There were only two weeks till the Day of Unity and right at this moment, Luz was still busy doing her best to carve her Palisman. She had only gotten half way through with carving her Palisman and so far, she hadn't gotten any new cuts.
"Hey, I think I'm getting the hang of this." Luz remarked.
King jumped on the bed. "Do you know what you want your Palisman to be?"
"I wish to keep it a secret." Luz replied.
"Why?" King asked. "Oh! Are you basing your Palisman off of me?"
"You'll see."
"Eda?"
"You'll see King." Luz replied, giving him an adorable smile.
"Yunan?"
Luz looked at King with a huge smile on her face. "King, the whole point of a surprise is to not say what it is. Or otherwise…." Then, Luz accidentally moved the carving knife in a funny direction, causing her to cut her hand. "….Ow!" She looked at her hand and saw that it was bleeding. "Not again!"
Outside Luz's room, Yunan was telling a story to Pacifica, Raine, Sasha, Marcy Lilith, Hooty, Eda, Steve, the CATS, Darius and Eberwolf. "The library was unfortunately empty by the looks of things! The invisible foe was close by, I knew they were! Just as I was so close to catching them red handed, they turned invisible. And then after 15 minutes of observation, I was stabbed in the stomach! Blood flew everywhere on my face and on Inirck the Invisible's face!" The CATs, Steve, Hooty and Marcy gasped.
"Were you dead?" Steve's question made everyone look at him judgementally.
"Thankfully I wasn't." Yunan said. "You see, I had a secret defence plan. I snuck a book under my armour to protect myself from the sharp blade of the knife. Plus, I snuck in packets of ketchup to add a little more dramatic flare! When Inrick thought he was done, I caught him! And his reign of mischief and terror ended with a blade to his throat. Plus, the book and ketchup to the stomach has been my defence mechanism ever since."
Steve, the CATs, Hooty and Marcy cheered; Eda, Darius, Eberwolf and Sasha were impressed; Pacifica looked like she was thinking about the story; While Lilith and Raine looked terrified.
"Way to go Yunan!' Amber cheered.
"Told ya she was awesome!" Marcy said.
"You weren't kidding." Eda remarked.
"Now, do I have any questions?" Yunan asked. "I mean you can't after that!"
Pacifica raised a hand. "Yeah…..What if you were stabbed somewhere else?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, you do realise there are other parts of your body, right? What if someone tries to stab you somewhere else?" Pacifica asked.
Yunan began sweating. "Uh….Anymore questions?"
Steve raised his hand. "What will you do if you find out other accomplices to the Day of Unity?Specifically, I don't know, the people who helped Belos?"
Yunan chuckled. "Well…The people who started the Day of Unity…." She looked at Lilith and Raine whom were using body gestures to tell her not to tell anyone. "….Uh….The people who started or were in anyway involved with Belos and his genocidal plan shall be perished! I would gut them!" Raine and Lilith cringed. "Then I would slice their necks!" Raine and Lilith's eyes went wide in horror. "And then just to finish them off, I will put one hand up their butt and the other in their mouth and start playing them like an accordion!" Raine and Lilith froze in horror over the threat.
"Now, anymore questions?" Yunan asked.
Darius raised his hand. "How many times have you used the book and ketchup method?"
Eda raised her hand. "Yeah and how big were the books? You know they come in all different shapes and sizes."
Hooty raised his beak. "Plus blood and ketchup have a different shade of colour. How long before they actually notice the difference?"
Yunan narrowed her eyes at Pacifica. "Look what you started Atlantica! You will be grateful when this method will save your life!"
Later that night, Raine and Eda were sharing a bed together and were trying to have a good time. Raine was busy resting their head on the pillow while Eda was busy kissing their bare abdomen.
The former head of the Bard Coven was busy thinking about the guilt they were feeling from being the cause of the Day of Unity so they weren't exactly in the mood.
Eda realised the look on her lover's face and gave them a concerned look. "Something wrong Rainestorm?"
Raine sat up and sighed before pulling their shirt down. "What am I going to tell them?"
"Tell them about what?" Eda asked before grinning. "Rainestorm, were you seeing someone behind my back?"
"Eda, I'm serious!" They interjected. "I inadvertently helped Belos achieve his goal all those years ago. Because of this Collector he has found a way to destroy everyone on the Boiling Isles! I should have stopped him then and there! But I couldn't because I thought that my suspicions of him would be wrong! But they were right! I…I….I…I just feel so…."
Eda pulled Raine into a hug to try and calm them down. "Hey! Hey! Not that Rainestorm. Not that. You had no idea what would come of this. If it wasn't you, Lilith or Grime, it would have been someone else. I don't know much of time travel but I know that certain moments in time need to happen no matter what causes that outcome. It was just bad luck. Now, for the love of Titan, please don't blame yourself for something you didn't have control of. Think you can try?"
Raine sighed. "I'll do my best. But could you not tell anyone about my accidental involvement? I wish to tell them once we stop him."
