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

Season Three Episode Twelve: "Acid Test" Chapter Four

Seated in her throne, Neera observed the battle in the palace prison. Something was bothering her. She called to her servant, "Aljax?"

Aljax bowed before his Queen. "I attend your Majesty. What do you require?"

"Something isn't right here." the Dark Queen said. "The Guardians are foolishly noble, and loyal to the point of fault. But they are not stupid. The situation in the prison is untenable for them, they have zero chance of success, yet they still press the battle. Why? Clearly they plan something, but I have not been able to determine what."

Watching the viewing window, hearing Neera's words, Aljax realized his Queen was correct. "Yes. Yes I see what you mean my Queen. I fear however that I am at as much of a loss as yourself."

Outside the palace the Regents of Earth continued to battle the adult Warrior. Kor leapt onto it's back and used a pair of bony spurs as handles keep his grip. He pulled back hard, causing the creature to rear back in frustration. Napoleon jumped up from the ground and struck the insect on the bottom of it's now exposed thorax, a mighty blow that actually cracked the exoskeleton. Roaring in pain and anger, the Warrior threw Kor of and grabbed Napoleon in it's forward arms. It tried to crush him, but Matt fired a beam of energy and knocked the cat loose just in time.

"Thanks Matty-boy." Napoleon said as he stood, "I was almost Bug-Chow."

"Anytime pal." Matt answered. Kor joined them and together they turned to face their opponent once more. Matt eyed the damaged part of the Warrior's armor. "That was an awesome punch dude." he said. "I wonder what would happen if I could get a clean shot directly to that spot now that you've softened it up?"

"Let's find out. Kor, you think the two of us could hold our friend in place long enough for Matt to do that?" Kor nodded. "Then let's do this." Napoleon said. Together they rushed at the giant insect…

Miranda was still watching the fight through the bars of her cell when she heard a sound behind her. This was odd, since she knew there was no one else in the cell with her. She ignored the first sound, but then it repeated louder than before. She turned her head to look, just in time for a third repetition, this one accompanied by a large section of the back cell wall crumbling into a huge gaping hole. From out of the dust-obscured opening came the last person Miranda would have expected: Cassidy.

Cassidy ran into the cell and knelt down next to Miranda. She started fussing over the younger girls wounds, alternately asking if Miranda was okay, cursing Neera's name, and swearing to get even with whoever had did this to her. Miranda managed a slight short laugh. "I'll be okay Cass." she said. "How did you take down that wall?"

"Wasn't me." Cassidy explained. "It was them." As the dust cleared from the hole, Miranda began to discern three forms. After another moment, Raythor, Sandpit, and Gargoyle came into clear view.

Shocked, Miranda couldn't believe her eyes. She blinked several times, rubbed her eyes, and looked again. They were still there. "The Knights of Vengeance?" she asked.

"No luv," said Raythor, "The Knights of Justice."

Miranda smiled weakly. "Cool."

Raythor asked, "Can you walk? We've got to get out of here, and fast."

"No problem." Miranda answered. She tried with all her strength to pull up onto her feet, but only made it halfway before collapsing back down. "Then again…"

"No worries. We've got you." Raythor carefully picked Miranda up and carried her out of the cell. "Let the Guardians know we're clear luv." he said to Cassidy.

Normally, Cassidy was not a part of the Guardian telepathic link. That was reserved for current Guardians. However, just as a former Guardian could tap into her old powers with difficulty by using her own life energy so could she just manage to access the link for a few moments. Focusing her thoughts, Cassidy sent the brief message "Objective secure." She then ran to catch up with Raythor and the others.

As Cassidy caught up, she overheard Miranda asking "So how did you find the right cell anyway? There's gotta be hundreds of them."

Raythor laughed. "Yeah. And about half of them now have nice new holes in the back walls. I hope Neera's got some good contractors…"

When Cassidy's message came through, Cornelia and Hay Lin were busy dealing with the newest batch of arrivals, a group of the larvae riding guards. They were keeping them at by with a wall of swirling sand. Upon hearing the message, Will thought to the others, "That's it ladies. Break and retreat." Cornelia didn't just let the sand go. She sent it flying directly at the larvae, burying them.

"Those things can dig really well." Hay Lin said to her. "That's not gonna keep them busy for long."

"It doesn't have to. We're getting out of here anyway."

The Guardians flew together up through the stairwell and out the door they had entered through. They emerged outdoors just in time to see Kor and Napoleon grabbing the warrior from behind and pull backwards, while Matt fired full strength at it's damaged shell. The shell cracked and buckled and steamed. Will, Taranee, and Elyon added their strength to the attack. Kor and Napoleon jumped clear just in time as the massive attack burned through the warrior's armor and the defeated creature fell to the ground with a loud thud.

"Are we good?" Matt asked, "Did the plan work?"

Will smiled, "Perfectly so far. Now let's get out of here. Miranda needs a Meridian doctor to look her over." The teens rendezvoused with Raythor's team and rushed to get far enough from the palace to fold away.

Neera stared at the gaping hole at the back of the cell. "Well. I must give the Guardians credit for ingenuity." she said. "I never thought they would risk others on an attack here. Perhaps we've not given them enough credit."

Bowing deeply, Garix said "Forgive my failure Mother, please."

"I already have my son. I will not blame you for not foreseeing this eventuality when I didn't see it either. Honestly, I'm more angry about the death of an adult warrior than Miranda's escape. Have you any idea how long it's been since the last time someone actually killed an adult version? Ages."

Meridian. Miranda was abed in her old palace bedroom. The royal doctors were looking over her wounds while Queen Elyon and the Guardians looked on. She smiled, touched at the thought of their concern. "Will you guys stop worrying?" she asked. "I'm gonna be fine now that I'm out of that place."

Cassidy said, "That's for the doctors to determine young lady."

Miranda slowly drifted off to sleep while the doctors finished up their treatments. Finally the head physician came over to Elyon and said "Miranda was correct about her wounds. Shapeshifters heal faster than humans anyway. It's a side effect of the rapid metabolism needed for changing forms so quickly. I want her in bed for the next two days, but she's going to recover just fine your Majesty."

While Cassidy and the others breathed out in relief, Elyon thanked the doctors and sent them on their way.