W.I.T.C.H
Chapter 25
Will
This is my perfect day.
I, Will Vandom, wake up and slide into the kitchen. Mom's still mad at me for missing her party, so I perfect the time-honored tradition of giving her breakfast in bed. This cheers her up because, firstly, she doesn't have to cook, and secondly because she doesn't have to eat her own cooking. All is forgiven by the time she reaches the eggs.
By lunchtime, it's pretty clear that I'm in the best mood of my entire life. I'm free! No more danger, no more fighting evil, no more Kandrakar! I can do whatever I want with my life, and no one can tell me otherwise!
I know I shouldn't be this happy. The Guardians have given me a lot, and now they're out of my life forever. Also, there's the tiny, itsy bitsy chance that Elyon is in mortal danger, but I'm sure she's fine. There are a lot of smart people in Meridian, I'm sure they'll figure something out.
I can't help myself, it's like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I have a great mom, a wonderful boyfriend, and the best friends a girl could have. It's time to give them the attention they deserve. It's time to live.
The first thing I do in my new life is to give Matt a call, and order him to have a nice, relaxing walk in the park. You hear that? Just a simple walk in the park with Matt. No monsters, no weird, half girl half spider things or giant lizards, just me and my boyfriend. Unfortunately, I also have to tell Matt what's happened, so peaceful might be overselling it.
"So that's it?" he says, once I've recapped the weeks' events. "No more Guardians! And you're okay with that?"
"Better then okay!" I reply. "This is great!"
I'm not surprised by Matt's reaction. He's always been a fan of me in the tights, for more then the obvious reasons, so I knew he'd be upset that I gave them up. Matt's always been way more adventurous then I have, it's one of the reasons I love him so much, but it can get him into trouble. It's up to me to reel him in.
"But think how much you gained from the Guardians." He says. "The girls, Caleb and Elyon, these are all people that you…"
"That I what, Matt? That I wouldn't have known? The powers didn't get my friends for me, Matt, I did. And think of all the things that I lost. Just spending time with my mom, or getting to know you better. I didn't get you because of my powers, did I?"
"No, you didn't, but…"
"Do you know how many dates we've been on? That doesn't involve us fighting evil?"
"Not a lot?"
"Not a lot."
"What about Meridian?" he says, "Phobos would still be in power if it wasn't for the Guardians."
"Hey, I'm glad we saved Elyon, I am, but that's over now. We did our part, now it's someone else's turn. Someone with training, who wants to do this."
"What if no one else can?"
I sigh. It's no use; we're both way to stubborn for this argument to ever end. And I don't want to waste this perfect day fighting with Matt. Time to bring out my secret weapon. Puppy dog eyes.
"Can't we just enjoy this one day together? Do the Guardians have to ruin this day too?" I say, stretching the limits of my eye sockets.
"Will, do you remember what I said last week at the carnival?"
"No."
He glares at me.
"What?" I say, "I lead a busy life. I can't remember every conversation I have."
He sighs, but continues.
"I said no matter what path you take, I'll be right there by your side. That's what I'm doing now. I may not agree with your choice, but I'll stand by it, to the very end."
Matt has this amazing ability of making me feel bad every time I win an argument. He's taking the high road, so now I feel like the bad guy. Which I'm totally not! I mean, this is my life; I can do what I want with it. Still though, I should say something. Something that let's him know I appreciate his support, while still not backing down from my decision.
"I appreciate your support, Matt, but I'm still not backing down from my decision."
Wow. I suck at coming up with clever responses. Doesn't matter though, nothing will stop me from being in a great mood today. We spend another hour walking through the park together. We just talk about whatever. School, friends, music, each other, you know, just ordinary conversation. I've never had more fun in my life. It's great to just be able to just talk for once.
The rest of the day is a medley of my favorite activities. I go swimming, listen to music, watch my favorite shows and convince my mom to order pizza. It's a whirlwind of Will. It's fantastic to just spend time with my mom. I can't imagine how hard it must be for her having to be a single parent, living with a daughter who has a whole different life that she doesn't even know about. I know it's been tough for me, having to lie to her all the time, but I won't have to any more. From now on, it's just pizza and board games.
"Board games!" I shout.
"Excuse me?" my mom says, somewhat surprised at my outburst.
"We haven't done a board game since I was a kid!" I say, running to the cabinet.
"That's because they're for kids. Your words, not mine."
"Well that was a stupid thing for me to say. Bored games are awesome!" I reply, grabbing a handful of boxes. "Let's see… We have Trivial Chase, Duopoly, Hatzee, oooooooh, Hungry Hungry Horses!"
