The heart of the Titan pulsed above Emperor Belos and his throne — the thumping; it was rhythmic, a peaceful thing to hear. He wished to be alone right now, along with his thoughts and the presence of the Titan to shepherd him. Two weeks have passed since his dear nephew, Hunter, returned from his unauthorized mission to Eclipse Lake to retrieve the blood of the Titan. Though he punished the boy for defying his uncle's orders and leaving the castle, he succeeded where Kikimora and others of his coven had failed. The divine liquid was a crucial part of his one true master's plan to reach fruition, delivering them from the Wild Magic that curses these lands.
In return, the Titan will free Belos from the curse placed upon him. A curse spawned from the hubris that he could control Wild Magic. Because of his foolishness, his family paid the price, and Hunter left without a mother and father. Even now, the boy is becoming tempted by the same forbidden fruit, due in no small part to the human girl's influence. However, Belos could not admonish the child; the Owl Lady was the one who filled her head with lies. He should not have humored Lilith and her in-vain attempt to make her sister "see reason." He should have pried the door to the Human Realm from her cold, petrified hands. The emperor will not make the same mistake twice.
However, there was something Belos could not figure out. He has the key, the door, and the blood. However, the portal still refuses to open, even for a minor test. The Day of Unity is closing in on him, and he still cannot figure it out. He has done everything his master has commanded of him, but something was still missing. But what? What is the missing ingredient to opening the portal? Hence, here he sits. Waiting, listening for the Titan's voice, one command is all he required. "Tell me, my master," Belos spoke, hoping the Titan would hear him. "Tell me what I am missing? What must I do? Is this another test of my faith? Of my loyalty to you? If so, I accept the challenge. I will shoulder whatever burden you bestow upon me, as I always have. I am but your humble servant, now and until I draw my last breath."
The doors to the throne room opened with a loud cranking sound, which did not go unnoticed by the emperor. From them, Kikimora, his most loyal servant — to an irritating degree — entered and quickly closed the doors behind her. "My emperor." She promptly knelt, knowing she was not in his good graces.
"I thought I was clear that I wished not to be disturbed." The emperor's eyes glowed their eerie, menacing blue. "Especially from you, given your… recent performances."
"Forgive me, Sire." Kikimora remained on her knees as she cautiously looked up at him. "But I have urgent news."
"Come closer, then."
"Y… yes." The imp rose to her feet and walked deeper into the throne room before returning to her knees, just below her master's feet.
Belos observed her, the glow still present. "Speak."
"Our…" Kikimora coughed. "Apologies. Our scouts have reported there have been growing acts of rebellion against you and the Emperor's Coven."
Belos stiffened his posture, and the Titan's heartbeat increased. "Explain."
Kikimora stood, clasping her tri-clawed hands. "Despite the capture of Raine Whispers and their fellow hooligans, their message of rebellion still echoes throughout the Isles. Sects like the BATTs are making their presence known in Bonesborough, Latissa, and other settlements. And they are not only made up of Wild Witches but—"
"But what?"
"They… they're also receiving support from witches already bound to covens."
The massive organ pulsed faster as Belos tightened his grip on the armrests of his throne, leaving deep grooves in the metal. "Then why are you telling me this, Kikimora?" Belos questioned, speaking with his voice and inside Kikimora's very mind. The imp felt like she had lost complete control of her body, frozen with fear. "Why haven't you deployed the soldiers to silence these insurrectionists? Suppose there are those straying from the Titan's path of their own volition. In that case, I expect my soldiers to drag them from their homes and parade on the streets like the pariahs they are. Then have them brought to the Conformatorium for petrification."
Kikimora could not only just hear what her emperor demanded to have done this very instant, but she could perceive it. See what he desires to see. The coven's soldiers marched, barging down doors across towns of the Isles and taking the traitors out by force. The people would be grateful for the actions of the Emperor's Coven detaining such dangerous individuals. Ultimately, they would be shackled to the ground, struggling vainly to escape before being sentenced to spend an eternity in stone. Kikimora to see it, hear it, she could even experience it; it was all so exhilarating. However, only if it were that straightforward.
