Chapter 18

After dinner, Bootstilla sought out Nabo, who was reading a bedtime story to Mila and Solana. The two girls listened intently as he told them about the time Calabaza was still young and had decided to go fight a monster by himself. The girls giggled as they heard that Calabaza had bitten off a bit more than he could chew, but in the end, he had triumphed.

He tucked them in and they fell asleep instantly, to which he quietly headed out, seeing Bootstilla in the hallway. "Ah, Little Pumpkin," he said, smiling before sensing she was worried. "Is everything alright?"

She took a deep breath and indicated with her head for them to take a walk. "Nabo, do you remember a few years after I became a bounty hunter, I had to face my former foster parents in court?" She asked.

"I remember," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Though you were relieved they were put away in prison, you cried for a few nights because it brought the memories you were trying to forget back to the surface."

She nodded. "You and Calabaza both comforted me," she said. "I...I'm worried Amity might be going through something similar, but she's been hiding it because she doesn't want to worry Luz or the girls."

"And this time, it's a bit closer to home because it's her own mother," Nabo said understandingly. He then looked at the bounty hunter he considered to be his daughter. "Do you want me to talk to her?"

"Can you, please?" Bootstilla asked. "I don't know how to broach the subject to her and I've got a feeling that she wouldn't want to talk about it in front of everyone."

The scarecrow nodded. "I'll talk to her," he said. "In fact, I think she might be in the garden. I noticed she's been going there the past couple of nights, so your concerns could be more valid then you realize."

Outside, Amity was indeed in the garden, looking at the flowers she was kneeling next to and she sighed sadly, thinking about the upcoming battle. She knew she'd eventually have to face her mother and she wasn't looking forward to it. She wished her mother had learned her lesson the first time after they had saved the Boiling Isles from Belos, but it seemed her mother was still power hungry.

"Little Lavender."

She jumped a little and turned to find Nabo behind her and he looked concerned. "Why are you out here all alone?" He asked, kneeling beside her.

The girl looked away. "I didn't want to bother everyone," she said softly.

Nabo could see Bootstilla hadn't been kidding. "Is this about Odalia?" He asked gently.

"Yes," she said before tears filled her eyes.

Nabo pulled the young woman closer, cradling her in his arms as if she was an infant. She clung to him, her tears beginning to fall faster now. "Why is she being like this?" She asked through her sobs. "Didn't she learn the first time around with Belos?"

The scarecrow began gently rocking Amity, the motion not only comforting but also encouraging her to not hold back her tears. "Has she always wanted to have power?" He asked.

"Yes," she said. "And she loved using me and my siblings as pawns to get the power she wanted."

"Why is that though?" Nabo asked gently.

"She grew up in a family that was powerful and wanted the same after she married my dad, but my dad wasn't power hungry like her. He actually truly wanted what was best for me and never tried to use me and my siblings as pawns."

Nabo nodded. "Alador has always been a fair person," he said. "And he loves you, Edric, and Emira very much."

"I know," Amity said softly. "At least we have one parent who's not crazy with power."

The scarecrow didn't say anything for a bit as Amity continued to cry, but as the last few tears left her, she looked up at Nabo. "Nabo, I'm scared," she said.

"What are you afraid of?" He asked gently.

"I...I may have to...permanently banish my mom," she said. "I don't want her destroyed like Belos, but...if I don't banish her, she'll keep being a threat that I'll have to keep looking over my shoulder for."

"Are you sure that's what is best?" Nabo asked, his voice still gentle. "She is your mother."

"Yes, but if I don't banish her, she'll find a way to escape any prison," the young woman said before sighing. "I have no other choice, Nabo, and...I don't want to, but I have to."

Fresh tears filled her eyes and she buried her face in Nabo's shoulder. He stood up and began walking, carrying her. Luz saw them as she looked out the window with Bootstilla beside her.

"Sweet Potato's worried about her mom, isn't she?" The brown-haired woman said.

"Yes," the bounty hunter said, her heart going out to the purple-haired woman. "She knows she has to make a decision she doesn't want to make, but has no other choice if she wants to keep you and the girls safe."

Luz sighed. "It's going to be worse than going against Belos," she admitted. "This time, the betrayal is closer to the heart."

Bootstilla nodded. "Luz, you might to be Amity's strength and courage through this time until Odalia is banished," she said. "Amity is not going to be able to do this alone."

"I'll be by her side, no matter what," Luz said firmly. "But she's going to need all of us to rally around her."

"You know me, Calabaza, and Nabo will stand with you in this upcoming battle," the bounty hunter said. "And you know as soon as Eda receives word, she'll gather everyone too to rally with us."

"I'm glad you encouraged me to include her in on this, because with all the rumors and horrors I've heard from the surrounding areas so far, Odalia is going to strike soon."

"Batty has sensed the magical storm coming out way for a few days now," Bootstilla said. "It keeps growing, which means the day of reckoning is close, probably no more than two days away at best."

"Is everything ready otherwise?"

"Yes."

Luz nodded and took a deep breath. "We are going to defeat Odalia," she said firmly. "Is there a way to strip her of her powers?"

"Not that I know of yet, but I'm still looking. If worse comes to worse, we can always ask Eda to take away Odalia's magic," the bounty hunter replied.

Outside, Amity had passed out from crying so much and Nabo brought her inside, going up to the bedroom where Luz and Amity had been staying. Luz and Bootstilla turned as he knocked lightly before entering the open door. "How is she doing?" Luz asked.

"She's struggling to come to terms with what she must do," Nabo said. "Though she knows she must, it is hard for her to fully accept."

"Because it's more than just going against her mom. It's the fact that her mom has betrayed her and us," the brown-haired woman said.

"She's going to need you to be her rock, Little Fighter," Nabo said.

Luz nodded and gently took the sleeping Amity's hand. "I'll be beside you the whole way, Sweet Potato. You have my word," she promised.

Bootstilla nodded. "We should all get some sleep," she said. "Odalia may strike tomorrow and we're going to need to make sure we're not tired when she does attack."

Nabo nodded and tucked Amity into bed and did the same for Luz. "Sleep well, my children," he said as Luz fell asleep.

The scarecrow and bounty hunter then walked away and Bootstilla hugged Nabo. "I'm worried, Dad," she admitted.

"I know, my daughter," he said reassuringly. "But we will succeed, my little one. Never give up."

"And never lose hope," she said, remembering the old saying he had taught her long ago. She took a deep breath and suddenly turned her head sharply, sensing something. "Batty."

The palisman came up to her and looked worried. "It's almost at our door, isn't it?" She asked him.

He squeaked and nodded, to which Nabo called up protection vines. "Calabaza and I will take turns standing watch," he said. "Get some rest, Little Pumpkin. By dawn, we'll have to fight."

She nodded and headed to her room, taking some deep breaths before heading to bed and falling asleep, Batty right beside her and ready for the moment the battle began.

They will face Odalia in the next chapter.

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