...Location: Luna's House...
"Karma's eyes blazed with frustration as he confronted his mother, Lydia. 'Why do you persist in tormenting me, Mother?' he spat, his voice laced with venom. 'If you desired my demise, you would have struck by now. Why toy with me, denying me my powers?'
Lydia's gaze met Karma's, her voice trembling. 'Keon, my child—'
'Don't dare address me with that detestable name!' Karma snarled, his anger boiling over. 'You've never been a mother to me, only a merciless foe.'
Lydia's tears flowed, but Karma remained unmoved. 'Spare me the theatrics, Mother. Your tears won't swindle me into sympathy.'
Lydia's voice cracked as she began to explain, 'I did it to protect you, Keon.'
Karma scoffed, 'Spare me the justifications. I won't be swayed by your feeble attempts to justify the cruelty you've inflicted upon me.'
With a flick of her wrist, Lydia bound Karma with a spell, rendering him immobile. 'Listen, Keon, and perhaps you'll comprehend the motives behind my actions.'" Karma's voice dripped with venom as he spoke, his words cutting through the air like a knife. "You want to talk about protection, Mother? You, who used to beat me senseless as a child? Who used to lock me in the darkness, telling me I was a monster, a creature unworthy of love?"
Lydia's face paled, her eyes widening in horror as Karma's words hung in the air like a challenge. "Keon, I—"
"Don't deny it, Mother," Karma snarled, his voice rising. "I remember everything. The bruises, the broken bones, the endless tears. You told me I was a freak, a Hybrid abomination. You made me believe I was worthless."
Lydia's tears flowed anew, her body shaking with sobs. "Keon, I was trying to prepare you for the world. I was trying to toughen you up."
Karma's laughter was cold, mirthless. "Prepare me? You call that preparation? You call that love? You destroyed me, Mother. You destroyed my childhood, my innocence. And now, you have the nerve to tell me you're trying to protect me?"
As Karma's words faded away, his eyes began to glow with an otherworldly light. The air around him seemed to charged with electricity, and Lydia felt a jolt of fear as she realized that her son's powers were finally awakening. The binding spell that had held him captive for so long was beginning to break, and Karma's true nature was emerging.
Lydia's eyes locked onto Karma's, her gaze filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "It seems you won't listen, Keon. You won't see reason. So, I've been forced to consider other options."
Karma's glowing eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with suspicion. "What are you talking about, Mother?"
Lydia's gaze flicked to the side, where Luna, the mermaid, was watching with a mixture of fear and reluctance. "I brought Luna here for a reason. She has a gift, one that can erase your memories of me, of our past."
Karma's eyes widened in horror as he realized what his mother was planning. "You can't be serious. You'd erase my memories, my identity?"
Lydia's voice was cold, detached. "I'd do whatever it takes to protect the world from your destructive potential, Keon. And if that means erasing your memories, then so be it."
Luna stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Keon, I...I don't want to do this. But your mother has something on me, something that could destroy everything I hold dear. She's forcing me to do this."
Karma's gaze locked onto Luna, his eyes blazing with fury. "What is it? What does she have on you?"
Luna's tears streamed down her face. "You, Keon. She has you. She's threatening to kill you if I don't comply."
Karma's eyes widened in shock. "Me? She's using me as leverage?"
Luna nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes. She said if I don't erase your memories, she'll take your life. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you, Keon. I'm so sorry."
Lydia's voice was icy. "Enough. Luna, do it. Erase his memories. Now."
Luna's hands shook as she raised them, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Keon. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."
... Location: Shannon's house...
"Do you mind telling me what this is all about?" Shannon asked the Mayor, who had brought a troop of soldiers into his house, their guns drawn and their eyes scanning the room for any sign of trouble, their presence filling the space with an air of tension and foreboding.
"It's about the Snow Flake Girl, who killed my daughter," Mayor Richard replied, his eyes filled with anger and a deep sense of loss, his voice trembling with emotion as he spoke of his daughter's tragic fate.
"I asked you to take care of my granddaughter and never let her meet her mother, but you didn't honor that promise," he added, his voice rising in accusation and blame, his words hanging in the air like a challenge.
Everyone heard the commotion and came running downstairs, their footsteps pounding the stairs like a drumbeat, their faces filled with concern and worry, their eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger.
Dikstra, Sky, Courage, and Frost arrived to see what was happening, their faces set with determination and a sense of purpose, their eyes locked on the Mayor and his soldiers.
Shannon told Frost to go back upstairs, his expression angry and his eyes flashing with warning, but she refused to move, her feet rooted to the spot, her eyes fixed on the Mayor.
The Mayor told her that she was responsible for killing his daughter, who was Frost's mother, his words cutting through the air like a knife, their impact hitting Frost like a blow.
Frost was shocked and took a step back, her eyes wide with surprise and her face pale with fear, her mind reeling with the implications of the Mayor's words.
