Guardians of Eos

Prelude to Destiny

By DayDreamer9, Sokai, Senshi of Valis, JayxKay, and Atasuki Will

Disclaimer

Sokai: Never will the series, W.I.T.C.H., ever be claimed to be owned by us -- because then we'd just end up in jail and could no longer write for you nice people. However, where the plot, new characters/attacks/anything else that doesn't seem familiar to the original series are concerned, we DO own -- so back off. Lol.

DayDreamer9: Nicely said Sokai-sama I hail to the Master of WITCH fics and I hope this group effort will turn out better than the last ones I tried solo. Humor me if there's too much detail, that's just my writing style, and it's all thanks to this fine gal that I'm finally getting this idea off the ground "bows to Sokai" Now, this is my first WITCH fic that I’ve posted – thanks to my good friend Sokai – and I hope you enjoy the prelude to our group effort. Read away!

()---()

She had no idea where she was.

It looked like she was in the middle of empty space, surrounded only by clouds. Unsure of what to do next, she just kept looking around, trying desperately to find something she recognized. But all she was met with were murky surroundings and a cloudy sky as she looked around frantically. Where was she? Where was her house? Turning around, she realized that she was wearing nothing, her soft brown skin completely bare. Gasping in shock, she wrapped her arms around her midriff and drew in her legs, all primarily out of instinct. It was then, however, that she realized she was now suspended in midair, with nothing to hold her up! Yet she did not fall, but still found it terribly difficult to relax.

What is this place? she thought, fearfully……but didn’t wish to dwell on it; she wanted to leave this place, wherever it was.

She figured that since she was floating, the best way to move was by swimming. Taking a deep breath, she kicked out with her legs and moved her arms as if she were swimming at the beach pool she always visited over the summer. She ‘swam’ forward at a quick pace, hoping that she’d find a way out of this…this…place.

But she hadn’t gone three feet when her nose smacked into something.

Falling back a bit, the slim girl rubbed her nose, and looked up to see what she hit.

But there was nothing there!

Confused, the girl looked around tensely for a while. Nervous, but curious as well, she slowly ‘swam’ forward, timidly reaching out with her hand. Her fingers brushed against something, something solid and cool. Like glass. Her jaw dropped in a silent gasp as she brought her other hand up to another section of the so-called empty air. Her hand hit something solid – glass. That was when she saw reflected light off what she thought was a glass wall She followed the light’s arching path upwards and downwards, reflecting into corners and points at top and bottom, and soon she realized that the glass wasn’t just a wall in front of her…but a crystal!

She was trapped inside a giant, diamond-shaped crystal!

Feeling more than mere panic now, she began to beat her fists against the glass as hard as she could, trying to break the strange glass prison. But it never even cracked. Out of desperation, she began to cry out, calling to her friends, to her family, to anyone. She was trapped, with no way of escape, and she was alone. That was when the space and clouds around her began to churn and darken, until it was as if she was inside a storm cloud. Storms were never really okay with her, though this one seemed different, and caused her to look around again in fear. Even though she was in an enclosed space, she could tell that the wind outside picking up and the air pressure was dropping. She knew that wind was probably slamming into the flat sides and it was beginning to rain, droplets splattering upon the crystal above her.

Then, another noise reached her ears – a cracking, splintering sound.

Looking up, she gave a gasp of horror when she spotted the thin, spider web cracks making its way down from the top of the diamond-shape to the middle. What would happen when the glass broke? Would she fall into the murky clouds about her? Watching the cracks warily, she scrambled backwards, away from them, but then a flash of silver caught her eye. Glancing to her left, she spotted something that framed the glass; it looked like silvery strips of metal. Biting her lip, she scrambled towards it, as the cracks grew wider and soon covered the crystal, wondering if she could grasp the settings before she fell.

CHING!

And earsplitting sound echoed around her as the glass diamond broke, crystalline shards raining down around her. Covering her head with her arms, she squeezed her eyes shut as she felt the cold, forceful wind against her skin, raindrops pelting her hair. For a while, she felt cold and like she was exposed to harm as the sound of thunder rumbled down from the sky. She was out in the middle of some crazy storm and she had no idea where she was; her heart was racing as she cringed at another boom of thunder, she didn’t like this place and she didn’t…

Ellie…

Her eyes flew open.

