A/N: Thank you Heart of the Demons, Pirate King Ray and DJ Scales for the reviews. James was originally supposed to be just the rebel that Phobos showed mercy to, to trick Elyon. But, as I thought about it, I realized I could actually make him a full fledged character. I hope I did an okay job with him.
Special thanks to Pirate King Ray for sharing his suggestions with me and helping me better my story. Keep them coming!
Chapter VII: Walk This Way
Caleb stood at the edge of a river. Carefully hidden behind some bushes, he watched with a mix of curiosity and bewilderment as the lurdens worked on a strange contraption. It resembled a catapult, but instead of a payload, it held a massive spike.
He turned to his partner Drake, who was studying the contraption with a furrowed brow. "So Phobos' latest weapon is what? An overgrown gardening tool?" asked Caleb, amused.
Drake shook his head. "He's searching for tunnels that might lead from the Infinite City into the Castle," he said, his voice carrying an undertone of concern.
Caleb sighed, his gaze fixed on the construction. "But Drake, we don't have any tunnels. I wish we did."
"Even so, Caleb, we must keep Phobos away from the Infinite City. The men are ready. What's our signal?"
Before Caleb could respond, a sudden and loud clanging sound filled the air. Every head turned towards the source, and there, lying on the ground, was Blunk. He had a sack filled with small metal objects, which had undoubtedly caused the racket.
The commotion alerted the lurdens to their presence, and chaos erupted. Rebels clashed with the lurdens, the battlefield turning into utter chaos.
Caleb found himself on top of the bizarre contraption, battling the lurdens who had stationed themselves there. Two of them lunged at him, their animalistic instincts on full display. Caleb jumped over the first and kicked the other right in the stomach. He took both their weapons—large butcher knives—and used them to cut the ropes that the lurdens where using to climb on top of the contraption.
However he was caught off guard by a lurden he hadn't seen coming. The sudden blow sent him hurtling through the air, and he plunged into the nearby river with a resounding splash.
Gasping for breath, Caleb fought his way back to the surface, only to be met with a surprising sight. Both rebels and lurdens had stopped fighting. Every one of them stood frozen, their heads tilted to one side, staring vacantly at nothing.
"Continue working on the drill!" A voice shouted from the distance. Caleb couldn't tell where it came from but he knew who it belonged to: Lord Cedric.
Suddenly, the once entranced rebels began to move. They started working with the lurdens. Some were carrying planks, others knoting the ropes that Caleb had just cut. It was as if they became as mindless and obedient as the lurdens.
Pretty much all of her life Will thought that the Christmas Dance, held every year on December 20th, was something exclusive to Fadden Hills. So, imagine her surprise when she found out that Sheffield Institute also held the same dance, on the same date.
Problem was, this time, she didn't have a date. Well, she technically didn't really have one before, either. Back in Fadden Hills she went every year with Timmy, but he wasn't her boyfriend. In fact, they didn't really interact that much. It just so happened that she was the only girl who didn't have a date and he was the only guy who didn't have a date. And so, they matched perfectly in that situation. And since there wasn't any romance involved, Will wasn't as excited as pretty much most of her former class to go to the dance.
But now, there was a different story. Now that she had a crush on Matt she looked forward to the dance, as an opportunity to get close to him. But the problem was, how was she going to get him to ask her out?
And so, Will strolled down the busy street, her mind buzzing with a plan to solve the problem.
As luck would have it, her heart skipped a beat when she spotted Matt seated on one of the benches. He had a notebook and pencil in hand, his face a mix of determination and frustration.
"Hey, Matt. Whatcha doin?" Will chimed, approaching with a friendly grin.
Matt looked up, a hint of relief in his eyes at the distraction. "Oh, hey, Will. I'm trying to write an edgy song."
Will raised an eyebrow playfully. "I didn't know you were into that kind of stuff."
Matt chuckled. "Well, I wish I was. It would make writing this song a whole lot easier. Ever since we started Rec 55, the guys have been begging me to write an edgy song. They say, 'We're a rock band. We have to have edgy songs.' So here I am."
