The Owl and The Athlete
Chapter 10: Grudgby with a twist
By
Neztro
author's note:
hey guys I just got my vaccine booster and am amped for my birthday in a couple weeks…. Though I literally just got over the side effects of the vaccine… thank god…. So this fanfiction chapter is devoted to all my vaccination buddies who have to suffer these effects so that your loved ones and family don't have to suffer… you guys are champions.
tristan felt his heart pumping as he ran up the hill toward the owl house. He jumps over a makeshift barricade effortlessly and then continues with sweat rolling down his face. The morning sun rising at his back, he sways back-aand-forth dodging paint cans after he hit the trigger on purpose.
He finished his jog by jumping and doing a corkscrew over the sleeping hooty and landing in front of his phone. Grabbing it and checking his time. "one minute eighteen seconds… I still need to shave three seconds off my time… again."
tristan and let the warm rays of the sun hit his face mixing with the clean air. Tristan takes a deep breath and looks out toward the beauty in the world.
The door creaked open behind tristan and he turns around, smiling at Luz who was rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. "Tristan what are you doing?"
"excerising luz, I've been having trouble these last few weeks keeping up my wonderful work out routine… but I'm gonna need to be in top shape when me and boscha do our battle on the grudgby field." tristan jogged in place while he talked with luz.
"are you sure you wanna go through with this? She has years of experience playing the game and you haven't even touched a grudgby ball." Said concern clear on her face as she watched her friend breath heavily.
"Of course, I've got years of experience as a champion athelete as well… and that means I got a shot." Tristan reached into his pouch and pulled out a bottle of purified water. He turned the bottle over and let it spray into his mouth.
"you do have experience as an athelete. But that experience is all football related… grudgby is very different." Luz piped in watching her friend do jumping jacks.
The boy stopped abruptly and jogged toward the house opening the door and heading inside. Luz followed him "I'm way ahead of you light bright. I've been doing research." he points to a stack of books on the coffee table.
"i've read each of these books cover to cover. They include the rules manual, the greatest plays in the history of the game, and of course the most famous grudgby teams." tristan stretched for a few more moments.
"How long have you been awake?" Luz asked taking a seat at the futon and looking at the well read books.
"Oh I don't know 3 maybe… I may have broken into eda's coffee stash so I can have the energy to train." tristan rummaged through the cabinets and began making breakfast. He cooked some gray bacon, poured himself a cup of appleblood, and a cracked a griffon's egg… he also carbon loaded the bacon making up two pounds worth. "gotta get my iron intake in." he said stuffing the food in his face.
Luz chuckled watching her friend eat his fill of breakfast. "Tristan are you sure your up to this?"
"Of course luz, why would you ask?" Tristan shoveled the food In his mouth and then looked at luz with bags under his eyes. He yawned into his hand and shook his head biting the air while smacking his lips.
"you look terrible… what time is your game?"
"nine sharp and look at the time it is now seven twenty-two… just enough time to shower and get one last jog in while I walk toward the field of combat." Tristan then shot open skipping to the sink and placing the pots, pans, and dishes inside then running up the stairs to shower.
Luz shook her head at her friend. "there is no talking to that boy when he's training."
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
tristan as half dead as he stumbled toward the grudgby field. He plodded forward each step a labor. He felt like he was walking in quicksand.
Tristan yawned to himself as he almost fell over.
Luz caught her friend and looked him in the eye. "you need to cancel."
"Never." Tristan replied his eyes closing as he fell asleep.
Luz gently lowered her friend to the ground and let him sleep on the ground. She gripped her chin. "now how am I going to get him back home."
the bushes around luz begin to russel as a strong wind picked up from behind luz. The girl turned her head toward and saw a man in a trenchcoat. He walks up and revealed to be a four foot tall imp like dwarf with demon horns and a tail.
"well hello, how can I help you."
"I couldn't help but notice that you're friend is having trouble staying awake." The demon asked in the highest pitched voice luz had ever heard.
"Aw, that is so cute." Luz cooed holding her face.
"Thank you, I am Lemmitwink and I am a master of potion magic." He said pulling his trench coat open to reveal assorted vials strapped inside.
"nice to meet you I'm luz." Luz held out her hand and lemmitwink grabbed it then began kissing it running a trail. His beard hair tickling luz's hand.
"I am here to offer you a potion that could help your friend stay awake and it also gives him super speed." lemmitwink said in an excitable baby voice.
Luz smiled at that "okay, but I don't have any snails."
"That's okay you can just go on a date with me." Lemmitwink said in a cutesy baby tone.
