(New Bonesborough, The collector's residence, 1 hour ago)
A fly was caught in a spider's web. It Wriggled around trying desperately to get out of the predator's web as the spider slowly came towards it, ready to eat its next meal.
Right as the spider was ready to eat a great green leaf wrapped around the spider and quickly threw the arachnid into its trap mouth the bit down with a loud crunching sound!
A tall woman with short black hair watered this very plant. Her name was Maria and these plants were one of her greatest joys in life. They reminded her of the Venus fly traps she used to have back in Gravesfield before she moved to New Bonesborough, her older sister, Masha had told her so many amazing stories that she just had a visit and of course, when she did, that's when she met her future husband, the collector himself. Meeting him is what had kept her hear all these years…well that and another special someone.
"Mama, Mama, come see what I can do!"
Maria turned around and saw her 7-year-old son, Uriel floating around.
Uriel mostly resembled his father when he was younger with the only difference being only half of his hair was white while the other half was Raven black like his Mother's as well as a large pale blue blotch that eclipses the right side of his face, giving the left side the appearance of a crescent moon shape. Her son was dressed in the multi-track Hexside Academy uniform of Construction as well as healing covens.
Maria smiled and then caught her son in mid-air.
"Very impressive, Uriel. Now why don't you go pack your books so we can get you to school on time."
Uriel looked slightly disappointed.
"Ok, Mama. Do you know where Papa is?"
"Your Father had to leave early because of an emergency at work. "
"Is he ok?" Uriel asked.
Maria smiled and messed up her son's hair.
"He's fine. You can ask him what happened after you get to school."
Uriel nodded then ran inside to grab his school supplies.
Maria didn't know why but she had a bad feeling about today, she didn't know why though.
(Hexside Academy, principal's office)
Pep gazed around at all the Adults as well as his classmates staring at him, Roland, Erich, and Lithie all looked at him distrustingly but he had small hope when seeing Luisa and Penelope looking at him with a moniker of sympathy. He then looked down at String-Bean who was still standing upright looking at everyone in case they tried to attack.
Pep gently patted String-Bean on the head.
"It's ok, Girl. We're among friends here." Pep said.
"I wouldn't say that," Lithie said.
"Why is he not in a Dungeon or on the first longship out to the colonies right now?!" Roland shouted.
Luisa got up out of her chair and glared at Roland.
"Because He saved My life as well as Penelope's! Not to mention he's just as much a victim of this whole ordeal as the rest of us." Luisa said.
"A Victim? Luisa, you seem to have a lot of trust in a boy you just met a day ago." The Collector said.
Luisa looked at her mom who had a concerned look on her face, and then back at her principal.
"Uncle, I know it's a big leap of faith here, but I know I can trust Pep, I know this not just because he saved my life and my best friend's life but also because My Mom's old Palisman trusts him and if she does then so do I."
The collector looked down at Pep, he didn't dare step closer and risk String-Bean trying to poison him again.
"All right, Pep, tell us your side of the story then."
Pep nodded before looking down at String-Bean, she looked back up at him and hissed. He wasn't sure why but for some reason he thought he heard her say: go on, tell them.
He shook his head and then looked back down at her. He was just hearing things.
"Today, Young man." The collector said.
Pep was still reluctant.
"Pep."
Pep looked up to see Luz standing above him, not looking down at him as if he were a pest like the collector did but like a concerned, mother worried about her child.
"Just tell her, Pep. You have nothing to be worried about. You're a hero." Luisa said as she got out of her chair and stood behind Pep's chair.
"He's no hero! He-"
"Roland, unless you want my Dragon curse to take over again then shut up!" Luisa said before looking back down at Pep.
"Why don't we talk about last night instead," Luz suggested.
Pep Nodded.
"It all started after we left the Library."
(Yesterday evening, The Library)
He wasted so much time already. Poor Philip was probably still puking his guts out. He had to lose these two and get to the paddock. He gently began to walk slower and slower. Till they were out of sight he'd get to the paddock, take a palisman and go back…go back to a life of living in the shadows, hoping for a future in power that he knew deep down would never come true. He and Philip would most likely die of old age underneath Hexside as the failed experiments they truly were…but if he stayed here with everyone he had a chance of a real life, a small chance but a chance nonetheless. He could go to that orphanage Luisa was talking about and maybe he would be adopted by a real family and be loved. That thought put a smile on his face, he would know the warmth of a parent's love instead of the constant contempt he had grown up with Kikimora. He would never have to steal another Palisman again maybe he could have his own! One time when he was younger he had taken a Star-nosed mole Palisman, he had taken it to give to his brother but there had just been something about the freaky-looking creature that stuck with him. He had kept her as his little pet for three weeks. She had been the one bright light in his bad life then one morning she was gone. He had looked all over for her then Kikimora had found him and held his Palisman in her clawed hands. He had been so happy to see her but then Kikimora smashed the mole Palisman and poured its valuable blood into a goblet for Philip. She had continually berated him for keeping the Palisman instead of giving it to Philip immediately but that hadn't been what stung, what hurt was that Philip did the same thing later that day, telling him that he had been foolish to keep it instead of giving it up to him, that he was the rightful heir to their father's throne, therefore, he deserved the Palisman more and that the Pep should remember his place and not get too big for his shoes. Pep did so much for those two and they both treated him like some servant! He didn't owe them anything! Kikimora could get Philip his Palisman from now on, he was done living for other people he would now just live for himself!
Roland and Lithie noticed Pep lagging.
"Hey New kid pick up the pace, ya wanna get locked in when the school closes?"
