Chapter 16: Willow's Third Dad.
[In the town of Bonesborough there is a lies a house not to far from Hexside, there lives a girl, who is loved by her family, cared by her friends, and hated by evil, she stands for all that is right, with the help of her plants but today wasn't going to be a normal day for her, for when she awoke from her slumber,]
Willow: *groan*
[She was exhausted, the first thing she does is walk downstairs, and get ready for the day, there she is greeted by her father's whose names have not been revealed yet, but we will get to that later. In the meantime Willow enjoys her breakfast, waters her plants, gets ready for the day, and walks down the path that would lead her to her best friend's home, The Owl House. Usually when they are there it was going to be for goofing off, but today was going to be different, she was going to train for the second day. With Shatter Squad, because for her, yesterday must have been one of her worst days, because when she was in the abomination track, her teachers would be disappointed in her work, things changed when she joined the plant track, she gained confidence, stood up to her bully, and even reconciled with Amity, and all of that because of her best friends, Luz Noceda. But now, it's as if things changed for her again, she thinks to herself that she made a very bad first impression with her human teachers, only if she knew what they really thought of her. She arrives at the Owl House just in time for the military horn to ring.]
Willow: *annoyed* AGH! I am never going to get used to that!
[Luz then arrives front and center waiting for Amity and Gus to come]
Luz: Willow! You're right on time!
Willow: Well, being on time is my latest priority these days.
Luz: Hahahaha, well it's I guess all we are waiting for now are Gus and Amity.
Arthur: Well you guys have nothing to worry about, we are going to have the same training as always, well most of you.
[He turns his attention to Willow with a smile, Willow stares into his eyes, the first thing she sees, is that he must be thinking horrible of her, after hearing about yesterday's incidents. Amity and Gus arrive minutes later, King arrived just now because he woke up late.]
Arthur: King you're late again.
King: Well you think most of us can wake up at 6 in the morning!
Arthur: Didn't you wake up because of the alarm?
King: Psh, no I wore earplugs last night.
[Arthur looks around King's body]
Arthur: King, how do you wear earplugs? More than that do you even have ears?
King: The King of Demons does in fact have ears, right here..
[he then feels the side of his head]
King: Wait?! Oh my Titan! Where are my ears?!
[Everyone laughs at King's stupidity, while Arthur just raises an eyebrow]
Arthur: You know what, let's just go.
[The group head for the base and begin their training, but just before training can start for all of them]
A.X.E.L.: Willow, you are not training with us today.
[Everyone is surprised to hear those words]
Willow: What?
A.X.E.L.: I know it's your second day, but Pop's said he wanted to meet you.
Willow: Pops? You mean West?
A.X.E.L.: Yup, he's waiting for you in the Garden.
[Willow gulps at the fact that their boss wants to meet her, after hearing the stories of what he can do from Raymond, she is just scared to think what he wants from her]
Willow: Uhm, are you sure he wants to meet with me?
A.X.E.L.: *Chuckles* Is there another Willow in the group?
Willow: Well, okay I'll go.
[Willow looks down in defeat, but her friends put their hands on her]
Amity: Willow, whatever happens, just let us know.
Gus: yeah, we got your back.
King: The King of Demons lends his support.
Willow: Thanks guys.
Luz: And Willow, don't worry, Pops is a nice guy, I'm pretty sure whatever reason he has to meet you is a good one.
[Willow then exits the room and tries to find her way to the War room, somehow 5 minutes later, she got lost. Then she finds one of Luz's teammates]
Willow: Raymond!
Raymond: Oh hey Willow. What are you doing here? Pops is looking for you.
Willow: Well funny story, I got lost and I don't know where the garden is.
Raymond: Really cause i thought you had a thing with plants? You know you can sense them. Hehe
[Willow gives Raymond one of those faces where someone is annoyed and they are just done along with a no gesture]
Raymond: Oh uh *ahem* Well one thing is for sure, you are going in the wrong direction. I have some business with Pops myself, I can take you there if you like?
Willow: Yes, thank you!
[Raymond takes Willow to meet West, Willow being nervous begins to asks questions about him]
Willow: Hey Raymond, was it?
Raymond: Yeah?
Willow: When you told us those stories West, were they true?
Raymond: You mean when Pops fought at the Conformitorium, HECK YEAH! It was one of the most badass things I have ever seen.
Willow: So what's he like?
Raymond: Well Pops may come off as large and in charge, but deep down he loves us, well I think? Because there are times when we mess up, like that time we raced in Shatter Cars.
[Willow rolls her eyes to the side and just had to ask]
Willow: What happened during that time?
