24. Chapter 62: Prelude to War: Part Three(1)

Chapter 62: Prelude to War: Part Three

Years Ago…

A large family-sized tent had been set up on the Knee. Gathered nearby in the ruins were a family. Next to it was an airship with an Oracle Coven sigil.

Running through the snow were two young boys having a snowball fight. "You can't beat me, Simon!" said the oldest one with brown hair, throwing a snowball at his younger brother.

"Oh I'll beat you, Cain!" Simon said as he used his magic to slam the snow-covered ground. He launched himself up as he threw a snowball at Cain, hitting him in the face.

"Ow! That hurt!" Cain called out.

"But I win!" Simon declared, only to get tackled by Cain, causing the two to wrestle on the ground.

"Alright, alright!" shouted a teenage Boris, who walked over and separated the two brothers. "You two knuckleheads need to cool off, okay!?"

"What is going on here?"

They all looked up and saw a woman walking over to them. She was Delara Saltstar, the previous Head of the Oracle Coven. She had wavy black and side bangs tied in purple knots, green eyes, pale skin, and was wearing earmuffs, a gray scarf with a paw at the end, a long purple coat with black gloves and boots. She wore the Oracle sigil emblem around her neck.

With her was a teenage boy with a feminine appearance that made him look nearly identical to his mother. Beck Saltstar, who wore a brown fur coat with red earmuffs, black gloves and boots.

"Oh it's nothing, Auntie," Boris replied as he let go of the boys. "Just these two roughhousing."

"Simon hit me in the face with a snowball!" Cain pouted.

"It didn't hurt that much," Simon replied. "There's nothing to cry over."

"I'M NOT CRYING!" Cain declared while holding back his tears.

"That snot speaks otherwise," Beck said while Cain pouted.

"Now, don't pick on your brother," Delara said, giving a childish pout of her own.

"Delara, bring the kids over!" shouted Samwitch, who was at the camp with a large cauldron of soup. "Dinner's ready!"

"Alright, the scumbo's ready!" Simon said excitedly as he and his brother started to run over. "Race ya, Cain!"

"Not if I beat you first!" Cain responded as they raced towards the campsite. Delara could only smile as she watched her sons racing each other. She then felt a headache and she grabbed her head, which Beck and Boris noticed.

"Are you alright, mom?" Beck asked her.

"Oh, I'm just fine," Delara responded. "Just a migraine."

Later, after dinner, the Saltstar family and Boris were sleeping in their large tent. Delara and Samwitch slept together while Simon and Cain slept with Beck and Boris at their side. Delara was sleeping peacefully until…

STOP HIM

Delara was shifting and turning as her dream took a turn and she was exposed to several disturbing images.

A bestial figure dressed in a red cloak and a mask that looked like a bleached skull with antlers coming out of it stared into her with its burning eyes.

The sky had turned red as it began to crack, causing a rift to open.

The Boiling Isles was on fire as it was laid waste to by winged mechanical-looking creatures.

Leading them was one winged creature with a single glowing yellow eye.

PLEASE… STOP HIM!

"GAH!" Delara screamed as she launched herself up from her cot, feeling her head in a migraine as she screamed, waking everyone up.

"Delara, are you alright, my love?!" Samwitch asked, holding onto her wife who was in tears.

"I… I don't know…" Delara responded as she cried. "It was horrible… I… think it was…"

"Mom?" asked Cain as he, Simon, Beck, and Boris who all shared worried looks. "Are you alright?"

"Did you have a bad dream?" Beck asked in concern.

Delara looked at her family. She was shivering. "I don't think… it was a dream."

WEDNESDAY

At Emily's place, the Glandus Queen had woken up to find Stella not at her side.

"Stella?" Emily asked, a worried look on her face. "Stella, where are you!?" She rushed down to the kitchen and spotted Stella sitting at the table. "Stella, are you-" She then saw someone else at the table. "Oh, hello Craig."

Craig gave Emily a serious look while holding up his scroll. "Explain this."

Emily saw that it had footage of her fight with Luz. "I saw an opportunity and I took it, and was about to put her in her place… if not for a turncoat."

"Challenging her to a fight prematurely could have been disastrous," Craig pointed out.

"I had it under control," Emily hissed.

"Hey, watch your tone," Craig countered. "This is about more than just revenge, you know."

Emily laughed. "Really funny, Craig. Is that part of your stand up?" She then gave a mocking smile. "You're not one to talk about grudges, since you're still pissed at Lilith for getting you fired."

Craig glared at her back. "Who took you in after your parents abandoned you? Who pays for this apartment that you live in with your little girlfriend? The Boss expects great things from you, Tricks. But don't forget that we both answer to him or that your future in the Tarot Guild is at stake here."

"Of course I haven't forgotten," Emily told him, "I'm not a failure like you."

"Now you listen here-"

"Me and Stella have to be ready for school," Emily interrupted. "I have my job, you have yours."

Craig looked annoyed, but he saw that the discussion was over so he got up and started to leave.

A year ago

Back when Craig was still a coven scout, he was with Coven Head Lilith when she attended the coven tryouts at Glandus High. Lilith was observing a younger Emily Tricks, who had just managed to defeat thirty of her fellow Juniors in a battle royale.

Emily grabbed a microphone. "Hail to the Queen, baby!" This was followed by a lot of cheers and clapping from the students as they welcomed their new Queen.

"Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!"

"Impressive," Lilith commented. "She has a lot of potential for the Emperor's Coven."

"What did I tell ya, Head Witch Lilith," Craig told her. "This little spitfire is the top of her class with a Spell Score of 412. She was even named 'Best Flyer Derby Player' in her Sophomore year."

"I wish to meet her right away," Lilith said as she headed over.

After stepping down from the stage, Emily spotted Stella waiting for her.

"Congratulations," Stella said with a warm smile. "New Queen of Glandus."

Emily walked up to kiss her on the forehead, the two snickering. "We did it, with you by my side we are going to rule this place."

Stella nodded, leaning in to kiss Emily on the lips. Emily started to bring her girlfriend close to her, but the moment was interrupted when they heard Lilith's voice.

"Emily Tricks," Lilith spoke, causing the couple to break off from their kiss as they turned and bowed to Lilith.

"Head Witch Lilith," Emily spoke to her.

"At ease, you two," Lilith told them, turning to Emily, "I have seen what you're capable of and I must say, I think you could have a future in the Emperor's Coven."

"Why thank you, Coven Head Lilith," Emily replied.

"In fact, I'm so impressed, I am willing to offer you my mentorship to help you with your next step," Lilith explained. "I can work out a schedule for you-"

"Actually, I will have to decline," Emily interrupted. surprising Lilith.

"What? But, Ms. Tricks, why?" Lilith asked in confusion.

"Don't get me wrong, I am set on joining the Emperor's Coven," Emily responded. "But I do not wish to become the apprentice from a witch who has failed for years to capture the Owl Lady." This shocked Lilith. "Truthfully, I don't think your mentorship would do me much good."

Lilith was startled, "W-Well-"

"I would rather join the Emperor's Coven on my own merits anyway," Emily told her while turning around and walking away, Stella following her.

After they left Lilith behind, Emily and Stella were then met by Craig, who was waiting for them. "Gotta say, you did good out there, kid."

"Be sure to tell the Boss that," Emily told him,

Meanwhile at the Owl House, an argument had broken out between Eda and Camila.

"I am not okay with this, Eda," Camila said. "My daughter has no business fighting in some war, especially after seeing what that Emily girl did to her."

"Look Camila, I don't like this as much as you do," Eda responded.

"Then why don't you pull her out of the war!?" Camila demanded. "Yesterday my daughter came home covered in bruises and blood! She is just a kid, she should be thinking about her grades and her girlfriend, not fighting the Crips!" She paused to catch her breath while looking stressed out. "How can something like this be even allowed between schools!?"

"Unfortunately, this is pretty much how things here in the Boiling Isles work," Eda explained. "School wars are an old thing that are believed to help build character in young witches. I know that you aren't used to this, but this is considered pretty normal stuff for witches."

Camila gave Eda a serious look. "Eda, that's the thing. Luz is not a witch." But as she said that, Eda's expression changed. Camila backed away as Eda pointed her finger at her.

"Don't you fucking say that!" she shouted at Camila. "Never say that in my house and never say that in front of Luz! Do you understand me!?"

Camila was shocked to see Eda like this. "Y-Yes, I'm sorry."

As Eda tried to calm herself down, Luz came into the living room. She had a bandage patch over her nose and bandages wrapped around her arms.

"Hey, I'm ready for school-" Luz said before she saw her two moms. "What's up? What were you two arguing about?"

Camila walked up to her daughter. "Luz, after what happened yesterday, I don't want you to partake in this school turf war, and I'm trying to convince Eda to pull you out of it."

"What!?" Luz said in shock. "But it's not your call!" She turned to Eda. "Mom, you can't let her do this!"

Eda sighed. "I know the feeling, both of you. Luz, I know that you have your reasons to fight for Hexside, but after what happened with Emily…"

"That's because I didn't know that Emily was prepared to beat me at my own game," Luz countered. "And it won't stop me from fighting." She tried passing by them, only for Camila to grab her arm.

