Eda's Softer Side Part 4: War of the Boiling Isles

by Monster1000

Picking up where part three left off. Maxwell's father made a deal with Emperor Belos in an attempt to get what they want with evil intentions. Maxwell and The Owl House gang join the rebellion to stop Emperor Belos and his evil plans for the Day of Unity as others rebel against evil. But something far more dangerous is coming and dying to escape.

10. Chapter 10

Hunter was in disguise as one of the students by wearing a Hexside school uniform that made him look like he's in the potions track. He peered around the corner of the "Skullpting" stand as he looked around at the students with an optimistic face.

"Look at all these potential recruits." said Hunter with a grin.

Flapjack, Hunter's palisman, chirped a few times as Hunter was able to communicate with his palisman. His smile faded a little.

"Sure, I've never actually spoken to witches my age. Teens are probably into the same things as me! Like authority and rules!" said Hunter now approaching some students.

Hunter got the attention of a small male purple bat like demon student by telling him if he could make all his dreams come true but the price to pay for that said dream was something that the small student wasn't interested in as he groaned and had a nervous sweat. He declined on the offer and literally turned his back on him.

Hunter figured that meant the student was giving him a silent "No" to answer him. Hunter walked down one of the rows to the Hexes Hold'em stand where three oracle track students were playing Hexes Hold'em. Celine, Barcus and one unidentified male student who used to hang out with Boscha.

As they played, Hunter approached them which they gave him their attention under the impression that he'd like to join the club for school that they've joined or started.

"You think these are cool? Not as cool as the Emperor's Coven. I hear you get to sleep in till six in the morning." said Hunter.

They looked unenthusiastic while Barcus gagged a few times till he coughed up one of the cards and it slapped Hunter in his face with the card reading "Banish Card" in purple lettering. He peeled the card off his face and placed it back on the stand as Celine got out a clean cloth to wipe off the spit on Hunter's face and tossed it in a nearby trashcan.

"Thanks anyways." said Hunter as he walked off.

As he walked off. One of Maxwell's shadow copies, which he made sure a third one was made just in case two of them had their hands full. The third one was with Viney and her pet griffin, a large female griffin named Puddles.

"Stare." Maxwell's shadow copy told Puddles.

Puddles stood up on all four legs and obeyed.

"Discumbere." Maxwell's shadow copy commanded.

Puddles say down while she sat up on her front leg while her hind legs would sit.

"Dicere." Maxwell's shadow copy commanded.

Puddles spoke by uttering a couple of soft sounding red tailed hawk like "kee-eeeee-arr" which sounded beautiful. Maxwell's shadow copy was given a treat from Viney which he gave it to Puddles, holding his hand out and Puddles took it in her beak and swallowed it down, chewing on it, and swallowing it down. She leaned her head forwards to nuzzle Maxwell's left cheek, making soft cooing that sounded like a pigeon.

"Puddles likes you." said Viney gladly. "How did you bond with her so fast? Puddles has instantly bonded with Luz because she's got good intentions and Puddles was able to sense it. But with others, it took some time."

"Puddles is like a horse but with wings. I interacted with one horse in my life when I was younger. They named her Jasmine. She was a fast learner and good with those who have innocent intentions. I've managed to have a way with horses. But since Puddles is a griffin. I used the same methods of handling and bonding with a horse by using them methods on Puddles. Which I hope Puddles isn't offended by that as I'm just going by what I've learned and what I know." Maxwell's shadow copy explained while hoping he wasn't offensive towards Puddles.

Puddles kept nuzzling his face but even placed her large head on top of Maxwell's shadow copy's head as if to comfort his thoughts. Which Viney smiled and hugged Maxwell's shadow copy. He was blushing from the affection and from the reassurance.

"Puddles isn't offended by that. The only way she shows being offended is if you see her screeching with rage or she'd show disapproval and shake her head. We call that the "oh no you didn't" look." reassured Viney.

After Viney released her arms from him and Puddles lifted her head up off him. Maxwell's shadow copy saw that Puddles winked and grinned at him. The large female griffin even given Maxwell's shadow copy a flirtatious expression by lifting her eyebrows up and down a bit, winked and grinned at him and this made young blonde teenager blush deeper and hiccup.

"I think she might be flirting with me. I'm flattered but I'm with Eda." Maxwell's shadow copy said with a loud hiccup.

"Not to worry. Puddles does that with everyone she bonds with. It might look like flirting but it's one of her ways to let the one she's bonded with to know that she likes them but in a way of friendship." reassured Viney.

"How does she show that we've earned her trust and respect?" asked Maxwell's shadow copy curiously while feeling relieved.

"She nuzzles them like she did with you. It's also a sign that she loves them just as much as she loves me. So that's always a good sign with those she greets for the first time." explained Viney.

As Maxwell's shadow copy was reassured by Viney about Puddles feelings towards him and how she reacts to positive and negative aspects. He started to hear a familiar male's voice and hear some of his brainwave activity. He turned to see the one person he knew but also knew was trouble if he was to show up where him and his friends would be. He saw from a distance Hunter was talking to Jerbo about joining the Emperor's Coven. Jerbo was informing Hunter he wants to study all magic and tracks but not at the cost of joining the Emperor's Coven. He desired to give the magic system a long overdue update once he's at the right age to do so.

Maxwell's shadow copy's face turned to worried disgust at the sight of Hunter while he saw him back away with a look shock on the sixteen-year-old male which Maxwell's shadow copy suddenly saw where Hunter was about to step in. He got dangerously close to Puddle's tail.

"Watch out behind you!" Maxwell's shadow copy alerted.

Too late. Hunter stepped on Puddle's tail which Puddles screeched in pain and annoyance as Puddles began screeching at the griffin while Viney tried to hold her pet griffin back to prevent her from attacking Hunter. Hunter looked on which shock as he was ready to fight back but something told him he shouldn't since his magic system was still coming back slowly. Maxwell's shadow copy knew that Hunter was bad news if he shows up at the school but he also didn't want to alarm or panic the students. So he knew one or two ideas in order to keep Hunter out of harm's way.

"Correr! Run!" Maxwell's shadow copy advised.

Back at Willow's stand where the Flyer Derby club was being held at. Willow was announcing anyone to join the club while talking about the cool things they can do as a result.

"So that's what Flyer Derby is and that's how you play the sport?" said Maxwell's other shadow copy.

"Big time. Although, what's capture the flag?" asked Gus curiously.

"It's sort of like Flyer Derby but there's no flying or magic involved. And it's only involving one flag from each team. But if one member of the team is tagged or squirted with water, then you're out. The last one from each team has to capture the flag from the other team, than run with it back to their team's base and the first one to capture the other team's flag and make it back to their home base first wins." Maxwell's shadow copy explained. "I never played captured the flag but I've heard people talk about how the game goes. Besides, I'm also here to support Willow as well as Luz."

"This capture the flag sounds interesting." said Gus showing interest.

"Let out your inner flying freak! Once the Flyer Derby club is approved, we'll travel all across the Isles in rocking outfits and working as a team!" Willow announced.

"Good luck with that." came a male's voice.

The three teenagers turned to see it was the Abomination's teacher that spoke. He had a disapproving look on his face as if mad that he got caught doing something he wasn't supposed to do.

"Professor Hermonculus." said Willow.

"I'm overseeing club approvals this year, and I just don't think Flyer Derby is worth investing in." said Professor Hermonculus as his abomination monster pulled out a clipboard from its own body and handed it to a stern looking Professor Hermonculus.

"Professor, why not give it a chance. Have a little faith." Maxwell's shadow copy advised.

"Just because it's not as well-known as Grudgby doesn't mean-" Willow began.

"You misunderstand me. I'm shutting it down unless YOU step down as captain. I just don't think quitters make good leaders." Professor Hermonculus insulted. "Also, Mr. Logan, are you actually playing said sport? He'd probably make a better team captain since his potential in Grudgby has shown promise."

"You're just mad that she dropped your class. Give her a chance!" Gus said pointing out the professor's bias. "Like Maxie said: Have some faith."

"For one, no disrespect but I'm not playing the sport. Sports don't interest me. I'm here to support Willow. And be nice to her. What happened between you two should stay in the past. Not the future. Also, Principal Bump moved Willow to the Plant track when she shown more promise in the Plant track. She didn't quit nor did she drop your class. The principal moved her to a different track that he figured Willow would excel more from. Also, holding this against her is biased. If Principal Bump were to find out." Maxwell's shadow copy explained while warning the abominations professor.

Professor Hermonculus shown that his smug grin faded a bit. On one hand, he knew Maxwell was right about Willow switching to a different magic track because Principal Bump moved her to a different one, it was not of Willow's own accord, it was because of the principal's choice as Principal Bump knew that Willow wasn't doing so well in the Abominations track but knew Willow would do so much better and be happier in the Plant track. But hearing that Maxwell knows of his biased against Willow and that if he told the principal about it, he'd be in hot water.

"You wouldn't really do that, would you?" said Professor Hermonculus showing a hint of nervousness.

"Maybe we can work something out?" Maxwell's shadow copy offered. "I'm not the type to make deals for personal and obvious reasons. But maybe there's something we can work out that doesn't require Willow stepping down as team captain for this or where I won't tell Principal Bump about such bias actions on your part. You need this job like anyone else who works here and I don't want you to lose your job nor do I want to see Willow end up being turned down for trying something new due to some biased actions of a teacher. But there's got to be something that we can work out that doesn't require hurting someone."

Professor Hermonculus looked on at Maxwell, unaware that he was talking to one of his shadow copies. He knew that Maxwell was right. He didn't want to lose his job nor did he want to be told on. He knew Maxwell was the gentleman towards women and that he'd defend a woman with his life if he had to. He saw the young blonde teenager wasn't backing down with the stoic expression upon his face. He was offering a deal to work things out for all of them. Even if Maxwell isn't the type to make deals. He knew that the blonde teenager was making an offer where both sides win. This idea grabbed his attention out of curiosity.

"You know you don't want to hold this against anyone, much less a woman. I can tell Principal Bump about your biased actions but you need this job more than anyone. Yet you know that I'm not about to let someone disrespect woman or shut her down for such things as trying out a new club. So what'll it be?" Maxwell's shadow copy reiterated.

"Hmm. I think I know what the deal is. Willow, you put together a team for a friendly game of Flyer Derby after school. If you can lead your team to victory, maybe I'll approve your club. But if your team loses, the club is shut down. But in the case of any cheating is involved. If Willow's team cheats, her club is shut down by default but if the other team cheats. I approve of Willow's club by default and Mr. Logan can be the one to spill the beans to the principal and I take my punishment like a man." Professor Hermonculus stated as he briefly shown them a picture of him and Principal Bump when they were younger and played the mentioned sport. The picture even shown the principal had a full head of hair like he does today and surprisingly, even the abominations teacher had a full head of hair in the picture which shown him with longer, green, wavy hair before he put the picture away.

"I'll be watching the entire thing and if you miss anything. I have a way to show you what went on." Maxwell's shadow copy informed.

"Understood. Between you and me, Mr. Logan, I don't have any problems with you, I never have and if you choose not to play a sport, then that's your business, not mine. I'm also not too big a fan of making deals." said Professor Hermonculus on a softer note.

Professor Hermonculus had his abomination carry him away while Maxwell's shadow copy didn't like the deal that was made as he felt conflicted. On one hand, he didn't want the teacher to lose his job but he also didn't want Willow's club to be shut down. He's never had any problems with Willow or Professor Hermonculus. Yet some of the good things he said to him just now sounded like he was showing he had no conflict with him but at the same time, he didn't know what to feel. Once the professor was out of earshot. Willow sighed in disappointment.

