The Sisters' Family Vacation:
Escape… To Danger
"Before we proceed, I need to say something," Ford said, getting the group's attention. "The power to the portal is stable, but it wouldn't last more than 30 minutes, at best."
"Seriously?" Stand grumbled, "Ford, you're supposed to be super smart, so why do you keep forgetting to tell us these things?"
Ford glared at his brother and looked ready with a retort. Danna stepped in between the Pines twins before things got heated.
"Now's not the time," she said firmly. "We need to use all of our energy to figure something out quickly."
"What about my scroll?" Vee asked. "Amity has one, and I might be able to send her a message?"
"Hmm," Ford rubbed his chin as he stared at the portal. "I don't think that would work. We don't know the state of that world or if magic works the way it does in the demon realm."
"How about we use the scroll to track Luz's magic battery?" Masha suggested. "She told me it uses something like what powers a scroll."
"That could work," Ford said, "But it would be best if we had a mobile device to track the energy signal."
"Leave that me!" X proclaimed with a smile and a wink.
The agent took out his phone, and after a few seconds of playing it, the group heard a noise. A drone camouflage as tree leafs emerged from a tree and flew over to X. Drake glared at the agent but said nothing.
"This would do," Ford said, nodding, and then looked at Vee.
The basilisk went over to the older man and held out her scroll. Ford worked to get the magical item's energy signal into the drone's database. He next worked to increase the range of the drone so X could control it from a long distance.
While this was happening, Drake held his head and moaned under his breath. Danna noticed her brother's discomfort and got beside him.
"You doing good, bro?" Danna asked in concern.
"I don't know," Drake replied weakly. "I thought I was better, but my eyes suddenly started hurting again."
"Hmm," Danna looked at the portal and then at her brother. "You think it has something to do with the new portal?"
"I don't really don't know," Drake answered, looking at the portal. "But I will be glad when this mess is over, and I can rest my eyes."
Danna nodded and turned her attention to the portal.
Unknown to the group was the small spirit laying traps around them.
(SC)
"Are you sure you don't need help?" Luz asked when she noticed Severine's growing more frustrated with Zoe. "I'm sure Mama Eda is just itching for another go with her. And Aunt Lily was in the Emperor's Coven, so she knows how to get things done."
Eda grinned a mischievous grin and cracked her knuckles. Zoe, for her part, just rolled her eyes, not impressed.
"Look, if you losers are going to do something, do it," The Fashionista moaned. "That way, we all can move on with our days."
Severine growled and was close to taking up the Familia's offer to help. She had been grilling the youngest Babblerstone since capturing her. Zoe had remained defiant throughout the entire ordeal.
The demoness looked at the human and opened her mouth to reply. Suddenly, a noise filled the air, and everyone snapped into action; the witches got spells ready, and the frogs got into fighting stances. Luz, however, looked off into the distance as she recognized that sound.
"Guys," Luz said, smiling, "I think I know what that is."
The group looked at Luz, and her smile was enough to soothe some of their worries. Soon, the sound of the noise came into view, and Luz and Polly beamed at the sight.
"It's a drone!" Luz exclaimed.
The group relaxed completely as the machine flew close to them and went to Luz.
"Isn't that something from Earth?" Sprig asked his sister.
"Yup!" Polly replied.
Sprig looked at the device and knew what it meant. The young frog smiled slightly; if a portal to Earth had opened, he might just see a dear friend again.
While the group was busy celebrating this discovery, they were unaware of the deeds going on. Despite fidgeting, Shin had managed to make a spell circle and had slowly been taking control of the plant spanking his wife.
The whipping vine was slowing, allowing Chloe to make a spell circle. She took control of the vine and threw it at Severine.
The demon screamed as the vine wrapped around her and threw her into a wall. The noise got the Familia's attention, and they turned around in time to see Chloe freeing her daughter.
"Now," Zoe said menacingly, standing, "What was this about itching for more?"
The young witch didn't get a chance to make good any threat; a flashing, blue mushroom was suddenly in her face and exploded a second later. Zoe screamed as she hit the ground.
Chloe growled when she saw what happened to her daughter and glared daggers at the group.
"AMBUSH!" The Gorgon suddenly heard and was tackled from behind.
Luz, Amity, and the "knocked-down" mothers were impressed as they watched their new friends handle the Babblerstones with the skill of experienced soldiers.
"GO!" Polly told the Familia, "We will hold these chumps off!"
"We can't leave you!" Luz said to the young frog.
"Look," Polly said, "We don't know how long that portal will last. So get your butts in gear!"
Luz and Amity exchange uncertain looks; they can't deny the frog's logic. Plus, they knew from experience how unstable portals could be.
So, with heavy hearts, they decided what to do; Luz looked at Polly and nodded. Polly smiled and turned her attention back to the mother and daughter from the demon realm.
"Mami! Mama Eda! Aunty Lily!" Luz called her family. "Let go!"
Eda and Lilith nodded, and they turned into their harpy forms. They took to the air as Luz gestured to the drone. The person controlling the drone understood the gesture; the device turned around and flew in the direction it came from.
