Ahhhhhhhhhh!
It was as if he dived in water and was floating down to the seafloor. There were things like kelp that looked extra bright and glimmered in the glistening water, and creatures that were translucent and made of light swimming by. Although Vito felt like he was in water, he could still breathe as he landed on the sandstone ground. He walked ahead to see a round crystal emitting various colored energy, as he approached it.
"Ahh, so this is the enchantment! It's bigger than I thought, but I should have suspected that since it's for a big volcano. Hmm, water-like setting. I guess that makes sense to keep magma at bay," Vito commented as he looked up at the area.
"It made sense at the time too. Water combating fire," a woman's voice said, as Vito felt his body freeze when he heard the familiar voice.
"Hee hee... you're all grown up. Like a brilliant young man. I'm so proud of you. Your father and I both," the woman said, as Vito turned around to see her.
"... Mommy?" Vito said, as the woman nodded with a smile.
"I'm so happy to see you again, my dear boy. Even for only a little while," Vito's mother said, as she extended her arms to him and he immediately ran and hugged her.
"... I miss you. I miss both of you," Vito said, as his tears came down even though he was smiling from pure happiness from being able to hug her again.
"We miss you too, but we'd rather wait then for you to come too soon like last time. You still have a long wonderful life ahead of you, my son. I told you before," His mother said, as she hugged him back.
"I know. I'm just so happy to see you right now, mom. I'm trying to save everyone and the Bland Forest right now," Vito said.
"Yes, I know. I enchanted the volcano to prevent it from causing damage to the forest as well. Someone had cursed it to erupt, and I negated it with my enchantment," His mother said, as they parted from their hug.
"That's why you're here right? A part of you stood here... but if I remove the enchantment, I won't be able to speak to you like this," Vito said, and she nodded.
"But even though we may not be able to speak as we do now, I'm still proud of you, my boy. We love you," She said, and Vito nodded while more tears rained down his cheeks, but he still smiled.
"We'll meet again, my son. Bye for now," His mother said, and they hugged one last time.
Vito turned towards the crystal as he looked towards his mother and she nodded. He ran towards it, as she did, and together they broke the crystal, breaking the enchantment as well. As the environment disappeared, Vito could see his mother pushing him up out of the world towards the portal. As Vito flew up, he held his mother's hand, and in the last moment when he was through the portal, he released her hand as she let go of his. They smiled once more at each other, as his mother disappeared along with the portal. Vito back flipped and landed back on the hover board, as Paul helped him to stay in balance.
"What just happened in there? Who was the lady?" Paul asked.
"Oh! That was my mother! Apparently she enchanted the volcano so I had to enter the enchantment to break the source. She helped me to break it too," Vito said, as Paul looked at him in surprise, especially since Vito told him that so casually.
The volcano rumbled, as Paul and Vito flew up to get out, while the Cyborg Ligers panicked. The ground burst open as lava flowed, and the Cyborg Ligers were melting away to nothing. Once outside, Paul and Vito flew towards the drone carrying everyone out of range of the volcano if it blew up. They landed on the drone, as Vito returned his hover board to his backpack. The volcano erupted with lava, as the last Cyborg Ligers were destroyed.
"You're alive!" Charlie said, greeting the guys.
"You guys just left without telling us, we were worried," Kelly said.
"Yeah, sorry about that, but we had to act fast or else Violet would have stopped us," Paul said, rubbing the back of his head.
"I would have! But I guess you guys had it under control," Violet said, with her arms crossed.
"Aww, cousin. Don't be mad," Vito said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders to ease her irritation.
"Hmph! You know I worry about you, even if I know you'll be fine... and you too!" Violet said, sternly pointing at Paul as he smiled nervously.
"Vito, please warn me when you go to do dangerous things," Ani said, and Vito approached his aunt and gave her a hug.
"I met my mom again. She enchanted the volcano," Vito whispered to her.
"... T-Thats right. No wonder I remember this forest! I was there when she did it, I almost forgot," Ani whispered back.
"Hee hee," Vito laughed, as they parted from their hug.
"Hey best friend," Defer said, and Vito hugged him and said,
"Best buddy!"
As everyone was getting reacquainted or acquainted, Kelly pulled Charlie aside and said,
"Thank goodness you're alright."
She gave him a hug, as Charlie hugged her back and said,
"Hey, what's up? You hugged me before and almost said the same thing."
Kelly pulled away and said, "Well the first time was me, but I did an extra for their sake."
She placed her hand on her stomach, as he stared at her for a moment, and then Charlie's eyes widened.
"Holy bleeding skulls, we're gonna be parents?!" Charlie asked, and Kelly nodded.
"You beautiful woman!" Charlie said as he embraced his wife and kissed her multiple times on her face.
"Charlie, calm down! You're making me blush," Kelly said, as she started laughing.
On the other side of the drone, Paul and Violet were together.
"Please don't take crazy risks like you did with my cousin again," Violet said.
"I can't promise you that, Violet, especially if it means protecting you, my lovely lady," Paul said, as he took her hand and kissed it.
"Ah! Flattery again! You sly, hooded fox!" Violet said, as she blushed while Paul snickered.
"Let's get out of here, Lester. I don't want to see a forest again for a while," Tommy said.
"Alright, let's go," Lester said, as he started driving the drone.
"What about the volcano?" Minaya asked.
"Don't worry Minaya, I enchanted it so that it wouldn't spread and destroy the forest. It'll be alright," Vito said, and Minaya nodded.
"Thank you guys so much for saving the forest, and our lives. We can finally return home in victory!" Minaya said, as her people hollered in agreement.
"We'll give you guys a lift. But let's go to the village before we go. I'm sure your fallen comrades and families deserve proper resting places," Tommy said, and they agreed.
"Thanks Tommy. You're a great guy," Minaya said with a smile, as Tommy felt his cheeks heat up.
"The village is not too far from here, i-if you need a g-guide," Blizzabeth asked Lester.
"Sure thing. Thanks," Lester said, and Blizzabeth smiled.
"Are you ready to go, dear?" Defer asked Ani as they stood apart from the others.
"I am, darling. I'm glad that everyone is safe," Ani replied.
"Yes, and I'm glad that you're safe too, my love," Defer said, gently wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Thank you... my King of the sun," Ani said, as she felt Defer stiffen.
"Th-That... name..." Defer murmured, as he could feel his mind opening to see cloudy memories of his former life.
"Defer?" Ani asked, as she turned towards him, seeing that he was in another world.
"How could I forget... no... I didn't... my heart didn't forget... nor did it forget my love for you," Defer said, as he smiled at her.
"My darling... you're really back," Ani said, as she hugged him with tears threatening to fall, and Defer hugged her back.
"I may not have most of my memories since I am, in a way, someone else, but this heart still beats for you," Defer said, as he stroked her hair.
"That's so sweet of you to say, my love. No words can express the true joy I feel to be in your arms again. Even though your outer form has changed, it's still you, Jovin" Ani said, nuzzling her head on his chest.
"Hey Vito, someone's been wanting to see you," Rex called, as Vito turned to see him carrying Misty in his arms.
"My feline amiga! You came for me?" Vito asked, hurrying towards his cat, and she nodded.
"Thanks Rex," Vito said, taking Misty from his arms.
"You're welcome, Lil dude. It's time to finally go home. Did you find everything you were looking for by the way?" Rex asked.
"Yup, and even more, bro," Vito replied as he was looking over at everyone.
