The Guardian's Kitsune
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Naruto x ?
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Author's Note
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I've finally took time to really know what I want to do with this fic. Fixing up some things and making some major changes. I altered names, backstories, and I wanted things to be more serious and the relationships more natural. I also combined other ideas I had for this crossover. I know you guys are sick and tired of the redos for this one, but I finally realized what I wanted to do for this fic and nomore redos. Everything is set and ready for this crossover finally.
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Story Start
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Will arrived home, wanting to do nothing else but just crawl into her bed and sleep. Everything seemed so bright and cheery. So...fake. Life wasn't all rainbows and sunshine. Life thought her that much. To her surprise her mom was back already.
''Mom? Isn't today your first day of work?'' Will asked as Susan looked up from the stack of papers she was organizing.
''There was a bit of a problem with my papers and my employer is trying to work it out. Everything should be clear in a few days. Anyway it looks like we've finally settled in. Let's go out to eat and celebrate.''
''Okay...but where should we go?'' since they were new in town it wasn't like they know of any decent eatery.
''I'm in the mood for Chinese. There's this restaurant called the Silver Dragon. So what do you think?''
"Okay." Maybe getting something to eat would keep her mind of her stray thoughts.
"Good, let's go, I'm hungry." Susan said smiling as they went to shower up and put on a fresh pair of clothing.
Will had nodded off once again. Even if the drive to the Silver Dragon wasn't long way it felt like a life time. She started to remember a happier time. She remembered just hanging out with a boy by the name of Naruto.
The two of them were curled up on a couch watching a movie. They were enjoying a bowl of popcorn when Karmine. Karmine was Naruto's guardian, a tall man with dark chocolate skin and short black hair. He was often professionally dressed in suit with hazel eyes and an easy disposition. "I'm heading out for some business. No funny business you too. I Don't want to have tell Susan she ended up being a grandmother when her daughter was supposed to be under my watch."
''Will you just go K!" Naruto snapped at his guardian who let out a light chortle. All things considering the two acted more like siblings or good friends than parent and child.
Will felt like she was going to die of embarrassment. Karmine always teased the two of them about being a couple. The two of them were just best friends, even though she kind of wish they were more.
''We're here...'' Will heard as she woke up memories still clouding her mind. Of how she came home and found her battered and unconscious mother on the floor. A bottle in Thomas's left hand and a gun in his right. Accusing the both of them being sluts and whoring themselves out. How he started beating her only to get away and be chased her into the bathroom where she locked herself in and called the police.
Hearing the sound of a struggle and things breaking outside. Seeing Naruto and her father get into a struggle and watching her friend beat that drunken bastard half to death. How she couldn't stop crying the whole time. Though the one thing she would never forget despite how much she told herself her mind was playing tricks on her was Naruto normally cerulean eyes turning crimson and demanding for blood.
They soon entered the restaurant and we're greeted by an older woman who had a blissful smile adorning her face and a green kimono.
"Welcome to the Silver Dragon, I'm Yan Lin." Yan Lin introduced herself, "Table for two?"
"Please and thank you." Susan said before the older woman lead them through the crowded masses near the back of the room where there weren't many people sitting them next to them.
Will had some Stir Fry with Garlic and Tomato Sauce while Susan Steamed Fish with yellow beam sauce.
What caught Will's attention was one of the servers. A girl about her age with long twin ponytail rings. She was wearing a pink skirt and top with goggles perched on top of her head. She seemed to casually chat up several of the customers with a friendly smile. She seemed full of energy and cheerful. She seemed...nice. Will shook away the thoughts as her cheeks pinked a bit.
It was then the two girls came in. Both she recognized from one of her classes. That Mocha color was the one she met in the hall. Taranee if she remembered correctly. The other girl wasn't as...slender as the others. She had wild, wavy brown hair and aqua colored eyes and was wearing a red tee shirt and a pair of blue denim jeans. Will was a bit jealous as the girl had a more noticeable bust then hers. Her mother told her that she was just a late bloomer and to give it time, but that people were always complementing Susan and saying she should be a model.
''I hope you don't mind that I brought a friend Hay-Hey. I met her at the mall.''
''Not at all...Hi! I'm Hay Lin what's your name?'' The petite girl asked cheerfully.
''I'm Taranee...''
Will found that she was listening to the conversation but not listening. She noticed it started weeks ago. Weeks before the move. She started hearing voices...and hearing things. The most embarrassing was when she was hanging out with Naruto and his TV started talking to her. God! She could remember all the perverted things it was saying. Complaining about how they wouldn't get it on. Out of all the personalities a TV could have, let alone having a personality at all a perverted one would throw anyone for a loop.
''Excuse me...you are the Vandoms are you not?'' Han Lin, the person who took their orders asked.
''Yes?'' Susan responded unsure if she should be concerned how this woman guessed her family name.
"Aah thank you must be the woman Karmine mentioned. Do not be concerned. Karmine and I have known each other for years and he likes to talk about his travels and business. He mentioned you as one of the people he met during his temporary stay out of town. In fact he was hoping you would drop by as he left this letter for you." The old matron said handing her two notes.
Dear Susan,
Welcome to Heatherfield I look forward to have you working with me. If your work ethic is anything like your wit I feel you will being something important to the company. Regretfully I would not be able to greet you myself personal business has come up. I'll try to give you a call once I get into town.
