The Owl House belongs to Disney.
Grim Tales from Down Below Belongs to Bleedman.
OOC-ness may be involved.
Takes place in episode 10 of the Owl House.
Let the chapter 10 begin.
A new day was shining and bright in the Boiling Isles as Junior, Eda, Luz, and King had decided to head to the playground in Bones Borough, or "Slayground" in the Boiling Isles term. It was rather unique just as everything else in the demon realm, with the biggest eye catcher being a sandbox with octopus tentacles in it. Junior, Eda, and Luz were sitting on a wooden bench on the side as they watched King play with or try to "rule over" the young kids in the slayground. Eda was just relaxing with her eyes closed, Junior was just watching with his hands in his pockets, and Luz had a worried face while biting her nails ad tapping her foot at a face pace.
"What if King gets, hurt? What if the kids are mean to him? Oh man, my parental instincts are going into overdrive!" Luz said as she turned to Junior.
"You know you're not his parent, Luz. And this is a playground, what's the worst that could happen to him?" Junior said as he turned his head to Luz.
"Junior's right, ease up kid." Eda said as she opened her eyes to look at King. "Just look for yourself."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Luz said as she cupped her hands next to her left cheek. "I can't wait to see what cute game he's playing."
When king reached the top of the slide, he pointed to the little kids like he was telling them what to do.
"Hmm, I think the game is called "Little Tyrant."" Junior commented before he saw another kid clip up the slide and pushed King down it. "And he's just been dethroned."
King then scrabbled to his feet and ran over to them like a child running to his parent.
"EDA! That snotty child took my throne from me!" he complained like a child while pointed back to the slide.
"You mean that literal snot nosed baby?" Eda asked as she pointed to a child with dark skin, red hair and a green booger running down his left nostril who was riding a little blue dragon on a spring.
"No, he is a usurper! I demand you blow him up!" King said as he made explosion sounds. "Kaboom!"
"Kaboom!" the child cheered on his ride.
"King, that is a very big over reaction." Junior said as Eda nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. I'm not wasting Owlbert's time by blowing up a five year old." she said as she unscrewed the wooden owl from her staff, bringing it to life and holding it in her hands. "He's got better things to than that."
"Like what?" Junior asked as he didn't see Owlbert do much of anything except stay on Eda's staff.
"Like this." Eda said before she began to tickle her little owl, causing it to coo in joy as it unfurled it's left wing to get more scratches.
"So cute." Luz said as she brought her hands to her cheeks.
" You know, I've been wondering, what does one have to do earn a creature like Owlbert?" Junior asked as he petted Owlbert's head with is finger.
"Earn? I made him for the branch of an ancient tree. He's my Palisman. We're bonded for life." Eda said as she brought him up to her left shoulder.
"Made him? So you're kind of like his parent?" Junior asked.
"In a way, yes. And I would utterly annihilate anyone who hurt my little Owlbert." Eda said with a serious look on her face, scratch his little tummy again.
"You know what? Fine, don't help me!" King said, getting everyone's attention again. "Revenge will taste even sweeter when I bring him down myself. Hehehehe."
As King laughed in glee of his intention to get revenge, the very child who started this had walked behind him and pushed him to the ground.
"Tag! You're it!" He said before briskly running away with an innocent laugh.
"Uh oh. Here it comes." Eda said as she smiled at King before turning to Luz and Junior while waving her hand. "The mighty demon king's squeak of rage."
"Squeak of rage?" Junior asked with a smile, chuckling at bit before King opened his eyes on the ground.
"Nyehh. Nyyeeeh!" he let out as he got back on his feet before falling to his but and throwing a tantrum while screaming in a high pitch like a tea kettle steaming. "NYYYYYEEEEEHHHH!"
King got back on his feet and ran to the child who pushed him, still screaming in such a high pitch that Junior couldn't hold back anymore and bust out laughing with Eda doing the same.
"It's like a little tea kettle every time." Eda said as she wiped a tear from her eye with a snort.
"He tries so hard to be a mighty demon but he's just too small and cute." Junior said as he stopped his laughing, holding his stomach to calm himself.
Luz turned to her laughing friends before noticing Owlbert scratching himself with is right foot and saw something at the bottom of it, a oval hole with a single point going inside it. (Think Pac-Man's symbol)
"Hey, what that little hole?" she asked, pointing to it.
"Oh that's his interlock. So he only fits on my staff." Eda said as she grabbed the staff, letting Owlbert fly off her shoulder. "Every Palisman...has...one." she slowed down before suddenly fainting on the bench.
"Eda!" Luz screamed as she and Junior jumped off the bench to check her, shaking her a bit. "Eda!"
"What happened?!" Junior asked as Owlbert sat on the bench back, looking at Eda with worry. "Why did she just faint?!"
"I don't know! Eda, please wake up!" Luz said again as she shook Eda, finally getting her to wake up.
"Huh? What?" Eda said in confusion before Luz held her sit upright and Junior picked up her staff. "Oh no, the curse is acting up!"
"Oh no!" Junior said, remembering the first two times he saw Eda's curse act up and his vow to help her.
"We need to get home, now!" Eda said as she got up from the bench, taking her staff from Junior as he, Owlbert, and Luz followed her.
"I'll get King." Junior said as he ran to get him, seeing King and the kid who pushed him on top of the slide again. "King, time go!"
"5 more minutes, please!" King said with a clenched fist, walking to hurt the 5 year old before him.
"NOW, King! Don't make me come up there!" Junior said as King stopped.
"Dang it." King said as he dropped his arms and pointed at his "opponent." "This is not over!"
"Okay! Let's play again real soon!" the child said as he was about to hug King but couldn't since Junior snatched him by his collar.
"Come on!" he said as he ran back to Eda and Luz.
After a long walk home, Eda threw her staff on the couch and fell face first on it while yawning.
"Junior, you stay here and watch Eda while I get here elixir." Luz said as she and Junior walked up to Eda with Owlbert sitting on the couch back.
"Sounds like a-" Junior, after letting King go on the floor, tired to say before Eda cut him off.
"I'm a full grown woman, I can get myself." she said, her face still in the couch as she waved her hand to them. "I just need a little nap first."
