Okay so be warned this may have some OOC moments here.
"Hello," Puck said as he glanced at the little girl, though she reeked of miasma, he felt no ill intention from her. She looked no older than 10 in his eyes and she wore a simple white dress with blue trimmings. What was she doing inside of Subaru's mind?
"Are you a sinner, Kitty?" The girl asked as she lifted up one of his arms. Huh, why was she asking this? He then felt a slight sting in his right paw causing him to wince a little. When he glanced down his eyes widened as he noticed his paw was now missing from his body. "Oh wow." The girl said. He turned back to her noticing she was holding the missing limb. "You only have a few sins. I guess that doesn't make you a bad person….maybe just a little naughty." The girl said as she pocketed his arm.
"Hey give that back." He said. Puck was a spirit, he technically didn't have a body but he might as well have with how much his arm stung. It wasn't so much that it hurt but rather how annoying it felt.
"No." The girl responded as she ran back inside the house, shutting the door. The little cat spirit stared in shock. He was tempted to leave but he had already risked so much to come here and he wasn't going to leave empty-handed. He tried to open the door but found it not budging, neither could he change his size anymore to grab it or knock it down, nor could he grasp it with only one paw. He circled the building trying to find a point of the entrance but there was none…it was all closed up like a mini fortress. He went back to the front door and sat down trying to ponder his next move.
"Maybe I should just leave?" He thought as he tried to return to the real world. Nothing happened. Puck felt his heart stop. Did he…did he just trap himself within Subaru? He tried harder and harder but nothing happened. This was bad. He didn't have any powers nor did he have any means of escaping now. He was supposed to protect Emilia and be there for her and what did he do; he got himself stuck inside someone's mindscape.
"Think Puck." He told himself as he leaned against the door. What could he do to get out of this situation? Then the door suddenly opened behind him as a hand reached out and grabbed him by his neck before pulling him inside. The next thing he knew he was smacked onto a table before being restrained by some thin thread. "What the hell is going on?" He asked as he saw several individuals standing before him, one among them being the girl from before. This wasn't right? Why were there so many other people inside Subaru's mind? Wait were they even in his mind?
"Quiet." One of the girls said, a blonde-haired young lady. "We'll ask the questions here." She told him. "First question, is this your paw…uh….arm?" She asked as she held up his little arm.
"Yes, it is." He answered. She placed it right next to the socket before she slammed her fist on it and to his surprise the arm was reattached.
"Honestly Typhon you can't go around taking the body parts of people. They need them to live." She scolded the little one.
"But Minerva…he's a bad guy…he wanted to kill Baru." The little girl, Typhon complained.
"Typhon…..…..listen to Minerva." Another more drowsy sounding voice said. "He's….an overprotective father." The voice belonged to an older woman who was lying on some cushions. "He's also one of Baru's friends." She added. Did Baru mean Subaru, Puck wondered.
"Yes…if you hurt him S-Subaru will be very upset." Another girl said, this one looked more delicate and was more soft-spoken.
"That's right," Minerva said. "If you hurt him Subaru will be very upset and you don't want to make him upset right?" She told the little girl.
"No." Typhon pouted. "but he still needs to be punished," She argued.
"Then we'll just punish him without hurting him." A new voice said. Much to Puck's surprise, it was from a girl slightly older than Typhon…no, that wasn't surprising; the surprising part was that she was chained up in some weird contraption.
"Don't forget to…interrogate him first." The lady on the cushions said.
"Oh right," Minerva said. "Why are you here?" She said slamming her fist on the table.
"Like I would tell you…you filthy witch cultists." Puck spat. They all reeked of miasma and despite the strange interactions he wasn't going to tell them anything. He'd die before he'd help them.
"Witch Cultist? What the heck are you talking about?" Minerva said as a vein popped out on her head. "We are not a part of that group of sickos." She yelled at him.
"Then how do you explain the filthy stench of Satella on you?" Puck asked.
"Hey, don't you call Tella filthy," Typhon told him, "Tella is a good person, unlike you,".
"So you admit you are all with those foul cultists, I knew you all stunk." Puck yammered.
"You know I'm really getting tired of you saying we stink," Minerva said before a devious smile crossed her face. "You know I might actually have a solution that stench that bothers you so much." She said as she leaned over the little cat. Puck could only gulp as he saw reach for him.
"So this is where you were," Satella said as she approached Echidna and Apollo. The beast trying to push forward but it was to no avail as the barrier that protected the town kept him out. Echidna had long since given up and had actually taken to relaxing under a tree while recorded and sketched some of the local flora in her notebook.
"It surprising how you are only concerned about him when you realize Subaru might be in danger," Echidna said as she drew one of the flowers beside her.
"Well to be fair we thought he would eventually fight back or outrun them," Satella said nervously.
"Sadly you were mistaken. I am afraid that his biggest weakness is in fact the opposite sex. So yeah…he's just like other men." Echidna smirked. Apollo grumbled at the Witch of Greed before he continued to exam the barrier looking for a weakness. Credit where it was due he tried to scale it. He jumped to the top of a nearby tree before he attempted to jump over the barrier only to smack right into it. Satella and Echidna glanced up to see the Beast flat on the barrier before he started to slide down it. Eventually, he just fell off and landed flat on his back.
