Chapter 48: New House Guest
Featuring Abomination Demon, Ambomiking
Alice had introduced Amity and the twins to Hunter who she had taken with her to stay with. Amity glared at him the moment she saw him and balled her fist.
Amity: You...
Hunter: Oh...uh hey there Blight. How's it..AAH!
Suddenly he was cut off when Amity punched him across the face.
Edric and Emira: Whoa! ( Edric: Nice shot.)
Alice: Amity!
Hunter fell onto his back as Amity was about to attack him again until Edric and Emira held her back and Alice went to help him up.
Hunter: Oh, oh man I forgot how hard you can punch.
Amity: What are you doing here and how did you find me?!
Alice: Amity calm down. Hunter here is with me.
Hunter: It's true, I'm not here to cause trouble.
Amity: Why is he here Alice?
Alice: It's, well it's complicated to explain right now. Luz can explain better when you see her, but Hunter here has discovered something horrible about the Emperor's Coven, causing him to quit.
Emira: Wait so he's the Golden Guard?
Hunter: Was.
Emira: Wow, you're definitely not what I expected.
Edric: Wait question, have you ever sneezed with the mask on?
Hunter: Um, yes I think I have.
Edric: That's gross man.
Emira: Says the one who left his dirty underwear in the bathroom sink.
Edric: I told you I didn't do that.
Alice: So to keep him hidden, he'll be staying here for a while.
Amity: What?
Alice: Edric, Emira can you show him one of the extra rooms and bring him bag of ice for his face.
Emira: Yes Aunt Alice.
Edric: Yeah this way man.
The twins lead Hunter upstairs as he walked right passed Amity who gave him a cold stare.
Alice: So I take it you two know each other?
Amity: Alice why did you bring him here of all places.
Alice: He has no where to go Amity. I didn't overwhelm Eda with so many people to take care of so I volunteered.
Amity: But he's the Emperor's nephew. He's a bad guy!
Alice: He isn't bad. He's misguided.
Amity: You don't get it. I've dealt with him once and he tries to get to you by showing he's troubled but it's a trick to get your guard down to get what he wants.
Alice: He won't be pulling any tricks.
Amity: How do you know that?
Alice: After seeing how scared he was getting out of Belos's mind, I can tell by the look of his eyes that his world has changed. He going through a lot right now and he needs help.
Amity: You said you discovered something about Belos right? What is it?
Alice: I...maybe it's better if Luz and Christa told you. You can ask them tomorrow.
Amity: But why are you helping him.
Alice: I have my reasons. Right now, no more hitting and be nice.
Amity: I can't promise that. If he does anything funny...
Alice: You let me know first.
We cut back to Hunter who was holding an ice pack to his cheek as Edric and Emira showed him one of the extra rooms in the mansion.
Emira: Okay so, this is your room. I mean I know it doesn't look anything super special.
Hunter: It's fine. It's good. Thank you.
Edric: Oh uh, your're welcome.
Edric and Emira leaves as Hunter looks at his room. It was pretty simple room with a bed, closet, and window. It was more of a bedroom for guests rather than something major like the other Blights. Hunter sat on the bed as Flapjack sat on his hands chirping to him.
Hunter: Yeah it does feel weird. I can't believe I'm here of all places.
Then he hears a knock at the door.
Hunter: Yeah?
Alice: It's me. Can I come in.
Hunter: Oh uh yeah sure.
Alice enters the room.
Alice: Is the room okay for you?
Hunter: Oh yeah it's fine. Thank you Ms. Blight.
Alice: Please just call me Alice.
Hunter: Right, thank you Alice.
Alice: I'll send one of my servents dinner and maybe some new clothes for you.
Hunter: Wait I just want to know. Why are you helping me? You do know who I am right? I'm the Golden Guard. Belos's right hand man.
Alice: And are you still?
Hunter: N-No.
Alice approached him and sat next to him on the bed.
Alice: Luz and Christa told me about what happened when you were inside his mind, about his plans and about you and all those guards.
Hunter saw her fist balling up.
Alice: I..I can't stand people like that! Using their kids to gain their personal goals, testing and abusing them. What is it with people like that? I took you in because I know what your going through. It's exactly what my niece was going through.
Hunter: Amity?
Alice: ( nods) I'm not sure if you knew but she was abused also by her mother.
Hunter: R-Really?
Alice: Odalia found out she was dating Luz and was not okay with it. She tried to have her killed. First from that hit man beast keeper and later poisoned her food. She as well as her brother and sister finally came to me and told me everything, about her abuse, using her for testing their weapons and trying to kill her girlfriend. I confronted her and my brother, cut them off the family fortune and buisness. Since then I've taken control again as well as custody of the kids.
Hunter: Where are they now?
Alice: I don't know. I haven't really spoken to my brother since. I don't know if I'm still mad at him or I don't know what to say to him now.
Hunter: So then, you're helping me because you feel sorry for me the same way you feel for you niece.
