[A/N] Lexvan has written a sort of sequel to "A new begin". He has allowed me to use his OC Angelo, which I'm very grateful for. I suggest you read his story "Warriors Unite" before continuing with this story. If you ignore this suggestion then don't come to me when you don't get the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of W.I.T.C.H. It belongs to their makers. Please support the official release.

Disclaimer 2: Angelo is Lexvan's OC.

[A/N2] For those who don't remember Mandy. She appears in V is for Victory in which Phobos, glamoured as Matt, kisses her to make Will cheat during her swim-off against Mandy.

Everything is fair, in love and war.

Chapter 1

2 days before Angelo's arrival at the rebel camp.

Ehren was in her own tent. Though she normally slept in one of the other girls tents, she used her own to stash her belongings. She didn't have much from her former life before the death of her parents but what she had was precious. Now, however, she was holding a set of dog tags. She was looking at it and she felt tears falling from her eyes.

'You promised you would return.' she whispered. 'Yet, you're still gone.'

She grabbed the tags tighter and hugged herself. She cried softly when she heard some footsteps.

'Yo! Ehren! Are you ready?' Edeline said.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw Ehren's hugging and crying position.

'Hey.' she said concerned. 'Is everything okay? You know you can talk to me.'

Ehren turned around and looked at Edeline. Edeline saw that her eyes were red and poufy and that tears were running down her face. Edeline hurried to Ehren and hugged her tight.

'Hey, come on.' she said. 'Please, Ehr. What's the fuss?'

Ehren hugged her.

'Just thinking about a stupid promise from a stupid person.' she lied.

'Liar.' Edeline said. 'I know when you lie and this one was obvious. Tell me.'

Ehren sighed.

'Sorry, Eddy. I rather not talk about it. At least not now.' she said dreary.

Edeline released Ehren from her hug. She looked at Ehren and knew that her friend wasn't ready to talk. She nodded before smiling at her.

'Okay then.' she said. 'Then I suggest we move on to a different topic. Come on! Today is the day we are going to ask!'

Ehren immediately brightened up. She smiled at Edeline and got up.

'You're right!' she said. 'No time for crybabies!'

She walked to a chest in her tent. Edeline followed her close. Ehren opened the chest and took a smaller, more detailed refined chest out of it. She opened it and softly laid something in it. Edeline saw it were dog tags.

*Probably from her father* she thought until she saw what was standing on them. *Vanders, John? Who is that? Must be an important person for Ehren.*

Ehren turned around after closing the chest.

'Okay! I'm done! Let's move.'

The two friends walked out of the tent. They were immediately greeted by Ilana, Georgi and Natasha.

'That took you long enough.' Ilana said annoyed.

'Sorry, but a girl needs time to make herself pretty.' Ehren said while playing a bit with her hair. 'You should try it sometime.'

Ilana was glaring daggers at her but before any fight could break out, Georgi stepped in.

'Come on guys! If you two fight we can't ask for our little exploration! We need to show some teamwork.' she said, standing between the two girls.

The two of them just nodded grimly at each other. They were planning their little trip for a week now. Ilana was almost completely recovered while Georgi had no injuries left. They couldn't afford to lose their chance for a little fun.

Natasha sighed in relief.

'Thanks Georgi.' she said. 'I think that you just stopped a war.'

Georgi grinned at Natasha. 'Maybe I can stop the bigger war as well.'

Natasha grinned back. 'Maybe.'

'Sorry to spoil the happy mood.' Ilana said a little grumpy. 'But do we have any idea where Will is? She might as well be on another world for all we know.'

'Nah. She doesn't go off to other worlds. Not with Hay-Lin on the prowl.' Ehren said, waving Ilana's concern away.

Then a sudden noise attracted their attention.

'WILL! Get off of my computer!' Martin's voice rang through the rebel base.

Ehren cracked a grin as she looked at Ilana.

'See here, another mystery solved.'

Ilana gave her a small smile before the group headed to the source of the noise. When they arrived they saw a rather amusing sight. Will was sitting behind Martin's computer while Martin was slamming on some bubble that encased Will and his computer. Some rebels were looking at the scene in great amusement.

'Give me a minute.' Will said, not looking up from the screen. 'I need to check something.'

'Then use your powers!' Martin yelled. 'You're the Oracle!'