"I will." Eda kissed Raine on their head. "Do you want to go to sleep now? Or do you wish to stay up a little longer?"
Raine held their girlfriend on her face and smiled. "How about a little longer? Maybe annoy Lilith."
Eda grinned. "Rainestorm, when did you become so mischievous?"
Raine grinned. "I think you might be a bad influence."
Eda did a purr. "You're damn right." She and Raine began to kiss each other. Eda wrapped her arms around their neck and Raine began to mess with Eda's hair. The two eventually moved down on their bed to begin their night of fun.
Later, Yunan was walking to a section of the base with a sleeping bag in hand. "Uh….I had no idea they were this loud." She noticed there was a fire going and saw who was sitting by it. It was Lilith, whom looked very guilty and was contemplating. Yunan walked towards the Raven Lady and sat down next to her. "I assume you're sitting by the fire for a reason?"
"Uh huh. Them two are sharing a room."
"Yeah, I can see why you brought a sleeping bag out here as well." Yunan remarked to a dark blue sleeping bag sitting beside Lilith.
"Oh yeah." Lilith said. "But it's not just that, I'm thinking about your performance."
"Uh, I swear I am never going to hear the end of the book and ketchup thing!" Yunan exclaimed. "It works! Uh, Atlantica is going to thank me some day."
"It's Pacifica." Lilith said. "And no, it's not that. It's just….About mine and Raine's involvement in the Day of Unity."
"What about it?" Yunan asked. "Wasn't your fault? You two just made a mistake. Just like Master Marcy. She didn't know that opening that box would bring about an invasion."
"But this isn't an invasion I caused, it's a genocide!" Lilith exclaimed. "I'm a part of this genocide, Yunan! How can I tell everyone?! Will they even trust me?! Will they forgive me?!"
"Uh…Maybe not." Yunan replied. "Maybe things would have gone the same if Belos manipulated someone else. Heck, he probably did it to Luz in some other universe."
"Oh and Luz especially!" Lilith exclaimed. "How will she react to her own cool aunt causing a witch genocide that could kill everyone she has ever loved here?!"
Yunan blew a raspberry. "Luz is forgiving. She'll forgive you and Raine and Grime as well come to think of it."
"Speaking of, you still gonna kill him?" Lilith asked.
"Huh?"
"Didn't you two make a promise to kill each other when this is over?" She asked.
Yunan shrugged her shoulders. "Eh, not going to follow through it. Not because me and Grime trust each other, but because….I just don't feel like it. I honestly felt like it was never going to go anywhere."
"Yeah, you never made any attempts to kill each other." Lilith said. "Now, let's get some sleep."
"Good idea." Yunan took off her armour while Lilith covered her eyes since she was going to go all natural. The newt General jumped into her sleeping bag and stretched. "Good night."
Lilith jumped into her sleeping bag to try and get a good night sleep. Whereas Yunan was fast asleep, Lilith was still thinking about what she had done and how everyone could ever forgive her.
Meanwhile, at the Park residence, Willow had just gone downstairs for a midnight beverage to help her sleep. She walked into the kitchen where she noticed Hunter was sitting down looking like he was pondering something.
She sighed and walked towards the boy before pulling out a chair and sitting next to him. It looked like he didn't notice her or maybe he did, he just didn't know what to say to her.
"What you doing down here?" Willow asked.
Hunter only took a few seconds before replying. "I couldn't sleep."
Willow gave him a concerned look. "You wish to talk why?"
"I've been thinking, about eventually confronting my uncle again." Hunter replied. "I haven't seen him for almost a month. I don't know what I'm going to do. He is unfortunately my family but I've seen what he has done through visions. What he did to Caleb, the man I was cloned from; Widowing Evelyn; And killing multiple versions of me over and over again. But, he is still family. Do I kill him?"
Willow didn't know what to say about this. On the one hand, Belos did deserve to die but on the other hand, Belos was his family. "Hunter, I don't know what I'd do about Belos as well. But….I think you'll come to that conclusion when you face him again."
"But what if I'm weak?!" Hunter exclaimed. "Even when he is hurting people close to me, what if I'm too weak to attack him?!"
"Hunter, I do not believe you're weak." Willow said. "I mean, you helped me fight your uncle's army. So, in a way, I say you're already kicking his butt."
Hunter thought about this for a second just as Flapjack flew on his shoulder and snuggled his neck in an effort to cause him less stress. "I guess it makes sense. But…" Hunter clenched his fists. "….I'll see what will happen. But it's not just that, I don't know what to do after we defeat Belos."
"Why?" Willow asked.
"Well, on the one hand, I could stay in the Human Realm with my surrogate sister, Pacifica; Or, I could stay here with my real family, the Clawthornes. Go to Hexside and learn about Wild Magic." Hunter explained. "The Demon Realm is my home and Pacifica has been like family to me. A real family. But, I don't know if the family I actually belong to would actually be my family. The door to the Human Realm could possibly be destroyed and I worry if I choose to stay here, then would I make the wrong decision or if I stay in the Human Realm, am I just refusing to find out about my heritage? All these thoughts are scary."
