Truth and Consequences
Cyndi was sitting down as Camille began to elucidate her.
"I discovered Clara thanks to an old friend of mine who first discovered her during an incident in which he was transformed into a dog."
"Can you tell me more about this incident? I know you have magic, Camille." Cyndi insisted.
"I can do better. I can project my magic through Jethro's laptop to show you in high definition the incident in question." Cyndi nodded, as Camille channeled her magic through Jethro's laptop.
Jethro turned on his laptop to project a theater sized HD version of the incident.
Cyndi could see how the incident began as a beagle pup and a crow were wandering the city, "Who are they?"
Jethro answered, "Our pals Dustin and Domino. Dustin was turned into a dog by an enemy of ours and got separated. He and Domino tried to find us, but ended up wandering into Clara's backyard. At first Dustin thought she looked normal and innocent, but one look at him and he had no chance to escape her.
"Then what happened?" Silver asked the boy who answered.
"Dustin had to endure strangles, choking, and even crashes as the girl sang and danced stupidly." They watched it play out with Clara doing what Jethro explained.
"You should see the way I treat animals." Cyndi said.
They watched further as Clara started bathing Dustin roughly, "You'd think she was trying to drown him." Jethro said.
"I know. Astral could vouch for that." Carol said.
They continued to watch Dustin get brought into Clara's room, dressed in drag and forced into a tea party. They watched as Clara stupidly over poured Dustin's cup getting tea on his dress and blamed him. Cyndi was appalled at her accusation and more that she began spanking him as hard as she could.
Cyndi wasn't the only one. The Vet who was watching was also appalled and so were the Coyote and Wolf that were watching as well.
The Coyote spoke, "Oh, I'd like to tear her to shreds."
"I'd like to rip her in half. What about you two?" The Wolf directed that question to the Stray Icelandic Sheepdog and Pidgeon that were watching.
"I'm so glad she didn't take me back." The sheepdog said.
"And I'm not meant to be in a birdcage." The pigeon added.
"Well, in that case why don't you join us and stay with Cyndi?" the coyote offered.
"I'd like that." answered the sheepdog.
"Me too." the pigeon agreed.
They watched as Clara walked Dustin to the vet planning to get him a dozen shots and to get him neutered. Dustin escaped, went back to save Domino, and went through a game of cat and mouse in the house with Clara pursuing them. They finally saw Clara get outsmarted and the two escaped.
"Not bad. Love the fishbowl part in the end but what happened next?" Cyndi asked.
Jethro answered, "Dustin found our friend Aria who took him to her older brother skilled in the art of using his spirit energy in healing. He removed the potion's effects turning him human again."
"Good for him. So by the way any other animals that got caught in her clutches?" Cyndi asked.
"Just Astral." Carol answered.
"Astral as in the Gold Dragon? What does she have to do with this?" Cyndi inquired.
"She was there on her own reason, until Clara snatched her." Camille explained.
"How could anybody snatch a fully grown dragon?"
"I can show you the memories that Astral shared with me."
"Please do."
Camille did so as she channeled her magic through the laptop to show Astral outside of one of Darius' hotels the day that Astral first met Dustin's friends.
"What's that?" Cyndi asked.
"The Mikael hotel in New York City." Jethro answered.
"I heard of those. But what does this have to do with Astral?"
"Keep watching." Carol said.
They observed seeing Astral outside the hotel and meeting up with Dustin's friends.
"Okay but where is Clara in this memory?"
"Wait for it." Jethro replied.
They spotted Clara noticing Astral and tailed her to the park where she wrestled the dragon into submission.
"Can you add audio to this?"
"Sure." Camille snapped her fingers so they could hear what Clara had said.
"Oh, boy, I got me a dragon!" Clara cheered.
Cyndi watched as Clara dragged Astral all the way home while talking to her, "We're gonna have so much fun together you and I. Why we're going to have fundamental friend dependability!" Astral gagged as Clara finally dragged her home and into her house.
"Okay what now?" Cyndi asked.
"Keep watching." Camille replied.
"First thing you need is a bath." Clara grabbed Astral and dunked her into the tub the same way she bathed Dustin.
"Okay that girl seriously needs a reality check." Cyndi said.
"We all felt that about her." Camille assured.
"Some of us were considering sending her to the underworld." Carol added.
"That's extreme. But anyway how did Astral escape?" Cyndi wondered.
"Just watch." Silver said.
Cyndi watched as Clara brought Astral into the room and locked the door to keep her from escaping.
"We're gonna have so much fun. I think I'll give you a good name. Pyro."
"Over my dead body brat!" Astral called her out.
"Bad dragon. You don't talk to me like that!"
"You don't treat animals like that either and from what I've seen so far you're an idiot!"
Cyndi who was watching had to comment, "Way to go Astral. What do the rest of you think?"
"That's telling it like it is." Elroy answered.
"Word." Alicia agreed.
"What did you expect from my partner?" Camille asked.
"You mean that's your partner?"
"That's right. Seems she's been taking after me after all."
"So how did she escape?"
"Keep watching." Carol said.
Cyndi watched as Clara's anger grew from Astral speaking the truth about her.
"That's it, I'm gonna have to spank you!" Clara grabbed Astral and started paddling her bottom.
Astral blew Clara away with her wind breath before using her water breath on her and then freezing her up to her neck with her ice breath which gave Astral the opening to finally tell Clara what she truly was and what she thought of her.
"You are about the worst human to ever be born, and you treat animals like play things and not pets!"
