It was morning, at the Blight manor, General Yunan had just finished sharpening her wrist blades for today where she intends to go in the mountains to find the calamity box and impress her king and his master.
"I wish you could stay." Emira said as she and her twin watched their favourite guest about to make their leave.
"Your stories are really amazing." Edric said.
"Fear not Edric and Emira, once my quest is done, I will return to tell the tale of how I defeated my enemies and returned to my king with the box in hand!" Yunan declared.
"Yes, you must make your leave." Odalia said rather impatiently. "You don't want to disappoint your king."
"I will!" Yunan announced.
"Just a moment…." Alador announced as he exited his laboratory with a wrist device in his hand. "….Yunan, remember how you said that you arrived without your army in sight?"
"Didn't I tell these two the story a thousand times?" Yunan asked.
"Actually, it was two." Edric pointed out.
"But it sure felt like a thousand." Odalia replied.
"Well, I have done something called reverse engineering and I figured out the ins and outs of the mech." Alador explained.
"And you did this all night?" Yunan queried in surprise. "I'm surprised you're not falling to sleep."
"I've been….." Alador yawned. "….Up for more nights. This is just nothing. Anyway, I invented this."Yunan took the wrist device out of Alador's hands and carefully attached it to her wrist. "Now pay attention, this button here calls for your robotic army to whatever location you are in. And I developed this device so the robots know who their leader is."
Yunan was amazed by this man. How could he invent something so impossible with just the parts of one of the robots in his lab?
"My husband is a smart man." Odalia explained.
"Yunan, you need to make sure that no one gets their hands on it." Alador explained. "Or else, they will have your king's army under their control."
"So….this button, right here?" Yunan asked before pushing the yellow button, but she got an electric shock.
"I only added that to stop anyone from using it." Alador replied.
"But what if someone doesn't push it?" Yunan asked smugly. "Not so much of a genius now are you?"
Alador looked insulted but due to him being up all night, he could just probably still be tired. "Just….Just….Just push the button."
Yunan pushed the blue button, but nothing happened for about 9 seconds. But after the seconds passed, the sound of metallic clanging was heard before one of them crashed through the ceiling and landed in front of the newt general.
Odalia screamed at the sight of the hole in her ceiling while Yunan just laughed. "Relax, they won't cause any more damage."
But suddenly, another robot smashed through the wall, then another crashed through the window, another through the door, another from underneath the floorboards, another down the chimney, another through the family portrait and another just politely walked down the stairs.
"How many robots are there?" Asked the horrified Odalia.
"Uh…..Around 47." Yunan estimated. "I don't know."
Then, more robots started crashing through the house which caused more and more damage. "I will…..not pay for it. But my master will."
Meanwhile at the Emperor's palace, Hunter was in his bedroom preparing his snow gear and his Golden Guard uniform. His Palisman, Lil' Rascal was tweeting to get their master's attention.
But Hunter quickly shooed him away before he could get anyone's attention. "Go away Lil' Rascal. I don't want anyone finding you."
Just then, Malsacc opened the door and the bird quickly flew under Hunter's bed so he wouldn't be seen. "Did I hear some tweeting?" Malsacc queried.
"Uh…Yeah, that was me." Hunter then made bird noises just to make it look convincing.
Malsacc smiled as he slowly started to approach Hunter. "That is impressive. But…..That's not what the tweeting sounded like and I swore you were telling a lil' rascal to go away." The former golden guard then took off one of his gloves.
Hunter didn't like where this exchange was going and was obviously freaked out. "What are you doing?"
"You ever wonder how I captured many wild witches?" Malsacc lifted his hand, revealing that his thumb looked black. "Well….I was born with a rare condition. You ever hear of the Mind Reading Coven? Well, it was shutdown due to a lack of members so, me and a few others were let go. But….I can just look into your mind and see if you remember."
The former Golden Guard grabbed Hunter by the head and placed his thumb on his forehead. As he did that, his pupils dilated as well as Hunter's as he started to read his mind.
After 20 seconds of many flashes that included abuse from his uncle, the day he became the Golden Guard, the truce between him and Luz, the duel between him and Amity and the day he gained his Palisman.
Malsacc let go of Hunter and smiled sinisterly. "Oh, you have a little friend? Come here Lil' Rascal."
