Angel: Thank you to the Guest who said that Hunter and Lucila's relationship reminds them of Princess Diaries 2 because I LOVE that movie, and it was a reference that almost no one pointed out last chapter lol. If you've seen the movie, you know exactly what the beginning of last chapter was a reference to.
However, I do have to point out that their relationship isn't exactly Mia and Nicholas' dynamic. After all, Luci's not a princess, and I haven't seen the movie in a while, but I'm pretty sure that the two didn't hate each other when they first met, unlike Hunter and Lucila who had a clear dislike for each other. And I'm not entirely sure if Nicholas and Mia are as…complicated as Hunter and Lucila. But there are obvious similarities between the four, I try not to make Lucila and Hunter the exact same as Mia and Nicholas too much. I actually try to make them seem more natural while they interact.
Also Encanto is coming out next week, YAAAAAAAAAAAS! I'm not seeing it until the weekend cause it comes out on Thanksgiving but YAAAAAAAAAAAS!
King touched a book called The Unauthorized Boiling Isles History, with the author's name burned off. "The Boiling Isles," He opened up the book as he started narrating. "Born from the flesh and bones of a fallen Titan. This original magic was so potent, all life on the Isles evolved to wield magic, too. For years, we explored those powers freely until a mysterious witch appeared who declared that he, and he alone, could speak to the island. He said that we were using magic all wrong. His teachings took hold, his strength grew, and he became...Emperor Belos. Belos said that mixing magic was wrong, that only he had that right. So he created the coven system. And there our knowledge was restricted and our potential sealed away. Those who resist are called 'Wild Witches' and they face harsh punishment. Emperor Belos has since retreated into his castle. There are whispers that say he's planning something big. I wonder if catching Eda was part of his big plan. What do you think, girls?" He looked up at Luz, who was looking out the window. Lucila was sitting on a chair, drumming her fingers sadly on the table. "Girls?"
Luz looked at the note Eda put on the cloak, which read To a young witch, from her proud mentor, Eda. Lucila's note said the same thing...well, except that Eda technically wasn't mentoring her...and the person who was, they weren't exactly on friendly terms anymore...
"I don't care what Belos is up to," Luz stood up in determination. "Because today, we're saving Eda!" She put on the cloak, Lucila doing the same thing.
Luz opened the door to the weapons closet, followed by Lucila. "Luz, what are you doing?!" King peeked in the room.
"This is serious, King," Luz took an axe from the wall, but she could barely carry the thing. "Eda used her powers to save us and got caught by Lilith. Now she's the Owl Beast and has been taken before the Emperor."
"We can't just leave her there," Lucila shook her head in determination.
"I don't know what he's planning to do with Eda, but we're going to rescue her," Luz gestured to herself while holding a dagger.
"Haven't you guys been listening to me? He's the Emperor," He held up the book, concerned. "He's the most powerful witch alive."
"King, please try to understand," Luz spoke softly, bending down in front of him. Lucila joined her side. "Eda is in this situation because of me, because of my stupid choice. I have to make up for it."
"It's not just you," Lucila closed her eyes. "If I hadn't fallen for that trap by the Golden Guard, she would've had just a little more magic..." Luz placed a hand on her shoulder in sympathy.
"But she's in her Owl Beast form. How will she even recognize you?" King pointed out.
"I don't know. But we have to try anyway."
"I myself have hope that she will. She recognized you when you did your little squeal, right?" The older Noceda smiled weakly.
"Well, then, I'm going too."
"King..." Luz started off.
"Me and Eda don't always see eye to eye, but I do consider her family," He confessed to them. "I want her back as much as you guys do."
The two smiled at him before changing expressions. "Alright, then we've got no time to lose." She ran out the door, followed by the three, the book falling and staying on the picture of Emperor Belos.
In the Emperor's Castle, Eda the Owl Beast was running around in the throne room, Lilith trying to control her. But it was hard enough to do it when she was in this form. "Eda, stop that this instant!" Eda then teared off a tapestry, chewing it. Lilith drew a big spell circle to encase her sister in a giant bubble. Eda glared at her, still angry that her sister cursed her. "Don't look at me like that. This is for your own good. Emperor Belos will heal you and we'll be in his coven together. Isn't that wonderful?"
Eda blew a raspberry in return as her answer. "I will not fall prey to your childish games," Lilith turned around, arms crossed. But she did one of her own anyway, the door opening. Several Coven Scouts ran in, followed by Kikimora.
"All kneel before Emperor Belos," She bowed and Lilith did the same. He slowly stepped out of the darkness, seeing Eda. She responded by breaking apart the bubble, roaring.
"Eda, no!" Lilith cried out as Eda lunged forward to the Emperor. He teleported by the time she reached him, and he threw her into the wall, trapping her onto the ground. His shadow loomed over her as Lilith ran to stand in front of Eda. "My Lord, I apologize for my sister's rash behavior. She is still in her cursed form. Once you've healed her as promised, I am sure she will become a useful asset to the coven."
