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W.I.T.C.H.: Guardian of the Guardians

Chapter 1: Meridian Rare

Orange-like skies, desolate houses, creatures that couldn't be described… and a rift in the air. Coming through the rift and seeing a rather historic European village from above was a large orange lizard with wings and a tail aflame. Seeing below, it appeared villagers were unaware of the new creature flying overhead. On its back, a raven-haired boy wore a blue sweat-tee over a black t-shirt and jeans rode along with a yellow mouse with a tail shaped in a lightning bolt. The boy wore a red baseball cap with the front designed black with a small green circle with a bigger semicircle acting as a dome. "Where did we end up, Pikachu?" he asked.

("I'm not sure, Ash,") the mouse squeaked. The lizard growled, unsure itself.

"It just feels like we've somehow traveled back in time." Before long, the three saw a group of people adjacent to the trees.

"Lord Phobos had promised us a unity among us Meridians," a young bald man explained. "However, the queen and her guardians not only have denied us this unity to rule among those, but banish anyone who dare commit treason." The crowd cheered on the words of their speaker. "We will go to villages around Meridian and assemble a tribe to send the queen to her chambers for her false allegations on our Lord Phobos!" The lizard stopped its travel as Ash and his creatures listened in. Turning, one of the people in the rally turned to see Ash and the creatures.

"A dragon!" he cried out. The lizard snarled, enraged by the name. The speaker worked his way through the crowd to confront the boy riding the flying creature. Ash leaped down to see the commotion.

"You! From the creature you ride upon, you must be aligned with those of the council!" Already, Ash felt cornered by the assumption.

"Slow down!" he urged. "We just got here!"

("We don't know what you're talking about!") the mouse squeaked.

"Of course you did," the speaker mocked. "The Council of Kandrakar would send their members around Meridian in their 'mission' for their peace." Ash struggled to understand the speaker's explanation.

"Kandrakar, Meridian, a council..." he repeated the list of words. "I don't know what you're talking about! I was training with my Pokémon when a rift opened, we're curious about it and you're accusing us of being something you all know?"

"Your lies will not tempt us, child. You are in possession of a dragon." The lizard snarled again, insulted to the reference.

"I could tell you that Charizard's not a dragon, but since you're not believing what I'm saying..." The mouse leaped from Charizard to Ash's shoulder, still squeaking in defense.

"Those clothes!" a member of the rally called out. "They're signs of someone from Earth!"

"Get them!" another member shouted. Charizard breathed fire from its snout and the mouse squeezed its cheeks to release a ray of electricity. The rally stepped back, staving from burn or shock. Ash needed to do something in a hurry.

'I can't release any Pokémon to attack these people,' he thought. 'They're not letting me speak, they've already assumed I'm part of some council.' The people began to hurl anything they could get their hands on: rocks, sticks, spears, sickles… They hurled it at Ash and the creatures. They covered up, almost none of the projectiles striking anything. Charizard formed a ball of energy within its snout before shooting. It struck a thrown dagger which created a concussive blast. Ash saw the result, knowing the attack. 'That was Dragon Rage. I can't say that attack's name. It would confirm their suspicions.'

("Look out, Ash!") the mouse squeaked. Ash turned to find a large rock flying in his direction.

"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" The mouse jumped from his shoulder with a glowing tail. With one swing, Pikachu pulverized the rock into pebbles. This astonished the rally.

"That mouse can harden its tail and shoot lightning at us?" awed one.

"Those creatures aren't normal!" another gulped. Ash came forward once more to make his claim.

"I did not come here to fight anyone!" he pleaded. "I came here out of curiosity! Battling is the last thing I want to do!" The people continued to hurl whatever wasn't stuck in the dirt. Charizard used its wings to bat away the blunt weapons. Ash figured his words fell on deaf ears. "This isn't good! They're not listening!" Ash turned away from the mob formed. Someone threw a club from the back and Ash turned back around. The club missed his head by inches.

"Get him!" someone from the crowd yelled out.

"Not good. Run!" Before Ash could take a step to run, a large rock smacked him in the back of the head. He fell and rolled on the dirt a few times, unconscious. His Pokémon instantly became worried.

("Ash!") squeaked Pikachu. Seeing the boy down, the mob seemed a little concerned as well.

"Did we…?" another member of the mob questioned.

"No, just knocked out," acknowledged the leader. "We can reform him to help us usurp the queen." Pikachu chose a different way by zapping the leader. He fell, allowing Charizard to scoop the unconscious boy from the ground. Pikachu stood in front of the crowd.

"We forgot about the dragon," one more member stuttered. Charizard breathed more flames, forcing all to back away. It bought time for Pikachu to regroup and fly into the forest. The leader stood after his shocking event.

