SWNOVELS Chapter 27: Sunday Morning Showdown
Eary nodded as Mote flew off with his team while Eary led Calvin, Mei, and Decan to the back door. As he approached he the large metal door, his heart was beating into his chest. What would he find on the other side?
He opened the door. "Not locked." He thought as he rushed through. The halls inside were dark. Eary went to flip the switch. "No power," he thought.
He summoned an orb of blue light in his hand as he led the team further inside. Moving along, he checked the siderooms and the pastor's office. But no one was found. He knew where this led and headed straight to the cathedral. As he opened the door, a crack to peek inside.
There, in a row on the cathedral stage, were his family. They lay still, hopefully just sleeping from Johnathan's power.
The pews were full of stitched together monsters, while Tiddle stood at the podium, giving a profane sermon. "Welcome guests. We are congregated here to mark a celebration of Eldris. Our glorious lord and savior, the who provides us with bounties..."
"YUCK!" Eary thought to himself
It appeared as if Mote and the others had yet to strike. The anticipation had Eary practically itching.
Eary tuned to Decan "When Mote strikes, we need to rush Tiddle. Get him pincered with his minions. A second later, Eary head Mote cries out, "Charge!" Eary and the others looked at each other. They knew what to do.
They burst through the doors, making their way across the stage at Tiddle, who was charging up his hands with darkness. Eary shot a burst of white flame, Tiddle turned to block. As the auras of light and darkness clashed on the stage, Calvin, Decan, and Mei rescued the two unconscious families. While Denby smashed and crashed wildly into Johnathan's troops, a swarm of Sakile's, batons charged, bludged, and shattered another force of horrors. Luke zipped and sliced at the bandages holding his pack together, while Alice stayed in the back, her eyes closed.
With a simple command from Mote, "Now!" Alice teleported Ben and the entire bestiary of the Star Gazer's hidden garden to the church. Ben riding the cockatrice with Riyoley spiting flames beside the boy. The cockatrice flashed a glare into the group of horrors, petrifying the lot. Alice swooped in and, with her telekinetic abilities, shattered the force.
Johnathan's darkness was powerful, and he Eary strained against the formidable dark magic. Johnathan shot a wave of darkness forward, through the flames. Decan ran between Eary and the attack, catching the darkness with his blade. He swung his blade forward, the power of Johnathan's darkness reflected back at him, and Eary's burst of light sent Tiddle flying.
Johnathan caught himself in mid-air, charging up his hands in swirls of darkness. He announced, "I'm so pleased you could join me.
A voice called put from behind Eary "Hey Air bear. Welcome home." Eary tuned to see Ephraim standing on the stage, eyes glowing with darkness. Standing next to him was the rest of the Bennetts. His family bore the same condition and moved to join Johnathan.
They all tuned towds Eary, then floated up into the air with Johnathan. When Johnathan Tiddle spoke, both families joined him in unison. "I see you brought your friends, so I thought I'd bring a few of my own." He cackled menichaly.
Alice scoffed. "What are you so smug about? It's not like I can't fix this like I fixed Maggie. You ain't shit bitch!" Tiddle looked down at the girl "You lie! I am a Scion! Chosen by Eldris, you are nothing but a nocopo descendants. None of you could match the power he has bestowed upon us!" Alice rolled her eyes "Oh really now?" With a waive of her hand Maggie and Hannah appeared with the rest of the group.
Maggie announced "I'm fine. Little confused but I have a great new friend. And I can fight too!" She brandished the staff given to her by the crystals light. With a wave a torrent of water surrounded Johnathan, while Hanna let loose her whip, channeling a powerful bolt the electrocuted the field of water.
With Tiddle distracted, Eary quickly erected a psychic barrier around his family. They fell through the air, but a purple mist caught each and in a poof, they were gone. Eary looked at Alice, she smiled "I put them somewhere safe. Now let's kick the crazy out of this psycho!"
Johnathan erupted in a torrent of shadows. His dark aura consuming half the church. Dark clouds encircled the pews as they rose in the air and came flying at each member. Eary erected asany barriers as he could while Alice grabbed the others. Eary saw a jet of flames launch forward as Mei soared spining at Johnathan. She launched both chakrams several ice spears, Johnathan created a shield of darkness preventing the girls attack. A powerful tornado the launched Johnathan into the ceiling, revealed the nature of Mei's assault.
Eary channeled his scythe. With a mighty burst it appeared in his hands, along with a strange new feeling. Eary's feet erupted in blue light as he took to the sky. Calvin joined him, while Alice lifted herself to join her comrades. Mei used powerful jets of flame to match the feat.