"Eda, I don't think we can put this off." Junior said as Luz nodded in agreement.
"We could stay home and take care of you." Luz said before she gasp with an idea in mind, putting her hands on her cheeks. "We could put King in a little nurses's outfit."
Everyone turned their heads to King, who was busy trying to make a plan of revenge, as he shot his head up at the idea.
"MEH?!" he let out as he turned to them, confused and weirded out at the idea.
"Luz, no one wants that." Eda said at the idea, turning it down.
"I do." Luz said in a low husky tone, losing her smile as she stared at King.
Junior stared at Luz for a second, feeling a few warnings go off from the way she said that and took a small, slow step away from her.
'The mental image alone is weird enough.' Junior thought as Eda pushed herself up..
"Look, I'm fine, kids." she said to them.
"Fine? You collapsed in the middle of the park." Junior argued as he stepped around to face his teacher.
"My point is I've had this curse put on me longer then you two have been alive. I don't know who did it and I don't care right now, I just need to nap." Eda said as she put her face back in to the couch.
"How can you be fine with not knowing who did this to you?" Luz asked in shock.
"Who cares who gave it to me, kids? I'm fine, alright?!" Eda said to them as she got up again.
"No, Eda you're not! Not if it makes you turn into something you're not and makes you hurt the ones you care about!" Junior shouted to her, feeling a bit offended that she could just throw something big like a similar curse to the side like it was nothing. "I may share the part about not remembering who put this curse on me, but I know that having something like this doesn't ever make you "fine!" I never does!"
"Junior." Eda said with a sad look as Luz shared it.
"I want to help you, Eda. I really do, but I just wish you wouldn't act like it isn't that big a deal when you know it is." Junior said as he looked down to the floor, clenching his fists in frustration before Eda puts a hand on his head.
"Look, Junior, I know you worry about me because you care. But your really don't need to." Eda said as she pushed his head up, smiling a bit at him. "I've been fighting this curse and winning every single time and this time won't be different. Besides, you've got your own life to live, don't you and Luz have something planned with Tweedle Dum and Twerple Dee?"
"You mean Willow and Gus?" Luz asked as she remembered the thing they invited Junior and Luz to. "Yeah, they did invite us to the grugby match between Hexside and their rival school, Glandus High."
"Then go to that. Have some sports fun." Eda said as she moved her hand from Junior's head, reaching out for Owlbert to bring her her staff and connect him to it. "Though, I never fixed you for the sports type, Luz."
"That was before I discovered Hexside pride!" Luz said as she got close in Eda's face before she jumped back. "Ugh, to think that Glandus would ever challenged Hexside!"
'You never even knew about them until Willow and Gus brought it up.' Junior thought as he stared back at Eda, still worried about her.
"Eda, I still think we should stay." Junior said as Luz turned to him as Eda got up from the couch.
"Ugh! Enough of this sympathy party!" she said before pointing to the door. "As your teacher, I order you two to go out and have fun at this sports game."
"Yay, sports!" Luz cheered as she ran to the door, stopping at King first. "Kisses and hugs before we go!"
As Luz gave King a quick kiss, Junior still thought about Eda's situation and decided to try something.
"Time out." he said as he froze time and everyone else around him, turning to his frozen teacher/friend. "You may say you're alright but I still worry."
Junior moved quickly to his bag under the couch and pulled out his bottle of white elixir, full and ready for next month.
'I don't know much about mixing elixirs, but I have to try.' Junior thought as he rushed upstairs to Eda room, grabbing a bottle of elixir by her nest with one of the other empty ones.
Junior rushed back down to the den and sat the bottles in front of him, he uncorked his bottle and Eda before lifting them up and slowly mixing them into the empty bottle. The two liquids swirled around in the bottle before becoming one glowing color of light green.
'Alright.' Junior thought as he corked the bottles, rushing to put his back in his bag and putting Eda's back in her room while still holding the next mixture in hand.
He went back to the den and stood in front of Eda.
"Time in." Junior said as everything went back to normal, time flowing again.
"Junior?" Eda said as she notice him in front of her. "I thought I told you to-" she tried to say before he held the new mixture up to her.
"Eda, this is a mix of both our elixirs and to be honest, I don't know if what I'm thinking it will do will happen." he said before grabbing Eda's open hand and placing the bottle in it, looking up to her with pleading eye sockets. "It may not work, but I pray it will, so please, take this after I leave. I don't wanna lose someone important to me."
Eda gazed into Junior's worried eye sockets before looking at the new light green elixir in her hands.
'How long has it been...since someone cared about me on this level besides Lilith?' Eda thought before smiling a bit, enjoying this warm feeling in her chest.
"Kid, If I died before your training is complete, I'll kick my own ass." she said as she look him in the eye sockets, joking a bit as Junior smiled a little.
"Hehe, yeah, that would be like you." Junior said as he slowly let go of Eda's hand, leaving the bottle with her as he slowly made his way to the door. "We'll see you later, Eda. Okay?"
"Okay, Junior." Eda said as she saw Junior walk out the door to catch up with Luz, while still holding the new bottle in her hand.
As Junior closed the door, he looked back at it for a moment, silently praying that his sudden elixir mixture would work.
'Please, please work.' he thought before running after Luz, who was most likely halfway Hexside by now.
Soon enough, after catching up with Luz and hearing her come up quirky insults for the game, they got to Hexside.
"Hey, Gus. Willow." Junior said as they walked past a gondola like creature with six legs and wings.
"Hey, Junior. Hi Luz." they said before Luz, Gus, and Willow pumped themselves up for the game.
"Happy game day, fellow... Hexsidians? Hexsites?" Luz tried to say, wanting to know the exact term for Hexside fans.
"Actually, Luz, most people would call us...WINNERS." Willow said with an intense face at the end, wearing a gold yellow cap with "HEXSIDE" on the front.
"Woah. A little intense for a game, don't you think?" Junior asked.
"Not at all. Grudgby games are the best!" Gus said with a smile, wearing a golden yellow sweatshirt with "HEXSIDE" on it. "While the players go through amazing and action packed trials, the audience gets to wave flags as they watch! Look, I've been practicing."
Gus pulled out two purple flags before humming and doing a twirl with his arms out before bringing them in and shimmying his shoulders with a serious face.
