During the night Toby whimpered quietly while tossing, and turning in the big, soft bed of Prim's. He couldn't get those cruel words of Layla's out of his head. He curled up tightly in a ball with his legs curled up in his stomach, his knees meeting his chest, and covered his head with his arms, and hands. He started to tremble like a leaf underneath the bed covers.
While trying his best to sleep, Toby began to dream, but found himself in a place void of any light or sound. A shiver ran down his spine as he stood up looking to see if he could see, or hear anything, but was unable to. "Wh-where am I?" He whispered softly to himself out of fear. As he looked around the space of blackness he could see it start to ripple all around him, and he closed his eyes afraid what may happen.
Carefully he opened his eyes as he looked to see that he's out side of Sugar Snacks. 'This is where Auntie Maia works, but why am I here?' He thought to himself as he carefully walked up to the steps where he could hear a couple of voices through the door. He quietly stood at the side to see if he could tell what they were saying.
"Maia, we knew that boy was trouble when he first set foot in here." Pinkie Pie's voice was the first to speak. "Don't go blaming yourself, you were only trying to cheer the little cutie up, and this is how he repays you."
"Yeah Maia, try to calm down." Sunset Shimmer was next to speak. "I know, how about myself, and Pinkie go fix you something to eat, will that cheer you up?"
Toby frowned as he could hear Maia lightly sob. "Thank you *sniff* Pinkie and Sunset I would really like that a lot."
"Alright Maia, we will fix you something good, just forget about that bad little boy." Pinkie told Maia as she, and Sunset went into the kitchen.
Feeling concerned for Maia Toby lightly knocked on the door.
Maia wiped at her eyes with a hand and turned to walk the door. "Coming." She spoke with her joyful tone, but Toby could sense something was wrong. She opened the door, and looked down. "Oh, it's you." She said sternly. "What are you doing here?"
Toby shook at her tone, and asked worriedly. "A-Auntie Maia, wh-what's wrong?" He looked up to see that her eyes were red and puffy.
She glared down at him with her brows furrowed in anger. "Auntie Maia? AUNTIE MAIA!? How dare you call me Auntie Maia after the way you lied to me, and everybody else!" She yelled down at the little boy causing him to tremble.
"Wh-wh-what do you mean A-Auntie Maia?" He asked nervously as he took two little steps back.
Maia stomped her foot in front of him causing him to jump, and fall down on his rear. She stood over him leaning her head down to him. "STOP CALLING ME THAT YOU LITTLE LIAR!" She looked at him with pure disgust.
"After all me, and my friends have done for you to make you feel welcomed in East Liverpool, you repay us by lying to us?! Celestine told us about how humans mistreat others, especially children." Toby just curled up trembling with tears in his eyes as Maia stepped forward with a foot on each side of him. "Some of the children live in the past, are taken to labor camps, and are used to work for the scums of society like yourself, building statues until they drop over and over. I thought everyone cared about workers, but not the people where you live. They arms and legs are broke until they cannot continue, and their bodies scarred from the whips from heartless people."
Toby tried to speak. "B-b-but A-Auntie P-Prim, I..."
"I SAID STOP CALLING ME THAT! I AM NOT YOUR AUNTIE, AND I WOULD NEVER BE ONE TO SUCH A LITTLE CREATURE LIKE YOURSELF!" Her voice got louder which scared Toby to cover himself in with his arms and curled up tighter under legs. "NOW GET OUT OF HERE, OR I WILL SLICE YOU OUT OF HERE WITH MY SWORDS!"
Toby sobbed, and quickly crawled out from underneath Maia, and down the porch of Sugar Snacks. He was, so afraid to stand up that he crawled on his hands, and knees until he bumped into something. He looked up to see a long white sock. He slowly looked up into the brown eyes of Kaguya.
"O-o-oh A-Auntie K-Kaguya." He hugged at her leg. "A-Auntie Maia is.." He felt Kaguya kick him off with great strength that he started to roll backwards until he crashed against Maia's legs. He looked up trembling, and tried to stand up, but Maia held him down with her hands.
