-September 6th-
"I'll meet you at your car after?" Wynter said, already stepping in the direction of the computer club room. With her car still in the shop, she still had to rely on Dakota for a ride to and from school, feeling bad for making Dakota chauffeuring her around everywhere else as well.
Dakota nodded. "We're not done talking about it."
"I know, I know," Wynter waved the statement away, heading to the computer room.
Wynter knew she would eventually have to talk to Dakota about what happened over the weekend at Khloe's birthday party and what happened after but truthfully, she did not want to. They both knew what occurred was definitely not normal and yet it still happened right before their eyes. And even though it felt like these events are connected to her dreams, she still couldn't help feeling like something was wrong.
Wynter had fallen asleep on her desk while the computer club was taking place. And no one was able to wake her so Mrs. Waters had told the club students just to leave her be for the hour. After the club was over, though, they still were unable to wake her but luckily Dakota came, telling them they could leave Wynter to her. The teacher thanked the girl as she left the two students in the classroom.
She stood on a hill top, watching the small village go about their daily routines but she knew, deep down, something wasn't right. In a blinking second, the village was set aflame by the dark unknown source circling the village from above. She could hear the screams and cries for help from the village people below. She wanted to help but her limbs wouldn't obey her. She tried to reach out but it felt like she kept getting pulled back. It was impossible to help. Every ounce of her body was crying out, trying to move but the force was stronger than she alone was.
Out of nowhere, she felt someone physically grab her right hand; then another, soon after, took a hold of her left. She didn't need to look at the people next to her; for she could feel the power that bound them together. She stood with determination and bravery as she and the four others beside her faced the dark shadow looming in front of them, together.
Wynter jolted awake at the sound of Dakota's voice calling for her. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and the headache that was forming as she recalled the strange dream.
"Hey," Dakota placed a hand on Wynter's shoulder, her eyes filled with worry. "I decided to come and get you instead of meeting you at my car and good thing I did, Mrs. Waters said no one could wake you up. Are you okay? "
She shook her head, yes. "Just had a weird dream."
"About what?"
"I was... or what I thought was me, was standing on a hill watching a village burn and when I tried to help, I couldn't. It was like my feet were nailed to the ground," Wynter looked at her best friend, who was intently listening, with not a single doubt on her face. "Then people grabbed my hands and I felt like I was able to do anything as long as they were by my side."
"Whoa, that is weird," Dakota pulled Wynter up and into a hug, knowing she needed it.
"But that's not even the weird part," she said as she hugged Dakota back, talking into her shoulder. "The weird part is that this isn't the first time I had a dream like this."
Dakota packed up Wynter's things. "Let's go back to your house and talk about it more." She led Wynter out of the classroom and towards the school's parking lot. However, Wynter needed to use the restroom so they made the stop. When Dakota entered the bathroom, Wynter was already sliding down the wall in order to sit, her breathing uneven. Dakota went back to lock the door, before walking back to her friend.
"You wanna tell me about your other dream?" Dakota asked, in a soothing voice, while she sat down next to a hunching Wynter, rubbing her back. "Or do you just want to sit?"
Wynter nodded her head, wanting to tell her. She took a few deep breaths before she began to tell Dakota about her dreams she's been having, unaware of the invisible presence in the bathroom that followed them. She told Dakota about the dreams all having the same message. Unite the Guardians. She told her about how there were always five, including herself, figures protecting unknown worlds, using abilities only seen in movies or books. She told her about how in some dreams they would receive help from other worlds' military or rebellion. "And to top it all off... it all feels real, like it's gonna happen."
"That's because it is real." The unknown, but familiar, voice made the girls scream, hugging each other for safety. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Seconds later their art teacher, Mrs. Lin magically appeared in front of them. "But I guess just showing up like this would scare you." Mrs. Lin laughed as she fiddled with her fingers. "Everything you said and maybe even dreamed, is real. I would know I was in the same position as you are now when I was 13. Well, not literally but you get what I mean." She looked down at her frighten students still huddled together on the floor. Kneeling she said, "I know this is a lot to take in but there is more you need to see." She held out her hand, hoping they would trust her. "In order for all the dreams and all the other things that have been happening, to make sense, you need to come with me."
Hesitant at first, Wynter took her teacher's hand, wanting to know more about her dreams. "I want to know more."
Mrs. Lin helped her up then extended her other hand to Dakota. "This is going to be far more exciting than doing homework."
The assuring smile Wynter gave her was all Dakota needed, to know everything would be okay. Mrs. Lin smiled as Dakota took her hand and stood.
Hay-Lin pulled the Heart of Kandrakar over her head and held it out in front of her. With some concentration she was able to open a portal. She took a glance at her students, laughing at their awe-stricken expressions. "This is only the beginning," she said as she stepped through the portal, soon followed by Wynter and Dakota.
-Meridian-
Hay-Lin waited for Wynter and Dakota to step through the portal. As they did, she caught them so they wouldn't fall flat on their faces. She knew the first time through a portal was a little weird. "Welcome to Meridian!" Hay-Lin exclaimed with her arms out wide as the two girls gathered themselves.
Wynter just stared with wide eyes at the castle standing before them. She couldn't believe it was true; everything she dreamed of was real and right in front of her. She started to get all giddy and giggled as she began to skip up to the front gates to one of the guards, then began to ask the guard a million questions a second but the guard wasn't having it, he pushed Wynter aside with his Halberd's pole. She huffed, offended but tried again with the other guard, ending with the same results.
