Amity felt a heavy weight on her chest as her friends exited the bunker. Luz, perceptive as always, noticed the turmoil in her girlfriend's eyes and stepped closer.
"Amity? Luz asks, genuine concern etched across her face.
"Hey, Amity, what's going on?" Willow asked, equally concerned.
Amity hesitated for a moment, her internal struggle evident. Finally, she took a deep breath and began to speak. "It's just that my future self brought back memories of this dream I kept having. In it, I... I don't exist. Everyone's life is better without me."
Everyone glances at her in shock, Amity, of all people dreaming of a world where everyone is happier without her? Impossible? Okay, maybe before she met Luz and after she burnt Willow's memories, but now? That can't be possible!
But Amity continued, her voice shaky. "Belos was defeated before he could do any more harm because I wasn't there to hold you or Eda back. Willow became an even more powerful witch, and the Coven System? It never existed. Everyone was happier. Especially you."
As Amity spoke, her anxiety escalated, and she started to hyperventilate. Luz moved closer, concern etched across her face. Before Luz could react, a sudden slap echoed through the room. Alternate Timeline Boscha stood there, a stern expression on her face.
"Pull yourself together, Amity!" Alternate Timeline Boscha snapped.
"Exactly, we don't have time for self-pity." Boscha spoke, sternly. "Your friends need you, and, as much as I hate to admit it, so does Luz. We're dealing with a twisted, murderous, psychotic version of you out there, and you need to be on your A-game. So quit the nonsense and focus!"
Amity blinked, still processing the slap, but she appreciated the wake-up call. Yet, even after the reprimand, self-doubt lingered in her eyes.
Luz tried to process Amity's words, her heart aching for her girlfriend. "Amity, that's just a dream. It's not real. We're all better off with you in our lives."
Amity met Luz's gaze, a mix of gratitude and uncertainty in her eyes. The weight on her chest didn't lift entirely, but the warmth of Luz's hands offered some comfort amidst the chaos.
As they were about leave the area, they saw someone, or something that Amity never wanted to see again.
Amity's frustration and anger pulsed through her as she confronted Odalia. The air in the room crackled with tension as she summoned Abomination Goo, forming a menacing fist around Odalia.
"Amity! Wait!" The Hooded Figure shouted, surprised.
"What are you doing here?" Amity seethed, her voice dripping with disdain. "And don't you dare lie to me!"
Odalia, trapped within the gooey confines, whimpered in fear. Amity's eyes narrowed as she pieced together the situation. "You knew about Twisted Amity, didn't you? Are you helping her?"
Odalia, unable to muster a coherent response, only continued to whimper. Amity's frustration grew, and she tightened her grip on the Abomination Goo, eliciting a pained yelp from Odalia.
"ANSWER ME!" Amity shouted.
Just as Amity was about to press further, the Hooded Figure stepped forward. "Amity, release her," he commanded, his voice calm but firm.
Amity shot the Hooded Figure a disbelieving look. "Why? She's clearly involved with Twisted Amity's plans. We can't let her go."
The Hooded Figure sighed, his hood obscuring his expression. "Amity, as much as you despise her, we can't jump to conclusions. We need to understand what she knows."
Reluctantly, Amity released her magical hold on Odalia, the Abomination Goo retracting back into the floor. Odalia, now free, stumbled backward, still shaken.
Luz stepped closer, her eyes locked onto Odalia. "Talk, Odalia. What do you know about Twisted Amity? And don't even think about lying."
"Didn't work well when you tried to get Luz killed, so I honestly think you lying your way out of this would end fatally for you." The Hooded Figure said, catching everyone off-guard by his knowledge of the "Escaping Expulsion" incident.
Odalia took a shaky breath, fear still evident in her eyes, "It's your Future Self, mittens, she's planning to capture the Collector and try to steal his magic for her army of Amitys, and the Golden Apple for herself!"
Amity crossed her arms, skepticism etched across her face.
"And why should we believe you?" Amity retorted. "You're just as horrible as that version of me. You've always got your own agenda, and I won't fall for your lies."
The Hooded Figure, however, studied Odalia with a keen intensity. "She's telling the truth," he stated, his voice steady. "I can sense the sincerity in her words."
Amity shot him a disapproving glare, but he continued, "We need all the information we can get. Let her speak. If she tries anything, I'll deal with it."
