On Amphibia and in Wartwood

Before we check in on Anne, the Plantars, Olivier and Maddie, and the first afternoon/evening they had on earth, we must briefly go to the other two worlds this tale is connected to.

OWLPHIBIA

In Amphibia, Castle Grunge was under siege. The Golems were fighting admirably, especially considering that the Toad Tower soldiers were living up to their hype under Bog. Sadly, without their master, who had been missing for a week, to empower them, they were running on fumes.

"Shatter them and move on!" Fern ordered as the others did just that.

In the main hall, Moss stood firm and tall, ready to deal with these upstarts. He knew something had happened to Grunge. What, he wasn't sure; magic was illogical sometimes. Nothing like his Alchemy.

The door was crashed down and Bog smirked.

"Well, well. There you are, Moss. Now we can do this the hard way and take away your legs, or the easy way, in which you start making funds for us."

"Oh, how pedestrian." Moss groaned.

Of course the only reason they wanted him alive was to make gold and copper for them. Logical, yes, but so obvious. And, unlike they realized, it needed time to be done.

"I'd listen to Commander Bog if I were you!" One of the soldiers asked as he and the others helped themselves to some of Grunge's wine.

"…Commander? A deserter like you?" Moss asked. "Oh who am I kidding? Its logical morons like you would stick together."

"There ya go again with the logic." Bog said. "And I get it: A smart frog measures his choices and options. But you're not thinking big enough, Mossy."

"Don't call me that."

"Amphibia is changing and we can shape that change! With you making sure we can pay, we can get weapons and rations and then charge for protection until we build up an army against Andrias. What do you say?"

"….That almost convinced me." Moss admitted. "…Shame that I know you and the rest of your party can't be trusted to adhere to such words. Besides, I am in service to Lord Grunge. To aid someone like yourself would be a disservice to him and myself…At least Percy and Braddock had loyalty. If you had them, I might've made you some gold."

"Well then, we can't have dead weight, can we?" Gog said, motioning his followers forward. Moss readied for battle….

"I agree completely." A new voice cut in, making everyone turn in shock towards a familiar helmeted toad. "But then again, most of us are 'dead weight' with our interests at heart…Makes us rather predictable, eh Bog?"

Moss smirked at this and relaxed.

"Mire?" Fens asked. "You…You…Spoke?!"

Only the leader of the desserters understood what was going on.

"GRUNGE!?" Bog asked in shock. "Th-there's no way!"

"Oh, but it can indeed. Yeesss." 'Grunge' smirked, taking off Mire's help to reveal his once cute face smiling evilly and his eyes glowing blood red and he teeth razor sharp. "Time to make my presence felt!"

Dark magic erupted from 'Grunge's' hands and before Bog could order a command, all his men where on the ground. The dark toad wizard let out a laugh as more dark magic burst, gathering the fully knocked out soildiers and zipping them to the dungones.

See, if wasn't just wine in the cellars that the soldiers had raided. Both Moss and Grunge kept their own original potions down there as well, putting them in wine bottles for such an occasion…and it paid off.

"Moss." Grunge smiled.

"Milord." Moss bowed, trying to hide his bruises. He failed.

"Thank you for all your service." Grunge smiled as he turned to face the upstart with a glare in his eye. "Congratulations Bog. You've made me angry. Tell me, did Grime ever tell you what I'm like when I'm angry?"

Bog, despite everything smirked.

"You don't scare me, wizard. Whatever's happening, I know this isn't your full strength! Sides, you think my toads will just lay down? They'll get up in a few sec..!"

"Oh, could you hold that thought?" Grunge clawed, opening his jaw and sucking up some odd light that came from the downed soldiers. "Hmmm…not as filling as usual, but there is some evil in them at least. Anyways Bog, continue…"

To his credit, Bog wasn't too shaken.

"W-well…. Andrias put a bounty on yours and Moss' head! I can just cash that in and swear alligence to him!"

"You always did love the sound of your own drivel." Grunge mused as Moss smirked. Dark magic once again covered the possessed solider's hands and Bog found himself sinking downwards. Looking down, he saw the floor was now quick sand, and his bravado died.

"W-wait! L-lord Grunge! I was just kidding! We weren't going to mess with Moss! Heck, we can help you..!"

"The only other help I want is in the world my apprentice came from." Grunge cut him off. "Moss and I have to go see to our own plans. I'll give you two options."

Bog whimpered.

"Either we kill you here and now…or you free yourself, take what's left of your followers and run as far as you can for what good it'll do you."

Bog, now sobbing, began to curse and swear as the quick sand began to engulf him.

"Bog, if you dare to have delusions of power?" Grunge roared over the fool before he finally sank. "You'll be consumed by them."

For a minute, neither Toad moved

"Apologies for my delayed return, Moss. Olivier proved to be harder to control than I expected.

"Hmmm. A pity. Milord, if need be, you may take…" Moss began.

"No." Grunge him off. "What I took was more than I needed to do. Although, given where they were based beforehand….?"

"Wartwood? The Flour frog girl's family?" Moss asked.

"As it turns out, magic runs in their blood." Grunge explained, delighted that he still had a mental connection to Olivier; he'd heard all of what the boy had during his time in the Isles. "There's a whole island's worth of magic amphibians where I am, from which I've surmised one of the Flour ancestors came from. Once I'm released from the mirror dimension, I aim to go there and…enlighten them of our, their counterpart's plight."

"An army and nation at our command will do us wonders." Moss smiled evilly.