Astral then called up Carol's cellphone using the phone in Clara's room to tell her what had happened before she broke down the door in Clara's bedroom. She then told Ava to give Clara a spanking and explained what Clara did to her before freeing all the other animals that were at Clara's house. Just before Astral left she could hear Clara's screams of pain as the sound of Ava giving her spankings could be heard.
The memory ended on that note.
"Now that's one tough dragon." Cyndi admitted.
"I know. I'm so proud." Camille smiled.
"Camille, aren't you worried that Astral may have picked up on some of your former rudeness?" Carol asked.
"Don't worry about it, she's only like that with real enemies."
"Okay so any other enemies I need to know about?" Cyndi asked.
Camille answered, "Yes. A trio of girls in New York dubbed the Psycho Hosebeast Trinity."
"I never heard of them before." Silver said.
"Neither have I." Cyndi put in.
Elroy spoke, "They're three girls our age who have an unhealthy infatuation with our bud Dustin. Down to the point of legit stalker."
Jethro added, "Although I did recall a time when Dustin brought some of his students to New York that he did something that left us and the students shocked."
"What did he do?" Cyndi asked.
"Perhaps we'd best show you." Jethro suggested.
They pulled up a memory of the trinity facing down Dustin and requesting a goodbye kiss. Dustin told them to close their eyes. They did so and Dustin picked up Alicia's cat familiar Salem up making them kiss him. They opened their eyes not even realizing they kissed a cat.
"Oh that poor cat." Cyndi gasped.
"Salem said they each had breath that smelt like toilet water." Alicia explained.
Cyndi spoke, "If I was Dustin I would've slapped them across the face. Just like I'd like to slap Clara across the face for tricking me. You heard what she told me right?"
"Yes we did." Alice nodded.
"And what do you all think?" Cyndi asked.
"We all hate her." Elroy answered.
"What she does to animals is unforgivable." Alicia put in.
"That girl makes the Psycho Hosebeast Trinity look sane." Carol added.
"Which reminds me who are they as individuals?" Cyndi asked.
So Jethro told Cyndi about Janie, Suzy, and Rhonda and how much they love Dustin to death.
"Didn't anybody step up to them?" she asked.
Alice answered, "It's hard to considering they're mere mortals, but when Dustin tried telling his dad he thought he was being ridiculous."
"It wasn't until I stepped in using some time travel magic that I was able to help him." Camille explained.
"Time travel?"
"That's right. And let me show you how I helped Dustin out with it." Camille projected her magic to the event in question.
"I think I remember this. Carol said that this is where Dustin was forced to dress in drag before being tied to a tree." Jade said.
"Watch closely." They watched as Camille kicked the Trinity away before they could tie Dustin to a tree.
"Nice job, Camille." Cyndi commended her.
"I couldn't leave a boy like that at the hands of those nut balls."
"That would explain why Dustin said that he's been happier from that moment." Alice remembered.
"Yep and I had a hand in getting him a new babysitter instead of leaving him with the parents of those nut jobs." The boys did a double take.
"Wait a minute, you're responsible for that bombshell hottie who watched him?!" Elroy asked in disbelief.
"That's right and get this that bombshell hottie was my old babysitter too."
"Seriously?" Jethro asked in shock.
Camille replied, "Yes but there's more. That isn't the first time I helped Dustin out. Check out the second time."
They continued to observe.
Camille showed the group the memory of three weeks after she saved Dustin and it showed the Trinity in the park.
They heard them grumbling about how Camille interfered and saw Dustin working out in the park.
"There he is." Janie said.
"This time we got him for sure." Suzy added.
"And this time no one can stop us." Rhonda finished.
Dustin continued working out before sensing danger, "Trouble," He saw the three running over, "You gotta be kidding me!" Dustin bolted for it as fast as he could, "If I can get far enough away I can fly off."
In the present day Cyndi was watching, "Please tell me they don't catch Dustin."
"Just see." Camille answered, as Cyndi resumed watching the memory.
Dustin saw they were catching up but picked up the pace only to get tackled, "Get off me, you jerks!" Dustin tried to struggle and shake the trio off of him, "So help me if you don't get off I'll punch all three of you!
"You wouldn't hit a girl." Janie called the bluff.
"Try me!"
The trio began to drag Dustin to a tree before Camille kicked them away again before bitch slapping them each in the face hard. The three cried as Dustin saw Camille.
"I could've done that too." Dustin told her.
"True but what would your father have said? Still I called the parents and they'll be here right about now."
True to form the trio's parents arrived and took the girls away. They then put them under house arrest for a year with no contact with each other and with all their personal items taken.
The memory then ended on that note.
"After that I helped out at Dustin's Ninth Birthday party. You all remember that?"
"Yeah. I can't believe you managed to ship that package with those three off continent." Jade recalled.
"Actually it was too the Local Zoo." Camille corrected.
"I really would love to see that." Cyndi chuckled.
"We'll take you there one day. Anyway let's get you to ASPCA." Carol suggested. Cyndi nodded as they went to the ASPCA HQ.
At the building the Director of ASPCA was already waiting for them, "Thank you for recovering these two from Clara. Your help is much appreciated."
Cyndi answered, "Yeah but I was hoping you could examine these animals and two that followed me." Cyndi then had the Coyote and the Wolf that had been following her show themselves.
"Of course. Right away."
Cyndi followed the Director to where the vet was waiting in the building with the four animals that had been following her.
They went to the medical room where they were being looked at. Cyndi decided to help the vet examine the dog and pigeon that Clara had, "So what are we looking at?"
"No physical injuries, just grip marks, but they'll fade away."
"Did you examine any other animals that had been captured by Clara?"
"Yes, most of them all had grip marks, and even hand prints no doubt from her hitting them countless times."
