Hours later and Luz, Willow, Gus and Amity were trying to find a way to tell Maxwell about the events from last time grom took place. They ether kept getting interrupted or they kept getting busy. Their worries only grew worse for Maxwell as they knew that he would be afraid or he would possibly have an emotional breakdown if he were to learn about what he didn't know about grom.
Both Luz, Willow, Gus and Amity found Maxwell in the gym where there were kids and teachers setting up the party, getting ready for the fun and putting up more decorations for the event of grom.
"Very good. Lower the streamers, fill the punch bowl, and- how's my disco ball?" said Principle Bump overseeing everything.
The disco ball was looking like the shell of the Snaggleback which it had larger blue spikes on his shell when they looked wider but they looked like they were bedazzled to look like it would shine and glimmer like glitter. The Snaggleback wasn't looking all too amused by his position.
"Nauseous." answered the Snaggleback looking unpleasant.
"Great. Just keep it up for 36 more hours.." instructed Principle Bump.
"That's not going to happen!" came Maxwell's voice sharply.
The principle turned to see Maxwell coming over and formed his hand into what looked like he formed to make it look like a gun. He placed his thumb down and a nail from his fingernail shot out like a bullet, it shot out to cut the cord that the cord like rope snapped, causing the Snaggleback to fall but Maxwell was quick on his feet as he ran towards him, snapped his fingers and metal gloves formed on his hands. He caught the Snaggleback in his hands and the male pink monkey was now sitting right side up, facing Maxwell with a mix of confusion and relief.
"That feels better." said the Snaggleback relieved.
"Maxwell, that's our disco ball." stated Principle Bump.
"Torturing an animal or using them as your cruel source of entertainment isn't going to happen. You want to use our furry little friend here for anything, let him be one of the DJs." argued Maxwell.
The Snaggleback looked up at Maxwell and could see he was really strong and he smiled as he felt like someone was standing up for him. He hugged Maxwell as if relieved to of had a bully problem solved. Principle Bump wasn't liking this one bit.
"But we've already employed him as a disco ball." argued Principle Bump.
"Than you'll employ him as one of your DJs. This conversation is over." said Maxwell walking off.
"But." Principle Bump replied.
Maxwell stopped and turned to give Principle Bump a very stern look which even left him wide eyed.
"You want the animal rights activists coming to have a field day here and know that your using an innocent creature as part of your party decorations which makes him feel sick and feel like he's suffering? Than you'll be in violation of one of the animal rights acts and you'll be in hot water with authority and those who get in trouble for that often ether face doing time or paying a fine that no one can afford. You really don't want that." said Maxwell warning him.
As the principle was about to open his mouth to speak and argue, no word and no sound came out. The thought of losing his job, paying a fine for something he can't afford to pay or the possibility of him being in trouble with the law or animal rights activists left him feeling a bit fearful but ultimately relented.
"I guess we can employ him as one of our DJs." Principle Bump relented. "But what will we use for a disco ball?"
Maxwell snapped one of his fingers, mumbled a few strange words and a silver cloud like ball floated its way towards the rope and once it touched it, the rope turned into steel like rope and a disco ball formed at the end of the cord. Principle Bump looked at it and saw it was meeting party standards.
"Problem solved." said Principle Bump surprised.
The principle left the gym and walked out the door. He knew Maxwell was right but the warning and the look he gave the principle was something that Principle Bump knew was not a good idea to argue with him. Maxwell saw one of the nearby DJs and walked over to him, handing the Snaggleback to him along with the metal gloves he could use. He instructed the DJ to show the little pink monkey demon on how to do the job which he accepted but he also warned him to not let anything bad happen to the monkey demon and that he should be nice to him. The DJ understood and began to teach the Snaggleback how to do the job as a co-DJ.
"No one's putting any innocent creatures through hell while I'm around." said Maxwell feeling proud.
"Hey Maxie!" called Luz.
He turned to see his friends near the entrance of the gym as he walked over to them.
"How long have you guys been standing there?" asked Maxwell.
"For one, we saw everything from that's not going to happen." said replied Gus. "You grilling Principle Bump was so cool."
"I didn't like getting tough with him but using an animal as a disco ball when he clearly didn't like the job as part of a parties entertainment. I didn't like that. If the animal rights activists saw that, they'd be all over Principle Bump about it like ants at a picnic." Maxwell explained showing some remorse.
Luz was showing to be adoring such words and his actions when she saw that Maxwell did that for the Snaggleback. But she did have to let out a breath in order to try and get serious.
"Maxie, there's something you need to know about grom that you don't know about." said Luz feeling her guilt returning.
"What about it? Is it your first dance here too?" guessed Maxwell.
They paused. Maxwell just admitted that this would be his first dance at a social event. They knew this wasn't going to be easy to tell him.
"Actually, we've been to grom before it looks like they're trying again because...well...there's a reason." said Willow looking hesitant.
"Looks like they're trying to make up for a problem. But other than that, this will be my first dance." said Maxwell.
"You never been to a dance before?" said Amity subtly surprised.
