Chapter Eighteen

"… Naturally, the cream of the crop is the mighty Emperor's Coven!"

Kikimora relished in the awed sighs and whispers of the students from Glandus High who were visiting the castle today. Though she typically detested children — and not just because the Golden Guard was one — she actually enjoyed these visits. The schools always sent their most high-achieving and well-behaved students, who ate up her every word.

It made her feel powerful, in a way.

"But every coven, no matter how small, makes up a piece of our great Emperor's coven system. Which is why you must choose your coven very carefully, to provide every ounce of strength to your fellow witches and demons in service to the will of the Titan."

As she spoke, the far doors to the castle opened, and Kikimora had a quick recollection of Lilith stomping in, covered in dirt, leaves and feathers, after a thorough defeat by the Owl Lady's house demon. The memory made her smile beneath her high collar, though the present visitors … did not.

Through the doors strode Lady Feronia, a warm smile affixed upon her lips, and at her side walked the Silver Belle.

"Make way, students," Kikimora said, being respectful for the sake of the head witch, "for Lady Feronia Romai. And her apprentice, the Silver Belle." The students backed up, whispering now about the coven head and the masked witchling.

"Good morning, young ones," Feronia said, waving her hand. "It is truly heartening to see witchlings so devoted to their futures."

"Miss Silver Belle!" a student shouted, and a yellow-furred demon pushed himself to the front of the crowd, his eyes shining. "Hi! I'm Angmar, your biggest fan!"

"It's so nice to meet all of you," the Silver Belle replied, her voice so high and — in Kikimora's opinion — sickeningly sweet.

The Silver Belle traced a spell circle and closed her hand, light shining from between her fingers. "No matter what happens, remember to pursue your passions. And never let the light inside you dim." She opened her hand and glowing, golden spores like motes of light poured into the air to hang above their heads, much to the childrens' delighted gasps and whispers.

"Come along, my apprentice," Feronia said. "We have a meeting with the Emperor, after all."

"Yes, Lady Feronia," she answered, falling into step behind.

As they left, Kikimora ground her teeth at being upstaged. Glancing at the still-gaping students and the tiny lights above them, she made a mental note to find out what kind of plant or fungus the Silver Belle had created and to practice the spell herself.

"Good morning, Emperor Belos," Lady Feronia said as she knelt before their ruler, Willow at her side in an identical stance.

"And to you as well, Feronia," Belos replied, the Golden Guard at his own side. "I take it you wish to 'borrow' my right hand again?"

"Such a shame when the elderly get set in their ways, wouldn't you agree?" Feronia said as she stood up, her apprentice remaining kneeling. "I have received reports of sightings of a Kremasma demon among the hills of the Toes."

"Impossible," Belos said coldly. "They were hunted to extinction."

"Improbable, certainly," Feronia corrected carefully, "but I believe nothing is impossible. As a creature of wild magic, I realize that your own coven would take charge of hunting this, perhaps the last of its kind."

"And you wish to interpose yourself again," Belos surmised, the Titan's bile sac speeding up with his clear agitation.

"If you please, my Emperor," Feronia said, her tone almost pleading, "the Kremasma's fur is the environment of a unique algae. As the creatures were thought to be gone, so too was this rare growth. I merely request that you allow my apprentice to accompany the Golden Guard in tracking the Kremasma to secure a sample."

"What makes you think I will be sending the Golden Guard when a platoon of scouts can do the job?" Belos asked.

"If a Kremasma has lasted so long as this, then it has clearly found a way to avoid large groups," Feronia reasoned. "Sending your right hand, your single most effective operative, would seem the logical course of action."

Belos was silent for a moment, the fingers of his gauntlet drumming on the armrest of his throne as the Titan's bile sac slowed. Feronia kept her face carefully smooth, or at least smooth of expression given her wrinkles, as she patiently awaited the Emperor's reply. All the while, she could feel the Silver Belle struggling to remain still, to resist the urge to fidget under Belos's gaze or the urge to acknowledge the Golden Guard.

