Chapter 37: The Truth
[Hours after the attack on Hexside, tons of students and staff end up in med bay of Shatter Squad's Base being taken care of by the healers, with the main gang in beds Edric begins slowly wake up]
Emira: Edric?
[The boy turns to his twin sister looking for the voice calling out to him, laying his eyes upon his sister, the trauma begins to kick in, as he remembers the events from their fight with the two members of Meta, he quivers in fear as Emira notices that he's acting strange, she reaches out to him]
Emira: Hey are you alright?
[Emira touches his hand and Edric swipes it away from her]
Edric: Uh, yeah, yeah I'm fine, I'm just feeling a little out of it I guess. Where's Amity?
[Before Emira could say anything, Kotoha interrupts and brings the bad news]
Kotoha: Amity got taken by Meta. We don't know where they are but we're looking into it.
[Emira and Edric have looks of disbelief on their faces]
Kotoha: But right now, West is calling for all of us in the war room. He says it's important that everyone listens to this.
[Both confused we move to the War Room where everyone is sitting in their places as they can't believe anything that West is telling them]
King: Hang on a second, you're saying Luz! Our Luz! Is some sort of all powerful Rock deity?
West: Yes.
[King pulls out a picture of Him, Eda and Luz.]
King: This girl right here?
West: Yup.
[King looks at West and the photo. Then he laughs to hide the fact that he doesn't want to believe what he is hearing.]
King: HAHAHAH, that's very funny Pops, I mean why would Luz have that kind of power, I mean no offense but she's human. So I don't think it would be possible.
[Willow then intrudes]
Willow: King, I don't think he's messing with us.
[King stops and looks down]
King: *sigh* I know I just didn't want it to be true.
Eda: I know King, but I think it's about that time of the month.
[West closes his eyes and prepares for what's coming]
Eda: Why would you hide the fact that Luz was an experiment for your weird cult thing?!
Emira: And why did those guys take Amity in the first place?! Why her?!
Skara: Have you guys been hiding stuff from us this whole time?
Gus: Why have we even been gathering these weird armor pieces?! Does Luz or Amity have something to do with it?
[Lots of questions are being said at the same time, but a huge bang stop it all to keep everyone quiet]
Willow: ENOUGH!
[Every turns to Willow]
Willow: I get we are all under a lot of stress, but right now maybe we should hear them out. Maybe they had a good reason for doing this. Right Pops?
[West looks to Willow, then looks to A.X.E.L.]
A.X.E.L.: West, I think it's about time we tell them the truth. Especially to Kotoha and Raymond.
[West sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose]
Lilith: West, if there is something bigger going on here, I think it's best to fill us in before anything else.
[West opens his eyes]
West: Yeah, I guess it's about time we let you all know the truth of Shatter Squad. And Luz.
[Raymond raises his hand and asks a question]
Raymond: Speaking of Luz, where is she?
A.X.E.L.: She's with Arthur at this moment, Arthur told us he's giving Luz's memories back.
[Everyone shocked and confused]
Gus: Memories? What memories?
[West stands up and begins to walk to the table]
West: That is a very long story, in fact, it all started in Project Roundtable.
[Arthur walks with Luz into the basement of the Shatter Squad home]
Luz: Arthur, where exactly are we going?
Arthur: Right now, I'm taking you to get your memories back.
Luz: My memories? But I have had all of them since I was a kid.
Arthur: But do you remember the ones from four and before that.
Luz: Why would I?
[Arthur keeps walking and rubs his face]
Arthur: I guess I'll have to start from the beginning. You know I was in Project Roundtable right?
[Luz nods]
Arthur: Did I ever tell you what exactly we did there?
[Luz tries to remember]
Luz: You just said that the team consisted of the best of the best and used fragments of the Alpha to complete missions. But now that I think about it, you never told me the kind of missions you went on.
Arthur: Truth is, Roundtable wasn't as great as you think it could be.
Luz: Why?
[Arthur begins to explain a long tale]
Arthur: Many years ago, a group of men was exploring the ruins of a battlefield. In that battlefield they discovered a certain White Diamond. That possessed powers that even they couldn't comprehend. They spent years studying it trying to extract the abilities out of them. But after all that time nothing worked.