He simply summoned his staff, raising it. A red beam came out of it, blasting Eda. She whined in pain, and when he stopped, her eyes were back to normal, but she was still in the Owl Beast form. "Argh! Where am I? What is this?" She demanded, realizing where she was and who she was looking at. "Ah, farts! I got caught."
"Edalyn Clawthorne," He spoke as he approached her, bending down. "The infamous Owl Lady, the Wild Witch of Bonesburrow, a mentor of Luz and Lucila the humans."
"You stay away from them both, or so help me, Titan," She threatened them and he chuckled in response.
"You've got it all wrong. The humans are safe for now. I just want the portal they came through."
"Tough, cause I ain't telling you nothing!" She argued back and he sighed, standing up.
"Ugh, pity. Although I suppose I could ask the humans themselves," He snapped his fingers.
"Wait! Don't touch them-" Eda then got dragged away by a Scout. "Lilith, don't let him hurt them. Lilith!"
"Uh, taking her to the healing ceremony?" Lilith looked up at the Emperor hopefully.
"I will not be healing her."
"But you...promised me," She gave a look of hurt.
"Don't be so naïve, Lilith. This is the Titan's will," He gestured to the tapestry of witches bowing down to the symbol of the coven. "All wild witches must be dealt with before the Day of Unity. You understand, don't you?"
"Of course," She looked away, now finally realizing what she had done.
"Good," He then walked off, looking over his shoulder. "Oh, one more thing," He snapped his fingers. "Destroy the Owl Lady's staff," Both Owlbert and the staff appeared in her hands. "She won't be needing it anymore..." The door slammed behind him as he left...
"Perry Porter coming to you live from outside the Emperor's castle," Perry reported from a crystal ball. "Edalyn Clawthrone, known commonly as Eda the Owl Lady..." The girls and King were sneaking past when they heard the news, stopping to listen. "Has been captured and has been brought before the Emperor," The two walked up closer, everyone around them shocked.
"For the crime of attacking a coven leader and refusing to join a coven, Edalyn Clawthrone's body shall be petrified in stone," Amity's mouth opened as she was watching as well. "Today, sundown, at the Conformatorium," Gus gave a concerned look, gasping. He turned around, holding his scroll.
"Willow, are you watching?"
"Yes, we have to do something," She turned to her own crystal ball.
"Today is a grave day for Bonesburrow."
People murmured as they walked away, Luz devastated. "Please tell me that's not as bad as it sounds."
"The Golden Guard...he warned me of this...so yes, it's that bad," Lucila closed her eyes.
"Petrification is only done to the worst criminals. And once the spell is complete, it can't be reversed," King explained as they saw other petrified people from the screen. Lilith then appeared and that infuriated Luz.
"Lilith. She cursed Eda. She captured her own sister! She is the worst!" Luz slammed down her fist angrily. "If I ever see her again..." She grabbed the crystal ball and threw it onto the ground. Lucila's eyes widened as she hadn't seen her sister that angry ever since she saw Lucila being bullied once, because they hit her with paintballs. Luz somehow managed to track down the bully's house and literally slashed the bully's car tires...she was lucky that the bully couldn't prove anything, but she did get grounded for two weeks after telling Lucila.
"Luz, calm down. We have to think about saving Eda first," King tried to assure her.
"And we definitely need to get you away from anything fragile," Lucila glanced down at the crystal ball pieces, bending down to Luz. "Eda needs us, but we can't be there if you don't get it together. Trust me, I'm just as mad at Lilith as you are."
The reminder that Lilith was behind the curse just baffled her, but she would have the time to express anger when needed. But just not right now.
Luz stared at her sister's assuring eyes and took a deep breath. "You're right. But how are we gonna get to the Conformatorium in time?"
They heard whistling, looking up ahead to see a Coven Guard walking into the area. "We'll have to do something so diabolical, so criminally insane, that they'll have to send us to the Conformatorium," King said in determination.
The guard whistled as he walked by. "Hey!" Luz called out to him, and he turned to the 'do not step on grass' sign. The trio were indeed stepping on it and he gasped in horror at this.
"Yup," Luz smirked as the three were put into the carriage, the doors closing. "Perfect plan."
"Now we just gotta figure out how we're gonna get Eda," Lucila rubbed her chin.
They reached the Conformatorium, where there were various statues of petrified people on display. Luz then gasped as she saw a plaque...for Eda.
"There's not gonna be a new statue going up today," King stated, narrowing his eyes. "Right, girls?" Luz was glaring at something. "Girls?"
Lucila had gone quiet, because they saw a poster of Lilith advertising to join the coven. Luz growled a bit in anger, her sister placing a quiet, comforting hand on her shoulder. They reached the building and were escorted inside, where there was a banner for the petrification...