Alice: Well, it's not just that. It's also because your Darius's special kid.
Hunter: Well I don't know whether to call myself special, but you Darius used to date right?
Alice: How much did he tell you about me?
Hunter: Well, he said you two used to date when you were young, he taught you advanced abomination magic and well you broke up for family reasons.
Alice: ( sighs and smiles) Yeah. Darius and I go way back as kids at Hexside. He was good friend and when I was 15, he asked me out and we've been dating for years. He worked hard to achieve his goal to be head witch of the Abomination Coven and I helped and supported him in any way. We trained together and for him to make it to that position, he had to achieve the most difficult technique.
Hunter: The abomination form technique. Darius's trademark move.
Alice: ( nods) It's highly advanced, takes 10 years to master and very few witches have achieved that. One of them being of course Darius, the other myself.
Hunter: Wait, you?
Alice: I did it to help encourage him. He was going through a tough time and thought could never make it. I trained with him and worked to master that technique as well to show him that he can do it if he puts his mind to it.
Hunter: You two seemed to have been great together.
Alice: ( frowns) Well we were. When my brother got married and he had kids, I was honestly jealous. After Amity was born I wanted to start a family of my own. I talked about it with him, taking our relationship to the next level, get married and start a family together but he never thought of that. He said his only goal was to be head witch and had no intention of starting a family or having any kids. After everything we went through, it really broke my heart. We got into a huge fight over it, this combined with my approval and involvement of Project Abomiking it was over between us.
Hunter: Project Abomiking? Wait I recall the two of you briefly mentioning it when we met.
Alice: It was I think 15 years ago, before the Abomitons I invested in a new project Alador and Odalia wanted to make. They said it would be the next big step for the company.
Flashback
Blight Industries, 15 years ago.
It was presentation night at Blight Industries as Odalia and Alador have promised a special night here that even Alice and Darius came to watch. The entrance was full of investors. We cut behind the stage where we Odalia standing in front of large figure covered in large sheet and we hear tinkering and fixing sounds coming from underneath it. She stood by drinking some tea and appeared to be pregnant with her third child, soon to be Amity.
Alice: Odalia.
Alice was approaching Odalia as the latter looked mildly annoyed.
Odalia: ( sighs) Yes Alice?
Alice: Is it ready yet?
Odalia: Alador is just doing a final check up.
Alice: It's jammed pack tonight.
Odalia: Good. We promised a special showing in our latest advertisement. I told you wouldn't regret making us CEO of the company.
Alice: I didn't do it for you. I did it for my brother because of his skills. You maybe CEO but I'm still chairwoman of the company.
Odalia: Right, of course. Is your boyfriend here yet?
Alice: Why do you even want him here? You know he's not exactly supportive of your work.
Odalia: Alador and I wanted to show him our biggest achievement. We want to know his thoughts on it.
The tinkering and fixing sounds stop as Alador emerges out under the blanket with his toolbox.
Alador: All done, should be ready for show.
They hear footsteps and see's Darius enter.
Alice: You're late Pretty Boy.
Darius: My shoes got dirty and had to get them cleaned.
Alice: For your image.
Darius: Yes, ( kisses her cheek) but of course for you Black Rose.
Alador: Didn't think you'd actually come.
Darius: So what is it now you're so proud of? An abomination bazooka canon.
Odalia: Please, that was last years top item. We found special. Why don't you take a peek?
Darius looked under the cover. His eyes widened when he saw what it was and stepped back.
Darius: Don't tell me. Is that what I think it is?
Odalia: We managed to recover the remains of it's body after it was killed.
Alador: But we knew we could make great use out of him. I spent three years building it. Finally it's complete.
Darius: You can't be serious. You can't show this thing.
Alador: Why not? Hate is as usual?
Darius: I was never the biggest fan of your work on tinkering with abomination magic, but this is at another level. I forbid you to activate it.
Alador: He's under our control. It'll be fine.
Darius: You can't mix abomination magic with this. It's blasphemy.
Odalia: Who are you to tell us how to run our company?
Darius: I'm head witch and I order you to not show this.
Alador: I've worked too hard on this. I'm not going to stop because you don't like it.
Darius: Alice help me out here.
Alice: Darius please.
Darius: You're supporting this?
Alice: I invested in this project. I'm always looking for new things to renovate the company. Please can you just watch?
Darius nods and leaves the room upset.
Alice: Darius come on.
Odalia: Never mind him. You know how he's like.
Alice: Presentation starts in five minutes. Be ready.
We then cut the main stage as all the investors were gathered as Odalia and Alador enter the stage as the audience applauds and Alice and Darius stood from the side off stage.
Odalia: Greeting valuable investors to another of our annual private sale. Tonight we have something very special in store, but before we do I'd like to tell you about the idea for our new product. You all might remember the ferocious beast, Goliking. You all remember the story how it once rose out of the ground from hibernation and is said to be a monster that may of once lived in the hecktaceous period. You all remember the destruction it caused in our town until it was hunted down and killed. Of course the things it caused was horrific, but it did have tremendous strength and power and what if we had it?
