Work Text
Chapter 1: entry arc
Normal POV
Femke stood alone before the statue of Lady Katinka the Good and General Toffee, her gaze fixed on the stone figures as the evening sun cast long shadows across the settlement. The air was thick with the scent of freshly baked mewman pastries and monster-forged pies, mingling with the crisp autumn breeze. The once-divided people now lived side by side, but peace had come too late for the ones she mourned.
She didn’t hear Queen Eclipsa approach, only jolting slightly when a gentle hand rested on her shoulder. A soft giggle followed—Meteora, perched on her mother’s hip, gummed at her tiny fist, blissfully unaware of the sorrow hanging between the two women.
“You’ve been quiet today, love.” Eclipsa’s voice was warm but laced with concern. She stood tall beside Femke, her dark curls swaying in the breeze as she studied her friend’s solemn expression.
Femke didn’t turn. Her eyes remained on the statue. “It’s been exactly one year today.” Her voice was steady, but there was an ache beneath it. “And not a day goes by that I don’t miss them.”
Eclipsa exhaled softly. “And yet you rarely speak of them.” She stepped forward, her heeled boots clicking lightly against the cobblestone path. “You always grow quiet when their names are mentioned.”
Femke finally tore her gaze from the stone figures and met Eclipsa’s eyes. “I don’t know if they’re ready to hear the truth,” she admitted. “If they’re ready to understand how much they loved each other.”
Eclipsa followed her gaze around the village. A lot had changed in the past year. Monsters and Mewmans now shared streets, homes, and lives. Children ran through the plaza, swinging wooden swords in playful duels, their laughter echoing through the air. Nearby, Globgor helped a group of villagers repair a cottage, his crimson scales glinting under the setting sun.
“They’re ready,” Eclipsa said with certainty. “They should know.”
Femke let out a low hum, turning back to the statue. The sculptor had captured their final moments perfectly—Katinka lay half-collapsed, one hand clutching her slightly swollen belly, the other outstretched toward Toffee. He stood just beyond her reach, face as impassive as ever, but his eyes—his eyes betrayed him. One remained locked on Katinka, filled with something that might have been sorrow… the other, fixed on the now invisible force that had sealed his fate.
Beneath them, the inscription read
"Toffee, the general, fierce and wise
Fell for a warrior with fire in her eyes.
Through war and sorrow, love took hold,
Two hearts entwined, both brave and bold.
A monster and human, defying fate,
Bound in love, yet met with hate.
Not by battle, nor by blade,
But by a throne’s cruel hand, their lives were unmade."
Femke reached out, fingers ghosting over the carved words. A year had passed, yet the pain was as raw as the day she lost them.
"Let GO of me, you monster smoocher!”
The shout shattered the peaceful hum of the village, making Femke’s head snap up. She exchanged a quick, knowing look with Eclipsa before both women broke into a sprint toward the fountain
There, a scuffle had broken out
A blonde-haired boy was straddling a brown-haired child, his fists clenched, while the boy beneath him—sporting a fresh black eye and a trickle of blood from his nose—struggled to break free. A few feet away, a rough-built boy with black hair had a lizard-like girl trapped in his grip. He had her blonde pigtails twisted tightly in his fist, forcing her head back. Her dark green, clawed fingers dug into her pink dress as she squirmed in pain.
“Let go, or your girlfriend GETS IT!” the black-haired boy sneered.
Yeah!” his friend chimed in, pressing his knee harder into the pinned boy’s chest. “Monster lovers should just live in the forest where they belong!”
A new voice cut through the air, smooth yet commanding.
“Oh? Is that so?"
The bullies stiffened
"And who told you such things?"
Standing behind them, arms crossed, was Lady Femke. Her gaze, calm yet piercing, locked onto them like a storm waiting to break.
The black-haired boy swallowed hard but didn’t release his grip. “N-no one told us,” he stammered, though his fingers remained tight in the lizard girl’s hair.
Femke’s gaze flicked between the struggling children—the trapped lizard girl, the pinned boy, the attacker above him, and the quiet onlookers who weren’t sure whether to intervene. Her lips pressed into a thin line.
“You know…” she mused, stepping forward with deliberate slowness, “there was once another who thought like you. Someone who believed that monsters and mewmans could never live together… that they shouldn’t live together.”
The brown-haired boy beneath the blonde scowled. “So what? He was right!”