Yours Eternally, Karmine.
The second letter was surprisingly for Will who eagerly read it.
Hey there Will,
I hope you're doing well. Unfortunately something has come up and I won't be able to come greet you, but I'll look you up as soon as I'm back in Heatherfield. All and all this change of scenery will be good for you. I know the betrayal of those false friends is still fresh, but don't let it keep you from making new bonds. Bonds after all are one of the most important things there is. Anyway if there is anyone you can trust on being a good friend is Hay Lin. I've met her a few times and she seems genuinely nice. I'll be seeing you soon."
Until we meet again, Naruto.
''Hey...doesn't she go to our school?'' Hay Lin asked the other two girls.
''Yeah...her name is Will,'' Taranee replied.
"Want to go say hi?" Irma asked.
''Should we? It looks like there have a mother, daughter night and I hate to interrupt.''
''I heard they move into the apartment complex in that part of town.''
''Really? I heard that place was pretty worn down and just recently came under new management.''
''Well I know what it's like to be on hard times and new. Maybe we can befriend her?''
''It isn't because you guys feel sorry for me is it?'' The girl asked causing the others to nearly jolt up.
"Y-You heard us?" Hay Lin asked turning red from embarrassment.
"Well you guys were far from being subtle. If you're going to pity me I don't need or want it.''
''Calm down...we weren't trying to offend you or anything. We just want to be friends so do over? I'm Hay Lin by the way.'' the grinning girl introduced herself as she held out her hand.
This must have been the Hay Lin, Naruto was talking about. ''Will...my name is Will Vandom and that's my mother over there.'' She said pointing to Susan who was chatting with Hay Lin.
"I'm Irma Lair and this is Taranee Cook." Irma said coming up behind them.
"We really are sorry if we offended you." Taranee added.
"This is great; you're already making some new friends." The older woman said returning from her trip from the restroom. "I'm Susan Vandom." She introduced herself in a friendly manner.
"I'm Hay Lin and this is Irma Lair and Taranee Cook." Hay Lin said.
"Would you girls like to join us, I think I have enough on me." Susan said going for her purse.
"We will if you let the house take care of it." Hay Lin smiled.
"Honey, I don't think they would appreciate that." Susan said.
"Nonsense, any friend of my granddaughter is welcome here." Yan Lin said bringing the Vandom girls' desert plates out. "Are you girls ready to eat yet?"
"Sure Missus Lin." Irma brightened.
"Fate smiles brightly on you today Granddaughter." Yan Lin said, "Two new friends."
"Yep." Hay Lin said beaming brightly.
"I insist for paying though, it's only right." Susan said.
"I won't hear of it young lady, think of this as a welcome to town gift." Yan Lin said pulling two cards handing one to Susan and one to Will. "There is a five-hundred dollar limit on each of those cards for here."
"I can't." Susan said surprised.
"You can and will." Yan Lin said smiling, "Now enjoy your dinner." The woman said as she left her daughter and step-son to finish servicing the customers.
Another day had passed and it continued to pour in Haddenfield. Will and Irma were hanging out until the rain eventually subsided. Now that the rain had stopped for the time being Will could be on her way home. Saying her goodbye to the Mocha skin girl she began her way home on her bike. She was still trying to decide her costume idea. Because of her lithe stature she thought about wearing some like a jogging suit.
As she was riding her bike she caught sight of herself in a mirror, but it wasn't her. The will in the mirror was anything but a girl, more like a woman. She had will's same mop but straighter, chunkier...cooler. It seemed to flutter perfectly in the breeze that wasn't there. And her body, her figure was definitely enhanced. This fantasy will had curves at every spot where Will had angles and flat planes. Will's too long, baggy Adidas pants and red t-shirt had been replaced by a tight, belly-button-baring purple top with bell-shapes sleeves. And her long, muscular legs were wrapped in blue-and-turquoise-striped tights and amazingly rad, knee-high boots.
Her backpack, though she could still feel the straps looped around her shoulders, had disappeared from her reflection. And in its place were...wings.
They looked more flowery than feather thin, dark stalks dotted with delicate, translucent petals. As will stared, the hinges undulated slightly, swayed by the same invisible breeze as fantasy Will's mod hairdo.
Will's eyes traveled up and down, and up and down this bizarre reflection until she realized that she'd stopped breathing. She gasped, sucking in a gulp of air. Then, finally, she tore her eyes away from the window.
She glanced around quickly to see if anyone else could see what she did, but luckily, this stretch of sidewalk was empty after the rain. She looked up at the sign above the window. No it wasn't some freak show or occult shop. Just a shabby looking place called Ye Olde Bookshop.
Almost against her will, Will's sneaker or was it her purple leather boot? Found her bike pedal so fast that the bike gave a little hop as it began speeding down the sidewalk.
Will pedaled as hard as she could. Her breath came in ragged gasps. She kept her eyes on the cement in front of her, not daring to even glance into any other window she passed.
Already, her altered image was beginning to wave in her mind. Perhaps the day's stresses had warped her vision. Maybe fantasy will hadn't been there at all!
The problem was, Will didn't feel as if she were hallucinating. Or even crazy. Slightly neurotic, yes. But unhinged? No.
Which meant that this figure, this alternate Will, had somehow been...real?
