Angel: When I said MAYBE I'd do Monsters at Work, that didn't automatically mean I'd do the movies Monsters Inc or Monsters University by default. Especially since I don't even like half of Monsters University to write it. For me, it's the same thing with the Tangled movie: there's no point in writing it if the characters I create for the show only appear in the show. So if I even decide to do Monsters at Work, what could I possibly do with the movies if the OC only exists in Monsters at Work?
It was late at night from the Owl House as a window creaked and wind came blowing in. Luz was asleep, thinking about what had happened just yesterday.
Owlbert took off with her book, she and Lucila chasing after him. They went right through the door and emerged into the tent. "Stop adorably hopping away, you...huh?" They looked around at their surroundings.
"How did we get...?"
"Welcome to..." Eda snapped her fingers, the house practically coming to life as the lights turned on. "The Owl House." The two gasped at her home.
Luz hugged her book close, whimpering as tears fell from her eyes. Lucila also had her eyes closed, but for the reason that she had just been dangled from mid-air. Once they opened their eyes, they saw the Boiling Isles in front of them while flying with Eda.
Luz sat up with a gasp, looking around her make-shift room. King was still sleeping from the end of her sleeping bag. "It wasn't a dream!" She exclaimed happily, opening up the window and looking out. "Good morning, terrifying fantasy world!"
"Good morning," A sea monster with 7 eyes greeted her, sinking back into the water. She looked a bit unnerved, but quickly let go of it as she walked over to King. She picked him up, waking the little creature.
"Good morning, you little cutie-pie!" She started kissing his cheek repeatedly.
"I am not your cutie pie!" He shouted at her.
"Yes, you are," She hugged him and then put him down. King slumped onto her sleeping bag.
"I know..."
Once she was finished putting on her clothes, she slid to the door of her sister's room. She opened it up to find Lucila still asleep, her back facing the door. She was asleep on a straight bay window as she didn't have a sleeping bag. "Good morning, hermana!"
Lucila screamed at the loud booming voice, falling off the bed. "Sorry!" Luz called out as Lucila groaned, shaking her head slowly.
"So it's not a dream..." She murmured groggily.
Luz opened up the bathroom door, her sister standing behind her with messy hair, her clothes in hand. "Gonna open the door for my sis, who gratefully let me stay here and is not mad at me!" Luz pointed up at her, Lucila scoffing a bit. She was wearing a pink and white tank top as well as grey leggings, her glasses off for the time being. Literal owls flew out of the bathroom, surprising both of them. Lucila ducked her head as an owl flew above her. Lucila stepped in first, followed by Luz, neither of them noticing Hooty stretched out to be in the room.
"Hi, Luz, Lucila."
Both of them screamed in unison, Luz karate chopping him. Lucila then slapped him. "Ow!" He moved backwards all the way to the window. "I'm just wishing you a good morning. Geez. Hoot," He then went all the way back to the door. "Ow."
"Sorry, Hooty!" Luz called out as Lucila started brushing her hair back. Luz noticed her Azura book on the sink and took it. She then started giving herself a pep talk. "This is it, old girl," She put the book in front of her face so that the page with Azura was facing the mirror. "Your first day on the Boiling Isles as a witch apprentice! Hyah!"
Lucila chuckled at her while tying her hair into her normal style. "Then I guess you're prepared for this one. Gravity spell!" She leaned back and her back landed on Luz's head.
"Ahh! No, I can never counteract those!" Luz whined as she tried to push her sister off of her. She tried to hold up the girl, but then they both ended up falling onto the floor due to Luz not having enough physical strength. The two laughed together.
"But seriously, have fun, little witch," Lucila smiled a little, Luz returning it.
Luz went over to the supply closet, her eyes covered. "Please have witchy clothes. Please have witchy clothes," She pleaded and then opened her eyes. She saw a bunch of potions, hats, robes, and brooms. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!"
She hollered happily in excitement, writing 'Witch Apprentice Luz' on one name tag and 'Witch Apprentice Lucila' on the other, hers with stars and Lucila's with hearts decorated. She squealed in excitement as she stood at the staircase that led to the hallway. She was wearing a black hat, robe, and red sash.
Lucila joined her sister, in her day clothes and glasses. "Hey Luz, did you start your da-" She faltered as Eda came out in her pajamas and bunny slippers. The woman let out a yawn.
"Hmm?" She noticed the two.
"Good morning, Eda the Owl Lady," Luz greeted happily. "We are ready for our first day of Witch Apprenticeship."
"Ugh," Eda shook bugs off of her, picking at her ear. "Who are you two again?"
"Luz, I'm not training to be a witch," Lucila then told her.
"Huh?" Luz gave a dismayed look at both of them, her nametag falling off.
She followed her sister and Eda into the kitchen. "Remember us? Luz and Lucila?" Eda summoned a coffee cup for herself, which hit Luz in the back of the head. "We freed the oppressed and defeated the evil warden together? Yesterday?"
"Kid, lay off the details," Eda grumbled as Lucila took a seat at the table. "I haven't even had my cup of apple blood yet."
"You mean apple juice?" Luz asked in confusion.
"No," Eda took a sip and sat down between King and Lucila. Lucila had a few books in front of her while King was stabbing at a pile of yellow mush and eyeballs. The older Noceda sister picked up a book and started reading it.