[Flashback to a young Luz walking around with Camila]
Arthur: Until one day, it was your 4th birthday and you and your mother celebrated with the team.
[Luz is shocked by hearing her mom's name]
Luz: Wait, my mom? What's she got to do with this?
[As Arthur continues the story, West also tells part of it]
West: During the celebration Luz was wandering around the facility on her own. And somehow stumbled into the room where they were keeping the Diamond. Before anyone could stop her, the Gem bonded with her and implanted itself into her body. Becoming one with her. At first we were surprised, but afterwards. That's when things were starting to go downhill from there.
[Some of the fragment begin to pop out one by one as Agents are injected with each of them]
West: The fragments that give some of the members their boosts in their missions came to be. Each based on a certain emotion. When it was time for mine. That's the moment I knew what was going on behind the scenes.
[Arthur opens a door and takes out a certain object from the inside.]
Arthur: Some fragments are based on each emotion. This certain fragment was actually meant for Pops.
[Luz gets a closer look and begins to have visions again]
Luz: AGH!
[Luz's migraines return]
Luz: Which Fragment is that?
Arthur: Delta is logic, Omega is rage, Iota is timidness, Tau is fear, Gamme is deceit, Eta is happiness. And this one is Epsilon, the Alpha's memories.
[Arthur dusts it off]
Arthur: A part of this went into his body, and it began to give him visions. Of what was really going on.
Luz: What does that mean?
Arthur: Well it turns out that Roundtable wasn't all it was meant to be.
[Back to West]
West: Roundtable was actually a group of Shadows that experimented on beings from other dimensions.
[Gus raises his hand]
Gus: Uhm, yeah what's a Shadow?
A.X.E.L.: The Shadows are what we call the bad guys. Once they were human, but after making deals with certain people, they transform into monsters. Being that will do anything to kill what's different then them in order to be the strongest.
Lilith: So these "Shadows"? What was their goal?
West: From what I saw their goal was to find a certain fragment to create the ultimate Weapon, something that can be on par with the most powerful being.
A.X.E.L.: But they couldn't exactly do that because, West pretty much had Arthur escape with the Alpha.
Eda: And that is Luz. But what does she have to do with any of this?
[West crosses his arms]
West: Since the fragments came from Luz, the most theoretical way to get it out, was through torture.
[This shocked the whole crew, even Kotoha and Raymond. Eda then gritted her teeth and clenched her fist]
West: Not the medieval kind, but mental and emotional kind. One of the members of Roundtable Agent Merlin was assigned with extracting fragments from Luz.
Willow: And how did they do that?
[Goes to Arthur and Luz]
Luz: So those nightmares I had were actually scenarios from the past given to me by Epsilon.
Arthur: And with every scenario and emotion, they extracted it through your blood. They did it so much to the point where you had to throw out your memories.
[Goes to the others]
King: But what kind of person would be horrible enough to torture a child.
Willow: Yeah something like that sounds like a huge crime.
Mattholomule: I mean it sorta reminds you of the emperor's coven in a way, so maybe someone on the inside helped them get away with it.
[West looks at A.X.E.L as he rubs the back of his head]
A.X.E.L.: The truth is, the person known as Merlin wasn't some scientist that had a power, Merlin was actually a Shadow that worked as their head researcher.
Lilith: And what's Merlin's real identity then?
[West sighs]
West: Merlin's real name was-
[Arthur says the name of Merlin]
Arthur: Camila Noceda. Your Mother.
[Luz has a look of disbelief, with all the memories beginning to clear up as Merlin was actually her own mother]
[Everyone shocked by the sudden revelation, Eda decides to speak up]
Eda: WHAT?! YOU'RE SAYING THAT A LITTLE GIRL, WAS TORTURED! HAD HER BLOOD EXTRACTED FOR EXPERIMENTATION! BY HER OWN MOTHER?! WHAT KIND OF MOTHER WOULD DO THAT?! WHEN I FIND HER I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE SHE-
Lilith: EDALYN! Calm down!