"Wait!" Camila said suddenly and pointed at Severine. "We can't leave her!"
Amity nodded quickly and went to work; she made a spell circle and summoned an abomination.
"Abomination!" she ordered, pointing at Camila and Severine. "Grab and follow!"
The golem roared and barreled over to Camila. It picked up the "knocked-down" mother and then hurried to the demon. It picked up the ex-scout and then followed after its creator as the Familia hurried after the drone.
"Hey!" Sprig called to the group of witches. "If you're ever in LA, look up Anna Boochuy! Tell her Sprig Plantar misses her every day!"
Luz stopped and looked at the frog, nodding. The human witch then hurried after the rest of her family.
Sprig smiled at this and turned serious as he loaded his slingshot with a boomshoom. The frogs surrounded the Babblerstone women as they got in front of Shin.
"If you know what's good for you, you lowly creatures," Chloe said threateningly, "You will let us pass."
The Plantar siblings and Ivy stood their ground.
"You really don't get it," Zoe said menacingly. "We're plant witches, and this is a swamp! If we wanted, we could be ruling this mud hole within hours! So, move or-"
The witch was interrupted when something landed behind them with enough force to send a shockwave through the ground. Because of this, Shin fell to the ground and scratched himself like crazy.
Chloe and Zoe ignored the male witch and turned to face the newcomer.
Frobo looked at the group as he unlocked all of his weapons and aimed them at the two. The two lost their confidence, and Chloe couldn't help but gulp at the sight.
"Oh, poopie!" was all Zoe could think about saying.
(SC)
The Owl Familia ran/flew with all their strength as they followed the drone. Lilith spun around and was pleased when she saw they weren't being followed.
It took the group roughly twelve minutes to reach the breach in the realms, and they pushed themselves a little more.
"Close the DOOR!" Luz screamed as the group jumped through it.
The abomination carrying Severine just made it through as the portal closed.
Luz and Amity dropped to their knees, panting as Eda and Lilith landed next to them and turned back to normal. The Familia lay on the ground as they tried to get their second wind.
"Thanks," Lu managed to choke out.
"Think nothing of it…human."
Luz and Amity suddenly gasp as both recognize that voice immediately. Before anyone could act, spirits appeared behind the Familia members and got them in submission holds.
Lilith growled as the smug, smiling face of Odalia came into view. She began to turn back into her harpy form, but Odalia wiggled her finger.
"I would advise against any sudden moves," she taunted arrogantly. "Unless you want something to befall these people?"
She stepped to her right and showed the group the Blacklights and Vee. Luz gasped when she saw the spirits guarding them and the other group moaning and holding their heads.
"What did you do to them?" Luz screamed angrily.
"Shush, brat," Odalia commanded condescendingly. "It's just a disorienting spell. It will wear off shortly. But until then, they wouldn't be able to tell up from down, not that humans could tell the difference, anyways."
Luz growled but didn't make a move. Eda and Lilith also stopped their change and returned to their witch forms. Odalia's smile grew a little, and then she turned her attention to Amity.
"Now, if all of you would behave, I need to have a long overdue momma/daughter talk with Dear Mittens," Odalia said arrogantly, walking up to Amity.
"You're not and never was my mother," Amity retorted venomously, glaring defiantly at the woman.
The smug, arrogant look left Odalia's face, and she sighed tiredly. She pressed her forehead with her fingers and took a calming breath before she addressed Amity.
"Honestly, Amity. Are you still in this silly rebellious phase? I figured l would let you live out this fantasy and get it out of your system. It seems I was overestimating your commitment to the Blight name," Odalia's smile returned, but it was more sadistic than arrogant. "But that ends now. Once we're home, I will whip you back into shape."
"You're not a Blight anymore," Amity growled venomously.
A deranged look suddenly overtook Odalia, and her smile became more sadistic. She kneeled so she was looking Amity in the eyes. The look in the woman's eyes scared Amity.
"That's where you're wrong, dear. I never stopped being a Blight," the deranged woman proclaimed proudly. "After all, our family would be completely lost without me. Case in point…"
She stood and strolled over to Lilith. The "knocked-down" historian struggled to keep her childish anger in control as Odalia glared condescendingly at her.
"...It's like I told you all these years ago, if you follow this sorry excuse of a witch, all you would amount to was a Beast-keeping stable clearer, if you're lucky," Odalia taunted arrogantly.
Lilith gawked at the woman when she said that. Suddenly, Amity's reaction all those months ago made sense, and she got angry. She began to transform, and Odalia saw this.
"Remember, dear," she taunted, holding her Oracle stone, "One move and lives would start ending."
Lilith growled but canceled her transformation. Odalia patted the "knocked-down" mother on the head in a mock gesture.
"Good girls," the ex-Blight said mockingly.
"Hey, Lame-O!" Eda called to Odalia. "Hands off one of my sisters!"
Odalia frowned as she looked at the ex-wild witch.
