It was Saturday morning, everyone slept in till 10:30am. After getting up, the girls got dressed and ate breakfast. Angela wore a white long sleeved dress with black stripes, black leggings and black dress shoes. Sami wore a long sleeved green plaid shirt with blue jeans and long brown leather boots. Lily wore a gray T-shirt under a black leather jacket, black skinny jeans and black boots. Maya wore a black short sleeved shirt with ruffles in front, a black skirt and black leather boots. And Ellen wore a turquoise tank top with a black heart, blue damaged shorts and black and white sneakers. After breakfast, they met up with the boys at Town Square. Barry wore a red t-shirt with a black guitar on the front, and red and white sneakers. Troy wore a turquoise T-Shirt with a white surfboard on the front, blue cargo shorts and black flip flops. Hiro wore a white t-shirt with splattered black design on the front, black denim jeans and white sneakers. Jesse wore a black sleeveless shirt with a red skull on the front, black cargo pants and black and white sneakers. The guys then started showing the girls around Wizard City. They passed by the Library, the theater, a few cafés, the magic shop, the potion shop, the spell book shop, a few restaurants, the medical hospital and the mental hospital. They engaged in a few magic duels along the way and were victorious in every one of them. They ate lunch at a pizza parlor at around noon and continued the tour around Wizard City. Their next stop: deep into the Ravenswood woods.

They walked deep into the woods for what seemed like forever.

"So why are we walking through the woods?" asked Ellen.

"To show you the ancient trees," answered Barry.

Oh fun, thought Sami sarcastically, we're going to look at boring old rotting trees. That sounds super fun!

Of course, Sami's theory was way off. At the end of the forest was a dead end, but five tall giant trees stood at the end. The trees had faces and were different in their own way. One of the trees had cherry blossom leaves on it, another had leaves made of fire, the third one had white icy leaves and gave off an icy breeze, the fourth tree had watery leaves and had a rain cloud over it. The final and fifth tree had a gray trunk and branches very unlike the other trees and there were barely any leaves and the few it did have were black. The girls were amazed by these five giant trees.

"These are the five ancient trees," said Barry, "Venus, Mars, Khione, Storm and Letus. Since ancient times, these trees have guarded and protected Wizard City with the barrier they give off. Back then Wizard City was just a small town, but with a few millenniums of hard work, Wizard City was able to become the great big city it is today."

"Indeed," said Venus, "greetings young wizards."

"Whoa, the trees talk?" the girls said together with amazement.

"Indeed we can," said Mars, "we were once wizards ourselves until an evil force struck us down."

"With the last essence of our power, we were transformed into trees and now we serve Wizard City as the guardians," said Storm.

"We create a magical barrier around the city to prevent monsters and evil forces from getting into the city," said Letus, "the gates only serve as a minor protection compared to our barrier since the password will only be accepted once it is spoken by a wizard."

"It's an honor to meet the guardians of Wizard City," said Angela, "I'm....."

"I believe you are Angela Dawnstone, daughter of Rosalinda Dawnstone," said Khione, "and I believe your friends here are Samantha Flameheart, daughter of Rachel Flameheart, Lily Stormblade, daughter of Tracy Stormblade, Maya Deathstone, daughter of Monica Deathstone and Ellen Iceblade, daughter of Brooklyn Iceblade."

The girls were speechless.

"How do you know who we are?" asked Lily.

"And how do you know our mothers' names?" asked Maya.

"Your mothers' were once students at the Wizard Academy," said Khione, "they were born and raised in Wizard City. They were also true prodigies, they were the top students at the Wizard Academy. Their power was great individually, but if you put them all together, they would take down any monster or evil force that threatens to disrupt peace. In their middle school years, they formed the group "The Magical Elements" when they first competed in the Wizard Games. They would compete every year and would always emerge victorious from each game. After your mothers' graduated college, they decided to leave Wizard City because they decided it was too peaceful. They didn't want to be sheltered by the barrier their whole life. They wanted to explore the world, helping those in need and experience danger around every corner. Eventually after years of traveling, they decided to settle down in a small town and started their own families. However, the peace did not last forever and three of them were struck down by the Dark One's hand."

Angela gritted her teeth. She despised the Dark One more than all of her friends combined. Because of the Dark One, not only did Angela lose her parents but Maya and Ellen lost their parents, too. Whenever Sami and Lily complain about their moms, sometimes Angela wishes that she could just scream 'Shut the underworld up!' at them. They have no idea what it was like to lose a parent because their parents were still alive.

"Your mothers' were heroes," said Venus, "they would always fight until their dying breath to protect innocent lives. In the end, Rosalinda, Monica and Brooklyn died to protect their loved ones. Though this event has happened a year ago, we can sense that the scars have not yet been healed."