Her name…someone said her name…

It was a young, masculine voice, but it didn’t seem to have been spoken aloud, nor did it seem to come from anywhere. Glancing around, she suddenly noticed that she was now suspended in midair, with only the cold wisps of wind blowing at her skin and the metal spiraling around her. Gasping, she whirled around to grab the strip of metal, when…

Ellie…

The voice came again, but it was joined by other voices, all almost lost in the howling wind …

She hesitated for an instant to comprehend this. Unfortunately, she had missed her opportunity to grasp the metal when she stopped for a second…and found herself dropping away from the metal frame. With a cry of shock and alarm, she felt herself drop through the cold, dark clouds as rainwater was blown into her face, mixing with the tears of fright that were forming. Wind whipped mercilessly at her hair and figure as she plummeted, her face shielded only by her hands as she cried for help.

Ellie…

She barely registered the voices again – this time joined by even more voices – as she collapsed onto a hard, chilled surface in a heap. Sprawled out onto the cold, featureless floor, the rain began to come down harder and colder than last time. The wind picked up again as she slowly began to draw in her legs, pushing herself into a kneeling position. Wrapping her arms around her wet, cold body, she shivered quietly as she tried to shake the rain from her hair…but more would always pelt down to soak her again. She didn’t know where she was, but she hated it…she wished it would go away…that she would be able to go home…

Ellie…

The voices again…more than last time…louder…like a chorus…calling her name…

Looking up, letting water run down her face, she looked up to the clouded sky, trying to find the ones who called to her. Could they help her? Could they take her away from this place? Peering through the murkiness of the storm clouds above, ignoring the booming thunder, she could barely see anything but rain and the featureless landscape she was in. Was she just imagining the voices? Was the whole turn of events making her hallucinate? She was scared and she didn’t understand; why was this happening? What was happening?

Suddenly, from above, a burst of piercing white light lanced through the clouds and banished the chilled air. Warmth radiated from the air around the startled girl as she looked up in shock, skin now growing warm with the appearance of the light, at the opaque glow above her as it grew brighter and brighter, banishing the storm clouds, banishing her fear, and letting warmth flow in to her being.

Ellie!

()---()

With a gasp of alarm, 22-year old Ellie Milleret bolted upright in her bed, chocolate brown eyes wide with shock.

Looking wildly around her room, her wavy, medium-length brown-red hair flying around her face, she let out a relieved sigh when she saw that she was within the safety of her room, in her house. Despite the darkness that nighttime induced, she could still see her pale blue walls, anime posters, and wall scrolls hanging all about her room, her nightstand sitting to the right of her bed with a radio alarm clock showing ‘12:00’ in bold red LCD letters. Clutching the thick, green frog-printed comforter of her bed with sweaty hands, the slender girl swallowed hard as she wiped sweat from her forehead. Taking deep breaths to calm herself, she glanced out the window, the shades half opened with the royal blue curtains drawn slightly. She could vaguely make out the sight of rain glowing in the streetlights as she heard the wind howl around the house, accompanied soon after by a low rumble of thunder.

Well no wonder I had that crazy dream, Ellie thought, shakily, the weather’s just terrible! Just hope it doesn’t start raining cats and dogs tomorrow…

Then, a low rumble reverberated in the sky, reverberating through the clouds and reaching her room, almost seemingly making the walls shake. Despite herself, Ellie shuddered as a cold feeling blanched over her, making her head fuzzy and her heart race. It took a couple seconds for her to relax as she convinced herself that it was only a storm and that it should pass soon. Taking another deep breath to calm her nerves, the young woman lowered herself back into her bed, pulling the covers up to her ears.

Still……it was weird……she thought as she began to drift back to sleep, safe within her bed, ……it was like I was really there………and that voice……

()---()

Infinity.

Most assume that it is emptiness, cold, and dark.

But at its heart, it’s nothing like that at all.

The kingdom of Kandrakar was filled with pure white clouds and endless blue sky. Light was everywhere, illuminating the serene sky, and reflecting off the crystalline-opal walls of the Temple of the Congregation. Its appearance was that of a chapel, almost, with wondrous towers, arches, and windows without glass that let the cool breeze blow through the pillars of its insides. Neither time nor space existed here, allowing the architecture to be without age. Inside of the great temple were rooms, arches, and pillars of marble. Statues of great beasts lay scattered throughout the rooms and mosaics seemed to be on every inch of the walls and ceiling. There were a great amount of rooms within the building, but one was secluded from the rest.