"Ouch." Satella winced. Echidna glanced at the beast as stood back up before noticing that he had somehow left a print off his whole body, including his tail in the ground. He really hit it that hard.
"So what's the problem exactly?" Echidna asked. "I mean there has to be a problem if you called out to us." She noted.
"The maids and Emilia are in the village," Satella said. That was interesting…they wasn't supposed to come here at all. The half-elf was supposed to be studying for her candidacy and the maids weren't due till the next few days. She wondered if it was Roswaal's Gospel that changed the future so much since Subaru decided to deviate. This was getting interesting, someone who could rewind and reset versus someone gifted with the ability to see into the future. If the prediction ability was ingrained within a user the results would have been something to behold for sure if the two clashed. "Are you even listening?" Satella said when she noticed Echidna started spacing out.
"Maids and half-elf in the village right," Echidna replied. "I don't think they're problem exactly." She told Satella.
"Emilia isn't but Rem and Ram are. They can smell the miasma on him and they'll most like attack him when he's alone." Satella said.
"Wouldn't the solution to that be simply for him to not be alone? If he stays in a public place where there are villagers around I don't think they'll attack him. Maybe he should hide behind some kids or even self just stay at a local pub or tavern. They'd have to be crazy to attack him there, not to mention if I recall he is friends with Emilia so for sure they wouldn't want any witnesses." Echidna said calmly.
"That still doesn't help," Satella added. "Now that they saw him, they will try to kill him…..and he won't fight back."
"Oh right, one of the maids is the friend he failed to protect," Echidna noted. "He committed suicide one time to try and save one, right but it was too late, he had already reached passed the checkpoint." She said. "If I recall he threw away his life another time as well, during this very same loop." Echidna chuckled. "To think he cares so much for a girl who tried to kill him."
"It's what makes Subaru, Subaru…he never gives up on trying to save you…even if you feel like you aren't worth saving." Satella smiled.
"And how does Envy feel about this?" Echidna asked. "I can't imagine she's pleased, not even the slightest."
"No, she isn't," Satella said.
"Well if she does decide to come out to play, tell me in advance, as curious as I am, even I don't want to see that fallout," Echidna said.
"Can you at least pretend to care?" Satella asked.
"Nope," Echidna said. "Besides you have 5 other witches who'll care and from the looks of some recent developments you have Mr. Despair there as well," Echidna noted as she gestured to Apollo. The beast in question was currently trying to gnaw through the barrier; he had tried to push his mouth on it and apparently, he pushed it too hard that his jaw actually unhinged and split wide open.
"Is it supposed to bend like that?" Satella asked.
"Not in the slightest," Echidna said. "But as I said, you'll be fine with the others."
"Speaking of the others I have to go and warn them about this," Satella said.
"No need. I'll call Typhon right now." Echidna said as she rang up the littlest Witch.
"Hey, when am I going to get one of those?" Satella asked.
"You're the most powerful witch out of all of us, make one yourself." Echidna teased.
"If I ever do lose control….I'm putting a bullseye on you for Envy." Satella threatened.
"I'll make it for you after I finish the others," Echidna responded as she listened to the phone. The phone went silent. That was strange. She tried again and still no response. "Okay, they are not answering," Echidna told Satella.
"Are you sure?" Satella asked.
"Positive…..jeez you go through the trouble of getting them a phone and they don't even answer when you call." Echidna complained.
"Well, it looks like we'll just have to check on them the old fashion way," Satella said as she teleported to the house, and Echidna followed shortly after. Meanwhile, Apollo who had been left alone with the barrier decided to try one another method of getting through. Since brute force wasn't working he was going to use the old noggin. He planted his feet firmly in the ground before he let loose one of the loudest roars he could muster. Much to his surprise, the barrier didn't budge at all and he was so sure it would have been scared by his growl. Finally fed up with the stupid thing, Apollo went and lay down beneath a tree to till he would be called, unfortunately for him though, his roar did do something…it let every Demon Beast within a mile radius know where he was, some he never met and some were the ones he had used Faceless Bride on.
Puck gulped for air. When he had entered Subaru's mind…he was not expecting to be in this kind of situation. Not even Emilia would dare do what was happening. He took a deep breath as flailed around before he was dunked under the water once more.
"Oh stop shaking." Minerva scolded as she lifted him up once more. "It's only a bath." She repeated as rubbed his fur rather aggressively. Currently, all 5 witches were inside a recreation of the bathroom from the Roswaal mansion where they all decided to enjoy a nice hot spring with Puck. The cat however was not enjoying as it was repeatedly forced underwater multiple times, which was very warm, soap accidentally went in his eyes and mouth and he felt his fur was violated on so many levels.
"When heard she said she'd deal with the smell, I did not think she meant this," Daphne said as she washed her Coffin.
