Owl House: NT Witch

by SuperHeroTimeFan

When Luz Noceda and her NetNavi Azura come to the Boiling Isles, they bring with them a new world of excitement. Joined with new friends, they aim to follow in the footsteps of their hero, Lan Hikari and MegaMan. Dealing with school, crushes, an evil emperor and Eda's sister shouldn't be hard, but an old foe thought to be Deleted and growing an army? Bring it. Jack In and Power Up!

10. Here in the Garden

Welcome to 2024, everyone! I am SuperHeroTimeFan, your author, and I present to you a brand-new chapter for my best crossover between The Owl House and MegaMan NT Warrior, Owl House: NT Witch! It is so great to see this story continuing to get more support after my Christmas updates. So sorry for the lack of updates in January, but I was taking some breaks, and been busy with what had been happening at my work. Still, I am making time for both art and my stories, so thank you for those who have kept up with the promotional art for the story that I post on DeviantArt. And to whoever Donquill is on the TV Tropes site, if you are reading this, I ask of you to contribute to the page not just what the chapters show, but what my art shows too. I have stuff in my entries there that confirms what will be happening in the show, so some entries on the page on the promotional art and the character art will help. Thank you. Thank you also to Blackmetalzane22 and Cloud4012 for your reviews and feedback on my recent chapters too, it helps build up morale a lot. Now, this chapter was meant to come later, but I realized that it would be too late into what I have planned, so I am going to share it with you for this instead. This and the next chapter will be original chapters, with canon events returning at Chapter 13. So, without further ado from my end, please sit back, review, rate, and as always, be sure to enjoy!

Chapter 10: Here in the Garden

At the Palace of Darkness within the MagiNet, ShadeMan was watching as several of the newer Darkloids recruited for his attack on Terrace Stadium were in deep recovery. Beside him were Lurerre, Pandora, FeralMan and SerratEnby, all of who were glaring as progress for the Darkloids continued.

"It's been days, and we have yet to make a counterattack," SerratEnby said as ShadeMan walked back to the throne. "With all due respect, Master ShadeMan, shouldn't we at least perform some action to show we are still a force to be reckoned with?"

"In due time, SerratEnby," ShadeMan said before several Dark Chips floated before him. However, they lacked any dark colors to them that the rest of the Dark Chips had, and depicted old Navi Crests on them. "You all did well in your fight, and while we did lose, we did gain something newer."

"Is that where you were?" Lurerre asked. "When you didn't show up with us, we heard later that you attacked Belos. What exactly happened?"

"All will be revealed," ShadeMan said as he let one of the Dark Chips float forward, getting his Darkloid generals to step back. "But right now… I bring you back from before you could meet your second end, with a promise of newer power… VineMan."

The Navi Chip glowed a green color and spread, the light causing the four Darkloid generals to cover their eyes. When the light cleared, the original plant Darkloid, VineMan, with his plant-like skin and flower-shaped head, thorns on his shoulders and vines protruding from his back. Opening his eyes, he looked around and gasped.

"What… where am I?" VineMan asked before spotting ShadeMan. Immediately, he knelt down with respect. "Master ShadeMan. Were you the one who saved me from MegaMan?"

"I did."

"Then you have my loyalty to you once more," VineMan pledged. "When it was me and SavageMan against MegaMan, I realized just what Dr. Regal had been using the rest of us for. I deeply apologize for not surviving MegaMan and TorchMan to help you get back at Regal."

"Wow, quite a suck-up." Pandora remarked.

"And who are these?" VineMan asked as several vines wrapped around Pandora, all while Lurerre, FeralMan and SerratEnby leapt back for protection. He turned and glared at the Oracle Darkloid. "You have some nerve, child. I am one of the original Darkloids, and compared to what you might have experienced, we have fought stronger than you."

"Enough of this," ShadeMan said, getting VineMan to release Pandora and turn back, seeing a Plant Coven Dark Chip floating towards him. "Surely, you know what the aura of this place means?"

"It feels so familiar," VineMan replied, closing his eyes. "As if a part of us that was hidden is now blooming again. I feel incredible power from every corner of this world."

"Do as you please, and continue building that garden you were rudely interrupted from achieving," ShadeMan said as VineMan opened his eyes again to see the Dark Chip. "This should help give you an edge. They are not like Regal or Drakken's Chips. They will never erode you. They will make you stronger than those self-killing atrocities."

"With what I have felt, I might not need it, but just in case…" VineMan said before grabbing the Dark Chip, letting it digitize away as he saw various locations in the Demon Realm. "So rich and so familiar… I will not let you down, Master ShadeMan." He pledged before digitizing away.

"Do you trust him?" SerratEnby asked, recomposing themself after the surprise attack.

"Yes, I do," ShadeMan said. "Alert me when the rest of the Darkloids have recovered. Soon, it will be time for our next course of action to take place, and our power to rise up once more."

At the Owl House, Luz was looking over a board of submitted new Battle Chips. She placed her hand to her chin as she surveyed all of the new Chips, the images made of them, and their performances. Something she noticed was the majority made by one witch in particular.

"Wow, Amity," Luz said as Azura checked over some pamphlets behind her. "You've sure been busy."

"She's been making the most Battle Chips with magic?" Azura asked.

"Yeah, she's going all out with Abomination Battle Chips," Luz said. "The royalty pays for each entry will be sent out soon. How is my syllabus looking?"

"With all of the people who signed up, we're gonna have to divide the classes into separate groups," Azura said. "I already messaged Principal Bump and WaspMan. They'll figure something out for us before we start teaching."

"That's good," Luz said. "Not to mention, we've still got Navi Commissions."

"All business can be put on hold today," Eda said, walking in. "You've been at it a lot. Go, hang out with your friends. Willow and Boots are downstairs waiting already for you."

"You mean Mitt— I mean, Amity?" Luz asked, shaking her head to use Amity's proper name.

"Was it that? Might have to recheck," Eda said. "Anyway, better hurry and get to the market for what you want with Skara and Goops. The sale you've been waiting for won't wait forever."

"Gus. You really need to learn their names better," Luz said before rushing down, letting Azura go back into her PET. "See you later, Eda!"

"Hmm, she seems eager." Owlette said as Eda smirked.

"She's a kid. Of course she is," Eda said as she walked down, seeing Luz walk off with Amity and Willow out the window. "Now, what can I learn from you? Need any more of my Elixir so I can finally know what you look like?"

"Won't be that easy," Owlette said. "These things will take time. But I can be your voice of reason."

Eda snorted. "You're already just a voice," she joked as King walked over. "But a good voice of reason wouldn't hurt."

"She still doesn't have a body yet, huh?" King asked.

"She will. It just takes time, she says," Eda said before turning to King. "So… did Luz pick up what we know about that creep?"

"She hasn't been told yet, but the more I peer over her when she reads that book, the more she asks how curious I am," King replied. "Not easy to hide the fact that Albert Wily… you know."

"Yeah, how do I tell her that the man she thinks has turned good holds the Titan's Palisman?" Eda asked. "It sounds ridiculous to me than when we learned about it that day."

"One of these days… you'll tell her." Owlette said.

At the Market, Luz was being guided by Amity and Willow towards where Skara and Gus were waiting for them.

"So, remind me what we're here for again?" Luz asked. "Been dealing with some stuff and getting some much-needed rest. Need a bit of a recap here."

"Well, there's supposed to be a collection of Coven Head-recommended items that will help out any aspiring witch in training," Amity started out. "Chosen for teenagers mostly. It was part of an agreement Bump and the other school principals made with the Coven Leaders to give their share of inspiration to the next generation. There are supposed to be some Abomination-enhancing armlets that could allow me to summon them from anywhere, even when I have an empty canteen or where they wouldn't even exist."

"Wow, that sounds amazing!" Luz exclaimed as Boscha, Amelia and Cat passed them, Boscha seeming to try and hide something in her bag from the eyes of Luz and her friends. "Willow, what about you?"