Odalia, still visibly shaken, tried to compose herself. "I'm here because she's threatening me, my life. I had no choice. I may be manipulative, but I value my own survival above all else."
Amity's frustration peaked, but before she could press further, the Hooded Figure intervened, sensing that Odalia must've used her Oracle Powers to disable security so that Twisted Amity's army could get after the Abomination Weapons. Using his powers, he encased Odalia in a sturdy case of ice, leaving only her head exposed.
"This will keep you in check," he declared. "Try anything, and I won't hesitate to freeze you completely. For now, we need to keep the Collector away from Twisted Amity."
Eda descended gracefully from the sky, her harpy wings beating with a rhythmic pulse. The Hooded Figure and the rest of the group turned their attention to her, faces marked with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Don't worry, whoever you are, our little star is in the Clawthorne Realm." Eda smiled.
"What's the Collector doing in the Clawthorne Realm?" the Hooded Figure asked, his voice confused. "And what is that?"
Eda's piercing gaze met his, and she responded with a wry smile. "Well, it's a realm I created when Lilith and I accidentally fell into a vat of duplication goo when we were younger. It's filled with clones of us – Edas and Liliths from various ages. It's... complicated."
Odalia shuddered at the thoughts of millions of Edas.
Gus raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Isn't that a bit crazy, even for you?"
Eda chuckled. "Trust me it's the one place Twisted Amity won't think to look, especially with her army causing chaos everywhere else."
The Hooded Figure considered this information. "So, the Collector is hiding there until we sort this mess out?"
Eda nodded. "Exactly. It's the safest place for him right now. The Clawthorne Realm is practically a maze, and even if Twisted Amity somehow found it, good luck navigating through all those versions of me and Lilith."
Willow and Hunter exchanged uneasy glances. "Clones of Eda and Lilith? This can't end well," Willow remarked.
Eda sighed. "It's not the ideal situation, but desperate times call for desperate measures. We'll figure this out, and once it's safe, the Collector can return."
Luz glanced at Amity, a shared understanding passing between them. The situation was becoming increasingly complex, and their worries only deepened. Little did they know, the Clawthorne Realm would hold its own set of challenges and surprises, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already tumultuous journey.
Amity approached Hooty, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "Hooty, my feathery Bird-Tube Pal, would you mind keeping an eye on our dear guest here? Just to ensure she doesn't try anything funny."
Hooty's eyes gleamed with an unsettling mix of amusement and determination. "You got it, Mittens! I'll make sure she doesn't escape my grasp. HOOT!"
Odalia, realizing the situation, protested, "You can't seriously be leaving me with this... thing! It's unnatural!"
Lilith stepped forward, smirking. "Oh, Hooty's more than capable. You'll be fine, Odalia."
The Hooded Figure turned his attention to Alador, who was walking towards the bunker with a thoughtful expression. "Alador, what's on your mind?"
He glanced back at the group, a determined glint in his eyes. "I've got an idea, a plan that might just turn the tide against those Amity clones. Trust me, it's something I've been working on for a while."
Camila, standing nearby, overheard the conversation. "What kind of plan are we talking about here?"
Alador smiled, a mix of excitement and confidence. "A little something involving the power of invention and a touch of abomination magic. It's experimental, but if it works, it could give us a chance to counter Twisted Amity and her army."
Luz, her curiosity piqued, stepped forward. "Count us in, Alador. We need every advantage we can get."
As they headed toward the bunker, Amity glanced back at Hooty, who had playfully wrapped himself around Odalia like a feathered boa. Despite the seriousness of the situation, a small smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. Little did they know that the upcoming events would test their resolve and creativity, pushing them to their limits as they faced the looming threat of Twisted Amity and her formidable army of clones.
Author's Note: Now Odalia has been taken as an unwilling sidekick for Amity and Luz's adventure for her Ultimate Battle with her Ultimate Enemy. Will the power of Lumity be enough to tear down Twisted Amity? Or will Twisted Amity's plan shatter Amity's confidence in ways where Amity wished Inner Willow burnt her alive? And what is Twisted Amity planning, and who is the Hooded Figure? Let's just say that the Hooded Figure is a certain someone whose more unique than the other guys and here to fight for Amity and YOU! 3 Guesses on who it is, you'll get your answers...
Next in Act 2 of "A Witch's Ultimate Enemy"!