"No, you're not leaving, Luz." Camila told her daughter strictly. "You are not going to get yourself killed over your hurt pride!"

"Pride? This has nothing to do with pride," Luz countered. "The reason why I'm fighting is because my friends and classmates are willing to risk getting hurt as well, because we will not let Glandus take Hexside from us! So this isn't about pride or payback, it's about helping my friends and fighting for what is important to me!" As she said this, Camila recognized the determination on Luz's face. She looked so much like her father at that moment, especially with the eyes.

"Does this school really mean that much to you, Luz?" Camila asked her.

"Well… yeah. I hated it at first, but Hexisde is filled with people who genuinely want to help me and it is filled with people that I wouldn't have befriended otherwise if I wasn't a student there. Hexside is important to me, I admit it." Luz then got an idea. "Maybe… maybe I could show you what I mean… by bringing you to Hexside."

"What?/Weh!?" Camila and Eda exclaimed in surprise.

"Hold on, Luz, are you sure that's a good idea?" Eda asked her, "I mean, especially with your mom being…"

"The Emperor already knows about her, and besides, mama's been trapped in this house for more than a week now. Being cooped up here with Hooty for so long can not be healthy," Luz pointed out.

"I-I don't know, how can I pass off as normal here?" Camila asked her. "Like, do I hide my ears or-"

"Don't worry about it, cause we got cloaks and earmuffs that will help you pass off as a witch easily," Luz said, turning to Eda. "Right, mom?"

"Yeah, you should be fine as long as you stick with us," Eda admitted.

"Alright, it would be nice to get out of the house for a while. But how do we explain who I am to everyone?" Camila asked.

"Just say that you're our cousin," Luz answered.

Amity was checking up on Levi's sister in the aquarium incubator. "Right temperature, the water's clear, filter's good… you're set to go." She turned to King, who was wearing purple overalls. "King, you and Lilith will be in charge of her while I'm gone, can you make sure she's safe?"

"Totally, Amity," King replied. "So uh, notice something different about me?"

"Those overalls you're wearing?" Amity asked and King nodded.

"Yeah! Eda handed me these, they used to be Luz's but now they are the perfect fit for me! I thought that since I am King Clawthorne, I should at least wear clothes. Now that I'm Eda's official son, I have to look the part!" King said excitedly.

"I think it looks good on you," Amity said, patting him on the head.

"Yeah, it looks good on you too," Mai agreed with a nod.

"Yeah I-GAH!" Amity was startled along with King when they saw Mai at the window.

"Who are you!?" King demanded.

"Oh, sorry for startling you." Mai apologized. "My name is Mai, I'm Kitsuni's little sister and I just had to meet you, great Hellcat!"

"Kitsuni… the Detention Track teacher?" Amity asked and Mai nodded. "Let me guess, you've already met Luz and you're a deity, right?"

"Something like that, I'm an Animal Yokai from the far eastern realms!" Mai explained. "More specifically I am from the Yokai Realm."

"What's a Yokai?" King asked her.

"Ooh, glad you asked!" Mai replied. "You see, the Yokai Realm is pretty similar to the Demon Realm here. A lot of supernatural spirits reside in that realm like the Tengu, Kappa, Tanukis, Nekomata, and us fox spirits. Yokai's can even take the form of everyday objects like umbrellas, music instruments, lanterns and such. We all live in a vast regional realm that's made from the carcass of a dead kaiju, similar to your Boiling Isles."

"Wow, so are there also witches where you're from?" Amity asked.

"Well, not exactly but Animal Yokais are basically the equivalent to witches," Mai explained. "See, most yokais can be classified based on our true form, though some yokais in disguise have managed to infiltrate the human entertainment industry."

"Wow, that's really interesting! Once Luz's grounding is over, maybe I can talk to her about it and… maybe ask Kitsuni more about the Yokai Realm as well!" Amity replied, really interested in the topic of other realms.

"If you want, I can take you up at Hexside," Mai offered.

"Really? I hope it isn't any trouble…" Amity replied.

"Nonsense! Since you know my big sis, it'd be no trouble to help take you to school," Mai insisted.

"Well, alright. I'll contact Willow to let her know I'll meet her up there," Amity replied while getting her bookbag. "King, let Lilith know that I'm leaving."

"Alright, but how will she take you to school?" King asked her.

"My tails." Mai pointed to her four tails that started to spin like a helicopter.

And so, Amity held onto Mai's hands as Mai flew them over to Hexside. Amity saw that Eda and Luz had already left, taking Camila with them. 'I'm probably gonna have to ask about that later,' she thought before looking up at Mai. "So… why did you call me 'Hellcat'?"

"Well, that's what you are known back in the Yokai Realm for defeating the Coachman. The illustrations depict you as a flaming cat-faced witch that controls slime monsters," Mai explained.

"Oh… I don't understand the cat part," Amity admitted. "But was me and Luz defeating the Coachman really a big deal? I thought he was just the bad guy of the week."

"It is absolutely a big deal," Mai replied. "Especially since he was once part of Oberon's Court."

"Oberon…?" Amity asked, recognizing the name.

At Glandus High, Miss Heinous had locked herself in her classroom while she still had time before the first period. She was speaking to Oberon, whose head appeared in flames above her cauldron. Miss Heinous knelt before him.

"My Lord," she said respectfully.

"Rise, Child of Oberon," her master told her. "Is everything proceeding as I planned, Meteora?"

The Beast-Keeping teacher nodded. "Glandus will be launching its attack on Hexside tomorrow, my Lord," she informed Oberon. "Will the yokai be away from the Boiling Isles by then?"

"Don't worry about that lackey of the Order," Oberon answered. "I have made sure that she and the rest of the Order won't get in our way. Just remember what you need to do."

"Yes, Amity Goodfellow and Luz Clawthorne will die as you command, my Lord," Miss Heinous/Meteora confirmed. "Because of the chaos of the school war, their deaths won't be traced back to you."

"Still, we can't leave this to chance," Oberon told his servant. "Make sure that those two mortals will be where they need to be. Get them away from Hexside if you can. I trust you to pull this off, Meteora. Don't disappoint me."

"All will be as you have foreseen, my Lord," Miss Heinous/Meteora said. "Tomorrow will mark not just the end of Hexside, but also the end of the mortals who insulted you. Not only will Glandus have its victory, but so will you."

Oberon nodded. "I'll hold you to that," he said before ending the call.

"Just got a text from Amity saying that she managed to find another ride," Willow informed Gus as they prepared for school.

"Well I guess it's just the two of us then," Gus replied while he got out his staff.

"So you haven't heard anything from your dad yet?" Willow asked as they left Willow's home.

"Not yet, but I'm pretty sure he's on like a top, super-secret mission to bust the biggest story in the Isles," Gus answered before spotting someone in front of the house. "Uh…" Willow turned and saw who Gus was looking at.

"You!?" Willow exclaimed, seeing Emily Tricks and Stella by the fence.

"Willow Park," Emily greeted. "You can relax, we're not here for trouble."

"Then what are you doing here?" Willow asks, her eyes narrowing at Emily. "I know what you did to Luz."

"I just wanted to stop by and check out 'Hexside's Best'," Emily said as she crossed her arms and looked Willow over. "I have to say, I'm not impressed."

"Hey, Willow is stronger than you could ever imagine!" Gus defended Willow, standing in front of Emily.

"Oh, and you must be Augustus Porter," Emily commented.

"Yeah, her fearless best friend, so you better watch what you say next," Gus warned.

Emily and Stella looked at each other, then they burst into laughter. "Ohohoh, you are an adorable little guy, aren't you? You Illusionists are always good for a laugh."

Gus glared at them and so did Willow, who didn't approve of Emily mocking Gus. "Hey, Gus is a lot tougher than he looks, and he's smart."

"And there it is, that compassion of yours," Emily pointed out. "You know for most witches, compassion is a weakness. Because when you are focused on others rather than yourself, it keeps you distracted and lets you be easily manipulated. Your compassion will be your downfall and Hexside's as well."

Willow stood her ground. "To be compassionate toward others is not a weakness, it is a strength. A strength that your school lacks."

Emily glared at Willow. "Tsk, now I see where Boscha got it from. Clearly you've rubbed off on her." She turned around and brought out her staff. "Come on, Stella, let's get out of here."

"Y-Yeah," Stella replied, following her and sitting beside her on the staff before they flew off.

Willow and Gus watched them leave. "Don't let her get to you, Willow," Gus told her.

"I know," Willow replied, though something about Stella's body language made her worried. "Come on, let's go."

Boscha was looking at herself in the bedroom mirror. Her talk with Julia last night had helped a lot, but she was still very nervous about returning to Glandus. However, she knew she had to.

Getting her staff and strap bag, she left her room and went downstairs, passing through the kitchen where Athena was holding a plate of breakfast.

"Hey, are you alright?" Athena asked. "Do you want some breakfast?"

"I'll… just have a breakfast bar," Boscha said while grabbing a bar from the pantry. "You can have what you made."