"My emperor, it troubles me to report this but… when I said these insurgents are also receiving support from witches already bound to covens. That…" Kikimora swallowed, struggling to bring out the following words. "That… also means ours."
Belos cocked his head. "What?" He spoke in his one voice, though it sounded strained, filled with anger at the mere mention of such blasphemy.
"I have found evidence that those within our—" The glow in the emperor's eyes became more intense, making the imp shiver. "Ahem… within your coven have chosen to ally themselves with these rebels, supporting them from the shadows with information and other resources."
"Do you know the identities of these supposed turncoats?"
"I have a few guesses." Kikimora wanted to mention her suspicions that the Golden Guard is a part of all this. However, she decided that her well-known vendetta against him was not something the emperor wanted to hear about again. "But there may be more than we realize. I came seeking your permission for an investigation to weed out these traitors to the throne."
Belos placed a hand on the forehead of his mask, the glow in his eyes fading with the slowing heartbeat. "So, this is what I must do." He spoke.
"Sire?" Kikimora inquired timidly.
"I asked the Titan what it is that I am missing. What am I missing to bring everything to fruition? I now see this is indeed another test of not only my faith but of all the Isles." Belos rose from his throne, and Kikimora backed away from him. "Don't you see, Kiki? The Titan is giving me a test to root out the non-believers, the heretics! Those who would deny the Titan and their children the freedom from Wild Magic. The unworthy hide among us, like dire wolves in sheep's clothing, trying to escape from their inevitable fate of abandonment."
"Yes, of course, my lord." Kikimora bowed.
"The Titan has presented for me this challenge because I have allowed this to happen. Thus, I must make it all right." Belos raised his arms above his head. "Oh, great, Titan. If this is what you require of me, give me a sign. Tell me that this is your will! Tell me! Tell me!"
There was a loud crackle from behind Kikimora, and the imp jumped around in surprise. Belos diverted his attention to the sudden sound and heard another. This time, sparks of green lightning appeared in tandem with each one.
"Sire?" Kikimora backed away from the sparks until she fell back onto the steps leading to the throne.
"Is this it?" Belos asked in a low voice.
The crackles subsequently evolved into a singular boom. The green sparks expanded and combined until they took the whole, recognizable shape of a spiraling vortex. There were four silhouettes within the vortex, growing closer until they all stepped out.
The one heading them was a stalwart man with blue skin and garbed in purple, leathery armor-like clothing with a hood. His most stand-out feature was that his face was a skull with glowing red dots in the eye sockets. A skull-shaped crest was on his chest, and a ram-skull staff held within a fleshless hand. Both had a sinister greenish glow radiating from them.
The others included a slim woman with flowing white hair and clothing that suggested her being a Wild Witch with a bat motif. She wielded a staff with a purple aura surrounding the orb at the end.
A man with blue and green skin was following close to her side, looking like a painfully forced amalgamation of flesh and machine. The rear one to enter was a snarling, feral-looking person with orange-red fur and armor adorned with bones, trophies belonging to a hunter.
"It worked." The leader said in a hoarse voice, sounding amazed. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. "I'm a bit iffy on the gold, but the architecture and atmosphere, not too shabby. The giant beating heart is a nice touch." He directed his attention to Emperor Belos. "I take it you're the one in charge here, given your dress?"
"Who… who are you?" Kikimora asked with authority in her tone. "And how did you get in here?"
"Evil-Lyn, did you hear something?" The leader looked around.
"I believe it came from that thing." The woman, Evil-Lyn, answered. She pointed at the imp with her staff and gave her a jeering smirk.
The leader followed the staff, and his skull contorted into something like a smile. "Oh, I didn't see you there, given how short you are."
"You must have no inkling whom you are speaking to." Kikimora said, her frustration growing. "You are in the presence of Emperor Belos. And as his most loyal follower, I will not tolerate this dis—" A purple aura then surrounded Kikimora. It manifested itself from Evil-Lyn's staff, restraining and silencing the imp.
"Much appreciated, my dear."
"There's no need, my lord; her voice was grating," Evil-Lyn said, levitating Kikimora. The witch's eyes glowed the same color as her aura. Chains materialized around the imp, binding her arms and legs, and gagging her before being dropped painfully onto the ground. Kikimora wriggled around, trying to free herself to no avail. "Trap Jaw, if she continues to be a nuisance, feed her to Beast Man."