"Very well, Feronia," Belos decided. "I will allow the Silver Belle to join the Golden Guard in snuffing out this last remnant of wild magic." He stood from his throne and loomed over them all. "They will have forty-eight hours to bring the Kremasma's head to me." He turned to address the Golden Guard. "Do not fail."

"Yes, Emperor Belos," the Golden Guard uttered as he took to the steps. "Come along, Silver Belle."

The Silver Belle stood and bowed at the waist to the Emperor before turning to follow. The doors slammed shut behind them, leaving Feronia alone with Belos.

"I feel I must warn you, Feronia," Belos said as he descended the steps, "that you are becoming rather lax over protocol." He stopped at her side and turned his masked face to look at her, a chill running up Feronia's spine. "You have served the Titan well all through my reign." He leaned in so that his mask was close enough for her to feel the chill of the metal on her cheek. "Do not throw it away now."

Then he straightened and left the chamber.

Feronia released a shuddering, pent-up breath before shaking herself and taking her leave as well. Though before she crossed the threshold, she traced a small circle that lifted a few white splotches from the Titan's bile sac and drew them to her hand. Heart Lilies, which she tucked into her dress.

Within the hour, Hunter had secured an airship and they were on their way to the Toes. As they flew, Hunter piloting and Willow perched on a bench, both of them were floating in a sense of morose nostalgia as they recalled the last time they had been flying one of these: when they had captured all of those wild witches.

Both of them had discarded their masks after takeoff, preferring to let the cool breeze wash over them. After a few hours of flight, their palismen tucked into a gap in the control panel and nuzzling in their sleep, Willow decided to try and break the silence the best way she could think of: by getting Hunter to exposit.

"So, uh, what is a Kremasma demon? I've never heard of them before." Which was true, and she was genuinely curious.

"They're semi-intelligent beast demons who have command over sleep and dreams," Hunter explained, the faintest of smiles twitching at his lips. He knew what she was doing and he appreciated it. "They're known to be really inactive, so they use something like an unrefined sleep spell to defend themselves. The Emperor deemed their power a form of wild magic and had them ordered to extinction."

"That's horrible," Willow said.

"Yeah …" Hunter replied, distantly, as if in thought. "I guess it is."

After a while, when he was certain they were on course, Hunter set the controls to cruise and set a timer before settling next to Willow on a bench. He bit his lip and gave a fake yawn, stretching his arm to settle down over Willow's shoulders.

"Did you really just do that?" Willow giggled.

"Thought it was worth a shot," Hunter replied. He moved to draw back his arm, but Willow grabbed his hand to keep it in place.

"I never said I didn't like it," she pointed out, eyes glittering. She shifted to rest her head into the crook of his neck. "But you don't have to fake a yawn if you want me closer."

"Got it," Hunter sighed as he relaxed against her.

They stayed like that, soaking in each others' presence and occasionally trading quiet chatter about lore on the Kremasma and what they expected of this hunt of theirs, until Hunter's timer went off.

"Wow. Three hours already?" Hunter noted.

"This thing is that fast?" Willow asked.

"Yep. We're almost there," Hunter said, reluctantly extricating himself from Willow to take the wheel. "Just need to maneuver to the actual Toes."

As he took hold of the wheel and began to maneuver, Hunter blinked and looked at Willow. "You wanna learn how to steer?" he asked bashfully.

Willow's eyes shone and she raced to join him. "Yes I would!" she squealed.

Within the hour, they'd touched down on the smallest Toe where the reports had claimed their target resided. They visited a few villages in full coven apparel and got local accounts to try and narrow the search before returning to the airship and resting up to begin the hunt tomorrow, curled in each others' arms.