[Edalyn growls]
Eda: HOW CAN I BE CALM?! I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE UPSET BY THIS?! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF OUR OWN PARENTS JUST DID THAT TO US?!
A.X.E.L.: EDA, LUZ'S MOTHER ACTUALLY SAVED HER!
Eda: HOW?!
A.X.E.L.: In the memories, Merlin kept begging for them to stop all of it. But the Shadows continued forcing her to extract. If she told anyone or refused to continue then they would both be killed. So she came up with a plan.
[Arthur explains]
Arthur: That plan involved Epsilon's birth. Thus telling West the truth and me helping set you and your mom free.
[Luz sits as she twindles's with a rock]
Luz: What about everyone else? What happened after we escaped?
Arthur: The truth got out, Roundtable was disbanded. And we all decided to live normal lives. Or so we thought.
[back to the flashback of Kotoha's mother being killed]
Arthur: Meta suddenly appeared and began to hunt down and murder every Roundtable member with a fragment.
[Kotoha then remembers the day her mother was killed in front of her]
Kotoha: My mother died, because she had that thing inside her?
West: Not only your mom, but Raymond's father as well. Arthur was given a message from your parent's dying words to take care of the both of you. Hence we formed Shatter Squad to cut loose ends.
[Raymond asks a question]
Raymond: Then why form Shatter Squad in the first place? And who was that Mohawk girl? Was she a member too?
A.X.E.L.: Shatter Squad's founding members consisted of myself, West, Arthur, Coco and Mohawk. And our goal was to gather the pieces of the armor we are currently collecting. The day Meta attacked the military base was the day we learned of Mohawk's true colors.
[A.X.E.L. was about to go there to help them, but Mohawk stabs him in the back to make sure he doesn't go any further]
A.X.E.L.: *gagh* What are you doing?
Mohawk: Sorry but I don't think you should be there right now, it would make things harder for my boss you see.
A.X.E.L.: Your boss?
Mohawk: Oh and by the way.
[Mohawk whispers into his ear]
Mohawk: Roadkill like you should just stay down! Lie like sad animal until someone who gives a shit actually cares.
[A.X.E.L. follows the command as Mohawk walks away]
A.X.E.L.: Mohawk was the one who transferred the data of Rey's Heart to One.
Willow: But the Armor and Rey's Heart why is it so important that you guys gather it?
Kotoha: Because it's not just a suit. It's the Zodiac Armor.
Gus: Zodiac armor?
Raymond: Yeah, and it's bad news. Have you ever heard of the multiverse theory?
[Everyone nods and knows about the portals to other realms]
Raymond: Let's just say in twelve of these universes, each of these specific realms had a Zodiac in them. The Zodiac are the highest and most powerful of the Shadows. And this universe just happened to have it. And Rey's Heart is it's battery.
Viney: So the witches that lost their magic?
Kotoha: Turns out One was stealing it to generate enough energy to charge it.
Jerbo: So they need Amity's magic too?
[A.X.E.L. shakes his head]
A.X.E.L.: To awaken this specific Zodiac Armor, it requires three items, all the pieces of armor put together, Rey's Heart fully charged, and lastly...a being of chaotic power.
[With everyone confused, Eda then asks a question]
Eda: That sounds like a wild witch's job?
[West grunts]
West: Wild Magic won't cut it, even if wild magic is technically powerful, it's not enough. A being of pure chaos has to be someone with uncontrollable power.
[Emira and Kotoha have flashbacks to Amity awakening the Beta Fragment]
Kotoha: Since Amity has the Beta Fragment, that means it's powers flow through her veins.
[Emira becomes terrified of what's to come.]
Emira: And that makes Amity the last item. So what are they going to do to my sister?!
[West turns to Emira, and begins to answer her]
[Switch to Arthur, as Luz's fear begins to pile up after the revelation]
Luz: They are going to sacrifice Amity?!
Arthur: Yeah, Amity is the only one with a soul fit for it.