"aw, of course I'll go on a date with you… but I have the right to say no to anything you wanna do if I think it's too far."
"deal!" Lemmitwink handed her the scarlet red potion. "Now make sure he drinks the whole thing and have fun… I'll pick you up after the game… byeee!" the creature then disappeared leaving luz stupified.
She scratched her head and looked bewildered. "how'd he know about the game."
Luz looked back at her sleeping friend and shrugged her shoulders. She feed him the potion and his eyes shot open. The boy's upper body shot straight up and he snapped his head toward luz with a smile.
"wooo! Oh yeah!" The boy leapt from the ground and began running circles in a matter of seconds.
"Wow it worked…" Luz chuckled nervously.
"Of course it did! I feel great! I can win! I can do this!" The boy then lifted luz over his shoulder and dashed down the hill toward the school yard
Once they reached hexside gate they saw boscha leaning against the gate waiting for them. She looked at her nails with a bored expression. "I was wondering if you'd have the guts to show up." she said in an arrogant tone.
"I never back down from a challenge!" Tristan replied fidgetting and shivering.
"what's wrong with him?" Boscha said, taking a couple steps back.
Luz giggled to herself and just looked away. "you know, he's just getting ready to beat you."
Boscha lifted her hand. "pssh, as if… let's do this. I have a potions final today."
The two walked toward the grudgby field and boscha threw tristan a unifrom that was done in the banshee colors of gold and light blue.
"Okay put these on and…" boscha turned her head and when she returned her gaze tristan was already dressed in the unifrom. "Okay then… let's go.
The game started as the two took their places. Boscha had her game face on while tristan looked like a junkie. Scratching his face and shaking.
The ball shot up and immediately tristan grabbed it and dashed to boscha's hoop scoring the first point.
The boy began doing a victory dance and took in luz's applause.
Boscha meanwhile glared and ran to grab the ball.
It was served again but this time boscha snatched it and threw it at the goal from clear across the way. "woo! That's how a grudgby champ does it! In your face earth witch! What do you have to say about that."
"Good shot." tristan replied, genuinely impressed.
Boscha blushed in reponse not expecting any admission of her skill. "shut up and play!" she shouted. He was just trying to get in her head.
The game went on for the four quarters and score remained tied. The clock was ticking as there was time for one more play… tristan looked at boscha and knew she was just as tired as he was then he saw it… the rusty smidge… he smirked.
The ball shot up and he let boscha grab it. He then used his oracle reflexes and speed to run and grab the smidge just as the clock yelled time.
"Yes! Yes! Ooh! I win!" Boscha exclaims showing the score with her last point win.
"did you?" tristan asked revealing the rusty smidge and score suddenly changes to the max that the board could produce.
"what!?" boscha scream looking up the board and the back to smidge.
She went red then stomped off. "whatever, doesn't change the fact that your a stupid earth witch." she said over her shoulder.
Luz ran up and hugged her friend and they danced on the grudgby field. "way to go tristan" she said holding the boy close.
"yeah did you see me… I was like lightning on a battlefield uncatchable. I've never been that fast in my life."
"yeah I guess that potion really worked." Luz blurted out smiling.
"potion? What are you talking about Lulu." tristan chuckled at his joke as luz let out a woo.
The sound of slow clapping cuaght the teens attentions as they turned their head toward the source of the sound.
The dwarf demon was clapping it's hands and looked at luz with a predatory grin. "I told you that the potion would be perfect for you."
"Luz, what's this cute little dwarf thing saying?" Tristan asked confused.
"oh uh, you were knocked out and they offered me a potion to wake you up so you can play the game." Luz replied nervous taking a couple steps toward the dwarf.
"also enhanced your speed which I guess stacked with your oracle powers." the tiny dwarf said in it's cute voice.
"Luz you gave me a performance enhancer?" tristan asked looking down at the dwarf.
"she did… and now she is going on a date with me and I'll make her into a demon like me." the tiny demon replied in it's cute voice.
"What!? I never agreed to that. I'm not gonna become a demon."
"come on, it's not like you have a choice… if you don't then I won't give you the antidote."
"the antidote?"
"Yeah, the antidote which stops the effects of the potion from making the boys heart explode you only have 3 hours before that happens… like a mocking bird." The cute demon giggled to himself as he said this.
"You lied to me!" Luz exclaimed pointing her finger at the demon.
"i'm sowwy." the creature said it's eyes going big.
"aw, I forgive you… after you give tristan the antidote." Luz said walking up the creature.
"here ya go." the dwarf handed luz a goldne vial.
