Chapter 2
"WHAT?!" Luz shouted as Amity challenged her mother. "That's what you had planned?!"
"Dang Boots! Didn't know you had it in ya!" Eda said, slightly impressed of Amity's guts.
"What is the meaning of this?! I thought I told you to…"
"Yeah, well I don't want to!" Amity said sternly. "I love Luz, and I am willing to fight for her, just like she is willing to fight for me!"
"I see… I hope you realize that I have no reason, or intent to accept this challenge." Odalia said.
"Really? I think you do." Amity said. "A Blight's reputation is everything after all! How do you think it would look if word got out that your own daughter challenged you, only for you to decline?"
"Grrr… FINE! What are the terms?" Odalia asked.
"Dang… she's good!" King whispered into Eda's ear, only to be shushed.
"Anything goes. You can use whatever gadgets Dad has made for you and I can use any magic or whatever I have at my disposal." Amity said. "If I win, you promise to never touch Luz, and you Dad stay out of my love life!"
"And when I win?" Odalia asked.
"IF you win… I'll obey." Amity said. "For the rest of my life, I'll do whatever you say without complaint. I'll be the perfectly obedient daughter you want… deal?"
Odalia grinned at this. "Deal."
Amity then drew a circle in the air, and put her hand through it, which Odalia accepted.
"The everlasting oath is sealed!" They said together.
"Now then, I need to go and prepare… we'll settle this tomorrow." Odalia said. "Of course, until this is over, it is probably for the best that you don't stay at home. Don't want you spying on my preparations after all."
"Of course, I'll stay with my girlfriend until then." Amity said defiantly.
"… Very well."
And with that, she closed the door.
"Amity…"
"Don't try and talk me out of this Luz… I can do this!" Amity said with a determined look on her face.
Luz just smiled at this. "Alright… Then let's get home and get you ready!"
The group then hopped back onto the Palismen, and flew away.
Little did they know though, they were being watched that whole time.
That Morning, the Emperor's palace
"A day off?" Hunter asked.
"Yes, you did such a great job in getting me this key, and our preparations for the Day of Unity are coming along very well, so I figured I would let you have a couple of days to relax before the big day." Belos explained.
"Oh! Alright! Thank you sir…" Hunter said.
Truth was, he felt like he was being sidelined again.
"Don't look like that, I am still very proud of what you accomplished the other day Hunter." Belos said. "This is a reward for your hard work, not a punishment."
"Right, thank you Uncle."
"Now off you go."
Hunter then left, and returned to his room.
His Palismen, who he came to know was named "Rascal" perched onto his shoulder when he entered the room.
"Hey Rascal, guess we have a day off, huh?" Hunter asked.
Rascal just chirped in response.
"Don't know what we're gonna do yet…" Hunter said as he looked out the window.
He managed to get a good look at the town, and saw all the people going about their business.
"You know… I don't think I've ever had the chance to just… be a person before." Hunter said. "I've always been the Golden Guard… even on my days off, I kept that mask on and people treated me like I was special…"
Rascal chirped.
"Yeah… maybe I should do that." Hunter said as he took off his cloak and changed into some casual clothes. "Time to have a nice, normal day!"
He was bored out of his mind.
"Who knew that normal life was so… boring…" Hunter said as he walked around town, Rascal perched on his shoulder.
Luckily, the only ones in the Emperor's Coven or the guard that knew what he looked like under his mask were Kikimora and Emperor Belos, so no-one had recognized him, or questioned why he had a Palismen with him.
And with both the people in the know busy at the palace, preparing for the Day of Unity, he was able to walk around without worrying for Rascal's safety.
That being said, with nothing in town to do, he set his sights out of town.
"Say, isn't that the Blight's manor?" Hunter asked himself.
He then saw something he wasn't expecting, the youngest Blight, the human, the Owl Lady, and their dog, all flying up to the front door.
His curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to teleport to the roof and listen in on what was going on.
"Mother… I challenge you to a Witches duel!"
"Whoa… girl's got guts, gotta give her that…"
He then listened in to the rest of the conversation, the terms of the duel, and what it was all about.
"Didn't think that she was going through something like this…" Hunter said, Rascal chirping in agreement.
Before long, everyone was leaving.
"… Well, it's none of my business…" Hunter said before teleporting towards the ground.
He then began walking away, before looking towards where Amity and the others were flying.
"But… why do I feel so… wrong just leaving this?" Hunter asked.
"We really are alike you and I…" Amity's voice echoed in his head.
Looking towards his shoulder, he saw Rascal give him a sympathetic look.
"Ugh… alright fine, I guess I do owe them… We'll see if I can do anything to help." Hunter said before beginning to run after the group.
The Owl House
Luz was freaking out.
"I can't believe you did that!" Luz shouted.
"She didn't give me much choice!" Amity said. "This is the only way that I can get her to agree to just… leave us be!"