Will didn't look up while replying.

'Might be, but I'm still limited. So for that time, fat chance Martin.'

'Let me in!' Martin demanded. 'I need to process the new information!'

'You can do that later as well…' Will said absently.

'That's it!' Martin said as he turned around. 'Taranee! Can you come and talk some sense into Will?'

Taranee came through the crowd. She walked to the bubble and ticked it slightly with her fingers. She then turned to Martin.

'Sorry Martin. Can't do anything.' she said. 'If Will sets her mind on something you cannot bring her on different ideas. I'm afraid you have to wait.'

Martin looked as if Taranee had bitch slapped him. He wanted to say something when Will gave a cry of joy.

'So that's how!' she yelled triumphantly.

The bubble disappeared and Will walked up to Taranee.

'That's how what?' Taranee asked curiously while Martin hurried to his computer.

'How Cornelia and Irma got enthralled.' Will explained. 'I've found some files of a couple of years ago that Martin had stashed in his computer. That and I read the mails Cornelia had sent to you. Mind telling me why they are stashed on his computer as well?'

'They're there cause when I want to remember the happy times, I read them…Wait you were in my mail?' Taranee said shocked.

Will smiled playfully at her.

'Anyways, I know why Corny and Irma got enthralled.'

'How?' Taranee asked, her curiosity taking control over her urge to scold Will for reading confident mail.

'By using their families as well, only different.' Will explained.

Taranee looked confused. 'What do you mean?'

G.E.N.I.E. was also listening carefully while Will started explaining.

'Simply put, she killed their families without killing them.' Will said, confusing Taranee and G.E.N.I.E. even more.

Will noticed Taranee's confused look and continued.

'I've read your mails with Cornelia. I read that Cornelia had been teaching Lilian how to use her powers as a Heart. This, of course, is a great threat to Hay-Lin. Even though she has one of the Regents under her control. Then I read some old newspapers, saying that two families had disappeared. And according to the last mail you received from Cornelia was not from Cornelia, but from Lilian.'

'Lilian?' Taranee asked. 'I thought it was Cornelia…'

'That's because the mail was magically altered.' Will explained. 'I noticed it and took the liberty to change it to its original state. It said: Taranee, Cornelia has taken sides with Hay-Lin. I don't know why this happened. My big sis wouldn't do something like this… I warned my mom and dad as well as Chris' parents and him. Why not Irma? Because it was Irma who took Cornelia for a "big announcement" with Hay-Lin. I'm not that stupid. Please Taranee, run now! They'll go looking for you. And warn Will as well! Hope you'll stay safe. Lilian.'

Taranee looked impressed. 'I never thought that Lilian would do something like that. She's really growing up, isn't she?'

'Yeah, she and Chris are 16 now.' Will said with a sad smile.

'But what does this have to do with Irma and Cornelia?' Taranee asked, not understanding.

'The mail was sent before either Irma or Cornelia were enthralled.' Will explained. 'The only thing I can suspect is that Lilian had a vision about Cornelia and Irma being enthralled, which she mistook for something that happened in real life. And, I'm guessing again, I think that Lilian convinced her and Chris' parents to leave. Hay-Lin must have taken notice of this and devised a plan. She made some images of Cornelia's and Irma's family, both hanging on the ceiling, tied up. When Irma and Cornelia walked into Hay-Lin's house, they saw their families hanging on the ceiling, or at least they thought so. They were also ambushed by at least 40 men. Of course the two of them took them out, but before they could manage to get to their "families" Hay-Lin appeared and blew them against the wall, without any way to escape. Hay-Lin told them that, if they wouldn't cooperate, their family would die. She demonstrated it by "killing" both their parents. This made Cornelia and Irma so desperate that Hay-Lin saw her chance. Instead of simply employing them, she enthralled them.'

Taranee looked shocked at Will. She would have never thought that Cornelia and Irma would have been in such a situation.

'But what about their real families? Did Hay-Lin get her hands on them as well?' she asked.

'Nah.' Will said as she shook her head. 'They found something that could block them from Yan-Lin's sight. They are hidden, but that's all I can tell you.'

Taranee sighed in relief. 'At least they're safe.' she said.

It seemed as if the two were done talking. G.E.N.I.E. looked at each other, unsure if they could barge in with their question.