The blonde-haired boy raised his fist to punch him again, but before he could, Femke caught his wrist with effortless ease. Her brow arched as she looked between them.
“Is that so?”
With that, she crouched down, bringing herself to eye level with the boys. Her voice remained firm but unwavering.
“Tell me,” she continued, watching their expressions carefully, “have you ever heard the story of Lady Katinka the Good and General Toffee the Warlord?”
The boys hesitated.
But nearby, a small ripple of curiosity spread. Children who had been playing stopped, heads turning toward Femke. Even the lizard girl—still wincing, still held captive—perked up slightly at the mention of those names.
A knowing smile tugged at Femke’s lips.
“Lady Katinka the Good was the love of General Toffee,” a young voice piped up suddenly.
Femke turned to see Katrina, one of Buff Frog’s daughters, beaming at her siblings as she continued excitedly. “Papa says she was the only one who ever made Toffee smile! And that she was the only one who could make him back down from a fight.”
Murmurs spread through the gathered children. The earlier tension evaporated as fascination took its place.
Femke chuckled, shaking her head with amusement. “Your papa is a wise one, little one,” she complimented, smiling warmly. “Though, I’d expect nothing less from Buff Frog… after all, he was there when the story took place.”
At the word story, excitement surged through the crowd. Children hurriedly gathered into a wide circle around Femke, their quarrels forgotten. Even the black-haired bully hesitated before finally releasing the lizard girl’s pigtails. She wasted no time scurrying over to the blonde-haired boy, helping him to his feet, while the pinned brown-haired boy sat up, rubbing his bruised eye.
Femke, seeing that peace had been restored, stepped up onto the edge of the fountain. With a dramatic flair, she perched half-standing on the stone ledge, a mischievous glint in her eye.
balancing Meteora on her hip she gave Femke a encouraging nod. "Go on" she smiled, motioning to the childeren in a encouraging way. "Tell them the story"
Femke took a deep breath then nodded and got fully at the edge of the fountain. Holding her arms wide as she started to tell.
“It all began…” she started, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small pouch. With a practiced flourish, she tossed a handful of fairy dust into the air and blew on it softly.
The dust shimmered, swirling like tiny stars before taking shape—forming small, glowing figures that danced in the air.
“A long time ago, on a planet not so different from ours…”
The children gasped as the floating figures came to life, their tiny hands moving as if reenacting scenes from a long-lost legend.
Sitting nearby, Eclipsa smiled as she settled onto the fountain’s edge, Meteora nestled comfortably in her lap. The baby let out a delighted squeal, reaching for the glowing dust figures as they swirled in the air as Femke began telling the story.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Chapter 2: A Meeting of Fate
Normal POV
"Katinka, for the love of God, stay close," Femke whispered harshly, tensing as they approached the source of an ongoing battle. There was something strange about the magic here—something they had felt before but couldn’t quite place. "We don’t know what we’re walking into.""A battle, obviously," Katinka shot back, tossing her wild blonde curls from her face as she pressed forward. They had come here to investigate the strange magic, and now that they were so close, she had no intention of backing out. "And the odd source of magic we—"She stopped mid-sentence, her mouth slightly agape. Femke finally caught up, ready to scold her for running ahead—until she saw what Katinka was staring at.A blonde girl in a blue dress wielded a shimmering wand, firing off narwhals at a ragtag group of creatures. The leader—a small bird wearing a skull on his head—was screeching at them to “Get her! Grab that wand!”Femke placed a firm hand on Katinka’s shoulder just as she started to move. "Let’s not interfere yet," she ordered, voice low and stern as her sharp eyes scanned the battlefield. "We don’t know the situation.""STAR!"A boy in a red hoodie leaped into action, delivering an impressive karate kick to a muscular frog just as he lunged for the wand."Thank you, Marco!" the blonde girl—Star—replied in an oddly cheerful tone before flicking her wand and calling, "Narwhal Blast!" A two-headed monster charging at her was promptly sent flying."We should help," Katinka whispered, already readying herself to transform."We don’t know who the good guys and bad guys are," Femke countered wisely. She studied the chaotic fight, watching how Star hurled spell after spell, shouting what seemed to be made-up incantations as she went.Katinka scoffed, "The ones trying to steal the wand are obviously the bad guys, Mom. So let’s go!""Katinka…" Femke’s tone was sharp, warning.Katinka groaned. "Not everything is as black and white as it seems, I know mom" she recited in exasperation, rolling her eyes before huffing. "But
this seems pretty black and white to me.""Yet, did you ever stop to wonder why they’re trying to steal the wand?" Femke mused, eyes narrowing slightly.Katinka didn’t answer, instead turning back to the battle just as Star and Marco started gaining the upper hand. The duo moved in sync, a well-practiced team."STAR!"Marco darted forward, slapping away a two-headed monster just as it tried to sneak up on her. "KARATE!" he shouted as he landed a strike."Thanks, Marco!" Star beamed at him before casually summoning a rainbow fist to punch a frog-like creature that had been sneaking up on Marco in return."COME ON, MAN!" the small bird creature shrieked, hopping up and down in frustration. He smacked the nearest monster on the head with his staff. "PULL YOURSELVES TOGETHER! YOU’RE LOSING TO A LITTLE GIRL, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!""A little girl with very powerful magic," Femke murmured, standing tall as she observed the fight. "They don’t stand a chance.""Then why doesn’t he help?" Katinka wondered aloud, watching the bird-like leader squawk orders while keeping his distance. He was frantic, but he wasn’t fighting. "If he is so adamant on getting that wand?"