Angela knew what Venus meant. Angela can still remember that horrible day as if had happened yesterday. She can still picture her town in ruins, the dead bodies scattered everywhere, the buildings destroyed, her mother's lifeless face. She can also picture the Dark One's soulless, malevolent look on his face that always filled her with infuriating rage.

"Anyway," said Venus, trying break the gloominess, "Samantha's mother and Lily's mother gave their magic wands along with their own to the headmistress Anthea who gave them to us to guard until the day the daughters of the Magical Elements would arrive at Wizard City. Though we didn't expect you to arrive this soon, we believe you five are ready to claim these."

Venus's leaves glowed and a light pink staff with a rainbow colored orb on the top appeared from the ground.

"Angela Dawnstone, please step forward and claim what is now yours," said Venus.

Angela took hold of the mysterious staff.

"This staff belonged to your mother," explained Venus, "she crafted this staff when she was thirteen. You can use it to casts spells and the staff has another purpose. Simply throw the staff into the air and see for yourself."

Angela tossed the staff in the air. The staff transformed into a sword with a light pink grip and a rainbow colored blade. Angela caught the sword and gazed at it with amazement. Her friends were also impressed, even Jesse showed a little interest.

"The staff is also your weapon, use it well," said Venus.

Angela nodded. "I will," she said.

Mars's fiery leaves suddenly grew brighter and hotter and just like Angela's new staff/sword, a red staff with an orb at the top with fire in it appeared from the ground.

"Samantha Flameheart, step forward and claim what is yours," said Mars.

Sami took hold of the staff.

"This staff was created by your mother," explained Mars, "just like Angela's staff, you can cast spells with it and it has another ability. Now toss it in the air and witness your staff's power."

Sami tossed her staff in the air. The staff transformed into a red bow. When Sami caught the bow, arrows made of fire appeared strapped to her back.

"This staff can transform into a bow and the arrows will appear when the bow is present," explained Mars, "this bow can use arrows from all of the elements. However until your introduced to the other elements, you can only use the fire arrows for now."

After Sami claimed her staff, the very leaves that were on Letus began to glow. The ground began to crack and a black staff with a big white skull on top of the staff appeared out of the cracks in the ground.

"Maya Deathstone," said Letus, "come forth and claim what is now yours."

Maya stepped forward and took hold of the staff.

"This staff was owned by your mother but was created by your grandfather," explained Letus, "as well as the ability to cast spells; this staff has the power to turn into a gun."

Maya smiled with delight. The gang stepped back in fear.

"Your staff has the ability to transform into any kind of gun you desire," said Letus, "just imagine the gun you want in your mind and the staff will transform."

Maya imagined a gun and the staff began to glow. When the glow faded, the staff transformed into a small red and yellow water gun. Jesse rolled his eyes.

"Seriously? Out of all of the guns you picked the lamest one there is," said Jesse, "what do you expect to do with that pathetic excuse for a gun?"

Maya pointed the gun at Jesse's face. "This," she said. She squirted water at Jesse, much to his annoyance.

"I hate you...." Jesse growled.

"Old news, dude," said Maya.

"Your staff can turn into so much more than a mere water gun toy," said Letus, "however, the guns don't possess normal bullets like regular guns do. These guns have special magical bullets that only kill monsters. If these bullets were used on a mortal, they could only injure them depending on how much magical energy you put in each bullet."

The gang sighed with relief. Then, Khione's leaves began to glow. Icy winds blew and cracks reappeared into the ground. A light blue wand with a white icy tip appeared from the ground.

"Ellen Iceblade, come forth and take hold of what is rightfully yours," proclaimed Khione.

Ellen took hold of the wand.

"This wand was crafted by your mother with the help of your father," explained Khione, "not only can it be used to cast spells with, but it has a special ability. Swing the wand."

Ellen swooshed the wand to the left and a white icy whip appeared from the tip of the wand.

"The whip is strong enough to slice through even the hardest of objects," explained Khione, "it also has the ability to freeze anything on contact. Or anyone."

Ellen turned to Jesse and grinned. Jesse flinched and backed away slowly. Ellen walked towards him slowly.

"Would you like to take back your comment from yesterday?" she threatened.

"What comment?" asked Hiro.

"Yesterday Jesse called Ellen a psychopathic chick," said Maya.

The gang snickered.

"He's a dead man," whispered Sami to Troy, which made Troy flinch.

"Um, Jesse, I'd apologize if I were you," said Troy.

"Since when have you ever seen Jesse apologize?" asked Barry.

Troy thought about it for a second.

"Hey, Jesse! After she kills you, can I have your laptop?" asked Troy.

"Shut up!" Jesse snapped.

Ellen raised her whip. "Apologize...." she warned.

Jesse flinched. "Okay, I'm sorry," he mumbled, "sorry you're crazy!"

Ellen lashed her whip, but missed him and froze a rock instead. Jesse ran from Ellen as she continually lashed her whip at him but missed him every time. Hiro turned to the ancient trees.