The carriage came to a stop inside. "Sir, the Owl Lady's human students have been apprehended," The guard informed the Warden...as in Warden Wrath, the same guy who had a thing for Eda when the two sisters first arrived.
"Very good. Ah, Luz and Lucila the humans. How I've waited to see you again. Now I'll have my revenge and you will have front row seats to Eda's demise," He opened up the doors, and was met with a huge branch. He yelled as it pinned him against the ground.
"Huh?" The Coven Scout turned to the carriage, where the three jumped out of hiding. Luz slammed down an ice glyph, pinning the Scout to the ceiling. Warden Wrath pushed off the branch, only to get surrounded by more ice glyphs thanks to both the sisters.
"Where's Eda?" Luz growled out, both her and King looking pissed. Lucila simply held out a fire glyph to his face, narrowing her eyes as if saying 'Don't test us.'
"She's in the holding cell in the dungeon!" He said quickly, Luz getting out a pencil and paper.
"Draw us a map!"
"And if I were you, I wouldn't take my time," Lucila tapped the glyph, turning it into a fireball.
He started laughing at them, and they all looked baffled. "After all you three and the Owl Lady have done, you think I'll help you?!"
The two girls glared at him, Lucila clenching a fist. Suddenly someone tapped the warden's shoulder and he turned around to see the Golden Guard himself. "G-Golden Guard!" He bowed to him, everyone else shocked by that reaction.
"You're..." Luz murmured, not even finishing her sentence.
"These guys are just trying to help their Owl Lady. It'd be best if you obeyed them," The Golden Guard ordered thinly, Lucila floored by this. He stared at the girl, who looked away immediately.
"What?" Warden Wrath asked in shock. "But they-"
"They what?" The Golden Guard pointed his staff at the creature, and he sweated.
"N-Nothing!"
"He's...helping us?" King whispered to the two.
"More like showing off his authority," Lucila huffed, crossing her arms.
"Mm..." Luz narrowed her eyes, as she didn't trust this either. After all, the Golden Guard hurt her sister, and she was not gonna let that go.
"More like getting on Kikimora's nerves. She's got it out for me," He then started to leave, glancing back at the warden. "And if you tell anyone I was here, I'm sacrificing you to a boiling rain shower." The warden shivered as the boy left before the others could say anything, glancing back at Lucila briefly. "I'll leave you guys to it," He stated, not wanting to get too involved or else the Emperor would know. He did his part, now he just had to figure out how Lilith knew where to go towards the Owl House.
Lucila blinked, not sure what to think of what he just did.
"We didn't need him," Luz waved it off, Lucila staying quiet.
Meanwhile, people were outside the Conformatorium, waiting to see the petrification. "You really think Eda deserves a petrification?" Someone asked another person standing by.
"I don't know. This is all happening so fast."
Willow removed her cowl, Gus standing nearby. "If we know anything about Luci and Luz, they're going to be here trying to save Eda."
"And we'll be here to save them when they need us!" Gus offered eagerly.
"Let's split up and find them. I'll go find Luz, you find Lucila." The two split up, not knowing that Lilith was watching them.
"Fool!" She turned around as Kikimora was scolding the Warden. "You let the humans escape! And you drew them a map?"
"Worry not, Kikimora," Lilith walked up to her. "I shall capture the humans."
Luz and Lucila looked down the hall as they had fought their way through the guarded hallway with glyphs. They ran down the hall, sliding to a stop in front of a large double door. "King, watch the door," Luz instructed him and he nodded. Luz used an ice glyph to break open the lock, pushing open the door. The two stepped inside, Luz using a light glyph. The two gasped as they looked up ahead.
"Eda?!" They ran over to her as she was chained up. "Eda!" The Owl Beast stood up, knocking them backwards. She turned around and growled, about to attack them. "Eda, wait!" Luz held up the light spell. "It's us! It's us..."
The light was enough to turn Eda's eyes back to normal and she looked down at them.
"Luz?! Luci?! Oh, no. Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no. W-What are you two doing here?!" She asked in a bit of panic.
"You didn't think we'd just leave you to be petrified, did you?" Lucila questioned back at her.
"It's okay, Eda. We're here to save you," Luz bent down and attempted to use a fire glyph, but it didn't work.
"Your magic isn't strong enough for this. It's enchanted, not even Luci's spells can help. You both need to leave. Now!"
"But-but I can't," Luz stated sadly. "It's my fault you needed to save us," Luz retried the fire glyph, but it ended up with the same result. "It's my fault you got captured."
"If only we hadn't gotten caught-"
"No!" Eda lifted the two of them up. "Listen to me. I'm here because of my own actions. I went against Belos' law, and...for a while, I was able to get away with it. But...well, without magic, I can't do much. I don't regret anything. I lived freely, and...I got to meet you two."