"How about the Game of Living. 'Live your life like you always wanted' it says."
"I already am." I reply.
The game takes way longer then it should, mostly because we're laughing to hard. Turns out my mom is actually a lot of fun, she's just always too worried about me to show it. Now that I'm relaxed, so is she. My plastic piece is stopped half way on its run for mayor when my phone rings.
"One of the girls?" mom asks.
She hides it well, but I can tell she's afraid. Normally any time the phone rings, I have to leave to do something Guardian related. Not tonight, though. Even though Hay Lin shows up on caller I.D., I turn my phone off.
"Who cares?" I say, tossing my phone aside. "Tonight, mayor Will is going to 'life her life like she always wanted'. Come on, snake eyes!"
And that is how I have a perfect day. I've spent time with Matt, I've done all the things I don't normally get to do, and I've helped my mom relax. And most importantly, no Guardians. Just Will Vandom, and that's exactly the way it's supposed to be. When I finally go to bed, I have a huge smile on my face.
I've been asleep for a couple hours when I notice two disturbing things. First off, I'm awake. And I don't mean just awake, I mean really awake. There's none of that groggy feeling you normally get when you wake up in the middle of the night. Instead, I feel more alert then I ever have before. Secondly, and even more disturbingly, I am no longer in my room. I am surrounded by pink. Beneath, above and around me, various shades of pink. I didn't even know there were this many shades of pink. And the worst thing about it? The dominating shade of pink, the one that stands out the most, is the exact same shade as the Heart of Kandrakar.
I feel a panic run through my chest. No, no, this can't be happening. I'm a normal girl now, and normal girls don't suddenly find themselves in strange, pink universes. I'm sure I'm just dreaming. Yeah, that's it. I'll shut my eyes, and when I open them again, I'll no longer be here.
I'm still here. And now there's someone standing next to me, a very strange someone. It's a woman, but clearly not human. She has large, pitch black eyes, and appears to be missing both a nose and a chin. She has long black hair, flowing down to her waist, and pale, grey skin. She's wearing what looks to be a modified Guardian uniform.
"Hello Will." She says, "Welcome to the Heart of Kandrakar!"
"No, you see, you don't really exist." I say, trying to sound convincing. "I'm just dreaming, you see. Any second now I'll wake up, and you'll just poof, disappear."
"You're not dreaming, Will." she says with a laugh.
"Prove it!"
"I can't. But I don't think I need to." she says. "You know the truth inside you, and I don't think you're the type of person who's going to ignore the truth."
"You don't know anything about me." I say defiantly.
"Well, actually, I know a lot about you. In fact, I probably know you better then anyone." She says. "But you know nothing about me, and that hardly seems fair."
"Alright, then who are you?" I ask.
"I come from a world that no longer exists." the strange woman says.
Her voice sounds like raindrops falling on a wind chime. Seriously, that's the only way I can describe it.
"My name is X'hal, but you may call me what other earthlings called me. Holly. And I am, or was, the bearer of the Heart, as you are today. My personality was chosen to represent us because I am the best 'people person'. We thought that I would be the best choice to make you comfortable."
"I don't understand. 'We'? 'Us'? How many people are in here?" I ask.
"Ignoring you? 551."
"551?" I say, looking around as if the other 550 are about to appear.
"Yes." Holly says calmly. "All the previous bearers of the Heart."
"I don't understand." I say again.
"How much do you know about the history of the Heart, Will?" Holly asks.
"You mean like the Nymph Xin Jing and the four dragons?"
"Ah yes, that story has become more popular over the past few millennia. But I'm afraid much of it has been lost in translation."
"Wait, so there was no Nymph? No dragons?"
"No, there were. Sort of. No one outside the Heart has known the true story for centuries. Even Kandrakar has lost its records."
"Wait," I say, "you said no one outside the Heart. But you're inside the Heart. I think. Does that mean…"
"Yes, Will. I know the true story. Would you like to hear it?"
"Will it explain why you woke me up in the middle of the night?" I ask.
"No, but it will explain why there are 551 of us in here."
"Fine. Knock yourself out."
"Very well. Tens of thousands of years ago, before my people, or even yours, ever existed, the last, great universal war ended. As a symbol of peace, the surviving worlds created Kandrakar, a fortress at the center of the universe that would host the greatest minds alive. This fortress would be used to insure that no such war ever happened again. But the first elders of Kandrakar quickly realized that the fortress would need defending, so they found the greatest warrior in the universe, whose name was…"
"Xin Jing." I interrupt.