[Luz clenches her fists and begins to lash out]
Luz: THEN WHY GIVE IT TO HER IN THE FIRST PLACE?! WHY PUT AMITY THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS?! IF IT'S GOING TO GET HER KILLED THEN...THEN...
[Luz begins to tear up and falls to her knees, burying her face in her hands]
[Arthur moves his hair back and sits next to Luz]
Arthur: If I told you why I gave it to her, I don't think you would believe me. But right now, there is a way to save her.
[Arthur grabs the Epsilon fragment]
Arthur: With this.
[Luz looks up and sees the fragment in front of her]
Luz: The Epsilon fragment?
Arthur: I told you the name, but I never actually told you what it's capable of.
[Luz grabs hold of it]
Arthur: Since Epsilon contains your memories, not only will it give you a boost in your current abilities, but it will grant you the abilities of the other members of Meta, mine and A.X.E.L.'s. But you have to make sure that you are willing to do this.
[Luz takes another good look at the item in her hands]
Arthur: While you have all the Alpha's powers back. You'll remember everything about your past. All the torture, the experiments, everything about Roundtable. Are you ready to do this?
[Luz looks at the fragment one more time, she takes a deep breath, and opens the capsule. The Ooze begins to leave and attach itself to Luz's body]
Luz: *serious* Let's do this!
[Meanwhile everyone within The Owl House's group stay silent, as tensions rise within, West stands up as and begins to explain to them what they are going to do now]
West: There is one more thing that we need to tell you.
[West attached a drive to the ship's main computer, as soon as the link opens, it reveals a message]
Eda: What's this?
West: Before Meta took Amity, Luz noticed that they dropped this drive with a message from One himself. We never heard it, but now that everyone is here. I guess it's best that we listen to it.
[Eda closes her eyes, Emira tells West]
Emira: Play it!
[Everyone turns their attention to Emira]
Emira: Whatever this asshole has to say! It's best that we "do" listen.
[Everyone nods in agreement]
[West sighs]
West: Alright
[West begins to play the message, with One's voice coming out of it]
One: Hexside students, members of Shatter Squad, and residents of the Owl House. You all know who I am, or at least recognize my voice. But I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to offer you a…"proposition".
[Tensions rise within the group]
Gus: What could he possibly want?
[One repeats Gus's words]
One: You're probably wondering, "What could he possibly want?". Well if I can be clear, I'll be happy to spare Amity's life. In exchange, I have two demands. One will be all the armor pieces you've collected over the past months. I want each and every last one in my hands, and second I want Luz Noceda alive.
[Everyone startled by his second demand, until a voice can be heard from the front door]
Luz: So you want me alive?!
[Luz enters the room with Arthur]
Eda: LUZ!
One: I see Luz has joined us.
[King stops and wonders]
King: How does he even know that?
One: Oh King, you should know by now that I have one of the greatest minds within my inner circle. So I can speak within these messages.
King: WEH?!
[King hides behind Lilith]
[Luz walks to the front of the screen]
Luz: You listen here one, I don't know what your true intentions are, or why you're doing this. But trust me when I say, that if it's a fight you want! It's a fight you're going to get! You killed thousands of innocent people, before and after coming to the isles and that's something I won't forgive! I'll make every last one pay for the lives you've stolen, even if it means I'll hunt each and every last one of your members down!
[One chuckles]
One: If that's the case, "when" we meet, and when "we fight" I want us both to be present during this moment. So I'll give you our exact location. The final piece of the Zodiac Armor will awaken not in the Isles, but in the God Realm's Tower of Champions. Amity and I will be waiting at the top. If you think you and Shatter Squad alone have what it takes to take us all out. Then be my guest.
[Luz smiles]
Luz: And when I get there! I'll make sure that I'm the last thing you see before taking you down for good!
[Luz summons Azura to create a Giant light blade with the Good Witch's staff and pierces the screen]
Raymond: HEY!
Luz: I'll see you in the God Realm!
[One laughs and waves goodbye]
One: Byieeeee.
[One shuts off the screen]
Gus: Luz, you know this is a trap right?
Jerbo: Yeah they'll obviously be expecting us.