"Alright," Athena responded as Boscha made her way to the door. "Hey, hon." Boscha stopped and turned to her mother. "I promise to find a way to get you out of that school."

Boscha smiled. "Thanks, mom." She was about to leave, but she turned to look at Athena one last time. "I love you."

"I love you too," Athena said as she watched her daughter leave. She looked out the window and saw Boscha flying away on her staff. Sighing, she took the plate of food upstairs and opened the door to the attic.

When Tom woke up, he found a plate of food waiting for him. 'Did Boscha leave breakfast for me?' he thought as he grabbed the plate and took a bite out of the griffin eggs. "So good," he whispered with a smile.

Below him, Athena closed the attic door and headed back to the kitchen, passing by a picture of her deceased sister-in-law, Delara, holding up a little Boscha.

"I said that I don't want to be held, Aunt Delara!" Boscha, age ten, complained.

"But you're so adorable, Boscha," Delara replied, putting her down after the picture was taken.

"I'm going to my friends," Boscha said while running over to a table where there was a young Skara who was eating the cake, an uninterested Amity who looked bored, and Amelia who was drawing on her clipboard. "Alright, where's the presents!?"

"Thanks again for coming here, Delara," Athena said to her sister-in-law. "I appreciate that you and my brother could make it, I understand that it probably wasn't easy for your schedule."

They turned to Samwitch, who was being used like a playground for the kids to climb over him. He had to catch one that was about to fall. "Careful now," he said to a young Cat.

"I wouldn't think of missing my niece's birthday," Delara replied, while nearby the Blights were watching their conversation.

"I can't believe Nicole managed to get a Head Witch to come to her daughter's birthday," Odalia whispered to her husband. "When Amity's next birthday comes up, have Darius invited."

"I-I'm not so sure he'll want to come," Alador replied unsurely.

"I will not let Nicole be able to show me up, so get Darius, and I can get Lilith in order to put Nicole in her place," Odalia ordered.

Delara had overheard them, but could only shake her head. Her mind was elsewhere. She hadn't said much about the vision she had at the Knee since returning from her trip. She wasn't sure who she could tell. It felt so real. Almost as if it had been… a premonition.

"Hey," Athena said to Delara. "Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing," Delara replied.

"You sure? You were spacing out for a while," Athena said. "If you want to sit down, I can get you a drink…"

"Don't worry about me, today is about your daughter, after all," Delara assured her, despite looking much paler than she did before her trip to the Knee. She still tried to put on a brave face, forget her vision, and enjoy a moment of peace-

"Delara! Samwitch!"

That was all when Nicole marches over towards her, holding a present at hand. "What is this!?"

"It's just a present for Boscha," Delara pointed out.

"Who's it from?" Nicole demanded in anger.

"It's from Boris," Samwitch respond after getting the kids off of him, marching up to Nicole in defense of his wife, "He told us to give it to Boscha-"

"Boris is no longer part of this family!" Nicole declared, giving the present forcefully back to Delara. "He made that decision, which means that we don't want anything that has to do with him!"

"Nicole, you are making a scene!" Athena hissed at her wife.

"Why? It's bad enough that this woman spreads around her 'wild witch' agenda as a Coven Head, but then she took that brat into her home-"

"Enough!" Samwitch barked at Nicole, defending his wife. "I will not let you talk to her like that, Nicole! Delara is just concerned for the wild witches in the Isles, she believes that they deserve to be treated fairly by our system! As for Boris, he came to us and we took him in without question, he's always welcome because he's family!"

"He is not family! Not anymore! He made that very clear and if he wants to still be in Boscha's life, then he should have thought about that first before ungratefully throwing everything I ever gave him away!"

"That is it!" Delara shouted causing everyone to go silent as the whole room flashed red due to her mood gemstone necklace. She tapped the gemstone as the color of the room returned to normal. "I… I need to leave."

Samwitch helped escort her wife from the party, Delara stopping to turn to Boscha. "I am sorry about this. Happy birthday, Boscha."

"Y-Yeah, thanks Aunt Delara," Boscha replied as she watched her aunt and uncle leave.

Felicia didn't want to go to school that day. Or that week, really. So she found her mom looking at her scroll and decided to take her shot.

"Hey, mom," Felicia said. "I don't think I want to go to Hexside for the rest of the week and instead I think I should just stay at home until this Glandus thing is over-"

"Oh little vixen, you're not skipping the war," Felicity told her daughter.

"What!? But I don't want to-"

"I'm gonna need you to be on the frontlines to get me exclusive footage," Felicity told her. "That footage will be valuable, regardless of who wins."

"What!?" Felicia exclaimed. "But mom-"

"No buts, my decision is final," Felicity told her daughter. "But there is another reason I want you to go to school today. Something you can help me with."

Felicia rolled her eyes. "If this is about Luz Clawthorne-"

"Oh no, it's not about the Owl Lady's kid," Felicity told her daughter. "It is about someone else…"

Meanwhile, up at the Knee, about halfway up to thigh, there was a white school building in the shape of a fortress. This was the St. Epiderm Academy of Gifted Witches.

The interior of the school was cavern-like, the torch-lit hallways leading to a plaza that students passed through to go to different parts of the school. There were a total of five floors for students to go to by use of levitating steps, staff, or beast. The floor was decorated by an image of the school's mascot, a dragon with white, red and blue colors.

Donna Masterskull was in front of her locker. She knocked on it and it was opened by a gremlin that was inside. "Advanced Healing and my red notebook, please," she said to the gremlin.

"Here ya go, D.M." The gremlin handed her what she needed. "Say, what do you think about that school war between the Hexies and the Glandys?"

"Honestly, Ruby, I feel sorry for Hexside," Donna admitted, looking down sadly. "They are in for a rough time."

"Yeah, but what can be done about it?" the locker gremlin asked. "Nothing. We just have to let the war run its course. Anyway, see ya next period." The gremlin then closed the locker.

"Everyone's a bit down about Hexside, Donna."

Donna turned and saw one of her friends, a petite girl with long black hair with a hime-cut to her bangs, pale white skin with dark eyes and red iris. Her St. Epiderm uniform had a purple stripe, indicating that she was an Oracle Track student.

"I know, Tina, I just wish there was something we could do about it," Donna replied.

"Maybe it is best that we don't think about getting involved," spoke a girl who was taller than Donna and standing by the lockers. She had purple bobcut hair which looked more like a serpent's tail, with indigo horns over her long goat-like ears. She had humanoid features with green eyes and a button nose. She was wearing the Plant Track colors and what appeared to be shorts due to her hindlegs, "I mean, don't get me wrong, but I feel a lot safer with Glandus focusing on Hexside instead of us."

"Only for now," spoke a dark-skinned witch boy with short black hair and bull horns. He sported gray eyes and a bolt tattoo across his neck. He appeared to be part of the Construction Track, but his arm sleeves were ripped to show his muscular shoulders. "But if Hexside falls, who do you think Glandus will target next?"

"That… that is a scary thought…" Tina shivered.

"Tyrone, you're scaring poor Tiny again," the plant horned girl said, patting Tina reassuringly.

"I'm not scared, Veronica," Tina claimed. "I… I'm just concerned… especially since my cousin Viney attends Hexside…"

"Don't worry, I'm sure your cousin will be fine," Donna told Tina, trying to comfort her.

"She's right, Tina," said a voice, startling the friends.

The friends turned to see who had snuck on them. It was a tall, pale skinned teenage witch boy with swampy black hair. His pointy ears had skull piercings on each side, his green eyes had black eye shadow, and his lips were black. In addition to his Beast-Keeping track colors, he wore a long black jacket filled with chains, black fingerless gloves, and dark boots. "Don't underestimate Hexside, especially if half of the interesting stories I have heard about its students are true."

"For Titan's sake, Bailey! Why do you always have to scare the crap out of us!?" Veronica demanded.

"It's Beocrow, Rex," he corrected.

"Well, at least you remembered to wear a shirt this time," Tyrone mentioned. "Did you find the Slitherbeast yet?"

"Unfortunately, no," Beocrow declared. "And too bad, since I was gonna share with him a hydra's head I found the other day."

"Ugh, it's because of stuff like this everyone considers your family crazy," Veronica said honestly.

"Yeah, I guess that's true," Beocrow responded pridefully, much to Veronica's irritation.

"Speaking of Hexside, have you tried reaching out to your cousin there yet?" Donna asked Beocrow. But before Beocrow could answer-

"EVERYOOOONE!" screamed a blonde student as ran toward them, tripped, and fell.

"Kyle? What are you yelling about!?" Donna asked.

The student, Kyle, got up. "It's Glandus… they've sent some of their top students here!"

"What?!" Donna asked in shock.

"Look! They sent only four of them!" a student pointed out. Cain, Nina, and Tito were standing in the snow while flying above them was Kadabe.

"Well what are you standing for? Fire the defense cannons!" a teacher ordered as the St. Epiderm students brought out the cannons.

Cannonballs were fired toward the Glandus students. Tito grinned and instantly jumped up, raising his leg up and kicking a cannonball into another one. He calculated the angles in his head, kicking several more cannonballs and sending them crashing into trees.

