A/N: And in this next chapter, the wedding preparations begin. And this time, it looks like things will be similar, yet different, all the same. :) Also, I have some good news. I was recently hired as a House Upkeep Technician by my parents. So, basically, my job is to do household chores inside and outside Monday through Friday. Cool, huh? :)
The Cat Returns: Haru the Princess of Cats
Chapter 4: Haru the Princess of Cats; Celebration of the Cat Kingdom
As Meku and Meki were being escorted inside with Muta coming along begrudgingly, a sort of floating orb turned up and opened its apparent cat-slit eye.
"Ugh. Is that creepy, or what?", Meku commented.
Meanwhile, that orb was showing the cat king what's going on outside.
"Hmm, looks good. My future daughters-in-law.", the cat king spoke as Meki woke Muta up according to the footage.
"All right. Think I'll go and have a little look in person.", the Cat King spoke as the vizier grew quite curious about Muta as he rewound before speaking to himself.
"Why does that fatso seem so familiar?", the vizier puzzled.
Meanwhile, Meku, Meki, and Muta were brought inside the castle by Haru, Lune, Kotaro, Yuri, and Kintarou.
"You'll have to change your attires before meeting with the king.", Natoru advised.
"Wow. New clothes?", Meku spoke in awe as they went in before one of the cats stopped Muta.
"Please wait here, sir.", one of the cats requested.
"I'm the babysitter.", Muta spoke.
"Back off.", Meki spoke, surprising Muta, if not angering him.
"What's your problem?!", Muta growled.
"Fat friend, help yourself to the refreshments while you're waiting.", Natoru advised.
"Yeah. Okay, I'll wait.", Muta responded as he went in through one room as Natoru followed him and the other two cats went in with Meku and Meki now getting dressed up for the wedding.
"Hey, not bad.", Meku grinned.
"Oh, Ms. Meku and Ms. Meki. You're both so lucky.", one of the cats spoke.
"Every girl in the cat kingdom has a crush on Prince Lune, but not every girl felt the same toward his brothers.", another added as necklace was being wrapped around Haru's neck while a heart was being placed behind her head.
"I'm sure you two will be very happy together.", the cat grinned.
"You think?", Meku asked before realizing something.
"Wait a minute. I don't think I want to do this. At least not that soon.", Meku realized.
"Yeah, me neither. No offense, but that seems a bit rushed if you ask me.", Meki responded.
"It's okay, really.", Haru assured before the Cat King purred as he entered.
"Don't you look good. Welcome to the royal family, babes.", the Cat King grinned.
Meanwhile, Muta was in the buffet room for refreshments as he scoped the buffet and ate one of the treats to examine how edible and tasty it is. And before long, Muta started eating the buffet of treats as Natoru watched before the vizier came in.
"Tell me, who is that cat?", the vizier asked.
"I believe his name is Muta, Natori.", Natoru responded.
"'Muta'? Never heard that name.", Natori commented in puzzlement before taking his leave just as Muta had finished all the available treats on one table alone.
"No match for my stomach.", Muta spoke before turning around and noticing a sort of giant pitcher of purple jelly.
Meanwhile, Meku and Meki needed to explain some things.
"Look, Your Majesty. We're flattered by all this, but I'm not sure we want to get married yet.", Meku explained.
"You what? I was told you two had already consented.", the cat king spoke as Natori entered.
"They have consented; that's what I was told.", Natori spoke.
"What about Lune's brothers? What do they say?", Meki puzzled.
"Meow, Lune. Do you know where your brothers are?", Haru asked.
"Right now, I'm guessing they're away on official business. But they'll return soon.", Lune responded.
"Okay... Look, first of all, we don't really know each other, well, apart from when we had to save them from a truck, I guess. And second of all, they're cats and we're not. So, clearly, we can't marry them. That's just not natural.", Meku explained, not knowing that she was growing fur while her hands turned into paws while Meki's hands turned into paws but she was growing whiskers, before the cat king and Natori, surprised as they were, only gave grins to each other and turned back to the two sisters.
"That has already been taken care of.", Natori grinned.
"You two are half cats already.", the cat king added as Meku's cat ears perked up from the top of her head with Meku noticing said ears as well as her paws and cat-like nose.
