Hello, my readers; it's been a while. Thank you for sticking around this long; I apologize for the lack of updates; I've been busy with college and work. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy Chapter 4.
"Alright, Gus, we just need to find some players for our Flyer Derby team," Willow said. The best friends walked through the woods, heading to the older girl's home to debate possible candidates.
"We could ask some of Boscha's friends," Gus suggested. "Ever since that whole Grudgeby match, they've been cool. Or maybe even the Multi-Trackers."
"They're a good start. Who'd you have in mind?"
"I was thinking—"
"I still don't understand why you don't just fly us back?" A deep voice spoke, accompanied by the sounds of machinery. Willow and Gus paused and looked for the source, hiding behind the foliage. They both gasped upon seeing a monster of flesh and metal accompanied by a bat-themed witch. There was also a blonde teen dressed in what looked like an Emperor's Coven uniform trapped in a binding spell.
"Hey, do you think that's the Golden Guard?" Gus asked Willow, remembering the stories from Luz and Amity. The Hexside Students watched as the strangers made their way through the dark forest. And if their geographical calculations are correct, they should be heading straight to Emperor Belos' castle from the Conformatorium. This raised more questions.
"Though I may not look it, the fight did exhaust me," The bat witch responded. "And I find nothing calms me down more than a stroll through the woods."
"But you're not even strolling."
The bat witch used her powers to levitate just a few inches from the ground. "My dear Trap Jaw, you know that walking is beneath me."
The monster, Trap Jaw, rolled his eyes. "If you say so." As they continued their "walk," the young witch in their grasp grunted, trying to free himself from the magic. "No point in strugglin', kid. You're not goin' anywhere." Trap Jaw told him, baring his teeth.
"You might as well take in the sights, Golden Guard," The bat witch said teasingly. "This may be the last time you ever see them."
"It is him," Willow whispered.
"You think I'm scared of you freaks?" The Golden Guard snapped back. "My uncle taught me how to resist torture; believe me… he knows how to inflict pain." He tried to hide the somberness of his last words.
"Then Lord Skeletor will have quite the time breaking you. Which reminds me." The bat witch descended to the grass. "Let's give him an update." She pointed her staff at the ground and made circular motions as the orb glowed. "Ostende nobis dominum nostrum caliginosum. Ostende Nobis!" She chanted as the grass was set alight with purple flames, and the smoke rose until it took the shape of four forms.
"You bunch of bumbling boobs! How could you all be so incompetent!" A voice shrieked, Lord Skeletor, as the smoke finally took his form. It revealed a muscular undead to the shock of Willow and Gus.
"I… I'm sorry—" The other voice said, no doubt a scout's, just as the smoke took different forms. Three other coven soldiers followed by taking their forms next. They were shrinking before the much bigger undead. "We were just following our emperor's orders."
"This Eternian technology is worth more than any of your lives. I expected more from the Emperor's Coven." Skeletor pointed his staff at the scout.
"Wait, please, have— AHHH!" Before he could finish, Skeletor blasted the three of them with a bolt of Havoc energy, sending the Emperor's Coven soldiers flying "off-screen," followed by a whimpering, "Ouch."
Skeletor dragged his flesh-covered hand across his face. "This is why I don't bother with peons."
"My apologies, Lord Skeletor." Willow's and Gus's eyes widened as they heard Emperor Belos' voice and saw him come into focus without his mask. He did not look that impressive to either of them. "I needed most of my soldiers to prepare for the Coven Day Parade. It's a yearly tradition. Not preparing for it would have drawn suspicion. And this year will be the most important."
"Steve needs an ice pack." The same guard whined.
"But why do I have to be stuck dealing with these morons." As he was beginning his rant, Skeletor turned, and his jaw hung slightly as he finally noticed the machine monster and witch watching him. "Oh, I didn't see you there." He noticed the restrained Hunter among them, as did Belos, with a look of disappointment. "Well, well, well. It looks like you caught our little golden troublemaker. Well done, Trap Jaw and Evil-Lyn" The undead put his skeletal hand to his chest. "If I still had a heart, it would be warmed to see that I can rely on you both to be competent among this lot."
