Chapter 9: First Mission Jitters
[Everyone looks at West after hearing what Luz's first mission was.]
Luz: The Conformitorium? I've been there.
Raymond: Really? You've been to that prison? What did you do?
Luz: I actually didn't do anything, first day I was here,
[Luz remembers the first day of being in the Isles, remembering the people she met in the prison]
Luz: I learned that the Conformitorium is a place where those who are considered not suitable for society are kept.
Arthur: Why were you there?
[she then recalls meeting Eda at the market, before the heist even began, all the trouble she got into, meeting King and Hooty, and Eda's speech and the quote "Us weirdos have to stick together."]
Luz: Eda scammed me into getting King's so called crown. And then after being here for the first time, I thought, I could learn to be a witch. And then lots of things happened and here we are.
[Everyone looks at Luz, with looks of curiosity]
A.X.E.L.: So you got scammed into getting a crown? Was it at least a legit crown?
Luz: It was a Burger Queen Crown.
A.X.E.L.: Oh. Well at least we know she's been there.
West: Well that's a good thing.
Lilith: Hold on why is this mission at the Conformitorium exactly?
[Raymond walks up and bring out his holo screen]
Raymond: Let me explain, when Arthur met Luz for the first time, the objective was to grab the gauntlet of a type of armor that the Meta Syndicate has been gathering, just so happens that when the armor awakened they gave a sort of signal. So we tracked the same signal at this location.
[A red dot appears on the location of the conformitorium]
Coco: And knowing what they are after, they might make their move, and go for the gold.
[Luz looks at everything in the Conformitorium, and remembers the time she met Eda and the time destroyed the portal]
West: Alright now that we know what we are after let's go over the plan. For this mission we will need two teams. Team A will consist of Arthur, Animal, Luz, and Kami. Their objective is to head to the top floor and capture the objective, we're calling the objective the "Necronomicon".
[Luz is confused by the name given to the objective]
Luz: Necronomicon?
Raymond: We just give every objective a name, it's a thing when you're on this squad.
West: As for team B, it will consist of Me, Raymond, and Crystal. The three of us will take on the Meta when they show up.
Raymond: What do you need me for?
West: I need you to do something for me while we're there. There is something I have been meaning to look into. I need my tech guy for this. Plus Coco has combat prowess better than Kotoha so the two of us might be able to take them on.
Raymond: Alright.
West: This objective is important to this mission, if Meta gets it, who knows what they'll do. So we have to be on guard, prepared, and ready for anything. And with our new recruit.
[he gestures Luz]
West: and her knowledge of this place, she might be able to get us to the top.
Eda: What about me? Obviously I can do something.
West: Sorry Eda, I can't risk you going out there, not in your state.
Eda: *grunt*
[Luz grabs Eda's hand]
Luz: Eda, I'll be fine.
[Eda looks at Lilith, and she nods letting her know Luz will be fine]
Eda: *sigh* I know.
[West looks around]
West: Alright now with all that in mind, get ready everyone, we leave at O three hundred tomorrow. Dismissed.
Everyone: Yes sir.
[everyone one by one leaves the room, Luz then walks outside and sees her friends from Hexside, and King.]
W, G, A, K: Luz!
Luz: *calm* hey guys. *worried* guess who's going back to the Conformitorium. Heheh.
[everyone's looks at her with worried glances, and they are at Hexside discussing it]
Gus: The Conformitorium! Luz, last time you went there you almost died. And as your best friend, I am saying you're crazy doing this!
Luz: Guys come on, I survived..
Amity: Gus is right Luz, right now you are wanted by the Emperor's Coven. If they catch you there who knows what they'll do to you.
Luz: Amity, I've been training for this. Plus with the power I got I can handle this.
Gus: Uh what about the fact that those guys who killed four members of the Emperor's Coven. West said that those guys might be there. And what we heard from Arthur, you barely made it out alive.
Luz: But it will be different.
[Luz continues to convince them, but they still argue that she should not go]
Luz: You don't even know what's at stake here.
[Luz looks at Willow]
Luz: Willow, you know I can do this. Right?