Cain then raised his arm up, shooting out steel metal that hit the cannons and stopped them from firing. The St. Epiderm students backed away in shock as Kadabe flew up to them, her arms crossed.

"We are not here to fight, we're here to talk," Kadabe told them. "We are representatives sent by Glandus to speak with Headmistress Midday. Drop the drawbridge to let us in or we will force our way inside."

The teacher looked at Kadabe and the other Glandus students before sighing. "Lower the bridge!"

St. Epiderm students cleared out of the way as the Top Juniors and one of the Top Sophomores of Glandus High passed by. All were surprised to see some of Glandus's strongest up close, which gave them a sense of dread and fear.

Opening the door of the Bard classroom was Beck Saltstar, now a teacher dressed in a white and red tunic and long dress. She saw the Glandus students passing by, which included her brother.

"Cain?" Beck asked, waving at him. "Cain, is that you? You're still wearing that helmet! Why haven't you called much?"

Cain stopped, turning to Beck, who was a splitting image of their mother. He turned back, ignoring her much to Beck's shock.

"Cain…" Beck said, feeling hurt.

Tito, who was moon-walking all the way, turned around once he came to a stop. "This here the principal's office?" he asked a staff member.

"Y-Yes, Headmistress Midday is inside, waiting for you," the staff member replied.

"Good," Tito said as he turned to Nina. "Kitten, you can sit this one out. We got this, so why don't you use this chance to scare these private school geeks."

Nina grinned with a nod, "Of course.'' As the three other Glandus students entered the office, Nina turned around to face the St. Epiderm students staring at her. "What? If any one of you wishes to challenge me, go right ahead." She gave a lion-like roar, startling the students as she walked down the hall, baring her fangs and claws. "Just try it."

Then she got a whiff, the smell of someone she recognized. "Strawberry shampoo," she whispered, her eyes narrowing.

Elsewhere in the school, Donna and her friends had missed seeing the Glandus students pass by. "Dammit, we missed them," Beocrow said.

"Are you stupid!?" Veronica questioned him. "You should be glad that they didn't see us!"

"I just wanted to see what they're made of," Beocrow said while Veronica looked at him with an annoyed and tired expression.

"I heard one of them kicked our cannonballs into dust!" Tina said. "And he's only a Bard!"

"No way Bard could do that!" Tyrone exclaimed.

Donna then felt something fuzzy stroke her back to her neck. She turned around and saw no one behind her. Then she heard a voice. "Hey, Donna…"

She felt Nina wrap her arms around her, but she wasn't grabbing her, more like hugging her. Donna didn't seem surprised or afraid by this.

"Hey, that's one of them!" Tina pointed out.

"Trying to go after Donna?" Beocrow smirked, getting ready to fight Nina.

"Wait!" Donna told them. "It's fine, she's not here to fight." As she said this, she felt Nina let go of her.

"What?" Veronica asked, looking just as puzzled as the other three.

"She's… kind of an old friend," Donna revealed, feeling Nina's finger tapping under her chin.

"Oh come now, Princess of St. Epiderm," Nina purred. "Is that all I am to you?"

"It is nice to see you again, Nina," Donna replied with a smile.

Nina blushed but hid it as she kept her cool. "Maybe we should catch up while my associates talk with your headmistress."

"I don't know about this, Donna," Tyrone said. "Leaving you alone with her doesn't sound like a good idea."

"If the rumors from the Beast-Keeping circles are true, this one has a screw loose," Beocrow noted.

"You're welcome to challenge me to a Beast-Battle if you want, crow-boy," Nina responded with a smirk, flipping him off.

"Come on, Nina, if you want to talk, let's talk," Donna said to her while she and Nina walked away from the others.

"You do realize that you potentially made yourself a target for her?" Tina asked Beocrow, worried for him.

"I ain't afraid of her," Beocrow said as coming out of his jacket was a black crow with a gray beak, who hopped onto his shoulder. "She's welcome to try to take my life."

"Seriously, why are you so morbid?" Veronica questioned.

Tito, Cain and Kadabe were in Midday's office, Tito taking the lead.

"So you wish to have an audience with me?" Midday asked him.

"Yes, we are here as representatives of Glandus," Tito explained. "As you know, we're at war with Hexside…"

"Yes, and I made it clear that St. Epiderm won't participate nor will be involved with the war," Midday replied.

"Well it's good that we're both in an understand-" He paused, noticing a mouse statue on her desk. "What… is that!?"

"Oh, this? That's just something my niece made for me-"

"Grr, I CAN'T STAND IT!" Tito shouted in anger, about to kick the mice statue until Kadabe and Cain restrained him. "LET ME GO SO I CAN STOMP IT!"

"Calm down, Tito!" Cain told him.

"Get that out of his sight! Please!" Kadabe told the headmistress, who quickly put the statue away.

"There, it's gone! What is your problem!?" Midday called out to him.

"We apologize, this wasn't our intent," Cain told her while Kadabe calmed Tito down. "See, during his childhood, Tito had a friend, who's a little dormouse. She became his talent manager after he broke up from the Jackwitch 5… until she dropped Tito completely."

"I HAVE HATED THE SIGHT OF MICE SINCE THEN!" Tito shouted in anger, his vein popping. Kadabe handed him a ghoulnola bar.

"Eat this," she told him. "You're not you when you're hungry."

Tito nodded and took a bite, calming down. "Thanks, 'Be," he told her while readjusting himself. "Sorry for my repulsive side… but let's get back to business."

"If you came here to just throw in threats-"

"Now, now, let's not get ahead of ourselves," Tito told her coolly. "You love your students, don't you, Headmistress? Love them as if they're your own children?"

"…Where are you getting this?" Midday asked.

"Take the Princess of St. Epiderm, your little star student Donna Masterskull, for example. Our good friend Nina is just itching to… steal her away."

Midday stood up. "I will not have you make threats against my students-"

"Not a threat," Tito told her. "A promise. We just want to make sure that you know where St. Epiderm stands in all of his. It is good that you are choosing to stay out of our war with Hexside… make sure to keep it that way. Because if you choose to become a problem to Glandus, we will make ourselves a problem for you…"

Meanwhile, Donna and Nina were by a vending machine, Donna handing her a drink.

"So are your folks treating you well?" Nina asked her.

"Yeah, they are," Donna answered. "What about your family?"

Nina huffed. "Still the worst," she answered. "I can't wait until I am able to move out."

"Oh?" Donna asked. "What are your plans for after graduation?"

"Well, right now I am at the top of the food chain in Glandus," Nina explained. "I've managed to make a name for myself there. Emily is going to be joining the Emperor's Coven, while I'm going to be joining the Beast-Keeping Coven. With her help, I'll be the first lycanthrope to become a Head Witch."

"I saw what Emily did to that girl, Luz," Donna mentioned. "Is that really the type of person you're following these days, the type of person you hang out with?"

Nina shrugged. "I'm part of the Glandus pack now, so I follow my alpha."

"I just think you could do better," Donna said while Nina smirked at her.

"My my, is sweet Donna concerned for little old me?" Nina asked, her tail wrapping around Donna's waist to pull her towards her. She brushed Donna's hair. "Why not save us both the trouble and just join me?"

"And help you bully others?" Donna asked her, backing away. "It may be nice to see you again, but I don't want to be a part of what you're doing."

Nina frowned and scoffed. "Guess being a princess really makes you think you're beneath Glandus trash like me."

"I never said that, Nina," Donna said.

"Maybe it's not ideal for you, but not all of us have well off parents who can send you to some fancy private school," Nina told her. "Things work differently at Glandus and I think it changed me for the better, while this place has made you soft and spoiled." She then checked her scroll and looked disappointed by the message. "Well, lucky you."

"What do you mean?" Donna asked while Nina passed by her.

"It means I'm leaving, princess," Nina told her. "Oh, and to get something to remember me by… my parents still give my older brother tongue baths."

Donna grimaced. "That is not something I want to hear."

"Now you know!" Nina waved as she walked away, leaving Donna to pout.

Once Nina was gone Donna sighed, remembering her first time meeting the werecat girl…

Years ago…

Crane's Home for Unwanted Witchlings and Demons was a personal project of Head Witch Scooter Crane, who wanted every child to have a proper home… and become a proper Bard. Every child brought to the orphanage was forced to learn Bard magic and in the 'proper' way that the old-fashioned Crane insisted be taught. The best of the orphans would play and sing at fundraisers and other events.

One of the orphanage's residents was an eight year old Donna Masterskull, who was secretly overhearing Crane talking with one of the administrators of the orphanage.

"This is why you called me?" Crane asked, his tone annoyed. "Because of a stray feral?"

"The coven scouts found her fighting a pack of demon dogs," the administrator explained. "After she won the fight, the coven scouts managed to capture her. She wouldn't tell them who her family was, so they decided to drop her off here."

"It is bad enough that I have to deal with Amber," Crane told the administrator. "I will not put up with a wild werecat as well. Call Eberwolf. They should be the one to handle this, not me. And make sure that creature doesn't leave its room. I don't want it running loose in my orphanage."

