Chapter 46: Hollow Mind
Part 2
The trio gazed at the Entity in shock and disbelief. This was something they've never seen before, but just looking at it brought a tingle down their spine. They felt it's presence and knew right there and then that it was evil.
Luz: What is that?
Phillip: Who? Who are you?
Entity: You mean to tell me you've forgotten me. After I made my introduction at Kameria.
Phillip: Wait, it's you. That can't be, the priestess destroyed you.
Entity: Not entirely. But I've been watching you Phillip.
Phillip: Me?
Entity: I've seen your struggles. I can feel the hate in your heart. It is very strong.
Philip: Why are you here?
Entity: You and I have one thing in common. How much we despise those Kamerian witches and those that betrayed us. You and I alone are nothing, but together we can be powerful.
Philip: You expect me to affiliate with a monster like you?
Entity: DO NOT INSULT ME!
The Entity's voice sounded like thunder yelling as Phillip stayed quiet and the trio look nervous.
Entity: I can help you with your problem.
Phillip: How can you help?
Entity: I know how much you detest witches and demons. How they're monsters and deserved to be punished. I think so too.
Phillip: Well that's something we both agree on.
Entity: We can make it happen. If you join me.
Phillip: Why should I? What's in it for me?
Entity: Your bargaining posture is highly dubious. But very well. I will provide you with a new body, unlimited power and immortality.
Philip: And?
Entity: And I will help you return to your world. When you return to your people, they will see you as a hero. The savior of humanity.
Phillip: This sounds all too good to be true. I'm assuming you want something out of this.
Entity: Of course before I grant you my end of the deal, you must help me first. You must help me regain my body and prepare for the next Blood Moon eclipse. You must also destroy the Eye of the Ginga.
Phillip: You mean the Eye that I found in Boiling Isles skull?
Entity: Yes. It is the one thing. The only thing that can stand in my way. And lastly, I want that portal.
Phillip: The portal? What do you want that for?
Entity: Why conquer one world when I can conquer more? Of course I will spare yours since you are helping me. That is if you help me. Do we have an agreement?
Phillip looked down thinking for a moment. He looked back at the Entity and stood up.
Phillip: It's because of those witches, I lost my family, taken from my home, treated like an outsider and took brother away. He prefers to be like them. He's a traitor. And I want all life here to suffer. I will put an end to this chaos for humanity. I accept your terms.
Entity: Excellent.
The Entity's eye began to glow and shot down a ray of fire at Phillip. He screamed in agony and fell to his knees.
Entity: The pain is momentarily, but you are receiving your new power.
Phillip kept screaming as his old clothes were burnt off and new ones were forming, familiar ones and his face was covered with a familiar mask as well. Finally the fire stopped as a new figure was on his knees. He slowly stood up and the trio gasped as they saw who he became.
Entity: Arise, Belos.
Belos's eyes began to glow blue and kneeled down to the Entity.
Emperor Belos: I'm yours to command Master.
Luz: No...this can't be. Phillip is...is Belos? No...the one person I was following this whole time. It's him?! And he's a witch hunter? Of course it makes perfect sense. Okay, who is that?
Hunter: What? That giant eye thing? You got me.
Luz: You don't know?
Hunter: I swear I had no idea about this...this thing! I've never seen it. I don't even think the five or Kikimora even knows about it.
Christa just gazed at the Entity. Something was vaguely familiar about it but why.
They exited out of the painting.
Luz: Hunter come on? It makes sense why he's evil and he does what he does. He's a witch hunter!
Hunter: This doesn't prove anything!
Christa: What do you mean it proves nothing?
Hunter: Maybe he was in a past life. But that was like who know's how long and now he's the most respected witch in the Boiling Isles.
Luz: Okay then how do you explain that giant eye thing?
Hunter: I don't know okay! Can you stop pestering me already?
Christa: Luz.
Luz looked at Christa and saw that the room changed again. There was again only one painting and this one looked like a temple of some sort.
Christa: I've seen this.
Luz: You have?
Christa replies with a nod and enters.
Luz: Christa wait.
Hunter: Hey hold on.
Luz and Hunter follow her in. Upon entering they saw Christa and where they were at. Luz and Hunter looked in awe of the area. They were in a large temple. There were candles lit all around, pillars, and on an upper platform they went up to, there were walls with wall paintings all around but in the middle were two giant statues together, one looked like it had a beard and the other didn't, but they had actual emeralds on their foreheads. They had their hands reaching up together as if they were holding something.
Hunter: Where are we now?
Christa: I think it's another area of the Unknown Isles.
Luz: Christa what is this place?
Christa: A place I've seen in my dreams.
Hunter: Wait who's that over there?
They saw a women standing near the statues with a serious look. Luz and Hunter didn't recognize her but Christa did?
Christa: Mom.
Luz: Your mom?
Then they heard loud knocking at the temple doors. After a few knocks, the doors broke down as fire was entering in and coming out of the flames was Belos himself.
Luz: Why is he here?
Emperor Belos: Did you really think you could hide from me?
Christa's mom: How could you? How could you have done all this? After my people tried to help you, you aided the Doragoris clan?
Emperor Belos: I did what I had to. I only used you all just to get what I needed. You really think I would be friends with your kind? No, never. It always sickens me having to be around you all, but you however I despise the most after what you did. But I am in bit of a good mood. I finally got my portal back and I'm willing to give you only a quick and painless death, if you hand over the Eye.
Christa's mom: I will never give it to you.