"Exactly. Except she wasn't a nymph, she was a Guardian. The first Guardian, and was the first to be given the Heart of Kandrakar. Now, normally, a Heart is the magical representation of the life force of a world. But since Kandrakar was an artificial world, its Heart was very weak. It only increased whatever abilities the bearer already had. It would make you faster, stronger, whatever. No energy bolts, no elemental powers. It's weakness also had to do a little bit with The Engine, but don't worry about that for now."
"Woah, what engine? What are you talking about?"
"Trust me, I'm sure you'll see the Engine soon enough." She says cryptically. I hate it when people do that. "For now, just focus on the Heart."
"Well just hold on a second. Xin Jing was a Guardian, and the Heart is weak. Have I got it so far?"
I'm having trouble keeping up with all this new information. It feels like I'm back in history class. I got a D in history class.
"Yes, you're keeping up nicely. I know this is hard, but bear with me. It will make sense."
"I sure hope so." I mutter.
"Now," Holly continues. "Xin Jing was an excellent Guardian, who defended the fortress from many attacks, but eventually she grew old and could no longer perform her duties. Before she died, she realized that there were many more dangers that would threaten Kandrakar, and that the Heart wasn't going to be enough. So she went to four magical beings…"
"The dragons!" I interrupt again.
"Yes." Holly says. "The dragons. She had recused them from an evil tyrant when she was younger, and they were in her debt. She asked them to make the Heart stronger. The dragons were also old, but still very powerful, and got their powers from the elements. Because of their friendship with Xin Jing, and because of their debt to her, they gave their life force to the Heart to make it stronger. That is the reason that the Guardians now have elemental powers."
"We get it from the dragons. So that part of the story was true."
"Yes. But something else happened that the dragons did not count on. Xin Jing willingly gave her own life force into the Heart as well. Not only did that make the Heart stronger, but it added a fifth element."
"Quintessence."
"Exactly. The power of life, the life that Xin Jing willingly gave to protect the fortress and all the other worlds around it."
"That would explain the dragons and Xin Jing are in here, but what about the other 546 of you?"
"Well, five life forces can only do so much. While more people were now required to fully use the Heart's power, five to be exact, the Heart was still fairly weak. But the next bearer of the Heart did the same thing as Xin Jing when she passed on. And so did the bearer after that, and the bearer after that. Every time one of them passes away, their essence enters the Heart, therefore it gets more powerful over time. It's these life forces that make the Heart so powerful. Eventually…"
I can see where this is going and I don't like it.
"Wait a second, are you saying that I'll be expected to, I don't know, give up my life force to the Heart? That I have to life in here forever?"
"Not exactly. Just as those before you, you will have to give yourself, your life energy, to the Heart. But don't think of it as living in here…"
"Forget that!" I say, my face turning as red as my hair. "If you think…"
"Please Will, it's not as bad as it sounds. It doesn't feel like living forever. You're only giving your energy, not your soul. The real Will Vandom, the true you, is free to stay with the rest of your body."
"There's no chance I'm giving any part of my self, energy or no energy, to the Heart. I don't care what you say!"
"Trust me, you're not the only person to feel that way, and we're not going to force you to make that sacrifice. Only you can make that choice. But there will come a time when you want to give that part of yourself, and you will, gladly."
I don't believe it, but I decide not to say anything. For the second time today, I've won an argument and feel bad about. I try to remind myself that Holly is not my enemy, and it's not her fault that this whole thing sucks so much. At least, I don't think it is.
"Alright," I say, "That explains who you are. You're one of the ex-Guardians who gave themselves to the Heart."
"Just their life force." Holly corrects, "The real Holly died thousands of years ago."
"Fine, whatever." This information is all very nice, but there's still one question pounding in my brain.
"Why am I here? How am I here? Isn't the Heart still in Kandrakar, blocked off from me?"
"No, not anymore." Holly says. "Not only is the Heart powered by life forces, but it is also controlled by them. The Heart is virtually sentient now."
"So are you telling me the Heart has a mind of its own? Literally?"
"To a limited extent, yes." Holly says. "You still control the Heart's energies, but we can make some decisions on our own."
"You mean the bearer of the Heart can."
"Excuse me?"
"You said that I still control the Heart, but I'm not the Heart bearer any more, someone else is. They can still control the Heart."
I'm grasping at straws. I know exactly why I'm here, and what the Heart wants, but I'm still hoping, begging I'm wrong.