'For how long are you five planning to stay there?' Taranee asked as her look went to the five girls.

They jumped out of surprise and blushed deeply. They walked to the two leaders.

'Sorry, we didn't mean to eavesdrop.' Natasha apologized.

Will raffled through her hair.

'Don't worry.' she said. 'It wasn't a big secret or something.'

Natasha smiled at Will. Her heroine. Thanks to her Natasha had finally some friends and a family. She felt happy again.

'So I guess you need something from us, am I right?' Taranee said as she grinned at the five.

The five girls looked at her in wonder.

'How did you know?' Georgi asked.

Will and Taranee laughed.

'That's the same way we looked at our parents if we needed something from them, so spill.' Will answered.

'Uhmm… Well… You see…' Natasha started nervously.

'We wanna go explore the Infinite City.' Ehren said confidently.

Natasha flashed her a small smile before turning back to Will. Will looked at each of them. Taranee sighed.

'I thought I told you this before. I don't want you 5 to run amuck through the Infinite City. You'll get lost and it's too dangerous. Besides Ilana is still injured and you five still can't control your powers.' she said.

The girls slumped while Will kept looking at them.

'Please, Taranee.' Edeline begged. 'We'll be good girls. Please?'

The other four joined in and were now all looking with puppy dog eyes at Taranee. Unfortunately for them, Taranee was highly resistant since this was also Irma's favorite technique.

'No.' she said.

The girls were making amends to go away when Will spoke up.

'You really want to go, am I right?'

'Yes. We really really REALLY want to go.' Natasha said, now using her puppy dog eyes on Will.

*If I get a "yes" from Will then that means that we can go, regardless what Taranee says.* she thought with a smile.

Will picked her thoughts up and smiled. She saw that the other four were getting to the same conclusion as they were now using their puppy dog eyes on her.

'Hmmm… Let me think.' Will said, teasing the girls.

Taranee saw that Will was planning on letting them go, but decided to wait and see what Will would make them do before they could go.

'Let's make a deal.' Will said with a smirk. 'I give you 7 days to explore. If you're not back on the 7th day I'll come and get you and you 5 will have to stay here and practice till you drop. This also means that if I have to save you or if someone else saves you that you failed. But if you manage to get back in time, Taranee, Caleb and I will give you more freedom. How about that?'

The girls glared at Will. They then huddled together to make a decision.

'So what do you say?' Natasha asked.

'I say, go for it! This is our chance.' Ehren said.

'I don't know, what if we fail?' Ilana interjected.

'You shouldn't think about what if we fail.' Georgi said.

'I agree with Georgi. Think of the possibilities that we'll get when we have more freedom!' Edeline said.

'If you put it that way…Okay, why not?' Ilana said.

'Then it's settled.' Natasha said as the other four nodded.

They turned to Will.

'We accept your terms.' Natasha said.

Will smiled at them.

'Okay then. Go pack your stuff, make sure you've got enough food and water for 7 days.' she said.

The five girls jumped in joy and wanted to go pack when they were stopped by Taranee.

'Hold it right there.' she said.

She then turned to Will.

'Are you nuts?' she said. 'You know as well that there are more and more Lurden sightings. Even here in the Infinite City! What if they run into them?'

Will shrugged.

'That's how we learned how to use our powers.' she answered. 'Is there any better way to learn how to trust your instincts than to end up in a battle?'

Taranee couldn't answer that one. Will saw that she outsmarted her friend and turned to G.E.N.I.E.

'Go on. I'll meet you at my tent when you're done.'

Taranee was speechless as she followed Will to her tent. 10 minutes later the five girls entered the tent. They were fully packed. Taranee sighed as Will gave them one hug. She as well hugged all of them.

'Be careful.' she said as the five girls walked away from the rebel camp. 'And may the Lord watch over you.'

'Don't worry!' Ehren said as she waved at Taranee. 'You know us!'

'That's exactly why I'm worried!' Taranee called after.

The five disappeared out of sight. Taranee sighed. She felt a hand touching her shoulder. She looked around and saw Will.

'Don't worry.' she said with a smile. 'They're more like us than you know.'

Taranee smiled back.

'Yeah, and remember in what sort of mess we got ourselves into.' she replied.

Will put both her hands behind her head as she turned around and walked back to her tent.