Raymond: Eh you don't wanna know. We were just lucky Pops is a forgiving guy.
[She hears that word again Pops. Why does everyone call him that, she asked again]
Willow: I've been meaning to ask, why does everyone call him Pops?
Raymond: Well that's because he treats us like his children and calls us his sons and daughters. Some of us came from horrible backgrounds, and when no one would take us in, Pops was the man who helped us. And gave us a family.
[Willow begins to think he might be nice guy]
Raymond: And sometimes he hits in the head so hard, we fly across the room, and that happened to me because I broke his Ax.
[And the thought changes back to him being scary]
Raymond: And here we are.
[Willow sees the door to the garden, Raymond unlocks it with his key card, and both enter to see a beautiful garden, somehow as big as a forest, Willow amazed with everything that is here, from the flowers, to the different types of vegetation, to the beautiful blue sky above]
Willow: This is amazing, how did you get all of it to grow like this?
Raymond: Well West wanted to put an indoor garden, and being the over the top inventor I am, I turned it into a paradise, with some environmental simulation technology, you can basically create any type of garden you want.
[Willow had no idea what that meant, but whatever it was he did an amazing job, she looks around some more, until she sees two stone statues by the waterfall, and holding them up on the top of his arms is West Hercule]
Willow: *shocked* Whoa!
[She tries to get a look at West's face, and notices he has his eyes closed, conscious, but just sitting still]
Raymond: Pops! I got those reports you wanted! Plus I brought Willow
[West opens his eyes, and puts the two stone statues down, and walks over to him, Willow widens her eyes as he gets closer, seeing him he seems like a huge old man, but if you take a closer look, his power is on a whole other level, which she can sense from him]
Willow: *confused* (This power, is it all from this guy?! What is he?!)
[West then stops in front of Raymond]
West: These reports from our most recent mission?
Raymond: Well I had some help from Arthur, and Coco, but after skimming the files I managed to get everything done.
West: How about the latest combat uniforms?
Raymond: Works in progress, I'll have you know that seeing all of them, will leave you impressed.
[West flips the file and nods his head in approval]
Willow: (he seems friendly, unlike last time).
[West finishes reading the file, and hands it over to Raymond]
West: I'm impressed son, keep up the good work, and have the reports on those runes by next week.
Raymond: Yes sir!
[Raymond leaves the garden, and Willow remains still, waiting for him, West walks back to water his plants, Willow taps her fingers anxious being in the same room with someone that has the energy of a monster]
West: So Luz tells me, you study in the plant track?
[West gets Willow attention]
Willow: Uhm, yes sir.
West: Do you enjoy it better than your previous track?
Willow: Yes Sir!
[West takes a few good looks at Willow and sees what he is working with, walking back and forth sipping tea]
West: Luz also tells me that you are one of the strongest Witchlings she knows. Is that correct?
Willow: *humble and nervous* I wouldn't say the strongest, but my teachers say I'm strong in my field.
West: Alright, take off your shoes. Then tell me what you see around you?
[Willow is confused by the statement, and observes her surroundings]
Willow: Uhm...alright?
[She immediately removes her shoes]
Willow: Many flowers, types of vegetation, the sound of the waterfall.
[Willow gets whacked in the head]
Willow: *in pain and confused* OW! What was that for?
West: That...was the wrong answer.
Willow: I'm sorry?
[Willow rubs the back of her head]
West: We got eyes in more places kid, it just takes time to find them.
Willow: I don't understand?
West: You may specialize in nature magic, kid, but do you really understand it?
[West grabs some cuffs, puts them on Willow's wrists, Willow immediately falls forward]
Willow: *shocked* Wha...how heavy is this?!
West: Fifty pounds each.
Willow: *shocked* What?!
West: Your first day of training will be taking care of the garden, with the wrist weights on your back.
Willow: I have to do what?!
[West begins to walk out of the garden]
West: Oh and no magic. Heard you got a garden of your own, so let's see how you do with human plants. I'll be gone for an hour, so when I get back, make sure this place is in tip top shape.
[West leaves to Garden]
Willow: (Did he just walk out, what kind of training is this?!)
[Willow then begins to walk slowly while carrying 100 pounds on her wrists, she starts to take care of every plant, but when she raises her arms to water, she has a difficult time in doing so. An hour passes, and she only cleaned 10 percent of the garden, West returns]
West: Hmm, 10 percent of the garden. Interesting. Alright training is over, hit the locker room.
Willow: *pant* *pant* What? That's it?
West: You got school, don't you? Run along.