That was Pep's window of opportunity closing, he wouldn't miss it.
"Sorry Philip but looks like Kikimora will have to be your Palisman finder now."
He knew he should tell someone about Kikimora and Philip, someone like Luisa's mom but wouldn't, he would give his brother that little chance of survival."
"So excited for tomorrow?" Lithie asked.
"Why should I be?" Pep asked.
"Tomorrow is the day we all receive our Palisman. It's a huge Step in our education as Witches."
"What do you think your gonna get, Lithie?" Roland asked.
"Well my father had a flying squirrel, I can see myself with that but my godmother, Lilith had a white raven which I also like, oh I can't decide."
"Well, it's not like you can decide right? It chooses the witch or Demon with a personality similar to its own." Pep said
" Well, it's a tad more complicated than that but I guess in simple terms, yes."
"How do you know so much about Palisman, anyway? I thought you were a new student?" Roland asked.
"I am…it's just I've always been fascinated with Palisman…I used to have one."
Roland and Lithie looked at each other for a moment then at Pep.
"How did you-"
Roland was interrupted when a long basil-green tentacle sprung out from the hallway and wrapped around the three! The three Tweens then heard a loud stomping sound coming from the darkness, all they saw at first was a pair of unnaturally bright blue eyes then as it came closer to the light they all heard the stomping turn into a wet sloshing sound as the creature stepped into the light.
The three were horrified to see a brown-and-green sludge-like substance-covered skeletal creature with disproportionately long limbs that constantly dripped sludge, accompanied by various blue eyes covering his body, and two horns atop his head. Before anyone could make a sound their mouths were covered by the green slime. The creature then looked closely at Pep and took away the slime from his face.
"Where were you?!" The Monster yelled at Pep.
Pep looked a little confused at first then his eyes went wide as he realized who was talking to him.
"Philip?"
Pep looked the Monster up and down.
"What happened to you?" Pep asked.
Philip brought up what passed for his other arm and smashed it against the wall!
"It's your fault I'm like this! Why didn't you come back with a Palisman?! "
Pep looked away.
"So Kikimora was right."
The grip around Pep's body begins to tighten severely.
"You were trying to Abandon me! For what? A life amongst our Father's killers!"
"Yes," Pep said unapologetically as he looked into his brother's Unnaturally blue eyes.
"I'm so sick of our life, Philip. Living underground waiting for some great takeover that we both know will never happen. These past few hours I've been out here amongst kids our age, I've never felt so at peace with myself and-"
Pep stopped talking when slime covered his mouth! He then noticed the monster that had been his brother's left side of his face began sagging Downward.
Philip quickly pushed his face back up but it didn't stay put, the monster then looked over at Roland and Lithie.
"Show me where the Palisman are and I promise I won't make your Little friends here Witch soup!"
Pep looked to the side to see the grip was getting tighter around Roland and Lithie. He then heard a snap and heard Roland let out a muffled cry of pain!
Pep turned back to Philip and shook his head vigorously.
"Very well."
Philip then dropped the three on the floor! Roland felt around his ribs and then pulled his hand away. Lithie and Pep ran towards him but Lithie pushed Pep away!
"Stay away from him! I don't know what's going on or what your connection to that thing is but know I'm not letting you anywhere near my friend!"
Lithie then got out another mason jar filled with Elf Root juice.
"Drink this, Roland. It won't heal your Rib but it'll lessen the pain for a few hours." Lithie said.
"It better work, cuz you two are coming too," Philip said.
Pep glared at Philip.
"Philip, you don't need them, you have me. I'll take you to the paddock."
" I'm not letting your two little friends here go along free so they can wake up the whole town and tell everybody who's here, they are coming too!"
Pep looked at Lithie as she was helping Roland up. Pep noticed Roland's Oracle necklace falling off his neck and falling into the ground without him noticing. Pep grabbed it while Philip wasn't looking.
"Let's go, it's time we fix the problem you started!"
As they were walking towards the paddock Pep held tight to the necklace, he didn't know how oracles made this work but he knew he had to try. He closed his eyes and focused.
He opened his eyes and found himself in a Pastel Purple landscape, so many memories, fears, and thoughts flew by him instantly. This must be the inside of Luisa's head. Pep pinched the bridge of his nose. He thought he would just be able to mind talk to her or whatever the oracles did not go inside her freaking head. He sighed he would have to work with what he had.
"Luisa, if you can hear me, listen. Something horrible is about to happen at Hexside academy, wake up your mom and send help!"
Pep was surprised what happen next, because after he finished speaking, a larger version of the monster. Filipino now was came to life and began roaring screeching inside her head!
(Nocada Residents)
Luz and Luisa had fallen asleep on the couch. After their moment atop the roof the Mother and daughter had both decided to watch a crappy movie together and after the first ten minutes had fallen asleep. Luisa's eyes shot open! She looked around the living room and rested against the couch. It had all just been a bad nightmare, that's all…or had it been? She had plenty of nightmares before, but nothing like this, this was different. She looked down at the Oracle necklace, there was a small twinkle of light slowly going out inside it. It hadn't been a dream, someone had been sending her a call for help.
Luisa got off the couch and got at her scroll phone, she was about to text Penelope, Erich, and Lithie but stopped herself and looked back at her mom. She thought for a moment that she should wake up her mom and tell her about her nightmare, she could
gather all the other older Witches and they could handle this…then just as she was about to shake her mother awake she remembered the sight of her mother's scarred face and lost vision, no. She would not put her mother through any more grief or pain, she would show her mom that she didn't have to worry anymore, she could handle this crisis on her own.
