Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. or anything referenced herein.

Betaed by: Trackula and Zim'smostloyalservant. You guys are awesome.

Apologies: To fans of my long running projects. See Author's Note for some status updates.

Stirred

Chapter 1

Begin Again: Part 1

Himerish stood, looking down on the Council of Kandrakar, as the reptilian petitioner disappeared through a rift with his companions. The tablet of steel left behind floated to his hands with a gesture, Tibor letting it pass from his hand.

"Petitioner, veiled threats against Kandrakar itself," Luba remarked, glancing to where the rift had sealed.

"Peace, Luba they are within their rights to voice their displeasure," the Oracle said, as he looked over the tablet. Indeed, as had been said, the sovereigns of fifty-seven Inducted Realms had declared their intentions.

An act of solidarity rare enough to make clear they were serious about this issue. The alternative being that they instead sought to take advantage of an opportunity.

He resisted the urge to sigh or massage his temples. Stewardship of infinite worlds and dimensions brought endless problems to deal with. He often felt the single greatest purpose of the Oracle was, more than any of the power or written duty, to provide people with assurance someone was in control, and capable of carrying this burden. So he would not show even his close confidants that weakness if he could help it.

Tibor spoke up first.

"Meridian is dying. Deprived of its Heart and its connection to cosmic energy flow due to the Veil, the world will soon cease to be able to support the vast majority of its life. Meridian was an Inducted World, however little contact it had.

"Ignoring the morality of the situation, our allowing Meridian to die as a result of our policy would set a precedent they are rationally wary of."

Luba was not convinced, nor were many of the Councilors, judging by their looks.

"This Declaration of 57 do not have the power to compel us. By law or force," One of the Elders spoke up.

"No, but ignoring or dismissing their plea could poison our relations with not only these worlds but other Inducted Realms. Too many resent Kandrakar either for meddling or doing nothing in their spheres."

"They are children — it is our place to guide them, not bow to their shortsighted desire."

"Shortsighted? Though their message may be disrespectful, is anything said not true? Their concern is quite logical. While your outrage seems rooted in pride rather than reason."

"If nothing is done, Meridian as we know it will perish. Leaving only a desolate world with only simple lifeforms to endure. These are facts. And based on these facts, we must choose action or inaction."

Tibor looked to the Oracle, who gave a minute nod as a single. The Elder raised his hand, restoring calm.

"Such destruction was not our intent. Unfortunately, the Meridianites have proven unable to solve their problems. We must think of more than one world's fate."

"Correct, and such situations have long had an appropriate response," The Oracle said, sending the tablet away in a flash.

"My Lord Oracle, it may indeed be time. But Phobos and his forces would be their first obstacle. And we have lost connection to Earth due to the prolonged use of the Veil. Can we truly send fledglings against the Prince and his Hands?" one of the councilors spoke.

"And what would you propose? Lifting the Veil and allowing Phobos free reign?"

"What should it matter to Kandrakar if one Escannor rather than another reigns? That dynasty brought stability through power, not enlightenment."

"Enough," The Oracle had heard arguments too many times to let them go through it one last time as they had already reached an accord for this situation.

"The situation must change. But we will not lightly accept a regime change built on blood and treachery against an inducted government. Especially not with the Mage's counsel regarding the Prince's ambitions.

"The Heart of Meridian will soon awaken, and reveal itself to those who seek it. They will be desperate, and dangerous. Last time we could do nothing, one generation had failed us and the Heart had not yet ordained a new Circle.

"Now it is the time to raise a new generation. To the Auramare chamber; it is time for the Guardians to rise once more."

X X X

The Sheffield Institute gym was abuzz with science fair noises. Academic achievement mixed with the teens' need to turn everything into an opportunity to socialize.

Taranee pushed her glasses up her nose, and let her fingers press into her forehead. This was exactly why she hated group projects. It was so unfair that she could get a solid record dragged down because someone else was an idiot.

Case in point with subject blonde.

"You had one job, Hale," Taranee said. She was keeping her voice civil, but not trying to hide her exasperation.

"Hey, I did what you said," Cornelia Hale huffed.

"I don't know how you messed up 'put in your closet and don't water it', but congratulations, Corny. You have achieved a level of blonde most can only aspire too," Irma Blair laughed.

'Ugh, more of this weird friend/enemy thing between these two? Why couldn't I just get some lazy students that just let me do it all?' Taranee thought, as the girls nettled each other.

Nettled each other over a very healthy and surprisingly large tomato plant. Complete with no less than five yellow blossoms blooming on it.

"Our experiment was on comparing deprivation of necessities and carefully monitored agriculture! What are we supposed to do with three living plants?" Taranee demanded. Looking around at the science fair at the other exhibits, she spotted the two faculty judges, and her doom, approaching.

"Hey, I tried to kill it! I even broke its stem last night!" Cornelia told them, gesturing to the plant. Which clearly had an intact stem.

"Corny, why you lying? And a bad lie at that," Irma asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, she gave me this super plant or something. It's her fault," Hale said, pointing an accusing finger at Taranee. She had no time for this!

"Listen I'll stall, just… kill it!" Taranee whispered as the judges got close.

"Oh let me, wasting people's time is a special skill of mine!" Irma said, leaving the booth with Taranee.

Glancing back, Taranee groaned as she watched Cornelia pound on the plant with her fist. Okay, how could she spin this to explain a pasted plant?

X X X

This was not going to go well, Will Vandom admitted.

A girl she barely knows invites her to tea, of all things, after school. With said girl's friends. Honestly, when she called her mom to let her know, she had hoped for some out.

Because just saying no to Hay Lin would be like kicking a puppy. Didn't have to know the girl that well to realize that.

Yes, this would be a total disaster, she thought, looking across the street at the Silver Dragon restaurant. But, she'd made a habit out of being alone back in Fadden Hills after things fell apart, and disaster or not, she was pretty sure if she just quit on this it would be the same for Heatherfield.

"Well, arm the torpedoes, and all that," she muttered. Crossing the clear street in an act of jaywalking, she went right through the door into the restaurant.

Oh, it was nicer than she expected. Not that she thought it would be bad, but in her experience of Chinese places-

"Ah, welcome young Will," she was greeted. She blinked at the sight of the small, bent old Chinese woman greeting her. She had a definite grandma vibe going on. But her clearly-dyed black hair, and out of place despite the surrounding Old China dress, seemed to hint at the colorful kind of senior more than the free cookies and boring stories kind.

'Wow, was that a first impression or a rapid fire right up to fourth?' Will wondered.

X X X

Will had taken her seat in the surprisingly nice basement of the restaurant. According to Hay Lin, her family lived upstairs, so she guessed it was more the Lin family's rec room basement than the restaurant's.

The old lady had shown her to her seat at a table in the basement by an old looking cabinet set, and left her sitting with the four girls. Off to get them tea and cookies. While tea was not her thing, grandma cookies were almost always good news. But for now, despite Hay Lin's chattering about some alien movie she just saw, awkward silence was prevailing.

Irma and Cornelia, she knew them to be loud, especially around each other. A would-be comedian and the suffering audience. Hay Lin was the mutual friend, and the only one who seemed happy to see Will.

Will was not sure about that. She'd known perky types before who were quick to be friends but left you hanging when you needed something more than cheap laughs and fun.

And Taranee, the class smart girl, who seemed surprised to see her here.

"Hey, how was the science fair?" It seemed a safe question. The way Taranee glared at her, told Will it was not. The light even caught on her glasses in that scary way.

"What?" Will said. She hadn't heard about anything exploding or something, so why was she getting treated like she had asked a jerk question? Then Irma laughed, and the metaphorical heat was off her.