Alador presses the button on his remote as the platform on the stage opened up and slowly brought something up.
Odalia: I present to you...Abomiking!
The crowd looked in awe at Abomiking. It had some resemblance to the abomotons we'd see now. He was just as big as the Abomitons, maybe a few inches taller. The the wrists, feet and body were a bronze metal and much like the abomotons had a pink glowing core on the abdomen. The back had rib cage shape spikes and also had a long metallic tail with a pincer at the end. The feet had three toes and hands four fingers. The wrists also had what looked like dual wrist mounted canons on them. Abomination goo made up his arms, hands, thighs and the head. The head had a more monstrous look with rhinoceros horns on the snout, long pointed ears, as well as a long backwards facing cresent shaped horn on the top of his head followed by two more going down the back of his neck. His eye were a glowing green and let out a roar introducing itself ( stock Kiryu roar).
Odalia: Based off it's template, this prototype is built using the original's skeleton for movements. He can do what the original can.
Target dummies were then placed on the stage as Alador used the remote control to move Abomiking. He showed his first attack which was a fire breathe and incinerated the target. The next target he used his tail and grabbed it up into the air, the pincer tail then cut the dummy in half as the audience applaud.
Odalia: But that's not all it can do. We made some adjustments to its abilities.
Abomiking rose his hands up and shape shifted one hand into a scythe and the other into a spiked mace. His hands stretched out and destroyed two targets with his scythe and mace.
Odalia: And now, for it's most powerful move.
Another platform rose up with three walls on the stage, away from the audience. Abomiking faced the walls as the core on his chest began to glow brighter. It then fired a powerful pink beam at the walls, piercing right through them. The audience continued cheering.
Odalia: Like what you see? Pre orders will be available after show and you will receive your own by the end of the year.
As Odalia stood on the stage, Alador heard a beeping a sound on the controller. He looked and saw letters saying " Warning."
Alice: What's wrong?
Alador: Something's not right.
Darius: Oh no, what is it?
He didn't understand until he looked over and saw Abomiking moving on his own. Abomiking looked at Odalia and aimed his wrist cannon at her. Alador reacted quickly and formed an abomination hand to reach for his wife and pulled her out of the stage right before she got shot by the wrist cannons.
Odalia: Alador what are you doing?!
Alador: It's the Abomiking!
Abomking then let out a roar and fired around aimlessly around the factory. The investores were now frightned and ran out of there for their lives. Abomiking kept firing around, destroying much of the interior as some debris fell onto some of the running investors.
Odalia: For the love of Titan. What did you do?!
Alador: Nothing! I'm not doing this!
Alice: Shut it off now!
Alador: It won't turn off!
Darius: Oh, I told you! I told you this was a bad idea! Dead demons and magic don't go together!
Alador: Hold on, where's my fail switch controller. Oh right I left in the office!
Darius: You left it in your office?!
Alador: I didn't think I needed it!
More explosions were heard as Abomiking kept rampaging and destroyed whatever was in his path.
Darius: Well go get that fail switch! I'll hold it off.
Alice: Darius wait! ( to Odalia) Aren't you going to help?
Odalia: Excuse me but I'm pregnant here.
Alice: ( groans) Than atleast help the investors out and those trapped.
Alice goes over to help Darius. Darius blocked his path and immediately formed a large abomination to engulf him. It didn't last long however as the pink core's glow began to get brighter and Abomiking broke his way out. Abomiking formed his hand into a laser canon and fired away Darius. He blocked the attack with an abomination shield, but the powerful blast pushed him hard making him fall onto his back. Alice came in formed her hands into abomination fists and punched Abomiking to the ground and quickly helped up Darius.
Alice: Are you alright?
Darius: I'm fine. We can't let this thing get out. Let's use our technique.
Alice nods as the two transformed into their abomination forms. The two attacked Abomiking and though their abilities enhancing, Abomiking was no pushover. Darius formed his hand into a sword and Alice a scythe. Abomiking again used his scythe and mace hands to counterattack. He kept blocking their attacks until Abomiking hit Darius with his mace and breathed fire at Alice, making her step back. He aimed wrist cannon at her and fired away, though she dodged the attack and stretched her hands at his arms and held the `-m down as Darius got up and stabbed Abomiking in the back with a sword hand. Abomiking roared and as the pink core began to glow and was about to fire at Alice. She quickly lets go and tries to get away, but the blast impact was so powerful she still got caught and was flown into a wall. She fell down hurt and turned back to normal.
Darius: Alice!
Abomiking approached Alice and was about to kill her with his sythe hand until Darius shielded her and stabbed Abomiking in the core. It let out a painful roar, indicating he was hitting him in a weak spot. Darius shoved his sword deeper in, until Abomiking formed his hammer hand and hits him across the head. Darius falls to the ground and is kicked around by Abomiking. Darius got back up and formed his hand into a sythe and ran at Abomiking. He fired his wrist cannons at him, but the projectiles went through his body seemingly unharming him.