"Ooooooookay." Junior said as he starred strangely at the flag dance.
"Hm." Luz hummed as she looked down at her's and Junior's clothes. "Is it weird we don't have any resembling Hexside to wear?"
"Uh, I think it's weirder that your unintentionally wearing the colors of Glandus, Luz." Willow said as she pointed behind Luz, having an awkward face while while Gus twirled the flags in his hands. "You're good though, Junior."
Luz and Junior turned their heads to see a poster for the Hexside vs Glandus game, noticing that Luz's short hoodie shirt was the exact colors of a Gladus player.
"Ouch." Junior commented as a giant Hexside student was walking past them.
"Hope you're ready to lose, you Glandus nerd!" he said as he poked his giant finger on Luz's head and forcing her to squat before coming back to normal.
"Hey! I am a Hexside nerd!" Luz screamed back at him before turning to Junior. "Any chance you could spar me your hoodie?"
"Sorry but I don't have anything under this and no one wants to see a bare rib cage." Junior said while shaking his head 'no.'
"If you need some Hexside clothes, you could check the school lost and found in the cafeteria." Gus said as he stopped waving his flags and pointed them to the school.
"Ah. The old lost and found." Luz said with a reminiscent tone. "The place were mouth guards go to die."
"Really?" Gus asked with fascination, turning to Junior for a straight answer.
"I...cannot answer that." Junior said as he followed Luz into the school, deciding to tag along and see what Luz would find in the lost in found.
With Luz leading the way, the duo was able to find the chest in no time and opened it to see what they could wear to the game. What they found was astounding.
Junior reached in and picked up a blue and white cap with the school name on the front.
"Cool." Junior said as he put the cap on.
"Yeah!" Luz said as she grabbed a bunch of stuff from the lost and found, ready to show her spirit for the school she would be attending next semester.
A few minutes later, after Luz had changed, she and Junior made their way back to their friends and ready to support Hexside at the Grudgby game. Luz pushed the door open to surprise Willow and Gus with her new school spirit attire, a drinking hat with two soda and flags on each side, a blue sweat shirt with a gold strip in the middle, a cheerleader shirt, and gold and blue pom poms.
"Go Hexside!" Luz cheered as she jumped into the air and did the splits.
Though the impact sounded rather painful as popping bones could be heard.
"Oh, that does not sound good." Junior said as he stepped from behind her, the Hexside cap still on his head.
"Nope, nope it does not." Luz said with the smile on her face gone.
"Well lucky for you, the advantage of being a skeleton, is that you know a few things on how to fix stuff like that." Junior said as he knelled down in front of Luz.
Using such knowledge, Junior fixed the problem by gentle pushing her back to the floor, closing her legs and used his healing ability on her to pop her bones back into place. Luz let out a sigh of relief as Junior stood back up and held his hand out to her.
"Thanks." she said as she took his hand and stood up and looked around. "Uh, where is everyone else?"
Before anything else could happen, they found that the transportation to the game had already left without them.
"Hexside rules!" the large student charged, hanging onto the back banner of the gondola creature as it flew to the game.
"Oh no! We missed the the bus!" Luz said as she and Junior ran down the school steps, seeing that Willow and Gus stayed instead of getting on. "Why didn't you guys hop on?"
"We couldn't just leave you guys." Willow said with a caring smile and head tilt. "You're our friends."
"I was about to." Gus quickly said, looking away as Willow elbowed him in the arm.
"Gus." Willow said in a harsh whisper.
"Well, is there another way to get the Glandus? Like walking or another bus?" Junior asked them.
"It'll take to long to walk." Gus said before rolling his flags and posing with them. "Glandus is located in the middle of the island."
"Uh, great." Luz said as she looked away.
"And I can't ask my parents to give us a ride on their staffs because they're working right now." Willow said with her arms up.
"Wait, Junior, can you fly us on your scythe?" Gus asked, getting everyone to turn to him.
"I could but I can't carry all of you. One of you would be left behind." Junior said as he summoned his scythe, placing it on his left shoulder. "I don't have enough power to carry more than two people."
"Hmm." Luz hummed as she thought about a solution to their problem. "If you can't carry more than two people, how about you carry one while I carry the other?"
"Huh? How are you going to do that?" Gus asked as they turned to Luz.
"Because I know where to get a staff!" Luz said as she took Willow's hand. "Come on!"
As the group followed Luz, with Gus falling behind because he was pleaying while waving his flags, Junior moved beside Luz and whispered to her.
"You don't really think Eda will let you borrow Owlbert for this, do you?" he whispered to her.
"It'll be fine, I'll just borrow him for the game and bring him back before she notices." Luz whispered back as she continued to lead them back to the owl house.
Junior sighed as he made his scythe briefly disappear.
"Good luck." he whispered to himself as they arrived back at the owl house and entered along with Luz.
He followed her through the owl house to Eda's room and they saw that King standing in front of her bedroom door.
"Hey, King, is Eda up?" Luz asked as she and Junior stopped in front of King.
"Who-a?" King questioned, nervous about something.
"Eda, the owl lady. Our teacher, our friend." Junior corrected him as he rose a non-visible brow at King's attitude.
"Oh, OH! Yeah, no! Eda's sleeping like a log in there!" King quickly said as he looked away from them.
A loud growl came from Eda's room as everyone froze in surprise.
'Was that...?' Junior thought before King nervously laughed.
"Hehe, man she can snore like a monster." King said as he pointed to them.
"Well, in that case, do know where her staff is? We kinda need to borrow it." Luz said before Junior nudged her shoulder a bit.
"Isn't that it against the door way?" Junior asked, pointing past King to the staff leaning outside her room. "I thought Eda wouldn't leave her staff out here while she's napping."
"Don't worry, Junior! Eda won't mind if you guys borrow it!" King said as he took the staff from the door and pushed it in Luz's hands. "Take it! Go go!"
"Hmm, I'm not so sure anymore. I think I should ask for permission instead of just taking it." Luz said as she looked at the staff then King.
"Where was that 2 minutes ago?" Junior asked before a sudden shriek came from Eda's room.
"That sounds like a "yes" to me! Off you guys go!" King said, taking a quick look at the door before gesturing them to leave.
