Born in the storm
(Underneath Hexside Academy, 2 years ago)
Pep crawled into the closet that served as his bedroom he had just come back from a scouting mission to the surface to find food. Kikimora of course had not been grateful and had criticized him for not bringing a Palisman for his brother to eat. Pep had not gotten a Palisman for his brother in a while. Philip had been getting worse lately and Pep did feel bad for causing his brother's curse to worsen but he couldn't bare to take another Palisman to its death, not after he met a certain someone. He heard the dirt through the walls beginning to part. He opened up the tiny circular window he had in his room and out-plopped his star-nosed mole Palisman. The mole sniffed his bare hand for a moment before she began to hop up and down. Pep could feel the joy in his Palisman's every step.
"Hold on, girl. I have a little surprise for you."
Pep then pulled out a rusty can filled with worms. Pep smiled as his Palisman joyfully eat each worm. Due to the toxicity of Kikimora's experiments, most animal and insect life avoided their underground home so he half to get worms as well as food most of the time for himself and his palisman.
"I can't stay long but here."
Pep then dumbed the worms into a Bowl of water then put his mole into the water. Since star-Nosed moles often got their food in streams and ponds as well as underground. She could swim quite well, this would be a good exercise for her while he was gone also the bowl was made in a way so she could crawl out when she was done eating. He smiled as he watched her. She meant more to him then anything. Before he had found her, he just thought Palisman were mindless animals but when he found Her on one of his palisman hunts she unlike the others didn't run away from him…she actually came towards him and and kept trying to run up his leg. After he had picked her up the mole sniffed his hand a few times before she transformed into her staff form. After that he began to take less and less palisman until he just couldn't do it anymore, not without seeing her face in every one he tried to take….he knew he would have to start taking Palisman again or else Philip would die.
"I gotta go but I love you, don't forget that."
The mole got out of the bowl for a moment then ran up his arm and sniffed his cheek with her nose. Pep had long learned this was how she showed affection. He smiled and then rubbed her back in the way she liked before placing her back into the bowl and leaving again.
(Hours later)
Pep opened the secret entrance near the magical school and began the long trek through the long tunnel that led to his subterranean home.
Pep didn't mind the long walk, it was one of the few times he could read and study from the books of magic he had to hide from Kikimora and his twin, Philip. He quickly drew a light glyph to light his way and to provide light for his reading. He'd been studying from various Grimoires of Magic for as long as we can remember, well out of all the different kinds of magic there were illusion magic was his favorite. As he looked through the book, he was so captivated by the history of Illusion Magic, he hoped someday to be a great Illusionist like Gus Porter and Vee Nocada…ya right. Pep's dreams of being an illusionist left as fast as they came. Realistically he would probably spend the rest of his life down here with Kikimora and Philip, never knowing real friends, never practicing true magic, and never even getting to use his Susie, that was his star-nosed Palisman name.
"Pep?"
Pep's eyes went wide as he heard the familiar voice of Kikimora. He dropped his books and was about to come up with the best excuse, he could but Kikimora put up a hand to stop him.
" Don't even try to give me an excuse. Look what I found in your room."
Kikimora pulled out Susie by the tail.
"Hmmm, seems you were keeping a palisman here for yourself…while your brother is at death's door. I wonder what I should do with it."
"Kikimora, please don't hurt her. I can go get Philip another one right now just please don't-"
"Don't what? Reward your selfishness, that doesn't seem like the proper thing a parent should do."
Kikimora then crushed Susie in her hands!
"No!"
Pep fell to his knees as he saw Susie's body ooze a green substance that Kikimora let drain into a cup.
"This liquid will give your brother strength for now but he will hear of your betrayal, Pep, and I will make sure-"
"Make sure what!" Pep shouted angrily As he got up, Kikimora noticed Pep's eyes were glowed bright blue. She recognized this, one of Luz's friends was a gifted illusionist and he had the same gift that Pep apparently also had. The ball of light went out. It was so dark that Kikimora couldn't see her hand in front of her face. She then heard a loud high pitched wheezing. She turned in the direction she thought she came from and tried to run but something massive pinned her to the dirt floor!
"Where do you think you're going, Kiki?"
Pep made another light glyph and Kikimora was horrified to see an enormous Star-nosed mole pinning her to the ground. That wasn't the only thing that scared her, she was surrounded by the living corpses of all the witches and demons she had killed on Belos's orders over the years. They all looked so angry. Sweat ran down her forehead and trickled into her severely scared face, the pain was unbearable but she was too frozen with fear to move. One of the living corpses walked over to her and looked Kikimora in her one reminding eye. She remembered this witch, he was a coven scout who'd become disillusioned with the way Belos was running things. He still had the massive gash in his neck where she had cut all those years ago. Pep walked over to her and stood over her, he placed his boot on the scarred part of her face.
