Loisse sat at the dinner table with Viney and Uncle Bjorn. The room was filled with the aroma of home-cooked roasted poultry. The warm glow of the candlelight flickered on their faces as they discussed the day's events.
"Dad and I were able to find new homes for those rescue griffon cubs brought in last week," Viney told her cousin with a smile, a glint of pride in her eyes at their successful efforts.
"It's always rewarding to see them go to loving families." Uncle Bjorn nodded in agreement.
"Though Puddles did grow attached to them."
"Is that why I found her moping around outside earlier?" Loisse asked.
"She'll adjust soon enough," Uncle Bjorn reassured her. "Besides, she always has Helios to keep her company." Helios was gentle, but he was still huge. If one wasn't careful, playing with him could easily result in injury.
"I'll make sure she gets all the love and attention she needs," Viney promised. "And maybe we can visit the cubs in their new homes once they settle in."
Uncle Bjorn smiled at the suggestion. "That would be a wonderful idea." He finished off the rest of his plate. "I'll take care of the dishes while you two bring Puddles and Helios their dinner."
"They haven't been fed yet?" Loisse asked, surprised. "Aren't they on a strict feeding schedule?"
"Yes, but Puddles won't touch her food, and Helios is being stubborn more than usual," Uncle Bjorn explained, showing their keen understanding of the animals' behavior.
"I think they want attention," Viney guessed. "I'll spend some extra time with them before bed."
"I'll get the gloves; you get the feed," Loisse instructed, heading towards the barn. "And maybe a few extra treats to coax them into eating," she grinned.
"Just don't spoil their dinner," Uncle Bjorn warned, knowing how easily Puddles and Helios could manipulate their way into getting more treats than they needed.
Loisse and Viney carried the buckets of griffon feed and treats into the barn. Viney carried Helios' more giant bucket while Loisse balanced Puddles' smaller one in her arms.
"Puddles! Helios! Dinner time!" Loisse called out to the griffons. Helios trudged over, making sure his massive body didn't knock anything or anyone over. Puddles, however, bolted to the girls with excitement for the food. "I guess she got over her depression."
Puddles tried to take Helios' bucket from Viney. "No, Puddles. That's for Helios," Viney said, gently pushing Puddles away. "You have your right there, with Loisse." Puddles whined and pawed at the ground, clearly disappointed, but she still trotted to her bucket.
The griffons eagerly chowed down on their dinner, with Helios taking his time to savor each bite, his powerful beak making quick work of the feed. On the other hand, Puddles practically inhaled her food, her excitement palpable. Loisse smiled at the sight. "I'm glad to see Puddles back to her normal self," she remarked.
"Yep," Viney replied, "food always seems to do the trick with her."
Suddenly, the griffons stopped eating and growled lowly, their heads turning towards the barn entrance. "What's wrong?" Loisse asked.
"Something's got 'em agitated," Viney said, squinting towards the entrance. "We better go check it out." The cousins exited the barn but found nothing outside.
"I don't see anything," Loisse said, unease creeping up her spine. "Maybe it was just a passing shadow."
The griffons continued to growl, their eyes fixed on something unseen. Their feathers bristled, and their growls grew more intense, adding to the tension in the air. "No, there's something out here," Viney confirmed, her voice steady despite the situation. She traced two spell circles—one over her eyes and the other over Loisse's. Their eyes glowed orange, and their vision enhanced as they spotted a shimmering figure above. And it was getting closer by the second!
"Uncle Bjorn!" "Dad!" Loisse and Viney shouted simultaneously as the figure crashed into the ground outside the house, sending a shockwave rippling through the air and blowing the cousins away.
As they struggled to regain their footing, the figure stood up, revealing itself as a metallic man with glowing green veins and a skull-like face.
"What is that thing?" Viney whispered, fear creeping into her voice.
"I don't know," Loisse replied, grabbing Viney's hand.
"Which one of you is Loisse Laine?" The metallic figure asked the girls in a menacing tone.
Shrieks from Helios and Puddles could be heard as the griffons emerged from the barn to attack the intruder, their wings spread wide and their talons ready to strike. Puddles charged at the metal man, pouncing at him. But instead of dodging as any sane person would, he grabbed Puddles by the neck, lifting her off the ground effortlessly and then tossing her across the yard.