"So, what's the song called?" Will inquired, genuinely curious.
"The Demon in Me," Matt replied, his voice filled with uncertainty.
"Sounds edgy," Will remarked, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Matt sighed, leaning back on the bench. "It's just that... I don't want it to be a standard edgy song. I want it to tell a story."
Will nodded thoughtfully. "Well, the main character's obviously the one getting possessed."
Matt's eyes lit up with interest. "Yes."
"But he hates the situation he's in," Will continued. "He hates the fact that he does evil."
"I had already figured that part out," Matt said. "The question is: what's a new angle that we could explore? I already tried doing the 'I hate myself' angle."
Will leaned back, pondering for a moment. Her thoughts drifted to the ongoing battle against Phobos. It was essentially the same struggle as the character in Matt's song, albeit on a grander scale.
As a representative for good, how did she act in response to Phobos? Did she cry about how there wasn't any way to stop him? No. She fought against him, with the hope that she and her friends will win.
"What if he's a warrior?" said Will.
"What?" asked Matt, confused.
Will smiled, feeling a spark of excitement. "What if, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he actively tries to fight against the demon? Of course, things don't look bright for him, but he fights."
Matt's face lit up with inspiration. "Will, you're a genius! I could start the song at the beginning of the battle. The main character reflects on how he got there, how the demon took control."
Will nodded eagerly. "And then he fights, and he loses. But he doesn't give up. The song will end with him getting ready to fight again, with the hope that next time he'll win."
Matt was practically buzzing with creativity now. "And he does. He recovers his spark and rocks the demon in him. That's how the song will end."
Will grinned. "But it's an edgy song. Edgy songs don't have happy endings."
Matt laughed. "Yeah, well, there's a first time for everything. Thank you, Will. You're a lifesaver."
Blushing slightly, Will shrugged. "Well, it wasn't much."
Matt smiled warmly. "Are you kidding? Now I have enough time for one more rehearsal before the dance tonight."
Will feigned nonchalance. "I heard you'll be playing at the dance. Maybe I'll see you there."
"You wanna go with me?" he asked.
Trying not to smile too widely, Will replied, "Yes."
Matt's grin was infectious. "Well, see you then."
And with that, he gathered his things and left Will, who could barely contain her joy. She had just scored a date with Matt.
With each step along the sunlit street, Will's heart danced with excitement and anticipation. She was on her way to The Silver Dragon, the designated meeting place for the W.I.T.C.H. girls, but her thoughts were consumed by one thrilling idea: going to the upcoming dance with Matt. Every footfall echoed her exhilaration, each beat of her heart a promise of the enchanting night ahead.
As she walked, the world around her seemed to shimmer with a special kind of magic. The golden rays of the sun cast warm shadows on the sidewalk, and the gentle breeze whispered secrets of the evening to come. Will's mind was a whirlwind of plans and dreams, the image of herself and Matt twirling gracefully on the dance floor filling her thoughts.
The Silver Dragon, their beloved hangout spot, drew nearer with every step. Will couldn't help but replay the moment when she had bumped into Matt earlier, and the memory brought a smile to her face. His furrowed brow and determined expression as he wrestled with song lyrics were etched vividly in her mind.
Once she arrived at their favorite hangout, she couldn't hold back her excitement and shared every detail of her conversation with Matt.
Taranee leaned in, intrigued. "Okay, Will. What were the exact words?"
Will beamed, reliving the moment. "He asked, 'Do you wanna go with me?'"
Hay Lin's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Definitely a date."
Cornelia huffed in frustration, her hair swirling in irritation. "I cannot believe Will has a date to the dance, and I don't!"
Just as she uttered those words, Caleb, dripping wet, entered the room. He looked at the group of friends and said, "Oh, good, you're all here. Big news!"
Cornelia seized the opportunity. "We heard. Dance. Friday night. And you say." She paused, waiting for Caleb's response.