Willow placed her hand on Hunter's, causing him to look at her for the first time during this moment. "Hey, you'll figure it out. It would suck if you left though. Because, I feel you'd be an amazing Hexside student and we could hang out more." Hunter's cheeks turned red at Willow's gentle touch and felt somewhat disappointed when she let go. "Now, do you want me to get you anything to help you sleep? I have a few sleeping nettles that could help."
Hunter gave Willow a gentle smile. "No thanks, I have this."
"Okay, but please go to sleep." Willow pleaded. "A lack of it is bad for you."
Once Willow went upstairs Hunter had sat up to go upstairs in order to get some sleep for himself. Whilst he walked, he looked to Flapjack. "Hey Flapjack, why do my cheeks turn red when I'm around her? And why does my stomach always feel funny?"
Meanwhile in the Titan's skull, Belos was standing in front of the door, anticipating returning to the Human Realm as a hero to every known person.
He then looked to his right and saw The Collector giggling. "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! Two more weeks and I'll finally play! Do you think everyone will be willing to play with me?!"
"Oh believe me Collector, playing with you will be to die for!" Belos assured him.
"Hey, it's been hundreds of years." The Collector pointed out. "You sure those humans will actually believe your tale? What if things have changed? What if the Human Realm don't actually believe in witches anymore and see you as some deluded old man?"
Belos pondered the Collector's strange yet insightful question for a second before he heard the sound of feet clanging. He sighed in annoyance before turning around. "Oh of course they answer me, now."
"Wait who?" The Collector asked. "Is it that Andrias guy? He's kind of lame! But he seems easy to tame."
Turns out the thing that was approaching Belos was none other than Andrias' robot. Specifically, the one he told to fly away.
"Oh, it's you?" Belos asked. "Tell me, has The Core got a message?"
The robot grinned. "Yes, they do." The robot spoke with the voice of Darcy as it glared at him.
Belos was taken aback at first but then pulled a calm composure. "What? How did you get in that robot?"
"Simple." The Core replied. "I felt like that my failure could have been a possibility after Sasha stole the Music Box so I uploaded a portion of my conscious into one of the robots that would activate if I were to die. You see Belos, the plan was to for me to enter a universe and go into hiding while I prepare a new army to invade the certain world I was stuck in and then possess the smartest of this world. I thought Sasha would have gone to Earth when she and Grime went through that portal, but she entered this world."
"So, I assume you died?" Belos asked.
"My invasion plans failed and Anne Boonchuy destroyed me." The Core explained. "And speaking of army, it appears you're doing that for me. Well, Alador Blight is. And it appears they won't stop."
Belos was taken aback and was ready to attack, not wanting to be upstaged. "Are you trying to ruin me?!" Belos asked while The Collector laughed.
"Uh oh! Someone's being upstaged!" The Collector said mockingly.
"No." The Core's statement made Belos and The Collector surprised. "I won't invade. You still haven't completed the Day of Unity. Which, is going to fail by the way in case you haven't figured it out. And once it's done and the others are tired, I begin my attack."
"So, you're going to wait until everyone is tired from defeating me and you attack?" Belos asked.
"That's correct." The Core replied before realising something. "But I could attack you therefore stopping the Day of Unity, but I want to see you fail it would bring some amusement. Plus, I do need someone smart. And I feel this body isn't doing it for me. It's rusty and not exactly intelligent. Got any recommendations big guy? I require someone intelligent."
Belos pondered the question before coming up with one. "Odalia Blight is a good choice."
"I said someone intelligent, not a suck up to a beings of higher power." The Core said before groaning. "Regardless, I will let you rebuild my army but if you stop production, then….Hmm, this droid does contain footage from our interactions, I could expose the truth of the Day of Unity and everyone will turn against you and attack." Belos would attack but he knew that The Core was intelligent so they might have a plan for that. "Oooooh, you're not going to attack." The Core grinned. "Good boy, Belos. Keep up the good work for inevitable failure while I try and find the smartest mind on the Boiling Isles." The Core flew out of the skull while Belos just stood in place thinking of what The Core said.
But then, Belos smiled and walked to the portal door with The Collector following through the walls. "You're not going to do anything?"
"The Core is smart, but their hubris was the end of them once, it will be the end again." Belos explained. "The Day of Unity will succeed. But, I will continue to rebuild their army in order to not have my plans exposed. Regardless, The Core and their army will be destroyed during the Day of Unity. They can't escape, they know they can't."
The Collector gave Belos a judgemental look. "You two are way too overconfident."
"It lead me here didn't it?" Belos retorted.
The Collector folded their arms. "I guess. Anyway, when I'm out, could I have pizza bagels?"
Belos sighed. "Yes, sure, why not?"