Darius slashed across Abomiking's chest, roaring and stepping back Abomiking tried hit him with his scythe hand but Darious blocks the attack. However Abomiking's mouth opened up and breathed fire at Darius, burning him and stepping back but is then hit by the tail. Darius couldn't stay much longer as he was tiring out and turned back to normal. Abomiking stomped down his head and slowly began to crush it. Darius couldn't get out as Abomiking continued to crush his head. It seemed to be over for him until suddenly Abomiking shut down. Alador had finally found the fail switch controller and deactivated him. He got Darius out under the foot and helped him out. The two went over to Alice to help her.
Darius: Is she?
Alador: She's alright, just unconciouss. Darius. I'm sorry I...
Darius: Don't. I told you not to do it but you did anyway. Look what you did and to your sister! Don't ever talk to me ever again.
Darius leaves as the scenes zooms out showing damage around the area.
Three days later.
We cut to Alador and Odalia in Alice's office the latter bandaged and having a broken arm.
Alice: As you both know, our sale was a disaster. Not only did Abomiking go berserk but his rampaged caused damages to the factory and people getting hurt. People are filing lawsuits and pressing charges on us and the repairs, this his is going cost the company 100 of thousands!
Odalia: And your saying it's our fault when you agreed to fund this.
Alice: I may of funded this but the two of you are responsible for the product! You've worked on this for three years and this is the result?
Alador: Alice I'm sorry for all this.
Alice: Alador I don't understand how this could've happened. You're usually so careful with these things. What happened?
Alador: I-I don't know. I've been working on it day and night, I made sure it was fully functional and after I shut it down I did a check up. It somehow gained a mind of it's own. Probably due to using it's remains to make it. But rest assured, I will fix this.
Alice: I'm sorry brother but after the damage it caused and for killing Darius, he's too dangerous to be kept. Get rid of it.
Odalia: What?!
Alador: But this took me years sister. Just give me time, I can get him under control.
Alice: We can't take anymore chances. I order you to destroy it.
Odalia: You're making us throw away three years of work? We did all this for nothing?
Alice: Quiet Odalia! Alador listen to me. I know you have passion. You really do. But we're in a tight spot right now and have to fix our reputation. I know you can do better.
Alador: I...
Odalia: We understand Alice and your right. We will fix this I assure you and will bring the company back to glory
Alice: I hope for the company's sake your right.
Flackback ends.
Hunter: Whoa, so you meant his thing was so powerful that not even a head witch could defeat it?
Alice: ( sighs) Yeah, instead of making a new weapon we instead revived a monster and gave it new power. But it was a huge disaster. Darius and Alador's friendship shattered that day and though he never showed it, I know he also blames me for this and that he nearly died. He's probably fine without me and is out flirting with so many women.
Hunter: No, he still thinks about you.
Alice: Yeah sure.
Hunter: No really. I saw him looking at an old picture of you and him.
Alice: Picture?
Hunter: Yeah, he even told me to uh...something about cherish what you have and not mess up your chances. If he still thinks about you, wouldn't you want to see him again? Like longer than last time?
Alice: I mean, it would be nice. But I don't know. I either I can't think how to approach him or I don't think I have time. I have to do something about Belos using the abomotons for his plans.
Hunter: What are you going to do about that?
Alice: ( sighs and rubs her head) I really don't know. I need time to think. I'm sorry, I'm really getting off topic here. I just came in to ensure you were comfortable. Oh and don't worry I told my niece not to attack you again.
Hunter: Thanks but she's not too happy to have me here.
Alice: Just give her time. She'll open up soon and don't worry.
Alice wraps her arm around him. Hunter looked up to her as he had this warm feeling from her.
Alice: I won't let the Emperor's Coven find you. Just rest up.
Hunter: Okay, thank you Alice.
Outside of the room, Amity was listening to the whole thing. She then went to her room where Edric and Emira were in as well.
Amity: Can you guys believe this?
Edric: I know. The guy actually sneezed in his mask. You think he coughed in it also.
Emira: That's not what she meant Ed.
Amity: I still don't understand why Alice is helping him.
Emira: She's always been the nurturing kind. She never had kids of her own and treats us as hers ever since we moved with her.
Amity: We finally told her of how our parents treated us. We're her family, she can't just go and adopt any troubled kid. I heard her conversation she's helping him because she feels sorry for him. I did too and offered him help once and he threw back at my face. He's plotting something I know it. The moment he does, he's going down.
Next day at Hexside.
We cut to outside of the school where the Hexsquad were sitting together near the entrance and Luz and told her friends about last night.
Luz: And so Christa fought Belos off until she got exhausted from her power and Eda got us out.
Luz looked at the others and they were speechless when she told them about what happened.