"Chill, Willy. Tara's miffed she won't be getting the world record for science fair wins because Corny failed at failing," Irma laughed. Cornelia smacked her hand on the table, nostrils actually flaring a bit.

"Hey, she's the one who gave me some super tomato plant! I smashed that thing, and when I turned back it was back up better than before!"

"That's impossible, Hale. Who told you to sabotage me?" Taranee demanded. Cornelia rolled her eyes, apparently unaffected by the glare.

"Oh, what? You think I'm in some evil conspiracy with some nerd rival of yours? Go back to your lab, Dexter, this is reality."

"Yes! And in reality, plants do not act like you are saying that a perfectly ordinary tomato plant did!"

"Mmm, all this talk about tomatoes is putting me in the mood for Italian," Irma hummed.

"They aren't usually this yelly," Hay Lin said, leaning over to Will. It was strange, and a bit entertaining. And not a real fight, even if they thought it was. She had seen real fighting back home; there was no mistaking the feel of things being ripped apart by words.

"Sounds like you girls need some calming tea!" the grandma, Yan Lin, spoke up. She seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, setting a tray down with five cups and a steaming old fashioned white tea pot.

"No cookies?" Hay Lin whined. Complete with sad puppy eyes at her grandmother, who proceeded to pour tea in to each cup, with her eyes seemingly closed.

"You'll need those later, but first tea. To sooth the nerves and calm the mind," Yan Lin said. She reached around the table with skill that her little old lady posture concealed, giving them each a cup of tea.

While Hay Lin and Taranee took a sip right away, Will joined Cornelia and Irma in just looking at her cup for a moment. They even had little saucers under them.

A saucer that could serve a nobler purpose by holding cookies.

"Ah, five girls, making the shift from children to adults. A time of strangeness, wonder, and less flowery things," Yan Lin said, opening her eyes to look at them. They all gave a look to Hay Lin, who just seemed interested in whatever her grandma was building up to.

"It reminds me of a story. One very dear to me.

"This world Earth and its people are not alone. And neither is the dimension it resides in alone in existence. For there are dimensions so numerous that even the beings old in age and wisdom in that vastness must label them infinite, unable to discern a true border to this vastness.

"Wonder abounds. From worlds in beautiful sterile desolation, to those teeming with life and chaos of all stripes.

"But in such vastness there will be foul evil things. Corruption and malice that can swallow worlds, entire dimensions, and spread like plagues across infinity.

"But against such darkness, there shines a light. The light of Kandrakar, the Fortress of Infinity, the axis on which the wheel of existence turns.

"And from Kandrakar a blessing was given to the peoples of Infinity. The Heart of Kandrakar, the power to bring hope against the despair of darkness. But it was a power not entrusted to simply one. While only one could bear the heart as its Keeper, its power would be divided by five.

"Five individuals, five mortals, would be entrusted with this power that could make gods tremble. For its true potential could only be brought forth by the harmony of the five as a group and each as themselves.

"They were the Guardians. Granted power, not to rule or stand in judgement, but to protect above all else.

"The world and race first entrusted with this great responsibility has come and gone, their lives long and ended well in the nature of such things. And so the Hearts has traveled infinity from one word and one race after another, from one group of five. Each having to bear the honor and burden of the Guardians.

"And now, here on this day, a new chapter is set to begin," Yan Lin said making her way to the cabinet.

"…Dang Hay Lin, is she writing this down? We could get something published," Irma spoke up.

If Hay Lin said something to that, Will missed it. Because Yan Lin pulled something wonderful out of a drawer.

It looked like jewel, but she knew it wasn't. It was beautiful, a faint pink glow seeming spherical in a silver setting like a globe. It was attached to a cord that Yan Lin was holding onto.

"The Heart has spoken to me today, a final word. Farewell. Because it's your time now," the old woman smiled, making her way back over to the table.

"Uhhh," Cornelia squirmed in her seat as the old lady got near her. From some pocket, or maybe up her wide sleeve, Yan Lin pulled something she tossed to the blonde. Cornelia snatched it out of the air with some decent reflexes. An acorn, Will saw.

Before all their eyes, it split open in the girl's fingers and a pale green stem emerged to wrap about them. With a start, Cornelia reached out with her other hand to yank it off, but Yan Lin gently held the offending wrist. Cornelia was still, and as they watched, an oak seedling was now being held in her hand.

"You have always had a certain affinity with the earth and its children, Cornelia. And lately it has become more pronounced despite your best efforts," Yan Lin said. Taking the seedling from Cornelia's hand with surprising ease, she leaned over to set it in the empty urn at the table's center.

She next moved to Irma, who turned her attention from the recent acorn to the old lady.

"You are one to go with the flow. Water behaves strangely around you. And you wonder why?" Yan Lin asked. Frowning for a moment, Irma reached out and pointed at the vase the seedling was in. Water erupted from it to splash on the table.

Taranee was rigid in her seat as Yan Lin came to her. Pulling out a book of matches, Yan Lin held the book in the same hand as the beauty to strike the match. Taranee flinched back and Will felt a bit of unease through the numb wonder.

"You are wise to be wary, Taranee. Your gift lends itself more to destruction than some of the others. But to deny it is to deny yourself, and it is no more 'bad' than you yourself," Yan Lin said. Taranee cocked her head and narrowed her eyes at the match. Which erupted in a spout of flame away from her, setting the seedling on fire.

"HEY!" Cornelia shouted, bolting to her feet.

Will was looking around for a fire extinguisher when a gale kicked up, ruffling he hair and stealing all the napkins. Also blowing out the seedling like a candle. only a bit singed, as Cornelia grabbed the vase in one hand to pull it to her side.

"And my Hay Lin, you always have been free as the wind," Yan Lin smiled at her beaming granddaughter.

And then it was her turn. The other girls were looking at her. Curious Irma, excited Hay Lin, queasy but trying badly to hide Taranee, and Cornelia looked offended with her singed plant more than anything else.

"Hey now, don't look at me! The closest thing I've got to a magic trick is that thing where you ruffle up your hair and can shock people with a poke. But tell you what, if I ever throw a party, you guys are definitely the entertainment."

"This, is yours," Yan Lin said. She gently grabbed the hand Will had used to make her poking gesture just now from underneath, turning it palm up. And lowered the beautiful gem into it.

It was warm. Will stared into its pink light and watched it recede, the sphere no less beautiful for its hidden light. The gentle old hands closed her fingers over it.

"And young Will makes five, the Keeper of the Heart.

"Your lives will never be the same. And I can promise they will not be boring.

"Or safe." She added with an offhand gesture.

"Wait, what now?" Will spoke up at that.

"Well, who wants those cookies?" Yan Lin asked the stunned girls.

X X X

"There, as I thought, a good spot," Yan Lin said as they walked down a fairly steep grassy incline to the riverside. Aside from the fact that the old lady was leading the way without a hitch, Will was not too pleased with the surroundings. This was the rust belt of Heatherfield, to look at it.

Back home, her mom had driven her around once years ago, telling her places to absolutely not go if she got lost or separated. And areas isolated/deserted like this had been right up there with crumbling dying parts of the city.

And the sun was getting a bit too close to the horizon. The other girls didn't seem bothered… well, expect for Taranee, but she was probably still on that need to get home for homework thing before Yan Lin drove them here.

Yeah. Girl discovers fire powers and she wants her algebra.

"Now, this should just be a little feeling out session, if you would. Stretching the wings for a first flight and all that.

"Now, Will, if you please," Yan Lin said. And all eyes were on Will. Lots of different expressions, and she fumbled a bit, pulling the jewel, the Heart, out of her top.

