We're Wizards, Not Warriors
Chapter 51: Labyrinth Runners
Hexside.
Inside the cafeteria…..
Amity shows Willow and Gus the messages from Luz on her game device.
"These are the last messages I got from Luz", Amity said.
Gus asked, "what did she send? Is it bad?"
"She must've typed them quickly, because all I could decipher was, 'learned a lot of bad stuff', something, something, 'Day of Unity'", Amity said.
Willow said, "wait, haven't the Jedi been warning people about the Day of Unity?"
Amity nodded and said, "this must be important then."
"The Jedi also said we have to stay away from the Owl House", Gus said.
Willow said, "I hope our friends are okay."
"I hope so too", Amity said.
The bell screams and rings.
Willow and Amity walked off after saying their goodbyes, but before Gus could leave, something happened!
Flapjack landed in front of him and began chirping.
Gus asked, "Flapjack? What're you doing here?"
Flapjack then let out a few chirps and then started to fly.
Gus followed the Palismen.
He wondered just what was going on.
He then soon made it to an empty classroom.
"Gus!"
Gus saw Ahsoka and Hunter.
Ahsoka was holding Ani in her arms.
Gus asked, "Ahsoka? Hunter? What's going on?"
"We came to tell you and everyone at Hexside the truth about Belos and the Day of Unity", Hunter said.
But before Gus could ask anything else, the group suddenly spotted something outside!
It looked like a figure of a man.
Gus asked, "who was that?"
The figure then dashed off with what looked like a Palismen in tow!
"Let's find out", Hunter said.
The trio chased after the figure.
They eventually end up in the Paranoratorium, Hexside's closed theater.
The group kept close together as they heard what sounded like rummaging through a garbage can.
The group walked inside and saw a raccoon Palismen scavenging through the trash.
Gus whispered, "who does that Palismen belong to?"
Ahsoka, Hunter and even Ani shrugged.
Suddenly someone comes up behind the trio.
A voice growled, "what're you doing here?"
The kids yelped in shock as they turned around to see who it was.
It was the figure from before, with a cloak and hood that covered the upper part of his face, with a beard on the lower part of his face.
Hunter asked, "who are you!?"
The figure said, "... someone who lost his way, many years ago…."
The figure walked past them and petted the raccoon, making it purr.
Ahsoka asked, "do you live here?"
The figure nodded and said, "I've lived here for several years…. Hiding from the Emperor and his scouts."
Gus asked, "why?"
The figure replied, "I did something…. Terrible, when I was close to your ages…. I did time…. Changed while I was locked up…. And eventually escaped…."
Hunter said, "you didn't answer my question…. Who are you?"
The figure then removed their hood…. And Ahsoka recognised who this man was!
Even with the beard he now had, he looked just like the pictures Sam had shown her of his friends from when he was in school.
It was Cobi!
"You", Ahsoka growled in anger.
Hunter asked, "you know him, Ahsoka?"
Ahsoka growled, "this is Cobi. The man who framed my father for bombing Hexside years ago!"
Hunter and Gus went wide-eyed as Cobi asked, "your father…. Wait…. Your Sam's daughter?"
Ahsoka said, "adopted, but yes."
The kids stepped back a few feet away from Cobi.
Ahsoka took out one of her lightsabers.
Cobi said, "please, there's no need for that!"
Ahsoka growled, "and why should I trust you?!"
Cobi looked down and said, "I've spent every moment since I was arrested…. Regretting everything…. I wish I had never done what I did…. I framed my best friend…. For a cause that was fruitless…. And every night, I keep praying that I'll wake up on the morning that I decided on that stupid plan…."
The three could see that Cobi was being honest.
Ahsoka said as she glared at Cobi, "do you know how much my father was hurt by your betrayal?"
Cobi nodded and said, "every night…. His cries filled my head…."
Gus asked, "Ahsoka, don't you think that's enough?"
Ahsoka looked down in thought.
