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

Season Three Episode Fifteen: "Grave Miscalculations" Chapter Four

Elyon's palace, an outdoor balcony. The Dominators hovered about ten feet off the ground, facing the Guardians. Will pulled the Heart of Kandrakar from around her neck, but didn't use it yet. Susan, Dean, and most of the staff helping with the wedding rehearsal ran for shelter, while Raythor knelt next to Gargoyle, accessing the large creature's injuries. After a moment, Raythor turned to Elyon and said "I think the big guy's gonna be okay your Majesty. He's more shook up than really hurt."

"Oh, isn't that precious!" Uriah taunted. "Queenie-weenie even cares about the butt-ugly monsters in her world."

Struggling to keep her voice low and firm, Elyon said "Thank you Raythor. Stay with him until he's able to move. And as for you, Uriah Dunn, you have no place in my realm. None of you do. Leave now, or face the consequences."

Stepping forward, Ton Lair added "Kids, your families really miss you. Everyone does. Why don't you come on home, we'll get everything taken care of."

With lightning speed, Judas fired a blast of black hatred towards Tom, who barely jumped out of the way in time. "Liar! My folks probably haven't even figured out I'm gone yet!" the boy screamed. "My dad hates me and I hate him! So save your little fairy tales for the gullible chumps in the world!"

While Irma ran to her father's side, Cornelia thought to the other Guardians "How'd he do that? Irma's dad should be safe from intentional attacks by Neera's goons shouldn't he?"

Taranee answered "Yeah, He should… Unless…"

Miranda shouted at the Dominators "Listen to us! You don't have to obey Neera! We can get you free from her for good! Let the Guardians help you like they helped me!"

All five Dominators laughed. Judas held out the Heart of Varthan. "Neera? We got Neera right here!"

Amid gasps of realization, Hay Lin said "Tell me that's not what I think it is."

"Will, power us up NOW." Taranee thought into the link. "We've got to keep them busy while Elyon's guards get Dean Collins, Martin, and both parents out of here right now."

"But what's the big deal about them?" Elyon asked. "Shouldn't they be safe?"

"Not any more." Taranee answered. "…Not any more…"

Will held up the Heart. "Guardians Unite!"

Varthan. The Dark Aura Mirror chamber in Neera's palace. Garix wielded an enormous hammer, which he swung down, with all his considerable might, at the Aura Mirror of rage. The impact struck home with a resounding clang that made even the most stoic soldiers cover their ears in pain. The hammer lost, shattering into millions of shards.

Overflowing with fury at what had occurred to his mother, determined to free her, he turned to the technicians and mages who had constructed the orbs from data scanned off the Guardians. "Give me a way to take back the Dominator's power." he growled. "Give me a way… …or die."

The threatened men huddled in discussion briefly. The leader them said "Great Prince, the Dark Aura Mirrors cannot be destroyed. However, it might be possible for us to alter their power settings enough to redirect the power away from its bearers."

"Very well. Begin at once." Garix ordered. "How long will this take?"

"Not long my Prince. Perhaps half an hour before the power begins to waver, a day or two for complete power loss. Prince Garix, I must point out: you do realize that this will only depower the Dominators? The Dark Queen herself will still be trapped within the crystal."

"Yes, I realize that. It is a small concern. Once the Dominators lose power recovery of the crystal will be effortless, and we can then free Mother as soon as it is possible." Garix answered.

Meridian. A contingent of Royal Guards led by Julian and Drake escorted the threatened family members away from the battle-site, while Guardians and Dominators squared off. Sandra spread a pall of despair over the entire battlefield, weakening the Guardian's resolve. Will and Matt faced Judas, Irma and Hay Lin fought Bess. Uriah stayed close to the ground trying to hide, but Taranee found him and surrounded him in a sphere of fire. Cornelia and Elyon faced Courtney, who's Avarice power was well armed by the many expensive items in the palace.

"We've got to take Sandra out of the equation." Taranee thought to them. "As long as she's doing her thing we're not fighting at our peak."

"But how?" Cornelia asked. "The closer you get to her the worse the effect gets. I'm like halfway across the palace from her and I can barely stand it now."

"I'm open to ideas." Taranee admitted.

"Great. When even you don't know what to do, we're sunk." Irma replied.

Trapped in the sphere of fire, Uriah reached out and felt with his senses. Nearby, he could feel someone terrified of flames. He tapped his own power and controlled the fire sphere, sending it hurtling towards the pyrophobe. "What the- How'd you do that?" Taranee demanded.

"Fear's my bag babe." Uriah said. "If someone's afraid of it, I can use it against them. What are you scared of?"

On the ground below, Drake looked up and saw the ball of fire coming straight for him. He shouted a warning and ran, while everyone else scattered. The flames reached the spot where Drake had been standing and exploded into several smaller fires that flew outward in all directions. Most of these missed everyone and burned out, but one landed on Susan's left shoulder. The woman screamed in pain as she threw off her jacket.

"Mom!" Will exclaimed when she heard. "Matt she's hurt!"

"Go. I'll handle Judas." Matt answered, then fired another blast at his opponent.

As Will flew down to check on her mother, everyone suddenly felt a change. Sandra's despair field seemed to be weakening. "Sandra, what are you doing? Keep it up!" Judas yelled at her.

"It's not me!" she answered. "Something's happening from outside!"

"It's me too!" Bess shouted. "We're all getting weaker!"

Judas' face twisted with hatred. "It's gotta be Varthan! They're doing something to us! We've gotta stop them, Retreat!" Judas opened a fold and they flew through it.

On the ground, Will was fretting over Susan's injury when the other Guardians flew down in a rush, all asking if she was okay. "I'll be fine girls." Susan said. "It's just a little burn on my arm."

Taranee looked mortified. "Will, Mrs. V., I am so sorry. That was my fire Uriah took control of."

"I'll say this again Taranee, it's not that bad. I'll be okay. I just want to know how they were able to do that. Shouldn't this break the rules?"

"Yeah… About that. I think the rules have changed." Taranee said. Everyone looked at her, waiting for an explanation…