Maxwell blushed at admitting it as he knew they didn't know about this part of his life.
"Well, we almost had a dance at my old school but it got cancelled due to a disaster." Maxwell sadly admitted.
"What happened?" asked Gus curiously.
"Apparently, part of the school had a termite infestation, we don't know how it happened or who or what caused it. But the day before the dance, parts of the school and the place we were to have the dance at fell apart, literally. The damages were extreme that the dance got cancelled because there was no way to repair the damages in time for the dance, there was no other place to host the dance at and the school had to be cancelled for a week or two in order for them to get rid of the termite infestation. We heard a few construction workers had parts of the ceiling fall on their heads, good thing they wore their hard hats." explained Maxwell feeling some shame in admitting it. "So technically, this will be my first dance that actually happens. But..."
"But what?" asked Luz.
Maxwell paused and blushed deeper.
"I sort of wonder how I'm going to ask Eda to..." paused Maxwell.
His heart raced from the feelings he had about Eda but this time, it was intensified by the prospect of asking Eda to dance or become his grom date.
"Wait." said Gus.
"You want to ask Eda to be your grom date and ask her to dance, do you." Luz guessed the truth.
He let out a loud hiccup, blushed deeper than before and nodded. They sensed that Maxwell really wanted to ask Eda out to the dance and actually dance with her, but Luz immediately knew it from the second Maxwell mentioned his desire to ask Eda to dance with him.
"So you want to ask Eda to be your date to grom and hope that you can dance with her?" guessed Willow.
Maxwell nodded again and was silent the whole time about it. The rest of them caught on really fast.
"Do you really think Eda would be my date and dance with me?" asked Maxwell nervously.
"With how you're doing so much for her and how...romantically involved you two are. You know that she'd say yes if you ask her." said Luz attempting to reassure him.
Maxwell felt some of Luz's reassurance sinking into him as he felt some of his nervous fear fading.
"Well, if you are able to...enchant her to dance with you. Lets hope you survive the battle with grom." Gus blurted out.
Willow looked at Gus with a disapproving look as if he blurted out what they were about to talk about without breaking it to him gently. Maxwell was now confused.
"What battle?" asked Maxwell curiously.
Luz sighed with disappointment. She really didn't want to upset Maxwell since this was going to be his first dance and that he wanted to go to grom with Eda. She knew that they had to tell him and there was no beating around the bush.
"Maxie, there's something about grom you don't know that we wanted to tell you. When you became the grom king, well, we wanted to tell you but you seemed so happy and full of hope, we didn't want to crush it." said Willow showing guilt.
Maxwell felt a bit of worry but also knew that if they were to tell him bad news, he sensed they really didn't want to ruin his positive disposition he was feeling. His expression turned to stoicism.
"So what's the bad news?" asked Maxwell.
"Maxwell, this isn't just a dance party. Grom, short for Grometheus, the fear-bringer. It's a monster that lives under the school." Amity finally said.
Amity traced a purple circle in the air and it showed what looked like a tapestry of Grom's backstory. The tapestry was showing him the backstory as Amity explained everything. It was like watching a documentary about the mentioned creature.
"Every year it tries to break out, and a student has to defeat it before it invades the town. Ever the optimist, Bump holds a party and calls it tradition." explained Amity.
The tapestry disappeared and the purple circle disappeared. They showed expressions of grief and guilt.
"The worst thing is that Grom can read minds and shape-shift into your worst fear. The last time we had this event happening, I was grom queen but Luz took my place, she battled against Grom, but it also turned into her worst fear. She ran from it out of fear, but me, Willow, Gus, Eda and even King came to help her, I revealed my worst fear to Luz and she was understanding of it." Amity continued. "We wanted to tell you before it got too late but...I'm afraid it already is too late."
They looked at Maxwell. The young boy was now feeling his heart race with fear. They didn't know his worst fear but his worst fear was something he was hoping no one would have to endure, he wouldn't wish it on anyone, not even his worst enemies. His emotionless expression changed and was starting to show a tinge of shock. Maxwell didn't say a word but they knew he had to say something.
"Maxie." said Gus.
Maxwell was silent and didn't respond. This started to worry them.
"Maxie? You alright?" asked Willow looking worried.
Maxwell still didn't respond. It was like they were staring at a statue that wasn't alive like a statue in the human world.
"Maxie, say something." said Luz worried.
"Where's Principle Bump?" Maxwell finally spoke.
"We don't know." answered Amity.
"Where is he. I want to talk to him, now." said Maxwell showing a tone of strictness in his voice. "I got a message for him."
"Does anyone know where there other co-DJ went to?" came Principle Bump's voice.
They all turned and saw that Principle Bump entering the gym.
"Principle Bump, front and center, now." Maxwell commanded.
"But..." Principle Bump began.
"NOW!" shouted Maxwell in a deep, demonic voice.
Principle Bump was wide eyed, he didn't move. He also didn't know what was going on or what Maxwell wanted.
"Luz, I want you and the rest of you to tell this to Principle Fat Rump." said Maxwell looking hostile.