"Puddles!" Viney screamed, rushing to her griffon's side. Helios screeched in fury and lunged at the figure, determined to protect his fellow griffon.
Since Helios was more prominent, the metallic man could not quickly grab him as he did with Puddles. Instead, green energy gathered in his hands, and a burst of green flames sent Helios flying backward, crashing into a nearby tree. Loisse could only gasp as the metal man stood victorious.
"I'm going to ask again: which of you is Loisse Laine?" The metal man glared at them, his voice cold and demanding. Loisse felt a chill run down her spine. Who was he? What did he want with her?
"Get the hell away from my daughter and niece!" Uncle Bjorn roared, stepping forward with a determined look in his eyes. He cast a spell that lifted a boulder from the ground and sent it forward with enough force to make even the strongest witch or demon stumble backward. But the metal man unleashed another blast of green flames that engulfed the boulder before it could reach him, dissipating it into ash.
Uncle Bjorn grabbed a nearby axe and charged at the metal man, determined to protect his family at all costs. The metal man raised his arm and broke the axe with a swing before grabbing Uncle Bjorn by the throat and lifting him off the ground effortlessly.
"Uncle!" Loisse screamed, fear gripping her heart as she watched the metal man's cold, unfeeling grip tighten around his neck.
The metal man turned to Loisse. "So, you must be Loisse Laine? This would've been less painful for your family if you had cooperated from the beginning."
"Wh… what do you want from me?" Loisse was determining whether to release her Oracle Spirit to help defend her family but felt it would be in vain against this powerful opponent.
"You're going to call Superboy right here and now. If you don't, I'll make sure your uncle pays the price," the metal man threatened, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"You want Superboy? Your funeral." Loisse knew it would be the only Boy of Steel if anyone could take down this guy. Loisse took a deep breath and shouted with all her might, "SUPERBOY!"
"All right, I called him," Loisse told the metal man holding her uncle hostage. "He'll be here any second now, so you better let him go before he arrives."
"And why would I do that?" The metal man sneered, tightening his grip on Loisse's uncle. "I bet I could kill him before he even gets here."
The bat babies were fast asleep in Mom's arms, and she and King were also passed out on the couch. Baba also came home briefly and was passed out next to them. They looked adorable.
With the Owl House no longer in chaos, Dell used his speed and strength to clean up the mess left behind from the babies' previous playtime. He zoomed across the house, picking up weapons, putting misplaced books back on the shelves, rearranging furniture to its proper place, and sweeping the floors. When he was done, the Owl House looked as good as new.
Now, all that was left was waiting for Bat Queen to arrive and pick up her naughty offspring.
"SUPERBOY!" Loisse's scream reached Dell's ears as he finished up the last part of the cleaning.
"Loisse." She was in trouble.
Wasting no time, Dell changed into Superboy and flew out of the house toward Loisse's voice, ready to save her from whatever danger she was facing. With a sonic boom, Dell flew to Loisse's location and noticed a metal man holding a man hostage right in front of her. Dell rammed into him with his shoulder like a grudgeby player, sending the metal man flying across the field and releasing the hostage from his grasp.
"Superboy!" Loisse exclaimed, relief flooding her. She rushed to the man's side. "Uncle, are you all right?"
Dell landed gracefully, his cape billowing behind him. "Thanks to him, yeah," Uncle Bjorn replied, patting Dell on the back. "That was a close one."
"Is everyone all right?" Dell asked.
"I can't believe you're here," Viney said, awe in her voice. Puddles screeched and proceeded to lick Dell's face. In his mind, something told Dell that either Puddles was excited to see Superboy or she knew who he was. Dell smiled reassuringly at the Potts family, and everything seemed to calm instantly.
The sounds of clanking resonated as the metal man rose to his feet. "This did save me the trouble of having to find you," he said with a menacing tone. "But now that you're here, I can get down to business."
Dell turned his attention to the metal man and asked, "Who are you?"
His eyes glowed with a sinister light as he replied, "I am Reactron, and I'm here to kill you and anyone who stands in my way."
"All of you, get inside the house and lock the doors," Dell commanded, preparing to face Reactron. Loisse's uncle quickly obeyed, scooping her and Viney with one arm each, knowing that danger was imminent.