As for Dakota, she was still working on a solution on how the portal could of possibly have been created. Every scientific solution was running through her head but none seemed to fit for this kind of situation. So, she thought she must have been dreaming. "I am dreaming," she said as she pinched her arm. However, the pain was real and she didn't wake up back in the school's bathroom. "Not a dream."
"So not a dream," Hay-Lin giggled. She remembered always seeing that same expression on Taranee's face when something couldn't be explained by science. "C'mon let's go meet Cornelia and Elyon."
"Who are they?" Dakota asked as Hay-Lin led her towards the gates, where Wynter was still arguing with the guards.
"The Queens."
"Oh the...wait! What?"
Once again Hay-Lin just laughed.
"Hay-Lin!" A sweet voice came once they were led to the throne room.
"Elyon!"
Meeting half way, the two embraced, giggling, squealing, and saying how much they missed each other.
Dakota leaned over to Wynter, whispering, "Aren't you supposed to bow to royalty?"
"You are, yes." Another woman walked in the room with her hands clasped in front of her and long blonde hair flowing behind her. "But since you two are the new Guardians, we'll let it slide."
Dakota's and Wynter's eyes widen at the seriousness in her voice.
"Aw look at their faces," Hay-Lin laughed. "They look terrified."
Elyon and Hay-Lin grabbed onto each other as they burst into laughter, while Wynter and Dakota stared at them in utter confusion. Elyon apologized while catching her breath.
"There's no need for formalities," Elyon insisted. "Like both of you, Cornelia and I are from Earth but the reasons why we are here today are very long stories."
"Which will be told later. I'm Cornelia Hale, Queen of Serine, and the former Earth Guardian," Cornelia finished then motioned to a boy, around Wynter and Dakota's age, to step forward. "This is my grandson, Chance. He will be helping you in learning how to fight without using your Guardian powers."
Makes sense why they looked so much alike. Wynter thought. "Wait… Guardians? Powers?"
Hay-Lin, Cornelia, and Elyon began to explain what a Guardian is and the great responsibility that comes with it, to them. With every word that exited their mouths Dakota and Wynter were in complete shock. Infinite Dimensions. Magical threats. The control over an element. And the ability to fly. It all was a lot to handle, let alone believe but somehow it was all making sense to the two of them.
"Alone you are only so strong but together the possibilities are unlimited," Hay-Lin finished off her sentence by throwing her arms up, making Elyon smile.
"How do you know that we're the right ones?" Dakota asked.
"Because I've been watching the two of you, along with the others," Hay-Lin placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "I noticed things. Like how recently whenever Dakota is near water, it bends or freezes or the whole pool explosion thing at Khloe's birthday party. You may not have noticed yet but..."
"I have," Dakota looked down at her feet, fiddling her fingers. "On the first day of school, before I picked Wynter up, I was in the middle of my morning routine when every drop of water rose up and floated in midair. It stopped when my dad knocked on the bathroom door. Also, I didn't think that I was the cause of the pool incident." She rubbed the back of her neck, looking down at the ground, embarrassed.
"This may sound strange but that's normal. A Guardian's power is connected to their emotions and as a result the power can get out of control but that's why a Guardian trains," Hay-Lin stated. "What about you, Wynter? Have you noticed anything like that?"
She shook her head. "Besides the dreams, no. What element am I?"
"Quintessence. It is the..."
"The pure and concentrated essence of a substance." Wynter completed. "Some believed it to be the fifth element."
"It is the fifth element and you have control over it. However, unlike the others, yours will take time to form." Cornelia pulled the Heart of Serine off her neck, handing it over to Wynter. "This is the Heart of Serine. It is the source of your Guardian's power and you, Wynter, are the Keeper of the Heart. At your command it will transform all five of you as long as you are in range of each other."
"Five? There are more of us?" Dakota asked examining the Heart. The pale blue diamond had a tint of white with a thin silver band wrapping around the whole thing. "Also, why is Wynter the only one who can "transform us"? What happens if one of the threats, you mentioned before, is trying to kill us and Wynter isn't there to transform us? Or what happens if she loses the Heart, she can be pretty clumsy at times."
Wynter gave her best friend a what the hell look, at the many questions she just asked and the slight jabbed made at herself. Dakota just shrugged as Elyon, Cornelia, and Hay-Lin exchanged looks.
"Yes, there are three more Guardians," Elyon said. "And like it was said earlier, Wynter is the Keeper of the Heart, therefore only she has the ability to change you into Guardians." Before Wynter or Dakota could say anything, she continued. "All generations of Guardians have a Keeper of the Heart who is also the leader of the Guardians. Also, you should have no reason to fight alone; all five Guardians are stronger together."
Hay-Lin nodded in agreement. "However, if you do find yourselves alone, you should be able to defend yourself with the help of Chance's teachings and the other powers that will come to you in time."
"How do we ... transform?" Wynter asked.
"All you have to say is 'Guardians unite' and you will be transformed."
"So, if I say Guardians unite, we..." Wynter was cut off by the instant glow that came from her body. A squeal was heard from Dakota as she and Wynter were lifted from the ground. Once the glowing cease and they were put back on their feet, Wynter and Dakota were now transformed into their full Guardian forms.
"It's good to see those colors again," Cornelia said, smiling from ear to ear, Hay-Lin and Elyon agreeing.
So we get to see a small glimpse at what Cornelia and Elyon have been up to over the years. The W.I.T.C.H. girls are all 57/58 years old. And yes, they have kids and some even have grandkids. The only one who doesn't have any kids is Hay-Lin. For some reason I couldn't really see her having kids. Did you? Or did you think one of the others?