Lucila's eyes glistened at this. It almost felt like when she saw Lilith heading to Eda's house...except worse. "Eda," Luz murmured softly, and she touched their cheeks.
"But if you two stay here, I won't be able to protect you," Eda explained to them. "You both need to leave. Now!"
"But we're a family!" Luz's voice broke a little as she held both Eda and Lucila's hands. Lucila closed her eyes, trying not to let her tears fall. "Us weirdos have to stick together. Remember?"
Eda dug into her hair, taking out the portal key. She pressed on the eye and the portal door appeared behind them. "You have a family already. Go back to them," Eda stated as the door opened to their home...but they didn't want to leave her to be petrified. "And when you're home, use your fire magic to destroy the portal door," Eda placed the key around Luz's neck. "I don't know why Belos wants it, but we can't take any chances."
Luz grasped the key, tears forming in her eyes. The two lunged forward and hugged Eda. "We love you, Eda."
"I know I get annoyed with you sometimes, but...I couldn't ask for a better person to help my sister," Lucila murmured, her voice breaking.
"...I love you too, kiddos," She confessed, an alarm blaring above them. The doors opened in the ceiling and Eda realized what was happening. "Girls, get away!" She pushed them towards the door, her chains turning into a cage. She was lifted up towards the ceiling...to receive her punishment.
"No!" Luz jumped up, grabbing at the edge. Lucila jumped up and grabbed her waist. "Not yet!"
"Eda, we can still fix this!"
"I'm sorry," She then pushed them both off and they landed on the ground, watching her being taken away. "Goodbye, girls."
"EDA!" Luz cried out, the ceiling closing off. She started to cry, scooching forward and hugging her older sister. Lucila let her tears fall finally as she hugged her sister back. They didn't know what to do now...
Lilith then walked in, holding King. "Drat!"
"Let me go!" He yelled at her, but she didn't listen.
"I'm too late," She looked up at the ceiling. "At least I found you, humans."
"You...you hurt Eda," Luz slowly stood up, Lucila staring at her in concern. All of her bottled emotions towards Lilith came flooding back. She didn't want to hear anything else Lilith said...she cursed her sister, and used Lucila as bait for selfish reasons. "You put her in chains! You tried to kill my own sister. And now, I will take you down!" She yelled and lunged forward, using a light spell. Lilith spun her staff to block it off. Lucila stood up immediately.
"Luz!" She ran up to her sister, sliding to a stop at her side. "If you're gonna take out all your anger on Lilith...at least let me in on it!" She slammed her fists together with two plant glyphs in her hands, creating a large vine towards Lilith. She simply ducked, looking up at them.
"I just wanna talk!"
"Talk to the glyph, witch!" Luz threw down all of her learned glyphs, capturing Lilith in vines. She broke herself free, Luz lunging forward and pulling at her hair. Lilith dropped her staff in the process.
"Stop! What is wrong with you?"
"We should be asking you the same thing! You did this to Eda!" Lucila argued back, jumping through the portal with them to help her sister tackle Lilith.
"Luz! Lucila!" King ran forward and jumped through the door. The trio landed on the grass outside a house. King landed nearby, the trio of women looking up to see a forest up ahead. The two stood as...they were back home. They hadn't been here at all since they chose to stay in the Boiling Isles, and...it felt a bit strange, but in a good way. The two didn't notice Lilith standing behind them. "Girls, watch out!" King got wrapped up in vines before he could stop her. She pointed her magic at the two, who ducked out of the way, rolling to a stop in front of her.
"Fire!" Luz presented her fire glyph, but the paper disintegrated. "What?"
"Magic for us doesn't work here, remember?" Lucila stated nervously, Lilith tackling them to the ground.
"Please, just listen to me!" Lilith pleaded with them as they fought back.
"After what you did to all of us?!" Lucila shouted in disbelief.
"No way! You deserve to be petrified. Not Eda."
Lilith stopped fighting them upon hearing that, her eyes softening. "You're right." She slowly let them go, hugging herself as she sat on her knees. "I deserve to be in Edalyn's place."
"...As an older sister to someone like Luz, I understand the need to help family," Lucila crossed her arms. "But when you said you cursed Eda...why? What prompted you to do that to your own sister? Sure, Eda could be rebellious and could be a little defiant...okay, a lot defiant, but that's no excuse for what you did."
"Yeah...why did you do all this?" Luz frowned in disapproval.
"When Edalyn and I were younger, we were...the best of friends," Lilith started off.
A younger Eda was chasing her older sister in the forest, the two giggling. Eda suddenly tripped and sat up, seeing a bruise on her knee. She started crying at it, Lilith looking back. She walked up to her sister, bending down and holding her cheeks. She wiped away a tear.
"With this spell declared, let the pain be shared," Lilith stated, sharing the pain. Eda gasped, a big smile on her face.
