The chapter takes place right at the second season's finale, but there will be changes, for the sake of the fanfiction.
Warning! Scenes of violence.
chapter 3: Gonna get a little weird, gonna get a little wild
Toffee came back home early after the date with Nelina ended. Marco and Star were patiently waiting for him.
- This was the last date!- Toffee said.- Period!- he had enough disappointments for one month.
Marco and Star exchanged a look worriedly.
- Maybe- Star began.- only one more time. What do you have to lose?
- Whatever is left of my trust.
Marco gently touched his friend's shoulder as a way to tell her to leave him to handle the situation. The blonde girl nodded.
- Look, Toff!- the human boy spoke.- It's not that we don't know how hard it is for you to come out of your shell, but we just don't you want you to be alone and unhappy.
- I am not unhappy.- the septarian replied.- I may not show it, but I am perfectly fine.
- Don't you ever get lonely?- Star joined.
- I have my children here to keep me company.- he patted Razzles' head and playfully shook Masaru's hand.- There are also you two.- he carressed Star and Marco's heads affectionately.- Let's not forget to mention Rasticore! You have nothing to worry about. Instead, let's just discuss the plans for the theatre play tomorrow.
Star decided to listen to him and her concerned expression was replaced by a smile.
- I already made sure Ruberiot and Foolduke will come here tomorrow and they will bring more people for the actors' cast.
- Are we really sure this play is a good idea?- Marco rubbed the back of neck.- Some mewmans or even septarians might call it propaganda and will think we're trying to brainwash them to like each other.
- Diaz!- Star confidently put her hand on his shoulder.- This play is nothing but motivation for mewmans to understand monsters better. We're starting with septarians. Besides, it's just a play. No one will get hurt.- the blonde teen picked Masaru up.- Isn't that right, my little pumpkin?
Masaru laughed in response. Marco and Toffee exchanged a look unsure, knowing that this girl did not know anything about soft power. However, Marco knew Star deserved to be trusted, so he smiled and decided to support her.
- I guess you have a point there.- he looked at the infant his friend was holding.- Doesn't she, little guy?
Once again, Masaru bit the boy's hand. Marco groaned in disgust- he could feel the baby's tongue.
- Let me go, you...- he was shaking his hand to make the baby release him.
- Masaru, stop!- Toffee snapped his fingers, thus getting his son's attention. Then he gestured to the baby to come to him.- Come here! Come to daddy!
His 4-month old son obeyed and jumped right into his father's arms.
- Ughhh...- Marco was wiping his hand off with wet hankies.- Sometimes, I feel he only listens to you.
- You're lucky he doesn't have teeth yet.- Toffee smirked.- Otherwise, you would lose finger or two.
- Yeah!- the boy frowned.- Totally lucky!
When Toffee went to his bedroom, he started looking through the window, lost in thoughts. He heard a knock on the door.
- Come in.
Rasticore opened the door and entered the king's room.
- Hey!- he said.- Star told me about tonight's date, but to be honest, I think she may have a point.- Toffee did not respond.- You know...I hate to intrude but...do you honestly not want to get married...ever?
- Rasticore.- Toffee finally broke the silence.- I am the one, who makes those decisions.
- I know that you love your children, but...- Rasticore took a deep breath and pressed his fingertips together.- they will not be little forever. One day, they will become adults and will start their own families. Then, after you abdicate, you'll have nothing else to do.
Toffee remained silent. There was no need to comment on that, as he was very well aware of those facts.
- It's just..- Rasticore continued.- I know what solitude can do to you. I don't want to see it happening again!
Toffee turned back, facing Rasticore and approached him slowly. Then he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and smiled.
- Don't worry, Cory!
It's not that Toffee did not want to get married, he just never found anyone worthy enough.
The long anticipated Day of unity had finally arrived, carrying its deadly promise alongside.