"Nothing in the Plant Coven that I would want, though," Willow said as Luz looked on. "Well, at least in terms of what the Coven Heads would recommend. They've said some… harsh stuff about the trend you've brought in that made me lose faith in some of them."

"What do you mean?" Luz asked.

"Well, after you introduced NetNavis, the MagiNet and NetBattling, it had gotten some mixed reception from the Coven Leaders," Willow explained. "There are those who are for it, and others against it. The head of the Plant Coven, Terra Snapdragon, she's not too fond of it. She's always been the type to watch people fight to the death themselves."

"And how does that differ from NetBattling?" Luz asked.

"She hates when the people don't do the fighting themselves. And even with CrossFusion becoming known, she hates that we use armor to protect ourselves." Amity replied.

"Speaking of, I'm still trying to come up with the perfect NetNavi for you, Willow," Luz said. "Can't quite get the right design, but you'll get it."

"Thanks," Willow replied before her Scroll PET went off. Creating a spell circle, she summoned it and let the holographic screen show Skara. "What's up? You save us a place in—"

"There's a new Darkloid attacking the plaza!" Skara yelled, surprising the trio as they saw people running and blasts going off behind Skara. "I'm helping people get to safety, and Gus is trying to break through his defenses, but we need more help! He's got Plant Powers!"

"We're on it!" Willow replied as she led Luz and Amity to the scene, where the screaming and running became louder and clearer. "Guess ShadeMan's expanding."

"Load up Fire Battle Chips!" Luz called to Amity as the two loaded Battle Chips into their PETs. "And remember the element advantages I taught you guys!"

"Let's go!" Amity called as soon as all five of her Battle Chips were inserted, with Luz completing her selection as well.

"SYNCHRO CHIP IN! DOWNLOAD!" Luz and Amity both called out, placing their Synchro Chips in as Azura and Hecate both ran the programs.

"CROSSFUSION!" Luz called out with Azura while Amity yelled the same with Hecate, the two now starting to CrossFuse with their NetNavis.

"MoonBlade, Battle Chip In!" Gus called out at the plaza. Summoning a MoonBlade with his Illusion Blade, he slashed through several vines sent at him before seeing several thorns being blasted in his direction.

"Barrier, Battle Chip In!"

Gus shielded himself, but a Barrier appeared around him. Looking to the side, he saw Skara with a Battle Chip Gate in one hand and with the other, using a spell circle to defend everyone she had gotten to safety.

"You're really starting to annoy me, child!"

Gus turned back and gasped, seeing large vines making their way at him. He slashed at them again before more appeared at the side, which he did not see in time.

"FireBody! Battle Chip In!"

"Luz!" Gus exclaimed happily.

"FireBlade, Battle Chip In!"

Luz rammed through the incoming vines while Amity leapt above Gus, slashing through with a FireBlade coming from her LunaStriker. Both landed and looked up ahead just as Willow caught up.

"Show yourself!" Luz demanded, aiming her MagiBuster out.

From the growing vines in the center of the plaza, a figure started to emerge. As soon as the vines parted ways, Luz gasped at the sight of VineMan walking towards her.

"No… that's impossible…" Luz said.

During the Nebula Reign…

"You might as well give up now, Dr. Noceda!" VineMan taunted as several Security Navis went down at the DenTech City hospital, where Luz was trying to get a door to an operating room open while Manny Noceda was operating his NetNavi, Sunstar.

Sunstar resembled MegaMan, but with a sword for the right arm from a golden emitter, static-like wings, and a Navi Crest that had a rocket blasting off on it. He also had white shoulder pads and a helmet with a sun as the chevron.

"You're one to talk, Darkloid," Manny said as he watched the battle go on from his PET. "Sunstar might not be able to fully Delete you, but he can knock you down a few pegs."

"Cosmic Boom!" Sunstar called out, sending forth a blue sonic wave towards the many Viruses creating plants around VineMan.

"Impossible!" VineMan exclaimed before seeing Sunstar charge up his blade again.

"Mija, how are you doing?" Manny asked, turning to the younger Luz.

"The door's opened!" Luz called. "Let's get these patients out!"

"FireSword and FireBlade, Battle Chips In! Download!" Manny called out, giving his Navi the fire melee weapons. "StepCross, Battle Chip In, Download!"

"Hasta la vista, VineMan!" Sunstar yelled, AreaStealing at VineMan with tremendous speed.

VineMan yelled and backed up, summoning his Leaf Barrier. It took the hit, but a part of him was singed.

"This hospital is no longer of any interest to me… but the rest of DenTech City is still open for my garden." VineMan said, turning away as Sunstar charged in for another attack, only for VineMan to digitize away.

"VineMan, Logging Out."

"Good work, Luz," Manny said to Luz as she rested while the patients inside of the room were sent to safety. "I'm proud of you… and always will be."

Present…

"Luz… you know him?" Amity asked as Gus backed to join his friends.

"His name is VineMan… one of the original Darkloids," Luz said, causing her friends to gasp. "But you were Deleted, twice."

"Not the second time," VineMan said. "Unlike the other revived Darkloids, I managed to pull myself out before MegaMan's WindRacket could do any serious damage to me. ShadeMan found me and transferred me into backup data, data which he took with him to this auspicious place… and familiar too," he admitted, looking around. "As if I had been here before. Everything brings back some fuzzy memories."

"Wait, what?" Willow asked quietly as she looked to Skara, who shrugged.

Emira was helping some people, her and Edric having been there at the time, before she turned to Skara. The two looked to each other and smiled before turning away, with a small blush appearing on both of their faces.

"And you've suddenly changed sides from Regal to ShadeMan now?" Luz asked.

"Dr. Regal served us well, but he was only a human. Now, I am free once more to create my garden, just as I was robbed of the deed so long ago! And I will destroy anyone who gets in my way! Humans, Navis, even these witches and demons!" VineMan proclaimed as Luz, Amity and Gus stood at the ready once again. "So begone! All of you! Plant Weed!"

With that, VineMan sent his plants at Luz, who used her FireBody to melt some of them while Amity and Gus cut through the rest of the plants. When they had enough room, they all charged at VineMan, who held his hand out to the side. A BambooSword formed from his hand as he locked with all three of their blades, not even struggling to move as they tried to force their own swords onto his body.

"How can he use Battle Chips?!" Amity asked Luz. "I thought that Darkloids are Solo Navis!"

"Sometimes, things are different for each of us," VineMan remarked before his vines grabbed all three of them. "Now, Rose Thorn! Get them!"

"Hey!" Willow called out, thrusting her arms to the sides.

Luz cut herself free and was about to get to her friends until she noticed the Rose Thorn attack getting too close. All three of them closed their eyes as they waited for the attack to make impact.

Suddenly, another set of thorns intercepted all of the Rose Thorns. VineMan gasped before turning to see Willow with spell circles around her arms and eyes glaring daggers at him. However, he only smiled.

"She's good," VineMan said to himself before releasing Luz, Amity and Gus. "Let's test her other skills."

Wordlessly, VineMan sent the vines holding Luz and her friends at Willow, but she grabbed one that was about to impale her and spun it around. Launching it at the other Plant Weeds, it cut right through them, before controlling what remained of them to attack VineMan.

VineMan held up his arm and stopped the vines from hitting him, now using a Leaf Barrier, before launching Rose Thorns from all around.

"That all you got?" Willow asked as she looked up, creating her own version of the Leaf Barrier around her, deflecting the thorns back at VineMan, each landing around him. "Child's play. Everyone knows these tricks."

"You're quite powerful, child," VineMan conceded as Luz, Amity and Gus watched what was happening in amazement. "What is your name?"

"Willow Park," Willow replied. "Plant Witch."

"So there really is a track for plant powers here," VineMan said with interest. He turned his attention back to Willow. "It's rare that someone can counter my moves. For that, I will make sure you do not become a part of my garden. You're just that talented enough to spare, no matter what you say next."

"I don't even want to see a garden made out of this place." Willow spat back.

"Again, I admire that spirit," VineMan said. "Out of everyone I have ever fought in my entire existence, they only measure up to half of what you have shown me with that display of power. The garden I have always craved is to be perfect, green and glorious, and it would thrill me to have you by my side once it is complete."