"Teach me some spells. When do I get a magic staff? Was I supposed to bring my own runes?" Then Luz gasped sharply, Lucila glancing up at her briefly. "Do you have a dangerous magical quest for me?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Eda pushed her away. "Slow down, kid. Being a witch doesn't happen overnight. Also, you're wrapped in a bathrobe and wearing the dirtiest traffic cone I've ever seen."
Luz took off the 'hat' and blew the dust off to reveal that it was indeed a traffic cone. King laughed at her, especially when some of the dust flew over to Lucila's face and she started coughing. She waved it away with the book she was reading.
"But a magic, stuff, huh?" Eda asked curiously, some apple blood on her lip. "You really want one?"
"More than anything," Luz's eyes shined.
Eda wiped off the stain from her lip and held out her hand. "Magic staff, come to me." Lots of clatter and crashing was heard from the distance. Lucila looked up from her book, glancing at King and then at the hallway. Luz and Eda also gave concerned looks until the staff finally arrived, flying right into Eda's face. "Ouch! Yeez!" She spun it into her hand. "It's early," She excused before starting. "Now, witches are awarded their staffs from school. With me as your teacher, you'll be taking a different approach."
She threw down a bag of potion bottles onto the floor, startling Lucila. "You'll have to work for it. I run a few businesses," She showed around her things for sale to the two, Lucila walking while reading. "On weekends, I offer rare human treasures that Owlbert drags over from your side of the realm," She patted Owlbert from the top of her staff.
She then picked up a toy sword and pressed the button from it. "I shall smite my enemies. Ages six to eleven."
"But most days I sell only the finest homemade elixirs and potions."
Luz took one of the bottles from the bag. "Snake Oil."
"No one wants an un-oiled snake," Eda held up a finger, but that begged the question to Lucila of what they did with the oiled ones. "Follow me." She led them out to the balcony. "Today you'll deliver packages and sell potions to that town over there," She pointed to the town that they passed by yesterday. "Bonesborough. You'll have to be careful. I have rivals everywhere who'd love to take my business down and you two along with it."
"I want nothing to do with your business. I'm just trying to read up more about this world," Lucila held up her book, gesturing to it.
"Yeah, yeah. You wanted a dangerous magical quest? Sister, you've got one."
"I won't let you down, Miss Eda," Luz saluted...and then dropped the bag over the balcony. They looked over the edge and watched as the bag crashed, essentially destroying all the potions in there.
"I'm sure," Eda replied sarcastically, earning a wide smile from the girl.
She pushed Luz outside with a new bag of potions. "Remember, never befriend a man in sandals and always measure twice, cut once."
"Uhh..."
"Oh, and Lucila's going with you," Eda stated, getting her attention.
"Uh, no, Lucila's staying right here. Just because I'm here to watch over Luz doesn't mean I'm going out there."
"Luci, can I call you Luci?" Eda stepped forward to her.
"I hate being called Luci," She narrowed her eyes in annoyance.
"Luci, she's going out there on a very dangerous magical quest, with no supervision! And as you are technically her legal guardian, it'd be terrible if something were to happen to the unguarded human," She gestured to Luz, who gasped sharply.
"I am unguarded!" She gave a sly smile to Lucila, who sighed slowly. Eda made a good point; no way Luz would know how to get back on her own and no way she wouldn't get into trouble.
"You win..." She walked out the door, turning around to Eda. "But I'm still not training to be a-"
"Good luck!" Eda slammed the door in their faces using her finger. She dusted off her hands, going over to King. "I hate to interrupt your power nap, but you have to go with them," She nudged him awake, to his annoyance.
"What? But I just found the perfect spot. Why do I have to go?"
"You and I know they're either gonna get lost or eaten, probably both."
"No I won't!" Luz peeked in from the window, startling them. Eda then waved a finger to pull the curtain down.
"And because you work for me, too. Unless you want to start paying rent."
King threw a small temper tantrum before stomping out of the house. Eda smirked and then faced the three. "Be back by nightfall or risk mortal peril," She then slammed the door once again.
"Have a nice trip," Hooty told them, King groaning.
"Let's get this over with," He replied as they walked off.
The trio walked down the path to the city. "Whoa..." She murmured at all of the different kinds of creatures. They stepped inside, where a butterfly of sorts with the face of a worm and an old woman fell past her and she gasped.
"Hey, it's rude to stare," King pointed out, his arms crossed.
"I've only seen places like this in my dreams," Luz confessed to him. "It's incredible! And we're the only humans here?"
"Haven't seen any others," King answered her.
"Wow. There must be a reason for that, right?" She bent down to the creature. "Why are we here? What if I, Luz Noceda, average teen, actually had..." She gasped sharply in realization. "A predetermined path of greatness? Just like Azura."
"Yeah. Did Azura's path to greatness involve her delivering boil cream?" King held up the bottle.
"Today I'm delivering packages, but tomorrow I'll be earning the respect of everyone on the Boiling Isles with my magical prowess," Luz daydreamed, grinning.
"Ha! Good luck. The Boiling Isles is nothing but a cesspool of despair," King laughed a bit.
"More like a cesspool of delight," Luz took the boil cream from him, throwing the bag over her shoulder.