"I know you're angry at Cobi for everything he did to your father, but…. You shouldn't let your anger and hate get the best of you", Hunter said.
Ahsoka nodded, slowly agreeing with Hunter's words.
"If you truly feel sorry for everything you did to my father…. Then you should tell him yourself", Ahsoka said.
Cobi said, "I…. I want to…. I really do…. But…. I'm afraid…."
Hunter and Gus walked forward.
Cobi looked down in worry.
"I'm sure Sam…. Will be able to forgive you", Hunter said.
Cobi asked, "how can you be so sure?"
"Because we know Sam…. He's not one to hold grudges or hatred towards people", Gus said.
Cobi thought about it for a moment.
"If what you say is true…. Then I'lll try….", Cobi said.
The others smiled when they heard this.
Gus asked, "hey wait, what's that on your hip?"
Cobi pulled out what they saw.
It looked like a very advanced lightsaber.
Cobi said, "something I picked up from a scout captain."
Cobi activated the lightsaber.
A vibrant red blade popped out.
And then another vibrant red blade popped out.
But then the Lightsaber started to spin.
The others stared at it in awe.
Cobi then deactivated the lightsaber.
Cobi said, "I only use it in self defense."
Just then, Bump's voice rings out from the speakers.
"Students, please join me in the gym for an important announcement", Bump said through the speakers.
Gus said, "well, Hunter, Ahsoka and I better be going."
"I think we better stay here…. I just feel something off in the force", Ahsoka said as she held her son close to her.
Hunter said, "good idea, sweety."
"Okay, I will meet up with you guys later", Gus said as he left the theater.
Ahsoka and Hunter glanced at one another.
"Well, we should just wait here", Ahsoka said.
….
In the gym….
The students are gathered into a crowd and Gus enters.
Above the stage is the illusion teacher, the hooded figure from earlier, and Bump.
"Uh, students, teachers, let me introduce the esteemed-", Bump said, but the hooded figure cut him off.
The hooded figure steps forward and takes off his hood.
"Hello everyone, my name is Adrian Graye, Head Witch of the Illusionist Coven", Adrian Graye said.
The students gasp and start muttering worriedly
"Unfortunately, I'm not here with good news. The Emperor's Coven has plans to stop multitrack studies, by inducting every Hexside student into a coven, before the Day of Unity", Adrian said in a worried tone.
Everyone gasps in shock. Viney, Barcus and Jerbo look at each other worriedly.
"Mother Titan", Mattholomule exclaimed as he rips off his sleeves and crosses his arms grumpily.
"Don't worry. No one's magic is going to be sealed away. Head Witch Graye supports us, and has come to help", Bump said as he tried to calm the students down.
Upon hearing this, Mattholomule takes back his sleeves, puts them on, and crosses his arms again, embarrassed. A teacher then comes up to Edric and takes him by the shoulder.
"Before any Coven Scouts come by, I'm going to make illusions of sigils on your wrists. They'll be temporary, and harmless", Adrian said with a smile on his face as a hesitant Edric is led into the stage
Edric stuttered nervously, "whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait, wait, I just started the other tracks. Are you sure this is safe?"
"Don't worry, once a scout sees the fake sigil, they'll move on, and you can continue your studies in peace. Now hold still", Adrian said as Edric, still hesitant, rolls up his sleeve and shows his wrist.
Adrian draws a spell circle in the air and aims it towards Edric's wrist. Gus gets suspicious of this, but then he sees illusion magic brandishing Adrian's hand. Gus realizes this is a trap.
"Stop! Don't trust him! He's hiding behind an illusion", Gus shouted.
Gus draws a huge spell circle, and aims it towards the stage. The illusion dispels and Adrian is revealed to be a Scout Captain in disguise. Edric fearfully shields his wrist as the illusion teacher and Bump step forward and protects him. The illusion teacher and the captain draw spell circles simultaneously, when suddenly, the real Adrian's voice can be heard.