"Why do you want to kill me?" Dell questioned the man, who identified himself as Reactron. Is he a weapon designed by the Emperor's Coven to kill him? Or is he one of Luthor's mercenaries?
The metallic man responded, "I have been promised a handsome reward for your demise. And I will get it." Green energy pulsed through Reactron's form as he raised his arms.
Dell flew in fast and struck Reactron with a powerful blow when a green flame erupted from his foe's hands. The force of the fire was enough to send Dell crashing into a nearby tree. This wasn't a magical attack. He felt drained and weakened, like… "Kryptonite?" He whispered.
Reactron's eyes glowed as he advanced towards Dell, who struggled to regain his feet. The realization hit Dell like a ton of bricks—Kryptonite was powering Reactron!
"What's wrong, Superboy? Feeling a little weak?" Reactron taunted, his voice dripping with satisfaction as he prepared a following attack.
Dell used his super-speed to evade the following two fireballs launched at him. Still, he knew he needed to devise a plan quickly if he would defeat Reactron, who used a burst of Kryptonite flames to send himself hurtling towards Dell and punched him with a force that sent him crashing. Reactron leaped into the air, ready to pound Dell into submission, but he got up and delivered an uppercut that sent the metallic menace flying high into the sky.
Dell flew after him to ensure Reactron didn't have a chance to recover and launch another attack or land with innocent bystanders. He had to end this battle quickly.
Dell was about to catch up to Reactron when he suddenly regained his balance and turned around, firing a blast of energy directly at Dell. "AGH!" He shouted as Reactron's attack caught Dell off guard, sending him freefalling towards the ground.
Dell eventually righted himself mid-air, breathing heavily. Even though the effects of the Kryptonite blasts were weaker in comparison to being exposed to the rocks themselves, they still took a toll on his body. If he wasn't careful, the lingering effects of the Kryptonite could leave him vulnerable to Reactron's next attack and incapacitate him completely.
Reactron flew in from behind Dell and delivered a mighty Kryptonite-powered punch to his back, causing Dell to cry out in pain. "You're the strongest on the Isles?" Reactron taunted, his voice filled with malice. "I'm not impressed. When I'm done with you, I'll be the one they all fear."
Before Dell could react, Reactron grabbed him by his cape, spun him around, and flung him toward the ground with incredible force. Dell braced himself for impact as he headed straight for the last place he wanted this fight to go to, Bonesborough!
"Well, that was… an adventure," Luz said to Amity as she helped her clean up the mess she had made of the library because of her, Edric, and Emira messing around with magic beyond their understanding. And that the twins planned to find their little sister's diary and post it all over the school to get back at her for always getting them into trouble. And that Luz's recklessness created an Otabin monster that nearly killed her and Amity.
"This never happened," Amity said as they worked together to restore the library to its original state.
"O-okay…" Luz replied with a sheepish grin. "Uh, Amity."
"What?" The Blight girl glared at her.
Luz hesitated before continuing, "I know this doesn't make up for reading your diary, but would you wanna borrow this?" She held her copy of the fifth Good Witch Azura novel. "I noticed you only had up to book four."
Amity's expression softened as she took the book from Luz, a small smile on her lips. "Thank you. And maybe… I haven't exactly been the friendliest witch."
"So, does this make us book buddies now?" Luz asked, hopefully.
"I'll think about it," Amity replied. "But for now, I'll consider it a start."
Luz beamed at her, relieved that a potential friendship was slowly forming.
CRASH!
The sound of something falling to the ground interrupted their moment, causing both girls to turn towards the noise. It was Dell as Superboy, lying in rubble and grunting as he struggled to get up. Moonlight shined into the library from the recently made hole in the roof.
"De… Superboy," Luz quickly corrected herself, rushing over to help him. "Are you okay?" she asked, concerned. Dell nodded, wincing in pain as he stood up and dusted himself off.
"I'm fine, just a rough landing," he replied. "Luz? Amity? What are you two doing here? Never mind, you need to get far away from here. It's not safe," Dell warned, his voice urgent.
"What's going on?" Amity asked.
"Trouble. Now go!" Dell flew out through the hole in the roof, leaving Luz and Amity bewildered. They exchanged a worried glance before quickly following Dell's advice and running out of the library. Outside, they saw the superhero engaged in a fight with a metallic man hurling green flames at him. Dell delivered a series of powerful punches while dodging the fire with impressive agility.