'Oh God, what am I supposed to do?' The steady warmth from the thing was not helping, as she felt like her body was locking up. Had she been given some magic words? She thought she'd been paying attention!

This is taking too long, I look like a moron. Please, God, don't let my face look stupid too-

"It's not a matter of will, Will. Haha, sorry about that," Yan Lin said. She was besides her, a hand on the teen's shoulder.

"Am I supposed to say a word or strike a pose or something?" Will asked, trying to sound sarcastic and carefree.

"Shazam?" Irma quipped.

"Name of the Moon!" Hay Lin called, out jumping a little.

"Ugh," Cornelia rolled her eyes.

"Hush now," Yan Lin said, without looking at them.

"There are words, and you know them just as you knew the Heart was yours. And like the Heart, it is not a riddle to be solved or a prize to be seized. It's a gift carried to you on the currents of existence."

Unless it's not, and I can't. That you forgot to carry a one or something and when you realize it I walk home while you go get the real prize winner or whatever, a persistent little voice whispered to Will.

"Breathe, relax. Let the Heart's energy flow. Stop letting your thoughts get in the way of what comes next."

Will breathed in; the air smelled of nearby garbage and flowing water. But it wasn't a bad odor, she noted. Holding it, she felt for a moment like she was eavesdropping again as her world came unraveled.

People didn't want her. She messed things up.

Breathe out, and she felt like she was standing here by this river and nowhere else. The Heart had a beat, she noticed.

"Guardians, unite," Will said.

She didn't see Yan Lin step back as light enveloped them, the old woman raising a sleeve to her eyes to shield them from the light.

Five streams of light, each distinct, surged from the Heart. Will thought there were spheres at the front, but they were moving so fast. The pink one struck her in the chest.

No, not struck, it was no attack.

It felt… good. A sensation of familiarity and safety. It felt like light, not warmth, but what light would feel like. Her feet weren't on the ground. She felt naked but not exposed. Eyes closed, her awareness was not lessened, and she curled up as everything of her was coated, permeated by this.

Spinning faster, but no haste. And others. Yes, four. So close but separate. Near but not stifling.

She was small, indistinct. She was light, energy, life, and-

It was over.

"Uh, ahhh?" Will gasped, stumbling on her feet a little. She blinked, looking down on the uneven red dirt with its clumps of grass, taking a moment to recall having something beneath her was normal. Like this wind thing, or that she wasn't naked.

'What. Was. That?' Will thought, steadying herself with a breath.

Above all, there was a lingering sensation of… extra. Like her senses were spread out beyond what they'd previously been by a very specific measure. She could feel the certainty of her arms and legs, her fingers and her toes sure as she'd ever had before. But still… there was more.

Her sensations gathered and branched where before there had been nothing. New nerves crackled up and down new muscles, all centered along her back. In the middle of each shoulder-blade, specifically, a tension, like coiled springs in her back muscles. A new awareness, and a strange chill like breeze against bare skin. She knew that was impossible, however; she could feel the back of this garment, nothing should have been exposed.

And yet when she tried to flex this strange dual sensation in her back, the air clearly disturbed, along with a faint humming. Finally, alarmed to the point of investigation, Will did her best to twist her head around and stare back over her right shoulder to find the offending incongruity. Blinking her large eyes, the teenager was met with what at first seemed to be the largest butterfly she'd ever seen.

But when the shock of that false assumption wore off, the far harsher truth reared its ugly head. Sprouting from her back, through convenient holes in her shirt, were a pair of delicate-looking tiny gossamer wings. Translucent and colored like stained glass, framed by thick black veins. Looking as close as she could, there were the tiniest scales visible, like grains of colored sand. The wings spread and folded with a thought, as though this unwelcome addition to her anatomy had been there all along.

And she could FEEL through them! The feeling of the air, the way they brushed against each other if she forced them to fold back as far as the joints and muscles would allow. The strain in her muscles. Carefully, she reached out towards one, her fingers hesitant to finally close the distance, mindful of how delicate the wings seemed.

But she took the plunge, brushing her fingertips gently along the side of one of these "wings", then let out a shivering gasp that arced down her back. They were sensitive, not in a painful way, but she could feel every groove of her fingerprint scrape away against the colored panels of many scales. It had a waxy smoothness, like talc. The framework was less sensitive by a margin and was glossy, with a waxy, shiny finish that seemed to suck in the light.

Hypnotically, Will could only watch as she made her brand new pixie wings spread and fold, spread and fold.

"OH MY GOD!" Hay Lin shrieked. Will's head snapped up and she saw… fairies?

Wait, those were the girls? Except they had…

"Unbelievable, look at these!" Cornelia cheered, feeling her breasts. She had breasts. They all did? Looking down, she realized hers were there, and smaller.

"And wings," Will pointed out. Something twitched on her back. Her wings were twitching. Her WINGS were twitching.

"Ehhh!" Hay Lin squeed, running around in a little circle. She seemed to be trying to get a better look at her wings, which were going like hummingbird wings. Cornelia seemed to have her focus front wise.

"Typical Corny, give her wings and she's only got eyes for the schmuck bait," Irma laughed, crossing her arms. And pausing herself at the unexpected obstruction.

"You, all have wings," Will pointed out. Cornelia glared at her; yeah, stupid question.

"So do you, ditz," Cornelia said.

"Oh," Will said dumbly, glancing back. Yeah, still there. She could see a bit of them. She tried to make them move; they didn't.

"Don't get too excited! These wings are far too small to displace enough air to hover, much less fly. At most, they may help break falls by slowing descent and controlling it to some degree, but even that-" Taranee broke in. Her hair was weird. Dreadlocks? Why? Then Hay Lin whooped and buzzed past them all.

Flying. She was flying around like a crazy hummingbird, darting over the water and crashing down into the river with a huge splash.

"I'm okay!" She called out, breaking the surface and waving an arm.

"But, but, that's not… Huh?" Taranee muttered, head tilting to the side and rubbing a temple with her fingertips.

"Tara, do not freak out; the universe has given you a rasta perm, girl," Irma said, taking the other girl by the shoulders.

"I need a mirror… What the hell happened to what was in my pockets?!" Cornelia said, after reaching for the pants that had been replaced by a green gown.

They were dressed differently too, Will noted. Some kind of variation of fantasy novel cover elves or fairy outfits in green, blue, and dark pink. Same colors, but different styles. Hers had leggings, she noted, kneeling down on the shore to give Hay Lin a hand up from the water.

"This outfit is awesome, though," Cornelia said. Will thought her leggings were comfortable, but this was tighter than what she normally wore.

"Nice lipstick, Will," Hay Lin said, wringing water out of on of her ponytails.

"Lipstick?" Will said, touching her lips.

"Ah, the old uniform. I could really rock that in my day," Yan Lin chuckled. Will was glad she was facing away from the old lady at that unwelcome image.

"This day…" Will left the words hanging as Hay Lin dragged herself back to where Taranee was talking about neural connections or some science class mojo.

X X X

Phobos sat on the Throne of Thorns, not even half-listening to his courtiers — along with Raythor and Van — discuss minute matters, having been called together unexpectedly by this bold rebel attack.

He sensed something. Something had changed in the deep currents that lapped at the edges of his mage awareness. Hestine, naturally, was not noticing, for all her on-paper magical fortitude. Her ascension into jowled obesity over the years did not correspond with any greater growth of mystical knowledge. But Van… his friend was not nearly as vigorous in the discussion as usual. Not that these others could recognize her vigor or lack thereof.

So, did she also feel it? A disturbance within the flow of Infinity.

Raising a hand from its rest, Phobos gestured to the Lieutenant of the Court with three fingers. The man acted with commendable haste, raising three clangs by pounding the butt of his spear against the polished stone of the floor.