Caleb scratched his head, still soaked. "Uh, Cedric's using rebels to build his giant drill?"
Cornelia's eyes widened. "No! You're taking me. I'll be ready at 7. Oh, and don't wear those yucky boots."
"Wait a minute, why are rebels helping Cedric?" Hay Lin chimed in.
Caleb looked troubled. "I don't know! They just stopped fighting! Lurdens stopped too. They all just stood there, staring, until he gave them a command."
Yan Lin, the wise elder, joined the conversation. "Ah, I've heard of this. They call them Trance Marchers."
Caleb was eager for answers. "What happened to them? How do I snap them out of it?"
Yan Lin's expression darkened. "Those are questions I'm afraid only The Mage can answer."
Will took charge of the situation. "Yeah, and we'd better take care of that drill."
The W.I.T.C.H. girls left The Silver Dragon and headed to the dumpsters behind the building, where they knew Blunk would be.
And there he was, holding a golden horn and gazing at his reflection. "Ooh! Oh, yeah." Blunk giggled. "Pretty Passling. Why you not date more?"
"No time for the entire list," Caleb said. "C'mon, we've got a mission."
But Blunk wasn't ready to give up his moment of vanity. "Blunk rather boogie down."
Caleb tossed the golden horn back into the trash. "Secret mission. No clown horns allowed."
Blunk, with his horn left behind, led them to a hidden portal in a dimly lit back alley. Caleb explained their plan. "Me and Blunk will go to the Infinite City to talk to the Mage."
Will nodded. "We'll go check on the Trance-Rebels."
After they crossed to Meridian, the W.I.T.C.H. girls took to the air, soaring through the sky until they spotted the rebels working on the bizarre catapult-drill.
Will pointed below. "Down there!"
"Those zombie-rebels are kind of in the demolition zone, Will," Hay Lin said.
Cornelia had an idea. "So we send them a subtle warning."
She landed on the ground with a forceful stomp, creating an earthquake that rattled the catapult-drill and sent the rebels tumbling.
Irma, with her water powers, softened their fall by creating individual water jets from the river, catching each rebel. But one rebel had a different trajectory. She was about to hit the ground hard when Taranee reached out and caught her just in time.
"Trance Marchers, resist them!" bellowed the unmistakable voice of Lord Cedric.
The woman Taranee was holding suddenly turned on her, attacking with a fury she hadn't shown before. Taranee struggled to maintain her grip as she felt her blows. She plumbered to the ground, straight under the spike of the catapult-drill.
"Release the spike!" Cedric ordered.
The rebels did as they were told. The spike plummeted toward Taranee and the woman she was holding.
Hay Lin, quick on her feet... well wings, summoned the wind and, with precise timing, blew the spike out of harm's way just before it could impale Taranee.
Will closed her eyes, focusing on the swirling electric energy within her. With determination, she thrust her hand forward, unleashing a brilliant bolt of lightning that struck the menacing catapult-drill with blinding speed. The bolt crackled and hissed, leaving a trail of sparks.
The impact caused a cataclysmic explosion of sound and light, shaking the ground and blinding those nearby. When the brilliance subsided, only a smoldering heap of twisted metal and charred wood remained from the once-menacing drill.
Meanwhile, Hay Lin managed to gain control of the woman who had attacked Taranee.
"Anybody home?" asked Will. "Yo, trance dude!" The woman growled and screamed, still trying to attack them. Will exchanged a worried look with her friends. "Whatever this is, our powers aren't gonna undo it. Let's go."
James sat alone beneath the shade of a towering tree, his thoughts consumed by a mix of longing and determination. He had yearned to be part of the rebel crew that ventured out with Caleb, but after a stern scolding from Vathek, he was determined to stay on his best behavior.
The truth was, he knew he wasn't quite ready for the field yet. But that didn't stop him from feeling utterly useless just standing around, doing nothing while his friends faced danger. He craved action, the chance to thwart Phobos' plans. It was his way of seeking revenge against the tyrant who had taken his parents away.