"The only thing keeping me from ending you is that you keep my brother alive but don't think that fact will save you a second time if you ever and I mean ever do something like that again, I won't hesitate to have my friends here do what should have been done a long time ago."
The illusions disappeared and Pep walked over and picked up the body of Susie, he would Bury her underneath the school gardens, she didn't deserve to be buried down here.
"Tell Philip I'll Be gone for a while…you'll have to get him Palisman for a while."
(The Present, Gravesfield Hospital, Connecticut, USA)
Pep didn't know why the awful memory of that night was going through his head, maybe it was because he didn't have string-Bean with him. Ever since they'd met that night at Hexside Academy, they'd barely been apart. He had to admit to himself it felt strange not having her wrapped around his shoulders. No! He shouldn't be getting this attached to a Palisman, his memories reminded him of that. String-Bean was just a tool that helped him with magic, nothing more. He needed to stop wasting his time thinking about this, the only two things he needed to concentrate on right now were learning illusion magic under Miss Vee and finding a way back to the demon realm to finish things with Philip and Kikimora. A loud crack of thunder brought him out of his thoughts. He looked out the window and noticed it was heavily raining. He hoped Luisa and Mx Masha were all right. He then heard another crack of thunder and felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and to his relief saw it was Miss Vee, she had one drink in each hand, a coffee for herself, and a can of Soda for him.
"Thanks, Ms. Vee," Pep said as she handed him the can.
"I thought we talked about this, call me Auntie Vee while you'll living in my house."
"Sorry, Auntie Vee."
The two sat in silence for a moment on a bench near the window.
Vee noticed the tired look on her student's face, no it wasn't just tiredness so she could see if there were signs of that on the face, it was something more on his mind. When the kids had moved in Vee knew them all from when she and Masha visited Luz or Masha's sister, Maria but the only child she didn't recognize was Pep. When she had asked Luisa who Pep was she had been very vague only telling her that
"He was someone who needs their help." It wasn't until a week later that Lithie had told her about Pep's life story. He was a clone of Philip Wittebane made in a lab and forced against his will to take palisman to feed a cursed relative. It was a familiar story, her beloved Brother Hunter had had almost the exact same upbringing and much like her brother he had thrown off the chains of servitude and tried to undo his past wrong and was now trapped in the human world because of it. Maybe that was why she was so willing to take him in as her student, he reminded her of someone she had lost, she hoped it was more then that and not just Pep filling a hole in her life.
Pep noticed his teacher staring at him strangely.
"Uh Auntie Vee, why are you staring at me?"
Vee realized he noticed her staring and decided to change the subject.
"So that little trick you did using string-Bean as a concealment stone, this was pretty clever…I don't remember teaching you that. Where did you learn how to do that?"
Vee noticed the prideful smile that every student had when they thought they outsmarted their teacher appear on Pep's face.
"Well, i did have some knowledge of illusions before I met you."
"Oh really? Tell me how you learned that trick then. I didn't even learn that till my last semester at Hexside."
"Well, I….."
Vee noticed a change in Pep's voice as he tried to talk but no words came. He looked down sadly at the floor and then sat back down on the bench.
"Back when I still lived with Kikimora and there were days when Kikimora treated me more like a science experiment rather than a sentient being I would wait till she went to bed then go topside to search for any book on Magic I could find. Illusion magic I liked most because at least because it came easiest to me. when I was alone I would use illusions to trick myself into thinking I was normal, that I had a family and lived like a normal teen with real parents, other times I would daydream about being a master illusionist and learning side by side with my fellow witches. I had imaginary parents, an annoying little sister and friends….but that trick didn't last and soon I would come to my senses and stop lying to myself."
Vee put a hand on Pep's right shoulder.
"Seems like your dreams came true. Your no longer a slave to Kikimora and you've found several Witches to both befriend and learn beside. Also, I would say you've also found yourself Parents. I know Masha and I probably weren't what you imagined but we're here for you just the same."
Pep smiled at Vee but she noticed his smile quickly faded back to a frown.
"How can you be so kind to someone who's the clone of the man who created you to just be a guinea pig? The original Philip was a narcissistic sociopath who wronged so many witches, how do you not see him whenever you look at me?"
Vee patted Pep on the back.
"Because, I took the same chance on Someone like you years ago. I never regretted the chance I gave him and I know I won't with you besides we were both born in a laboratory, we lab babies gotta stick together."
