Ch. 14: Restored

                                    

                                          
We met up with Flim Flam and Cat just outside the Main Hall. I was holding the amulet and the written copies of the spells close to me, determined not to lose them. I was shaking slightly because of the fear of having to do this. 
                          
"Are we ready to go?" Cat asked. I nodded. 
                          
"As we'll ever be." Paul said. The four men walked ahead and conversed privately while Flim Flam came to me. 
                          
"All set?" He asked. I looked at him. I could see a bit of fear in his eyes. I chuckled. 
                          
"It will be okay Flim Flam. Like you said we can do this."
                          
"You want to know why I know we...you can do this?" I slightly nodded. The four rejoined us. "Because of all the things I've seen you do. Even before we met. Mystery Inc. is quite popular across the board and I heard and seen some of the cases you guys took care of. When I met you, I could tell there was something about you that was...unique but I never commented on it. You never told anyone of your powers. I have seen you do amazing things on other and our adventures that you never once used your powers. If you can help save a whole town from a werewolf curse or a university from a real and walking computer virus, you can do this with no problem." 
                          
"Flim Flam...I never knew you knew about our past mysteries." I shook my head in wonder. "Thank you." 
                          
"It's no problem. And to be truthful, I think Zombie Island was a little scarier than the Crimson Witch." I laughed out loud.
                          
"You have a point there. We nearly didn't come back from that one." I admitted. I took a breath. "Are you ready?"
                          
"Sure am! Catman filled me in on everything and I believe I was able to create the perfect luring out plan...after a little consult with Ole Vince." I chuckled under my breath. 
                          
"Now he believes that if we can replicate the looks of your powers, it will draw her out." Catman explained. 
                          
"Since she took yours, it will confuse her to the point of curiosity and she'll come out." Flim Flam jumped around a bit. "She won't be able to resist since she thought you were powerless."
                          
"She never seems to be too far away, so this is great." Demon said. 
                          
"Preciously!" Flim exclaimed. "Now we just need to do it. Cat told me about the little light show you did at the park and I thought of using stage explosives to replicate it. I mixed the powder with a few other chemicals to make it more luminescent then sparky."
                          
"That's ingenious, Flim Flam." I said. "But the light staying in one spot will not attract much attention." He smiled. 
                          
"That's why you'll be with it. What better way to fool the witch into thinking you still have your powers than for you to be wielding it and calling her out? Plus it will get you that much closer for the spell." He explained. I thought about it for a second. 
                          
"Alright." I said. "Demon will be able to light it?" I looked over at said Guardian. He nodded. 
                          
"We need to find hiding spots to keep an out." Paul said. The others nodded. As they took off to find spots he turned to me. "We'll be here, just out of sight. You need us, don't hesitate. Okay?"
                          
"I won't." He gave me a sad smile. He pulled me into his arms and set his forehead on mine. He started to glow and I felt a warm sensation wash over me. I gave him a confused look. 
                          
"For strength." He said before letting go and flying off. I watched as he disappeared behind structures. I turned to Mom and Flim Flam. He handed me what looked like a small oil burning lantern.
                          
"This has the light compound in it. Once Demon lights it..." He gave the string and I wrapped it gently to my hand. "You can twist it, toss it, whatever to make it look like you powers." He said. 
                          
"Thank you." I put the amulet securely in my pocket and put the paper in my jacket. "Now both of you hide." They ran off and I turned toward the empty street. I slowly began walking. I tried to recite the spell words in my head. 
                          
"Hahaha!" I jumped and stopped short when I heard the laugh. I took a breath before holding out the compound. I tossed it in the air and within a second it was light. I smirked and mentally thanked Demon.
                          
"Come out, come out where ever you are." I muttered. I swung the light around as if it were my powers. For a second it did. The air around me quickly turned stale then rancid but I ignored it and kept walking. I heard a faint swish behind me.
                          
"How?!" I slightly jumped at her shriek. I turned to her, still twirling the light. "You should be powerless!"
                          
"Things not go according to your plan?" I glanced off to the side and saw Flim Flam. He was acting something out. Like a throwing move. He was trying to saw throw it on her. "Too bad for you."
                          
"You little...This means nothing. I will still win."
                          
"Not so much." I took the compound in my hand and threw it at her. It exploded on impact and launched her back. She hit the ground as four lights flew overhead. The guys landed in between the dazed witch and me.
                          
"What was that?" Spaceman asked Flim Flam. 
                          
"I forgot to mention that when mixed, that the compound can fully combust with a strong impact." My eyes widened and I gave him a look. He scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry." 
                          
"My lord." I said out loud. The Crimson Witch slowly but menacingly got to her feet. We all stood our ground. 
                          
"An ambush. Clever. But it will do nothing to help you. I've become too strong to fall to your pathetic attempts." She then raised her hand and a white mist started to form around it. I panicked. 
                          
"Get down!" The four looked at me before doing as I said just in time. She released the white mist of concussive energy force. It traveled over their heads and hit me straight in the chest. "Ahh!" I flew back a couple feet, landed on my back before rolling backwards onto my knees. 
                          
"Micah!"  Multiple screams for me sounded off but it was all muffled. 
                          
"So that's what that feels like." I mumbled. I was able to right myself and look up again. The Crimson Witch was laughing her full head off. 
                          
"What does it feel like to have your own powers used against you?" I was breathing heavy and could barely get a straight word out. The others were all standing in a distanced circle around her. 
                          
"A witch's powers that are stolen..." I tried to start the spell but could get past a few words before losing my breath. With the daze in my head, the words were foggy as well. The others started to fend her off as I tried to regain my composure. 
                          
"You'll never win!" She laughed and shot another concussive wave out, this time successfully hitting the band. She smirked and started her advance toward me. I stumbled back and kept backing away from her. "There's no place to run little Witch. You have no hope left, no strength to go on." I winced as my chest grabbed. I stopped retreating and stood my ground. 
                          
"That's what you think." I said with a new found strength. "A witch's powers that are stolen. Take them now from the thief. Through the air they shall fly unbroken. Return them now I say in relief." She instead started to retreat at every word I said. 
                          
"No!" She screamed. Three orbs of light left her body and raced toward me. As they hit me, I could feel my powers restored. She fell to the ground in a heap.
                          
"Yes." Flim Flam exclaimed. I saw the others get up off the ground. A little wobbly on their feet they made their way closer. 
                          
"You little wretch!" The Crimson witch screamed. She seemed to grow angrier. She shot energy ball at me and I easily deflected it with a wave of my hand. She screamed out again. 
                          
"Now Micah. Do it now." Paul called to me. I looked at him and then back to the witch. I stood in thought for a moment. I shook my head in response. They all made a sound of protest.
                          
"Not yet."