"With pleasure." The machine-man, Trap Jaw, replied with a grin. The feral one, Beast Man, licked his chops and bared his teeth. Kikimora wisely settled down.
"You come here into my throne room, wielding Wild Magic, and threaten my subordinate." Emperor Belos listened, extending his right hand, and materializing his mechanical staff out of thin air. The heart thumped faster as the glow returned to Belos' eyes. "Identify yourselves." Evil-Lyn, Trap Jaw, and Beast Man all recoiled from hearing Belos' voice in their heads.
However, their leader did no such thing. "Oh, where are my manners?" He spoke. "I am the Lord of Destruction. I am the overlord of all that is evil. Recently, the King of Eternos, absolute ruler of Eternia!" The pitch of his voice increased by a fanatical extent. "And soon, all other worlds to follow!" He laughed maniacally at that declaration; even Belos had to admit to being unnerved. "I. Am. SKELETOR!"
"You are not of this realm." Belos figured, pointing his staff at Skeletor. "What do you want?"
Skeletor's voice returned to sounding how it did prior. "You can put that toy away; I have no intention of fighting you."
"You will forgive me if I have trouble believing that. You did openly declare an intent to conquer this world, did you not?"
"Hm, yes, I suppose I did." Skeletor stroked his jaw with his one flesh-covered hand. "But we don't have to be enemies, now do we? I was hoping we could become, shall we say, future business partners."
"I do not make deals with those who wield Wild Magic."
"Oh, but I do not wield this Wild Magic, as you call it." Skeletor's voice rang with a demented pride, pointing his staff at Belos. "I hold something greater. I hold a power that is unlike anything you have ever seen, sanctifying every world, and bringing all of existence into a new age! I hold the power of HAVOC!" Skeletor lowered his staff, returning it to his side. "And I am willing to share it with you."
Belos did the same action in kind. "And why would you do that?"
Skeletor looked at Belos with what could pass as a smile on his face. "I can tell from a glance that you and I are very much alike."
"I highly doubt that."
"Oh, but I know a ruler when I see one." Skeletor placed his flesh-covered hand on his chest. "I am royalty myself; you know." He turned to his cohorts. "Ask any of them, yourself."
"It is true." Evil-Lyn corroborated. "He was a prince."
"And through Havoc, I became a king! Just as Havoc made my Evil Warriors here into Dark Masters!" Evil-Lyn raised her staff; pink and purple lightning crackled from it while she madly cackled. Trap Jaw raised his mechanical arm, letting out a fearsome cry as the device cranked and churned menacingly. The Beast Man pulled out a whip and snapped it against the ground multiple times before releasing a feral howl. Kikimora could not put the fear the captive she was experiencing into words. She remained silent — going completely unnoticed.
"This does not answer my question. Why would you willingly share your Havoc with me? What could— Ugh!" The emperor gasped, dropping his staff as he fell to his knees. The heart of the Titan pounded faster.
"Sire!" Kikimora shouted, though her voice fell on deaf ears. Skeletor and his Dark Masters watched the suffering emperor, the latter disturbed by what was happening, while the former was intrigued.
"What's happening to him?" Trap Jaw asked, believing Evil-Lyn or Skeletor would have an answer.
Emperor Belos continued to contort in excruciating ways. Blackish-green ooze leaked from his mask and robes. He punched the floor, leaving a dent within, trying to keep himself whole. "Beast Man thinks he is not doing too well." Beast Man commented on what was apparent.
"He needs help!" Kikimora shouted to Skeletor. "Please." That word finally got the self-proclaimed Lord of Destruction's attention.
"I told you to be quiet," Evil-Lyn told the imp. "Trap Jaw…"
"On it." The machine man was about to pick Kikimora off the ground with his mechanical arm and feed her to Beast Man as promised.
"Wait!" Skeletor ordered, and Trap Jaw halted. He picked the imp off the ground with his flesh-covered hand, his red dots staring directly into her eyes. "What is wrong with him?"
"Wild Magic has cursed my emperor."
"Cursed, you say?" Skeletor shifted his attention to the still-suffering Belos, noting the dent in the floor was becoming more profound and more ooze releasing at a more rapid rate.