Luz and Amity watched in awe before realizing they needed to find a safe hiding place. "Let's get out of here, Human!" Amity said, grabbing Luz's hand and pulling her away from the chaos. They ran towards a nearby alley, hoping to escape harm's way.
Dell's fist connected with Reactron's helmet with a resounding thud, sending the villain tumbling backward until he used a burst of his Kryptonite flames to propel himself back into the fight. He went to punch Dell, but he caught it and twisted Reactron's arm behind his back.
"Stop this!" Dell shouted, trying to reason with his opponent. "Don't you get that you're being used? If it's the Emperor's Coven or Luthor, they're just using you as a pawn in their game against me!"
Reactron struggled against Dell's grip. "So what? I'm still getting what I want out of it," he growled. I won't let you stand in my way." His veins glowed green as Kryptonite radiated from his body, weakening Dell's grip. Reactron broke free and unleashed a powerful blast of energy at Dell, sending him crashing. The impact sent shockwaves through the town and left cracks in the cobblestone.
Reactron stood over Dell. "You should have known better than to try and stop me," he taunted, and he kicked Dell while he was down, causing him to groan in pain. "This is just the beginning."
Dell grabbed Reactron's foot and twisted it, causing Reactron to stumble. Dell stood, still gripping Reactron's foot, and said through gritted teeth, "You can keep knocking me down, but I'll always get back up." With a burst of determination, Dell spun Reactron around and tossed him with enough force to break down the large doors of the empty Bonesborough Library and send him crashing through the entrance.
Dell huffed, his knees feeling weak as he breathed heavily. The Kryptonite radiating from Reactron's suit was taking its toll on Dell. The longer the fight went on, the more Dell could feel his strength waning. But he knew that giving up was not an option—he had to keep fighting and find a way to defeat Reactron.
Alador Blight was exhausted. He had been working on that armor for Luthor's pet project to kill Superboy without rest. Odalia had already exhausted him by pushing him to get Blight Industries products out faster, and now this additional pressure was almost too much. Even if it were just five minutes of peace, closing his eyes, Alador would be grateful to the Titan.
He drank some apple blood from his flask, hoping for respite before diving back into his work. He was going to Luthor's office, where his wife watched the fight through a scrying spell that Coven Head Lilith had cast. As he reached the door, he took a deep breath and reminded himself that he was doing this for his family. Even though he neglected his children, every moment spent away from them was a sacrifice he made to ensure their future within society was secure.
"He's not dead yet. Why isn't he dead yet?" Odalia questioned Lionel as the scrying spell displayed the battle between Superboy and Reactron, which seemed to have been taken to Bonesborough. Alador hoped they would stay out of the town, knowing the destruction they could cause.
"Be patient, Mrs. Blight," Lionel said calmly. "Superboy is strong, but Reactron will prevail in the end. This has been an interesting development."
"What are you talking about?" Odalia asked, confused by Lionel's statement.
"Have you been paying attention? Superboy is exhausted the longer he fights Reactron. There could be factors as to why. Either the suit has exceeded Superboy's strength, or what is powering it could be draining his energy."
"The rock?" Lilith, who was listening in, asked.
"Yes, the radiation emitting from the rock in Reactron's suit could weaken Superboy," Lionel explained. "That same radiation he is channeling through his body as part of his powers."
Alador listened to their conversation while watching what was happening through the scrying spell. But then his eyes widened, and he dropped his flask. "Amity!" He gasped as he saw his youngest daughter, Mittens, within the spell's view. She was in Bonesborough as the fight between Superboy and Reactron took place.
"Alador?" Odalia called out, noticing his sudden distress.
"Amity is in Bonesborough!" Alador exclaimed, directing his wife's attention to the scrying spell's view.
"What? What is she doing there? She is supposed to be at the manor!" Odalia said in annoyance, as if disregarding the fact that her daughter was in potential danger.
Alador looked to Lionel. "You have to call off Reactron!"
"And why would I do that?" Lionel responded, clearly not concerned about Amity's safety.
Alador clenched his fists around Lionel's shirt and said, "Because my daughter's there! Call him off now!"
