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

Season Three Episode Six: "Damascus Road, Part Two" Chapter Five

When Will arrived home, Susan told her about the call from Theresa Cook. Will contacted the other Guardians, as well as Matt and Caleb. Everyone arrived soon enough. Tom came with Irma, and Miranda arrived with Elyon. Susan cast a brief, uncertain glance at Miranda but said nothing. Dean Collins was already present. After Susan had told them everything about the call, Irma informed the adults of what was going on with Martin as well.

"I dunno." said Tom. "Martin's case is clearly interference. We need to keep a very close eye on the boy. But Theresa… I suspect that's just normal. Susan, you said she didn't act like anything odd had happened to her to trigger these suspicions?"

"No. I probed as carefully as I could, looking for anything that might mean she was being worked on. I didn't see anything like that."

"But this could still be used against her if it's noticed." Taranee said.

Matt said, "Taranee, you can probably defuse this by simply being more careful for awhile. Don't miss curfew, don't disapear without explanation. If your mom is just having normal parental worries that'll take care of it."

"Good thinking." Caleb agreed. "But how are we going to keep Martin safe?"

Miranda looked at Caleb. "Wait. Are you saying Martin is in danger?"

Will answered, "Oh that's right. You wouldn't know what's been going on. We're having issues with a Queen Neera. She's attacking our friends and-"

Before Will could finish, Miranda said, "Neera? Wow. I think I need to tell you guys something."

Everyone stared at her. "Well, out with it then!" Cornelia said.

"I don't know the details. I was too young at the time to be 'in the loop.' But a few years back, I overheard Phobos and Cedric arguing over a treaty with someone named Neera. Cedric thought Phobos was making a mistake, that she couldn't be trusted at all. Phobos said he didn't trust her, but she would hold up her end long enough to get what he wanted out of it."

Miranda continued, "That was the last I heard, until two months later. I woke up in the middle of the night to terrible sounds of destruction. Phobos was tearing apart everything he could find, in a rage, cursing Neera's name. I hid and went back to sleep, and the next day Phobos acted like nothing had happened. Cedric had a big 'I told you so' smirk on his face for weeks though."

Cornelia looked at Elyon. Sounds like it's time for a little brother/sister chat."

"Joy."

Varthan. One week later. Aljax and Garix stood before the Dark Queen. "I understand the need for patience and caution." she told them, "But it has been over a week since Aljax delivered the note and video to Martin Tubbs. What is the delay?"

Aljax bowed more deeply. "Apologies my Queen. We need to get Martin Tubbs and the Water Guardian together in the same place at the same time, with many innocent people to threaten, so the Guardian will have to take action in front of him."

"And no such opportunity presents itself?"

"We thought we had one Mother." Garix said, "A radio broadcaster's convention in the city. Given their mutual interest it seemed certain they would both attend, perhaps even together. Unfortunately, Martin's father is taking the entire family on a trip that weekend, preventing Martin's attendance."

"Hmmm…" Neera thought to herself, then said, "Remind me, what does Martin Tubb's father do for a living?"

"He is an accident investigator for his country's transportation board, Majesty."

"Then surely a nearby… 'accident'… would prevent this trip and free up some time for Martin to attend the convention?"

Aljax grinned. "Yes, Dark Queen. It certainly would. I'll get started right away."

Sheffield Institute, Monday morning. Miranda stood at the entry gate shouldering the burden of a heavy satchel of books. The sky was bright; clear and sunny, and a warm wind blew softly from the south. Even after a week, she was still in shock that Elyon had been kind enough to do this for her.

She heard a shout. "Miranda? Miranda is that you?" Alchemy and Martin were running towards her. She had worried about this meeting for days. Alchemy knew she had been a fugitive, she admitted it to her. How would she explain her presence here? In the end, Miranda decided to take Will's advice: Just enough truth to satisfy them.

"Hi Alchemy, Martin." she said as they stood in front of her.

"I thought you'd be back in jail or something." Alchemy said.

"So did I. But the Queen, well, she could tell I was serious about changing. So they put me on probation, and sent me here since this is where I found the good influence that helped to change me."

"That's cool!" Alchemy responded, "C'mon we'll show you around."

As they walked in, Martin asked "Queen? Just what country are you from anyway?"

Miranda smiled. "It's very small. You've never heard of it."

As she followed her new friends into the school, Miranda thought to herself, "I wonder if I've got what it takes to do this? I know I want to. And I know I'll have help. But I'm still a little scared. I'm not letting the fear win though. Elyon trusts me, and I will NOT let her down…"

New beginnings are like seeds blow in the wind. They can lodge and take root in the most unexpected of places. Of course, where they take root is also important. A seed in a rock has less chance than one in fertile soil. Miranda was lucky. The location this seed landed might have seemed the least likely of all, but with friends to aid her, the soil was fertile beyond measure. Here she would learn. Here she would grow, and here, she would find her purpose in life…

"Hope requires the contender,

Who sees no virtue in surrender,

From the cradle to the bier,

The heart must always persevere."

-from 'The Book of Counted Sorrows'

By Dean Koontz