Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. This is a work of fan fiction.
Season Three Episode Fifteen: "Grave Miscalculations" Chapter Three
Earth. Sheffield Institute. Lunch hour. As Will and Matt sat on opposite sides of their table, Hay Lin asked "So Will, you ready for this afternoon?"
"Yeah, I'm not really nervous or anything, I mean it's just the rehearsal. The real deal next week's what I'm gonna be nervous about." Will answered.
Irma said "We might have at least a little something to be worried about." She then told them about what Tom had said to her regarding his concerns for rehearsal. "I really don't think anything major will happen Will," she concluded, "but just in case maybe we should be all Guardianed up in advance."
"Maybe…" Will answered. "I dunno, it'll upset mom if we show signs something is amiss. I'd rather avoid that."
Elyon said "I can tell Raythor to have Sandpit and Gargoyle ready outside the grand hall. If anything starts to happen, they should be able to keep it at bay long enough to use the Heart."
"That's a good idea Elyon. Best of both worlds." Taranee said.
Will agreed, "Yeah. Thanks, that should work out great. Besides, I doubt anything will happen anyway, right? It's not like Neera or the Dominators can purposely attack anyone who'll be there because of who they are."
Kandrakar. The Oracle was working on one of the plans he had for possibly breaking the dark veil when Luba entered his chambers. Though he didn't turn from his work, instead continuing to tinker with a strange device Luba didn't recognize, he acknowledged that she had arrived. "Hello Luba. I trust you bring good news?"
"Yes Oracle, though not exactly the type of good news you are hoping for." She said.
Finally looking up from his work, Himerish motioned to a chair. Please, sit. Relax." After Luba was comfortably seated, he asked "So, what have you found?"
"Following your earlier instructions to seek for a solution to the dark veil, and to exhaust all possible options, I have been studying the nature of the crystal prison which contains both Nerissia and the balance of Queen Elyon's stolen powers." Luba said, "That power is, after all, the power of a world's Heart. I had hoped that it might be possible to tap into that power to dismantle the dark veil. Unfortunately, the amount of power needed would leave behind too little to keep our erstwhile former Guardian in check."
"Unfortunate indeed. However, you said that you did have good news…"
"Yes. While examining this option, I found a way to safely free an additional thirty percent of the Heart of Meridian power without also freeing Nerissia. I have already made the preparations, I await only your approval to proceed." Luba finished and looked expectantly at her leader. She clearly expected an immediate go-ahead, but she was to be disappointed.
Himerish said, "You've done well Luba. Exceedingly well. However, we should not go ahead quite yet. If you returned Elyon's power now, she would have a sudden power surge with no warning. The consequences could be disastrous. I want you to wait until we have a way to warn her in advance."
Head bowed, Luba replied "I understand Oracle. But how long might it be before we have such an option?"
Gazing down at the device he had been working with, Himerish answered "Hopefully not long at all…"
Varthan. Unconscious bodies of fallen soldiers littered the ground. The Dominators hovered over them feeling smug. "Wasn't so hard." Bess said.
"Varthan is now under new management." Judas shouted, arms held high. He didn't get to gloat long though, as he was swatted from the sky by something huge and menacing. When he hit the ground, Judas rolled over and looked up. Prince Garix stood over him, backed up by an entire legion of Larvae-Riders and four adult-form warriors.
"Free Mother now." Garix rumbled, "And I will kill you quickly instead of slowly."
Judas responded by blasting the prince with a bolt of hate-energy. Garix was unharmed, but forced back far enough for Judas to regain his footing and fly back up to the others. Looking at the force Garix had assembled, Uriah said "Y'know, Varthan's kind of a cruddy world. Maybe we should go rule over someplace else."
"You mean like earth?" Courtney asked, thinking of all the shops to rob.
"Nah, earth's cruddy too." Judas told her. "But Dunn boy's right, this hole is beneath us. We'll find someplace worthy. Meanwhile let's get on with our plans for Elyon's palace." Before anyone could stop them, the Dominators folded away.
Enraged, Garix shouted "Men! Follow me. We go to the Dark Aura Mirror chamber!"
Meridian, Elyon's palace. The wedding was to be performed by a kingdom regent named Beflore. Visually a large and intimidating man with a voice that could have passed for James Earl Jones, he was actually kind-hearted and fair. When Miriabelle had confirmed that the regents did in fact have authority to perform weddings everyone had suggested to Dean and Susan that Beflore was the man to ask. For his own part, the man had been delighted to be offered the opportunity.
Entering the grand hall, he headed straight for the happy couple. "Susan, Dean, welcome! I'm certain everything will run smoothly both today and next week. Between the palace staff and the Guardians themselves, the planning has been perfect."
One arm still around Dean, Susan grabbed her daughter with the other. "Thank you. I'm quite proud of how Will and the others managed to pull something so big together so fast."
"We all are." Dean agreed.
Looking to Will, Beflore said "And I am proud to have a chance to do something in repayment to the Guardians for all they've done for us. Anyhow, since this is just a rehearsal there's no need to be overly formal. We can begin as soon as everyone is in position." With a bow, the man took his position at the front.
Soon enough, everyone was ready. Beflore nodded to Cassidy, who pushed play on a CD of the wedding march, then instructed the chorus that would play at the actual wedding to pay close attention. They hadn't gotten it quite right yet. Susan walked up the center aisle and stood next to Dean with Will behind her as the maid of honor. Tom stood behind Dean serving as best man.
Cassidy stopped the music. Beflore opened the ceremony, and made his way through the words with little difficulty. Sitting in the back, Caleb leaned over to Cornelia and whispered "How long do earth weddings take anyway?"
"Almost done." She whispered back. "Why? Taking too long for you?"
"Nah, it just seems a bit much. Meridian weddings are more like 'Do you? Yes. Do you? Yes. Good you're married.' It's a lot quicker."
"I am SO doing it the earth way." Cornelia murmured.
A few minutes later, the rehearsal was finished, and everyone was satisfied with the results. The whole wedding party retired to an outdoor balcony for refreshments. Irma made her way to Tom and said "I guess instincts can be wrong sometimes."
"Yeah. I'm glad this was one of them." Tom answered.
Before anything more could be said, though, a shadow covered the sun. Matt looked up to see what it was and shouted "Look out!" Seconds later, Gargoyle landed on the balcony with a tremendous thud. Looking to see what could have did this to him, everyone saw the bad news they hadn't wanted: The Dominators hovered slowly down from the sky.
"Well well." Judas said. "Nice place you got here, Queen Elyon. I think we'll take it."