Legends Ride Again:
S1: E6: Ghosts in Gravesfield: Part 1
In the Base of the Burning Knights, Braddock stormed up to Lady Blightthorne's room and beat his fist against the door.
"Blight!" he screamed through the door. "Blight, open this door this instant!"
The knight captain continued to beat against the door until his fist suddenly stopped, a magical glow surrounding it. The door opened with a noticeable creak, and an annoyed Lady Blightthorne stepped out.
"What do you want?" the female knight asked in annoyance.
Braddock glared at Blightthorne and made a spell circle. He pulled his hand free after canceling the lady knight's spell and pointed at her.
"Don't foreign innocence in this matter, Blight!" Braddock snarled. "I know what you DONE!"
Lady Blighttorne looked at her fellow knight and sighed. "William," she said calmly. "I have been in my chambers since my return, resting and planning my next move against Kuuga. So, no, I have no idea what you're going on about."
Braddock glared at the female knight but soon took a second to try and calm down. He took a deep breath, held it for five seconds, then exhaled. He looked at his fellow knight with a more calm demeanor.
"I just learned that one of our Blooburn was rampaging in Bonesborough," Braddock explained calmly, "However, it was a Greater Blooburn that was causing trouble."
This caught Lady Blightthorne by surprise, but she kept from reaching her face. Instead, she gave the knight captain an accusing look.
"And you think I released it?" Lady Blightthorne asked indigently.
"Who else could have?" Braddock exclaimed. "Only a Founder could undo the seals on the Greaters!"
The female knight gave the male knight a look and sighed. "Well, you're mistaken then," she said calmly, "I have been in my chambers since I returned like I said. However-"
Lady Blightthorne made a spell circle as large as her body, forcing Braddock back a few steps. She stepped through the circle, and in a burst of blue fire, her silk sleeping gown was swapped out for her usual dress.
"You never lie about such matters," she said seriously, "Come, this warrants investigating."
Lady Blightthorne then headed down the hall without waiting for Braddock's reply. The knight captain growled but followed after the female knight.
(SC)
"You got this, Maja!" Camila screamed at the top of her lungs.
Currently, Camila, her daughter, and Luz's friends were watching a baseball game where Vee's team was down by one run in the bottom of the Ninth Ending. Vee was up to bat, bases were loaded, and Vee's team was down to their last out.
The opposing team's pitcher nodded when they got a signal for their pitch. She placed her mitt in front and threw a simple fastball. Vee's eyes narrowed as she watched the ball fly and swing when it was close.
"Strike two!"
Vee huffed in annoyance as the catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher. The basilisk took a second to calm herself and brought her bat up.
The pitcher shook her head when the catcher gave a signal and nodded when she got something she liked. She set up and threw a curve ball this time.
Vee saw the ball coming and swung. There was a resounding crack as Vee's bat connected with the ball and sent it flying. Every citizen of Gravefield attending the game watched as the ball soared across the field. They cheered when the ball went over a fence, giving their team a home run and netting the win.
"That was intense," Amity commented, smiling as she watched Vee run around the field and into the arms of her teammates.
Camila couldn't help but smile proudly as she watched her adopted daughter celebrate with her teammates.
"No doubt," the Latino woman replied and looked at her birth daughter, smiling a little mischievously. "Almost makes you wish you stayed, mas vieja?"
Luz returned the smile with an earnest smile. "Nah, Mami," she replied honestly. "This is Vee's sport."
Camila's smile turned warm and fond as the group stood up and went to the field. Vee saw her family and friends approaching and waved to them.
"Vee, you were great!" Luz exclaimed, running up to the basilisk and hugged her.
Vee blushed slightly as she returned the hug.
"Aww, thanks, Luz," Vee said to her adopted sister. "But it was a team effort."
The others gathered in front of Vee and began praising the basilisk ball player.
"Don't sell yourself short, Vee," Amity praised. "I know some Grudgeby players who would have choked under that pressure."
Willow and Hunter nodded their agreement, and Willow patted Vee on the shoulder.
"My papa once told me he saw a seasoned Flyer Derby player cry when they missed the game-winning play," the plant witch added happily.