Luisa sent the texts out to Penelope and Erich, she would understand if they didn't want to go with her. For some strange reason, though she kept trying to send texts to Lithie they just kept coming back as undelivered.
(Hexside Academy, Palisman paddock)
Philip crushed Lithie's scroll phone!
"Nice try! Try something like that again and it'll be your skull that gets crushed next!"
" You didn't have to break it you know! Do you know how many months my papa spent saving up for that?! It was a birthday gift!" Lithie shouted.
"If you want to live to see your next birthday, I suggest you shut up!"
Roland pulled Lithie back with his other arm.
"Lithie, Don't antagonize him," Roland whispered.
" Who are you and what have you done with the real Roland?!"
Philip would've slammed his tentacle down on Lithie but Pep jumped and pushed her out of the way just narrowly avoiding being struck himself!
"Philip, Don't! You're only going to bring people here if you just keep smashing everything and hurting people! Just get a Palisman so you and Kikimora can go back underground!" Pep said.
"Oh no, Pep. No more living underground like some Rat, after I fix Kikimora's mistake and transform back to my winsome self, I will take what is rightfully mine and you're going to help me."
"No! That's your life, not mine. I want to live a normal witch's life instead of the unattainable fantasies Kikimora has been stuffing your head with since we were born! I honestly wish I'd left sooner, the only reason I ever stayed was because I felt guilty about leaving you but now I can see that I was blinded by brotherly love instead of seeing who the real you is!"
Phillip snarled at Pep and then looked his brother in the eyes.
"And what would you say the real me is like?" Philip asked with obvious malice in his voice.
"You are nothing but a weak narcissistic Wannabe Tyrant who views himself as the hero and everyone who is even slightly different or disagrees with you, as the villain! You should be proud of yourself, Philip, you're just like Belos in every way. Wouldn't Father be proud?"
Philip clenched what was left of his jaw and narrowed, his eyes and his twin, he would've killed his brother right then and there if not for Kikimora speaking up then.
"Philip, forget about him! I found the perfect specimen."
Philip turned towards Kikimora and saw she was carrying three Palisman Eggs.
" Forget the eggs! I need a real Palisman to undo what you've done to me!"
"No, these are better. Palisman in their egg State has a much more powerful energy that they lose as they age. I am certain these will be able to reverse your mutation."
"They better be. I can't hold this form for much longer."
Phillip looked down at the three eggs, the one in the center had a massive crack running down the middle, it looked like it was about to burst, it was best that he ate it now before it hatched.
As Philip was about to eat one of the eggs, Pep couldn't help but remember when Philip had taken his old Palisman, the Star-nosed mole! The only thing that had ever loved him back, that had trusted him to keep it safe and Philip ate it like it was nothing! He wouldn't let his brother do this and break some other Witche's heart! He picked up a shard
of glass from Lithie's broken phone and jumped on his brother and stabbed him in the right eye before he could eat the egg!
"Agghhhhh!" Philip shouted as he covered his injured eye! Pep grabbed the egg and was about to jump off but someone grabbed him before he could.
Pep opened his eyes and saw that he was sitting on the back of a flying Palisman staff. The witch piloting the staff was Luisa.
"Pep, what are you doing here?" Luisa asked without turning around to look at him. Pep turned around to see Erich and Penelope flying close behind on Flyer Derby practice staffs.
"I guess it worked," Pep said to himself.
"What worked?" Luisa asked.
"Luisa, I-"
Philip's tentacle shot up and grabbed Choo-Choo and flung them both against a wall! He reached out and grabbed Penelope and Erich out of the sky and brought them both down in the middle of the Palisman Paddock! Luisa who was not that far away rubbed her head and saw blood on her hands as she took it away. She looked next to her and saw poor Pep knocked unconscious, he'd been trying to protect the egg during his fall. She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him towards the paddock where Roland and Lithie had run too as well.
Philip looked at the six as the Palisman formed a protective circle around the Tweens. Philip smirked.
"Oh c'mon. Do you think a bunch of miniature animals are gonna stop me?"
"No…but we will," Pep said as he slowly came too and with help from Luisa stood up.
"I'm going to make sure you never take anyone else's Palisman again!"
The egg in Pep's hand began to shake so violently that the ground beneath them all began to shake. Pep's egg as well as two others began to crack all over. Pep's egg broke Free, followed by the two other eggs that hatched. Pep and the others were mystified to see a long purple light slowly transforming into the shape of a female king cobra with a massive hood, a long body, and a red ball hanging from the tip of its tail.
Luisa knew exactly who this was, it was her mom's original Palisman, String-Bean. She must have sensed her creator's child nearby and hatched to save her and her friends.
String-Bean flew towards them. Luisa held out her arms to accept the Palisman but it flew right past her and transformed into her staff form in Pep's hands. Luisa stared at the staff for a few moments while Pep himself looked confused about what to do with it.
The other two eggs hatched as well with Clover and Emmiline Bailey Marcostimo hatching as well.
"Enough standing around! It's time to finish this!"
Philip shot his arm forward but Luisa used Abomination matter to transform her right arm into a massive shield! Philip continuously bashed his two extended arms against trying to break it down! Roland and Penelope both saw the pain this was causing Luisa.
"Get away from her!" Roland and Penelope shouted.
Roland Summoned Alexandra and Penelope brought forth every Root and plant from under the ground! The roots and vines wrapped around Philip's body while Alexandra tried to possess his mind! Old memories and nightmares flooded Philip's mind.
"Look at yourself now," Alexandra said inside his head.
