"Immortality?" I practically screeched. I hastily added, "I mean, immortality as in living forever?"

"Indeed, child. You have already given up a normal life, and you risked your life for the kingdom three times, despite being new to your powers and who you are. You have earned it."

I realised that Anatia was still holding Mechatina, I took the staff in my hands. It felt smooth, and it seemed to buzz with power. As I held it, I noticed that there was a glow coming from the sphere on the end. Inside was a ball of white light, like a ball of lifeforce.

"The staff has accepted you as its true owner, and as a Guardian now," said Anatia, looking at the light. "We should be getting back though. Your friend Julian must be worried." Anatia took my hand, and before I could say "Mechatina" we were back in the drama hall. It was just as we'd left it; everyone silently sitting or standing, their eyes still glued to the stage. Everyone in the hall looked up as Anatia and I reappeared on the stage. Julian was still kneeling on it, with an anxious look on his face.

"People of Animia!" Anatia called to everyone. Those that were standing bowed. Those that were sitting just bowed their heads. "I sense that the darkness is returning to Animia. However, where there is darkness, there is light. With despair and worry comes hope. For hundreds of years Animia has been unprotected, and though its people have lived so far, a guardian is needed once more. Wielding the staff of the first Manipulative, she has accepted the divine duty of protecting you from the darkness coming. Animia, your final, eternal Guardian, the Divinata Automata!"

Animia gently pushed me forward as if presenting me as a sort of exhibit or work of art or something. I looked at the people, some of them friends or acquaintances, most total strangers. I let Anatia's words sink into my mind. The final, eternal Guardian. I was the last of the Guardians. Freakazoid wanted only destruction, and the rest of the descendants of the Guardians were still AWOL. Julian smiled up at me. Maybe he was wondering if we could still be b&g (boyfriend and girlfriend) now that I was an official Guardian. But maybe he was also proud. He did have that sort of look on his face. I smiled back, as if to say I'll always be your Guardian no matter what.

I got home late that night. I walked back with Julian. I was a bit worried about what people would think, so I was glad to have him as a sort of bodyguard. How ironic that the protector of a whole kingdom felt better with a bodyguard. Oh well. I led him to my house. Mother and Electra weren't there (maybe they were talking to Anatia about the Guardian thing. I had noticed the two of them at the hall as Julian and I were leaving. I'd sent Mother a text on my phone saying "I'm walking home with Julian, see you there later, M." On the way out of the hall, I had accidentally discovered that I did not have to lug Mechatina around wherever I went. It wasn't the idea of having an extra thing to carry around that I was worried about; I was worried that the staff would be a target for thieves (especially ones whose last names were Freakazoid). I didn't really want to have to take it everywhere I went just so it would be safe. Just as I was thinking this, the staff disappeared in a flash of light. I didn't know what had happened. I willed it to come back, because I thought maybe it had just been stolen with some kind of magic or something, and it reappeared in my hands. Great! I thought. No more worrying until the next battle, which I knew would be soon, probably....

I was thinking about this on the way hone. I was half expecting Julian to break up with me on account of me attracting trouble. But he just said, "I'm sorry about the date, I hoped it might go well, but..." He trailed off.

"No, it was me he was after. I'm the one who should be sorry. He wanted me and he was willing to kill you to get to me," I replied, feeling more guilty than ever. "I should warn you, things'll probably get worse. Maybe you should find someone else...I mean, I still like you, but-"

He interrupted. "No, I'll be there for you. Besides, the rest of Animia will be in just as much danger as me in the times to come. If you really want a mere mortal there."

"of course I still want you! I just told you I still like you. And thanks for helping in the fight," I added. "Who knew that an algebra textbook is an effective improvised weapon? Never would've guessed that."

"Heh, no, I wouldn't've either. Oh no!" He stopped.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I ummmm..kind of...ahh...left your book there. Don't worry, I'll get you a new one on the weekend."

"Oh no, you don't have to worry. Someone will probably find it, and even if they don't, I'm sure I can explain what happened. I'd they don't find out first."

I replayed that scene over and over in my mind as I headed up to my room. I would probably go to bed soon, I thought. My mind kept going back to the fight though. Trouble could strike at anytime, and I was Animia's only hope. Freakazoid could return tomorrow, good as new, I realised. I needed to practise with my powers, see what Mechatina could really do, as well as get confident in my flying abilities. I hadn't used my wings since the stone demon nearly destroyed the school, and I didn't want to be caught out not knowing how to get out of a mess if I got myself into one. I drew up a few practise plans before going to bed that night.

"Animia's new Guardian had better wake up on time if she wants to be ready for trouble." A voice woke me up. Sitting up in bed, I turned to where the voice was coming from. Mother was standing in the doorway grinning.

"Yeah, okay. Please don't tell me this is my new wake up call though," I said, getting out of bed. That was how my first morning as the Divinata Automata started. I will admit one thing though: because of the wake up call, I wasn't late. I'd thought it was Saturday the instant I was awake! (Major fail, Millicent) Just as well Mother was around!

All everyone talked about was Anatia's appearance at the concert and me officially becoming Animia's Guardian. If someone said something like "The year twelves sang really well at the concert last night" the conversation would instantly turn to the fight, which led to talking about Anatia. Other then all the gossip about last night, it was a pretty normal day. Miss Bindle driving me nuts, Bee and Fiona being my friends, Julian sitting with us at break, me going up to the library at morning break and drawing in my invention book (I was working on a system that would prepare my clothes and school stuff needed for the day so I wouldn't be late in the morning.), catching the bus home. Once I got hime though the work didn't end. It was time for some real work now. Guardian Boot Camp. Or at least, preparing for it. First I needed to set things up for some practise. Then I had an idea.

Twenty minutes later I was ready to start step one of preparing for battle: writing a diary. I had gone to a shop and bought a suitable notebook. It had a picture of a steampunk anime-style girl on the front. My Guardian Diary had to look the part, after all!

I turned to the first page where I wrote:

Millicent Hall-E'Strange

Divinata Automata of Animia

Guardian Diary

I then wrote the date of my transformation and wrote abut what the transformation had felt like, how my clothes had transformed too, and the details of my first battle. On the next page I wrote:

Doctor Freakazoid

Half automaton (more futuristic looking parts)

Descended from Guardians

Must be a Manipulative

Extendable arms

Has a giant robot-weak to lifeforce

Mad scientist

Motives unknown

On the next page I wrote:

Me-powers/attributes

Parts of (pure?) Anatium

Manipulative

Descended from Guardians, transformed at 14 years old

Power to create electricity- zap people (power things? Must test this)

Glider-like wings

Lives with (fake) mortal family

Immortal

Can read and speak Ancient Animian.

Clockwork

I then wrote the Great Prophecy on the next page, but in Ancient Animian so no mortal could read it. On the next page I wrote "Divinata Automata" and "Mechatina" and wrote their translations just in case. I went on to describe the nest two battles and the encounter with Anatia.

I couldn't think of anything else to put in my Guardian Diary so I put it in my school bag. Now I had to prepare myself for some practise. I needed to learn all there was to know about using my abilities, and there was only one person who could teach me. Myself.