Before Femke could answer, a sudden flicker of light caught their attention.A portal appeared.And from it stepped a tall, sharply dressed lizard man.Katinka’s eyes widened. "And who is that guy?"The lizard—elegant, composed—walked forward with an air of quiet authority. His tailored suit barely had a wrinkle, and the way he carried himself spoke of confidence… and danger.Femke tensed, watching as he bent down to whisper something to the bird-like leader. Whatever he said, it made the smaller creature freeze, turning to gape at him with wide eyes.Femke’s grip on Katinka’s arm tightened."I don’t know, kid," she said, voice low as her eyes studied the new arrival "But whoever he is… I have a very bad feeling about him."in silence Femke and Katinka watched on as the fight below them started to die down as the monsters retreated throught the portal as the small bird like creature waved his fist at the girl in the blue dress named Star and the boy in the red hoody named Marco in what he must thought looked like a treathening way. "You haven't seen the last of me Star butterfly" the small bird creature declared before he and the lizard man hopped into the portal last.
"KATINKA WAIT-"
Femke reached for her daughter, whom leaped towards the portal as Star and Marco dissapear back inside the house they most likely share with Star excitedly declaring "Let's go make some nacho's" grabbing just miss as Katinka leaped towards the portal and just managed to reach it and keep it open by using her own magic.
"You coming mom?" Katinka turned to look at Femke, still standing rooted to the spot near the tree they had just hidden behind. "or are you gonna keep up standing there looking like death just walked by in the flesh?"
This spurred Femke into action, running up to Katinka while muttering "This girl is gonna give me gray hairs" going throught the portal together, which snapps shut behind the pair.
"Wow!" with wide eyes of amazement Femke and Katinka looked around at the castle-or at least what remainded of it… crumbling walls and tathered banners on which a shape was visible
that looked like the little bird like creature somewhat- spoke of the high state of neclect and diasrepear the castle was in. "I wonder who's castle we run in-"
"FOOLS! INCOMPETENT IDIOTS!" the voice came the throne room and made Femke and Katinka sneak closer, seeing a lot of wounded creatures of all shapes and sizes sit and lie around random fires that were litting the throne room, casting long shadows over the walls and filling the room with the smell of smoke and burning wood. At the back of the throne room stood a giant red velvel throne with gold decorating the sides before which the small bird like creature was pacing up and down, clearly fuming. "The fierced monsters in all of the multiverse couldn't take on one little girl with magic and some karate kid"
"well usually the failure of the army is due to the incompetance of it's leader" The lizard man cooly replied, sitting in a chair near the throne with a book in his lap, keeping his gaze firmly trained on the claw he was sharpening.
"Incompetance has nothing to do with this!" the little bird like creature stomped it's foot then stomped a nearby creature on the head with his staff who had probably wanted to ask him something, making the creature in question squirm in pain as he quickly retracted to a safe distance of his leader. "we just need a even
better plan to grab that wand!
"KATINKA WAIT!" Femke whispered loudly, grabbing just short of her daughters dress once again, whom ran over to a big frog like creature that was sitting next to a close by fire, looking at a rather big gash in his arm with a unsure look.