The administrator nodded. "Yes, Head Witch Crane."

Donna gasped. A werecat? Here? She quickly rushed to tell some of the older orphans what she had overheard. They were just as surprised as she was.

"Wow, I don't think I've ever seen a werecat in person before," a teenage Amber told Donna. "I wonder what she's doing so far away from the Torsa Villa. I heard that most werecats don't ever leave the Villa."

"Maybe she ran away," suggested Amber's fellow orphan, a teenage Derwin. "Though I can't really blame Head Witch Crane for taking precautions with her. Lycanthropes, even young ones, can be really dangerous. Didn't you say you heard that she got in a fight with a pack of demon dogs?"

Donna nodded. "I wish I could see her," she admitted. "Not just because it would be cool. What if she's scared or hurt? Shouldn't someone at least check if she's okay instead of locking her up like she is some animal?"

"Head Witch Eberwolf will probably take care of her," Derwin proposed and Donna sighed.

"I know," she acknowledged. "But this could be my only chance to meet a werecat…"

Amber and Derwin glanced at each other, Derwin recognizing the smirk forming on his friend's face and the look in her eyes.

"Amber…" he said warily.

"Donna, I think that we could help you get a meeting with our werecat visitor," she told the younger orphan. "Just give us a few minutes."

"Us?" Derwin asked.

"Of course," Amber said. "You're going to help me."

Derwin sighed. "I can't talk you out of this, can I?"

"Nope," Amber replied simply.

Not long after this, Donna was peeking around the corner at the administrator standing guard in front of the door to the room where the werecat girl was being held. Then from another room the sound of a recorder could be heard, followed by a loud crash and some shouting. The administrator immediately knew who was responsible.

"Amber," the administrator said in an exasperated tone, running toward the commotion and leaving the door unguarded. Seeing her chance, Donna ran for the door. She pulled out a key from her pocket and drew a spell circle with it, causing the door to unlock.

Creeping inside the room, Donna looked around for the werecat girl but was surprised to see nobody in sight. Had the werecat girl somehow already escaped?

Donna then heard someone cry out before coming down from the ceiling and landing right on top of her. Donna let out a shout and rolled on the ground with her assailant, before finding herself pinned on her back against the floor.

This at least gave Donna the chance to get a good look at an eight year old Nina Fangs, who was on top of her. Nina was a mess, covered in scratch marks and mud stains. Her clothes were torn in some places and she was growling.

"What do you want?" Nina asked her. "Who sent you?!"

"W-what?" Donna asked, confused. "Nobody sent me, I came here by myself. I-I just wanted to see you, since I've never met a werecat before."

Nina rolled her eyes and got off of Donna. "Well, you've seen me now. So go."

"Wait!" Donna said. "You're hurt." She pointed to her scratch marks.

Nina just smirked. "You should see what the demon dogs look like after I won that fight," she boasted proudly.

"Why did you get in a fight with them in the first place?" Donna asked.

Nina shrugged. "To prove that I could, I guess. And because I thought it would be fun."

Donna frowned and got up, walking toward Nina. "Here, let me just-"

Nina backed away, glaring at Donna. "What are you doing?"

"I just wanted to try a healing spell," Donna explained. "Head Witch Crane forces us all to learn bard magic, but honestly I'm not very good at all. I'm much better at healing magic."

Nina gave Donna a suspicious look. "Fine," she said. "But if you try anything else, I'll claw you." She showed off her claws to make her point.

Donna just created a circle with her finger, performing a healing spell that made some of Nina's scratch marks fade away. The werecat looked at the results in surprise.

"Huh," she said before looking at Donna. "Thanks."

"No problem," Donna said. "My name is Donna, by the way."

Nina hesitated before giving her name. "Nina." She was quiet for a moment. "So you wanted to see a werecat, huh? Do I meet your expectations?"

"I don't know what I was really expecting," Donna answered. "Are they all like you?"

Nina sighed and sat down. "I wish," she said. "But I'm the only one who isn't a total pussy." She heard Donna gasp at this and the werecat smirked. "Oh, come on. Don't be a princess, Donna. You can't tell me that you've never heard someone swear before."

"Of course I have," Donna said as she sat down next to Nina. "I just… don't think you should use words like that."

Nina shook her head. "Poor Donna," she said. "Poor sweet, naïve Donna. Perhaps I should try to ruin your innocence…"

Donna frowned. "Please don't."

"Okay, have it your way," Nina said with a chuckle. "What is it like living here, by the way?"

"Oh, it's not too bad," Donna explained. "Sure, everyone has to learn bard magic and the staff is strict. But the nights aren't cold, the meals are warm, and the other kids are nice. We're all like one big family… of course, I never knew my real family. I don't remember my real parents, though I sometimes do remember a brother. I can't say where he is now though."

"I'm… sorry," Nina said sympathetically. "I actually do have a family, but I-"

"Ran away?" Donna asked before realizing she had interrupted. "Sorry, please continue."

"You're right," Nina told her. "I did run away. I just… I feel like I was born in the wrong era. I'm not like the rest of my family and I hate having to pretend otherwise. I hate having to be something that I'm not."

"Me too," Donna admitted with a sigh, causing Nina to look at her. And so the two continued to sit there together, talking until Eberwolf came by to pick Nina up and take her back home, forcing the girls to say goodbye for what would not be the last time…

In a café, Felicity Fox was having brunch with a friend of hers.

"You are right, Felicity, this café has the best cruelssants," Nicole Hieron said as she took a bite.

"I know, right?" Felicity replied while sipping her brew. "By the way, I managed to convince my daughter to plant a bug in this office of this… Julia Traveler like you requested."

"Excellent," Nicole said. "Soon I will expose her for the fraud she is and she will no longer be able to poison the minds of young witchlings. She's on her way to ruining an entire generation with her nonsense."

"Well, as long as I get a juicy story out of this," Felicity mentioned. "This way, I can start up my pilot for one of those investigation shows where I bust any suspicious witch for no-good actions and operations!"

"Yeah, sounds splendid," Nicole said while finishing up her brunch. "Well I have had enough."

As the two left the café, neither witch noticed that they were being watched…

"I still find it highly unfair that Alador and Calypso were made into Coven Heads," Nicole told Felicity. "I've worked with the Emperor's Coven for years. If anyone deserves to be promoted, it is me. Yes, Breathton is still Head Witch…"

"It's not like Belos needs two Potion Heads," Felicity replied. "Though if Breathton was ever to get involved in a scandal…"

"Hmm, that is an idea…" Nicole considered.

"Maybe I can be of service," said the voice of the Baron.

The two paused and saw that the Baron was in front of them. "Ladies," he said as he tipped his hat to them and offered Nicole his card.

"Baron Saturday? Never heard of you," Nicole said bluntly. "What coven are you from?"

"Why the fortune telling kind, of course," the Baron replied with his charming smile. "I'm the kind of witch that can make your dreams real. Now you look like a woman who has been denied what she desires most. If you like, I can offer some… help with your problems."

"What kind of help?" Nicole asked him.

"The kind that will give you the power that you have sought your entire life…" the Baron replied, causing Nicole to look interested.

Felicity pulled Nicole away. "I'm not so sure about him, Nicole, this witch clearly must be some kind of charlatan," she warned, making the Baron frown. "I suggest that we just skedaddle on our way and-"

"Now don't you disrespect me, little fox! Don't you derogate or deride!" the Baron shouted, startling Felicity. He gestured to an alleyway and a door that was below a sign reading 'The Baron's Voodoo Emporium.' "You're in my world now, not your world, and I got friends on the other side…"

"He's got friends from the other side…"

"That's just an echo, ladies," the Baron said as he led the women inside. "Just a little something you hear in Latissa. A little parlor trick, don't worry."

"Sit down at my table, put your mind at ease," the Baron sang, showing them his table. "If you relax, it will enable me to do anything I please…" Nicole and Felicity took their seats. "I can read your future… I can change it 'round some too, I look deep into your heart and soul… (You do have a soul, don't you, Nicole?) Make your wildest dreams come true."

"I got voodoo, I got hoodoo, I got things I shouldn't even try!" the Baron sang, showing off various items including a shrunken head. "And I got friends on the other side…"

"He's got friends on the other side…" sang the masks that decorated the room behind Nicole and Felicity. The Baron pulled out a deck of cards. "Pick three, if you please…"

Nicole picked three cards, but Felicity turned her head. "Not interested, huh Felicity?" he asked.

"I'm too good for your oracle tricks," Felicity said.

"One oracle to another I see," the Baron scoffed before focusing on Nicole. "Now Nicole Hieron, you are the eldest one in the Hieron Clan. Your family is known for your potion brewing, as well as your tendency to hold a grudge. You are a true traditionalist by your people's standards…"

Nicole nodded as the Baron continued. "But life isn't always fair to you, isn't it, Nicole?" he asked while turning over a card, showing a lower headed child. "Throughout your childhood, you may have come from a well-off family, but you lacked the natural talent that your folks had. No matter how hard you worked, it wasn't enough, was it?" Images of Eda, Lilith, Raine, Calypso, Odalia, Alador and Darius were shown. "Your rivals were able to strive with their own talents, while you never got what you thought you deserved. Instead, you had to use your wealth and family name to compensate for your weakness…"

Nicole tightened her fists as the Baron turned over another card, showing a bird in flight. "Then there's the Clawthornes, the family that keeps on wronging you. You want revenge on them, don't you? You consider them a threat to not just yourself, but all witch kind with their rebellious ideas. But the Emperor himself gave them a pardon, which you find unfair and unjust."