Luz looked at the door of Eda's room before looking back at the staff in her hands.
"Well, we do owe Gus and Willow since they waited for us." she said as she looked to Junior. "And it is just for this afternoon. I'm sure Eda won't mind, right?"
"Not a bit!" King said with a cheeky smile to Luz and Junior, who wasn't looking to convinced of King's words. "Eda's got a big heart! She'll understand."
"Well, alright. We'll be back soon, King!" Luz said as she ran back to Gus and Willow, leaving Junior with King.
"Uh, aren't you going too, Ju-" King tried to say before Junior knelled in front of him and pointed in his face.
"King, if you're up to something or you're lying about Eda's condition, just know if Eda doesn't kick your ass later...I WILL." Junior said as he frowned at King.
"Junior, come on! We're gonna miss to much of the game!" Luz called to him as Junior stood back up and adjusted his cap.
"I'm coming, Luz!" he shouted back before doing "I'm watching you" gesture with his fingers at King and walking back to his friends.
"Alright, whoever is ready to board Air Luz, please hop on." Luz said as Junior walked out, seeing Owlbert awake and Luz in a takeoff position.
"Me me me!" Gus said with excitement as he eagerly got behind Luz, holding up his flags. "My boys are ready to fly!"
"Then I guess you're riding with me, Willow." Junior said as he walked past Luz and Gus to summon his scythe and make it float before hoping on like it was a skateboard.
"Ooooh! This is so cool!" Willow said with her fists shaking in excitement, jogging over and hopping on Junior's scythe in front of him. "And the ratio between the weight is surprisingly even with that big blade."
"Alright, Owlbert, our next stop is Glandus High! Onward!" Luz said as she pointed to the sky, signalling Owlbert to start flapping into the air with Junior following with his scythe.
"You know where to go, Luz?" Junior asked as she turned to him.
"I'm sure Owlbert knows the way. Now punch it, buddy!" Luz said as she turned back to Owlbert and gave a slap to the staff, causing him to fly off as Luz and Gus shouted in surprise as Luz's hat flew off.
"Guys!" Willow shouted in worry.
"Hang on, Willow!" Junior said as he made his scythe fly after them, while losing their game hats.
When Junior and Willow were flying after them, they saw Owlbert flying erratically as loopty looped in the air before diving into the forest below. Junior and Willow followed as they saw their friends crashes constantly into several trees before they were heading straight for a big one.
"AAAHHHHH!" Luz and Gus screamed before they crashed into the tree, falling into the bushes below as Owlbert rebounded in the air.
"Guys!" Junior said as he flew to the ground, allow Willow to get off before he unsummoned his scythe. "Willow, check on them! I got Owlert!"
Willow nodded to Junior before running to Luz and Gus, allowing Junior to turn and see Owlbert hitting the ground head first.
"Owlbert!" Junior screamed as he ran to the Palisman, sliding to a halt beside him and cradling him in his arms. "You alright?"
Owlbert only let out a frightened squeak in response, looking up to his head and seeing a large crack down the middle. Junior saw a large crack in Owlbert's head and winced a bit a how deep it was.
"It's gonna be alright, Owlbert. I think I can fix you right up." Junior said as he lifted his left hand, making it glow with some healing magic. "Just hold still and I should be able to heal this crack."
"Owlbert?" Luz asked as she saw the Junior holding him with a healing hand ready to use.
Owlbert hooted in fear of Luz before unlocking himself from the staff, flying away in fear of Luz.
"Owlbert!" Junior said as he tried to stop him but failed as he was just out of reach.
"Oh no! No no no!" Luz said as she ran to Junior, who stood up from the ground and held the staff. "Owlbert, come back!"
The owl palisman didn't listen to Luz as he flew away, scared and hurt from Luz's attempt to fly them to Glandus High. Junior handed the staff to Luz and immediately ran after him, worried about the little owl as Luz, Willow, and Gus followed with out question.
"Owlbert, wait! It's alright!" Junior screamed to him as the palisman turned back to him, giving him a look of fear before turning back and flying faster.
"Owlnert!" Luz screamed as she ran next to Junior with Willow and Gus not far behind.
Eventually, the group saw Owlbert fly through a distorted pair of trees in the forest, stopping at the entrance to rest a bit before they go in.
"Man, who knew humans could run so fast?" Gus said as he hunched over to catch his breath before standing straight and narrowing his eyes. "Must be their dorsal fins."
"Gus, humans don't have dorsal fins." Junior corrected him, not bothering to turn around to him.
"Owlbert went through those trees, let's go!" Luz said, using the staff to point at the tree before Willow stopped her from moving forward.
"Wait, you need to be careful, Luz! It's easy to get lost in this part of the forest!" she said as Luz turned to her.
"This is Eda's palisman, Willow. We can't just leave it." Luz said as she held the staff to her.
""Him". Owlbert is a "him," not an "it", Luz." Junior said before raising right hand, igniting it with his blue flame to light the dark entrance. "Let's go. Before he gets hurt again."
They walked through the forest, looking for their friend until they came upon a strange looking cave. The decided to investigate it and stepped on something very loud and very crunchy as they walked.
"Wow, these are the loudest twigs I've ever stepped on." Willow said as she tried not to look away but down.
"Willow, those are bones we're stepping on." Luz said, turning back to her friend and Junior continued to light the way.
"Not if I never look at the ground." Willow said as she tried to smile, to which Junior face palmed at.
Something swift moved past them, causing the group to jump as Junior lit both hands in flames and held them out.
"This is nothing like the forests I'm used to." Luz said as she poked some large web with the staff.
"Wait." Junior said as he looked around, at the floor, the ceiling, and the webs around them before seeing something walk towards them. "Shit. Guys, this isn't a forest we're walking through. It's a damn nest, look."
Junior held his hands out and made the flames a bit brighter, revealed the something walking towards them were the 3 bat monster babies Eda took care of for the Bat Queen for a day.
"Hey, I remember you guys." Luz said as Willow and Gus hid behind her and Junior. "You're the Bat Queen's babies."
"Then that means we're standing in the Bat Queen's nest." Junior said as he looked at Luz.
The babies let out a screech as Willow and Gus began to back away.