"You're a walking horror show. What would your father think of you? He'd probably see you as nothing but a petty disgrace, your brother thinks so, it probably won't be long till Kikimora abandons you next!"
"Get out of my head!"
Philip grabbed the ghost by its tail and forcefully pulled the spirit from his body and flung her away!
Clover and Emmiline Bailey Marcostimo transformed into their staff forms and fell into Roland's and Penrlope's hands.
Roland lined up Clover like a sniper would and aimed at Philip as if he were looking through a scope and with his new staff shot a massive blast of purple Energy at Philip, blasting a hole through the monster's chest, exposing slowly rotting Organs and nearly dissolved bones!
Philip clutched the area before covering the hole with more of his sludge and began running towards them again. Roland was gonna try to take another shot when Penelope put her arm out.
"Let me," Penelope said.
Several roots and vines shut up from the ground again but instead of trying to capture Philip, the roots, instead all at once formed into one massive vine, and went deep into Philip's mouth!
Penelope, who is controlling the plants with her new staff, as well as motions with her fingers, closed her right hand into a fist, then immediately opened her hand out, and just like that the vines and roots began to expand, bigger and bigger and bigger until Phillip's body exploded and pesto Green sludge flew everywhere!
Pep wiped a wad of green sludge off his face and looked around the paddock and the quad but saw no remains left of his brother, nothing left but sludge. What he had said about his brother earlier was true, he had always been a petty narcissistic brat with delusions of grandeur..but they still had been brothers. This was Kikimora's fault! If she hadn't puffed up Philip's ego all these years then maybe he wouldn't have turned out this way, they could have escaped together, and found a cure for his condition, but no. Instead, Kikimora had filled their heads with lies all these years and she made Philip think he was entitled to rule over people that didn't want an emperor anymore.
Pep tried to get up but was forced back down on his knees when Penelope and Roland crossed their new staff over his neck.
"Not so fast, Pep. You've got some questions to answer, starting with What was that freaking thing?!"
"And how are you and it connected," Penelope asked.
Before Pep could answer String-Bean turned back to her true form and gave Roland and Penelope a hiss of warning. Luisa ran up and pushed the two aside.
"What are you two doing? Don't threaten her!" Luisa said.
"We weren't. We're trying to interrogate Pep here and this Cobra Palisman won't stop hissing at us." Roland said.
"That thing is my Mom's old Palisman and you will treat her with respect. Leave Pep alone…we'll talk about this later."
"Forget that, we gotta tell the Witch council."
"We will…just not everything."
"Why do you care so much about this kid? We just met him today, it's obvious he and that thing are linked somehow."
"No Dah, Roland! But I think I know what he is and I'm also willing to bet if anything he's on our side in this."
"How do you know?"
Luisa turned and looked at String-Bean.
"If my Mom's Palisman trusts him then he must be good."
Luisa then heard a whistle and felt Choo-Choo land on top of her head.
"Sorry, Choo-Choo, I meant my mom's old Palisman. You know my mom's only got eyes for you when it comes to magical creatures."
Choo-Choo whistled again.
Luisa could tell by the look on his face that he was giving her the Your Dang right I am, don't forget it look. He was such a Ham. Pep then heard a slight bubbling sound coming from the ground, the blobs of pesto green goo were beginning to burn through the ground! A massive crack split the quad in two with Roland, Erich and lithie on one side and Pep, Luisa, and Penelope on the other side the problem with that was the side, those three were on, fell away! The Dirt below collapsed on itself, and fell all at once into the sewer system where the burning rain was stored. Penelope could hear the loud sizzle of each patch of dirt as it fell into the acidic liquid below.
Penelope first saw her new Palisman, Emmeline Bailey Marcostimo nearly fall into the acid and would have burned if not for Penelope grabbing her and throwing the Palisman over to the unbroken side, unfortunately, taking away one of her arms made her lose balance, quickly she began to fall in again. As she prepared herself to feel the horrible pain of the burns nothing happened, she opened her eyes and saw Luisa holding onto her right arm, Luisa grabbed onto Penelope's other arm and tried futilely to pull herself and Penelope up but there was nothing for Luisa to hold onto! The two girls quickly began to slide down the quickly decaying dirt. The two looked into each other's eyes. Both knew this was gonna be the last time they saw each other in this world. Luisa smiled goofily making Penelope want to laugh.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Penelope asked while trying her damnedest not to laugh.
"I just…I don't want the last thing my best friend sees to be something sad." Luisa said while holding in her tears.
Tears of joy began to flow from all three of Penelope's eyes.
"Sniff, being around you Luisa, dying without laughing is impossible."
Penelope then thought back to the day they first met.
(Flashback, Hexside )
"Get outta here, Three eyes!" One girl shouted before throwing a soda can at young Penelope. This started happening ever since she started coming here, all the kids her mom used to bully, had kids of their own now who also went here they could spot the child of their parents bullying from a mile away. Every day Penelope would go to school and every day she will come back with scratches and bruises all over her body. Her mom would just tell her to tough it out and show them who's boss, but Penelope wouldn't do that, she didn't want to be the bully Her mother used to be. She waited for the can to hit her head, but then felt nothing.
She opened her three eyes, and saw a girl around her age, standing in a defensive stance in front of her, this girl had caught the soda can an inch before it hit her.
"Leave her alone!" The new girl shouted before throwing soda, can right back at the person who had originally thrown it only to miss and hit a rock nearby.
"Get outta here, mix up!" The girl who had originally thrown the soda can said to the new girl.
