Charmy126 on Deviantart asked for this one. Here you go, Amigo! :) Enjoy! :)
The Owl House belongs to Disney. Balan Wonderworld belongs to its respective owners.
A/N: This story takes place after "King's Tide".
A Friend To Give You Hope
Luz sat by the window as she gazed up at the moon sadly, her mind on Eda and King, who she hoped were okay and that the Boiling Isles had survived and the Collector had kept his promise to restore everything.
Tears stung her eyes as she looked around to see Hunter, Willow, Gus, and Amity all sound asleep in sleeping bags. They had gotten stuck with her in the human world after King had helped them escape and Luz had brought them to her home. Camilla was happy to have her daughter back, but she could see something had happened that saddened her daughter and when she learned the other four with her daughter had nowhere to go, she took them in.
"We'll find a way to get you kids back home," she promised. "Until then, you're all welcome to stay here with us."
Vee hugged Luz. "Is the Boiling Isles...gone?" She asked.
"I don't know," Luz said sadly. "The Collector promised to set things right, but things were falling apart around us. We just barely got out and King...,"
She choked up as tears ran down her face and Amity hugged her. "King saved us," she said softly. "He knew the risk, and yet he still did it for us."
"He sounds like a loyal friend," Camilla said.
Luz looked at her mother. "He was like my brother, Mama," she said. "And Eda...she was like my second mom."
"Eda?" Camilla asked softly.
"The Owl Lady," Hunter explained. "She's a powerful witch, but she took good care of Luz."
"She's a good witch, just like the rest of us," Willow said softly.
Gus sniffled a bit. "I hope my folks are okay," he said.
"We'll find a way back," Amity said. "Somehow."
It had now been a week since that day and Luz curled up as she cried softly, blaming herself for her friends now having nowhere to go, having lost everything, thanks to Emperor Belos. She thought of Eda and wanted nothing more than to go find her and give her the biggest hug ever. And to find King and hug him tight too.
"Luz?" She heard Amity say softly as the purple-haired girl went up to her. "Luz, you need some sleep," she said gently.
"Amity, it's all my fault," she said to her. "If it hadn't been for me...,"
"Emperor Belos would have won and we'd be lost," Amity pointed out. "Don't blame yourself for this, Batata."
Luz sniffled. "I...I miss Eda and King and Hooty and all of them so much, Sweet Potato," she said.
"I know," the purple-haired girl said gently. "Come on, come to bed."
She gently guided Luz to her sleeping bag and rubbed her back, helping the teen to fall asleep before she went back to her sleeping bag and fell asleep too.
The next morning, Camilla was ready to head for work. "Why don't you kids go for a walk?" She suggested. "Get some fresh air."
"I'll clean the house, Miss Camilla," Vee offered.
"You don't have to do that, sweetie," the lady said.
"Aw, but I want to," Vee said, looking at the lady with puppy eyes. "Please?"
"Well, alright," Camilla said with a smile. "Just don't overwork yourself, honey."
She then hugged all six kids. "It's going to be okay, niños," she said gently.
"Have a good day at work, Miss Camilla," Gus said.
"We'll be alright," Hunter promised.
"We won't make a mess," Willow promised.
"And we won't stay out too long," Amity said.
"I trust you all," Camilla said before heading off for work and the kids headed into the forest, just walking along quietly before Gus noticed something up ahead.
"Hey, what's that?" He asked.
They looked and saw small little creatures with what looked like pom-poms for wings and some had bunny ears and cat ears. "I've never seen cats like that before," Amity said.
"Or bunnies like that before," Willow said. "Are these Earth creatures, Luz?"
"I don't know," the girl said. "I've never seen them before."
The little creatures soon hopped away and the kids looked at each other before following them. "Maybe we can find their keeper and learn more about them," Hunter said. "They almost remind me of palismans."
"They kind of do," Gus agreed.