"Wait, THE Bat Queen?!" Gus asked before he and Willow backed up into some spider webs.
"Uh, between her and Eda, I think I prefer Eda!" Willow said as she pulled some web out of her hair.
"Guys, it's alright. We know her, you don't have to be scared." Junior said before he and Luz walked towards the babies.
"Um, we're looking for a small owl." Luz said as she knelled down before the babies and pointed to end of Eda's staff. "Have you seen-"
"Luz." Junior said, putting a hand on her shoulder but not burning her and pointing ahead. "In the shadows, it's Owlbert."
Looking up and ahead, Luz saw that it was indeed Owlbert but as they saw him, Owlbert took a step back into the shadows with a scared look.
"Owlbert, I'm so happy you're safe!" Luz said with a relieved face.
"Everything's going to be okay, Owlbert." Junior said as he slowly walked towards him with his hand out, extinguishing his flames. "You don't have to be afraid, I can heal your injury. We're not going to hurt you, we'd never do that to our friend."
As Junior was halfway to Owlbert, a familiar gray foot blocked him from them before stepping out to reveal a frowning Bat Queen was before them.
"Bat Queen!" Junior let out as he took a small step back while everyone else gasped.
The queen stepped towards the group, causing Junior to back away to them as she hissed at the kids.
"Greetings, small human, son death." she said to them, narrowing her eyes at them as Owlbert hid behind her.
"I-It's-" Willow stuttered out as Gus hid behind her.
"It's the Bat Queen." Luz said, looking back to Willow. "She asked us to babysit her kids a while ago. Don't worry, me and Junior got this."
"Luz, I think you should leave the talking to me. She doesn't look too happy right now." Junior said as he stepped forwards to the Bat Queen and gave a quick bow. "Greetings, Bat Queen. It's lovely to see you and your children again. I'm happy to see that they're growing healthy and save."
"Wow, he really knows how to say hello." Gus said as he nudged Willow.
"Must've been his upbringing to politely speak to other royals." Willow said back.
Though Bat Queen appreciated the greeting, she still growled at them with her hair in a bit of a mess. Junior took a deep breath to calm himself before getting to the point of their visit.
"I apologize for our unwelcomed visit but something happened with our friend, Owlbert, and he got hurt." Junior said as he looked down to the owl palisman, a bit sad at the sight of his cracked head. "I wanted to see if I could heal his injuries but then he flew off in a fright."
"Yeah, so if you could kindly let us grab him and go, we'll be out of your hair." Luz said as she tried to walk to Owlbert before the Bat Queen held her foot out in front of Junior.
"Being careless with a staff is serious problem. I protect him." Bat Queen said, not looking away from Junior.
"Yes, I understand and thank you for that but you see, he actually belongs to Eda and you do owe her a favor." Luz said as she gentle pushed Bat Queen's foot off Junior.
"Death son, I will speak to you, only. Owl lady is careless! Her staff not in her sight. She takes you on as student. You at least try to be friend to him, you try to heal." The Bat Queen said as she gestured to Owlbert before she growled at Luz and taking a step forward. "But she also has human! Human who does nothing but steal, hurt and frighten!"
"Huh?" Luz let out in confusion.
"You can communicate with Owlbert?" Junior asked the queen.
"Yes, he tell me all!" Bat Queen said as he large eyes glowed bright yellow with Owlbert's doing the same.
"Owlbert, I never meant to hurt you. It was an accident." Luz said as she knelled down to his level. "Please, you have to trust us."
Owlbert's eyes stopped glowing for a moment before looking to Junior, seeing that he still felt bad about Owlbert getting hurt. He gave a small nod to him before flying and landing on the Bat Queen's head. He spoke to the queen as his eyes glowed for a bit before she turned back to them.
"Junior's trust is safe. Human trust must be earned." Bat Queen said as she took to the air and flew back into the shadows, her be babies following as she landed on a sort of geyser. "Earned by trials!" she said while spreading her wings.
Flames sprouted out from 3 smaller geysers as the cave was lit up, revealing a large pile of treasure and treasure chests behind the Bat Queen. This was proof that Eda was right about her being the richest demon on the Boiling Isles.
"Oh, dear God. This is not going to be easy, is it?" Junior asked out load as Willow stepped to Luz.
"The Bat Queen is notorious for her impossible trials. From what I've heard, no one is able to win against her." Willow explained as Gus walked behind her.
"So was Castlevania IV on Super Nintendo." Junior mumbled quietly to himself about that because he knew none of them knew what that was.
"But I have to, it's the only way to get Owlbert back. Besides, how hard could they be?" Luz said to them before turning to the Bat Queen.
"If there's one thing I've learned in all my years, it's to never say that phrase or you will immediately screw yourself over." Junior said to her with a sigh shaking his head.
Luz wasn't determined by this as she held the staff firm and planted it in the ground in front of her.
"I accept your challenge, Bat Queen." she said with a determined and firm face.
"Well, don't worry. We'll back you up, Luz." Willow said as she turned to Gus.
"Me and my flags will support you all the way!" Gus said as he raised his flags.
Bat Queen raised her right hand at them, focusing her magic to make it glow, and clenched it shut. This caused Willow and Gus to be ensnared up to their heads in webbing that sprouted from the floor.
"What?" "Hey!" Willow and Gus complained as they saw Junior and Luz weren't trapped in webs.
"No helpsies. Human must do alone." Bat Queen said to them before turning to Junior. "I not encase young lord cuz he has Owlbert trust and he honorable as next death."
"Hmm, though I do wanna help you, Luz, she's right. These are your trials." Junior said as he looked to her and walked backwards next to Willow and Gus, summoning his scythe and embedding the blade in the ground so he could sit on the handle.. "If you wanna earn back Owlbert's trust, you gotta do it alone. I've got faith in you, Luz."
Luz took a deep breath and nodded to Junior before facing the Bat Queen.
"I can do this, I can do this." Luz said to herself.
"Now, let the trials begin!" Bat Queen siad, making the fire geysers flare around her for effect. "Your first trial, milk the spider demon."
Turned their heads to where she was pointed, everyone was met with the sight of a large spider demon with horns like a cow, four legs, a bell around his neck, and a large pair udder under it's thorax. It had a bucket in its mouth and spat it in front of Luz.