"Auntie Kaguya? Sorry child, I won't ever want to be an auntie to such a weakling like you." She said down with an evil smirk.
"B-b-but A-Auntie Kaguya, i-it's me T-Toby." He looked up at her with wide, and fearful eyes.
"I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT YOU ARE NOTHING TO, BUT A LIAR!" Her voice got as loud as Maia as she glared down at him with Maia holding him in place. She walked slowly up to the two, and lowered her head down to look into his eyes with her brows furrowed with the same angry look as Maia.
"Here we are trying to show you a good time with Maia giving you a ride up to take a glance of the clouds, and I show you a few tricks, and you repay me by thinking of me as a fool! I know how the people who are fast where you live are treated." She glanced up at Maia for her to let go of Toby, and her placed her hand on his small chest pushing him to the ground.
"OW! Hu. hu.. A-Auntie Kaguya, p-p-please.."
"BE QUIET!" She added a little bit more pressure on his chest, which he whimpered. "You people like to force animals to show their speed off by running around in circles, and racing to see which one can beat the other. Now, my dragon loves to race, but I don't have to carry anybody on my dragon's back to do it. Those animal where you live have to run with you riding on their back, and are pushed to the limit where they stumble, and fall at times." She lowered her head down to him with her hot breath against his face. "Never will I give you a ride on Yusha again you little monster, and be made a fool of."
Toby trembled under Kaguya's hand as she looked down at him with an evil grin. "I'll tell you what. Since people like to race animals, how about you, and me have a race. From here to the Apple Farm. If you beat me, I will be forgiving, and let you ride on me when you want to. But if I win, you have to let me ride on your back as you run around East Liverpool." She lifted her hand up his chest. "NOW GET YOUR BUTT UP AND LET'S RACE!"
"Hey, hey Kaguya can I race him too? We can both race him?" She looked at Kaguya with an evil grin as Toby coughed as he slowly stood up. Kaguya nodded and Maia. "YES! Tell you what you little punk, if you beath both of us, we will be nice to you, and I will even bake a delicious chocolate cake. But if I win, I get to ride on your back as you walk around in circles." She looked down at him evilly as he poked his nose with her finger. "OK, I'm ready." Kaguya, and Maia stood on each side of Toby.
Toby trembled as he stood up looking up at the two intimidating Warriors. Kaguya looked over at Maia. "You know what Maia, I think we should give the little runt a huge head start, since he is such a weakling." Maia nodded in agreement. Kaguya placed a hand on the frightened boy's back, and shoved him. "Get going runt, we don't have all day!"
Toby swallowed nervously at Kaguya's tone, and began running toward the Apple Farm. 'Why are they doing this?' He thought to himself as tears started to pour from his eyes. He was running along the dirt path toward the Apple Farm trying to calm his tears, but was unsuccessful.
As he approached the farm he saw a barn, and decided to run into it. He reached it and ran inside to hide. 'Please don't find me.' he thought to himself. He could hear their voices nearing.
"Where did that little runt run off to? Did you see him Maia?" Kaguya asked frustrated in not able to find the little boy.
"Nope, sorry Kaguya. That little liar must have hid somewhere. Don't worry though, we will find him." Maia said evilly, and giggled.
Toby trembled as he started backing away from the door until he bumped into something. He tilted his head back to look into the purple eyes Alicia. "O-oh A-Auntie Alicia, p-p-please help me. A-Auntie Maia and A-Auntie Kaguya are trying to... auh." Alicia shoved the little boy backwards making him land on his rear.
"Shut up you little pest!" Toby looked up with fright as he crawled backward to end up bumping into something as he looked up to see Kaguya, and Maia both standing over to him. Alicia walked up closer to him, and peered down at him with an angry look.