"Are you just going to let her do this?" asked Hiro.

"Young wizard, we are ancient trees not referees for a fighting match," said Mars, "mortals must settle their own conflicts naturally."

The gang watched the chase for a while. Jesse still ran from Ellen as she repeatedly yelled "Apologize! Apologize, Jessebell!"

"Let's worry about those two later. There is one more heirloom that must be claimed," said Storm.

Thunder boomed, which was strange to the gang because it was a perfect sunny day. Storm's leaves flashed and new cracks appeared from the ground. A see through wand that had lighting in it appeared from the cracks in the ground.

"Lily Stormblade, com forth and claim what is yours," said Storm.

Lily stepped forward and took hold of the wand.

"Whoa, this wand is awesome," said Lily.

"This wand can do more than cast spells," said Storm, "imagine lightning."

Lily imagined lightning in her mind. A blade made of lightning appeared from the tip of the wand.

"No way," said Lily excited.

"Your wand can turn into a sword," said Storm, "there are many different blades. The blades will differ depending on the element you imagine."

"Nice sword," said Ellen, who had pinned Jesse down, who was trying to catch his breath, "but I still like my ice whip better."

Jesse rolled his eyes as he tried to squirm free. "I don't," he mumbled, "Ellen, let me go!"

Ellen raised her whip against his neck. The cold touch of the whip gave Jesse chills.

"Ya gonna apologize?" She threatened.

"It's not my fault you can't handle the truth," Jesse mumbled.

Ellen raised her whip. "Wrong answer!" she said

"Ellen," warned Angela, "leave him alone!"

Ellen sighed and let Jesse go. Angela tried to help Jesse up but he slapped her hand away.

"You could have said something before she chased me and pinned me to the ground," he snapped.

Angela would've been more hurt by the way Jesse pushed her away if she hadn't gotten use to Jesse's personality. Letus's few remaining leaves rustled with the sudden blow of wind.

"I am grateful that I have lived to see the daughters of some of the best students this academy has ever had," he said grimly, "I apologize that I won't be around to see you five as master wizards."

The girls were confused, but the guys except for Jesse looked saddened.

"What do you mean?" asked Lily.

"Letus does not have much time left on earth," said Venus in a saddened tone, "Letus is dying."

The girls were shocked.

"Dying?!" said Sami shocked.

"I'm sorry if this saddens you," said Letus, "but I am beyond saving. Once the last leaf I have falls, I will die."

"But there must be something that could-....."

"I'm afraid not," Letus interrupted Sami, "a wizard's healing powers aren't strong enough to heal an ancient like myself. I have been dying for six years now. I've managed to keep myself alive for this long, but each passing day, the pain I feel from the poison injected into me grows stronger and more unbearable. I won't last much longer. Eventually I will give in to the pain; however my demise is still undetermined. I could last weeks, perhaps months; maybe I can even withstand the pain to last another year."

"You were poisoned?" said Maya.

The other ancient trees' leaves glowed with agreement.

"Yeah, Letus was poisoned six years ago when a dagger that contained the most deadly poison in the mortal world was stabbed into him," said Troy, "that's what I've heard at least. I've only been going to school at the Wizard Academy for four years."

"Your right," said Jesse, "Six years ago; Letus was poisoned by that double crossing, tree killing, dirty rotten...."

Jesse was cut off when Barry pushed him down to the ground.

"What's wrong? Can't handle the truth?" Sneered Jesse.

"Shut up, Jessebell!" snapped Barry, "you don't know anything about her!"

Jesse stood up and brushed the dirt off of himself.

"I know that she betrayed Wizard City the moment she joined the Dark One!" yelled Jesse, "maybe you haven't noticed, but the things she did were deceitful and traitorous! Anyone who is in anyway associated with the Dark One should be looked upon with hatred! If I never see Melody again, it would be too soon."

Barry clenched his fists. Barry grabbed Jesse by the shirt and raised his fist.

"What, you're going to punch me?" Jesse said, "you know all this stuff I'm saying is true. Punching me out will just confirm that you're a fool for defending such foolish beliefs. Go ahead, punch me!"

Barry lowered his fist and threw Jesse to the ground.

"You have no idea what you're talking about," growled Barry, "I knew Melody better than anyone in Wizard City did. You never even spoke to her."

Jesse stood back up. "Glad I didn't," he said.

Barry ran off.

"Wait, Barry come back!" called Hiro and Troy.

"I'll go talk to him," reassured Angela as she ran off after Barry.

The rest of the gang stared at Jesse.

"That wasn't cool, dude," said Troy.

"Don't shoot the truth teller," he muttered.

Maya turned to the ancient trees.

"So seriously, who's Melody?" She asked.

"It's a very long story," said Mars, "it was about six years ago......"