"Well, here's what she said." Cyndi handed the Director a recording of the conversation she had with Clara and played it for him.
"This girl is an enemy to the animal kingdom." The Director said.
"She sounds like ASPCA's number one enemy. Imagine what would happen if she somehow got all the criminals that ASPCA arrested together. Or at least the ones looking for revenge. So that brings me to a question. Before Clara was exposed what did the vets say about the injuries that the animals had?"
"They thought that the animals themselves were getting into mishaps."
Cyndi was shocked beyond shocked before she found her voice, "I can't believe she got away with her bad behavior so much."
"I'm shocked as well. It wasn't until Jethro showed us the film that we finally took action. But what I'd like to know is why her mother didn't do anything about her?"
"Clara also said that she had her mother beaten by her aunt each time she found out her mom even tried to discipline her by beating her so badly she cried."
"Some children are just evil." The Director watched as the Vet examined the Coyote and the Wolf after finishing the examination for the Sheepdog and the Bird.
"These two are quite healthy, and it's a surprise they're behaving so well." the Vet explained.
"I think I might have something to do with that. See I'm not sure if any of you know this but I can talk to animals and I can make it so that those around me understand what the animals are saying."
"That's amazing." The Director said feeling impressed.
"If we at ASPCA knew what the animals were saying that would make our jobs easier." The Vet added.
"That's right. Say, Cyndi. Would you be interested in a job here?" The Director offered.
"What would I have to do?"
"Talk tot he animals and see exactly what they're feeling and what we can do to better help them."
"I'd be interested and this would look good on my resume but I'm still in school and I'm from the United Kingdom."
"Then how about part time?"
"When do I start?"
"Whenever you wish."
"Then I'll start right away. But first we gotta go catch Clara."
"Indeed."
Cyndi was about to answer before her cell phone rang and a call came from Camille, "Hello? Oh, Camille, sup?"
"If you're done chatting Carol and I may have found Clara."
"What's the location?"
"Silver thinks that Clara might return to her old stomping grounds."
"I see. Well, we should head her off there," Cyndi hung up the phone, "Sorry got to run. I think we found Clara." Cyndi then bolted for it and went to meet up with the others who were looking for Clara.
Over with Clara she was speaking to the two Crows who were currently flying above her about what had happened.
"I lost my two pets thanks to that traitor!" Clara growled.
"Perhaps it's time we get one of our higher ups here." the first crow began.
"Indeed we should." the second agreed.
"Who?" Clara asked.
"You'll see."
The crows cawed in a coded language and on cue a shadow portal opened and from it emerged Dark Corvo. Clara gasped as she looked up at him.
Dark Corvo was an anthromorphic crow that wore a tunic and had a staff in hand, "Hello little lady who are you?"
"My name's Clara, sir."
"Okay so what is it about you that brings two of the crows that the Prince sent to scout out this area?"
"Because so many people have done me wrong for unjust reasons. I hate them so much I'll do anything to get rid of them!"
"And you're willing to do anything?"
"You bet I am."
"I like your attitude. Just tap into your inner anger and the rest will take care of itself."
"Really? Well, ok." She began concentrating and channeling all her anger and hatred on those she hated.
As she did dark smoke began to emerge from her. This was the Darkness in Clara's heart. The crows watched with Dark Corvo. The Darkness itself began wrapping itself around Clara like a cocoon. They watched as it pulsated and glowed. After half an hour the cocoon began to fade away and the crows and Dark Corvo saw what was inside of it. Coming out was Clara dressed in black sorceress robes.
"How do you feel now Clara?" Dark Corvo asked.
"I feel like causing some mayhem!" she answered.
"Great. Let's start at your old home. I can teach you what I know about how to use the Darkness in your heart."
"Teach me, oh master." Clara bowed her head. Dark Corvo began teaching Clara all he knew as they headed to Clara's old home.
At Clara's old home Ava was doing her thing and thinking about the events that lead to this moment. She was also thinking about her well-mannered college educated niece Carla.
"Why couldn't I have a daughter like her?" Ava was about to comment before she got a knock on her door, "Wonder who that is?" She got up only for the door to bust down and Clara entered, "Clara?"
"I've come home, mother." Clara greeted her.
Ava frowned despite seeing her daughter in this new look, "This is no longer your home. And I am no longer your mother."
"Oh, that's right. You renounced me because you never appreciated me."
"Considering the way you've been acting you don't deserve it. And to think I helped you out at your eighth birthday party." Came a voice.
Clara looked and saw that her cousin Carla had appeared only she had changed over the years. She had her hair braided into a single pony tail and wore a steam punk outfit inspired by her mentor and she even wore a steam punk inspired hat.
"Carla! Why are you here?"
"What else? Trying to give Aunt Ava a hand. Between the beatings that Aunt Christina put her though and all the trouble that your new pals from the Forces of Darkness have given her somebody had to help her out. I've also been loaning my skills to ASPCA as one of their top mechanics."
"You always were a goody-goody." Clara grumbled.
"I was just doing what was right. Even if I had to find a few loopholes in the rules. Now leave! As aunt Ava said. This is no longer your home!"
"On the contrary. I'm taking over."
Ava and Carla were shocked before Ava found her voice as Carla prepared to protect her.
"We won't let you." Ava declared.
"Like you can. Nothing can stop me now!"
"Nothing except me." Carla replied.
"Let's put that to the test."
"Bring it!"
Carla and Ava braced themselves for whatever Clara might throw at them. Before Clara could strike she was attacked from behind, "Who did that?" They looked seeing Camille, Carol, and Cyndi, "You!"