Will's mind was racing as fast as her bike. She shook her head, blinking her tousled hair out of her eyes. Through rattling teeth, she muttered, ''Th-that can't be!''
On the other side two figures were viewing her. Apparently the glass was enchanted.
''Is that her?'' One voice asked.
''Yes! Put on your best clothes. We're going to a party tonight!''
The Sheffiled institute's Halloween party was full in the way. Hay Lin was dressed as a witch of some kind, long black boots and a violet Kimono like outfit while Irma was dressed like some sort of Maiden.
Elsewhere someone else was still trying to get her gear together. Will clad in pink shorts and tops couldn't decide what to wear. She then saw an older image of herself. It was who she wanted to be.
''Will?'' Asked her mother questioningly as she came in.
''No! Don't come in!'' Will cried out, covering her face with the dress.
Susan gave her daughter a questioning look. ''Why aren't you dressed yet? I thought you were going to put on the black dress.''
''The only black thing I'm fit for is a garbage bag!'' Will said as her face dropped and she started to cry.
Susan pulled her daughter into a hug. ''Why are you saying that? What's wrong?''
''My looks? I look terrible!'' Will said through a choked sob.
But she had to admit she felt a tiny bit better when her mother gave her shoulders a little squeeze.
''I only see a young rose, who is about to blossom.''
She grabbed Will by the shoulders and turned her toward the mirror. Will took a glance at her mother. She saw a pretty woman with long, wavy dark hair and big hoop earrings. And next to her, she saw a girl. A skinny girl with a scruffy head of hair and wan, red-rimmed eyes turned Will to the mirror. '
''Look at yourself. Will you're beautiful! Let's get going before the party ends.''
Will proceeded to squint at her reflection. Was it possible to love herself in this state? She decided to give a small smile to try. She lifted a corner of her mouth.
Not bad.
She raised the other corner.
Will didn't want to admit it, but it did help.
She grabbed the black dress out of the box and held it up against her body. Not bad, again.
''Now, let's get going,'' her mom said. ''The party won't last forever.''
''And we have to pick up Taranee,'' Will added. Thankfully, Taranee was not mad about the late ride. She was happy that Will wanted to go.
Twenty minutes, later. Mrs. Vandom and the two girls pulled up at Sheffield. Will and Taranee hopped out of the car and waved good bye to Will's mom, who hung her head out of the window and grinned.
''Have a great time,'' she called. ''Hey Taranee take good care of Will for me. She's a shy girl. Put a little fire into her!''
''Bye mom! I'll see you later!'' Will said, feeling her cheeks go hot. She felt a surge of gratitude for Taranee's sweet smile. It would have been so easy to snort with laughter, point at Will and shriek, ''Mama's girl!''
Instead, Taranee just waved at Mrs. Vandom and said, 'Maybe I'm not the right person for the job, but I'll try!"'
The girls followed the orange-and-black signs taped to fence posts, pillars, and any other available surface. They all pointed to the party. With each step closer to pounding music and shrill chatter of the dance, Will's mouth got drier.
''We're still in time, Taranee,'' she hissed into her friend's ear. Or what would have been her ear if Taranee hadn't dressed as a sort of Neopunk Amelia Earhat. She was wearing a leather aviator's cap, complete with goggles and ear flaps, and a zebra-striped coat over her simple pink dress. 'Let's turn around and get out of here.''
''Looks like it's too late,'' Taranee said, sounding just as tremulous as will did. ''Cornelia!''
Will gasped and peeked over Taranee's shoulder. Yup...there was the blond goddess herself, looking as gorgeous as ever in a tiny purple camisole and voluminous pink skirt. She looked every bit the popular girl. But Cornelia's smile was as warm and welcoming as it had been that afternoon.
''Hours later...,'' Cornelia said with a grin. ''Fashionably late, you might say. That's okay. The party's just hitting its peak.''
A little far away the one who controlled water was dealing with her own complications. Irma looked down at the filmy, indigo skirt of her once-yellow dress and willed it to shimmy back and forth, or spin around or...something.
''You're at a party, she told herself irritably. She glanced at the costumed kids smiling around the gym in hockey masks and devil's horns and dramatic, flowing dresses. Cobalt blue was on the stage, slamming out an Alicia keys cover. The overhead lights had been covered with gold cellophane and candles burned in the rafters, giving the entire room with a hazy yellow glow.
But it's hard to dance when you're seething which is exactly what Irma had been doing. From the moment she confided to her friends about her wardrobes magical transformation. Which she soon learned was a huge mistake. Hay Lin and Elyon had laughed so hard, they'd almost collapsed on the floor.
''Your dress turned from yellow to blue,'' Hay Lin snorted. She looked down at her own silly Kimono, which was just as gorgeous as she'd promised. ''And I'm actually a Japanese Geisha.''
''Next thing you know, she'll come to school as a blonde and tell us, ''I didn't dye it. It was magic,'' Elyon squealed.
Elyon's just picking on me to distract us from her punishment, Irma had thought angrily. She gave the band's lead singer, Matt Olsen...otherwise known as Elyon's big crush...an angry glare.
And now, to top it all off, Irma's friend weren't paying any attention to her. They'd all traipsed to the gym door to greet the new girts, Will and Taranee. Cornelia was planting a pointy black witch's hat onto Will's sheepish head.