[Willow looks at the members of the group and thinks about Luz going into this, remembering her fight with Kotoha, it makes her wonder if there are more people like that out there, thinking about Luz putting herself in danger. She can handle whatever the Isles throw at her, but things like this mean life and death, but of all the time she knew Luz, she took a deep breathe, and looks at Luz, and gives her a serious tone]
Willow: Luz, tell me. You always get yourself into trouble, sometimes you surprise me and manage to help all of us. But if it means putting your life on the line, especially against these people. Look me in the eyes and tell me, you can handle that?
[Luz notices the serious look and tone of her voice]
Luz: Willow I promise you I can handle this. I'm doing this to protect the isles, and if I don't do this. Then those guys may come after you too. So I'm going to prevent that.
[Willow adjusts her glasses]
Willow: That's all I needed to hear.
[Luz cheers]
Luz: ALRIGHT! Now if you will need me! I have my first mission to prepare for! I'll see you guys later.
[Luz leaves the table, with Willow and Gus staring at her, as for Amity with the most worried look on her face]
Amity: Willow, you can't be serious, Luz could actually get hurt.
Willow: Don't worry Amity, I remember West giving us the option to let us join and help her.
Gus: Wait? You don't mean?
Willow: If Luz is fighting those guys. Why can't we?
[Gus shivers]
Gus: Wait, you mean we have to take the training and get powers like Luz?
Willow: I'm going to do it. Luz helped me when I needed her. Now I'm going to help her, and I think you guys would do the same.
[Gus thinks to himself]
Gus: It does give me the opportunity to learn about humans even further. ALRIGHT I'M IN!
[willow and gus look at Amity with a confused and worried look on her face]
Willow: Amity, I know you want to do for very specific reason.
[Amity face turns red and becomes embarrassed]
Amity: Okay, if it's for Luz. I'm willing.
Willow: Alright, after Luz's mission, we tell West that we join them. And then we'll help Luz take those guys down.
[Amity and Gus nod in agreement, and Amity thinks about Luz once more, thinking about wearing costumes, fighting evil like Azura and Hecate did in the "Azura Novels" and becomes determined to train with her, just thinking about it makes her blush. In the distance though, a certain three eyed pink girl is watching them.]
Boscha: The human is hiding something. And her loser brigade knows what it is.
Skara: Boscha why do you still mind them?
Boscha: Because Skara, I'm planning to show them who's boss, they humiliated me, and ruined me. So I'm going to ruin them.
Skara: *gulp* Right.
[Boscha reverts her gaze to Gus, Amity, and Willow, just viciously gazing at them planning her next move]
Boscha: *whispers* What are you hiding?!
[A couple Hours later, Luz is sitting on the roof the Owl House, just about to record for her mom, she is about to record, but wonders if she is actually ready for this, she knows she has done crazy stuff before, but after what her friends told her, this might be suicide]
Luz: *sigh* *whispers* Am I really ready for this?
Arthur: Talking to yourself before your first mission?
[Luz gets shocked and looks behind her, she sees Arthur on the roof walking towards her]
Luz: Oh Arthur it's just you.
[Arthur stand next to her and gestures the spot that is also next to her]
Arthur: This spot taken?
Luz: Go ahead, I actually wanted to talk to you.
[Arthur begins to take a seat next to Luz and makes it comfortable]
Arthur: So, first mission, how does it feel?
Luz: I'm getting mixed feelings. I've been in this world for a while and things have been wild while I was here. I fought monsters, made real friends and fought an evil emperor, I almost died a couple of times, but somehow I made it out alive. But thinking about it, I don't know if I'm ready to take on people this powerful. Am I crazy thinking about this?
Arthur: *chuckles* Don't worry kid, you are not crazy, you just have something we call first mission jitters.
Luz: So you had it too?
Arthur: Of course. I was worried I would mess up on my first mission. Thinking about the consequences, worrying about my team, making mistakes. But somehow I managed to make it through.
Luz: But what if I somehow don't know what I'm doing and end up holding everyone back. Or somehow humiliate myself.
Arthur: I had those feelings all the time. I even humiliated myself on my first mission on Project Roundtable.
Luz: What's that?
