Mel, Piper, Tomas, and Leo strolled through the bustling streets of the Hissing Havens when Mel's eyes widened at the sight of a massive structure towering above them. "What's that?" he asked, pointing to a colossal roller coaster with a dizzying drop, its name Iron Drop emblazoned in bold letters.

Leo raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with impatience. "That's a roller coaster. You've never seen one before?"

"What's a roller coaster?" Mel asked curiously, tilting his head.

Piper stepped in before Leo could roll his eyes again. "It's a ride. You sit in a cart, and it goes really fast, up and down those tracks. You'll love it," she said with a grin. "Why don't we try it out, and you can see for yourself?" Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed his hand and started dragging him toward the line.

"What are you doing?" Leo whispered, lagging behind. "We're not here to babysit him."

"Yeah," Tomas added, crossing his arms. "This was your plan. What, are you trying to get on his good side or something?"

Piper flashed a casual smile. "Nah, Mel's cool. He just needs to live a little."

As they caught up, Mel practically bounced with excitement, rushing to the front of the roller coaster line like a kid who'd just discovered his new favorite thing. Piper couldn't help but smirk as she watched him.

A few moments later, they stood in line, inching closer to the towering roller coaster. Piper's nervous expression betrayed her usual confidence. "M-Mel, are you sure you wanna go on this ride? It's… uh… really steep," she said, rubbing her shoulder anxiously.

Tomas and Leo weren't faring much better, their nerves evident in their shifting feet and pale faces. "Yeah, maybe we should start with something smaller," Tomas muttered, glancing up at the massive drop ahead.

"Of course, I want to go on this one! It looks amazing!" Mel exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. He spread his arms wide for dramatic effect. "Just imagine it—us, 12,000 feet in the air!"

Before anyone could stop him, he launched himself skyward, soaring high above the ground. "And then—whoosh—we just drop!" he yelled, letting himself plummet toward the earth. His wild scream echoed as he fell, clearly having the time of his life.

"And if we weren't on a ride…" he called out as he plummeted faster, "we'd go splat!"

At the last moment, he stopped himself mere inches from the ground, hovering effortlessly. Piper, Tomas, and Leo gawked at him, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

"Mel," Piper said, crossing her arms, "you're supposed to save the dramatics for the ride."

Mel floated upside down, peering at them with a playful grin. "You're right. I should save the theatrics for the actual ride."

As the line moved forward, they walked toward the loading platform, the towering coaster looming above them. When they reached the front, the ride operator gestured for them to step in.

"Please keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times," the operator instructed before pausing, his gaze locking onto Mel. He gave a deep, respectful bow. "Greetings, King Melanthius."

Mel gave a polite nod in return, trying not to make a big deal of it. "Thank you," he said, sliding into his seat.

The operator secured their harnesses, checking them twice for safety. Piper, Tomas, and Leo exchanged nervous glances, gripping the restraints tightly, while Mel remained as calm as ever, his excitement practically radiating.

"Hey, everyone!" Mel called out with the excitement of a full-blown adrenaline junkie. "I asked the operator to crank this thing up to twelve times the usual speed! So, hold on tight!"

The collective gasps and panicked screams from the other passengers erupted before the ride had even started.

"Wait, what?! Twelve times?!" Piper shouted, gripping her harness in terror.

The operator, looking both amused and a little hesitant, shrugged before pressing the button.

And just like that, the coaster launched forward with a deafening whoosh, hurtling down the track at blistering speed. The screams quickly turned into a chaotic chorus of exhilaration and sheer panic as the ride roared into its first stomach-dropping plunge.

Mel let out an ecstatic yell as the coaster rocketed downward at breakneck speed. The sheer intensity of the ride overwhelmed him, and before he realized it, everything went black.

When he came to, he found himself floating in an ethereal realm, surrounded by rolling clouds that shimmered with faint hues of silver and gold. A cool, crisp wind brushed against his face, filling him with an unexpected sense of peace—like he was home. The air felt alive, and the energy of the place seemed to resonate within him.

Curious, Mel soared effortlessly through the space, testing his newfound freedom. The sky stretched endlessly, but there was nothing else in sight. He furrowed his brow, sensing something ominous approaching.

The tranquil clouds suddenly darkened, and a towering streak of black lightning erupted in the distance. As it surged and crackled, the lightning began to shift and form into a massive, imposing figure. Opposite it, a smaller being of swirling purple clouds emerged, roughly humanoid in shape, radiating an intense, otherworldly glow.

