You Iluminate My Life: A Grimmas Tale!
Prologue:
"Luz you illuminate my life and I … I love you!" The words echoed in Luz's ears. She couldn't believe what she was hearing coming from Amity.
"Amity I … I."
Chapter 1: The Invitation
Quiet, Peace, Relaxing. Such things are rarely felt inside the Owl House and there is absolutely no reason for it to cease.
KABOOM
And just like that the peace, gone, Relaxing, vanquished, and don't get me started on quiet.
"GOOD MORNING BOILING ISLES!" Luz's loud and booming voice echoed to the shores and back earning the attention of a giga-monster spawning from the ocean.
"GOOD MORNING LUZ!" it yelled in return with a beaming smile before retreating back into the ocean with its tentacles waving in the air.
Yes The Boiling Isles, truly a place of remarkable creatures and where myth and legend become truth and reality. Eda however was none too happy with the early wake up call.
"You know Luz when I gave you my key to come and go as you please I was expecting you to at least wait until after my morning apple blood." With messy hair and her usual morning attitude Eda rose from her kitchen countertop taking a large gulp of her drink as she turned around to be met with her pupil's face entering from the portal they now shared.
"LUZ IS BACK!" King, well what can I say about King? Aside from being the cute adorable demon he was quite the litter box. Arising from his pile of trash he leaped onto Luz and held her tight not wanting to let go of his human ever again.
"What can I say Eda, it's my first winter here on The Boiling Isles I couldn't wait." Luz explained as she set down a large duffle bag on the couch.
"Several weeks after summer and she hasn't changed a bit huh King?" Eda's smile surely lit up the room as she took another sip.
"Yup that's our Luz, oh by the way, Willow and Gus are waiting for you in town, we told them to expect you today just didn't know how early." King mentioned as he sat on the human's head.
"By the way you did clear this visit with your mother this time right, I remember when she found out about this place. Man her mind was blown right out of the park." The nervous smile faded into a depressed frown as Luz turned away in remembrance of that day.
"Oh sweetie, I'm sorry I know she was mad too, trust me I could hear the yelling a mile away, Hooty wasn't the same either."
"I LOST MY EAR DRUMS THAT DAY, IT WAS SUCH A DEPRESSING TIME FOR ME!" Hooty yelled as he stretched into the kitchen.
"I'm surprised you heard that at all." King whispered.
"WHAT I CAN'T HEAR YOU! I'LL COME BACK LATER HOOT!"
"Thank goodness, I thought he'd never leave." Eda scoffed as she turned to her student who was still distraught about her mother.
"Oh Sweetie come here." Eda said as she took Luz in her arms and held her close.
"Thanks Eda. I needed that." Luz smiled as she returned the gesture.
Hugging, sometimes it's the simplest thing someone can do to fill a void so vast. They shared this moment for what seemed like hours, but felt so warm. Eda never understood, but she understood it made Luz feel better at times and that's all she needed to know.
"Hey why don't you go visit your friends, I'm sure they'll be happy to see you and take king with you, he's been dying to spend time with you." Eda suggested patting King on the head.
"Yeah I think I'll do that. But what about you Eda?" Luz asked as the smile rose again on her face.
"Ah don't worry about me kid, you know I can take care of myself. Besides someone here has to clean the house every now and again, figured its long since passed my turn to do so." Eda smiled as she shoved Luz and King out the door.
"Are you sure Eda, you never usually like cleaning?" Luz asked.
"Yeah you feeling okay Firebomb?" King asked earning a glare from Eda.
"Trust me kid I'm fine, now go enjoy yourself before I change my mind." Eda ordered with a smile. Luz and King just shrugged at each other and ran off.
The City was far livelier than before. With holiday decorations spanning whole streets and allies, filling up shops and houses. While the dark stormy skies gloomed over everyone, the city lights were never brighter. King and Luz walked the streets taking in the sights and sounds while searching for their friends.
"LUZ!" Luz turned to find her friends chasing after her with smiles she hadn't seen in months. Willow and Gus, her two first friends, her schools mates came rushing at her and piled on top of her with King on top.
"Guys oh my gosh, I thought I'd never see you again." Luz said as tears formed in her eyes, holding her friends close.
"Ah Luz we knew you'd come back." Willow stated.
"Well hoped, we didn't know for sure but we had … well you know." Gus added.
"Welp I think it's time for some overdue fun what do ya say guys!?" King asked.
"YEAH" They day of fun began at the park where they ran around being children again. Luz told them stories about the human world when Gus stated some weird conspiracy again. And Willow just smiled, happy to have her friend back. King ran around the smaller kids in close proximity playing King of The Throne. It seemed to then no time had passed at all for them, like they were never apart. Then came the quiet, Luz found herself sitting at a bench keeping an eye on King when Willow and Gus sat next to her.