Vee's blush got slightly deeper as she scratched the back of her head. Camila walked up to her adopted daughter and hugged her gently.
"I'm so proud of you, Maja," the vet said proudly. "You worked hard for this win. So, be happy."
Vee's entire face reddened as she smiled happily and hugged her adoptive mother back. The HexGang smiled fondly at this scene, but it was soon broken up when they heard a ding.
Camila sighed, released Vee, and took out her phone. She looked at the number, and her brow wrinkled in thought as she read the text attached.
"What is it, Mami?" Luz asked.
Camila looked at the teenagers with heavy eyes and replied, "That was the clinic. They said the meeting with the town's officials had been changed to today."
Luz and Vee exchanged looks, frowning. Amity and the others also frowned as they looked at their former caregiver.
"I don't get it," Gus said, "Didn't you take the day off for the game?"
"Si," Camila replied and turned reluctant. "But this is something I have been working on for nearly a year. And the officials don't want to talk to anyone else but me."
The HexGang and Vee exchanged looks again and then at the human woman. They could see Camila's conflict; she wanted to celebrate her adopted daughter's victory. But she didn't want to waste something she's been working so hard on.
Luz smiled after a second and walked up to her mother.
"Go, Mami," the human said supportively.
The human adult looked at her daughter, her doubts still on her face. She then looked at her adopted daughter and their friends and saw they were all giving her their support.
"Are you sure, Mija?" an uncertain Camila asked Luz.
Luz smiled confidently, got beside Vee, and wrapped her arm around her sister.
"I'm positive, Mami," the teenage human said confidently. "Besides, the gang and I were going to take Vee out for pizza."
Camila didn't miss the 'hmm' noise the witches made as she frowned and looked around her daughters' friends again. They were still giving her their support, and she sighed.
"...Okay," the vet said reluctantly.
Luz's smile grew, and she threw herself at her mom, hugging fiercely. Camila returned the hug immediately and frowned when her daughter hissed slightly.
"Luz, is that bruise still bothering you?" Camila asked, looking at her in concern.
Luz couldn't help but chuckle nervously as she avoided her mother's eyes. "No, that's pretty good," she replied nervously. "But I had a run-in with a beast during a class, and my side is still a little sore.
Camila frowned as she looked at her daughter. Luz's friends, however, wore different expressions: a mix of annoyance, frustration, and disbelief. Luz didn't notice the looks her friends were giving her, focusing solely on her mother.
"I'm going to be okay," Luz reassured her mom with a smile.
Camila looked at her daughter doubtfully but sighed and reluctantly nodded to Luz.
"...Fine," the vet replied reluctantly and pulled Luz into a hug. "Be sure to save me a slice."
"Si, Mami!" Luz answered, hugging Camila back.
Mother and daughter broke apart, and Camila went over to Vee. She hugged her adopted daughter quickly but lovingly and then did the same for Luz's friends.
Luz waved and sighed as she watched her mother walk off.
"Luz," Amity said commandingly, "We need to talk."
Luz gulped, body tensing as she felt red-hot glances on her. She stiffly turned around and saw Willow, Hunter, Gus, and Amity giving her glares, a mess of Abomination behind them. Vee looked between the demon realm denizens and sister in confusion.
"Ahh, farts," was the only thing Luz could think about saying.
(SC)
On the outskirt Gravesfield, a figure reached the town's limits. Because the hood of his jacket was up, it was hard to see his face. Only his chin was exposed, and one could see the gray markings that circled the area.
"Ahh, Gravefield," the figure said, speaking with a slight Transylvania accent. "It has been close to four hundred years since my last visit."
The figure walked up to the road sign, a sense of nostalgia washing over him as he ran a hand over it. The figure looked back at the town and grinned.
"It's nice to see the town hasn't gotten much bigger since my last visit," The stranger mused, and his grin turned sadistic. "Which is perfect for this."
The figure looked around, and once he saw no one was in the immediate area, he held out his right hand. He made a spell circle, and the symbol of the Knights of The Burning Order appeared in it once completed.