"Sorry, but I pass," Willow replied as Boscha, Amelia and Cat, who were also part of the crowd, watched with astonishment. "The people here might not have been kind to me over the years, but given the new friends I've made, a garden made from their remains is the last thing I would ever want."

"Well, now I'm even more intrigued," VineMan said before the plants around him disappeared. "I'm more than satisfied with the challenge you have provided me, enough for me to take my leave. You truly are a powerful plant witch, Willow Park. Let no one else tell you otherwise. Or else I would be disappointed if we clash again." He said before digitizing away.

"Whoa," Luz said before she, Gus and Amity all made their way to the crowd. "Is everyone else okay?"

"A few minor scrapes here and there, but so far, everyone is alright," Emira said before looking to Willow. "Guess you're more powerful than Boscha mocks about."

"Oh, please," Boscha retorted, rolling all three of her eyes, unaware that Skara was with Amelia and Cat, whispering something to them, before walking back to her own friends as they turned to her. "I don't care that a Darkloid gave you compliments. You're still a—"

"Boscha, wait!" Amelia called, getting Boscha to look to her friends. "Don't you remember the Everlasting Oath is still in effect?"

"Yeah, you might end up like my father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate when he had to live up to not calling anyone a certain name, and broke the oath." Cat added on.

"Wait… what do you mean?" Boscha asked as Skara continued to whisper to others in the crowd, all of who snickered quietly before finally making her way back to Luz and the others.

"He lost an Everlasting Oath not to call his girlfriend the most offensive name if he lost a game to her new enbyfriend," Cat said. "And when he couldn't keep it in, the same way Amity promised Luz when they made the oath, he lost his mouth for a week!"

"Eek!" Boscha almost squealed while Skara smirked at Luz and Amity, the former with a raised eyebrow of concern.

"And when that week passed, after he said it again, he had to serve her enbyfriend for…" Amelia went on before looking to Boscha with an inquisitive look on her face. "Um, how many times did you call Willow… that… in the past year? It was like that times an hour since the day he used that term."

"I would have to… serve… Willow?" Boscha asked, a terrible thought now coming to her mind.

Boscha's Fantasy…

Boscha trudged up the stairs of Hexside, hauling on her back a throne. On the throne itself was Willow, who held a commanding presence as others watched Boscha carry her until she reached the top of the stairs. She panted and stopped for a minute, but kept carrying the throne, even fighting to stay upright when she felt the weight of Willow's Abomination Cauldron on her head.

"Hmm, it seems I made a mistake, Boscha," Willow said as Boscha fought to hold back tears. "Turns out the Abomination Classroom was on the bottom floor!"

Boscha shrieked, looking all the way back down. She had carried Willow on her throne all the way to the very top level of Hexside, and now was told to go all the way back down.

"Don't worry. This only goes on… for eight-hundred seventy-six thousand more hours!" Willow echoed before letting out an evil laugh.

Fantasy End…

Boscha now fought herself to stop from crying before storming off, with Amelia and Cat following behind her, snickering and turning to give Skara a thumbs-up before walking away.

"Just for fun," Skara said as Edric chuckled while Emira sent her a playful smirk. She turned back to Luz and her friends. "But in all seriousness, that VineMan was one of the original Darkloids?"

"Yeah, he tried to turn all of DenTech City into his own garden, both the human and cyber worlds," Luz replied. "Lan, MegaMan, and their former enemies, Mr. Match and TorchMan, stopped and Deleted him, but then he came back. I guess he survived his second revival and was brought here."

"What did he mean when he said everything seemed familiar to him?" Gus asked. "I can't be the only one who caught that."

"Let's head back and see what was can find out about him," Luz said. "I'm sure there's something in the archives or from what Wily left."

Within the MagiNet, at a network overseeing Hexside, Lurerre walked up to VineMan as he watched what was happening at the school.

"You left, and you hadn't even suffered a scratch. All because you faced Willow Park?" Lurerre asked as VineMan glanced behind him. "Why her?"

"Because there has never been anyone who has been able to match my skill," VineMan said. "Lan and MegaMan couldn't. Nor could Mr. Match, TorchMan and HeatMan. Noceda and her friends were only equal to their attempts. But this Park girl… she matched me almost perfectly. I don't come across anyone like that often, even at all."

"Don't go thinking that she is the one who can defeat you alone," Lurerre said. "Luz and her friends are not to be underestimated. Many a Darkloid have went thinking they could take them and their friends on, even without CrossFusion. DevastationMan is one of the many who can attest to that. He was put in critical condition when attacked with a broken CyberSword."

"That is why I am not underestimating her," VineMan said. "It is where you have failed, Lurerre. You think you can defeat them because of who they were before. This is a new age, and the old perception is always eclipsed by the new way," he said before finding footage of the Plant Homeroom. "But just in case… I shall see if any other Plant Witches can match the skill I have." He proclaimed before digitizing away.

Lurerre looked on and scoffed. "You might be one of the originals, VineMan, but you're still old news," she spat. "We new Darkloids will be the ones to succeed where you have failed."

Back at the Owl House, Luz was pulling up footage from her laptop. Around her, Willow, Gus, Skara and Amity watched as different battles against different Darkloids came up. Finally, they found the file on VineMan.

"Just got word from my Dad," Gus said, putting his Scroll PET down. "The sale planned for today was postponed, so it'll be tomorrow during the Lunar Eclipse."

"Can't say your mom will be too pleased with not having any customers today." Skara said.

"Well, moving away from monsters, what do we have on VineMan?" Amity asked, getting everyone to turn to Luz and Azura.

"According to what Famous and Dr. Hikari recorded on VineMan in their Darkloid Guide, he was one of the few who were new to MegaMan, and got defeated the same day as him, the first being BowlMan," Azura said as she swiped the screens to show different points of his attack. "As Luz said, he aimed to turn DenTech City into his own Cyber Garden, and then would move on to try and take the world."

"How strong was he at that time?" Amity asked, seeing footage of VineMan attacking the World Three NetNavis.

"He took down the NetNavis of World Three with ease," Azura went on. "ElecMan, though if you've studied the element advantages and disadvantages, he was a goner from the beginning of that fight, WackoMan and MagicMan. All three were defeated. Only Mr. Match and his temporary Navi, HeatMan, were able to escape. The whole ordeal even cost the very life of HeatMan to pave the return for Match's original Navi, TorchMan."

"And then with DoubleSoul TorchSoul, they were able to Delete VineMan," Luz said. "Mama was one of the people at the NetPolice Station when the Darkloids were all brought back to try and destroy Control X, the only way we could have found where Dr. Regal was hiding. I was told that VineMan and SavageMan were the last two remaining Darkloids MegaMan and SearchMan had to face, but while MegaMan had harnessed his WindSoul to attack VineMan, he didn't get the chance to check if he finished him off because SavageMan went in for the kill."

"So now we know that when ShadeMan came back afterwards, he took VineMan with him," Amity deducted. "Expanding on the rest of the Covens. Plant Magic for a Plant Darkloid."

"I know him well too," Luz said. "Back when Nebula was still around, before Regal killed my dad and before Azura came into my life, he attacked the hospital where Dad worked at. He drove him off, and then the rest is history."

"So is this personal for you too?" Gus asked.

"No, he didn't make anything personal for us," Luz said. "He just…" she started before noticing Willow had not said a single thing. "You've been quiet," she noted, getting everyone else to look to Willow. "Ever since we came back, you've had that look on your face."

"Yeah, when you've got something on your mind that you can't shake off," Skara added, getting Willow to sigh. "What's going on, girl?"

"No one's stopped to think about what VineMan had said," Willow explained. "That the Demon Realm felt all too familiar to him. As if he had been here before," she quoted, getting everyone to remember. She turned to Luz. "Where exactly did the Darkloids come from, Luz?"