Mix-ups was hurtful slang, used by pure, blooded witches to refer to witches who were half witch and half-demon, or in the case of more recent years, with witches, moving to the human world, a mix of human and witch.
"I'm not gonna tell you again, leave my new friend here alone!" The new girl said.
"Or what?"
The new girl got into the other girl's face looked her dead in the eye then spit!
"Ewwww, that's so gross!" The mean girl shouted before running away to wipe the spit from her face.
The new girl then walks back to Penelope holding her hand.
"Need some help?"
Penelope wasn't sure to think what to do at first, no one has ever really been this nice to her before except in her family.
She reluctantly took this new girl's hand and was immediately brought right up back up to her feet. The new girl stuck out her arm in front of Penelope.
"My name is Luisa Nocada, what's your name?"
Penelope looked down at the extended hand before her, then shook it.
" Penelope, Penelope, Wormwood."
For a girl around her same age, this Luisa girl had a very tight and firm handshake!
"Nice to meet ya, Penelope, and may I say congratulations."
"Congratulations on what exactly?"
"On being my new friend and probably my best one."
(End of Flashback)
The two had stuck together ever since and have grown closer and closer to the point where they weren't best friends but more like sisters.
Penelope notices Luisa beginning to cry.
" Hey, what happened to that goofy face you were doing?"
" Penelope, I'm so sorry for bringing you into this. I should've just woken up my mom or just come here and done everything by myself, I should've gotten any of you involved now we're both gonna die."
" Luisa, I don't regret coming here at all. If somehow you had died here and I wouldn't have been able to help you,I could never of live with myself at least we both die knowing we did everything we could to help each other just like we always have."
These words brought that goofy smile back to her best friend's face. Each knew what the other was thinking, without even saying a word.
They close their eyes and ready themselves to enter the afterlife, but for yet another time neither of them felt anything. Luisa felt someone grabbing onto her ankles with both hands.
Penelope looked up and saw none other than Pep holding them both.
"Both of you listen to me, I don't know how long the ground has before all of it goes down there, so I need you to listen to me very carefully."
Pep then looked at Penelope making the girl blush a little.
" Penelope I want you to put all your strength into your arms and climb carefully up Luisa. After that, you will help me pull Luisa up. Do both of you understand?"
Both girls nodded. Penelope put all the strength She could muster into her arms and began to gently climb up her best friend, the only problem during this being that, since Penelope had to leave her house in a rush, she accidentally put on her mom's old cleats and stepped on the back of Luisa's head with them.
"Ow, next time, don't wear cleats!"
"Sorry."
Once Penelope got back topside She and Pep both begin to pull Luisa up!
Luisa fell like a stone onto the still-standing grass. Penelope immediately fell atop her and the two friends lovingly embraced each other and then looked at their rescuer.
"Pep, you saved us," Penelope said.
Pep noticed a hint of admiration in her tone of voice as she said this and had a look of affection in her eyes as she looked at him.
"It was nothing after all you-"
Pep was interrupted when Luisa gave him a bear hug that nearly knocked the wind out of her new friend.
"Congratulations, Pep," Luisa said.
"On what?"
"On becoming my newest friend, you should feel honored because only a select few make it into my inner circle."
Pep rolled his eyes after hearing this but then felt the hug getting even tighter.
"And as a member of my inner circle, I'm sure you'll want to tell us everything you know about what just happened so we don't report you to the Witch Council."
Pep understood her threat then after looking her in the eyes for a moment knew deep down she wouldn't report him to the council but he could also tell that she was no pushover so he would tell them everything he knew.
"Yes, I will."
Luisa released her grip and Let Pep down.
"Start from the Beginning, Please."
Pep sighed then looked around to see nearly everyone had gathered around to hear except lithie and Erich who were both still in the Palisman paddock.
"That thing…was my brother Philip, he and are-"
Philip stopped talking when he was shot in the right shoulder by an arrow!
Luisa quickly caught him and put an abomination shield around the two of them.
Kikimora put another arrow into her crossbow. All these years of hard work down the drain because of that little brat! She aimed again and fired at the abomination shield but Erich jumped out from behind and beat the arrow away with his new Highland longhorn Palisman.
Kikimora tried to load in another arrow but it got stuck in the loading mechanism! If she hadn't been so busy, trying to reload the crossbow, she would've noticed Lithie flying up to her on her new African wildcat Palisman and punching the old Demon hard on the Damaged part of her face which only made the pain worse while she fell off the tower.
Roland ran over to her and was about to pull out his crystal ball when he saw Kikimora pull out an Abomination grenade.
"Everyone, get down!" Roland shouted. As Kikimora pulled the pin and threw it down!
Everyone closed there's eyes but once again none of them felt any pain, Pep was the first one to open his eyes and saw that he and everyone else were coved by a massive dome made of fire wasps.
"I think this makes us even, don't you think, Pep?" Luisa said with a smug look on her face before the wasps dispersed.
Pep ignored this and looked around what remained of the quad but didn't see his creator anywhere.
"Where are you, Kikimora?!" Pep said to himself as he looked around.
"She's gone, pep."
Pep turned around and looked at Luisa. One of the fire wasps was next to her ear.
"My little friend here just told me that none of them can find her around here, she's gone."
"Well, then we gotta find her! We can't just let her escape. Not after everything she's done."
" You all have more important things to be concerned about, trust me."
The group looked to the entrance of the quad as Principal Collector and his Palisman, ghost walked in to find several of his students with their Palisman. He took one look at the ruined area and looked especially angry at Luisa.
"Uh Hey Uncle, we were…"
Luisa stopped talking when she saw her uncle put up his hand.
