Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. This is a work of fan fiction.
Season Three Episode Sixteen: "Full Disclosure" Chapter Three
The Guardians gathered in an isolated forest clearing several miles outside Heatherfield. Here they build a small fire and set up enough seats for everyone who was coming: six Guardians, twelve parents, one grandmother, and one soon-to-be stepfather, plus Peter, Cassidy, Miranda, and three boyfriends.
Not long after they finished preparing, everyone else arrived. Even Will's father was punctual, though to the girl's annoyance he had brought Sabrina along. "What's she doing here?" Will hissed under her breath to Susan. "I never said he could bring her!"
Susan answered "You didn't say he couldn't either. She's gonna be your stepmother Will, it's probably best."
"Maybe. All I see is another potential security leak."
Once everyone was present, Yan Lin got their attention and instructed them to sit around the fire…
Back in Heatherfield, the Dominators powered up and flew from their hideout, searching for the Guardians. Since discovering Sandra's telepathy, they had chosen to split up and search individually, saving time and effort. Following Judas' lead, Uriah flew south towards the docks, while Sandra took midtown. Bess searched in the east and Courtney in the west. Judas searched in the north. Soon, he decided they needed to fan out further. "Uriah, go check out the parks near town." He thought. "Maybe some of them will be out there…"
Yan Lin stood before the assembled parents. "The girls have asked me to begin these proceedings. They have something to tell you all, but in order to do so properly, you must first understand the background. Therefore, I am going to tell you a story. I ask only that you show me some patience, for the manner in which I tell this story may seem strange. "
"Strange how?" Anna asked.
"Basically, I will tell this story in the form of a fairy tale. I assure you that there is a good reason for telling this story, as well as a good reason for telling it in the manner I have chosen. You will see soon enough." With that, Yan Lin began her story. She spoke of Kandrakar, the dragons, the nymph, the Emperor. Told them about the formation of the Heart, and how the counsel began using it to protect the infinite worlds.
As Yan Lin spoke of the Heart, a suspicion struck Theresa. She leaned over to Taranee and whispered "This isn't just a story is it? This Heart thing is where that power Cassidy used comes from isn't it?"
"Exactly. It's the power source she told you she used to be hooked up to." Taranee whispered back. 'Keep listening."
Yan Lin wound down her story with a brief recounting of what had happened with the previous generation of Guardians. Then she said "Now, I told you before there was a good reason for why I was telling you this story. That good reason is this: The story is true. Kandrakar and it's Guardians actually exist. I know, because I used to be one. I was in fact one of the last generation I told you about."
Standing up, looking angry, Will's father said "I'm disappointed in you girls. You told us this was important, and then you give us little children's storytime."
The Lin's agreed. "Mother this is bad enough coming from the girls, but for you to be a part of it… What were you thinking?"
Before anyone could storm off, before the crowd could turn into a huge argument, Yan Lin shouted for attention. "We are not here to tell you stories." She said. "We are here to prove them. Will?" Will pulled the necklace off of her neck and held it out. It was glowing brightly. "Behold the Heart of Kandrakar." Yan Lin said.
Anna looked at Irma. "Does this mean what I think it means?"
Yan Lin answered "Indeed it does. The new generation has been chosen." She gestured towards each girl in turn. "Will Vandom, Guardian of Quintessence. Irma Lair, Guardian of Water. Taranee Cook, Guardian of Fire. Cornelia Hale, Guardian of Earth. Hay Lin, Guardian of Air." As Yan Lin recited each name, the girl gave a small demonstration of her power.
Silence prevailed for several minutes. Then Anna slapped Tom across the cheek and shouted "You knew about this? You knew and you didn't tell me, didn't try to stop it!"
Irma stepped in. 'Mom, please stop. Please listen. There's more to this than you know yet. Dad only kept his mouth shut to keep you safe. Please let us explain."
"I think we should listen, Anna." Theresa said. "I came pretty close to finding out about this on my own before. Based on what I did learn, there may have been a good reason to keep quiet."