They stared after Lucila, who had memorized the map so that she could continue reading her book and walk at the same time. Luz pouted to herself; she never got the chance earlier to ask why she wasn't training to become a witch.
"Lucila, why don't you wanna be a witch?!" She looked up at the teenager.
"Luz, that's your thing. I just wanna learn about this world, which includes magic, but I just don't gravitate towards being a witch. I want things being here to be normal for me, and I can only get that with these books. They're all about the history of the Boiling Isles," She gestured to the book she was reading.
"Booooring!" King called out, but was ignored.
"Things haven't been normal ever since we got here," Luz pointed out. "And besides...you're the reason I'm okay being who I am. You're the one who gave me this, remember?" She held up her Azura book. King glanced between the two sisters. He didn't even know that Lucila was the very same person who gave Luz the book. The girl clamped her mouth shut while staring at it.
"True, but...I just can't do it, Luz. Sorry."
Luz looked disappointed and then looked up ahead, gasping. She was looking at a centaur buying fruit. She approached him and nudged. "What has four hooves and wants to buy a potion? This guy."
He sighed, putting down the pumpkin. He opened up his eyes from his chest, as that was where his true face was. "My eyes are down here."
She yelped at him in surprise.
While ringing doorbells and trying to sell potions, one of them came to life and took hold of Luz's hand. It then tried to suck her inside, King walking off. Lucila smacked the doorbell with her book, getting it to back off.
The three were getting hot dogs or not dogs, King finishing his. "I know I've had enough delight for one day," He told the two.
"I thought being the only humans in a magical world would make me special," Luz took out her Azura book from the bag. "But apparently, it just makes everyone want to scream at me or..." She held up her elbow, where that same butterfly was gnawing at it. "Eat me." She managed to shake it off and Lucila placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Well, not everyone has an easy start, you know," She tried to assure Luz, but it wasn't helping.
"At this point, Azura had already been sent on an enchanted quest," Luz opened up the book, showing the exact moment it happened in the story. "Where's my quest-granting wizard?"
"Sorry to break it to you, Luz, but no one here is that well-dressed," King told her straight to the point.
"This has been a rough day," She slung over the bag over her shoulder and then picked up a paper from her pocket. "Let's just deliver this last package and go home." She moved over a curtain as they arrived at the last location. "Maybe this world isn't what I thought it-" She gasped sharply up ahead, Lucila looking up. Her eyes widened at a castle right in front of them. "Pretty."
Lucila just let out a small whistle. She rung the doorbell, which wasn't alive, and the door slowly opened.
"Big houses always belong to big whack jobs," King dismissed, rolling his eyes. "Let's kick the package inside and get outta here."
Luz stepped inside anyway. "Hello?"
"Hey, wait!" King protested, running after her.
"Luz!" Lucila called out in disbelief, following after him. The door closed as soon as she did, frightening the little creature.
"Wait!" He trailed after them.
"Luz, you can't just enter someone's house without permission! Even if it is a very nice castle." Lucila whispered to her sister, but was ignored.
"We're delivering a package from Miss Eda the Owl Lady," Luz hollered, and the lights suddenly turned on. The room they were standing in was actually a library, and Lucila squinted at the portrait at the top of the grand staircase. The same person from the portrait stepped up to greet them. Luz gasped as he was in a wizard's robe and hat. "Today just got good~!" He just smiled at them. "Magical wizard," Luz bounced around in excitement.
"A weird old man in jim-jams," King deadpanned, Lucila snorting in agreement.
"I was in my Oscillarium, reading the stars," The wizard went down the staircase. "And who might you be, with eyes full of curiosity?"
"Uh...I'm..."
"Young lady, dareth I say, I sense something unique about you," He informed her, King looking annoyed. Lucila glanced at her sister, who was blushing. The wizard then summoned three chairs, a table, and sweets along with tea cups.
"Okay!" Luz agreed, only to be stopped by both King and her sister.
"What happened to just dropping off the package and leaving?" The girl put her hands on her hips sternly.
"Yeah, let's scram!" King agreed with her, jumping onto Luz's back. "Wizards are just old people with glitter in their pockets." To prove his point, the wizard sprinkled glitter from his pocket. "I don't trust him."
"But the stars on his robe are sparkling," Luz whispered in excitement to the two. "And look. There's a baby fox in his beard." The baby fox giggled at them.
"When has anything in the Boiling Isles been this magical or cute?" Lucila gestured to the wizard.
"Good point...but, I see scones on the table."
"Where?!" King immediately rushed over to the table.
"Two to one, sis," Luz smirked, earning a groan as Lucila hung her shoulders.
"Fine! But not for too long, okay?"
"We'd love to join you for tea," Luz stated as they stepped up, both of them taking a sea and some tea cups. Luz glanced behind her shoulder to see a cart full of different kinds of potions. "Do you sell potions, Sir Wizard?"
"Please, call me Adegast," He gestured to himself with a smile. "And yes, I run a small business." Lucila picked one up and looked at the label.
"You should run a small business of more scones into my mouth. Ha ha, yes!" King pumped a fist at the jeer.
"I'm surprised to see you here," Adegast confessed to the two. "It was my understanding that Eda delivered the packages herself."
"Well, I'm kinda, sorta her apprentice," Luz told him, Lucila leaning back and crossing her arms.
"And I'm the apprentice's older sister watching over her."