Emperor Belos: If that's how it's going to be fine. I'll play along.
Belos reached his hand out and out from the palm of his hand came out were long black arms reaching out for her. Christa's mom reacted fast as she waved her hands creating a large energy wave, cutting the arms off. Belos used another attack and formed his two arms into tendrils coming at her. She waved her hands and made huge fire blast, burning his hands as he retracted them back and Christa's mom cam charging at him with her hand glowing white, punched Belos in the face and sent him flying into a wall.
Emperor Belos: Impressive witch. Most impressive. But you have not yet witnessed my true power.
Belos clenched his fists as he formed a black and red aura around him. He yelled and shot a red and black magic beam at her. She blocked it with a shield and formed plant vines and as well as a large venus fly trap and it tried to eat Belos. He broke out of it and formed a giant worm like creature to come down to devour her. But then she burst threw it and was flying towards Belos with lightning in her hands. She tried to hit him, but he blocked the attack. The two of them flew around firing all sorts of magic attacks, both long range and close range. The trio watched as Christa had her hands close to her mouth worried about her mom.
Belos fired the red and black beam at her while she used her lightning attack. The two had a beam struggle, but it seemed Belos had the upper edge as his was more powerful as the attack over powered her and she got hit by the blast.
Christa: Mom!
Christa's mom fell to the ground hurt as Belos slowly approached her. He formed his arm into a tentacle and wrapped it around her neck and lifted her up to her face.
Emperor Belos: Is that all you can do. You not as powerful as I remember. Unless...
Belos used his free hand and placed it over her head to get a feel for something.
Emperor Belos: You don't have it. Where's the Eye?
Christa's mom: You'll never find it.
Emperor Belos: I sensed it earlier, you had with you when...that girl. Where's the girl? You gave it to her didn't you?
Christa: What?
Christa's mom: She's gone. You'll never find my daughter.
Emperor Belos: I should kill you where you are now, but my master wants to ensure the Eye is destroyed. Tell me or I'll beat it out of you.
Belos continued strangling her.
Christa: Stop it! Drop her!
Hunter: It's a memory Red. He can't here you.
Christa could only watch helplessly and her eyes began to water. She watched her mom gasping for air, but also saw her bring her hand up and black magic ball formed on her hand.
Emperor Belos: You really want to keep on going? I'll have you know my master has granted me immortality. You can't kill me.
Christa's mom: Maybe not...but I...(gasps) I...can still...inflict...pain.
Christa's mom threw the ball right at Belos's face. He yelled out in agony and let go of her. He held his face as he felt immense pain. Then realized black sludge was dripping from the eye holes of his mask.
Emperor Belos: What did you do? What did you to me you witch!?
Christa's mom: I may not be able to kill you, so instead I place this curse onto you. You will forever live your life in pain and suffering. You will now be the monster you truly are.
Belos kept grunting and began to transform. His monstrous form resembled the inner Belos chasing after them.
Hunter: That's it. That's how he got his curse. Your mom...
Luz: Shush!
Luz shushed him sharply as she motioned to Christa who looked distressed. They continued to watch as Belos had fully transformed into his monster form.
Emperor Belos: You...what have you done to me?
Belos charged at Christa's mom. She dodged as he rammed into a pillar. It collapsed onto him as he turned over to her and roared.
Emperor Belos: Turn me back! NOW!
Christa's mom: Never. This is your life now. Your master granted you all your power. Why don't you get him to lift it?
Emperor Belos: Tell me where the Eye is now!
Belos roared at her and came charging at her.
Christa's mom: No matter what you do. You'll never truly accomplish you goals.
She formed fire on one hand and lightning on the other. She came charging at him as well. The two clashed as the trio were then forced out of the memory and back to the gallery. Hunter got up and saw Christa looking away, holding her arms as Luz checked on her.
Hunter: Red...
Christa: Do you still think what your uncle is doing is good? Hurting and killing people? Do you still think that's okay? You still think this is for the greater good? You think it's okay?!
Hunter: Red, I'm sorry about all that. I...ow, hey!
Christa began punching Hunter as he tried to blocking her punches and Luz tried to get her to stop.
Christa: Are you still proud of all his accomplishments?! Do you seriously think that invading my homeland and possibly killing my mother is okay!? Do you still think he's right?! Do you still think this is for the greater good?! Do you...do you really think this okay?
Christa broke down crying as Luz hugged her for comfort. Hunter looked at her, how distressed she was and felt sorry for her.
Hunter: Red, hey...
But then they heard Inner Belos's roar again as he was getting close.
Luz: Let's move, hurry!
( Queue Password theme from Godzilla nes)
The trio ran and saw another painting, this one looked like the portal. The trio jumped in, only to be in another black void. They were in another quiz room and the face was there. They didn't pay too much attention for the moment as Hunter looked over at Christa, covering her eyes sobbing as Luz held her hand and rubbed her back.
Luz: Shhh, easy Hermana. Just breathe, it's okay.
Christa: I want to leave now.
Luz: Just hang on little longer. Eda's going to get us out.
Hunter wanted to check on her as well, but then a light shined on him and he was forced up to the face. There was one thing they didn't realize until now but the music changed. Instead of a goofy song it sounded more atmospheric and sinister.
Hunter: So it's my turn huh? Okay let's do it.
Do you like your job?
Hunter: Yes.
Face reacts with a confused look.
Is water wet?
Hunter: Yes.
Face reacts with a lovestruck face.
Are you a tough guy?
