The next morning was dark and gloomy. From the looks of it, it wasn't about to rain. The herd stayed inside the barn, children forced to stay indoors as raindrops started falling. But at the Mayors office there was a swarm of people standing outside wondering what was going on.

Inside Lukas' office he was pacing the floor. "This can't be real. You vanished! You left without anyone knowing!" Lukas shouted, slamming his fists on the table.

Petra jerked back a little when she heard his the table bang. She was blocking the door and like many others, couldn't believe what was happening. That he was here. Her pet boar named spot was there too, biting on the mysterious man's shoe.

The mysterious man got up and looked at Lukas, and shaking his leg to get the boar off. "Lukas," he said, "I didn't leave. I was here the whole time."

"Lies!" Lukas shouted again. "You left! You abandoned us when we needed you the most! We thought the werewolves got you but no! You walked away! What about Jess? Your sister? Did you forget about her!"

"I didn't forget. I don't know how I'm here, or why I'm back. But I know one thing. I shouldn't be here Lukas." The man said.

"Quit lying to us Jesse," Petra said jumping into the conversation. "Take off that jacket so we can see the guilt on your face."

The man who turned out to be Jesse flipped back his hood and took off the jacket. And underneath scared Lukas and Petra. Jesse looked the same from a distance, but up close... it looks like he's been buried alive and his skin started to decay. His right leg was nothing but bone (which spot started to chew on), and his left arm was nothing but bone and sleeve. His clothes stayed mostly intact but besides that he was almost skinless. But his hair stayed and his face looked the same besides a piece of skin peeling off.

"H-how... what... what in God's name?" Lukas stammered.

"This is what I mean Lukas. Werewolves got me, they burried me while I was unconscious. I died as you can clearly tell. How I'm alive, I'm not sure. But I remember waking up and digging upwards. Or maybe it was down? I didn't know, the next thing I knew I was breaking through the floor boards of someone's home! Lukas something is going on, some strange potion is being used I can feel it. Something or someome is coming to attack us... and can someone get this boar off my leg? Shoo! Shoo you like pig!" Jesse warned.

As Jesse shook his leg Lukas thought to himself. Magic? Potions are magic right? How is Jesse alive if e was killed? Oh god we can't let the people see him like this, they'll freak! I'll loose my position as Mayor, oh god that can't happen. I need to find out what's going on, and I need to find out now. Maybe that cave was cursed when Jess was mining in it and they brought it back here without even realizing it? I need to talk to Jess...

~~~

Back outside Gabriel and Radar were walking going to the pub for a drink. Gabriel couldn't work today because it was raining, and Radar wanted to hear more spooky stories about mining. As they passed by the Mayors building they saw a bunch of people and a red head standing on top of the stairs making some sort of speech. It couldn't be Petra, because she would be busy hunting at this time. So it could only be Maya.

Barely anyone payed attention to Maya anymore. Since Aiden and Gill ran away together she was almost ignored. So this was one of the few times she would be noticed. "People," she started, "Mayor Lukas is hiding something from us! He isn't what he says he is! He's trying to trick us!"

Radar couldn't stand for this injustice. He knew that Maya was jealous because no one payed attention to her, but she was rotten and got what she deserves. "Hey!" Radar shouted. "You're just jealous! Lukas is a good Mayor, he treats everyone fairly and takes care of us! Maybe he's talking with a diplomat right now about important things!"

"If he was having a meeting then why are people complaining that they heard some sort of robber last night?" Maya asked.

"Yes people have concerns, but cans you guys just wait until later? A storm is coming and I don't wanna be around and get struck by lighting! So if you're smart then you'll go home and not listen to Maya!" Radar shot back.

"You..." But as Maya was about to come up with a come back people started leaving. Radar was right, thunder crashed and people started to scatter, not wanting to be struck. Leaving Maya is defeat once more. She growled for a second and ran away, coming up with a plot for revenge.

~~~

As morning mass came to a close people started to get up and leave the church. Some stayed for a little longer for some extra prayers but mostly everyone left, wanting to get home.

The new church was a grand one. A lot bigger and able to fit more people for the new villagers. There was even a door that connected the church to Nurms home, which he stayed in by himself. Life was a little lonely without Jack, and no or could understand him otherwise. Now there's a new kid that translates for him but it isn't the same.

Nurm was about to head into his home through the back for some sleep when he heard the church door open. A man walked in with a heavy coat on, it was pouring out there. The man came in, walked into one of the rows of benches and knelt down to pray. Nurm recognized the man, it was Graser.