"You can do this, Willow. Don't let him beat you down." said Gus with a word of support.

"Not going to lie. I know that my intervention didn't help make things any better and I know I'm just as guilty of making things worse." said Maxwell's shadow copy showing guilt.

"Maxie, you didn't make things worse. You were trying to stick up for me while at the same time trying to be civil with a teacher. I know you were doing your best to support me." Willow reassured. "I'd ask Luz and Amity but Amity and Luz are busy and... I don't know where to find enough decent players this fast."

"I know a way we can find some potential players but it's going to involve one thing that I hoped I didn't have to do." said Maxwell's shadow copy looking nervous.

"What's that?" asked Gus.

"Delving into the minds of others and going through their memories to see if anyone has any Flyer Derby potential. Even if it means...delving into the minds of women. I'm not going to like doing that." Maxwell's shadow copy said expressing hesitancy in his method of choice.

"Maxie, at this point, we have no choice. But just don't delve into their private thoughts like, you know." said Willow blushing from what he advised.

"Judging by your facial reaction. I do know what you mean and I'll take your word for it." Maxwell's shadow copy said blushing.

They suddenly heard a male's voice from nearby and they saw Hunter was flying on his staff in the air while trying to fly away from an angry female griffin that is Puddles. The other shadow copy of Maxwell was flying in the air around Puddles, trying to calm her and stop her from attacking Hunter. The shadow copy was trying to command Puddles as he spoke rapidly in Latin that was to no avail. Puddles managed to get close enough to bite Hunter's right boot off but he had no physical damages on him. Hunter shouted insults at Puddles that only angered her more.

As Hunter saw Puddles coming towards him. He makes a nosedive towards her and he snatched his boot back from her than made a few spins and flew passed Willow, Gus and one of Maxwell's shadow copies which Willow noticed his potential in his flying that shown that Hunter may be a potential member of her Flyer Derby team. Willow had an idea to stop Puddles.

"Maxie, when I stop Puddles. Get ready to pacify her." Willow instructed.

"You got it!" said the three Maxwells.

Willow drew a bright green circle and large, strong vines shot out to wrap around her body to stop her in place and gently brought her to the ground.

"Maxie, now! Acapella!" Willow commanded.

The three shadow copies come over to a distressed Puddles while Viney came running over to her while the three shadow copies began to sing acapella to Puddles in an attempt to pacify her which surprisingly was working as the three shadow copies were singing to her as they sounded like a rock and roll acapella group on the radio. The singing was working in pacifying Puddles.

"He rocks in the tree tops all day long. Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song. All the little birdies on Jaybird Street. Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet. Rockin' robin, rock, rock, rockin' robin'. Go rockin' robin, 'cause we're really gonna rock tonight. Every little swallow, every chick-a-dee. Every little bird in the tall oak tree. The wise old owl, the big black crow. Flappin' their wings singing go bird go. Rockin' robin, rock, rock. rockin' robin'. Go rockin' robin, 'Cause we're really gonna rock tonight"

They whistled in a beautiful tune that sounded like bird like tweets which Puddles began to calm and Viney was rubbing her head to comfort her. All of this was working as Puddles was completely calm by now. The singing stopped and Hunter looked on with a mix of surprise at how the situation was soothed and in slight fascination at Maxwell's singing ability.

"He really can sing. It's weird that I kind of like it." Hunter said under his breath.

"Hey you!" Willow called out to Hunter.

Hunter saw that Willow was calling out to him. He didn't respond to her but he tried to fly away when Willow used her magic to conjure up those vines to grab him and wrapped around his body, pulling him over towards Willow, Gus and now a stoic Maxwell after he advised one of them to attend Luz's stand and the second one to help calm Puddles with Viney at his side. Maxwell's shadow copy knew he could reveal Hunter to them but something was holding him back from doing so. Willow at first looked at Hunter with sternness but she smiled at him when she pulled out a pamphlet for her Flyer Derby team.

"Wanna join my Flyer Derby team?" asked Willow with a grin.

"First things first. Can someone get me out of these vines and the ground? I feel like I'm a corpse in the ground." asked Hunter.

"Allow me." Maxwell's shadow copy interjected.

Maxwell's shadow copy clenched his left fist and out came one of them long and sharp metal claws which Hunter shook from how big and sharp it looked.

"Hold still. I wouldn't want to cut you like a Turkey on Thanksgiving." said Maxwell's shadow copy sarcastically.

Hunter held still and Maxwell's shadow copy used his metal sharpened claw to carefully cut the vines enough to free Hunter's arms and his entire body for that matter. Afterwards, he retracted his sharp claw and held out his hand for Hunter to take.

"This way up." said Maxwell's shadow copy with a grin.

Hunter held his hand out for him to take which Maxwell's shadow copy took a firm grasp at.

"Just be careful when pulling me-aaahhhh!" Hunter stopped mid-sentence with a scream.

Maxwell's shadow copy pulled Hunter out from the ground easily as if he were a monkey wrench tool from a toolbox. He lifted him up off his feet from the ground, literally.

"It's nice to hear your annoying voice again, asshole." Maxwell's shadow copy told him telepathically but then set him down on his feet and spoke out loud while changing his facial reaction to stoicism. "Hey Willow, looks like he's alright, for now. Nothing broken, the only damage to him is his emotional state is more shook up than an earthquake that could tear up half the street in a suburban neighborhood. Also, don't ever call Puddles those rude names you called her from earlier, there's no way to respect a beautiful creature."

Maxwell's shadow copy let go of Hunter so he could stand on his own feet. Flapjack, his palisman, was flying in the air for a bit before landing on Hunter's right shoulder. Puddles let out a soft yet admired coo at how Maxwell's shadow copy was showing respect towards her while warning Hunter to never refer to Puddles by those disrespectful names.

"This is Gus Porter, and I'm Willow Park, future captain of Hexside's first Flyer Derby team. And this is Maxwell Logan. He's here to support us but not to worry, he's a total gentleman and a big sweetheart." said Willow shaking Hunter's hand vigorously which shook his whole body.

"Nice- to- uh- meet- you!" said Hunter his voice jiggling a bit.

Willow let go of Hunter's hand as he held onto his own hand, feeling the slight stinging pain from Willow's strong grip.

"Sorry for the rough handshake. I've been training, working out and lifting weights for a while that I think I might've become a bit muscular." Willow apologized.

"She's telling the truth. She hugged recently and her strength proves it. She probably has enough strength to do some damage if she was to punch someone in their face. But since I haven't seen her do that before. I'm just assuming." said Maxwell's shadow copy giving Hunter the stare down.

"Well, I did punch a hole in a punching bag once. So I think I'm getting stronger." Willow pointed out. "Your flying was... amazing. You're a new student, right?"

"Yeah, weird we've never seen you around. What's your name?" said Gus looking at him suspiciously.

Flapjack began to chirp twice to Hunter and he immediately went with a name that the bird like palisman suggested. Maxwell's shadow copy could understand what palisman would say and immediately knew that Hunter and Flapjack were both lying to them.

"Caleb Verdimillious, from the Toes of the titan." Hunter lied.

"Lies." Maxwell's shadow copy told Hunter telepathically.

"But! I'm not here to play Fly Dooby or... whatever that is. I have my own mission." said Hunter brushing them off as he's about to walk off.

"Okay... At least take a pamphlet?" said a dejected Willow handing him a pamphlet.

Hunter took the pamphlet as he walked off. Maxwell's shadow copy didn't take his eyes off Hunter as he knew he was up to no good. But even when delving into his mind. He knew what Hunter was doing as he was able to delve into his mind and he was now on an all-red alert. He then read the cover of the pamphlet which read: "Fyler Derby. A sport for the best and brightest!", it was an emerald green pamphlet with the picture of a witch on the cover. Seeing the words had Hunter stop and think for a moment. An idea came to his mind and he turned around.

"Wait! Do you really think your club will attract the best and the brightest?" asked Hunter showing interest.

"Absolutely! Flyer Derby's not for the faint witch." said Willow with a grin.

"Then maybe I'll give it a try." said Hunter.

"Really?" said an eager Willow.

"But- Okay. How do we evaluate others? A Witch's Duel? A maze full of traps? Oh! Leave everyone at the top of the mountain and see who makes it back to the bottom alive!" Hunter eagerly suggested with a laugh. "Classic."

"We are not doing any of that and if you suggest anything that is risky and harmful towards any children or worse, dangerous to a woman. You'd be lucky that I'd give you a stern, hard lecture." warned Maxwell's shadow copy.

"Is he a school guard or part of security at this school? He sort of fits the position." asked Hunter.

"Nope." answered Maxwell's shadow copy.

"As for an answer to your question. Um... we... might not have time for all that. But... you can help by attracting people with your sick sky skills. Maxie is already taking care of the hard part in recruiting more potential players." said Willow making a suggestion.

Willow took off running to possibly get into uniform while one of the shadow copies of Maxwell followed her. Hunter was looking confused at Willow's slangs while Gus looked at Hunter with a serious expression. Hunter felt his forehead to feel his own temperature which was normal.

"Hmm. I don't... feel sick." said a confused Hunter.

"Hey, I don't know what kinda mission you're on, but it's been a tough year for Willow. And she's really looking forward to making this team a thing. Don't mess this up for her." warned Gus.

"Or big, tall, and muscular with a full head of hair will kick my ass?" Hunter guessed.

"I never said Maxie would do that." said Gus as he walked off.

Hunter turned to see the other shadow copy of Maxwell still giving him a stare down which his face was stoic to the point of literally showing no emotion than he's ever expressed. This made Hunter look and feel a bit nervous around him.

"If you try anything funny that leads my friends into harm's way, if you do that to a woman around here, or worse. I'm going to kick your ass all over the school till it's covered in prints of your scrawny little ass and I'll expose them of your lies afterwards. Caleb, or should I say, Hunter?" Maxwell's shadow copy told him telepathically as he walked off and cracked his knuckles loudly.

Seeing how serious he was made Hunter fear Maxwell's ideas of retribution against him as he knows that threatening Luz's life as well as those that Maxwell and Luz love has greatly angered him and Hunter knew that a gentleman like him doesn't take kindly to any man that disrespects a woman both verbally and physically.

"The southern gentleman is so going to kick my ass." Hunter said under his breath.

Somewhere in Bonesborough

Luz, Amity and the real Maxwell were walking through town in the Market Place. All of them on their way to this place that Amity said was the "Book Nook" Maxwell kept close to them as they kept close to him. Some other fellow witches and demons congratulated Maxwell on having the blessing to marry Eda by both Dell and Gwendolyn Clawthorne, some would say something to congratulate him, one or two shook his hand and even hugged Luz as some or more were becoming more and more accepting of humans now, and others did something to personally congratulate Maxwell with a non-verbal response ranging from saluting him or giving him a wink that was a facial response of respect, trust or both.

"Maxie, you read the Azura books too. Did you ever wonder who the author of them books is?" asked Luz curiously. "In terms of if she's a human or witch, or maybe she's both."

"I naturally assumed she was human when I read the books. But with how Amity got her Azura books. It's possible she could be a witch, a human or another hybrid that kept her species and identity a secret. But I got no proof nor any evidence to confirm that so I could be wrong ether way." Maxwell answered.

