Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. This is a work of fan fiction.
Season Three Episode Two: "Rules of Engagement" Chapter One
Neera shuddered with joy. The plan was working perfectly. Now that the two Guardian's parents knew of their daughter's secrets, the rules were met. They could be targeted for capture without fear of mystic retribution from the higher plains. Aljax and her emissary shared in her joy at a successfully completed mission. "If I may take leave my Queen," Aljax said, "I must now begin preparations for phase three."
"Go faithful servant." she replied. "Bring our three snoopers to my palace. With them as hostages, the Guardians will not dare to make a move against us."
Meridian. Despite Blunk's warning Elyon had followed Caleb and the soldiers into the village. She stood aghast at how much damage had been done in such a short time. From ahead came the resounding clangs of swords and shields as the army assaulted the monstrous attackers. Screams of pain, fear, and rage echoed about the buildings. Suddenly, a group of five men scrambled into sight from around a corner, fleeing as fast as they could. Behind them came one of the beasts: A huge grub, a larva armored in thick chitin, with many short legs and arms ending in razor sharp scythes.
The beast was faster than the men it was chasing. It would be on them in seconds, and they would die. "No. I won't allow that." Elyon whispered. Reaching down within her heart, the queen summoned all of the power she had left. Energy spheres crackled about her clenched fists. All in an instant, she unleashed the Light of Meridian squarely aimed at the monster's head. It shrieked in pain as it's armor boiled away and a few of it's legs melted.
But it wasn't down for the count. Forgetting it's former targets, the creature lunged screaming towards the now tapped-out and powerless queen. Elyon flinched back and closed her eyes to await the inevitable. It didn't come. Instead, she heard a low sound of whistling wind and felt some dust blowing around her. She opened her eyes to see she was enveloped in a solid wall of sand. "Sandpit?"
"Yes" the creature answered in her thoughts. "These invaders seem loath to pass through my shifting form. I hoped it would be enough to protect you. It worked."
"I can't see through you. What's going on out there now?"
Sandpit answered. "The one you blasted is very weak now, but still fighting. The other three are undamaged. Gargoyle and the best human soldiers are holding their own defensively, but no one else has managed to even dent one of these things."
"We've got to help somehow!" Elyon exclaimed.
"If your powers regenerate quickly enough, you may be able to finish off the wounded one with one more blast." Sandpit replied. "Otherwise, there's nothing we can… Wait… I have good news your highness. The Guardians have arrived."
"Let me out then. This is one fight I wanna see for myself."
Heatherfield. The Vandom residence. Susan, Tom, and Dean had returned here after watching the girls pass through a fold into Meridian. Susan had been very close to going into a state of shock after seeing the truth with her own eyes, but seemed to be coming out of it now. She looked up. "Dean? What are we going to do?"
"I don't know Susan." he said.
Susan stood and began to pace. "I mean, it's true. It's all true. Everything in Will's diary is true. My daughter-" here she looked at Tom Lair, "-Our daughters are running off to other planets and fighting some kind of monsters! They're there right now, doing who knows what, in God knows what kind of danger!"
Tom said, "I know. I'm almost in shock here myself. We've got to confront them when they get back. Though, you know Susan… As much as this scares me for Irma, I'm also kind of proud of her. She's shouldered a great burden responsibly and reliably."
Tom's words cut through Susan, though he hadn't meant it. He didn't realize how often Susan had scolded and punished Will for her supposed immaturity and irresponsibility. "And now I know she was doing those things because she's being more responsible than I ever was at her age." Susan thought. Susan straightened up and walked to the coffee table. To her companions, she said, "I think the first thing we need to do, while we're waiting for them to get back, is reread this diary more carefully."
"Good idea." Tom said, "I wanna know exactly what my daughter's been getting into."
"Guardians Unite!" Will shouted, as the Heart of Kandrakar floated above her hand. Five spheres of energy emerged from the heart, each enveloping one of the girls. When the lights faded, the Guardians were flying just above the ground powered up.
Taranee looked towards the village. Smoke rose everywhere. "Ah man! What could do this kind of damage so fast?"
"Let's find out." Will said.
Together the Guardians flew in over the village square. They saw three large powerful monsters, and a fourth badly damaged one. Near the marketplace, Drake's men were fighting a larva alongside Gargoyle. They were preventing it from advancing but not pushing it back. "Look at that!" Hay Lin said, "That thing's actually managed to hurt Gargoyle! No one's been able to do that since, well, us." Sure enough, the mighty Gargoyle was injured, a large slash cut into his left side.
The second beast was attacking a platoon led by Vathic. Casualties were higher here than in the first battle. Larva number three strode through the streets unchallenged. And the injured one was trying to tear down a building full of people. Will noticed movement near the injured larva. "Isn't that Sandpit?" she asked. Just then, Sandpit opened up and resumed his vaguely humanoid form. Elyon stood in the middle of where he had been.
Cornelia caught sight of her friend. "Elyon!" The Guardians flew down to meet her. "What are these things?" Cornelia asked.
"No one knows." Elyon explained. "They showed up out of nowhere and started trashing the town. And no one has been able to hurt them either, except for that one." She pointed at the injured monster. "And that took everything I could throw at it to do."
"Alright." Will said, "Here's the plan…"