As the sun crested from the north over the Titan's distant skull, both witchlings rose and prepared for the day. Dressed in their uniforms, armed with their staves and packs of supplies for a hike and flight — and after analyzing the previous day's accounts and plotting a trail on a map — they began the search.

At Willow's suggestion, they traveled together so as to cover each other. They mounted Lil Rascal and Clover to fly out over the Toe and begin a grid search. While Hunter used a Beastkeeper's tracking spell, Willow communed with the local forests to try and pinpoint the tree that was housing the Kremasma. Hunter had mentioned that they were stationary creatures that hung from branches, so she should get a warning at least.

After several hours, they finally got a lead.

"This way!" Hunter called, taking to the air to follow a trail of flowing orange fog. A scent trail illuminated by magic.

As they flew, Willow felt tension begin to rise along her spine. Her instincts were prodding her to turn around and leave. It was as if the trees themselves were warning her that what was coming was not to be trifled with.

"Hunter, wait!" Willow called, pulling up. Hunter looked back at her and slowed before looping around to return to her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"We're getting close," Willow whispered, unable to speak louder as the trees hushed her. "I think … we need to be very careful."

Six months ago, Hunter would have berated anyone who suggested caution. But he'd grown since meeting Luz and Willow, and the look in her eyes told him more than enough that she was wary. He nodded and they descended to the ground, keeping their staves armed as they strode ahead.

Hunter's scent-tracking spell was still active and they cautiously made their way along the forest floor, senses open and staves primed to defend themselves. Eventually, Willow's sense of unease reached its zenith and she had to stop and lean on her staff, breathing heavy and cold sweat beading her brow as her stomach twisted itself into knots.

"Hey, it's okay," Hunter soothed, wrapping her in a one-armed hug as he tried his best to help her. "It's okay," he whispered. "I'm here."

A branch snapped above them and both witchlings looked up to find a shape hanging from a massive tree's branches. It hung from all four of its lanky limbs, its body covered with shaggy hair dyed green by the algae that Lady Feronia had spoken of. Its claws were hooked and sharp-looking, allowing it to simply dangle with no effort at all. And it's face … looked like a fuzzy, half-asleep old man with streaks of black along its eyes.

The Kremasma.

Why … have you … disturbed me …?

Both teens flinched at the deep, drowsy voice that echoed within their minds. Hunter leveled his staff at the beast demon, schooling his body language into restrained aggression.

"The Plant Coven wishes to study the algae in your fur," he replied grittily.

Then you … kill me … The Kremasma shifted, its eyes opening to reveal burning amber lights. First … must kill … yourselves …

Hunter's stomach leapt and he pushed Willow away just as a wave of amber magic surged from the Kremasma and washed over him like a gust of wind, knocking Lil Rascal from his hand and blasting him backward off his feet. Hunter rolled limply and came to a halt, unmoving.

"Hunter!" Willow shouted. Her nerves were gone now, burned away by a surge of fury. She whirled and stared at the Kremasma with a murderous gaze of verdant light.

Missed … Now you-

The Kremasma was interrupted by the tree that was its home turning against it, its branch sprouting sinuous branchlings that wrapped around it, bound its limbs, blindfolded its eyes, and gagged it. When she was done, not a hair was visible in a cocoon of woody tendrils. Willow clenched her fingers into claws and the tree itself bent down to smash the demon into the ground with crushing force.

It wasn't dead. She would not do that. But it would certainly be stunned and hurt.

The light faded from Willow's eyes and she rushed to Hunter, rolling him over to check him. He was covered in minor scratches, but nothing a decent healer couldn't patch up. But his breathing was heavy, sweat running down the sides of his face … and as Willow shook him and called his name, he wouldn't wake up.

Willow thought furiously about what to do next. She had what they came for, but Hunter was clearly in danger. Taking a breath, she traced a circle that severed the branchlings that bound the Kremasma from the tree, tightening them to secure it. Willow gestured for Lil Rascal, who floated closer so that she could tie the cocoon to the staff.

