[BACK ON EARTH IN W.I.T.C.H HQ] "Guys what do we do, Phobos already has Elyon but now he's also got Amy. If he gets his hands on hers and Elyons power than there is no way we'll be able to defeat him. Guys what are we go―" worries Hay Lin pacing back and forth.
"Amy can handle herself Hay Lin don't worry. Any moment now she'll be waltzing back in here," interrupts Cornelia as she re-applies some lip gloss.
Thump.
"I don't know. Phobos must have figured out by now that maluridium drains her powers," states Caleb.
Thump, THUMP.
"If so we should be coming up with a plan to get her back just in case…" starts Will.
THUMP THUMP THUMP.
"For goodness sakes Irma stop making so much noise!" snaps Cornelia, irritated that Irma's rowdiness resulted in a streak of lip gloss across her face.
"I can't." THUMP. "There's just." THUMP. "THIS BUZZING IN MY HEAD WONT GO AWAY!" THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
"I'm not a doctor but I'm pretty sure hitting your head isn't the best way to get it to go away," notes Taranee.
"GHAAA JUST EVERYBODY SHUSH!" yells Irma. The room goes quiet as Irma holds her head in frustration. All of a sudden she pops back up. "Wait did you hear that?"
"Hear wha―" asks Cornelia before being shushed again by Irma. The group watches as she starts to nod her head while shushing anybody who starts to talk. Suddenly she stands up and grabs the heart of kandrakar off of Wills neck, much to her shock and dismay. Will protests only to be meet with more shushing. Irma, holding the heart tight in her hands starts to mutter to herself. In a flash of light the heart of kandrakar starts to emit an image. Slowly but surely a small hologram of you appears in the middle of the room.
"Hello. Can you guys hear me?"
"Oh my gosh it's Amy," gasps Hay Lin before rushing forwards to the hologram. "Amy! We can hear you, are you okay, why aren't you back. Did Phobos catch you? How are you transmitting? ARE YOU OKAY?"
"Woah hold on there girl, I don't have a lot of time this is taking up a lot of energy so just listen. Yes Phobos caught me but he's got me in maluridium chains which are putting a huge dent in my power supply. We also have a bit of an issue…" you explain cutting in and out from the weak feed.
"What kind of an issue," asks Caleb moving in closer to hear better.
"Tomorrow evening Phobos is hosting a ball in the castle. He's hosting it in Elyon's honor and problematic enough... mine as well," you continue.
"WHAT!?" shrieks everyone in shock.
"Has he gone mental?" asks Cornelia.
"I'm pretty sure yes, but that's not the point. He's up to so—thi-g and so far I don't like wh-e I think its head-g. I serio-sly need to get out of here so here's the plan. I'm going to try and barg-in with him to get Caleb inside saf-y. The rest of you how-er will have to sneak in," you explain as your signal cuts more and more.
"Okay, but I still don't understand why he is doing this," questions Will.
"I know why," declares Caleb lightly shaking his head.
"Where are you going with this boy," you threaten with a slight tone of worry in your voice.
"I've been in the castle enough times to hear some of the gossip that goes around." Your eyes widen in dismay.
"Not a fudging word more out of you Caleb. Not. A. Fudging. Word." Those are your last words as the signal cuts out. THUD. The group looks back to see that Irma has passed out. Promptly Taranee rushes over and props her back up as she comes too. In a struggle Irma attempts to hold out the heart for Will to take back but cannot hold up her hand for long. Will walks over and takes the heart from Irma's weak grasp and places it back around her neck.
"What was that all about," asks Cornelia.
"What is it that you know Caleb, and why doesn't Amy want us to know," prods Will while glaring at Caleb.
"Doesn't look like Amy wants me to tell, and I'm smart enough to know not to cross her. However I'm sure you'll figure it out at tomorrow night's festivities," vaguely explains Caleb.
"If we're going to a ball then we need costumes!" squeals Hay Lin. "I can do costumes, ooooo light bulb! I have the perfect designs and names to go with them! We'll start with you Cornelia and then…" Hay Lin continues to ramble while bringing out her measuring tape and measuring Cornelia. Gradually there is a stir from Irma.
"So what did I miss?" she weakly whispers with a smile.
[THE NEXT DAY IN THE CASTLE GARDEN IN MERIDIAN] After a restless, paranoid night you and Elyon are casually strolling through the new palace garden that Elyon had commissioned herself. After finding out that you were a princess as well it seemed that Elyon quickly took a liking to you. All day so far she has been asking you questions about the customs and regulations of being a princess and asking for tips on how to rule once she becomes queen. "Elyon!" you say interrupting one of her many worried ramblings. "I know you're worried and that finding out about all of this has put a load of stress on you, but honestly I know you are going to do fine. Look at what you've done so far," you gesture to the beautiful gardens that surround the two of you. "You have a pure heart, and I know that if you follow it not only will nature benefit, but the people will happily follow you as you lead them to a better life."
"Thanks Amy. You know I thought you were like the guardians. Trying to destroy this land and its peacefulness but I see that you have changed," says Elyon with a smile. You look at her with disappointment.
"Is that how you view the guardians, your friends that were by your side for how many years, who grew up with you, who are only looking out for your safety and interests? Do you understand what a guardian does Elyon?" you question harshly as the two of you stop walking.
"They guard I guess…." mumbles Elyon looking down at her feet.