''It's my fault we're late,'' Will said. ''I lost track of time, and...''
''Hey Irma did you hear that?'' Elyon asked turning to grin at her. She was dressed as an elf, or imp, or fairy...something mischievous, anyway. She wore a feather green tunic and a crown of leaves. ''This is what I call an original excuse!''
Hay Lin glanced at Irma and giggled.
''She got here late, too,'' she told Will and Taranee. ''And do you want to know what excuse she made up?''
''There's nothing to laugh about,'' Irma retorted with a scowl. ''All of the clothes in my wardrobe did change color.''
Hay Lin and Elyon burst into another round of hysterical giggles. Irma squirmed some more. She knew if it had been anyone else telling such a crazy story, she'd be the one laughing loudest. But, well the shoe was on the other foot now. And boy did their laughing make Irma mad.
''It's the truth!"' she yelled at Hay Lin and Elyon. ''And if you don't want to believe it, that's your problem.''
Will stepped from the doorway met and Irma's eyes.
''I believe it,'' she said quietly.
Before Irma could flash her a grateful smile, Martin Tubbs appeared.
'Martin!' Any time Irma least wanted to see him, which was, well, pretty much always, there he was. And each time he was goofier than the last. Tonight he was wrapped in about a hundred yards of tattered bandages. Behind his Coke-bottle glasses, he blinked dreamily at Irma.
''Hi, Irma,'' he whispered. When she glared at him with what she hoped were icy eyes, he leaped back and whipped out a Polaroid camera. At least Martin sometimes knew how to read Irma's 'get lost' signals!''
''Hey girls! How about a picture?''' he asked them as he raised his camera.
''Yeah!'' Hay Lin cried. She slung her arms over Will's and Taranee's shoulders, and Elyon and Cornelia squeezed in. Then Hay Lin grabbed Irma and Yanked her into the shot.
''I'll never tell you any secrets again,'' Irma hissed to Ha Lin. ''So there!''
''Okay! Smile girls!''
All six girls were crowded together.
Unknown to the girls a being was watching over them. Already aware of their destination and sure that one of them will betray the others.
The girls continued enjoying the party. Every time was going fine and the girls were having a good time. Suddenly one of the two mystery men's actions caused the torch of fire to land in the giant Pumpkin. A fire started to spread out as the fireworks that the delinquent Uriah and his gang had stashed set off.
One was handing right for Irma.
''Get down, Irma!"' Taranee screamed. Once again Taranee felt as if time had slowed down. She was aware of her hands flying into the air, reaching out for Irma. She could feel her eyes bulging in fear. But this time, she wasn't speechless.
'Stop!' She cried.
Taranee gasped as the rocket...stopped! It hovered in midair, literally inches from Irma's nose. Irma stared, then squeezed her eyes shut and hunched her shoulders, preparing for the worst.
But Taranee wasn't going to let the worst happen. She felt something, like a band of energy, connect her with that sizzling rocket. She squinted at it. Every ounce of her being spoke silent to it.
And, somehow, for some reason, it obeyed her silent command. Taranee waved her arms upward. The firework followed the direction her wave as if she were a puppeteer, and the rocket a marionette. It veered straight up, skimming past Irma and hurtling into the night sky.
Taranee was dimly aware of Will standing a few feet away, bathed in the orange glow of the fiery pumpkin. She was just as transfixed by the soaring rocket.
And Will continue to stand there, paralyzed, as the rocket began to shoot back to earth. In fact, it was hurtling right back into the jack-o-lantern from which it had spirit sprung.
As the rocket made impact, the pumpkin's scar smile finally disappeared. In fact, the entire thing exploded in a huge, billowing burst of fire.
A rush of searing air accompanied the explosion. Taranee watched Will's face contort in horror as the heat knocked her peaked witch's hat form her head.
''Will!'' Taranee screamed. Bursts of fire, resembling angry, orange claws, leaped out of the jack-o-lantern. In another instant, those claws were going to engulf Taranee's friend. They were going to kill her!
Taranee threw her hands out in front her, pushing against the angry heat with all her psychic might. She could hear her voice ring out. She was screaming. She was issuing an order.
''Back!'' Taranee cried.
And...the fire retreated.
Will collapsed onto the grass, her body bathe din the glow of flames that were perilously close, but no longer near enough to harm her.
Gasoing and sputtering, she crawled away from the fire just as Taranee's history teacher, Mr. Collins, dashed in and began to fight off the flames with a fire extinguisher.
Will gazed up at Taranee in shock. Hay Lin, Irma, and Cornelia stumbled over and stared at her, too.
''I think you owe us some kind of explanation, Taranee,'' Will said in a haggard whisper. ''How...how did you do that?''
Taranee was staring at her hands. They had redirected a rocket. They had literally fought fire. But now they were only trembling.
''I don't know, Will,'' she squeaked. ''I really don't know.''
Will stumbled to her feet and threw her arms around Taraee. Her body shook with grateful sobs.
''You saved her life,'' Cornelia said, resting a gentle hand on Taranee's shoulder. Irma and Hay Lin also patted her comfortingly.
But Taranee merely stared over Will's shoulder at the dying flames of the jack-o-lantern. 'What did I do' she thought, over and over. And beneath that incessant question was another greater importance.
