Hey, everyone! Mostly filler and set-up for later in this chapter. A couple of guest stars that I don't own, and a big surprise! Enjoy!
Chapter 24
Thursday afternoon Duncan, Kenny, and Chad were training with Jinafire in the Rosenblatt backyard. She had given Kenny and Chad several moves to practice in their styles, and the two were sparring. This allowed her to focus on Duncan's chi training; controlling the 'fire within', letting it flow with power and fine control, and tapping it for greater strength. She was impressed with his progress.
Margaret came out, speaking on her phone. She hung up with a look of hope on her face.
"Boys", she called, getting their attention, and Jin's, too. "That was Ms. Le Fey. She and the Steins think they may have a way cure Kenny. They want us at their clinic ASAP."
"Then let's go!", Kenny said eagerly.
They all piled into Margaret's SUV and drove to the clinic. Frankie greeted them at the door and, after hugging Kenny, led them to the greenhouse attached to the back of the mansion. Although the Steins kept up with cutting edge medicine, often being those creating it, they also followed holistic medicine, and remained open to magickal methods as well. Thus, they grew a great many herbs, roots, and fruits with medicinal properties in their greenhouse.
Frankie led them to her parents, Ms. Le Fey, and Neighthan. There was also a clinic bed, monitor and IV equipment in a particularly sunny spot in the greenhouse.
"Margaret", Viveka greeted her friend and nodded to the teens.
"Viveka, Viktor", Margaret replied. "So what have you come up with?"
"It's rather complicated", Viktor answered. "But it's a treatment that combines what amounts to diluted forms of defenses against vampires and methods of healing."
"Boodika helped us make liquid extracts of healing and immune-boosting herbs and Blessed Water, which we've combined with essence of garlic and vitamin d to make an IV solution", Viveka explained.
"I also suggested as much sun exposure as possible during treatment", Boodika added.
"Which got me thinking to use the greenhouse during Kenny's stay", Viktor said. "Plus a UV/sun lamp when the sun isn't available."
"Wait", Kenny said. "My 'stay'?"
"Yes, Kenny", Viveka said. "The IV solution is diluted to ease the effects, so treatment will take two days, at least."
"Why not just hit me with the full strength stuff and get it over with?", he asked.
"Because with how advanced your change is so far", Boodika explained, "taking it straight could do more harm than good."
"And I'm here to ease any side-effects or discomfort with my healing magick", Neighthan explained. "Especially when this stuff first hits your system."
"Ok", Kenny said. "Let's get started."
"First", Viktor said, handing him a grey flannel shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants and pointing to a changing screen nearby, "change into these."
"Thanks", Kenny said as he did as instructed. "I really hate regular exam gowns."
When he came back out, the doctors told him to get comfortable, attached sensors to his chest, and prepped his arm for the IV. Everyone crossed their fingers as the IV was inserted into his vein and started dripping. After a moment, they all let out the breath they were holding.
"Well", Kenny smiled, "so far, so goo…aaAUUUGHHH! IT BURNS!"
His pulse increased dramatically and he writhed in pain!
"Help me hold him down!", Viktor yelled, and Duncan did as he said.
"It's hurting him!", Margaret cried.
"GET IT OUT!", Kenny screamed. Frankie, terrified and wanting to end her boyfriend's pain, reached for the IV, but her mother stopped her.
"We thought this might happen", she said. "Neighthan! Help him!"
"Hold him still!", the unicorn-zombie hybrid said as he placed one hand on Kenny's chest and the other on his head. Neighthan's horn glowed as he tapped his healing magick, and Kenny stopped thrashing and calmed down as the pain subsided.
"Aw man, that really hurt", Kenny panted, tears of pain rolling down his cheeks. Frankie gingerly wiped them away and gave him a tender kiss on the lips.
"You're brave to even try treatment", she said, gently stroking his hair. "Mom, Dad? I want to stay beside him tonight….if that's ok with you, Mrs. Rosenblatt?"
"I can't think of a better nurse than you, Frankie", Margaret smiled knowingly. The ghoul blushed, then looked to her parents; the doctors. Her father had not been happy that his daughter had had sex so soon in her young life, but grudgingly understood that she did it with the boy she loved in order to save him. He shared a look with his wife and shrugged with a half-smile. Viveka smiled at their daughter.
"Very well, dear, we'll get you a chair", she said. "But you'll monitor him as you would any patient, like a real nurse. You'll record his vitals every hour and note any change in his condition, understood?"
"Yes, Mom!", Frankie smiled brightly. "Thank you!"
"Looks like you're stuck with me", Kenny quipped with a smirk.