"I know! But so much is riding on this!" Luz said. "If you lose this, you'll basically become her slave for the rest of your life! Not to mention that she'll make you break up with me!"
"I know, I know… but I have a plan." Amity said. "I just hope it works…"
"Ok… if you say so… I trust you Amity." Luz said as she hugged her girlfriend.
"Right, so, let's get you ready! I bet you could use some practice." Eda said.
"Yeah… no offense though, fighting against someone who can't use magic really wouldn't help much…" Amity said.
"Oh… yeah, good point…"
"What about me?" Luz asked. "I can't use magic, but my glyphs could…"
"No, it'll just get me used to fighting against someone using glyphs…" Amity said. "Though learning how to use them effectively myself could be helpful…"
"Ok! Then I'll teach you all I know!" Luz said proudly. "With you being such a genius, I'm sure you'll get it down easy!"
"Right! Thanks!"
"So… about training…" Eda said.
"Uh…"
"Maybe I can help." Said a voice from behind them.
"Oh that would be grea- WHAT THE?!" Luz said as she got a good look at their visitor.
"Hiiiiiii!" Hunter said as he floated on his Palismen.
"Wha- Hunter?! Is that the little Rascal?! What?!" Luz asked. "Why are you here?!"
"Well, I happened to have the day off, and overheard the juiciest bit of gossip!" Hunter said smugly. "Then I realized that I owed the two of you a favor, so I decided 'eh, why not?' and decided to help you out! You should be honored!"
Luz and Amity just looked at each other. "You owe us a favor?"
"Well, more like half a favor for each of you, since the human did kinda sorta save my life… then took the palismen for herself… and the Blight gave me the portal key… after breaking it…" Hunter explained.
"Ok… I guess…" Luz said. "But why is the little Rascal here?"
"Funnily enough, his name is actually Rascal… and he bonded with me if you can believe it." Hunter explained.
"Whaaaaaa…?" Luz asked. "Wait… and you didn't just turn him over to the Emperor?"
"Eh, he grew on me." Hunter said, rubbing Rascal's head. "So, you want my help or not?"
Luz and Amity looked towards each other before grinning.
"Thanks a lot!"
That night, they were all ready.
"Nice work Blight… you just might make it into the Emperor's coven yet!" Hunter said, slightly out of breath.
"Not interested." Amity said, also out of breath. "That was my mother's dream, not mine!"
"Eh, suit yourself." Hunter said as she sat down. "So much for a day off…"
"You didn't have to do that." Luz said.
"Yeah, well I felt like doing it. Got a problem with that?" Hunter asked.
"Nope, thanks." Luz said.
"So Blight… if being a part of the Emperor's Coven isn't your dream… what is?" Hunter asked.
"That… is personal." Amity said.
"Huh?"
"I'll tell you when the time is right Luz… let's just get through this first, ok?" Amity asked.
"… You got it!"
"Anyways, I should get going. I'll stop by tomorrow and watch." Hunter said.
"Hold on! Why don't you stay for dinner?" Luz asked.
"Huh?"
"I mean… you helped us out, so it's the least we could do…" Luz said.
"She's right." Amity agreed.
"… You sure?"
"Of course! We're friends, right?" Luz asked.
"More like acquaintances… but thanks." Hunter said.
Before they could head inside though…
"MITTENS!"
Looking over, they saw Edric and Emera heading running towards them.
"Ed? Em? What are you two doing here?" Amity asked.
"We heard about what happened is what we're doing here!" Emera explained. "Did you really challenge Mom?!"
"Yeah… I did…"
"Dang sis, that takes guts!" Edric said. "Oh but it was for your girlfriend wasn't it? Guess I can't blame you."
Amity's face went red at this.
"Seriously though, this is how we find out that you two are finally dating?" Emera asked.
"You didn't tell them?" Luz asked.
"I was worried about Mom or Dad overhearing me…" Amity explained.
"Makes sense." Edric said.
"Anyways… we should head back…" Emera said. "We only said that we were going to wish you luck…"
"Wouldn't you get in trouble?" Luz asked.
"Nah, we told em we wanted to by unbiased bystanders." Edric explained. "That seemed to do the trick."
"Right… thanks you two." Amity said.
"No matter what happens Mittens, we'll be here for you… okay?" Emera said.
"Okay… thank you…" Amity said as she pulled her siblings in for a hug.
"Any time Mittens." Edric said. "Good luck, we're rooting for you!"
And with that, they left with a wave.
"Good to know that they are on our side…" Luz said.
"Yeah… good thing." Amity said.
She didn't know what she would do if they didn't have her back on this.
"Pfft… Mittens?" Hunter laughed out.
"Shut it…"
"Anyways, let's go eat!" Luz said as she led everyone inside, trying to avoid a fight.
End of Chapter 2
I have no clue if Hunter's Palismen is actually named Rascal, but I am going with that for now.
Next chapter will be the fight! Hope you enjoyed this one, and see you next Wednesday!