Willow: Aren't you going to take off these cuffs?
West: Nope, run along kid. Oh and no shoes.
[Willow leaves without saying a word, then Arthur enters the room]
Arthur: Hey Pops? Are you sure you know what you're doing?
West: It's only the first day of training, she'll learn.
[For the next 3 weeks, Willow has been going through the same training, and was even having a harder time at school because of the weights and no shoes, so one day during her training.]
Willow: (I'm having a hard time, what am I going to do, I've only finished cleaning 50 percent of the garden within three weeks and I'm still nowhere with this training). *sigh* maybe I should call it quits.
West: Calling it quits now are we?
Willow: *gasp* Uh no sir!
West: Willow it's okay to call me Pops.
Willow: I'm not sure I'm comfortable with calling you that.
West: Suit yourself.
Willow: But I don't get it, if I'm supposed to be learning how to fight, how does gardening do that?
West: Well, it's to help you answer the first question.
Willow: What do I see?
West: Tell me what you see?
Willow: Flowers, vegetation, and the sound of a wate-
[West whacks her in the head]
West: Wrong!
Willow: Wrong again?! West you have been asking me the same question over and over.
West: And you have given me the same answer over and over. But not the true answer.
[Willow tries to keep her calm, but it's being like this is making her doubt herself as much as she was in the abomination track]
Willow: *angry* YOU KNOW WHAT MAYBE I WON'T GET THE RIGHT ANSWER, BECAUSE THIS TRAINING IS USELESS! I love being in the plant track! But doing this, adding weights, and no shoes, it's all just! FRUSTRATING! You can't learn anything to fight Meta if all we are doing is taking care of plants!
[West looks down and walks over to grab his tea]
Willow: Everyone is talking about me again! My parents are worried, my friends are worried! And right now I'm useless!
[Willow walks in a fast pace towards the floor and curls up into a ball, West then sits next to her]
West: Those are the same things my daughter used to say.
[Willow pretends to ignore it]
West: She used to say that my training was useless.
Willow: Is that it?
West: I'll teach you something.
[West brings over a little flower]
West: Tell me what you see.
Willow: A flower?
West: Don't use your eyes.
[West puts his hand on the dirt]
West: *serious* Come on kid, we can't be negative all day.
[Willow puts her hand in the dirt]
Willow: What exactly are we doing?
West: You are a plant magic user, so if you use plants, it wouldn't be beneficial to understand them.
[Willow raises an eyebrow, West closes his eyes, and activates his Aura, he glows orange, and the flower lights, up showing the flow of energy]
West: Let the energy flow within you. And see everything from the plant.
[Willow closes her eyes, and tries to read the plants emotions]
West: You say plants are your friends right? Let your friends help you. Let the aura flow out and go into the light.
[the wind around Willow begins to blow, her hair waving through the gale.
West: Remember how you cared for the plants for the past weeks, and think about how you want to help this one.
[Willow remembers every type of plant she took care of, recalls the species, the ones she studied from Eda's plant books. She then feels waves from within then plant]
West: Think about the people you want to protect, what your end goal is, how you want to live your life.
[Willow recalls her family and her friends, especially Luz because she was the one who changed her life.]
West: Now let all that energy flow into the plant, and tell me what you see.
[Willow's aura then flows through the plant and into the dirt, and uses the plant's aura to see everything around her, like an extra pair of eyes]
Willow: *gasp* I see me and you. And the aura of the garden.
[Willow opens her eyes, and looks at West grinning. And nudging her to look at herself, she then sees that her Green Aura has appeared.]
Willow: *gasp* Wha! YES! WEST! I'M DOING IT!
[It then disappears and she looks at herself]
Willow: But how?! What was that?!
West: That was a technique that most nature users acquire. The Earth Sense.
Willow: The Earth Sense?
West: It allows us to connect with nature, connecting with nature allows us to see the area around us, and let's us use the flora as our eyes, sensing nearby aura.
Willow: So the reason why you wanted me to treat your plant is because?
West: I needed you to take care of them, because people can form a bond with nature by taking care of it.
Willow: And the weights?
[West, doesn't respond, but he raises his hand]
West: You still have to wear it.
Willow: Aw man.
[West then walks over to bring out a bag, revealing many weapons once laid down]
West: Pick a weapon.
Willow: Why?
West: Just pick something that you think suits you.
[Willow glances at the weapons carefully. Many of them looked deadlier than the last, but one weapon caught her eye, an old bow and arrow set. She picks it up.]
West: *grins* A Bow and Arrow. Good choice. Let's go outside.
Willow: Why?