Right before Belos was about to perform the Draining spell, killing every single witch on the Boiling isles as a result, Luz was quick to distract him. She used a fire glyph on him, but the dodged her attack with his staff. The girl made a few more attempts to use spells on the villain, but they were all fruitless. Luz knew she couldn't beat Belos alone, so it was a good thing she had backup. The Covens against the throne (a specific parcel, consisted of Eda, Lilith, King and Hooty), also known as the C.A.T.S., much to the dismay of one of its members (Darius, to be exact), arrived right on time, followed by Amity, Hunter, Gus and Willow.
Together united, they successfully holded the evil emperor back from finishing his plan. Belos could clearly see he couldn't fight by himself against Luz and so many witches, so he had no choice, but to improvise. As a last resort to escape the battle scene, he opened the interdimensional portal, and entered, hoping the witches would follow him. And so they did!
Once they were all inside the interdimensional realm, they found themselves surrounded by a plethora of dimensions to choose from. They needed to know in which dimension Belos was going to. Luckily, they saw which one, once they witnessed an elderly baige-haired human, entering one of the dimensions.
Before he disappeared from their sights, Belos turned towards them and gave them a cheeky smirk, as if he was daring them to follow him and leave the Boiling isles behind.
After that, he was away, entering the dimension without hesitation. Luz and her friends had no choice. They had to follow him and stop him before he caused any more trouble. Who knew what he would to the denizens of that dimension? Without further ado, they stepped inside the portal, thus entering the dimension.
Luz was confused, once she saw where they were right now. That dimension looked almost identical to Earth, but an woodland part of it. She tried to use a glyph to make sure, whether that was Earth or not, as glyphs never worked there. Her suspicions turned out to be justified as, the glyph dematerialized in her hands, upon trying. It was probably Earth, and yet...it didn't feel like it. But why? What was this place actually?
- Where did he go?- clenching her fists, Eda looked around for Belos.
- Where are we?- Lilith had other concerns at the moment.- Luz...is that the Human realm?
- Well, it kinda looks like it.- Luz replied.- And yet...I don't know.
- Well, I suggest we start looking for Belos- Lilith added.- before he hurts somebody else again.
With a heavy pain in their hearts, the gang decided to split up and look for the witch hunter. They didn't want to leave their home behind, but desperate times called for desperate measures. They separated into two groups- one, consisted of Luz, Amity, Hunter, Gus and Willow, and another, consisted of Eda, King, Lilith and Hooty.
They looked for long minutes, which then became hours.
7 PM. Toffee had officially finished today's work and didn't want anyone to bother him with anything. His children were the only ones, allowed to ask things from him. He and the kids found privacy in the library, wherein Toffee was catching up on reading his novel, while the children were playing on the carpet. Star and Marco were absent tonight- they decided to go outside for a walk.
Suddenly, one of the servants rushed in, startling the children as a result, much to their father's dismay.
- I thought I made it clear- the king spoke annoyed.- when I said that I do not want to be disturbed.
This better be a life-and-death situation or else something might happen to that servant!
- Emergency, Your Majesty! - the servant was barely breathing.- Some kind of...odd...mewman-like...creatures...are fighting at the center.
- What do you mean by "mewman-like"?
- You have to come, sir!
Couldn't these guys just deal with the problem themselves? Just because Toffee was the king, did not mean that he must do everything! He had a personal life too, after all! However, he did not want to argue, so just for the sake of peace and tranquility, he would deal with the problem. Whatever the Hell it was?!
Eda turned into her harpy form and tried to avoid Belos' attacks. Lilith used ice glyphs on him, but he dodged them as if they were nothing. King used his scream and for a moment it seemed as if it was working, until Belos' arm mutated and grew in size. He used it to toss them all aside and entrapped them in his other mutated fist. His claws grew longer and sharper and he smirked wickedly.
The brawl was so loud that it woke up many of the local creatures, who went outside to see what was going on. Belos noticed the random eyewitnesses with his peripheral vision and was disgusted by their appearance. These creatures heavily resembled the reptiles back on Earth...or even some of the demons on the Boiling isles. Recalling he did not have much time to waste, Belos chose to ignore them for know and instead to focus on finishing the Clawthorne family once and for all.
