Spells and Louds
Chapter 101: Explanations
(Spellman Estate, Royal Woods. The following day)
Neil and the rest of the family are now in the living room waiting for the arrival of their returned friend Hollow. Among the waiting guests was Martin, Lisa and Victor. Penny and Pyrrha are at remnant helping fight more Grimm.
Courage comes in with some glasses and refreshments, Linka follows suite with trays of brownies, cupcakes and cookies.
Leon sees this and tries to grab it, but his hand gets swatted away by Neil.
"You still haven't explained to us about your monstrous form yet, so don't even think about it" said Neil.
"Okay, okay. Jeez! Let's just calm down a bit" replied Leon who takes his seat.
They then hear a knock on the door and it opens. "Sir, Peter and Sam sharp have arrived" said Harv.
"Hey Luna" said Sam. "Hey there Sammy" replied Luna.
Neil shakes hands with Peter. "You don't have to do this you know."
"You know about what I have, I think it's best my little girl knows now" said Peter.
Then they see the great gate outside activating and coming out is a raven that morphs into the Guardian Gyro. Following after him is an imperial TIE silencer.
The Imperial aircraft lands and opens revealing Hollow and Musa.
"I did not know those kind of aircraft can hold two people" said Lincoln.
"We should look up more on imperial tech" replied Linka.
The three of them enter. Neil goes to Hollow and they fist bump.
"What up destroyer?!" said Hollow. "Same to you sith" replied Neil.
"Alright, let's take our seats and deal with this discussion" said Gyro.
They all takes their seats, then Gyro places a small protoss device onto the table. This made them confused.
"This is an interdimensional spy system radio, built by the Protoss Phasesmith's. The Immortal Council and all of our allies will be listening in" replied Gyro.
Hollow sighs. "Sounds exceptional. So, where do I begin?"
"How about, after you died?" said Sergei.
"Well, after I pressed the detonator and was engulfed in flames I woke up in a room with nothing but whiteness everywhere" said Hollow.
"I looked around and saw infinite white colors everywhere it was a little disturbing. Then when I blinked again I saw all of the heroes of the past. And when I mean heroes I meant the heroes from the universe I came from" said Hollow.
"Wait, you mean you saw the Jedi's?" asked Sunset.
"It wasn't just Jedi's. among them were Sith's as well, Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gonn Jinn, Kit Fisto, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, Aayla Secura, Kanan Jarrus, Ahsoka Tano, Ezra Bridger, Luminara Unduli, Darth Maul, Count Dooku, Darth Bane, Darth Revan and Darth Plagueis" said Hollow.
"I was truly astonished to be the one to meet all of the Jedi and sith from the past. Then I saw …. Him"
They all knew who he meant. "You're old master" said Musa.
"Only, he was Anakin Skywalker, not Darth Vader. He told me that he chose me not because he saw the power I could achieve. While he trained me he was still showing signs of compassion, I was trained by two masters. Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker" said Hollow.
"He said that he wanted me to rebuild the empire, but not as an unstoppable dominant force, but as a beacon of hope to rebuild what was shattered from the past. But then he saw what it could be, the Galactic Empire can be both sides with no choices but its own. I was almost lost at what he told me, but the Yoda hit me in the head with his stick!"
"Then they all told me that my time was not ready, that I still have a destiny to fulfill and that is to continue my charge in defending the realms and to do it with the one who understands" Hollow then looks to Musa.
"W-what?" said Musa with confusion.
"They wanted me to go back to you. it took a long time for Vader to help me find peace, it took a year for you to save me from myself" replied Hollow.
Musa felt touched and happy. The heroes of Star Wars past saw her as his beacon of light to his darkness.
"They said that one day, death will claim me. But not today, but perhaps in the end of all things. I knew something was wrong, so I accepted it. Then I asked them how do I leave this place?" said Hollow.
"Well, what happened?" asked Timmy.