"Exactly. So the question isn't why are they trying to guard you. It's what are they trying to guard you from." There's a silence between the two of you, the only noise is of Elyons foot scrapping the dirt below. You sigh heavily breaking the silence and give her a hug. "Look I'm sorry Elyon I know I laid that on you kind of think just then, why don't we talk about something else." Elyon looks up at you with watery eyes, you flash her a tender smile. "So have you figured out what you're going to wear to your ball tonight?" You let go and watch her face light up at the topic.
"Phobos had this beautiful long light green dress tailored for me and I was thinking of putting some white flowers in my hair," says Elyon with a sniffle.
"I think you should take your braids out, that way your hair will be all nice and wavy," you add smiling at her happiness.
"Do you know what you're going to wear?" You really hate to disappoint her especially after that bonding moment the two of you just had but putting on your nicest voice you still break the news to her.
"Sorry hon but I don't plan on attending."
"But... but you have to come!" blurts out Elyon in alarm.
"Oh and why is that," you question raising an eyebrow. By the look on her face it's obvious that she knows something and isn't telling. You watch her panic as she stammers to explain.
"Because… because as much as the ball is in honor of you it's also in honor of me! And I really need you there for the support, you've done so many of these and it's my first time and…." stammers Elyon. Luckily for her she's cut off by footsteps from behind. The two of you look back to see none other than Phobos walking towards you. "Phobos!" says Elyon running up for a hug completely taking both of you by surprise.
"Hello dear sister," greets Phobos as he awkwardly tries to hug her back. The amount of uncomfortableness that is on his face is quite entertaining and you can't help but smile at his discomfort. "I heard that there was two princesses in the gardens." damn, there went your moment of happiness, touché Phobos, touché. "Elyon may I talk to Amy in private." Elyon nods her head and breaking off her hug she starts to make her way back towards the castle but not before calling out that she expects to see you at the ball later. Once Elyon is gone Phobos waves his hand over a nearby rose bush and before your eyes a beautiful rose blossoms, he picks it and offers it to you.
"Oh look a single red rose. How subtle," you say sarcastically, accepting the rose anyways. "I didn't think you were even capable of doing life magic.
"Word in the garden is that you aren't attending the ball tonight," says Phobos ignoring your last comment.
"Heh, what you don't trust me alone with Elyon for a few hours? Or do you always have someone following her around, telling you her every move?" You bring the rose up to your face and examine it, something about it seems… off to you.
"Mywhisperers alerted me."
"Right your creepy talking roses." Unexpectedly the rose in your hand turns black and a little figure emerges from the center.
"We are not creepy princess, we are not creepy," whispers the figure from the rose in your hand.
"Looks like those loose ends are going to be a little harder to tie up now, but I guess I could settle with simply burning them," you threaten to the rose as it trembles in your hand. Being a protector of the element of earth however you know you couldn't bear to kill them all, besides at the moment your powers are nullified anyways so there is no more reason to elaborate on the subject. You look back over to Phobos only to find that he is no longer there. Suddenly an arm wraps around your waist from behind as you feel, who you assume is Phobos, pull you back against his body. Quickly he grasps your left hand with his and raises it up.
"Tell me," asks Phobos leaning into your ear. "What makes you think that you won't be attending tonight's ball."
"Hey! Keep your hands to yourself pretty boy" you demand, while attempting to use your right hand to get his arm off from around your waist.
"You are avoiding the question." You feel a slight pain start to rush through your hand as he starts to twist your wrist further and further.
"Because," you gasp at the increasing pain, "I know you're up to something and I don't plan on sticking around to see it work." Phobos's grip on your hand starts to loosen as you hear him laugh to himself.
"These cuffs don't only just nullify your powers you know." Swiftly Phobos twists you around so that you are now facing him. His grip tightens around your waist to make sure you can't escape. "They confine you to the castle grounds. Any attempt at an escape and the cuffs will trigger an alarm and you will be dragged back before me, and I will not be so generous a second time," he threatens, without a word you stop struggling. "Now you are coming to tonight's ball, or you can spend the evening in the dungeon with the MoonBeetles." There is a silence between the two of you as you consider the two options. Either option sounds equally horrible but as sly as he thinks he is, he is playing right into your trap.
"I'll come…" you start looking up at Phobos as he grins at your response, "But only on one condition," you add.
"Continue," says Phobos warily at where this is going.
"I will attend the ball, with no more struggling or questions asked only if I can invite Caleb."
"You wish to invite the rebel leader, for what purpose?"
"Hey I don't ask you any more questions and you don't ask me."
"You are hardly in a position to make that argument."
"Just send an invite to Caleb that he can come please," you sigh, "Oh! But you have to promise me that you won't throw him into the dungeon when he arrives. He shows up safely, and LEAVES safely. I promise to make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble, we wouldn't want to ruin the festivities for Elyon now would we."
"No we wouldn't," says Phobos, you stare him down and give him the 'well what are you waiting for' look. He sighs and reluctantly promises that he will not, in any way, harm, capture, or maim Caleb and that he will leave the castle untouched. You smile at his cooperation. "Now," starts Phobos with a suspicious smirk, "Care to seal the deal with a kiss." Outraged you stomp on his foot causing him to finally let go of you.
"How's that for a deal sealer," you snap, as you watch Phobos rage in anger over his foot. "If you need me I'll be with Elyon. Please don't try to need me." In a huff you twirl around and happily walk away in triumph. Once you are gone Cedric emerges from the shadows.
"Now what do we do my Prince?" enquires Cedric as Phobos composes himself.
"Now, we get ready," replies Phobos through his clenched teeth.