"C'mon, you two," she said, trying to sound hopeful even as her voice wobbled from fear for her Love. "Let's get back to the airship." She picked up Hunter in a bridal carry and mounted Clover, trusting her beloved palisman to fly steadily.

"Eda will know what to do," she said, hoping beyond hope that it was true.

Hunter felt himself … falling?

Slowly, ever so slowly, he floated downward until he tilted and landed gently on his feet. He blinked his eyes open and looked around to find himself … in the castle? No, wait … it looked like a chamber in the castle, but he didn't recognize this one. This hall was huge, with a flat floor and vaulted ceilings, the doors barred and chained, and massive stained-glass windows along the walls.

Hunter looked up at the windows and blinked to find them depicting people he knew. On the right side of the hall had a massive depiction of Belos lording over the Isles, one of Kikimora looking maniacal and murderous, and more of lines of coven scouts. But the other side to his left had narrower windows that depicted Eda and King, Amity, Gus, Luz and her glyphs, and Willow surrounded by flowering vines.

"What's happening?" Hunter asked aloud.

"Conflict within yourself," a voice replied.

Hunter spun in shock to find a shadowy figure looming before one of the tall, chained doors. It strode forward to reveal someone dressed in a uniform resembling his Golden Guard regalia, but … wrong. The white fabric was diritied to ash-grey, the gloves stained rusted red, the mask jagged at the edges and silvery rather than gold, a crack running along the center of it.

And in the figure's hand was his mechanized staff, rusted and dented, but its focus gem flaring with red light.

"What do you mean?" Hunter asked. He looked down at himself to find the dark clothes and goldenrod vest of his uniform's closest layers, the outfit he'd adventured with Luz in.

"You're here to make the final judgment of who you want to follow," the figure said tonelessly. Hunter recognized his own voice as the figure removed his mask to reveal … himself. But the scar on his cheek was putrid green like his uncle's, matching the pocked streak running diagonally to mirror Belos's. And his eyes … they were black where they should have been white, the magenta glowing with vile light. Like his uncle's did after he consumed palismen.

"Your uncle, your only family," the figure continued, gesturing at the stained glass to the right, "or the people you've found yourself bonding with," and he gestured to the left.

Hunter looked at the windows on both sides before he noticed a dripping sound. He looked at the other Hunter to find dark fluid running down his gloves and pooling on the ground at his feet. Red fluid. The sharp scent of blood filled Hunter's nostrils and he stepped back.

"Who are you?"

"I'm you, of course," the other Hunter said. "You could say I'm the 'you' that was meant to be. A perfect servant of our uncle, ever grateful for what he has gifted us." He lifted the staff to illustrate his point. "He took us off the streets, gave us a home, gave us a purpose, gave us magic." He lowered his staff and his lips curled down in a contemptuous frown. "And all we had to do was serve him."

Hunter felt his heart grow heavy at the words. Words that resonated with a deep part of himself, a part that was thankful for what his uncle had done for him.

"But it wasn't enough, was it?" Other-Hunter asked. "You had to try and claw for more. To find hollow, worthless companionship with traitors, with a human." He bared his teeth and spat, "To find the weakness that you stupidly call love."

He leveled the staff at Hunter. "You are a mockery of what you should be. A disgrace to Uncle and a broken tool of the Titan's will." He flashed a mad grin. "And we know what to do with broken tools, don't we?"

The staff flared and blasted magic at him, a whirling helix of carmine destruction …!

Hunter flinched, but the sound of chirping made him look up to find Lil Rascal swooping down and forming his staff, an aura of dusty yellow magic surrounding the wood to deflect the spell and send it hurtling up into the high ceiling to form cracks running along it.