Hunter: Yes.
Face reacts with a tough guy look.
Is time slipping through your fingers?
Hunter: Yes.
Face reacts with a worried look.
Do you have any regrets?
Hunter: Yes.
Face reacts with a happy face.
Do some people deserve to die?
Hunter: No.
Are you squeamish at the sight of blood?
Hunter: Yes.
Face reacts with a sad look.
Is it safe to go out at night?
Hunter: Yes.
Face reacts with a relieved look.
Do you find it hard to sleep at night?
Hunter: Yes.
Face reacts with a sleepy look.
Have you ever killed anyone?
Hunter: No.
Face reacts with a guilty look.
Do you want to kill anyone?
Hunter: No.
Face reacts with an angry look.
Does life have any real meaning?
Hunter: No.
Face reacts with silly look.
Do you have suicidal thoughts?
Hunter: No.
Face reacts with a surprised look.
These questions were really bothering Hunter. Before the quizzes asked often dumb but the occasional dark and personal questions, but now he's getting all the dark ones. But there was still one more question and this last one confused him.
Do you like her?
Hunter just looked at confused and back at Christa. Is the question referring to him liking her. There was no clarification on what it meant by her but maybe it was like the last quiz with that odd question. But if it was about Christa then he answered honestly.
Hunter: Yes.
Hunter looked up and Face's expression didn't change. It still stayed in neutral look.
Luz: What's going on? That should be it? Why...eeeh.
Hunter: What? What's with the ( looks up)...eeeh.
He looked back at face and he was horrifed of what he saw. Face was changing his expression but it wasn't automatic like it was before. It slowly turned it's nuetral look into a maniacle and demonic grin, it's eyes flipped over were blank white and showed it's sharp teeth. And with it was text that said " Too Bad!"
Hunter: Too bad? What does that...
Face suddenly came to life, letting out a demonic roar and devoured the trio. They screamed and kept falling into the dark void until they landed into.
Hunter: Okay, I'm completely freaked out now. What the hell was that?!
Luz: I officially hate these quizes now.
Christa: Hey what's that over there.
The two looked at where Christa was pointing and saw they were in Belos's castle and in the room was the portal and there was Belos and Dr. Cushing.
Luz: The portal? He fixed it? Did you know about this?
Hunter: Of course I did. The Doc and I helped him repair it.
Emperor Belos: It took some time, but now I officially have the portal back along with the key.
Dr. Cushing: I was able to patch up the crack on it. However because half the Titan Blood is gone, we now only have limited use. And knowing that Eclipse Lake is dry we have no way to get anymore. I suggest you use this wisely my lord.
Emperor Belos: I understand Dr. Cushing. You may go.
Dr Cushing bowed and left the room. Once he was gone, Belos left the room as well and went down to the bottom of the castle. The trio followed him into the room where the Entity resided in. Belos stepped onto the platform and kneeled down to his master.
Emperor Belos: Good news Master. We now have the key for portal back. Everything is going as planned.
Entity: You are still missing the Head Bard.
Emperor Belos: They will be found soon. Shadam gives his word for it. But your plan is going accordingly.
Entity: Yes. The Day of Unity is almost here.
The Entity's eye shined making shadow diagram of what's to come.
Entity: All the witches and demons of the Isles will gather. Once the Blood Moon eclipse comes, that's when the draining spell begins.
Luz: Draining spell?
Hunter: What?
Entity: There magic will be taken away and will transfer to my new vessel that will be my new body. You have it ready for me don't you Belos?
Emperor Belos: Of course Master. Hunter will make excellent sacrifice for you.
Hunter gasped when he heard that. Luz and Christa looked at him and saw the shocked look on his face.
Hunter: Wait no, no. He's joking right. He wants to sacrifice me to that?
Entity: You seem to be fine with this.
Emperor Belos: Of course Master. He's not the first I had to dispose of.
Hunter started breathing heavily hearing of what Belos was talking about him.
Emperor Belos: I told him the Titan has big plans for him and he goes with it. Which is true in a way. He like all those worms out there will do whatever I say.
Entity: It's as you promised them Belos. They will be given a new world. A world of eternal damnation.
The trio exits out of the memory as Hunter looked down and walked further away. Both Luz and Christa looked concerned for him, especially now Christa thinking she shouldn't have lashed out on him like that.
Christa: Hunter?
Hunter didn't look at her as he went to another hallway.
Christa: Hunter, you don't have to go back to the castle.
Luz: Yeah, why not stay at the Owl House with us. We'll talk to Eda and I'm sure she won't mind when she knows what we...are you okay?
The two saw Hunter looking at the other hallway and now he looked beyond horrified. They went up to him and saw what he was looking at and gasped. It was dark hallway full of more shredded paintings, bones and broken Golden Guard masks.
Hunter: Are these...are these all the past guards?
Hunter just walked through as he looked down horrifed of all the death and decay around. At the end of the hall, he found one last painting of a Golden Guard. He went up to it and placed his hand on it.
Luz: Hunter wait, you don't have to look in there.
Hunter: I have to know.
Hunter enters the painting as Luz and Christa follow in.
They were now in Belos's throne room and the first thing that happens, we see a Golden Guard being thrown to the ground. Hunter saw the sigil on his cape and looked back at his.
Hunter: It's...it's him. The previous guard.
Emperor Belos: I know you had something to do with it boy!
Belos approached the guard shot an magic projectil at him.
Emperor Belos: You saw him didn't you? You know too much.