The two entities faced off, their booming voices reverberating like thunder in an argument too distorted for Mel to understand.

Without warning, the black lightning lashed out, its fist-like form striking with unrelenting force. The purple cloud-being countered with a gleaming sword, parrying the blow and leaping into the air. With fluid precision, it spun mid-flight and delivered a powerful kick toward the lightning figure.

The black lightning absorbed the impact, crackling angrily, and retaliated with a fierce strike that sent the purple cloud-being spiraling across the sky. Mel hovered nearby, frozen in awe and confusion, unsure of what he was witnessing but feeling an undeniable pull toward the battle unfolding before him.

The purple cloud-being recovered mid-air, twisting gracefully to regain its footing on an invisible platform. It spun its sword expertly, the blade now glowing with vibrant arcs of energy that danced across its surface. With a roar that echoed through the endless expanse, it charged the black lightning figure.

The lightning entity responded by splitting its form into jagged, crackling tendrils that lashed out like whips, each strike shaking the very sky. The purple being evaded with impressive agility, flipping and sliding as the electric tendrils narrowly missed, their energy sizzling through the air. One tendril finally connected, striking the purple figure's side and sending it skidding backward.

The purple being dug its feet into the ground—or whatever invisible surface it was standing on—and thrust its sword forward. A wave of shimmering energy erupted from the blade, slicing through the tendrils and forcing the black lightning figure to reassemble into its humanoid form.

The lightning figure retaliated with a thunderous punch that split the sky, sending a shockwave in all directions. The purple being crossed its arms to block the impact, but the force sent it flying, tumbling through the rolling clouds. Regaining its balance, it stretched its arm forward, summoning a second blade, identical to the first but emanating a darker, more menacing glow.

Armed with two swords, the purple being dashed forward at an incredible speed, leaving trails of energy behind it. It unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes, each blow resonating with a deafening clash as the lightning figure countered with its crackling fists. Sparks flew as the two clashed in a dazzling display of power, their movements too fast for Mel to fully follow.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The battle escalated as the black lightning figure summoned a massive storm around itself, jagged bolts of energy striking down indiscriminately. The purple being used its swords to deflect the strikes, spinning them in intricate patterns to create a barrier of light around itself. It then lunged forward, piercing through the heart of the storm with a war cry, and slashed at the lightning figure's chest, creating an enormous shockwave that pushed Mel backward.

Mel shielded his face as the winds howled around him, his body trembling from the sheer force of the combat. He could feel the raw power of both entities, and though he was just an observer, something about the fight seemed deeply personal—like he was connected to it in a way he couldn't yet comprehend.

The lightning figure staggered back, its form flickering and destabilizing for a moment. But then it roared, its voice crackling like a thousand storms, and launched itself forward with renewed ferocity, striking the ground with a devastating punch that caused the very fabric of the realm to ripple and crack.

Mel floated helplessly as the battlefield shifted. The darkened clouds began to part, revealing a void of swirling stars beneath them. The energy of the fight grew even more intense as the purple being and the lightning entity squared off again, their forms glowing brighter with each clash. For a brief moment, Mel felt the pull again—stronger now—like the battle was a reflection of something deep within him, something he was destined to face.

Suddenly, the lightning figure turned its gaze toward Mel, its glowing eyes locking onto him. For the first time, the battle paused. The purple being followed the gaze, its features unreadable but its energy unmistakably tense.

"You…" the lightning figure's voice boomed, echoing across the expanse. "You don't belong here."

Before Mel could respond, the purple being stepped in front of him, its twin swords crossed defensively. "Stay away from her!" it growled, its voice trembling with a strange mix of fury and desperation.

The lightning figure roared in defiance, its form surging with violent energy that crackled and lit up the stormy expanse like a shattered night sky.

"Her?" Mel thought, confused. Then, as he took a closer look, a peculiar sensation washed over him. He noticed the two entities seemed much smaller now—almost diminutive in comparison to him. Glancing down, he saw their movements mirrored in a shimmering pool of water below. But what struck him most was his reflection.

Instead of seeing himself, he saw a strikingly beautiful woman, her features sharp yet ethereal, her eyes blazing with determination. The reflection locked eyes with him, her lips moving as if shouting something.

"Wake up, son!" the woman's voice echoed, clear and commanding, cutting through the chaos of the battle.

