Chapter Text
None of them had realized the chaos that had unfolded back home.
Of course, not until it was too late.
It was dreadful to return, expecting the grand castle to be standing up on the hill as it had always been for the past century, majestic and breathtaking… only to find a husking pile of rubble and smoke instead, a shell of what it used to be, with busted call bells and damaged doors, and every suite and amenity utterly destroyed. Nothing had been salvaged from the terrible mess except its memory.
But it was what it was, destroyed and gone, damaged without repair…
… or perhaps not.
As horrible as it was that Hotel Transylvania was no longer around, Drac did see it as the perfect opportunity to do something that he knew he should have done two days prior. Miraculously, the man had been able to sift through the pile of rubble and produce the hotel’s undamaged bat-shaped key, still a beautiful gold in color and not sporting a single scratch on its surface. Taking a deep breath and preparing himself for what lay ahead, he handed it over to Mavis and Johnny - his beautiful daughter and his excitable son-in-law - to take over. It had been his intention at the 125th Anniversary party for the hotel and, while he hadn’t been fully ready to take the step at the time, the wild adventure that had taken place afterwards allowed him to see that it was indeed the right place and moment to begin a brand new chapter in all of their lives.
That being said, the hardest part of actually starting the new chapter was change.
Change was not something the monsters took a particular liking to, the perfect example once more being the adventure instigated by Van Helsing’s monsterfication ray. The fresh memory of being a vulnerable human was not something that they had adjusted to very well. And, while Johnny hadn’t minded being a monster, the mindless rampaging and rabid behavior was not something he wanted to relive either.
So while change was not something the monsters were eager for, it was still something that ultimately ended up being unavoidable. With no hotel, their home was gone, and it was inevitable that they would - at least for the time being - have to move on and go on seperate paths. It was difficult to admit, but they accepted the facts and went on with the farewells. They knew it wasn't forever, but it was going to be a while. Even so, the knowledge that they would be seeing each other again sometime in the future was the light at the end of the tunnel, and the one sole thought that would keep that bit of optimism shining brightly within in spite of the separation.
With heavy hearts and some reluctancy, the friends and family departed from the scene and headed their own ways.
Murray hadn’t realized just how much he had missed his home until he actually stepped foot in it again. Egypt, with its brilliant pyramids and elegantly sandy dunes brought a sense of nostalgia in the back of his mind, remembering days when he was but a young monster in his hundreds, chanting spells and causing chaos with his black magic.
His old pyramid was left just as he remembered it, with tiled floors and intricate catacombs that stretched underground for as long as miles. Shiny treasures and artifacts of all kinds lay within the chambers, most that were cursed with evil power and arranged by age. Beautiful Egyptian designs on the wall and statues of the gods greeted the mummy's sights as he entered and lit the candles of the dark tomb to illuminate his surroundings. Murray smiled. It was great to be back.
Frank and Eunice hadn’t realized how much they were happy to see their old quarters, too. The Stein residence, while not the best little shack in Transylvania, was still a place to call home for the monolithic couple. The place was actually an abandoned windmill that had been revamped into a small dwelling, with large stone walls and high ceilings. Frank and Eunice had made sure to make a couple of stops along the way back to get items that they could use to redecorate the interior to their liking. Decorative chains with skulls on the ends were hung up on cobwebbed walls; a new electric chair was placed in the middle of the living room; cleanser was bought to shine up the guillotine in their bedroom.
Sure, the floorboards creaked a little underfoot - and sometimes broke with Frank's great weight - and some rats would scurry about, but he and Eunice wouldn't have it any other way. Popping off his limbs, he used his hands to bounce into one of the holes in the wall and pull out two fat rodents, just as Eunice placed down a fresh set of groceries on the dining room table. Frank licked his lips and his stomach rumbled. A pickled-rat stew would be a perfect homecoming meal for that night!
Wayne and Wanda hadn’t remembered just how beneficial it was to live out in the wild.
Tucked away in their little cave in Budapest, the openness of the space meant that there was nearly no worries when it came to the doings of their rambunctious wolf pups. No walls meant the pups couldn’t tear anything down. No carpets meant nothing would be wetted on by accident and leave an unappealing stain with a rather atrocious smell. No trinkets or decorations meant nothing could be broken or badly damaged. If Wayne could shed a strand of his fur for every bit of damage he owed Drac for at the hotel over the years, the wolf knew he would be beyond hairless. But Drac was a generous vampire, and knew that having him and his family in safety took priority over whatever petty breakage the children caused.