"Oh, but of course, Lord Skeletor." The witch, Evil-Lyn, bowed elegantly.
"We live to serve you." Trap Jaw did the same, but he was uncouth. Between trying to hide their snickers from how ridiculous their names sounded, Willow and Gus could hear some disdain in their voices. And from how Skeletor looked at them, he noticed it, too, but did not seem fazed. Perhaps they are not as loyal to their lord as they appear.
"Though we regret to inform you that the boy had succeeded in his plan," Evil-Lyn added.
"And what might that be?" Skeletor asked, the menacing glow in his eyes growing.
"He overpowered the Conformatorium's guards and freed four prisoners. One adult and three teenagers."
"TEENAGERS?!" Skeletor's emphasized with a rasp. "Why must teenagers be the ones to interfere with my plans? Don't they have better things to do?"
"Trust me, Lord Skeletor, I know how you feel," Belos added from personal experience.
"They weren't that strong compared to the power of Havoc. But they are a crafty bunch." Evil-Lyn looked at Hunter. "This one managed to break Trap Jaw's jaw."
"You're not letting me live this down, are you?" Trap Jaw asked but was ignored.
"The escapees are the rebels we've heard about; the BATTs, I believe they call themselves."
"Hunter. Explain yourself." Belos demanded of his nephew, visibly shocked by his actions. "Why have you gone against the Titan's will?"
"Uncle, Skeletor's manipulating you!" Hunter, the Golden Guard, protested. "He's lying about—"
"That can wait." Skeletor waved off Belos' concerns. "He probably knows where these little miscreants have gone to hide." The undead pointed at Hunter, and Evil-Lyn levitated the witchling closer to the smoke projection.
"You might as well save your breath, bonehead." Hunter snapped. "I'm not telling you anything." He defiantly smirked. "Except that, I didn't think you could get any uglier up close."
Skeletor leaned uncomfortably close to Hunter's face, grimacing. "Y'know, you remind me of my nephew; he's also scrawny, blonde, and equally annoying."
"There is something that may help us find where they are," Evil-Lyn said.
"Well, don't keep me waiting; what is it?"
"The boy used one of those little palismen native to this world to fight against us."
"You had a palisman with you all along?" Belos questioned Hunter, shocked and feeling betrayed.
"I'm sorry, Uncle." Hunter looked away from the disappointed emperor.
"Yes, I remember you telling me about them." Skeletor looked at Belos, then returned his attention to his Dark Masters. "What's so important about it?"
"He had it flee before we captured him. And I believe it knows where the others are."
Hunter struggled more, giving Evil-Lyn a deadly glare. "If you lay a finger on Flapjack, I swear I will—" Before he could finish his threat, Evil-Lyn covered his mouth with more of her dark magic.
Skeletor formed something resembling a smile, rubbing his hands together. "So, what did this little palisman look like?"
"A red bird missin' an eye." Trap Jaw answered. "Ya can't miss it."
Belos stroked his chin, appearing lost in thought. "Why does that description sound familiar." He said to himself. That description also sounded familiar to Willow and Gus; they met Flapjack, called Lil' Rascal by Luz, during Palisman Adoption Day.
"Bring the little turncoat back here," Skeletor ordered, pointing at the still-silenced Hunter. "I know exactly what to do with him." Hunter looked up at the undead with a bad feeling about how that sounded.
"Yes, Lord Skeletor." Both Evil-Lyn and Trap Jaw said together before the visage disappeared and continued through the forest.
"What are we gonna do?" Gus asked Willow. "None of this sounds good."
"I agree," Willow said. "Use your illusions to send a message to Luz, telling her everything we just saw."
"Then what?"