"Clear the central court!" he commanded on the Prince's behalf. Van walked sedately against the outward movement, cutting through Hestine's entourage. Clearing the space, Van walked up the dais steps as the others took refuge beyond the columns of the throne room. Reaching the top, she stood before him and slightly bowed at the waist. No small smile concealed from the court's eyes, he noted. As she took her place at his right hand, he reached into his cloak and pulled out a handful of powder.

The others were far enough away, he blew on the powder, breath thick with power and intent.

The glittering powder spiraled out and down onto the floor of the court room, kicking itself up a silent cyclone, too fat and slow to be mistaken for natural.

An image formed, a pink sphere glowing with power set into a silver axis.

"The Heart of Kandrakar," Van whispered. She took a deep breath, her neck puffing out slightly and her knees bending slightly as if resisting going into a crouch.

"Yes, but why?" Phobos wondered. Rising from his set of power, he raised his hand toward the swirling dust. Willing the spell to look deeper to follow the thread that spun this image before them.

"Ascension, my prince!" Hestine spoke up, coming around the display. She was leaning heavily on her jewel-adorned cane, breathing hard from her recent haste. Disgusting, Phobos thought, before considering the words.

"So, the crystal has finally passed to a new generation," Phobos remarked.

"Time to act. But we must be cautious, my Prince," Van advised, leaning in closer. Phobos nodded, but his focus was on the spell. The image of the Heart faded, but the light remained, and a face flared from its depths.

Only for a few seconds, the image of a girl, little more than child there before them. Innocent eyes, brown almost red, and short dark red hair against pale skin. It was gone no sooner than he committed it to memory. A memory amongst other memories.

"Most interesting indeed," he thought, glancing to Van. She was staring at the now falling dust, the magic spent. More secrets, such a lovely puzzle. No one else had reacted, his mind was not above playing tricks. And the questions 'why?' and 'how?' loomed large.

"Leave us," Phobos declared. The Guards moved to clear the room as the Prince of the House of Escannor pondered revelations and new mysteries.

"Not you, Lady Van," He said, as she made to depart. The Grand Doctor bowed her head, but looked up at him anyway.

"My Prince?"

"Contact the Portal Plunger, it's time we seeded Earth with your eyes," He commanded.

"By your command," she said with a smile. He watched her walk down the steps, as pleasant a sight as ever, he thought.

X X X

Caleb searched the rock formations as he pulled his near feral mount up. The great bird snapped its beak, irritation at its conscription evident. And it was nearly spent; it had served well enough.

"Dismount," he said to Aldarn and the other rebels with them. The birds ran off as his men looked to him.

"Is he here? We didn't lose them, Caleb," Aldarn reminded him. A rock fell down from above; in the moonlight, their contact revealed himself from beneath the stones. Face cast in shadow by the hat of his, but his strange binoculars clearly clutched in one hand as he looked down on them.

"Rebel! This was not the deal. Barrels of cannon powder to be stashed on Earth for a time with a cut of the powder for my services. A squad of Guards in pursuit if you were detected outbound. You have a legion Battalion coming hard and fast, and Lord Cedric is half a league ahead of them," Tegus the Portal Plunger said irritably.

Caleb refused to be intimidated by a mercenary, no matter how skilled.

"Cedric has my scent, I'll pay you some other way."

"If he has your scent, you're dead. He's no Tracker, but this is no terrain to lose the likes of him, and you can't run fast enough," Tegus remarked.

"Take us to the portal."

"…No, I don't carry the war over there, rebel. That's beyond my neutrality," Tegus remarked.

Caleb heard Aldarn notch an arrow to his bow. Tegus didn't miss, if a hand went into that coat of his, that Earther magic no doubt. But they didn't need a fight.

"Fine, don't take me. Tell me where it is, and I will run. If I live, you get half the fee, and if not, who could prove I just didn't know it was there."

Tegus tilted his hat back, letting his face be lit by the moon.

"Send your men away. The Crimson Serpent can only follow one trail," Tegus said.

"Scatter," Caleb ordered his companions. They obeyed, running off into the night. Save for Aldarn, who hesitated, clutching the bow that was their only prize of the night. But he met Caleb's glare and nodded.

"I will see you back there," Aldarn told him, before running off away from the others.

"Head west; there is a slope there bare of even scrub, steep and treacherous. The portal is near the base, at night it can be seen at times like a prick of light, wavering in and out," Tegus told him.

"I understand." Caleb watched the mercenary climb back up into the rocks. The opportunist likely had a swift mount hidden nearby. Probably would have been smart to follow him and steal that to escape.

But no, Phobos' regime was the only enemy that mattered, and a good faith meeting being violated would damage the Rebellion whether he lived or died.

He ran to the west, the horns of Mars echoing behind him.

X X X

"You're sure there isn't a safer way?" Will asked Yan Lin.

"Or saner?" Taranee asked. Will glanced to the be spectacled girl who was fiddling with one of her dreadlocks again. At least she wasn't going on about how their brains must be altered due to the wings and balance centers influenced subconsciously or something.

But yeah, this current "thing" they had going on here. It didn't seem to quite fit with this mystic guardians of justice or whatever.

"Aaaahhh!*splash*" Cornelia cried out as she plummeted into the water. Taranee squeezed that lock, sending some water out of it as some act of sympathy, perhaps. Will had taken a dip too. Which she was surprised wasn't giving her a chill, as the sun made its way to the horizon.

"Well done, Cornelia, I think you slowed your descent there," Yan Lin said, as the fuming blond pulled herself out of the water. Will pursed her lips; that smile… was the old lady trolling them on this "bird learns to fly" deal?

"Boy, you guys really can't figure this out?" Irma asked, descending to stand with the rest of them. They all shot a glare to her as she flapped her wings, giving them a little breeze.

"Don't worry, guys!" Hay Lin said, hovering down but not touching down, "It took me forever to learn how to ride a bike, but Cornelia figured it out quick. But I got it eventually."

Cornelia huffed and sat down on the grass. Which, Will noticed, started growing. As in, she could see it growing. And Taranee was already dry except for her hair, the old lady reminding her of her fire tricks.

And she, Will Vandom, got to carry the jewel. The very pretty jewel she had in her…

Her.

Her?

"Oh crap on Christmas!" Will screamed.

"Do these have pockets?!" Will yelled, patting herself down, wings buzzing away.

"What?" Taranee asked.

"I can't find a lump!" Will yelled.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Hay Lin asked, dropping down next to the panicking girl.

"Pockets, yes, no, please?!"

"No pockets. And yes, as Cassidy used to say, 'seriously whacked that'," Yan Lin remarked, opening one eye fully to watch the Keeper.

"Irma! Use your water magic stuff check the river!" Will said, going down on her knees to check through the grass. Which brought her to eye level with a confused Cornelia.

"What is wrong with you?"

"IlostheHeartIsuck!" Will said at her. Cornelia scooted back a bit.

A pair of hands clapped down on Will's shoulders, stopping her attempt to go crawl on her hands and knees through the sparse grass. Then the fingers started to rub her shoulders.

"Will, breathe," Irma ordered, casting a shadow over her. Will took a breath, then a deeper one and another.

"Now, please share with the class. In real language, please," the Water Guardian said.

"I lost the Heart. Can we change back without that?" Will said. Before the words could register with the girls, Yan Lin laughed.

"Is that it? Oh child, when you assume the form of the Keeper, the Heart is not easily lost," the old woman chuckled. Will frowned, thinking yet again she was the butt of some joke today.

"So, I impressively lost it anyway?" Will drawled. Yan Lin frowned and looked at the girl, who was still on her knees.