"Shut up and get some rest, you", she giggled, and kissed him gently. Duncan and Margaret smiled knowingly.
"Take good care of my bro, ok, Frankie?"
"I will, Duncan."
xxXXxx
Veron entered his master's chamber and waited obediently. The command chair rotated until Obsidious Blackstar was looking down at him.
"By your command", Veron said, briefly bowing his head.
"Speak."
"We have remained on course, as commanded. We can now confirm that the tracking signal is indeed emanating from the same planet as the other signals we have been monitoring."
Obsidious grinned. It appears that his niece has somehow stranded herself. Something else he shall point out when he proves to those fools on the Council that they should have followed his plan of action to save their people in the first place.
"As you commanded, we have continued to monitor those transmissions. We have learned that the planet is called 'Earth', has one natural satellite, several continents of widely varying environments, two polar ice-caps, and that roughly 70% of the surface is covered by water. There are a great many cities and infrastructure to support them and a native population numbering in the billions. This 'Earth' also has a veritable cornucopia of raw materials and resources."
The Psion chuckled maliciously. This was almost too perfect! None of the planets that they had received data for were near as perfect as this! All of them, while capable of sustaining life, required not only varying amounts of terraforming but also a constant struggle to survive for decades—generations even-before they could begin to be the thriving culture they once were. On this planet it could be done within a solar year!
"Maintain course and speed, and continue to monitor all transmissions and report any new information to me regularly."
"By your command", Veron bowed as he turned to leave.
xxXXxx
Lord Stoker was not enjoying his exile. Ever since his niece claimed her rightful place as Queen, he and his most loyal followers have had to un-live as virtual nomads. It was so beneath a vampire of his stature! He still had sympathizers in the vampire court, but they were few and there was little they could do for him.
This 'charming' little hamlet they resided in now was suitably remote and untraveled, so he'd allowed himself and his followers to indulge in the blood of the locals. It would run out soon, and they would move on. This particular evening, he was rather enjoying the attractive woman he was draining. He was tempted to turn her, make her his consort….but no; adding to their number was not a luxury he could afford now.
"Lord Stoker, I presume", a voice said as he finished his repast. He dropped his bled-out victim and turned, hissing in warning to see who dared call him by name. He saw a tall, rather ugly hag of a woman with yellowish-green skin, dark green hair topped by a wide-brimmed conical hat, and what appeared to be four arms. She was wearing a long, form-fitting black sheath dress. In one of her hands she held a broomstick. A witch.
"Who dares to disturb my meal?", he demanded.
"Forgive my rudeness", she grinned, bowing her head slightly. "I am Revolta, the Witch of the Web."
"Bah! I have heard of you.", he scoffed. "A witch who delved into magick so dark and evil that it twisted your mind and body. Begone!"
"Ah, but I come bearing an opportunity", she smirked.
"Vhat could you possibly have that vould be of any interest to me?", he sneered.
"A chance to reclaim your rightful place as leader of all vampires", the witch grinned maliciously.
This caught his interest! But…
"Ha! Such a thing is far beyond the power of a mere witch! Now begone!", he scoffed. He turned to walk away, only to have his way blocked by another figure that just appeared from nowhere. A ghost. He was easily as tall as Stoker, but had a bigger build. He was wearing a flare-collared red-lined white cape, a light grey suit, black gloves, boots, and belt. His eyes were red and his black hair had jagged streak of white in the middle and styled into horn-like flares on each side.
"True", the ghost said with a wicked grin. "Fortunately, she won't be your only ally. Vlad Plasmius, at your service."
Stoker raised an eye-brow, mildly impressed. He had heard of the evil half-ghost, arch-enemy of the new Ghost King, Danny Phantom. This was getting interesting.
"Very well", he said to the two. "Vhat do you propose?"
"The Monster Council of Royals has grown soft", Revolta spat. "Trying to co-exist with the normies as equals is a fools' errand!"
"Monsters have powers far beyond them", Vlad continued. "We should be ruling over them, and using them as we see fit."
"Agreed", Stoker said. "So vhat do ve do about it?"
"We gather other, powerful like-minded monsters, and form a new Council", Revolta smirked. "We three and our benefactor are the first. We must find and recruit others and followers. Then we work together to overthrow the Council and put our own in their place."
"Then the world….", Vlad grinned.
"Vould be ours", Stoker finished. "You must admit, it is ambitious, and it von't be easy. Who is our fourth?"
"You'll meet him soon enough", Vlad promised. "For now, I'll tell you that he helped me escape the Ghost World's most secure prison; from a cell designed specifically for me."