"Hey, you ok there big guy?" Katinka looked at the giant frog like creature with a symphafatic look as she kneeled down next to him and started to look over the gash in his arm, which looked awful and had a greenish blood coming out of it. "that looks rather painfull…" the creature looked up at her with a suprised look, following her gaze as she reached into the bagpack she always wore on her person for some medical supplies. "let me help you with that"
"wound hurts a little bit" The buff looking creature replied, looking rather unsure at the human girl as she took out bandages and several bottles with herbs from her bag which she put down next to her on the ground. Carefully looking at each of the labels before she started to mix them together. "and who are you?"
"My name is Katinka Devedanja" Katinka replied, looking up briefly to smile at the creature before she went back to her work, making a green paste that she carefully applied to the wound before she wrapped a bandage around his arm. "And what is your name?"
"my name Yvegeny Bulgolyubov" The creature replied calmly, a small smile spreading on his face when Katinka looked up at him from wrapping the bandage around his arm with a dumbfounded look. he had worked as a spy for the monster army long enough to sense that this young lady…. whoever she was… was not dangerous… despite the fact she turned up out of nowhere his spy senses told him she was trustworthy. "But you, call me Buff Frog"
"Buff Frog" Katinka repeated, smiling as she nodded to herself, thinking that was a way easier name to remember then "Yvegeny Bulgolyubov" as she finished wrapping the bandage around Buff Frogs arm and locked it carfully. "I'll be able to remember that"
"Say ma'm, you have something in your bag for me as well?" A creature with to asked, showing Katinka he had a bunch of narwal horns sticking out of his arm, that made Katinka look up at Femke with a unsure look. Femke looked at the arm rather suprised, before she carefully scooped closer to have a better look at the arm. "I'm manfred" one of the two heads introduced himself as Femke started to gently remove the Narwal horns, before using some water to clean the wounds. "And i am Brutus" the other head added, both heads winching when Femke removed the last Narwal horn, which was stuck rather deep in.
"Nice to meet you both" Katinka smiled, looking around the throne room for a moment as she spoke. More of the injured monsters had come over to them. Their shadows dancing omminously over the wall as they moved closer while their horns, claws and fangs glimmered in the dim light of the log fire's "what
is this place?"
"This is Ludo's castle" Manfred replies, a sad look crossing his face as he spoke, before wrinkling his nose at the foul smelling oiment Femke rubbed on his wounds to disinfect them. "Pride of the monster army"
"Such a..." Femke looked around the crumbling castle, searching for the right word to describe what she saw. "Lovely place you guys got her"
"And
who is this?" Katinka looked up when this cool un-impressed called this, seeing to her shock the lizard man was standing behind her, back straight and eyes narrowed as he glared down at her and her mother. Only the twitching of his tail gave away he was mildly irritated. "Some run away mewmans?"
"No, were not "some runaway mewmans" whatever that might mean" Femke replied, calmly getting up from were she had been sitting and straightening herself up to her full height as she walked over to the lizard man. "I'm a fairy from earth, my name is Femke" Femke placed a hand on her chest, before pointing at Katinka still sitting next to Buff Frog and looking up at the lizard man with wide eyes. "And this is my daughter Katinka"
"Hey" Katinka looked up at the lizard man with the most adorable look she could muster to hide how afraid she was.
"And whats your name sir?" Femke wondered, looking over the lizard man with a skeptical look. Unlike Katinka she wasn't intimidated and she wasn't exacly IMPRESSED by him either... up until now all she saw was a lizard with a big mouth.
"You may call me....Toffee" the lizard man named Toffee bowed, holding out a hand to help Katinka to her feet, whom smiled and blushed a little now.
"And I Am lord Ludo" Ludo, the little bird like creature squaked, shoving a very annoyed looking Toffee to the side and taking Katinka's hand (or at least a few fingers due to how small he was) in his, pressing a light kiss on it, making Katinka look down at him blankly... not sure what to say to this. "Lord and master of this castle"
"This place is quite impressive" Femke looked around, totally un-impressed by what she saw as more and more of the monster army closed in around them. All of them wanting to have a better look at the intruders. "Is this your ensisteral home?"
