CHAPTER 7: THE NIGHT OF UNEASE.

(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)

Back at where the S.M.A. students were fighting alongside the Sorcerer Knights, the misuser behind the monster attacks had finally revealed himself, as Timothy shouted his name with rage.

"HUNTER!"

"Ah." Replied Hunter in a devious way. "So you do remember me. I'm actually quite surprised that you do, considering what I've done."

"SHUT UP!" Snapped Timothy. "WHAT YOU DID WAS UNFORGIVABLE! ME, THOMAS AND THE REST OF OUR FAMILY SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"I know that, grey boy." Hunter responded. "Don't get too enraged. Besides, they weren't true nobles and neither was the piece of garbage in your arms right now."

"HUNTER!" Growled Timothy as his voice became distorted. "I'M... I'M... I'M GOING TO KILL YOU FOR SAYING THAT ABOUT THEM!"

"HA!" Scoffed Hunter. "Try as you like Timothy, but you can't move."

Timothy then growled as he watched Hunter open up a portal, before speaking to him once more.

"I'd love to stay and chat." He said. "but I have my revenge to plan. Goodbye."

"HUNTER!" Shouted Timothy as his distorted voice became almost demonic

"Oh don't worry Timothy." Said Hunter as he prepared to go through the portal. "I'll deal with you too very soon."

Then as he disappeared through the portal, Hunter laughed maniacally before the portal closed. Then after Hunter exited through the portal, Timothy's rage continued to build up and up. His eyes became redder and redder, and his teeth sharper and sharper as he filled with more and more rage. Suddenly, Timothy felt two familiar arms wrapping into an embrace around him from behind. The Billinton knew these arms well, for they belonged to his beloved mother, Tanya. Timothy then began to feel sorrow and remorse, as his mother spoke to him.

"Timothy." She pleaded. "Please calm down sweetheart. I know that you're cross that Thomas is hurt, but, please, don't let your demon win."

"Mum." Said the 18-year-old as his voice, eyes and teeth went back to normal. "I'm sorry. I-I just..."

"I know." Tanya replied as she placed her hands on Timothy's shoulders. "You have nothing to be sorry about son. it's okay. Come on. Let's bring Thomas to crovan's gate hospital. He needs urgent medical attention."

"Yes." Said Timothy solemnly. "But we won't make it in time."

"Not by engine you won't." Said a voice as Mr. C then stopped next to the Billintons. "But with my help, you will."

"How?" Quizzed Timothy.

"Well." Mr. C began. "It's kind of complicated."

"Complicated?" Asked Tanya. "Complicated how?"

"It's better if you just see for yourself." Said Mr. C as he then grabbed the whistle on his necklace and blew into it.

As the teacher blew into his whistle, he and the Billintons disappeared in a cloud of gold. Then when the cloud had dissipated, Timothy and Tanya found themselves at the entrance of the Crovan's gate Hospital. As they recounted on what just happened, both mother and son realized what that golden cloud was.

"Wait..." Timothy began, feeling stunned. "That was.."

"Gold-Dust." Finished Tanya.

"Yes." Replied Mr. Conductor. "You see. My family was entrusted with this special magic. At school, it is called a myth due to never being seen. However, it is very real and the Royal magicborns have an access to it as well."

"Whoa." Remarked Timothy

"Interesting" Said Tanya.

"Yes indeed." Agreed Mr. C. "Now enough dawdling you both. We have to hurry Thomas in."

"Right!" Timothy responded.

So then Timothy, Tanya and Mr. Conductor rushed Thomas inside and then the nurses took Thomas to the operation room. As time passed Timothy sat worried about Thomas, his brother was one of the many people that are precious to him that are left. Suddenly, he heard the sound of frantic footsteps coming towards him. Timothy then turned to find Howard, Annie and Clarabel, coming towards him. Howard then looked worried at his eldest son as he spoke to him.

"Timothy." He asked. "Is it true? Is Thomas..."