"Then we're going to try and rescue the Golden Guard."
Gus looked at Willow, questioning her sanity. "You can't be serious?"
"If the Golden Guard is willing to stand against Belos and this Skeletor, it must be for a reason. And we need to find it out."
"Alright. I'll follow your lead." The two teens carefully tailed Evil-Lyn and Trap Jaw back to the emperor's castle.
"My nephew is a traitor." Emperor Belos hissed. "He's associated with wild magic behind my back." He thought he would be perfect, the closest to him this time. But he came out wrong like the others.
"That's the problem with family, isn't it?" Skeletor began. "You can never truly rely on them. But enough wallowing; we must make our next move. Find that bird, and we find the rebels."
"I'll have my scouts keep an eye out for it while setting up the parade."
"I was thinking of having my own take care of it. Oh, Beastie!"
The Dark Master, known as Beast Man, ran to Skeletor on all fours, stopping a few inches short with snarls. "Skeletor needs Beast Man?" He asked, bowing.
"You have an important task, my furry friend; there is a little birdy that can tell us where our enemies are hiding. And I trust you to find it."
"What bird does Skeletor seek?"
"A red one missing an eye. I think you'll be able to find it with ease. And make it sing if you know what I mean."
"It shall be done." The feral Dark Master rose to his feet.
"And how will he be able to convince the palisman to give up such information?" Belos questioned Beast Man. "They are annoyingly loyal to their masters." His tone dripped with disdain for the pests.
"Beast Man can control animals." Beast Man answered with pride. "Beast Man can turn them evil."
"Oh, and before you go," Skeletor interrupted. "I think this would be an excellent opportunity to see what some of our newest associates are capable of."
"What do you mean?" Belos asked.
"You'll see soon enough." Skeletor aimed his Havoc Staff and fired a beam of energy from it, the green energy swirling around like a vortex until a portal formed. Belos did not know why the Titan would grant Skeletor access between the Boiling Isles and Eternia yet not aid them in traveling to other worlds. The will of his master remains a mystery.
Three tall shapes could be made out inside the portal as they began to cross into the realm. They arrived, only it was not three but two of Skeletor's warriors. One of the warriors was a prominent bi-pedal being with two heads and four arms and split down the middle with a teal-blue left side and dark purple right side. They wore barbarian-like armor with a skull emblem on their chest. Behind their backs were a pair of sheathed axes too large for a single person to carry but not for them.
"This one is a personal creation of mine." Skeletor referred to the warrior. "They were once Tuvar and Badrah, loyal guardsmen to the former king of Eternos. But now, they serve me! They have twice the power, twice the bad, but none of the good. You can say that they are Two-Bad." The undead waited for Belos and Beast Man to react to his play on words, but they just looked at each other, blinking with confusion. Skeletor slumped his shoulders and grimaced. "My humor is wasted on you people."
"We live to serve you, Lord Skeletor," Two-Bad's left head said. "Now and forever." Their right head added. The whole of the being kneeling before him.
"Yes, I know." Skeletor brushed them off.
"And the other one?" Belos questioned, pointing at the second warrior. A bipedal arachnid as tall as a man with blue skin standing on three-fingered hindlegs. They have two spider-like legs on their back, eight small eyes, and four black mandible fangs. Their carapace was armor-like, a possible sign of being part of their species' warrior caste.
"Ah, this one's an oddity." The undead tapped his fleshy and skeletal fingers together. "Beast Man found him near the Mystic Mountains when we tried to take King of Avion. We are currently in a stalemate; pesky birds don't know when to quit. But I digress. Long story short, if he knows what's good for his people, he will serve me without question."
The arachnid clicked its mandibles furiously. "What did he say?" Belos looked to Skeletor for an answer.
"No idea." The Titan's Messenger shrugged. "He can click and clack all he likes, but he won't try anything, not while the fate of his people is in my hands." He chuckled.