"Did you ever think up of any fan theories to the books or anything fanbase related?" asked Amity curiously.

"Don't take offense to this but I never got into the fan theories this and conspiracy theories that. I just prefer to read the books and enjoy my time. As for author who wrote these books. Appearing in the human realm and the demon realm, the pictures of Mildred Featherwhyle showing the differences from those two pictures you both shown. I sense something isn't right. Just in case if anything bad comes up. Let's not stray from the group." Maxwell said kindly while instructing them to stick together due to his senses feeling as though there might be trouble involved.

"No problem there." Amity said.

"I can't believe we never uncovered this mystery before. I always thought Mildred Featherwhyle sounded too delightful to be a real name." said Luz.

"Do you think she has her own portal?" said Amity when she gasped and had a possible theory. "Do you think she's related to that human guy, Philip?"

"I don't mean to say anything rude but I have doubts that Mildred is related to that evil man. If I see that man again and he puts a woman in harm's way." said Maxwell showing some anger but he looked surprised and blushed instantly. "I probably shouldn't say what I'd really like to do to him because there's children nearby."

"You'd come down upon him like a plague?" guessed Amity.

"That's a good way to put it." said Maxwell agreeing with Amity's statement.

"What if... the author is Eda? She's been keeping it a secret this whole time because she's embarrassed by all the spelling errors!" Luz theorized.

Maxwell blushed deeper and uttered his loudest hiccup ever. He knew better in delving into a woman's mind without the woman's permission. But he felt as though that Eda writing children's books or a children's book series was something that she might not be interested in since Eda would've told him or King or Hooty would've blabbed long time ago. Luz and Amity could tell the look on Maxwell's face meant that he was trying not to faint.

"I don't mean to be doubtful but -hic- if Eda was the author of the Azura books -hic- wouldn't she have told us, or King or Hooty would've told us without her knowing long time ago?" Maxwell said with a few hiccups.

"Would the picture differentiate?" asked Amity.

"Mildred's eyes look almost the same color shade as Amity's hair, lavender, which Amity's hair being this color shade I like, Eda's eyes are gold, Mildred's skin tone is more sun kissed, Eda's skin is ivory like a beautiful Ivory-colored Cymbidium orchid flower, Mildred's earrings are a dark blue and triangular while Eda's earrings are orange and spherical. The picture shows her hair might be the same length as Amity while Eda's thick, beautiful hair is longer than that, even with her hood up, her hair wouldn't let her hood stay up for too long since her hair is too beautiful to be kept hidden." Maxwell differentiated yet blushed deeper. "But a man should fall in love with a woman for who she is and her personality, not her looks and what she's got. If a man fell for a woman just because of her looks and for what she's got, that would make a man shallow and materialistic which that's no gentleman to me."

"You do make some good points in differentiating between Eda and the real deal Mildred. And yet still the gentleman we all know and love." said Luz with a grin.

"For all eternity." answered Maxwell proudly.

"Okay, these theories are a little unrealistic. It's obviously your mother as a teenager sent forward in time to train you in the ways of witchcraft!" said Amity coming up with another theory.

"Again, I don't want to be rude but I think I can debunk that." said Maxwell.

"I'm all ears." said Amity.

"Luz looks like her mother. If Mrs. Noceda looked just like Luz when she was Luz's age. Compare the appearances between them." said Maxwell.

They remembered the picture of Mildred and Luz remembered seeing pictures of her mother as a teenager and she was no red-haired woman, she remembered Camila never colored her hair in her life, not even once. Amity remembered Luz showing what her mother looked like to her once or twice and she thought about seeing her look almost identical to Luz if she was a teenager. They put two and two together and uttered "Ohhh" out loud.

"But I could be wrong since I didn't delve into Mrs. Noceda's mind. I could be completely wrong." Maxwell said.

"There's a chance any one of us could be right or wrong." said Amity showing some compassion.

"Whatever it is, we're gonna find out soon." said Luz.

The three teenagers stopped as Luz was the first to notice they've arrived at their destination. There was a promotional poster of the event that read "Mildred Featherwhyle. The Good Witch Azura Book Signing" below it had a picture of the author but there was tape over it that had the word "Cancelled" in red lettering.

Seeing this left Luz to feel disappointed as she was hoping to meet the real Mildred Featherwhyle only to come and find out that the book signing event had been cancelled. Amity and Maxwell both wrapped a comforting arm around Luz to console her as she sighed in disappointment.

Back at Hexside

Willow walked outside of the school and onto the front steps of the school's front entrance as she was excited to recruit any potential players to join Flyer Derby. Gus had the pamphlets out and ready, two of Maxwell's shadow copies were standing near the bottom of the steps which they gave Willow the thumbs up to encourage her.

"Students of Hexside! Got a palisman? Got a need for thrills, chills and theatrics? Well, this could be you!" said Willow grabbing the attention of other students.

Her palisman staff disappeared but her palisman flew over to land on her left shoulder. Hunter flew out the front entrance on his staff above everyone's heads which caused them all to cry out in amazement.

Hunter flew on his staff like he was surfing on waves at the beach. He did one loop de loop and once his staff flew away, he appeared to look like he was doing an extreme stunt which he fell but his staff did a loop and came back as he caught onto his staff. This had everyone applauded and cheering as Willow and Gus were handing out pamphlets. One of Maxwell's shadow copies did the same while the second shadow copy kept his stoic eyes on Hunter.

"Man, this Caleb guy is great. With him, I think we can really get our Derby team approved." said Willow feeling optimistic.

"This girl will be a perfect candidate for the Emperor's Coven. If there are more witches like her, we're set!" Hunter told Flapjack.

"I heard that, asshole." came a deep, loud, booming and demonic male's voice that only Hunter could hear.

Hunter looked down to see that the voice telepathically came from one of Maxwell's shadow copies and the one it came from was the one staring at him with a stoic expression. Maxwell's third shadow copy came along as it took some time for any students to be sorted out with who wanted to join Flyer Derby and who didn't. Those who didn't join didn't join the team because they didn't like the sport and it wasn't anything against Willow. But it was more like they ether already have taken part in some other clubs or they probably knew that they were no good at the sport while they figured if they were no good, they'd be better off with something they are good at.

After it took a few minutes. Willow and one of the shadow copies of Maxwell called out to Hunter to come down and he flew down at a gentle dive till he landed and hopped off his staff.

"Allow me to introduce you to... the best, and the brightest of Hexside." said Willow pointing out those who joined. "And good news for Maxie, he didn't even have to delve into anyone's mind after all."

Both of Maxwell's shadow copies made the prayer sign by pointing one hand up, down, and side to side once. Hunter looked to see that those who joined were Gusm Viney and Skara. Viney was trying to a still boiling mad Puddles from charging at Hunter but one of the shadow copies of Maxwell calmed her with violin music. Skara was laying lazily upside down on the steps scrolling through her Pentsagram scroll, looking on her social media account more likely. Gus tried to fly on his staff but it resulted in failure as it at first had him fly backwards, then forwards which made the back of his staff carve a trail into the ground, then went back again and just as he was about to hit a wall was when all three of Maxwell's shadow copies quickly muttered "Zabuton" and Gus's staff stopped in midair, Gus landed on a large sized trampoline below him that was conjured up by Maxwell's shadow copies. Gus got up and once he did, the trampoline disappeared.

"You okay Gus?" asked one of Maxwell's shadow copies.

"Still need to work on the flying but I'm cool." Gus admitted.

"Just a few months ago, I'd be considered the weak link on any team. But now I'm leading one! Ooh! Okay, girl, don't let the power get to your head just yet." said Willow looking excited.

"Willow, you were never the weak link. You just had potential that hadn't been utilized yet. Now you're getting the chance to let the world know that you are woman and they'll hear you roar like a lion." said Maxwell's shadow copy kindly.

Willow chuckled and hugged Maxwell's shadow copy and he hugged back. They turned to see that Hunter was walking away from them which gave one of the shadow copies an idea. One of the shadow copies uttered "Vieni da me" and Hunter suddenly floated a few inches off the ground and quickly floated over to Maxwell's shadow copy which he caught Hunter with one hand. Hunter looked at him with wide eyed surprise as Maxwell's shadow copy never took the cold look off him.

"Are you sure that this friend of yours isn't a school's security guard or a cop or something?" Hunter asked.

"Do you see a badge on me?" said Maxwell's shadow copy.

Hunter saw that he had no badge on him which answered his question. He released his hand from Hunter and when Willow and everyone wasn't looking. Maxwell's shadow copy was looking at Hunter with a cold look and he told Hunter telepathically "Try anything funny and you won't make two feet" while he kept his brutality towards Hunter hidden.

"Caleb? Where are you going? The field is this-a-way." said Willow.

"You said you'd find the best witches for this team. But them? They're pathetic." insulted a frustrated Hunter.

Maxwell's shadow copy gave Hunter an angry look while uttering a reptilian like growl which made him fear Maxwell's shadow copy a bit more as he tried to stand his ground.

"You just met them! Give them a chance!" Willow advised while slightly disgusted at Hunter's reaction.

"Try to have some faith. You'd be surprised at how far faith can get you in life." Maxwell's shadow copy advised.

"Well, where I come from, even chances have to be earned. Especially if you're considered half-a-witch like me." said Hunter showing slight sadness but was mostly keeping his face stone cold frustrated. "As for faith. Where I'm from. Faith seems to mean nothing, regardless if you succeed or fail."

Willow and Maxwell's shadow copy looked on at Hunter as if they heard him say something they could relate to. Willow knew that she was once taunted for being considered literally half a witch and that Maxwell remembered that him and his mother were of Christian faith but his father Daston was an atheist who had faith in nothing. Maxwell's shadow copy shown the expression on his face faded a little.

"Are the people you're from atheists?" asked Maxwell's shadow copy.

"To be honest. I don't know what an atheist is." said Hunter looking confused by the question. "Sorry, Captain and officer. Good luck with your match."

As Hunter walked off. Willow smiled as she gotten an idea in mind. Maxwell's shadow copy saw her expression and on one hand, he was curious, on the other hand, he knew that if Hunter was to be proven wrong or forced to do something that'll be like payback for him threatening Eda and Luz and his family, then he'd be all for it.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" said Willow with a sly grin.

"Is anyone going to get hurt?" asked Maxwell's shadow copy looking a bit worried.

"I can't make that promise." said Willow.

She drew a green spell circle in the air and Hunter got stopped as if something caught his foot. He looked down and was being pulled into the ground as if falling down or being pulled down a hole which he struggled to break free but failed. He was pulled into the ground. He eventually ended up popping out of the ground but he was at the grudgby field as he popped out of the ground like a jack in a box.

"This way up!" came three male voices.

Hunter was pulled up by the three shadow copies of Maxwell and he was surprisingly easy to pull up off the ground.

"Where am I?" asked Hunter curiously.

"This is the Grudgby field. We're going to use it for Flyer Derby." answered one of the shadow copies.

Hunter turned to meet Skara who had her Penstagram scroll out and was showing what looked like pictures of flyer Derby strategies on how the sport is played like a game plan on a blackboard.

"Sorry I was distracted earlier. Been playing Grudgby for so long, I needed to catch up on the latest Flyer Derby strats." said Skara.

"Those look... complicated." said Hunter.

"They are." said Skara with a confident grin. "I even let Maxie delve into my mind and Willow and Viney let him delve into their minds in order to get a better understanding on the sport. He'll only delve into a woman's mind if he has permission from them."

