The group walked back to Hexside in almost silence but it was a comfortable silence since they were all in high spirits because they had a way to defeat the Collector and turn everyone back! Belos was still a thought in their mind but they were all confident they could still stop him even if he possessed the Collector.
"So, Hexside was turned into a safe haven after all this happened?" Hunter asked Mattholomule.
"Sort of. I wouldn't exactly call it "safe haven." Well... it's safe at least." Mattholomule said delicately.
Barcus snorted a bit, trying to make it seem like a sarcastic remark.
"It is safe, Barcus." Mattholomule said to him.
"What's going on at Hexside?" Luz asked, making them turn to her. "In fact, what exactly happened here on the Day of Unity?"
"It was chaotic. Everything was shaking and the skies turned rainbow colored. Everyone ran outside to see the cause, only to be meet by those spies of the Collector." Skara said, recalling that day.
"The teachers fought back but they were puppetized and taken. Boscha tried to rally the grudgby team to fight but you can guess how that ended." Amelia said, shivering a bit. "As puppets, we're sentient while we're like that. It's like being in a vegetative state where you we can do is think. And trust me, after being like that for who knows how long, because no one answered my question about what day it is yet, the fact that I'm even mentally stable is a miracle."
"And if you're mentally stable, that means everyone else is too. They're all just waiting to be freed." Amity said.
"Yep and I bet they'll want to throw you guys a parade for finding a cure after all this." Amelia said as she turned to Luz. "If you didn't drop that light glyph, I'd still be wood."
"You're welcome and I'll be glad to share the good fortune." Luz said as she was busy drawing more light glyphs with her mom.
Suddenly, Skara stopped everyone in the forest as the Collector's spies flew above. The group hid until it was clear.
"Coast is clear." Skara said.
"Phew." Gus let out, not wanting to be turned by one of those things.
They kept walking, making it back to Hexside pretty easily.
"We've done some redecorating these last few months." Skara said.
"Months?" Amelia asked, now realizing how long it's been since she became a puppet.
"So welcome to." Skara continued, opening the doors, "New Hexside."
The halls were dark but well lit by candles as several other students were minding their own business. Either playing or taking care of their friends. All still wearing their school uniforms as they have wear and tear on them.
"Wow, this place is... different." Luz said, looking around the halls.
"Yeah….no adults were left around so we have to improvise. The older students do their best but it can only go so far." Mattholomule said, leading the group through the halls. "We all agreed to stay together to survive but the school is basically divided as well."
"Don't even get me started on the kindergartners." Skara said quickly to Amelia.
Right as she said that, a bunch of Kindergarteners ran by, holding weapons. They elected to ignore that and went to the main area.
"And this is the statue of Principal Bump, who gave his life for ours." Mattholomule said.
"He's not dead." Amelia said to him. "He's just being held by the Collector."
They ignored her... again, and saluted the statue while crying.
'What am I, a background character in a Children's show?' Amelia thought, getting tired of not getting any responses.
The group stayed at the statue for a few more moments, seeing it was Principal Bump like a skater.
"This is NOT how I would want to remember Principal Bump." Luz whispered to Amity.
"Me either." Amity whispered back.
"When did they even make this?" Hunter whispered to Gus and Willow.
"I don't know, and I don't want to know." Willow whispered back.
Suddenly, other students noticed them.
"Hey, its Luz!" One student said.
"Where'd you guys go?" Another student asked.
"How'd you free Amelia?" A third student asked.
"Willow!" Viney said, walking up to them.?lYour Orchids have gained sentience and have started a war with a rival gang of kindergarteners... please help!"
"Ehehehehe, okay? Hunter, mind joining me?" Willow asked him.
"Oh! Sure." Hunter said, nodding to Willow.
The two went to the plant room, while Amity had someone come up to her.
"Amity?"
Amity turned around and saw Edric, with his arm in a cast and several scars.
