Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. This is a work of fan fiction.
Season Three Episode Twelve: "Acid Test" Chapter Three.
Varthan. The Guardians of Infinity and the Regents of Earth flew headlong toward Queen Neera's palace. They were here for one of their own, and woe betide any who get in their way. The first to make said mistake were a thousand-man strong detachment of the Dark Queen's Praetorian Guard. The soldiers saw the approaching threat and reacted as loyal warriors should, opening fire on the invaders.
Cornelia struck the ground, sending a pulse of earth energy into the midst of the soldiers where it made the very soil and rock rise up and grab hold of them. Nearly a hundred men were immobilized. Meanwhile Hay Lin was drawing a mass of freezing air down from the planet's stratosphere. The subzero temperatures sent unprepared combatants fleeing the battleground in search of shelter.
Just as the battle seemed over, the ground shook as three warrior larvae, the same creatures used to attack Meridian months earlier, rose from the depths. "Is anyone else getting really tired of these things?" Irma asked. Taranee pointed out that this was the first time they had seen any in almost three months. "And yet my statement still stands." Irma told her.
Cornelia shouted to Elyon that maybe she should try the distraction with lights technique that had worked so well on their last trip to Varthan. "Good idea, but I think I'm going to try a more direct approach this time." Elyon said. The Queen then prepared the Light Bomb attack she had first used on Prince Garix. Two streams of light energy, out of phase with each other, collided and merged just above the center larvae. Moments later the grubs were out of the fight, one dead and two running away to hide. Before the Guardians could celebrate however, a terrible shriek arose behind them. They turned to see an enormous insectile creature.
Taranee said, "Remember the first time those grubs attacked Meridian? Caleb said they were just larvae, and there had to be an even worse adult form. I think we've just met it."
"And even worse," Hay Lin added, "It just saw Elyon hurting it's little brothers."
Queen Neera was still occupied with her attempts to determine where she had miscalculated with Miranda when Aljax ran into the throne room and bowed hastily. "Apologies Dark Queen, for my interruption, but the Guardians have arrived. They are currently fighting an adult Warrior just outside the palace walls."
"They arrive at last. Pity we can't welcome them with the intended surprise. How I wanted to see the looks on their faces when the friend they came to save attacked them. Oh well. The torture masters have had their fun for now. Have Miranda moved into a heavily guarded cell."
Aljax bowed and left to complete his orders. Neera called out for Garix. The Prince came to her, his skin still covered in bandages from his recent punishment. "How may I serve you Mother?" he asked.
Neera answered, "You will go to the prison level and assume command of the troops guarding Miranda's cell. Do not allow the Guardians to rescue her my son."
"Your word is my purpose Mother. I go to obey."
"Oh, and Garix? We have what we need. The Guardians do not need to be left alive any longer. So the gloves are off. Kill them if you can."
"They will die by my own hands."
The adult version of the larvae was even more horrible than it's younger kin. It most closely resembled a praying mantis, but was over twenty feet long with razor sharp claws bristling from every joint of it's armor. Two heads sprouted from the body, each equipped with mandibles that could have sheared a man cleanly in half. With a terrible keening sound it launched itself at Elyon.
While the Queen retreated backwards, Cornelia and Hay Lin combined their powers to stir up a dust cloud between Elyon and her pursuer. Unlike the larvae, however, the adult warrior was unfazed by this. It flew right through the swirling dust. Elyon released another Light Bomb attack, but even though the Warrior was at ground zero of the detonation it seemed to have only lost the outer layer of it's armor.
Will and Matt double-teamed the warrior, blasting it full power with Quintessence energy and Matt's eye-beams, which sent it sprawling backwards onto the ground. The monster was down, but not out. Already it was scrambling to its feet. Matt noticed a door in the palace wall, large enough for people but too small for the Warrior. He pointed it out to Will. "Go! We'll keep Mr. bug-ugly busy while you girls get to the prison!"
"Are you sure?" Will asked.
Napoleon answered, "Go for it doll. We regents'll be fine. It's just a big bug after all. Us cats eat bugs for dinner."
Cornelia wrinkled her nose. "Eww. I woulda thought you stopped doing that after you got smarter."
"Focus doll. Go get your friend."
Laying on her side in a cell, Miranda looked out through the bars at the huge number of guards assembled here. Even Garix was present. The Guardians would be coming for her. She knew it. But how could they ever manage to save her with this many enemies to work through? They couldn't.
"Girls, please be careful." she thought. "One of you hurt or killed on my account… that'd be the worst thing of all." Miranda hoped they would see the futility and retreat. There would be other chances in the future. If nothing else even Neera couldn't maintain this degree of vigilance forever…
Flying into the palace, through the wide halls and down the stairs, the Guardians met little resistance. "This is too easy." Taranee commented.
"Way too easy." Irma agreed. "There's no way Neera's just letting us walk in and take Miranda back without a fight."
Will said, "Stay sharp. My money's on the prison area being guards wall-to wall."
Moments later, they reached the prison and discovered that Will had been right. So many guards filled the space that the effect would have been comical if it weren't deadly serious. Garix shouted "Guardians! Welcome to your deaths! Hear me men of Varthan, A Royal Medal to anyone who slays a Guardian!" The soldiers rushed to the attack.
As at the radio convention, Irma squared off with Garix himself, taking advantage of her greater ability to actually hurt him. This time though, Elyon backed her up. Will, Cornelia, and Taranee handled the rank and file soldiers including those riding larvae. As in the plan, Hay Lin started out by assisting them, but as soon as a chance came she slipped away and turned invisible.
Trapped in her cell, Miranda watched the fight while wishing she was able to get loose and help. Of course after the torture masters she didn't feel up to doing anything. She could barely move. Reality rarely stops dreams though, and she wished she could help her friends.
As she watched the battle, Miranda suddenly heard a familiar voice speaking her name. "Hay Lin? Is that you?" she asked.
"Yeah it's me. I'm invisible in front of your cell. Listen, I don't have long to talk but we've got a plan."
"You need to run." Miranda tried to warn her, "You'll never get rid of this many guards. Will's not going to get a chance to take out these bars. Save yourselves, I don't want you hurt on my account."
"Like I said, we've got a plan. Can you move? You need to get away from the back of the cell, as close as possible to the bars."
"I can move that far." Miranda said as she started to ease forward. "What's the idea?"
"You'll see. I better go before Garix notices I'm nowhere in sight. See you soon."
Miranda finished edging to the front of the cell, and wondered just what was going to happen…