Previous Guard: Uncle, stop please.
Emperor Belos forms black vines with long sharp thorns. It wrapped around the guard as the spikes were slowly piercing through his body. The guard yelled in agony as Belos just watched.
Emperor Belos: I know you hid the portal away from me.
Belos then took the mask off and threw it to the ground. Much to the trio's shock but more to Hunter, the guard looked just like him. He kept coughing out blood as due to his internal organs bleeding.
Emperor Belos: You hid the portal. Where is it?
Previous Guard: ( coughs) You'll never find it. After seeing what you're really planning, I can't allow you to accomplish that goal.
Emperor Belos: You will tell me where it is or you can die just like the rest of them!
The previous guard coughed up more blood and stopped moving. Belos realized he was dead of internal organ failure and dropped him on the floor.
Emperor Belos: Perhaps I went it too hard right there. No matter, I will find the portal again.
Belos looked down at the dead guard.
Emperor Belos: It seems I raised another traitor. He has been flaking out on me lately. ( eye glows blue) I guess it is time to make another one.
Luz and Christa were heavily disturbed. They looked beside them to see Hunter but was gone. He was running out of the memory as the two caught up to him back in the gallery.
Christa: Hunter.
Hunter: No. No this is wrong. This has to be wrong! He didn't kill him. He...he didn't. Why did he look like me. What does he mean he made me? Who am I!?
Luz: Calm down. Breathe.
Then she heard a cracking sound. She saw Kid Belos, breaking one of the guard masks in half and throwing into a fire. Around the fire was the rope in a circle and potion bombs.
Luz: Hey stop that!
Luz and Christa pulled him away as Hunter tried to put out the fire.
Christa: Why would he do that?
But then the monstrous inner Belos appeared, it shrieked seeing the trio and approached them. He was about to step on the circle and suddenly small animal like figures were pulsating out of it.
Get away from him! Danger! Danger! Run!
Luz: Are those...palisman?
Hunter: We weren't running from the inner Belos. He was with us the whole time.
The trio turned back and saw Kid Belos looking away crying, but then he turned around and it turned into a maniacle laughter. He takes out a wooden sword and strikes the rope on the ground, transferring some sort of energy into the circle where the Palismen figure is at. This activates it and launches the bottles onto the figure. The rope then tightens around the figure, causing it to crash to the ground. Once it was down the trio watched as the Kid Belos transformed into the adult Inner Belos.
Emperor Belos: Hello there.
Luz and Hunter looked at him angrily, Christa who was behind the two however, looked scarred. This was her first time seeing him in person, but her body was shaking as she felt his dark presence. Belos approached them but was mainly to the monstrous figure.
Emperor Belos: At long last I was finally able to catch it. This thing's been a thorn in my side for years. All these weepy Palismen souls...
Belos places his hand on it as the figure reduced to dust, but grabbed one of the souls that looked like a bird.
Emperor Belos: Their voices constantly nagging me. Vile. But without out them I wouldn't be able to do this!
Belos transforms his left arm into his black sludge arm and squeezes the Palisman. Hunter's face is filled with shock and horror as Belos proceeds to destroy the Palisman in front of him, causing him to wince.
Emperor Belos: Ah, I'm feeling better already. ( to Hunter) Thank you for distracting it for me.
Hunter: What did you do to the other guards. Did you really kill them all? What happened to my family? Where are they? They never died of wild magic did they?
Emperor Belos: ( sighs) What a shame, out of all of the grimwalkers you were the most like him. I seriously thought placing fake memories into you would put you more in line. But your just another failure.
Hunter: What?
Belos snaps his fingers and suddenly coming out of the ground were zombie looking Golden Guards came out and grabbed hold of Hunter. Their uniforms were all ripped and deteriated, some had broken masks exposing the pale skin, with maggots crawling around. Hunter screamed as he was being dragged down.
Luz and Christa: Hunter!
The two ran over to help him, but he was being dragged down quick.
Hunter: Luz, Christa, help me! AAAAAH!
But they were too late as he was dragged completely down and the floor was patched up again.
Christa: NO!
Luz and Christa were on their knees thinking they lost hi.
Emperor Belos: Don't worry he's not dead. Not yet anyway. I still need him for the Day of Unity.
Luz turned over to Belos angrily.
Luz: I knew there was something wrong about you. Everyone views you as this amazing ruler but I now know who you really are. You're a manipulative murderer. I can't believe you were Phillip this whole time.
Emperor Belos: I was, but that part of me is dead. I am reborn into a new and more powerful witch hunter.
Luz: So all this time, people have been mindlessly helping a witch hunter? How can they be tricked so easily?
Emperor Belos: It wasn't easy to build their trust. This has been going on longer than I expected but soon it will all be over.
Luz: But by going through with the draining spell, you'll kill everyone on the Isles.
Emperor Belos: Why should I care for a pitiful race of hellspawns who live on this floating corpse?
Luz: Even though they all believe in you? What about your scouts, Kikimora and the Legion of Five?
Emperor Belos: Don't be silly. They're all nothing more but sacrificial pawns to aid me in my work.
Luz: Even Hunter? What's a grimwalker?
Emperor Belos: Let's just say he's a copy of a better version of an old friend. Or atleast he was until you two ruined him. It's a shame really. But some sacrifices will be made for my mission.
Luz: No sacrifice is worth making. But you seem okay killing off your own guards. It is what you do, the evil emperor.
