Chapter 6:
Once out of the Kitchen, everyone split off into different groups to talk with each other. In the Living Room was Elyon, Alchemy, Cassidy, Drake, and Aldern while Will, Angelo, and Selece were in the Dining Room.
"I wonder what they're talking about.", Alchemy said looking over at Will, Angelo, and Selece.
"Who knows.", Elyon said. "Ten to one, Will is telling them about her and Cornelia's 'fight'."
"They already know about the 'fight'.", Cassidy replied. "Well... The jist of it anyway."
"So, the question is how will Micheal handle it all.", Alchemy figured.
"One can only wait and see.", Drake said.
"Either way, things will be interesting.", Aldern said.
"Very interesting.", Cassidy said.
Meanwhile in the Dining Room, Will was busy complaining about Cornelia being alone with Micheal.
"Of all the people for Micheal to like, it had to be her!", Will snapped.
"I take it you know that girl.", Selece figured.
"The 'girl' is the one I got into the fight I told you guys about!", Will said surprising Angelo and Selece.
"Oh snap!", Angelo said. "For real?"
"Yeah!", Will said. "If I had known she was the one Micheal was talking to, online, then I would have informed him about her! She's nothing but bad news!"
"Well... Maybe she's different now, Will.", Angelo replied.
"Ha!", Will said with a smirk. "Yeah right! That girl is nothing but trouble!"
"Then there's no way I'm going to let her hurt my brother!", Selece said as she and Will were about to head towards the Kitchen.
"Hold up, girls.", Angelo said as he stood in front of them. "I get it, Will. You have beef with this girl. Cassidy even told me that you don't like her.", he said surprising Will.
"She did?", Will questioned.
"Yes.", Angelo said. "I understand that you want nothing to do with her, but Micheal really likes her. And I mean really, REALLY likes her. You know this, Selece."
"True.", Selece said calming down. "I mean, he's been talking to her online for months now. You should have seen how happy he was when he found out that she lived here in Heatherfield. And did you see how happy they looked when they finally met?"
"Yeah. I saw.", Will said with a tiring sigh. "You want me to back off don't you?", she asked Angelo.
"Yes.", Angelo said. "If anything, for Micheal's sake. The guy is happy to finally meet a girl who likes him as much as he likes her."
"Please, Will.", Selece pleaded with her friend.
"Okay, fine.", Will said with a pout. "But I still don't trust her!"
"Fair enough.", Angelo said. "Now I say we go into the Living Room and hang with the others.", he said as he headed into the Living Room with Will and Selece behind him.
Back in the Kitchen, Micheal and Cornelia were getting to know each other.
"This is... Wow!", Micheal said as he was leaning against a counter.
"Yeah.", Cornelia said leaning against another counter. "So, how was your first day at Sheffield?"
"It was pretty good, actually.", Micheal said with small smile. "I already made some good friends. I'm a part of the newspaper club with my sister and friend, Angelo. And me and my sister may be joining a band called Wreck 55."
"Wreck 55?", Cornelia questioned. "That's Matt Olsen's band!"
"That's the guy!", Micheal replied. "You know him?", he asked.
"Sort of.", Cornelia said. "He's a nice guy."
"Well if things go well, I'll be playing keyboard for his band, while my sister will be playing drums.", Micheal said. "So, I take it that you're friends with Cassidy."
"Yes, she a good friend. But my best friends are Elyon and Alchemy.", Cornelia said. "Who are probably wondering what's going on in here.", she said with a smirk.
"I know that my sister, along with Angelo and Will are thinking the same thing.", Micheal said with a smirk of his own.
"Will? Will Vandom?", Cornelia questioned.
"Yeah! We're old friends from Fadden Hills. You know her?", Micheal asked as Cornelia went to the entrance to the Kitchen and peeked out to see Will sitting on a couch with an African-American boy and girl.
"Aw, man!", Cornelia said sadly as she sat on a stool in the Kitchen.
"You okay, Cornelia?", Micheal asked as he walked up to Cornelia.
"Yeah. It's just that me and Will..."
"Don't get along.", Micheal finished for her as she nodded. "Wait a minute! Cornelia? Aw, man! Please don't tell me that you're the Cornelia that got into a fight with Will over a guy."
"Yeah. Wait! She told you about that?", Cornelia questioned.
"Well, all she said was that you and her got into a fight over a guy.", Micheal explained. "A guy that she's with from what I've learned. Wow! Who'd of thought that I'd be with a girl who Will got into a fight with.", he said with a grin.