"Okay. But I want to know who else already knew about this." Anna demanded. Several hands went up, including those of Alborn and Miriabelle. Then Miriabelle stood and said it was time to tell her part of the story. And so she spoke of Meridian, the death of its previous Queen, and the rise of Phobos. How Phobos had killed his own parents and captured the newborn princess, still not even named. She told them how the royal nanny had kidnapped the infant princess to keep her safe, and how the child had been bought to earth.
Riveted by the story, Elizabeth asked "What happened?"
Miriabelle answered "The nanny and her husband had intended to take the child back to Meridian as soon as the inevitable rebellion started. But they lost the key to traverse worlds and were trapped here. So, they did the only thing they could. They raised the girl as their own daughter. And as her mother had not lived to name her, they chose to name her after the greatest Queen in Meridian's history." Here she changed pronouns, "We chose to name her Elyon." Ten adult heads spun to face the Queen so quickly they almost got whiplash from it. Elyon grinned and waved.
"Elyon is a princess?" Joan Lin asked.
Hay Lin said "Queen, actually, now that Phobos is in jail where he belongs."
"And that," Yan Lin said, "Is the girl's story to tell. The story of what they've been doing with their powers, why you were better off in the dark before… And why you need to know the truth now." And so the girls told the rest of the story, leaving out only the details of the identity of the revived Guardian, which was Cassidy's to reveal, and the identity of the Heart of Earth, which was for Cornelia to cover…
Flying over the forested parklands, Uriah was about to give up the search when he saw a wisp of smoke rising from a clearing. Investigating, he found his quarry. "Got 'em." He though to the other Dominators. "In the forest south of town."
Judas answered "Good. Stay there. We'll all meet up and take them on together…"
Sitting by the fire, Cassidy said "I've got something I need to tell you as well. Or at least something I need to tell Peter. The former Guardian that both Yannie and Will mentioned, the one Nerissia killed a long time ago and then bought back to life… It's me. Peter, I always intended to tell you someday, I was just scared of how you'd react. Can you forgive me?"
"I don't know Cass." Peter answered. "You've just told me my "eighteen" year old girlfriend is like, sixty. I don't know if I can adapt to that or not." He turned in his seat, facing away from her.
As Cassidy fought back tears, Theresa leaned over and whispered to her "He turned his back, but you'll notice he didn't actually get up and walk away. I think that's a good sign for you. Be strong, he'll come around."
Cassidy gave Theresa a look of surprise and gratitude. "Thanks." She whispered back.
Harold and Elizabeth were huddled together, speaking privately. They separated and Harold said "We still have a lot of questions here girls. A lot."
"Me too." Anna said. "To start with a small one, Irma, why were you so insistent that Chris not be a part of this? Isn't he in danger now too?"
"And Lillian. That was one of our questions." Elizabeth asked. "Why did you ask us to not bring Lillian, then insist that we bring the cat along?" She pointed to the sleeping Napoleon.
Irma answered, "Mom, leaving Chris out was because he's in Lillian's class in school. I'll let Corny field the other question."
Harold and Elizabeth stared at their elder daughter. Cornelia sighed. "Okay, it's like this: Remember what Yan Lin said about how every world has its own heart, and how that heart can be an object, like how the crystal is the Heart of Kandrakar, or a person, like how Elyon is the Heart of Meridian?" Both elder Hales nodded. Cornelia composed herself, or tried to, then quickly blurted out the rest. "Lillian is the Heart of Earth."
"How is that possible?" Harold asked. "You know your sister, she couldn't keep something like this secret."
"And that's why she's not here, isn't it?" Elizabeth realized. "She doesn't know."
"Not yet. To keep her safe, most of her powers have been split between three regents, who are entrusted with keeping the power, and Lil, safe until she's old enough to be trusted with this knowledge." Cornelia said.
Elyon added "Two of those three regents are here with us now. Matt is the first, and the second…" Everyone who knew looked straight at the sleeping cat.
Sensing all of the eyes on him, Napoleon awoke, raised his head, and said "What?" Harold Hale fainted off of his chair.