A bright light obscured the horrific sight and muted the screams of the six as they fell through the portal.
Next thing they knew, they were on a sandy beach, a twilight skyline overhead.
The first to rise was Anne Boonchuy, the girl who had been adopted by the Plantar Frog family of Wartwood after being zapped to Amphibia five months ago along with her friends Marcy Wu and Sasha Waybright…who had still been in the castle when this had all happened.
"Guys?!" She called out.
"Here!" Sprig Plantar quickly got up, only to freeze and shout. "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!"
Anne looked to see some kind of sea monster had risen up in front of them, waving a tentacle before disappearing beneath the waves.
"YAOW!" Hop-Pop shouted from the shore, steam erupting from his head as he danced the pain away. "Kids, don't go in or drink this water! Its boiling!"
Frankly, it was a miracle the old frog's head was still in one piece.
"It worked!" Maddie, the blue frog girl realized in elation. "My curse's bag must've warped he Box's location!"
Her smile then vanished.
"Now if only we knew WHERE we were."
"Any where's better than Andrias. Grunge and whatever the heck Marcy became!" Polly said as she looked over for her beloved Frobo's head.
Speaking of beloved, Anne then realized something;
"Olivier!?" She called out. "Ollie?!"
She spied him standing behind the group, his back to the others as he stood motionless. He then fell to his knees.
"Olivier!" Anne shouted in worry for her boyfriend, remembering his battle with his former mentor Grunge. She didn't know how half of the spells they kenw and used worked, so she feared the worse…
Oliver Clawthrone was now tearing up as he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out the scroll Anne guessed was his equivalent of a phone.
Wait a second.
Olivier had said that thing couldn't work in Amphibia. If it did…
It did!
The tube opened down to reveal a screen filled with pictures, much like social media.
"..I-home…" Olivier said. "I'm home…I'm home!"
He then leapt back to his feet, taking Anne into a hug as he spun her around, crying as he did so
"I'M HOME!"
Anne and the frog's worries subsided and the Thai girl hugged Olivier, just happy to see him like this.
"CAW!"
The kids stopped to see a bird flying towards them; a bird they recongzied.
"Fleetwing!" Oliver beamed, his Falcon palisman landing on his shoulder and nuzzling his cheek. Spying Anne nearby, Fleetwing cooed and let her pet him.
A chirp from the sand was heard. A chrip that came from a large spider, glancing around.
"Fangora!" Maddie beamed, her beloved Spider Palisman crawling over her and nuzzling her.
"Frobo!" Polly followed, although her declaration was not as joyous. She had indeed found Frobo's head…and was instantly reminded of how he'd been crushed keeping her safe.
Breaking his embrace from Anne, Olivier gently walked over to Polly and knelt down, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll fix him." The half witch boy assured the pollywag. "I promise."
He wasn't sure if that was entirely possible; he didn't recall the Construction Coven having a spell akin to a robot in their arsenal...maybe a few combos? Olivier was NOT prepared to use Abomination magic to fix Frobo; he just KNEW the slime would…Okay, he didn't know, but he was certain it'd cause some problems! Plus, it wouldn't remind him of Amity and that horrid day.
Maybe some of mom's Human Trash could help? And with that, Oliver's mood became anxious .
Mom.
It had been months since he'd seen her last…She was probably fine; being the strongest witch on the Boiling Isles aside from Aunt Lilith and Emperor Belos, there were few if any who could match her…aside from maybe Vytor of the Potion Coven and Terra of the Plant Coven….Oh and DEFINTELY Raine! Maybe Darius too.
But there was her Curse to take into account; it was draining her strength and youth at a steady but noticeable pace; his mother was not that deep into her 40s but she looked like she could be his grand-aunt.
Filled with a mix of desperation and determination, Olivier glanced at Fleetwing, who suddenly shifted into his staff form. Fangora followed in suit.