Amity: I don't believe it. Phillip who you were following, the one I helped you find his diary, this whole time was Belos?
Luz: Yeah, but I was more shocked when we learned about Keizer.
Willow: This whole time he said what he was doing was for the Titan, but was really for this Keizer?
Gus: And he's the Titan of the Unknown Isles? He's been alive all these years.
Luz: And plotting his return. The Day of Unity isn't what everyone thinks it is. He's going to bring the world to ruin.
Alex: So then what do we do? We can't just barge into the castle. I mean I can, I got the strength, but we can't really kick his butt can we.
Gus: Well wait shouldn't we warn the whole isles about this? You know his secret, maybe we can start with the school.
Willow: They may not believe us Gus.
Luz: Willow's right. He even said even if I know, no one is going to believe someone who associates with a wild witch.
Amity: We believe you.
Luz: ( sighs) Yeah, glad you guys. I just don't know what to do right now. Lilith has been trying to get in touch with Hipporit about this but won't answer. So much is happening and there's so much to do. I don't even have a plan and...
Amity: ( takes her hand) Hey, easy. We still have three weeks before the Day of Unity. You're not in this alone. We're here to back you up.
Luz looked at Amity with a small relieved smile. The two then set their attention to Christa. She was awfully quiet this whole conversation as she was just had her knee's curled up and looked down.
Amity: Christa? Christa.
Christa: Huh?
Amity: Hey are you feeling okay?
Christa: No. I had to witness Belos beating my mom. And though I don't remember the whole story of my past, but I now know he was in it. He's been haunting my dreams and I know he did something terrible to me and my family. I don't even know if there alive or what!
Christa then felt a her hand being held by Willow.
Willow: Hey, hey. Christa look at me. Breathe.
Christa tried breathing but she did in a stressful way.
Willow: Na ha. Like this.
Willow took deep breathes and counted to three with her fingers. Christa copied her as she started to calm down.
Willow: Did that help?
Christa: Yeah, thank you Willow. I'm sorry for freaking out like that.
Willow: Don't be. You have a lot on your mind right now.
Christa: I've just been so stressed after last night that I feel so...so I don't know how to describe it. Upset, scared, conflicted?
Amity: We're really sorry of what Belos did to you. But we promise we won't let him get to you again.
Gus: Just stick with us and you'll be okay Christa.
Alex: And if he does get to you. I'll kick his butt, with this thumb.
Christa: (nods) Thanks guys.
Gus: Wait so you found out your real name right? You want us to call you that or...
Christa: Not yet. Not until I fully remember who I am.
Alex: Oh hey I was curious so what's the part with you and this magic eye?
Luz: Well we know that Christa is somehow linked to it and it's some kind of artifact from our Titan. We don't know where it is but maybe it's still in the Unknown Isles.
Willow: Okay now can we get back with Hunter.
Gus: So he's living at your place Amity?
Amity: ( looks annoyed) The last person that I wanted to see now lives with me.
Alex: Wait, who are we talking about again?
Amity: The Golden Guard.
Alex still didn't get it.
Willow: The one who played flyer derby with us?
Alex still didn't remember.
Gus: He also tried to make us join the Emperor's Coven.
Christa: Twig Boy?
Alex: Twig Boy?! He's living with you?
Amity: Yes.
Gus: How can you forget already?
Alex: Hey I tend forget a lot of people I don't care about. I only care about you five, ( mumbles) oh and uh Viney and Skara too. But now that you have him, ( forms fist into stone fist) I can finally kill him.
Luz: Alex calm down. He's really going through a lot right. I know he's done a lot of bad things, but everything he did was because Belos tricked him and all those guards and he was going to use him as a sacrifice for Keizer. I mean we offered him to stay at the Owl House but Alice insisted that she'd take him.
Christa: Amity please go easy on him.
Amity: What? Christa remember our fight with him and how you snapped? You said you never wanted to see him again. You can't trust him.
Alex: I got to agree with Amity here. Let's not forget who got me, Goops and Sprouts locked up.
Willow: Alex he got us out.
Alex: And who arrested us to begin with?
Gus: He's right you know. I still don't know what he's playing at.
Luz: Guys I get it. We all have conflicted or unsure feelings for him. But realizing his mistake and quitting the Emperor's Coven is his first big step out of that dark path. We have to give him a second chance.
Amity: I'm not speaking to him, but I'm making sure he doesn't step out of line. ( sighs) Look I got to go. I got to study for the test this week. See you guys tomorrow.
Amity kisses Luz on the cheek.
Amity: See you Batata.
Amity formed her staff and flew off.
Gus: I got to go too. Dad I'm sure is waiting for me. Let's talk more about this later okay. See you guys.
Gus forms his staff and flies off.
Alex: Willow, we still up for our after school work out session.
Willow: Oh yeah, you go on home. I'll meet you there in an hour.
Alex: Alright. Later guys.
Alex forms his staff and flies off, leaving Luz, Christa and Willow alone.