West: *serious* You'll see.
[West and Willow then continue their training outside of the base in the middle of the forest.]
West: *serious*I've planted targets all over the forest. I want you to use the Earth Sense to find and hit. You can only pass this training until you hit every center.
Willow: Wait is this why you wanted me to train without my shoes?
[West does not respond]
Willow: I'll take that as a yes.
[Willow then reaches for an arrow and remembers everything West tells her in order to activate the Earth sense, her aura glows, and her aura scatters through the ground into the trees, and senses the first target]
Willow: (THERE!)
[Willow fires her arrow and it hits, but not in the center.]
West: Don't let a failure in the past stop you, you still have more chances.
[Willow nods in agreement and uses her earth sense, and fires arrows at the rest of the targets, but misses the center targets on all of them.]
Willow: Aw man.
West: We will try again tomorrow.
[Willow keeps up her training for another week. But instead of doing what she normally does at home, she gives herself a few pointers, with the "dumbbells" from the base that they had in their gym. She also uses the "hand grippers" she heard about from Raymond, whenever she is taking down notes with one hand, she uses the gripper on the other, She also practices using her arrows where nobody is looking. She keeps up this routine everyday, with everyday comes progress, with each day going by the garden is looking cleaner, with each day going by, she lands more and more targets in the bullseye, but in the middle of her training West stops her]
West: Willow, before going into arrow training, I'll teach you something just in case you run out of arrows in the field. Show me your fighting stance.
[Willow goes into a fighting stance, when in her stance, her form looks off, to West's eyes, it looks like anything could knock her down, plus her feets look off, and he senses fear instead of confidence]
West: Willow?
Willow: Yes Sir?
West: Is there something wrong?
Willow: I don't know what you mean.
[He also notices that her voice sounds off]
West: Well, first people would be able to knock you down with the stance you have.
[West knocks her down, Willow almost falls to the ground, but West grabs her just before she lands, he pulls her back up]
West: You need to be firm, have a strong will. Show me your stance
[Willow proceeds to her stance, and West fixes her legs with his foot by kicking her feet.]
West: your legs stick to the ground, be as strong as a mountain. Show them that they won't topple you over. Now punch me!
[Willow goes for a punch, when he grabbed it he felt the power behind it, but it had it's mistakes]
West: When punching, it's best to not let your punch just fly. You'll throw out your back.
Willow: So in order to keep a strong punch.
West: You must hold your punches position, and twist.
[Willow punches again, West grabs her hand]
West: It must be firm, put all your strength and power into the force of your fist. One more time
[Willow takes a deep breath, takes her stance. And focuses her energy into her fist, following West's instruction, but when she does it again, West feels improvement. But somehow she still hesitates.]
West: I see there is power, but still no confidence. Is something bothering you?
[Willow goes back to standing]
Willow: Nothing is bothering me.
West: Willow, it's ok to be honest. You were honest during the gardening training. But something tells me you are not confident in fighting. Why is that?
[West sits on the bench of the garden, and offers the seat next to him, Willow sighs and decides to sit next to him]
Willow: Sir? Am I really good enough for this?
West: Well you are making progress in your training? Why do you ask?
Willow: It's just, I want to help Luz, but sometimes I feel like she is way in over her head. Most of the time it helps. But there are moments when I feel like, even if she can get through these problems. I feel like I'm holding her back.
[West drinks his coffee]
West: Why is that?
Willow: I couldn't save her when she was captured and almost killed by Lilith, I put my friends in danger during a moonlight conjuring, I let her almost get killed by Boscha, I even put her in danger the day I met her.
West: So you think that if you fight alongside her, something similar will happen?
Willow: Exactly. I'm actually jealous of her, she is the most hardworking witch I've ever met, making magic without any born talent, standing up to Boscha, taking the emperor head on, fighting the Meta. Luz is done so much with all the time that has passed by. It's even because of her, I'm in the plant track.
West: You know it's stuff like that you remind me of my daughter.
Willow: You're daughter?
West: Connie, she was a member of Project Roundtable, Agent Percival. When she was young she wasn't one of the best students at her school. She was always pushed around by others due to her illness. But when she met Arthur, her life turned upside down. When she met him, she had more confidence. She stood up to her enemies, even joined him when they were invited to join the best of the best in Project Roundtable. But sometimes she wasn't confident because of her illness.
Willow: What was her illness?
West: It wasn't something that was known around the time, because the cause of it was her own Spirit Power.
Willow: What?
West: People at Project Roundtable offered us a cure for her Illness, but from what I have heard, they performed experiments on her. She was traumatized, all that caused her to change.