"So I guess you don't want to have anything to do with me, huh?", Cornelia questioned sadly as her eyes began to water a bit.
"Are you kidding me?", Micheal said getting her attention as she looked at him. "We've been talking online for months and have gotten to know each other pretty well. And now that we've finally met face to face, you want to just give up on everything just because you and one of my friends don't get along? That's quitter talk, girl! And I'm no quitter! And from what I've learned about you, you're not one either! So, let's see where all of this goes.", he said as he held her hands in his. "Okay?", he said with a smile.
"Okay.", Cornelia said returning the smile as she got up from the stool and kissed Micheal on his cheek. "Thanks for not giving up on me."
"I don't give up on something I like.", Micheal said. "And I like what we have. And I hope it'll get better.", he said making Cornelia smile a bit more.
"I hope so, too.", Cornelia said as they walked out of the Kitchen hand in hand.
As they entered the Living Room, everyone saw the two of them walking together holding hands.
"A few minutes together and they're holding hands!", Cassidy teased making the both of them blush a bit, even though you couldn't see Micheal's blush.
"Just what kind of online thing did you two have?", Selece questioned with a playful smirk.
"Cornelia Hale. May I introduce you to my little sister, Selece Robertson.", Micheal said introducing his sister.
"Hello!", Selece said as she and Cornelia shook hands. "I'm glad my brother finally found you."
"Hi!", Cornelia said. "And I'm glad we finally met, too."
"Good, cause he was driving me nuts most of the day wondering where you were.", Selece said with a grin.
"And you already met Angelo.", Micheal said.
"Nice to meet ya!", Angelo said from the couch he was sitting on with a note pad and pen in his hands.
"Like wise.", Cornelia said.
"What are you doing?", Micheal asked.
"Trying to think of what our first main article should be for the school paper.", Angelo explained. "Not to mention other stories."
"Angelo somehow talked everyone here into joining the newspaper club.", Selece replied.
"Wow! Really?", Micheal questioned.
"Yep!", Cassidy said. "The way I see it, it'll give me something to do when I'm not doing swimming practice."
"And when I'm not doing gymnastics, I can help out as well.", Alchemy replied. "Granted, I'll have to make the team first."
"Hey! I'm going to be trying out for the gymnastics team, too!", Selece said.
"Really? Cool!", Alchemy said. "How long have you been doing gymnastics?"
"Since I was six.", Selece answered. "You?"
"Six as well!", Alchemy answered. "This is so cool!"
"We so have to make the team!", Selece said with a squeal along with Alchemy.
"And we've lost them.", Micheal said.
"So, what are you good at, in gymnastics?", Alchemy asked Selece.
"Well, I'm good at trampolining, uneven bars, and floor exercises.", Selece answered. "What about you?"
"Balance beam, floor exercises, and trampolining.", I'm okay when it comes to the uneven bars and the vault."
"Same with me when it comes to the balance beam.", Selece replied. "Not to mention the vault."
"You every try acrobatic women's pair?", Alchemy asked.
"Once.", Selece said. "But it's hard to find someone to work well with."
"You can say that again.", Alchemy said. "But other than that everything else is great!"
"Totally!", Selece said in agreement.
"You know, we're going to need more people for the newspaper club.", Micheal said as Selece and Alchemy were still talking to each other.
"I know three people who may be able to join.", Will replied.
"Let me guess. Caleb, Taranee, and Hay Lin.", Elyon figured.
"Yes.", Will said. "Heck! Taranee was a part of the last newspaper club before most of the other members quit."
"The more the merrier.", Angelo said. "Not we just have to work on some stories for the paper."
"You plan on doing it like we did the school paper back in Fadden Hills?", Micheal asked.
"You got it.", Angelo said. "It worked there. So, why shouldn't it work here?"
"Good point.", Micheal said. "You want to join the newspaper club with us?", he asked Cornelia.
"I don't see why not.", Angelo replied.
"You can do some articles on fashion.", Elyon suggested.
"Ummmm... Okay.", Cornelia said. "I'll do it. This may be fun!"
"Oh joy.", Will said under her breath earning a nudge from Angelo who mouthed a 'You promised.' to her. "Okay, okay.", she whispered to him.
Just then, Will and Cassidy's cell phone's began to ring.
"Hello?", they said as they answered their cell phones.
"What's up, Caleb?", Will said to her boyfriend on the other end of the line.
"How's it going, Taranee?", Cassidy said to the Fire Guardian on the other end of the line.
"Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh.", both girls said as they listen to what the other person said.
"Okay. We'll be right there.", Cassidy said as she hung up her phone.