'Well I'm off to figure out a mystery or two.'

Taranee watched as her friend walked away. She shook her head and smiled. Sometimes she thought that Will was too laid back to be the Oracle, but the aura she had around her made it seem so right.

5 days after Angelo's arrival

Taranee was reading a book while she was resting her head on Nigel's stomach.

'Taranee?'

'Mmmm?'

'Now with Angelo and the others back, don't you think we should plan an attack on Hay-Lin and Kandrakar?' Nigel questioned.

Taranee laid her book down and sighed.

'Well, I would say yes, but then again that would be to rash.' she answered.

'Yeah, you may be right. Let me guess, Will told you and Caleb that, didn't she?' Nigel said.

'Well… no. It's something I saw already. Besides Will is too caught up in whatever research she is doing.' Taranee answered.

'Yeah, what is she researching anyway?' Nigel questioned.

Taranee shrugged.

'I don't know. After Angelo's return she became all quiet and stuff. When I get a word out of her it's something like: "You will see." or "I first want to see if I'm right." She either meditates or sleeps or reads books these days.'

'She looks a bit like you then.' Nigel teased slightly.

Taranee nudged him.

'Hey, I'm not that of a nerd.'

'That's why I love you.' Nigel replied while giving Taranee a kiss on the cheek.

'Mmmm.' Taranee said with a smile as she started reading again.

In Will's tent

Will was meditating. She was floating in the air and her eyes were closed. Some sweat drops were visible on her calm face. A soft halo of white light was surrounding her. Suddenly her eyes shot open and she fell on the ground, butt first.

'Whoaa!' she yelled as she hit the ground.

Angelo ran into the tent when he heard Will scream. When he entered he saw her sitting on the ground, rubbing her butt and muttering to herself.

'I swear, if they are going to make me meditate for 7 hours straight I'll blow something up! This is inhuman!' he heard her mutter.

Angelo smiled as he slowly made his way to Will. He checked his wrist, making sure that Will couldn't sense him thanks to his bracelet. When he was standing behind her he grabbed her shoulders quickly, trying to scare her. Unfortunately for him, the year that Will spent at Hay-Lin's as her head of assassination made Will very aware of her surroundings and made her act quickly in case she was attacked. She grabbed his hands and threw him over her shoulder in an instant, surprising Angelo.

'Whoa!' he yelled as he landed on Will's bed.

'Angelo!' Will said surprised when she noticed it was him. 'I'm soooo sorry. Caleb or Taranee normally try something like that! I'm very sorry!'

She walked up to him and helped him up. He saw concern in her beautiful hazel eyes. It still nagged him that he had feelings for Will. She was his best friend! He couldn't risk to lose her friendship, not after almost losing her to Hay-Lin. He smiled her concerns away.

'Ah, don't worry.' he said with a smile. 'I've had worse back on Erutan.'

She smiled at him, giving him a small tingle in his stomach. She did something that surprised him. She hugged him closely.

'Wow! Will! What's up with the sudden hug?' Angelo asked surprised as he allowed Will to hug him.

'I'm just glad that you're back.' she said. 'After I saw you going through that fold… You have no idea how much that hurt me.'

He smiled as he hugged her back.

'Yeah, I'm glad that you're okay yourself. I really thought that Hay-Lin would have enthralled you when I saw Aunt Susan appear in my dream.'

Will broke the hug and looked confused at him.

'You've seen mom?' she said surprised.

Angelo started rubbing the back of his head as he looked nervously at Will.

'Well, you see… It was back on Erutan. The night before we came here I had a dream. I was in a sort of palace or fortress or something like that and it was completely white. Then I saw some bald guy coming to me with the same sign on his head as you are wearing now.' He started explaining.

Will's expression darkened at the mentioning of the former Oracle but she kept her peace as Angelo continued.

'He welcomed me and asked me to follow him.'

Flashback

'Welcome Angelo Vanders.'

Angelo looked confused at the bald man in front of him. The guy was about his height, totally bald, around his age and was wearing a white robe while having a weird symbol on his head.

'I'm sorry, but have we met?' Angelo asked. 'And where am I anyway?'

The man smiled at him.

'You are dreaming.' the man said. 'And no, we haven't met.'

Angelo took a good look around. He saw giant white walls and he couldn't even see the ceiling. He looked out of the windows and saw nothing else but clouds and sky.