Erich, Lithie, Roland, and Penelope's New Palisman staffs flew out of their hands and into the outstretched hand of the collector.
"All of you go to my office right now!"
Luisa looked around and didn't see Pep or String-Bean anywhere.
"W-where's Pep?" Luisa asked.
"Who?" The collector asked.
Luisa looked away from her uncle.
"Nothing, uncle."
Luisa then began to walk with her friends to the principal's office. She looked up at the sky to try and see if Pep was flying over but he wasn't. Where did he go?
After he watched his students walk inside the collector noticed his Palisman sniffing a pool of pesto-green sludge.
ghost then hissed at the sludge before running up the Collector's arm and propping herself across his shoulders.
"What's got you so spooked, Girl?"
Ghost hissed again as her partner got closer to the sludge. He was about to examine it when it sprung up and completely covered his body.
(The present, collector's office)
"And that's everything."
Pep looked down at String-Bean who lovingly nuzzled against his hand. He then looked back up at the collector.
"Sir, everything my friends have told you is true. Everything that has happened the past day is my fault and I'm ready to take my punishment. My only request is that I be sent to the most remote Witch colony there is so I can learn from the Master Illusionist who lives there."
Before the collector could answer Luz stepped forward and bent down to look at the young boy.
"Where are you talking about?" Luz asked.
Pep looked away, it was hard for him to look into the eyes of the woman he had been raised to believe was a craven murderer but as he knew now, what was the hero.
"Pep, look at me," Luz said not in the tone of a disciplinarian schoolmaster, but in a tone of care to give to a child that had never known parental love.
" What do you mean when you want to go meet the master illusionist?"
"Mrs.Nocada, I want to go to the human world to learn from your sister, Vee, the master illusionist herself."
Luz smiled at the boy and saw the regret in his eyes, all those horrible memories of taking Palisman to feed to his brother wouldn't go away but he was still willing to set right the mistakes he had made. Not because it would make him feel better, but because it was the right thing to do. She remembered another boy from a similar situation who came into her life a while ago. The monody of him made Luz smile.
"So you still want to learn Illusions? I thought the uniform was just a disguise."
"It was at first but I want to be useful for when we all hunt for Kikimora."
Luz smiled.
"I don't think your going to need to go to my sister's home to learn magic, we have a very skilled Illusion teacher here at Hexside. And you won't be part of the hunt for Kikimora."
"But-"
"No, you kids have been through enough. Let us handle this. We're gonna have to find a place for you to stay for now."
Luisa immediately jumped onto Pep's back.
"Can he stay with us?! C'mon Mom, I always wanted a mean older brother to pull my hair and call me squirt."
"Why would you want that?" Pep asked.
"Shush!"
Luisa looked back up at her mother.
"Please, mamá."
Maurice extended out from Luisa's hair and modeled himself in the same pleading stance its maker was in.
Amity smiled and then looked down at her girlfriend.
"Ya know Luz, it might not be a bad idea. After all, you did always want a son." Amity said.
"Thank you, Mama Amity." Luisa mouthed.
"Well, I guess that wouldn't be a problem for now. We could move you into the guest room."
"And I have a bunch of Edric's old clothes back at the mansion. I'll bring them with me when I move in."
"Your moving in?!" Luisa asked excitedly.
Amity blushed.
"Well with Dad and Darius moving to the south side of the island, it only makes sense that I should move in with my girlfriend instead of staying in that big house by myself."
"So I not only do I have a new brother but a new mom as well, this is the best day ever…well almost. I didn't get a Palisman."
Amity smiled.
Luz was about to say something but Amity spoke before she could.
"Luisa, do you remember the box I gave you the other day?"
"Oh ya, Dad's gift."
Luz looked at Amity.
"What gift exactly?"
Amity smiled.
"You'll see oh and while we're on the subject of Palisman."
Amity got out Roland, Lithie, Erich, and Penelope's Palisman. The four happily grabbed their beloved new partners.
Luz noticed a pep coming towards her and held String-Bean in her Staff form.
"Mrs.Nocada, Luisa told me that String-Bean was once your Palisman so here, you can take her back."
Luz looked fondly at String-Bean in her new form, the years of hibernation had done wonders for String-Bean. She was about to pick up the staff but stopped herself.
"No. You two seem to have a real connection."
Luz then looked at Choo-Choo then rubbed the top of his head lovingly.
"Besides I've already got an Amazing Palisman."
String-Bean then turned to her true form and wrapped around Luz in a caring manner. Luz lovingly held string-Bean close then heard Choo-Choo whistle. Luz smiled then beckoned her swan Palisman over.
" i've been hoping for a time when you two would meet, String-Bean this is my partner, Choo-Choo, and-"
Luz stopped talking when she saw String-Bean transform into a swan then to her and everybody else's shock saw Choo-choo transform into string-bean's form.
String-Bean hissed happily, and choo-choo, equally joyful whistle back.
"Choo-Choo, you are a changer? Why the heck after all these years did you not tell me?! It could've come in handy like a million times."
Choo-choo transformed back to his original form and whistled at her.
" What do you mean I never asked? You should have told me."
"I didn't know she could change like that," Pep said obvious fascination in his eyes as he looked at the string bean. The king cobra changed back and flew back onto Pep.
"She's a snake changer. Only the most unique of witches have changer Palisman, clearly string-Bean thinks you're unique."
Pep smiled at String-Bean. She stared back at him for a moment before she began to change into a star-nosed mole and fell into Pep's hands. He smiled and then held her close as he remembered his old Palisman.