"Correct fair lady" Ludo puffed out his chest in pride, looking from Femke to Katinka with a bright smirk, before winking at Katinka in what appeared he thought was a flirtatious way. "It has been passed down from father to son for generations n-"
"Enough of this!" Toffee's firm voice cut of Ludo's rambling about his family heritatage, making the small bird like creature look up at Toffee with a annoyed look. "Why are two here" Toffee glared from Femke to Katinka and back with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes widening slightly when he saw Femke wasn't impressed by his usual intimidation tacticts and met his eyes head on. "Send by Star Butterfly to spy on us no doubt?"
"Star butter-" Femke scrunched up her face, pondering the question for a moment. "Oo you mean that magic girl we just saw you guys fight with?" Femke's face lid up at the realization, a grin forming on her lips when she saw Katinka shake off Ludo who had tried to grab her hand again. "No, were another form of magix users from the magix demension on a travel to study other forms for magic"
"And
how exacly did you get in?" Tofee wondered, getting so close to Femke that the brunette could see the light in his eyes and smell his breath on her face.
"Throught the strange portal thing" Femke nodded vaguely to were the portal was a moment ago, looking up rather suprised when she saw it had closed. Sure she knew portals could appear and dissapear at will, but she hadn't even
heard it close... which was new. "Tho I have to ask
were are we exacly?"
"Your on mewni in another demension" Toffee's tail flicked in irritation, giving Femke and Katinka the hardest firmest stare he could muster. "Now go back to earth were you belong little fairies... I am only gonna ask kindly once"
"No"
Femke's voice echooed throught the cavernous space, making Toffee who had been walking away... back straight and hands clasped behind his back halt
mid step and turn around.
"No?" Calmly Toffee turned around, his face stil stooic as his eyes narrowes. A sign his man knew meant he was dangerously close to losing his patience. Making them all shuffle back in a effort to get out of their generals blast radius.
"These soldiers are
hurt and need help" Femke pointed at Buff Frog and a few other injured monsters, not at all impressed by Toffee's intimidation despite the clear messages the older maan was about to lose his patience. "My daughter and I have the medical knowledge to help them"
"And we want to help them" Katinka interjected, taking two firm steps to get next to her mother, placing a hand on her shoulder to both steady her beating hearth (since Katinka was clearly intimidated by Toffee's hard stare) and to show she supported her mother.
"Ah, a beatifull face
and
a hearth of gold!" Ludo exclaimed, dramaticly swooping in before Toffee and acting like he was swooning. "Toffee, catch me i think i'm gonna swoon"
"No" Toffee glared at Ludo,his tail now visicly twitching in irritation, making Ludo squack and retreat as fast as his little legs could carry him. Making Femke and Katinka muffle their lauchter. "As for you two"
"We could use medics sir" Buff Frog brought up, standing up straight and doing a salute that only looked half genuine. "Would be good for mans moral"
"Alright then, they can stay" Femke and Katinka looked at each other silently cheering for their small victory. "But
one complain about
either of you and your
both gone"
"Yes sir" Femke said solemnly, standing up straight as well before doing a fake salut that made a few of the more seasoned soldiers of the monster army giggle behind their paws or claws. Amused at the girls dare, yet knowing lauching out loud would have severe consequentions.
"Understood" Katinka replied, shooting her mother a warning glare, before she looked back at Toffee whom had already turned around and started to walk away. His tail twitching behind him as he did.
"He sure is...." Femke looked after the retreathing general with a pondering look, only daring to speak when she was sure the general was out of earshot. "Something..."
Katinka huffed in reply. "Don't start that mom" the blonde rolled her eyes at her mother, shaking her hand to force Ludo to let her go before she turned to look at the injured monsters still sitting and lying behind her. "We should focus on work instead" Katinka bristled, flipping her hair from her face before she walked straight to the closest injured monster. "You heard general Toffee"
Femke nodded, gently pushing Ludo to the side as she walked to the closest injured to her. "Your right your right" Femke grunted, turning around to look at her daughter for a moment before she went back to inspected the wound.
The monsters of the monster army looked in utter shock at the two
obvious humans who were willing to stick their necks out to tend to their wounded.
Femke bristled, pointing to her left. "two lines gentleman, those with a minor boo boo to the left" Femke pointed to her right side, a amused crossing over her features as she spoke. "those with real moral wounds to the right"
a bit confused and tense, some visicly trembling the wounded monsters did as they were told.