"Oh, and how are you finding the experience so far?" Adegast asked them curiously.
Luz let out a deep sigh. "Can I be honest, Mr. Adegast? When I decided to stay in this magical world, I thought I was meant for something special. But Eda thinks I'm meant for chores, and I'm afraid I came to the wrong place," She looked at her tea forlornly.
"Luz..." Lucila murmured in sympathy. Eda might not be the best teacher, but their situation was still something that they had to adjust to.
"Well, I have a quest-"
"A quest?!" Luz dropped her tea cup at the question, grinning widely and earning a chuckle from the wizard.
"You didn't let me finish. I have a question."
"Oh," She frowned, hands behind her back.
"Would you like to go on a quest?"
"Yes!"
Adegast reached into his beard and pulled out a scroll. "I might have just the thing." He rolled it out to reveal a map. "The prophecy speaks of a young human girl who will claim the Celestial Staff and free this world from an ancient evil. Perhaps thou hath cometh here for a reason."
Lucila raised an eyebrow at him. She had only just started reading about the Boiling Isles, but she would imagine that something like this would've been brought to her attention already.
"Perhaps I hath," She murmured, excitement boiling within her.
"Should you believe yourself worthy to attempt this quest-"
"So worthy," Luz stated confidently as she started to follow him.
"You need to know the road is dark and perilous..."
"Love peril. Big fan of peril!" Luz smiled upon hearing this.
"And only the Chosen One can pull the staff from its post," Adegast finished, Luz glancing down at the map.
"Chosen One..."
"Neat story. Awesome," King walked over to them. "Anyway, your food is gone and we are, too."
"Thankfully," Lucila murmured to herself.
"Yes, we have to go...and pack for this enchanted quest! I'm in," Luz grinned widely.
"Uh, no you're not," Lucila spoke up, crossing her arms. "Dark and perilous? No way, Luz!"
"But hermanaaaa," Luz whined at her. "This is my chance for me to know if I belong here."
"You don't know what's out there," The older girl argued back. "And you have no way of knowing if this is even real. I mean, come on," She snatched the map from her sister, placing a hand on her hip as she read it. "I haven't even seen this in the books I get from the library about the Boiling Isles itself."
"Well, let me know if you change your mind, Chosen One," Adegast winked at her and Lucila dragged the pouting Luz away.
"Not happening, but thanks."
Luz looked at the map, frowning as they were back at the Owl House. Lucila was looking at her phone, a conflicted look on her face as she had gotten a text from that morning.
Mija, where are you? I'm worried!
She sighed, rubbing a temple. She still hadn't figured out what to say to her mother about why she wasn't home. She couldn't exactly say that she was at a friend's house, since a sleepover didn't last however many days they were staying with Eda and King. And she couldn't say that she was out somewhere else, because that didn't explain not being home at a certain time...
"So, King, hypothetically, what kind of Chosen One should I be?"
King let out a yawn as he couldn't be any less interested. "Huh? What?"
"Should I be full of optimism and goodness, like the good witch Azura? Or should I be like a bad girl Chosen One with black nail polish and mysteriously withdrawn attitude? 'I act like I don't care, but I secretly do'."
Eda then peeked into the room. "Oh, you guys talking about bad girls? Wait. What's going on?" She stepped in, throwing a giant blue hand over her shoulder while holding the bone.
"Eda, Lucila, tell Luz how dumb wizards are," King prompted her.
"What? Not now, King, I'm trying to figure out how to stop my mom from sending out the FBI," Lucila waved him off, distracted.
"Ugh!" Eda placed a hand on her hip, waving the monster hand. "Wizards are the worst. Never trust a man in casual drapery," She waved it around and King had to duck his head. "Why?"
"Your wizard client told Luz..." King started to laugh. "She was a..." He held his stomach as he fell onto Luz's rolled up sleeping bag. "Was a Chosen One!"
"Wait, wait," Eda shook her head in disbelief, "Luz?" She snickered and then laughed along with King.
"He even gave her a map!"
Luz hid her face behind the book as Lucila got another text, from the boy on her home screen.
Where are you, Luci?
She sighed, ignoring the two as she hid her face into her phone, conflicted on what to actually tell them. On one hand, she could make up a story, but it'd be a testament as to how long both of them would be willing to believe it. She didn't know how long she'd be in the Boiling Isles, after all, and camp was only for the summer. On the other hand, both of them were expecting her to be around since she didn't have a job...
Both of them stopped laughing after a few seconds and Eda stood up. "Let me see this map."
Luz held out the scroll to her, looking away and saying nothing. After Eda read it, she raised a brow down at Luz. "You didn't think this was real, did you?"
"What?" Luz stood up, a bit hurt by the question.
"This map is bunk. There's no lake with a Celestial Staff on the Boiling Isles. Hey, kid," Eda called out to Lucila. "Haven't you been reading up on the Isles? There something you're not telling her?"
"Mm? I've only read up on a few books, but I would've known if there was a Celestial Staff by now," Lucila responded, still looking at her phone. She was typing out a few options, but then erasing them before they could actually be sent.
"Thank you," Eda nodded at her with a smile. "I would have stolen it ages ago." She then noticed Luz's disappointed face. "Ah, don't worry. Couple more months here and you won't look like such a mark," Eda patted her on the head and then Luz pushed it off.
