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

Season Three Episode Seventeen: "Gross Prophet Margin" Chapter Three

Will walked through a dense fog, uncertain of where she was or how she had gotten there. As she made her way forward, she thought that she heard voices closing in on her location. Instinct told Will not to be found, so she tried to run. It all seemed to no avail however, as they were coming from all directions.

Moments later, she saw them. An enormous crowd of ordinary looking people, all staring straight at her. The look in their eyes wasn't a happy one. "What do you want?" Will asked.

"We want you… Guardian!"

Will stepped back from the speaker. "How do you know about that?" she demanded.

"Oh come on." A woman answered. "Did you really think we wouldn't all find out about you sooner or later? Everyone knows. And we don't like it at all."

"I think it's time to get rid of her." A third voice said, and with that the crowd rushed in, attacking Will as she tried to transform only to find the Heart missing. Will screamed for help, certain she was about to die. At that moment, a brilliant pink/purple light flashed all around and the crowd vanished. Will looked up to see a single woman standing nearby. The new arrival had a regal bearing to her stance, and was quite beautiful. "Who are you?" Will asked. "Where are we?"

"The where is quite easy Wilhelmina. You are actually still in Irma Lair's home. You are asleep, and this is a dream, or perhaps more accurately, given what those dream shades were doing to you, a nightmare. As for me, I am not really a part of the dream. I am Xan Jing."

Will stared at her companion. "The nymph? I thought you were-"

"Dead? Yes, I am." Xan Jing replied. "However, the sum total of my essence resides within the Heart of Kandrakar. So long as it exists, I exist. Though I admit I usually sleep away the centuries unawares."

"Okay… So what woke you up at this time?"

"You did Wilhelmina. I am attuned to the emotional state of the Keeper. You are in distress, and this distress awoke me so that I might attempt to aid you in working through it. Tell me please, what is it that has you so vexed?"

"You're gonna think it's stupid." Will said.

Xan Jing answered "Am I not the one who got so upset I turned myself into a crystal? Tell me of your concerns, I assure you I will not mock them."

"Okay, it's like this. The other Guardians and I have done our best to keep our identities and existence secret from everyone else on earth. That way we can live normal lives. But over the last few months, a lot of people have found out, including some serious enemies with no reason to keep their mouths shut. I'm just a little freaked over where it's going to end. Are we going to be found out by everyone? What will happen to us?"

"Ahh. I don't find this stupid at all Wilhelmina. Quite the opposite, it is a valid and understandable concern. Fortunately, I can help you."

"How?" Will asked. "The only thing that would confirm things will work out is a good look at the future."

Xan Jing answered "Then that is what I shall give you."

"Wait… You can see the future?"

"More or less. The future is not set, it shifts with the choices we make. What I can show you, though, is the best possible future, the one that will be if you win all of your coming battles, the best possible future, twenty years hence."

A smile slowly spread across Will's face. "I get to see myself as an adult? What are we waiting for then? Let's go!" Xan Jing motioned with one arm and a bright orange fold appeared. Will stepped towards it and then stopped. "Hang on. This isn't going to be one of those 'Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come show me my own grave' things is it?"

"Of course not."

"Away we go then." Will said, and she stepped through the fold.

Twenty years in the future. The city was still clearly recognizable as Heatherfield, though it had changed considerably. A number of new towers reached into the sky, including one that Will suspected must be taller than anything in her own time. In the skies above, an unusual airplane with it's wings and fuselage blended together flew silently towards some distant city. Below, the city streets swarmed with hybrid and all-electric cars. Everywhere, on the sides of buildings were huge 3-D display screens running advertising.

Will realized she was in her Guardian form, and asked Xan Jing about it. "This is merely a vision, remember." The nymph said. "I changed your form for ease of travel. Come with me, our first stop is close by. Oh, and again, as this is a vision, we will be invisible to everyone."

Will followed Xan Jing down to street level, where they waited at an intersection. Soon, a car came swerving around the next corner to the west and accelerated towards them. As the driver tried to pass through this intersection however, he struck another vehicle which had the green light. Both cars spun and slid, but were only damaged slightly. As the speeder braked to a stop, his engine now off, Will heard the sound of police sirens growing louder in the direction the first car had came from. Moments later a police car rounded the corner into view.

The criminal driving the car realized he wasn't going to get his engine to start again. Panicked, both he and his partner jumped out and fled the scene on foot. Moments later the police cruiser stopped next to the damaged cars and a young policewoman leapt out of the passenger side and gave chase.

Something about this woman drew Will's attention. She was of average height, with short black hair and green eyes. Her face seemed somehow familiar to Will. In fact… "Is that Miranda!" Will exclaimed.

"Indeed it is." Xan Jing answered. "In all possible futures, events in the not too distant future will instill in your former enemy a profound respect for Thomas Lair, a respect which will eventually translate into her deciding that this is the purpose of her life."

"Wow. I knew she was big on doing good to make up for her past, but I never thought that would go this far." Will said.

Below, Miranda continued to chase the fleeing men. "Keeps runnin' Johnnys!" one of them shouted, "She's gainin' on's us!"

"Duh Frankie, what'dya thinks I'm gonna do?"

"Johnny and Frankie? You've got to be kidding me." Will said. "Even in the best future they've still not learned anything?"

"This is the best possible future for you and your friends, not for everyone." Xan Jing said. "And speaking of you and your friends, it's actually Miranda's patrol partner you are here to see."

Will looked back towards the police car to see a second policewoman attending to the innocent victims in the car Johnny and Frankie had struck. At first she only saw the woman from behind. Then she stood and turned away from the car. The hair had made Will suspicious, but the face was unmistakable. "It's me…" she said.