'Who am I?' she raised her hand and murmured the command stop freezing the rocket in place. Then she waved it off course only for it to explode near Will. The girl placed up her hand to shield herself.
The next day came and the girls found themselves discussing these weird dreams they were having.
''What happened then?'' Will asked as Irma stopped narrating the story. ''Alarm clock rang.'' Irma said shrugging.
''Did it look something like this?'' Finishing her sketch-on-skin-with a flourish, Hay Lin showed off, finishing doodling on her hand.
''H-How on earth...yes!'' Irma exclaimed.
''Hang on a second,'' Will said, looking at Hay Lin's palm as well. ''This is the same thing I dreamed about.''
''You , too"?'' Irma breathed. She stared at Will, who nervously pushed a shock of red hair out of her eyes and blinked hard.
''Neither Irma nor I have ever described it in detail! "
How did you know what it looked like?''
''Simple...it was in my dream too!'' Hay Lin replied.
''Let's think. Everybody has some kind of weird experience,'' Cornelia brought up.
''Stop it! Just stop it!''
Elyon gasped and turned to look at Taranee. She'd been sitting by silently as Will, Irma, and Hay Lin talked about the weird coincidence. But now, she was exploding.
''This...this is scaring me!'' Taranee whimpered. ''What's going on?''
That's when Cornelia sighed huffily and pushed her away from the tree trunk. She planted her fists on her hips and scowled.
Elyon clasped her hands and tuned in, feeling just a little grateful. All this talk was freaking her out too. But finally here was something familiar...Cornelia taking charge.
''Let's reason here,'' Cornelia said. ''Strange little things have happened to just about all of things with no explanation that surely aren't our imagination.''
''What do you mean, Sherlock?'' Asked a still slightly skeptical Irma.
''Maybe we need to talk it over calmly. We have to talk about this somewhere else, but not here, and not now.''
''Cornelia's right,'' Hay Lin said. She still had a little smile on her face. ''How bout meeting at my house this afternoon?'' Hay Lin continued.
''I don't know if I'll be there,'' Elyon admitted. Her voice trembled just a bit as she looked at her friends' quizzical faces.
''Have you got something better to do, Ellie?'' Irma asked.
''Well...'' Elyon said, feeling a smile spread across her face. ''I've got a date with Cedric! That guy from last night, remember?''
''You don't say!'' Cornelia said. Her scowl had disappeared, and her blue eyes were sparkling. ''You convinced him to study with you!"'
''He's so fascinating,'' Elyon said with a giggle. She knew she was blushing, but she didn't care. ''He invited me to his bookshop. He says he has to talk to me!"'
''A friendly little chat in a bookshop,'' Irma said with a sneer. ''Just thinking about it makes me yawn.''
''You're just jealous!'' Elyon said, feeling cold resentment worm its way into her gut.
Irma always had to be the center of attention!
''Is it that obvious?'' Irma said with a mischievous smile.
''Oh...'' Elyon said, feeling her wash-over her as quickly as her anger had. Irma had just been teasing.
''Ha!'' Cornelia guffawed. ''Don't worry about her, Elyon. We'd be the last ones to try to stop you!''
Elyon giggled and then, with exaggerated care, pulled up her sleeve to look at her watch. It was 3:45! She had to boogie.
Flashing her friends with a tremulous grin and a little wave she trotted off the Sheffield grounds.
Elyon rushed down Sixth Street toward Cedric' shop. She smoothed down her favorite green skirt and rustled her shaggy bangs just right. Then, she promptly tripped on a crack on the sidewalk.
''Oooh!'' she grunted, catching herself with her hands before she took a major spill. She scrambled to her feet and checked her bare knees. The scuffs were kept to a minimum.
Elyon took a deep breath and approached the address Cedric had given her. She glanced up at the Green sign hanging over the sidewalk-Ye Olde Bookshop.
Elyon reached for the big brass doorknob and twisted it. The door opened with a creak. She poked her head into the store. Funny, how she'd never noticed this place before. It was amazing. The room was dark and shadowy and lined with flowery, Victorian wallpaper. There were Asian sculptures here and there, and, of course, tons of books, all of them ancient looking, bound in cracked leather, filling the air with musty, dusty old books smell. Along the far wall was an amazing, round stained0glass window depicting a golden peacock.
''Uum, hello?'' Elyon called squeakily. 'Anybody here?''
''I'm right here, Elyon,'' A voice called from the back room.
Elyon followed the origin of the voice letting the door shut behind her.
Cedric walked out from the shadows taken residence in front of the glowing peace window, looking quite the studious one.
Cedric had lost the stocking cap and bad-boy mask. His hair was pulled back into a low, loose ponytail, and his eyes were covered with hip, rectangular spectacles. He stood with perfect, even imperious, posture as he gazed over his book at Elyon.
'He's too beautiful for me,' Elyon thought.
Elyon shook her head quickly. Where had that come from? So what if Cedric was highly polished, making her feel all the scruffier? It also made her feel all the more flattered.
After all, out of all the girls at Sheffield...from elegant Cornelia to flirty, curvy Irma...Cedric had only asked 'her' to the bookshop. He had singled out Elyon.
Only Elyon.