Located down a long marble white hallway was a room of tranquility, a placid pond of emerald water with lily pads of pink and white flowers floating from one corner to another. On the four far walls were pictures carved into the marble, pictures of beings mostly humanoid performing magnificent feats that a normal human couldn’t control. Calling rain, shooting fire from their hands, flying through the clouds, bringing forth light…The pictures of wonder continued upwards, towards the ceiling that seemed to have no end. An archway and a platform were to the West of the room, but nobody occupied it. Rather…

…the occupant was already within the room.

The Oracle, the all-knowing being who ruled over the Heart of Infinity, floated two feet about the water’s surface, deep in concentration. All knowing and all seeing, he could see through vast distances of space and time, anything that Infinity held. This room was a sanctuary of sorts to him, a place where he could allow his mind to travel without being disturbed by other members of the Congregation. Eyes closed and hands folded into the billowing white sleeves of his robe, he was in the ‘Sitting Lotus’ position, and the very visage of tranquility. Now, he was using his powers to look over the world within a universe parallel to his, to gaze over the cityscape of the city belonging to the five girls he had anointed nearly two years ago…

The home of the Guardians: Heatherfield.

He smiled as he thought of the five young girls who defended the Veil. He closed his dark, yet wise eyes as he saw all of the girls together, smiles present and friendship stronger than any power in the universes. The shy red-haired leader Will, the bubbly brunette Irma, the quiet dark-skinned Taranee, the determined blond Cornelia, and the artsy free-spirited Hay Lin. They all were young, yet they possessed Magic that most only wished they could possess. And to think that they’d come from a normal human city rather than a world where Magic existed openly.

The Oracle chuckled to himself as he looked into his mind’s eyes, upon the seaside city where fields of heather lay to the west and mountains to the north. With a gentle flick of his hand, the water below him began to swirl in a clockwise motion, slowly at first and then a bit faster. The aquamarine surface began to mist over as the small circle of water spun faster and faster until it became a whirlpool of mist, forming a strange picture within it. Soon, the picture shaped from a blob to a scene, no, a place. The very same place he’d gazed over in his mind’s eye: Heatherfield.

It’s hard to believe that such a wonderful city was a battleground many times, he thought, remembering more than one magical battle having been fought on the civilian grounds.

It seemed so fresh in his mind the day when the five young girls were anointed, when they freed Meridian, when they cast down Nerissa once and for all, when they’d settled the war in Arkhanta. So many times they’d saved Heatherfield, Earth, Kandrakar, and many of its neighboring worlds. The Veil, the cosmic fabric that acted as a wall between all worlds, was gone and Phobos was now no longer a threat. Hidden from all who dwelled in the Earth city was the secret of the five girls, the five Guardians who had protected everyone without their knowledge. Even to this day, they were oblivious to the trials the Guardians undertook for their world.

And for others…The Oracle recalled…when a familiar breeze wafted through the spacious room.

VRUSH!

The picture of Heatherfield was swept away by a sudden wave of floral winds, a scent of lotus carried with it. Lips curving upwards in a smile, The Oracle opened his wise, all-seeing eyes and stared before him as a flurry of scents blended with the serene wind began to gather like a small tornado before him, hovering parallel to himself. The pale wind held a light in its center, a light that began to flare brighter and brighter until, in a soft flash, a figure was revealed, the light fading away to show its splendid, regal features. The Oracle’s smile widened as the last of the light washed away form the figure’s body, allowing it to stand in midair before the wise man amidst the floral wind.

“It is good to see you again my old friend,” The Oracle said as the figure across from him bowed politely.

A rippling lupine body was what stood before him, sleek pale fur almost the very color of the lotus as it shined in the room’s light. Four slender, yet strong legs supported the noble beast, well groomed and all four ankles graced with golden braces inlaid with emerald-cut pearls. A similar golden brace fitted around its neck, like a royal collar, shining flawlessly in the light of the room, a large circular pearl on its front. The smooth milky surface contrasted to the clear crystals that lined the rest of its collar as it raised its long, powerful neck. Behind it, nine long, pristine fox tails flowed and fluttered in the breeze it generated around it. Adorning its head was another pearl; not as large and fitting between its crystalline liquid blue eyes, a golden vine trim surrounding it. Its triangular long ears stood alert as streaks of longer pale-colored fur flowed behind its smooth head. Then, a smile slowly curved upwards along its muzzle as its liquid eyes glistened.