The Palisman ran out from Hunter's and flew up to Malsacc, who had his finger out and flew up to it. "Hmm, I'm surprised a Palisman chose the nephew of one of their obstacles. Do you have any idea how many Palisman he has killed to suck their life-force?" Malsacc smiled. "If I was you Hunter, I'd keep this little guy to yourself. This Palisman might be useful from time to time. But don't use it around the Emperor's soldiers, they might report it. Oh and about that whole business with Kikimora…..She's going to get what's coming to her soon enough, I am sure of it."
Hunter was confused as to why someone who is loyal to the Emperor wouldn't tell him about the Palisman he had in his bedroom. Was he actually nice? Or was there something more?
"You have delivered many Palisman to my uncle, why are you sparing this one?" Hunter asked.
"Hmm, you've done your research." Malsacc remarked. "Well, I suppose it could be because I have disagreements with the Emperor. Or, it could be because since that title was taken away from me by some pathetic scrawny teenager, I decided to stop being loyal. But, the Emperor doesn't like disappointment and we will retrieve the box. Whether you make it out alive or not will be decided by the Titan. So, I wish you luck on our quest, you're going to need it."
Hunter tried to look brave, but deep down he was awfully intimidated by him that he felt his fingers shake. No wonder his uncle hired this guy to put him in his place.
Malsacc exited the room where Kikimora was standing beside the door, rubbing her hands together. "Did you put him in his place?"
"I know some dirty secrets of his." Malsacc replied. "Especially one regarding you. If you want to remain on the Emperor's good side I suggest you do not attempt the life of the Golden Guard!"
Kikimora as well, tried to remain brave but Malsacc knew how to get under people's skin so Kikimora was no exception.
"I…I…I…I…"
"I'm a mind reader Kikimora, there is no escape from the truth." Malsacc retorted. "I'll keep this secret between you and I. But attempt the Golden Guard's life again and I will make sure the Emperor petrifies your sneaky little hands."
"Why my hands?" Kikimora asked.
"You work well with your hands, Kikimora, it'd be a shame if I shattered them personally." Malsacc smiled before walking away to get ready for his mission.
Kikimora leered her eyes at the former Golden Guard before leering at Hunter's bedroom. She then departed to deal with something to not waste her time.
Back at the Owl House, Grime entered the living room where he saw Luz, Amity and Eda eating breakfast together. They were all dressed except for Eda, whom was still in her pyjamas.
"Good morning!" Grime said as he stretched his arms. "So, do we have any flies for breakfast?"
"I do." Hooty replied. "But you need to get in my mouth if you want them. Hoot, hoot."
"Hooty, stop trying to trick Grime to be eaten by you." Eda demanded.
"Awww!" Hooty groaned.
"And we might have some flies." Eda replied. "Some of the food we have is rather rotten and out of date."
"Where's Sasha?" Grime asked.
"Over here." Sasha replied while walking and sharpening her sword. "So, where's the kitchen?"
"Down the corridor." Luz replied. "You don't wanna put that down?"
"Nah. I usually do this every morning around breakfast. For preparation and as a warning for people who intend to wrong me." Sasha narrowed her eyes at Amity who narrowed her eyes back at her.
"Are you narrowing your eyes at me?" Eda asked. "Because if you should be narrowing your eyes at anyone, you should be narrowing your eyes at Hooty because he tried to eat Grime again."
"Hey!" Hooty exclaimed. "Snitches get Hooty, Eda!"
"Anyway, better get going for breakfast." Sasha said before walking away while aggressively sharpening her sword.
"So Eda, why aren't you coming along?" Amity asked.
"I'd love to come Boots, but I'm still planning my prison break." Eda replied.
"Eda, Raine's probably gone to a more fortified prison due to betraying the Emperor's Coven." Amity stated. "I mean, Belos might want them petrified."
"No, Belos has something planned for Raine I know it." Eda replied. "So I'm breaking them out. I just need a plan."
King then walked in, gobbling on a bowl of cereal with milk in it. "Hey Luz, Sasha's gone to get breakfast."
"I know." Luz replied. "Why is that of concern?"
"You do realise she's human right?" King asked.
Luckily, Amity was quick and said to her girlfriend, "Luz, she's human. She can't digest most of our stuff."
"Uh oh." Luz responded before hearing the sound of someone throwing up.