A creature emerged from the spell circle a few seconds later, turned, and kneeled in front of the Knight.
The creature's body was meanly tan, wearing a dirty loincloth over his waist. The beast also wore a belt with a strange crest on it. The creature's entire left arm was covered in a white mantle, and it wore a collar with an assortment of colored gems on it.
Finally, the creature's head was shaped like a cougar's and had four eyes.
The knight walked up to the creature, leaned down, and gently lifted its head so he was looking into it in the eyes.
"I was the one who brought you back after you were denied your chance in your tribe's right of passage," the knight said commandingly, "As such, you're now mine to do as I see fit."
The creature didn't respond; it just kept staring at the knight. The knight frowned slightly at this but didn't let him deter him.
"And as such, you have a mission," the knight said commandingly. "You are to collect blood from the people of this town. But ensure you don't draw attention to yourself. Is that understood?"
The creature remained silent but nodded. The knight took that as a good sign and pointed at the town.
"First, however," the knight said, "There is a house on the opposite end of this town. You are to investigate this building and see if anyone has taken it as their own. If that's the case, you are to eliminate those who dwell in the house and ensure it looks like an accident."
The knight looked back at his creature and saw it looking at the horizon. The creature then took off in the direction the knight pointed, jumping into the trees to keep itself hidden.
The knight frowned as he watched his creation disappear into trees. He noticed the creature was slightly unsteady as it leaped through the trees.
"Seems my methods aren't perfected enough yet," the knight mused to himself and then looked at his wrist when a beeping noise sounded. "But, more on that matter after my meeting."
The knight then walked into some trees, drawing a spell circle as he walked.
(SC)
"SHE'S BEEN DOING WHAATT!" Vee screamed and looked at her adoptive sister with a glare.
The human witch couldn't help but shrink slightly from the glares all her friends and family were giving her. The group was currently hiding in one of Gus's illusions near the bleachers so they could scold Luz without interruption.
"Luz," Vee said, anger and concern in her voice, "You told Mom that you were hurt handling some beasts."
The HexGang looked at the basilisk and then back at the human, their glares intensifying. Luz shrunk a bit more as she let out a short, nervous laugh.
"Well, I wasn't really lying," the human witch argued weakly, "I was handling beasts when I got hurt."
The HexGang groaned when Luz said this and, in Amity's case, growled in frustration. Hunter stepped up to Luz and stared into her eyes scoldingly.
"That's not the point here, Luz," the ex-Golden Guard scolded. "We all took an oath not to lie to each other anymore…and that included your mother."
"...I should have made an everlasting oath with my girlfriend," Amity muttered loudly.
The group looked at the abomination witch with sour expressions, and Amity just glared at them in defiance. Hunter sighed and looked at Luz.
"So, Luz," The grimwalker said, voice gentle but firm, "Can you please tell us why you haven't told Camila what's going on?"
Luz sighed and looked away from her friends. Why hasn't she told her mom about what was happening? She has been wondering that herself for a while now, and what she's been thinking has made her feel terrible.
The human witch known as Kuuga looked at her friends with heavy eyes.
"I guess… I just didn't want to worry, Mami," Luz said slowly. "There has been a lot going on with the extension to the clinic. And…"
Luz looked at the ground, eyes growing ever heavier. All of her friends and sister could tell Luz was dealing with mixed emotions and decided to give her time to sort things out. Amity got beside Luz and wrapped her in a hug, telling her that she was there for her.
Luz looked at her girlfriend with a hollow smile. She sighed faintly and looked back at her friends.
"...If I tell Mami what's going on, I feel like I would be betraying Papa," Luz said softly, a sad undertone in her voice.
The HexGang and Vee exchanged confused looks. They didn't understand what was going through their friend's head and looked at her for clarity. Luz saw the looks and cast her eyes down, sighing.
"I don't even know what my Otosan looked like," the teenage human said somberly, "But Papa was the one who raised me. I just think if I tell Mami what's going on, I feel like I'm getting a little more away from Papa."