Willow: Okay now that it's us three. I didn't want to ask in front of the others because I didn't feel comfortable, okay mainly Alex but is it possible for me to come see Hunter one of these days.
Luz: Really Willow?
Willow: I believe you two. He can make mistakes but he did come back and save me and my team. I want to also help him anyway I can.
Christa: He's supposed to meet us today, you want to come.
Willow: I would but I'm busy tonight. I promised Alex our work out session, but let me know when you see him again and I'll come.
Christa : We can do that. Thanks for understanding Willow.
Luz: Yeah and good move on not asking in front of Alex. You don't want to give him the wrong idea and make him jealous.
Willow: ( blushes) What? What are you implying? It's not like that.
Later that day.
Hunter flew over to the Owl House. He landed and approached the door and approached.
Hooty: Well look who it is. It's CC's bad boy friend.
Hunter: ( blushes) What? We're not really, I mean we're not exactly...
Hooty: No I didn't say boyfriend. I said boy friend.
Hunter: I still don't get it. Look is Luz and Christa home yet?
Hooty: Oh they are, but before you may enter you must solve my riddle. What's...AH!
Before Hooty can say his riddle, Eda opens the door wide open, hitting his face against the wall.
Eda: Hooty quit stalling him. Oh hey there Blondie. Here for your first lesson.
Hunter: Uh yeah and my name is Hunter.
Eda: That's what I said Blondie.
Hunter: Right, so is this a good time?
Eda: Oh yeah. Come on in.
Eda let's him inside as Hunter looked around the inside. Though he was in last time, he didn't really pay attention to his surroundings as he was having his meltdown.
Hunter: This is uh, nice for a small criminal hideout.
Eda: Well guess what? You're criminal too now for defecting from the Emperor's Coven.
Hunter: ( groans) Yeah.
Eda: Hey but with all seriousness, you doing okay? You settling okay with Alice?
Hunter: I'm fine. Just still trying to process it all. But Alice has been nice.
Eda: Just take it easy. You'll be alright. Hold on, I'll go get the girls.
Eda goes upstairs and Hunter sits down on the couch. He looked over and saw King with his plush dolls and saw Hunter.
Hunter: Hey.
King: Uh hey.
Hunter: Um, how's it hanging?
King: Fine, I guess.
Hunter: Uh, nice dolls.
King: They're not dolls! They're my army!
Hunter: Okay alright. Your army. So uh, you like uh...uh food.
King: Yeah, especially cheesy ones.
Hunter: Cool, cool.
The two couldn't think much to talk about and it was getting awkward.
King: You know what I'm going to get a drink.
Hunter: Yeah you do that.
King leaves the room leaving Hunter alone.
Lilith: Never thought I'd see you here.
Hunter looked over and saw Lilith.
Hunter: Lilith?
Lilith: It's been a while. Who'd have thought that Golden Guard himself has been reduced to this?
Hunter: ( groans) If you're going to gloat about how I failed, just let it out.
Lilith: I'm not here to gloat.
Lilith sits down next to him.
Lilith: I know we never really got along but I'm here to tell you that I know how you feel. He did the same thing to me.
Hunter: Yeah, I now understand what you went through and why you quit. So what have you been doing since then?
Lilith: Learning glyph magic as an alternative, making up lost time with my sister and my friends, bonding with the kids here and finally reuniting with my girlfriend. And you know what, it's been great to be out of there. I never realized how awful of a person I was when I worked for him and I know he did the same the thing to you.
Hunter: Well that's something we can agree on.
Lilith: Just keep up what your doing. I can assure you, you're in much better hands now. Help them and they will help you.
Hunter: I will. Thanks.
Christa: Hey Hunter.
Luz and Christa came down to greet him with the latter hugging him.
Luz: Glad you could come. You ready for your lessons?
Hunter: Yeah, I'm so ready.
We then cut to everyone outside. Luz was getting out the chalk board while stood with Christa.
Hunter: Hey, how are you feeling?
Christa: I'm okay. It's still a lot to take in.
Hunter: I know. It is.
Hunter kept gazing at Christa as she looked away blushing.
Christa: What are you looking at.
Hunter: Um well, I uh...I was meaning to ask you last night but did you do something with your hair. It's a new look.
Christa: Oh yeah. Matti braided it for me.
Hunter: It looks good. You look pretty. ( blushes) Uh I mean good. You look good.
Christa: Aw, thank you.
Then Christa felt something land on her head, it was Flapjack chirping at her.
Christa: Hey there Flapjack.
Flapjack landed on her hands as Christa petted his head.
Hunter: He really missed you. Every other day he'd keep asking me when I'm going to see you again.
Christa: Aw did you really? I missed you too.
Christa kept petting Flapjack when suddenly her visions of flickering. She then saw mysterious figure, face was blocked off by light but she could see the silhouette of a bird flying to him and landing on his shoulder. It looked vaguely familiar the figure but the bird seemed to resemble Flapjack. The visioned ended as she shook her head.