Before he could process it, Mel jolted awake, gasping for air. The world around him came rushing back—his seat harness, the faint hum of machinery, and the startled faces of Tomas and Piper staring at him.

"You okay?" Piper asked nervously as the roller coaster came to a halt.

Mel blinked rapidly, realizing they were back at the station and people were already getting off the ride. His heart still pounded, but the vision lingered in his mind like a half-remembered dream.

"I think I need some air," he muttered, stumbling off the ride and into the bustling park.

Finding a quiet spot behind a cluster of thick bushes, Mel bent over, retching into the leaves. The sick taste burned in his throat as he coughed and wiped his mouth. "What was that?" he rasped, his voice trembling. "A dream? A vision?" He gagged again, his stomach twisting with unease, and collapsed to his knees, gripping the earth beneath him.

"Why did that woman call me 'son'? And what were those two things fighting?" he muttered, his hands trembling as he stared at the ground, his mind spinning with questions he wasn't sure he wanted answers to.

"E-excuse me, sir, are you alright?" a calm voice asked from behind. Mel turned to see a tall man with sharp features holding out a handkerchief. It was Varek, though Mel had no idea the man before him was a wizard hunter—the very one holding Sera, Caius, and Lumi captive.

Mel took the handkerchief gratefully, wiping his mouth and catching his breath. "Thank you," he said, bowing slightly out of politeness.

Varek studied him with a cold curiosity, his lips curling into a polite smile. "So, you're Melanthius Shadowbane, aren't you?" he said, his tone smooth but laced with subtle intensity. "To think I'm standing face-to-face with the legendary son of Merlin himself. What an honor."

There was no admiration in Varek's expression, only a sharp, calculating glint. "I hear you're performing at my music festival," he said smoothly. "You must have some remarkable musical talent to feel confident enough to join—"

Mel cut him off, wiping sweat from his brow. "Look, sir, I'd love to chat, but I'm kind of busy right now." He stood, bowing slightly in gratitude. "Thanks again for the handkerchief," he added before walking off, leaving Varek standing alone.

Moments later, in the dimly lit room where Sera, Lumi, and Caius were imprisoned, Varek stormed in, his frustration palpable. With a growl, he kicked a chair into their cage, the wood shattering on impact. "'I'm kind of busy.' Who the hell does that brat think he is?!" he seethed, pacing furiously. "I'm Varek! That arrogant little bastard! I can't wait to have all four of them locked up under my thumb!"

From behind the bars, Sera chuckled defiantly. "You may have captured us, but just wait until she finds you. You're done for."

Lumi and Caius's eyes widened in panic as they clamped their hands over Sera's mouth.

"She?" Varek turned, narrowing his eyes. "Who is she?"

Sera slapped her own forehead, realizing her slip. "I—I didn't mean she! I meant me!" she said with a nervous laugh.

Varek sneered, snapping his fingers at his assistant. The assistant, a wiry man with an air of smugness, stepped forward and uttered, "Truticous!" A spell shot from his hands, striking Sera with a crackling burst of energy. She shuddered violently from the magical shock, her body wracked with spasms.

Caius roared in fury, his breathing heavy and erratic as his arms transformed into powerful gorilla-like limbs. He pounded on the cage with earth-shaking force, his guttural roars filled with rage.

"You're a wizard?!" Lumi exclaimed, staring at the assistant in disbelief.

The assistant smirked darkly. "I am. But unlike you fools, I pledged my loyalty to Varek after he defeated me. Now, Sera, I suggest you start talking. Who were you referring to?"

Still trembling, Sera couldn't stop the words from spilling out. "B-Baba Yaga! Her real name is Shenelle Upan! She raised us, but she kicked us out, and we don't know where she is now!" She gasped and slapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide with horror at what she'd just revealed.

Varek and his assistant froze, their expressions twisting into shock and disbelief. "Baba Yaga is real?" Varek whispered, his voice almost trembling. "And she's alive?!"

For the first time, a shadow of fear crossed Varek's face, but it was quickly replaced with grim determination. "This changes everything."

What they didn't realize was that Donatello, the supposedly deceased Renaissance king, was perched silently on the roof above them, listening to every word. A sly grin spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"This does change everything," he murmured to himself, his tone dripping with amusement. "Oh, this is going to be fun. Time to stir the pot a little."

With a low chuckle, he melted back into the shadows, already plotting his next move.