We're Wizards, Not Warriors
Chapter 17: Rescue Mission
The Skywalker Family couldn't sleep at all…. As they all wanted to rescue Sam from Belos…. They all hoped for the day when they could rescue him and throw him the birthday party he deserved to have for everything he did for others.
It was now the next day.
Anakin's purple scroll then rang.
Anakin asked, "what is it?"
"Anakin, turn on the Crystal Vision", Obi Wan said with a sad tone in his voice.
Hordak then turned on the Crystal Vision.
And he was disgusted by the sight of Belos saying, "rejoice, my friends! For my son has returned to his REAL family!"
Anakin clenched his fists as he glared at Belos.
"My lord, How were you able to find your son?"
Belos replied, "oh, I was able to persuade him to come to the castle. He's being given the finest room in the castle, being reunited with his true loving family, And being kept away from those insane Jedi."
"LIAR! YOU ARE HOLDING HIM PRISONER", Anakin screamed in rage.
Anakin couldn't stop the hateful glare he gave Belos as he desperately wanted to go in, swords a blazing, and rescue his son.
Hordak and Prime had hateful glares on their faces as well.
Hordak said, "we can't let that bastard keep Sam any longer than he already has!"
Eda asked, "but how are we going to rescue him?"
Prime said, "we need a plan. One that's fool proof. One that will get Sam back as soon as possible."
"And it will take a while…. We are going to need the help of all the Jedi", Anakin said as he stood up.
"And the Rogue Coven", Hordak said.
Luz said, "I can maybe get my friends to help."
Eda said, "we need all the help we can get."
"We must save dad", Padme said with tears in her eyes.
Beru said, "we'll do whatever it takes to save him from Belos."
"And bring him home", Ahsoka said.
All of Sam's kids gave nods of agreement.
They would bring their father home, no matter what.
….
Emperor's castle.
Sam stared at the wall as he heard the door open…. Hunter came in with a small tray of food, giving a worried expression for his cousin.
Sam glared at Hunter.
Hunter asked, "hi…. Cousin?"
Sam kept silent as Hunter placed the food in front of him.
"I brought you food", Hunter said with a small smile on his face.
Sam simply took a piece of bread and said, "you know what my wish was? For my birthday? It was…. To see me beautiful children…. My loving husbands…. And my dear friends and family…."
Hunter looked a bit sad after hearing that.
"Sam…. I'm….", Hunter said but Sam cut him off.
Sam said, "what? Sorry? Regretful? Filled with remorse for taking me away from my living friends and family and putting me at the mercy of that freaking masochist that is Belos?"
"Sam, this is for your and your family's own good! Belos only wants to help you", Hunter said.
Sam said, "you're just as foolish as Lilith and the Coven Scouts. What has he done to help me? He hunted me and my mother down, killed my adopted mother, kidnapped my children, and had me locked up like a wild beast, away from my family as they were getting ready to throw me a birthday party! He's not trying to help me. He's trying to fucking control me."
Hunter looked a bit shocked at what Sam said.
Sam said, "your uncle is a monster…. And he's not my father. My father is Anakin Skywalker. He raised me as his own. Helped me control my powers. Made me into the man I am today."
"No…. You're lying…. My uncle could never do all those things...", Hunter said with a small glare on his face.
Sam then lifted up his shirt to show a scar on his stomach and said, "Belos gave me this yesterday…. All because I tried to talk back when he insulted my mother, Padme."
Hunter shook his head.
"No, he wouldn't", Hunter said.
Sam said, "wake up and smell the coffee, Hunter! Belos is a monster!"
"The Jedi…. They must have…. Lied to you….", Hunter said as he glared at Sam.
Sam said, "if the Jedi are as evil as Belos says they are; then how come you've never seen them attack the innocent?"
Hunter was about to respond…. When a hand was placed on his shoulder.
Hunter turned to see it was his uncle, Belos.
Belos asked, "my boy, what on Earth is the matter?"
Sam glared at Belos with so much hate.
Hunter said, "oh, just having a talk with my cousin. He's uh…. Very interesting."