"Darth Maul opened a door under me and I fell. Not quite the exit I was expecting. Then I woke up in an empty Jennerit city and that's when I saw my own funeral and I heard the amazing and very nice speeches you said about me. Thanks guys and to Spinel, Mandie and I think Zim" said Hollow.
"Well, that was very informative. But what did they mean when they said at the end of all things?" asked Gyro.
"I have no clue, but I did feel some stinging pain on my back, I checked but there was no marks of any sort" replied Hollow.
Gyro sighed, but deep down he knew what he meant. "Well, that was all I needed to know and the rest of the allies across the stars" Gyro picks up the device and turns it off. "People, I will be off now. He morphs into a raven and flies towards the great gate.
They were a bit confused, why did the guardian just fly off like that.
Then they all looked at Peter. "And I guess it's my turn." Said Peter.
He looks at Sam. "Darlin' how old do you think I am?"
"Umm, thirty nine. We celebrated your birthday during the first week of May" replied Sam.
Peter looked at Neil, who nodded back to him. "Sam, I am older than that." Said Peter.
"What do you mean?" asked Sam.
"Sam, I was born on May the 3rd 1869" said Peter. Everyone (except Neil) were shocked by this news.
"W-What?! Are you kidding? Please say you're joking?! Dad?!" said Sam with concern.
Peter puts his hat down onto the table. "Its true darlin' I was born during that year, the late era of the American old west."
They were all a bit confused, even Lina, Martin and Victor.
"B-But that cannot be possible!" said Lisa. "That would make you-."
"One hundred and fifty years old. And that you're right. Neil here knows about me, he's been keeping this secret for a long time, he was my friend after all" replied Peter.
Sam looked confused by all this. "B-But mom?! What about mom?!"
"You're mother knew as well, she wanted you to know when the time was right, but I guess it didn't fair to her and your little brother" said Peter.
"The day it happened. The day of the accident, I drove to the crash scene and tries to use my powers to revive her, but she wanted me to keep going and to protect you Sam. She will watch over your brother Simon, in this world or another" replied Peter.
Sam started to shed some tears.
"I swear, I didn't want her to go. But faith works in ways we don't love, but you and I have to move on" said Peter.
Sam knew it's what her mother and brother wanted. She still remembers the nights her and her dad would cry to sleep in the same bed, both broken with no other family left, they were a close father and daughter, both with passions for music and farm life.
Sam remembered when they had to leave the farm behind. Peter couldn't bare to support the place and that's when they made it to Royal Woods, where her adventure would begin and where she found herself and her lover.
Peter found work in the Royal Woods Theater as a stage assistant, then stage manager and ultimately he became a free agent and helped in reinforcing events across Michigan.
"H-how did you get this power?" asked Sam.
Peter showed his fire from his fingers.
"It all started when I was thirty two. I had a posse, we were a dangerous outlaw group. Ten of us, raiding, robbing and stealing anything we wanted and needed. I became the leader of the pack when our boss died in the hands of another outlaw gang, the crew saw loyalty in me when I led them to the murderous crew and we killed them all." Said Peter.
"After that we went across the state of the west. Texas, Arizona, Phoenix, Vegas and New Mexico. But as we reigned our definition of crime, I was different. Though I was loyal to the gang, I had my own better intentions. Whenever we robbed people, I would secretly give them back half and the rest to the poor."
"I never slept with a woman, saying that the woman I'm looking for, is one who would love me not for what I am, but what I have done and what I could be. The others thought it was a stupid joke, but I ignored them and to be honest, I never shot an innocent person before. That's why I wanted to rob other gangs."
"Then one day, it went wrong real fast. My posse found me helping the folk by giving them some of the money I took. They saw this as betrayal and … they tortured me"
Everyone gasped at what he just said.
"They dragged me by my own horse, they made me beg for thirst for three days and finally they nailed me to a tree in the middle of the barren sun and they whipped me, as if I was Jesus. I was no saint, I was just a man who was willing to help the poor, because that's what I was when I was young, a kid who was poor, but was taught by my ma' that innocent people need help and that I should never turn down a person in desperate need."