Dark Corvo spoke, "So the traitor returns. The Crown Prince of the Crows and the Emperor of the Shadow Line told me about the two of you but he never mentioned you."
"I'm Camille Cooper of the Cooper Clan."
"Avatar Carol."
"And I'm Cyndi."
"Interesting. Clara show these three your new powers."
"With pleasure." She extended her hand sending a blast of dark magic.
Camille, Carol, and Cyndi had no time to dodge before they were struck with the blast, "Okay nobody told me Clara could do that." Cyndi said in shock.
"She shouldn't be able too." Camille answered.
"Well, she's doing it now." Cyndi said.
"But how?" Carol wondered
"That dark aura surrounding her is not natural." Camille explained.
"Well do you have a plan to stop it?" Cyndi asked.
"Well, no. But I'm open to suggestions."
"We stay on the defensive and help Ava and the other girl who is with her." Carol instructed.
Dark Corvo spoke, "You won't' be helping anyone with anything. Kuros attack!"
The minions fought, as Cyndi stayed out of fire leaving Camille and Carol to fight back.
Meanwhile Clara was free to take her vengeance upon Ava and Carla, "After this, you two will be nothing but memories."
"You won't get away with this, Clara!" Carla warned her.
"I already have."
"Not while Ava and I are still here."
"Then it's time I evict you." She grabbed the two and tossed them out of the house.
The two landed far away from the house as Cyndi went to check on them, "Are you two alright?"
"I'm fine." Ava answered.
"Never better." Carla added.
"Let's get the two of you back in your house and evict Clara once and for all."
"I don't think that's possible." Camille answered.
They saw the darkness in Clara's heart started turning the house into a dark version of it.
"This can't be happening!" Ava gasped.
"If this is what the exterior of the house is starting to look like I don't want to see the interior or the back yard." Carol feared.
"We're gonna have to." Camille said.
"Then let's go." Cyndi ordered.
They hurried to see the backyard turned into a dark prison where animals cages made from stone were all around.
"This is worse than I thought and I already saw footage of what the place looked like when Clara was here." Cyndi gasped.
"We gotta stop her." Carol declared.
"We can't stop her if we can't get near her." Carla noted.
"We'll need a way to draw her out." Camille strategized.
Carla made a suggestion, "Perhaps we need to see what else she's done. Fortunately I installed security Cameras in the house. If you can get me a laptop I can show you."
Suddenly Jethro and the others landed, "Luckily we felt the darkness in this direction. Need a laptop. Got one right here." He handed his to them.
Carla used Jethro's laptop to tap into the security system she installed before projecting an image of the interior of the house. The whole place was dark and creepy fitting for the dark forces.
"Ava, what did you do with Clara's room?" Carol asked.
"I cleaned it out and used it for storage."
"What about Clara's clothes?" Camille asked.
"I use them for rags now." The group gave Ava a look that told her to brace herself for the worst.
At the same time Dark Corvo was following Clara's lead, "So where are we going, Clara?"
"Touring the house. I want to make each room into my own image."
"Good plan. So where shall we start?"
"My old bedroom." She opened the door seeing it was filled it nothing but boxes of stuff.
"Clara, is this what your old bedroom looked like?"
"No. She moved out all my stuff. Well, I'll fix that!"
She used her power to remove the boxes and replace it with all her old things, only the room was like a royal throne room.
"Nice place but every throne room needs a throne."
"I already have one in mind." Clara answered.
"What do you have in mind?"
She created a throne that looked animal motif. The throne itself looked like it was a bear standing on its hind legs with its paws up looking ready to maul.
"So where to next?"
Clara continued roaming the house turning every room dark and creepy and some with animal motif.
"Well here we are. The Bathroom where you usually bathe your animals." Dark Corvo asked.
Clara nodded and transformed the bathroom into a dark one with the tub looking more like a big cauldron.
"So what's with the big cauldron?"
"That will be where my pets will bathe in." she answered.
"Speaking of which I need a bath. I don't suppose you have a bathroom set up for yourself and our pals."
"This way." She showed him to a second bathroom with the same dark motif but the tub was longer.
"Nice touch. So any other rooms you plan to mutate?"
"Next is my mother's," Dark Corvo followed Clara to her mother's room and got a good look at it, "Well, this won't do." She turned it into a torture chamber for animals and even people.
"So where too next? The guest room that your aunt Christina stayed in? Or how about the room that Carla resided in?"
"First my aunt's room," She went to the room and changed it to a poacher's motif. She then went to Carla's room. When Clara got there the door was sealed shut and when she tried to open the door it somehow burned her, "What's the meaning of this?!"
Dark Corvo inspected the door using his staff and it revealed some magical runes in the shape of white lotuses. The runes themselves were laced with the strongest good magic in the universe, "This room could be a problem."
"What's wrong with it?"
"It's laced with powerful good magic. The Strongest I've seen in this universe. It's designed to keep those who are filled with the power of darkness or who have tapped into the darkness within their hearts out."
"What about my injury?"
"Use the darkness to heal yourself." he instructed.
Clara did so and she was healed, "I wonder if she's hiding something in there?"
"I don't know but for now we should remake the rooms that you chased Dustin through and make this place escape proof."
As Clara and Dark Corvo continued remodeling the rest of the house the footage in the security Cameras was being projected onto the Laptop.
"She couldn't get in there?" Elroy wondered.
"No she can't. I had that sealed for a reason. It's our only way in there." Carla explained.
"And how do we get in there?" Jade inquired.
"If somebody can use portal magic and use an image of my room then we can get in." Carla explained.
"Will it work?" Alice asked her.
"It will work."
"Perhaps I should wait with Ava." Cyndi suggested.
"Good idea." Carol nodded.