Belos asked, "could you leave me to speak with him alone?"
Hunter gave an unsure nod, as Sam's words began to stick with him.
Hunter then left the room.
"I have nothing to speak with you, monster", Sam seethed.
Belos said, "now Sam, be reasonable. You can't keep silent forever."
"How many times do I have to tell you! I am never going to join you", Sam growled in anger.
Belos suddenly backhanded Sam, leaving a small scar on his right cheek!
Sam spat out a bit of blood from his mouth.
He mocked Belos and said, "thank you sir. May I have another?"
Belos clenched his fists.
Sam had a mocking smile on his face.
"You always give in to your anger, Belos. No wonder you could never beat the Jedi", Sam smirked with blood running down his mouth.
Belos grabbed Sam by the neck and growled out, "shut up you little shit! I'm going to win against those Jedi friends of yours! And you'll eventually serve me like the scum you are!"
Sam chuckled weakly.
"I won't serve you…. Ever…. I'd rather be dead…. Than to ever…. Serve you….", Sam said as he coughed.
Belos threw Sam to the ground and yelled, "then let's see how a few days without any food will make you feel!"
Sam groaned in pain as he tried to get up.
"One day…. The whole Boiling Isles…. Will know who you truly…. Are….Belos….", Sam said as he coughed a bit of blood.
Belos growled, "oh, how wrong you are. I will one day be back on top. The Jedi will be no more. And you will remain in this cell until you're ready to serve me."
Belos left the room, slamming the door as he did so.
Sam then felt tears fall down his face.
'Dad…. Aunt…. Eda…. Help…. Me', Sam said through the force.
….
Meanwhile, at the Owl House.
Eda was looking through some binoculars as she saw Hooty beat up the Coven scouts.
Kane asked as he walked over to the window, "Aunt Lilith once again trying to capture you, mom?"
Eda nodded as she said, "I don't need that crap, while your cousin Sam is still captured."
Luke asked, worried for his brother, "Mom…. Do you think Sam…. Is he okay?"
Eda nodded and said, "I know he'll be alright. Your brother's a tough nut to crack."
Luz is intrigued by what's brewing in Eda's cauldron.
"Ooh, magic 'sghetti", Luz said as she tries to touch it.
"Hey", Eda said as she magically slaps Luz's hand with the spoon.
"That 'sghetti is Witch's Wool. It repels powerful spells", Anakin explained.
"Which is why we are making cloaks for all of you…. That way you will all be protected", Eda said.
Anakin said, "we don't wanna risk anyone else getting captured while we try to rescue Sam."
Eda nodded at her husband's words as she continued to watch her sister trying, (and failing), to apprehend her.
Luz asked, "why does Belos want to capture Eda so badly?"
"Emperor Belos wants to control all wild magic through his coven system. He ordered my capture years ago because I refused to fall in line", Eda explained.
"And he won't stop until he's got you", Luz said with a frown.
"Awww, don't sound so worried. I'm a master escape artist", Eda said with a smile.
"Yeah, mom has been able to escape various times from the coven scouts", Leia said with a smile on her face.
"Leia's right, and Tthe only thing that can slow me down is my curse, and that hasn't bothered me for weeks", Eda said with a grin on her face.
Feathers pop out from Eda's arms.
"Uh Oh", Eda said in horror.
Eda starts to transform into the Owl Beast.
"King", Anakin shouted.
King then entered the room and saw Eda turning into the Owl Beast.
"Help me find the Elixir! Now", Anakin shouted.
Anakin and King dashed out of the room as Luke, Leia and Kane hid Luz behind them, since they knew that Eda wouldn't attack them, or Sam and his children.
….
We then cut to Eda gasping, now standing in a void. Her childhood bedroom materializes out of the gloom. Her younger self is sleeping.
Eda sighs sadly.
The door opens behind her, revealing an indistinct shadow. Eda looks at it.
"You know, I'm getting a little tired of this game", Eda said as she glared at the shadow and she approached the shadow, trying to grab it.
Eda asked, "so, why don't you just show me your face?"