- Goodbye, Clawthornes!- the witch hunter taunted the witches.
However, before his large hand could perform its goal, somebody grabbed it all of a sudden.
Belos was surprised to see that one of those strange creatures was standing before him, and looking at him straight into his eyes. The creature was slightly taller than him, with slicked back black hair, cyan scales, long jaws, semi-open yellow eyes and dressed in a black suit.
What a hideous beast! And yet, it had the guts to interfere! Belos frowned in disgust at that monster.
- What...are you?- he asked the creature.
- What a coincidence!- the monster replied in a deep and monotone voice.- I was about to ask you the same thing. You are trespassing and violating the tranquility of the local population. So I will have to ask you to leave immediately!
- Now, now, monster!- Belos tried to be civil with the beast.- I don't want any problems. I just happen to be a witch hunter at the wrong place, and these...filthy beings behind you are my targets.
Toffee looked behind his back to see the said "targets" himself. He saw two middle-aged women, whom, at first, he was about to say were mewmans, but their ears were longer and pointier. They were accompanied by two other creatures- one small furry creature with a collar on his neck and a skull for a head, and another, who heavily resembled a barn owl with an extended neck, attached to a wooden nest box, which one of the women carried as if it was a backpack. The elderly man called himself a "witch hunter", so the two women were most likely witches. That could probably explain their ears.
- Don't look at us like that, pal!- Eda shouted at Toffee.- He's the one, you should be suspecting.
- Be quiet there, you!- one of the neighbors yelled through the window.- I have to get up early tomorrow and I'm trying to sleep now.
Point taken! Toffee faced the elderly man again.
- Sir, I will ask you to leave now! If you refuse to cooperate, I will have no choice but to use force.
Belos chuckled in a rather wicked and intimidating manner.
- There is nothing you can do to stop me!- he taunted the monster.
And just so he won't be wasting any more time, using his claws, he cut off the creature's head completely. The head and the now headless body collapsed on the ground, thus releasing Belos' hand, giving him a chance to finish what he had started.
- Now!- Belos said.- Where was I?
Eda and Lilith were staring at the head, devastated- the poor guy was only trying to help. Eda growled, now furious. The last thing she ever wanted was to allow Belos to hurt innocent bystanders.
- I've had enough with your GARBAGE!- she transformed into her harpy form again, ready to tear the witch hunter to shreds.
While Eda was fighting Belos, Lilith, King and Hooty took a look at the disembodied head, with pity in their eyes. Just when Lilith was about to touch it, something unexpected happened. Just like that...the head...blinked. The head blinked! IT BLINKED! HE WAS STILL ALIVE!
Lilith screamed in horror, followed by both King and Hooty. The next thing the blue-haired witch knew, she saw the headless body raising itself from the ground and picked the head up.
- Wooow!- Hooty couldn't help but admire.
Belos got distracted, when he heard a high-pitched annoying voice calling for him.
- Hey, Belos!- Hooty called.
- It's Philip!- the hunter corrected.
- Why don't you pay special attention to your last victim?- Hooty suggested snarkily.
Confused, Belos turned around to to see what was behind him...only to be met with the monster from before, holding his head in his hands. The elderly human was stunned. He could have sworn he killed that monstrosity!
Toffee smirked slyly and put his head back to where it belonged. The scar from the cut faded immediately and he dusted himself off.
- You...you...-Belos hated himself for stuttering like that.- You...are immortal?!- his tone, though, made it sound as if he was more annoyed than confused or scared.
- SURPRISE!- Toffee said, as his mouth formed into a massive grin.
The grin disappeared from Toffee's face as quickly as it appeared. Up until this point, Belos had completely forgotten about his initial goal, and was focused more on getting rid of that meddling beast.
Toffee raised his arm and snapped his fingers twice, giving signal to the soldiers, who have been previously hiding in the bushes or behind the trees. Belos' eyes widened- that monster had fixed him an ambush. Looked like someone was clever enough to call for some backup.