"They should've paid for their actions," Nicole muttered.

"Well what if you had the power to make them pay?" he asked, turning over the third card to show a fist holding a dagger. "The power for you to get what has been denied to you, the power to make you just as strong as you have always wanted to be."

"You can? How?" Nicole asked him.

"You are a businesswoman, are you not?" the Baron asked. He raised his hand. "Then let's cut a deal. I will give you what your heart longs for the most and in return you will give me something that I want, something small and inconsequential for a woman like yourself."

"Nicole, I think we should go," Felicity warned her. "I have a bad feeling about this guy, my instincts tell me we should run!"

Nicole looked at Felicity, then at the Baron's hand. She then grabbed his hand and shook it.

"I am sure we can work something out," Nicole said to him.

The Baron grinned as Nicole and Felicity heard the sound of drums. "Good…"

"Are you ready?(Are you ready?)" the Baron sang with a choir. Green and purple mists filled the room as he grabbed a glowing Haiti mask. "Are you… ready!?"

Voodoo dolls were beating on drums as Nicole felt skeletal hands grabbing her, keeping her in her seat. Felicity jumped out of her seat and fell onto the floor, living voodoo dolls and shrunken heads singing in choir.

"Transformation central!(Transformation central!), Reformation central(Reformation central)!" The Baron got in front of Nicole, holding the mask over her face as she struggled. The mask glowed as he put it on her face, causing her to scream. "Transmogrification central, can you feel it!?"

Nicole fell back in her chair as she felt the mask latching onto her face, muffling her screams. Cracking sounds were heard as a yellow glowing mist swirled around her.

"You're changing, you're changing, you're changing alright! And I hope you're satisfied!" the Baron sang while Felicity backed away in horror. "But if you ain't, don't blame me? Blame your choices and your… pride!"

He laughed and danced with his voodoo dolls and masks, as they all sang.

"You got what you wanted! But you lost what you had!"

The Baron slid across the floor, laughing as he held a finger up to his lip and hushed, causing the candles to blow out.

"AAAAAH!" Felicity screamed as she ran out from the emporium, leaving Nicole behind.

At Glandus, Emily marched down the hall, Stella trying her best to keep up. Emily shoved the students in her way, setting her eyes on her target… Boscha.

Boscha had just closed her locker when she was suddenly shoved against it. "AAH!" she cried out, Emily grabbing her arm and kneeing her in the back "Ah! Let me go!"

"You have fifteen seconds to explain yourself about yesterday, Hieron," Emily demanded, her hand being drawn toward Boscha's neck. "Because otherwise Glandus is going to have its own headless witch real soon…"

Boscha started to panic. "Pl-please… I was just..."

"Five seconds!" Emily tightened her grip.

"I was trying to save you!" Boscha shouted, causing Emily to raise her eyebrows while easing her grip. "When I saw you fighting Luz, it reminded me of my match with her at the exams… I know from experience what will happen if you push her too far… if you had continued, you'd have to face Luz when she loses control of herself and starts maiming you in her lizard bat form." Emily turned Boscha around, making eye contact with her. "I should know… I did the same and almost got killed for it."

Emily gave Boscha an intense look before shutting her eyes and taking a deep breath. Eventually, she decided to let go of the Hieron girl. "Consider yourself spared, Hieron," she told her. "So I guess I should say… thanks." She then began to walk away.

"We'll see you at the breakfast feast tomorrow," Stella replied as she started to follow Emily, but Boscha spoke to her.

"Why do you follow her around?" she asked, causing Stella to pause. "I know you're her girlfriend, but I don't recall ever seeing you two apart. Are you ever not with her?"

"As her girlfriend, I should always be by her side no matter what. It is for her sake," Stella replied, though Boscha wasn't convinced.

"What about your own sake?" Boscha questioned, causing Stella to look conflicted for a moment before Emily called out to her.

"Come on, Stella!" Emily shouted, causing Stella to flinch. The pigtailed girl walked over to her girlfriend, leaving Boscha both confused… and concerned. Boscha wondered if there was a side to their relationship that she wasn't seeing…

Stella ran as fast as she could. She ran through the forest, hopefully they wouldn't find her there. But she knew she was being hunted. She knew she'd sent Nina after her. And just as she feared, she was easily caught by the werecat witch.

"Please, Nina, let me go!" Stella cried out as Nina pinned her.

"Sorry, Stella, but I got orders," Nina responded as she tossed Stella over her back and started taking her back to Emily.

Soon Stella found herself in front of Emily, who did not look pleased.

"I-I'm sorry, Emily… I didn't-"

"Don't you know how worried sick I was when you ran away!" Emily scolded her, pinning Stella to the wall and grabbing her face. "I don't know what I'd do with myself without you! Don't you ever leave me again!"

At Hexside, Principal Bump had Luz and Eda in his office. With them was Camila, who was wearing a cowl to hide her ears.

"So you… bought your cousin… to see what Hexside is like?" Bump asked suspiciously.

"Yeah, my cousin, Ca… ramel came to visit and wanted to see the school that I dropped out of," Eda claimed.

"That's right, she hasn't been out of the house for a long time and we thought that Hexside could be a good change of locale for her," Luz added. "Right, cousin Caramel?"

"Uh… yeah, been cooped up at home for too long!" Camila agreed.

When she saw that Bump wasn't buying it, Luz sighed. "Look, this is really my biological mother Carmila. She was recently brought back to life by a loa called the Baron and she has been living with us for over a week-"

"You don't need to say anymore," Bump interrupted, sounding unsurprised. "You are welcome to show her around, just… please stay out of trouble."

"No sweat, Principal B," Luz assured him.

"I wasn't talking to you, Luz," Bump said as he looked at Eda, who rolled her eyes.

"Fine, Bumper-Sticker," Eda said as she sat up. "Come on, Caramel, let's give you the Hexside tour…"

Their first stop is at Potions. "Here at Hexside, we take classes that are based on the main nine covens and the nine main types of magic. This is Potions, where witchlings learn how to brew potions," Luz explained. "When mom and Aunt Lily attended Hexside, this was their track."

In the Potions Track room, Witch Morty was mixing his ingredients, which caused a small green cloud to pop up from his cauldron. He used the baster to take the liquid and put them in capsules. "What are you making there, Morty?" asked a classmate.

"Just some good ol' fashion chemical warfare," Witch Morty replied while placing the capsules into a water gun. He looked at a target, then shot a capsule at the target, causing it to explode.

Morty smirked. "And that's the way it goes… something my grandpa would say," he said while strapping himself with potions.

"Is this normal?" Camila asked.

"I think some regulations have changed since I've been here," Eda commented.

Next was the Oracle Track. "Here at the Oracle Track where students can use their magic to predict the future, speak to spirits, and become business witches."

"Yeah, a lot of CEOs and people around here are in the Oracle Coven," Eda mentioned.

In the Oracle classroom, Barcus looked into his cauldron at the many possible outcomes of the war, his eyes glowing.

"So you found anything?" Tyler asked.

"Arf!" Barcus barked.

"Uh, does anyone know what he said?" Tyler asked.

"I've taken some courses in his language," Celine responded. "He says that whether we win or lose depends on certain factors… but it does include… a roar… a lot of blood… a death!?"

"Are there ways to prevent that?" Tyler asked while Barcus just sneezed. This caused the Oracle students to give each other worried looks.

As they walked on, Luz spotted Eve, Korn, and the Cerberus sisters. "Oh, the Shadowy Secret Expozers, how are you guys doing?" she asks them.

"Hey Luz, Linkin and Sioux are just thinking of setting up traps for any Glandus intruders," Eve explained.

"Yeah, we are also getting ready for a confrontation with our rival mystery team from Glandus, since we're pretty sure that we will have to face them during the war," Korn added.

"Wait, who's that with your mom?" Cyndi asked.

"Oh, this is… my cousin Caramel," Luz responded. "Caramel, these are the members of the Shadowy Secret Expozers, a group of gothic mystery solving witches that bust crooks who dress up as monsters."

"Oh really? That sounds oddly familiar…" Camila said.

"So what's with Lefty over there?" Eda pointed to Pat who was chewing on a squeaker toy.

"Oh this helps with her anxiety, and thirst for flesh," Blondie answered.

"The squeaking reminds me of the cries of my prey!" Pat told them.

At Glandus, the period had just ended and the Beast-Keeping class was starting to head out the door. Amongst them was Nina, who was also thinking of leaving when she suddenly felt a hand grip her shoulder tightly, causing the werecat to tense up. She knew whose hand that was and what that hand was capable of.