But no matter how hard Eda tried to grab the shadow, nothing happened. She just couldn't seem to figure out who this shadow was supposed to be!
….
Eda then woke up and saw she had a bottle of Elixir in her mouth.
"Oh thanks for this", Eda said as she stood up and then she saw various bottles on the floor.
"And those", Eda said as the scarf around her neck fell off.
"Mom…. Your gem", Luke said as he pointed to it.
"It's still dark", Kane said worriedly.
"Uh…. No, it's not! You're nuts", Eda said as she tried to cover her gem.
"Eda….", Anakin said in a stern tone.
Eda said, "it…. It's fine! I'm fine! Nothing bad is gonna happen!"
Kane said, "mom…. Your curse is starting to get worse."
Anakin said in fear, "you've been hiding the fact that your curse is getting worse!?"
"Ugh…. You're right. It's taking more elixir to turn me back and more magic to keep the curse from rearing its feathery head", Eda said as her head was facing the floor.
Kane asked, "why would you keep this a secret!?"
Eda exclaimed, "because I don't wanna worry you all while we're trying to save Sam from Belos and all of his dumbass Scouts!"
Luz asked, scared, "what happens if you use your magic up? Do…. Do you die?"
"No! Jeez, you're morbid. I just kinda sorta, turn into the Owl Beast…. Forever", Eda said as she crossed her arms.
Luz and the others held mortified looks at the information.
"Ahh it's a fate much worse than death if you think about it", Eda said as she tried to smile.
Kane exclaimed, "that doesn't help ease our minds, mom!"
Eda sighed as she knew her family wouldn't calm down that easily.
She said, "we can worry all about the curse once Sam is safe, alright? He's more important right now."
"You're right on that", Leia said.
Anakin sighed and said, "fine…. But this isn't over!"
Eda gulped as she sighed.
"And Luz come on…. You have to go…. Or you'll be late for school", Eda said.
Luz nodded as she ran off to get her school supplies.
….
Luz then made it to Hexside.
And then she was told by her friends…. They were going to take a field trip…. To the Emperor's castle….
Luz was officially terrified over the whole thing.
She then saw, in a book that Gus had handed to her…. About a hat…. That could heal any curse….
With this information, Luz was determined to get this hat in order to heal her teacher/friend.
And she hoped…. She could find out where Belos was holding Sam captive….
She wanted to help find him just as much as the others did.
….
Emperor's castle.
Sam was still on the floor as he still felt pain all over his body.
Belos had sent an exceptionally demented scout to beat the snot out of Sam, so he was left with a bruise over his eye, a bloody lips, and various bruises over his body.
Sam coughed up blood as he cried in pain.
He whispered, "dad…. Eda…. I…. I don't know…. How much…. Longer…. I can…. Keep this up…."
As he began sobbing, he felt a soothing hand on his cheek.
Sam weakly turned his head around to see…. His mother! Beru! She was shining like an angel, in a sparkling white dress.
Sam stuttered, "M-M-Mom?"
Beru calmly said, "shh…. Yes, my son. I am here for you."
Sam started to sob as he hugged his mother.
"I can't…. Handle…. This…. Anymore...", Sam sobbed.
Beru hugged her son close and said, "I know…. But don't worry…. You will not have to endure this pain much longer…. Your family is coming for you soon…."
"I want…. Them to…. Get here…. Fast...", Sam sobbed as his mother rubbed his back.
Beru said, "they will…. You just have to stay strong…. I know you, Sam…. You'd never let them break you."
Sam smiled a bit…. But then he cried in pain.
Beru gave a saddened look before placing her hands on the wounds.
Sam asked, a bit confused, "Mom?"
Then to Sam's amazement…. His wounds began to heal, as if time was reversing!
Soon Sam felt all of his wounds heal and he no longer felt pain.
Sam asked in shock, "Mom…. How did you do that?"
Beru smiled and said, "you learn many new skills when you pass on. Especially when you become a guardian angel."
Sam smiled with tears in his eyes.
Beru then started to slowly rock Sam to sleep.
Beru said, "sleep, my son. Regain your strength. And rest easy, knowing that your family will save you…."