'Okay, to get this right. I'm dreaming, yet this is real, right?' Angelo said as he fixed his gaze back on the man.

The man smiled again. 'Good deduction, Angelo Vanders.' he said.

'You know, you know my name but I don't know yours.' Angelo said a little irritated.

The man kept smiling.

'You're right, that would be rather unfair. Call me Himerish.' he said.

Angelo looked at the man. He didn't seem to lie but then again, all the guy does was smiling. Angelo smiled back awkward.

'Now, Angelo. Please follow me, there are some people waiting to see you.' Himerish said as he turned around.

Angelo saw him walking away and he quickly went after him.

'Hey! Wait a sec!' he said.

He followed Himerish through the fortress quietly. Himerish stopped in front of a pair of doors. He turned to Angelo.

'They are here behind these doors. Please, walk through them.' he said as he stepped aside.

'Who are waiting for me?' Angelo asked cautiously.

Himerish smiled at him.

'You'll see.' he said before he disappeared.

'Hey!' Angelo yelled. 'Where did you go?'

He looked around, but he couldn't find Himerish. He glanced at the door.

'Well, I'm not getting anywhere by standing here.' he said and pushed the doors open.

A bright light blinded him and Angelo closed his eyes for the light. When he thought it was safe enough to look he gasped. There were 4 people standing there. They were all smiling at him. His feet finally got their feeling back and he slowly walked into the room. The closer he got the better he saw the details. Two women, both of different origin were smiling at him while the two men, both of Afro-American origin, waved at him. One man and woman, both old of age, were holding each other's hands while the other two, younger than the first pair, stood next to them. All of them were wearing white robes. When Angelo was close enough he looked them in the eyes.

'Grandpa Joe? Grandma Kadma? Uncle John? Aunt Susan?' Angelo questioned as he looked at them.

'Yeah, Angelo. It's us.' Susan Vandom said as he looked at the man.

Angelo couldn't hold himself and hugged his uncle. His grandparents and Susan joined in the hug as well. When Angelo broke the hug he looked at them.

'How?' he asked. 'You…You're dead… Aunt Susan are you dead as well? Or is this just a nightmare?'

A part of him was hoping that it was a nightmare but another part of him knew that this was real. Susan smiled sadly at Angelo while she shook her head.

'I'm afraid not Angelo.' his uncle said. 'Susan died about a week ago.'

Angelo clenched his fists. This meant that Will had no-one left. That she would be alone or maybe already enthralled by Hay-Lin.

'Aunt Susan, I'm so sorry.' he said softly.

'Don't be kiddo.' she said. 'I've had a wonderful life. I've got a beautiful and wonderful daughter, who will end this drama and I've got a nephew who will help her, right?'

Angelo looked at her. He saw her hope and smiled weakly. He then saw that Kadma laid her hand on his shoulder.

'Angelo, I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for you for pretty much a big deal of your life.' she said. 'But you've grown into a firm young man. I know you'll do what's right.'

'Kiddo, we're counting on you to help Will in every way you can.' his grandfather Joe said.

Angelo looked at his family. They were all here to tell him what to do. They were placing their hope in him. And boy, he wasn't planning to let them down.

'Count on me!' he said with a confident smile. 'I'll get Will back and we will help the rebellion to take Hay-Lin down!'

'That's my boy!' Uncle John said as he ruffled through his hair.

'I'm glad that you see why we came here.' Susan said with a smile. 'When you see Will, tell her that I'm still as proud as ever of her.'

Angelo hugged Susan again.

'I will aunt Susan. I will.' he said.

'I know you will Angelo. I know you will.' Susan said as she released herself from his grip.

They slowly dissolved and Angelo knew that this was the end of his dream. And the beginning of his mission.

End flashback

Will smiled at him.

'He still likes to interfere in my life.' she said.

'Who?' Angelo asked confused.

'The former Oracle.' Will replied. 'The bald guy.'

'He…He was the former Oracle?' Angelo said shocked.

'Yeah, he came to tell me what my task was.' Will said while pointing at her tattoo. 'But thanks for passing mom's message to me.'

Angelo saw that Will was hiding her sadness and he slowly caressed her cheek. A tear drop fell from her eye on his thumb.