"Being in the Emperor's Coven was my dream," The two teenage sisters faced each other, holding a mop and broom for training weapon. "I wanted to work alongside the most powerful witch on the Isles and make the world a better place."
The two spun their tools, with Lilith messing up. "Eda wanted to be with me." Eda held out her hand and Lilith looked at it, a little hesitant. "But there was a problem."
The two stood in front of a Coven Guard, who looked at the tryout sheet. "One spot is available. You duel tomorrow. The winner will join our ranks." The two glanced at each other in worry.
"I knew Edalyn would beat me. She was younger, but worked twice as hard." Lilith walked off forlornly, Eda holding out a hand. "She met me at my level. Emperor Belos always said, to be great, you have to make sacrifices."
Lilith walked into the black market, rummaging through a crate. "What would he do in my situation?" She held up the scroll of the curse she'd place on Eda. "I found a spell that would take away her powers." She looked at the curse, feeling a bit bad, but...she was doing what her idol would do... She teared open the seal, entering Eda's room as she slept. Lilith stepped forward, looking at the scrool as it glowed. "I thought it would just be for a day."
The two faced each other on Hexside Field Day, the two holding up their arms. Lilith charged forward with her magic, but then Eda narrowed her eyes.
"No."
Lilith slid to a stop, confused. Eda then glanced over her shoulder. "I refuse to battle my sister." The red-haired girl was shocked, to say the least. "I've decided that covens aren't really my style," She walked up to her older sister. "Hey, don't forget me when you're a big shot, sis." She walked away, not regretting a thing about her decision. She just wanted Lilith to be happy.
"And as Edalyn walked away..." Eda let out a groan as the curse started to take its toll on her. She bent down, gripping the ground. Her hand turned into feathers, wings growing on her back. She slowly turned into the Owl Beast, letting out a scream. She then looked towards the crowd.
"What's that?"
"That girl's a monster!"
People started throwing things at her and she snarled, walking off. "Get out! Go!"
"Edalyn!" Lilith cried out, about to go after her when her arm was grabbed.
"Lilith Clawthrone. We welcome you to the Emperor's Coven," She had her arm lifted up, the crowd cheering.
"I made my sacrifice for the Emperor. And it was time to receive my reward."
Lucila looked at her, a bit disgusted. Lilith didn't even go after her sister, and she did all this to win, but at the cost of Eda's life being ruined. "I've been pursuing Edalyn because if she joined the Emperor's Coven, Emperor Belos told me he would heal her curse. But he lied to me. I know how to rescue Edalyn. But I can't do it alone."
Luz tensed up a bit, Lucila frowning. "How do we know we can trust you?"
"Yeah, this seems pretty sus," Her older sister added in.
Instead of saying anything, Lilith spun a spell circle, summoning Eda's staff and Owlbert. She handed them both out to the girls.
"Owlbert!" Luz took him while Lucila took the staff. "You're okay."
He woke up and nuzzled the girls. The two glanced at each other, Luz placing the palisman on her shoulder. "Alright, Lilith," Luz stood up. "I don't like your whole...deal, but...we need your help to save Eda," She held out the portal key to the woman, who glanced at Lucila. The girl sighed knowingly.
"Well...I don't like how you went about trying to help Eda as her sister, since forcing her into something she doesn't want isn't warranted," Lucila glared a bit. "But...since you're the one who cursed her, I won't deny your help, but I don't have to like it, either."
Lilith nodded with a small smile. "Thank you," She then spun a finger to set King free. "Now let's head back."
The two Nocedas were about to follow when they looked back, leaves blowing past them. They hadn't been back in so long, and now they were just leaving again for what would seem like forever... Lilith entered the portal, King looking back at the girls.
"Hey, guys, you...need a minute?" He called out, a bit concerned.
"No...we're coming," Luz stated as they followed King. Lucila let out a sigh as she looked over her shoulder briefly, and then they left.
Drums were playing as the Scouts came to a stop. Willow glanced around in worry. "I don't see them anywhere."
"Do you think they got caught?" Gus asked her, and then the alarm buzzed, revealing Eda at the surface.
"Well, folks, Eda the Owl Lady has appeared on stage, which means the petrification process is about to begin," Perry announced to the audience, Kikimora standing near the Owl Beast. She stepped forward and pulled a lever. A machine came out of the ground, and it looked like a fountain, with a green gem in the center of it.
Eda gave a look of worry, but she was sure in her decision.
The three followed Lilith down a hall and they came to a stop at a platform. "You can take this up to the stage where they're holding Edalyn."
"Thank you, Lilith," Luz looked up at her. "What will you do now?"
"I will stay in the Emperor's Coven, but I will make sure nothing like this ever happens again," She closed her eyes, determined to be in the coven the way that she wanted to do it initially: to make the world a better place.