"I know we didn't really practice before we left…" Olivier apologized to Maddie, who waved it off.
"Get us to your house." She said, motioning Polly and Hop-Pop to get on the staff with her. Hop-Pop was relucntant at first, but when he saw Sprig already joining Anne and Olivier, he relented.
"Let's fly!" Olivier commanded, the wings of Fleet opening up and taking to the sky and Fangora's legs did the same.
Sadly, not everyone was flight ready.
"I'M GOANNA DIE!" Hop-Pop screamed, crying as he did so. "I'M GOANNA THROW UP! AND THEN I'M GOANNA DIE!"
"Oh lighten up, Hop-Pop!" Polly groaned, annoyed at her grandfather's dramatic screams taking her away from enjoying the insane speeds Witch staffs could go. "You never complained about Joe Sparrow!"
"THAT'S BECAUSE JOE MOVED AT A DECENT SPEED!" The elderly frog retorted,
First, they went straight up, Anne holding onto her boyfriend for dear life but glancing down at the world he called home.
"Whoa…."
Ollie had told her his home was made from the remains of a giant monster, bit now that she actually saw it!
"This is going to be so great to explore!" Sprig smiled.
Olivier was uncharacteristically silent, scanned the Boiling isles for…THERE!
The staff then zoomed downwards, Hop-Pop screaming again as the group entered a dense forest.
BOILING AMPHIBIA
Unbeknownst to the six, they had been spotted.
"Perfect." The leader of a group wearing hoods and bird like masks mused. "We'll not only get the Owl Lady, but her freak of a son as well."
"Sir, are you sure this is a good idea?" One of the scouts, Steve, asked. "I mean, the Owl lady is public enemy #1 and totally should be in the Conformitorium, but Head Witch Lilith is the kid's aunt and…well, I don't think she'll take any harm to him laying/.."
"Steve, whose Captain?" His superior cut him off.
"…You are."
"Good Scout. Now shut up and get ready."
BOILING AMPHIBIA
Not too much later, they came to Olivier's home: The Owl House he had spoken so foundly of.
One member in particular suddenly began to tense.
"Anne, you okay?" Sprig asked his best friend.
"I'm about to meet my boyfriend's mom." Anne realized. "I'm about to meet my boyfriend's mom."
And instantly, the girl was filled with worry; what if Eda didn't like her? What if she challenged her for the right to date Olivier?
Anne was too shaken up to see Maddie was also nervous, Fangora trying and failing to calm her as the young Curse user realized that behind this door was the mother of her big brother figure; the most powerful witch In this world.
Oliveir spied this and hugged the two.
"She'll love you all. Though, King MIGHT try and eat you, so be careful." When he saw them relax, he made his way over to the door, pausing for a second. This was real. He knew it! He had waited so long for this! He slapped his face and made his way over to the door, which had an Owl on it.
"Oh Titan, what was the password again?" Olivier asked himself. "I always got a word or two wrong…Oh well."
The boy cleared his throat and tried the first password.
"Baba Yaga is overrated and a wannabe!"
Anne, the Plantars and Maddie thought they saw the Owl on the door grimace. Olivier tried again.
"Wicked Witch of the West? More like Wicked Witch of the Weak!"
"HOOT!" The owl head suddenly spoke, making Anne and the Plantars jump back in fear.
"I know he told us, but I was NOT prepared!"
"Cool!" Maddie beamed.
"Wait a minute…" The owl on the door asked. "Ollie? Olivier is that you? For real?"
"Hooty!" Olivier called out, racing to hug the door. "Oh, you wretched, annoyingly voiced abomination! I missed you so much!"
A string of sentences the half witch boy had never thought he would ever say.
Hooty began to sob-hoot, then seeing the group behind Olivier and hissing.
"No, Hooty!" Oliver begged.
"WHO ARE YOU?" Hooty growled, stretching out to attack. "THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY! THIS BOY IS MINE TO PROTECT!"