Pep was about to reply when he and Vee both heard a storm warning on the wall tv.
"This is a warning, a category 5 Hurricane on route for southern New England. Hurricane Deena will be expected to hit the local County within the hour, the counties that are expected to be hit are New London County, Middlesex County, New Haven, county, and Fairfield County., the storm is expected to make first touchdown in the Connecticut panhandle.
The storm warning continued, Pep noticed his mentor's eyes open wide as she looked at the screen.
"Auntie Vee, what's wrong?"
" We're in the Connecticut panhandle and Luisa and Masha are still out there!"
Pep looked again outside fearfully the as the wind blew hard, and the rain intensified outside!
(Down the hall)
Roland opens his eyes and saw a kindly old Doctor standing over him. She looked down at him with a caring smile.
"Well, glad to see you're awake."
Roland rubbed his head for a moment and felt his horns and noticed the doctor was still looking at him.
"I...I can explain, I was-"
The doctor put up her hand.
"That's not necessary, you do not need to fear me, Roland."
"How do you know my name?"
"We told her," Penelope said as she,Lithie and Erich stepped in from behind the curtain.
"Why in Titan's name are you guys here? You're not wearing disguises or concealment stones!"
"That's not necessary in this wing of the hospital, I'm the one in charge here." The doctor said before removing her concealment stone, and revealing herself to be none other than the former head of the healing coven, Hettie Cutburn."
"Yo-Your the former head of the Healing Coven, Hettie Cutburn."
"In the Flesh," Hettie said.
"Why are you here in the Human realm?"
"After Belos died and the Witch council took over, no hospital would hire me. I knew as more witches and Demons immigrated to the human realm, they would need doctors and surgeons who could heal them while being discreet. Every doctor, nurse, and technician in this wing of the hospital is from our home. We mostly heal fellow witches and demons, but there are a few of us who use our magic on Humans as well."
"It must be hard for you and everyone else now huh? Erich asked.
Hettie lowered her head, then the worry lines on her face more apparent.
"Yes, things have been harder lately. With no portals to home, we have a harder time getting specialty Equipment as well as fewer medications for the older patients. I don't recognize you, children. You must have just arrived before the portals closed."
"We-ooff!" Erich said as Penelope elbowed him in the gut.
"Ya, we were on a school trip and the portal closed before we could cross back over," Penelope said hoping the doctor was too tired to think hard about what she had just said.
"Poor things, where have you been staying this whole time?"
"Well we-"
Erich stopped talking when he saw Penelope was about to elbow him again.
"So what happened to me exactly?" Roland asked.
"You passed out due to a bad case of shell shock. Your stable now but I'd like to keep you overnight just to make sure there are no lingering effects."
"At least we brought someone to keep you company," Lithie said as she pulled open her book bag, and Out flew Willow's former palisman, Clover.
Roland's eyes opened wide with joy as he saw her fly towards him. She landed on his chest and Roland gently held her lovingly. She buzzed happily as she noticed her witch was ok. Looking at the two was strange since they seemed like complete opposites but a lot of times that was how witches found their palisman these days. A witch needed a Palisman with an opposite personality to their own to balance them out and to give them that extra push they need to improve themselves and their skill with magic, Roland and Clover were a perfect example of this, Roland was Brash and Headstrong were Clover was kind and nonchalant. Clover's former witch had been much like herself and that had been great for her at the time but now she needed someone different as her witch to help her grow stronger and improve herself and Roland was just what she needed.
A warning alarm rang out throughout the wing.
"Attention, A category five hurricane is heading for our area, all staff and required to begin immediate evacuation of all patients to St. Marianne Hospital. "
"St.Marianne is too far away, some of the patients here need around-the-clock care. They can't just expect us to move our patients-"
Hettie stopped talking when she noticed Penelope running out of the wing at top speed.
"Penelope, where are you going?" Lithia cried after her.
Penelope looked back for a moment, worry and stress apparent on her face.
"A Hurricane is coming towards us and Luisa and Masha are still out there!"
Penelope then opened up her satchel and lightly pulled out a drowsy Emmiline Bailey Marcostimo.
"Sorry for waking you, Girl. I'll make it up to you later." Penelope then looked out the window at the violent rainstorm going on outside."
"But we need to find Isa."
The chameleon yawned before transforming into her staff form before Penelope opened up the window and flew out into the storm!
"I should go too," Roland said he tried to get out of bed but as he tried the room began to spin and he fell back into his bed.
"You're not going anywhere. You've still got some pretty strong painkillers going through your system, there are very powerful and can make you woozy."