'Hey, it will be okay. We're together, we're stronger and it's just a matter of time before Corny and Irma join us as well.' he said reassuringly.

Will smiled at him when he noticed that her eyes went to his bracelet. With a swift motion she swept it off his wrist.

'Hey!' he said. 'What's that for?'

'Shh.' Will said as she was inspecting the symbols on the bracelet. 'I know these symbols.'

'You do?' Angelo asked surprised.

Will didn't answer as she was further inspecting the bracelet.

'Of course!' she yelled suddenly, surprising Angelo.

She rushed past him, still holding the bracelet.

'Hey! Will! What are you doing with my bracelet?' he yelled as he ran after her.

'I think I know who these things made!' Will said. 'Just need to verify it on Martin's computer.'

This definitely got Angelo's attention.

'Wait for me!'

Back in Taranee's tent

Taranee and Nigel were enjoying the silence they had when Caleb bursted in.

'Taranee! Do you know where Will is? She isn't in her tent.' he said.

Taranee put her book away and got up. She looked at Caleb with a bored expression.

'Caleb, you know that you don't have to panic if Will disappears, right?' she said bored.

Caleb glared at her.

'I know that.' he snapped. 'I just…needed to ask her something.'

Taranee raised an eyebrow.

'Right…' she said.

Caleb glared again at her when Nigel spoke up.

'Dude, isn't she with Angelo?' he questioned. 'I mean those two are nowadays never far away from each other. Try looking for him'

For some reason Caleb looked angrier than first.

'Why is she with Angelo?' he demanded.

Nigel shrugged while Taranee pretty much knew the answer.

'I don't know. Those two have grown up with each other so…' he started, only to be warned by a subtle nudge from Taranee.

Unfortunately that was enough for Caleb. His face reddened and he was about to leave when a yell was heard.

'WILL! I LEAVE FOR JUST 5 MINUTES AND YOU ALREADY STOLE MY COMPUTER! AGAIN!'

The three looked at each other and sighed. It was evident that Will was using Martin's computer without permission. Again.

They hurried over to Martin's computer and saw something similar to 7 days ago. Only this time, Will and Angelo were inside the bubble while Martin was hammering on the outside. Taranee noticed that Caleb was getting angrier by the minute. He walked to the bubble but before he came close enough to help Martin with the hammering, the bubble disappeared. Will was cheering while Martin fell to the ground and Alchemy rushed up to him to see if he was alright. Taranee, Nigel and Caleb rushed to Will and Angelo. Angelo looked happy until he noticed that Will had stopped cheering. The four of them looked at Will, who was now staring at the distance.

'Will? Will? What's going on?' Caleb said as he grabbed her shoulders in concern.

Will blinked slowly before her face paled.

'Th-The girls.' she said, heavily confusing Angelo.

Cassidy, Mandy, Andrew and Joel came running to the group as well.

'Do you guys always make such a ruckus or is it me?' Cassidy joked as she was pointing at Martin.

She and the others then noticed Will's terror stricken face and Taranee's, Nigel's and Caleb's concerned look.

'What's going on?' she asked.

Will ignored them and got up. Caleb grabbed Will before she could move any further.

'Will, what's wrong?' he demanded.

Will looked at Caleb with eyes of regret.

'The Lurdens found them.' she said, shocking everyone. 'They are now fighting them but the Lurdens are with bigger numbers. I need to go help them.'

'I'm coming with you.' Caleb said.

'Me too.' Taranee added.

'Who's is trouble?' Mandy asked confused.

'The new Guardians.' Will explained as she was making preparations to teletransport.

'If they are in trouble, then we'll help. Right guys?' Angelo said while looking at his team.

'Yeah!' Joel said.

'New Guardians sound like new hope. I'll help you no matter what!' Cassidy said with a wink.

'If they need help, I'll help them.' Andrew said.

'Of course I'll help! Who knows how they're faring now?' Mandy said concerned.

Will looked at her friends. She smiled at them and then nodded.

'Normally I would say no, but I can't decline you guys a moment to shine.' she said. 'Let's go!'

The girls have gotten themselves into trouble. But luckily Taranee, Caleb, Will and the Warriors of Erutan are ready to save their asses. And what did Will and Angelo find on Martin's computer? Find out (maybe) in the next chapter!

PS. Don't forget to review.