Later, Sasha was eating poached griffin eggs since these were one of the few things a human could digest on the Boiling Isles.
"Sorry I forgot to tell you about the food here being rather hard to digest." Luz said. "I learnt that the hard way the first time."
"I'm surprised you haven't gotten skinny." Sasha remarked.
"I'm surprised I haven't had any physical health problems." Luz said.
"I mean, this is really good stuff." Sasha said as she chowed down on the eggs. "I feel the protein building up."
"I'm surprised you gained protein just by eating bugs." Eda remarked.
"Actually, bugs are really high in protein." Amity stated.
"Boots, no one likes a smart butt." Eda remarked.
"Yes, no one does." Grime said as he drank some tea. "But the elf is right, bugs are really high in protein."
Amity groaned. "Why does everyone think I'm an elf?!"
"Amity, you are not an elf to me." Luz said. "But honestly, you'd make an awesome elf for my dream couple's cosplay." Luz said, in an effort to comfort her girlfriend.
"Well….." Sasha stood up and started stretching. "….I am ready to kick some nuts and bolts to get that box."
"You better have winter clothing." Amity said as she and Luz got up. "Because, we are going to the knee. And also be careful not to slip."
"Funny, I was about to suggest the same thing." Sasha retorted as she narrowed her eyes at Amity, whom was putting on her coat along with Luz.
"Do you want us to get you anything, Sash?" Luz asked.
"Nah. I got used to the cold." Sasha replied.
"Really? Because people from L.A might not be." Luz said. "They might end up frozen."
"Which would make betraying us a lot harder." Amity muttered.
"I am not going in winter clothing." Sasha said.
"And I'm not going!" Grime declared.
"What? Why?" Sasha asked. "Did you see this nice house and decide you want to live in it?"
"Well, apart from that owl giving me the hungry eyes…." Grime pointed to Hooty, whom was drooling on Amity's shoulder.
"Hooty!" Amity yelled.
"But, as I'm a toad, cold climates aren't my strong point." Grime informed them. "I mean, last time I dealt with the cold I was frozen in a literal block of ice."
"Well, enjoy your lazy day Grime." Sasha said.
"Thanks Sash." Grime replied. "Good luck getting the box and not betraying anyone!"
Sasha sighed as she, Luz and Amity exited the Owl House to get on their quest.
Grime just jumped on the couch to watch something on the orb. "Ah! Do you by any chance have Suspicion Island in this world?"
"Huh?" Eda responded.
"Suspicion Island? Do you have Suspicion Island?"
"We have an island called Suspicious Island." Eda replied.
"No! I mean Suspicion Island! The show has an engaging mystery. So many twists and turns; So many betrayals and redemption arcs. I swear most of the events are similar in my life."
"Look, as much as I want to talk about a TV show, I can't." Eda responded.
"Why not?"
"She's planning a prison break." King informed him.
"Oh yeah." Grime realised. "How goes it?"
"That prison is really fortified." Eda replied. "I mean, the guards are countless and one out of the two morons guarding the place really wants to date me."
"Woah! You must be popular!" Grime exclaimed.
Eda chuckled. "Yeah, you should have seen my wanted poster when I had my powers. That was a whole lot of zeroes."
"I say." Grime retorted. "Hey, since I have nothing to do, how about I help break your lover out?"
Eda sighed. "We are not lovers. I mean, we were but that was all in the past. It ended…..due to my curse. I hate remembering it." Eda moved her head down as she looked at the floor.
Grime placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "So…Were you the dumper or were they the dumper?"
"Wow! He makes Hooty look masterful." King sarcastically remarked.
"Thank you!" Hooty exclaimed.
"And why do you wanna help?" Eda asked. "Have you ever been in a prison?"
"No." Grime replied. "Okay, I accidentally locked myself in one of my prison cells but that was me being rather stupid. I drank a lot of really strange berries that night."
"Besides, do you even have a plan?" Eda asked.
Grime smiled sinisterly. "You said that the warden has the hots for you, right?"
Eda froze. "Oh no! You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, right?"
"I was suggesting to bring him out for a date and stand him up." Grime laughed. "It will be very humiliating for him!"
King and Eda gave the captain a very deadpan expression, not really impressed with his little prank. "That seems more like a very mean prank. I'm going to go what Eda thinks you were suggesting."