"HOOTY!" Olivier called out, Fleetwing suddenly breaking free and poking the owl-demon.
"Ouch! Hoot! Who are…?" Hooty started, only to gasp when he saw the Palisman and realizing what had happened.
"Now Hooty." Oliver said. "Just give me a minute to explain…"
"HOOOOOOOOOOOOT!"
The Owl had stretched out the door and his face was no longer in sight
"Aaaaand he's gone, leaving us locked out." Olivier sighed.
"…You grew up with that thing?" Anne asked, worried.
"Lucky." Maddie grumbled.
"Yeah, imagine if WE had a guardian in the door!" Hop-Pop smirked. "Toadstool and the Toads'd never bother us!"
"Sadly, yes. Yes, I did grow up with that." Olivier said. "And for the record? This is MELLOW."
"…..OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!"
Hooty's face suddenly returned now with two people in tow. Two very annoyed people.
"Dang it, Hooty!" A woman snapped. "I was about to scam a fortune! For once I was almost cleaned out of human junk!"
"Your head will roll for this…As soon as I figure out how!" A small creature that looked like a cross between a black puppy and a Cubone from Pokemon snapped as well, rattling its tiny paws.
Hooty just settled back into his place, urging them to look. They did…and all anger vanished.
Just as worry took over Olivier; he had not practiced how he'd reappear! Or rather, he had not decided on which greeting! Relaxed and indifferent? Overly emotionally? Speaking as if nothing had happened? A pop culture reference only his mother would get?
Eda Clawthrone's tears watered as she dropped her staff. Owlbert awoke and moved to perch on her shoulder before spued Fleetwing, who bowed at the older Palisman. Eda didn't notice, walking closer and closer to what looked like her son. She swore if this was a dream, she'd DESTROY one of the Covens!
She cupped the boy's hands…and he stayed.
Olivier, tears in his eyes, started to speak.
"H-hi mom…I'm…"
Eda cut him off with a hug that he returned. King quickly joined in, sobbing as Eda did.
Anne teared up herself. She missed her own parents and hoped they were okay…but to see Ollie with Eda? It made her forget everything else.
For a full minute, no one said anything.
"Where the heck have you been?!" Eda asked, clearing her tears before she smiled slightly. "And what have you done? You've gotten stronger!"
"Finally, my destined equal is equal!" King responded, still hugging Olivier.
"It is a really, really long story, mom." Olivier said. "But before anything, there're some people I need you to meet."
Fleetwing returned to Olivier's shoulder as the witch boy relucnatntly broke the embrace of is mother and made his way over to the group.
"Ooooh! Great! Olivier brought dinner!" King mused at the sight of the frog-people.
"Don't eat me!" Hop-Pop begged in fear.
"You wanna be Cursed?" Maddie asked, drawing her last pouches.
"TAKE HOP-POP, HE'S OLD!" Polly followed.
"HA!" Sprig retorted to King. "Jokes on you! According to Marcy; I might be poisonous!"
Anne and Olivier both winced at Marcy's name, something Eda took note of.
"Good! The King of Demons welcomes a challenge!~ King snapped back, only for the two the get bonked on the head, Sprig by Anne and King by Olivier.
"Knock it off!"
"Sorry…" The two boys pouted.
Polly and Maddie where now less afraid: THIS was King? They'd been expecting someone…taller.
"Mom, King, Hooty." Olivier announced. "These are the Plantars: Hopiah, Sprig and Polly. The blue Frog is Maddie, my apprentice and best friend. They're from another world…."
Eda had gasped in delight at the revalation her son had an apprentice of his own.
"YES! The Bad girl and Boy Coven gains another member! AND in another world too! Suck it, Belos!"
"I actually do specialize in Curse magic." Maddie. "And please, Ms. Clawthrone…"
"That's my mom. Call me Eda."
"….Eda. It is an honor to meet you." Maddie beamed.