Emperor Belos: ( silent chuckles) My dear, I am not evil. Everything I do, I do for the saftey of humanity. You've seen my memories. When I was 8, my parents were killed. A witch practicing witchcraft caused a fire to my home and they were burnt alive as my brother and I were the only ones who made it out. That day I vowed to avenge them and become a witch hunter. Years later at the age of 17 I finally found the witch that caused it. I ensured she'd suffer a slow and painful fiery death. But it wasn't enough. I wanted to eradicate every last witch on the face of the Earth and send them back to Hell where they belong. But then we were tricked into coming here by another witch. She separated us, but I ened up with her and slit her throat. Coming here made me realize where they all came from. So now my goal wasn't just to to kill all the ones from my world, but to destroy the world they came from. So I played the part of a monk who convinced them all the horros of wild magic and worked my way up to be emperor. Look, even though we're on different terms you are still human. It's not too late to save you. You know I have both the portal and the key. Come with me and we can go home together. Plus you will be proof of my accomplishments. I spent 400 years planning and waiting for my mission to come to an end. Soon it will be and together we will be the savior of humanity. We will finally rid this world and ours of evil and destruction.
Luz: You talk about evil and destruction without once mentioning yourself. I'm sorry about your family and I know you want to go home but it's not worth killing people. You've killed so many innocents to get here. You tricked Lilith and Hunter into doing your dirty work. You tried to petrify Eda! Why would I ever join you? I'd rather die than betray the people I love!
Belos angrily forms his arm into a large black goo arm and punches one the paintings, breaking it into pieces.
Emperor Belos: You do not understand!
Luz: I understand that the witches here have done nothing to harm us? They're people like us and are not like the ones back your day. I've made so many friends here and they're like family to me. The people here use their magic in creative ways and from what I've seen the Kamerian witches wanted to help you. You're only goal is to continue your witch hunting ways which by the way, witch hunters aren't a thing anymore!
Emperor Belos: As you wish. If you will not see the truth than you will die.
Luz: ( taking out some Glyphs) Stay by me Christa! Christa?
Luz looked behind her and saw Christa gazing at Belos, with a fearful look on her face. Her body was shaking as more memories of Belos came to her. She recognized him, with his uniform, mask and glowing blue eyes. Finally Belos set his attention to her.
Emperor Belos: I don't believe. It's really you.
Belos slowly approached Christa.
Luz: Don't you go near her...AAH!
Belos pushed Luz to the side making her hit the wall. Belos kept walking towards Christa as her surroundings was flickering a dark memory. There was huge fire, people screaming and she saw Belos walking towards her, with her was her sister Nia holding onto her scared. In front of her was her mother and a little further away she saw her dad trying to keep him away from her. Although she didn't know what he looked like since she was watching this from behind his back. Belos finally got close to her and kneeled down. Christa was frozen in fear as she couldn't do anything. He grabbed her face and looked and examined her.
Emperor Belos: I've heard about you coming here. I couldn't believe it until Hunter and the five described you. After all these years, it's so nice to finally see you again Euphemia.
Christa gasped as did Luz when he said that.
Christa: What did you call me?
Emperor Belos: That's your name isn't it Euphemia. You haven't aged a bit since the last time I saw you. You remember me don't you, because I remember you.
Christa: You...you know me. How do you know me?
Emperor Belos: How could I forget. You look so much like your mother. Seeing that only reminds me of that night.
Belos removes his mask, showing Christa his scarred face.
Emperor Belos: You've seen it yourself. It was her who did this to me. Her use of wild magic cursed me.
Christa: My mother. What did you do to her? You said it's been years. How many years?
Emperor Belos: Never mind that. ( puts mask back on) But I know she left you something. Where is the Eye of the Titan?
Christa: What Eye?
Emperor Belos: Don't play dumb. That's what your people held and you saw my memories. Where is it?
Christa: I don't know what that is? And that name. Is that really my name.
Belos now looked at her confused.
Emperor Belos: You don't remember who you are do you, yet you somehow remember me. Or at least barely. Part of me tells me to kill you to now, but it would be bit ufair to kill someone who doesn't know much. I want you to try and remember, where is the Eye? Tell me and maybe I won't kill you.
Christa: I don't know what you're talking about!
Emperor Belos: This is going to be hard. ( forms electricity on his hand) Perhaps this will jog your memory.
Suddenly Luz came back and placed an ice glyph on the ground making ice spikes come at him and lets go of Christa. Belos stepped back as Luz shielded her.
Luz: Get your hands off of her! If she says she doesn't know, she doesn't know. We won't be here much longer. I'm going to tell everyone the truth!
Emperor Belos: ( silent chuckles) Really. You're going to tell them. Who are they going to believe? Me or a low life human who associates with a wild witch. They'll believe anything I say.
Luz: I will prove it somehow! I'll tell them how you were lying about the Day of Unity and about the Titan.
Emperor Belos: Well, everything I'm doing is for the Titan but I never said it was the Titan of the Boiling Isles.
Luz: Who are you working for?
Emperor Belos: Before I kill you and imprison you, perhaps you should meet my master.
Suddenly black arms came out of the ground and grabbed Luz and Christa. The two were dragged down to the ground screaming.
Meanwhile
We cut back to Eda and the others still trying to get kids out of Belos's mind, but with the lack of magic they're having trouble.
Eda: Bones, dirt and muck! I don't have time to fail!
Lilith: Keep your cool Edalyn. We have to keep trying.
Eda: Where's Alice already?