"Now that we've got all our stories straight, I am ready to pass judgment."
Luz and Amity both looked at the collector. That didn't sound like him. Sure he would probably suspend the kids for a week or make them do chores around the school for a month, but for some reason the way he said his judgment sounded so harsh. Everyone's gaze then turned to the entrance of the office to see Maria and Uriel enter.
"Oh, Honey is this a bad time?"
Luz noticed how nervous her former student looked.
"Wha-I.." the collector trailed off.
Uriel looked around the room and then walked towards the broom closet.
"Don't open that!"
Uriel ignored him and then opened the door to see his real father and ghost both tied up with a special Construction Coven rope.
"I'll help you, Papa," Uriel said as he used construction magic to undo his father's and ghost's bindings.
"Why were you all tied up, Papa?"
The collector didn't answer, but instead immediately grabbed his son and got in front of his wife with ghost in her staff form. Luz, Amity, and Boscha did the same and aimed their staffs at the fake Collector.
The fake collector got up from his chair and gave the group a wide smile showing several missing teeth.
"Well thank you all for telling me your stories. Now that I know how much you all know, it will make things a lot easier. It's a shame really, such valiant heroes like you all cut down in your prime along with your children…but rest, assured, I will be here to pick up the pieces and set everything in order."
The fake collector then turns into pesto, green sludge before Turing back into Philip.
" I have to say, collector, I'm very grateful for you, letting me possess your body for a while. You're too powerful to kill like my father later on found out, but you're power did help reverse some of the side effects of Kikimora's serum and now I bid you all farewell and wish you a happy journey to wherever y'all end up.
An Enormous glyph opened up on the floor, and Philip made a smaller one in the air that turned the glyph into a portal, Luisa, Erich, Roland, lithie,Penelope, and Pep were sucked in immediately.
The collector held tightly onto his son but the pull of the portal was too strong! Uriel was sucked out of his Father's arms and into the portal before it closed.
(The Human World, St Kateri Tekakwitha catholic school Gravesfield, Connecticut, USA)
Vee in her human form and wearing a lemon yellow summer dress and Brown flip-flops. Stood in a classroom teaching History.
"And once Leif Erikson sailed away from Norway he-"
Vee was interrupted by the school bell and all her students began to grab their bags and leave.
"Remember to study for the test next week, it counts for most of your grade."
After the last of her students left, Vee grabbed her purse as well as her Bactrian camel Palisman staff. Since she lived in the human world now, she used illusion magic to make her staff seem shorter so whenever people saw it, they just assumed it was a intricately carved cane. As she left she heard the voice of the Mother superior calling out to her.
"Ms.Noceda, a moment please." Mother superior Deloria said as she came down the hall.
"Is there a problem mother superior?" Vee asked.
"Oh no dearie, not at all. I just wanted to let you know how happy we are to have you teaching history here. The children just love you, I'm so surprised that such a natural-born parent like yourself doesn't have any of her own children."
" Well, it's funny you mention that actually because my enbyfriend and I are trying to adopt."
"Well, if you need a reference Don't hesitate to call, All the sisters here would be glad to help you."
(Ten minutes later)
Vee waited till she was deep enough in the woods behind the school, she knew she was probably overdoing it, but she had to be careful. She brought up her palisman and smiled.
"Shall we, Joe?"
Vee took away the illusion, making her staff seem shorter before she sat side saddle style on her staff before flying high into the sky. The most recent spell she just cast would make sure nobody would see her flying through the air. Witches and demons had been living in the human world for a while now but despite that, most of them used illusion magic to come off as human to avoid being harassed.
After arriving at her house she was surprised to see the front door open. Fear overtook her immediately, it could be Robbers or some axe-wielding psychopath. Vee with Palisman in hand Burst into the living room, thrashing her staff all over the place knocking over two lamps, and a vase, and she was about to knock over a clay angel figurine that Masha's mother had given them when Masha grabbed their partner's staff and stopped her.
"Vee, stop!"
Vee opened her eyes and saw that nearly everything in her house was fine apart from the objects she'd either broken or knocked over.
" What's with you coming in here just breaking everything all of a sudden?" Masha asked.
"T-the front door was open, I thought robbers had broken in."
"What no, we have visitors and I just let them in a minute before you got here," Masha said as she closed the door.
"What visitors?"
"They're talking about us, Auntie Vee."
Vee turned around and saw her niece, Luisa along with several other witch children standing in her living room.
(Hours later)
Luisa sat on the porch swing watching the rain fell. It was kinda nice seeing rain that didn't burn your skin on contact.
"Mind some company?"
Luisa turned around and saw Penelope come out onto the porch with Emmiline Bailey Marcostimo on her right shoulder, she wore black and green basketball shorts and a bright orange tank-top. Penelope noticed her best friend looking.
"What are you staring at?"
"Nothing it's just I never thought I'd see you in a tank top and basketball shorts." Luisa said while trying not to giggle.
Penelope smiled then sat down next to her best friend.
"Glad to see your in a better mood."
Luisa didn't answer for a moment, instead she just continued to look out at the rain.
"How's everyone doing?" Luisa said without looking at Penelope.
"Everyone is trying to make sense of what's happened. Roland tried to open a portal back but so far nothing is working."
Penelope noticed how crestfallen luisa looked as she heard this. They tried to re-open a portal back Hexside as soon as they had arrived here but for some reason the portal wasn't working….they were trapped here, unable to do anything but worry about what was happening to there parents.
"But that's doesn't mean we won't find a way back, after all your mom did."