Hunter turned to two of the blushing Maxwell's shadow copies who knew that Skara was right.

"I got curious to how the sport is played and I figured that if I'm to learn anything from the sport. I didn't have the time to be taught how so I asked them if I could delve into their minds and be shown how in a faster method. Only if I had their permission, would I delve into a woman's mind. But other than that. What goes on in a woman's mind is no one else's business but their own." said one of the shadow copies blushing.

Hunter was looking as though he shown a mild interest but turned to see that the third shadow copy had gotten Puddles to finally be put down for her nap to assist Viney as he used his violin he conjured up to play soothing music which worked in getting the large griffin to fall asleep. Maxwell's shadow copy even healed Viney of the scratch marks that she had on her body as he muttered something in an unknown language, his hands glowed gold, he clapped his hands once and hugged Viney which after a few seconds, all the scratch marks on her body disappeared and healed up instantly. After the gold light disappeared. He released his arms from her.

"Your healing magic is...so much more advanced and quite effective. And thanks for helping me out with getting Puddles to calm herself." said Viney feeling grateful.

"A true gentleman will assist a woman that needs it. Learned it from my mom." said Maxwell's shadow copy proudly.

Viney hugged Maxwell's shadow copy which her grip was firm enough to pull him up off his feet a few inches. This made him blush deeply after she released her arms from him and set him back down on the ground to his feet.

"You're sweet." Viney said to Maxwell's shadow copy and then she turned her attention the everyone else. "Whew! Okay, finally. Got Puddles down for her nap with some assistance from Maxie. Now I'm only scarred emotionally."

Hunter looked on with bewilderment. Seeing these children and their abilities surprised him. Seeing how much potential they demonstrated in a short amount of time was getting him to regret his doubts. Then someone flew passed him and he turned to see Gus was surfing on his palisman in the air like Hunter did earlier, jumped off it once and did a flip, than landed back on it. He flew back towards the ground and landed on his feet.

"I thought you couldn't fly?" said Hunter with a raised eyebrow.

"So I can't fly like everyone else, but my way's more fun." said Gus.

Gus's palisman uttered what sounded like a squeaky like chirp.

"Oh. That's uh, cool, I guess." Hunter murmured the last half of his sentence.

"Oh, what was that?" said Gus teasing him.

"I said it was cool!" Hunter said oud loud. "Isn't Mr. Logan joining in on the sport?"

"I don't play sports nor do I join them or have any interest in playing them. I may have played Grudgby once but that was a different case. Besides, just because I don't have any interest in playing sports, that doesn't mean I don't support my friends who play them and it's of no disrespect to them. But if any of my friends are playing the sport, I'm there to support them and this is Willow's time to shine. I'm not playing the sport to overshadow Willow. This is her time to shine and I'm not taking that away from her." said Maxwell's shadow copy showing his support for Willow.

"Speaking of which. Where is she?" asked Hunter.

The ground shook a little and Willow popped out from the ground like a rabbit which made Hunter flinch and shriek slightly yet briefly with fear. Willow walked over towards Gus, Skara and Viney as she summoned her staff and caught it.

"Gus is a natural speed demon, Skara's a strategic wizard, Viney's the best healer in school." Willow listed off.

"What does that make Logan?" asked Hunter.

"Maxie is the wisest of them all. But for now, he's our referee. And at one point or another, we've all been misjudged. So, still think we're pathetic?" Willow finished with a look of hope.

For a moment. Hunter knew that he could somewhat relate to them on being misjudged for something or more. He shook his head reluctantly.

"Good. Let's get our game faces on." said Willow tracing paint on her face with her fingers.

"Is that quick drying paint that's easy to wash off?" asked Maxwell's shadow copy hopefully.

"Yep. I figured it would be a better idea to use the safer brand of paint." reassured Willow.

"We're going to paint our faces?" said Hunter bewildered.

Back in Bonesborough at the Book Nook

Luz and Amity sat outside the Book Nook, both looking downhearted after finding out the book signing had been cancelled. Maxwell was sitting next to Luz on her right side while Amity sat on Luz's left side.

"What do we do now, Amity?" asked Luz with a sigh.

"I- I don't know. I've never found another store that sold these books." answered Amity.

"We were so close." said Luz burying her face into her arms.

Amity and Maxwell wrapped an arm around Luz to console her. They heard a loud thud that sounded slightly metallic. Both Amity and Maxwell looked up to see someone nearby. This person's face was hidden but was hopping away but let out a soft yelp. The figure was hooded but worn red while it shown to have flaming red hair that was almost orange like Eda's natural hair color.

"Luz, I think we found her." Maxwell told her with his mind.

"I think that's her. That's the author!" said Amity.

Luz looked up but Maxwell held a hand up to prevent her from hitting her head against the wall. Maxwell pointed forwards for Luz to see the hooded figure.

"Mildred Featherwhyle?!" said Luz out loud.

Maxwell was about to silence all of them as to not reveal that they saw this author. But too late. She turned slightly behind her without revealing her face to them. They saw she had the same clothing, hair and earrings as the author in the pictures. She hopped away the second she saw Luz getting up on her feet.

"Wait a minute! We shouldn't-" Maxwell began.

"Follow her!" cried Luz.

Luz pulled and lead Amity by the arm and the two girls ran after the short woman while Maxwell got up and sighed as he knew there was one thing he knew he'll have to do that he doesn't like doing.

"Forgive me mother." Maxwell said under his breath as he ran towards them. "Espera!"

Back at Hexside, the Grudgby Field

Hunter was on the crow phone as he made a phone call to Darius, the head of the Abomination Coven. The conversation from Hunter's side was exciting while Darius was more annoyed that he disturbed him during a time of him relaxing. One of Maxwell's shadow copies was watching Hunter from close by and he used a spell to make his sense of hearing that of a wolf which he was able to hear the conversation that both Hunter and Darius had. To his bewilderment, he wasn't the least surprised that Hunter was recruiting innocent children to join the Emperor's Coven, even by force or trickery.

After Willow called out to "Caleb" that the Flyer Derby sport was about to start. He hung up the crow phone and when he did. He was startled by bumping into Maxwell's shadow copy who had a cold scowl and his eyes were looking unamused.

"Interesting phone call, Hunter." said Maxwell's shadow copy while popping his neck.

"Gotta go!" said Hunter running off towards Willow.

Hunter was now aware that Maxwell's shadow copy knows what he was really there for and he knew that after the Flyer Derby match. He'll have to book it out of the fast or Maxwell's shadow copy will blow the whistle off to his secret plans and possibly slap him back to last week.

Willow, Gus, Viney, Skara and Hunter were wearing their teams uniform as they worn various shades of green which are unique to each member. The overall look was a green sleeveless shirt over another shirt, shorts, and their usual shoes. Everyone but Hunter has either kneepads, elbow pads or both and Willow and Gus worn gloves of unique designs. Every member also sports green face-paint. Gus had a stripe over his face, Skara had four small stripes around her eyes, Viney had the green face paint around her eyes to look like a mask, Hunter had a jagged stripe from his forehead down to his cheek on the left side of his face and Willow looked like she had green lightning bolts painted on her face.

The team they faced consisted of five people. Their team was led by Professor Hermonculus, they had a young blonde girl that Maxwell's shadow copy recognized from when Luz, Amity and himself went to the library in search of Philip's diary, black teenage girl named Mary who was in the Abomination's track which she had violet curly hair, and two ram-like horns on her head. She wore a headband and a Hexside uniform with orchid sleeves and leggings that indicate she is in the abomination track. She owned a ram palisman, Sampson, the heavyset male demon that resembled a puffer fish. The last of their team was showing up and to Viney's shock, it was Jerbo. Their team was wearing purple uniforms for the Abominations track.

As one of Maxwell's shadow copies got absorbed into one of the other shadow copies, making it two of them there. Even they were not liking the idea of Jerbo on the opposing team that a friend of theirs was on. But Maxwell's shadow copies probably knew why and it was Professor Hermonculus's doing.

"Thanks for asking me to join, guys! I think we're gonna have a-" Jerbo stopped with a yelp.

Viney and Maxwell's shadow copies looked on with shock. Viney was showing him a cutthroat jester with her left hand as she whispered "Traitor" directed at him.

"Fun... afternoon." Jerbo finished with a tear shedding.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." said the two Maxwell shadow copies in unison while making a prayer sign.

Both teams got on their staffs and ready to play as they were flying off the ground. One of Maxwell's shadow copies used a spell to temporarily make his voice loud enough to the volume of a megaphone.

"Anyone's flag that is stolen is out and taken to their pole. Last one still having their flag wins the game for their team. Anyone who cheats, that team is disqualified by default. Anyone with an injury while they still have their flag, I'll heal them so they can continue which will be an automatic time out. Both teams prepare to fly." Maxwell's shadow copy spoke out loud.

"All you got to do is fly high and snag some flags." instructed Willow.

"Let's see what you can do, Captain." said Professor Hermonculus smugly.

The two shadow copies allowed Professor Hermonculus's abomination to assist and the tall abomination's monster blew the whistle loudly to begin the game.

Professor Hermonculus shot some abomination goo at Willow, but Viney blocked it with a transparent shield she conjured up. All players proceeded to rush at each other but when they attempted to grab the others flag, the opposing teammates dodged one another. Hunter teleported himself close to the youngest member of the opposing team, snatches off her flag, then passes it on to Gus. Gus flew towards the pole and hangs the flag there, scoring one point for them.

"Gus, that was amazing!" cheered Hunter.

Gus grinned with excitement. The game continued. Mary shot some abomination goo at Gus, but he manages to evade it. The goo exploded like a hand grenade and it hit Skara instead, causing her to crash into a wall and be stuck on there like a sticker. The abomination referee blows the whistle. The enemy team hangs a flag on their pole after one of them snatched Skara's flag, scoring one point. Maxwell's shadow copy helped Skara off the wall and on to the ground safely by floating her down.

Viney, enraged, flew towards Jerbo which he flew towards her, closing his eyes as he didn't like playing against a friend of his. Both of them crashed into each other, their staffs spinning out of control in opposite directions but Maxwell's shadow copy loudly yelled "Cuscino" and the two teens landed on a giant pillow that prevented them from getting hurt. Three members left on both teams and the score was tied at the moment.

The other shadow copy cried out "Revertere" and both of their staffs stopped and flew back to the field, both Viney and Jerbo caught their staffs and looked at one another with awkward expressions.

"Forgive me?" said Jerbo.

"Forgiven." said Viney hugging him.

Mary and Sampson tried to fire abomination goo at Willow but she successfully dodged them while Professor Hermonculus was getting aggressive.

"She's right there! Can't you see?" Professor Hermonculus said getting frustrated.

Hunter teleported next to the professor while uttering the word "Boo" then teleported and snatched his flag. Another wad of goo fired at Willow and she dodged it and she surfed on her staff to conjure up two very massive sized vines that went for Mary. Mary panicked and gasped, closing her eyes and shielding herself but Willow passed by her and used the vines to snatch Mary's flag while she even snatched Sampson's flag. But just as she was about to fly forwards, a huge amount of abomination goo shot out from below like a geyser, knocking Willow off her staff. Everyone saw that and they turned to see that Professor Hermonculus was the one who fired the goo at Willow on purpose but he tried to make it look like he made a mistake in a sarcastic form.

"Oops. My hand slipped." lied Professor Hermonculus sarcastically.