The group exchanged looks again, more confused than ever. Well, Willow, Vee, Amity, and Gus looked confused. On the other hand, Hunter looked at his human friend with sympathy. He walked up to Luz and gently put a hand on her shoulder.
"I think I get it," the ex-Golden Guard said sympathetically. "One time, I asked Belos about my parents. He didn't have anything to say about my mother. My father was a different story."
The 18-year-old boy sighed and looked in the direction of the Historical Society. He frowned as he pictured the statue of the two famous witch-hunter brothers.
"Belos said that my father was a man dedicated to his work with the Titan's message and gave me no other information," Hunter explained, looking at his friend. "But, from that little piece of information, I made this image of a man who would do anything to complete his mission."
Everyone gave their friend their undivided attention as Hunter looked towards the sky, eyes heavy. After a few seconds of thinking, he sighed and looked back at his friends.
"At first, when I failed a mission, I pictured that image of my dad being disappointed in me," he said softly. "But, it wasn't long before that image changed to Belos, and you know the rest."
Everyone couldn't help but sympathize with the grimwalker, and Willow and Gus walked up to their friends. Willow gently took Hunter's hand as Gus patted his shoulder. Hunter smiled gratefully at his friends, then looked at Luz.
"So, I think I can understand your fears," Hunter said warmly. "But remember, you're not alone, and we can back you up when you talk to Camila."
Luz couldn't help but smile warmly at the gesture and looked at her friends. Everyone was on board with Hunter's idea, bringing warmth to the young human's heart. She nodded, and all her friends smiled at this.
"Well," Gus suddenly said light-heartedly, "Now that we have that moment, pizza?"
The group looked at the young prodigy with a "way to ruin the mood" look.
"What?" the illusionist retorted jokingly, "It has been weeks since I had some human realm pizza."
The group stared at the youngest but silently agreed with Gus.
So the group began making their way out of their friend's illusion, forgetting about something as they talked about what kind of topping they should get.
"Umm, Sweet Potato," Luz called out awkwardly.
Amity stopped and looked at her girlfriend sitting on the ground, glued to it thanks to the abomination matter around Luz's ankles. She chuckled nervously and made a spell circle. The Abomination mass that kept Luz in place disappeared a second later.
Luz smiled at her friends and was about to join them. She suddenly stopped, frowned, and looked behind her. This behavior didn't go unnoticed, and her friends, minus Vee, looked at her with concern.
"...Luz?" Amity asked, "Please, don't tell us."
"I can sense it," Luz said, voice distance.
Before anyone could stop her, Luz called for Stringbean, and the "snake-shifter" turned into her staff form. Luz jumped on and rocketed into the sky. Everyone watched this, dread growing in their stomachs as a certain shapeshifter looked on with confusion.
"What was that?" Vee nearly shouted.
Amity sighed, summoned Ghost in her staff form, and got on. "I will explain on the way," she answered, offering her girlfriend's sister a hand as she lifted into the air.
Vee took it with hesitation and got hoisted up as the HexGang took after Luz.
(SC)
The group flew as fast as possible in a familiar direction as Gus kept them hidden by an illusion. They all felt dread gripping them as they reached a familiar part of the town. Their dread soon exploded as they reached the shack where the portal was housed and saw a Blooburn sniffing around the front steps.
Luz growled at this and looked down at Stringbean. "Stringbean, I want you to get as far away from me as soon I jumped off you," she told her palisman.
Those in staff form, Luz heard her little power noddle respond in her mind. She smiled as she jumped off, summoning her Arcle and going through her hand motions.
"Henshin!"
Luz's Kuuga form materialized around her as she landed in front of the house. Vee couldn't help but be amazed at this sight, her mouth hanging open.
Luz straightened up and looked at the Blooburn as she got into her fighting stance. Strangely, the creature didn't seem to notice her, just continuing to sniff around the porch of the old shack.
Luz didn't waste the opening and charged. She reeled back her fist, jumped into the air, and tried to land a punch on the creature's head. Suddenly, the Blooburn ducked and dodged to the right.