"You don't order me around, Mr. Blight," Lionel said coldly, pushing Alador away. "Security, remove this man from my office."
Alador struggled against Lionel's guards as they dragged him out of the office. If he hadn't been so exhausted, Alador would've set loose an abomination on Lionel and his guards. If Lionel wasn't going to do something, and neither was Odalia, he shifted his gaze to the Head Witch of the Emperor's Coven. "Lilith, she was your apprentice! Are you just going to stand by and let this happen?"
Lilith didn't answer as Alador was thrown out, and the doors were sealed. Alador clenched his fists in anger but had no time to waste on futile anger. He needed to get to Bonesborough.
Reactron shot out of the library, the force of his power shaking and trembling the building. He flew towards Dell, rising to strike, his eyes glowing green with fierce determination. Dell crossed his arms into a shield as Reactron's fist came crashing down, the impact sending shockwaves through the air, shattering the glass windows of nearby buildings.
"What's going on out there?" "Is there an earthquake?" "A witch's duel happening?" People exited their homes, awakened from the battle, and gathered in the streets.
"Looks like we got ourselves an audience," Reactron said, smirking underneath his helmet. Dell remained calm, knowing he had to end this battle quickly before innocent bystanders got hurt.
A blast of Kryptonite flames hit Dell square in the chest, causing him to stagger back. Reactron advanced and punched Dell square in the jaw. One punch after the other. The crowd gasped in shock as Dell struggled to defend himself against Reactron's relentless attacks. "Are you done already? I was just getting started!" Reactron taunted.
Clink! Clink! Clink!
"What?" Reactron turned as he saw the civilians throwing whatever they could find off the ground at him. Luz and Amity even joined in.
They continued tossing trash, stones, and anything else within reach, shouting, "Leave Superboy alone!" "Yeah, get out of here!" "He's our friend!" "You mess with him; you mess with all of us!"
"You ingrates will regret this!" Reactron growled, turning his full attention to the crowd, holding his hands up and ready to blast them.
"No!" Dell shouted, stepping before the civilians to shield them from Reactron's attack. "AH!" He cried out in pain as Reactron's energy blast hit him directly, feeling the Kryptonite searing through his skin. The civilians gasped, but Dell pushed through the pain and delivered a punch directly to Reactron's face, managing to damage his armor as he went tumbling back, leaving holes in the cobblestone as he crashed to the ground.
Dell's breathing became more difficult as he struggled to stand, the Kryptonite weakening him. But he knew he had to keep fighting for the safety of everyone counting on him.
Reactron struggled to get back to his feet, his armor smoking from the impact of Dell's punch. "You could've done this to me anytime," he seemed to realize. "But you didn't. Why have you been holding back?"
Dell's eyes narrowed, determination shining through the pain. "You may be here to kill me, but I'm not going to kill you. You can stop this now; it doesn't have to end in bloodshed."
Reactron hesitated, looking conflicted. "I don't understand," he admitted. "Why spare me?"
Dell's expression softened slightly. "Because no one has the right to take another person's life."
"He… haha… hahahaha!" Reactron's laughter echoed with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "How can anyone be so naive? Life is cheap; it's about the survival of the strongest. There is no room for morality in this world, only power!" Reactron released another wave of Kryptonite flames. But he wasn't aiming for Dell, but all the nearby civilians.
Dell's eyes widened in horror, and with a surge of power, he lunged forward, grabbing people and moving them out of harm's way with his super speed. Due to the Kryptonite flames draining him, Dell couldn't reach the same speeds he usually could, but he did not let that stop him from trying! He pushed himself further until he made sure every last person was safe. Dell had already gotten everyone out of the way and grabbed Luz and Amity last before the flames hit them.
"Is everyone all right?" Dell asked, looking around at the relieved faces of the civilians he had just saved.
"We're fine, Superboy," Luz replied with a grateful smile. The gratitude in their eyes made Dell's sacrifice worth it, knowing he had protected them all.
"Superboy!" a man shouted from behind Dell, causing him to turn around and see a disheveled-looking man running up to him.
"Dad?" Amity exclaimed in surprise.
"Dad?" Luz and Dell repeated in confusion, looking between Amity and the man.
"Amity, are you all right?" The man asked, concern evident in his voice as he reached his daughter.