[Willow listens more to the story and tries to understand where he is coming from]
West: She wasn't herself anymore, the more missions she went on, the more she got hurt. Until one day, on a mission with Lancelot and Gawain. They were killed in action.
Willow: What happened?
West: No one knows. All I know is that, I have to make up for everything I put her through. And I promised that I would help everyone here. That includes you.
Willow: Why are you telling me this? What does this have to do with how I feel?
West: Cause I was like you. I had sometimes felt that it was my fault whenever Connie got hurt. Which is why I'm training you, so if Luz needs you. You can be there for her when she needs you. In fact I never told you this, but A.X.E.L. and Coco were actually impressed with your power.
Willow: *shocked* Hmm?
[Willow flashes back to her first impressions with A.X.E.L. and Coco]
West: They told me you're not like the rest, you're strength and power are on a whole other level. So I had to see for myself, and they were right. The power you possess may unlock the Spirit Power that rivals my own.
[West gets up and grabs a rock]
West: Now tell me, will you not have the confidence to complete this training, or are you going to show Meta, that you are a force that won't hold back your friends.
[Willow, remembers all the times Luz would help her, deep down, it was Luz who made her realize her true potential, and now it's her turn to show these villains what a witch from the plant track can do]
Willow: Let's do this!
West: Very well, take your position!
[Willow fixes her stance, and West raises his palm]
West: Now hit me!
[Willow focuses her energy into her fist, and remembers everything West taught and told her, with her confidence in her own power she released all the force of her punch into West's palm]
West: There ya go. Now let's work on other techniques. Follow me.
Willow: Yes Sir!
[West teaches Willow more fighting techniques, showing her different forms of martial arts, different movements, and for the next few weeks, West had her follow a workout regimen after hearing her working outside of training. She would do push-ups at home, practice archery in her secret spot, go out for early morning jogs, lift weights with the wrist weights West gave her, and mastered multiple fighting styles, like taekwondo, muay tai, slugger style boxing, she would even train her earth sense with the plants in her garden and the schools garden, one day, during training she hit the bullseye mark on all the targets, mastered 50 percent of the fighting styles taught to her, and the moment West came into the garden, he smiled and saw that it was all clean]
West: not bad Willow.
Willow: *pant* *pant* *pant*.
West: You've done well. Now tell me what do you see?
[Willow closes her eyes and activates her earth sense. Not only in the surrounding garden, but to all the nature found within the base.]
Willow: I see you, me, the green of the plants, their feelings, my friends training with the others. And myself.
[West is about the whack her in the head, but Willow blocks it in time]
Willow: and that.
West: Heh, was that the earth sense talking?
Willow: Just a hunch.
West: You still got one more thing to do, before I can let you go.
Willow: One more thing?
[Willow and West step outside of the base and she sees her friends]
Luz: Willow!
[Luz jumps at her and squeezes her]
Luz: Look at you, all those weeks of training must have paid off, you look so strong!
Willow: Well I had a good teacher, what did I miss while I was gone?
Gus: Well the craziest thing happened, while you were training with West all these months. And I was training with Kotoha, and I managed to unlock my Spirit!
[Willow widens her eyes after hearing those words. Yeah you are all wondering why Gus has his Spirit already off screen, well there will be his half to this story after this, so just wait]
Willow: That's amazing, I still haven't unlocked mine yet.
[Willow looks around and notices Amity is not with them]
Willow: Hey where's Amity?
Luz: Oh, Amity well...she's not with us today. Stuff happened while you were training. And she's currently with Arthur.
[Willow wonders what happened to her, anyway you'll find out what happened to Amity because she will also have her part in the story]
Luz: So why are we out here?
Willow: Well West said he wanted to come out here. He didn't say why though.
[Willow then hears West voice boom through the forest]
West: Willow!
[Everyone turns their attention to West]
West: You have done well these past few weeks, but now it's time to show me the results of your training.
Willow: Results? Didn't we do that a while ago?
West: That was only to see the result of your vessel, now we have to see it in action!
A.X.E.L.: but you said that her Spirit power hasn't been unlocked yet?!
Coco: This seems like a bad idea!
West: Don't worry you'll see.
[West closes his eyes, and his Orange Aura burst from his body, revealing Hercules]
West: Spirit Power! God of Strength Hercules!
Luz and Gus: *worried* Willow!
[Luz tries to grab her hand, but willow holds it in her palm, and sets it down while smiling at her with confidence]
Willow: don't worry I got this!
King: Go get em Willow!