"If those creatures reach the queen, our actions will not tread lightly." Deep within the forest, a blond girl and a brunette young man had a nice stroll. The young man wore a leather jacket over a green shirt while the blond with long braided ponytails donned a blue dress under a sky blue robe and wore a circlet. She also wore a necklace with a talisman holding an emerald tear drop.

"Do you still feel bad about what happened to your mother, Caleb?" she asked. "Sure, she's now locked in the Heart of Meridian for the rest of her eternity, buy Nerissa's still the one who gave birth to you."

"I'd rather not be reminded, your highness," Caleb irked. "All I want to do is look to making sure the kingdom's in peace. Besides, Phobos and his cronies are spending life sentences in your dungeon."

"No argument about what my brother deserves… Though if given the chance, you'd probably be back in Heatherfield with Cornelia."

"Perhaps… You've got plenty of guards to your safety… and the guardians at a moments' notice." The highness turned her head, finding a flower patch. Grown in the yard, different varieties of flowers from dandelions to tulips to carnations blossomed. This humored the highness.

"Looks like the flower patch is showing good signs. You can continue on. I'll probably be picking a few." Caleb didn't need his highness' explanation.

"Do what you need to do, Elyon." Permission offered, Elyon came to the patch, plucking flowers from the stems.

"That's the smell of spring starting to bloom." Meanwhile, Caleb waited for Elyon to come from the flowers. To him, she's probably getting a bouquet for him to give to this Cornelia. That's when a rustle caught his attention.

"That better not be Blunk playing another game with me." He journeyed to the rustling. "Come on, Blunk… No more fun and games." As he tried to call out whatever was in the rustle, Elyon saw some ivory buds. She looked on, astonished to the size and color.

"I wonder what kind of flowers these are?" Before she could pick one to see, a scream from Caleb. She turned to the sound and began to have the same beliefs as him. "Let me guess… Blunk's little calamity." She got to her feet and hurried to the sound. Caleb found Charizard and drew a sword. Elyon saw the situation beginning to play out. "What's going on?" Pikachu came out to help Charizard, squeaking for the queen to stay back. Elyon seemed awed to Pikachu's appearance. Caleb decided to inform her highness.

"There's a boy injured and they're guarding him!" Charizard huffed fire from his snout, a significant warning.

"That cute little guy?" Pikachu gawked, somewhat humbled with the compliment before straightening himself out. Charizard leaned in, ready to do whatever it took to keep the two at bay. Looking up, Elyon found Ash, still out from the blow to the back of the head. Pikachu saw Elyon's eyes darting to Ash, forcing him to dash back in defense. "That boy needs medical help!"

"I know, but I can't get close to him!" Elyon nodded with her own idea.

"Put your sword away. I got it."

"But my queen!" Hearing Caleb refer Elyon as a queen shocked the Pokémon.

("She's a queen?") garbled Charizard.

("But she's so young!") awed Pikachu. Caleb saw Elyon's nod and sheathed his sword. This allowed Elyon to confront the Pokémon.

"You're doing your best to keep your owner safe, right?" she asked. Pikachu squeaked, stunned that she came to him despite their abilities. "Can I make sure? I promise not to do anything rash, okay?" Charizard looked befuddled to the request but Pikachu thought this girl, this supposed queen, was a peaceful person. He raced up Charizard's body and peaked up between the horns. Elyon examined Ash, finding the injury. "He's got a pretty good bump. He'll be okay if we bring him to the castle. I have a nurse that can treat his wound." Charizard growled, still amazed at Elyon's control.

"Your highness..." spoke Caleb. Elyon bobbed nods, an idea in mind and feet pushing her to stand. She faced Charizard, ready to give a command.

"Can you carry him to my castle?" Charizard nodded, willing to obey if it meant Ash's health. "Thank you. I'm sure he'll be fine after he's checked out and rested." Pikachu leaped down from his partner and faced Elyon. "Seeing your cute face, I want to feed you some of what Meridian has to offer." That put a smile on Pikachu's face as Elyon hoisted and held him with a hug as Charizard scooped Ash.

("Guess my battle with Articuno's gonna be on hold,") Charizard grumbled. He spun to see Elyon starting their walk back but Caleb hanging around. ("Sorry for the mess.")

"It's good," Caleb replied. "Like her highness said, you're trying to keep him secured. Let's head back." Caleb started his pursuit to stay close to the queen in question. Elyon pondered about what to do with Pikachu, despite meeting him for the first time.

"I want to know if any of the guardians could take care of you while my castle takes care of him?" she thought. Pikachu crawled out of Elyon's arms before perching himself on her shoulder. "You like that spot?"

("It's where I am with Ash,") Pikachu squeaked.

"I see. When that boy wakes up, I'd like to know more about him." Pikachu sensed Elyon's interests about Ash. How would Ash react when he wakes to see the young queen?

TO BE CONTINUED...