"See, Ms. Meku?", the cat asked as she and her partner held the mirror up in front of her with Meki just as amazed.
"Wow. Look at that...", Meku spoke in awe.
"Yeah. We're cats.", Meki added in agreement.
After a moment, though, both girls screamed, but with different reactions. While Meku screamed in horror, Meki screamed in joy as the Cat King and Natori grinned.
"See? Isn't this just ameowzing?", Haru asked before Meku only frantically ran off.
"MUTA!", Meku shouted as she ran.
"Hey! Wait up. It's not that bad.", Meki assured as she and Haru ran to catch up to her as Lune followed before the three arrived in time to see Meku scream at the sight of what happened to Muta: he was stuck inside a giant pitcher of purple jelly with Meki, Haru, and Lune just as shocked and surprised.
"Guess I spoke too soon.", Meki spoke.
"What happened?", Haru asked in surprise as Meku gasped in fright before Natoru stepped forward sadly and spoke.
"I'm afraid he had a weakness for catnip jelly. He saw the bowl and dove right in.", Natoru explained sadly.
"Muta... You weren't supposed to... This is all my fault...!", Meku spoke, saddened by what had happened.
"Don't leave me like this, Muta!", Meku spoke sadly.
"Is he going to be okay?", Haru asked.
"Yes, but he will be out of it for some time. In any case, time for the celebration.", Natori spoke while preparing to move Meku away from the pitcher only for Meku to whack him off her in her grief.
"No! I won't leave him!", Meku sobbed.
"Then, we'll bring him with us.", Natoru assured as the pitcher started moving.
"Can we at least figure out how to get him out after?", Meki asked.
"That's the general plan.", Natoru assured.
Later, at the center of the palace, a feast was being prepared with Kotaro and Yuri finally present as they even sat next to their father with Kintarou standing by his side as well as Lune's as he was next to Haru as some time had passed as Meku was still worried for Muta.
"What's with her? Why is she so glum?", Kotaro asked.
"My guess? I'd say it has something to do with a friend of his in the catnip jelly.", Yuri responded, gesturing to Muta.
"Oh. My guess is she must've had a bad experience.", Kotaro guessed.
"Those're Kotaro and Yuri's brides.", one of the cats spoke.
"They have lovely fur.", another added.
"And such delicate paws.", another commented as Yuuki poured some drinks and looked at Meki and Meku with slight worry.
"Meow, I'm so sorry Meku I didn't know this would happen. Meow, I promise we'll get him out of there after the party.", Haru apologized as she placed her hand on her sister's shoulder.
But as she's comforting Meku, her hands started to tingle and twitch.
"Really, sis?", Meku asked with a slight sniffle, calming down some.
"Meow, of course.", Haru assured before she started to feel the tingling of her hands and saw them twitching.
"Meow, I know what this means. Ready to see me become more like a cat, meow?", Haru asked to Meki.
"Yes, of course.", Meki grinned.
"Meow, alright then. Time to say goodbye to these hands and say hello to my new paws.", Haru grinned before she then began licking her hands with her cat tongue, her hands slowly turn into the paws that she had always wanted with each lick, bringing her one step closer to becoming a cat permanently.
"Meow, and there we go. Just a few more changes and I will finally be the beautiful cat that I am forever, purr purr purr.", Haru purred.
"Oh, Haru...", Meku spoke in worry.
"I hear you don't care for mice. But I bet you can't resist my juicy raw fish, huh?", the chef asked.
"I couldn't.", Haru responded before eating it, surprising if not disgusting Meku.
"I'm not sure she's enjoying this.", the cat king spoke.
"Sire.", Natori spoke.
"How about some entertainment?", the Cat King suggested.
"Excellent suggestion.", Natori responded.
Then, Natoru got to the other side of the performers and gave the band a signal to start playing before a few cats with an umbrella and a couple of bouncy, balancing balls performed their act, much to everyone's joy, well, everyone except Meku, who was not only still worried for Haru, but also upset about being forced to marry when she's not even ready and being turned into a cat even though she didn't want to be.
"Not entertaining enough!", the cat king spoke.
"Yes, sire.", Natori bowed.