Hay Lin dropped a handful of green tea leaves into her mother's favorite red tea pot, the one with the tiny partridge perched on the lid. Then she carefully poured boiling water from the kettle into the pot and watched the tea leaves billow and swirl in a stream.
Beneath her kitchen's floorboards, she could hear the faint din of her parents' restaurant...the click of chopsticks on china, the sizzle of crisped rice hitting hot soup, the laughter of customers cracking open fortune cookies. It was a sound she'd grown up with, and it was comforting to Hay Lin as chocolate milk or the perfect stuffed animal.
But this was no time to get nostalgic. Hay Lin needed to focus on the weird, magical dream that she and her friends had all had. Just the thought of t mysterious medallion made Hay Lin smile. Which was more then she could say for her pals. Cornelia, Irma, Taranee, an d Will were all sitting around the big pine table in the cramped family kitchen, nibbling on her dad's crunchy almond cookies and looking seriously nervous.
It made sense that Hay Lin would be the cheerful one in the room. After all, she was the group's comic relief, she knew that. She was always ready with a big grin, a joke, an all-inclusive hug. It was easy for her.
To Hay Lin every day was a little adventure, beginning with a in foray into her closet. She'd find a bungee cord hanging from the doorknob, and wrap it around her waist in a cool, crisscross pattern.
She'd toss her long, blue-black hair under a pair of pink Elvis Sunglasses, bunch some retro leg warmers around her ankles and practically skip out the door.
When she was home, she had anchors all around her...her drawing pencils and paints, her comic books, the whispered conversations she had with her grandmother about, oh, everything.
Grandma liked to fill Hay Lin's head with all sorts of stories. She told her that every flower was a vessel for a human soul; that crickets meant the best of luck; that a messy room indicated a creative mind; that magic lurked around the edges of everyday life.
Hay Lin didn't actually believe that. Grandma's magic was like a Buddhist Santa Claus...something fun for Hay Lin to dream about, even cling to, on rare occasions when she felt adrift. Though she had to admit she had been filling a little floaty lately. She thought as she filled the five red cups with steaming fragrant tea.
The girls continued their discussion, trying to find out what was the connection and the meaning of the drawing when
Yan Lin entered the room holding up some sort of strange object. ''Would this look like it a little more?'' Sure enough the object was the same from Hay Lin's draw.
''Grandma!''
''That's it!'' Will exclaimed. ''The Medallion from our dreams. Where could you have gotten that?''
''What matters,'' Hay Lin's grandmother said to Will in her scratchy, high pitched voice, ''...is that you will be keeping it now. This is the Heart of Kandrakar.'' Hay Lin's sharp, heavily wrinkled eyes over the five girls. ''And you are the new guardians,'' she announced, gripping the medallion's chain tightly.
Hay Lin felt her skin prickle. She'd never seen this side of her grandmother. She'd always been powerful, but quiet, acting from the sidelines. Now, she stood over their group with palpable power, like a queen.
For the first time since all this magic had begun, Hay Lin felt fear.
''Wh-what are you talking about?'' she quavered.
Hay Lin smiled at her reassuring and motioned for Ha Lin to sit down with the others. Then she stood at her head of the table and began to speak.
''Let me tell you girls a story. An old story. Along time ago, when the Earth was still young, all spirits and creatures lived under the same sky. Universe was one huge kingdom. Then the spirits and creature started to feel hate, and the world was split to those who wanted peace and those who lived at others' suffering. Both were separated with a veil. Evil was evicted into a dark place called metaworld. Before the universe was split in half forever Kandrakar's castle was created. It is in the middle of infinity. It is guarded by the most powerful creatures and spirits. And there lives, the veils guardian. If you want, you can go there too. You are here for a reason. You are the new guardians, the most important creatures in the fight that started thousands of years ago.''
''What is the Veil?'' Irma piped up.
''Next to reality is another reality. The Veil is the wall that separates them from each other. But the veil has turned more fragile, the other reality is coming through and its dangerous.'' Hay Lin saw Will's lip tremble as she spoke up.
''I...I don't think I understand.'' Will replied, this was a bit more then she expected to hear.
''You will understand everything later! Now I just ask you to learn and accept your new duty. You have nothing to be afraid of! Nature is with you, and its powers now belong to you!'' The object began to glow.
She then gesture at each girl and spoke the words. 'You Irma,'' she said, ''will have power over Water-Broken and uncontainable.''
Hay Lin saw Irma's eyes light up, or maybe that was just the reflection of the glowing, glass orb. In any case, her expression quickly went dark again as Yan Lin stepped over to Cornelia, who looked as if she were fighting the urge to leap up from the table and run far, far away.
''To you, firm Cornelia, the power of Earth,'' Yan Lin pronounced, before turning to Taranee, ''And to you, generous Taranee, the difficult gift of fire.''
Finally, Yan Lin stepped over to Han Lin and placed her dry, warm hand on top of her head. Hay Lin felt herself relax and smile at her grandma's touch. Even in this, the most confusing moment ever, Yan Lin was a steadying presence.
''And you, my little Hay Lin,'' Yan Lin crooned softly. ''You will be free and light as air.'' Hay Lin's eyes flapped open.
She was sure she'd felt a cool breeze skim over her face the minute the word 'air' had left Yan Lin's mouth. She blinked in amazement, before her attention to Will.