"Oh boy." Luz said as she picked up the bucket, placing the staff down and stepping to the spider demon while starring at it's udders.
She was growing a bit nervous at the strange demon before she looked to Owlbert, seeing the crack on his head and remembering that all this was her fault. She had to fix this and the look he gave her, plus Junior look of reassurance, gave Luz to kick she needed.
"Alright, you. Let's do this!" Luz said as she turned back to the spider demon, determined, and reached for it's udder.
The demon resisted and jumped over Luz to get away from her.
"If you run, you'll just make this harder for both of us!" she screamed as she ran after the spider demon, still determined to complete the trials.
Eventually, Luz was able to wrestle the spider in place and milk it, getting some weirdly normal colored milk and presented it to the Bat Queen. To show her completion of the first trial, one of the fire geysers extinguished itself.
"Next trial, removed bee's nest!" Bat Queen said as she pointed to a tree near her nest, right at a green nest in the shape of a tear drop hanging from a branch.
"Seems easy enough." Junior commented as Luz picked up the staff and climbed the tree to the nest.
His beliefs were betrayed as the nest suddenly turned purple to reveal that it wasn't a nest, but a large bee/wasp like demon with sharp teeth and bat wings. It roared in Luz's face as she fell from the tree.
"Nevermind." Junior quickly said as he and Willow saw Luz run from the bee/wasp demon before hearing something and turning to Gus. "Gus, what are you doing?"
"Escaping so I can help Luz." Gus said, using his flags to tear through the webbing holding him.
"But she can't accept help, she needs to do this on her own." Junior argued, even though he wanted to help her.
"Aha!" Gus laughed as he teared away the webbing, freeing himself. "Freedom is mine. Now, Bat Queen, you shall rue this day for-"
Bat Queen just raised her left foot and clenched, using her magic once again to trap Gus in webbing but this time hang him from the ceiling in a sack and suspend him in the air.
"Also, Bat Queen won't allow you to help." Junior quickly added as Gus gave a bland look.
"Now you tell me." he said, not looking at Junior.
"I thought you would've remembered." Junior commented back, turning back to Luz's trial and seeing her fight back the bee/wasp demon with the staff and drive it out of the Bat Queen's nest.
"You better run!" Luz said with a victorious smile, holding the staff over her head as the second fire geyser extinguished.
The second trial was now complete and Bat Queen didn't look too happy about it.
"Grr, third trial! Give my babies a bath!" Bat Queen said, a little annoyed that Luz had actually completed two trials and used her magic to summon a wash bucket and scrub brush while her 3 babies flew down to Luz.
"This one doesn't seem that hard." Willow said before Junior turned to her with a deadpan stare.
"You weren't around when Bat Queen dropped off her babies, they're more trouble than you think." Junior said as he turned back Luz, seeing her being tackled by the babies to the ground while trying to scrub one of them.
"Oh, I see now." Gus commented as they saw Luz try and clean all of them while trying not to hurt them or get hurt.
This was easier said than done since one of them was trying to bite into her shoulder, but Luz perceived and kept scrubbing them clean until they were all covered in soap suds.
"That's it, Luz. You can do it!" Junior cheered her on, happy to see she had almost finished the trials.
"C'mon! It would go so much faster if we help!" Willow said as she turned to Junior. "Please, cut us loose!"
"No! If I don't do this on my own, Owlbert won't want want to come back!" Luz said as she scrubbed harder. "All this happened because I was selfish and put myself before Owlbert, he needs to know I care about him and will do anything to make up for it!"
"Well said, Luz!" Junior said at her, happy to see she had learned her lesson. "You're almost done, now finish it off!"
Luz nodded to Junior as she picked up the wash bucket and poored the water over the 3 babies, making them squeaky clean and acuttully looking like normal babies.
"Aw." Luz awwed as she held her cheeks, taken in by their cut new look.
It ended as quickly as it began as the babies shook themselves dry and hissed at Luz with their normal appearances.
"AHHH!" Luz screamed in horror as she fell back, holding her chest at the scare the babies gave her.
The babies flew away as Luz stood up, seeing the final fire geyser extinguish itself as Gus freed himself again.
"Freedom once more!" he said as he landed on his hands before webbing covered him again, leaving only his jerking feet visible.
"I think that was it." Junior commented as Luz picked up Eda's staff turned to the Bat Queen.
"Okay, Bat Queen, I've completed all your trials, and I've proved that I care about Owlbert." Luz said as she saw Owlbert perch himself next to Bat Queen's right foot, stepping slowly towards him. "I am so sorry for all that happened, Owlbert. I never should've taken you without Eda's permission and I promise from now on, I'll be more careful. Will you come home with me and Junior?"
Owlbert looked into Luz's eyes, seeing her regret and honesty from today's events, before looking to Junior, seeing him smile at him and nod that he can trust Luz again.
"Ooo. Ooo." Owlbert hooted as he flew to the ground, ready to got back home with Luz and Junior.
Bat Queen, however, didn't agree as she raised her left foot and used her magic to trap Owlbert in webbing just like she did to Willow and Gus.
"Owlbert!" Junior shouted, jumping from his scythe and looking to Bat Queen. "What are you doing?! Luz completed your trials and Owlbert forgave her!"
"No! Final trial! You must face...ME!" Bat Queen proclaimed as she threw her wings out, having the geyser she was sitting on fire a large pillar of flames behind her.
"What?!" Luz said in shock as Bat Queen charged at her with a battle cry!
"Luz!" Junior shouted as Luz ran away from Bat Queen, who landed behind Owlbert.
"He will never return with you!" Bat Queen said as Luz tripped and fell to the ground.
"Dammit!" Junior said as he grabbed his scythe, yanking it from the ground.
"Junior, cut us out! We can help Luz!" Willow said as she turned to Junior.
"Alright, hold still." Junior said as he twirled his scythe, slicing the webbing off Willow and Gus.
"Thanks." Willow said as Gus stoop up before looking behind Junior. "Junior, behind you!"
Turning around Junior saw that the 3 bat babies were before them, wanting to stop them from interfering with their mother's final, unfair trial.