"Can I have some time alone?"
Eda shrugged and left. King jumped off the rolled up sleeping bag and followed after her. Lucila stood up and walked past her sister, who reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Is hoping for something like this really that bad?"
Lucila's eyes softened and she turned around to Luz. She bent down and hugged her knees. "Sorry it's not real, Luz. But I get why you would've wanted it. Eda might be unconventional, but she's not wrong in choosing you to be her apprentice."
Luz smiled up at her a bit and then slid down to the floor. "Maybe they were right." She then looked at the corner of the map. "Huh? Lucila, look!" The girl joined her side to see a word glowing from it underneath the sunlight. Luz held it up further to see hidden words.
'The Chosen One. The path will only appear to the worthy.'
"The path will only appear to the worthy," Luz read, gasping sharply. "That's why Eda couldn't see it. But am...I really worthy?"
The window opened behind them and it blew the map out of her hands. It landed next to her Azura book, where a page was flipped. Once the pages stopped, it depicted Azura standing proudly with her friends admiring her. Luz smiled in determination; she wanted that too. "I'll never know unless I try!"
"Wait, wait, wait!" Lucila interrupted, waving her hands. "No way are you going out there alone." Even if the Staff was real, she still felt something was off about it. And if the Staff existed, more people would've been talking about it, and they'd stop everything to get it. There was no concrete proof of it at all as far as she was concerned.
Luz gasped at her. "My first companion on my quest!"
"Luz..." The girl sighed at this and Luz clasped her hands together.
"Please? Please, please, please? Did I mention you're my favorite immediate relative? I mean, I still love Mom, but you know."
Lucila glanced away in defeat. She knew that if she said no, Luz would still go out there, and she needed supervision. "Alright, fine. I could use the fresh air, anyway. I'm still trying to figure out what to say to Mom about where I am."
"I can help with that! Say you're in a magical realm and you're stuck here with me!"
The two stared at each other and the looks on their faces suggested that their mother was not ready to know yet. "Yeah, definitely not," They agreed in unison, shaking their heads simultaneously.
"Finally," King fluffed his pillow on the couch. "All that mean-spirited laughter made me sleepy."
Eda walked up to him as soon as he closed his eyes. "Crony, wake up. You said that wizard was one of my clients?"
"Yes. Now go away," He opened up his eyes to look at her.
"I don't know him that well," She rubbed her chin in thought, leaning back and sitting on the couch. King was launched into the air before he fell back down. "And I don't trust this itch he's scratching in the human."
"Less talky, more nappy," King disregarded, hugging the pillow.
Eda looked away and sighed. Looking back, she felt a bit bad for shattering Luz's hope. And she did admit that her attitude earlier about the training wasn't exactly keeping Luz in high spirits. She decided to check on her as she opened the door. "Hey, Luz?"
She was shocked to see the window open with no Luz or Lucila inside. "Oh, nuts." She looked out the window, looking around. There was no trace of either of the Noceda girls. "Hooty, where'd they go?"
"Hoot, hoot," The door knocker stretched himself out and stopped in front of the window. "If you want the answer that you seek, solve my riddle within a week." Eda hit the wall next to her, causing some debris to fall onto the roof. "Ow! Okay, okay. They went into the forest towards Bonesborough. Sheesh!" He went back to the door and she groaned in realization.
Luz and Lucila stood next to a sign that said 'Leaving Bonesborough City Limits.' Luz had the toy sword from earlier on her back, both of them looking out. Luz took a deep breath.
"My first mythical quest. Ha."
"You sure you still wanna do this?" Lucila asked her skeptically, raising a brow.
"Yep!" She slid down a hill, the girl shaking her head.
"I need to stop saying yes to you on some of the most dangerous things..." She sat on the hill and slid down to follow her sister. They stepped over a log and stepped further into the forest, where they were met by fog.
"Okay," Luz held up the map. "Got my scroll, got my youthful optimism, got my trusty weapon," She eld up the toy sword and pressed the button, grinning widely.
"By the power of Skullgar! I am out of batteries..." The thing shut down right there in her hand.
"And I got my awesome sister to boot!"
"Who still can't figure out what to tell her mother," Lucila pointed out, a bit annoyed at her phone as they started walking. "It's like...do I give her an excuse and worry about it later? Do I tell her outright that I'm not home for...reasons?"
"Mm," Luz rubbed her chin. "Tell her you went to go...on a date! Mama would be so happy that she'd forget about it."
"While hilarious and impossible, that wouldn't explain why it's been over a night without me being home. That is, without getting grounded," Lucila deadpanned, looking away.
"Oh. Right. You know, I wonder if I made the right choice by coming here?" Luz wondered to her while cutting away vines. Luz gasped and Lucila stepped behind her, freezing in place. Up ahead was a village of cat people. "Whoa..."
"Huh. Never heard of this place," Lucila commented as they looked around, Luz beaming. Someone rose out of the town center fountain. They looked up ahead to see a teenage boy with a green tunic, grey pants, black boots, and he had a black eyepatch over his right eye. He had long dark hair and he rung it out. He also had a sword, gloves, and a belt with a bell-shaped shoulder garment over his left arm.
