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

Season Three Episode Twenty-Three: "Xanatos, Redux" Chapter Three

"What's the matter?" Judas shouted, "We thought you'd be happy to see us! Haven't you all been sad and upset over how we just up and vanished? Well here we are!"

"They're afraid of us." Uriah said. "I like that."

Showing impressive courage, the Principal stood and got their attention. "I for one am glad that you've come back. Won't you let us get you the help you need?"

Angry, Judas fired a blast of Hate at the ground just in front of Knicklebocker's feet. "We don't need help!" he spat out.

Knicklebocker backed down and ran for cover behind the refreshment table. Seeing her coming, Tom whispered "Blunk! Hide!"

"No, better idea. Blunk, get me to Meridian." Alborn said. Blunk opened a fold and they both jumped through. It closed just before the Principal ducked behind the table.

"Now what do we do?" Knicklebocker wondered.

As the Principal was ducking behind the table, Stanrych and Captain Ananias arrived. "Sir, request permission to try and reason with them again. This is my son after all."

"Granted." Stanrych answered.

Anthony approached the Dominators from behind. "Judas? Son? I'd like to talk."

"Well well… How you doin' pop?" Judas answered. "Back to pretend you care again?"

"I DO care. Judas, I'm sorry if I wasn't a better father. But we can still work things out. Or at least we can try. Besides, your Principal was right, you DO need help. The Guardians have told us about the powers Neera gave you. They are killing you. You'll die if you don't get rid of them!"

"Guardians! Liars!" Sandra interrupted. "They just want to be the only game in town!" She turned and glared at Will. "Isn't that right, Guardian Will?"

All across the gym, a subtle gasp was heard. Will thought to the other Guardians "Now what?"

"We're exposed now. No preventing it. We might as well just roll with things from here." Taranee answered.

"You're half right." Will thought back. "I'm exposed now. Not you. The rest of you stay out of it unless they force a fight." She turned to face the Dominators. Removed the Heart from around her neck and held it out, flashing its light but not transforming. "We just want to help you Sandra. To help all of you. Like it or not, we're telling the truth. The power Neera gave you is toxic."

"Judas, can't we try to talk this through?" Anthony insisted. "Just let everyone else go, then you and me and the Guardian here can…" Before Anthony could finish, Judas interrupted him.

"Talk, talk, talk! Enough talk! And no one else is going anywhere! Dominators, Unite!"

After transforming, Judas and Bess combined powers to destroy the roof of them gym. The students below cowered as Courtney caught the falling pieces and used them to barricade to doors, trapping everyone. "Now, who wants to dance with me?" Uriah shouted. He grabbed a random female student and forced her to dance with him…

"I think we've reached point-of-no-return" Elyon thought to the other Guardians.

"Yeah." Will replied. "I was really hoping it wouldn't come to this."

"Everyone meet up at Will's position. We'll confront them together." Cassidy said.

"Hang on a sec." Taranee thought, "I've got to get away from Nigel first." Hay Lin, Elyon, Alchemy, and Miranda said the same thing about their dates.

"Nige, I've gotta go." Taranee said, "Will needs my help."

"But how could you help her? If she's one of the Guar…" He stopped mid-word as understanding struck him. "You… You're one too aren't you?"

"Yeah. And I've got a job to do now." She hugged Nigel tightly, said "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner… And on our own terms."

"It's okay Tara. Just be careful, and we'll talk it over when you get done."

Irma kissed Martin, then turned and started towards where Will was standing. Hay Lin did the same with Eric. As the girls walked away, Eric tried to stop them, but Martin cut him off. "They've got a duty Eric." He said. "But they know what they're doing. They'll be fine."

Eric stared at Martin, shocked. "You knew? If Irma could tell you, why didn't Hay Lin trust me?"

"Irma didn't tell me. Pretty much everyone who knows has found out like this: accidentally." Martin answered.

"That helps some. But I still can't believe this…"

"Keep watching. You ain't seen nothin' yet."

As Cornelia, Elyon, and Miranda moved away from them, Gideon and Joel didn't know what to think. "El's a part of this too?" Joel wondered.

"And Miranda?" Gideon echoed.

"This is just a joke right? I mean, she's Elyon Brown, not some superhero…"

Standing next to them, Caleb said "Wrong. She's not just Elyon Brown. She's Queen Elyon, ruler of Meridian… And the Guardian of Light."

As Caleb was speaking, Miriabelle slipped up behind him. "Alborn's gone for help." She said.

As the others converged on Will, Cassidy leapt over the table and joined them. Peering over the tabletop, Knicklebocker exclaimed "What are you doing?"

"Our job." Will answered. Then she cast the Heart into the air. "Guardians, Unite!" Orbs of light surged from the Heart, transforming the Guardians.

"Whoa…" Eric breathed out.

"No kidding." Nigel agreed. "Our girlfriends have superpowers… How does one go about getting used to that?"

"It's not easy." Matt told them. "Then again, this won't be too easy for you either…" He then changed into his regent form and joined the girls.

Regent and Guardians faced Dominators in the air above the gymnasium. "We aren't supposed to be fighting!" Uriah exclaimed, 'What if Garix shows up?"

Smirking, Irma answered "Oh that's right… you don't know yet. Garix is no longer a threat to anyone."

"In that case, we're back on." Bess said.

"Yeah, and it's about time, too." Judas agreed. "Let's do this…"