"I'm on my way.", Will said before hanging up her phone. "Sorry, guys but I have to go. I promised to meet up with Caleb to spend some time with him."
"And Cornelia, Alchemy, and I have to go help a friend with something.", Cassidy explained.
"Ummm... Yeah. Sure.", Angelo said. "Have fun."
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow.", Micheal said to Cornelia.
"Yeah... Tomorrow.", Cornelia said with a smile that Micheal returned before he kissed her on the cheek making her blush a bit.
"Come on, Cornelia.", Alchemy said with a grin as she pulled her along by her arm.
Once out of the house, Will, Cassidy, Alchemy, and Cornelia headed down the sidewalk and around the corner.
"Let me guess.", Will said. "Taranee called you about Kandrakar needing us."
"You got it.", Cassidy said.
"You think they've found the two new Guardians?", Alchemy questioned as they walked down the sidewalk.
"Maybe.", Cornelia said before turning her attention to Will. "So, are you okay with me and Micheal seeing each other?", as they stopped at a cross walk.
"What do you think?", Will said in a tone that said she wasn't happy about it. "He's a good friend and if I had my way, you'd be nowhere near him! But, he likes you a lot. So I'm only going to say this once. Don't. Hurt. Him. You do and so help me, it'll be you and me! Get it?"
"Got it.", Cornelia said surprised that Will isn't going stop try to stop her and Micheal from being together.
"Good!", Will said as they got the okay to cross the street. "Now let's go.", she said as they crossed the street and continued their way to where the others were, which was the Silver Dragon.
Back at the Vanders' home, Angelo and the others were spending time getting to know each other while talking about other things.
"So how was you first day at Sheffield?", Micheal asked Elyon, Drake, and Aldern.
"It was pretty good for me.", Aldern said.
"Same for me.", Drake replied. "But the food could use some improvement."
"On that all students would agree with you.", Angelo said with a grin.
"What about you, Elyon?", Selece asked. "How was your first day?"
"Actually, I've attended Sheffield before. I'm returning after living out of the country for a while.", she explained. "My parents let me come here to live with Angelo and his family."
"Hence why we have such big a house.", Angelo replied. "I'm not complaining about it."
"So, what do your parents do?", Aldern asked Selece and Micheal.
"They work with Angelo's uncle, in his company.", Selece answered. "Right now, they're working on some kind of microchip."
"Microchip?", Drake questioned.
"A small little device that can hold a lot of date.", Angelo explained as he held up his cell phone. "Take my cell phone of example. In this little puppy is a microchip that helps it do what it does."
"The same goes for TVs, computers, and even cars and trucks.", Elyon replied.
"Amazing.", Aldern said. "Something so small can do so much.", he said as he looked down at he cell phone that was given to him by Kadma and Joe Vanders.
"Indeed.", Drake said as he looked down at his cell phone.
"Enough talk about tech!", Selece said. "I'm up for some channel surfing!"
"Now you're talking!", Elyon said with a smile as she turned the wide-screen TV on with the remote control.
"I wonder where my grandparents are.", Angelo pondered.
"I remember them saying something about having tea with Hay Lin's grandmother.", Drake replied.
"Figures.", Angelo said with a grin as he sat on the couch and watched some TV with the others.
As for Cassidy and the others, once they got to the Silver Dragon, they headed down to the basement where the others Guardians were waiting along with Yan Lin. Casssidy then opened a fold to Kandrakar which they all went through as themselves. Once on Kandrakar, they saw that they were in the main hall of the Fortress of Infinity where the Oracle along with Alfor, Tibor, Halinor, Kadma, Joe, and Endarno were waiting for them.
"Greetings my friends.", the Oracle said. "I'm glad that you all could make it here."
"Is there something wrong, Oracle?", Cassidy asked.
"Not at all.", the Oracle said. "You were called here for the Council of the Known Worlds has made a few demands when it comes to you, Alchemy, and Cornelia being Guardians."
"What kind of demands?", Alchemy questioned.
"Yours is not to questioned the Council of the Known Worlds in this matter, child!", Endarno said giving Alchemy a stern cold look.
"She's only asking a question, Endarno.", Joe said. "You need to lighten up!"
"Who's the new old-timer?", Irma questioned in a whisper to Hay Lin.
"That 'old timer' is my future grandfather!", Hay Lin snapped at Irma.
"And my husband.", Kadma added giving Irma a stern look.
"You have a husband?", Irma questioned. "Didn't see that coming."
"Disrespectful with a big mouth.", Joe said with a smirk. "You must be Irma, the new Water Guardian.", he said getting a giggle out of Will, Taranee, Hay Lin, Cassidy, Alchemy, and Cornelia.