"And we can have one here as well." Grunge said. "Olivier informed me of a Palistrom tree he planted in Wartwood. Go and aid them. Test the younger Flours. If not in magic…perhaps they'll be more akin to your alchemy."

"Baking skills would be a beneficial skill." Moss noted.

"And speaking from personal experience, an apprentice is a lovely time killer." Grunge added sheepishly.

"…Logical." Moss mused, recalling how his master had enjoyed teaching Olivier, who was a quick learner. "And aside from Olivier and your siblings, no one knows of our connection. Even if Grime or Beatrice are aiding them…"

"You can play the deserter and start building your own legend, my friend." Grunge smiled, then looked down. "Hmmm…seems this body is almost spent. Do what you can, Moss."

And with that, the red left Mire's eyes as the toad warrior turned to dust. Moss swept up the dust and then went to the dungeons.

"You can aid me or join the others." He offered.

OWLPHIBIA

On the Boiling Isles, someone was about to have a very bad day. But, not whom one would expect….

"Hi, Lulu!" Hooty beamed at the sight of his mistress' sister.

"Don't call me that." Lilith ordered as she tried to enter the Owl House. "Where are my sister and nephew?"

Hooty hacked up a letter.

'Dear Lily,

Taking Anne back home and making sure Ollie makes a good first impression with our future in-laws. I'll be back in a week or two, Ollie in a month. So, give your goons a few weeks off! BYEEEEEEEE!'

Lilith groaned and frowned; she had hoped to see Olivier, maybe learn more about Amphibia from him…and learn more about Anne.

Anything to take her mind off of the rough night she and Hunter had had, explaining to Belos about Andrias AND that the musical box stole Hunter's staff's stone and that the Palisman cardinal had bonded with him. Something had set Belos off and he demanded the two leave, before adding that Hunter was forbidden to leave the castle until otherwise.

Lilith had managed to use an illusion spell to make the cardinal, Flapjack, appear as a normal staff for now and had given Hunter a beginner's book to Palisman carving…

Palisman carving….People who hurt Olivier….

An evil smile crossed Lilith's face.

2 hours later

Boscha had had a fun day; humiliating half a witch Willow, getting discounts due to her grudgby status and her Penstagram pics were blowing up. Plus, it was a three day weekend! Only way this could've been better was if Amity and Skara where free, but Amity had training today and Skara was taking care of her little brother….

"Hello Boscha."

Speaking of Amity, her mentor, Lilith the head witch of the Emperor's Coven, was now sitting in her living room, sipping tea.

Her mothers seemed nervous, but motioned Boscha to sit down.

"I was in the neighborhood and figured I'd check in. Amity tells me your something of my successor in the Grudgby game and I've heard some scouts and teachers say you'd be a grand addition to the Coven."

Boshca smirked.

"Well, I am the captain of the team…"

"Pity that's all we have in common." Lilith said, her calm face now annoyed as she placed her tea down. "Tell me Boscha, what're your plans for the future?"

Boscha's mind went blank.

"surely you have some idea?" Lilith gently assured her. "You know, try as we might, Grudgby isn't a career choice…You're in the potions track, correct?"

"Um, y-yeah!" Boshca said. "Sorry, just…a bigshot like you talking to me and…!"

Lilith cut her off with a sigh.

"As better as he is from Faust, Bump is clearly losing his touch. Going to have to talk with him about that." Lilith said, getting up and watching to Boscha. "When Eda and I were in Hexside, you had to maintain good grades on top of being good for the team. But your marks are rather pitiable."

Boscha opened her mouth to speak

"And before you say otherwise." Lilith produced a report card that read all As. She then dispelled the illusion, revealing a report where the best mark was a C-. "Now, THIS is clearly the fault of those moronic professors, all has-beens living vicariously through you and not having someone to challenge or even care about how they do their jobs. That and Odalia's money…"

Boscha's mothers were shocked by this.

"This visit was indeed a little warning." Lilith said. "Shape up and get better. As much as I loathe you, I do hate to see potential waste….Actually, no."

She turned to the witch and demon who spawned Boscha.

"I'm sorry you two. I know you at least tried. But at this rate? Be prepared to support her until you die."

"What's your problem, anyways?" Boshca snapped. "So what if I people know I;m better and.."

"About that." Lilith smirked. "Do you know my last name?"

Boshca was cofused.

"No, Amity's never mentioned…"

"Clawthorne."

A hush fell over the room.

"Yes. Edalyn the Owl lady is my younger sister. And my sister has a little boy. A boy you know."

Boscha's mothers looked confused and worried. Boscha gathered up her courage

"Well at least you two make up for…"

SMACK!

Boshca was sent flying by Lilith's hand.

"Insult my nephew again and I will finally abuse my authority to get you petrified." The Head with growled. "Olivier is everything you dream of being and more. He trained alongside Amity even with his condition. And you. Cut. Off. His. Ears. With my father's own carving knife."

It was at this moment that Boscha finally realized that she was, for lack of a better term….in deep trouble.

Lilith then took a deep breath.

"Luckily, for you, I have more important matters to deal with. I will say this much: Olivier is not the same boy from that night three years ago. He fought Hettie and had her on the ropes. I repeat: He. Had. A Coven head. On. The ropes. And he clashed with the Golden Guard."

She let that sink in.

"I won't touch you, Boscha. And I'll give you the chance to change. But only because you are Olivier's top deal with. Well, either his or Anne's. Good day. My apologies for the strike."

She then marched out of the room and headed to Hexside to start forcing some changes.