"Then as night fell on me. The cold wind blowing on my bleeding body, I woke to find this man dressed like them fancy rich folk. He smiled to me like something fierce and asked me a question. "Do you wish to take you're revenge?" I answered no! Then he showed me a vision of the townsfolk I helped. My crew …. They ….. They ravaged the place, killed the men, raped the women and beat the children. All those innocent people! Gone! And I hated my own friends for doing it!"
"So, I accepted the man's offer, but then he showed his true colors. The fucking Devil himself was granting me a deadly power, one that has been passed on for generations and is across the stars. The power of Ghost Rider, the Spirit of Vengeance!"
"I took the power and became my own hatred. I went to the town and made my statement. I saw them all drinking and laughing in a bar, gloating of how they finished me off, so I gave them a warm welcome back, in flames!"
"Well, what did you do after that?" asked Luna.
Peter looked down a bit. "Well, after I finished taking my revenge. I was confronted by the devil himself, he wanted something from me, the souls of those who I have saved, which means whoever I find innocent, he would claim them in hell, either from natural death or an accident. So I played his little evil game, but he didn't know I never found any innocent lives. I kept myself close to areas of guilty hearts and sent them to burn in hell, my way!"
"I rode my horse, a motor bike, a military jeep, a hot rod muscle car and finally I came back to my bike. It was one hell of a ride and I enjoyed making the devil feel like a real asshole, then he finally caught up to me. He figured out what I was doing and he was pissed off!"
"And then you and the devil had a showdown" said Neil with a smirk.
Peter chuckled a bit. "I haven't had a good high noon gunfight in ages. The year was 1982."
"Good god! I hate that year!" replied Leon and Sergei.
"Well, you're not wrong, me and the devil met up at the old town where we first made the bargain. We came up with a new deal. If I beat him, he has to return to hell and never return! He even made it legit when he placed the deal curse hex on himself" said Peter.
"But, what happens if he wins?" asked Gwen.
Peter sighed in guilt but he smiled back. "If the devil beats me, he can take control of my soul, body and powers and wreak havoc on the living."
"But, he wasn't smart enough, we both met at high noon. But he did not realize the date of the day. When we fought he used his demonic powers and limitless ammo, also he cheated with a machine gun. But I got the upper hand, when the Solar Eclipse came!"
"You got the advantage!" said Lincoln.
"I did and he did not expect me to use heavenly ammo, I did my research and found out that the Ghost Rider was once and angel, who was corrupted by humanity. I went to the Pope at that time and he believed in every word I said and blessed my weapons so I may act as the instrument against all of the devil's sinful creations! And send him back to hell!"
"In the end, I won and he lost. He tried to cheat his way again, but then a blinding light from the sky hit him and burned like the sun. Afterwards he heard a voice saying "You made the deal, and now your fate is sealed, old friend!" That was none other than the voice of the father all mighty!"
"The devil was sent back to hell, with his angry roar left behind. I kept this power, so I may one day use it for good and vanquish any evil, even if the devil returns. I'll be waiting for him!"
There was an intense silence.
"Then I met KISS and became their roadie/driver and after lots of tours I changed my career to fighting terrorists in the Middle East" said Peter.
Some of them laughed at that part.
"And then, you met mom" said Sam. Peter smiled and ruffles her hair. "Yeah, I met your mom. The woman who understood me and accepted me for not what I have done in the past, but for what I could be."
Sam then hugs her dad, in which he hugs her back. This was very touching to them, including Luna.
"So, I guess you're an official member of the Royal Defenders" said Lincoln.
Peter and Sam break the hug. "Yeah, I guess I am."
"But wait a minute! You're powers can only work in darkness!" said Victor.
"Actually, thanks to some ancient texts and studying. I found out I can use my powers under the sun, I just needed to keep training and practicing and what do you know, it worked!" replied Peter.
"And that's how we met, you saved my life during a battle against ISIS" said Neil. "While Leon and Sergei were in another part of the area fighting."