Luz cupped her chin. "That's a good question," she said. "Dr. Hikari, when studying them, deduced they came into existence completely on their own, but no one thought anything of it. Every Navi was man-made, even the Solo Navis had to come from somewhere, like Bass."

"Who?" Eda asked, listening in from nearby with King and Hooty.

"During the end of the N1 Grand Prix, there was a new Navi who Deleted MegaMan for a short time, known as PharaohMan," Luz explained. "He almost took over the Net until MegaMan was brought back, and with ProtoMan, they took him down. He disappeared when Wily took him, and by the time MegaMan returned from following him, he was gone. We then discovered that his data reformatted itself into a new Solo NetNavi known as Bass. He was extremely powerful, uncontrollable. He tried to get MegaMan's Ultimate Program for himself, and attempted to bring a dangerous being known as the Alpha Virus to life, but failed. After that, he disappeared, and then came back, but was banished when the cosmic being known as Duo arrived. All traces of him were lost, but the fact that he was once PharaohMan baffled us all at the time."

"But there was nothing connecting him with the Darkloids?" King asked.

"Well, Roll believed that he helped bring back ShadeMan when LaserMan and Dr. Regal overthrew him and the Darkloids, but no one had any real proof of that," Azura said. "He was able to wander the Earth through the body of a puppet ruler of the second organization bent on taking over the Net known as Kid Grave, and some people thought that he was there in the final days of the Darkloids, which was the day of Dr. Regal's rampage. He would later fight the new Darkloid forces of Neo Nebula. But other than that, he was just not with them at all."

"Back to the point, you said Dr. Hikari completely dropped the claim that the Darkloids came into existence on their own?" Willow asked, reminding everyone what they were originally talking about.

"Is there anything you're suggesting?" Luz asked.

"Well, maybe not on their own in the Human Realm Cyberworld," Willow started. "But… on their own… in the Demon Realm. Possibly before any of us were even born."

Everyone looked to Willow with surprise. Luz was the first to break the silence.

"That actually makes sense," Luz admitted. "Dr. Hikari didn't have any solid evidence that Darkloids evolved from nothing, but considering what we have experienced here, it's possible that he wasn't even considering the right place where that nothing could have been."

"How did this come up?" Gus asked.

"Well, there was no way VineMan could have claimed some memories from here without anything to back it up," Willow explained. "Barring this BowlMan, from what we saw of the fight against the Darkloids for Control X, the original Darkloids might have all once been a part of the Demon Realm. VineMan, for instance, he seems the most familiar with what I've seen him pull off."

"Plant Weed, Rose Thorn, and Leaf Barrier," Amity recalled. "Yeah, now that you mention it, I've seen some Plant Witches use spells that do those exact same attacks. But they're more improved, and the versions that VineMan used were a bit unrefined."

"There's something else here that I think we're all overlooking," Skara interrupted. "Willow, when you fought VineMan, you two were nothing but civil towards each other, even when fighting. Do you see something in him that we couldn't?"

Willow nodded. "Yeah, I do," she said, standing up. "I don't agree with his plan to turn all of the Demon Realm into his own personal garden, but somewhere inside of him, I can see someone who was once a good person," she said. "And he's not the only one. While they weren't all exactly saints, many of the newer Darkloids were once people too. Pandora used to be Penelope. GrandeurMan was once a demon named Adegast, and even Bella and Donna were two witches before. Sticking with this theory on the true origins of the Darkloids, VineMan was most likely someone born in the Demon Realm until something happened that turned him into the Darkloid he was when Lan and MegaMan fought him."

Luz approached her plant friend. "Willow, I get that you might see some good in VineMan, but the Darkloids aren't all good," she said. "I know at least two that are friends with Lan, MegaMan, Kim and Miracle, but every other one is bad to the bone. You have to accept that."

"Just like you once thought little of Amity?" Willow asked. "Look how she turned out, Skara too!"

Luz opened her mouth to answer, but closed it when the statement sunk in.

"I'm not just saying this because I'm a nice person, but because not everyone is looking at the big picture," Willow went on. "If you judge a person based on the actions of their kind alone, you know nothing about them at all. And I'm betting everything on my belief that even with the bad deeds the Darkloids have done, there can at least be hope for VineMan."

Luz nodded. "Okay, we'll try it your way," she said. "But I have to warn you. If any of this goes south, or if it's wrong, you will need to take full responsibility for what happens."

"Trust me, I already do."

"Um, guys?" Azura asked as her eyes flowed with data, getting everyone's attention. "Amelia just sent a post from Hexside. VineMan is there, and attacking the Plant Track!"

"Leave him to me!" Willow called, running to the hidden elevator to the base.

"Willow, wait!" Luz called, only to hear the warp point sound off once the elevator reached the cave. "Come on, let's go!" she called to her friends, running out the door, with Amity, Gus and Skara following right behind her while Azura teleported back to the PET.

Back at Hexside, one of the Plant Track students was being backed away from several growing Plant Weeds. Amelia quickly took control of them and caused them to retract back into the ground before sending forth a wave of red grass from one of the dioramas nearby at VineMan, who was cutting apart some incoming roots from two more Plant Witches.

"Hardly a challenge!" VineMan spat as he removed his BambooSword. He turned to Amelia and held up his hand, stopping the red grass wave from hitting him. "What an interesting color for grass," he commented before causing the wave to crumble with a snap. "But it still won't do you any good. I thought you Plant Witches were supposed to be powerful. I guess I was wrong."

"Leave them alone, VineMan!"

VineMan smirked and glanced behind him, seeing Willow standing with several vines growing around her, almost mirroring his exact appearance. Turning around, he walked towards her slowly while several other students nearby either took cover from the action or watched with interest.

"I was wondering when we would cross paths again," VineMan said. "Rest assured, I wasn't going for anything lethal with these delinquents. I just wanted to see if any of them could pose the same challenge that you did to me. Sadly, they could not."

Willow narrowed her eyes at VineMan before walking a little closer.

"You said you have memories of the Demon Realm," Willow recalled, getting VineMan to nod. "What exactly can you remember that's not so fuzzy?"

VineMan let out an impressed chuckle. "Well, for once, someone who isn't trying to insult me," he mused. "Well, quite a few things. I see someone. A person with long hair, with plants all around. I'm in a garden of my own… seeing everything grow ever so vibrantly. And then… it withers away."

"What?" Willow asked before feeling someone approaching. Carefully, she held her hand to the side as Luz, Amity, Gus and Skara arrived, motioning for them to stop. "But everything here grows so beautifully."

"Not from my memories," VineMan said, receding his plants. "Everything turned from beauty… to cruelty. The plants lost their true purpose… and I feel I did too."

Willow's eyes widened as Luz and her friends watched on. "You weren't a witch or a demon here before," she realized. "You were once a plant… a plant that evolved on its own into… you."

"That seems to be the only conclusion I can come to," VineMan said calmly. "I never had any memories of walking any first steps as an infant or seeing the visage of one I would call a parent. Only the soil around me, turning everything to something that was cruel… a large step from the beauty of the flowers once in the garden."

"I know what that's like. Being nice at one point in time. Then everything changes. The people around you," Willow said, getting Amity to look down guiltily. "But good things came from them too. If you let me, I can help you rediscover who you once were. You don't have to do this."

VineMan snapped his head back up and scoffed. "What makes you think I need your help?" he retorted. "I only see you as equal for your power. A Darkloid such as myself would stomp all over the likes of humanoids like you, especially the humans themselves."

"Then how about we settle this? One plant powerhouse to another?" Willow suggested as she and VineMan now started to circle each other. "VineMan, I challenge you to a one-on-one duel!"

VineMan chuckled. "An interesting gesture," he mused. "I accept, but I set the terms. If I win, I grow my garden without any interference, and you by my side."

"And if I win, you stop with that mad plot, and let me help you rediscover your past life here," Willow replied. "But we don't do our battle here. Never in a school."

"Name the time and place."

"One hour, at the Bonesborough Garden Club," Willow said, with everyone around them now recording what was going down. "No outside interference. No Dark Chips…" she started before taking out her Battle Chip Gauntlets and the Battle Chip Gate, throwing them to Luz and Amity, who caught them, albeit with surprise at the action. "And with our own powers only."