Hunter snatched his staff — yes, his staff — from the air and assumed a combat stance. "You're right. Uncle Belos took us in when we needed it most. But you're wrong about them. They're my friends! They're nice to me. They listen to me. They make me feel like I'm worth something good." He swung Lil Rascal and felt magic flow to prepare for confrontation. "And as for Willow, I would never give her up for anything. Not even for him."

Other-Hunter — he couldn't help but think of him as the Grey Guard — snarled and flashed forward, Hunter matching the teleportation with one of his own. They both reappeared before each other and swung their staves, the clash sending fractures through the floor and cracking the windows.

"Let's see how long you say that," the Grey Guard sneered.

And the witch's duel was on.

The door to the Owl House swung open to reveal Hooty sing-songing, "I spy with my little eye, something coming this waaay!"

Luz looked up from her notepad listing components of a portal door in surprise, King doing the same from his spot on her lap. "What? Hooty, what's coming?"

"What's goin' on in here?" Eda asked as she entered the living room.

"You have to guess," Hooty sang. "Three guesses, one from each of you, or you all lose."

"Well it's not Lily," Eda commented, arms crossing, "or you'd be bouncing off the walls again. Luz's girlfriend?"

"Nope!" Hooty said smugly.

"A kraken?" Luz piped up, eyes shining.

"One more guess!" Hooty called.

"Willow and Gus?" King ventured.

"Three guesses and you're out!" Hooty cheered. "It's one of those floaty ship things! Haha! No one can match the mighty-! Hoot! Ow!"

Hooty had been interrupted by Willow in her Silver Belle attire slamming the door wider and hauling Hunter through the door. "Help him!" she begged, tear streaks running down her cheeks. "Eda! Help him, please!"

"Hey, hey, easy there, Willow," Eda said, keeping her voice calm and taking Hunter to lay him on the couch that Luz and King vacated. "What happened?"

"We were sent to capture a Kremasma demon," Willow explained, her voice hoarse. "It hit him with some kind of magic, he-!" Her voice broke and she swallowed, screwing her eyes shut. "He pushed me out of the way of it."

"A Kremasma?" Eda asked, her tone neutral, but her eyes wide. "Oh boy, that's not good."

"What's a Kremasma?" Luz asked. "Why's that not good?"

"It means Hunter's fighting himself inside his own head," King interjected. "And if he loses … he's not gonna wake up."

"WHAT?!" the girls shouted.

"And even worse," Eda said, her tone laced with despair, "is that I've only heard of a few cases of them actually winning. Your boy here is in for the fight of his life."

Willow stood stunned for a moment before crossing to the couch and kneeling at Hunter's side, clasping his hand in hers. "Hunter, be strong," she whispered. "Don't leave me."

Hunter's breathing came in ragged gasps as he struggled to remain upright. The hall was decimated, the floor littered with wide cracks where it wasn't turned to gravel, the windows shattered to reveal inky blackness beyond.

The other Hunter, the Grey Guard, leaned on his staff with a vicious grin, hardly looking worse for wear. "Give up?" he mocked.

"Not gonna happen," Hunter spat, lurching into a sprint and teleporting in front of the Grey Guard to throw him off — only for his strike to be blocked by the Guard's metal staff.

"Cute, but not good enough," he sneered before pushing Hunter back and spinning into a kick that sent him sprawling. Hunter had spun to his feet on sheer reflex before he realized his staff was no longer in his hand. He gasped and looked up to find it clutched in the Grey Guard's off-hand. The Guard smiled maliciously.

"Now to do what you should have done from the beginning," he said, raising the staff high above his head.

Hunter's heart leapt and he cried out, "No!"

And the staff descended to crack against the ground.

Hunter was moving before he realized it, a full-bodied sprint that sent him crashing into his doppleganger. The force of it sent the Grey Guard reeling and Hunter crouched to pick up Lil Rascal, reverted to his true form and a wide, deep crack running down his chest as he twitched randomly. The palisman chirped weakly, his single eye on Hunter.