"That's good to hear," Luz smiled up at her, and then both sisters felt that something was off.
"Hold on...this can't be too easy," Lucila shook her head silently.
"Yeah...why are there no guards around?" Luz murmured and then a vine appeared out of nowhere, dragging Lilith away. She let out a scream, getting their attention.
"Lilith!" The two cried out and then King was taken away from them as well. "King!"
"What's the meaning of this?!" Lucila demanded as they watched the two be lifted up. Flames appeared as they came to a stop...at Emperor Belos in his throne. Lucila gasped sharply upon seeing him.
"Ah, Lilith," He turned to the woman. "You chose the wrong side..."
King and Lilith were lifted up to the ceiling. "No!" Luz shouted as they ran forward, only to be caught in vines from the ground.
"Let them go now!" Lucila growled up at him.
"Ah, bub, bub! I'd actually like to have words with you, humans."
They glared up at him, Emperor Belos giving a look of disdain at Lucila, even though she couldn't see it. She recoiled back a bit by him staring at her, it was making her uncomfortable.
Lilith and King were thrown into Eda's cage in front of the audience. She looked up at the Owl Beast. "Hello, Edalyn."
She glared down at her sister, angry for what she did to both her and the two Nocedas. "Lilith...you hurt Luz and Lucila. You cursed me! Before anything turns me to stone, I'll tear you apart!" She lifted up a clawed hand, Lilith looking up in shock before she braced herself. King ran in front of the woman, holding out his arms.
"No, don't!"
Eda gasped at this, the little demon gesturing to her. "She was trying to help. She even betrayed the Emperor for you!"
"What?" Eda murmured in shock, dropping her hand.
"If I knew something like this would happen," Lilith closed her eyes, feeling guilty for what she had done. She never intended it to go this far, and definitely not to this extent. She stood up to face her sister. "Edalyn, I-"
The machine started up, getting their attention. The eyes from the statue glowed green, the crowd gasping.
"We gotta do something," Willow told Gus urgently.
"And in a shocking turn of events, head coven leader Lilith is now in the holding cage," Perry announced to the camera. "Escorted by what appears to be a deranged cat." Gus tugged on his sleeve with a small frown. "Augustus? I'm live."
"Dad, you have to stop!" He pleaded, Willow taking the microphone from the man.
"Yeah, what's happening to Eda isn't right," She defended furiously. "She might not always follow the rules, but she hasn't done anything worthy of a petrification."
"She helped me escape jail," The guy who ate his own eyeballs spoke up.
"She helped me stay in business!" Morton held up the elixirs he sold to her, looking away with a blush. "And helped me meet Lucila..."
"She helped me love teaching again," Principal Bump stated happily. "...After she left."
"The Emperor should let Eda go!" Willow pumped up a fist.
"Let Eda go!" Gus chanted, pumping up a fist.
"Let Eda go! Let Eda go!" The crowd shouted along with him. "Let Eda go! Let Eda go!"
While they were chanting, down below were the Emperor, Luz, and Lucila. "Let our friends go, or else!" Luz slammed down Eda's staff, grabbing Lucila's hand. The two were flown up to the air before Luz slammed down the staff again to emit ice right at the Emperor's face.
"Okay..." He then melted and disappeared, reappearing behind the girls. "I'll play." He lifted up a finger, flinging them both in opposite directions. Luz crashed into a large statue, and it cracked, the axe about to slip. Lucila looked up, gasping sharply.
"Luz, look out!"
She ran out of the way just in time, using a fire spell to stop some rocks. A large hand appeared nearby, and she used her ice magic before jumping over rocks. She jumped on Owlbert, who flew down to Lucila, who held out her hand. Luz grabbed it and threw her into the air. Lucila flipped and landed behind Luz on the staff. The two headed straight for Emperor Belos, who summoned a large snake that lunged towards them. The two sisters screamed as it ate them whole, but then they used their fire magic to make it exploded. The two landed on the ground.
"What's wrong, humans? I thought you wanted to fight," He mocked them as they stood back-to-back, looking frightened. A shadow moved past them and Lucila gasped, preparing her glyphs. Vines appeared from the ground, grabbing hold of them. They glared up at the Emperor as he stood over them. "Had enough?"
"Not even close."
"We're just getting started!" Lucila growled out as Luz revealed an ice glyph, which hit the Emperor in the eye, chipping off a piece of his mask. Lucila slammed down a fire glyph, and it launched onto the Emperor's hand. He dropped his staff, a scar being left on his right hand. He groaned as he turned away, dropping his staff as the piece landed in front of them. They looked up and he chuckled.
"I like your spirit..." He turned around, a glowing blue eye underneath the mask being seen. "But try those again and things won't end well for you. Now, I am just a humble messenger for the Titan. In the grand scheme of things, the Owl Lady's life is inconsequential," He paced around, standing in front of the two. "But then you two showed up. If you want to save your mentor, give me the portal to the human realm."