Sam closed his eyes as he felt his mother kiss his forehead.
….
Lilith was in front of the Emperor.
"How's the hunt for the Owl Lady? I heard you attempted a raid this morning", Belos asked.
"Yes, but we were….", Lilith said but Belos cut her off.
Belos asked with a bit of annoyance in his voice, "unsuccessful? That was obvious enough. It's been over a month since you promised to bring me the Owl Lady. Well, where is she?"
Lilith tried to hide her fright as she said, "Eda is a very dangerous and cunning witch. It could take even longer just to get her. But I promise you, she shall join your Coven!"
"Yet you failed…. Where as, I was able to succeed in bringing my son back to the coven where he belongs", Belos said with a sigh.
Lilith said, "he is merely a boy. Eda has many more years of experience under her belt!"
"I'm getting bored of your excuses, Lilith. Don't worry, I'll give you the time you need. Bring the Owl Lady to me by twilight. She'll join the Emperor's Coven and in return, I'll heal her little curse. But, if you fail….", Belos said as he dug his nails into his throne, "you will be stripped of your rank and banished from my coven. You do know what happens to covenless, don't you?"
Lilith gave a shaky nod as she said, "I'll get her to hpin! I promise! You will have the Owl Lady in your Coven before you can even blink!"
Lilith then ran out of the room.
Kikimora then approached Belos.
Kikimora asked, "my Lord…. How is…. The prince doing?"
Belos growled, "he still holds onto a pointless hope that his precious 'friends' and 'family' will save him."
Kikimora asked, "my lord…. Why does he insist that those Jedi are his family?"
Belos said, "he was raised by those villains, so he's under the delusion that they are his real family."
Kikimora asked, "but my lord…. How long are you going to keep him…. Chained up in that prison?"
Belos simply replied, "as long as it takes."
….
Things went bad for Luz and her friends.
Luz had been able to take the Healing hat…. Only for Lilith to find them.
And it doesn't take a genius to know what happened after that!
Lilith decided to use Luz as bait for her sister and she sent Gus and Willow on her staff to send Eda a message.
Eda raced off to get Luz back while the others were on the Rogue Isles, formulating a plan to rescue Sam.
"Come on, Edalyn. You would be late when I need you most", Lilith muttered to herself as she was waiting on the bridge.
Lilith looks to the top of the castle, where Emperor Belos is watching. Yellow light flashes, and Eda appears. Lilith smirks. Eda throws Lilith's staff, which leaves a crater in the castle wall.
"Sister! I see that you got my invitation to a Witch's Duel", Lilith said.
Bolts of electricity fly at Lilith, though none hit her. Eda flies at her, taunting. Lilith blocks one hit with a summoned shield. She summons her staff and fires a bolt at Eda.
Eda shouted in anger, "where is she!?"
"The human is safe", Lilith said with no emotion in her voice.
Lilith taps her staff to the ground. A blue bubble flies out of the castle, Luz inside of it.
"Eda", Luz cried in fear.
"You can have her back, provided you do as I say. Renounce your wild ways and join the Emperor's Coven. He can help heal your curse", Lilith shouted in an attempt to reason with her sister.
"Don't believe everything that bonehead tells you. He doesn't want to heal me, he wants to control me", Eda shouted in anger.
Lilith yelled, "Eda, please, we only want to-"
Eds suddenly yelled, "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Both Lilith and Luz were surprised by the outburst.
Eda started growling, "Padme. Beru. Sam. And now Luz. How many things are you going to take away from me?! How many people do I care about will be killed or captured to satisfy this fucking obsessions of yours!? When will it be enough for you!"
Lilith looked a bit shock…. But then she shook it off.
"Then I will take you in by force", Lilith said as she twirled her staff.
"You've always looked down on me because I'm wild, but fortunately, that just made me work harder than you", Eda said as she smirked.
Eda slams her staff on the ground, summoning a towering owl made of light behind her. She rushes at Lilith, launching her in the air. Inside the castle, guards turn to watch. In the air, Eda appears behind Lilith.