Later, in the next act, one cat got his throwing squid knives ready while another was bolted to a board before the cat tossed them at the board, thankfully missing the cat bolted to the board, although the same could not be said for her dress, much to the first cat's shock as well as some of the others, including Kotaro, who covered his eyes, before the cat bolted out, crying in shame, before the first cat turned to the king and chuckled nervously, only earning the king's refusal with which the cat executioners grabbed the knife-throwing cat and tossed him out the window, sending him screaming as the other cats grew surprised with Meku only barely touching her raw fish as she lifted the tail and let it fall down to the plate.
"Next!", the Cat King ordered before the other cat with a green bow tie on his waist then arrived and started doing poses as what appeared to be tatoos of eyes, a nose, and a grin tatoo on his body started moving with his hat as the only prop used as he even turned around,l showing two dots on his butt, selling the illusion that he looks like an elephant, much to some of the cats' desdain, although Meku was more focused on her own paws as Haru and Meki were somewhat mystified in slight wonder before one of the cats started laughing at this, angering the king and eventually getting tossed out the window with a scream.
"Okay, Dad. No disrespect, but that was a bit too far.", Kotaro commented.
"Whoever's next better not stink, got it?!", the cat king shouted before the rest of the performers backed away in worry as someone else stepped forward near the king, puzzling the cat king.
"Your Majesty, I promise that I will make the young lady smile.", the stranger assured, intriguing the cat king.
"Shall we try him?", Natori asked.
"Sure. Why not?", the cat king asked before the stranger then stepped up toward Meku and Meki.
"Excuse me. Would you care to dance?", the stranger asked.
"Oh, no. I-I'm a meowsy dancer.", Meku responded before she exclaimed and grew more saddened.
"No, now I'm even starting to talk like a cat!", Meku spoke in worry before the stranger offered his hand.
"Just trust me.", the stranger spoke before Meku eventually took his hand with most of the band refusing to play, although one of them started to play an accordion for the mood.
"Is that just me? Or did that cat sound familiar?", Meki pondered.
As Meku and the stranger danced along, Natori turned to the king.
"Well, she seems to be entertained now.", Natori assured before the Cat King only scoffed.
"Meow? Shall we dance, too?", Haru asked to Lune.
"It'd be a pleasure to do it with you, Haru.", Lune responded before the two then started dancing merrily.
"Wanna join in, too, Yuri?", Meki asked.
"I'd love to.", Yuri responded before the two danced as well as Yuuki looked on in slight worry as Meku and the stranger danced.
"What's happening to me? I've never felt like this before. Maybe life as a cat wouldn't be so bad.", Meku spoke before she started to grow whiskers, making her gasp.
"Careful, Meku. Don't lose yourself. Believe in who you are. I said so before, didn't I?", the stranger spoke before Meku realized it.
"Then you must be...", Meku began.
"Baron...? He's finally here.", Meki spoke in slight wonder, having overheard the conversation.
"Meki. There's something I need to tell you.", Yuri spoke up.
"And what's that?", Meki asked.
"The thing is, you are great, but the girl I really want to marry is Yuuki.", Yuri responded.
"Wow. Really?", Meki asked.
"Yeah.", Yuri responded.
"Okay. I understand. I'm not quite ready to marry yet, either, as much as I'm starting to like being a cat. I just want my sisters to be happy.", Meki responded.
"Well, that makes you and Dad kinda alike. He just wanted to be happy and have some grand kids of his own before he passes on one of these days.", Yuri responded before the cat king's ears wiggled, making Yuri worried, afraid that he overheard Yuri's conversation before noticing that his glare was mostly toward Meku and the stranger.
"Stop right there, pal!", the Cat King spoke up, halting both the music and the dances.
"You're not from my kingdom, are you? Exactly who are you?!", the Cat King demanded.
"How rude of me. I should've introduced myself. I am exactly who I appear to be.", the stranger spoke before taking off his hat and mask.
"I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen and I have come for Meki and Meku.", Baron added, introducing himself.
"Baron!", Meku shouted in joy.
"He's so cool!", Natoru spoke excitedly.
"He is handsome.", Natori agreed.
Unfortunately, the cat king was not in any mood to agree at all.