Cyndi and Ava wished the rest of the group luck as Camille opened a portal to enter the room of Carla.
The group then entered Carla's room and found it to be a cross between a lab and a bedroom.
"Dustin, would love this." Alice noted.
"Kira and Tori would also love this." Camille put in.
"As would Jim and Tim." Carol added.
"Come on, guys. We need to focus." Alicia reminded them.
Jade nodded, "Alicia's right. We have no idea where Clara's gonna go first once she's finished transforming the house."
"Well, I'm a mechanic not a psychologist." Carla explained.
"Which is why we have to stop her. Now that we're in the stronghold, we can take her by surprise." Elroy said.
"And then we take her to a psychologist." Jethro finished.
"I don't think any shrink can help her at this point." Jade voiced her opinion.
"I could always give her a taste of her own medicine and dump her where Margaret White is now." Camille offered.
"Psycho's like them would belong together." Jethro said.
"Carla, can you tap the security feed and see where Clara is now?" Carol asked.
"In my sleep." She did just that pulling her up on a monitor. They could see Clara was currently in her throne room discussing her next move.
"That girl's so self-absorbed." Alicia said.
Carla spoke, "And my aunt Christina made it worse. Still if she's that self-absorbed we can take advantage of this. If somebody can cast an invisibility spell and a levitation spell we can sneak in and nab Clara."
"Magic is where I'm at." Camille said.
"I can help too." Carol offered.
"Great plan." Carla smirked.
"So let's do this!" Elroy declared.
Camille cast the required spells and the group silently floated to the throne room where Clara was sitting and she had conjured up a magic screen so she could have an audience with four familiar female faces.
"As you can see I now rule my mother's house and it's welcomed to all of you as a secondary base." Clara began,
Mindy spoke, "Excellent work, Clara. You've really outdone yourself. But what if the forces of light try to change it back should they capture or defeat you?"
"Not to worry, I have Dark Corvo assisting me now and training me. If anyone tries to get in my way I'll deal with them."
Jasmine warned her, "Just be careful. The forces of light tend to find a way to defeat us. And speaking of Dark Corvo you did tell him to link the place to the Shadow Line's main railway network, right?"
"Of course I did. What do you think I am an airhead?"
"Well, no but the file says that your mind is unbalanced. Of course that's what I was able to get when I hacked into the police records."
"There's nothing unbalanced about me."
Chris spoke, "Then we'll leave you to it. Oh and by the way when you're done with this any chance you can get Corvo to teach me how to awaken the power he awoke in you?"
"I'll put in a word."
"Very well then. Just do it." Amanda ordered.
The communication line then ended as Clara summoned up a map showing all the stray dogs and animals in all of New York City as well as ASPCA's Headquarters right as Dark Corvo came in.
"So what do you plan to do first?" he asked.
"Take every animal in the city and then the world!"
"Okay but why is ASPCA's Headquarters on there?"
"Because they confiscated half of my animals."
"So what will you do first? Get more animals or get revenge upon them so they can't cross you ever again?"
"First revenge then I'll start my collection again."
"Then what are you waiting for? Summon the Kuros already and make it the largest amount yet."
Clara nodded and summoned a whole army of them. The Kuros awaited Clara's orders, "Go to ASPCA, destroy it, but make sure you bring back whatever animals are there to me."
The Kuros nodded and left through a shadow portal that Dark Corvo conjured up to get them as close as they could to it.
Meanwhile the invisible heroes of light had seen and heard everything, "Figures that would be Clara's first objective." Camille began.
"Yeah I mean with ASPCA gone nobody can stop her. Except for us." Silver said.
"So let's take care of it." Carol said.
The group agreed and went to take on Clara and hopefully put her away for good this time. They followed Clara as they were right behind her. Clara turned to find nothing was behind her, "I'm losing it."
Clara continued to head to the back yard where her new animals would be delivered. When she got outside however she sensed the present of an animal, "Where are you?"
"Looks like she's taking the bait." Silver said.
Clara looked around with her senses strong, "Come out wherever you are."
From their hiding place Lavender, Saphira and Ruby were waiting for their cousin's signal.
"Are you sure Silver's plan will work?" Lavender asked.
Saphira answered, "Of course."
"This is it. Get ready." Ruby ordered.
They braced themselves as Clara got closer before they struck. Suddenly Silver appeared, "Surprise!"
Clara jumped back feeling startled. Silver's cousins appeared and began mocking Clara.
"How about that? You went from psycho to freak in the span of one day." Ruby mocked.
"More like less than an hour." Saphira corrected.
"Shut up!" Clara ordered.
"The truth hurts doesn't it?" Lavender asked.
"You couldn't get what you wanted so you made a deal with the devil in a sense." Ruby added.
"So now you're nothing but a cowardly whiner." Saphira mocked.
"I told you to shut up!" She tried blasting them with her magic.
The three flew out of range and into the skies before Lavender shocked Clara with her lightning breath. Clara recoiled from the shock.
"Stings doesn't it?" Lavender smirked.
"I'm not going down without a fight!"
Saphira spoke, "Last time I checked Ruby turned you into an ice block and we trapped you in a cage without much effort."
"And yet I'm still kicking!"
"Not for long." Ruby gave the signal to give Silver the cue for the others to drop the invisibility spell.
Camille, Carol, and the spirit Warriors surrounded her.
"Game's up brat." Elroy began.
"You're completely surrounded." Jade said.
"Just give yourself up now and spare yourself the humiliation." jethro offered.
"There's nowhere to run." Carol finished.
"Now that I have you all here. You will be my prisoners!" She tried attacking them all.