The posse charged, but Belos could not hold them all by himself. He was not only outnumbered, but with how strong these creatures were, plus the recent revelation they could regenerate, made it basically impossible to vanquish them for good. Left with no other option, Belos retreated, but not before having the last word.
- This is not over!- and he was gone.
Eda, Lilith, King and Hooty were breathing heavily from everything that just happened. Toffee stood up before them, looking at them with semi-open eyes and hands behind his back.
- Wow!- Eda spoke first.- Gotta give it to you! You're pretty hardcore for a guy in a suit.
- Are you okay, sir?- Lilith asked concerned.
- Besides the fact that my face touched the ground, I'm fine.- Toffee answered.
- Okay. By the way, that was pretty helpful. Thank you! Could you tell us which dimension is this one? Is this Earth?
- This is Mewni.- Toffee answered her question.
As they were all face to face, Toffee had a much better opportunity to study the four of them. When he looked more carefully, he noticed that one of the two women had pale skin, long navy blue hair with a grey stripe, and differently coloured eyes- one green and the other grey, implying she probably had heterochromia like Razzles. She did not wear that much makeup with the exception of black lipstick and black nail polish. She was wearing round-shaped glasses, a green short-sleeved shirt with a brown vest on it, long magenta skirt and brown high-heeled shoes. She had a few small wrinkles around her eyes, giving away her age.
The other woman was just as tall and had the same pale skin, and even the same wrinkles around the eyes. However, her hair was untamed and completely grey. She had a single gold fang, wore a red dress and matching high-heeled boots. She had red lipstick and yellow nail polish. Her eyes were also mismatched in colour, with one being yellow and the other being grey.
It was getting late and the weather- colder as a result. For a cold-blooded monster like Toffee, this only meant he needed to get back home right now. He had two children waiting for him there. But he couldn't leave these people here all alone. He needed to know of the reason for their presence.
- Do you have a place to stay for the night?- he asked them.
The two sisters exchanged a look.
- Err...no.- Lilith responded hesitantly.
- You can come with me, if you wish. I see you have a lot of questions, and I will give you all the answers you need, but you have to answer my own questions as well.
- Sounds great!- Hooty was quick to answer.
- Let's just have a quick word!- Lilith offered.
She, Eda, King and Hooty turned their backs against Toffee and quietly whispered to each other.
- We don't know him.- King commented.- We don't know if we can trust him, either.
- Yeah, but- said Eda.- it's not like we have many options to choose from. We don't even know where Luz and her friends are.
- Edalyn is right!- Lilith agreed with her sister.- For now, it's better to get some rest. Plus, if he can give us some information, then it sounds beneficial to me.
- Besides, King- Eda added.- he just saved us.
King sighed, knowing his adoptive guardian had a pretty good point there. He nodded, and he and the sisters turned back to Toffee.
- On the behalf of my family- Lilith spoke.- we accept the offer.- she and Toffee shook their hands in mutual agreement. His skin was pretty cold to the touch.- We didn't introduce ourselves. My name is Lilith Clawthorne.
Clawthorne? Just like that retired militsioner.
- But I call her "Lulu".- Hooty wrapped himself around Lilith.
- This is my family.- she continued.- My sister Edalyn.
- Call me "Eda"!- Eda added.
- My nephew King.
- Officially a Clawthorne now!- King said.
- And last, but not least, Hooty. Our house demon.
- If you need anything...call me.- Hooty shoved his face too close to Toffee's own.
- And you are?- Lilith asked the stranger, after getting Hooty away from him.
- Toffee.- the monster replied laconically.
Eda snorted and cackled out loud, much to her sister's shock.
- Oh, that's rich! What is your real name?
Toffee did not give her an answer, and stared at her with the same emotionless face as before.
- Wait!- Eda came to a realization.- You are serious?!
Although a little insulting, Toffee had nothing to say about that reaction. He was used to it.