Luz came down, but the Blooburn didn't give her a chance to regain her footing, giving her a punch to her side. The human witch shrugged off the blow the best she could and spun counterclockwise. She tried to kick the creature in the head, but it ducked and rolled to the right.
Luz came out of her spin just as the Blooburn jumped up and hit her with a double-palm thrust. Luz grunted as she couldn't brace herself against the blow and went flying back. She fell onto her back, shrugged off the blow, and jumped to her feet.
The Blooburn dashed to the forest and jumped high into the air, disappearing into the thick tree tops. Luz growled as she got into her fighting stance and cautiously scanned the area. She thought about changing to her green form to use her increased senses to find the creature.
The human witch got in position to begin the change when she heard Willow scream.
"Luz! Above you!"
Luz looked up in time to see the Blooburn leaping from a treetop with a double kick aimed at her face. She dove forward just as the creature came down. She spun around as the Blooburn was regaining its footing and knocked its legs out from under it.
The human witch jumped to her feet, brought up her left leg, and thrust it down. The blooburn brought both hands over its face and caught Luz's foot. It threw Luz's foot, and the human stumbled slightly as the creature rolled onto its stomach and got up.
Luz regained her balance and took up her fighting stance as the Blooburn readied itself.
Above the two fighters, The HexGang watched. Hunter frowned as he watched the Blooburn start the next round off, jumping into the treetops again.
"There's something different about this one," he said, primarily to himself.
The others looked at him, and Willow couldn't help but wonder what he meant. However, before anyone could get asked anything, they heard the Blooburn jump from its hiding spot and come down on Luz.
The human witch saw this and jumped up. The two met in the air, and Luz threw a punch seconds before the Blooburn could react. The creature grunted as the punch connected with its chest, and it fell to the ground.
The creature shrugged off the blow and got up, taking one of the jewels from its collar.
Luz landed and charged at the Blooburn. Suddenly, the jewel in its hand grew to the size of a shotput ball and threw it at Luz. She wasn't able to react quickly and took the ball on the chin, sparks flying.
Luz groaned as she flew back and hit the ground hard. The Blooburn took a jewel in each hand and jumped, turning them into shotput balls. The human witch regained her senses in time to see her opponent coming at her.
"Chou Henshin!" Luz screamed, bringing her arms up in an X pattern.
She changed into her purple form just as the creature brought its weapons down. Luz weathered the impact, sparks flying as she thrust her arms up. The Blooburn was thrown back but managed to recover and land on its feet as Luz slowly stood up.
The Blooburn brought his hands to the opposite shoulder in an X pattern, shotput balls at the ready. Luz moved towards her foe, and it threw its weapons. Suddenly, the human form changed into her blue form and darted to the right.
The Blooburn growled as it began grabbing jewels, turning them into balls, and chucking them at the human. Luz skillfully dodged everything thrown at her, bobbing and weaving around them almost like she was dancing.
From his spot in the air, Hunter smiled as he watched all of Luz's training pay off.
Luz was nearly a foot away from her opponent, and she dove to the ground when it threw another ball. She grabbed a tree branch and jumped to her feet, creating her staff. The ends extended, and she thrust it out.
Suddenly, the Blooburn thrust one of its shotput balls out and blocked Luz's attack. It thrust up its other arm, using the ball in its hand for extra strength, and knocked Luz's staff away.
Slightly unbalanced, the human witch stumbled back a few inches before she regained her footing. With a huff, Luz brought her staff in front of her as her foe also ready itself.
Amity frowned as she watched the stand-off unfold from her spot high in the air.
"I think I'm starting to see what you mean, Hunter," Amity commented, eyes not leaving her girlfriend.
Hunter didn't look away from the fight and nodded. "Yeah. The Blooburn we have seen so far can follow commands, but they mostly fought by instincts. This one actively learns as it fights, making split decisions when needed. And turning objects into weapons is too much like what Luz does; it's scary."
Vee looked between the grimwalker and the witch with growing concern. "Well, Luz be okay?" she asked, the worry in her voice evident.
Amity looked at her passenger with a reassuring smile and replied, "Don't worry, Vee. Luz has been fighting these things for a month and has been training daily with Hunter."