"He can't have them! Seize them!", the cat king shouted before the soldiers showed up and marched forward with one of them flinging his shuriken at Baron, who deflected them with his cape before launching his own mask as a shuriken toward one of the guards, just barely cutting the whiskers.
"What a cat.", one of the guards spoke in surprise.
"Protect Meki and Meku from the king.", Lune urged.
"Yes, sir. Cat Guard, advance!", the colonel urged before Lune's own cat guard blocked the soldiers from getting any closer.
Meanwhile, Kotaro spoke to Muta.
"Well, here goes nothing.", Kotaro spoke before charging toward the pitcher of catnip jelly and rammed into it, breaking it apart enough for Muta to slide down, freed from the pitcher.
"Ugh... I'm stuffed.", Muta spoke.
"Believe it or not, that's a good thing.", Kotaro grinned to Muta.
"Muta? You're still alive!", Meku spoke in tearful joy.
"See? I told you we'd get him out.", Haru grinned after using her tail to trip some of the guards before Muta noticed the livid Cat King.
"Oh, no!", Muta exclaimed before running.
"Oh, you traitors!", the cat king exclaimed toward Lune, Haru, and Kotaro before promptly getting dragged away by security.
"This isn't the best place to be right now, Your Majesty.", one of the security guards warned.
"Quickly! Get his majesty to a safe place!", Natori urged as he, the cat king, and the security left with three soldiers chasing after Muta while everyone else fled with Natoru waving.
"Emergency exit for all guests right here, please, thanks. Enjoy your day.", Natoru grinned as he waved.
Meanwhile, spears were launched toward Meku and Baron with a mace launched as well before they all missed, prompting Meki to leap onto the pole of the spear toward one of the cat guards, yeowling in anger as she scratched the cat guard's face while the rest were knocked back by Muta inadvertently with Meki ceasing her catscratch and then jumping off.
"Sorry. I know you were just doing your job.", Meki apologized profusely to the cat guard that was ironically catscratched.
"Great technique, Muta.", Meku grinned.
"I just lost my balance.", Muta responded before promptly getting chased again.
"Over here.", Yuuki whispered.
"Yuuki, you're here.", Meku grinned as she, Meki, Haru, Baron, Yuri, Kotaro, and Kintarou caught up to Yuuki, hiding behind the table as best as they each could.
"I am so thankful you were able to help Ms. Meku and Ms. Meki, Baron.", Yuuki grinned.
"Do we know each other?", Baron puzzled.
"Many of us here know of you and your bureau.", Yuuki responded.
"Yuuki, I'm such an idiot. We should've left when you told us to. Now, look at us...", Meku groaned.
"Listen. If you all leave here before dawn, you all can still turn back into humans.", Yuuki assured.
"We will?", Meku asked hopefully.
"This will get you outside the castle.", Yuuki added as she opened a secret door.
"Perfect.", Baron grinned.
"Wait. Where's Muta?", Meku asked.
"If I had to guess, I'd say having more than a handful with those guards.", Kotaro responded.
"I'll clear a path.", Kintarou spoke before running out of the castle another way as he dealt with some of the guards a long the way with a ram.
"Heh. Hang on, big guy, I'm coming.", Kotaro spoke as he then joined the fray just as Muta launched the mace up the ceiling, causing the moon's light to bathe the ground as Muta swung above the guards as they chased him and tried to stop him, but to no avail before Kotaro burst in and knocked them back.
"Wow, now, that is great technique.", Muta grinned.
"Aw, come on. That was just losing balance with style.", Kotaro grinned back as Baron noticed this before turning back to the exit.
"They'll be fine. We just need to get you all home.", Baron responded before Meku and Meki went in first with Lune, Haru, Yuri, Baron, and Yuuki getting in next before the small door closed.
A/N: And so, the great escape begins. Who knows what may happen this time as Haru gets dangerously close to becoming a cat permanently as does Meki. As baron would say, "Looks like this is getitng interesting.". So, what do you think should happen in the next chapter. If you have an answer for that, please feel free to voice your answer whenever you can tomorrow. Until then, I'll be working on the first chapter of "The Owl House: Coven of Owls" tomorrow. Until next time. :)