James understood the power of minor inconveniences, the kind that could drive anyone to madness when they happened one after the other. And so, he had devised a plan to torment Phobos by causing him countless minor inconveniences, each one a thorn in his side. One at a time, he'd make Phobos' life unbearable.
"Should've gone with the rebels," James muttered to himself, his frustration evident.
"It's a good thing you didn't," a voice said.
James jumped in surprise. Before him stood a woman, her entire form concealed by a black cloak, her voice betraying her as being in her late thirties.
"Sorry, didn't see you there," James stammered.
"No problem," the mysterious woman responded.
Curiosity piqued, James asked, "What do you mean by 'It's a good thing that I didn't go'?"
"Because all the rebels have been turned into Trance Marchers," she replied.
James frowned, puzzled. "Trance Marchers? What are those?"
"People who have been mind-controlled into executing any command given," she explained.
James nodded, relief washing over him. "Good thing I didn't go."
The woman extended a book toward him. "Take this book to Caleb. The bookmarked section will tell you everything you need to know about the Trance Marchers and how to reverse the spell."
"Thank you," James replied. "I'm James, by the way. What's your name?"
"Elyon Brown," she said.
"Nice to meet... Wait."
Before he could finish his sentence, a ring of light enveloped the woman. As it went up her body, the black cloak changed into blue, royal robes. The woman was now a 13 year old girl, with blonde hair kept in two splits with two rings at each end, the Rightful Heir to the Throne.
James was flabbergasted. "It was you all along?!"
Elyon smirked playfully. "Pretty much."
James couldn't help but ask, "Why did you glamour yourself?"
"To make it easier for you when you explain to Caleb how you got that book," Elyon said with a wink. "I mean, why make up a story when you can just tell the truth?"
James chuckled, impressed. "You really are smart."
"Thanks," Elyon replied with a grin.
"So, I take it the high-distance eavesdropping works?" James asked.
"It works perfectly," Elyon said. "I know Phobos' plans as soon as he makes them. Well, I better get going."
With that, Elyon transformed back into the cloaked woman and disappeared into the woods, leaving James with a newfound sense of purpose.
New mission, James thought determinedly, clutching the book in his hand. Get this book to Caleb. I'll find him at the Infinite City.
James navigated through the dense forest until he reached a rather peculiar location: a landfill. But this was no ordinary landfill; it held the hidden entrance to the Infinite City, a place of great significance.
As he ventured forward, his path unexpectedly collided with someone. "Sorry," James offered quickly.
The person he bumped into turned out to be Caleb, accompanied by the passling Blunk. Caleb offered a friendly response, "No problem."
James wasted no time and hurriedly explained, "Caleb, wait! A woman came by and told me what happened to the rebels. She told me to give you this book." He handed over the book he'd been entrusted with.
Caleb's curiosity was piqued as he inquired, "What did this woman look like?"
James recalled, "It was hard to tell. She was wearing a black cloak."
Caleb seemed to be searching for something specific. "Did she have a raspy voice?"
James shook his head. "No."
Caleb promptly opened the book to the bookmarked section, which revealed a trove of information about the mysterious situation they were facing.
The text in the book read as follows:
The Horn of Hypnos
The Horn of Hypnos was created by the sorcerer Hypnos around 1000 BK. When pointed at its victim, the horn's tone creates a Trance Marcher. A Marcher obeys whomever blows the horn. One might be harmless, but in numbers they become a fierce army. The horn is immune to both physical and magical attacks.
After it caused the destruction of the planet Iovpoen, Hypnos decided to destroy it. He discovered that by playing a special melody, the horn vibrates in such a way that it disintegrates, releasing all who have been entranced.
The horn later reappeared, 276 years later on the planet Earth. Fortunately, it was destroyed by the same method before it could wreak havoc. It appeared again, 931 years later, on the planet Zamballa, where it was destroyed once again. Since then, it hasn't reappeared.
Caleb pieced it all together, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Until now."
"What's BK?" James asked.