Hunter: You okay Red?
Christa: Oh uh, yeah. Yeah I'm good. Think I had something in my eye. ( in her mind) Who was that?
Christa's palisman Howl then comes to her and glares at Hunter.
Hunter: Oh it's your palisman. Hey there little guy. You have a really cool look.
Hunter tried to pet him but Howl snarled and almost bit his hand.
Christa: Howl!
Hunter: Okay, he doesn't seem to like me.
Howl was growling at Hunter as Christa kneels down and rubs his neck and back.
Christa: Howl, shh. Stop. Be nice Hunter.
Flapjack flies off over to Howl and lands on his head. Flapjack chirps to him to calm down. Howl does so and stops.
Christa: I think he just told him calm down.
Hunter: Now I'm glad he's friends with Flapjack.
Christa: Howl listen to Flapjack and no biting Hunter. Understand?
Howl looks down and gives an annoyed sounding growl. Luz enters with the chalk board.
Luz: Alright class is in session. Come on you don't want to be tardy.
Hunter: I can't be tardy. I'm already here.
15 minutes later.
Luz: Now the important thing is to memorize the patterns on the glyphs. These are the first four I discovered but thanks to Christa I was able to find more and experimented with combos and other kinds. But let's just start with basics.
Hunter took his time memorizing the first four and drew them out on a sheet of paper.
Luz: Okay once drawn, tap on it to activate.
Hunter tapped on the light glyph as it made a light ball.
Hunter: Whoa.
Luz: It's always amazing the first time.
Hunter: I can't believe I'm actually doing this. I was never allowed to look into wild magic back at the castle.
Luz: Hey so how's living with Alice?
Hunter: It's uh, it's alright. I mean Alice is actually really nice. The twins well they played a prank on me this morning. They put nair in the shampoo. Who does that?
Luz: Uh okay I may of showed them a video of that once. That's my bad.
Hunter: And then there's Amity and uh...she's really at it with me.
Luz: I heard. She told me at school.
Christa: Because of Eclipse Lake?
Hunter: Yeah. She really hates my guts. It's all because I stole your key and now Belos has it.
Luz: Never mind the key. Right now I want to focus on stopping Belos and I'll get it back from him, somehow. Regarding Amity, she can be hard person to get through but once you make peace with her she can be an amazing and trustworthy friend.
Hunter: Well what I'm supposed to do, she glares at me every time I come across her.
Luz: Okay look. When the right moment comes just try to have a talk with her. You are sorry for what you've done r and know you messed up right?
Hunter: Yes.
Luz: Okay good. Now just find the right moment to talk to her make a sincere apology. Let her know you messed up, but you're going to make things right for her and everyone.
Hunter: You sure that will work.
Luz: Maybe she won't forgive you right away, but it'll be a start.
Hunter: Guess I'll do that tonight.
Eda: Hey Blondie.
Eda approaches Hunter with something in her hands.
Eda: I uh, you left this here last night.
Eda shows him his Golden Guard cloak.
Eda: I know you said you quit but I wasn't sure if you still wanted this.
Hunter takes his cloak looks at the sigil.
Hunter: All my I worked hard to be the next Golden Guard. I thought I was a somebody when I had this but now...now I can't even look at this the same anymore.
Hunter gets the fire glyph and activates it. He sets the cloak on fire and drops it on the ground.
Christa: What are you doing?
Hunter: I'm not the Golden Guard anymore and I don't want to have any connection or affiliation to Belos. Not anymore.
Everyone just stood there and watched as the cloak slowly burned away with the sigil that he'd recently sewed.
Luz: Okay we should really put that out it's starting to smell and it's dangerous fire hazard.
Hunter: Yeah your right. Let's put it out.
Later back at Alice's mansion
Hunter was thinking of the right time to talk to Amity. That's when he looked through the window and saw Amity in the backyard. She was heading towards Stranix's stable with a bucket of food.
Amity opens the door and see's Stranix inside resting and looking happy to see Amity.
Amity: Hi Stranix.
Stranix made a soft growl and approached Amity licking her face.
Amity: ( laughs and pets him) Aw did you miss? Oh I missed you as well.
Amity started scratching under his chin, much to his liking and fell onto his back and wagging his tail hitting the ground.
Amity: Aw you like that, you like it when I scratch you there? Come on. I have dinner for you.
Hunter then entered the stable and see's her feeding him.
Amity: Okay hold on. Stay. Now speak.
Stranix roars right at her face. Amity backed away but wasn't startled by his roar but his breathe.
Amity: ( coughs) Good boy. ( feeds him) Though remind me to get your teeth cleaned.
Hunter: Wow, he's so obedient.
Amity turns around and see's Hunter as her smile now turned into an angry look.
Amity: What are you doing here? I told you not to come near me!
Hunter: I know, I know, I know. Don't come near you or I'm dead but you can please just listen to me? Please?