The players that were out were from both teams and they looked on at the professor with anger glares and grunts. Maxwell's shadow copy let out a loud lion like growl at him which the professor looked at the blonde teenager with wide eyed fear.

Willow given the other purple flags to Hunter while one of Maxwell's shadow copies was about to use a spell to cushion Willow but she was faster as she drew a green spell circle and summoned a huge flower for her to land on as a cushion.

Hunter looked on with pity but Gus signaled him to keep going and gave him a push which Mary accidentally crashed into Gus. hunter flew towards the team's pole and placed the remaining purple flags on them. This meant it secured their victory. Hunter landed on the ground and that's when both Viney and Skara poured a bucket of what looked like apple blood that the children drink onto him. They cheered for their victory while Professor Hermonculus was carried by his abomination monster with a clipboard and pen in hand. Both shadow copies of Maxwell given the professor a disapproving look which he looked on at them both with visible fright but tried to remain fearless.

"Archibald Trinity Hermonculus. Your actions against Hexside's student Willow Park had you and your team disqualified the second you deliberately knocked Willow off her staff in an attempt to botch their victory. Not only is that considered a fowl in the game but is considered cheating or cheap shot. You did this to a young woman who could've gotten hurt." said Maxwell's shadow copy sounding displeased.

Some of the children chuckled at the mentioning of Professor Hermonculus's middle name being revealed to be a girl's name but they tried to choke down their laughter.

"Your actions against Willow were not only biased but when you were overseeing the clubs approval this year and you abused the power against an innocent student you held a personal grudge against just because Willow switched to the Plant track, a track she was more interested in and would excel at. Willow did not quit nor drop your class as I've said. Principal Bump saw the potential she has in the Plant track and he was the one who switched her there because he was impressed by her plant magical abilities. The principal made that choice on the terms of Willow's skills he witnessed and switched her to the Plant track because he knew that she would excel a lot better in that track. He saw that switching her there would not only give her a better time in a school subject but also because it made her happy to be in a track that she was good at and to excel at. You held a personal grudge against her, abused your power of position, nearly harmed that said student when you knew your team was losing. Your actions were both willful and malicious." Maxwell's shadow copy stated. "You do know what you've said if you or the team you were on was to ever cheat or commit a fowl move?"

"Willow's Flyer Derby club is approved by default and I admit my actions towards the principal and take my punishment like a man." Professor Hermonculus sadly reminded.

"Anything you have to say for yourself?" asked Maxwell's shadow copy.

The professor had a saddened face and knew that he was having a high chance of losing his job after his actions. He sighed and looked up at Willow.

"Willow Park, I apologize for my actions. I overreacted with how I felt and acted out towards you when you were switched to a different track that Principal Bump switched you with. My actions were biased, sexist, misogynistic, brash, and harmful both verbally, psychologically and physically. I was an asshole on a power trip on a path of personal vengeance." Professor Hermonculus apologized. "I know, I'm fired."

"We never wanted you fired!" said Willow and Maxwell's shadow copies in unison.

The abominations teacher raised his head up and looked at them in confusion. They didn't want him fired. Even though he was asking for it. He also feared the other supposed choice that was going to be made for him.

"You're going to have Mr. Logan knock me down hard like he did the Blights?" said Professor Hermonculus his fear beginning to show.

Maxwell's shadow copy popped his neck loudly, cracked his knuckles loudly and gave a low, guttural sounding lion like growl as if to relieve tension within him.

"Trust me, having me kick yours isn't going to make you feel any better. To be honest. My dad was a smoker, an abusive alcoholic who apparently doesn't believe in God while he had a fowl mouth, a criminal record, was a violent man who cheated on my dear mother plenty of times and took his anger and frustration out on us both. Having me knock you around from the state of Georgia all the way to the state of Texas and back will make me just like him. And I don't want that. I'm nothing like my father and never will be. Do you deserve to have your behind kicked harder than a soccer ball, be reprimanded and lose your job? Your actions today speak for themselves." Maxwell's shadow copy explained.

Professor Hermonculus was still showing signs of fear of what Maxwell's shadow copy would do to him in retribution for his actions and he knew how Maxwell felt about a man who disrespects or harms or lays their brutal hands on a woman which he knew that was one of the things that triggered him as much as anyone who speaks of blasphemy. He waited for Maxwell's shadow copy to yell at him, hurt him physically, he waited for him to do something to punish him, even waited for him to hear the news about him being fired. But none of that came. He looked at Maxwell's shadow copy who stared at him with a stoic face but there was a compassionate warning in his eyes.

"Three times I have held your life and future in my hands as well as the teachers at this school, and three times I have given it back to you and them. We're both going to talk to Principal Bump about your recent actions but I'm going to convince him to have mercy upon you as will I and the lord. The next time you repeat such actions. The wrath of the lord will be upon you. As I've said when issuing a warning after a lecture. My mercy will prevail over my wrath." said Maxwell's shadow copy showing mercy to him.

The abominations teacher and the children heard every word of Maxwell's shadow copy and they felt like he spoke the words of a wiseman who knew when to be merciful and when he shouldn't. Willow didn't want the professor fired nor did Maxwell. But seeing that Professor Hermonculus had apologized to Willow for his actions and that the professor was going to admit his actions towards the principal while attempting to make sure he doesn't lose his job was showing that Maxwell truly was a holy man who shows mercy to those who may or may not deserve it but only to those who he knows there's good in them and taps into their good. Maxwell's shadow copy made a third shadow copy reappear again and the third shadow copy accompanied Professor Hermonculus.

"Oh yes, I forgot something. Willow's team needs a name." said Professor Hermonculus.

"The Emerald Entrails! They're green, and there's more to us than you think." said Hunter and the shadow copies in unison.

Professor Hermonculus written down the name of their team and both one of Maxwell's shadow copies and the professor took off towards the school to find Principal Bump but with Maxwell's shadow copy with the professor, he knew that if Maxwell had prevented a teacher let alone all of them from losing their jobs three times, he could definitely do it a fourth time or more. Professor Hermonculus was afraid but he knew that with Maxwell being the holy man he is, he'll definitely make sure that he doesn't lose his job while he knows that some form of a punishment will be issued which he hoped it wasn't going to be one that's too harsh.

As the two disappeared towards the school in a teleportation magic in a puff of gold smoke. Willow and her team chanted their team's name and Willow summoned her Penstagram scroll and was going to take a selfie picture of the team.

"Willow, how about I be the one to take the picture? That way you'll also be in it without having one of your hands full." Maxwell's shadow copy volunteered.

"Sure, sounds like a good idea." Willow allowed.

Willow shown Maxwell's shadow copy how to take a picture with her purple scroll in a way he knew how which she wasn't explaining it to him like he was dumb, no, she explained it maturely and kindly. Which he understood. The rest of them and one of Maxwell's shadow copies got into the picture as they stood together.

The shadow copy took a picture of them all as he tapped the button that snapped the picture with a flash. Afterwards, he gave it back to Willow and they all got a look at the picture. Hunter looked at the picture on his Penstagram scroll with a proud smile while Maxwell's shadow copies were giving Hunter a stare down as they knew what he was really there for and they knew if he tried anything, they'd expose him and try to help the others. Some time had passed and Hunter was looking up at them as if he never had such a good time in his life before.

"I can't believe I almost bailed on you guys. Today was amazing! Thanks for giving me another shot." said Hunter proudly.

"Always nice making a new friend. I had an opening for one but the friend I have and I decided to forgive and forget. Maxie talked it out with us earlier." said Viney looking at Jerbo with a compassionate yet remorseful expression.

Jerbo looked back with the same expression upon his face as he looked back at her.

"We wouldn't have gotten here without you." said Willow.

"Yeah, I shouldn't have been so suspicious." said Gus apologetically.

"Don't be so sure, Gus." said Maxwell's shadow copy as he gave Hunter cold scowl.

Hunter looked at Maxwell's shadow copy and he could tell that he was about to rat him out to them all. Maxwell's shadow copy was delving into his mind and knew what he was up to. Everyone else looked at him with confusion.

"What are you talking about?" asked Gus.

"This guy's name isn't Caleb. There's no school at the toes of the titan." said Maxwell's shadow copy clenching his fists.

"He's Hunter, the Golden Guard that me and Luz told you about. The one who threatened both the lives of Luz, my wife Eda, he was here to recruit witches for the Emperor's Coven and he used you all to in this Flyer Derby match to see who would be the best to recruit and he decided to recruit you all by force. I've been reading his mind the whole time and he called for the head of the Abominations Coven on his crow phone to inform him to come and nab you all, I saw and heard him doing that while you guys were getting ready to play when Willow called him over. I would've told you sooner but I was thinking he would back out of the plan but I guess he didn't." said the other shadow copy.

Everyone looked at Maxwell's shadow copies and then back at Hunter. They stared at him nervously and were almost in disbelief.

"Y-Y-Y-You can't be serious? You're not the one Luz and Maxie... told us about, right?" Willow giggled nervously.

"Is this true?" asked Gus looking at Hunter with widened eyes.

Maxwell's shadow copy muttered something and raised his hands up in a position that looked like he might be bearing claws out and Hunter's clothing briefly disappeared and his Golden Guard uniform instantly appeared as his clothing as well as his staff and his mask. It was like Maxwell's shadow copy helped dress Hunter up. Everyone gasped at the sight of Hunter. They knew that Maxwell would always tell them what is true or false.

"I can dress myself, you know. Come on!" said Hunter sounding annoyed.

"You have a choice, Golden Liar. Abandoned your plan and leave and call off your guards that are approaching from nearby. Or if you so much as hurt my friends. You're going to learn the meaning of mama said knock you out. Now make your choice and ahhhh!" said one of the shadow copies with a groan of pain.

Gus, Willow, Viney and Skara looked to see five guards approaching them like a circle and one of the shadow copies had been struck across it's weak spot that made him disappear in a puff of gold smoke and there was one shadow copy with them but he was about to attack when one of the guards that spoke in a female's voice stopped Maxwell's shadow copy.

"You wouldn't hit a woman, now, would you?" asked the female guard. "I don't want to use physical force on a devilishly handsome- I mean enemy of the Emperor."

Maxwell's shadow copy knew that this female guard was correct about one thing. He would refuse to hit a woman and using his morals against him would make him a hypocrite. He was forced to stand down.

"Whoa there, scouts. I didn't give you orders to come here." Hunter said looking surprised to see them.

"Darius sent us to collect your recruits." said Steve as he looked at Maxwell's shadow copy. "Maxie? Oh, this is awkward."

"Steve." said Maxwell's shadow copy nonchalantly.

"Ah, okay. Very good. Then there won't be any delay in branding you with coven sigils and taking you away from your friends and family forever. Hooray!" said Hunter sounding eager.

"How about I kick your scrawny ass right now and we call it even." warned Maxwell's shadow copy.

Skara suddenly began bawling out of fear while Steve warned them not to hurt the children as well as not to lay their hands on a girl as they all knew that Maxwell is against anyone who so much as hurts, disrespects or touches a woman.

Police Precinct 128 in Bonesborough

It was nightfall and all five of the teenagers were inside a holding cell while Hunter took their staffs and leaned them against the wall nearby the cell.

"Okay, listen, I'm sorry about this whole cell thing, but did you really have to punch Steve, Skara?" said Hunter.

Steve sat down on a stool nearby, his helmet was dented in the face part as he pressed an ice pack on the right side of his head.