It wasn't long before they saw the strange creatures vanish behind an open door of a building that looked like it had been around for a long time, but also looked new too. "I don't remember this being here before," Luz said. "I thought this forest was empty. At least, that's what my teacher always said."
"Maybe someone built it here?" Willow suggested.
The door opened more and one of the little creatures came out. Seeing the five teens, it chirped at them before hopping up and down and moving inside the building a bit before looking back at them and seeming to gesture them to follow it. "I think...we're supposed to go inside?" Amity said.
"Um, are you sure that's a good idea?" Hunter said.
The little creature was watching them and Luz made up her mind. "Stay alert," she said. "And be ready to use your magic just in case."
She pulled a few glyphs from her pocket and the others nodded before they all approached the building and went inside, keeping an eye out for anything. Amity paused for a moment and she held up a hand. "There's magic here," she said. "I can sense it."
"It is dangerous?" Gus asked, hiding behind Hunter.
The purple-haired girl focused for a moment before shaking her head. "It doesn't feel dangerous," she said. "And...I don't think it's Wild Magic. There's...I can't really describe it, but...I'm no sensing anything dangerous."
Willow paused as she felt it too. "Huh, it feels...like a warm hug," she said. "Kind of like...one that a loving parent would give you."
Gus looked up as he felt the magic surround him too and he bit his lip, trying not to cry. Hunter gently placed a hand on his friend's shoulder to try and comfort him.
"Oh, my," came a deep voice and they all froze before standing at the ready, magic ready to defend themselves. "Five hearts hurting so deeply."
"Who's there?" Luz said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Show yourself. But you try to hurt my friends...,"
A gentle chuckle interrupted her. "Be at ease, young one," the voice said, sounding soothing and calm. "You five are safe within these walls."
Willow looked around. "Where are you?" She asked.
Gus felt gloved hands gently rest on his shoulders and he gasped, stiffening in fear. The others turned and gasped at seeing a very tall person behind them. His ringmaster-like suit gleamed in the light and was pure white accented with red and gold. A white hat with a red hatband was pulled down to be not just a hat, but also a mask and golden eyes glowed with a warm, friendly light as the man smiled at them before noticing Gus had a few tears running down his face. Kneeling down, he gently turned the dark-skinned boy around to face him. "My dear boy, what troubles you so much that it brings you to tears?" He asked, his tone gentle.
Gus bit his lip to try and keep more tears from falling, but was unsuccessful as the tears welled up and overflowed. "Oh, little one," the strange man said, pulling the boy into a hug and rubbing his back, allowing Gus to cry into his shoulder.
The others relaxed their stances a bit, worried about their friend, but also watching the tall man, who stood up while still holding Gus, holding him as a father would his own child. "Come, my young ones," he said comfortingly. "Come rest by the fire and tell me what has created such sadness in your hearts."
Luz rubbed her arms as she realized she felt a bit cold and Willow shivered a little from the cold. "We should have worn jackets," she said softly.
The tall man motioned them to follow him as he still carried Gus and he led them to a living room with a warm fire going and the four sat in front of the fireplace with the tall man in the middle of them and he snapped his fingers, making blankets appear and wrap around the teens.
Amity looked at the man. "Who are you?" She asked. "And what is this place?"
"My name is Balan, and I am the owner and Maestro of this theater," he replied as Gus began to calm down and Balan gently wiped away the boy's tears. "And you all, my little ones? What are your names?"
"Willow," the dark-haired girl spoke up first.
"Hunter," the ex-Golden Guard said.
"Amity," the purple-haired girl said.
"I'm Luz," the brown-haired girl said. "And you're holding Gus."
"I'm pleased to meet you all," Balan said, his smile still in place. "But I can sense your hearts are troubled. Please, tell me what's the matter."
The friends looked at each other before Willow took a deep breath. "We were betrayed by someone we trusted," she said. "Someone that almost destroyed us and our homes."
"Our entire home was collapsing by the time we got away through the portal," Amity said.
"We...We don't know if we're the only survivors," Hunter said sadly.
"If our folks made it," Gus said, his voice tearful.