"If I may, Lord Skeletor. While I am confident your soldiers can handle such a menial task, I believe they would benefit from having… a guide of sorts."
Skeletor looked at the emperor, intrigued. "And you have someone in mind?"
"She has been listening for a while. You may come out now, Terra." Belos took a few steps back before the ground began to rumble, and vines sprouted out before the emperor and the Titan's Messenger. Instinctually, Skeletor pulled out his staff, pointing it at the vegetation. To protect their master, Beast Man drew his whip, Two-Bad readied their axes, and the arachnid looked ready to leap into battle.
A gigantic flytrap sprouted from the growth's center and opened its maw. On the "tongue" of the plant sat Terra Snapdragon, Emperor Belos's first follower. An elderly witch with wrinkled, ivory skin and long, green hair befitting for being Head of the Plant Coven. She wore her usual purple dress banded by yellow-green vines, two thorny bracelets and boots, and the red-and-yellow lily crown on her head. Her pale violet eyes fell on Skeletor as she pursed her dark green lips. The red dots in Skeletor's skull seemed to dilate upon seeing the Head Witch, and he lowered his staff.
"Terra, you know I prefer my privacy," Belos spoke. "Especially in matters regarding the Titan." He looked at Skeletor.
The flytrap lowered itself to the ground, and Terra stood from her seat, walking over to the rulers of their respective realms. "Forgive me, Emperor Belos." She bowed to the one true ruler of the Isles: the man responsible for her position of power. "But rumors of the Titan's Messenger have spread throughout the castle, especially considering the miracle he performed on you." Neither she nor the other Coven Heads knew what Belos looked like under his mask; only he wore it because Wild Magic scarred him. But hearing that the power of Havoc healed him… She looked to Skeletor. "I wished to see him for myself." She eyed the areas of his flesh that were well-toned for an undead. "And he is quite impressive."
"I was just about to say the same of you." Skeletor complimented her. "Your emperor told me about you, Lady Snapdragon. The Coven Head he trusts more than anyone." With his skeletal hand, Skeletor took Terra's and placed his non-existent lips on it. "But his words don't do you justice."
Terra pulled her hand back to rub her cheek, a faint blush appearing on her face. "Oh, stop."
"Since you were eavesdropping, I assume you know what I expect from you?" Belos questioned her.
"I do." Terra nodded. "We will find the palisman, and this…" She looked at Beast Man, who was currently picking his ear with his finger. He dug out a clump of wax, which he licked off, only to cough it up immediately after. She sneered with disgust. "... thing will convince it to lead us to Whispers and their band of rebels. If I know the Sprout, and I do, they probably hid with the Owl Lady."
"But that does not mean they will be at the Owl House. They are probably on the move as we speak."
"Then we best be on our way." With a twirl of her wrist, the vines placed her back in the maw of the flytrap. "Come along, Beastie." She looked at Beast Man. "Two-Bad." Then to Two-Bad. "And… whatever your name is." She turned to the arachnid, clicking with frustration. "We have a palisman to find. And some upstarts to turn into fertilizer."
"Oh, one more thing Terra," Belos spoke up, grabbing the plant witch's attention. "If you have to… silence a few people… please make sure you properly dispose of the bodies this time. And leave no witnesses, either."
"Yes, Emperor Belos." Terra extended her hand and sent three vines out, each ensnaring one of Skeletor's warriors and bringing them with the Plant Coven Head as she burrowed underground.
Now, it was only Skeletor, and Belos left in the room. The former turned to the latter, breaking the silence with, "I like her."
All of Bonesborough was preparing for the annual Coven Day Parade. Starting from the Boiling Isles' capital, it will be held over different towns, beginning at sundown. During the event, floats from other covens will roll down the street, and residents will come out to celebrate. But amidst all this, Flapjack, affectionately named Lil' Rascal by Hunter and Luz, was flying all over the place to reach the Owl House. Despite Hunter having asked what the cardinal's real name was after the battle at Eclipse Lake, he kept that hidden from the boy. He did not want to get too attached out of fear of losing him like Caleb, but now, he may never get the chance to.