With a huff and a pout, Irma turned away from everybody.
"Now if we all are settled, it is time we discussed the demands of the Council of the Known Worlds.", Endarno said.
"Very well.", the Oracle said. "Halinor. If you would please."
"Thank you, Oracle.", Halinos said before turning to Cornelia, Alchemy, and Cassidy. "The first thing they want is for you three to look like Will, Irma, Taranee, and Hay Lin when it comes to your Guardian look."
"So in other words our outfits colors and wing size.", Cornelia figured.
"Is that a problem?", Endarno questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Not at all.", Cornelia said calmly. "Just wanting to clarify things."
"The second thing is that you three along with the two new Guardians be united under one Heart that Cassidy will be the Keeper of.", Halinor said.
"And for that I will need the Hearts you have.", the Oracle said to the three Guardians.
Cassidy, Cornelia, and Alchemy then handed their Hearts over to the Oracle. Once he had them, he had them float in the air along with the Hearts that contained the energies of Air and Quintessence. The Oracle then had them merge into one Heart that was white and not pink like the Heart of Kandrakar.
"This is the Heart of Hope.", the Oracle said as the Heart floated towards Cassidy. "With it, you three and the two new Guardians shall be able to become Guardians."
"This brings back memories.", Cassidy holding the Heart of Hope. Both good and bad."
"Also, now both Fire Guardians can communicate with all Guardians telepathiclly.", Halinor said. "This will be a great advantage for all of you to work better together."
"Works for me.", Alchemy said as she smiled at Taranee who returned the smile.
Just then, a small fold appeared and Blunk came running through it with a panicked look on his face.
"What's wrong, Blunk?", Caleb asked the little Passling.
"Danger in Meridian!", Blunk yelled. "Metal men attacking village near palace!"
"Looks like you have work to do.", Yan Lin said to the Guardians.
"Guardians, Unite!", Will and Cassidy said as they held up their Hearts.
When they said this, the eight of them were covered in orbs of light and began to transform into their Guardian forms.
"Water!", Cassidy and Irma called out as they transformed into their Guardian forms.
"Fire!", Taranee and Alchemy called out as they transformed into their Guardian forms.
"Earth!", Caleb and Cornelia called out as they transformed into their Guardian forms.
"Air!", Hay Lin called out as she transformed into her Guardian form.
"Quintessence!", Will called out as she transformed into her Guardian form.
Once transformed, Cornelia and Cassidy saw that they had their original Guardian look and simply shrugged their shoulders. Alchemy on the other hand was quite surprise by her look. Her short-sleeved shirt was now pink and her mini-skirt, and wristbands were green. Her stockings her green and purple and her boots were now purple.
"This is new.", Alchemy said before looking behind herself to see her wings as they began to flap rapidly. "Wow! They move fast!", she said as she began to float in the air.
"You'll get use to it.", Cornelia said to her friend.
Will then opened a fold for Metamoor which they all flew through quickly.
"Good luck, kids.", Joe said as the fold closed.
"They will be fine, my friend.", Alfor said with a confident smile.
"We shall see, Alfor.", Endarno said with a grunt as he walked off.
"You're right, Joe.", Yan Lin said. "That guy needs to lighten up."
"Endarno is one that is set in his ways.", Tibor replied. "It is going to be a while before he accepts all of this."
"Some don't like change.", Kadma said. "But in this case, I think it's a good thing to have more Guardians."
"Speaking of which, have you decided on who the two new Guardians will be?", Yan Lin asked.
"Yes.", the Oracle said as he formed a ball of light that showed Angelo, Micheal, Selece, Elyon, Drake, and Aldern sitting together in the Vanders' home. "I have chosen these two to be the two new Guardians.", he said as an aura glowed around two of the teens.
"This should be interesting.", Yan Lin said.
"You have no idea.", Joe said.
"It is my hope that they will be able to help mend the bonds of friendship between Will and Cornelia.", the Oracle said. "For when that happens, all of them will become the hope to stop this new threat."
"I hope you are right, Oralce.", Halinor said. "For all our sakes, I hope you are right."
"We all hope you're right.", Kadma said.
"As do I, my friends.", the Oracle said. "As do I."
A/N: Well, now there are two Hearts. Each for a team of five Guardians. Well, one is still a team of three, but will be a team of five soon. But first they all have to get through this fight against some metal men. Who are these metal men? Are they working for the new threat? And if so, how powerful are they? Find out in the next chapter!
Please review.