"We, the Heart, have made a decision Will, and for the first time in thousands of years, we have gone against the wishes of Kandrakar. Endarno would have new Guardians. He would replace W.I.T.C.H., as you have so quaintly named yourself. This cannot be allowed to happen."
"No." I say bluntly. It's really the only thing I can say at this point. I'm tired of arguments, I'm tired of explanation, and I'm tired of the Guardians. They, we, were amazing, but I want my own life now.
"What?"
"No. I won't do it."
"Will…"
"No. And I don't have to explain myself. Why does it have to be me? I'm no one special!"
"Will, you may find this hard to believe, but there is no one in the universe more special then you. You are the only one who can do this. You and your four friends are the only ones who can fight these fights. You, all of you, are special, and the universe needs you. The universe needs W.I.T.C.H."
"Why?" I ask. "The universe has been fine for millions of years without us, why do they need us now?"
"Something is happening." Holly says. For the first time, she seems nervous, uneasy. "Something that has not happened for thousands and thousands of years. We don't know what, but it's big and it's bad, and only you can stop it."
"I still say no." I reply. "I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not special. I'm just an ordinary girl from Heatherfield, who likes swimming and frogs and hates math. That's it. No prophesies, no forehead scars, no destinies. I don't save universes. I'm not the chosen one."
"This is not an option, Will. This is not some after school club. If you do not take this responsibility, people will die."
Up to this point, Holly has been fairly kind and soft-spoken, but that's changed. She's passionate, on the verge of anger. But I'm not giving up without a fight.
"Who? Who will die?" I ask.
"Does it matter? Are some lives more important to you then others?"
"I suppose not, but you know what I mean."
"Fine, if it helps, there is a chance everyone will die. Not just Heatherfield, not just Earth, but everyone. That is how dire this threat is. Your friends, your boyfriend, even your mother. All of it, gone. And their best chance of survival, perhaps their only chance at survival, is if you retake your role as Guardian."
So that's what it comes down too. That's why I have to make the choice that I knew I would make the moment I found out I was in the Heart. Not because of my friends. Not because it makes me a better person. Not because I need to be, and not because I want to be. Because I have to be. Because, like it or not, that's who I am.
Holly must realize the choice I've made because I'm suddenly back in my bed. A quick glance to the right confirms that the Heart has returned and is glowing brightly.
Once again, I find I can't sleep very well. Too much information going through my head leaves me tossing and turning for hours. This is starting to become a habit.
When I wake up Monday morning, I'm not in a bad mood, I'm just determined. For the first time in what feels like months, I know exactly what to do. I'm not going to complain anymore, I'm just going to do it. No other option. It's actually quite relaxing. I quietly eat my breakfast and quietly get through my school day. The girls are excited, and we agree to meet after school at the Silver Dragon to discuss our plans.
And so, around four o'clock, the five of us are once more sitting around the Silver Dragon basement. I'm not surprised to hear that the other girls still want to be Guardians. When I look at them, I can't imagine them being anything else.
"What about you, Will?" Hay Lin asks.
"We can't do it without you, Will." Irma adds.
I nod. She's right, they can't. And they shouldn't have to.
"I had a visitor last night." I say slowly.
"Who?" Taranee asks.
I carefully reach into my bag, and slowly pull out the Heart of Kandrakar. I have to admit, despite all the emotion I'm feeling, I very much enjoyed watching their jaws drop. I fell very cool, slowly holding it out for them to see. All it needed was dramatic music and fancy lighting and it would have been just like a movie. You should have seen it.
"Where… How?" is all Cornelia can manage
I tell them all about what happened last night. The true origin of the Heart, the mysterious threat and how we are the right Guardians. The only Guardians there should be.
"So, what now?" Taranee asks.
"You know I don't want to do this." I say. "You know I don't want to be a Guardian, but that doesn't matter any more. There are people out there that want to hurt us. That want to take away our friends and our families and everything that we hold dear. So we're going to stop them. Because that's our job. Because that's what we do, better then anyone else. We're more then just a team, we're more then just friends. We are W.I.T.C.H., and it's time to remind everyone just how amazing that is.
And as I stand up in the center of the Silver Dragon's basement, Heart in hand and friends by my side, everything just feels right. Irma Lair, Taranee Cook, Cornelia Hale, Hay Lin and Will Vandom, ready to head into another adventure. And that's just the way it should be.
"Water!"
"Fire!"
"Earth!"
"Air!"
"Quintessence!"
I shout it in to the sky, and I make sure that everyone knows we're back for good.
"Guardians unite!"
My name is Will Vandom, and I am a Guardian.