"No, that's not true!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing out across the room, her denial echoing off the walls.
The Mayor looked at Shannon and said that he would take his granddaughter home with him, and no one would stop him, his eyes glinting with determination and his jaw set in a firm line.
Shannon told Frost not to believe the Mayor's words, his voice low and urgent, his eyes locked on hers, his expression serious.
"He's lying, Frost. Don't trust him," he warned, his words hanging in the air like a warning.
"Fine, you can keep my granddaughter, but it's not going to end well," the Mayor said, his face twisted in anger and his eyes flashing with warning.
He turned and left with his soldiers, their footsteps echoing through the house like a death knell, their departure leaving a sense of unease and foreboding in their wake.
Outside, he detonated landmines he had placed inside Shannon's house, the explosion ripping through the air like a tornado, its impact blowing the house to shreds and sending debris flying everywhere.
Luckily, Frost protected the others with an ice wall, leaving only herself outside, her body battered by the blast, her eyes closed in pain.
Shannon rushed to her side, feeling for a pulse, his heart pounding in his chest, his mind racing with worry.
She was alive, but badly hurt, her body broken and bruised, her spirit shaken but unbroken.
He looked up at the others, his eyes filled with determination and a sense of purpose.
"We need to get her to safety, now," he said, his voice low and urgent, his words hanging in the air like a challenge.
Sky nodded, helping Shannon lift Frost into a more comfortable position, their movements swift and precise, their faces set with determination.
"We'll get her to the hideout, Shannon. We'll figure out what to do next," Sky said, his voice filled with confidence and a sense of purpose.
Just then, Courage spoke up, his voice ringing out across the room.
"I'll go get Karma. He's the only one who can help us now," he said, his eyes locked on Shannon, his expression serious.
Shannon hesitated, unsure if he could trust Courage, but something in the younger man's eyes made him nod.
"Alright. Go, You'll find us at the Incursio hideout" he said, his voice low and urgent, his words hanging in the air like a challenge.
As Courage disappeared into the night, Shannon turned to the others, his eyes filled with determination and a sense of purpose.
"We need to move, now. We don't have much time," he said, his voice low and urgent, his words hanging in the air like a warning.
Location: Luna's House
Karma's screams echoed through the house as Luna worked to erase his memories, his body writhing in agony. Lydia paced back and forth, her eyes fixed on the door, waiting for Courage to arrive. She knew he would come for his brother, and she was determined to stop him.
" Hurry up, Luna!" Lydia shouted, her voice echoing up the stairs. "He's resisting!" Luna replied, her voice strained with effort.
Lydia's eyes narrowed. "Try harder, or I'll kill him myself!" she threatened, her hand on the door handle.
Just then, Courage burst through the door, his eyes blazing with determination. "Hello, Mother," he said, his voice cold. "I'm here for Karma."
Lydia's expression twisted in a snarl. "I won't let you take him," she spat, her hand on her own knife.
Courage's hands erupted in flames, and he took a step forward. "You want Karma out of your life for good, don't you?" Lydia asked, her voice dripping with malice.
Courage hesitated, his expression sad. "Mother, can I ask you something first?"
Lydia nodded, her eyes glinting with curiosity.
"What has Karma ever done to deserve all this pain?" Courage asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lydia's face twisted in a snarl. "He's a curse, an abomination to the balance of nature. Everyone wants him dead, and I've always wanted to kill him myself."
Courage's eyes widened in shock. "You're evil, Mother. I thought you were pure-hearted."
The screams upstairs stopped, and Lydia knew that Luna had finished erasing Karma's memories. Courage's flames surged higher, his anger burning hotter.
"Why do you want to save him?" Lydia asked, her voice dripping with venom. "He killed your father and nearly killed me!"
Courage's expression was cold. "I'm not angry, Mother. I understand why you wanted to kill him. You're just an Arcanum Mage who thrives on power."
Lydia's face contorted in rage. "Fine, you want it that way?" she spat, running upstairs with Courage close behind.
In the room, Luna stood over Karma's prone form, her eyes empty. Lydia grabbed Karma's hair, dragging him to his feet. She pressed a knife to his throat, her eyes glinting with malice.
"One move, and it's over for him," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.
(Location: The Incursio Hideout)
8 hours later:
Frost was sleeping, her wounds healed, but her mind was still reeling from the events that had transpired. She was having a dream, a vivid and unsettling one.
In the dream, she was chasing after Karma, who was walking away from her. She couldn't reach out to him, no matter how hard she tried.
"Karma, please wait!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the empty streets. "Not everyone in this world hates you! Please come back for me, Karma!"
She finally caught up to him and hugged him from behind. "Karma, please don't go! We can create our own world without betrayal and abandonment. I...I...love you, Karma!"
But as she looked up at him, a knife sliced across his throat, and he died in her arms. She screamed, calling for help.