And, despite whatever changes Mavis and Johnny chose to put in for the new hotel, Wayne knew that his pretty penny towards the new damages that awaited would not change in the slightest.
Ericka hadn’t realized just how massive the world was. All she had ever known thus far in her life was The Legacy and then Hotel Transylvania. Any other place had only been read about in a book, or heard of through word of mouth. But to actually experience it for herself was something entirely new, and nothing at all like how it had been described in the books or through hearsay. The Eiffel Tower was taller than she anticipated. The Leaning Tower of Pisa leaned more than she expected. The Rocky Mountains were more rugged than she could ever hope. The Himalayas were chillier than she imagined. And Hawaii… she had no words for the amazing little island as she sat back and enjoyed its swaying palms and serene sound of waves crashing on the shore. An iced pineapple concoction was in one hand, and the other was intertwined with her husband’s, the back of his thumb rubbing gently against her knuckles in a soothing rhythm. This was the life, and Ericka almost didn’t feel like ending the blissful vacation.
And neither did Dracula.
Drac hadn’t realized just how much of a break he needed. So used to the hectic day-to-day life of running a hotel and being manager, he was so focused on helping everyone else’s vacations run smoothly and hardly even thought of taking a load off for himself. He was eternally grateful to his daughter for suggesting it the first time, when they had all agreed - or rather were surprised to - a wonderfully luxurious cruise run by the woman who eventually turned out to be his zing. This second vacation hit the spot, too. Now, not only did he have a chance to relax from his duties, but he also did not have to endure the grueling task of needing to win Ericka over. Because this time around, she was his wife, and they were vacationing alone, left to hug and kiss and have fun away from the watchful eyes of his friends. He loved his friends, of course, but it was nice to let loose and take a holiday. The only worry now that pricked at the back of his mind was keeping his beloved content (which wasn’t very difficult to do), and how exactly the new hotel would be turned out when they returned. He knew he would love it, there was no question about it. But part of him was nervous, too. It would not be like his old hotel. But, like Ericka had reminded him several times, it was nothing to be afraid of. The change would be different, but the change would be good.
Drac caught movement from the corner of his eye, and he looked over to spot Ericka standing up from the chair. They had been idly watching the moon rise, and now that it was up in the sky, she removed her tunic dress and made her way to the awaiting beach shore. Drac grinned as he watched her go, standing up to join her. She had on the white strapless bikini, the one she had worn on the days aboard the Legacy when the massive ship was making its way back home. The same one worn when they had shared their very first kiss. It was a fond memory, as were the memories they were making on their trip around the world.
Mavis hadn’t realized just how much work her father had put into making the hotel.
Oh, she knew the project was a big one, but the time and effort it took from planning it out and then actually proceeding with the building was challenging in more ways than one.
But nonetheless she worked. She had to. This was her and Johnny’s hotel now, and she wanted to make her dad wear a proud smile when he walked into it for the first time. She took every measurement, arranged every detail, and supervised her construction team in making sure that every inch of the place was looking just the way it was supposed to. New decorations were hung, new carpets were installed, new windows were placed, and new furniture purchased. Mavis spent hours at a time with her husband organizing and directing the whole process. Even Dennis and Tinkles helped out where they could, the boy guiding the dog to carry some of the heavier equipment around the site and Dennis himself painting or bringing his parents whatever they requested. The efforts taken were all worth it in the end, and the resulting structure was nothing short of magnificent.
The monsters hadn’t realized just how much they’d missed each other. Sure, everyone knew about having to go separate ways, but to see each other again for the first time in about a year was much more emotionally taxing than what was anticipated. Teary hugs and heartfelt words were exchanged in the reunion, and all could agree that it was great to be back together again. As the scream-cheese icing to the cake, though, Mavis and Johnny led them all to the front steps of the brand-new hotel, all the while keeping their hands covering Drac's eyes. Colorful fireworks were shot into the sky as they removed their hands and allowed Drac to see it for the first time. As Mavis had hoped, his reaction showed one of perfect astonishment. The man's eyes widened further in awe as he took in his surroundings inside the actual castle. He did not know what he was expecting, but it wasn't scooters and treadmills, juice bars or rock-climbing walls. But it still made him smile. What could he say? He absolutely loved it! All the monsters did. Hotel Transylvania - or, ‘Mavis N Johnny’s Hotel Transylvania and Health Spa’ as it had officially been named - was opened again and back in business for many, many centuries to come.