"Ooooh, I like this one!" Eda beamed.
"A curse user, eh?" King asked. "Good, I could use a challenge while Ollie whips himself back into shape!"
Maddie smirked, already thinking of 42 ways to best king as Fleetwing cawed.
"This is Fleetwing; I carved him myself." Oliver introduced his Palisman.
"Oh, your gramps will be so proud!" Eda smiled, admiring her son's skillful carving just as she saw Anne step forward with a shy wave as Oliver took her hand.
"And this…" The youngest Clawthrone announced. "Is Anne Boonchuy. Bonafide human, wielder of her own kind magic…and…well…"
Ane smiled, loving her Ollie when he got flustered like this. Filled with some confidence, she pecked his cheek
"Swa di ka, Mrs. Clawthrone." Anne bowed. "I'm in love with your son."
Eda, King and Hooty's jaws dropped. Then Eda smiled evilly.
"Oh, no…." Olivier called out. "Mama, please!"
Too late. Eda had already grabbed a crow and with a smirk on her face, shouted:
"HEY, LILY! OLLIE'S BACK AND HE SNAGGED HIMSELF A CUTIE FROM ANOTHER WORLD!"
"MOOOOOM!" Olivier called in in embarrassment, missing Anne blushing as the crow flew away to deliver the message. "Not even back 10 minutes and already you're embarrassing me!"
"Oh, I like her!" Polly beamed.
BOILING AMPHIBIA
Back in Amphibia, the sky poured down rain, as if the planet itself was weeping at what was about to unfold. Frobots flew and stood around the floating Newtopia castle, wherein King Andrias overlooked the Music Box. Soon, his mission would be complete and his family's honor would be restorted!
"All the pieces are finally coming together and the army's assembly is right on schedule." He mused to himself. "Only one stands in…"
"Two."
The formerly adorable, cheerful and gleeful voice of Marcy was now stifled with an electronic after-sound, the human girl now garbed in armor with a a multi-eyed helmet covering her face.
"Only Two stand in our way." The now named 'Darcy' reminded her puppet. "Boonchuy may be connected to the box, but Clawthrone showcases magic that makes our looks pitiable…Pity Grunge fell into the Mirror Dimension…."
"You do know he'd have destroyed you first chance he got and unlike the rest, probably would've succeeded, right?" Andrias pointed out.
"…Just send out the stupid bot." Darcy ordered. The didn't want to admit it, but they feared Andrias mya be right; technology had enabled them to live thus far, but they owed magic to their start.
Inwardly delighting over this slight victory over his master, Andrias summoned a Cloakbot; a leaner and meaner looking Frobot with claws.
"This is your one mission." Andrias announced as he readied the box. "Destroy Anne Boonchuy and Olivier Clawthrone at any cost…but remain unseen!"
The Cloakbot chuckled evilly and nodded in understanding as the music box opened a portal. The Cloakbot moved to enter….
"And one more thing!" Andrias ordered, making the robot pause, but what came from the king's mouth was unexpected to say the least: "Would you mind picking up the latest Cythina Coven book? Marcy got hooked and I'm just dying to find out what happens next!"
"Oh, and maybe some of those…potato chips she mentioned?" Darcy added. "Or cupcakes with ume frosting?"
"Eliminate…potato chips and cupcakes?" The robot asked in confusion.
The two tyrants frowned. Seemed they had a few bugs to work out. Darcy quickly turned around and began to update the design of the cloakbots for the factories to use.
"Alright, alright, forget the snacks." Andrias waved off, mildy annoyed. "Kill the brats. Get the book."
"And get some intel on the planet's defenses while you're at it!" Darcy added in. "Never hurts to check!"
And with that Cloakbot entered the portal….
There was only one problem:
"…No Energy detected." Cloakbot realized, it's sensors greeted by a world filled with sun, tall towers and honking horns.
It would be a month later before anyone realized that the king had sent his assassin to the WRONG world.