"You seem to have some issue with yourself.

"As for the Heart. Feel for it, and you will understand," Yan Lin said. Catching Irma's eye with a hand gesture, she motioned the girl to step away. With a moment's hesitation, Irma stopped her little finger massage and stepped back.

"I didn't feel it," Will pointed out.

"Not like that. You felt the Heart, what it is beyond the form of a jewel. Feel for that, not a shape," Yan Lin instructed.

X X X

Caleb had abandoned his sword as he ran across the barren, rain-soaked stones of the wasting lands. Tossed aside to go faster. Cedric as close enough now that he could hear the monster's roar. Backed into a corner, he would test his steel against the likes of Frost, Raythor, or even the Tracker.

But to face either of the Hands alone meant worse than death; it meant the possibility of capture. So, escape or the dagger still in his belt.

Another roar sounded behind him. And, distant but drawing nearer, the Horn of Mars, the call of the Legion.

If he looked back he would likely see the monster.

No time to slip unseen through the portal. And no time for another plan. As he reached the slope and angled to slide down on his back, his left hand trying to guide the descent, he admitted the Mage was right. It may only take a single poor judgement to lose everything.

No matter, though. He was a soldier of the Rebellion; death was his companion. Either it was true that Phobos' minions feared to venture to Earth and he would survive. Or it was a lie and he would die.

Now, where in the Shaper's unspoken name was that portal?!

X X X

"Wow," Cornelia said. The new girl was glowing. Well, only her chest area.

A pink glow was pulsing in a steady rhythm. One second she looked normal, for a fairy, then her ribs and chest bone, whatever it was, were outlined in black against a pink glow.

"You see, girls. When transformed, Will would have an easier time misplacing her hands than the Heart," Yan Lin chuckled.

"…You know, I'm not going to say anything," Taranee sighed, closing her eyes.

"There there, I'm sure it won't make anymore sense tomorrow," Irma mockingly patted Taranee on the back. Cornelia was glad to see that at least was back to normal — Irma seeing someone in distress and not snarking it up was the third weirdest thing today.

"So pretty, I wish I could do that," Hay Lin said. She was finally back on the ground. Small wonder the perky girl could fly, she was born with her head in the clouds. It wasn't Cornelia's fault she had to have her feet on the ground constantly to keep her friends out of trouble.

And new girl hadn't said a word since she put her bones on display.

"Hey, you okay there? That doesn't hurt, does it?" Cornelia asked, stepping up to the redhead.

"There is something, over there. Under the bridge," Will said, turning her head to look at it. It was a vibration, and a smell. Within she felt it, and without she could sense it like an aroma. But an underlying odor, too.

It reminded her of those flowers in the old dining room. Left too long and starting to rot. Sweet and sickly even as the flowers held onto beauty.

She had forgotten that. Strange.

Passing into the shadow of the bridge she realized she was walking.

"A portal, another reason I chose this spot. A gateway to another world.

"Mostly people require magic artifacts, natural abilities, or spells to travel between the worlds with the blessings of Kandrakar. But there can be natural portals as well, as the dimensions' separation becomes thin and holes form.

"I admit, the whole magic science on that level is beyond me. I preferred exploiting and learning about the people to the lab stuff," Yan Lin shrugged. Will was listening, but she was also looking, the light coming from her chest helping here.

She was close, too close for her new senses to guide her. Where was the portal?

"…The Bermuda Triangle is one area on Earth where portals occur fairly often, though not long lasting. Bigfoot is real, too. Well 'they'; pleasant race, really quite mellow, though they have some cultural quirks to set them off. But mostly they find their way back to their own dimension in a few days and that's that.

"But these portals in Heatherfield are something else. They come from the Veil," Yan Lin said.

"The Veil?" Taranee spoke up.

"Portal," Will said.

"Okay, it's dark and you're glowing, please act normal for a bit, okay?" Irma said behind Will.

"What she said," Cornelia cut in.

"Pay attention! This is important," Yan Lin cut back in. Will was ignoring it. That spot; was it wavering?

The portal bloomed before her, a radiant blue twist in time, space, and dimensions. It was a fairly old portal, she could feel.

And something else about it.

"Something is coming," Will said. Her head was clearing now that she had the portal in front of her. That was weird.

"What? Something's coming through the big weird hole in the air?" Cornelia demanded. Yan Lin waved off the concern.

"Oh, it's probably just the Portal Plunger. Though if we're lucky, it's a Passling instead."

"Portal Plunger?" Taranee asked, edging closer to the portal adjusting her glasses.

"Just a smuggler. He hit on me the first time we met, so watch yourselves," Yan Lin advised.

"Too much information."

"You go, Grandma!" Irma and Hay Lin said in sync.

Then a teen boy ran out of the portal and collided with Will, sending her falling back to the ground.

"Oh, very nice," Hay Lin said, giving her grandmother a thumb's up. Will looked up at the young man with shoulder-length brown hair and dark green eyes, he was wearing brown dominated by a brown coat with several patches and visible stitches.

He was looking at them with clear surprise.

"That's not-" Yan Lin sad, opening her eyes wide.

Then, Will realized he wasn't alone.

There is a difference between afraid, and terrified. Will know knew it. And her wings responded. She flew backward blind, her feet and butt scrapping on the dirt before she gained the air and hurled back to hover over the river.

The monster of red and green scales, its mane a startling white, roared as it lashed out, grabbing the boy in one of its claws.

"Will, close the portal!" Yan Lin yelled. Glowing yellow eyes swept over them, white fangs were bared.

The monster's other arm swept out, batting Taranee aside, smashing into Hay Lin.

The boy let out a war cry. She had never heard one outside of movies where they were mostly laughable. But it was that, a sound expressing a kill or be killed intent as he pulled out a dagger and stabbed the monster in that arm. The blade bounced away as she watched.

"Close it!" Yan Lin yelled, far away.

A hail of something, pebbles maybe, smacked against the monster's chest. It glared at Cornelia, who with her own cry, lifted her hand dramatically, pulling up a chunk of dirt the size of a shopping cart. Like some kind of Jedi, she mimed throwing, and the projectile shot at the monster. He backhanded it with his free hand and bared fangs like knives at them.

"Close it now!"

Fire sprang from Taranee's hands, striking the beast at its base.

And with a final look of contempt, it withdrew. Back into the portal, the boy still roaring defiance as he was dragged away, his knife lodged seemingly to no effect in that massive arm.

The portal glimmered and faded back to a speck.

"Jesus," Will swore almost silently, eyes wide.

X X X

"Yeah Mom, love you too," Will said, hanging up her phone. Letting out a breath, she fell back into an armchair in the basement.

Sleepover was not exactly what she had in mind, but it was dark out and walking home would not have been her best idea even before the incident. And she did not like the idea… never mind, she thought.

Hay Lin was helping upstairs with some restaurant work with Cornelia apparently roped in. Irma was also collapsed, on the rug. And where Taranee went, she had no idea.

She had been looking for a place to pass out since they changed back. But she felt too exhausted to sleep right now. And where had Mrs. Exposition gotten to? Will sat up some, looking around the nicely furnished basement. Just her and the probably asleep Irma.

And the warmth of the Heart against her chest. Not in it, now. And wasn't that a thought?

What the heck? Shouldn't she wake up any second now to find this was a weird dream from eating a bowl of ice cream and pickles in one sitting before bed?

X X X

The situation was less than ideal, Caleb admitted. The Mage had been right, a single mistake could risk everything you had built. He had gotten greedy at the thought of what the Rebellion could do with so much cannon powder. And not only lost it all, but now here he was on his knees, head and arms locked in a stock whose chain as held by Cedric.