[Willow walks towards West with her Weights on her wrist, and Bow and Arrow in hand]
West: Are you ready?!
Willow: Yes Sir!
West: Well then, HERE I COME!
[West zooms to Willow's face and lands the first attack to the stomach, Willow quickly puts her bow and arrow on her back and attempts to block using both hands, but the force from West's punch is so strong, it made Willow fly back breaking through multiple trees]
Willow: *pant* *pant*
[Willow lands on her feet and grabs some arrows and fires three of them all targeted at West]
West: Hmm!
[West brings out his Ax, and slices two of the arrows, he grabs the last one just before it would land on his face, Willow then jumps at his face and attempts to punch him but West grabs and threw her to the ground, Willow kicks herself back up and both exchange attacks, Willow starting with a spinning heel kick only to be blocked and exchanged by a uppercut hurdling her in the air, she falls back down, and counters with a spinning ax kick but was blocked again, Willow jumps back and moves forward with rush of attacks, West blocks all of them, Willow then jumps backwards and fires two arrows, that West slices]
West: Now it's my turn! RAGH!
[West's Aura flares and he charges at Willow, but instead of running the young witch prepares for the worst, above the forest, three explosions are seen from different areas. Willow jumps back and West performs a flare and lands an attack on Willow, but she holds her ground, and wipes the dust off, Willow hides in the forest]
West: You're not getting away that easily.
[West activates his earth sense, and tries to find Willow and sees arrows hurtling towards him in a circle]
West: HMMPH!
[West opens his eyes and destroys every arrow with his ax]
West: Wait where is she?
Willow: Right here!
[Willow comes from underground and uppercutting him in the chin]
Willow: Gotcha!
West: Hiding underground, well played
[West rubs his chin and Willow readies herself for what comes next]
Willow: I learn from the best.
West: But I didn't teach you that.
Willow: I meant I learned it from the nature around me, and my plant magic gave me an idea.
West: Well I guess it's time to take this to the next level!
[West jumps up and stands on top of a tree, and Willow follows]
West: You know Willow, I lied about the weights on your arms.
Willow: What?
West: The truth is, they are actually 100 pounds per side!
Willow: Really?! But they felt lighter?
[Willow looks at the weights on her wrists]
West: I just didn't want to make you feel worse, but now is the time you can take them off.
Willow: *deep breath* Ok.
[from afar the rest of Shatter Squad watches Willow and West's battle]
Luz: Why did he make her wear 100 pound weight?! That's impossible?!
Coco: Well when it comes to nature and power users, it's best for them to battle with these weights, because if they used their full power, then things would be bad.
King: How bad are we talking?
Raymond: Let's just say, you'll be surprised.
[Gus, A.X.E.L. and Kotoha watch while eating Onigiri, Willow takes off her wrist weight and throws them down to the ground only to cause destruction when it lands, like a bomb falling to the ground and exploding, which caused Gus, Luz and King to be shocked, and afraid.]
King: Well that's something you don't see everyday.
Gus: Maybe we shouldn't mess with Willow for a while.
[Willow feels more energy and more free with those weight off]
Willow: Shall we continue?
[West puts his palm up]
West: Not yet, I still have one more secret I've kept from you. Like all nature and strength users, they have weights to hold back their power, and during my fight with Tank, I've also been holding back.
[Willow is shocked to hear that someone has been holding back against that monster]
West: Because you see this Vest I wear isn't something for decoration. It weighs...100 tons.
[Willow widens her eyes, while Gus Willow and King have their mouths open after hearing those words]
Luz: 100 tons?
Gus: That's impossible.
Raymond: Gus, his Spirit Power is the God of strength what do you expect?
[Gus gulps, but Luz and King have nothing to worry about, because they know Willow can take him on, in the meantime West takes off his coat and throws it to the ground causing a bigger explosion on impact]
West: Are you ready?!
Willow: *sigh* Let's do this!
[Willow and West charge at one another and push each other into submission, West's aura burst more and more, while Willow is being pushed back, she realizes that she may not have the strength to keep up with this]
West: What's wrong? Are you tired?
Willow: No! I'm just getting started!
[West lands a punch to the gut and the face, but West lands another punch this time, causing her to fly 10 meters away, she lands on her back and tries to get up, but West catches up to her, Willow tries to distract him with arrows, but she realizes she ran out, so to counter she keep up with him in hand to hand combat, Willow attacks multiple times, without the weight she feels faster, stronger, like she can battle the Meta already, but notices that not even the weights on her arms can keep up with West's speed. Willow delivers a rush of punches, West blocks with only one hand, West eventually stops both fists and pushes her back, Willow feels as if she if exerting too much effort]
Willow: (I'm using too much strength. I have to think of something fast, if only I could use magic against this guy, but even if I did)
[Flashback to West giving her a lecture during her training]
West: If you think using magic would be able to stop them, you better think again, I heard the strongest witches from this "Emperor's Coven" couldn't even face them, so you need to use your wits!
