Flipped Star

Attack of the Six Handed Woman part 1/7

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Puberty is a tuff ordeal. One's body and mind changeas in ways that are hard to understand. But, when magic gets involved what was tuff can turn horrific.

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In one of many dark forests of Mewni, surrounded by ancient trees, stood a small inn. It was a little lopsided as if the builder did not know what they were doing. Despite the oddly angled walls, the inn was well-kept. The windows spotless, the floors shiny, the dishes and sheets so clean they seemed new. This small inn in the middle of nowhere was a frequent resting stop for many monsters: both for those who passed by, and for those who called the dangerous forest their home.

All kingdoms of Mewni shunned monsters. Seeing them as second-class citizens at best and dangerous animals at worst. So most had to make their home in the thick dangerous and ancient woods that dotted the land. And the small lopsided inn was a little piece of civilisation in the dark forest. A distant reminder of their past life for some, and an imaginary what-if for most.

The inn's owner was a slender deer creature. His horns elaborate and wide, adorned with colourful ribbons. The owner stepped into the sparsely populated dining area, carrying a bowl of stew and a large wooden mug filled with a bubbly drink. Carefully the deer placed the dishes in front of a customer.

The patron was a tall, broad-shouldered man. The hood of a large cloak covered his face. However, a long scaly snot revealed the creature's species as a Septarian: lizard people with the power of regeneration.

The huddled stranger hastily thanked the inn owner, grabbing a spoon full of stew. A satisfying sigh left the man's mouth as he swallowed the warm food.

"I haven't seen a Septarian in this area for a while. Are you travelling from far?" the inn's owner asked, taking a seat behind the counter.

After a gulp of his drink, the stranger explained. "You could say so, although I grew up in these parts. The place barely changed."

"Except for the stuff that got worst," The bartender grumbled. "Lately Mewman's started cutting down the edge of the forest. You see they need more space to plant corn. As if those greedy assholes don't have enough of the stuff. Oh, and a pint-sized Kappa declared himself the king of monsters."

"Another king?" The stranger side, sipping some more of the stew.

"He calls himself Emperor Ludo," The bartender spewed out the title. "He's a son of some other con artist that at some point declared himself the ruler of monsters."

"Do we finally have a royal lineage?" the stranger snickered.

"And it just had to be Kappas."

"Knowing monster luck, It could of been worst."

"Well, at least it's not one of the mud golems," the bartender scratched his head.

"See, there's a good side," The stranger took another spoon full of stew. "So this Ludo guy, does he have any other claims to the title? Or is he just squawking because of his daddy?"

The inn's owner tapped his chin, the ribbons on his horns mimicking his movement. "Well, there is a rumour that the Kappa can use magic."

"Like actual magic?" the stranger stopped eating for a moment.

The deer man shrugged his shoulders. "Well, his underlings say so. But I bet it's nothing more than a bunch of tricks."

"Wait, Ludo has people? He's not just playing pretend in an abandoned castle?"