"What?" Lucila murmured in shock.
"But...our home," Luz stated in concern; what was going to happen to the human world if they did so? Or their mother?
"And it's come to my attention that the Golden Guard is...rather close with you, Lucila," He pointed at the older girl, who gasped a bit in shock and stiffened. She had no idea how he figured that out... "In addition, you will cease all contact with him. I can't have him being...distracted."
Lucila's eyes widened at him, since...she didn't know if she could really do that...sure, with what happened between them, it seemed relatively easy. But...something inside her heart felt like she wouldn't feel the same if she never saw him again.
The machine shot out a green beam towards the cage. Lilith and King braced themselves, Eda standing in front of them to take the blow.
"Edalyn!" Lilith screamed in concern, Eda screeching in pain.
The Emperor chuckled as the girls could hear this, looking up in concern for Eda. "You both probably think we want to invade the human realm, but the Titan's will is not so boorish. You'll understand soon. Tick-tock, humans, the Owl Lady doesn't have much time left."
Her screams continued from above. "NO!" Luz cried out, shedding a tear. Lucila clenched a fist angrily. "Fine!" Luz took out the portal key from her cape. She pressed the eye symbol and the door appeared between them. "Lo siento, Mama," Luz stated sadly, taking the suitcase.
"Nosotras te amamos, Mama," Lucila whispered quietly. Luz hugged it and they stood up, handing it over.
"Here. It's yours."
"The Titan will be pleased," He took it from Luz, looking over to Lucila. "And I trust that your silence means you'll fulfill the other half of the deal?"
She looked away from him. "...If it means you'll release Eda, then fine," She gritted her teeth to herself. They stepped forward onto the platform, with the Emperor watching them.
"Go on, then," He slammed down his staff, lifting up the platform himself. "Go be heroes."
"We may have lost, but so have you," Luz turned around and slammed down the staff again, activating the fire glyphs they put on the door. It exploded and he dropped it, watching the eye burn. Among the smoke, he looked up at the two as they gave him a death glare.
"The Golden Guard can make decisions for himself about his life," She spoke up bravely. "But trust me, we're not friends anymore."
He seethed at her statement, clenching his staff. He could tell that this wouldn't be the last time he'd be interfering with her and the Golden Guard again...
Eda's body started turning into stone, Lucila and Luz appearing in front of the cage. Luz tossed a plant glyph in front of the statue, capturing it. Eda screeched, falling onto the ground as only her head was left intact.
"What do we do?" King looked up at Lilith in a panic.
"The spell wasn't completed. Maybe I can help her fight it," Lilith placed her hands on Eda's wing, and she glowed.
"No! What is happening?!" Kikimora demanded, Luz coming in with a fire glyph. Lucila stood in front of her, pointing the staff at her face and threatening to use it on her.
"Free them, now!" She ordered angrily, the little imp spinning a finger to make the cage disappear. "Eda!" The two ran up to her. "Are you okay?"
"She doesn't look so hot," Lucila murmured in worry, and then the petrification spell started to wither away. Eda opened her eyes.
"As good as I'll ever be," She answered, the Coven Scouts starting to surround them. The two sisters stood in front of Eda, ready to fight them off. "Let's fly," Eda put the sisters and King on her snout, catapulting them so that they landed on her back. Lilith jumped on and Eda flew off. The crowd cheered as Willow and Gus looked on with smiles. Some people ducked their heads as Eda flew above, all of them heading back to the Owl House. Kikimora glared at them, glancing up to see the Emperor approaching.
"My liege!" She then gasped at his injury, but he didn't react to it, stopping once he saw the crowd.
"Children of the Isles, the Titan has told me to spare the Owl Lady's life, but in return, her curse will strip away all her powers. Let her monstrous form be a lesson about the dangers of wild magic..."
Eda crashed onto the ground in front of her home, the two jumping off. "Don't worry, Eda," Luz turned to her. "We'll run and get you some elixir and-"
"No, human," Lilith interrupted her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "No amount of elixir can heal her now."
"So what do we do then?" Lucila frowned in concern. Nothing she had been taught by the Golden Guard could possibly help with this...
"Oh, sister," Lilith kneeled in front of her, holding her cheeks. "I should have done this a long time ago," She pressed her forehead to her sister's. "With this spell declared, let the pain be shared." A flash of light occurred, surrounding them in a circle. They were lifted up in the air, one light shining from them each. The light shone bigger as Eda's wings disappeared, her ears shrunk, and her body went back to normal. As the lights dimmed, the three looked up ahead to see Eda back to normal. However, there was a new change in their appearances.
"Eda!" Luz called out, the two women turning to her and Lucila. Both of them now had one grey eye, Eda's gem still black. And both women now had a grey streak in their hair. Eda laughed, accepting the hug from Luz, King, and Lucila. "Can you still do magic?"
