By the time the sun rose by the third day, the three littermates were almost woken up early if it weren't for Dulcinea saying to let them sleep. So, by noon, the three were up, had breakfast, finished up drinking the drinks Pajuna brought them and sat them at the fountain. Antonio and Sofía weren't leaving Miguel's side despite how the older kids wanted them to join, they wouldn't budge. Artephius cooed at how cute the three were for being so loyal to each other, while everyone else merely nodded despite how they knew Antonio and Sofía would claw anyone for thinking it was Miguel's fault when he didn't know what he was doing by going along with Evil Puss's wish to bring him back alive.
The three only stared as they watched Duchess and Artephius bring out a pot big enough for someone to fall in, and vanish completely with greenish black smoke puffing out, and Miguel didn't wince like his siblings did when it came over to them. He had seen far worse in the Dark Forest where he had met Evil Puss to being with, so this wasn't something he wasn't used to. He clutched his paws together and looked down, almost feeling like he'd vomit on the spot with the way his stomach was moving.
It was almost like the time when he got sick as a kit, but he knew what to do when he was sick now. He wouldn't bother anyone with it because he'd go to Duchess and ask her to wipe up some medicine and drink it all. Feeling okay in a matter of few minutes, and everything would be okay again.
The sound of chains made him snap out of his daze and looked over to the bar's entrance, seeing the Blind king walking out of the bar with chains on his paws, and Miguel blinked. When did they even get chains cuffs? He hadn't seen those in Pajuna's bar before, and he was sure they were new by the looks of it. Antonio and Sofía shared a look before growling softly.
They didn't like Evil Puss.
"Is it ready?" Evil Puss said eventually, just as Duchess expected him too.
"Of course it is," Duchess forced out, her hand falling from the pot to hang down at her side. "Otherwise you wouldn't be out here with everyone watching this."
Evil Puss merely nodded, and tried one last time to get the cuffs to break by moving his hands apart. He knew he was weak by the sound of the chains barely even doing a thing, and he was entirely sure this would be over soon enough. He'd be seeing the darkness once more, and this time, he wouldn't mind it.
"I get that you're snappy, we all know that," Evil Puss said dryly. "It's my punishment for trying to get Miguel on my side, and everyone agrees this is best from killing me off. You people cannot kill even if you tried because it is not in your nature to do so, but have you know, I would've chosen the killing choice. If it were me."
Duchess opened her mouth to answer only to close it again fast. She didn't need to give anymore words to this cat. That was established long before Evil Puss had opened his own mouth to speak out. It was all the same.
"However, you spare my life as if I were your own flesh and blood out of this town," The Blind king went on speaking. "Sparing is a shocking thing, and honestly, I'd be less surprised to know you people wanted to kill me off when the children were sleeping so they wouldn't have to endure such a thing."
It was not a lie, it was more like the truth. He knew every adult around wanted him dead for the things he had done. It would not be the first time people wanted him dead because he could recount everyone he knew back then that wanted him dead like that. His old mentor when he betrayed him, his supposedly best friend, and all those other friends he wanted to be with. They all turned on him in the end because he had no interest of doing what they wanted. Now, here he was, ready to face a punishment.
"Are you suggesting we do that?" The Duchess asked, walking towards him a little, but then moved back a tiny bit. "You must be insane for thinking we do that. Have to be. We are not going to kill you just because you almost brainwashed Miguel."
"Why not? Would it not put all of you at ease knowing there is no way I can return with my head on a pike?" Evil Puss questioned, looking at everyone with his glowing green eyes. His hands moved again, the chains made a sound. "You all have to be the biggest softies I have ever come across."
"We do not wish death upon anyone!" Puss waved his hands to the side and stood clearly by his mate. "We are not like that, and even I do not wish to see you die."
Evil Puss wasn't buying it. Puss could think his twin could do anything with a bit of ease and maybe try to become good with a little practice behind his sentence, but when he looked into those familiar green eyes he knew clearly it wouldn't be. His twin had went through too much to be saved by a mere act of kindness because it was how his life played out. There was no hope in saving his twin, and Puss knew this now. Not liking it either way, but he had to respect Evil Puss's wishes.
"Are you even listening to me?" asked Evil Puss, almost giving off a pain growl as he looked into his good twin's eyes. He realized Puss didn't even think about what he had said a moment ago.
"Of course I am," Puss nodded. "But I am just saying I do not wish to see you dead. Especially not wanting to see your head on a pike."
He wanted to save him. Puss knew this would be better for the town, for his kits, and everything that would come for the future. Evil Puss could not be allowed here anymore, and he knew it to be true. The mastermind was giving up because he knew he lost the battle of month. The battle of his life because he was fooled by his youngest nephew, when it was clear he loved Miguel like Puss loved him. Like a son. A fatherly-son relationship between an uncle and a nephew. But he also knew he couldn't allow anymore kids to know what Evil Puss was. It was all for the better future, and his twin understood this perfectly. In the end, Puss looked down and backed off, and felt Dulcinea grab his paw.
"No one else would miss me." Evil Puss croaked out, his throat becoming more dry within the seconds. "This world is off better without me being known to the future generations. Hmm… why not tell this story on Halloween to scare kids? It would make a good story, si?"
"It would scare them." Puss agreed, still not looking at him. "Yet, I do not wish to use this a story. Not again. I want you to think different of this, I want you to refuse your sentence! Do something!"