Still, as he knelt behind the massive Changeling, he kept calm. All was not lost. While they had searched him thoroughly for weapons, they had not taken his boots. A trick passed on from his mother through the Mage. That left him some options if he had an opportunity to reach them, and a lack of prying eyes to forestall any action.

Also, the carpet in the corridor was surprisingly soft under him. Guess that's royal furnishings.

As the doors were opened in the midst of someone announcing something beyond, a thought occurred to him. He was at the Castle. This was the closest he had been to his mother in, how long had it been?

The thought of her potentially watching from some servant door was all the more reason to hold fast, he thought, as Cedric jerked the chain, dragging him through the doorway.

Into the Court of Thorns.

X X X

It should have felt like she was being treated like a kid, sitting down on the rug with hot chocolate while Yan Lin sat in the arm chair with some old book. But maybe she was still tired or it was just natural with the others going along with it, but Will found she didn't care.

Sipping the wonderful warm liquid, Will watched Yan Lin tap on the leather cover of the book, seemingly gathering her thoughts.

"There are infinite dimensions. Worlds so numerous and diverse most anything you can imagine exists somewhere, and things you never would think of.

"But for you girls, one world stands out, Meridian. Earth's closest neighbor in the scheme of things. And these days bound closer together than ever even as they are forced apart."

Yan Lin opened the book and revealed strange writing and an illustration of some kind of symbol.

"Meridian is the seat of the House of Escannor, the royal family that has ruled that world for more than two millennia. The God Queens' regime was aware of Kandrakar, but their realm was insular with little to offer beyond a few gifted with wisdom.

"The God Queens reigned without any great challenge from with or without, for their ancestor Queen Escannor had bound a great power to her bloodline. The Heart of Meridian," Yan Lin went on. The next illustration showed a majestic woman surrounded by a circle of light. Before her vague shapes that Will thought might be people bowing spread.

"The Heart of a world holds great power, but unlike your Heart of Kandrakar, it's a power wielded by one. And it was the way of Meridian that whichever daughter of Escannor's line inherited the Heart reigned supreme as Queen."

"Go girl power, the princes just move furniture for the balls?" Irma asked cheekily. Yan Lin opened her eyes and showed and other page. Showing two rows of beautiful red hared women in gowns and other fancy attire.

"There were no princes. Every child of this line was female. Why, I cannot say, some magic of Escannor's, the Heart, or something else entirely.

"But a day came when things changed. A son was born to the sole Princess of Meridian. He was named Phobos, a name that means not only fear but conquest in Meridian," Yan Lin said, setting the book aside.

"Geeze, were there too many Saurons for that to be trendy as a baby name?" Cornelia griped. Hay Lin shushed her before turning attention back to Yan Lin.

"The boy Phobos was unique in many ways. Not only was he a man of Escannor, but he was a very rare man of magic. Magic which is rarely found on Meridian save among women.

"Time passed and the boy grew toward manhood. He grew in power alone, save for a girl who would grow into his right hand who studied beside him. When the Heart of Meridian passed from his grandmother to his mother, who turned a blind eye to the dark signs about her son, it was all but accepted he would reign one day as king.

"But the Queen bore another child. A girl, a true heir to the line of Escannor.

"Unwilling to stand aside from what he regarded as his birthright, Prince Phobos seized power in a bloody coup, murdering his own family. Save for his sister, who was secreted away to safety.

"While many rose to oppose Phobos, he called to his side mighty armies and lifted up monsters long driven to shadows by his ancestors. And other horrors were created by him and his paramour to tighten their grip.

"But he does not have the Heart of Meridian, and without that he can never truly rule Meridian. And as an unlawful ruler, Kandrakar raised the Veil to trap this evil and keep it from spreading to other worlds.

"His sister was sent here, to Earth, and hidden. Yet Earth is where the Veil is weakest. And the threat of Guardians has held him back as his world withers under his tyranny.

"But now, his time grows short, and he will know you stand against him, new in your power. I fear the battle for Meridian is already your war."

"Then that snake monster…"

"Lord Cedric, the Left Hand of Phobos and commander of his Legions."

"Haha! Lord, eh? I hop there isn't a Lady Cedric right guys? Guys?" Irma forced a laugh, looking around at the others.

"This is all real?" Taranee asked.

"Yes. I'm sorry, but unlike me and my Circle, you will not have the luxury of time or small fires to put out first. That boy today was likely a rebel, one of those who still resist. And that is the fate all too common on the other side.

"They need you, for if nothing changes an entire world will die," Yan Lin sighed.

X X X

He struggled to stand and not be dragged like luggage catching glimpses of robed men and ladies watching from beyond the columns.

'I need to pay attention, this intelligence could be valuable.' Then Cedric grabbed the chain short and lifted him off the ground to swing in front of him. Caleb dangled, only able to see the pale underbelly of the snake.

"Behold the son of Julian, Caleb the Rebel," Cedric proclaimed. And dropped Caleb to the floor. Naked stone, Caleb thought, blinking away the impact; guess they ran out of fancy carpet.

"Well done, Lord Legatus," a man said with a smug tone.

'That's him, I can actually see the tyrant face to face,' Caleb realized, rolling to his knees. Since the shattering of the Council's last army, the Prince had not taken to the field. And the Mage had been insistent that he not spy in person at any mission the Usurper would be present for. Even without the Heart of Meridian, an Escannor was still of divine descent.

Lifting his head, he saw the crafter of the world's woes.

Disappointing, just a pale-haired man who might pass for a woman in the right light, without the goatee. Needlessly elaborate robes adorned with the Escannor crest, at least not gaudy in color or design like some nobles or that heretic Hestine.

Though the smug look, yes, that was expected. The way the Usurper leaned forward, smiling without showing any teeth, a gleam in his eyes… Caleb wanted to punch him in the face, probably would even if they were strangers just meeting.

"So, this is it? My, what a disappointment. Your father had a certain presence, as I recall. I never heard who your mother was, a peasant who you take after instead of your noble father, I presume?" Phobos chuckled.

'This mere peasant has caused you a lot of trouble.' He wished he could say it. But anything he said could be twisted into mockery, silence was his best defiance.

"My Prince," a woman at the Usurper's side spoke up. He had overlooked her in the shadow cast by the throne, but now she stepped forward at the Prince's gesture.

Lady Van. Her pale robe in this light make her seem a phantom from the moors. The moist skin of her neck and cheeks also catching the torchlight as her eyes moved over him.

'Not her. I can stand pain, but who knows what abominations she may inflict, forcing me to talk despite my will?' he wondered as she raised a moist webbed hand to stroke the side of her neck.

"I fought his father at the Surging Fords. He has the same eyes, the light of the killer is in them, shining bright and clear. General Julian did leave an heir," Lady Van remarked.

"Shall I take him to the tower, my Prince?" Cedric asked.

"No, not yet. He is well in hand, and there are other matters. Take him to the Pit. And well done in your hunt, Lord Cedric," Phobos chuckled.

The court joined in the Prince's mirth as the crimson serpent dragged Caleb out the way they had come. Except for one, he was certain. Lady Van's eyes were steady, following him until the great doors closed behind them.

X X X

This was hands down the worst sleepover ever, Will thought.

She had not come prepared, nor had Taranee. And as generous as Hay Lin offering pajamas was, it was new clothes in an unfamiliar place with people she barely knew. And she could not sleep because her head was still full to bursting with too much information.

And any house sound was liable to set off her giant snake monster alarm.

Sighing, she sat up in the sleeping bag to look around the dark basement. Apparently the local trio in the past had used Hay Lin's bedroom, but five was too many.