''And me?'' Will said tremulously, gazing up at Hay Lin.
''Give me your hand, Will. Soon you'll understand!''
Will held out her plan obediently. As Yan Lin lowered the heart of Kandarakar into it, she said, ''You will find out soon enough.''
The medallion came to rest on Will's palm. Then it's warm, pulsing glow began to grow. It became more and more intense until the orb was shooting beams of sparkling, silver light all over the kitchen.
Hay Lin held her breath and tried not to scream. But Will didn't seem scared at all. in fact she seemed transformed. She still looked the same, skinny Will, swimming in a pair of blue corduroy overalls, but her face was rapturous. Her hair was floating around her head in a luminous halp. And her hand, clasping the magical Heart of Kandarakar, seemed to float upward.
''Aaagh!'' Will cried, throwing her head back. Hay Lin didn't know what was surging through her new friend. Pleasure? Power? Knowledge? Or...
''This, this is magic!'' Irma breathed.
Hay Lin glanced at Irma and nodded. That's exactly was it was.
And it was also, suddenly, over. Hay Lin's broken gaze, or Irma's voice, or 'something' seemed to have broken the spell. The Heart of Kandrakar became, once again, an inert charm. And Will had returned to being ordinary Will, albeit a very shaken up one.
She turned her gaze to Yan Lin who was already halfway out the door.
Hay Lin bit her lip. She knew this routine. When Yan Lin was done talking, she was done talking. There was no cajoling her to stick around.
''Wait, don't go! Tell us more.'' When they came to the hallway she was gone.
Hay Lin gently put an arm around Will's shoulders and led her toward the stairs. The rest of the girls followed in silence. No one said a word until they formed a small, tight circle on the sidewalk outside the restaurant's big round window.
''I still can't understand what happened!'' Taranee stated unsure.
Cornelia on the other hand didn't believe. ''Nothing! No offense Hay Lin, but your grandma isn't completely sane. She told us a stupid story to amaze us with that jewelry!'' She snapped.
''I think you're a little afraid Cornelia!"' Irma said in a sing song voice, a smirk plastered across her face.
''I don't believe in everything, like some people. I'm going home!'' Cornelia declared in a huff.
''Cornelia will change her mind, knowing her.'' Hay Lin stated with certainty.
''If we really are some kind of super team, we should have some costumes,'' Irma suggested flexing her arms.
''And a name! What about Witch?'' Hay Lin suggested writing something on her hand. ''The first letter of our names make it. W.I.T.C.H.! Isn't it great?''
''Some day you will get ink poisoning!'' Was Taranee's deadpanned replied.
''W.I.T.C.H.? Have you heard anything more retarded?'' Irma then turned to Will. ''I don't feel like a witch! What do you think Will?''
''I don't know. I'm still very confused! I...'' The red head said scratching the back of her head.
''Girls! Hey!"' Elyon called out to them.
''Look whose coming!''
''Elyon! The dance ended already.''
''Just these first ones!'' The girl said with a dreamy look in her eye. ''Cedric wants to meet me gain in the gym hall.'' The sandy sandy blonde haired girl said.
''Oh, such romantic places!"' Hay Lin teased.
''He said that he wants to tell me something important.
''We'll see!'' Irma joined in.
''You guys should come with me! Then I wouldn't feel so nervous!''
''I won't say no, if I can mess with others' relationships with permission!''
''I'm coming!''
''Me too, Elyon.''
Hay Lin and Will were happy to join.''What about you, Taranee? Promise you'll come.''
Taranee shook her head. ''I don't think so. My parents won't let me out two nights in a row.''
Irma pulled Hay Lin and Will into a side hug. ''There's three of us already! Isn't that enough?'' She asked grinning.
''I think so!''
Later that day night came and the moon was high in the sky.
The three girls arrived and Elyon wasn't there so they figured she was inside.
''Irma is right, let's go!''
They opened the doors to the gym.
''Elyon! Are you here?''
''It's dark in here! I bet she's home already.''
''Wait...I'll put on some lights...'' Will said stepping forward.
Irma and Hay Lin were scooped up by a large blue skin fiendish looking creature. They both let out a scream.
Will gasped as she heard her friends scream in terror. She spun around just in time to see the gym doors slam shut. Even the faint glow from the moon disappeared, and, for a horrible instant, Will felt as if she were floating in space. She had no sight, no senses, nothing to anchor her.
But quickly, almost...magically, Will's eyes adjusted to the light. She almost wished they hadn't, because through the hazy gloom, she saw Hay Lin and Irma squirming in the clutches of a monster.
''Welcome guardians!" The beast greeted.
Will gasped, noticing the creature was the very same strange being from the Halloween Party the night before. That had been no kid in an ugly blue costume. This monster was for real.
And he's changed for the worse.
He was larger now, seven feet tall, with the girth of a refrigerator. The lumpy, rock-like bumps on his head had become full-fledged horns-sharp and threatening. His tiny teeth had turned into huge, yellow, lethal fangs.
He was effortlessly holding Hay Lin and Irma with one beefy arm. Irma kicked wildly at him with her red Hush Puppies, but she barely even connected.
''Let go, Monkey! This isn't funny!'' Irma shrieked.
But the monster didn't let go. In fact it looked like he was squeezing them tighter.
''Who...who are you? What do you want?'' Will asked, stepping back in fear.