"I see. So you're the Chosen One," He spoke gruffly, scoffing and jumping out of the fountain. "The Celestial Staff should've picked me, Nevareth Bladestrife, teen prince of Angstmore."
They both stared at him, smiling in excitement. "Yes. Yes, I did make the right choice."
"Definitely don't regret saying yes to you now," Lucila nodded in agreement.
King sniffed the alley as Eda was following him. "This is where we met the scones. I mean, the wizard," He pointed up ahead. When Eda removed the covers, they saw that the castle was run down, and it looked like it hadn't been kept up in months. "Whoa. It wasn't like this before."
A brick fell down and hit the dirt. "I don't like this," Eda frowned and they opened up the door to see the living room a mess. Papers were strewn everywhere, and shelves were broken. Eda stepped forward and heard paper. She looked down to see a scroll, picking it up. When she opened it up, she saw the exact same 'secret' writing that Luz saw on maps. Only this time, it didn't need sunlight to recover it, and all the maps had the same writing. "I really don't like this," She narrowed her eyes.
"Nevareth," Luz spoke up as they were walking by his side, admiring him. "Your vengeful backstory is so compelling, and I'm loving your animal sidekick." A little leek flew around them, smiling at the sisters.
"After my village was consumed, my heart has known nothing but vengeance."
"Nevareth..." Luz stated in sympathy.
"I'm so sorry for what you went through," Lucila gestured to herself. "Don't suppose you'd like someone beside you for comfort?" She shyly hid her hands behind her back. Luz scrunched her nose in annoyance at her sister for asking first.
"My ladies," He whipped around to them, ignoring the older girl's question. "Do you think love can bloom on the battlefield?"
"Whoo hoo hoo," Luz looked away with a gleeful giggle. Lucila blushed, a bashful hand on her cheek. "This quest is questing in all the right ways."
"Oh, pierce my heart," Lucila murmured quietly.
They were about to cross a bridge when a creature stepped out in front of them, causing the trio to yelp. "Ew," Nevareth commented at the small cat with a lazy eye.
"Hum-di-diddle. To pass the bridge, you must first solve my riddle!" He recited to them.
"Hit me, little furry man," Luz pointed down at him.
"Your quest shall stop if you fail this game. So, tell me, my dear, what is my name?" He asked and she bent down, raising a brow. She noticed that he had a nametag on him.
"Uh...Chris?"
"That's it!" Lucila blinked at how easy that was. "You may cross the bridge. And please take this, Chosen One," He held out a blue ring to Luz. "It shall help you on your journey."
"Wow," She took it and smiled, standing up. "This is amazing. Thank you."
"Do you need a cape?" Nevareth asked her.
"Nah, I think I'm good-"
"You can use my shirt," He ripped off his shirt and the two stared at his muscles.
"Yes, I need a cape," Luz said eagerly and he wrapped it around her shoulders. Lucila growled a bit, crossing her arms and looking away with a huff. Luz gasped and grinned widely.
"Three cheers for the Chosen One. Hip, hip-"
"Hooray!"
"Hip, hip-"
"Hooray!"
"Hip, hip-"
"Oh no!" Eda exclaimed, gritting her teeth. The cat village that Luz and Lucila passed by was in ruins, just like with the wizard's castle. Not one single person was around, or any animals for that matter. There were destroyed buildings everywhere. "Are you sure they came here?" Eda asked King, who was tracking their scent.
"Can't mistake their smell. Like lemons, book pages, and young, naïve confidence."
"Hmm," The Owl Lady rubbed her chin, stepped forward to a cat person. It looked dead as she bent down. "Hey. Wake up, you," She flicked it on the forehead, grabbing it by the shoulders. "What have you done with Luz and Lucila? What's your endgame?" It was actually just a puppet, though.
"To find your friends and still your wrath," The puppet suddenly came to life, turning its head to look at her. "Look ahead and follow the path." It laughed evilly and disintegrated right from her hands.
King gasped sharply, a bit scared. "The cat man melted!"
Eda sighed and stood up, dusting herself off. "It's a trap. They want me to follow the girls."
"So what do we do?" King looked up at her.
"Hmm," She looked up to the sky, trying to figure out a plan...
"Thank you for inviting us to your feast, Princess," Luz stated as the party members walked together. She gave a quick glare to her sister as Nevareth was holding her bridal style. He insisted on carrying her since it had been a long walk. "Anyway, all your food was so tiny and cute."
The fairy princess then made a bracelet out of fairy dust. "For you, Chosen One," She placed it onto Luz's hand, and she put it on.
"Thank you," She turned to the group, Lucila jumping down onto the ground. "You have all been so kind and thoughtful. I hope this quest never ends!"
"Your quest will soon come to an end, for the staff you seek is around the bend," Chris announced to her.
"Thanks for ruining the mood, Chris," Luz slumped her shoulders.
"Not everything is gonna last forever," Lucila placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Go on, Chosen One," Nevareth gestured to up ahead. "The Celestial Staff is yours. You've earned it."
She smiled at him and the members waved at the two. "Farewell, Ladies."
"Farewell. We love you, Chosen One."
The two walked down the path together. "So what do you plan on doing with that staff once you get it?" Lucila couldn't help but ask her sister. "Are you gonna stop being Eda's apprentice?"