"May I speak to you alone for a moment, Ms. Fangs?" asked a voice that sent a shiver up Nina's spine.

"O-of course, Ms. Heinous," Nina told her teacher, her own voice sounding nervous.

"Good girl," Meteora said, her hand letting go of Nina's shoulder and patting the werecat's cat. "Now there is something that I would like you to do for me..."

During lunch period, Boscha was eating with Angmar and Ukla, who were both worried for her.

"I don't know if you are just brave or if you have a death wish," Ukla commented.

"You're lucky Emily didn't do worse to you!" Angmar added.

"Yeah, I get it. But luckily it looks like she's backing off," Boscha responded.

"Well, at least you got saved from a trip to the Healing Coven," Ukla said while eating her food with the arm that wasn't in a sling.

Boscha noticed this. "So um… how's Yuki?" She saw Ukla glaring at her, which caused the triclops to hold her hands up. "I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked!"

Ukla sighed. "Nah, you're good," she said. "I haven't seen Yuki since she got out of the Healing Coven. She was a Bard Tracker that I met on my first day. She actually came to me when I was looking for my homeroom. She was sweet… and dorky, but the fun kind. I didn't think of her too much at first, but then she grew on me and I guess we became friends…" She looked down sadly. "Then one day Yuki suggested that we go treasure hunting since she found a map that could lead us to an ancient treasure called the Sword of Adam. But then Emily found out…"

Ukla was silent for a moment before continuing. "When I heard Emily had put her in the Healing Coven, I went to go see her but… she wasn't herself. She started to scream at me not to hurt her again, but I swear I didn't hurt her! I never would have…"

Boscha looked concerned. "What did Emily do to her?"

"I don't know what kind of spell she used on Yuki, but I went on after her and challenged her to a Witch Duel… which didn't end well for me, obviously." She lifted up her cast-covered arm. "Yuki got transferred and I can't help but worry for her. I haven't seen her since she was released but I can't forget the way she looked at me, the pain and fear in her eyes…"

"I'm sorry for what happened to your friend," Boscha told her.

"Yeah, I'm sorry as well," Angmar added.

"Thanks," Ukla told them. "I just hope that she gets better…"

At Julia Traveler's office back at Hexside, Amity was having a session.

"Things have been hectic lately," Amity was saying. "Other than this whole school war thing, I've been focusing on taking care of Levi's sister after school."

"How is she, by the way?" Julia asked her.

"Well, thanks to Viney and Grandma Gwen's help, she's safe in the aquarium," Amity responded. "I at least know that she'll be taken care of with Lilith and King's help, since they watch her while I'm gone. And yesterday while I was getting supplies for when she hatches, I managed to talk to Boscha."

"Oh? How did that go?" Julia asked her.

"It went pretty well, actually," Amity admitted. "She asked me if we were ever really friends and I told her the truth, which she accepted. She told me I should focus on my own worries, I can't help but worry for her. Especially after she ran away after saving Luz from Emily. I called Boscha this morning just to make sure she was okay"

"It's nice to hear that you two were able to talk to each other in light of everything that happened between you two," Julia replied.

"Yeah," Amity agreed. "I mean, I haven't forgiven her. But she already got punished for her actions and she doesn't deserve to be part of Glandus."

Julia nodded. "That's good. I am glad that you are approaching this in a healthy and mature manner."

"A part of me does want to hate her for what she did," Amity admitted. "But the rest of me knows that won't do me any good. And even if I can't forgive her… I still appreciate that she did apologize. Yes, me and Luz did manage to forgive each other for how we hurt each other. But Boscha…" She sighed. "I have no idea where I stand on her right now. Maybe it's my fault."

"What makes you say that?" Julia asked her.

"I should've been a better friend to her. But all I did was enable her bad behavior. If I had tried harder and made more of an effort to be a positive influence on her, then she wouldn't have been such a bully," Amity admitted.

"Amity, I know how much you care and worry for others. That's great, but you need to know that you can't take responsibility for Boscha's actions," Julia told her. "Only Boscha could have chosen to be a better witch. We can't change who we were in the past or what we did then, all we can do is move forward, be better, and give others the chance to be better. You don't have to forgive Boscha. You don't have to blame yourself for Boscha. But that also doesn't mean you can't show her compassion or that she is undeserving of that compassion. It doesn't change what she did… but it can have an effect on the person that she becomes. And it can help you continue to be the person that you want to be."

Amity looked up to Julia and smiled. "Thanks, Ms. Traveler."

At the Emperor's Castle, Alador Blight was working on some paperwork he had to fill out as the new Coven Head. He yawned as he looked it over.

"You look terrible, dear," said the voice of Terra Snapdragon, who was behind Alador. "When was the last time you've gotten some decent sleep?"

"I don't know," Alador admitted. Probably before his daughter declared herself no longer a Blight and he learned what his parents had done to his siblings, though he didn't tell Terra that. "Still this work has to be done."

"Hmm, I suppose it does," Terra agreed. She pulled out a thermos and offered it to Alador. "But this should make the work a bit easier."

Alador took the flask and looked at it. "What is this?"

"Just a little herbal brew that I grounded up to help me stay up during those long work nights," Terra told him. She winked at him. "Us Coven Heads have to watch out for each other."

Alador nodded. "Thank you, Coven Head Snapdragon," he said.

"Please, call me Terra," she insisted.

"Of course, Terra," Alador corrected before he took a sip from the thermos. As he drank Terra's brew, his eyes showed a tint of green and Terra smiled...

At Bard Class in Hexside, the students were practicing to use their instruments to send out powerful attacks. After one student used a saxophone to blast music notes at a target, Skara shot out blasts at a target using her cricket violin. At the back of the classroom, Camila looks shocked while Eda looked relaxed.

"This is a music class?" Camila asked her.

"Yeah, Bard magic helps a witch take advantage of their surroundings through music and art. It's the first class Luz picked and I was really glad she did. It fits right up her alley," Eda replied.

"Alright, Luz, let's see what you got," Mrs. Mantis called for Luz to step forward. Eda noticed the instrument Luz had was not her guitar, but a lute.

"This time, I'm trying out different strings." Luz said as she faced her target. She started playing the lute.

b...'b..'b..'b..'b..'b..'b.'

b'b'b.'

b...'b..'b..'b..'b..'b.'

b'b'b.'

b...'b..'b..'b..'b..'b.'

b'b'-ZAP!

After a strum of the lute, Luz shot out a lightning bolt that caused her target to explode. This shocked the students and teacher, especially Eda and Camila since they had never witnessed Luz performing such magic without the use of her glyphs.

"So, uh, how did I do?" Luz asked.

"Excellent," Mrs. Mantis replied in surprise.

Luz took her seat next to Skara, who congratulated her. "Wow, I didn't know you could do that!"

"I've been practicing and learning to channel my magic through my instruments. Plus, I've been listening to Linkin Park for a while," Luz replied, glancing at her moms and giving them a wave.

Eda gave a proud nod and a thumbs up, while Camila waved back with a smile.

"Say um, Luz, can I ask you one thing?" Skara asked her. "Like, I've been thinking of taking Willow out on our first real date…"

"Right… and you're asking me…?"

"I want to do something special, you know?" Skara asked. "Something to make us not think about the war for at least a few hours. And since you are her best friend, I was wondering if you had any tips."

"Well, Ska, the best advice I could give is to try not to make some grand gestures. Keep things simple. Willow likes horror, sports and romance-comedies. She likes long walks at the park and her favorite café is Green Dies," Luz informed her. "And if you come across a Trauma Train… burn it."

"Uh… what-"

"Burn the train down. Make sure not to leave until it's burned to ashes. Hide the evidence if you have to," Luz told her with a serious look, confusing Skara even more. "And chances are, your date might get weird and convoluted, so be ready for that."

"What do you mean by weird and convoluted?" Skara asked.

"It varies. Just watch out for cursed mirrors, creepy cults, shape-shifting monsters, and stuff like that," Luz said while Skara looked even more puzzled. "Glad to be of help."

"How's your Abomi-Plants coming, Jerbo?" Willow asked him.

"Going well, Willow! Thanks to the package my aunt sent me from Jointburg, I'm going to have probably the most effective Abomination against Glandus's Abominations."

Willow nodded. "Well I hope to see it in action then," she commented before seeing that Amelia was trying to get her attention. "Hey Amelia, what's up?"

"Hey Willow, um we just got confirmation that the Illusionists have made their plans, and the Healers have more than enough supplies," Amelia explained. "But um, there's also something I wish to… ask you about…"

"Oh? What is it?" Willow asked, noticing how nervous Amelia looked.

"Um… I'm thinking that before the war, I would take Gus up to the Treasure Shack and…" Amelia was blushing, which Willow picked up on.

"You're planning to ask him out?" Willow asked her.

"W-Well… yeah," Amelia replied honestly. "I mean, everyone's thinking of doing something while we still can before all hell breaks loose and I do wish for Gus to be… my boyfriend."

Back in the Emperor's Castle, Calypso Brooke was also filling out her paperwork.