Many of them went into the "Mortally wounded" line, many of whom indeed had wounds that looked very serious, many even bleeding and covert in dirt while others were sitting due to broken bones. while only a few went into the "Boo boo" line with slight cuts and bruises.
Femke smiled, clearly satisfied "I'll start tending to the morgtally wounded, join me after your done with the "boo boo"'s okay?" Femke gave her daughter a knowing grin, before making a face when she saw Katinka had opened her mouth to object. "your the more patient one of the two of us when it comes to handling patients with a "Boo boo" Femke looked at a small monster with three eyes standing at the front of the "Boo boo" line, whom visicly collored and slightly turned away when she said this. "and you heard the general… we cannot have complaints rolling in his office"
Katinka sighted. "Yeah, I heard that" grumbling under her breath Katinka went to the smal monster in in front of the "boo boo" line and knelt down to inspect the small bruices on his wrist. sighting to herself in frustration before she went to work. this was going to be a loooooooong shift.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Chapter 3: Walking on Thin Ice
Normal POV
Over the following days, Femke and Katinka settled into a routine. They would wake up first and prepare a hearty breakfast—far better than the awful-tasting grub the monsters had endured before the two human girls arrived, or so many claimed. They ate together with the other monster soldiers in the mess hall.After breakfast, Ludo would come up with some ridiculous plan to steal the wand. (Once, he even suggested disguising themselves as garden gnomes to ambush Star in her backyard.) As always, Toffee would casually modify the plan into something far more effective. ("Why not spare your men the humiliation and use the cover of bushes and trees instead?") And, as usual, he would present his revision in a way that made Ludo think the idea was his own.Somehow, every plan backfired thanks to Star and Marco’s teamwork, leaving Femke and a very annoyed Katinka—who hated seeing anyone get hurt, whether human, mewman, or monster—spending their afternoons (and sometimes nights) patching up the wounded. They took meal breaks in shifts so one of them was always available to tend to the injured. But through it all, Femke and Katinka remained open-minded, making small talk with the monster soldiers who came in."Have you worked with Ludo long?" Katinka asked Three-Eyed Potato Baby one sunny afternoon, three weeks after their arrival. She was tending to a nasty bruise on his arm, with a hole in the middle where a narwhal horn had pierced his skin—courtesy of Ludo’s last plan. ("Hide in Quest Buy and attack Star when she’s distracted.") Quest Buy sold a wide variety of items, including sharp knives, battle axes, and swords. According to the monsters who had visited, the "quest" in Quest Buy was simply finding what you needed.Potato Baby scrunched up his nose. "From the very beginning," he replied casually, then winced when Katinka pressed a disinfectant-soaked cloth against his wound. "Oi! Careful with that!"Katinka blushed. "Sorry," she said, giving him an apologetic smile before focusing on her work again. "I was just wondering why Ludo is so... different."Boo Fly, lying on the bed next to Potato Baby, sharply turned his head toward Katinka. "All monsters are different from you humans," the fly growled, grunting as Femke, sitting behind him, mended his wings. She shot him an apologetic look in return. "Thought you knew that by now."Katinka nodded. "True, but you all have the common sense of grown-ups." She glanced around, brushing some blonde hair from her face to make sure neither Toffee nor Ludo were nearby. Then, leaning closer to Boo Fly, she lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Ludo doesn’t. And I was wondering if that was due to his species or... something else."The monsters nearby smiled, all understanding exactly what she meant."It’s mostly because of Lord Ludo’s upbringing," Three-Eyed Potato Baby finally answered after a short silence—one where no one quite knew how to respond without risking trouble if Ludo ever caught wind of this conversation. "I overheard him telling the General once that he was the runt of a litter of twelve. His parents tried to toughen him up. That’s what made him the way he is now."Boo Fly bristled. "Likely excuse." He carefully hovered up a little, testing his patched-up wings as Femke finished. "Ludo has always been a total joke—unlike the General..."Femke looked up from winding the remaining bandages, intrigued. "Seems like you all hold Toffee in high regard." She glanced around the room, frowning as every single patient tensed at the mention of Toffee’s name. Some even glanced around nervously, as if expecting him to appear out of nowhere, while others looked down, refusing to make eye contact."What makes the General