''We want to destroy you...and take over your world. The veil is weak and without you, the whole universe is ours.''
''Weak?'' Will whispered. Heat had started to form in her palm and it was quickly growing. It pricked at her, sending jets of energy up her arm. In fact, she felt as if the heat had entered her bloodstream. It was a feeling her body couldn't recognize. It was both awful and glorious.
Through the haze of this experience, Will heard the blue creature growl, ''What shall I do with them master?''
''Tear open a pit and throw them in, Vathek,'' The voice responded.
'Help!'' Hay Lin shrieked. She and Irma began screaming and squirming, trying to fruitlessly to wrench themselves free form this horrible creature.
Will's mind seemed to shut down. She could hear herself breathing and feel her heart thumping slowly inside her chest. But most of all, she could feel her energy shooting form curled fist to all points of her body. Slowly, she willed her finger to open.
And when they did, the medallion, glowing brilliantly, was resting on her palm.
'That what it was,' a voice inside Will's head said triumphantly. ''The Heart of Kandrakar. Maybe this is the time to use it.''
Her hand seemed to take over. And it knew just what to do.
''Hay Lin, Irma!'' Will called, throwing the Heart Of Kandrakar to her friends with a sweeping motion.
''Water! Air!'' As the medallion soared through the air, Will saw the glass Orb that was its center seem to separate into three, vibrating, tear-shaped missiles.
One became liquid and swirly. It landed in front of Irma. It hovered before her stunned eyes and then began to wave its way around her body, as if it were wrapping her in invisible ribbon.
The medallion also seemed to wrench Irma from the blue creature's group. As she sprang away from him, he howled in rage.
The exact same thing happened to Ha Lin, except the tear drop that danced around her was almost like a vapor, a puff of shimmering air.
And finally, there was Will's teardrop. It throbbed before her eyes and turned a shocking pink. It pulsed like a beating heart.
Will felt her fear melt away. She reached out to the heart, beckoning it to come to her. And then it, too, began to swirl around her body.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Will saw Hay Lin gasp with joy and throw her arms over her head. Her hair came free of her goggles and began to twist around er torso like a glossy, black cyclone.
Irma's hair floated up from her scalp and her eyes turned sultry and mischievous. Before Will's very eyes, Irma's lips went pouty, her clothes melted away, and feathers unfurled from her back.
And that's when Will ceased to see her friend. Because she was going through her own incredible transformation. Her back arched, and her body shook, as if she were having a seizure. Will felt a wave of heat shoot through her. The energy she'd felt in her veins became stronger now.
The energy she'd felt in her veins became stronger now. It filled her body until it seemed like her real self must have disappeared, leaving behind only a soul, floating in space.
She suddenly felt tugging on her back. Instinctively, she knew she was growing wings, just as Irma had. She was becoming the beautiful woman she'd seen int he bookshop window and in her bedroom mirror. She felt her limbs lengthening, her face changing, her muscles growing lean and strong.
Will felt a calm suffuse her as she burst out into a coiled position she had token during the transformation and leaped into a fighting stance.
With that one pouncing motion, Will accepted her fate. She was no longer just a student, just a daughter, or just a friend. She was a Guardian of the Veil, the keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar.
And life as she'd known it...for better or worse...had changed forever.
Her two companions found themselves changed as well.
A turquoise aura radiated from Irma. Her body growing lean and supple, her outfit was now consisted of a blue shirt with swirls on the bottom, a pinkish-violet mini skirt, blue and green tights, purple ankle boots, and a pair of pixie wings.
Irma's hair had also grown longer and is put into a sleek hairdo. Her curves were a bit more pronounced then her companions, particularly her top.
''We have wings!'' Hay Lin exclaiming examining her wings.
''We really are magical creatures.'' Irma said noticing her bust.
'Destroy them Vathek! Destroy them!''
The creature tried to blast Will with eyes beams, but she moved out of the way with impressive speed.
''Too slow, monster!'' She taunted.
Suddenly a wormhole opened, prepared to suck Irma in.
Hay Lin grabbed her friends arm.
''Hay Lin! Use your wings! Fly away!''
Hay Lin pulled her friend to safety. ''It's easy, since I'm air...'' Only to collide with the blue ogre creature. ''Pathetic fly! Your powers aren't useful if you don't know how to use them!'' He said as he pinned the Air Guardian's arm behind her back.
''Stop right there!"' Irma declared. Her eyes were set on a fire hose. ''Water! Show your powers!" The case burst open as glass hit the ground. The spray of water blasted the creature off the air guardian.
''A bit arrogant don't you think?'' Hay Lin asked.
''But powerful! I take care of things with style!'' The water guardian said with a cocky smirk.
''Come on girls let's go!'' Suddenly the building was let ablaze. Blocking their path was a large reptilian creature.
'Where do you think you're going?''
''Who...or what are you?''
''Master hurry! The portal is closing!"'
The heart began glowing.
''The portal can't close Vathek! Keep it open! Noooooooo!"'
The portal had close. ''This fight ends here...but remember that the war, that starts from here, will be long and cruel!'' His image went from reptilian to human. ''Goodbye witches!"' The creatures fled.
The girls resumed their natural forms and quickly escaped. They retreated out of the back exit of the school unaware that someone was watching.