Adrian gave a fierce glare towards Gus for ruining his plan!
From the bleachers in the gym, Coven Scouts start appearing, to the shock and disturbance of the students. Some Coven Scouts also appear on stage too.
"And you. Well, you just ruined any chance we had of making this, something", Adrian growled as he teleported beside Gus.
"You were gonna trick us into getting sigils", Gus said in anger as he attempts to escape Adrian's tight grip unsuccessfully; a Coven Scout hands Adrian a glove with a coven sigil on it, which he wears.
"Uh, yeah. I work for Belos. Kind of my job. But let's make sure you….", Adrian said sinisterly as the brand on his glove changes from illusion to abomination, "can never use your little illusion tricks again…. Shall we?"
Everyone gasps, horrified. Gus attempts to escape Adrian's grip again as Adrian's glove slowly reaches to his wrist.
"No, no, stay back! I said, stay…. BACK", Gus screamed in fear as his eyes glow blue again. He projects yet another wide illusion, but this time, the illusion keeps shifting locations, confusing everyone. Everyone starts running in different directions. Adrian looks at Gus, astonished.
Adrian asked, "how are you doing this?!"
Then Cobi, Ahsoka and Hunter pass through the illusion and push Adrian out of the way, taking Gus with them as they disappear.
Gus was breathing heavily as he carried off!
In another place somewhere at the school, Cobi, Ahsoka, Hunter and Gus are also running through the shifting illusion, when it finally steadies and they are seen somewhere in the streets of Bonesborough. Suddenly, they bump into a wall, which actually turns out to be one of the lockers, and they fall to the ground.
Ahsoka said, "what the heck?!"
Cobi said, "it's an illusion. To keep us running around like rats!"
Hunter asked, "woah, Gus. Wha- Is your eye okay?"
One of Gus' eyes is revealed to be blue,he rubs his eyes in confusion and looks again. We then see Gus' perspective, the blue eye can see through his illusions while the other cannot.
"My spell, it's still active. No, I- I don't know how, I've never made one this big before", Gus whimpered in fear.
Cobi said, "it must have been because of what Adrian tried to do. It must have kick-started this whole spell."
"Well, if we're still in Hexside, we should find a teacher. Maybe they'll know how to help", Hunter said.
Ani was whimpering a bit.
"Shhh. Shhh", Ahsoka said as she calmed her son down.
"Also Cobi…. I wanted to say thank you for saving me. You too guys", Gus said to Cobi, Hunter and Ahsoka.
Ahsoka said, "here, that's what friends are for, right?"
"Are these real steps or illusion steps….", Cobi asked as he tried skipping over it, but immediately fell down the stairs, groaning.
Hunter said, "well that answers that question."
Ani giggled and pointed at Cobi.
Cobi just groaned as he stood up from the ground.
Cobi said, "watch your step…. And somebody please help me up…. I think I coughed up my spleen."
Hunter and Gus helped Cobi up.
Cobi said, "thank you."
"Hey! It's the kid!"
The group spotted three Coven scouts.
Cobi stands in front of the kids and activates his lightsaber.
Cobi spins it around like a whirlwind as he growls, "you wanna get to them? You gotta go through me!"
The scouts ran towards them.
And in return, Cobi ran at them!
One scout summoned vines towards Cobi.
Cobi sliced them to pieces before they could touch him!
Cobi then kicked one in the head.
Cobi growled as he spun his saber around again.
One of the scouts ran towards the kids.
Cobi yelled, "don't you dare!"
Ahsoka quickly force pushed the scout away.
Ahsoka growled, "ain't no kids getting hurt on my watch!"
"It's the Golden guard", one scout said.
Hunter asked, "what do you want?"
"The Emperor is worried about you, he ordered us and the rest of the scouts to bring you and the Prince home", the scout said.
Hunter growled, "I am not going back there…. And neither is Sam!"