Flapjack tried to push that thought into the back of their tiny head. Hunter was alive. They know it. They will be reunited once the BATTs regroup and stop Emperor Belos and the so-called Messenger of the Titan. But the palisman had to ensure he would survive the flight to the Owl House. He, admittedly, did not know where it was; he only visited it once, and that is when he snuck into Luz's bag. He was so small, and everything around him was so big.
He almost flew into an angry-looking demon that swatted at him with the intent to kill him. He nearly got flattened into a real flapjack by a runaway carriage. That was not even mentioning a three-eyed girl with pink hair that decided to try and use him for target practice. It was the witch Maya had chosen to be her partner, but the crab palisman must not have recognized it was him. He needed a break from flying and perched himself on top of a house, taking in the sight of Bonesborough and recollecting better days.
Suddenly, the cardinal's attention was drawn to a sound. One that tried to be like a roar but came out as a meow. Soon, a manticore palisman flew up to join Flapjack and recognized him. It was Manny, who was there for Palisman Adoption Day. Manny hugged Flapjack with his paws, and the cardinal returned one with his wings. The manticore communicated that he thought he saw him fly down the alley and had to see for himself, leaving his master behind. Then he asked what he was doing here.
"Manny, where'd you go!" A girl's voice interrupted Flapjack before he could begin. He recognized her from Palisman Adoption Day, as well. A brown-haired girl with a messy bun, green eyes, and wearing a Hexside student uniform with Beast Keeper's orange sleeves and Healer's blue leggings. She also had a fishhook stuck in her ear. She was riding on the back of a juvenile griffon, taking to the sky. "Manny! Come to mama!"
Manny let out a whimper of disappointment as he bid farewell to his friend, but this is when Flapjack got the idea. He told the manticore of his situation through a series of frantic chirps, leaving out some details like Hunter being the Golden Guard, and reasoned that Viney could help him.
The manticore and cardinal flew to Viney together. "Man—" Manny meowed, grabbing Viney's attention. "There you are!" The girl's face lit up as she hugged her beloved palisman, warming Flapjack that he had found someone who cared for him so much. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, okay?" Manny apologized and communicated to Viney what Flapjack had said to him. This was when Viney noticed the cardinal. "Hey, I remember you. You're the one Luz called Lil' Rascal." She held out her index finger, and Flapjack perched on it. "What're you doing here?"
Flapjack chirped, and Manny translated for him. "You're owner's in trouble?" She repeated. Flapjack tweeted with confirmation. "You need to find the Owl Lady? Sorry, I don't know where she lives. But Luz does." Flapjack tweeted more, as did Manny's meowing. "I saw her flying with Amity and some blonde kid. It looks like they were heading to Blight Manor." Flapjack tweeted urgently; Manny was barely keeping up. "Okay, calm down. Any friend of Luz's is a friend of mine. We'll find them." The cardinal flew onto Viney's shoulder, nuzzling against her cheek. "Don't need a translation for that. You're welcome, you Lil' Rascal." Viney gently tugged on her griffon's feathers. "Alright, Puddles, it looks like we're heading to Blight Manor." The griffon screeched and flew off to get Flapjack the help he needed.
I hope you all enjoyed the fourth chapter and are looking forward to the next one, where Luz and Amity will finally meet "The Most Powerful Man in the Universe." Also, Skeletor and Terra Snapdragon were a pairing I did not expect to happen. I think SkeleTerra can officially be added to my list of strange ships. I will try to update faster, but please understand that I do not have a writing schedule and must focus on my responsibilities. Thank you for reading and understanding. Also, I'm going to attempt to realign the story with both shows' canons, even though it has already diverged.
Feedback is appreciated: Please favorite, follow, and leave a review.