The girl tussles his hair and then walks up to tristan. She gives the boy a vial to his mouth and he drinks it.
Tristan begins heaving over and shakes in reponse.
"what did you do to him!?" Luz exclaimed going to tristan.
"cut his time in half now you only have an hour and a half to become a demon or he dies." the dwarf demon giggled to himself.
Luz clenched her fists and then looked at tristan. "fine, I'll do it."
The dwarf demon began a small jig as he chackled to himself.
"let's go my beautiful teen bride… I have dinner ready." he said trotting toward luz and holding her hand then teleporting her away.
Tristan was coughing up and potion looked up to see luz was gone. "this is bad… need to find help… need… boscha." Tristan groaned he knew that boscha was the best student in the potions track and if anyone would be able to give him a proper potion to heal himself… it would be her.
The boy stumbled to boscha… the potion luz gave him counteracting his abilities and dulling his reflexes. The boy eventually found her leaning against the school wall.
The pink skinned teen glared at tristan "what do you want, earth witch."
"I need your help boscha." Tristan felt his heart beat against his chest and it hurt like hell.
"why would I help you?"
"Because I cheated in our game and if you help me then I'll admit your the better grudgby player and the superior witch." Tristan hoped that playing to boscha's pride would help him.
Her eyes slitted once again but then boscha sighed. "what do you need?"
"a cure to potion that awakes those who are tired and increases their natural speed at the cost of their heart going out in three to five hours."
boscha's eyes went wide. "that is a heavy duty black magic but I guess I can help you but I hope you understand that I don't want you to ever step up against me and my friends… even when we do soemthing people you care about, understand?"
"Yes." as long as luz was safe and still human he'd do anything. Also, he was a notorious liar and didn't owe this spoiled little princess anything… even though she looked kinda hot when her nostrils flared and she stared at tristan with such scorn.
"alright c'mon and don't touch anything." Boscha grabbed tristans hand but immediately released her grip cheeks glowing red.
Tristan noticed this and was genuinely confused. "are you okay? Do you have a fever?"
"shut it! I'm just super hot from playing a game with a big cheater." Boscha screamed turning from tristan.
"Look I'm sorry for cheating but I didn't know I was under the effects of a potion."
"Uh huh, that's what they all say."
"Hey! I get that we don't like each other… but nobody… but nobody, questions my integrity when it comes to sports. I hate cheating in all kinds, it breaks my heart when my favorite athlete comes out as a steroid user and if I knew luz had given me a performance enhancing potion then I'd have called off the game."
"sure, you have no idea what it's like to be me." Boscha said, her voice growing grim.
"you're right I don't. You have it so easy, the love of your teammates and school, top star of your team, and you're not a freak amongst your own team… I had to go through all that when I was playing on earth."
Boscha froze and then straightened.
Tristan stopped behind her and noticed that she wasn't moving. "Boscha? Is something wrong."
"it's not all easy for me when I play the game. I know people hate me because I'm mean but I used to be picked on for having pick fur… it's not my fault my family has demon blood in it. But they called me furby, and three eye, and… and…"
Boscha was on the verge of tears as a single tear rolled down the side of her face.
Tristan's hands shaked at his side. "and then you found out you had a knack or grudgby and when the others found out they stopped picking on you… they made you feel wanted."
"How could you possibly understand that, you grew up amongst humans and thus you were the best thing in their realm?"
"I wish someone told them that. They stole my lunch, tripped me down the hall, and called me… elf boy." tristan gritted his teeth as he recalled his old nickname. "I was a nobody until they found out I could play football."
"I guess we're not so different after all." boscha placed the final ingredient in the cauldron and stood in silence.
"I have to say if it wasn't for my superspeed and potion asset, you could've beaten me."
"could've? More like would've you cheater."
"In your dreams, pink slip." Tristan joked going red when he realized that he gave boscha a nickname.
Boscha was also flush as she turned from him and stirred the potion. Once it glew red, boscha took a sniff and smiled. "it's done."
she lifted the ladle from the boscha and aimed to give tristan a drink from the laddle. "open wide."
Tristan drank the potion and a sweet taste entered his tongue and he smiled. "Black berries and winter cherries… delicious. You have a real knack for this stuff."
Boscha chuckled to herself. "you think so."
Tristan felt his heart go back to normal as he chuckled. "yeah, thank you. Now I gotta go save luz."
Boscha held the boy's hand and looked at him. She couldn't bear to tell him but she had to at least try.
"Tristan… I always thought you were cool."
"wow boscha, I never expected that from you… thanks… and If I'm being honest, I always thought you looked kinda hot too."