"So we've been meaning to ask, and you don't have to answer, but what happened you kind of …"
"Ditched us and left us behind?" Gus accused interrupting Willow, earning him a punch to the shoulder and to be pulled away by vines.
"I was going to say disappeared on us, but it felt like what Gus said." Willow admitted. Luz sighed knowing this conversation was unavoidable.
"My mom found out about this place, like me she followed Owlbert into the portal where she found me, Eda, and King practicing my magic." Luz started.
"Oh, I'm guessing she didn't react well."
"No she didn't, she asked to speak with me alone and that's when she started yelling at me for lying, for making her think I was at camp when really I was in what she thought was the most dangerous place to exist, poor Hooty still hasn't recovered his eardrums from that fight. In the end she took me home and I thought I would never see this place again."
"Then did she change her mind?"
"No, truth is, she doesn't know I'm here right now."
"Luz."
"I know, I know, it's a bad idea to go behind my mother's back, but I … I couldn't stay away forever, I had to come back eventually and I was getting tired of waiting, I missed you guys, I missed Eda, King, Hooty, I missed everything about this place." They were interrupted by some rustling in the bush next to them. When King came out of the bush he was in tears as he crawled up into Luz's lap.
"We missed you too Luz, please … please don't leave us again." King begged as he curled up in her lap.
"King … I wish I could make that promise, I really do." Then an idea came into Willow's head.
"Well what if we had Gus send an Illusion of you into the human world, that could buy us time." Willow suggested as Gus walked up to them
"Ugh, not enough, the longest one of my spells lasted was a week, and even then it started to act weird the longer it was active." Gus mentioned.
"A week is all we need Gus, besides we're not the only ones that missed you Luz." Willow also mentioned as she pulled out her scroll.
"Wait these are from Amity!" Luz yelled as she turned away.
"She has been asking about you every week at least once or three times." Willow stated as she put a hand on Luz's shoulder. "I think she needs help, and it would mean a lot if we went to go talk to her as well." Willow knew full well that Luz was never one to turn down being the helping hand. Sighing a deep breath she held she caved in.
"Alright but do we know where she is right now?" Luz asked.
"No but we know where she'll be tonight." Gus said as he pulled up Pinstigram. He scrolled down to a post he had seen earlier where Amity had posted a selfie of her holding an invitation. The Invitation was to a party being held by The Emperor's Coven at The Grand Library with a caption saying. 'Guess who's invited! #GrimmasParty'
"No way, she got it!" Luz exclaimed.
"Yup, she got her dream future alright." King said.
"Well that's awesome … wait what's a Grimmas Party?" Luz asked.
"Oh it a party for our winter Holiday Grimmas." Willow said.
"Yeah it's where people gather up and share stories, food, and presents, and dress up in either really fancy clothes or the ugliest of sweaters." Gus explained
"Wow, in the Human world we call that Christmas, HUH LUZ IS HAVING A CHRISTMAS PARTY!" Luz mentioned.
"Yeah it's a party alright, we should crash it and say hi." King suggested as he hopped down from the bench and flexed his muscles … what little he had.
"No, we can't just interrupt her party, besides it says the Emperor himself will be there." Luz stated as she looked to Willow and Gus.
"Umm actually that's exactly what we were thinking." Gus admitted.
"What, Gus, Willow you can't be serious." Luz accused.
"Well we were planning on it regardless to congratulate her but since you're here why not have some fun with it, you know, just like the good old days." Willow suggested. Luz smiled, she couldn't say no to an adventure with her friends like this, plus she was happy almost nothing had changed between them.
"Alright but first I need to find something to wear." Luz declared and they all ran off. Getting ready for Amity's party was no joke. Willow and Gus have basically been dragging Luz around every tailor shop in town to pick out any outfits ranging from nice flowery dresses to gruff and rough tuxedoes.
"Ugh, we've been to every shop in town, there's nothing that suits me." Luz declared as she fell back onto the concrete sidewalk.
"Why not check Eda's place, she seems to always have something for you." Gus examined.
"Yeah why didn't we think about that earlier?" Willow asked.
"Because our writer is lazy and is watching the show as he writes this fan fiction."
… … … that's getting pretty Meta there King … pretty Meta!
The gang all gave King confused looks before moving on back to The Owl House. What they found when they entered though was an angry Eda as she was scouring for something, throwing stuff everywhere, and feather growing on her arms.
"Oh no The Curse!" Luz said as she ran off to find an elixir.
"What Now!?" Gus asked as he and Willow followed her.
"Eda was cursed a long time ago, I'm not sure of all the details but we have to help her, look for a bottle with an orange liquid."
"On it!" They both yelled.