"Roland, your not going anywhere. Erich and I will go find Miss Vee and Pep, I'm sure Dr. Hettie will need our help transferring all the witch and Demon patients.
Erich was looking around the room but only Lithie noticed.
"Erich, what are you looking for ?"
"String-Bean, I don't see her anywhere." Erich answered.
(Back at the ruins of the museum)
Luisa stood in the dimly lit street, dust motes swirling in the air as she cradled her father's old staff, a smooth piece of Titan bone carved with intricate Runes. The Palisman Naan, the whooping crane, perched gracefully atop the staff, its feathers vibrant, and beautiful. She hadn't seen the creature since the day her father had sacrificed himself all those years ago.
Her heart raced with excitement and nostalgia as she examined the staff. It was a piece of her father's legacy, something he had treasured and used for as long as she could remember. Now, it was hers. The sense of responsibility and power it carried filled her with a thrilling sense of purpose. She had never had a Palisman of her own, and this gift from her father felt like a connection to him she had been longing for.
As Luisa ran her fingers along the carvings, a sense of wonder washed over her. She remembered the days when she was just a child, playing with Naan and her father in the garden, learning the ancient art of Beast keeping magic. Her father's voice echoed in her mind, guiding her through the intricate spells, and teaching her to harness the power within her.
Lost in her reverie, Luisa barely noticed the sudden change in the air, The sky darkened ominously, and the wind began to howl. The hurricane had arrived, lashing the town with its fury. She could hear The old houses creak and groan under the storm's onslaught, but Luisa remained fixated on her father's staff.
With Naan perched securely, Luisa held the staff aloft, a surge of determination coursing through her. She remembered the lessons her teachers, parents and especially her practical grandmother Eda had taught her, the secret incantations, and the way the staff could channel her magic. At that moment, she tapped into a reservoir of power she never knew she had.
The staff glowed with ethereal light, and as Luisa concentrated and the magic of her palisman surge through her! She felt the winds respond to her command. She began to weave her magic into the hurricane, directing its fury away from the area. The memories of her true home and her loved ones guided her, strengthening her resolve. She would get herself and her friends home and see wound her mom again, she would say everything she had kept to herself this whole time to her mom, not only that but she would tell her mom how much loved her more, she would stop holding in that she didn't want to be a celebrity witch like her mom but just a regular Beast keeper !
Naan's power increased the moment she thought that and a huge blast of orange light burst from her staff and shot though the clouds! After a moment the hurricane's intensity waned, Luisa lowered the staff, her breath coming in short gasps. She had done it.
"Luisa?"
Luisa came out of her daze and looked back at Masha. They looked a mix of awestruck and scared. She was about to say something when a loud crack of thunder sounded through the air. The skull had gone high up into the sky where the Hurricane had formed. Whatever had taken over Uriel was up there and it was now right above the hospital where Roland had been taken. She clenched her new staff tightly and looked into her new Palisman's eyes an unspoken agreement made between them. Luisa then grabbed Masha by the arm and lifted them, Thanks to Naan a new wave of strength ran through the 13-year-old.
"You get home and stay safe, I'll keep the Hurricane from coming towards the house."
Masha noticed Luisa was about to get on her staff when but grabbed the end before they could fly away and got on.
"No, I'm not leaving my niece to fight whatever the hell took Uriel by yourself."
Luisa nodded and the two took off towards the sky.
Naan flew through the clouds with Luisa and Masha riding on the staff. Masha was a mix of fascinated and horrified at being so high above the clouds. Vee had taken them on Joe a million times but Vee unlike her niece was careful and often didn't fly too high above the town Luisa on the other hand wanted to fly as high as possible, her momentary joy taking over every other thought. This is what she had always imagined having a palisman would be like, the fact that her palisman was none other then Naan made it so much better.
"Luisa, I'm glad you're having fun but remember we have to go to the hospital!"
Luisa didn't answer but instead got both her legs up on the staff until she was standing tip toed on the staff.
"Luisa, sit back down right now!"
Luisa didn't answer but instead put out both her arms and fell from the staff!
"Luisa!"
Within a millisecond the staff dove down and caught Luisa.
"Wooohooo, you are so incredible, Naan!"
Luisa would've continued talking but her attention was taken away as she heard Masha puking over the side before looking irately at there niece.
"Never…do…that….AGAIN!"
"But-"
Masha caught there breath and continue to stare down the child.
"Never again, Luisa. Now sit down and steer this stork towards that hospital!"
Luisa slumped back down
down on the staff and muttered: She's not a stork, she's a Whooping crane."