King: Eda, please tell me it's going to be okay?
Eda just looked at King but didn't know how to answer him
We cut to outside, a little further away from the Owl House and Raine and the group had arrived.
Hipporit: This was not how I planned this.
Mr Hirata: We know, but we have to get them out. Two of them are my students.
Raine: And they live with Eda. We have to go help!
Darius: Hold on. We can't go and tell everyone what we're doing.
Raine: She already knows about me and Hipporit. This partially our fault for leaving that vial.
Hipporit: Don't you wish to save the Golden Guard. I've seen how you've been taking a liking to him.
Darius: I know, but what can we do to help?
Mr Hirata: I have something that can help them out.
Mr. Hirata takes out bouquet of flowers.
Mr. Hirata: These Gijera flowers is a key ingredient for the teleportation spell into the mindscape. We give these to her and she should have a better chance of saving them.
Raine: Okay, then how do we give it to them. The house looks like is locked down.
Darius: I'm thinking. How should we approach this? How should we get passed that...bird...tube thing or whatever the heck that is.
Suddenly someone snuck up behind Darius and formed an abomination sword to his throat.
Alice: You shouldn't even move.
Darius recongnized the voice and it was Alice who had finally arrive. He formed a spell circle and an abomination appeared behind her and grabbed her. She was being held but easily broke free and was about attack them until Darius removed his hood.
Darius: Alice stop! It's me!
Alice: Darius? What? What are you...who are they?
The others removed their hoods and showed theirselves to her.
Alice: You're...you're head witches.
Darius: Alice what are you doing here?
Alice: Eda called me for help that her kids were in danger. I saw you guys and thought you were the Legion of Five spying on them. The bigger question what are you doing here? Spying?
Mr. Hirata: It's okay. We want to help. You said you're going in to help right?
Darius takes the flowers.
Darius: Then give these to the Owl Lady. They should help.
Mr. Hirata: Oh but it still needs a powerful magic boost in order for it to work.
Alice: You...you're helping but you're part of the Emperor's Coven.
Darius: Alice please trust me. I would never lie to you. Please, get Hunter out of there.
Alice saw the pleading look in his eyes and takes the flowers.
Alice: I will, thank you.
Raine: One more thing. We were never here. You never saw us.
Alice: ( nods) Okay.
Alice runs to the house as the group leaves.
Alice hurries to the door and see's Hooty.
Alice: I'm here to help Eda.
Hooty: Just the witch we were waiting for.
Hooty opens the door and she's Eda, Lilith, King as well as Howl and Flapjack.
Alice: Eda!
Eda: It's about time you got here Alice.
Alice: I came as quickly as I could. Here!
Alice hands her the Gijera flowers to her.
Lilith: Those are Gijera flowers. It's just what we need for the spell.
Eda: Where did you get this?
Alice: It doesn't matter. Let's hurry and save the kids.
Eda: Right.
Meanwhile.
We cut back to Luz and Christa still being pulled down. Finally they stopped and were in a black void. But next to them was Hunter who was also being held by black hand.
Luz: Hunter. You're okay.
Hunter: For now. But I have a bad feeling about this.
Entity: I can taste your fear. It is very sweet.
( queue Naraku's theme)
The room began to illuminate from fire and forming in front the trio was red eye Entity.
Entity: Welcome Hunter, Luz and Euphemia
Hunter: Wait who?
Hunter looked at Luz. She motioned towards Christa who gazed at the Entity. He remembered how Christa told him that she doesn't remember much about herself and that she didn't know her actual name.
Entity: I have summoned you all here for a reason.
Luz: So it was you. You're the one pulling the strings. All of this is your plan.
Entity: I see you are very observant human. Interesting.
Luz: Who are you? What are you?
Christa kept looking at the Entity. It took her a minute but that eye looked familiar. She was remembering when she fell into the time pool and met the Titan Ginga, the Titan of the Boiling Isles and the other Titan he was fighting.
Christa: Keizer.
Luz and Hunter: What?
Keizer: That's right Euphemia. I am Keizer.
Luz: Keizer. Wait...that one entry. At the Unknown Isles. You're that Keizer?!
Keizer: I'm surprised you've even heard of me human. You've done your research.
Hunter: Wait, I'm confused. Who is this guy? What's a Keizer?
Keizer: Not what? Who?
Keizer's eye began to project a events of his life with shadows.
Keizer: ( narrating) Long ago, I was one of the most feared and powerful Titans. I am known as the Titan of Darkness, Keizer. But I was not the Alpha Titan. In order to achieve true power, I had to take down the Alpha, Ginga the Titan that became the Boiling Isles. I set to kill him and the other Titans so I would be worshipped by the new life their carcasses would spawn and recreate the world into my image. Our battle was legendary, but we both met our demise. While he died to make your world, I died and made mine, Kameria or the Unknown Isles as you refer to it. Thousands of years later the Kamerian witches harvested my bones for special material to create their civilization. It was not enough for them and soon they discovered my Titan Eye. They wanted to use it for mass production of military weapons and harness it's power. However their ambitions and greed grew as they went too far. During their experiments, the Blood Moon eclipse came and it's power and their technological experiments instead brought me back to life, in a new body. I had returned. I laid waste to them and planned to warp the world into my image. But then that human helped that wretched priestess use the Eye of the Titan Ginga on me. She managed to destroy my body...
The pupil of his eye shining showing a small red crystal in the center.