"Such weakness," the Grey Guard spat as he regained his feet and moved to loom over Hunter. "Stand and fight, like a real witch."

"Rascal …" Hunter whimpered, the bird's twitches getting worse and widening the crack. Hunter wrapped him in both hands and tried to apply pressure, to keep the crack from widening further.

"I said fight!"

Hunter remained still, his heart hammering with fear for his little friend. His first friend, even before Luz.

"Fine," the Guard sighed. "Then die alone with your piece of wild magic." Hunter was vaguely aware that the Grey Guard had lifted his staff, likely to bash Hunter's head in. He was going to die here, with Lil Rascal.

"Willow," he whispered, lifting Lil Rascal to his heart. "I love you, too."

The staff fell, the wing at its tip flashing …!

And it was stopped by someone else.

Hunter looked up to find … Willow? She was standing over him, gripping the shaft of the mechanized staff just below its head and her eyes glowing not with magic, but with determination. "You won't touch him," she hissed, and pulled the staff to unbalance the Grey Guard before kicking him away.

It was only then that Hunter realized that they were not alone. Others had appeared and were surrounding Hunter in a protective screen: Luz, Gus, Amity, Viney, Jerbo, Barkus, Ium, Amelia, Eda, and King.

The Grey Guard's eyes were wide with shock and sheer denial. "This is impossible!" he shouted. "You're nothing without the Emperor!"

"You're wrong," Luz said. "He's one of us. A Troublemaker, a Hexolio, a loveable outcast." She looked at him, and Hunter somehow felt all of them looking at him too with determined care. "He's one of us, 'til the very end."

Willow slipped her hand into his. "He is loved. And always will be."

Hunter felt his eyes water, and Lil Rascal chirped and settled on his shoulder to nuzzle his neck. "Guess I'm not so alone after all, huh?" Hunter asked.

"You worthless, magicless, wild wretch!" the Guard shouted, unhinged with rage.

"Better to be wild and loved than tamed and hated," Hunter said. He lifted his hand palm-out … and traced a spell circle. He'd figured out he was dreaming a while back, but he had never considered trying this. Not until his friends appeared.

"Byyyeeeee …!" Hunter droned, the spell triggering into a wave of golden fire that washed over his darker self.

"You can't escape me!" he wailed as he was consumed by the flames and disappeared.

And like a candle being lit, the hall was filled with gold-white light that blinded Hunter and forced his eyes closed, only to fade away and reveal the cliff beside the Owl House. Hunter blinked and looked around at the peaceful scene, his friends gathered around him.

"You'll always be loved with us," Willow said, cupping his cheek with a sweet smile.

"Always," Luz said, Amity and Gus nodding beside her.

"We miss you back at school," Amelia said, Ium and the Troublemakers waving in support.

"And if you need a place to stay, you're free to be here," Eda noted.

"She's got a habit of collecting strays lately," King chuckled, and Eda shrugged.

"Thanks, everyone. I'll-" Hunter swallowed against a lump in his throat. "I'll think about it."

"Glad to hear it," Eda said, "because you've got time."

As her words faded into silence, white fire trailed in a circle around him, the scenery blazing away and his friends smiling as they were somehow gently consumed. The flames, warm and comforting, flowed up Hunter's body to reach his head and everything went dark …

Hunter gasped as he woke and sat up straight, breathing heavily as adrenaline rushed through his veins and his head throbbed. He was no stranger to concussions, and it felt like every single one he'd ever had had bound together to make a comeback. He hissed as the pain slowly subsided …

Only to be replaced by crushing pressure around his arms and torso as Willow crashed into him and hugged with all the strength she possessed. Which was a lot.

"Hunter, you're awake!" she gasped, somehow hugging even tighter and crushing his lungs free of precious oxygen. "Thank the Titan you're awake. I was so worried, I thought-!"

"Willow, easy," Eda's voice called, separating the two with a grunt of effort. Hunter took another rattling breath, wincing and clutching at his sore ribs.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Willow yelped, her fingers over her mouth.