"I get it. Emotions are running high. And Hunter, do not harm the kids and especially don't harm the women. Maxie is strictly against that and you do not want to set him off like that. I've seen him lay a smack down against some evil brutes before and he packs a punch. But I get it that Skara sucker punched me. I was asking for it." Steve said giving Skara a thumbs up while warning Hunter. "Ice pack for Steve."

"Well, I don't get it. You're joining the best coven there is. You can keep all your magic, you get free room and board, you can even play Flyer Derby on your day off! Well, this year's day has already passed, but next year's only fifty-two weeks away!" said Hunter with enthusiasm quickly.

The children looked at him with disgust.

"We don't care! None of us want this!" snapped Skara. "Maxie's more of a gentleman than you'll ever be. He wouldn't force anything on us or any living creature for that matter!"

"You will eventually. Trust me, I'm your friend now." said Hunter being oblivious to his own actions.

"Fuck you, Hunter!" snapped Maxwell's shadow copy.

"Friends don't stab each other in the back." said Gus as he disagreed with Hunter.

"Sure they do. The Coven Heads do it all the time back at the castle." said Hunter.

"Then you must be twisted up in the head like Manson if you believe in that messed up ideology. The Coven Heads don't know right from wrong, the Coven Heads may do that because they're a dysfunctional group who hate each other, backstab each other and they pull the rug right from underneath each other in order to get ahead of everyone else to get what they want from their false idol you call the Emperor. None of the other covens do that but if the Coven Heads do that, that's because they're all fucked up and hate each other. Why do you think they don't take you seriously. You're better off cutting your ties with the Emperor, the Coven Heads and the Emperor's Coven altogether because once you're of no use to the Emperor, what do you think he'll do to you, dickhead?" Maxwell's shadow copy insulted while telling him the truth about the nature of the Emperor, the Coven Heads and the coven itself.

Hunter looked on at Maxwell's shadow copy with confused curiosity. He did remember that there were times when both him and the Coven Heads said and done bad things to each other and he assumed that friends did that but they've shown no smiles, laughs or enjoyment of that at all. He was wondering if he was right but tried to get Willow on his side.

"Captain, you're on my side, right?" asked Hunter.

Willow didn't look at him as she faced the wall with a saddened face.

"I... thought I... could be good at this. But we're here because... I made a bad call. I'm just... half-a-witch Willow." said Willow in disbelief of Hunter's actions.

Hunter's smile vanished as he approached the bars of the cell but he made a dumb choice by trying to reach out to place a hand on Willow's shoulder by putting his arm through a hole in the bars but Maxwell's shadow copy took a firm grab on his arm as he was holding Hunter's arm in a painful position that felt like his arm couldn't bend like that for too long. Hunter was groaning in pain by now.

"Let go!" groaned Hunter.

"I think I'll break it. He'll have a new nickname. The Golden One-Armed Guard. He can use his severed arm as a weapon." Maxwell's shadow copy joked. "Don't come anywhere near me, I'm...armed." he said perfectly mimicking Hunter's voice while mocking him.

"I beg of you! Let go!" begged Hunter.

"Maxie, let him go. I don't want you to get into anymore trouble. I'll get Hunter to leave you guys alone and make sure you all don't get into a deeper hole if you just let him go." Steve kindly advised.

Maxwell's shadow copy obeyed and released Hunter's arm but ended up seeing that a huge ball of purple goo came out and wrapped them all up like a blanket and vanished altogether as the goo disappeared into the floor like water going down a drain. They reappeared on a flying ship that was piloted by Darius. Their palismen are sent up by a Coven Scout in a cage who used a spell circle to fly them up there. Hunter ran out the door and was outside. He looked up at the ship to see Darius.

"Darius, I did it! I found recruits!" called Hunter.

"Yep, and you're making me work on my day off. Take this and quit bugging me. And you caught the southern gentleman. Interesting yet we'll have to check and see if he's the real one since he has the ability to make shadow copies of himself." said Darius grumpily.

Darius drew a purple spell circle in the air and summoned Hunter's cloak with his abomination magic and it flew over to Hunter who caught it in his hands.

"I can... wear this proudly now. Right?" said Hunter looking up at Darius.

"Can you?" said Darius looking unamused and after a long pause. "See you at the castle, Golden Guard."

Darius turned around and the flying ship took off while Hunter looked on with his smile faded away again. He remembered what Maxwell told him and saw that Darius wasn't amused by his actions, even if he did as he was told. But wondered if he was right after all. Steve came out from the door that Hunter ran through.

"For one, Hunter. You shouldn't have put your arm through the bars. I warned you. Touch a woman while Maxie is around. It doesn't end well for the one laying their hands on a woman." warned Steve. "I do not envy those kids, man. If the owl lady finds out you got his husband captured."

"They just have to go through basic training before becoming scouts. It's not too bad. As for the southern gentleman." Hunter paused for a moment and started to remember what Maxwell told him.

"Dude, do you even remember what we had to do? The duels. The mazes with the traps. That time we were left alone on a mountain?" Steve listed off with his fingers.

"Classic." laughed Hunter as if nostalgic.

"And of course, Belos likes to collect everyone's palisman." Steve went on.

Hunter paused as he remembered that Emperor Belos took his old palisman to absorb its essence through his eyes and nostrils. He remembered that he even had him go snatch up the palismens from the nest on Hexside's Palisman Adoption Day and how both Luz and Maxwell convinced him to not go through with his plans. He looked down at the ground nervously as he was starting to see that Maxwell may have been right about what he said to him.

"Steve is beginning to regret his choices. And Maxie wouldn't wish this on his worst enemies. Not even you." said Steve walking away with a grunt as he hung his head down in regret.

Hunter looked up in the sky and saw the flying ship that Darius was piloting and he could still see it in the distance. His facial expression turned to regret.

"I think Hunter is too." said Hunter out loud.

Elsewhere, along a beach

Luz, Amity and Maxwell were chasing after the hooded figure. Luz used a glyph to slap down on the ground and the ground beneath shown something was running underneath it which two large vines shot out from the ground but the hooded figure rolled over through it perfectly and kept running. Amity traced a spell circle in the air and an abomination's monster came out from the ground in front of the hooded figure which she drew a bright spell circle and fire blasted out of it, blasting a hole in the abomination's torso. She jumped through the hole.

"Wow! She's really athletic. She should run track. She'd be a champion." Maxwell complimented.

"Oh you." spoke the hooded figure.

Hearing the tone of the hooded figure's voice. Maxwell immediately knew who it was.

"Maybe it's Kikimora! And her only way to express herself is through fiction." guessed Luz.

"Maybe it's another shape-shifting basilisk trying to write their story through metaphor!" guessed Amity.

"It's neither! And I know who she really is." Maxwell told them.

They were catching up to her but the hooded figure tried to jump up and climb a wall but failed and her disguise fell off and she landed on the ground. It turned out to be Tiny Nose, she was having stilts on her feet. She looked at the three teenagers who stopped and caught up with her.

"Aw, wats." said Tiny Nose snapping her fingers. "Hey Maxie."

"Tinella Nosa?" said Amity and Maxwell in unison.

"She's had a name this whole time?! And how did Maxie know?!" said Luz looking shocked.

Maxwell blushed deeply and he walked over towards Tinella as he raised his hands up to show he wasn't armed. He knelt down and removed the stilts from her feet. Then he held out his hand to help her up which she took hold of his hand and was lifted up to her feet.

"Tinella, for one, you can really run and dodge like a football runner back. You'd be a track running champ or the best football runner back with how you can move around like that. You're actually able to outrun me and dodge a whole lot better than I can. Now that's girl power." Maxwell complimented. "Also, I delved into your mind to find out who you are and I apologize for not getting your permission to do so. What goes on within the mind of a woman is their business, no one else's, that includes a man to stay out of a woman's mind, including me, unless we have their permission to delve into a woman's mind which I did not and I apologize for it. And we didn't mean to chase you around like that. I didn't want to chase after you like some stalker and I apologize for that. That was never our intention. We heard about the book signing of Luz and Amity's favorite author of the Azura books at the Book Nook and they wanted to meet the author and so did I because Luz got her books from the human realm while Amity got her books here and they wanted to confirm who she was if she was human or witch and to be honest, I wanted to find out as well. There was some confusion. But we never meant any disrespect or harm towards you. And we apologize for that."

"Calm down, Mistew Logan. I'm not mad norw offended. I know you nevew meant any hawm or diswespect. I know you didn't mean it. I twust youw intentions wewe innocent. I forgive you kids." said Tinella forgiving them. "And stiww a gentwemen? Awe we?"

Maxwell sighed in relief at her words. He was glad that Tinella was also as forgiving and compassionate as the good people Maxwell loves. He blushed deeply at the last statement she uttered.

"Still a gentleman for all eternity as I've learned it from my mother. Also, Tinella, are you the one whose been writing the Azura books this whole time?" asked Maxwell curiously.

Tinella's smile faded slightly and shook her head sadly. Luz and Amity figured it was possible that Tiny Nose, whose real name is Tinella Nosa, was possibly not Mildred Featherwhyle now that they found out who she is when her disguise was taken off. But they were still hoping that the real deal Mildred could still be around or that Tinella knew where she was.

"Tinella, can you take us to where you got the Azura books from? We just want to know the truth. If Mildred is truly out there or how the books came into the demon realm when they apparently have been able to appear both in this realm and in the human realm. Not to worry, you're not in trouble. We just want to know who or where you got the books from. That said person could clear up this whole mystery. Can you please take us to this person or location?" asked Maxwell kindly.

"Suwe. I can take you whewe I found them." said Tinella with a grin.

Maxwell got up on his feet but volunteered to carried Tinella as Maxwell uttered under his breath "fuvarozó" and Tinella watched him pick her up and place her against his chest or in between his chest and stomach. She was staying on there as if she were being carried by an invisible baby bjorn that carried her with Maxwell using his hands and arms. Tinella instructed where they should follow.

"I know I shouldn't have delved into your mind but I did what your mother looked like from within your mind and how she is. You and your mother are beautiful young women who can take on anything and anyone." Maxwell complimented while blushing.

"Maxie wikes wedheads." teased Tinella. "I'm just joking. I'm gwad you towd me that about my mom and me. Wait tiww I teww her how much of a sweetheart you are. Down this cave."

They all entered a cave and Tinella requested to be let back on her feet which Maxwell obeyed as he snapped his fingers which she gently floated back down to the ground on her feet. She looked on at the person she got the books from as the part of the cave she led them to had various objects lying around. The person she looked at was someone she looked at with disappointment.

"Sorry, boss. The jig is up." said Tinella with dread.

The rest of them looked to see the person reading one of the Azura books placed the book down to reveal their face. It was Tibbles who sat on a pile of various objects but used a large stone and book on top of it to sit on.

"Tibbles?" said Luz shocked.

Maxwell looked on at the pig demon that they've crossed paths with by looking at him with outrage, cracking his knuckles and growling like a realistic lion. He could see within the pig demon's mind that what he was doing that turned out to be a scam of some sort. Mattholomule came around the corner from the left with a pile of books in his hands as he placed them down near where Tibbles sat. Maxwell was getting irate from the expression on his face.

"Edited a few more of those author photos, boss. Some of my finest work." said Mattholomule as he smiled smugly but his grin faded instantly as he blushed when he saw both Luz, Amity and Maxwell in front of him as he pulled out what looked like a paint brush from between one of his ears to hide it in his pocket as he uttered a fearful whimper and bliushed. "Luz?! Maxwell?!"

