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

Season Three Episode Twenty-Four: "Endgame, Part One" Chapter Two

Miranda stood alone in a corner. She wanted to talk to Gideon before leaving, but she didn't know what to say. Or, she had to admit to herself, how to deal with the possibility that he wouldn't want anything to do with her now that he knew the truth. And so, here she stood, all by herself, hoping the others would finish up quickly so they could go. "I'm just putting off the unavoidable…" she thought, "But maybe Cass can help me work through this before I talk to him that way."

This hope was not to be however. Even as these thoughts crossed Miranda's mind she heard a familiar voice behind her. "I, uh, I like the long hair." Gideon said in reference to the ankle-length braid Miranda gained in her Guardian form. "It looks good on you."

Shocked that he had sought her out, Miranda turned to face him. "Thanks. I like it too, though it took some getting used to when I started doing this. So, you're okay right? You didn't get hurt or anything during all this mess did you?"

"Nah. Well actually one of the doors flew right at me when they busted in but I've always had good reflexes, got out of the way easy." Gideon said. "Are YOU okay? I mean, I don't want to pry unwanted but I kinda thought you'd come back to me."

"I wanted to." Miranda admitted. "I didn't know if you'd want me to."

Gideon took Miranda's hands in his own. "I'll always want you to."

"I hope so. But don't make promises you can't keep. There's still a lot about me you don't know. Seriously, this is pretty minor compared to some of it."

"We'll cross one bridge at a time then." Gideon replied…

Paula Ethel paced nervously back and forth while her husband and daughter tried to calm her down. "C'mon mom," Alchemy was saying, "This isn't any different than when we went to Zambala. And that worked out alright didn't it?"

"We're going to be seeing all of it this time." Paula said, motioning to the huge open fold still filling the sky."

"You could always not look up." Alchemy suggested.

"I'm still your mother. Don't you dare coddle me." Paula exclaimed.

"Sorry. But really, shouldn't this make it better? You'll know what's happening, rather than having to worry until we get back."

"Al, I think that only helps for as long as things are going well. If things go badly, it'd be worse." Arthur explained.

"Good point." Alchemy admitted. "I'm telling you though, this'll work out fine. Neera's outnumbered, on OUR home turf… and at the mercy of a little trick Elyon worked into the Heart of Meridian aura mirrors just in case…"

"Trick?" Paula inquired, "What trick?"

"You'll see… If it proves necessary."

"I for one feel better hearing that." Arthur said, trying to encourage his wife. 'So Al, what happened to your date anyway?"

"Unlike the other girls, mine was just a date, not an actual boyfriend. He ran for it at the first sign of trouble." Alchemy said with a chuckle. "Seriously, he was out the door so fast I don't think Hay Lin could've caught up with him even flying full speed…"

While Taranee was talking to Nigel, Theresa stepped close to Cassidy. "You're the one with the most experience," she said, "So talk to me. How bad is this, really?"

"Bad." Cassidy answered honestly. "But, we really have seen worse. Remember, the girls beat down an opponent with the power of three hearts several months ago. Of course it took full Zenith-level power to do it…"

"Is that dangerous?"

"Not directly, though there are risks, which is why it's a last-resort level tactic." Cassidy explained.

As she finished explaining, Cassidy's cell phone rang. She answered, already knowing who it had to be. "Cass, what's happening?" Peter asked. "This doesn't look good."

"It's not, but don't worry. We've got it under control. Keep looking up, you'll see the whole thing once the fighting starts."

"I'll be watching…" Peter said. He paused for a moment, then added "Cass, I'm thinking maybe I should have went ahead with that proposal yesterday…"

"Does that mean you are now?" Cassidy asked.

"Danged right it does. So, what'dya say?"

"Well what do you think? Of course." Cassidy said laughing.

"Good. We'll work things out when you get back then."

As Cassidy hung up, Theresa, still standing close by, said "Congratulations… But it had better be a LONG engagement…"

Elyon and Joel faced each other, holding hands. "You're taller than me now." He said.

"It's temporary. When the fighting's over everything goes back to normal." She glanced around the damaged gym. "Mostly."

"It's a good thing school's out for the summer in just a couple of weeks. They'll have this repaired by the time we come back in the fall." Joel said. "So… You're actually a queen… Should I be bowing or something?"

"Don't you dare." Elyon said laughing. "It's freaky enough for me when my parents do it, I don't need it from friends too."

"Alright." Joel answered. "I, uh, I'd kiss you, but…"

"My parents right here messing it up?"

"Not so much. But your big army guys look like they could snap me in half." Joel said looking at Raythor and Vathic who were standing nearby.

"We could." Raythor replied, "But we want her majesty happy so as long as she wants you around we'll restrain ourselves."

"Oh. Well, in that case…" Joel started to answer, but was cut off when Elyon kissed him.

"Gotta go." Elyon said when they separated.

"Yeah. Be careful."

As Elyon and Vathic moved to rejoin the others, Raythor held back long enough to say "You're a lucky man mate. Just don't mess it up, or we'll have words…"