"Now don't call me auntie, because I wouldn't ever want to be to a liar like you!" Toby couldn't help, but tremble against Kaguya's legs with tears flowing down his face as he looked up at Alicia. "You say you love us, but being the Princess of Feoh, I can tell a bad boy to a good one, and you are bad. I know how you people make us girls where you live, pull heavy loads on our backs. You make us plow fields, so you can plant your crops. And what do we get in return? Nothing, but more heavy loads to pull."
Toby just covered his head, and face with his arms curling up in the fetal position crying hard.
Alicia went over to a stable in the barn, and grabbed a lasso. "Now hold still there little one. We are going to take you to the others, so you can see how they are affected by your lies." She walked up and started tying the lasso around Toby's ankles with the long end, and places his arms through the loop, and tightened the lasso to keep him secured.
He tried to beg. "P-p-please Auntie Alicia, p-please sto.." He was silenced as a gauze in his mouth.\
"I said shut up! Kaguya carry him." Kaguya smiled evilly down at the now tied up Toby, and scooped him helplessly in her arms, and picked him up. "Next stop the catacombs!
Kaguya, Maia, and Alicia walked toward the the sewers with Toby tied up being carried by Kaguya, and stuffed with a gauze to silence him. They all walked up to the door of the catacombs, and knocked.
"Coming." Connor spoke from inside, and opened the door. "Oh, hey girls." He looked at Kaguya carrying the tied up boy. "Oh, I see you brought a special guest with you, please come in." He said with an evil grin.
"Hey Connor. Yes, this little pest is going to feel how we all felt when he lied to all of us." The three girls entered the catacombs, where Claudia and Luu Luu was waiting inside.
"Hello dears." She giggled as she saw the frightened little boy being carried by Kaguya. "Oh, well, isn't he just adorable all tied up, and helpless." Claudia grinned mischievously.
Kaguya stood in the center of the catacombs, and dropped Toby off, an onto the floor with a thud. He whimpered, and looked up at them all standing above him with tears in his eyes, and trembling out of fear. Alicia removed the gauze from Toby's mouth as he closed his mouth with his lower lip quivering. She left him tied up in her lasso.
Then Kin and Vault appeared, and Kin lit of his hand up, and surrounded the helpless little boy in his magic with a light aura. "Now Toby, you just listen, and don't speak, do you understand?" As he used his magic to squeeze at Toby making him whimper, and he sadly nodded. "Good. Now we are very disappointed in you for lying to us. We have done nothing, but show you love and care, and you repay us by lying to us by telling us you love us in return."
"B-b-but I do lo... gah.." Kin squeezed at him with his magic.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO SPEAK, DIDN'T I!" Kin took a deep breath. "No, you don't love us. You people don't care about other people, nor any animal. I know how you people get an animal, a pet, and treat them badly by leaving them outside in the hot sun on a summer day without food or water, or let them freeze in the cold of winter." He shook his head down at him. "AND YOU WANT TO SAY YOU LOVE US?!"
Kin stepped aside to let Claudia speak next. Toby looked up at all of them in fright and trembling. Claudia walked up to him, and lift the back of his shirt up a little bit. She reached out with a hand and stroked up, and down on his small back, but more roughly than she usually does.
"Ah.. that feels very nice you little monstrosity. You know, I could use your skin as a new material for clothing."
Toby trembled, and his eyes widened with fear. "A-Auntie C-Claudia, p-please hel..." Claudia used her hand this time to squeeze at his small neck.
"Tsk.. tsk, it is very rude to interrupt a lady little dear." She looked down at him trembling, and stroked at his head. "That hair would look marvelous as a nice warm hat." She lowered her head down to him as he trembled and tears shedding down his cheek. "You are a very naughty little boy, because I have discovered that people use the fur of animals for all sorts of clothing. Tsk. tsk. tsk, and I thought you were different." She gave him a little squeeze with her hand making him whimper.
There was a knock at the door. "Come in." Connor called out to the guest, and came walking in was Prim.