Leon and Sergei were shocked by this. Neil met Peter and knew about the powers way before they knew.
"Mind blown!" said Sergei.
Peter looked at Sam. "I'm glad I could tell you this sweetie, I hope this isn't too much?"
"It's okay dad, we're both musical and farm like lovers and now we're both superpowered" said Sam.
They all chuckled at her reply. Then Neil looked at Leon. Leon notices this and sighs. "And you're upset that I can do this whole Aswang thing right?"
"Well, I can't say that I'm not happy with what you've become. So what did happen when you fought that monster?" asked Neil.
"When I was alone with only my MG42, I was ambushed by the thing. I tried to strafe it. But I ran out of ammo, so I went with melee combat using a machete. We slashed, clawed and bit! But then in the end I was able to outsmart him and slice his head off. But I guess it came with a price, his bite made me what I have now" replied Leon.
"So, can you control this power?" asked Sergei. "Well, I'm trying. I have to stick to Animal diet and no I don't mean domestic pets" replied Leon.
Courage sighs in relief.
"I'll have to stick to hunting deer or any wild animal" said Leon.
Neil felt unsure by this and looked at his kids, mostly Lily. "As long as you do it away from my kids. Then we're okay."
Leon nodded.
"Well, I think Musa and I will take our leave" said Hollow. "Thanks for having us here and hearing all of this dude."
Neil gets up and shakes his hand. "Thanks for coming, and it's good to have you back my friend."
Hollow then looks to Lincoln and Linka. "If you guys need some extra firepower for your Battlecruiser, I can provide."
Lincoln and Linka smiled. "Thanks, we'll be sure to tell you if we do need some help."
"Next time you visit, we should jam together" said Luna.
"Totally, and maybe we can jam with the rainbooms and Ember!" said Sam.
Musa chuckled at this. "That sounds wicked."
Hollow and Musa take their leave to the TIE Silencer and through the great gate.
"Well, I guess this ends this whole dilemma, so who wants spaghetti for lunch?" said Neil.
"We do!" they all replied.
(Meanwhile in Karazhan)
Gyro had just returned from the immortal council and headed straight to the towers basement. There he opens a secret lever and a door opens from the walls.
In the room is a small waterfall with a small river. A rock sits near the waterfall, and stabbed to the rock is a sword, it looks like a basic Long sword, but on the hilt is a cross and some angelic runes.
Gyro sees that the sword now has blood on it. "So, the great fates have granted Hollow with immortality, this is a very unsettling development. I will have to tell everyone soon, but not now. Not yet."
Gyro leaves the room, but he looks back to the sword. "I don't even know if they're ready to learn more about the sword of Immortality."
(Meanwhile back in Royal Woods)
Near the great gate. The portal glows and Loni looks to the path back home.
He then looks towards the Spellman family who are there. "Well, this was sort of a blast for me" said Loni.
"You can come by and visit anytime, just need to make sure you have a FutureTech soldier escort" said Neil. "Thanks Mr. Spellman" said Loni.
Then Linka approaches him and puts Growlithe down. She then hugs Loni. "Thanks for being here Loni."
Loni returns the hug. "This was all for you Linka. I hope we can do this again next time."
The two of them break away from the hug and wave goodbye to each other. "And Loni." He turns around to see Linka.
"Please be careful, I don't know what the other former family members are going to do next, but I don't want you to get hurt" said Linka.
Loni feels worried as well. "I'm concerned too, but if anything goes wrong I know who to contact" said Loni. He keeps the FutureTech interdimensional communicator safe in his pocket.
He then waves goodbye to all of them who wave back at him, even Leni. Even though she has trouble dealing with Loni. And Loni is gone.
The family then walks to walks Linka. "It's gonna be okay sis. We'll deal with the other louds if anything goes wrong, we promise" said Lincoln.
"I know" replied Linka with a smile. They all head back to their house.
To be continued …
Well, now we know how Hollow came back and Peter's secret powers and what the hell happened to Leon. More adventures lie ahead of them. Leave a review.