"Mattholomule!" Luz said squinting angrily at him.

"Mattholomule! You stay right there and if you run, so help me!" Maxwell started.

"You'll whoop my ass up one side of this cave and down the other, if not up one side of a street and down the other." guessed Mattholomule shaking a bit.

"At the moment. I don't have luxury to do that right now. But if you so much as run from me right now before we can interrogate you, I might have to make time for that. So you stay right there, right now! And no arguing!" Maxwell sharply instructed.

"Yes sir!" said Mattholomule giving a salute out of fear.

"Oh, calm down. Human garbage is constantly leaking into our water. And about a year ago I found this box of books washed up on the shore." Tibbles went on as he jumped down from his makeshift throne with no remorse. "I've been trying to make a snail off it ever since. But no one's buying!"

"Wait. I'm still getting paid for this, right?" said Mattholomule looking annoyed.

"Forget it, Mattholomule. He used you and lied to you as well as used and lied to three beautiful young women. He's on thin ice right now." Maxwell interjected.

"According to the owner of the Book Nook, he's only ever had one customer purchase from this series." Tibbles finished.

Hearing this had Amity realize that this one customer was her as she blushed deeply out of embarrassment. Luz and Maxwell looked on at her with surprise.

"I-I didn't know. I swear!" said Amity slightly alarmed.

Tibbles kicked the pile of books in a fit of rage as they toppled over, looking uneven.

"This is the WORST SCAM I've ever run." Tibbles snapped.

"So the author is human after all." said Luz looking disappointed.

"Oh-ho-ho. Were you expecting some dramatic discovery? I had a better time at getting my fuck on with the hottest pieces of ass I've ever met since women are just made to get a man's rocks off." chuckled Tibbles mockingly. "Getting my fuck on with sluts and whores was much more fun than this scam as it is if some dumb country bumpkin came up with the idea but they're too stupid think of such clever ideas like mine."

As Tibbles laughed and both Maxwell and Amity were enraged not just because he upset Luz but also because he just made an offensive remark towards women, called Maxwell that offensive word and insulted his roots once again. Maxwell didn't like how he even disrespected women. Maxwell was about to take action but a large purple abomination fist came from beneath Tibbles and punched him hard, sending him flying into the air and hitting the ceiling with a thud as he grunted with pain.

"Ow." Tibbles uttered.

Luz and Maxwell saw that Amity had traced a purple spell circle which revealed she was the one who summoned the abomination's fist to punch Tibbles up into the air. Tibbles fell and Maxwell raised a hand up and Tibbles was now floating four feet into the air above the ground. Then he flew over towards Maxwell who grabbed him and gave Tibbles an irate expression. He looked at Maxwell with fear.

"You have no respect for women, people or even the southerners, and you calling me that name is what broke the camel's back." Maxwell said in a deep and demonic tone. "Women are not objects. They're people with thoughts and feelings and they can do anything a man can do. And I've got more brain power than you'll ever have in that hamburger pattie you call a brain. God is not happy about your actions and so am I. You just broke the hearts of two young, beautiful women, you used a child and another beautiful woman to keep your scam going when I bet Tinella didn't want to do this. Mattholomule, you stay right there or I'll just kick both your asses!"

Mattholomule froze as he knew that if he ran than Maxwell would catch him easily. Tibbles looked on at Maxwell not only with fear but he was trying to remain in control of the situation but Maxwell had an idea to scare the daylights out of Tibbles. He smiled.

"Hey everyone. Who wants bacon or pork meat tonight. Got ourselves some good source of pork and plenty of steak sauce." Maxwell said showing a crazed grin.

Hearing this made Tibbles suddenly go pale white in the face as he suddenly screamed like a girl. Tibbles got out of Maxwell's hands but the blonde teenager let him go as Tibbles ran off but didn't make ten feet till he ran into the cave wall, falling onto the floor as he was now dizzy.

"Yes, I'll go for the cheese pizza lovers with a two liter of orange soda with dipping sauce and parmesan, plenty of it." Tibbles said dizzily.

"You lied about turning him into bacon and pork meat to scare him, didn't you?" chuckled Tinella. "He screamed like a girl and ran into the cave wall! Hahahahaha!"

"A bit dark for my taste in humor but it got someone laughing." said Maxwell with a stoic expression as he calmed down. "He may have crossed the line but as long as I'm still alive and breathing. No one disrespects a woman nor do they upset or talk that way to them or about them. May God forgive me for such behavior."

Maxwell turned around and Maxwell saw that Luz sighed in sadness with a disappointed face, she leaned on Amity's right shoulder as she wrapped her arm around Luz to console her. Maxwell and Amity knew Luz was saddened and disappointed. Tinella felt bad for Luz and came to hug her.

"I should go now, right?" said Mattholomule feeling awkward.

Maxwell looked at him with a stoic expression.

"If you harm Luz, Amity, my friends or anyone I love. Your parents will find out and they'll ground the crap out of you." Maxwell warned Mattholomule telepathically. "I won't tell them about this incident, this time, but if you want to be on better terms with other people like me, Luz, Amity and others I care about. Then not only do you need to apologize to Luz but also, you need to repent of your sins and try working on becoming a better person towards us and others you've wronged. I'm giving you a chance to change for the better. There's your chance, take it. God would want you to change and repent. Give it a chance and have some faith."

Mattholomule looked on at Maxwell with confusion and surprise. He wasn't going to yell at him nor was he going to give him a smackdown. He was offering him a chance to change for the better. Something he's never been trusted with but with Maxwell advising him to do so. To Mattholomule, this left him thinking about the idea but didn't dare to say or do anything to upset him any further. He approached Luz and Amity and he was at first at a loss for words till he found out what to say.

"I might not be any good at this but what I did to Luz back when I first met her. Seeing that me and Gus are kind of becoming friends, maybe being friends with you is just as good as being friends with Gus. As for what I've been caught doing. This is the last time I ever get involved with a scam." said Mattholomule as he was subtle as he felt awkward but was trying. "For what it's worth. I apologize for the life-threatening situation I got Luz into that day I first met her."

"I accept your apology." said Luz looking saddened.

"I think I did it right, correct?" said Mattholomule looking at Maxwell.

"You're trying and that's what matters. You can go now. Remember what I said." Maxwell told him.

Mattholomule walked out of the cave. He felt strange about apologizing for the first time. It was the good kind of strange feeling. Maxwell didn't yell at him, nor did he give him a smackdown ether. The only thing he was focusing on was what Maxwell said to him. Repent of his sins and try to become a better person towards others as well as find a way to apologize to those who he's wronged. He never prayed before but he knew how to do so. As he walked off. He looked up at the sky and was wanting to pray but he felt a bit strange. He imagined there was a man in the sky who was instructing him on what to do as well as watching over him.

Both Maxwell and Amity were hugging Luz as Tinella was hugging Luz as well.

Elsewhere

An abomination that Darius summoned was flying the ship with Willow, Gus, Viney, Skara and Maxwell's shadow copy sitting down nearby. They saw a cage that had four palismens near them. Hunter was in hot pursuit of them. Darius was looking on his Penstagram at current or local posts that announced anything which one of them was a post that Alador made which he looked at it with disgust.

The children were getting ideas to get their palismens back so they could fight back but Maxwell's shadow copy telepathically informed them not to do it as he had an idea in mind.

"Don't do it. I have an idea." Maxwell's shadow copy told them through his mind.

Maxwell's shadow copy began to talk to Darius through his mind but he was mimicking the voice of Emperor Belos to fool him.

"Darius! Let them go"

Darius froze as he looked up with his bored expression turning into visible surprise. He could hear Emperor Belos but couldn't see him.

"Darius. Let them all go. You know what happens to witches who disobey me deliberately"

Darius got up on his feet as he sensed that he was ether being spoken to by the Emperor directly or he sensed that he was being played for the fool to be lured into a trap. Maxwell's shadow copy was listening to an idea that Gus told him through their minds and he was visibly surprised by the sounds of it. But that's when Hunter teleported upon the ship.

"Now!" cried Willow.

The five teenagers ran for it and jumped off the ship while Gus made a mocking expression directed at them. Darius and Hunter ran to the edge and saw the five teenagers falling but saw that Maxwell's shadow copy shot both of them the middle finger. But they saw the five teenagers disappear in a puff of cyan blue smoke that made a loud popping sound. Darius was now seeing what's going on.

"He just gave us the finger." said Hunter bewildered.

"An illusion." said Darius looking angry.

"Land the ship!" called Willow.

The children revealed they were on the ship's frame beam and jumped down from it, landing on the abomination monster below them as they literally crushed the purple goo monster to nothing but a puddle of goo. Viney grabbed hold of a lever from the controls and pulled it down as Darius cried out for them to wait but they ignored him. They were losing altitude rapidly.

"God keep us alive!" Maxwell's shadow copy said under his breath.

They crashed the ship into the sea nearby, which destroyed it and it was catching on fire as the flames engulfing it were green, bright green. As they were escaping by jumping off the ship. Darius was about to chase after them but Maxwell's shadow copy punched Darius hard in the face, knocking him over.

"Why do they always go for the face!" Darius groaned.

The kids jumped off the ship and into the water while they made it to the sandy land. They were about to run further but a tall and large abomination monster came out from the ground as if summoned and placed its hands and arms around them from the left and right, corning them as they got large enough to keep them from escaping. Even with their palismens now in their possession. They turned to see that Darius came up from the ship and he looked irate with little bit of blood coming from his mouth. He spat out the blood from his own mouth.

"Did you really think you could get away with endangering a Coven Head? Do you have any idea what I'm capable of?!" said Darius as he raised his right arm and it morphed into a weapon. His right arm took the form of a scythe.

Darius was approaching them but Maxwell's shadow copy whistled loudly which made Darius entire right arm transform back into an actual arm and not an abomination morphed weapon. He looked at his arm and back at Maxwell's shadow copy with disbelief.

He tried to morph both of his arms into weapons but the blonde male teenager whistled loudly once again, cancelling out his magic use as his arms transformed back to arms and not looking like weapons. Maxwell's shadow copy's eyes were starting to turn gold and that's when he used a form of magic that only his mind could do as Darius was levitated off the ground a few inches and was rapidly flying towards them as Maxwell's shadow copy clenched his hands into fists and them eighteen inched claws that appeared to be made of indestructible metal came out from his finger's knuckles as there was three of them on each hand. He was going to kill Darius but then Hunter intervened and got in between Darius and Maxwell's shadow copy.

"Wait! Both of you stop!" cried Hunter.

Maxwell's shadow copy stopped Darius from crashing into them but Darius was floating in the air at least half a foot above the ground while Darius saw that Hunter was the only one standing in between death for Darius and from Maxwell's shadow copy from killing the Abomination's Coven Head. Maxwell's shadow copy read Hunter's mind and he saw that he was about to help them. He put his fists down and retracted his claws, floating Darius back down to his feet on the ground.

"Out of my way, little prince. This fight is between me and the southern gentleman." said Darius sternly.

"No! I was mistaken. These five are insolent agitators who aren't fit for the Emperor's Coven. And I'm unfit to wear the sigil of the Golden Guard." said Hunter as he pulled the cloak off his back and dropped it to the ground. "And killing each other won't solve anyone's problems. The southern gentleman is too powerful for us to take on. We're better off retreating."

Hunter turned to face Willow, Gus, Viney, Skara and Maxwell's shadow copy. They looked at him with annoyed expressions.

"You can go." said Hunter.