Boscha began giggling nervous. "what? Hot me? I, wow…. Ha ha… good joke."
"don't undercut yourself. You have no idea how attractive a woman who plays sports is… athletic, confident, and sexy as hell… you're gonna make someone very happy."
Boscha heart was melting in his hands as he said these things… she didn't understand what he was doing to her. Was this a spell? No, it felt too real….
"anyway, I have to go… I'll see you later pink slip."
"wait tristan, I'll go with you." Boscha followed the boy as they ran to find luz.
"what, you care about me or something?
"No, it's just I want to make sure you don't die before you admit you cheated in our game and say that I'm the best grudgby player at hexside."
Tristan chuckled at the girl who was obviously lying and even though he didn't know why, he knew it wasn't malicious.
"what's so funny? I'm trying to help you jerk!" Boscha's cheeks were blood red and she pouted like a spoiled child.
Tristan thought it made her look so adorable.
"I just, never expected you to care about someone who wasn't yourself. I think I may have pegged you wrong boscha."
The girl froze and a sly smile crept on her face, she giggled to herself and played with her hair but upon seeing tristan's confused stare she froze. The girl cleared her throat and then turned her back. "come on! Your human pet is waiting on us."
The two tracked the dwarf demon by using a spell that boscha prepared… a scrying potion mixing that with tristans knowledge of luz allowed them to find her. After that it was childs play for boscha to hop on tristans back… something she enjoyed but didn't want to admit that she did… then allow his super speed to carry them there.
They entered the lair which was an admittedly quaint townhouse in the forest. Tristan opened the door after letting boscha down from her piggy back perch. He noticed that luz was having dinner and had a happy smile on her face when she saw tristan.
"tristan! He's so weird! He wants to know my foot size so he can make me clogs… and I think he's lying!"
"you! How dare you enter my home!" the dwarf demon called running down from the top of his stairs, measuring tape in his hand.
"games over gimli, give me luz or I'll pummel ya."
"I curse you!" he yelled reaching into his pouch and pulling out an orange potion and throwing it.
"fire blast potion get down!" Boscha jumped on tristan and saved him.
The boy summoned three purple bolts smacking the dwarf and knocking him back. Tristan ran to luz and picked her up bridal style then ran.
Boscha followed him but she got grabbed by the dwarf who had a black potion.
"That's a curse vial! Those are illegal!"
"I will have my bride!" the cutesy voice yelled aiming to smash the vial on boscha but was suddenly smacked with a fist to the head.
Tristan had used super speed to knock out the dwarf and held boscha's hand.
The three ran out of the house and left the dwarf… they did happen to hear an explosion which boscha sneered had served that dwarf right.
Once they were safe and sound they stopped to catch their breath.
"thanks again boscha, and don't worry I'll gladly admit to everyone who the best hexside player is…"
"thanks tristan, but I don't need that praise anymore."
"oh well, I don't want you to feel like you've gotten nothing."
Boscha's eyes warmed as she walked to tristan and luz released what was going on and she let out a moan of joy.
"Maybe, we can be friends…"
"No, not friends… best friends! Sports buddies!" Tristan then charged the girl and lifted her up in a bear hug, twirling her around the woods.
Boscha was flustered as tristan dropped her. "Bye tristan… you're really cool… for an earth witch."
Boscha grinned and stuck out her tongue.
Once she was gone tristan let out a sigh and then noticed luz smugly grinning.
"why are you so happy?"
"you've got an admirer."
"who?"
"you don't know?"
"No? Is it willow? She's cute and all but I'm not exactly a nature lover."
"No… I won't spoil it… it's a girls honored tradition to not reveal crushes."
"Alright then weirdo… keep your secrets."
Tristan didn't know who could possible have a crush on him, the only girl he interacted with today besides luz was… nah it can't be… there is no way she'd be interested in him.
mezentsevmicheal:
thank you, it is always good to hear from you and all of my fans.
Marbled gold:
yep, I have been sitting on a good boscha x oc relationship for awhile. Also yes mama eda will have future plot relevance
sonofthedragon:
once again another good idea and yes eda is a genuine mother to tristan but like I said let's not discredit tristans parents… they have thie reasons for being who they are.
Sonofthedragon:
yeah, just wait
Marbled gold:
yeah I have been dying to make a boscha redemption story and now the seeds are laid.
Alexc1209
yeah lilith does not like tristan at all for many reasons besides the one I mentioned… but she'll come around… and just wait until you guys meet gwendolyn.
Son of the dragon
yeah, I have plans for gwendolyn and let's just say she is an "old fashioned" grandma