"I got this, Junior! With my flags!" Gus said, bringing his flags out and waving them to get the bat babies attention away from Junior and to him and Luz. "AH! That was not what I planned!"
"Thanks anyway!" Junior quickly said before looking back to Luz, seeing her running away from the Bat Queen. "Hang on, Luz!"
Focusing his fire into his legs, Junior took off like rocket and flew after Luz and the Bat Queen. After a minute of following them, Junior saw that Luz had gotten tangled in some purple vines on the ground and Bat Queen was going in for the attack. He growled as he shot towards them and got in front of Luz, swinging his scythe so that blade didn't cut the Bat Queen. Only slap her across her large face away from Luz.
"Get back!" Junior said as he hopped on his scythe and flew at Bat Queen, angry that she broke her deal on the trials. "Owlbert is come home with us! Luz earned his trust back!"
"RAH!" Bat Queen shouted at him, clashing with him with her left foot against his scythe handle. "Human no take him! He stay, I protect!"
"Why though?!" Junior asked as he grabbed his handle and kicked her in the nose, causing her to let go and fly back in pain. "Why are you trying to hard to keep Owlbert here even when Luz passed your trials?!"
"It none of your business!" she screamed at Junior, flying back at him and grabbing his scythe with both her feet. "Now, moves aside! Final trial not done!"
"This trial is done"! Junior said as he put more magic into his grip to push Bat Queen back, preventing her from hurt Luz.
Back to the ground, Luz had gotten herself free from the vines and looked up to see Junior fight off Bat Queen, but as she watched Luz noticed something strange on Bat Queen's right foot as she grabbed his scythe blade.
"Is that?" Luz said as she narrowed her eyes to see it better before gasping in shock and realization. "It makes sense now. Junior! Look at Bat Queen's right foot!"
Hearing his friend's suggestion and a little curious about it, Junior moved his scythe a bit and saw her right foot. Gasping at what he saw as his anger was gone.
"It's...an interlock." Junior said as he saw the hole, a circle with a rectangle edge going to the center, before turning back to Bat Queen. "That's why you were able to communicate with him. You're like Owlbert, you're a Palisman!"
Bat Queen gasped in shock, her secret revealed as she let go of Junior's scythe and flew down to the ground with Junior following suit.
"That's why your so determined to protect him." Junior said as he unsummoned his scythe. "Something like what happened to him, happened to you and you don't want him to be hurt like that again, right?"
Bat Queen looked away from them before looking towards he interlock, clenched her foot before placing it back on the ground.
"It is true. I was once on a staff made for a giant, grand and unmatched. But I was broken, discarded,...and forgotten." Bat Queen said as she turned her back to them.
"I think...I think I know how you feel." Junior said as he looked down, remembering the times in his life when he felt alone in his family.
Thinking that he was untalented, ignored,...unloved. Cast to the side as his multi talented little sister got so much more attention then he ever could. It was a sad time for him, a time he didn't want to feel ever again.
"Is that why you're so aggressive in protecting Owlbert?" Luz asked as she walked next to Junior.
"Not just Owlbert." Bat Queen said as she turned around to face them, her eyes glowing yellow like they did when she communicated with Owlbert. "I protect all those broken!"
Multiple eyes glowed in the darkness of Bat Queen's nest, revealing hundreds of animal shaped Palismans with their interlocks revealed and their wounds clear for Junior and Luz to see. Birds, insects, mammals, amphibians, all either scratched, cracks, or having broken off limbs were shown as Junior and Luz turned back to the Bat Queen.
"After I broken, I make home for us in forest. For the lost, the forgotten, and the broken." she said as her eyes returned to normal and looked at Junior and Luz.
"So many of them, hurt and abandoned." Junior said, clenching his fist at how heartbreaking it is to see so many of them here.
"We get it, Bat Queen, but Owlbert isn't lost or forgotten." Luz said as she looked to her with begging eyes. "He has a home and someone who loves him more than anything in the world waiting for him to return."
Bat Queen stared at Luz and Junior, seeing their sad face at this reveal before closing her eyes and turning away.
"No, he stay. Not go back with you, human." she said while walking away, showing some authority as a self-proclaimed Queen of the Palismans.
"You can't just keep him here against his will! He forgave Luz!" Junior argued, still heartbroken at all these broken companions but held his ground.
"Yeah, it's his choice to come back! Not yours!" Luz added, re firming her face to her.
"Here, it is!" Bat Queen shouted as she turned back to them, stomped towards then ready to attack them.
Junior put Luz behind him as he summoned his flames, ready to protect him and Luz before a sudden flapping got his attention. Looking down in front of him, Junior saw that Owlbert had freed himself from the webbing and was standing before the Bat Queen with is wings out.
"Hooo." he let out as his eyes glowed, speaking to the queen once again as her eyes glowed to understand him.
"You...you care for them and trust them greatly." she said as the wind blew through her nest/sanctuary, their eyes returning to normal.
Owlbert nodded to Bat Queen before turning around and walking to Junior, who snuffed out is flames, and Luz, who had her hands out to welcome Owlbert.
"And we feel the same about him." Junior said as he watched Owlbert nuzzle Luz's cheek.
"I understand. You may take him home." Bat Queen said before pointing her wing to Gus and Willow, who were running towards them with her 3 babies still attacking them. "Your friends are free to leave too."
Bat Queen whistled a note before her babies stopped attacking them and flew to stand in front of her.
"I don't think I can ever wash this off." Gus said with spit in his hair and on his clothes.
"Bat Queen, we thank you for letting him come back with us." Junior said as he gave her a small bow, which the others quickly copied. "Do you...Do you know what happened to your owner?"
"It has been long time, thousands of years." Bat Queen said as she shook her head. "I forgotten."
"Well, if you ever want to search for the truth about them, We'll help." Luz said with a smile.
"Yeah and..." Junior said with a small pause, remembering that sad time in his life. "I know it's not exactly the same...but I know what it's like to be neglected."
"You do?" Bat Queen asked as Junior looked into her eyes and nodded.
"Yes, and it makes me happy to see that you've made this place where they won't feel alone anymore." Junior said with a sad smile as he looked up to all the Palismans. "Even if you're broken, there's always a place for you. Somewhere."
