Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. This is a work of fan fiction.
Season Three Episode Nineteen: "M.A.C.E., Part Two" Chapter One
Author's Note: Apologies for the longer than normal wait by my standards. Life, lol.
Elyon followed Miranda as she walked away. "What's wrong?" the Queen asked. "I thought you'd like this opportunity. Are you afraid something bad will happen? That this might affect you the way power corrupted Nerissia? Because I can tell you right now, that's not likely. For one thing, I know you're stronger than that now. And besides, the specific power in question isn't really the kind of thing that corrupts easily anyway."
Miranda answered "It's not that. I'm just trying to save you wasted effort and both of us embarrassment."
Alchemy and Cassidy had followed behind Elyon. "Embarrassment?" both asked.
"Right. Look at what Elyon told us she's had done." Miranda said. "The counsel on Kandrakar has created three new Aura Mirrors, and channeled Elyon's freed power into the Heart of Kandrakar in order to give power to three new Guardians, right?"
"Yeah, that's right." Elyon said.
"Well, here's the problem… I know you've been able to have some influence over who the new power goes to, since it's your power in the first place. But the Heart of Kandrakar has a mind of it's own, and in the end the final choice belongs to it. Not you, or the Oracle, or anyone else. Now, that's not gonna be a problem for Cass or Al. But, be honest Elyon, do you really think the Heart is going to accept me, with my past?"
Listening, Cassidy's eyes suddenly grew wide. "Elyon, can you come over here for a minute? I need to tell you something." she said. The two moved a few feet away and talked in hushed voices for several minutes. Finally, Elyon returned to Miranda's side.
"You asked if I really thought the Heart would accept you." Elyon said. "The answer is, thanks to what Cassidy just told me, I know it's accepted you already."
"What? How could you know that for certain?"
Elyon grinned. "What happened to you and Taranee earlier today?"
Still not putting the pieces together, Miranda answered "We were attacked by three of the Dominators. Why?"
"And what did you do when they attacked you?"
Elyon's grin turned into a full smile. She could see the lights going on. "Wait… You mean… That blue light…?"
"Exactly." Elyon said. "That's your proof of acceptance, just like Al and Cass had things happen today too. It's really not surprising, the other Guardians started manifesting their powers before they first transformed too."
"Wow… Well, if the Heart doesn't have a problem with it then who am I to refuse?"
"That's the spirit!" Cassidy said. "So, what's next?"
Elyon answered "Next, we get the rest of the Guardians out here and fill them in too. Then Will gives us the final test of whether or not this is going to work: Transforming us with the Heart…"
Zambala. In the grand temple's main hall, the Dominators sat in a circle, laying their plans of attack. "The important thing is to stick together from now on." Judas was saying, "It's clear now that splitting up is just asking for trouble."
"Which is strange. I mean, we're supposed to be as strong as they are. Why are we having so much trouble?" Bess asked.
Judas answered her "Experience. They have more than we do."
"Plus they have allies we lack." Sandra added. "It all adds up to the advantage being on their end."
Courtney said "You want math? I've got math for you: Five on one. We've got to start picking them off one at a time, all of us together. We'll have the advantage that way."
"Yeah, until they call for help telepathically and the others pop in out of nowhere." Uriah said.
"Nuts. I didn't think about that." Courtney admitted.
"No big." Judas said. "We're on the right track here. Taking them one at a time is smart. We just need a way to jam their ability to call for help."
Before anything more could be said, the teens all became aware of a loud commotion outside the temple walls. Running to the main entrance, they found a huge army of Zambalans attacking. Ironwood was in the point position, rallying the army forward, brandishing the Heart of Zambala like a cudgel. "Forward! Forward people of Zambala!" Ironwood shouted. "Today we reclaim our world from these thieves!"
"Well What'dya know?" Judas said with a smirk. "Volunteers for practice. C'mon, we'll figure out the rest of the details later. Let's have some fun." Judas transformed them, and they flew out to meet their opponents…
Meanwhile, back on earth, Prince Garix and his entourage were encamped in the abandoned hotel the Dominators had lived in before relocating to Zambala. His patience was growing thin, but for the sake of his men he strove not to show it.
Aljax approached the Prince privately. "Are we certain staying here is the best option my Prince?" he asked. "It's been many days with no sign of our quarry."
"There is no better option Aljax. We can do nothing until they return to the earth. And when they do, this is the most likely place for them to come."
"The men grow weary of the wait my Prince."
"As do I Aljax." Garix rumbled. "As do I. But no matter. Let us look forward to the glory of success rather than brooding on the present. When they return, they will not be expecting us. We will have the element of surprise on our side. In addition, it is quite likely they will come here fleeing from a lost battle with the Guardians, weakened in advance. All the cards will be stacked in our favor…"
"I see your point my Prince." Aljax replied.
"Excellent. Now walk with me. We must visit with and encourage the soldiers before their distress becomes a problem."