"And he helped restore my full powers after Boodika Le Fey nearly destroyed me years ago", Revolta said, scowling at the memory.
Stoker had to admit, the offer was tempting. To rule once again. To be able to feed upon and turn normies at will, like it was in times past. But it was risky, almost terminally so. And the biggest reason for that—literally—was Belloc, King of the Kaiju. And yet these two seemed confident of success. Then he felt the tremors…like the foot-steps of a giant. Then he saw the other two looking upward. He followed their gaze, to see a huge dark form and two large, glowing eyes. Fear shot through his black heart. A Kaiju!
"Well, Stoker?", a deep voice rumbled from above. "Are you in? Or will you live out your immortal life as a homeless wanderer?"
"Very well", the former vampire lord said, bristling at the reminder of his current state. "I vill join you."
The unknown kaiju chuckled evilly, as did Revolta and Vlad.
"Vhat is our first move?", Stoker asked.
"We have other council members to find and recruit", Vlad said. "As well as followers who can be useful."
"My crystal ball has revealed some of those we seek", Revolta said.
"Then let's get started", Stoker grinned.
xxXXxx
Van Hellscream was in a good mood. His lab techs were busy replicating the Nth metal, and the crate he had been expecting from Greece arrived today. As he pried the lid off, Lilith came in.
"Oooooh! What do we have here, dear Uncle?", she asked brightly.
"Some new pieces for my antique arsenal, Lilith", he replied as he began removing items from the crate.
"The Sword of Perseus; with which he beheaded a gorgon and slew the twisted fiend Calibos.
"The Bow and Arrows of Bellerophon; which killed the Chimera.
"The Spear of Atalanta; which brought down the Calydonian Boar.
"Theseus' Daggers; the blades that he concealed and carried into the Labyrinth of Crete and killed the first Minotaur.
"And finally; the Gauntlets of Hercules! Legend says that anyone who wears them will be granted the legendary strength of the hero!"
Lilith was gobsmacked. She knew her uncle collected the weapons of famous monster hunters, but this was epic! She picked up the spear and looked at her uncle, asking silent permission. He nodded, and she began to swing and twirl the weapon with great dexterity, bringing a smile to his face.
"You handle it well, my dear", he said. She beamed with pride and returned the spear. "You will be needed for a special mission soon; a chance to redeem yourself for the debacle of last Halloween. Be ready."
"Yes, Uncle."
xxXXxx
"So how's Kenny doing this morning, Duncan?", Clawdeen asked as they sipped their lattes by the fountain with their friends.
"Frankie would know better than me, Clawdeen", he replied slyly, as the ghoul in question blushed furiously.
"According to my parents, he's responding well to the treatment", Frankie said. "They think he should be back to normal in 2 or 3 days. He was in good spirits when I brought him breakfast this morning."
The guys and ghouls all smiled knowingly as the first bell rang and they all filed inside, going to their first classes of the day.
"Attention please!", The Headmistress' voice crackled over the PA system. "Will Clawdeen, Clawd, and Howleen Wolf please report to my office immediately."
"Ugh. Now what?", Clawdeen groaned, and Duncan put his arm around her shoulders.
"You want us to come with?", he asked; motioning to Draculaura, who also nodded as she took Clawd's hand in hers.
"Sure, why not", Clawdeen said with a small thankful smile.
They knocked when they reached Bloodgood's office and were told to enter.
"You called…us….Head….mistress…?", Clawdeen's voice trailed off, as she and her siblings were awestruck. Duncan and Draculaura were confused by their reaction, then saw that Bloodgood was not alone in her office.
There was a tall white and silver furred werewolf. His bearing was strong and noble, and carried great wisdom in his orange eyes. His robes were ornate and regal, and his face was full-wolf rather than humanoid. He had his claws clasped behind his back. Duncan could sense the power and wisdom of this wolf….clearly an Alpha.
"F-Fenris Silvermane?", Clawdeen said softly, in absolute awe.
xxXXxx
Author's notes: What?! I'm leaving it there?! Yup! Next chapter begins Clawdeen's Destiny arc!
Well, Kenny is on his way to recovery with Frankie by his side! LOL!
I do not own Revolta, the Witch of the Web. She is from "Scooby Doo and the Ghoul School", but my version is from this AU. Nor do I own Vlad Plasmius, but with Danny Phantom as part of my AU, it only made sense for him to appear at some point.
I did promise to reveal more about Obsidious Blackstar back when he first appeared, so I thought it was about time I kept that promise. He and his forces are studying their target as they inexorably approach! They are still a great distance away, but we will see them again before they arrive on Earth!
As always, reviews and suggestions are welcome! No flames, please.
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