Hunter used Flapjack to create a spell circle.
Hunter said, "I am Hunter…. This is my family…. And you won't hurt them!"
The spell fired blasts at the scouts sending them flying!
Gus yelled, "nice one!"
Hunter smirked.
Ahsoka smiled at her love.
She then gave him a kiss.
Cobi smiled at the exchange but then said, "come on, we need to find a place to hide."
The others nodded.
But then things got worse….
….
Adrian found the group, and the scouts captured Gus; a few scouts were able to knock out Cobi and Hunter.
….
We then see Cobi and Hunter waking up.
Hunter asked, "where!?"
"Calm down Hunter, we're safe, we are in the healing homeroom with the other teachers and students", Ahsoka said.
Hunter rubbed his head in confusion.
He asked, "where's Gus? And Ani?"
Cobi got an uneasy feeling.
"Ani's over there. Emira is making sure he isn't hurt", Ahsoka said as she pointed to where Ani was.
Cobi asked, "what about Gus?"
Ahsoka said, "that's a long story."
Hunter said, "then give us the short version."
"He's been captured by Adrian", Ahsoka said.
Hunter gave a horrified look.
"We must rescue him", Cobi said.
"You!"
Cobi slowly turned to see Bump glaring at him.
Viney asked, "what's the matter, principal Bump?"
Bump growled, "this is the man who bombed Hexside all those years ago!"
All the students in the room gasped in shock and horror.
Bump yelled, "what're you doing here, you monster?"
"Chill Bump! He's on our side", Hunter said.
Bump asked, incredulously, "you vouch for this…. Maniac?!"
"This maniac saved Gus's life when Adrian almost branded Gus with a sigil", Ahsoka said.
Bump gave a shocked look and turned to Cobi as he asked, "you…. You saved him?"
Cobi said firmly, "I may never be able to make up for the pain I've caused…. But I want to at least help the people closest to Sam and his family."
"He truly means what he says", Hunter said.
Bump looked down in thought.
Cobi looked so nervous. Hunter and the others glanced between the two.
Edric asked, "are you sure we can trust him?"
Ani then crawled over to Cobi and hugged his leg.
Hunter said, "Ani seems to trust him, and he is a wonderful judge of character."
Bump then sighed as he then said, "very well. I'll trust him…. For now."
Cobi let out a sigh of relief.
Bump said, "but give me a reason to fight you…. And you'll wish Belos had you…."
Cobi gulped.
Bump growled, "do I make myself clear?"
Cobi gave a shaky nod.
Jerbo asked, "so what's the plan?"
….
We then see a few coven scouts and a Guard Captain guarding the door to the gym.
The Guard Captain looks towards his left, and spots Principal Bump walking towards them.
"Gym is off-limits. Graye's orders", Guard Captain said.
"Graye may be Head Witch, but I'm still principal. It'd be wise to let me through", Bump said as he crossed his arms.
The Guard Captain chuckled as he aimed his spear towards Bump, "oh, yeah?"
Frewin comes out from Bump's head and aims it towards the guard captain as he said, "yeah."
Behind him, an illusion dispels. Hunter, Ahsoka, Cobi, Willow, Amity and a few other students then appear, with a few abominations and creatures, like Puddles. Upon seeing this, the Guard Captain immediately whistles and a few other Coven Scouts appear behind the battalion.
"Get 'em", the Guard Captain shouted.
The two groups ran at one another, yelling their battle cries!
The fight commences. A Coven Scout attacks first, but Bump blocks him with magic. Another Coven Scout appears and attempts to attack Hunter, but he simply teleports behind him and he shoves the Coven Scout off. An abomination attempts to attack another Coven Scout, but he slashes it. Suddenly, Puddles lands on top of him, with Viney and Skara riding him.
Ahsoka and Cobi activate their lightsabers.
Cobi asked, "know how to wield those things?"
Ahsoka retorted, "in a few moments, you'll see!"