Lilith disappears as Eda swings her staff. Lilith reappears behind Eda right as Eda disappears. Eda appears behind Lilith and kicks her, then zaps away to chase her. From the bubble,
Luz watches Eda and Lilith zip across the sky, nothing but gold and blue lights weaving and crashing. Lilith shoots a beam of light at Luz's bubble, sending it flying. Eda lands on the bridge.
"Luz", Eda shouted.
Eda redirects the boards of the bridge to keep Luz from falling off. Lilith drops down, and Eda rolls out of the way to prevent being crushed. Eda summons a Hooty Hydra to wrap Lilith up. Eda spins her staff and sends a giant blast at Lilith. Lilith puts Luz between her and the bolt, which Eda redirects, missing them both.
"Stop hiding behind Luz, you coward", Eda said panting.
Lilith said, "why? Afraid I'll hurt your human? Or that you'll hurt her? This could all be solved in a second, if you only joined the Coven!"
Eda growled, "it'll be a cold day in Hell before I join the Coven of a murderous, psychopathic, child abusing monster like Belos!"
Eda spins her staff and summons a dozen rings of magic, all of which send bolts at Lilith. Eda's Hooty Hydra drags Luz to safety as Lilith summons a shield to protect herself. Luz looks around and notices a pointed rock.
"Maybe you are stronger than me, but that made me work smarter! I became smart, crafty", Lilith shouted.
"A lapdog for a tyrant", Eda shouted.
Luz hits her bubble against the rock until the bubble shatters.
"You always thought you were better than me, that I could never beat you in anything", Lilith sneered.
"I am better than you", Eda shouted.
"Then why were you so easy to curse", Lilith shouted in anger before she covered her mouth with her hand.
Eda looks shocked and betrayed.
….
A flashback to Eda's bedroom door opening.
Light from the hallway lights up her sleeping figure.
The mysterious figure steps forward, shadows disappearing.
It was Lilith all along.
….
Luz gasps.
"A-And I have the power to remove it, if you would just let me explain", Lilith said a bit nervously.
Eda looks away. She shakes in anger. With a yell of fury, she rushes forward and destroys Lilith's shield, flinging Lilith in the wall hard enough to leave a crater.
Eda yelled, "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME!? Your own sister! You cursed me! Forced me to turn into this beast over, and over, and over again! And for what!? Now I know why Ani hates you so much! You turned me into a fucking monster!"
Eda powered up her magic until it was practically radiating off of her like a raging fire on the sun!"
"Eda, stop, your magic", Luz shouted.
The black in Eda's gem is writhing furiously. Eda doesn't seem to care. Lilith smirks. Luz is surrounded by glowing blue and starts floating.
"Human. That orb was for your protection", Lilith said.
Lilith moves Luz over the edge of the bridge. The magic drops. So does Luz.
Luz screams in fear as she falls.
"Luz", Eda cried in fear.
Eda draws a shaky spell circle with her staff. Luz stops plummeting a foot above a score of giant spikes. Eda strains to keep Luz up.
"Eda stop! You'll run out of magic", Luz shouted in fear for her mentor.
"It's my power, kid. And before you showed up, I spent my whole life wasting it", Eda said as she kept using her magic.
Lilith grins evilly. She summons a giant hand to push Luz closer to the spikes.
"Eda, no, no, no", Luz cried.
Eda's gem is almost entirely black. The whites of her eyes begin to be taken over.
"Alright, kid. Listen to me. I'm going away, and I don't know if I can bounce back this time….", Eda said with a sad smile on her face.
Luz had a horrified look on her face as she realized what Eda was trying to say.
Eda said, "as long as you, and my family are safe, I'll gladly bear this curse. I want you to live your best life for me. Alright?"
"Eda…. Your family….", Luz asked.
Eda began to cry and said, "they'll be fine…. I know they will…. And I know they'll make me proud…."
"Please, no", Luz cried.
"And Luz, thank you for being in my life", Eda said sadly.
With a scream, Eda unleashes a powerful burst of magic. Owlbert flies off the staff. Lilith is pushed back, her spell broken. Eda's magic illuminates the Isles. Luz, several feet higher than before, falls. She stops inches away from a spike, and Owlbert picks her up by the hood and flies her back to the bridge, where Eda is laying.