"Yes! He must absorb the Wild Magic from palismen to keep it at bay. If I don't bring him one, he'll—"
A small chuckle left whatever could be considered a throat for Skeletor before evolving into boisterous, hideous laughter. "As I've said, Havoc is greater than Wild Magic, and I can use it to free him from his curse."
"No! Ugh!" Belos forced out the words. "I… Won't…"
"Sire, please listen!" Kikimora begged. "This Skeletor may be the one you have been seeking." Skeletor looked at Kikimora, seeking an explanation. "You prayed to the Titan for a sign; something to show your efforts to cleanse this world of Wild Magic is not in vain. The Titan has brought Skeletor to us. And the power to fulfill your destiny of destroying Wild Magic and bring about the Day of Unity."
As he clenched his sides in pain, Belos took in his most loyal servant's words. This Skeletor has come from another world, one he has conquered with a power he claims to be greater than Wild Magic. Now, he looks to utilize this power to bring other worlds under his rule. Furthermore, this all happened to the emperor amidst having his faith shaken. Maybe the only way to truly get the order he is looking for is through Havoc. "Skeletor…" The self-declared overlord of all that is evil directed his attention back to Belos. "I… I…"
Skeletor placed his hand where his ear should be. "I'm sorry, could you speak up? It's hard to hear you."
"I… Accept…"
"Oh, then I want you to say it."
Emperor Belos coughed. "What?"
"I want to hear you say, "Please help me, Skeletor." And I will." Skeletor clasped his staff with both hands, tauntingly.
Belos regurgitated more ooze from his mask, speaking through the pain. "Please… help… me… Skeletor."
"Hmm…" Skeletor hummed between his teeth. "Sure." Green lightning crackled around the skull adorning the staff and pointed it at the ailing emperor. "Through the Purity of Havoc!" He madly cackled as a green chain fired from his weapon, piercing Belos' chest. The emperor cried out in more pain as the chains wrapped around his form like a sinister cocoon.
"Sire!" Kikimora screamed; that and watching in horror were all she could do.
"YOU HAVE MY POWER!" The green energy of Havoc enveloped Belos, consuming and changing him right in front of everyone as it and Skeletor's hysterical, hideous cackling filled the throne room.
It has been two weeks since the portal test took Luz Noceda to the world in-between worlds. Since she saw her mother again, met Vee, and was forced into a promise she did not know if she could keep. The human girl sat in her room, alone with her thoughts and the sleeping echo mouse in his habitat. Keeping all this in was eating away at her; she needed to vent someone, something, even if it was a tiny napping rodent.
"I just wanted to spend the summer learning magic." Luz began, standing up and pacing back and forth from the door to the window. "I wanted to become a witch, just like I've always dreamed of since I was seven. Yes, I got to learn magic, but I also had to contend with problems one problem after the other on what feels like a weekly basis. It feels like those problems have just spiraled more out of my control. Now, I got to see the consequences of my actions."
The image of seeing how heartbroken her mother was, finding out that Luz chose to stay in the Demon Realm on purpose, plagued her mind and felt like a stab in her heart. Now, her mother believes she did all this because Luz, in her words, "hated living with her, that much."
Luz let out a sigh. "But it hasn't been all bad. By coming here, I made real friends through Gus and Willow, who like me for who I am. I've got to meet Eda and King—" The Owl Lady has been a second mother to her, and King the little brother she never knew she wanted. She chose not to say it aloud, wanting to avoid adding more guilt to what she was already feeling. "And not to mention I have the most awesome girlfriend ever to exist, the one and only Amity Blight."
Luz slumped against her wall, sliding down until she sat on the floor, her knees against her chest. "But I haven't told any of them about what happened with Mami and... But what would I even tell them? How would I tell them?"
The echo mouse woke up and looked at Luz with his hollow sockets for eyes like he was saying, "How would I know?" He then went back to sleep.
Luz sighed with a modest smile. "Well, thanks for listening to me, at least."
The door to Luz's room opened, capturing the girl's attention. "Luz, we're back." Said Eda as she opened it all the way; King walked in with her.
"Oh, hey guys. I didn't hear Hooty announce you were home."