"It would be….foolish to expect anything else…..from her," Sekhmet said as she just lay back, while Typhon soaped her hair. Minerva despite her aggressive demeanor was a pacifist.
"Still I never thought Minerva could make a bath seem so scary," Carmilla said.
"Hmm," Typhon confirmed. "At least Kitty is getting punished," Typhon said. Who knew baths could be used for punishments?
"Ouch…you bit me," Minerva yelled.
"Latom," Daphne said, much to the confusion of the others.
"There we go now Kitty is all clean now," Typhon said as she dried Puck in a towel. All the witches had changed into their usual clothes and were now drying their hair at the table with Puck. The cat was not amused at all; he looked like a giant puffball for crying out loud.
"So are you ready to tell us what you're doing here?" Minerva asked. Puck merely gave off a huff as he turned his head away.
"I figured as much….the poor little kitty must be starving." Daphne said as she clapped her hands. A whole buffet appeared on the table in front of them. The same buffet they had from when they were at Reinhard's place.
"No amount of food in the world can tempt me." Puck said proudly.
"Very well," Daphne said, as she snapped her fingers. The cat spirit was then restrained to the little chair he was sitting in by the table. The other witches didn't pay him no mind though as they started to dig in. Daphne however lifted up the left side of her mask revealing her eye to Puck, while she ate. Puck couldn't explain it but he soon began to feel his stomach rumble as an overwhelming hunger overtook his body. It was like he could think of nothing else now other than eating. He tried to resist but he couldn't help it, however, when he tried to reach for any morsel of food, Daphne pulled it just out of reach. Eventually, the hunger got so great he was left with no choice but to start gnawing at his own limbs to try and satisfy it. However, before he could even bite through his fur a piece of fish was graciously moved within his reach and the cat against his better judgment ignored everything else and indulged himself. Daphne merely smirked at the other witches. It didn't long before Puck admitted why he was here when she moved the fish away. Satisfied for once Daphne covered back her eye.
"So that's your story," Minerva said.
"I'm a failure as a father." Puck groaned. "To think I let my stomach get the better of me." He said in defeat. "And to the witch cult no less," He thought.
"Oh cheer up…you survive the Witch of Gluttony's stare. Not many could say that," Minerva said. Puck's ears perked up.
"Wait what did you just say just now?" He asked. He must still be delirious from the food he just ate or the bath because he could have sworn the blonde say Witch of Gluttony.
"I said you survive the Witch of Gluttony," Minerva repeated before noticing the pale expression on the cat's face.
"Wait a minute…do you mean to say she is the Witch of Gluttony." Puck stuttered as he gestured to Daphne.
"Yes," Minerva answered. "And I'm the Witch of Wrath, Typhon is Pride, Camilla is Lust and Sekhmet is Sloth." She said as she gestured to the rest of them. "Oh no," She realized.
The cat despite not having lungs or any actual reason to breathe was now hyperventilating as the situation he had been in suddenly dawned on him. He was in a house full of witches. He had just been forcefully bathed by a witch and he had now finished eating with the witches. To top it all of…he had confessed that he was invading the mind of an individual who apparently had favor said witches and had threatened to kill him. To say he was in trouble was an underestimate…he was no doubt going to hell now. How could it get any worse?
"Why is Puck here?" A familiar voice asked. Puck turned his head to see two more ladies appear. One was a woman with white hair stared at him with widened eyes and the other…the other was a silver-haired half-elf; a silver-haired, half-elf who looked exactly like his daughter, Emilia.
"Minerva?" The Emilia look-alike asked.
"Um, Satella we can explain," Minerva said nervously.
"SATELLA!" Puck shouted in horror as he came face to face with the dreaded Witch of Envy. Satella merely smiled shyly as she gave him a small wave.
"Hello, Puck." She said in a tone that was too similar to Emilia's. Puck couldn't handle it anymore, everything suddenly blacked out.
"Oh my…you really are the most hideous Witch…you knocked him out with one look." Echidna teased.
"Oh shut up," Satella told her.
Yeah...this was a fun chapter to write. Didn't want to go too long with the little Kitty punishment routine. I figured 3/5 was enough. Typhon broke off his arm, he got stripped of his powers, had a bath against his will, and was afflicted by Daphne's hunger-inducing ability. I think that was enough for now. For Sekhmet, I think she would have just used him as a pillow or kill him and Carmilla...I don't what she would have done honestly.
Next chapter Puck comes face to face with Satella, the most detestable of all the witches...who am I kidding, she's best girl and Echidna...the most devious of all the witches...and also second best girl.
Okay, I have a confession to make...I really only wrote this story because I wasn't finding much with Echidna and Satella...so there...that's my little secret. As the great Thanos said, "Fine, I'll do it myself."
As for the topic on Authorities... I'll edit Daphne's one later, but Echidna I want to keep constant because I feel like later on I can simply have magical ability, as well as any magic from the others, be used by Subaru.
Also, things are gonna get bloody next time...and I mean bloody...although that's not saying much in this fandom.
As usual, I appreciate all your support and feedback, stay safe and I'll see you next time.