[The flashback ends, Willow wheezes as she runs out of breath and energy while thinking to herself]
Willow: (He's right though. If the emperor's coven couldn't fight them what would my magic do? All I know is that a powerful opponent is coming up ahead, and I have to be able to reach his level in order to face them. So if I'm going to fight the strongest, I have to do what they do)
West: Is that all you have?!
[Willow closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, activating her earth sense. Seeing through multiple flora throughout the forest, she also sees her friends watching her from the distance, especially Luz, if she was going to help her, she knows that now is not the time for doubt, now is the time to rise up and fight.]
Luz: (Come on Willow you got this)
Willow: *sigh* (don't just see through everything, feel their energy, understand their feelings...)
[West prepares one more attack]
West: (Get ready Willow, I'm going to show you 15% of my power)
[West hurls himself towards Willow, but Willow continues to feel the energy of nature becoming one with her]
Willow: (Become one with nature, turn it into your ally, let them help you)
[Willow's Green Aura begins to be released from her body]
Willow: (Remember those who you want to help, remember what you are fighting for, remember what all this training really means! Fight for your friends, don't let others bring you down, and furthermore, always fight back and stand up for yourself!)
[Willow opens her eyes as they glow green! And her Aura explodes]
West: RAGH!
[West attempts to land one more punch, but when the aura exploded, a giant hand held it to a standstill]
Voice: So becoming one with nature is your goal, and standing up for your beliefs is another, will you let the strong trample over you young one?
Willow: No!
Voice: Then I will lend you my power! My garden shall become your battleground,
[Willow's Bow transforms]
Voice: the Flora shall become your weapons, your connection to nature shall become your true power! As my gardener, it is a must to treat it with the utmost respect, do you understand?
Willow: I hear you! Spirit Power!
[The Light shatters and a Woman with red hair, a green dress made from flowers, leaves and water as a sash, holding a bow and arrow, appears before West stopping his fist from clashing with Willow, West looks above and sees the Goddess before him]
West: Remarkable.
[Everyone was also astonished. Not only did Willow keep up with West without a Spirit Power, she had one that stopped his punch]
Willow: *serious* Celtic Nature Goddess! Abnoba!
[Willow grabs seeds from the ground and transforms them into arrows]
Willow: Seed shot! Carnivore plant!
[Willow fires the seed arrow, and it transforms into the man eating plant that they have in the plant track garden]
West: Whoa!
[the plant attempts to swallow him whole but West stops the jaws from chomping. Willow prepares two more arrows]
Willow: Seed Shot! Thorn Vines!
[She fires the arrows and Vines dig themselves into the ground, and try to trap him, West jumps out of the way and throws the carnivore plant. To his notice the vines manage to grab him Willow then fires more arrows in the air]
Willow: Seed Shot! Great Tree Roots!
[The arrows transform once more, into the roots of a tree. All of them tying him up leaving no escape. It doesn't stop him, he tears the vines off him with a look of joy on his face]
West: (So this is the feeling...of a true Fight kind of reminds me of her hehe). Willow you've done well, and I don't want this training to end just yet.
Willow: Well bring it! I'm ready!
West: Guess it's time to get a little more serious! HERCULES! LEND ME YOUR POWER!
[Hercules then appears behind him, and offers his club, upon receiving it, it transforms into a club with many spikes and a hammer on one side and a blade on the other]
West: What I'm about to show you is one of the top five most powerful attacks in Hercules's arsenal, this is the first door of power! The Monster Butcher! Are you ready?!
[Willow feeling the enormous heat coming from West, his Aura bursting with power, his stance appearing to be that of a menace ready to kill, Willow then swallows her pride, and takes her stance]
Willow: Let's end this!
West: Very well kiddo! Show me your resolve!
[West charges once more with his club in hand]
[Willow fire multiple arrows into the air, summons a vine and has it launch her towards West]
Willow: (Focus your energy into this one punch! With all the power of the nature around you! Turn it into a force to be reckoned with!)
[Willow inches closer and launches her attack]
Willow: Abnoba!
[Abnoba appears behind her and summons vines from her dress to surround Willow's palm transforming it into a giant fist then the seed arrows become thorns branches and unite along with it.]