Of course she would be the only one to not nod off.

Her mouth felt lousy. No toothbrush. Well, rinse again and see if she could do something about that.

She made her way to the basement half bath, not caring to keep quiet. Too late at night, or was it early morning for that?

Flicking the light on without closing the door, she grabbed the mouthwash from where she had left it and poured into a dixie cup. Taking the swig, she started to clean her mouth with tingly blue liquid sloshing between her cheeks.

"Ahem!" Cornelia spoke up. Will glanced over to see the blonde frowning as she sat on the toilet.

Spitting blue mouthwash on her in the small room, looking back, was not the best action.

"You dork!" Cornelia shrieked, jumping to her feet and smacking her pajama shirt's front. Blinking, Will noticed her pats were in place and the seat was down on the toilet. So, she had just been literally sitting on the toilet in the dark?

But her mouth was quicker than her mind, so she said:

"Christ! Don't sneak like that!" Will yelled back, hand pressed on her own chest.

"Wazzthis!" Irma demanded. The girl was blinking against the light, hands braced on the door frame. The other two girls were looking past her.

"Ugh! This is disgusting!" Cornelia whined, trying to hold the wet cloth away from her while still wearing it.

"Cornelia was on the toilet!" Will said, fiercely pointing to the blonde.

"…Can we all agree this is a messed up night to go with a messed up day?" Taranee sighed.

"Well, flying was awesome, not messed up. It was cool before the snake guy stole the cute guy," Hay Lin pointed out.

That did remarkably little to help, Will thought.

Though judging by the glares she was getting, she may have said that out loud.

"Okay, this is crazy. We have to do something. I say we start by getting that boy back from the monster," Cornelia said, getting back down on her porcelain throne.

X X X

The Dungeons of Escannor, one of the few places in the Castle that did not seem to be affected by the Blight, Van thought, as Vathek led her through the labyrinth of dripping underground passages.

When Escannor chose to build her new capital nearly two millennia ago, the first had been the rudimentary keep that she resided in along with her court. The beginnings of the glorious structure that would proclaim the power of the Escannor line for ages to come. The second thing, a system of cells built into the vey foundations of that keep.

That first God Queen had many enemies, both grand and small. And she had preferred to keep her prisoners close. Some say her tendency to imprison vanquished rulers and other foes was mercy, part of her nature as the great woman ending the era of strife.

Others whispered that she enjoyed the power of locking them up so as to draw out their suffering at her leisure. That she kept her prisoners not only as hostages to the fallen kingdoms' and Houses' behavior, but as trophies of how great a former camp follower had become compared to the former masters of Meridian.

The original complete dungeon had been finished more than three years before the main castle. Escannor had spent a lot of time overseeing and assisting this complex of cells, oubliettes, pits, and torture chambers. And none of it connected by, say, a grid pattern or blocks like a modern prison. If the first God Queen had a model, it seemed have been some beast's innards.

The turnkeys told tales of apprentices getting lost and dying of starvation in the massive complex. After all, just as the Castle had been expanded and renovated by subsequent generations of Queens, so too had the dungeon received its share of expansions, and certain Queens tailor made cells and oddities of torment.

Budget being the mundane thing it was, the place was usually understaffed, quite functional, but the simple fact was even Phobos had never once actually filled this place up. Rumor of secret passages or cave-ins that opened ways into natural caves, sewers, or ancient ruins were the stuff of Castle tall tales.

This was no facility of rehabilitation; there was no pretense of mercy, or it being for the prisoners' own good, somehow. This place was what it had always been, a place to throw those society or its rulers were angry with as punishment.

Even sweet, reform-minded Weira had thought as much. More discerning about who she threw in, oh my yes. Pardoned quite a few, yes. But consider prison as anything more than a rot box for problems? No.

The turnkeys had not gone hungry under the late Queen.

The Pit was one of many, actually. But it was the closest one to the surface, and thus easer to secure. After all, as Escannor herself had thought, escaping when the most powerful beings on the planet are just upstairs is unlikely.

Reaching what looked like an oversized well in the floor, Van looked down it, her eyes easily piecing the gloom to see the man chained to the wall. Phobos had taken her on a tour of the dungeons early in their friendship. One item had been the slime the walls produced; thin and almost unseen, it was slick, thwarting any attempt to climb out while creating an illusion of possible escape.

All told by that boy with the same pride as he had in the gardens. Ah, what a messed up world this was.

"Do you want me to withdraw, my lady?" Vathek asked. Van cast a sideways glance at the large Galhot. She had checked him some, and there was no sign he was a spy. The first time around, Will had attributed his survival to evil having blind spots. But either he was actually loyal among all the changes, or the big guy was quite brilliant at covering his tracks as dungeon master for the regime and master spy for the rebels.

His record, attested by witnesses, had him awarded this post for distinguished service against the Rebellion. Including torturing a rebel officer into revealing a cache of weapons and a number of contacts and safe houses in one of the major towns of the Crown Province.

He shifted his feet under the regard of one of her eyes. An Eye Frog leapt out of her sleeve to the moist stones and hoped off while he watched. Van supposed events would vindicate or condemn him.

Either way, she said nothing and leapt down the Pit.

Caleb recoiled a bit at her landing; even if he had heard her, people always seemed surprised when she actually jumped around like a frog. Pulling out a vial of water, she shook it, forming the words in her mind. The water answered her and started to glow with a lovely icy blue light.

Judging by his scowl, Caleb did not appreciate the extra light was for his benefit rather than hers.

It really was him. She had not seen Caleb for over twenty years, but her mind felt like the dust of time had been blown off those memories, letting her see the face of that old comrade again. It was the same face, same shade of hair. Even the same duster jacket?

Ah, but the face was different, wasn't it? Controlling his feelings he might be, but his feelings were hardly concealed. Removed from the awe of the court room, he now looked on her with lethal intent. If the roles were reversed, he would need a reason not to kill her, wouldn't he?

It hurt. But not as much as she feared it might. Had he not meant as much to her as she had thought, or was it simply that she knew it was reasonable for him to feel this way? To him, she was just an enemy, distinguished only by the greater level of damage done to his side in his war.

Perhaps it was also the fact she was a woman and doctor now, and not a girl running wild with emotions as a Guardian?

"Van Rivers," he spoke up, breaking her reverie. Oh yes, this was happening now, wasn't it? Silly, silly her.

"Lady Van, or Dr. Rivers. Respect, please," she answered with practiced reflex. There was a list of who could address her so informally to her face. Both her due for hard work, and the fact that in this world if people got away with not respecting you they next tried walking over you. She would not repeat Weira's folly.

"Respect? Your title was earned in bed from the tyrant. And your doctors have done little to earn my respect."

"Actually, I received my personal noble title from Queen Weira. As for the doctor crack," Van answered. She spat the water bullet, cracking the stone two hand lengths from his head. He didn't flinch.

She smiled wide. Ah, still as brave and stubborn as ever. It warmed her heart.

"Did you have something to say?"

"You have somewhere to be?"

"Overthrowing a tyrant tends to eat up your days. This little break, I can't afford to stretch it too long," he shrugged.

"Ha! I'd say you have your father's spirit, but I seen to recall only meeting him face-to-face once, and there wasn't much banter. We were trying to kill each other," Van remarked. Not true, of course, but she wasn't going to reference her beforetime in these circumstance.

"I look forward to picking up where he left off with you," Caleb said.

"…Would you be so bold if I told you that I was here to take you to the Grand Hospit and pry answers from you on my operating table?" Van asked, leaning close. Ah, he tensed; yes he feared it, but his eyes didn't waver.

She was glad he didn't do something as uncouth as spit her face, only words.

