a nice long rest.", Nerissa said to Tibor, Luba, and Alfor with a smile before going through the fold.

"Rest well, heroes of Kandrakar.", Luba said with a kind smile as the fold closed.

"And so the rebuilding begins.", Tibor said with a small yawn. "But first I think we need a bit of rest as well."

"Indeed, my friend.", Alfor said with a smile. "Indeed."

A/N: And with Himerish defeated, Kandrakar will begin anew. What changes will be made? Is Elyon okay? And what's going to happen between Will and Matt? Find out in the next and final chapter!

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