Willow: *Serious* GREEN THORN! CANNON!
West: FIRST DOOR OF POWER! METAL!
[Willow's Fist and West's club collide with one another, causing multiple shock waves that can be felt across the Titan a few seconds after the shock wave stopped, a lot of damage was done to the forest. And everyone gets up from the shockwave.]
King: What just happened?!
Kotoha: Damn, that witch, has more power than any of us.
A.X.E.L.: Is everyone okay?
[Everyone responds in agreement]
Luz: Wait where's Willow?! I'm going to go find her?
[Luz follows to see where the shockwave came from]
Gus: Luz wait for us!
King: WEH!
[Gus and King follow her, in the center of the shockwave, lies to warriors with their weapons still touching one another. West, then moves back and stands still, Willow's thorn arm wilts and splits itself. Causing her to fall forward, West catches her once more, and takes a good look at her face, to his eyes, she passes out.]
West: (Hmm, guess all that fighting and awakening her spirit power must have knocked the daylights out of her.) *sigh*
[West then proceed to hug her gently]
West: *soft smile* You've really proven yourself for these past few weeks. Have you? I'm proud of you kid. You truly are a strong warrior and a powerful witch. That can surpass me.
[West then releases her from the hug and decides to carry her on his back]
West: Let's get you fixed up, shall we?
[West walks all the way back to the base carrying her. A few hours later, Willow wakes up, and looks around her, she notices that she is hooked up to a device that she has not seen before.]
Willow: *pain* Ugh. What happened?
[She then looks to her side and notices West there]
Willow: West?
West: Oh you're awake. Your friends were worried about you. Do you remember anything?
Willow: Well, all I remember is throwing myself at you, and turning my hand into a giant fist plant.
[West chuckles]
West: You've really impressed me kid. You may have power that would even surpass my own. I'm not lying.
Willow: *smiles with gratitude* Thank you sir. Do you think I can fight now?
West: Hmm?
Willow: Do you think I'm ready to join the fight?
[West puts his hand on her shoulder]
West: You're more than ready, but you still need the training, and mastering your own Spirit Power.
[Willow, looks down in embarrassment, but she once again swallows her pride and asks West a favor]
Willow: Will you be willing to train me more?!
[West turns his attention to her, with tears in her eye]
Willow: Can you help me with this?
[West smiles]
West: You got it kid. And one more thing.
[West hands a book over to Willow]
West: Your Spirit Power is a nature type so I figured if you will fight with plants. You'll need an arsenal of various types of flora on earth.
[Willow opens the book and sees plants she has never seen before, which will definitely prove useful in the coming fights.]
West: Get some more rest and head to school. Don't want you to be late.
[As West is about to leave the room]
Willow: Hey Pops!
[West stops]
Willow: *smiles* thank you.
[West nods his head and walks away, as soon as her left the room, Luz and co enters with excitement on their face]
Luz: There's my girl!
[Luz hugs her, and Willow hugs back with a smile on her face]
Luz: I'm going to hug you so hard you're going to pass out!
Gus: That was amazing, Willow!
King: You really had us worried, I mean except for me I totally knew you could handle it.
Luz: You were shouting and having doubts for the whole fight.
King: You said you wouldn't say anything!
[Willow looks at her friends laughing, and realizes that maybe she will a great addition to the team, followed by laughter and a conversation about making fun of King's scariness]
[West listens to their laughter, and sighs]
West: (She's just like her) *grins*
[Flashback, to a couple of years back when Connie was young, she was sparring with her dad and managed to knock him down]
West: AGH!
Connie: HAHAHAHAHA YES I DID IT! DID YOU SEE THAT!
[West chuckles at the joy of his daughter]
West: you sure did kiddo! Man that really hurts.
Connie: One day dad, when I get my Spirit Power, I'll surpass you, then turn this whole world upside down. And be the strongest Fighter the four realms have ever seen.
West: Well let's hope that the Power you possess will be a strong one. Cause I'm leagues above you without this Vest on.
Connie: *eager* Don't worry about it. Cause I'm not giving up even if my Spirit Power is weak, I'll get to your level someday! And prove that the Hercule Family should not be messed with.
West: Heheh, that's my girl.
[Connie then jumps on West and gives him a big hug]
Connie: Do you really think that can happen though?
West: Of course it will, Connie. Just you wait.
[The flashback ends, and West has tears in his eyes]
West: (I'll still fight Connie, to prove that the Hercule family. Is the strongest in the four realms. And if one day someone should surpass me, I hope your spirit protects that person)
[The final image is of Willow smiling at her friends jokes]