VineMan nodded. "Challenge accepted," he said before stepping back. "May the best plant user win." He bid before digitizing away.

Luz was the first to approach Willow while Skara went to help the attacked Plant Students.

"That was really brave of you, Willow," Luz complimented. "I'd remark against this course of action, but given how well he respects you, and the way you didn't even attack each other this whole time, he seems to be keeping to his word when you meet up."

"There's good in him, Luz. I know it," Willow said. "And now that I know the full story from what he told me, I can say that I know where he came from, but not yet how he turned into a Darkloid."

"What's that?" Gus asked.

"The woman with long hair in a garden, surrounded by plants that were once beautiful before turning cruel and crude," Willow reiterated. "At one point, Terra Snapdragon was a kind witch who raised a garden. But then she became obsessed with creating the perfect garden that she turned cruel and sadistic. I studied her even before officially joining the Plant Track. And I know that it was her that had the garden with VineMan in it. Through some means, he survived from what she did to the original garden… and with the cruelty and obsession with plant life, something turned him into VineMan."

"You're sure about that?" Amity asked, walking over with Skara.

"As sure as I was that you would all be good friends," Willow replied, getting Luz and the others to smile. "Now, I should get ready. The garden club is a while away from here, and I know I can still get through to VineMan." She said before walking off.

"Look at her go," Luz said while Skara felt her Scroll PET vibrate. Summoning it, she looked to the screen and smiled before typing something. "There's nothing that she can't do."

"But shouldn't we at least back her up?" Gus asked.

"No. We can watch, but we can't interfere," Amity said. "When I met Willow, she was strong with Plant Magic. She's still that same witch I met as a toddler. She's stronger because of her heart."

Skara put her Scroll PET down, smiling at what she was hearing. "Well, we'd better not stand her up at her fight," she said, unaware that Lurerre had seen the whole thing. "Let's go and show her our full support!"

Lurerre narrowed her eyes and tightened her fists.

"So, I guess old-timers like you have gone soft here," Lurerre remarked. "Guess if we Darkloids are to still remain strong… we have to take action…" she said before a sinister smirk came to her face. "And if it's a garden club you're meeting at, I know how to… light up this party."

At the Emperor's Palace, Lilith was walking around. She glanced to the Throne Room, seeing Emperor Belos listening in on a report from a Coven Scout. Sinking his clawed fingers into the armrest of the throne, the Scout started to back away, and the door closed. She narrowed her eyes with doubt before continuing to walk on, where some of her Maverick Hunters were making their way to her. However, before the two groups could meet up with each other, several Coven Scouts in green robes walked from the adjacent hall, led by the long-haired plant-adorned Head Witch of the Plant Coven, Terra Snapdragon.

"Head Witch Terra," Lilith said, getting Terra to turn to her. "You have quite a security detail right now. What is the matter?"

"Have you seen the recent video going around on Penstagram?" Terra asked, summoning her Scroll.

"Haven't gone for that better update, I see." Lilith said with a smirk, summoning her own Scroll, now a Scroll PET. It had dark blue and navy colors to it, and had a raven symbol for the Navi Crest.

"Oh, not you too," Terra groaned. "I'm all in for different trends, but I despise all this NetBattling and the CrossFusion that came with it."

"What's so bad about bringing people together through fighting?" Lilith asked. "If memory serves, you're into that sort of thing."

"When it's the actual people fighting and scraping. Now, it's those Navis doing it, and the people get to safely watch from their devices," Terra said, rolling her eyes. "And the CrossFusion is no different. Armor for each battle. Please! Go with your bare hands any day! No one cares if one loses a limb or an eye. It's all they deserve if they start a fight. Toughens them up."

"Just tell me what this video is about," Lilith said before pulling up the Penstagram video showing the confrontation from earlier. "A challenge of a duel to… an original Darkloid?"

"To take place at the Bonesborough Garden Club," Terra added. "While I all down for a good scuffle, I would hate to see one of the sanctuaries of mine be used for a battleground. I will be there myself to assess the situation, and cease the matter if the fight goes out of control," she explained. "And if you and your hunters aim to help stop this before it gets out of hand, you will come with me too." She said strictly before she and her scouts walked off.

"What is your course of action, Head Witch?" one of the Maverick Hunters asked as the group finally made their way to Lilith.

"Take a handful and come with me to the garden club, Steve," Lilith ordered the elite scout. "Terra is an old brat, but she's right about one thing. We can't let this get out of hand."

Soon, almost an hour had passed since the challenge was issued. Many witches and demons had gathered at the Bonesborough Garden Club, where a field was set up in the center of the interior, with all the plants on display being guarded by Terra's scouts while the more rare plants had protective barriers set around them.

"Remember, none of us make a move, else we forfeit our honor," Luz reminded Amity, Gus and Skara as they took their seats with her. All four of them turned to the door, seeing Willow enter. "The only thing we can give her is our full support."

As soon as Willow entered, she raised her arms with spell circles around her wrists, closing the doors behind her. Entering the field, VineMan digitized in, a hand on his hip as he watched Willow approaching him until she reached her end of the field, both opponents now diametrically facing each other.

"I see you took this challenge seriously," Willow said with a pleased smile on her face. "Good to know you had honor then, and even still now."

"I'm not one to back away from a fight," VineMan replied before summoning a Dark Chip with the Plant Coven Sigil on it, something which Terra Snapdragon looked to with much unease. However, he flicked the Dark Chip to the side instead, letting it impact into the corner of the ceiling. "As promised, no Dark Chips… but don't get upset if I use wood Battle Chips."

"I won't even stop you from that. Plant Magic is still Plant Magic, no matter what other name it takes," Willow said as her friends watched on. "And I swear… I'm going to help you rediscover who you once were."

"Strong words coming from a girl named after wood and flowers." VineMan remarked, readying plants at his side.

"And much more too!" Willow exclaimed, thrusting her hands to the ground. Several plants erupted, forming a path from her all the way to VineMan.

"Plant Weed!" VineMan called out, creating his own vines to defend himself before several of his vines sprung out from beneath him. Now riding on them, he made his way to Willow, who formed an X with two long plants to defend from more incoming Plant Weed attacks before launching herself up to land on VineMan's wave.

"Gonna have to try harder than that!" Willow quipped, sending forth a punch at VineMan. He easily caught it before punching back. His fist too was caught, but Willow managed to twist his arms around until he fell off. However, his fall was saved as he kicked off of the vines, now dismantling them as he got back up.

Willow leapt off from the vines as they fell apart, and controlled some small plants from the area near her landing zone. Making a three-point landing, she launched several seeds like bullets at VineMan, who used his Leaf Barrier to protect himself.

"My turn! BambooLance!" VineMan called out, causing a BambooLance attack to erupt under and behind Willow.

Willow grabbed one of the bamboo sticks from the attack coming from behind her before twirling off of the ground, using it to knock away the underground attack. Now landing again, she stabbed her bamboo staff into a broken vine, creating a makeshift lance, before several Rose Thorns were sent at her. Creating more Spell Circles, she summoned her own Leaf Barriers as shields before grabbing one of them to use as an actual shield. She charged through the Rose Thorns and right at VineMan, nearly skewering him as he flung himself backwards.

"Wow, she's good!" Luz exclaimed.

"Yeah, you got that right!" Azura agreed from the MagiNet as she, Hecate, MirageMan and Melody all watched with several other Navis. "Guess she must've been holding back in our fight with ShadeMan."

"Now it gets interesting." Terra said as nearby, Lilith tightened the grip she had on the hem of her dress.

"This is getting intense, but too close," Lilith said. "But this witch shows talent in fighting a Darkloid without any weapons from Luzura Incorporated, or even with CrossFusion."

"En garde, my friend," VineMan said as he landed. He held out his hand and grabbed a sword hilt. "BambooSword!" he called out, summoning the blade of the BambooSword while taking one of the leaves from his Leaf Barrier to also use as a personal handheld shield.