"He's sleeping right now, so we just snuck in through the back."
"Well, that's oddly generous for you two. How was the market?"
"Oh, you know." King began. "Buying some griffon eggs, purchasing some apple blood, picking a pocket or two, giving guards the slip—"
"So, just another day shopping?"
"You know it." Eda winked, giving the teen finger guns. "We also picked up something special, just for you."
"What kind of "something" are we talking about?"
"It's a surprise," King said, running in place like an excitable child — which he is. "You'll have to come downstairs to find out."
Luz could tell they wanted to show her something important — probably something to break her out of her funk and put much thought into — so she should not let her wallowing ruin it. "Okay, I'm coming." Luz got up and followed directly behind them, down the stairs and leading into the living room.
"Hey, Luz," Amity spoke, waiting to greet her girlfriend.
"Amity." Luz responded in surprise to see her "cotton candy-haired goddess" in the living room. "I wasn't expecting to see you today. Not that I'm complaining." She quickly added. Amity giggled to herself; in that cute manner that makes Luz ask herself, "What did I do to deserve someone like her?" She then heard a meow and noticed Amity's palisman, Ghost, rubbing and purring against her leg. "Aw, hola, Ghost." Luz knelt to pet her, which is when she noticed Amity was holding something close to her chest, popping out in contrast to her black dress. "Whatcha got there?"
"Oh, this?" Amity held the item out, a gift-wrapped rectangle — it was blue, with green skulls and crossbones on it.
"We spotted her buying it and helped her wrap it up," Eda explained.
"I picked out the wrapping." King proudly declared, which Luz should have guessed.
"Luz, I know something happened when you saw your mom again," Amity said. "I can see it. They can see it." She gave Eda and King a glance. "And even Willow and Gus see it."
Luz stood straight and shifted her gaze away, stroking her arm. "I'm sorry I'm worrying you guys." She began. "It's just..."
"We're not gonna make you tell us." There was reassurance in the witchling's tone. "I know you'll tell us when you're ready. I just hate seeing you so sad. So, I hope this brings back the smile I love to see."
Hearing her awesome girlfriend tell her that did bring the smile she loves to see back to her face. Though, it was still small, with hints of sorrow behind it. Luz took the gift with both hands and noticed a tag dangling from the top-right edge, which read: "To my awesome girlfriend."
"Open it, open it, open it." King squeaked with anticipation.
Luz tore into the wrapping and saw what looked like a headful of green hair. "Could it be?" She thought to herself. Luz continued to rip the paper until she freed the gift, and her eyes grew big. "No way." She whispered. "It's the next book!" Luz held her present high above her head, the sixth entry in the Good Witch Azura series, showing it to everyone in the house.
"I just knew you'd love it," Amity said.
"Of course, this is Luz we're talking about," King added.
Before Amity could respond to the little demon, Luz had enveloped the witchling in a big, tight hug. "Thank you! You're the best, most awesome—"
"Ugh." Eda moaned at all the sugar-coated floweriness that was "Lumity" — the name for their relationship, as coined by the two youths. "If I have to hear how much she's an "awesome girlfriend" again, I think I'm gonna hurl." Her eyes flashed pitch black between a blink. "Even the Owl Beast agrees with me."
"Sorry, Eda. Sorry, Owl Beast."
"But that's not all," King spoke up. "We got something else for you."
"Yeah, you know those sandwiches you told us about?" Eda asked. "Those… um…" She snapped her fingers, trying to recollect the exact name. "I wanna say chimichangas—"
"You mean chimichurri?" Luz asked.
"Yes, that's the one. Thank you. Anyhow…" Eda stuck her hand into her wild mess of hair, rummaging through it until she pulled out a rolled-up paper. "I kept a list of all the ingredients." She unraveled it and showed off the list to the human. "And while we couldn't find everything on here, King and I did find some replacement ingredients that you can digest."
"So, how about that for lunch?" King offered.
Luz's face lit up like one of her light spells. "Oh my gosh, I'd love to. I don't remember the last time I had one of those." She could feel her stomach growl and mouth water at the mere thought. Luz turned back to Amity, clasping her hands. "I think you'll like them, too."