"No! No, Karma! You can't leave me! You can't die!"
She woke up from her dream, gasping for air, and saw Dikstra, Sky, and Shannon standing beside her. She was confused and relieved to see that it was just a dream.
But then she saw Courage, his hood reeking of blood, and Karma's lifeless body in his arms. Her dream had become a reality.
She rushed towards them, her heart racing with fear. "We have to help him!" she cried, her voice shaking. "Please, let's help him!"
But Courage's expression was grim, and he shook his head, indicating that it was too late. Frost's eyes widened in horror as she took in the sight of Karma's sliced throat.
She felt like she had been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. She stumbled backwards, her eyes fixed on Karma's lifeless body.
"Why didn't you save him?" she screamed at Courage, her voice hoarse with emotion. "Rage Karma saved your life, why didn't you save him in return? And believe it or not, he loved you, even if you hated him!"
Courage's expression was somber, and he looked down at his feet. "It was Lydia, my mother," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Frost's eyes flashed with anger and grief. "Your mother?" she repeated, her voice shaking with rage. "I'll kill her," she snarled, her fists clenched at her sides.
But as she looked at Karma's lifeless body, her anger gave way to grief, and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
... Courage's memories...
Here's the revised continuation:
Lydia's smile grew wider as she gazed at Keon. "Enough of this drama, Courage. I'll make you a deal."
Courage's flames danced with agitation, but he listened.
"Let me take Keon away from Tylne City," Lydia said, her voice dripping with sincerity. "I'll ensure he's safe, and the Arcanum will never bother him again."
Courage's eyes narrowed. "Why would you do that, Mother?"
Lydia's expression turned genuine. "I want what's best for our family, Courage. With Keon's... condition, he's no longer a threat. We can start anew."
Courage hesitated, weighing his options.
"Think of it, Courage," Lydia pressed on. "No more running, no more hiding. You'll be free to live your life without the Arcanum's constant pursuit."
Courage's heart swelled with hope. Could this be the fresh start he'd always wanted?
"What do I get in return?" Courage asked, his voice cautious.
Lydia's smile grew wider. "You get to live in peace, Courage. Free from the Arcanum's vendetta. And I'll ensure Keon never bothers you again."
Courage took a deep breath. "Deal, Mother."
Lydia's eyes sparkled with triumph. "Excellent choice, Courage. I'll take Keon and leave Tylne City tonight."
Keon's eyes remained fixed on Lydia, his expression trusting. "Lydia, what's happening?"
Lydia's voice softened. "We're going on a journey, Keon, Me, you and Luna. Just us."
Courage's eyes narrowed. "What about the Incursio, Mother? I promised them I'd bring Keon back."
Lydia's smile grew wider. "Leave that to me."
She waved her hand, and a body materialized on the floor. Courage's eyes widened as he took in the sight. The body was identical to Keon's, sliced on the neck, and bearing the same vacant expression.
"How...?" Courage trailed off.
Lydia's voice dripped with satisfaction. "My magic can create illusions, but also manipulate reality. This body will deceive even the Incursio."
Courage's gaze locked onto the fake Keon. "I'll tell them you killed him, Mother. That's the truth."
Lydia's expression turned cold. "Very well, Courage. But remember, this serves our purpose. The Incursio will hunt me, and we'll be long gone."
Courage's heart hardened. "I'll make sure they know you're responsible."
Lydia's smile returned, her eyes glinting with malice. "I'm counting on it, Courage."
With a final glance at the fake Keon, Courage steeled himself.
(Location: Nowhere)
Lydia gazed out the carriage window, her eyes scanning the rolling hills.
Keon sat beside her, his vacant expression unchanged.
"Soon, Keon," Lydia whispered, "we'll reach our destination."
Keon's eyes flickered, and he spoke in a barely audible whisper.
"Mother... where... are we?"
Lydia's smile grew wider. "We're going home, Keon."
Luna sat beside Keon in the horse carriage, Lydia across from them.
Keon smiled warmly at Luna. "I'm so glad you're here."
Luna's eyes sparkled. "Me too, Keon. I've missed you."
Lydia smiled, amused. "Luna, you really love my son, don't you?"
Luna blushed. "With all my heart, Mother Lydia."
Keon took Luna's hand. "I love you too."
Lydia chuckled. "Luna, you've really made yourself at home in Keon's heart, haven't you?"
Luna smiled slyly. "I made sure to add my own memories to Keon's when I gave him new ones of you." Whispering so Keon can't hear
Keon's eyes crinkled at the corners. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Lydia laughed. "Luna, you really love my son!"
Luna leaned into Keon. "Forever and always."
Keon wrapped his arms around Luna. "I'm grateful for you."
Lydia's warmth filled the carriage. "I'm glad you two are happy."
As they rode on, Keon and Luna shared tender glances.
To be continued....