The group used their abilities to their fullest. Clara despite learning under Dark Corvo was still inexperienced. In spite of her inexperience she was still putting up a good fight using her raw power.
Elroy turned to his fellow warriors, "Guys, we may have to pull off a five way spirit force."
The warriors got the message. The five got together as the others distracted Clara. They pooled their spirit energies together as they started growing stronger.
"All right guys this is it!" Elroy began, as they all announced, "Spirit Force!"
They fired their giant blast of spirit energy at Clara. The girl screamed from the impact and crashed onto the ground.
"Did we defeat her?" Carla asked.
"I'm not sure. That seemed to be too easy." Camille noted.
True to form Clara stood up and was madder than ever, "You hit me!"
"Dammit." Jethro cursed.
"And we're out of power." Alice panted, as they were all low on energy.
"It's my turn," Carol stepped up to face Clara, "Serves you right bitch and I mean it in both uses of the term."
"I'll show you!" The two fought. Carol used all her bending skills to fight Clara and wreck the backyard in the process.
"Let's hope she can bring Clara down." Alicia said.
"This is Avatar Carol we're talking about. She can handle anything." Saphira assured. They watched and true to Saphira's word, Carol was besting Clara.
Carol managed to Earthbend some pillars to bind Clara's arms and raise her above the ground by five feet so that she couldn't move.
"Let me go!"
Carol was about to retort but she was winded, "I need to rest. Camille, you gotta finish this."
"Don't worry, I got this." Camille stepped up to the plate and began conjuring up some light magic.
"What're you doing?" Clara asked in worry.
"Rendering you powerless!"
"No! You can't!"
"I can and I am!" Camille fired the light magic at Clara in an attempt to subdue her.
Everyone shielded their eyes and when the light show ended Clara was out cold and back in her rags but the house still remained a dark version of itself.
"She lost her powers. What about the house?" Alice wondered.
"Unfortunately the house was too steeped in the Darkness of the Shadow Line for me to change it back and since Dark Corvo taught Clara he must've linked her powers to the Shadow Line. The best I could do was seal them away. I used my ancestor's sealing spell but it's incomplete which means that Clara's powers will return but I don't know when or how long it'll take." Camille explained.
"Still she's knocked out cold so what shall we do with her? Any suggestions?" Carla asked.
"Send her someplace worse than reform school." Elroy suggested.
"Send her to an insane asylum." Jethro put in.
Camille answered, "I have a better idea. Why not send her to the person we know who is the worst with animals."
"Who?" Alicia wondered.
"You'll see but first."
Camille used some magic to turn Clara into a beagle just like Dustin was turned into. Next she undid the stone that held Clara as she was still out cold. She then opened a portal that would take her to where the person she had in mind was and took dog Clara and herself in the past. When Camille arrived in the past she was right at the moment where she saw Dustin and Domino wandering around and Dustin was stuck in the body of a dog.
"Right on time."
Dustin spotting Clara playing in the sand approached with Domino in tow.
Camille stepped into action and blocked Dustin's path. Fortunately she used some magic so that she could understand Dustin.
"Dustin, is it? Believe me you really don't want to go near that girl."
"Camille, what're you talking about? And how'd you know it was..."
"No time, you and Domino just back away."
Dustin and Domino were confused but they followed Camille's advice and backed away.
Once they were a safe distance away Camille then set dog Clara on the ground and had her walk to Clara playing in the sand. Camille then bolted for it and found Dustin and Domino.
"Camille, why did you tell us to back away?" Dustin asked.
"Just watch."
They watched seeing the other dog Camille brought with her and saw Clara grabbed the dog by the throat looking happy.
"Hey, ma! I found a stray dog! Ma! Oh, ma!"
"What just happened?" Dustin asked in disbelief.
"That girl was Clara and she's the niece of Christina. A notorious poacher. One other thing that girl is animal obsessed. She had mice before but she squeezed them too hard and they died. Anyway just watch what happens next."
Camille cast an invisibility spell on herself, Dustin and Domino as they went to Clara's back yard.
They saw the new dog was tied to a fence by a rope leash, and tried to escape. They saw Clara come back and they could clearly hear what she was saying. What Dustin and Domino didn't know however was that the new dog was actually Clara from the present day whom Camille had turned into a dog and had brought back with her to take Dustin's place.
Dog Clara new sat down when the past version of herself ran back to her looking happy.
"Hi puppy. I'm Clara and mom says I can keep you. Boy I've always wanted a dog," Clara Dog moved away before being sat back down in front of Past Clara, "I think I'll give you a good dog name. Fluffy? Hey how bout Fluffy?" Clara dog replied with a gagging sound, "Here, Fluffy. Here, Fluffy, here."
Clara motioned for her dog self to come while making a few kissy noises till finally she grabbed the new dog and proceeded to dance and sing stupidly while unknowingly inflicting pain on the dog.
"Holy snap." Dustin gasped.
"That song can be best described as cacophony." Domino said.
"What is a cacophony?" Camille wondered, as Dustin explained.
"A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds, of course."
Camille said gravely, "I understand. Anyway let's continue watching."
Clara once again called to the new dog, "Here, Fluffy! Here, Fluffy! Here!"
She undid the rope from the fence and started tugging on it while dragging it dragged Dog Clara by the throat practically choking her. They watched her drag the dog into the house.
"Where's she taking her now?" Dustin wondered.
Camille picked Dustin up, "Let's see."
They made their way to the bathroom window where they saw Clara drag the dog into the bathroom by the rope leash which was still around the new dog's neck. Camille used her magic to let Dustin, Domino, and herself hear what Clara was saying. Camille had made a mental note to make sure that Past Clara knew the Dog was a female dog.