"Eda", Luz said with a worried tone.
Eda rolls over and screams, her voice overlapping with the Owl Beast's. She slams a hand to the bridge, and the Owl Beast stands. It advances on Luz, who backs away. The Owl Beast tries to pounce, and Luz cowers, but the impact never comes, Lilith binding the Owl Beast and dragging it halfway across the bridge with her staff.
"Come along, sister. Now we can let the healing begin", Lilith said with a smile as she looked up to Belos, who turned away.
"You monster", Luz screamed in anger.
Luz jumps on Lilith's back and tries to drag her down. Lilith grabs her by the cowl and throws her.
"Leave human", Lilith shouted as she then grabbed Owlbert.
"Edalyn is finally with her family. Her real family", Lilith said as taps her staff on the bridge. Gears turn, pulling the bridge toward the castle.
"Go back to your world. This one is ours", Lilith said as she grins with an evil look on her face.
Luz yelled, "¡Perra! ¡Espero que Eda te muerda la cabeza y regrese a su verdadera familia! ¡El que realmente se preocupa por ella!"
But as the bridge closed, Luz began sobbing and pounding the ground in pure anger and despair!
….
We then see Luz walking sadly back to the Owl house.
"Hi Luz", Hooty said.
"Hi Hooty", Luz said sadly as she opened the door.
There are balloons and streamers hung up. Party hats are on the couches, and confetti is on the floor. Her new cape is wrapped in a bow on the table, next to King's cake, the candles of which have long burned out. King bursts out of the cake.
King then pops out of the cake.
"The cake is me", King cheered, then he looked around, "where's Eda?"
Luz then breaks down crying as she falls to her knees. Hooty looks at her in concern. Both him and King approach Luz to comfort her.
King hugs Luz as she said, "I couldn't protect her…. Now she and Sam are BOTH locked up with those…. Those…. Those monsters."
Hooty gave a soft and depressed chirp as he rubbed his head on top of Luz', as if he was letting her.
"How…. Are we…. Going to tell…. Anakin…. And…. His kids….", Luz sobbed.
King sighed and said, "I dunno…. But what are you gonna do?"
Luz gave a sad and confused look.
King clarified, "what is Luz going to do? Is she going to cower like a human? Or…. Is she going to fight back, like a witch?"
….
Back on the Rogue Coven isles.
"Let's go over the plan one more time", Hordak said.
Prime said, "while one group causes a distraction, the other sneaks in and finds Sam. Then we all meet back up and get the Hell out of there."
"We have to make sure no one gets captured or left behind", Aayla said.
"Trust in the force, we must", Yoda said.
Anakin said, "I'll lead the distraction team. Who will lead the stealth team?"
"I and Obi Wan can lead the Stealth team", Hordak said.
Prime said, "I'll help Anakin with the distraction. Now, who's the most qualified to cause a scene?"
Wrecker raised both hands.
Prime asked, "and who's the most qualified with being stealthy?"
Crosshair simply nodded.
"Tech can help us as well", Luminara said.
"Barriss and Leon you watch after the kids", Anakin said.
Leon said, "you got it, Anakin."
Barriss said, "we'll watch over them as best as we can."
Anakin's loth cat Palismen came running in and meowed. Hamill quicklt ran in afterwards.
Anakin gave a concerned look as he asked, "what? What is it?"
The Loth cat Palismen then made sad purring sounds as Hamill jumped up and down, screeching.
Anakin's eyes went wide.
Hordak asked, "what? What's going on?!"
Anakin looked to the others and said, "they've taken Eda."
Everyone's faces were filled with horror.
Anakin then clenched his fists in anger as he knew…. Who had taken his wife.
Anakin growled, "Lilith…."
Anakin not only had to rescue his son…. But now he had to rescue his wife….
Everyone in the room could tell…. This had grown even more personal….
….
Reviews:
SuperSentai199: same here!
….
This one came out a little later than usual after I lost track of time. Sorry!