"It stands for 'Before Kandrakar,'" Caleb explained, "meaning before the Oracle took over Kandrakar. It has been roughly 6000 years since then."
James absorbed the information. "So that would make the horn 7000 years old."
Caleb turned to the next page, revealing sheet music for the melody that destroyed the horn and a drawing depicting its appearance.
"That's horn! That's horn!" Blunk exclaimed.
"You mean the horn you were admiring yourself into?" Caleb asked. "Where did you get it?"
"Blunk at Castle, looking for treasures," he said. "Blunk saw Cedric put gold, shiny horn in box, so Blunk took it."
Caleb's frustration bubbled up. "I threw it in the trash! Why didn't you say anything?!"
"Caleb called it clown horn, so Blunk thought not important."
From the corner of his eye, James spotted the unmistakable form of a lurden. "Lurden!" he shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
Without wasting a moment, James, Caleb, and Blunk bolted into action. Their feet pounded the ground as they raced toward safety, aiming for a nearby portal they knew would lead them to safety.
Upon reaching the portal's threshold, they hurriedly stepped through, and on the other side, they found themselves in Earth. It was unlike anything James had ever seen. He couldn't help but be captivated by the surreal sights around him.
Towering glass and steel castles seemed to scrape the heavens, and peculiar carriages moved without the aid of horses along paved roads. The air was filled with strange sounds, like a bustling market square, yet somehow more otherworldly.
While James kind of understood the different architecture what he couldn't understand where the people. The clothing worn by the them was unlike anything he had ever seen, featuring a wide range of colors and weird combinations. Some of the people were talking to black bricks that they held at their ears while others were wearing ear muffs, that didn't look very warm.
Caleb led the way, stopping in front of a building adorned with a giant sign displaying a white Dragon. Beneath it, another sign read The Silver Dragon. Next to them, a third sign displayed strange vertical lettering.
James followed Caleb to the rear of the building, where a massive metal box caught his attention. The smell made its purpose evident: it was a place where Earthlings stored their garbage.
Caleb's voice broke the momentary silence. "It's been emptied. And we've been spotted. I don't think Cedric and his goons will follow us here in daylight. But it will be dark in 5 hours."
An elderly woman in an odd green robe emerged from the building, and Caleb appeared to know her. He asked, "Mrs. Lin, where's the city dump?"
The woman provided directions, and Caleb wasted no time, urging James and Blunk to follow him. They sprinted through the unfamiliar cityscape.
James finally found the opportunity to ask, "So, what are we doing?"
Caleb replied with purpose, "We're going to the city dump to find the Horn of Hypnos."
As they were running, James reflected on the whole situation. He realised how lucky he was to have met Caleb at the Infinite City's entrance. With the Trance Marcher situation, he could have been anywhere. What would he have done if Caleb wasn't there? In fact, what exactly was his original plan to find Caleb? Go to the Infinite City. He couldn't understand why he was so sure he will find Caleb there, when the chances of Caleb being there were incredibly low. He met Caleb out of dumb luck.
Now that he thought about it, a lot of his victories were due to dumb luck. What if Elyon didn't think to check on Phobos? In retrospect, Phobos would have probably kept him alive so he could find out the location of the rebel base, which of course wouldn't have happened because the Tracker would have ended up killing James. He only survived because Elyon just happened to find out the truth about her evil brother.
James couldn't understand why he was only realizing this now. Was he really this dumb? Vathek scolded him for not thinking things through, but this was the first time that James really understood what he was saying. One thing was clear, however, if he wanted to put his revenge plan into action, he needed to change his whole attitude towards life. He needed to think before he acted.
And so, James began to think about the situation at hand. What is there to think about? he asked himself. I know what I have to do. Follow Caleb, find the horn, destroy it... Well, just because it's obvious, that doesn't mean it isn't worth thinking about. What is the objective? Destroying the horn. How are we going to do that? By finding it and playing the special melody. What am I doing in all of this? Helping Caleb find the horn. What if we don't find it? What will we do next? ... Us? Nothing. There isn't anything we could do by ourselves. But we're not by ourselves, are we? We have the Guardians. Now that I think about it, wouldn't it have been easier if we got them along too? If fact, why all of this effort to not rely on the Guardians? Couldn't have Elyon just given the book to them? We could certainly use their help.