"I'm fine, Dad," Amity replied. "What are you doing here?"
Amity's father looked to Dell. "Superboy, you must remove Reactron's power core in his chest. It's the only way to stop him. Without it, he has no power."
"How do you know that?" Dell asked.
"Because I built it."
"WHAT?" Amity exclaimed.
"I did it for the Emperor's Coven. But when I saw my daughter in danger because of what I created, I had to stop him."
Dell nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'll do it," he said with determination. "Everyone, find somewhere safe!" Dell returned to the battle, determined to remove Reactron's power core.
Reactron shouts, "It's time to end this, Superboy!" Reactron unleashed a torrent of Kryptonite flames. It was now or never! Dell took the deepest breath he could muster and blew his newly discovered ice breath at the flames. Fire and ice clashed in a spectacular display of power, creating a temporary barrier between Reactron and Superboy. "That's new, but it won't help for long!" Reactron turned up the intensity of his flames.
Dell blew harder and focused all of his energy on extinguishing the flames. He felt his lungs straining as he pushed himself. Eventually, the fire began to flicker and die out, and ice began to crawl up Reactron's hands and arms. "No!" Reactron's eyes widened in shock as his powers were neutralized, and his armor became coated in a thick layer of frost. It continued to spread until Reactron was eventually wholly encased in ice.
Dell could finally breathe again, air filling his lungs, exhausted. Reactron's veins began to glow, and drops of water began to form on the ice encasing him, slowly melting it away. Dell had no time to relax; he quickly ran to Reactron and ripped out his Kryptonite core. He could feel the radiation emanating from it as he held it in his hand, but he ignored its effects and focused all his strength on tossing it into outer space! Reactron stopped glowing, and the ice stopped melting, leaving him frozen.
Dell collapsed to the ground, victorious but drained. His super-hearing picked up Reactron's heartbeat, and he was relieved that he was still alive.
"NO!" Odalia screamed in frustration, throwing a tantrum like a child denied their favorite toy. "Alador ruined everything!" Odalia's face turned red with anger. All the hard work she had forced her husband to put in had been for nothing. And the fact that it was her husband who had sabotaged her plans made her rage even more intense.
And Amity… If she hadn't been in Bonesborough during all this, Alador wouldn't have had to step in to save her. She cost Blight Industries and Luthor Corp. Reactron and humiliated them before the Emperor's Coven. Their first weapon to kill Superboy had been a complete failure. Odalia seethed with fury, plotting Alador and her daughter's punishment.
"Mrs. Blight, I say this with the utmost respect for someone like you," Lionel began, his voice smooth and calculated. He was pouring glasses of expensive apple blood for him, Odalia, and Lilith and an alcohol-free version for Lex. But please calm yourself."
"Calm? Why would I be calm after this?"
"You're so shortsighted; I see a victory in this," Lionel continued, his eyes glinting with a cunning light.
"How is this a victory?"
"Reactron's fight with Superboy supplied us with more information about him. Not only were the rocks used as an effective power source, but they also seemed to weaken Superboy's powers. We also learned that Superboy won't kill, no matter how much he's provoked. And lastly, he will ultimately see to it that the lives of bystanders are protected, even at the cost of his safety. This gives us a strategic advantage in our next encounter with him," Lionel explained confidently.
Odalia's eyes widened as she processed Lionel's words, a slow smile forming. "I see now."
"Luthor, you don't intend on putting innocent lives at risk, do you?" Lilith asked, her tone cautious.
Lionel chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course not. I'm not above using Superboy's moral code to our advantage, but I'm not wasteful. We'll play this smart and keep casualties to a minimum." He handed everyone their glasses.
"Now, the question remains if Belos will go along with it," Lex added.
"Belos' focus is on the Day of Unity. I'm sure he wouldn't notice if some people didn't make it to the ceremony," Lionel replied with a sly grin. "Speaking of our esteemed emperor, I'm sure he would appreciate our findings as soon as possible. The sooner we deliver them, the sooner we can get more funding for future projects." Lionel raised his glass. "To many more beneficial outcomes. And to the eventual death of Superboy."
Clink.
"How do you intend to find more magicless witches with abilities?" Lilith asked Lionel. "Out of curiosity."
"If I may, father," Lex began. "I think I have an idea that could work. And that the emperor himself would agree to."