Luz: You know you guys don't have to go with me.
[Eda wraps her arm around her shoulder]
Eda: Luz, you got guts I'll give you that, but if you think you can take on all seven of those jerks, then you're mistaken. Besides, no matter what I'm coming with you, since you're "my" kid and all. And if anyone is going to traumatize you for life, it's gosh dang gonna be me.
[Luz smiles]
King: Don't forget about me! That Tank guy owes me a rematch! Plus...
[King taps his fingers together]
King: I...don't wanna lose my second in command.
[He says that in embarrassment]
[Luz rubs Kings head]
Lilith: I'm going too. Someone has to make sure Edalyn doesn't get into any trouble.
Viney: The three of us will go. Sharkface is there and we have to make sure he stays down.
[Jerbo and Barcus nod]
Skara: I'm in.
Amelia: Me too!
[Mattholomule is scared to go, but decides last minute to join because he doesn't want a chicken out, he puts up a fake personality as sweat runs down his face]
Mattholomule: Those guys have nothing on me! I'll wipe them out within seconds!
Gus: Sure, you'll "wipe them out" alright, maybe they'll be annoyed with your face.
[Mattholumule gets mad]
Gus; And besides, those guys took my friend, so of course I'll be going.
[Edric stands up]
Edric: They have my sister and if she's involved, then I'm getting her back.
[Emira stand too]
Emira: That makes two of us. Besides, it's about time for a rematch.
[Edric smiles]
[Willow sighs happily]
Willow: Luz, know what we've been through I'd say this has to be the craziest adventure we'll ever go on, but if it means we're saving the world, possibly the whole "multiverse" then I think I speak for all of us when I say...
[Willow holds Luz's hands]
Willow: Let's kick some bad guy-ass!
[Everyone turns to West]
[A.X.E.L. bumps his elbow into him]
A.X.E.L.: We could use the extra help. They may be kids West, but they're your kids.
[West's chuckles]
West: Well I'll be damned, you kids really do have bigger balls than any of us. Raymond how's the status of the Portal to the God Realm.
Raymond: I can have it ready in 2 hours.
Arthur: Then we got two hours to prepare.
Kotoha: And we'll be ready for them.
[West makes a command]
West: Alright everyone grab everything you need.
[Gus's Group (Gus, Kotoha, Mattholomule and Amelia) grabs every ninja tool they'll need for this trip, also Gus also grabs some glyphs just in case]
West: We already know each of their individual abilities.
[Kotoha taps Gus's shoulder]
Kotoha: I suggest you take these.
[Gus notices that they are illusion track items]
Gus: Wait, you said we can't use our magic.
Kotoha: I mean if they're not taking anyone's magic anymore, and the fact you managed to get the hang of using Ninjutsu, I think now is the proper time to show them what combining it with Illusion magic can do.
[Gus smiles as he has a new arsenal of tricks he can put up his sleeve.]
West: But if Watt's has created several soldiers from all the witches Meta has captured.
[Edric looks around and notices a certain pair of running shoes with a lightning bolt on it, he hesitates to grab them at first, but Raymond grabs it from the shelf and shoves it into Edric's chest]
Raymond: If you're thinking about taking them, don't worry, I made them to suit your abilities, use them well.
[Edric looks at the shoes and decides to put them on, Emira on the other hand looks towards her brother and continues to wonder why he's been distancing himself from her this whole time]
[Meanwhile Skara fixes up her microphone to give it extra power]
Skara: How's this?
[Raymond takes a good look]
Raymond: That could work. But...
[Raymond grabs a dial]
Raymond: you can use this to adjust the voice and decibel output, to make it both more effective, and very sneaky.
[Raymond moves his eyebrows up multiple times, as Skara was able to get the message]
Skara: That will be fun!
[Viney, A.X.E.L., Jerbo and Barcus meditate before the coming conflict boosting their aura ten fold]
West: And if we'll be up against that and all their members combined, we'll probably be in for the fight of our lives.
[Eda and Lilith grab glyphs and staffs as King hugs his stuffed animals saying goodbye in case he doesn't return]
King: In case I die today, Francois, I'll be giving my crown to you. Wear it with pride.