"You're calling me lame?" she scoffed, offended. "You, who spent the better part of your life selling trash? And you have the gall to call me lame."
She walked over to the "knocked-down" witch and backhanded her with all her might. Eda refused to give the woman satisfaction by making a sound; instead, she grinned at Odalia.
Odalia growled at this and raised her hand to strike Eda again.
"Hey!" Amity called to her ex-mother. "This is between you and me! Leave my family out to this, and face me like a real witch!"
Odalia looked at Amity and then back at Eda. She scoffed at the ex-wild witch and then walked over to Amity. She placed her hands on her hips and glared at Amity scoldingly.
"Dear Mittens," Odalia spoke after a minute, smiling arrogantly, "I would have hoped this incident would make you realize this family you speak of is nothing more than pretend. After all, I doubt no one in the Clawthornes would spend two months in the savage wild to ensure your well-being."
Amity rolled her eyes at Odalia's words. The ex-Blight saw this and growled. She grabbed Amity by her hair and gave it a pull. Amity followed Eda's lead and didn't make a noise to deny Odalia any satisfaction.
Odalia saw this and became madder.
"Amity Blight!" she angrily said, pulling on Amity's hair again. "My patience at your disrespectful acts had already run out. I am your mother! I am to be respected, without question!"
"You know," Amity suddenly said, "Aunt Eda's right about you. You're just a Lame-O."
The tri-track student suddenly whistled, and Odalia gasped when a wave of Abomination surged from Amity's container. She couldn't move fast enough, and the wall of muck slammed into her.
Odalia's control broke when hit, allowing Admity to free her hands. She quickly formed spell circles around her wrists and took control of her abomination. She moved her hands like a magic conductor, and the goo wrapped around Odalia's hands.
Amity formed the goo into a humanoid shape, and she pushed her hands down. The abomination forced Odalia to her knees.
Odalia looked at the witch she shared blood with, and Amity couldn't help but smile smugly.
"Like what I did with a little something O'Pa Raine taught me?" Amity asked smugly.
The young witch then took her ex-mother's oracle stone and crushed it. With the tool gone, the spirit returned from where they came from, freeing the Owl Familia.
Luz wasted no time checking to see if her mothers and Aunt were okay. Except for a few sore wrists, everyone was unharmed. That brought great relief to the human witch.
Once Luz finished with Lillith, she went to her daughter and smiled proudly at Amity.
"That was an impressive spell," the "knocked-down" historian said with great pride.
"Thanks, Mom," Amity replied bashfully, a hint of pink on her cheeks. "But it is still far from being perfect. I needed Odalia to be close enough that I didn't miss."
Lilith nodded and opened her mouth to say something. She was interrupted when the Familia heard a door open, and they looked to the shack.
The door to the demon realm had opened, and it wasn't long before Darius, Osran, and Hettie Cutburn stepped through. Hunter, Boscha, Willow, and Gus came through shortly after them, with the youngest witchling looking at his scroll.
"Huh," Gus muttered, "Why did I just get 12 messages from Vee?"
"Umm, Gus," Hunter replied awkwardly, "I think I know why."
Gus looked up and made an 'o' shape with his mouth when he saw the sight before him. With a sheepish laugh, the young witch put his scroll away.
Amity felt a wave of relief wash over her when she saw her extended family and then looked at the former Healing Coven head.
"Your timing couldn't be better," Amity said. "Do you think you could check on those guys? Odalia said she used a spell on them, and I want to make sure nothing is wrong with them."
Wordlessly, the ex-Healing Coven Head went over to the group. Amity smiled as she watched Hettie go to work and turned her attention to Darius. She took a moment to collect her thoughts, as she figured the ex-Abomination Head would want an update about what's been going on.
"AMITY BLIGHT!" Odalia suddenly screamed angrily. "I told you my patience with you had already run out! Free me this instance, or your punishment will be massive!"
Amity growled and looked at her ex-mother with a glare. Darius read the room and stepped back as the young witch walked over to Odalia, Lilith at her side.
"You really don't get it, do you?" Amity asked coldly. "You're not in control here."
"That's where you're wrong, Dear Mittens," Odalia replied, deranged. "I'm always in control."
Amity sighed tiredly and made a spell circle. Her harp appeared, and she grabbed it. She played a few notes, and bard magic filled the air. Odalia looked at the magic type with open hatred and went to say something.
The tri-track student cut off her ex-mother before she could say what was on her mind.
"You're not talking anymore," Amity said, her voice booming thanks to her bard magic. "For once in your life, you will sit there and listen to what I have to say. Is. That. Clear?"
Maybe it has to do with how Amity was holding herself or how she was using her magic, but Odalia felt afraid of her daughter for the first time in her life. Amity saw this, and she smiled coldly as her ex-mother.
Finally, she would get to tell her ex-mother what she really thought about her.
(M Corner)
Sorry, this was the daughter-beating-down-the-terrible-mother everyone was probably expecting; but let's face facts, Amity in the show would have wrecked Odalia in minutes.
We're reaching the end, folks; just three more chapters to go.