"He's gravely injured, father." Timothy Replied. "He's currently in the operation room. I'm not sure yet if he'll come out alright."

"Of course he will!" Annie remarked.

"He's gotten injured before and was able to pull through." Clarabel added. "He'll be back? Right?"

"Not so sure you two." Tanya sighed solemnly. "Unlike those times where he was knocked out in Brighton, Thomas is gravely injured. So there may be a chance that we'll never see him again alive."

Annie and Clarabel then look down in dismay, upon hearing their mother's words. But as the Billinton were all about to lose all hope. The light signaled the operation was finished and the family looked over to see Victor, the head nurse walking towards them.

"Ah. Good evening Billintons." He greeted

"Good evening Victor." Howard replied.

"Um, Victor." Annie asked with a worried tone and expression. "is Thomas..."

"Don't worry." The nurse replied with a kind smile. "Thomas may have been stabbed with a dagger, but he's not one to be easily killed. He's all patched up, just needs a few days to heal, and he'll be back to his usual cheeky antics or splendid heroics."

"Oh what a relief!" Remarked Timothy as he sighed.

"Hang on." Howard remarked as he raised an eyebrow. "Thomas was stabbed with a dagger?"

"Well yes." Victor replied. "He was indeed impaled with a dagger. I never saw one like it, but well here it is."

Then Victor showed the dagger to the Billinton family, and they were in complete shock upon seeing it, while the twins panicked.

"Oh no!" Annie cried. "He's back! He's back!"

"Oh no! Oh no!" Shivered Clarabel.

"I'm sorry for not mentioning Hunter's return to you guys." Apologized Timothy. "I didn't want to make any of you panic."

"Don't be, Timothy." Replied Howard. "But still, if you'd told us, seeing his dagger wouldn't have been so shocking."

"Hunter?" Quizzed Victor as he raised an eyebrow. "Who on earth are you guys talking about?"

As Annie and Clarabel then calmed down and found their composure, both they and Timothy explained more about Hunter to Victor.

"Hunter was an adopted sibling of mine and Thomas's." Began Timothy. "He came from another noble family that died from a blaze."

"Due to being the heir of his first family." Annie continued. "Hunter was harsh and abusive to me, Clarabel and the rest of our siblings. No matter how many times mum and dad tried to talk sense into him, it was all undone by the praise from Uncle Horace and Aunt Shirley who apparently agreed with his ideas of a 'proper noble'."

"Hunter only cared about himself, and believed that our family was the biggest stain of all noble families." Clarabel added. "He attempted to 'fix' this by killing all of our older siblings, but however dad and Timothy stopped him before he was about to kill Thomas, and sent him into a black hole into another realm. To be sealed there for good."

"Then.." Victor quizzed. "How is he here?"

"That's what I'd like to know." Timothy stated bluntly. "For dad's spell cast went correctly."

"The only logical explanation behind Hunter's return is that he may have figured a way out to open portals on will." theorized Mr. Conductor. "Thus why he was able to unleash a scythe mantis."

"But. That's impossible." Howard interjected. "I sent him through an unstable portal, he should've been sent to any realm that would be out of reach."

"That may be so. " Responded Mr. C. "But it's possible that Hunter landed in a realm that has a legendary artifact that can control portals on one's desire while also being the anchor. Thus, he may be planning on using it to get his revenge."

As the Billintons took in Mr. C's theory, they knew that there was no way that they could deny it. Meanwhile in a barren wasteland, Hunter was watching the events happening in the crovan's gate hospital. He then chuckled as he heard Mr. Conductor's explanation of his return.

"Very good twinkle toes." He said as he sneered. "Very good."

Then, Hunter pulled a golden compass-like object from his pocket and looked at it.

"Mother, father, brothers, sisters." He began as he looked at the object in his hand. "I vow that one day, that I will get my revenge on you all and that I will right the Billintons wrongs. I swear it."

Then as Hunter's sneer became broader, he began to laugh maniacally, for he had evil plans to unleash upon the Billintons and the rest of Sodor's residents.

(To be continued...)