Clara dragged Dog Clara into the bathroom, "First thing to do with you, Fluffy, is to bathe you. I hope you like baths, because my doggy has to be real clean. Ok, Fluffy? Ok, in we go, Fluffy!" She put the dog in the tub and began giving her a very uncomfortable bath.
Clara dunked her dog self into the bathtub filled with water and started the second verse of her song.
"Whoa. Glad I was never bathed like that by anyone." Dustin said in relief.
"Tell me about it. That's just cruel." Camille said.
"And that dog certainly doesn't look pleased." Domino noticed.
As if on cue Dog Clara tried escaping, only for Clara to keep her down, "Down, Fluffy! Heal, Fluffy! Heal! Fluffy! Fluffy! You naughty dog! Down girl! Bad dog! Heal, Fluffy. Heal!"
Clara dog saw the door was shut and she couldn't escape so she jumped back into the tub where Clara started molding the suds in her head into weird clown like hair styles, "I'm glad you like baths, Fluffy."
They saw Clara lift her dog self out of the tub and dry it off before taking it to her bedroom, while the group watched from the window, "I want you to be real clean so we can play dress up."
They watched Clara bring the new dog to her room. Once inside the bedroom Clara was giving the dog commands.
"Down, Fluffy. Down, girl," Clara dog sat down grudgingly, "Stay, Fluffy, stay. I'm gonna close the door so you won't run away. Then we'll play dolls okay?" Clara came back with a dress, "I always wanted a sheepdog. You stick with me, Fluffy."
They watched as Clara dressed the dog up and sat her down at a table and Clara dog was forced to endure a tea party.
"I'm just glad that's not me right now." Dustin said in relief.
"Well just wait till you see what happens next."
They saw Clara through her density over poured the tea into the dog's cup getting it on the dress.
"You naughty dog. You got your dress dirty. I'll have to spank you!" Clara grabbed the dog and started paddling its behind.
"Is she that stupid to not realize she did it herself?" Dustin asked in shock.
"Apparently she is." Camille confirmed.
"Poor dog." Domino said in sympathy.
Camille rolled her eyes knowing full well that the dog deserved this treatment but she didn't tell Dustin or Domino that just yet.
Clara dog began struggling and got out of Clara's grip before she tried kicking on the door as Clara began yelling, "Here Fluffy! Bad dog. Bad dog. Come back, Fluffy! Here, girl!" Clara dog then ran to the phone and attempted to make a call for help.
But Clara clicked the phone and dragged the dog out by the ear. They watched as the dog was roped back to the fence, before Clara came out again looking disappointed and with a scowl on her face.
"You naughty dog. Raising all this commotion. Mom said if I'm going to keep you I gotta take you to the vet for a checkup. You probably need about a dozen shots. And while we're there I can get you neutered," Clara dog was truly looking frightened, as her past self dragged her off, "I'll walk you to the vet. That will be great hey, Fluffy?" she yanked on the rope, "Heal, Fluffy, heal."
Camille, Dustin, and Domino followed her while she was invisible and they could hear what Clara was saying.
"This can't be me. This just can't be who I am!"
As they continued on they could hear Past Clara talking to Fluffy, "I'm sure glad I found you. Mom always said we needed a dog to get rid of our table scraps."
Clara Dog barked but to Dustin, Camille, and Domino they could hear what she was saying. Clara Dog had a few choice words for that which came out in growls which were once again translated.
"No, you idiot! Don't you realize you're doing this to yourself!"
The three followed along as Camille used magic to project Clara Dog's thoughts to the three of them.
"I don't wanna be like this!"
Clara then walked Clara Dog into the Vet's office and the three followed seeing what would happen next. They watched as Clara Dog was taken to the front desk.
"Another one, Clara?" The clerk asked.
"You know me, sir. They just come to me. Must be my animal magnetism."
Camille rolled her eyes knowing that Clara captured animals while Cyndi was the one with the animal magnetism.
"Okay so what's first?"
"Fluffy needs to have her shots. She probably needs about a dozen of them."
Camille, Dustin, and Domino snuck into the back seeing Clara Dog get injected with a dozen shots leaving her drowsy and tired.
"Ouch, and all of them right in the butt." Dustin cringed.
"I know. That's just painful." Domino added.
"I wouldn't want anything metal poking my butt." Camille said.
They then followed her to where the Vet was waiting to talk with Clara, "So is this your first dog, Clara?"
"Yes. Fluffy needs to be neutered right away."
"Smart thinking." The Vet began the process of neutering Clara's dog.
Camille, Dustin, and Domino cringed at what was happening, "Ouch." Dustin groaned.
"That's just painful. Just be thankful it's not you in there or you'd be the one getting fixed." Camille warned him.
They saw Clara Dog getting neutered which made the three cringe before Clara Dog was given back to Clara.
"Here you go, Clara."
"Thank you, sir."
The Clerk then had something else he wanted to say, "Clara, did this dog have these injuries when you found it?"
"I didn't notice them until now."
The Clerk raised an eye but didn't say much yet, "Just be careful, alright?"
"I will, sir. Come on, Fluffy." She dragged the dog out by yanking on the rope leash.
The three wondered what Dog Clara was thinking now, "I've just experienced hell."
Clara spoke to her dog about what else she planned to do, "I've already made up a bed for you at the foot of mine. This will be great. We'll be best friends forever and ever. And we'll always have fundamental friend dependability."
"I don't want that anymore!" Dog Clara cried.
Once home she then began talking to her dog, "Don't you feel much better, Fluffy?"