"Edric!?" Amity asked, as she gave him a hug. "Oh, my Titan, I'm so happy to see you! W-w-where's Emira and Dad?"
Edric gave Amity a sad look, which made Amity take a step back.
"No... no!" Amity said, figuring out the answer. "Don't tell me they were turned to Puppets!"
"While I can't speak for dad... Emira sacrificed herself to protect me." Edric said, looking sad. "It's... a long story."
Amity shook in place, the news of this shocking her to her core yet she was still relieved. Her brother was at least okay and her father might've avoided capture. It was at least enough for her to hug him again to calm herself down.
'Emira, we'll save you. I promise.' Amity thought, making a personal vow to save a light glyph especially for her.
Edric used his good arm to pat Amity on the back, further helping her calm down.
"I've got you, Mittens. I got you." Edric said softly.
Amity started crying, and Edric put his hand on her cheek.
"Hey, look at me, we'll get them back. Just remember, they may not be here right now, but they aren't dead, they're just being used as toys. We can get them back... you'll get them back... Amity, you're the strongest girl I know, you've been being pushed around by everything in the world, and you've always managed to push back much more. This won't stop you, nothing stops you." Edric said, giving Amity a hopeful look.
Amity hugged Edric again. She was surprised by his newfound maturity, but guess it was because of him having no one else.
"Thank you, Ed. I needed that." Amity said.
Edric gave Amity's forehead a kiss and held her close.
"You're my baby sister." Edric said, smiling at Amity. "There's nothing I won't do for you. I love you, Mittens, never forget that."
"HehHehehe, right." Amity said, wiping away her tears.
'Guess Edric's being on his own was somewhat of a good thing.' Amity thought.
Edric let go of Amity as Luz walked over to Mattholomule.
"Hey, Mattholomule." Luz said to him.
"It's just "Matt." Tholomule is my last name." He said to her.
"Okay. Anyway, can you take me to whoever is in charge? The leader of Hexside." Luz said to him.
His face got an annoyed look very quickly.
"Ugh, you want to talk with her of all people?" Matt asked her.
"Depends on who exactly "her" is?" Luz asked, raising a brow.
"Pink skin, pink hair, and three annoying eyes." Matt said with a bland face.
"Pink, pink, and three eyes? Oh no." Luz said, groaning as she facepalmed.
'Okay, you're a Titan, you can just Weh her if she annoys you.' Luz thought.
"Come on, the president is this way." Matt said, leading Luz down the hall to the gym.
"President Boscha? Oh god." Luz said with a frown.
"Mind if I tag along?" Amelia asked.
"Sure." Luz said, turning to Amelia. "Honestly, I think I'm going to need you."
They walked to the gym and Luz stopped Amelia.
"You wait out here, I'll give you a signal to come in." Luz said, looking to the gym doors. "If Boscha doesn't listen to me at first, then she'll listen to you."
"That's most likely true." Amelia said with a nod, leaning against the side wall. "I'll enter on cue."
Luz nodded before she turned to Matt.
"Alright, let's go in." She said.
Matt nodded to Luz as he opened the doors, revealing the gym had been turned into a pseudo throne room with Boscha sitting in the center and two "guards" at her sides.
"What do you want Matt?" Boscha asked, before seeing Luz. "Oh, great, you're here. As of there weren't enough problems."
"Nice to see you too, Boscha." Luz said, sarcastic as she crossed her arms. "I thought you'd at least be happy to see someone you know alive and well."
"I was completely fine thinking you were dead and out of the way." Boscha said, glaring at Luz. "Everything began to go to shit when you showed up on the Isles!"
"How exactly? Because I helped Willow find her confidence? I gave Gus a real human friend to answer his questions? I helped Amity breakaway from her mother's heel and become a better person? Or that I helped Hexside evolve so students can study whatever and how many tracks they want?" Luz said, listing several good things she has done.
"You hypnotized Amity and took one of my best friends away from me!" Boscha shouted at Luz.
"Okay, so MAYBE that was a bad thing but I can make up for it." Luz said with a smile.