Willow and VineMan now started to circle each other, the former holding her makeshift lance at the ready while VineMan twirled his BambooSword around.

After the last of the remains of the BambooLance shattered, Willow and VineMan charged at each other, clashing blades in the middle. A shock wave was sent out from their collision before they broke off, with VineMan knocking Willow away with his shield. He attempted to slash down at her, but she held up her own shield and knocked the blade away, slashing at his waist. He gasped and twirled out of the way, spinning against the movement of the lance, before sliding his BambooSword on it until it reached Willow herself.

Willow parried the BambooSword away and reversed the grip on her weapon as VineMan tried to slash down at her again. She blocked the attack and reset her grip, spinning her lance around her back to parry off against more of his movements until the two bashed their shields at each other. The moment they did, they both released them and put their strength into holding their main weapons. The two stared each other down while locking blades before breaking off, now attacking and clashing in a flurry of swift and elegant movements as they both attempted to break through each others' defenses.

"Come on, come on…" Lilith said.

"Steve is anxious too." Steve admitted.

"She can do it, she can do it…" Amity said to herself nervously as her hand threatened to tear the hem clear off of her school uniform.

"Go get him, Willow." Luz said calmly.

Willow spun over a low slash from VineMan and jabbed forward, causing him to parry away her lance. As she went more on the offensive, she put her strength into her right hand for the next jab. VineMan slashed down at her hand, but she released her weapon quickly, and just as quickly, used her left hand to regain her weapon as he went for an upper slash. The two slashed each others' weapons once more before Willow attempted a low swing. VineMan jumped over the lance and reversed the grip on his BambooSword, slashing at Willow's neck, just as she mirrored his slash while down low and held her left arm up in defense.

Everyone gasped as the two's movements stopped. VineMan panted as he looked down at Willow, keeping her stance. Finally, he grinned.

"Well, looks like we've got a winner." VineMan said confidently.

"No…" Skara said as everyone was on the edge of their seats.

However, Luz was grinning, something which Gus took notice of.

"What's with you?" Gus asked.

"I'd take a closer look at the outcome if I were all of you." Luz advised, seeing a reflective pane of glass showing what had happened on the opposite side of where VineMan made his mark.

Willow looked up with a smirk, matching VineMan's unending smirk. And that was when everyone saw what had truly ended the battle.

Over Willow's left arm was a fist made out of dozens of vines, which had caused the BambooSword blade to shatter. Her right hand, still holding her makeshift lance, had just barely pierced VineMan's side. Soon, the blade retracted, and VineMan limped back, allowing Willow to step back up and swing her lance down.

Everyone continued to look on in amazement before eventually, VineMan let one of his Plant Weeds grow next to him. Hitting it against his hand, he smiled at Willow, clearly clapping at the outcome of the fight.

"Well done, Ms. Park," VineMan applauded. "I suppose you really have a way with words and action."

"I told you before, VineMan," Willow said. "I will help you rediscover who you once were, no matter what."

"But why go through all that trouble?" VineMan asked.

"Because I was like you too," Willow replied. "Grew up in a nice crowd, then everything changed, and the world became crueler. But while you went to embrace a path of a Darkloid, I found friends willing to help me out. And now, I'd like to extend that same honor to you… if you'll let me."

Luz and her friends just smiled while Lilith let out a sigh of relief, sitting back down. She heard some soft clapping and turned to see Terra giving a soft applause.

"She's quite the powerful Plant Witch, I must admit." Terra said.

All of a sudden, VineMan's smile lessened as he noticed something. Running to Willow, he raised his arms up, summoning his Leaf Barrier as several Flask Cannon shots were fired at the two. However, instead of absorbing the fire from the attacks, they spread to the sides, causing small fires to appear.

"Lurerre, come out! I know that's you!" VineMan ordered.

Lurerre scoffed as she digitized into the Garden Club, her Flask Cannons aimed out. Everyone looked to her and aimed at her immediately as she floated towards VineMan.

"You made me miss!" Lurerre scowled.

"Stop this now, Lurerre!" VineMan ordered once again. "My garden of the Demon Realm is no more!"

"You really think an old-timer like you can tell me what to do just because you had a Witch's Duel with Willow Park?" Lurerre scoffed. "No. Your time has passed. Your plan has failed. Now I'm taking over this operation! Starting with the massacre of every single being in this mausoleum!" she yelled, firing everywhere.

Everyone yelled as fires started to erupt. The scouts guarding the plants on display did their best to protect them and the rest of the plants in the structure, but they were shot down quickly.

"You dare disobey me?! ShadeMan will have your crest and your head!" VineMan yelled, aiming his hand out. "Rose Thorn, get her!" he called out, causing Rose Thorns to launch at Lurerre.

Lurerre scowled and let out her dual blades, slashing the Rose Thorns apart. She was about to fire back at VineMan until a sword was thrown in her direction, knocking her to the ground.

"That's enough of that." Gus quipped, taking back his summoned Illusion Blade while Skara let out two spell circles. Placing them over her mouth, she let out her sonic scream on Lurerre, sending her rocketing out of the Garden Club and into the open outside, where everyone was scrambling to get out, with the Maverick Hunters doing their best to calm the crowd.

"Willow, come on!" Luz called as Amity formed an Abomination Barrier to protect herself and Luz.

"There are too many plants here that are rare and unprotected!" Willow called as VineMan summoned more Leaf Barriers to stop the fires from spreading. "I'll find another way out as soon as we put out this fire! Go!"

"No, I won't leave you behind again!" Amity protested.

"Do as the girl says!" VineMan called out. "I'm not leaving until I know for certain that every plant and flower here hasn't died!"

Luz looked to VineMan with shock, but all he did was nod at her. She hesitated for a moment before nodding back and turning back to Amity.

"Let's get that potions psycho." Luz said.

Amity nodded and formed an Abomination Bubble around her and Luz. Before it could finish forming, Luz placed a Fire Glyph on the outside and slammed it right as the bubble closed. Using it as a rocket boost, she and Amity roared outside, with Skara using her sonic scream again to launch herself and Gus alongside them. As soon as they did, the broken wall they made collapsed behind them.

"Come on!" Willow called out, creating spell circles. Placing them over her hands, she sent several blasts at the plants inside, creating barriers over them all.

"Plant Weed!" VineMan called out while still holding the Leaf Barrier, also creating as many defenses as he could to protect the plants, now back to back with Willow.

Lurerre recovered and got back up, seething as she saw Luz, Amity, Gus and Skara all advancing towards her, each loading Battle Chips into their PETs before stopping a few feet in front of her.

"How dare you get in the way of my deed!" Lurerre yelled.

"Killing a ton of people is not something we're just gonna ignore." Luz said.

"So you turned on VineMan for that?!"

Lurerre growled as Pandora appeared behind her. She was now fully surrounded from the front and the back.

"We might be Darkloids, Lurerre, but we don't attack our superiors!" Pandora snapped. "You'll answer to ShadeMan for this!"

"Maybe his actions are the problem," Lurerre sneered, glancing from Pandora to the four CrossFusion Users. "Maybe ShadeMan's ways are the reason he was Deleted by Dr. Regal in the first place. It's time for new leadership, Penelope! And you either stand with me or against me!"

"It's treason, then." Pandora remarked, letting out one of her blades.

"More like… an execution!" Lurerre yelled, turning to fire on Luz, Skara, Amity and Gus.

"SYNCHRO CHIP IN! DOWNLOAD!" Luz, Amity, Gus and Skara all called out as the explosion from the blast went off. All of their Crests flew out as they backflipped into the air, letting them plant themselves onto their chests.

"CROSSFUSION!"

Luz let Azura's armor manifest itself onto her outstretched arm as at the same time, her left arm started to gain her same gauntlets. Spreading them out, Azura's boots appeared over her legs, right as a purple over-shield appeared over her top chest. On her back, a set of two stars split in half appeared, acting as a pack for her, before she crossed her arms, allowing her Navi Crest to form and place itself on the center of her chest. As soon as it did, she spun around, her black bodysuit appearing beneath. She turned around and grinned, Azura's hat appearing over her head, followed by the sides of her helmet forming and placing a plate over her mouth. Holding out her right hand, the MagiBuster appeared, which she spun around.