"Here we are!" Caleb's voice broke James' train of thought. They had finally arrived at the city dump, their eyes scanning the sprawling mess of discarded items. Amidst the piles of junk, they began their frantic search for the elusive Horn of Hypnos, aware of its dire implications.
But just when tension hung heavy in the air, a colossal figure loomed. Cedric, transformed into his fearsome lizard form, materialized before them, an army of Trance Marcher Rebels trailing behind him like obedient shadows.
"The Horn of Hypnos, if you please," Cedric demanded with a sinister grin. He wasted no time in giving orders to his mind-controlled minions. "Trance Marchers, attack!"
The Trance Marchers advanced, closing in on James, Caleb, and Blunk, their vacant eyes betraying no emotion.
"There's no way around!" Caleb shouted. "We gotta do something!"
"Hiding is something," Blunk replied.
But Cedric's voice cut through their discussion, a malicious edge to it. "Give me the horn or be destroyed by your brethren!"
Then, like a beacon of hope, a voice rang out: "Guardians Unite!"
A radiant pink light enveloped the entire dump, and as it dimmed, it revealed five girls, each adorned in a blend of pink, green, and blue. James stared in awe. Those were the Guardians.
The girls wasted no time and took to the air, creating a whirlwind of chaos around Cedric. One of them, a blonde with determination in her eyes, landed gracefully and pounded her fists into the ground. Vines erupted from the garbage, responding to her command. As she swayed her arms, the vines obeyed, winding around Lord Cedric, constricting him. It was evident that she was the Earth Guardian.
As James observed, another Guardian soared toward him. With dark skin, inky black hair resembling spider legs, and round glasses, she held unique authority. With a swift gesture, she crafted a circle of fire around James, Caleb, and Blunk, forming a protective barrier against the advancing Trance Marchers. But if they obeyed any command, couldn't Cedric just order them to keep going?
Cedric didn't waste a moment. "Trance Marchers, keep going!"
"No! They'll keep walking! Turn it off!" James shouted, fearing the worst.
The Fire Guardian snapped her fingers, and the flames instantly extinguished.
But even as the Guardians fought to control the situation, Cedric managed to break free from his vine prison. With no escape route in sight, the trio of James, Caleb, and Blunk found themselves in a perilous situation.
There was nowhere to go. Well, there was actually a way out: the air. If only Caleb, James and Blunk could fly.
In that crucial moment, the Earth Guardian and the Keeper of the Heart grabbed Caleb by his arms, while the Fire Guardian and another girl with distinctive dual pigtails did the same for James. Caleb held tight to Blunk.
With their unexpected rescuers, James, Caleb, and Blunk soared into the sky, away from the encroaching danger. James clung to the girls' hands, determined to not think of the possibility of his hands slipping from the their grasp.
Finally, they landed safely in a nearby park, far removed from the chaos of the city dump.
"Thanks for getting us out of there," James expressed his gratitude.
"You're welcome," the Keeper of the Heart responded kindly. "What's your name?"
"James," he replied.
The Keeper of the Heart introduced herself, "Nice to meet you. I'm Will. This is Irma," she gestured to the girl with blondish brown hair, "Taranee," she pointed to the Fire Guardian, "Cornelia," she indicated the Earth Guardian, "and Hay Lin," she pointed to the girl with two long pigtails.
"Grandma said you were at the dump, but why?" asked Hay Lin.
"I was looking for the Horn of Hypnos," Caleb explained. "I know how to break the trance!"
Hay Lin' face immediately fell. "Horn? About this big and kinda goldy-shiny like?"
"Yes! Where is it?" Caleb asked.
"From the trash to the restaurant to... Oh, no! The school band!"
"We have to destroy it!" Caleb exclaimed. "You guys go to the school; I'll keep an eye out for Cedric and meet you there."