“It is good to see you as well, Himmerish,” the kitsune said, its voice serene and light, like the wind itself.

At the use of his real name, the all-seeing ruler of the Congregation’s smile growing more radiant. Before him stood a friend he had made millennia ago, even before he met Tibor, when he had just become The Oracle. Amongst the Congregation were many who were charged with watching certain sectors of the cosmos; The Oracle’s own jurisdiction ended at the edge of Earth’s galaxy, but that didn’t mean others didn’t watch over and govern other galaxies. Many were given domains to rule, worlds beyond his order to watch and protect. The being before him was one of the members of the Congregation that was charged with a galaxy beyond Earth, charged with watching and protecting it, defending it from outside evils. He was a good friend who he hadn’t seen for millennia, but was all the more welcome to visit his private quarters at any time in Infinity’s loop. A trusting, confidant being that he viewed as a worthy ally.

“Ten-ko Mamoru,” he addressed the celestial fox, “it has been a while.”

The nine-tails nodded and, in a movement as sleek as water, sat back on his haunches, liquid eyes focused on his old friend as his tails curled themselves around his paws.

“It has,” the fox replied, his light masculine voice not betraying his true age, “I only wish I could have appeared to you at a leisure and not of business.”

This caught The Oracle’s attention.

“Business?” he asked, brow furrowing as he caught a look of great concern in his friend’s deep set gaze.

“Yes,” came the fox’s gentle reply, “of the utmost urgency.” Tails fidgeting, he looked the kneeling man square in the eye. “As you know, it has been a millennia since assistance has been required on my key world, the world that is the center of my ruling, but now it must be sanctioned once more. And I believe, my friend, that you have sensed it too.”

Realizing the meaning of his friend’s words, The Oracle furrowed his brow as he mentally reached out with his magic of seeing all things. He could see anything, anywhere, and anytime if he wished, even another’s domain albeit it was very limited. He could only just sense things within the worlds beyond his jurisdiction as it was complied with eons ago. To actually see the happenings, he would need his friend’s permission and he had merely been asked to use his powers of perception as far as sensing went. It wasn’t hard for him to locate the area of power in the cosmos that was Ten-ko Mamoru’s domain; a galaxy tinted with the scent of a lotus and an aura of pale, windy light. However, as he felt its natural serenity – a world naturally left untouched by violence and pollution, unlike Earth – he also felt something amiss. Just underneath the serene light and soothing fragrance, he felt a strange, bubbling aura of immense power. A power that was far different from his friends’, its power was darker and more turbulent, yet at the same time contained in a single area.

A darker power, like living night with an arctic chill kept sealed away in a distant pocket of time-space that ran parallel to the key world, which was the fox’s version of Earth.

Instantly, he knew.

“The Darkness!” The Oracle gasped, his eyes flying open in shock, “it’s breaking the Seal!”

This came as a shock to him; he had thought his friend had aided in Sealing it away from the world it threatened forever, ensuring that it would never again break loose. But he could feel it ripping its way through the Seal that was placed on it eons ago, weakening it and slowly breeching the protective barrier. In a matter of time, it would break free and the utopian world his friend watched and guarded as he did Earth would be under attack by a horrid monstrosity that plagued it eons back. Ten-ko Mamoru was watching his friend’s shocked reaction calmly, yet his eyes held urgency as he straightened himself.

“Yes,” he complied, “and I need not tell you what will happen if it breaks free.” His ears twitched as he looked down below at the pool. The surface rippled and soon began to shape a visage from the aquamarine depths; hazy at first, but soon taking the shape of what first appeared to be a planet similar to Earth. However, something was different…clouds of darkness were swarming around its surface as if they were alive, like dark spiders devouring all the pure land on the peaceful emerald and sapphire globe. “Eos will once again return to a land of evil and darkness. I have no intention of allowing this…that is why I have invoked the ‘Summoning’.”

The image in the water was swept away with a ripple of unseen force as The Oracle fixed his wise eyes on his friend, worry and concern etched upon his face.

“You’re recalling them, then?” he asked, the image he had just scene worrying him greatly.

A moment’s pause before the lupine protector shook his head slowly, the movement causing the long tress’s on his head to sway and the gem upon his forehead to glisten.

“I cannot,” he said, softly, “too much time has passed for them in their dimension; they have gone on with their lives, they have families. I wish not to intrude upon their happiness.”