Amity: ( groans) What?
Hunter: Okay. ( exhales) When we first met we kinda had a bad start. Now sure we were on different sides but you know it was really nice talking to someone I could relate with. I told you how I was in a really, really tight spot. I failed Belos twice and I was this close of being replaced. I was desperate. Being Golden Guard was everything to me. I mean not anymore obviously, I mean back then.
Amity: Get on with it.
Hunter: I'm getting there. Anyway so I may cheated you, okay actually twice. You know when you freed me and ditched you and then with the key.
Hunter looks at her face and she still looked angry.
Hunter: Right, not helping. Okay look. I've done things I'm not 100% proud of and I was a sore loser at the end of our fight. I shouldn't have threatened you like that and took your key. But I'm not like that anymore. After realizing what Belos is really doing and that he was using me as a sacrifice, I quit. I'm really trying to help and make things right with Luz, Red and even you.
Amity: So you're apologizing.
Hunter: Yes. That's what I'm doing. I'm sorry for everything I've done up until now and I hope we can start over and be friends.
Amity: Okay, I don't forgive you.
Hunter: You mean you don't forgive me just yet and this is a start?
Amity: No. I mean I do not forgive you. At all.
Hunter: Um, okay I'm not sure you realize what's happening here but I'm trying to be sincere for once and...
Amity: No! You do not deserve my forgiveness! You think saying sorry will solve what you did?
Hunter: Well not completely, but it would be a start.
Amity: You threatened to send the five after me and my girlfriend!
Hunter: Relax, I was just bluffing.
Amity: What?!
Hunter: I wasn't really going to do that. I'm not a monster. I just said whatever so I'd get the key. I mean I could have said anything. Actually I wanted to say " If you don't give me the key then we would send a giant slore after you and eat you." But then I realized the slore we had died last year. It was a sad day.
Amity gets angrier and replies with a growl.
Hunter: But if it helps I did appreciate you helping me out.
Amity: By messing with my mind?! That's not helping it's blackmail!
Hunter: Oh uh, good point. Look you should be fortunate that it was me that you dealt with, if it was the five or Kikimora they would have showed you no mercy and probably kill you.
Amity: Oh I found that out. They threw me into a pit right after you ditched me.
Hunter: Wait really? Oh...uh, I did not know that. Okay I'm sorry about that. But you made it, that counts right?
Amity: No it doesn't. And don't think I don't know about you arresting Willow, Gus and Alex!
Hunter: Okay that day I was looking for new recruits and I thought they would make great scouts, but then of course I regretted what I did and help bust them out. I mean we played flyer derby and that was a lot of fun. Look I'm sorry. I really am. What do you want me to do to make things right?
Amity: Oh I know. How about you give back the key?
Hunter: Oh, I can't do that.
Amity turns away in anger.
Hunter: Not that I don't want to . I mean I would but Belos has it. I'm wanted by him and...
Amity: Just shut up okay! Nothing will ever be okay with us. You may of gotten everyone convinced that you've changed, that your this lost, sad boy who was being used. But I know what you're really like. When you were at your lowest point I tried to help you. I tried to be nice to you, I offered you help but you turned on me and you stole the key from me. You'll do anything to get back to the top. How do I know you're not manipulating Luz, Christa or my aunt?
Hunter: I'm not. They've been nice to me. I swear I'm not manipulating anyone.
Amity then grabs him by his shirt and pulls him to her face. Hunter now looked scared and began to sweat.
Amity: Then let me get something straight through your thick skull. You make one mistake, one slip up, one step backward, any sign of betrayal or give me a good reason why you would hurt my family, Luz or any of my friends , then you won't have to worry about Belos coming after you. ( eyes glow purple) Because I'll make sure to end you, like I should have done at Eclipse Lake! Got it!?
Hunter couldn't speak and just nodded. Amity pushed him out of the stable and slams the stable door. Hunter looked back and breathed heavily. He frowned and just went back inside. He couldn't do anything else. He tried but the damage with Amity was already done and it seemed there was no fixing it.
To be continued...
Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. Sorry it's been a while, I've just been taking a break after pushing out so many chapters at such a fast rate because I was so anxious to get to Hollow Mind, plus I needed time to brain storm and this was a tough chapter to make because there was no concrete story here but rather a bunch of scenes stitched together to build up the next act of the story.
But I also wanted to bring up Amity and Hunter's relationship again. I always found it weird how the two hardly interacted again after Eclipse Lake and their fight is never brought up especially in Labyrinth Runners since the two never spoke at all or acknowledged one another. Now I'm sure the reason for this is because of the wonky rewrites and production season 2 had to go through and they probably couldn't find a spot to make a proper redemption. But now I can finally work on that and I'm excited for this arc for the introduction of my own Abomoton that I've been working on ever since
Escaping Expulsion" aired. I want to thank Lady Shadow92 for help on this chapter. If you liked this chapter, be sure to follow, favorite and review. As always thank you and until next time.