James reminded himself to think before he acted. With his ability to shake anyone who's following him and to sneak around, where would he be more usefull? Probably with the Guardians. His abilities were perfect for that kind of mission. He spoke up, "I'll go with you."
"Listen, I know you want to help, but this isn't a game," Will cautioned. "You could get hurt if you're not careful."
"He can go," Caleb said. "He's very good at sneaking around. Once you find the Horn, he can help you retrieve it."
Will, though initially skeptical, seemed to reconsider. James tried not to feel too proud of himself as he realised that he had just made the correct choice.
"Since you're not that heavy, Hay Lin can carry you," said Will.
James hesitated for a moment but eventually approached Hay Lin. He couldn't help but voice his anxiety, "Promise not to drop me?"
Hay Lin grinned reassuringly. "Don't worry," she replied with confidence. "I won't."
With that promise, James took hold of Hay Lin's hands, ready to embark on an extraordinary flight.
The Guardians soared into the sky, their unique fairy wings carrying them. They traveled through the air for a while before landing. What had once been a bustling town had transformed into an eerie, empty landscape.
"Oh, no! The whole town's gone Trance Marcher!" Will exclaimed, alarm evident in her voice.
James was taken aback, struggling to comprehend the scale of the situation. "How did this happen?"
Hay Lin's voice held a tinge of regret as she admitted, "I gave the horn to the school marching band. That band must have gone through the entire town."
James sighed heavily, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Oh boy."
Will quickly formulated a plan. "Hay Lin, sound is carried by air. Can you find the marching band?"
Hay Lin closed her eyes, focusing on her unique abilities. After about ten seconds, she reopened them, determination in her gaze. "I hear the horn. And about six really out-of-tune clarinets."
"Thank you, Radio Hay Lin," Will said with a smile. "Let's go!"
Guided by Hay Lin's keen sense of sound, the girls and James, still supported by her, followed her lead. Their flight took them closer to the source of the disturbance.
Eventually, Hay Lin landed James gently on the ground, signaling that it was time for him to step up.
With determination in his heart, James approached the leader of the marching band, the horn held firmly in their hands. He thought this mission might be a walk in the park, but little did he know that things were about to take a dramatic turn.
As James got closer, something unexpected occurred. The horn suddenly and inexplicably flew right out of the marching band leader's hands. James watched in surprise as the horn sailed through the air, heading straight into the grasp of none other than Lord Cedric.
The rest of the Guardians were flying frantically, desperately searching for any sign of Hay Lin and James.
Meanwhile, the Trance Marcher Band came to a halt at the school.
Will gasped, her eyes widening in alarm. "Lizard-boy zapped Hay Lin and James!"
Cornelia quickly pointed out someone in the crowd, her voice laced with concern. "Caleb! Blunk!"
Lord Cedric wasted no time, commanding his Trance Marchers with a chilling directive. "Trance Marchers, destroy the Guardians!"
Cornelia panicked. "We can't fight them! What do we do?"
The Trance Marchers echoed their sinister mantra. "Destroy the Guardians."
Under the trance's influence, Hay Lin's powers surged uncontrollably, and she unleashed her air abilities mercilessly, tossing her fellow Guardians into the nearby apartment block. Their helplessness was palpable as they became pawns in the Trance Marchers' sinister game.
Will realized the urgency of the situation. "We've got to pull the plug on Hay Lin's power! Hang on!"
With determination, Will detransformed the Guardians, and they all plummeted to the ground.
The Trance Marchers began closing in on them, leaving the Guardians with nowhere to escape.
Suddenly, an unexpected voice pierced through the chaos. "Alright Sheffield, are you ready to rock!" It was unmistakably Matt, speaking through the speakers outside. He began playing a powerful melody on his electric guitar.
Will was bewildered by the sudden turn of events, wondering what was happening. To their astonishment, the Trance Marchers snapped out of their sinister trance, their confusion evident as they glanced around in bewilderment. The malevolent intent that had clouded their minds was replaced with perplexed disarray.