"Having any difficulty?" interrupted the voice of Terra, surprising Calypso as she spun around.

"Oh, it's just you," Calypso said. "No, I'm doing fine. Thank you for asking Coven Head Snapdragon."

"You can call me Terra," the older witch told her. "No need to be so formal. By the way, dear, I heard that you've had a drinking problem in the past."

Calypso sighed. "I'm trying to put that behind me," she admitted. "My daughter's girlfriend is helping me by making me a herbal tea alternative."

"Is that right?" Terra asked. "Well, she sounds like a smart girl. I actually came here to offer you my own herbal tea to help you get over your problem. It's strong stuff."

Calypso was taken aback by this. "Wow," she said. "That is... very kind of you to offer, Terra."

"Don't mention it, dear," Terra said as she offered Calypso a cup. "Us Coven Heads have to watch out for each other, even if you're a temp."

Calypso took the cup and after a moment of reluctance, she sipped the tea. Terra watched as Calypso drank and saw the green tint in her eyes.

"How is it, dear?" Terra asked.

"You're right," Calypso said after she finished drinking. "This is strong stuff."

"Glad you think so," Terra said with a smile. "I made it specifically for you..."

At the Beast-Keeping pen where all the animals were kept, Professor Redback signed while Jane translated "Today we'll be practicing beast bonding. I ask all of you to be cautious around them, especially you, Dusty."

"No worries, after my recovery, I'm ready to bond with these beasts no problem!" Dusty declared before facing a large, spider creature in one of the pens. It bared its fangs at him. "Hey, Arty, how have you been?"

As Dusty's screams echoed, Luz, Skara and Viney were each assigned a pen. "So… we're not going to get eaten, are we?" Skara asked Viney.

"Nah, if you let them show you don't mean any harm, then you'll be alright… probably," Viney said as she opened her pen, a tendril wrapping around her and pulling her in. "Good luuuuuck!"

Sweat dropped as Luz and Skara opened up their pens. In the dark shadows Skara could see a pair of yellow cat-like eyes and she heard a growl. "Uh… hey… you must be Manny. I'm Skara." She saw the creature slowly rise up, snarling at her as he walked over. It was a manticore, which made Skara really nervous. "Hey Luz, how's your side doing?" she asked.

"I think mine's brain dead," Luz said. In front of her was a flapping red carp fish with horns. "I'm just gonna put you over in that tank," she said while picking up the carp fish demon and heading over to a water tank.

Skara turned to the manticore. "I think we'll be best friends," she said, trying to be optimistic, while the manticore just coughed out a hairball in front of her.

Meanwhile, Eda let Camila see the Beast-Keeping pens while she met up with the teachers. "Oh, here to volunteer again, Ms. Clawthorne?" Jane asked.

"No, I'm just showing my cousin around the school," Eda replied before her voice became a whisper. "She's a bit of a recluse so it's kind of her first time being out."

"It's nice to meet one of Luz's teachers," Camila told Jane. "Though I do have to ask, what's the gorilla for?"

Silence fell over the room. Redback looked appalled and gave a pout. Jane patted his back. "There, there, she didn't mean it."

"Did I… hurt his feelings?" Camila asked.

"Professor Redback is the teacher here for Beast-Keeping but he communicates through sign language. I'm more of a teaching assistant and translator," Jane explained, causing Camila to feel bad.

"O-Oh, I'm sorry, Professor Redback. I didn't know," Camila apologized to the gorilla biped.

"I mean, to be honest, someone had to make that mistake at some point," Eda said.

"Hey, did you hear about the new Top Healer replacing Bangles?" Goregon asked Weaselton as they headed toward the office where all the top students had called.

"Yeah, I heard he has been moving up the ranks ever since Bangles got arrested," Weaselton replied as they found the office. Inside Kadabe, Ruth, Nina, Cain, and Tito had gathered around a table. At the end of the table was Emily with Stella standing beside her.

Ruth signed while Kadabe translated. "You two were late."

"Sorry, I had to get my minions out, and Goregon wanted to help but I got it covered," Weaselton explained.

"More like, you got stuck in a floor crack and I had to pull you out," Goregon corrected, earning a glare from the weasel biped.

"Silence," Emily said while turning to Tito. "So did they back down?"

"You got it, witch boss," Tito replied in confidence. "St. Epiderm knows what will happen if they try to help out Hexside. And by the way, nice sword."

Emily had with her a long sword with a purple and blue helm, and a white guard that contained an emerald eye.

"Thank you, Tito," Emily said as she looked at her new sword. "The Sword of Adam is said to have once belonged to a very powerful witch. I think it is going to be very useful for the war…"

"Emily," Stella spoke to her. "Our new Top Healer is ready to join us."

"Send him in," Emily responded. The door opened and the new Healer stepped forward. "It is nice of you to finally join us… Asi."

"The pleasure is mine, Queen Tricks," spoke a white furred biped cow demon with two swirling horns. He had dark eyes with white narrow pupils and a toothy snout. He wore the Glandus uniform with dark blue sleeves. "It is an honor to be here… all of my hard work will pay off when I finally get my hands on Luz Clawthorne… after you are done with her, of course."

Emily nodded. "I know the reason for your grudge against her and I can relate. I promise that you will have your turn with her… and I will leave enough for you to have your revenge."

Asi only grinned. "I cannot wait to have her on my table…"

Meanwhile in Glandus, Boscha was walking down to McScream's office. She hid herself out of sight as she heard McScream talking to Craig who was in the office.

"Don't forget what this war is really about, McScream," Craig told him. "The whole Isles will be watching. This is your chance to show off how strong Glandus is and to show what Glandus can offer to both the Emperor's Coven and the Tarot Guild."

"I know, I know," McScream responded. "Plus, I can use the footage for my upcoming pilot! But I promise you that the Boss will be pleased by this audition."

"We will see," Craig told him.

"What about your mission?" McScream asked.

"I have my team assembled," Craig said with a grin. "It wasn't hard to find volunteers. They won't see us coming."

Boscha narrowed her eyes in confusion, wondering what they could mean. She got something from her pocket, a rusty smidge with a camera bug that Boils gave her. She looked around to make sure that the halls were empty. Then she placed the bug under the door to the office, letting it crawl inside, neither of the two adults noticing as they talked.

Boscha silently began to walk away before the school bell rang.

Opening the door to Julia Traveler's empty office back at Hexside was Felicia. She had decided to sneak in while the counselor was out and she was holding up the bug her mom gave her.

'Just drop it in, and then skit out of here,' she thought, heading over to the desk. She knelt down to place the bug underneath the desk… but she stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Hello, Felicia," Julia said from behind.

Felicia panicked as she stood up. "I-I-It isn't what it looks like, Ms. Traveler, honest! Don't send me to the Detention Track!" she cried out while looking at the counselor in fear.

"No, I don't think so," Julia responded while taking the bug from Felicia. "Instead, I think you and I should have a talk. A much needed talk."

After the school day was over, Boscha flew over to the bridge between Latissa and Bonesborough. She spotted Hardy Boils there, reading a newspaper.

"Good afternoon, young miss," Boils said as Boscha walked up to him. "So is it done?"

"Yeah, I planted the bug just as you requested," Boscha responded. "I also overheard that this war is apparently about more than just Hexside. Craig mentioned that this is McScream's chance to show what the school can offer the Tarot Guild, whatever that is."

"The Tarot Guild?" Boils asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, do you know what it is?" Boscha asked him.

"A criminal syndicate from before the Emperor's reign," Boils explained. "They were hurt badly when Belos took over, but it sounds like they might be making a comeback. Thanks for telling me, kid. I owe you."

"No, you don't," Boscha replied. "I didn't help you for a favor. I helped you… because it was the right thing to do. Because if Glandus is really mixed up with a criminal syndicate, then it and everyone involved in this conspiracy deserves to be taken down, especially if they are responsible for making a kid disappear."

Boils looked at Boscha in surprise and gave her a smile. "Never met a Hieron with that gumption. Or maybe it is the Saltstar blood in you. Either way, you are one interesting customer, Boscha. Delara would've been proud of what you've done."

Boscha was surprised. "You… knew my aunt?"

"Yep. I still remember her empathy. Between you and me, I prefer her over the current head," Boils explained.

Boscha nodded in agreement. She didn't have too many memories of Delara, but in all of them Delara had never shown her anything but unconditional love. She had taken that for granted back then, just like she had taken a lot for granted. "I should go now. Will I hear from you later?"

"See you in the funny papers, young miss," Boils replied as the two went their separate ways.

Boscha was about to leave the bridge when she suddenly heard grunting noises. She turned around and saw that Hardy was gone. "What the-HMM!?" She felt a rag covering her mouth as someone grabbed her from behind.

Boscha struggled, screaming for help. But the rag was covered in sleeping nettle leaves. She couldn't see the face of her kidnapper before she passed out, but she did look down and notice that they were wearing light blue sleeves…

Back in the Owl House, Luz was in her room studying when she heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she said, seeing Eda and Camila come in. "Hey, what's up?"

"Well, Cami and I talked about it after coming back from Hexside…" Eda said while nodding to Camila.