Willow raised her staff up but Maxwell's shadow copy placed a gentle hand on her staff and she saw he was advising her to lower her staff without confirming it verbally as he shook his head while giving Willow a blushing yet compassionate expression.

"Please Captain." said Hunter.

After hearing Hunter refer to Willow as "Captain" she lowered her staff and Maxwell's shadow copy let out a sigh of relief.

"Let's move, team. We need to find a replacement. After all, it'll be fifty-two weeks before Caleb's next day off." said Willow giving Hunter a wink and grin.

Hunter was surprised by this but Maxwell's shadow copy looked on at both Darius and Hunter as he didn't take his eyes off them.

"You two, front and center." Maxwell's shadow copy instructed.

"You dare order me around like-" Darius began.

"NOW!" Maxwell's shadow copy shouted in a deep and demonic voice.

Darius looked on visibly shaken while Hunter looked at Darius and nodded for him to do it. Knowing how Maxwell poses an extreme danger to not just Emperor Belos's plans, the Coven Heads and the Emperor himself but to the both of them as well. Darius and Hunter stepped forwards to stand in front of Maxwell's shadow copy. Maxwell's shadow copy ended up slapping both of them across the face and grabbed them by the front of their shirts as he spoke in a demonic voice.

"You two endangered the lives of people I love. You dare to lay a hand, finger or your magic on a woman. Both of you have even shown a disrespect towards woman. Both of you done this to even my sister, and even my wife. I actually have the power to take both of you out of this world and into the afterlife with one hand tied behind my back!" Maxwell's shadow copy ranted at them.

Darius was about to say something but Hunter advised him not to in order to let Maxwell's shadow copy finish. The irate expression on Maxwell's shadow copy's face faded into a stern expression and he started to speak in his normal voice now. He released his hands from them and tried to remain calm and comforting towards them while showing his stern face in a stoic manner towards them.

"But the lord is telling me not to do it. For the both of you. I'm giving you a chance to change for the better. It might be hard for you to do that but a steady pace is better than no pace at all. You're better off cutting your ties with the Emperor and going into hiding so that he can't take you out. Repent of your sins as you pray to the good lord. He's got a plan for both of you. There are better days ahead. Death and terror from what the Emperor is planning as he's planning something evil. I know that soon he will destroy all who stand against him. The world we know now is a blank page and it is there you must make your stand. God would want you to listen to him, he's been waiting for you both to listen to him so he can lead you both to the life you desire but to defeat a great evil that's among us. And that evil is Emperor Belos and anyone still blindly loyal to him. Emperor Belos is planning something evil yet I don't know what this Day of Unity is other than what he's told us. But I know he's lying to us all, he's lying to even both of you, Hunter and Darius P. Deamonne. He's lying to you both and using you, which is why you should cut your ties with him before he has the chance to do away with you both when he one day has no further use of you two. I somehow know this is the truth." said Maxwell's shadow copy as he spoke of what they should do and what they shouldn't do. "For the both of you. I'm giving you both a chance to do what is right. I might not trust you yet but God is trusting you both to do the right thing. Four times I've held Hunter's life in my hands, and twice I've held Darius's life in my hands. And that many times, I've given it back to both of you. The next time you both endanger or harm the lives of those I love. Your lives are mine and over. We are going to leave now. It's time for both of us to depart for now. We'll meet again but I don't know when. Remember what I've said."

Seeing and hearing Maxwell's shadow copy telling them this left both Hunter and Darius both confused, curious and surprised all at the same time. What he was offering them was a chance to change and do the right thing. An offer at redemption. He chose to let them live and not kill them. Something about this prompted Darius to do something as he saw Maxwell's shadow copy turn around and walk off.

"Wait." Darius called out as he approached Maxwell's shadow copy.

The shadow copy stopped and turned around to face Darius which Darius took in a deep breath and let it out as he gently pulled Maxwell's shadow copy aside as he whispered something to him in his ear. What he whispered to him left the blonde teenager visibly surprised yet wide eyed as if oddly relieved to hear good news. He looked on at Darius who nodded to him once and gave him a wink as if attempting to give Maxwell's shadow copy a reason to trust him when he told him what he whispered to him which was unknown to everyone at the moment.

"You're telling me the truth, are you?" Maxwell's shadow copy said surprised.

"I think this is the reason why you're here at the Boiling Isles." said Darius showing a look of understanding compassion for the first time. "I'm listening."

Maxwell's shadow copy knew what this meant and he knew that Darius is telling him the truth about what he told him. The shadow copy turned around and took off with Willow, Gus, Viney and Skara as the five teenagers walked away.

"Don't ever harm a woman or anyone I love ever again." Maxwell's shadow copy told the two through his mind.

The two knew he meant both of them. Darius then looked at Hunter with a stern yet strict expression.

"You... befriended them? And then you disobeyed me to protect them?! And you took a big risk in getting involved with the southern gentleman when he could've killed us both?!" said Darius Incredulously.

Hunter and even Flapjack both looked at him with fear and closed their eyes, waiting for him to physically strike him but Darius heard Maxwell telepathically warn him not to hit or harm Hunter till him and his friends were now out of earshot and eyesight. Darius patted Hunter on the head once and Darius smiled for the first time in front of anyone, even Hunter. Hunter opened his eyes to see him showing a grin.

"I'm impressed. I had you all wrong." chuckled Darius. "You're what? Sixteen? It's about time you made connections outside the castle instead of being caged up like some bird that's ready to fly."

Darius drew a purple spell circle in the air and a purple scroll appeared out of thin air, landing in Hunter's hands. He opened it and saw that there was a sign-up page for his own Penstagram account.

"I was just gonna drop them off at Hexside. We have more than enough recruits, in my opinion. And to be honest, that young man whose now becoming the future wife of the owl lady. I'm actually afraid of that young man." Darius admitted.

"Are you... gonna tell Belos about this?" asked Hunter looking back at him.

"Are you going to tell him about your secret palisman?" said Darius.

Hunter briefly gasped with shock and reached over to keep Flapjack protected as the cardinal like bird chirped.

"Magic or not, I think you'll make your predecessors proud. Yet I do wonder. If your predecessors really did support what Belos is planning or if they wanted to let us all live in peace and harmony here since Belos is the only one who interacted with your predecessors but no one else did. Quite a mystery." said Darius.

"Maybe we'll find out one day." said Hunter.

Darius walked off and as he did, he tossed Hunter's cloak back to him as it landed on his face yet the sigil on the cloak was now glowing a bright purple light as Hunter pulled it off his face. He saw that abomination goo briefly appeared around the sigil and when it receded, he saw that the sigil on the cloak instantly repaired itself as if a seamstress perfectly repaired it.

"But you could still use a sewing lesson. I wasn't perfect at it when I first started but I did get better as I kept at it." Darius told him.

Elsewhere on the beach

Luz, Amity and Maxwell walked along the sand of a nearby beach while Maxwell had got through praying for any sins he felt that he bared.

"Forgive me Lord for I have committed the sin of wrath but I also tried to let my mercy prevail over my wrath. My anger may have been righteous but regardless of the reason for my wrath. Forgive me today as I forgive others. Provide comfort for Luz and Amity as both have been through an arduous, long day and have experienced a disappointment that requires your consolation. Forgive me as I repent my sins, lead Mattholomule on the path of redemption as he repents of his sins and walks the long road to redemption and forgiveness as I lead him into the direction of the said path but make sure he doesn't stray from the path as I've offered him a chance at forgiveness, redemption and mercy. We rebuke the devil and his evil works as he can't tempt us. Forgive us as we forgive others. Let your mercy prevail over your wrath. Amen." Maxwell prayed as he pointed one hand up, down, left and right.

Maxwell and Amity looked at Luz who appeared to be looking unphased by the disappointment from the looks of it but they remained ready to comfort Luz.

"So, are you upset?" asked Amity.

"Nah. Azura's author may be a human, but I'm human too. Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that you don't need to be a powerful ancient witch to make something special." said Luz looking like she wasn't negatively affected.

"I just hope you two aren't mad at me for jabbing my logic at those theories. I know it can be annoying that someone pokes their relentless logic into theories and more. Sometimes I analyze too much with my logic here and there. But sometimes my logic can be wrong." said Maxwell blushing as he didn't like poking logic at their theories. "I should've let you two have fun with your theories of the books."

"Not to worry, Maxwell. It didn't hurt or annoy us at all. The only thing that annoyed us was that Tibbles and his mischief." said Amity. "Well, I had fun coming up with those theories. They were like... our own stories."

They stopped and Luz gasped as she had an idea in mind.

"What if the Azura Book Club was also a writing club?" Luz suggested.

"What would be our first writing prompt?" said Amity.

"I would've called it the adventures of Lumity but all ideas are good ones. You two can choose any ideas you'd prefer." Maxwell told them.

"Hmm. How about the mystery of..." Luz said but paused as she saw Willow, Gus, Viney, Skara and two of Maxwell's shadow copies walking nearby. "What they were up to all night?"

They saw them coming closer as they talked about Hunter making his own Penstagram but what they said about Hunter sounded like they knew he wasn't very good at social media. Willow made a comment about Hunter being a slow typer, Gus made a comment how he's worse than his father, one of Maxwell's shadow copies advised them not to speak ill of Hunter but he also commented on how he feels weird defending him since they didn't get along at first. Willow was the first to notice Luz, Amity and the real Maxwell.

"Oh. Hey, guys." said Willow waving to them.

Luz, Amity and Maxwell approached them as they saw them in their Emerald Entrails uniforms.

"I am really digging those outfits. So, how was the rest of school? Did we... miss anything? Did Maxie's shadow copies get into other lady's pants?" said Luz while making a joke. "Just kidding about that last one. Maxie would never cheat."

"Just had our first team win as the Emerald Entrails." said Willow.

The children still in their team's uniforms struck the poses they made in their picture that they took a selfie of.

"Oh, and Maxie's shadow copy or Maxie himself made sure no harm came to any of us if harm was to come banging at our door." Willow said with a word of comfort.

Luz got excited and asked to see the picture and the real Maxwell absorbed his remaining shadow copies into his body and mind but afterwards, he saw in his mind the events of what Willow, Gus, Viney, Skara, his shadow copies had gone through and he saw that Hunter, the coven scouts and Darius were involved, even Steve. He was now looking surprised yet feeling like he was being lied to about the images in his mind but then Willow showed both Luz, Amity and Maxwell the selfie picture that was taken of the team and it had all of them, even Hunter and one of Maxwell's shadow copies in the picture. Luz, Maxwell and Amity noticed Hunter in the photo and only Luz and Amity gasped in shock while Maxwell looked like he was about to be angrier than he ever has been.

"What?!" yelled Luz and Amity in unison.

They yelled so loud that crows cawed and flew away into the distance. They looked at them with understanding expressions as both Luz and Maxwell warned them all about Hunter but the only person who didn't yell was Maxwell which he was trying his best to keep himself calm.

"Maxie isn't reacting. That's not a good sign." said Willow. "Also, I know, it's a long story."

They saw Maxwell was stoic but he tried to say something without yelling while trying to remain calm but he was losing that battle as he strained himself not to but his face was turning red from rage.

"Cover your ears. You don't want to hear this." Maxwell warned with no emotion in his voice.

They all covered their ears quickly without hesitation. Once they did. Maxwell opened his mouth to scream but they saw he didn't scream at all. They saw that he just looked confused and he fainted, landing on the ground, not sure what he should feel right now.