"I have prepared for that since I first heard the stories," he told her. Smiling, Van ruffled his hair, always so scruffy.

"Oh, you precious little resistance fighter, you! Even if I released you and made it look like your own work to make Cedric look bad, you'd still have pleasant dreams of cutting my head off and frying my legs in butter for a feast, wouldn't you?" she chuckled.

"…I wouldn't eat you, who knows where you've been and what you have gotten into," he remarked.

"Heh, this grows tiresome with your impotent posturing. So I think I will leave you to the dark, and see if this isolation and darkness will erode your will like so many defiant souls before you," Van said.

Turning her back, she looked up the shaft, gauging the distance. She supposed her questions had been answered. Unpleasant answers, but not unexpected.

"Van Rivers.

"If not me, then another. The Rebellion is more than one man," the rebel leader said to her back. She responded without turning, crouching on the cold slimy stones.

"I know, but I know how much difference one can make. Pray for light, son of Julian," Van said. Without another word, she leapt out of the Pit, leaving her once-but-no-longer friend in darkness.

Much had changed, and much had not. Time to see if that would carry forward in this new phase. As Vathek escorted her out, she sent word to Phobos with a frog, she was retiring to the Grand Hospit for now.

What she had felt earlier, at that vision. It would be too risky to directly encounter them now.

'WITCH.'

X X X

Some days made Tegus think about hanging up his hat, digging up his hoard, and simply settling down on one side of the Veil or other.

Oh, who was he kidding? For all the exoticness and pleasures of Earth, he felt out of place here. It was not home, be it ever so war-torn and rotting. Retiring here would never bring him peace.

But the greater deception was that he would retire at all. He was a rogue, and he would remain one until it killed him.

Still, what a revolting series of events. That Caleb was as thick-headed as a Lurden when he sniffed out any possible edge over the Court. Turning a simple theft into effectively kicking a sneg nest, said snegs being angry Guards and Legionaries out in force because they got attacked in the Castle, with their own weapon no less.

And no payday. If this were business, Caleb and his cronies would be out of it. But no, this was war, so somehow utter failure made them more determined to struggle on, despite the lack of pay.

But in the meantime, they had paid him a meager sum to see if Caleb had escaped to Earth and was laying low. Some threats were sent as well, they were not fond of his sensible self, after all.

He had been asking around the local beggars, or homeless as they called them here. He had a good thing going on there. They knew nothing except he usually had some cash or other good stuff for any strange happenings or new crazies popping up.

And nothing of note was coming up, despite hours pounding the pavement of Heatherfield.

So, he was guessing Caleb had gotten caught, and he would come back to find the Loyalists crowing about it.

Which would be fine. The Rebels would be mad, but he doubted they would blame him for Cedric's competence. And Van would not be giving him a quiet earful about dancing on the line.

But the sign had been put up.

Which meant the Guardian wanted to speak with him.

That woman was stupidly strong and utterly immune to his wily ways with women. And she never wanted to see him for anything good.

So, yes, days like this made him think abut hanging up his hat, Tegus thought, making his way through the streets of Heatherfield, looking every inch the frayed but not unsightly impoverished man, wearing a far less impressive hat.

He would change for the lady, but first he needed some privacy.

X X X

"I still think the gun idea deserved more consideration," Irma groused, arms crossed over her new bust, as she glared over to where the other girls congregated. In general, they were all lost in thought, this being their second time turned into giant Tinkerbells. It was still a lot to process, not even considering the trip into Tolkien's nightmare they were about to take.

"Grandma had a point, Irma," Hay Lin defended, flitting about a foot or two off the ground, "Besides, she said bullets would have probably bounced off that thing anyways."

"Oh that is SUCH a comfort," Taranee chimed in, rolling her eyes in lieu of the shudder she held back.

"And you got the nifty water thingy!" Hay Lin added, pointedly ignoring Taranee's negativity, "I heard that water jets can cut sheet metal. That sounds way cooler than a dumb gun."

"When is that guide going to get here?" Cornelia said from where she sat crosslegged on the ground. She had taken a seat on the barren earth as the grass and weeds kept growing under her. Will thought she was crabby because Taranee had managed to fly this morning. Meaning the blonde was the only one land-locked.

"Grandma said it could take awhile. Good thing I brought snacks," Hay Lin said, eating an apple slice from the big lunch box she had brought. They had brought four backpacks worth of supplies. They couldn't wear them due to the wings. Hay Lin had gotten on Cornelia's bad side by theorizing that as Earth, the blonde may not fly at all and suggested she carry the backpacks.

And apparently putting backpacks onto wings is very uncomfortable, from Cornelia's effort.

"Someone's coming!"

Suddenly the sound of footsteps on the rough ground behind them captured the girls' attention and all five quickly turned to see a somewhat raggedy man in a wide-brimmed hat stepping out from the shadow of the bridge. From beneath the brim of his very notable hat, the somewhat rugged human-seeming figure's eyes seemed to glimmer with some mischief as he appraised the five.

"What a sight. An old friend told me Guardian generations came in fives; she neglected to mention it was five kinds of beautiful," he said, tipping his hat and setting a foot forward in some kind of bow.

"Really?" Taranee reasoned, unamused. Hay Lin and Irma by contrast were smiling at the man. Irma spoke up, even.

"Hey T, don't rain on the parade when it's not only for you."

"So Tegus, we meet at last," Yan Lin said, stepping out of yet another shadow. No wonder secret stuff happened under bridges, it was thick with hiding places. The scruffy man replaced his hat and gave Yan Lin an appraising look.

"You're the old woman from the Silver Dragon. You work for the Guardian," he said.

"Alas, no more. That Guardian is no more; these five fledglings have taken her place," Yan Lin sighed. Will didn't think that was just acting.

'Oh crap, I was grossed out about her wearing one of these outfits! But did the Heart let her be young again? And that's done? That sucks,' Will thought, guilt rising up in her.

"Sorry to hear that, she was a formidable creature- woman," the Meridian man corrected himself. He relaxed a bit though; Will thought she saw it in his shoulders. And a slight smirk on Yan Lin's wrinkled face. How exactly had she gotten this guy on her personal speed dial, Will wondered?

"They need your services as a guide to Meridian," Yan Lin told him.

"What? But the other never-"

"Things change, Portal Plunger."

"I don't suppose you ladies want a tour of the countryside? The south coast is quite lovely this time of year," he said, looking out upon the water.

"You're going to be showing us the way to the evil overlord's castle," Cornelia told him.

"Of course. Well, I suppose I can be at the service of a group of lovely ladies," He said, stepping forward and taking off his hat. And walking over to Will.

He held out his and and Will reflexively reached out thinking to shake it, only for him to take it and go down on one knee. And kissed the back of her hand.

Surprisingly soft, and warm. Not at all wet.

It was over quick, and he lifted his head to smile ar her.

"When did you want to depart, for my troubled homeland, O' Guardians of the Veil?" he asked her.

Author's Note:

This was as unexpected as most anything is to Gedatsu. Heh, little fandom joke. Now i am sorry for the xcontonied delays to long running projects. I was trying to write chapters for Dragon and Horse, Queen of all Oni, and Queen of Shadows; but this story just clicked for me. And rather than fight it I followed a friends advice and just followed my muse.

Hopefully I can return to work on those other three. For QoaO I would like to at least get it close to done this year. And the others are overdue an update. But as recent times show writing can be a fickle thing.

I can only offer an assurance i have not given up on these or other stories on my account here. And in the meantime I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Special thanks to Trackula who wrote a part of the Guardian transformation scene; detailing Will noticing her wings. Superb work from a superb writer.

Long days and pleasant nights to you all.