She looked at the Warriors with a soft smile. "Um.. hi guys." She saw them all standing around in a circle.
Toby recognized the soft voice was Prim's. "A-Auntie Prim, p-please help." He cried.
Prim walked between Alicia, and Maia to see the little child tied up and crying. "Oh... my." She turned toward Alicia. "I hope he wasn't too much of a bother."
Toby swallowed deeply, and trembled at the Princess who took him in, and adopted him just said.
"Nah, it was very east Prim. The little pest didn't put up a fight." She made a proud smirk.
Prim smiled a little evilly, and walked in front of Toby looking down at him. "Hello there Toby sweetie." She said with a very low, and disturbing tone.
Toby's lower lip quivered as he looked up at her trembling in his restraints. "A-A-Auntie Prim?" He asked choking back, sobbing.
Prim glared at him angrily, and raised a hand and brought it down across his back. "HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU, YOU LITTLE MONSTER LIE TO US ABOUT LOVING US! I WISH I NEVER FOUND YOU, AND TOOK YOU IN!"
Toby lowered his head, and face into his tied arms, and shook with sobs, unable to speak.
"THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE TO OUT PRECIOUS DRAGONS IF I DIDN'T GET ALICIA TO TIE YOU UP, AND BRING YOU HERE TO THE CATACOMBS! I KNOW PEOPLE LIKE YOU EAT DIFFERENT MEAT, WHICH MEANS YOU ARE EATING DEFENSLESS POOR PEOPLE! HOW DARE YOU! WHO DO YOU THINK WE ARE!?" She brought her hand up again, and struck at his back.
Toby yelped at the second strike trembling like a leaf as they all just stood over him smiling down evilly at him.
Prim reached down to finally untie him from the lasso, but still spoke with her loud angry tone. "NOW DO GET YOUR LITTLE BUTT OUT OF EAST LIVERPOOL AND OUT OF MY LIFE YOU LITTLE MISTAKE! NOW I CAN SEE WHY YOUR DADDY DIDN'T WANT YOU, YOU ARE JUST A BLUBBERING BABY, AND YOUR MOMMY'S MURDER WAS YOUR FAULT!"
Toby was unable to speak as he back away from nine people, and ran out of the catacombs. As he ran out he found himself back in the same black space he found himself in to begin with. He looked around trembling uncontrollably As he frantically looked around until he found a warm white glow which was moving toward him.
He just laid down, and curled up shaking with sobs. "P-p-please d-don't h-hurt m-me." He covered his head with his arms, and clenched his eyes shut.
He felt something soft over his back, but was afraid to open his eyes. "YOUNG ONE, I DEMAND YOU OPEN YOUR EYES NOW!" Toby trembled at the voice and looked up to look at the intimidating figure of Celestine.
"I am afraid young one, that I have made a mistake. A mistake of bringing you here to East Liverpool!"
Toby sobbed heavily as he shook his head. "N-no, no, no.." Suddenly he shot up in the big soft bed of Prim's panting heavily. 'Layla was right, I don't belong here.' He thought to himself lowering his head to let his tears fall.
He swallowed deeply, and carefully climbed out of bed. He quietly walked over to the dresser in Prim's room, and gently picked up the picture of him, and her together on the day he adopted him. "I-I am sorry A-Auntie Prim that I am a mistake." He hugged the picture close to his chest for a little bit before putting it back down.
He then walked over to the chest in front of her bed, and quietly opened it. He looked for the little royal blue jacket with his mommy's locket sewn into it and put it on. He carefully shut the chest back and then walked to the staircase to very quietly descend it. He quickly walked down into the den to see Prim sleeping peacefully on the couch.
He tip-toed toward the door, and turned to see her one last time. "I-I love you A-Auntie Prim." He quietly whispered as he sobbed, and opened the door to walk out. He hugged the jacket closely around his small form, and walked out of the sewers and to the right and headed for the pathway for the forest.