"How?!" Boscha asked.
"Like how about I give you back one of your best friends?" Luz asked, motioning for Amelia.
Hearing this, Amelia walked into the gym and smiled at Boscha.
"Hey, B. Miss me?" Amelia asked.
Boscha herself couldn't say anything as she gapped in shock, staring at Amelia with all three of her eyes.
"I'm sure you're just a bit tense, which is why you got mad at the person that saved me." Amelia said, gesturing to Luz. "Which is why I'm sure you'll apologize."
"Person? Save? You?" Boscha said in shock, turning to Luz.
"Yep. Seems we found a way to undo the puppet transformation and turn people back to normal but if you DON'T want to know how, I understand." Luz said, turning to leave.
"No, wait! I'm sorry!" Boscha said, standing up.
'Oh, you fucking better be.' Luz thought.
Luz turned around, giving Boscha a smirk as the triclops slowly walked towards Amelia. Checking to see if she was actually real and not an illusion or hallucination, so when she was neither Boscha was near tears as she hugged Amelia.
The former puppet didn't hesitate to hug back, missing the feeling of witch interaction.
Though it was clear Amelia wanted to say something.
'I need to tell her, but I need her to calm down first.' Amelia thought, 'Maybe after Luz tells Boscha about her plan.'
"Um, President?" The shorter "guard" said, walking towards them.
"Quiet you. This is important." Boscha said, still hugging, Amelia.
The small… thing… looked annoyed as she grit her teeth.
"But Ms. President, shouldn't you focus on more important tasks?" She asked.
"This IS important." Boscha said, repeating herself.
"More important than the order of the safe haven?" The small guard asked.
"No offense but it's a pile of shit and I just got here." Luz said to her.
"Not my exact words, but Luz is kind of right." Amelia said as Boscha looked up to her. "It's chaos in here."
"I know, I know. I... haven't been myself since... you and Cat... left." Boscha said, looking a bit shameful. "It took its roll more than I thought."
"Yeah, I remember…….I hated that day as much as you did." Amelia said, shivering at the memory. "Being turned into a life sized toy, it was a living nightmare."
"I can't even imagine what you must've been through." Boscha said to her.
"The worst part is being fully aware of everything." Amelia said, holding her arms. "Not being able to move, talk, eat, drink, anything. The only thing I could do, was talk to myself in my mind. I've... had a lot to think about."
Amelia rubbed her arm and looked away from Boscha. Amelia was trying to gain the courage to tell Boscha what she wanted to, but it was difficult. Thankfully, she wouldn't have to... because Miki made a spell circle and blasted Luz, sending her out the door of the gym.
"I've played this game long enough, it's time I become the leader now!" Miki said, removing the wig.
Her true self was none other than Kikimora, former high ranking member of the Emperor's Coven before being demoted and betrayed by Belos.
And she wasn't going to let Luz mess with her anymore. She removed the cloth from the Roka, revealing the Abomination battle armor that Odalia made her.
"Hey, stop-"
Boscha was backhanded and knocked across the room by the robot.
"Boscha!" Amelia said, before she was grabbed by the robot and thrown into the wall.
A stream of blood ran down her mouth. Out of the gym, Luz picked herself up.
"If I wasn't a Titan that would've hurt." Luz mumbled, before she was blasted by the robot's canon.
"I'm going to enjoy this Human." Kikimora said, smiling.
'I have to get out of here, before she ends up killing one of the students.' Luz thought.
Getting up and ignoring the pain as her body slowly heals, Luz took off down an empty hallway as Kikimora gave chase in her robot suit!
"Come and get me, shorty! Let's see if you can back up those words!" Luz shouted at her.
"Gladly!" Kikimora shouted, preparing another blast.
'Okay, best case scenario, I beat her with nothing bad happening, worst case, both of us get caught and become puppets.' Luz thought as she dodged the blast.
If only she knew... that wasn't the worst outcome.