Amity grinned and held her arms out, letting Hecate's Navi Crest pass through her, giving her a black bodysuit. As soon as it did, she thrust her right arm to the side while her left arm gained her Navi's gauntlet. The same happened for her other arm before letting Hecate's boots digitize over her feet. Raising both arms into the air, she brought them down, letting her helmet appear before the crescent moon chevron manifested itself. Spreading out her arms now, her Navi Crest flew onto her chest, followed by her hair being undone and coming out the back of her helmet as a ponytail, followed by her blue tailcoat falling around her legs.

Skara flung out her Navi Crest before letting it pass through her. As soon as it did, she let Melody's gauntlets appear over her arms before performing a high double kick, letting her boots appear over her own. Spinning around, her clothes compressed to allow for her black bodysuit to manifest onto her before her Navi Crest flew onto her chest. Eyes closed, she bowed her head down and let Melody's helmet appear over her, followed by her visor appearing over her eyes as she opened them. Spinning once again, she summoned her harp before backflipping.

Gus spread out his arms as several illusions of MirageMan appeared around him. He opened his eyes, getting them each to slam onto his body. His gauntlets slammed over his hands before stepping forward, letting MirageMan's boots appear over his own. Kneeling down, the scabbard of his sword appeared on his back before getting back up, letting two orbs position themselves onto his shoulders, which formed into side plates. He looked up and grinned as MirageMan's Navi Crest flew onto his chest, giving him his mesh bodysuit, before his helmet appeared over his head. Letting the mouth guard appear over his mouth, he took out his sword and aimed it outwards.

As soon as Luz landed, she kicked Lurerre back and twirled around, officially ending her CrossFusion before feeling an incoming strike from behind her.

Amity AreaStole to the ground and blocked the strike, which came from Pandora, before thrusting both her arms to the side. As soon as she did, Skara landed and performed a sweep-kick, knocking Pandora and Lurerre off of their feet before sending a single note from her harp.

While Lurerre and Pandora were in the air, Gus flew at them with his Illusion Blade, slashing through them as all three now ended their CrossFusions.

"Try and see if you can help Willow and VineMan!" Luz ordered Gus and Skara as they got up. "We've got these two!"

"You got it!" Skara called back as she and Gus ran to the Garden Club, only for FeralMan to suddenly leap in and attack them.

"Not in the mood, Jango!" Gus remarked, slashing at FeralMan as he struck at them, causing them to scatter while Lurerre ran and slashed at Luz and Amity.

"Keep this crowd calm! Tend to those harmed by the flames!" Lilith ordered as the Maverick Hunters both tried to douse the fire and calm down the panicking witches and demons.

"So, VineMan has turned on me," a voice said, causing Lilith to gasp and turn. Aiming her staff out, she saw ShadeMan approach her. "While I would go there and take him out for his failure myself, I know you're not one to go down without a fight… if you can even give me one after we first met."

"You may have stolen my sigil, but not my spirit," Lilith proclaimed as she tossed her cloak off. "You'll pay for all you've done, ShadeMan."

ShadeMan scoffed and summoned his new staff, turning it into a sword. "At least this won't be a completely dull experience." He remarked before flying at Lilith.

Lilith narrowed her eyes and spun her staff around, letting it clash with ShadeMan's sword before elbowing him back. Creating several spell circles, she used them to create fire blasts that shot out at him from the ground, but he was able to quickly evade them before locking with her once again, the two glaring each other down intently.

Pandora slammed her double-ended blade against Lurerre, who slashed it away before leaping to take on Amity. As she held up her LunaStriker to parry it away, Luz tried to attack her from behind. She was then kicked back, where Pandora grabbed her and tried to toss her aside, only for the Latina to smack her hand to the side and charge back before blocking an attack from her.

"Don't think we're on the same side after what you did to me at the stadium," Pandora spat. "If anything I'll be taking down a traitor and a human!"

"Better add a witch to that, because no one harms my Luz!" Amity spat, breaking off with Lurerre to slash at Pandora, who separated her blades to lock with the two.

Pandora soon broke off and charged to slash at Amity, but Lurerre slashed her in return before Luz leapt at her from the side. As she did, Amity fired a few blasts at Pandora, who returned fire just as Luz struck at her with Lurerre.

Luz, Pandora and Lurerre all struggled to gain momentum over each other until breaking off just as Amity was about to join in. She let out an exasperated groan before she and Pandora stabbed at each other, the former forcing back Lurerre while the latter was locking with Luz.

Back inside, Willow continued to create protective barriers around all of the unshielded plants. Before she could create a barrier around a bed of flowers, she coughed and nearly collapsed, now starting to sweat.

"Willow!" VineMan yelled, rushing over to pull her back up. As he did, the Leaf Barrier started to weaken, and some of the flames spread to his arm. Wincing a little, he finished the barrier Willow was about to make before using what remained of his Leaf Barriers to shield both himself and Willow. "The fire is getting to you. While I can withstand it a bit longer, I don't know how much long you'll be able to last before you suffocate to death."

"But the garden—!"

"Is safe because of us," VineMan finished before falling onto his knee. "I swore that once I lost to you, you would help me rediscover who I once was. You can still do that when you escape, but you have to let me finish the rest of the job and keep this place standing! I'm not letting another garden collapse around me again!"

Willow shielded her arms from the rest of the flames before realizing what VineMan had just said. "You're remembering…" she said.

"Without the Dark Aura influencing me, everything is now much clearer," VineMan said. He looked to Willow and reached for his Crest. Pulling something out from it, it glowed as he handed it to her. "You know what to do. Just as I know what I must do."

Willow held the shining object and let out a tear. "But you'll die…" she said.

"Just this Darkloid self," VineMan said, the Leaf Barrier slowly losing its defense. "But who I once was, the Navi and personality of me before I became VineMan, will live with you," he reassured. "We both know this is what has to be done. What you must do to save the garden."

Willow tearfully nodded. "For the garden." She agreed.

VineMan smiled and summoned more plants to help keep the entire Garden Club standing. As he did, Willow started to shine, as did his body.

"Thank you, Willow."

Outside, Gus dodged a jab from FeralMan's claws before Skara leapt at him with her Lyra String.

"Fortissimo Ball!" Skara called out, sending several music notes at FeralMan that sent him crashing back before Gus charged at him with a gold glow coming from his Illusion Blade.

"Neo VariableSword! Sonic Boom!"

FeralMan yelled as his arm was cut off, now digitizing away as Gus landed behind him.

"FeralMan, Logging Out."

"Noise Crush!" ShadeMan yelled, sending forth his strongest attack at Lilith.

Lilith spun her staff quickly to create a shield before sending forth a blast of blue fire in return. As ShadeMan was defending himself with his wing, Lilith ran forward and slammed her staff end into his Crest, causing him to stumble back.

"That was for the Covention!" Lilith remarked.

"Impressive work." ShadeMan complimented before digitizing away.

"ShadeMan, Logging Out."

Lilith panted as she fell to her knees. Before she could fall on her face, Gus and Skara ran and grabbed her.

"Thank you," Lilith said before seeing a green light orb floating from the Garden Club, taking all of the fire with it. "What?"

Luz and Amity spun around and slashed at both Lurerre and Pandora. However, Lurerre dodged while Pandora was hit with both strikes, now with pixels coming from her abdomen.

"I trust you to take care of her." Pandora snarled before eventually digitizing through her magic circle.

"Pandora, Logging Out."

"No… my fire!"

Luz and Amity turned to see all of the flames leave the Garden Club. The green orb flew down and hit Lurerre, who stumbled back before quickly recovering herself, now charging back up and returning to full strength.

"You won't harm this garden anymore!"

"Willow?" Luz asked.

"No way!" Amity exclaimed.