It's been awhile since anyone has seen him. For the most part he just builds little contraptions and fixes people's locks for a living. There's only so much blacksmith could do. And from what is common sense, the lad never got out much. He was a lonely man, sure he made peace with Stampy after their quarrel a few years ago but besides that he's changed. For one he started growing a little but of a beard, two he has scars on his hands, and three he looks unkempt. Like he hasn't showered in awhile, but that's the consequences for being a blacksmith.

Nurm walked over to Graser and accidentally interrupted his prayer. "Hm?" Graser went looking up at Nurm. "Oh hey Nurm. It's nice to talk to you!"

Nurm made one of his many sounds and Graser nodded. "I know, I know. I don't come to church as often as I should. But I've been so busy lately, with all the metal and iron that need to be made into things... I'm as busy as ever! But I'm sure you understand that right Nurm? Exuse me, I mean Father Nurm?"

No one ever called Nurm by the correct way to address him before. So Nurm let out an excited noise and Graser spoke some more. "With all the people here now... This place must be packed every morning. I wish I could attend but I don't really look church material."

Nurm shook his head making Graser smile. "Well at least you think otherwise. This town is really blooming into something great eh? Hasn't even been a decade since I moved here and already I feel like I'm back in champion city. What a time to be alive."

Nurm nodded and started to walk away before stopping and looking back at Graser. He sighed as the man looked back up at him. "Do you want me to follow you?" He asked.