After Reactron was defeated and the Coven Scouts came to arrest the frozen adversary, the people of Bonesborough finally felt safe again. Dell helped clean up all the damage caused by the fight before flying back to the Owl House, with Luz following shortly after saying goodbye to Amity and her dad. The Bat Queen came to pick up her children and left her reward for babysitting them in a saliva-covered treasure chest. It's a good thing, too, because babies should not have to hear what Mom had to say after learning about what happened.
"The Emperor's Coven wants a war; they'll get a fucking war!" Mom said, slamming her fist on the table.
"Eda, you need to calm down," Baba said, placing a calming hand on Eda's shoulder.
"Don't tell me to calm down, Raine! Someone just tried to kill our son tonight! How are you not upset?"
Baba took a deep breath before responding, "I am upset, but we must handle this with a level head. All this stress is causing your curse to flare up."
Mom looked at her arm and saw feathers sprouting from her skin, indicating that her curse was acting up. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on controlling it before things got out of hand. "I'm scared, Raine." Tears welled up in her eyes. "I want to support Dell's decision to be Superboy to help people, but I'm terrified of what might happen to him. That one day, he might not come back home to us." Mom's voice trembled. "Titan, why did our boy have to be blessed with those incredible powers?"
"Mom," Dell said softly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. He looked a lot better now than he had earlier. "Whatever the Emperor's Coven or Luthor throws at me, I'll be ready. I promise I'll always come back."
"Yeah, Dell is made of tough stuff," Luz vouched reassuringly. "And we'll be here to support him every step of the way. We'll have his back no matter what kind of monsters or challenges he faces, whether Kryptonite-powered metal men or evil witches and demons."
"Yeah, no one's gonna take my brother down without a fight," King added.
"Still, I need to get stronger," Dell said with determination. "I need to get stronger to protect everyone from whatever comes our way. I may have more powers to discover. But," Dell yawned and stretched, "I need to rest and recharge. Tomorrow, I'll start training hard."
Suddenly, the crystal ball came to life with static, and the screen cleared with the announcer declaring, "The following is a report from Emperor Belos himself. Viewing is mandatory. Failure to comply will result in a fine."
The screen changed to Emperor Belos standing before a podium. "Citizens of the Boiling Isles," he began, his voice echoing through the crystal ball. "I have an important announcement to make regarding the safety and security of our realm." The Whispers family gathered around the crystal ball to hear what he had to say. "As I'm sure you are all aware, a battle in Bonesborough between Superboy and an unknown assailant threatened the town. Thank the Titan that no one was injured, but this incident reminds us of our dangers."
"Let me guess, he's gonna blame Wild Witches and demand stricter regulations on their use of magic," Mom whispered to Baba, rolling her eyes, and they nodded in agreement. "It's always the same old story with him."
Belos continued, "New information has come to light about Superboy—that he is not a native of this realm. My fellow children of the Titan, Superboy is an alien from beyond the stars. Whatever purpose he had in landing here remains unknown; perhaps he is simply seeking refuge or asylum from his own planet's troubles. Or maybe he is deceiving us all, and his true intentions are far more sinister than we could ever imagine."
"Oh, this is a load of crap," Mom interjected.
"And as for his assailant, the brightest minds within all the covens have discovered he is no ordinary witch, as he possesses abilities that are not magical and are instead within his genes. They suspect he may be a hybrid, a dangerous combination of a witch and something else entirely. He has been labeled a Meta-Witch."
"A Meta-Witch?" Luz gasped. "Like a Meta-Human, but from the Isles?"
"And what's worse is there may be others like him out there, hiding in plain sight, waiting to reveal their true powers at any moment. They could be your neighbor, coworker, or even your family member. The threat of these Meta-Witches is unknown and unpredictable, making it difficult to know who to trust. It's a terrifying thought that anyone could be harboring such dangerous abilities. If you suspect someone you know may be a Meta-Witch, it's best to proceed cautiously and observe their behavior closely. Trust your instincts and be prepared to turn them into the authorities. Only you can prevent a future disaster. May the Titan protect us all."
The screen cut to static, and Dell felt that life on the Boiling Isles was about to change—and not for the better.
If you enjoyed the chapter, please favorite, follow, and leave a review; feedback is appreciated.