"S'fine," Hunter grunted. "'V had worse."

"He's awake!" came King's voice and he and Luz appeared at Hunter's other side, behind … a couch. Wait a minute …

"Are we in the Owl House?" Hunter asked.

"Yup," Eda confirmed. "Willow brought you straight here after the Kremasma whammied you. Gotta say I'm surprised you made it through."

"Well, I never doubted," Luz crowed, hooking her thumb at herself in pride. "I knew you'd fight your way out of it." She clasped her hands and her eyes turned shimmery. "The power of love triumphs over all!"

Hunter scoffed affectionately at Luz's antics. "How long was I out?"

"Grand total?" Eda asked. "About twenty hours."

Hunter blinked at the words, his head feeling as if it were filled with blood syrup. Something about that seemed bad. Like he was missing something important. Titan, if he missed a rule from his uncle, he'd- Wait. He did some counting on his fingers …

"Oh muck!" Hunter shouted, rolling off of the couch. "The Kremasma! We've got less than two hours to report to the castle!"

"Oh, right," Willow said, eyes wide. She snatched their masks from the coffee table and slipped hers on, handing Hunter his. "Thank you so much, Eda! I'll make it up to you!"

"Don't worry about it, Willow," Eda waved off. "Just get moving so you don't get tossed in the Conformatorium or whatever. I've already had one break-out mission this month."

"That was you?!" Hunter snapped on sheer reflex. Then he grunted and as he tried to stand, his headache rising back up.

"C'mon, Love," Willow said, scooping him up under his back and knees in a bridal carry, "we need to go." She nodded to the others as she carried Hunter, squirming in protest, out the door and to the moored airship.

"Wait, what happened to the Kremasma?" Hunter asked as Willow lowered him to the deck. Then he noticed the cocoon of wood tendrils sitting to one side, a bottle of water suspended upside down with a tube leading into it.

"It's fine," Willow said shortly. "I bound it and threw it out of a tree, and I gave it water on the trip here."

Hunter blinked. "Whoa." His cheeks started to burn under his mask as he stood shakily to his feet and began to prepare the airship for travel. "You know, you're scary sometimes," he commented. "Beautiful, of course, but scary." And there was a smile in his tone.

Willow giggled and mimed blowing him a kiss through her mask as she settled on the passenger's bench.

And as they rose and began their way to the castle, Hunter had time to think about his fever dream. His heart warmed at the memory of his friends gathering to protect him, which he reasoned was a true expression of his subconscious mind. But a chill wrapped around his heart at the thought of someone missing.

His uncle … had not been there.

Chapter eighteen. I've been ready to write and post this one since almost halfway through when the first concept emerged in my brain. I hope you all liked it!

*Willow producing the glowing spores was inspired by Groot in "Guardians of the Galaxy".

*The word "Kremasma" is Greek and means "hanging". The demon itself is heavily influenced by sloths. Researching those aforable critters to fabricate it was very fun.

*Hunter's fight with his a dark reflection of himself was influenced by Ventus and Vanitas in "Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep." No, Hunter's not insane with a split personality. But he is dealing with some serious doubts about his loyalties. And they manifested via the Kremasma's spell in this more overt internal struggle.

*Lil Rascal appearing in the inner-battle is not due to the real Lil Rascal/Flapjack. He represents Hunter's will to live on his own terms.

*Visions of Hunter's friends appearing around him to protect him was inspired by "The Spectacular Spider-Man" TV series, during Peter's final confrontation with the symbiote in season 1. The scene with the classic line, "You're a disease. They're the cure." ***The Grey guard's final words were influenced by Mad Jack in season 5 of "Samurai Jack" when Jack finally overcomes his frustration and anger.

This was a blast to write and I hope you all liked it. If you did, leave a review! And burn bright with the power of fandom, you lovable weirdos!