Nodding once more, Graser got up and followed Nurm to the back of the church. The cross that hanged on the wall was so much bigger than it seemed. Opening the door to his little home, Nurm felt that maybe he could get along with this man. So the two entered the little hut and didn't notice that a new friendship was forming.

~~~

Stampy woke up that morning with a major headache. And with the rumble of thunder and crash of lighting, it didn't help at all. At least his eyes (though he didn't notice) was back to its original green color.

As he roller over and sat up on the small cot in his wagon he noticed that someone or something was sitting on the small table he used to make the potion the night before. Stampy couldn't see the thing clearly until lighting stuck in the distance that briefly lit up the room. And at that moment he knew who it was.

Swiftly he picked up a lantern and sparked a flame inside it so it could light up the room. And what Stampy thought was just fiction, was reality. The person on the table had long brown hair, a blue and white long sleeve shirt, brown boots, green eyes, and the most noticeable part... her werewolf features. It was Stacy, and she was alive.

Oh you thought I was done? Oh no there's still more to this chapter.

"Stacy!" Stampy shouted in happiness. Rushing over to give her a hug but as he got to her he just phased right through her. Instead of a hug he fell on the table, luckily not breaking it.

The person (or Stacy) got up from the table and backed up. "So," she said, "you're the reason why I'm here."

Stampy got up and looked at her. When he nodded she continued. "Why am I here? Who are you? Where am I?"

Shocked Stampy replied, "You... forgot me? It's me! Stampy! Your lover! I guess you could call us that, that's what I always thought we were. Remember? You, me, Dan? New Growler was being attacked? But you were betrayed by Lizzie so I brought you back to life when I figured out how. I guess the potion wasn't completed."

"I don't remember any of that." She said, "I mean I know my name. I know that I'm Stacy, and I remember some things. I remember being with my husband Gilbert... Heh. We where the only black-white couple in the entire town. Oh and our son, Gilbert Jr Lee the third. It was a painful day when we put him up for adoption, the market crashed and we couldn't afford to raise him. Then I was... we where homeless. And I... well things went wrong. And uh... well there isn't much to say. I was murdered. Hit in my left side here, those people from Chicago don't like interracial marriages I guess."

Stampy tilted his head to the side and was very confused. "Husband? Market crash? Chicago? Are you messing with me? I know for a fact you aren't married, the market place is fine and I don't think Chicago is a real place. Are you okay?"

Stacy shook her head. She felt fine, she shook her head out of disappointment. "I'm telling the truth. Look Stanley, you seem nice and all but I have to get back home."

"Do you seriously not remember me? And my name is Stampy not Stanley!"

She paused for a moment, then she just started to laugh. She just stood there laughing like she heard a good joke. Stampy was confused, but then again his whole day has been confusing so far. "What's so funny?" He asked.

Stacy giggled, "You actually fell for it! 'Do you seriously not remember me?' that was the best thing ever!"

"So you do remember me?" Stampy said getting his hopes up.

"Well duh," Stacy said, "everything! You, Dan, the Werewolves, Lizzie being a backstabbing hoe! How is everyone? No wait, how are you! God, I haven't felt like this since... Wait. How am I alive?" Her tone quickly change and she was staring at Stampy as if she was staring into his soul."

"Oh! Right! Dan and I found this book while clearing out the werewolf cave. It collapsed by the way. But we found this hallway thing underneath that was guarding this book. When we opened it, it looked like a bunch of weird spells and potions but when there was a 'Potion of Resurrection' I knew it was the one thing that would bring you back. So I stole it, tried to make a potion and here we are! But you're back! Sort of..."

"Let me see that book." She said.

"But you're-"

Stacy cut him off. "The book. Now."

Stampy grumbled, "Alright, alright. I thought you would be happy to be back. But I guess if you're a ghost or something then you're Ms. Cranky."

He went over to the bag he place the magic spell book in and took it out. Placing it on the table, Stampy flipped to the page where it said 'Potion of Resurrection' on top. Then he looked over at Stacy who was standing next to him and saw he reading the book, her eyes moving from line to line.

She doesn't look a day older than the last time I saw her. thought Stampy. More lively but still has that Stacy charm to her. But that hole... It's going to be there forever isn't it? Why didn't I do anything? I could've stopped any of this from happening but I didn't. Now I don't even know what I'm doing anymore! "Don't try to play God, Stampy." "Don't mess with things you don't understand." Well I'm sorry Soren but I did what had to be done. Anyone would've done the same thing.

"Did you actually use the ingredients it says here Stampy?" Stacy asked.

Snapping back into reality Stampy answered, "No, I just translated it to actual things. Like dragons? Those don't exist."

"In a world full of werewolves and potions, do you really think a dragon and a fairy is impossible?"

"Well," Stampy started. But he stopped and thought about it for a moment. I mean she's right. If werewolves are real, and I'm in love with one then why can't a dragon be real?

"I thought so. And if I'm correct (which I probably am) then the potion only worked halfway. Which is why I'm a ghost of some sort. Or maybe a spirit? Ugh. Why couldn't you accept that I was done for?"

Stampy had a disgusted look on his face for a moment. "Because I care about you! Do you think I wanted to be right next to you when you died? I didn't want you to die in the first place! All I want to do is love you, and help you, and maybe spend the rest of my life with you! But all you want to do is die. Why? Why do you want to die so badly?"

"Do you want to know why I want to die so badly Stampy? Do you?" She said. Stacy didn't even bother to look up at him. Her tail dropped down to the floor as if she was afraid of something. "It's because I wasn't always a werewolf. I was never born this way, and I never asked to be turned into one. I was just a child Stampy. I was just a little girl playing a little too close to the woods with my friends. We where about to head back to the village... but something else found us."

She stopped and took a deep breath and exhaled. Finally she looked up at Stampy, her eyes looking like a cats eye marble. Or maybe like a snake is a better description. "While all my friends ran away to get help I was trapped by werewolves... Well... me and one of the kids who played with my friends and I. Do you know what it's like to see a kid get eaten by a werewolf and you know what you're next? It's not a good feeling. I managed to escape but a kid could only run so fast, and I ended up getting bit by one of them."

Stacy rolled up her sleeve to reveal a bite mark that was near her shoulder. She always told people who saw it that Wink bit her once while she was training him. But the truth was, it was a werewolf bite.

"That bite is still there. Still there after all those years. When it bit me I thought that was it, that I was going to be taken and eaten. But then I made it back to the village, so the werewolves were forced to retreat. Fuck... thinking about it gives me worms... Being bit is one pain, but the transformation is another. It's painful, from growing a tail and wolf ears to suddenly having a thirst for blood. And I remember the day when my father revealed to me that he was a Werewolf. I was only halfway through my transformation too. Gah. He says that I was lucky to be born a human and not the beast he called himself. That was the worst month of my life Stampy. I was kept indoors because I couldn't control myself, I kept switching from little girl to wolf pup. Whenever someone passed by the house, and god forbid was I looking out the window. I would bark non-stop. Let's just say we lost some of our flock that month. And when I was dying a few years ago, it felt like that whole transformation all over again but on fast forward. Some people don't even survive werewolf transformations. So was I lucky? Yes. But was I the same? Hell no. From the day I was able to control myself I was taught to be a werewolf. I was taught to hunt, kill, eat, repeat. When the Werewolves finally got back together I had to join them. I would be killed if I didn't, but that only stalled the inevitable didn't it? So there Stampy. I want to die so that I can finally be free of this curse that is I'm a werewolf."

Stacy growled at herself and walked over to a corner of the wagon. Transforming into her wolf form and curling up into a ball. Rather it was intentional or pure instinct, she whimpered and growled at her thoughts.

Stampy reached out a hand as if to pet her but he remembered that she was a ghost. Looking back at the book he flipped page after page looking for a specific spell. If there's a potion in here that can bring Stacy back to life then there has to be a way to make her a human again right?

But just as Stampy was flipping through the pages a sound, a truly dangerous sound broke the near silence of the wagon.

Knock knock knock knock