The four fliers rushed in and encircled Johnathan. Mei flung her elements once more, while Calvin disrupted him with his wind. Alice, stealing Johnathan's idea, hurled the pews in Johnathan's direction. As Eary shot waives of searing light at Johnathan.
And aura of darkness prevailed as Tiddle erupted a shockwave of darkness, shattering the cathedral windows. Eary, Mei, Alice and Calvin were sent smashing into the walls, and crashing to the floors. While the rest of the group and the beasts were knocked to the ground.
Eary stood and raised his hand, a healing blue field encircled his allies. He drew his scythe once more, slashing he sent shockwaves of light at the evil engorged man. The light had no effect as Tiddle landed and began to walk towards Earhart.
With his greasy voice, he taunted "You tried, you can't say that you didn't." Smiling he continued "But the power we have acquired is more solid, purer." He removed a large radiating black and violet stone from his pocket. He explained "Our power was never weakened. When that stupid bitch Ilia went and married a human, that was the start of...." an orange streak zipped past Johnathan.
"I'll take that!" Luke was now holding the gem Johnathan had so proudly boasted over. "You think you can fuck with my family and get away with it?" Luke charged once again, delivering an onslaught of punches as he bludgeoned Johnathan's face.
As Luke lifted the cowering, bleeding Johnathan. He stopped himself "The things you've put us through. You deserve the worst. But you belong in jail. We're taking you to Nato." As Luke left the whimpering bleeding Tiddle on the cathedral floor, he turned to rejoin his group.
Tiddle got up, and charging his hand, released a blast of darkness towards Luke. Eary reactively cast out his shield, reflecting the attack back, sending Tiddle flying into the air.
Mote called out "You might not be Num Nums, but you'll do!" His long tounge shot from his mouth, snatching Johnathan mid air. Sucking him back in, the moteling encased the Scion.
The group watched as the engorged Mote stared back awkwardly, as Johnathan could be seen struggling inside the creature. After another few moments, the struggling stopped and Mote began to deflate. He complained "That piece of shit was so greasy, I'm gonna have the shits for days!"
Eary chuckled as he looked around the trashed church. He lamented "What are we even going to say happened here?" Alice replied "Maybe Nato can fix it up, either that or say there was a gas leak." Eary laughed.
Luke stated "Alice, can you fix the minds of our family?" Alice sighed and teleported them back to the cathedral. She approached each one, Eary and Luke's Mom, Dad and brother Josh.
Alice exclaimed after fixing Josh's mind "Oh shit!" Eary asked "What?!" Alice smiled nervously as she looked back to Eary "Umm, we're gonna have to have a talk later. Just found some shit out." Eary looked down in nervous anticipation, he dreaded what the news could be.
Alice moved on to the Bennett family. She moved through all four, saving Ephraim for last. The boy had looked better, his appearance was disheveled, not the usual look for his Sunday best. His facial hair was long and scraggly, and he did not appeared to have bathed in at least a week as his hair carried the hallmarks of grease.
Alice once again looked at Eary and Decan and gave a large sigh. She announced "Let's call Victoria and have her stage their 'Rescue', we should all head back to Bright Hope. I say we get rested, and start with are plans to get going home." Sakile agreed and began calling Victoria.
Luke interrupted "Are they going to be ok?" Alice looked back "I mean I guess, you're parents will be thrilled." Luke looked at her "What does that mean?" She stared at Luke in silence for a moment, then he chuckled. He replied "Oh that's funny, but I think everything should be fine." Alice giggling responded "I know right, but, Fuck!?" Eary inquired "What are you talking about?" Alice and Luke looked back and replied "Nothing."
Sakile, who had just gotten off the phone, announced "Ok gang, a rescue and clean up crew will be along shortly. We need to get back to Bright Hope, for further instructions." Alice inquired "What does that mean?" Sakile replied "She has some news on our requests from earlier. She needs to discuss how the future hunt for the Scions will go, now that Tiddle is gone." Alice nodded, closing her eyes she began teleporting their forces back to Bright Hope.
First were Ben and his monsters, next were Decan, Calvin and Mei, Hannah and Maggie, Luke, Denby and Sakile. Finally, Eary, Alice, and Mote remained.
Mote buzzed up to Eary. "Congratulations, kid! But don't think this is over yet. We still have two to go." Alice chimed in "Then we have two more asses to kick." Mote nodded."That's the spirit!" Eary felt as a mix of unease and anxiety washed inside of him. This was too close to home, he thought as the three teleported back to the Star Gazer.