The two heard a loud crack of thunder coming from the hurricane Beneath them then the clouds began to part briefly as the enormous skull she had seen hours earlier began to rise above the clouds. As the skull rose higher, more clouds formed into the shape of ribs and other bones until a complete skeleton was formed. The skeleton's hands then made widening motions that made the hurricane below it grow, the thunder cracked loudly, and lighting shot down below and hit several houses and buildings. Masha noticed Luisa's grip on her staff lightened as she looked straight ahead at the cloud skeleton.
"Luisa, don't you-ah!"
Masha didn't get to finish as the palisman flew at top speed toward the skull!
(Far below the Hurricane)
Penelope could barely see anything. She had made a shield above her head to protect herself and Emmiline Bailey Marcostimo but the rain was so heavy and numerous she could barely see anything in front of her. She looked down the street and saw it was completely flooded. Cars and other vehicles were floating by as she flew over, thank Titan Vee and Masha's house was uphill otherwise, they would be homeless when the storm let up.
"Help!"
Penelope looked toward the direction of the sound and saw a man trapped in one of the cars floating on the water. Penelope flew down and used her plant magic to summon two Massive vines to pry open the car door and bring the man out before placing him on a high rooftop where others had gathered. She was about to fly away but she heard another cry of help coming from three kids who were trying to stay afloat on a long tree branch. This was gonna take a while.
"Luisa, you better be safe wherever you are," Penelope said to herself.
(The Hospital)
Doctors were trying to move patients to waiting ambulances and other vehicles but then one Emt who was opening up his ambulance when he noticed a massive flood wave heading towards the hospital! He then turned towards the doors of the hospital where the first few patients were being loaded out he waved at them to stop and tried to cry out through the glass, but no one ever heard what he said because as he began to speak his first words of warning the wave struck him and destroyed nearly every vehicle in the parking lot or nearby area! The doors burst into numerous shards of glass as the water broke through the front doors, and began to flood the entire waiting room! Patients who could still use their legs swam back to the stairs or helped carry fellow patients who could not use their legs to safety. String-Bean who had been looking all over the building for Pep saw the patients trying to make it to safety and transformed into a rubber raft for each still-swimming patient to get into.
Vee and Pep had been looking all over the hospital for Erich, Roland, and Lithie. Vee wanted all her kids together before anything got worse. Pep looked out into the flooded waiting room and noticed the water rising fast.
"Hiss"
Pep looked out and saw String-Bean in her raft form speedily coming towards them.
Pep's eyes went wide with relief as he saw his palisman coming towards them. Vee got out Joe and used him to lift every patient, doctor, and nurse off of the raft and onto the stairway before activating an old Illusion glyph Gus had taught her that changed memories.
"What did you just do to them?" Pep whispered.
"An old memory spell i learned from a close friend. They won't remember any of what I just did." Vee whispered back.
String-Bean quickly transform back without anyone noticing and slithered underneath the patient and went up Pep's wrist. The king cobra Palisman hissed in her Witch's right ear, tickling him with her forked tongue.
Pep giggled and rubbed her under the chin. Part of his mind was telling him to stop treating her like a pet,he would only get attached and eventually his heart would be broken again. He looked over at String-Bean and saw the happy look on her face because she was reunited with her Witch.
"Missed you too, Girl," Pep whispered before String-Bean transformed into her staff form.
"Everyone follow us upstairs, those who can't walk help those who can't!" Vee said.
(The skull)
Uriel watched the destruction of Gravesfeild. Phoebe had left his body and appeared to him in the form of a wraith. He watched as the town flooded, and buildings came down due to the strong winds! He looked over at Phoebe who looked down as well but with a evil smile on her face as she saw the town come apart.
"Miss Phoebe, how is this storm gonna help us get home?"
"Oh this won't but we'll be able to get back soon now hush boy, let me enjoy this."
Uriel looked down with guilt-filled eyes as more and more of the town was being covered in water, one woman was swimming for her life towards a higher building when an old minivan propelled forward by a flood wave was gonna hit her any moment. Uriel's eyes went wide as he watched, he was about to make a tall stone pillar to save her but before he could to his relief he saw Penelope rescue her time.
Uriel sighed in relief.
"Thank Titan."
"Oh, that's no fun," Phoebe said before re-taking over Uriel's body and sticking his hand into the cloud.
(Below the skeleton)
Penelope used her vines to safely put the lady on top of a building with the other survivors.
A little human girl was trying to get her attention. Penelope, already feeling exhausted after rescuing so many townspeople turned around and saw the lighting bolt coming towards her and to made a shield out of vines but it was too late, the lighting bolt blew it to bits leaving nothing but charred plant chunks falling into the water!
To be continued
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