They searched and searched for what felt like hours, only to find nothing. They had almost given up and Luz told everyone to hide as Eda began turning for the worse. Until a knock came at the door. Hooty was taking his time talking to whoever it was but eventually the door swung open and entered a mysterious man hidden behind a long green coat and red long scarf paired with a green hood that covered his face. He was quiet as he approached the angered Eda who nearly swiped at him. The kids just watched as he effortlessly ducked and swung around, grabbing the next attack. Gently he pulled out an Elixir and handed it to Eda. Confused but thankful she took it and started chugging the whole bottle as he started to leave.
"Wait." Eda called out stopping him in his tracks.
"My sister sent you, didn't she?" Eda asked.
"No." he said before closing the door behind him and leaving.
"Ummm, Eda, who was that guy?" Luz asked as she and her friends came out of hiding.
"Trouble, but enough about him what brings the whole gang here this time?" Eda asked completely evading the question further.
"Amity is having a party at The Grand Library tonight and Luz needs something to wear." Gus explained.
"Grand Library … wait a second are you talking about that Emperor's Coven Party!?" Eda asked.
"Ummmmmmmm … Yes?" They all said.
"Oh boy … I'm gonna regret this, alright Luz help yourself to whatever's in the closet, I'm gonna go get changed." Eda said as she started walking up the stairs.
"Wait you're coming!?" Luz called out.
"Well I have a feeling you three were going to ask me to come anyways so I figured I'd bite the bullet and just get dressed. Besides The Emperor himself is going to be there, and the minute he spots you we're all in trouble." Eda explained as she went into her room and came out wearing the fanciest Tuxedo she had.
"Why would we get into trouble with … The …. Emperor … you know what I'm just not going to finish that thought." Luz said remembering Eda is a wanted criminal, herself a human, and the countless rules they had both broken in the city and at Hexside.
"Yeah, so anyways, get dressed, we've got a party to crash!" Eda said with excitement.
Excitement was definitely the mood to be had alright. Little did Eda know her sister Lilith was standing just a ways away from the house listening in on everything that was said. Tears filled her eyes as she put away her magic staff and began walking away. Lilith knew full well what was about to happen tonight, and she did not like the many possible outcomes racing through her mind. With Luz back and going to that party things were about to become very complicated.
Once back at the library Lilith couldn't bring herself to report to him, not again, not like this. She swallowed hard as she entered his private sector of the library, bowing to him as he turned around.
"What have you to report?" The Emperor asked in a rather dark voice that sent shivers up her spine.
"She's coming as you had hoped." Lilith said. The Emperor, draped in his royal dark robes whose face was hidden behind that of a Fawn's skull, leaned down to meet Lilith's face and gently grasped her chin with his hand covered by a leather glove ornamented with bones.
"Who's coming?" he asked coldly. Lilith couldn't hold back the tears in her eyes.
"My sister … and the human." She admitted. She looked into his cold black eyes as they starred back giving a faint golden glow.
"Good, we shall be sure to give them a hospital welcome … and let them enjoy the party." The Emperor said as he released Lilith and turned back to his studies.
"But you said-"
"I know what I said!" The Emperor yelled grabbing Lilith by the throat and holding her for a moment. Sighing he released her and recomposed himself.
"I know what I said Lilith, but those plans will have to wait, if the human is here her mother likely doesn't know yet, send an advanced illusion into the human realm to keep the mother occupied for now. I wish to see how tonight will play out." The Emperor ordered.
"But tonight is supposed to be for Amity, she's joining us tonight!" Lilith countered, only to earn a slap to her face.
"My patience is running thin and my arrogance grows, yes tonight is all about Amity I have not forgotten, consider this a test for her. After she meets with the human I will meet with her personally to give her, her first task as an Arch Coven." The Emperor explained as he towered over Lilith. What task could he possibly have for her, poor Amity what was she about to go through, but why wait until after she meets with Luz? Unless … no he wouldn't.
"You don't plan on her handing Luz over to you do you?" Lilith asked in fear as she stood up.
"If Amity won't do it, I have other means of retrieving this human." The Emperor stated. "If she comes to me broken but alive then what am I to care about it? Humans are full of untapped potential, I just need her alive."
"I understand sir." Did she though, she was nowhere near the knowledge The Emperor had of humans. What could he possibly want or do with a human, and why was it so important to him?
"You're dismissed Lilith, go and enjoy the party, I will be there shortly." His dark and rash voice only terrified her.
Lilith nodded rose and left quietly. She didn't know his intentions for Luz, but clearly they outweighed his need for Eda so she was happy about that at least. But it still concerned her, it still scared her. What could this human child possibly be capable of that no witch or wizard wasn't already? She couldn't see the future, not like other witches, but she could tell this Grimmas was about to be served severely cold.
To Be Continued!