Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. This is a work of fan fiction.
Season Three Episode Three: "Elyon: Unite!" Chapter Two
Kandrakar. Will stood before the Oracle, along with the other Guardians. "So, where do we find this Queen Neera? Where will she have taken our parents and how do we rescue them?" she asked.
The Oracle answered, "There's really only one place Neera's soldiers would have taken their captives. The dungeons beneath her palace on Varthan. I can and will implant in the minds of Queen Elyon and the Keeper of the Heart the spatial coordinates of Varthan, so that you will be able to open a fold to get there."
"Then what are you waiting for!" Irma shouted, "This nut bag witch has got my dad and Will's mom!"
"Preparation is essential." the Oracle answered. "There are three things you must know about before you go. First, Neera's palace is covered in scanners that can detect the use of most forms of magical energy. The air guardian's invisibility, and the fire guardian's telepathy, use small enough amounts of power that they should remain below the detection threshold of the scanners. You should use no other powers until you have to."
"In fact," Halinoor added, "You should go in human form and not transform until you have to either. Simply being powered up might trip the sensors. Also, you will not be able to open folds within the palace itself. Neera has that ability jammed at all times."
"That's rough. We're gonna need to detour to earth for supplies." said Taranee.
"Okay," Will said, "What's the third thing we need to know?"
The Oracle sighed. "Neera is unlike any adversary you have ever faced. You are physical beings who simply use magic. So are myself, this counsel, and every enemy you have fought thus far. Neera is magic. The very core of her being is steeped in magical energies, she is in fact a magic-based life form."
"It sounds like that would make her stronger than our other enemies." Matt said.
Halinoor answered, "Yes, it does. But it also imposes certain limits on her."
"Limits?" Elyon asked.
"Let me explain." said the Oracle. "You know there are certain rules that we, as physical beings, simply cannot violate. The laws of thermodynamics for example. As a magic-based entity, Neera also has laws that both she and her underlings must obey."
Cornelia asked, "Okay, how do these rules help us fight her?"
"I do not yet know. I am telling you about these rules for a different reason. Something you need to be aware of. Will. Irma." -Everyone was startled to hear the Oracle use their first names- "One of the rules that constrains Neera is that she cannot target, with physical violence, the family or friends of a magically empowered foe, unless those friends or family are aware of the power that person possesses."
"But… But that means…" Irma started to say.
"Yes. They know."
Hay Lin said, "How could this have happened? Why didn't they say something if they knew?"
"Maybe they just found out." Caleb suggested.
"Just found out and were kidnapped instantly?" Will asked in a skeptical tone.
Luba said, "It is possible. Perhaps Neera's servants planted clues, or somehow manipulated your parents into learning the truth in order to take them. It is only physical violence that they had to avoid before your parents knew the truth."
A horrified look came across Will's face. "The nightmares!" she exclaimed.
Varthan. Susan had managed to wake up Dean and Tom. They stood near the front of the cell examining the situation. "It's strange that there's no sign of guards. I wonder where everyone is?" said Dean.
Tom replied, "Maybe not so strange. Step away from those energy beams, I want to try something." Once Dean and Susan were in the clear, Tom pulled a pen from his pocket and threw it at the beams which formed the bars across the front of their cell. It was vaporized on contact. "No need for guards with prison bars like that."
Dean asked, "So how do we get out of here then? We can't just give up."
"No we can't." Susan said. "But we can't do it ourselves either. We've got to have faith that the girls will rescue us. We're in their hands now."
Earth. With the coordinates of Varthan in their heads the Guardians and their allies returned to the Silver Dragon. Will raised the heart and returned them to normal. "We've got shopping to do." she said. "All-black clothing for stealth, and some necessary tools as well. Everyone get what's needed and meet back here in an hour."
As they went their separate ways, Elyon turned to her parents. "Mom, Dad, I still want both of you to settle back on earth for awhile. But first there's something important I need you to do in Meridian." She raised on her tiptoes and whispered into her mother's ear for several seconds.
"I understand." Miriabelle said. "And I'm proud of you for thinking ahead like this. We'll have everything ready."
"Thank you." Elyon opened a fold for them to use. Once they were through, she closed it and ran to catch up with Cornelia and Caleb.
Having found and installed his waterproof roof, Blunk felt his new home was ready to move into. Of course, the place still needed furniture. But Blunk had no idea of how to choose what would look right. The place needed a woman's touch. It was time to go get Mama.
The Silver Dragon, one hour later. In the basement, six girls and two guys, all dressed head to toe in black, checked the gear they were carrying. Mostly this consisted of mountain climbing and rappelling equipment since none of them could fly as humans. Taranee and Hay Lin carried medical kits.
"Everyone ready?" Will asked. "Let's do this." She held out the Heart and swept it in a vertical motion. A fold opened. One by one, they each passed through, from earth to Varthan.
Charcoal-black rocks and soil. A pitch black sky crisscrossed by constant lightning. Erupting volcanoes in every direction. This was Varthan, home world of Queen Neera. As the Guardians and the two boys looked around, they were overcome by the sheer and palpable sense of evil overhanging this world.
"Um Will," Taranee said, "We wanted Varthan not Mordor."
"No kidding. All we're missing is a big ugly eye and a midget screaming about "the precious." said Matt.
"And ten thousand Orcs." Hay Lin added.
A confused Caleb said, "What the heck are you three talking about?"
Cornelia patted him on the shoulder. "It's nerd humor sweetie. Ignore them."
Elyon said, "At least we won't have to go searching for the palace. That's got to be it." Everyone turned to see what she was referring to. A huge edifice, composed of metal and stone, the structure rose at least fifty floors above the surrounding plain. The geometry of the building was like something out of a Giger painting, Lovecraftian and strange.
"Can we be sure that's it?"
"Trust me." Elyon said, "Even my brother couldn't have thought up something this twisted and wrong. That's it."