The Oracle nodded in understanding; such things had happened to his charges in the past as well and he felt that this was not the time to involve a parent in a war that may create orphans from their children.

“Then have you chosen new candidates?” he asked, but he already knew the answer upon looking into his friend’s eyes.

The celestial fox nodded, liquid blue eyes glistening.

“Five girls, Himmerish,” Ten-ko Mamoru stated, his voice taking on a tone of authority, “I already sent the chosen Keeper a premonition. With that done, she and the other’s powers should awaken further.”

The Oracle nodded as he understood his friend’s statement: in order to choose candidates for an upcoming task, you must first see if they have an innate ability for magic before you unlock it. This must be done over a year to make it flow gradually, yet if his friend had taken the step to contacting the Keeper…

“You aim on calling them to Eos soon,” he concluded, knowing the protocol.

“I must,” Ten-ko Mamoru replied, the wind about him picking up, “but have no fear; it will not be as it was with the last generation, I will not isolate them on my world. They are too young for that, but I cannot always be there to guide them, and they must rely on each other.” His ears drooped a bit as he flicked his tails about uneasily. “Yet unlike your charges, they’ve never even met one another, and two don’t work well with others. I only pray that they will be enough.”

The Oracle, using his powers without any outward motion, floated closer to his friend.

“I cannot always be with my charges either,” he informed, trying to project an aura of comfort to his friend as he felt him begin to show spiritual signs of distress, “and you forget that my charges were once strangers to each other as well. Yet they learned to work together and I trust your judgment on choosing your own.”

The kitsune said nothing for a while before looking back up to his friend.

“The first generation failed because of such things,” he reminded the humanoid protector, “and I could do nothing for them.”

Closing his eyes, The Oracle recalled the event, when his good friend had tried to anoint the beings of his world to fight the evil that had been sealed away centuries later. He recalled how they were unaccustomed to fighting and how they were unable to stop The Darkness. They had fought many good battles, but had lost just as many. In the end, they had failed, and his friend forever felt regret for forcing the burden on them. Placing a comforting hand on the fox’s shoulder, The Oracle waited until is crystalline eyes were focused on his before speaking in a clear, firm voice.

“What happened in the past shall not happen again; you undertook things to quickly at the start and for good reason, so don’t blame yourself. The Darkness is growing stronger and soon it shall shatter its Seal completely, we cannot afford this, and I can tell that you have already thought this through. You won’t fail again, Ten-ko, I promise you that,” he clarified, his face serene and carrying the utmost faith in his friend.

A faith that left the other speechless for a long time before he managed to speak.

“Thank you Himmerish,” he said, a slow smile creeping across his lips, “I thank you for your confidence in me and I’m glad to have come to you. I shall open the Gateway soon and the five will be drawn to it. Let us hope that you are right, Himmerish my friend, for this time…” His eyes narrowed until they were crystalline slivers. “…I fear that it might just be the final stand.”

()---()

Darkness swarmed through the pocket of space, clawing at every corner, stretching every square inch that held it at bay. It could feel the presence of the world beyond its prison and this only made it struggle harder. Yet it knew that it wasn’t nearly as strong as it were millennia ago, having been drained of most of its power, but it refused to wither away to nothingness in this abomination of a prison. Kept immobile by the very darkness that birthed it, the void-like entity had sensed the world’s protector momentarily exit his domain before returning, building up a large amount of power that was vast enough to reach it in its current state. It recognized the ‘Summoning’ aura that emitted from the outside realm and knew what was about to happen. Even now it was beginning and he had but enough time to warn its subordinates, the ones who remained loyal to it over the centuries, on their coming. In the meantime, it simply chose to wait as the great aura reached the limit it would need to call forth the new generation…

I think I shall enjoy this match…it thought, savoring the feel of the growing power…reminding it of the power it once and had and would soon come to wield again once it was free, yes……I think I shall enjoy them very much……it will be like old times……it’ll be my pleasure, and mine alone, to crush them…

It had to prepare…

…the Guardians were coming.

()---()

DayDreamer9: Ladies and gentlemen, there you have it; the very first installment in the saga we have planned. Sokai-sama has gone off to round up the rest of the gals and has left me with the honor of asking you all to hit that button on the bottom of the page and leave a review. We don’t accept flames, we will only throw water on them. But expect the next chapter to have a bit more action as you’ll meet the new Guardians in an all-to familiar setting: our reality. Stay tuned!