Maxwell whispered something to them and when he told them what message he wanted them to tell Principle Bump, they gasped, mouths falling open in shock and Maxwell walked over to Principle Bump with his mouth being in a tight, thin line. Principle Bump was now nervous as he saw that Maxwell looked mad but he had no idea what he was mad about.
"You wanted to see me?" said Principle Bump.
"Two things I will say to you now, one, I got a message for you that my friends will tell you." said Maxwell popping his neck.
The principle looked at Luz and her friends and he saw the look of worried shock on their faces, than he looked back at Maxwell who was giving him an angry expression. This almost had the male adult hesitant to say more.
"What's the other thing you're going to tell me?" asked Principle Bump feeling nervous.
What happened next was something no one expected Maxwell to do and he was angry at Principle Bump. Maxwell showed what the next thing he was going to tell the principle and it wasn't expressed in words. Maxwell shed a tear out of his left eye and he raised his leg up and in one swift swing, he kicked Principle Bump hard in his crotch area with his foot, causing the principle to groan loudly in pain, his legs crossing, hands grabbing hold of his crotch and he fell to the floor, groaning in pain and hanging onto his lower body that got kicked.
This left the kids shocked even more, they saw Maxwell run out of the gym and possibly run out of the school towards home. Luz, Willow, Gus and Amity ran over to Principle Bump who was slowly recovering.
"Ow! What was that for!" groaned Principle Bump in pain.
"Principle Bump, Maxie just found out what this Grom is really about when we explained everything to him about it and I think he's upset." explained Gus.
"What's he taking it out on me for? Ow, right in the...lower regions." groaned Principle Bump.
"When we told him about Grom and why we have the dance and why we have Grom king or queen and when we mentioned you holding this party every year as tradition. Well." Amity paused.
He looked at the kids and managed to sit up and lean his back against the wall. He started to understand why Maxwell kicked him in a place no one should be kicked.
"But what message did he say he told you to tell me?" asked Principle Bump.
The kids went silent, blushed and shook their heads. Principle Bump knew that what ever it was that Maxwell told them to tell the principle wasn't a good thing.
"What did he say?" asked Principle Bump trying to catch his breath.
Amity walked over to him closer and placed her face near his.
"Just so you know, what he said is just his anger talking." warmed Amity.
Amity whispered what Maxwell told them to tell Principle Bump and once she whispered it to the principle, that's when they saw the look on Principle Bump's face turned to wide eyed shock, his mouth fell open and he looked at the kids who were now blushing deeper than ever and looking guilty.
"You mean he told me to." he began.
"I did warn you." Amity reminded.
"Yes, but I didn't know he knew such nasty words. Grandparents are not allowed to use those words." said Principle Bump surprised. "But why didn't he tell me if he didn't want to be Grom king or."
"This is his first dance, and what he was expecting was a fun time with his friends and those he loves. His past was..." Luz paused. "Well, lets just say Maxie's past wasn't good and we've been trying to keep him away from anything that would have him relive his past. So since he's going through this once he learned the truth about Grom, now he's just boiling mad and probably disappointed."
Principle Bump caught his breath but the pain in his crotch was still stinging pretty hard. He at first was thinking this was probably a guilt trip or an attempt for someone to get special treatment.
"But almost all students are like that. I can't just give some students special treatment just because they had a rough upbringing." said Principle Bump being dismissive.
"We're not asking you to give him special treatment. We're asking you to try and be more sensitive with him and try to understand." said Gus trying to inject some compassion in the principle.
"You see, Maxie has been..." paused Luz at first. "Well, where Maxie used to live. It's not safe for him anymore. That's why he's living with Eda, King and me. But that's all I'm saying."
Principle Bump was about to say something to them but no words came out of his mouth, no sound, nothing. He was about to raise his hand but than he lowered it down. He let out a sigh.
"Luz, this will sound cowardly of me but since he trusts you, your friends and Eda more. One, I won't punish him for kicking me in the...you know, that'll be like letting him off with a warning. And two, talk to him, Just go talk to him. I already know I can't talk to him about this since he's really irate with me." said Principle Bump now groaning in pain. "And the pain in my crotch just came back."
"Okay, but we can't promise that Maxie won't kick you there again if he gets mad at you again. So you might want to wear an athletic cup." Luz advised.
"I'm in huge trouble with Eda, am I?" guessed Principle Bump.
"If anything happens to sweet Maxie, you might want to run." warned Luz.
Principle Bump braved the attempt to get up and when he did get up on his feet, he groaned in pain from his crotch once more.
"Ow! Still hurts, burning, stings, oh mama." said Principle Bump in a pained tone. "Nurse!"
Luz, Willow, Gus and Amity left the gym as they made their way to The Owl House, knowing that Maxwell went there. They knew that Maxwell was upset, angry and afraid at the same time as they also felt guilty about the position Maxwell is now in.
"What do we tell Eda?" asked Willow.
"We'll break it to her gently and hopefully, she'll know what to do." replied Luz. "I hope."