Bat Queen smiled at Junior as she nodded to him.
"Thank you, Lord Junior." she said as he children climbed into her hair, flying away into a tree in the distance.
Watching her fly away and seeing the Palismans slowly retreat back into the darkness, the group was silent for a moment before Willow broke it.
"I can't believe you guys took on the Bat Queen!" she said as Gus did a little dance, hugging Luz and Junior.
"And we're still alive!" he cheered as Willow broke her hug.
"Thank you guys for helping me get Owlbert back, especially you Junior." Luz said as she turned to all of them before looking down. "Sorry you had to miss the game against Glandus though, Willow and Gus."
"Don't worry about it, Luz! This was way better than any Grugdby match!" Gus said as he pumped his flag hold fists in the air. "It had trials, I got to do my flag dance, and I'm only slightly traumatized. Hurry!"
"Hehe, alright." Junior said as Luz joined his laugh a bit.
"Come on, guys. Let's get Owlbert home." Luz said as she turned to Owlber, who was perched on her left shoulder.
"And this time, I'll fly. It's about time I worked on trying to fly with more than two passengers." Junior said as he lead them out of the forest, summoning his scythe to fly them back.
After a rather difficult flight back home and waving Gus and Willow goodbye, Junior and Luz relaxed on the couch as Owlbert set himself in the middle of them.
"That was crazy." Luz said as she turned to Junior.
"Yeah, but we're used to crazy." Junior said as he turned to Owlbert, gazing at his cracked head. "Now, let's see if I can still fix that."
Gently picked the Palisman up in his hand, Junior focused his healing magic into his right hand and placed it on Owlbert's head. A about a minute had pasted before Junior stopped and took his hand off, revealing that the crack didn't heal.
"I guess I can only heal organic beings." Junior said with a frown, a little said that he could heal his friend.
"Hoo." he let out as he shook his head, letting Junior know he had down enough for today.
"If you're sure." Junior said as he put his hand down and Luz got up.
"Wait, right here guy!" Luz said as she quickly ran to her room and ran back, holding a pink band aid. "It's not a permanent fix but it should help."
Luz sat back on the couch and placed the bandage over Owlbert's crack.
"Consider yourself a member of the boo boo buddy club, Owlbert." Luz said as Owlbert looked up to his bandage.
"Hoo." he let out as Luz and Junior smiled at him.
"Why is Owlbert bandages?" Eda said, alerting Junior and Luz to turned to the door that had been silently opened by her and King. Both looking tired. "And why is he off the staff?"
Junior and Luz didn't say anything as Owlbert flew to Eda's left shoulder and hooted to her.
"Luz and Junior took you to get ice cream and the bandge is because you got bad brain freeze?" Eda questioned as Owlbert looked at her.
"Hoo." he said with a nod.
"Aw, well that...is the worst lie I've ever heard." Eda said as she turned back to Junior and Luz.
Owlbert just had a look that said 'I tried' while Junior laughed a bit and Luz looked sheepish.
"Well lucky for all of you, I don't care right now." Eda said with a shoulder shrug. "I'm going to take a nap, but first, Junior. I need to talk to you."
"If you need me, I'll be back at the playground." King said with suspicious eyes and he left for the Slayground.
Luz and Junior shared a look before Junior went after Eda while Owlbert flew on to Luz's left shoulder.
"Let's keep this little adventure to ourselves, okay?" Luz asked Owlbert as he hooted in agreement, nuzzling her cheek.
"Well, this was a day." Junior mumbled to himself as he made his way up to Eda's room, standing before the day way to look at his teacher. "You wanted to talk, Eda?"
"Yes, Junior. I-" Eda tried to saw before she started coughing violently, holding a hand to her mouth.
"Eda!" Junior said as he ran to her, keeping her on her feet as she continued to cough before she spat something out of her mouth, an empty bottle of elixir. "Is that?"
"My elixir, yes but it's not working on the curse anymore." Eda said as she separated from Junior.
"But what about the one I gave you, that was mixed with some of mine?" Junior asked as Eda pointed behind her, right at the light green mixture sitting on her nightstand.
"I was going to take it but I passed out before I could, and the next thing I know, I'm in the back of an animal control cart." Eda said before violently spitting up a half eaten swing and holding it by the chain. "And apparently, I ate a swing."
"King." Junior said with growl, putting it together that he used Eda's cursed state to get petty revenge at the Slayground, before he turned to the mix he made earlier today and picking it up. "Well, that aside, you should still take it. Since your original ones won't work anymore, it might be your best bet for now."
Eda nodded to Junior as he handed her the light green elixir, looking at it before looking back to Junior.
"Bottoms up." she said as she chugged the elixir bottle in a matter of second, wiping her mouth as she held the empty bottle in hand. "Now, we wait to see if it works."
"I hope it does." Junior said before looking away from Eda and turning back to give her a tight hug.
"Ah." Eda let out in shock, looked down to see Junior bury his face in he stomach. "Kid,-"
"I know how you feel about hugs, Eda, but...I don't know how else to show how much you mean to me." Junior said as he hugged her tighter. "You're...one of the few friends I have. You're important to me and I don't wanna lose you."
Eda was at a lose for words, never having a friend like this before. Not even in King.
"You...mean a lot to me too, kid." Eda said as she slowly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him back. "You and Luz, and I swear, I'm not going anywhere."
Junior felt tears fall a bit as he continued to hug Eda, still afraid that she'll turn into a monster or vanish.
Scroll list:
Chronokinesis: slowing down time. (Successful and somewhat mastery. Time limit, possible 5 seconds/5 minutes in frozen time.)
Dreamwalking: entering people's dreams or subconscious. (1 Attempt, successful.)
Healing: transferring life force to heal injuries or sicknesses. (3 Attempts, successful. Mastery.)
Invisibility: turn invisible to humans. (3 Attempts, successful. Partial mastery)
Necrokinesis: kill someone with a single touch.
Perception Alteration: manipulate human perception so they appear any way they wish.
Possession: Possessing human minds.
Resurrection: Bringing people back to life.
Soul Awareness: tracking souls.
Telekinesis: moving objects with his mind
Teleportation: teleport anywhere in existence or in mind.