Evil Puss's eyes went wide at this. His good twin was trying so hard to make him see differently because it was what he was used to. Puss was used to hearing others trying to save their lives, while he was here, allowing it to happen.
"You know I cannot do that, Puss. There is nothing felt in me that is willing to fight for my freedom. That is all gone." Evil Puss stated. "The state I am in, has nothing worth fighting for. It is the end."
He was muttering by the end as he moved towards the giant pot, watching as a stool was placed down so he could jump on it. They wouldn't push him in, they all knew he wanted to do this on his own. Evil Puss muttered an request to Artephius to help him up on the stool, to which the old man gladly helped him out. There was no way with his wounds he'd be able to jump on the stool by himself. He looked down at the smoke.
"It is the end," Evil Puss mumbled to himself again, looking down more into the smoke and gulped deeply.
He meant what he said to Puss. There was nothing within him to fight for anymore. Everything he used to know was gone now, and he knew why. He was defeated by someone he used to think would be able to help him gain what he wanted most out of life. But now Evil knew everything would be fine, besides, they'd be safe and sound. Like always when something came around, and they took it down. Just like always.
Evil Puss gave one last look towards the three littermates, to his twin, Dulcinea, their friends, and the kids before gulping down one more breath and jumped.
"Are you sure you're okay, Puss? You've been quiet more than usual." Dulcinea said as she poured some hot water into two cups.
When he first arrived home shortly after Evil Puss had jumped into the pot, Puss had been more than okay for a few moments before breaking down and mumbling how it shouldn't have happened. Of course, the siblings didn't speak a word because they knew their father needed time to think about what happened, but that didn't mean their mother had to be quiet when it came to speaking with their father.
"Si, I am fine. I am just a little… er... well, I am trying to move on from what I saw. It is not the usual thing I know how criminals are dealt with around the world," He said with an off smile. "Yet, I will be fine because I know I can move on from what happened today."
Yeah, that part had Dulcinea knowing he was lying through his fur, but she knew she couldn't go on speaking about how he was lying. Puss would just say he wasn't because it was Puss after all.
"Besides, it is what he wished for, si? I need to know this is what he wanted most out of it all." Puss went on saying, as Dulcinea handed him his drink.
One sip, and he made a face, stopping Dulcinea in her tracks before he went on speaking about something else.
"I just wish to know if Miguel blames himself for this. He loved Evil Puss like he was family," He sighed at the thought.
Dulcinea frowned. Puss always thought Miguel was the one who needed the most attention because of his fur color and tried his hardest to make sure Miguel was happy. But they found through the months, Miguel didn't like how his parents would hold his paw throughout everything. He even tried getting away from them one time.
"I know, Puss, but, he'll be okay because he has Sofía and Antonio with him. There's nothing that can break the bond between them." said Dulcinea as she sat next to Puss on the couch they had.
In truth, Puss wasn't paying much attention really. His mind kept wandering. Now that everything had been settled, there was something else that was bothering him. His eyes moved to his mate, and narrowed sightly. He could tell something was up, but he never opened his mouth to ask because who knew what the response could be like? She acted more… protective than normal. He knew it wasn't because of Evil Puss.
It was something else, but Dulcinea would tell him when she wanted. He also knew she would tell him if it was something important. She'd find the most promising way to tell him, granted the news about their triplets wasn't much as promising because she nearly killed him when she found out about them.
"I heard you growling when Evil Puss was still here," Puss commented, taking another sip from his cup. He chuckled a little. "Feisty, the way you always make me fall back in love with you."
"Is that so? I hadn't noticed." Dulcinea mumbled quietly, playing the cup in her hands, and Puss knew something was up at this moment. "Granted, I did want to kill him for wanting to use Miguel."
"Then why did you not?" Puss asked.
Dulcinea looked at Puss before looking away, and Puss blinked.
"No reason." Dulcinea quickly said before drinking a sip of her water, placing down the cup.
"But there is a reason." Puss countered. "There always is."
"There's nothing really to explain though." Dulcinea told him, gazing back at him before gazing away once more. "I knew he'd be dealt with in a more… right way than killing. Is there really more to say than that?" she laughed nervously.
"Si, there is." Puss nodded, taking her paw into his own, but his eyes sparkled softly a little. "I promise you can tell me when you are ready to speak about it."
With a slight nod of her head, Dulcinea moved to go place her cup in the sink despite it being full still. Puss merely watched before leaning into the couch, looking up at the ceiling, trying to piece together what was being wrong. Though, he found nothing that could be wrong! Puss could come up with nothing.
"Puss, do you want something to eat? To get your mind off of what happened today?" Dulcinea asked from the kitchen. Then, she quietly mumbled, "Off of what I need to tell you."
Puss sat up on the couch and nodded, answering with a loud enough yes for his mate to hear him. He was hungry after all, and his stomach growling proved that fact.
"Here, it's not the best, but it's the leftovers from when Pajuna came over that one night." Dulcinea brought him the plate full of food, and he didn't waste time into digging in. Pajuna had made the food herself, and she was a good cook. "Puss?"
"Hmm?" Puss asked, humming since his mouth was full of food.
There was a moment full of silence, before the white feline suddenly decided to gather the courage, and come right out, and the words almost made Puss spit out his food if it were not for the fact he had swallowed right when she said it.
"I'm pregnant."