[Eda looks at King's Pile]
Lilith: Are you alright Edalyn?
Eda: Lilith, if I was told that I'll one day meet a human, get into wacky antics, lose my powers, and now get into the fight of my life. Do you think I'd call that crazy?
Lilith: I mean if I was told that then maybe, but seeing as we are living like it right now, then I guess I'd be surprised.
[Eda chuckles]
Lilith: But I can promise you that everyone will make sure to protect each other, and Luz. If it's her you're worried about. I think you have nothing to be afraid of. That girl has done amazing things. And I don't think it will stop.
Eda: And if she actually beats One.
Lilith: Then I guess she'll be the strongest Human/witch alive.
[Eda laughs and brings out both her sword and her staff]
Eda: Not if we take him down first. They don't call us the Most Powerful Witches on the Isles for nothing.
[Lilith smiles and does the same]
Lilith: You can say that again.
[Willow looks through and studies her encyclopedia of Both boiling Isles and human Realm plants]
Willow: These will definitely come in handy.
[Willow writes down her options to add to her arrow collection. While using her hand grip. West looks into her door and grins knowing Willow's progress, he opens a locket with Connie's face within it, closes it and grips it tightly]
West: Let's win this battle.
[Lastly Luz and Arthur stand in the front of the base]
Arthur: You know if you need help taking down One, I'll be sure to stick with you the entire time.
[Luz beams to show how grateful she is]
Luz: You don't have to worry about me, I'm going to save Amity, get the armor back, and beat One at his own game.
[Luz summons her staff]
Luz: My way!
[Arthur chuckles]
Arthur: Try not to get cocky.
[Luz turns to him]
Luz: How can I be? I got Epsilon and Alpha with me.
[Arthur smiles as well then gestures a fist bump]
Arthur: Then good luck to us.
[Luz gives it to him]
Luz: Yeah!
[In Meta's base, Amity begins to wake up after being unconscious for a while, she slowly rises and notices she is trapped in a chain, she tries to use magic, but nothing works, until.]
Viper: That's not gonna work, that chain is made of an Oasis Prism. If you touch it, it means your powers will be useless.
[Amity turns to see one of the members]
Amity: YOU?! What do you want?!
[Viper rolls her eyes as One enters the room]
One: Hello Amity.
[Amity's face becomes full of rage as she sees the big boss walking towards her]
Amity: One! Why am I not surprised? What do you want with me? If you're going to turn me to your side, then forget it!
[One chuckles a bit]
One: Oh I have no such intention, for now you have a much bigger role to play in my little chess game.
END
[A sudden alarm beeps]
Wait what?
[It continues to beep until someone picks it up]
Coco: Hello?
West: Hey Coco, you got that portal stick we gave you?
Coco: Of course, I make sure to always have it on me.
West: I assume Arthur filled you in on our situation.
[Coco giggles]
Coco: As always.
West: How's our new recruit coming along, you think she's ready?
[An explosion can be heard from the outside]
Coco: She's more than willing to put up a hell of a fight.
West: We'll send you the coordinates, make sure you put them down and meet us in the God Realm's: Tower of Champions.
Coco: Can do! See you there Pops.
[Coco shuts off the call and begins to make her way outside, more explosions can be heard as a snowy mist begins to cover the area]
Coco: Where are you?
[Coco explores the mist as she finally stumbles upon the person she is training]
Coco: Hey.
[The individual hears her voice and drops her guns, the firearms hit the floor and shatter into ice fragments]
Coco: They're getting ready to leave soon. Are you ready to show them the efforts of your training?
[The girl rolls and then cracks her neck, as she turns around, the eye in her forehead appears to have turned from white and Sky blue, to Dark Blue and Red]
Boscha: Is Meta going to be there?
Coco: Yup.
[Boscha smiles menacingly]
Boscha: Well I think it's about time I show them what I've been up to.
[with Boscha's hair down and covered in ice fragments, she summons a gun and points it at the screen]
[She smiles with an evil look on her face]
Boscha: Where's the fight?!
END