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

Season Three Episode Twelve "Acid Test" Chapter Five

Varthan. Queen Neera had been sitting on her throne, unspeaking, unmoving, not so much as blinking an eye, for an entire day. Aljax found the stillness unnerving. He knew she was wrapped up in thought, trying to figure something out that eluded her, but the perfect mannequin frozen posture still seemed off somehow.

Eventually, she moved. Stretched out all of her many legs and said, "Aljax, I have a question for you. And I want the honest truth. Do not lie out of fear."

Aljax swallowed nervously. "I attend, Dark Queen."

"How could I have been so wrong about the shapeshifter? You understand, I have never been the type of ruler who refuses to admit her own failings. I have made mistakes before, and you'll recall I admitted to them. But never have I been this wrong. I was positive Miranda was ripe for despair, only to have her resist the efforts of five Mindquavers. Five! How did she do it Aljax?"

Aljax thought quickly, came up with an answer that he thought might be true, and a way to present it that might not get him killed. "I suspect it was the Guardians my Queen. By showing her friendship, they gave her hope. Hope is of course the opposite of despair, and it is very powerful. Actually, even we can attest to hope's power. Is it not the hope for a larger empire and more power that has led you, O Queen, to initiate our current project?"

Neera replied, "Yes… Thank you Aljax, that does indeed make a great deal of sense. And even better, if you are right then we need not fear failing with the others I have selected. They have no such source of hope…"

Meridian. Miranda came awake gradually, not realizing at first where she was. She opened her eyes and recognized her old room in the palace. From the corner of her eye, she was vaguely aware that someone else was in the room with her. Will Vandom sat in a chair next to Miranda's bed, reading a magazine. "Ugh… What time is it?" Miranda asked.

Will looked over to the bed. "Oh hey! You're awake! It's like one in the afternoon, Monday. You've slept for a day and a half. How do you feel?"

"I hurt in places I didn't know I had. But I'll be okay. Did you say Monday? Shouldn't you still be at school?"

Will laughed. "We all decided that we weren't gonna leave you alone until you woke up okay. So we've been taking turns. I left school early. I'm you know, sick." She faked a cough then laughed. "Seriously though, I'm glad you're gonna be okay. I'm starting to get really sick of our friends getting attacked because of us."

Miranda realized that she hadn't been able to tell the others what had happened while Neera had her. "Will, I need to tell you some stuff. Neera didn't grab me for the same reason as the others."

"What do you mean?"

Pulling herself up into a sitting position, Miranda said "They didn't just throw me in the jail. I was taken to Neera herself. She wanted me to turn on you guys and join her. Said she'd give me some kind of power if I did."

"Whoa. What'dya do?" Will asked.

"Heh. I told her where she could stick her power. That's when she tried to brainwash me with some kind of psychic creatures. And that's where it gets really weird. They didn't try to claim that you guys were bad and Neera was good or anything like that. They did everything they could to bring back the despair I used to feel. They tried to make me believe all the things I used to believe all over again."

"But if she wanted you to join her, why would she do that to you? It doesn't make any sense." Will said.

Miranda answered, "I think it does make sense, just not in any way we understand. Will, on the one hand I think her offer was genuine. She really would have given me some kind of new power if I had given in to her. But on the other hand, even if I had said 'Okay I'll join you', it wouldn't have been enough. It wouldn't have done her any good unless I felt what she wanted me to feel. Whatever this was really about, Neera desperately needed me to feel hopelessness and despair. So long as I didn't, she didn't get what she was after."

Will considered this for a moment before saying "Listen, the doctors say you need one more day in bed. But if you feel up to it then tomorrow after school we'll take you to someone who might be able to help puzzle this out."

"Sounds like a plan. For now, I think I still need more sleep…" Miranda slid back under the covers and was instantly dozing. Will returned to her magazine, and stayed until Taranee came to take over…

Varthan. On a windswept bluff just outside the palace Neera stood, watching as five groups of soldiers lined up in formation. Garix stood by her side, and Aljax was directing the leaders of each group. He turned to the Queen and said "Insertion teams two through five are briefed and ready to go. Team one awaits only the selection of a replacement for Miranda's position."

The Dark Queen handed Aljax a photograph. "Here is my choice for the replacement. She is not as ideal as Miranda would have been, but quite acceptable in spite of this."

Looking at the photo, Aljax said "And also, in a certain sense, appropriate. Excuse me please, your Majesty." He turned and presented the photo and related data to the leader of Team One. After a short briefing, Aljax returned. "All five teams are ready my Queen. They await only your order."

"Them the order is given." Neera said. She then raised her voice so all the soldiers could hear, "Go forth, loyal servants! Do your duty and bring glory to the Heart of Varthan!"

Five Team leaders held up transit crystals. Five folds opened, doorways to earth. Fifty of Queen Neera's best troops shouted in unison, "For the glory of Varthan! Hail Neera, Queen of Darkness!" And then they were gone.

"And so," Neera said, almost to herself, "It begins…"