Eda spun a spell circle...and it fizzled out entirely. "That's a no. It'll take some time to get used to this."
"I feel that I've been weakened as well," Lilith looked down at her hands.
"It's something we're all gonna have to get used to, but that doesn't mean we'll give up," Lucila stated gently.
"It's okay," Luz assured Eda. "We can teach you what we know. And what we don't know, we can learn together," She placed a light glyph in Eda's hand. She tapped it and her mouth opened in shock at the light orb that formed.
They all smiled up at it. "Thanks, kids," Eda patted the top of their heads. "I'll look forward to that."
"And that's how we escaped from the Emperor," Luz was doing a vlog on her phone. "Everyone told Luci and me he was the most powerful witch alive. But look at this, Mom, we chipped off a piece of his mask," She held up the mask piece that she picked up. "And Luci burned his hand! We know he's not invincible now," Then she frowned. "It's a strange feeling having gone through so much and not having you here to share it with. And I don't know when or how the two of us are gonna see you again," She looked towards the family photo of her, Lucila, and her mom. She looked up towards the sky, having hope. "But we will find our way home to you. I promise. Deja una luz puesta para mi. Te quiero," She turned off the light spell she had up and went to bed.
Lucila tapped her chin as she figured out what else to say, laying down on her bed. "Well, Mom...we did it. Luz and I actually faced off the Emperor, and he's...really intimidating," She scrunched up her nose in anger as he remembered what he asked of her, and also what he did to Eda. "And...it's weird that we're now actually stuck here," She hugged herself, looking away. "And...I've got some stuff to sort out. No matter what, though...Luz and I will make it home. I love you, Mama," She blew a kiss at the phone, stopping her vlog.
She then sat up, looking out her window as a forlorn look hit her face. She felt like it was still recent that she had her falling out with the Golden Guard...and yet she still wanted to see him a little bit, which she shouldn't be feeling. She shouldn't even be thinking about him, but...not only did he save her life when he had the choice not to, but she had come too far to completely forget about him. And he did help them out with the Warden too...if anything, she oughta be thanking him.
But then her reaction when she saw the Coven army, and finding out that the Emperor was his UNCLE...
"Ugh," Lucila covered her eyes with her hands, sniffling as she held in her tears. She would not cry...not right now. She adjusted her messed up bangs, glancing to her guitar. Every time she felt disheartened, she'd always either play music or write a song...
Her eyes softened as she felt a little...inspired by the events and her feelings towards it. She slowly took it and her songbook. The girl sat down on her bed, surrounded by her pillows as she crossed her legs. She started playing in D major, looking up towards the stars. She nodded to the beat, writing down the notes in her book as she bit her lip. She wrote down a lyric and played the melody again.
I don't understand
This shouldn't be so hard
To just reach out my hand
And know the world has changed...
Eda, Luz, and King stared at the girl from outside her door, having heard her playing from before. They glanced at each other sadly as they could feel her pain...they might still not understand WHY the Golden Guard, but...they could tell that Lucila saw him as a friend and someone she could trust...and now she couldn't anymore. She didn't care what the Emperor said to her, if she saw him again, she would express her anger towards the Golden Guard for the whole ambush thing.
Kikimora stepped down the flight of stairs, where her superior was standing in a dark room with machinery in it. "Sire, those miscreants are still at large. Please, allow me to capture them-"
"Worry not, Kiki," Emperor Belos interrupted her. "We'll be keeping an eye on the inhabitants of the Owl House," He nodded towards the Golden Guard nearby, who flinched a little. Then he reluctantly nodded and left the room. "In the meantime, the Day of Unity is almost upon us, and we have much work to do," He looked up at a large portal being constructed...
The Golden Guard was sitting down in front of the tree, looking towards the empty space in front of him. He looked at the time and sighed, as it had been over an hour and she didn't show...he should've expected that, honestly. Lucila was furious over seeing Lilith and the Scouts...but the question that kept nagging him was how did they know to cross over there at the perfect time? It felt too timed to be a coincidence.
He stood up in determination. He was gonna find out how it happened, and hopefully get Lucila to see that he wasn't behind it...
Angel: The song Lucila sang at the end, I'll talk more about it as we go on because the song will come back several times in season 2. Not sure if people will recognize what song it's based off of, though, because I'm not sure if that's well known to my readers? Whatever, anyway, I'll talk about it when it comes back up in the story!
Oh boy...season 2...people are gonna be talking about the obvious with Hunter, huh ^^' Season 2 is gonna be a LOOOOOT to impact with the love triangle as a whole.
And I know the Golden Guard didn't do much, but I couldn't exactly have him do a major interaction with Luz or King, since they didn't properly meet here. The Emperor would also know it was him by his magic alone, and he's already suspicious enough of him. See you guys next week with season 2!