The green orb cleared, and indeed, Willow Park stood proud and tall. Though she still had some minor burns, she was still strong, and glared at Lurerre as she readied herself for another fight.

"No…" Lurerre snarled, trying to keep her composure. "I thought you were…"

"But I'm not," Willow cut off, showing off a Synchro Chip in her hand. However, unlike the others, this one had a green tint to it, and had an emblem in place of MegaMan's Crest in the form of a six-pointed flower. Holding it out, she took out her Scroll PET. "Synchro Chip In! Download!" she called out. "GardenMan, let's do this!"

Luz and Amity watched with amazement, as did Gus, Skara and Lilith from afar.

As soon as Willow placed the Synchro Chip into her Scroll PET, her Navi started to change. The body digitized to resemble VineMan, but without any spikes or vines around them. The eyes of the newly-formed Navi opened as Willow held her PET out to shine bright.

"Begin CrossFusion Now!"

Willow spread out her arms, allowing for green boots to appear over her feet. As soon as they did, she held her right arm out to the side with her left hand crossed across her chest, both gaining flower-shaped gauntlets. As soon as smaller flowers sprouted up from them, she held them out to the sides once again, allowing for a white bodysuit to form across the rest of her. Behind her, a rose appeared as her pack, opening up and giving her a pink flower-shaped helmet, with an emerald gem appearing on the forehead area while her hair formed into two flowing pigtails from the back. Her Navi Crest flew onto her chest, and with a flick of her hand, flowers flew all around her, and she ended her CrossFusion with her left hand held in a fist near her head and her right thrust out, all fingers spread.

"Strong as a tree!" Willow called, now showing off herself in her very own CrossFusion.

"Whoa…" Skara said.

"Willow… did VineMan become your Navi?" Luz asked in complete shock.

"VineMan was the Darkloid that he was corrupted into. The real one who had this form was him before that… GardenMan."

Indeed, Willow's armor with the Navi now known as GardenMan did resemble VineMan. However, instead of thorns, there were beautiful flowers decorating her body, more vibrant colors all around, and with plants hanging from the back, acting as a flowing cape.

"So what?! A plant witch with a plant Navi is still a weakling!" Lurerre remarked. "And I'll turn you to fertilizer just as easily! Chemical Tower!"

Willow held her stance as Lurerre sent forth her Chemical Tower. Looking up, she held up her hand, forming a Leaf Barrier before dashing right at her, kneeing her in the chest and causing her to fly back.

"Vine Whips!" Willow called out, summoning two vines in her hands. Spinning them around, she lashed at Lurerre as she tried to cut her way through, only for them to move so fast that they broke her defenses until she was grabbed and flung into the air, where Willow held her arm out. "Garden Rush!" she called out, causing several flowers of all different kinds and colors to send forth seeds going as fast as bullets towards Lurerre.

Some of the seeds stunned Lurerre, freezing her in place temporarily, before several Willow spun around, letting the plants from her back thrash her around before knocking her back once again.

"Rose Buster!" Willow announced, getting her left hand's gauntlet to further form over her arm. Aiming it out, several roses blasted out, similarly to the Rose Thorn attack, but with a more vibrant color and a faster speed.

Lurerre shot as many of the blasts as she could, but was outmatched and eventually forced to use her arms to shield herself.

"GardenBlade!" Willow called out afterwards, summoning the same sword hilt that VineMan used, now longer like a staff. A pure green version of the BambooSword came out, and without warning, Willow dashed right at Lurerre, slashing at her just as she lowered her defenses.

Everyone watched in amazement before Lurerre's left arm was cut off. With Willow still having her back turned to her, her plants lunged at Lurerre's head, striking her face as she saw the attack with a horrified look on her face.

In seconds, Lurerre was flung back, now missing her left arm and her right eye, screeching in anger.

"Mess with this flower, and you get a garden's wrath." Willow announced, turning around and swinging down her weapon.

"You go, Willow!" Luz cheered.

"You did it!" Amity called out happily.

"I'll get you back for this, Willow!" Lurerre yelled as she got back up, albeit on shaky legs. "You'll be the next to die for what you've done to me!"

"Lurerre, Logging Out."

Willow turned and smiled, spreading out her arms. As soon as Gus and Skara arrived, they joined with Luz and Amity to do the same as well. All five of them ejected from CrossFusion, and caught their PETs.

"Wait…" Luz said before looking back to the Garden Club. "VineMan!"

"Luz, wait!" Willow called as Luz ran back inside frantically.

Luz ran into the field and looked around. All of the flames had been put out, and in the middle of the entire building was what took her by surprise the most.

In place of the Leaf Barrier and the plants protecting Willow and VineMan earlier was now a blossoming tree. Engraved onto it was VineMan, in the same position he had when defending the Garden Club, but with a smile on his face.

Seeing what had happened, Luz let out a tear. She walked over and placed her hand on VineMan, closing her eyes.

"Thank you," Luz said as Azura appeared and copied what she was doing. "For everything."

"VineMan gave me every bit of data on his previous life. A life when he was known as GardenMan," Willow said, walking to Luz as the rest of her friends went to pay their respects. "That was his self that was brought out each time I was with him. That was GardenMan, returning to life," she said before showing her Scroll PET as they all turned to her, now showing GardenMan, who looked to be a more good and serene version of VineMan. "Meet my new Navi."

"I will be pleased to formally meet you and your Navis, if you give me the chance." GardenMan said.

Luz smiled and walked up to Willow, hugging her. "You did it… you kept to your word, despite everything."

Willow smiled and hugged Luz back. "So… since we can all CrossFuse now… I suppose we're gonna all need training from you."

Luz chuckled. "I think we've had enough for one day," she said. "Wasn't there something happening later tonight? You've been reminding me for days, and somehow I forget what it exactly was."

"The Lunar Eclipse," Amity said. "It's supposed to be twice as powerful as a Conjuring, and I can't wait to have it all together."

"Better get ready for tomorrow, then," Skara said, looking outside and smiling. "Now, with all said and done… I've got a rendezvous."

"Yeah, let's get going," Luz said before turning to the new tree once more. "Thanks for showing me that you're not all bad." She thanked before everyone walked their separate ways.

Not too long after Luz and her friends left the Garden Club, with Lilith, Terra and the Coven Scouts pulling out as well once they made sure everyone was alright, Lurerre weakly digitized back inside. She looked to the tree with the carving of VineMan before recalling what he did with his Dark Chip before the duel. Turning to the far corner of the room, she held out her hand. Soon, the Plant Coven Dark Chip floated to her, just as she nearly collapsed from all the damage she had taken.

"At least I can put this to better use than you did!" Lurerre spat before slamming the Plant Coven Dark Chip into her Crest.

A dark emerald aura surrounded Lurerre as she roared from the surge of power. As it empowered her, parts of her started to repair themselves. Her missing eye was replaced by a patch sewn into her skin, her left arm regenerated, albeit with a dark-green gauntlet, and her sclera turned dark green as well, mixed with her already-grey eyes.

"Whatever it takes… I will continue to stand on top!" Lurerre remarked in a distorted voice before digitizing away once again.

Later that night, Skara was walking through Bonesborough. She looked to more witches and demons paying respect to VineMan and smiled before continuing her path. Eventually, she reached a diner with serene music playing, and sat down. Looking up, she smiled to see who was approaching.

"You alright?"

"I'm honestly nervous," Skara said as the visitor sat down. "How will we break this to everyone? Especially Amity?"

Across from Skara sat none other than Emira Blight, wearing a short elegant red dress with white and black accents.

"It'll be tough… but we'll see where it goes."

Skara smiled and placed her hand on top of Emira's.

"Together."

Author's Notes: Well, I hope you all like this new chapter to start off 2024. Sorry for not updating in a while, I had to take a break after the double update on Christmas. Now that I'm back, I'm excited to share what I've got on the story for the next few chapters with the rest of you. Please review, rate, and if you can, PM me on the site for anything on the story. After all, I'm always keen to hear from you. For now, this is SuperHeroTimeFan signing off. Have a great week, everyone! I'll see you all soon!