"Well...no, but-" Luz stopped speaking as she looked ahead, gasping. Lucila followed her direction and opened her mouth in shock. Sitting in the middle of the lake on a platform was the Celestial Staff. It was white with a blue gem on top. They got closer to the lake, and once they did, a noise occurred nearby. They looked down to see the water bubbling. Stone platforms rose out of the water, essentially making a path to the staff. "I knew this world wasn't all gloom and doom like Eda and King said," Luz spun around happily.
Lucila shook her head with a small smile, happy for the girl. "There is wonder here, and I...I think we came here for a reason!" She stopped as she reached the staff. She glanced back at her sister, who nodded with an encouraging look. "Okay, this is it," She braced herself. "Moment of truth," She slowly reached out to the staff. She gripped it in her hands and light came from it. Lucila looked away briefly, covering her eyes with her arm. "Yes!" She held up the staff proudly and the older Noceda sister looked back. "I am the Chosen One. I knew it. I always suspected there was a reason nobody understood my wacky antics back at home," She twirled around happily. "Now I have concrete proof. Ha ha!"
Then the staff withered away in her hands and Lucila's smile dropped immediately. "No!"
The plants withered away and the lake dried up around them. Everything suddenly stopped having life and Lucila gasped sharply.
"What?" Luz murmured in horror.
"Oh no. Luz, we gotta get out of here now!" Lucila whipped around to her.
Eda and King were clutching onto her staff as they flew through the woods. "I know this guy," She spoke up to him. "He's no wizard. He's what you'd call a puppeteer, a demon who specializes in scamming and manipulating people. He's trying to use Lucila and Luz to get to me."
"Yeah. And we're flying directly into his trap," King pointed out. "Hurray."
"If you can think of a better plan, I'd love to hear it," She glanced over her shoulder in annoyance. "Hey. Faster, you," She slapped her staff, and it picked up speed.
Luz whimpered as fog appeared around her right in front of Lucila, preventing her from seeing anything because her glasses fogged up.
"Luz!" She coughed a bit, removing her glasses, but unfortunately, because she was blind without them, she still couldn't see Luz. "Luz, can you hear me?"
"Lucila!" Luz looked around, but didn't see her. The fog was too thick.
"Luz the human."
She shivered, turning around to see Adegast stepping up to her out of nowhere. "Magical wizard?" She asked in confusion, wondering how he got here.
"Your hubris has failed you, witch apprentice," A maniacal laugh was heard as the magical wizard was just the puppet. The real mastermind was a large octopus-like being with yellow and black eyes. She stepped back in fear, rumbling being heard behind her.
"Huh?" She looked back to see all of the people she met being controlled by the puppetmaster surrounding her.
"Okay, Luz, don't panic. This is classic Chosen One biz. You just have to rescue everybody and defeat the final boss."
"I am everybody, you fool," Adegast spoke as the wizard. "Don't you see? I'm no wizard and you're no Chosen One. I've tricked you." He laughed evilly as Lucila wiped off the fog from her glasses.
"What?" Her cape suddenly came to life, turning into rope around her. Her ring and bracelet then turned into chains. "No! Betrayed by my own cool accessories. Why are you doing this?" She demanded to Adegast.
"Your mentor has been stealing customers from my potions business for years. She must be destroyed."
"Does everybody have a beef with Eda here?" Luz asked in disbelief.
"Well, yeah."
"Absolutely."
"Pretty much."
"Yeah."
She groaned at the answers given. "And you lured her right into my trap, all because you wanted to think you were special. To start my revenge..." He reached into the smoke and pulled back, revealing Lucila in his tentacle. Luz gasped as Lucila grunted, trying to pull herself free. "I'll destroy her first!"
"Luz! Don't listen to him!" The girl blinked in shock at her older sister. "You're the most unique person I know! So what if people don't think you're special? All that matters is that you believe that you belong, no matter what the odds."
"Be quiet!" Adegast covered her mouth with another tentacle and she muffled in protest.
"No!" Luz narrowed her eyes. "Joke's on you, 'cause Eda isn't stupid enough to fall for your trap."
"Adegast!"
Their eyes widened as they heard her voice.
"Aw, heck," Luz closed her eyes in disbelief. Lucila facepalmed herself at the big talk Luz gave, and for the woman actually showing up. Eda flew in from the smoke and landed, seeing the situation and glaring at the octopus creature.
"Eda, I have you now!" He declared, tentacles rising to capture them from underneath. He held them up to face him.
"That's right. You have me. Now release Luz and Lucila," She demanded, pointing at him.
"I didn't have to be a part of this!" King called out in protest.
"Oh, they can leave if they want to, but I sense the younger one wants a real fantasy," Adegast glanced at her and one of the puppets blew purple smoke onto her.
"No!" Lucila cried out to her behind the tentacle.
She squeezed her eyes shut, and when she opened them, she found herself unchained in darkness. All of the puppets suddenly arrived around her.
"Stay with us, Luz," Nevareth placed a hand on her shoulder. "Stay with Adegast. We need you here. You could be our Chosen One."
"Yeah," The fairy princess agreed. "You can eat our tiny foods forever."
"Luz," She looked back up at Nevareth. "Why would you want to live in a world where people laugh at you?"
"It is beautiful here," She agreed with him.
"Luz!" Eda called out, but she went unheard.
"And you guys think I'm special," Luz closed her eyes, seeming to get lost in the fantasy.