Arthur: A team that consisted of the best of the best. It's where I got my codename. Which I use as my actual name. But besides that. I sometimes felt I was holding them back and was considered the worst fighter. Plus,
[Arthur takes a deep breath]
Arthur: I was known as the guy who got a grappling hook stuck to his balls.
[Luz looks at him and tries not to laugh]
Arthur: *sigh* go ahead, laugh it up.
Luz: Pfft HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
[LUZ continues to laugh while Arthur is embarrassed but smiles and laughs himself]
Luz: How is that even possible?!
Arthur: If you knew the entire story then you would know. But see, even I held back the team.
[Luz looks at him with a smile]
Arthur: But I'm just letting you know, even if you feel like you are holding your team back, you just have to find a way to make up for it. And help them move forward.
[listen to what he has to say, Luz feels confident, enough in herself. But then she looks at him one last time to ask him more questions]
Luz: Can you promise me that we will come back alive?
Arthur: I promise you that when all this ends, we will live to see through it all.
Luz: Hehe, thanks Arthur, I really needed that.
Arthur: no problem, from this point, your older brother will look out for you.
Luz: Older brother?
Arthur: Oh right, uh, i uh read your file and saw you were an only child so I thought, you could use a family figure. I mean if you find it weird, I can just call you my student.
Luz: hmm. No, I think big brother is fine. I've always wanted one actually. So thanks again.
[Arthur just smiles at her and looks at the moon]
Luz: Arthur, can you tell me one more thing?
Arthur: About the mission?
Luz: No I mean, I've always wondered, how exactly did you get to the Boiling Isles?
[A brief pause comes between them, and starring from the door to Luz's room, King feeling anxious, comes up with a plan to help Luz. and walks away]
[Meanwhile, in a cave somewhere, the Meta syndicate is planning their next move. Tank walks back and forth, eager to get going.]
Tank: Ragh! Damnit! Why aren't we doing anything!
Mohawk: Jesus, calm you down you big lug.
Tank: YOU DON'T GET IT MOHAWK, WE HAVE ALL THIS TIME TO GET THE NEXT PIECE TO THE ULTIMATE POWER! BUT WE ARE DOING NOTHING!
One: Calm yourself Tank.
[Tank immediately turns to One with Watts and Viper]
Tank: Commander?!
One: You know what they say, patience is a virtue. And we need to be patient and wait for the piece to awaken.
Mohawk: Yeah I don't get it? Why do we need the damn thing to turn on, can't we just snag it while it's still sleeping?
Pyro: If you have been listening.
[Pyro appears behind Mohawk]
Pyro: If the pieces are stolen in slumber, they shatter, and it will take years before it can reform.
One: Ah Pyro, still keeping track of everything.
Pyro: It is a true soldier's job to know all information of their mission.
Mohawk: *Pfft* true soldier, you're more of a psychopath to me.
Pyro: *hmmp*
One: Enough, as you all know the next piece is in the Conformitorium. Our job is the same, do whatever it takes to get the piece, and kill anyone who gets in our way. The ones who will be going are Viper, Tank, and Watts.
Viper: That's something I can get by.
One: As for you two.
[Turning to Pyro and Mohawk]
One: I need you to go with Sharkface, and gather more witches.
Pyro: Yes sir!
Mohawk: *sarcastic* Oh great, two psychopaths for the price of one, this really makes my day.
One: Meet up with Sharkface in two hours.
Tank: hang on a second Commander, what if those Knights from Chorus show up again.
One: Oh I have a plan for them. In fact Watts is just finishing up on that. Isn't that right Watts?
Watts: Yes Commander, it just so happens, I created something that can prove useful.
[Watts throws two clay dolls on the ground]
Viper: Dolls, that's your idea?
Watts: Don't judge a book by its cover.
[Watts then unleashes his white aura]
Watts: Spirit Power, Marionette!
[A floating puppet with floating demon, with string attached to his fingers, and attached to the strings, are puppets]
Watts: Possess!
[The puppets go into the Dolls, and the Dolls mutate and grow, and cover the Meta Syndicate in their shadows]
Watts: You were saying.
Mohawk: *tch* That could work.
[One then walks in front of them]
One: Prepare to bring more bloodshed Meta. We are only getting started.