Luz sighed and curled up, sniffling. "I...I couldn't save everyone," she said softly.
Balan felt his heart go out to the teens and his long arms reached out, pulling all the teens into a hug, seeing them tear up. "It's alright, my little ones," he soothed. "Go ahead and cry. I will not judge."
That was the breaking point for them and tears flowed down their faces as they cried, hugging Balan, who hugged them back in comfort, letting them cry a bit before they calmed down, still feeling down, but also a bit tired.
A tendriled being came in and he looked saddened. "They lost practically everything, Balan," he said gently. "Their loved ones and their homes. Two harsh blows all at once."
"Too harsh for these young ones," Balan said gently.
Hunter looked at Lance and gasped, but the tendriled being held up a hand and his tendriled reached out, gently touching the young ones' shoulders. "Shh, no need for alarm, young ones," he said. "Let Balan and I soothe your hearts and minds."
The five teens were curious, but also felt tired. Gus actually fell asleep on Balan while Amity was close to falling asleep and Luz, Hunter, and Willow were trying to keep their eyes open to no avail. "Let's get you five somewhere to rest," Balan said as he let Lance pick up Willow and Hunter in his arms while his tendrils gently wrapped around Luz and placed her on his back. Balan carried Amity and Gus and the two Maestros soon came to a spacious room that had five beds. They set the teens down on them and covered them with blankets.
Hunter fell asleep right as his head hit the pillow and Willow followed suit. Gus didn't wake up once and Amity looked over at Luz, who was about to fall asleep and she reached out to her. Balan moved closer to Lance and Amity took Luz's hand. "It's okay, Batata," she said.
Luz fell asleep right then and Lance put her on one of the beds, covering her with the blanket while Balan set Amity down on another bed, tucking her in and brushing a gloved hand gently over her head. "Rest well, my dear," she heard him coo softly to her before she fell sound asleep.
A few hours later, the teens woke up and sat up before hearing a knock and Balan entered the room with a smile. "How are you all feeling?" He asked.
"A bit better," Willow admitted before looking curious. "Who was the tendriled guy?"
"That was Lance, my counterpart," Balan replied. "Speaking of which, come. We have hot chocolate and cookies waiting for you young ones."
The five perked up a bit at that and followed the tall man. As they were enjoying the treats, they told Balan and Lance their worries and the two listened carefully.
"Do you think our home is going to be restored?" Amity asked them.
"From the sounds of it, this 'Collector' fellow is true to his word if the person who made a promise to him is true to their word," Balan said.
"If your friend King keeps his word, then no doubt the Collector will keep his," Lance said. "Though, I wish I could say we have a way to tell for sure."
"But I'm afraid even our magic has some limits," Balan said regretfully.
Willow nodded. "It's okay," she said. "Though...why are you helping us?"
"We help any hearts that are hurting," Lance said. "And we shall do the same for you."
"How?" Gus asked.
"By helping you five hold onto hope that your loved ones are still alive and that you will one day return," Balan said gently.
"You really think we will?" Hunter asked hopefully.
"Yes," Lance said.
"Until then, like my mom said, you guys can stay with us," Luz said before she thought of something and gasped. "Oh, no. Balan, what time is it?" She asked.
He smiled gently at her. "Be at ease, young Luz," he said gently. "Time runs different in our theater and in your world. Only an hour has passed there, so you needn't worry."
She breathed a sigh of relief, as did the others. "Still, Vee may worry," Amity said.
Willow looked at the their hosts. "Um, are you guys going to stick around?" She asked.
"We'll be here," Lance promised.
"Come visit whenever you'd like," Balan said.
Thanking them, the five kids accepted hugs from the tall beings and promised to come visit the next day before heading out, feeling a bit better, their hearts filled with a bit more hope that one day, all would be right in both worlds.
I certainly hope they will be able to return. Guess we'll have to wait and see when the last episodes for The Owl House are released.
Please leave a review, but no flames!
GoldGuardian2418