Keizer...but not my Eye. I lived but without a body. That's when I found Phillip. He and I had the same goals I made him into Belos to serve me. I helped him reach the position as emperor by secretly posing as Ginga of how he disliked wild magic. I was the one who came up with the coven system and the sigils, they're really my cursed marks.
Hunter: Cursed marks?
Keizer: You all know about my plan, you saw. Once the Blood Moon eclipse comes, that is when I will strip the inhabitants of their magic and use it for my ressurrection. And you boy, will be the vessel for my new body. I am giving them as Belos promised a new world, a perfect world for me that is.
Hunter looked scared.
Luz: We won't allow any of this.
Keizer: Ah, I've heard about you Luz Noceda. The human using glyphs for magic. Lent by Ginga himself. Child's play. And then theirs you Euphemia.
Keizer motioned to Christa.
Keizer: We meet again my dear.
Christa: Back at my home?
Keizer: That was our second encounter. Have you forgotten our first.
Luz: First?
Keizer then makes a projection of the events of " Titan Wars."
Keizer: Then you should know I did not draw blood first. I did not start the great Titan War but soon it will be time to end it.
Christa: I know. He told me. But he only started it because he knew you wanted to kill the others and rule the new life they would make and warp the world as the new alpha. He only started the war to stop you from destroying us all.
Keizer: Foolish child. I could have won and only Ginga would die, but then you intervened. You possessed that great power like he did. No mortal can possess that unless they were connected with the Eye. I lost because of you! We met again with Belos when on my second return to Kameria.
Christa: How long ago exactly? Tell me! What did you do to my family?!
Keizer: Quiet! I knew you were still out there since I never found the Eye. But now that I have you, give it to me.
Christa: I already told your lackey! I don't know anything about the Eye.
Keizer: LIES!
Keizer's voiced echoed creating thunder.
Keizer: You possess unnatural power.
Keizer shot and electric current at Christa as she yelled out in pain.
Keizer: You must be connected to the Eye! Give it to me, or perish!
Luz: Leave her alone! She doesn't have anything!
Keizer: Silence human! Don't think I will ignore you. I haven't forgotten of what you did.
Luz: Me?
Keizer then shows her a projection of the events of " Young Blood, Old Souls."
Keizer: You invaded the castle to save the Owl Lady who stole my portal, faced off against Belos and you destroyed the portal. I should be punishing him for not taking the situation seriously, but you nearly ruined my plans had Belos not hurried to fix it. But I'm not taking any more chances with you.
Meanwhile
We cut back to Eda, Alice and Lilith prepping the spell and flowers were now made into a yellow potion.
Lilith: This is it then right?
Alice: Not yet. We still need magic boost. Powerful one.
Eda: But what though?
King came to them and brought the Titan Blood stained glove.
King: Use this.
Eda: But this is the last of the Titan Blood. Luz needs it to get home.
King: She'll never make it home if she never makes it back here.
Alice: He's right. We don't have any other choice.
Eda nods to her and takes out the walkie talkie.
We cut back to the trio and Keizer
Eda: ( walkie talkie) Kid you there? We're about to get you three out.
Keizer: But now that you three know about us, I cannot let you go. ( to Hunter) You will be locked up until the Day of Unity. ( to Christa) You will also be locked up and tortured until you tell me where the Eye is. ( to Luz) But as for you, I cannot take any more chances with you. It's not the first time humans interfered with my plans. For that, you will die here and now.
Keizer's eye began to glow, about to kill Luz. Luz looked up helplessly. Hunter tried to break free to help her but he was stuck. Christa tried to as well.
Christa: Stop! Take me, let her go!
Keizer: Stand aside Euphemia. Unless you can give me the Eye, she dies.
Eda:( walkie talkie) She's not answering. Luz? Christa? Are you there?
Keizer was charging an attack on her. Christa kept struggling to get out. She couldn't use any magic as she was held tight. She looked down and a tear fell out of her eye. She closed her eyes and when she opened them up, they were pure white, her emerald began to glow and a white aura formed around her.
Keizer: What?
Keizer stopped charging the attack and looked at her, as did Luz and Hunter.
Christa: Leave her alone. Leave. Her. ALONE!
The white aura destroyed the arm holding her and Christa shot a white beam at Keizer. He yelled in agonzing pain, making him let go of Luz and Hunter.
Luz: Christa.
Christa: I won't allow you to hurt any of my friends! I will stop you!
Keizer: So she is connected to the Eye. It's as I feared. Belos!
Emperor Belos enters.
Keizer: She has the Eye. Kill her now!
Emperor Belos: As you command Master.
Belos formed his arm into a scythe and striked down at Christa. She formed fire on her hands and threw four fire balls. Belos blocked the attack with his black sludge arm and then summoned spikes from the ground to come at her. Christa using her plant magic to bring her up to avoid the attack. She then formed a huge wave of water at him and then freezed it. He was frozen for a moment but then erupted his body into flames and summoned a worm like monster to devour her. Christa then summoned lightning and fired it down at the creature, destroying it and got to Belos as well. He got up and then warped. He appeared behind her and hit her at the back of her head with his staff, knocking her down. He fired a magic beam from his staff down at her but she blocked the attack forming a stone wall around her. The wall broke open showing Christa flying up to him with her wind magic and forming her fist into a stone fist. She punched Belos across the face knocking him down and then fired a white magic beam down at him as he dodged the attak.
Hunter: I don't believe it. She's actually able to rival his power. No one can match his power.