Ahsoka ran towards two Scouts with her two lightsabers.
She sliced both down the middle as she ran past them!
Cobi was impressed and shocked.
Ahsoka smiled and said, "my dad's taught me well."
"That's my girl", Hunter shouted.
Ani clapped and laughed.
"Behind you, Cobi", Ahsoka shouted.
Cobi quickly thrust his arm backward, impaling a scout on his lightsaber without even looking!
Cobi said, "you're not the only one with skills like that."
"Get him!"
Three more scouts ran towards Cobi.
Cobi then threw the spinning lightsaber at the three scouts…. And sliced all three of their heads off at once!
The lightsaber then flew back towards Cobi's hand.
Hunter asked, "where'd you learn all these tricks?"
"I practiced over the years", Cobi said.
A Coven Scout attempts to attack them, but he is suddenly countered by an abomination summoned by Amity, who smiles at them,
They smile back.
She runs off, controlling the abomination.
Behind her, Edric and Barcus carry a handful of potions which they throw at the Coven Scouts.
Jerbo is shown chasing after some Coven Scouts with his own abomination.
Mattholomule is defending himself, summoning walls which the incoming Coven Scouts hit. Afterwards, he blows away his spell circle and smirks proudly. Just then, the wall behind him cracks as an incoming Coven Scout attempts to attack him, but is suddenly trapped and raised by vines, summoned by Willow as she flings them.
A Coven Scout attempts to attack her, but Hunter teleports behind him and throws him away.
A wave of energy summoned by the Guard Captain suddenly hits everyone, ending the battle.
Everyone groaned in pain as they were scattered all over the floor.
"Enough! I will NOT be cowed by a group of students", the Guard Captain growled.
A mix of abomination goo and vines suddenly hit his face; he is then trapped in a wall. Willow and Amity step forward as they call off their summons.
Willow asked as she and Amity posed together, "then how about just the two of us?"
"Nice one", Amity said.
Willow smiled at Amity warmly. She was happy at the two of them working together like this.
Hunter and Cobi then pass them.
Unbeknownst to everyone, the guard captain pulls out an Abomaton controller and presses a button on it. Hunter kicks the door open to find the glowing orb, Adrian and the two Coven Scouts lying on the floor in pain.
"Make it stop. Make it stop! I don't…. Like these memories….", Adrian groaned as he lies down to reveal a curled-up Gus.
Hunter and Cobi whispered, "Gus?"
They slowly approached Gus as he whimpered in fear.
They approached the orb he was encased in and when they both entered…. Illusions began to batter their senses from all sides!
Cobi held his head as he could see flashes of his worst memory.
The day he had betrayed Sam and bombed Hexside.
Cobi could still hear Sam saying those words in his head.
"Cobi, why?"
Cobi collapsed to his knees!
He could see Sam's face filled with tears.
Cobi closed his eyes as tears streamed down his face.
"Cobi", Hunter shouted.
Hunter then saw his own illusions!
He flashes back to some of his memories inside Belos' mindscape. His breathing began to grow erratic.
The two eventually fight through the illusions and reach Gus.
The two then find themselves in an illusion of Gus' room.
Cobi whispered, "damn…. What's this kid been going through?"
Gus said to himself, "everyone thinks I'm the smart one. So why do I keep acting so dumb?"
Hunter and Cobi looked at Gus in worry.
"I can't even trust myself anymore", Gus said as Cobi and Hunter sat beside Gus.
Cobi said, "I've heard those words many times…. From my own mouth…. But it's not true for you, Gus…."
"It's…. Hard, when you can't trust yourself. I spent my whole life believing I was doing something good for someone good…. But it was a lie", Hunter said.
Gus slowly looked at Hunter and Cobi.
"Let's take deep breaths", Hunter said as he started inhaling deeply and whistling, which made Gus laugh.
Hunter smiled at the younger boy.
Gus's blue eyes return back to normal, and the illusion finally fades completely. Cobi, Hunter and Gus stand up and look around.