"I'm not my mom, Penelope. My mom grew up with adversity and a can do attitude that almost got her killed several times, I'm not like that. I grew up the pampered child of a local celebrity who tied her whole life not to be my mom and now when I could actually use her attitude and try and cheer everybody up during this crisis instead, I'm just sitting out here like some mopey teenager."
Penelope didn't answer for a moment but instead turned around and punched Luisa in the shoulder!
"Ow! What was that about?!"
Penelope punched Luisa again then a third time and a fourth!
"Why are you hitting me?"
"Cuz you're not acting like yourself! The luisa I know wouldn't waste her time with a little pity party like some Mock Turtle! She would gather everyone together and think of a solution and ya know what your right, your not like your mom because your mom does things her way and you do things your way a.k.a. the right way! Listen, I don't remember how your mom stumbled upon a way to get back to the demon realm and frankly, I don't care cuz it was probably a fluke but you doing it, Luisa, I know, for a fact, whatever you think up is the right way to do it, and it will be a guarantee to work so stop moping out here and get inside and help us think of a plan to get back home!"
Penelope noticed the smile on Luisa's face.
"So now that your ego is satiated, I have something you forgot."
Penelope then pulled out the Ashwood box Amity had given Luisa.
Luisa was a bit surprised to see it in her best friends hands, she looked through her pockets for a moment, and found them all empty.
" how did you-"
" It fell out of your pocket when we entered the principals office. I know your soon to be stepmom wanted you to open this after we all got our Palisman and even though neither of your moms are here now I think you still owe it to them to open up this gift from your Dad."
Luisa looked at the box for a moment then gently opened the box and found two palistrom wood cubes. After taking them both out each cube grew into a large chunk of palistrom wood, at the bottom of the box there was thumb drive.
Luisa grabbed the thumb drive and the wood and ran into the house immediately.
"Auntie vee can I use your old laptop?"
"Sure, I barely ever use that thing anyway so go ahead." Vee answered as she and Masha were washing dishes.
Luisa turned on the old laptop and painfully waited until it was finally finished booting up, she then plugged in the thumb drive, and watched as the video loaded and then she saw the happiest site she had seen in days, her Papa, Hunter on the screen.
"Hey sweetie, if you're watching this, then I guess everything went as I thought it would and Im probably Dead."
A tear went down Luisa's cheek as her father said this.
"Don't cry, Luisa. Because you know deep down that even when I'm dead I'm always gonna be with you. Now onto the subject of this video. I was hoping to do this with you when you were older and have some of that Father/Daughter bonding all the other dads talk about and well I figured one way of having that bonding is better than nothing at all, right? So over the course of this video I'm going to teach you how to carve your very own Palisman cuz if your anything like your mom then your personality will be too weird for just any ordinary Palisman, so I'm gonna teach you how to make a special Palisman just for you."
Luisa wiped away the tears from her eyes.
"Thank you papa."
(Outside the universe, Palace of the archivists)
Philip opened his eyes to see he was in a small room that resembles almost to the last detail bunker where he and Pep were raised. What was he doing here, last this he could remember he had captured Luz and the collector but how did he end up here?"
"It was an unwinnable fight, your would have besieged easily. You should be thanking me by the way for bring you here oh by the way I hope the settings to your liking, I wanted to make you comfortable, and I thought, showing you an entirely transparent palace would make you too oh what's the word you bone bags use? I think it's creeped out."
Philip turned around and saw
Mammon, oldest of the archivists enter the room. He didn't know what to do or how to feel, kikimora had taught him and Pep about the archivists, but her own information on them has been very sparse.
Philip backed away from the god like being as it came closer to him.
"Oh don't look so scared, my dear boy, I mean you no harm. In fact, I wish to help you gain. What is rightfully yours."
"W-why would you want to help me? I thought your kind didn't much care about the goings-on of mortals."
" Most mortals we don't care about , but you, my dear boy are a special case. You see I despise The Human, Luz as well as her little band of followers not just for disrupting the natural harmony of the many different universes and timelines but also for doing this to me!"
Mammon brought up his right hand to show only two remaining fingers and a thumb left on the severely damaged hand.
" Ever since they brought my little brother out of hibernation, I tried to fix things back to the way they should be within the many universes but every time I came close they were always one step ahead then when I finally have the upper hand, and I nearly succeeded in wiping the demon realm from existence, but then they nearly destroyed my hand! Mere mortals should not be able to harm a god such as myself!"
Mammon looked back at Philip.
"I can help you reclaim your rightful throne, Philip. After all, I admired your father, greatly, he almost brought about the day of unity, which would have cleansed both the human world, as well as the demon realm of the disease that is Luz Noceda! It would've set everything right and this can still happen with you, as the rightful emperor of the demon realm as well as the human world. What do you say Philip do we have a deal?"
Philip thought for a moment about this, he would rule both worlds as he desired, but instead of ruling two separate realms, he would rule a fused version of the two. Was it worth it?
"Your father thought so. All those wicked and evil magic users would finally be cleansed of their sin and darkness by being fused with the world of humans and you, Phillip will continue your father's legacy."
Philip looked back up at Mammon and nodded his head yes.
Mammon smiled.
" Excellent now before we begin bringing about the belated day unity, you should probably know everything you can know about our adversaries because while I am sure that little gremlin that created you told you about them it was most likely an abridged version of events In order to preserve your father's legacy but I have someone who can give you the information you need to know whether he wants to tell you or not."
Mammon then opened his mouth wide and pulled out an enormous black and red sarcophagus, he open the door, and Philip was shocked to see none other then Luz's Husband, Luisa's father, Hunter.
The end…for now
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