Luz: ( in her mind) They kept talking about the Eye. If she really is connected with it in someway then is this it's power. Is that what her outbursts were this whole time?
Belos forms a black and red aura around his body and fires red and black beam at Christa. She fired a white beam at him. The two attacks collided and had another beam war. Christa tried to hold her ground, but Belos seemed to be doing well. His got bigger and let out a explosion and Christa was sent flying into a wall.
Luz and Hunter: Christa!
Christa: ( breathing heavily) Guys...
The two check on her. Christa's power as fading away and turned back to normal. They tried to help her up as Belos approached the trio.
Emperor Belos: I must say Euphemia, you're much more skilled than I thought you were. Though you maybe connected with the Eye, you still haven't accessed it's maximum power.
Eda: ( walkie talkie) Luz we're about to start the countdown. Are you ready?
Emperor Belos: But we can't take anymore chances with you.
Belos forms his arm into a scythe and strikes it down at them, but then Hunter using an ice glyph created a spiky ice wall blocking Belos.
Hunter: Let's go! Come on!
The two held Christa and ran as Belos broke down the ice wall and watched them.
Emperor Belos: You can't run from us forever. Your fate is sealed Hunter and we will meet again soon Luz, Euphemia. I will finish what I started!
Eda: ( walkie talkie) Five, four...
Keizer: You cannot stop this. In three weeks, the Day of Unity will come. My rebirth will happen and there is nothing you can do to stop it!
Keizer began laughing. It was a maniacle, evil laugh that echoed as the trio kept running.
Eda: ( walkie talkie)...three, two...
Luz: ( to Eda on walkie talkie) Eda now! Please now!
A burst of light envelops the three. They were finally out of Belos's mind and back into the Owl House as everyone inside looked at them with concern with King and Hooty wanting to check on them.
Alice: Don't crowd them. Give them some space.
Luz sat up and looked at Hunter who had a scared and is approached by Flapjack.
Hunter: ( gasps) He knows. He... he knows we were in there. I can't... I can't go back!
Hunter starts panicking and hyperventilating.
Alice: Easy now. Take deep breathes.
Alice offers him a hand but he fearfully backs away. He looks down at his cloak and immedietly takes it off and throws it to the ground. Hunter runs out of the Owl House as Flapjack follows him.
Luz: Hunter wait!
Luz watched as Hunter ran off, but then her focus came to Christa. Howl was next to her but Christa was shaking. After what she had seen and more bad memories of Belos was coming to her mind, she was so scared.
Luz: Christa.
Christa: He was there. He...he attacked my home. My family. Mom...
Eda: Chrissy.
Eda kneeled down to Christa and placed her hand on her shoulder. She looked up to her with tears in her eyes.
Christa: Eda!
Christa hugged Eda tight and buried her face into her chest. Eda just held her close to her as she could hear Christa's muffled cries.
Eda: Shh, it's okay Chrissy. Just breathe, your okay.
Lilith: Don't be scared your safe.
King and Hooty also approached her for comfort.
King: What the heck happened in there?
Eda: Luz, what did you see?
Luz: ( sighs) A lot of things.
To be continued...
Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. I've been waiting forever to get this retelling since this was my favorite episode next to Eclipse Lake and really wanted to make Belos's origin. Mine probably isn't what the show has in mind, but considering my only clues are "Elsewhere and Elsewhen" and all the portraits in the background, I had to make it up on what I thought but mix it with my story. So now we finally learned somethings and I'm sure some of these you already knew. Okay maybe some twists were predictable but weren't some of the shows twists too? I do apologize if I kinda took away Luz's part in this, I guess it was because I wanted to focus it more with Christa's past and trauma. A lot of people have commented how similar Belos's and Keizer's relationship was to King Andrias and the Core/Darcy from Amphibia. I may have taken some inspiration unknowingly since when I first wrote this I had just started season 2 of Amphibia and hadn't seen the Core yet so I was going more for a Galvatron and Unicron or Saruman and Sauron relationship.
But now to address something that I wanted to tell for a while. You might have figured it out now, but I'm sorry to disappoint you that the Collector is not in this story. The reason for that is simply because when I first started the story, season 2 had barely started and we weren't introduced to the Collector. How could I, a simple fan who has no access to the shows bts could know? But did you know Dana has stated that the Collector wasn't originally part of the story when she first started the show. They were character that was thought of but when she and the crew were notified about the show being cut short for season 3, she decided to add them in and rework the story. Actually there were quite a few changes with the story of the show that you should look up it's pretty interesting.
But I did suspect that Belos was working with a greater force and that's why I made Keizer who at the time of his debut, I had no name or origin for him, it took me months to develop him. So no, Keizer is not the collector or a replacement, just a character I came up with before we even knew about the latter. Now you're asking me then who's the hooded figure here in Eda's segment of Knock knock Hooty's door. I don't know. I seriously don't know who that is now. Maybe I'll go back and change it or even remove the scene all together. Now your asking if I had known, would I have used the Collector instead. Truth is... I'm not sure. Because back then I expanded on my imagination and theories with the show rather than using offical source and honestly, I don't regret what I've. I'm happy I used Keizer and did want a more serious and scary villain. Not that I didn't like the Collector of course. I always do like the hammy, comedic and mischievous villains like Bill Cipher and Beast Wars Megatron.
Anyway sorry, I'm taking so much time out of here. Stay tuned for " Thanks to Them" and I will share my thoughts next chapter. If you liked this chapter, be sure to follow, favorite and review. As always thank you and until next time.
