Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. This is a work of fan fiction.

Season Three Episode One: "Suspicions" Chapter Four

Aljax was a dead man. He was absolutely certain of it. He counted himself lucky enough to have been spared by Queen Neera once. He couldn't be so lucky again. And he had just been summoned into her presence. Still, groveling was beneath his people, so he walked, head held high, into the jaws of death: The dark Queen's throne room.

As soon as he was within the chamber, she emerged from the shadows, a huge and hideous creature, a cross between a giant spider and the spawn of every nightmare that everyone in every world had ever had. "Welcome back Aljax." She said. I believe we are ready for the second phase of our plan are we not? Tell me the first phase has gone well."

"Exceedingly well, my queen. In fact, if you so decide we may have the opportunity to obtain multiple hostages for the price of ensnaring the one." Aljax answered.

"Oh? How have you accomplished this?"

"As expected, Majesty, the woman Susan now believes her nightmares, and will soon witness the Guardians transform. However, what we did not anticipate is that she would also enlist the assistance of the Water Guardian's father, who is a member of the earth's law enforcement corps."

The queen seemed to swoon with joy at the news. "Two of their parents. Yes. Yeeeesssss… You make your queen proud my child. You may live once again. Now, let us discuss how the second phase will proceed…"

That afternoon, the Guardians were together in their usual hangout, the basement of the Silver Dragon. Hay Lin sat sketching ideas for her next painting, while Taranee tried in vain to help Will through the latest round of algebra.

"So what ended up happening with Professor Collins Will?" Cornelia asked.

"Nothing really. After lunch he laid back some more but he still didn't act normal." Will said.

Hay Lin glanced up from her work. "Maybe it all fits together. Maybe he's got something to do with your mom's nightmares!"

Cornelia said, "Collins? Please. There's not a conspiracy in everything Hay Lin."

"We're Guardians Corny. Sometimes it seems like there is." Irma joked.

"DON'T CALL ME- Never mind."

Irma wasn't finished. "Girl, I gotta hand it to you. You're really getting control of your temper. Pretty soon I'll be able to call you Corn Muffin or Corn Flake! Or maybe even-" Before she could finish, a vine grabbed Irma and covered her mouth.

Cornelia grinned at the furious Irma. "Here's the deal. You drop it, and the plant drops you."

Sensing a tragic basement flood in the making, Will and Hay Lin jumped between their friends. "Stop it now you guys." Will said.

Cornelia released Irma, who immediately formed a large ball of water but didn't throw it. After a few seconds she too backed down and sent the water down a nearby drain. She offered Cornelia her hand. "Peace?"

"Peace."

While the Guardians were meeting in Hay Lin's basement, Susan Vandom was welcoming Dean Collins and Tom Lair into her office. She closed the door, motioned to her two guest chairs, and took her own seat. "I think we have a serious problem with Will, and probably the other girls as well. Before I tell you what I suspect, what I've found… Tom, have you noticed any unusual behavior from Irma? Especially since Will and I moved here?"

"Some." He confessed. "I just thought it was normal teenager drama though. But now that you mention it, it did start just after you arrived."

Dean reached across the desk and took Susan's right hand in his. "What's this about? What's wrong Susan? You know I'll be there for you."

"Let me start at the beginning. Every night for more than a week now, I've had a terrible dream of Will and her friends engaged in drug use. And other… …things as well. I thought it was just a dream, but when it woke me up at three this morning I went to check in on Will. She wasn't there."

Tom leaned forward "She went out at three in the morning?"

"Yeah. Came back around four. The point is, even though I still didn't think Will could be into drugs, it's clear something unusual is going on. So I took her diary and started reading it." Susan handed each man a stack of papers. "I copied it for you to look through. As you'll see, it's filled with bizarre stories about magic and other worlds and our daughters being some kind of "Guardians of Infinity" or some such. When you read it, it's clear that Will isn't just making up a story. She thinks this is real."

"Which implies the use of something hallucinogenic." Tom said. "Give me a few minutes to skim through this. Some drugs have recognizable patterns to the visions they cause. Maybe I'll notice something telling."

"The second phase." Neera said.

Aljax responded quickly. "We have an agent hiding near Elyon's castle in Meridian. He carries four larval warriors in hibernation. When he wakes them, they will quickly go on the attack, destroying anything in their way. Once we are certain the parents are in position, watching the Guardians, I will send word to release the larvae. The Guardians will hear of it, transform, and fold to Meridian in full view of their family members."

"It seems a shame to waste good larvae." said Neera. "But I see why we must. If we don't create a threat, one might not arise on it's own for weeks. Very well Aljax. Proceed with phase two."

Aljax bowed deeply. "As you command my queen."