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 Three

The Guardians gathered in the center of the gym floor, together with Matt, Caleb, Raythor, and General Stanrych. Blunk peered into the huddle from behind Matt. "So what's the plan?" Caleb asked.

Will replied "We've got three things to worry about here: First, getting the Dominators out of harm's way and back to earth for medical attention. And connected to that, getting the Heart of Zambala out of Kandrakar before Neera gets ahold of it. Second, keeping the counsel of Kandrakar safe from harm. And third, of course, getting rid of Neera herself."

Elyon picked up where Will left off. "Fortunately, Neera seems unaware of what was happening while she was trapped in the crystal. She doesn't know Judas has the Heart of Zambala, or she would've grabbed it off of him by now. Likewise, she's unaware we've got three more Guardians with us than before."

"Should we divide our forces for differing missions then your highness?" Raythor asked.

"Exactly. Blunk?"

Hearing his name, the Passling slipped past Matt and stood before his Queen. "Blunk ready." He said. "Scared, but ready."

Elyon knelt down to Blunk's level and said "I need you to open two folds into the fortress. The first one should open into the Grand Hall. Leave that one open. The second should open…" She looked up, tried to get her bearings to identify the exact balcony the Dominators were laying on. "The second should open just inside from that balcony, so I guess the north corridor."

"Who goes where?" Matt wondered.

Taranee, who had worked the plan with Elyon telepathically, said "Miranda, Alchemy and Cassidy will use the fold Blunk leaves open, and wait out of sight until we need them. Caleb, you'll take half of the Meridian soldiers and go through that fold too. Your mission is to evacuate the counsel back here."

"You can count on me." Caleb said.

"Raythor," Elyon said, "You'll take the remaining troops with Blunk and get the Dominators and the Heart of Zambala to safety. Blunk, close that second fold the instant you're all back through safely."

Raythor and Blunk acknowledged their instructions, then Anthony asked "What about me? Don't leave me out of this with my son's life in danger."

"If the General's okay with it, you can accompany Raythor's team." Elyon answered.

"We both will." Stanrych said. "Now, what about the rest of you? I hope you've got a plan beyond running in with guns blazing so to speak."

"Somewhat." Will answered. "The rest of us, Matt included, will fly straight up and through the giant fold Judas made. It's short on strategy, but it's what Neera expects us to be dumb enough to do, which we can tweak to our benefit."

"And the dumber she thinks we are, the better the big plan will work." Irma added. "Y'know, when we think of a big plan…"

Kandrakar. Himerish and Neera faced off at a distance of about twenty feet. "Do you truly think you can defeat me?" Neera taunted him. "I've been planning this for years, Oracle. My contingencies have contingencies of their own. And you are just a weak 'wise man'. You cannot resist the might of Varthan." Neera motioned with one hand, intending to open a fold to Varthan. Nothing happened. "What?" She screamed. Turned enraged to the counsel. "You put a veil around Varthan? HOW DARE YOU?"

Halinoor actually laughed at Neera. "Not enough contingencies it appears."

"And you are mistaken in another way." The Oracle added. "I am not just a weak wise man." He unleashed a powerful blast of mystical energy that knocked Neera backwards. "The title of Oracle comes with much power." He blasted her a second time, but she was ready and weathered this attack better.

"You call that power?" Neera sneered. "THIS is power." She raised both arms and her front pair of legs, creating a dark sphere of energy between them. The massed power exploded outwards, covering the counsel members and weakening their own powers.

As the counsel struggled to get free of the dark energy, Neera said "Now then, contingency plans. The Guardians will come. They will see how strong I am. They will try to use the Zenith powers against me, but lose control and become my puppets. Or, they will see that outcome in advance, refuse to use Zenith, and die. Either way, I gain control of the Heart or its powers, free Varthan, and conquer infinity…"

Sheffield. "Did you see what she just did to them?" Irma exclaimed, looking up through the fold.

"Sure did." Will answered. "It's go time."

As the first team Elyon, and Matt flew up towards the fold, Blunk created two additional folds for the other teams. Everyone involved in the plan moved into position…

Will's team entered the fold and appeared over the fortress, looking straight down on Neera. They dove right at her. Will fired a blast of electrical power at the Dark Queen's head, missing by inches when Neera sensed the attack coming. "At last you come!" Neera shouted. "I was beginning to wonder if you had the courage to face me."

"Who's afraid of spiders?" Irma answered, "Houseflies? We're a lot bigger than flies!"

"Better armed too." Taranee said. "Fire!" As Taranee fired a stream of liquid flame, Will, and Elyon added their own attacks. Neera dodged left and right but couldn't avoid all of the attacks. A blast of fire struck her mid-back and started to burn. Then, Cornelia pulled the marble floor of the fortress balcony up, encasing the Queen in solid stone.

Neera burst free of the marble with a roar, sending chunks of marble flying in all directions. She fired a beam of dark energy towards Will and Cornelia, but they ducked out of the way easily. Before Neera could launch another attack, she was hit squarely from behind by Matt's own energy beams. Tossed end over end, but not seriously hurt, Neera ended up facing Matt upside down.

"You will suffer for this indignity Regent!" Neera said. Matt had no chance to react before he was struck with a wall of pure telekinectic energy from the Dark Queen. Overwhelmed, he focused his power inward to try to ride out the attack…