Amity pulled her hands free and placed her palms close to her chest. "Sorry, but I can't stay for lunch." She told her girlfriend.
"Why not?"
"Ed and Em are currently keeping Mom and Dad occupied. They have no idea I left the manor. I should get back before they figure that out."
Luz looked at her beloved witchling with worry. "You're not in any trouble, are you?"
"No, of course not." Amity waved her hands in an "X" motion. "Well… I guess it depends on how you see it. My parents have been keeping an eye on me lately. They want to make sure I stay "inline" as they say."
"She's always been a control freak, even when we were kids." Eda voiced. "How in the Titan's name Alador can tolerate her, I'll never understand." Eda then remembered the youngest Blight was in the room and how that may have sounded. "Uh, no offense, kid."
"None taken." Amity looked to Luz. "So, I'll see you at Hexside tomorrow." She kissed Luz on the cheek. "Enjoy your book."
"I will, thank you," Luz said. Amity began to leave when a gigantic explosion went off, and the ground beneath them rumbled.
"Woah!" "Ahh!" "What the?" "Weh!" Luz, Amity, Eda, and King all exclaimed as they fell to the ground.
Furniture moved on its own; anything not bolted to the ground fell over to their sides. Eda's bottles of fresh apple blood fell and smashed on the floor from the shelves above their heads. "NOOOOOOOOOO!" She cried in despair.
"What's going on?" Luz asked, trying to stand but kept falling. "Is this an earthquake?" Another explosion reverberated, this time, accompanied by a flash of lilac lightning that blotted out all sight of the outside world. With that, the shaking stopped. "I think it's over." Luz got to her feet. "Is everyone all right?"
"I'm fine," Amity said as Luz walked over and offered her a hand up.
"We're all right, too," King said. He was holding a shaking Ghost tightly.
"My apple blood." Eda wept at the puddles of alcohol and glass.
King gave her a blank look. "She's fine."
"What was that?" Luz asked as she dashed out of the Owl House, past Hooty, who somehow managed to sleep through that. That is when Luz saw it. "¿Qué en el ..."
"Luz." Amity began, following behind with the still-scared Ghost in her arms. She noticed Luz staring out somewhere and followed her gaze. "What's… Woah."
King and Eda then joined them and turned to see what they saw. All four of them were dumbstruck. An enormous structure appeared in the middle of the Boiling Sea, far from the Owl House but still visible from where its inhabitants stood. Seemingly coming out of thin air. "Well, you don't see that every day." Admitted Eda.
"And that's saying something," Luz responded.
"What the heck is that?" Amity asked.
"Eda, do you have a telescope?" Luz asked her teacher. The Owl Lady rummaged through her hair and pulled one out for the human. She looked through it and stated the first thing that came to mind. "I think it's a castle." It looked like one, like that of Emperor Belos', but also different. It appeared technologically sophisticated, like an ancient yet futuristic spaceship. However, that is all she could perceive from there. "Come on, let's try and get a closer look."
"You wanna go near that thing?" King questioned the human girl's sanity.
"It could be dangerous." Amity reasoned.
"Or maybe there are people who could need our help." Luz countered, then looked to her teacher with puppy dog eyes. "Please, Eda."
Eda pinched her temples. "Ugh, fine." She answered. "But we leave at the first sign of trouble." She extended her hand, and Owlbert flew to it in his staff form. She hopped on with King, tightly holding onto his mother.
"Let's go, Ghost," Amity said, and her palisman took her staff form. Luz sat behind her girlfriend; arms wrapped around her waist.
They both flew off the ground and over the sea at blistering speeds to investigate the mysterious castle. As they got closer to the unknown structure, they could better make out its shape. The castle's exterior looked like a skull with an open jaw functioning like a bridge — almost welcoming, or daring, someone to enter. If any of them said they were not even slightly intimidated, that would be a lie. Taking a moment to recover their nerves, the four of them steeled themselves and flew inside.
I just had an idea for Skeletor and Belos to interact with each other and had to get it out. Netflix's "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe," the CGI one, reminded me why Skeletor is such an iconic villain, and I hope I wrote him well.
Feedback is appreciated: Please favorite, follow, and leave a review; I'll write more chapters if enough people enjoy this.