Clara dog was still too weak and drowsy to even do anything. Clara noticed that it was almost sunset which meant that it was time for her to go to bed.
"It's bedtime soon. I'll put the finishing touches on the bed I made for you."
Clara went inside to do just that which gave Camille the opening she needed to take Clara Dog. Fortunately she was weak and drowsy which meant that it was easy for her to seal in a cage again.
Camille spoke, "And that's that, Dustin. Oh, by the way if your stalkers show up and ask for a kiss slap them across the face instead. Hard enough to leave them in tears alright. Trust me on this."
"If you say so, but first I need to change back. And I know who to call. You remember my friend Aria Sanzo from my party? Her brother's a medical spirit warrior. Take me to her and she'll take me to her bro."
"Sure, but where is she?"
"I have my hunches she's in Central park practicing violin."
"Very well. And perhaps I can get them to teach me a few tricks when the time comes. I already know healing magic but I'm not sure how comparable it'll be with you."
"Never hurts to try."
Camille agreed and took Dustin to Central Park. Camille dropped him off to Aria who took him to the hospital where her bro Burai worked. He removed the animal formula turning Dustin back to normal.
"That's more like it." Dustin said with joy.
"Good thing I casted a spell that restored your clothes in the process. Now I really must be going."
"Thanks again. Hope to see you around soon." Dustin hoped.
"I know you will." Camille then returned to the future on that note with Clara Dog still in her dog form.
Once back in the present day she saw Carol, Cyndi, the Dragons and the Spirit warriors gathered around waiting for her.
"So what did I miss?" Camille asked.
The spirit warriors laughed, "You should've seen it. Dustin slapped the trinity right across the face." Elroy laughed.
"I couldn't believe he actually did that." Alice said with a bit of laughter.
"I don't remember seeing that." Cyndi said.
"Neither do I." Carol put in.
"I'll have to use some magic to see that for myself. So when was this again?" Camille asked, as Elroy answered.
"Right when Dustin, Negi, and the girls were going back to Japan."
Camille conjured up a screen showing the moment when Dustin Negi and their students were getting ready to leave town.
They saw the trinity closing their eyes and puckering up. Dustin turned to Negi and with girls with a smirk. And then kapow! He did a three way slap across their faces making them fall to the ground. Negi and the students looked shocked.
Salem and Dustin's friends were stunned as well before they found their voices.
"Wasn't that much, sensei?" Nodoka asked.
"They've asked for this one too many times. Besides they know better than to come near me."
"Dustin, you..." Janie began.
"Had to be done." he said proudly.
"You're so feisty." Suzy said feeling turned on.
"What?" Dustin asked in shock.
"I love it when you're rough." Rhonda smirked.
"Next time you should slap us in other places." Janie said.
"Until then." Suzy winked.
The three headed off, leaving Dustin dumbfounded, "Wow. I did not see that coming."
"At least the parents could teach the three sense." Elroy said.
"Well, if they come back for more. I'll really make sure they get the message. Come on girls, let's go." Dustin, Negi, and the class left for the airport.
The memory ended on that note and Cyndi was stunned, "Were those three for real?"
"They were." Camille confirmed.
"Okay so what's our next move?" Carla asked.
"Unfortunately you and Ava will have to relocate." Carol sighed.
"Well, if it must be done." Ava agreed.
"At least we don't have to worry about Clara coming after us again." Carla said.
"That's for sure." Elroy agreed.
Alice spoke, "Dustin's probably feeling so much better now that he wasn't on the receiving end."
Jethro added, "But you never answered our question about taking Clara to the one person that we know who is terrible with animals the most."
"Well, allow me to show you." Camille offered.
"First let's get out of this creepy house and head over to the hotel." Carol said. They nodded and took off.
They arrived at the hotel that Dustin, Negi and their students stayed in when they came to New York.
"Good old Mikael Hotel. It's like HQ to us." Jethro said.
"This is a nice place. I don't suppose I could stay here while I find a place to relocate?" Ava asked.
"Why not work here?" Carol suggested.
"Yeah, Darius is always looking for new workers." Elroy added.
"Well I accept."
"Good for you. Just go down to the lobby and ask for an application form." Alicia said, as Ava nodded going to do that.
"So are we gonna watch where Camille too Clara or what?" Carla asked.
Everyone nodded, as Camille showed them. They could see that Camille had left Dog Clara with her past self and rescued Dustin from suffering at her hands.
"That's hilarious." Jethro laughed.
"Suck on that, Clara!" Jade chuckled.
"Serves her right." Elroy said.
"That'll certainly traumatize her." Alicia said.
"And teach her a lesson." Alice put in.
Clara dog was still in the cage and still feeling the effects of the shots and neutering.
"Neutering had to be extremely painful." Elroy guessed.
"It probably is. That's why I don't neuter or fix any of my pets." Cyndi said.
"So is she gonna stay like that?" Elroy wondered.
"Not wise. Leaving her in the past with her past self only creates a paradox." Jethro explained.
"I know that. That's why I brought her back and she's still in the cage." Camille presented Clara still stuck as a dog and still in a cage.
"Now that she's suffered what do we do with her?" Jethro asked.
Camille answered, "Change her back and dump her in Carrie White's former home town. They have a psych ward up in Chamberlain."
"Sounds fitting." Elroy said.
"She should've been committed from the start." Alicia put in.
"And we cleared it with the reform school already." Carol stated.
Camille teleported Clara to the psych ward in Chamberlain before changing her back. The group watched as she was put in the same room as Margaret White. The two looked at each other with Clara getting this scary feeling from this woman.
"It's getting late. Let's get some sleep." Carla suggested. Everyone nodded. The group headed to get some rest.