so special, anyway?"A collective gasp sounded. Then silence.All the monsters in the makeshift medical wing now stared at Femke with wide, horrified eyes. The room, once filled with quiet conversation, became suffocatingly still. Femke only noticed how thick the air had grown with unspoken fear when she looked up again."He is very special."A lizard with a diamond-shaped eye stepped ominously out of the shadows in the corner of the room, making all the monsters turn toward him. Their already pale faces drained of even more color at the sight of him.Boo Fly, still hovering next to Femke, cursed under his breath. "That’s Rasticor."The standing monsters quickly moved aside, parting to allow Rasticor through. Some visibly trembled. He was tall—at least a head taller than Femke—with a single, piercing yellow eye that glinted darkly as he surveyed the room. His dull green scales flickered in the dim candlelight, and spikes jutted from his shoulders. A cybernetic arm and numerous battle scars told Femke he had lived a long and brutal life. He wore dark grayish-blue pants, a brown belt, black boots, and a purple cloak draped over his right arm. He carried himself with an air of authority and fear as he approached Femke and Katinka.Katinka nervously shuffled back a little, while Femke stood her ground, straightening to her full height to meet him head-on.Rasticor glared at Femke. "You speak of Toffee as if he were just another monster, little girl." His tone was calm, deliberate. He shook his head, almost in pity. "That’s a mistake."Femke gazed at him, feigning boredom. "And you are?""Rasticore Chaosus Disastervaine," he said, offering a slight mock bow. "Former enforcer of the Septarian army, before it crumbled to dust." His lips curled into something between a sneer and a smirk. His tail flicked behind him as his one eye moved from Femke to Katinka and back again.Femke crossed her arms, leaning against the hospital bed closest to her. "Then enlighten me." She absentmindedly picked at her nails. "If he’s not just another soldier… then who is Toffee?" She glanced around at the monsters sitting or lying nearby, all still tense and silent. "They sure seem impressed by him."Boo Fly, who had been hovering beside Femke, edged back. Three-Eyed Potato Baby hid under his blanket, visibly shivering. The room’s atmosphere grew heavier with each passing second, as if every word Femke spoke tightened an invisible noose. Yet she remained unbothered, confused by their panic."Makes you wonder who Toffee truly is," she mused, locking eyes with Rasticor once again. The tall, scarred lizard man stared back, unblinking, as if trying to read her mind. "They’re all acting like Toffee is the devil himself."Rasticor regarded her with an unimpressed look. "Toffee is old. Older than many here." His voice was low, gruff. He glanced around again, and even the bravest monsters averted their eyes. "And he has seen a lot in that time." He sharpened a claw against a nearby bedpost.Femke cocked her head. "Older than seventy?"Rasticor nodded. "Which isn’t that old in Septarian years. But old enough to be a seasoned warlord."Femke hummed thoughtfully. "Is that how you met him?""Yes, we both served—" Rasticor’s eyes widened as he realized he had almost said too much. He tensed. "Not important." He waved a dismissive hand at her. "Just don’t underestimate him."
Still sweating like a maniac—still nervous—Rasticor reached into his cape and pulled out an old, battered chainsaw, covered in rust and mud. He yanked on the cord again and again, his nerves clearly growing with each failed attempt, until the thing finally roared to life. The loud whir of the chainsaw echoed in the dimly lit room as he used it to saw a rip in reality itself. The shimmering tear flickered ominously before him.Femke frowned, looking from the open portal to Rasticor. “Still heard nothing.”Rasticor ignored her, stepping one foot into the portal. “Bye.” Awkwardly, he waved at Femke before disappearing through the dimensional portal. It snapped shut behind him before Femke had a chance to react, leaving her staring at the spot where it had vanished, thoroughly confused.Behind her, the monster patients slowly emerged from their hiding spots—under blankets, around corners—relieved but still wary. Though no one spoke, the air in the room seemed to grow warmer again.With a shrug, Femke turned back to the three-eyed potato baby. “Well, that was weird,” she muttered, helping him sit up straight before adjusting his pillow behind him. Her movements were fluid, her shoulders relaxed. “You okay?”The three-eyed potato baby looked up at her, his face still flushed, his body trembling with nerves. “Y...Yeah,” he stammered, his three wide eyes filled with lingering fear. “That was… something.”