The school was back to how it was supposed to look.
Willow, Amity and a few other students manage to subdue the Abomaton.
Ahsoka was dealing with some more scouts.
But soon they were all defeated.
"Gus!"
Gus was then hugged by Willow, Amity, Ahsoka and Hunter.
Gus smiled as he hugged them all back with tears in his eyes.
Cobi smiled at the sight.
It reminded him of better times at Hexside.
….
Outside the school….
The Coven Scouts prepared to leave. Two of them are dragging a traumatized and whimpering Adrian inside the ship. The Guard Captain looks back at everyone.
"When Emperor Belos catches wind of this….", the Guard Captain said.
"I'm sure he'll be thrilled to learn one of his captains was defeated…. By a couple teenagers", Bump said as he smirked.
The captain groans, then sees Severine walking away.
"Severine! Get on that ship or you'll be walking back to the castle", the Guard Captain growled in anger.
"You know what? It has been…. A rough year, and my self-esteem…. Can only take so much! I QUIT", Severine shouted as she threw her mask to the floor, revealing her cat-like head and walked away, grumbling, "I'm going back to the Tiny Cat Coven."
The whole school starts cheering and clapping as the ship finally leaves.
Hunter stands with his friends as Cobi smiles in relief.
"I can't believe you took down a coven head", Amity said to Gus.
Gus gave a nervous chuckle.
"He's a strong wizard that's for sure", Cobi said.
The students looked at Cobi.
Skara asked, "so it's true?"
Jerbo asked, "that you bombed Hexside years ago?"
Cobi nodded in shame.
Viney asked, "but why?"
Cobi replied, "I was a young and impulsive boy…. I wanted to bring Belos and his coven down…. And by any means necessary…. But after everything I did, I regretted it, wishing that I could go back and fix my mistakes…."
Bump walked over to Cobi.
He said, "what you did…. It made Sam leave Hexside…."
Cobi looked surprised.
Ahsoka asked, "you didn't know?"
"No…. I had no clue…. I just can't believe how much I…. Hurt my best friend….", Cobi said sadly.
Hunter said, "it's not too late, Cobi. It's not too late to make amends."
"My boyfriend's right", Ahsoka said.
Most of the group nodded.
Cobi asked, "I'm just so nervous and scared…. For when Sam sees me…. Are you sure he won't….?"
Ahsoka said, "I've heard him wish to mend the friendship you two had. I'm sure he'll give you a chance to make that happen."
Cobi asked, "really?"
Ahsoka nods her head.
As does Hunter and even Ani.
Cobi smiled a bit.
Cobi then asked, "so…. Might I ask why you two were here at the school?"
"Oh! We came here to tell everyone the truth about the Day of Unity", Hunter said.
Amity said, "oh! We were talking about that earlier! Luz sent me a message about it, but it was so erratic that we couldn't understand it!"
"Listen. Emperor Belos has been lying to everyone. The Day of Unity isn't about the Titan or magic. It's much scarier than that", Ahsoka said.
Everyone has worried expressions on their faces upon hearing this.
"Sorry, there's just a lot to explain", Hunter said.
"Then you'd better get started", Bump said.
Hunter and Ahsoka nodded.
The two then explained everything about the draining spell and Belos being a witch hunter.
It was a shock, to say the least.
And they explained how everyone who had sigils will be killed by the spell on the Day of Unity.
That made all of the kids without sigils sigh in relief, that they wouldn't be drained.
But they realized that their parents had the sigils.
That was bad news!
Ahsoka and Hunter assured them that the Jedi Order and the Rogue Coven would do everything they can to save their parents and everyone on the isles.
The others took solace in that.
Either way, Luz's friends knew what they needed to do next…. They needed to find Luz!
….
Reviews:
SuperSentai199: thanks so much. Glad you liked the chapter. And I'm happy to have been writing with you for so long.
….