As the Trance Marchers returned to their ordinary activities, still ensnared in confusion, the Guardians exchanged glances filled with relief and gratitude.
Caleb came rushing toward them, his smile stretching from ear to ear. "It worked!" he exclaimed with joy.
Cornelia couldn't contain her curiosity. "What worked? What just happened?!"
Caleb eagerly shared the revelation. "James gave me a book that told me how to destroy the horn. You have to play a certain melody. I ripped the page that showed the sheet music for that melody and gave it to Matt as a song request. Good thing Earth and Meridian have the same system for musical notation."
Will was still processing the astonishing turn of events. "So Matt just saved us."
At that moment, James appeared on the scene. He looked regretful as he addressed the group. "Caleb told me everything. I'm sorry. I failed you."
"Dude, there was nothing you could have done," said Irma. "Don't sweat it. Say, why not stay for the dance?"
James hesitated. "Won't I need a date?"
"Not necessarily," Irma responded. "You don't need a date to have fun."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to have to decline," James said. "I had enough excitement for one day. I'll go back to Meridian."
"But you don't know where the portal is," Hay Lin said.
James exuded determination as he stated, "I'll find it."
And with that resolute decision, he left, leaving the Guardians to reflect on the day's astonishing events.
The night was alive with the energetic rhythms of the band playing at Sheffield Institute's auditorium. Students from all over the school had gathered to enjoy the music, dance, and let loose after a week of classes. It was a perfect opportunity for Will to see Matt.
As she entered the auditorium, the lively beat filled her ears, and she couldn't help but smile. The band was playing a catchy tune, and the crowd was moving to the music. There wasn't any sign of Matt on the stage, meaning that this was a different band playing. Will scanned the room, looking for him, her heart pounding with anticipation.
Finally, her eyes spotted him, near the dance floor. He seemed to be chatting with some friends, a bright smile lighting up his face. Will couldn't help but admire him from a distance, the way his dark hair fell casually over his forehead and the easy way he laughed with his friends. He looked so handsome tonight.
Summoning her courage, Will approached him. "Hey, Matt!" she called out, trying to be heard above the music.
Matt turned toward her, his face lighting up when he saw her. "Will!" he exclaimed, clearly pleased to see her. "You made it."
Will's cheeks flushed slightly. "Of course, I wouldn't miss this. The band sounds amazing!"
Matt grinned. "Yeah, they're pretty good." A slow song began. "Hey, um, Will, would you like to dance?" he asked, a touch of shyness in his voice as he held out his hand.
Will's smile widened as she took it. "I'd love to."
They made their way to the dance floor. The music's soft melody enveloped them as they swayed to the rhythm, their movements perfectly synchronized. Will felt like she was floating on air, lost in the enchantment of the moment.
Matt's warm blue eyes met hers, and he spoke softly, "You know, you're an amazing dancer, Will."
Will's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but blush. "Thanks, Matt. You're not too bad yourself."
They continued to dance, their bodies moving in harmony with the music. The world around them faded away, and it felt as if it was just the two of them in their own little bubble of happiness.
Another chapter done. While I was able to not make James a Mary Sue I wasn't really satisfied with his character arc in the last chapter, because there wasn't really one. He didn't seem to learn anything. He had a vague idea of what his problem was but he didn't seem to fully understand it, or to try to fix it.
In real life, if we don't solve our problems they become worse, and that's what happened to James. When he was stealing from the Castle kitchens or running away from the Tracker, he did have "backup plans" but they weren't very though out. In the "find Caleb" mission, he didn't think of anything. He was just so sure that Caleb will be at the Infinite City when he had no logical reason to believe that.
And so James, realizing just how dumb he had become, decided to be more patient and to think before he acted. Sure, he's not perfect. He could have covered his ears when Cedric blew the horn, but old habits die hard. James will need a lot more training in thinking things through before he's able to make a correct decision, in the moment.
Next is Chapter VIII: The Underwater Mines