“Foolish, that’s what.” Boo Fly fluttered back into the room, plopping onto the bed next to Femke with a disapproving scowl. “No one talks to the boss’s main enforcer like that and lives.”Katinka stood from the bed she’d been sitting on and, still shaking, walked over to Boo Fly. “I agree with Boo Fly on this one… that was rather foolish of you.”Femke grumbled. “I was merely trying to figure out who the main players are.” Crossing her arms, she frowned. “And Mister Tall-and-Sharp is the biggest puzzle here.”Katinka looked up, surprised. “You think he might be dangerous?” Worry crept into her voice.Femke nodded, looking more serious than usual—enough that even Katinka could tell she was taking this puzzle very seriously.“More dangerous than we even realize.”The room fell silent as everyone absorbed those words before slowly returning to their tasks, as if nothing had happened.For a moment longer, Femke remained frozen in place, her back rigid, her breathing slow. Then she shook her head, as if snapping out of a trance, and got back to work… though her mind kept replaying the conversation with Rasticor, analyzing every detail.Avarius Castle – Hallway Near Toffee’s OfficeWith a loud thud, Rasticor stumbled out of the portal he had hastily fled through. He pushed himself up stiffly, dusting off his clothes before turning back to where the portal had snapped shut behind him. He then looked down the long hallway, dimly lit by torches. The flickering flames cast long shadows that seemed… strangely alive.For a moment, Rasticor just stood there, his mind reeling over his conversation with Femke.“I let too much slip… I am so dead.”Taking a nervous breath, he glanced back at the hallway, then smirked, shaking his head.“That Femke girl has guts, though. Gotta give her credit for that.” He sighed, shoulders sagging slightly as he took a step forward. His distorted shadow moved with him, stretching unnaturally along the walls.“Too bad for her… she has no idea what she’s gotten herself mixed up in.”Taking another deep breath, Rasticor steadied his racing heart. He leaned against the wall for a minute until he was sure his legs could support him, then started making his way toward Toffee’s office. His mind raced, trying to figure out how to report his conversation without letting on that he had screwed up.His diamond-shaped eye shimmered in the torchlight as he muttered to himself, “I am so dead. I am so dead. Boss is gonna kill me if he finds out I told that blasted girl too much.”Monsters stepped aside as he passed, casting wary glances in his direction. They had never seen Rasticor—the boss’s no-nonsense enforcer—so distracted. Too distracted, even, to snarl at them. Something big must have happened.“Best hope I can report this without him catching on… or I’ll definitely be scrubbing toilets for a month.”The conversation with Femke played in his head like a broken record as he tensely knocked on Toffee’s office door. His tail twitched behind him—the only visible sign of his nervousness.A sharp voice from inside made him jump.“Come in.”Rasticor took a deep breath. Okay, stay calm.Opening the door, he stepped inside.Toffee’s OfficeThe room was dimly lit, candles and candelabras casting long shadows that seemed to shift on their own. Everything was impeccably organized, not a speck of dust out of place. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with volumes on war strategies, history, and personal favorites of the general. Some books were more worn than others, evidence of how often Toffee revisited them.At his desk, Toffee was bent over paperwork, his quill calmly scratching against the parchment. A bottle of West Mewmany swamp water sat beside a tankard, explaining the faint scent in the air.Without looking up, Toffee remarked, “Rasticor, you look shaken.” He signed a document and set it aside. “You failed, I assume?”Rasticor gulped. “Did as ya told me, boss. Gathered intel on the two human intruders.”He shuffled his feet, eyes darting to the floor, desperate to avoid Toffee’s piercing gaze. The moment with Femke replayed in his mind so loudly, it was as if she were screaming the memory into his ears.“Problem was… the girl had a lot of counter-questions.”Toffee hummed in response. “And let me guess…”Finally, he looked up, face expressionless but eyes burning with intensity. Sweat trickled down Rasticor’s back.“You slipped up and told her too much?”The temperature in the room seemed to plummet. Rasticor went rigid, his tail swishing anxiously. He knows.“Boss, I can explain—”Toffee stood from his chair and walked to the window, his movements slow, measured. Though his face remained unreadable, his eyes burned with fury.“That wretched girl won’t stand in the way of my grand plan.” He gazed at the distant Butterfly Castle, his hands clasped behind his back. “She is only human, after all.”Rasticor let out a shaky breath, relieved. “Dunno, boss… girl’s got guts.”Toffee turned, glancing at the map on his desk. He studied the board, then smirked.“They’ll never see my endgame coming.”And by the time they did—it would be far too late.