The basilisk stared at the witch, and she could see the worry and concern hidden behind Amity's smile. Vee wasn't sold but trusted her friends since they had more experience with this matter. So, she reluctantly nodded and turned her attention back to the fight.
Luz twirled her staff before rushing her foe. She jumped and soared over the Blooburn. She landed behind her foe, spun around, and tried to strike the creature on the side of the head. The Blooburn dove to the ground to avoid the strike rolled away, and jumped to its feet.
It spun around, launching one of its balls at Luz clumsily. The human witch easily batted the ball away, only to grunt when the Blooburn threw its second ball into her gut. She clenched her stomach as she staggered backward slightly.
The Blooburn took this opening and rushed Luz, creating a ball in its right hand. It swung and connected with the side of Luz's head. The human witch grunted as she hit the ground.
Luz groaned and tried to shrug off the effect of the blow just dealt to her. Easier said than done, her head was swimming, and she struggled to regain her bearings. She knew the creature looming over her but couldn't focus enough to act.
The Blooburn loaded its other hand with a ball and raised its hands over its head. Before it could bring down the hammer, Abomination matter came from the sky and wrapped tightly around the creature's wrists, locking them together.
It looked up at the source of the abomination matter and saw Amity giving it a fierce expression, her eyes glowing lilac.
"STAY AWAY FROM MY LUZ!" she proclaimed angrily.
The Blooburn grunted and thrust its arms out, easily breaking free. It then threw one of its balls at the witch who dared to interfere. Amity growled as she made a hard left, and the ball missed hitting her staff's butt by a hair.
The Blooburn turned back to its real opponent and took a staff blow to its face. It staggered back, dazed, dropping its remaining ball to the ground. This opening allowed Luz to get to her feet and distance herself from the creature. The human witch looked up at her girlfriend and gave her a thumb-up.
She turned back to the Blooburn and readied her staff as the creature regained its senses. It reached for the jewels on its collar, only to find it had run out. It growled and looked around for any of its weapons that might be close.
Luz took this opening; she charged her staff with energy by twirling it around her and then charged. She leaped into the air with a battle cry and thrust her staff out. The Blooburn heard her and managed to bring up its right arm. The creature braced itself as the blow struck its forearm. It slid back slightly as the symbol of Kuuga appeared on the struck area.
Luz grinned under her helmet as she watched energy spread from the mark, quickly traveling down the arm. Her grin was wiped clean off when the Blooburn did something unexpected; it endured the pain as it grabbed its arm at the elbow. It tore it off with a loud grunt and threw it away as it exploded.
Luz could only stare in shock at this new turn of events. She quickly came to her senses when she saw the Blooburn look at her and began to approach. The human witch got ready, only to hear a twig snap.
The two fighters looked to their left and saw a deer. The blooburn seemed to grin and rushed the animal, its mantle falling from its arm. Before anyone could move, the creature was on the deer, its ash-gray arm out and hand grabbing the animal by the neck.
Luz and the HexGang watched in shock as the deer was quickly drained, withering into a dry husk. Once it drank the deer completely drained, the Blooburn began convulsing as it dropped the husk.
Everyone was still shocked as the gray from the creature's left arm webbed across its shoulders and down its right arm. Once its right arm was covered, the missing part of the arm regenerated, turning gray in the process.
The Blooburn flexed its restored arm and picked up a rock. It turned the rock into a shotput ball with large bolts sticking out and threw it at Luz. Luz came out of her stupor and swung her staff. She hit the ball, but it suddenly exploded. She screamed when the force of the explosion was enough to knock her off her feet, staff flying from her hands.
"LUUZZZ!" the HexGang screamed as their friend hit the ground.
Luz groaned as she tried to get up. The explosion, however, did more damage than she thought, and when she tried to move, pain shot through her entire body. Her legs slipped out from under her, and she groaned again as the Blooburn approached her, another bolted shotput ball in its hand.
(G Corner)
It has been a long time since I watched Kamen Rider Kuuga, so I can't exactly remember if the lead character changed through his different forms during a fight. But I digress; next up, many startling facts will come to light!