First shot at a WITCH fic. Hope I can do the show some justice!

Don't own WITCH, but love the series anyway!

Shedding Skin

Chap 1: As the wind blows

The Mage once again raised the scrying mirror from the floor carving where it rested. "Show me," she said softly, her ancient voice echoing in the green marble halls of the Infinite City. "Show me where this faint trail of magic resides."

For four years since the coronation of Elyon as the rightful queen of Meridian, the Mage had sensed some strange trace of magic coming from the two prisoners. Phobos, the half brother of Elyon who had tried to have his sister's magical powers stolen away and given to him, and his servant, the changeling monster named Cedric. The prince had wielded great amounts of stolen energy, so shifting through the slew of magical remnants had slowed the process down a great deal. Her mirror had been misled many times by those false trails. She had finally resorted to separating Cedric from him, as the shape-shifter's own magical aura had been acting like a shield of some kind to Phobos.

If the usurper prince had found some way to work magic again, this could be great trouble for Meridian. She had to find the source of this foreign power.

Her eyes widened in surprise at what the mirror revealed to her. This was indeed foreign magic, and it had been lost to Meridian for over five hundred years. "So," she breathed, "that's where you've been hiding. What a lovely trick you've played, little prince." She grimaced at the sight of what had been done, using her powers to set the mirror back to its resting place. "But to use an unwilling—oh, but this is truly the most wicked thing you have ever done." The ancient sorceress spoke a word of power, but her efforts were repelled. A thought brought out one of her aged scrolls from its place from one of the many shelves that lined her inner sanctum behind the waterfall. Telekinetic energy unrolled the spell, and she once again tried to undo the magic as she spoke aloud the powerful deowmer.

A shrill roar of pain sounded through the emerald corridors.

She shook her head, the folds of her cowl covering her white face in shadow. The scroll drifted back into place as she set out the beginnings of a calling spell. "This will require the Guardians' help. But could they be willing to take on such a challenge?"

(&&

At the restaurant, Cornelia was sitting in the booth with Caleb, talking about their latest trip to the mall. They had been fighting earlier, something about him eating too much chocolate. But when Taranee had mentioned the former rebel's habit of giving it away to poor children in the other world, Cornelia had instantly softened her tone. Caleb was now starting to blush at the high praise she was giving him. He began to get his regular fire back when she started talking again about ways to start building a mall over in Meridian.

Hay Lin chuckled to herself at their antics. They weren't exactly the best couple, but it was bound to be great while it lasted. They had been dating on and off for over four years, and were still rocky around each other. She glanced over to where Will and Matt sat at the opposite side of the room, their fingers laced together as they talked. The girl had changed quite a bit over the years, growing over a foot and a half, and letting her red hair get long enough to pull into a high ponytail. Matt had met his physical potential too, but had kept his black locks the same shaggy style.

Will was telling Matt some more of their many adventures in Meridian and Matt was trying to not gape like an idiot over her stories. Anyone could see that he was in awe of his girlfriend. And if said anyone needed proof of the fact, all you had to do was listen to his band's latest hit song, 'Wondergirl.'

The air guardian started to hum the song as some more customers came in, nearly skipping over to them to take their order. She began to sing full out as she came back to the kitchen to let her grandmother know of the order.

"Oh, she's a wonder-girl

And she's here to save the world

Going out to fight the demons

An army of night

By bringing out her powers

Of revealing light

They say she's just a girl

She'll never make it,

Though she tries

She's a just a girl

But she's a girl

Who really knows

How……to…..fly!

Oh, she's a wonder-girl

And she's here to save the world"-

"Double order of sesame chicken, grandma, with some wontons and fried rice," the cheerful girl called. The elder lady smiled, whacking her son on the back of the head with her wooden spoon. "You heard the girl, now get cracking," she said.

"Yes, mom," Mister Lin replied, expertly flipping the rice through the wok.

Hay Lin came back out to pour the drinks when the door suddenly burst open, a fierce wind blasting through. It swirled throughout the restaurant, rattling the lanterns and making people duck the flying napkins and food. Cornelia was tucked under Caleb's protective arms and Matt was shielding Will as best he could.

It was over in a moment. Cautiously, people got back up from where they had hidden, Cornelia blushing as she came up from the seat. "Is everyone alright?" Will asked the room at large. "Mostly whole," said Caleb, dusting off his jacket.

"Who left the door open?" The old lady asked from the kitchen.

"No one," Cornelia replied, picking bits of a fortune cookie from her hair, "but if someone did, I'd sue them for hair damage."

Hay Lin smiled reassuringly to the customers she had been approaching and went over and took Will's arm. "We need to get Irma and Taranee," she whispered urgently.

"What's up?" Will asked, surprised by the Asian girl's serious tone.

"That wind? That was from Meridian. From the Underground City." Hay Lin could barely hide her excitement. "It was from the Mage, Will!"

"What does she want?" Caleb said as he and the earth guardian came over, concerned. "Is something wrong in Meridian?"

"I don't know, but," the girl motioned them all closer so no one else could hear, "she told me where to make a portal to come see her. She said it was really urgent and that we would need to do something big."

"How big?" Will asked.

"Cedric big. She didn't say, but I think he might have escaped!"

()&(

Please review!