"No!" Eda struggled as the tentacles started squeezing them. Luz frowned and then remembered what her sister said not too long ago.
"So what if people don't think you're special? All that matters is that you believe that you belong, no matter what the odds."
"But it's not real! I need to believe in myself!" Luz snapped out of it, pushing past the puppets to grab the toy sword. "I am a witch's apprentice, and I'm gonna earn my magic staff the hard way. I believed you, Magic Man. Now feel my wrath!" She yelled as she charged forward, stabbing the wizard puppet. It went poof and Adegast screamed in pain. He started shrinking, essentially letting go of King, Eda, and Lucila. They landed near Luz, the fairy princess puppet flying towards her. Luz swung her staff at it and it went poof just like the wizard puppet.
"Here kid, take this to defend yourself," Eda shoved her staff into Lucila's hands since she didn't have a weapon. She then spun her finger, creating flames to burn the cat puppets to ashes. Adegast screamed in pain again and Lucila turned to the Chris puppet. She spun the staff and knocked it on the head, poofing it out of existence.
The Nevareth puppet yelled and swung at Luz, who ducked and started defending herself against him. "I thought we had a connection, Nevareth!" She then stabbed it in the chest and the puppet screamed.
"My flawless pecs!"
Luz smirked as she sliced the puppet into dust. Lucila walked up to her, satisfied. "That's the last time we let a boy get between us," Luz pointed out to her.
"Agreed. Never again," Lucila shook her head, the two smiling at each other. Eda landed nearby them.
"Back off!" Adegast spoke up to get their attention. "Or the dog gets it," He held up King in one of his tentacles.
"I am not a-" The tentacle moved to cover his mouth, shutting him up.
"King, I'm sorry," Luz stated as they dropped their weapons, holding up their hands in surrender. "I should have listened to you and never trusted that wizard. You were right. He isn't mystical or magical. He's just a big, slimy jerk."
She kicked the sword with a grunt, and it pierced Adegast right in the head. "Whoa! Nice shot, Luz!" Lucila hugged her from behind. Adegast dropped King while screaming in pain and Luz caught him. They watched as Adegast shrunk all the way down to being a harmless, non-threatening little calamari.
They looked down at him and Eda picked him up by the tentacles. "Well, that's the last time I take an outside referral."
"So what do we do with-"
Eda opened her mouth and then ate him, to Lucila's shock. She recoiled back a bit in disgust. "Mm. Oh, did you want some of that?"
"Hard pass on that one," Lucila held up a hand.
"No. I'm just confused," Luz confessed sadly.
"Thinking of calling it quits, huh?" Eda raised a knowing brow, crossing her arms.
"This place is nothing like I imagined."
"Aw, Luz..." Lucila's eyes saddened at her.
"Hmm," The Owl Lady looked around the area. With how creepy it looked, it was definitely not something Luz thought of. "Maybe not here, but come with me," Eda walked past them. "I got something to show you."
Eda flew into the sky with them with her staff, both girls being blindfolded. Luz was clinging onto Eda, while Lucila was clinging onto the staff. They eventually came to a stop. "Okay, you can look."
They both removed their blindfolds, being taken aback by the sight in front of them.
"Whoa..." They were looking at the Boiling Isles, but at its full as it sat on the skeleton of a giant.
"The Bones of the Isles," Eda explained to them. "Up close, the Isles can be slimy."
"And very stinky," King added in.
"And gross," Eda looked away, a bit disgusted. "But if you look at it from a different perspective..." A shooting star flew over their heads.
"It's beautiful," Luz smiled softly.
"Yeah," King closed his eyes, and looked like he fell asleep because of the serenity.
Lucila giggled at him and then looked up ahead. "Looking back, I thought I'd never see this. Staying at the Owl House with my books...that's not gonna cut it anymore. Now...I wanna see more of this world and explore it. I didn't want to do it before because...I thought that meant I'd lose myself in it," She smiled up at the sky. "But it's not like that at all."
"That's the spirit!" Eda punched her arm a bit.
"Eda, how did you know that wizard was lying?" Luz couldn't help but ask.
"...Look, kid, everyone wants to believe they're 'chosen', but if we all waited around for a prophecy to make us special, we'd die waiting. And that's why you need to choose yourself," She told the girl with a smile.
"Does that mean you'll give me a magic staff of my own?" The girl asked eagerly.
"Not yet, but...someday."
Lucila smiled a bit and looked towards her phone. She caressed it a little, feeling a little inspired now. If she was gonna explore this town...she needed to finally talk to her mom before anything else. Otherwise, she wouldn't be ready. "I...think I know what to tell Mom now."
"Well, don't leave it in suspense, tell us!" Eda urged her and she began typing. The others looked over her shoulders as they watched her finish the text. She stopped moving once she was finished.
Hey, Mom. I...decided to go to camp with Luz. I think it'd be really fun. Sorry I didn't tell you before, but...it's summer, you know?
"Mama would totally buy that for now," Luz smiled encouragingly at her sister.
"Not a bad cover-up," Eda rubbed her chin. "I'll make a smart witch out of you yet!" She slapped at Lucila's back a bit too hard and she flinched.
"Still not going to go that far, but the sentiment is appreciated."
They then looked back to the sight fondly together.