ZAP!
"Ow!"
ZAP!
"Ouch!"
ZAP!
"Dang it!"
...ZAP!
"Huaa!"
From a distance, Luz watched as Amity tried and notably failed at blaster deflection.
The Jedi had started on her friend/apprentice's next step in training, lightsaber combat. Specifically, blaster deflection. After Vos left, Luz gifted Amity a wooden sword and detailed instructions on the katas in Form one. That was two weeks ago, and Amity was pushing to impress Luz with her effort in training.
In reality, it was making it hard for Luz not to laugh. Luckily for Amity, the remote was firing stun blasters, and she could tell it was irritating the Witch and looked ready to murder the droid.
"Okay, that's enough." Luz ended the practice. "You alright?"
The Witch huffed as she glared dangerously at the floating droid. "This thing may be more annoying than the bird tube. Why can't I use magic to block its attacks?"
"It's a training exercise that helps you develop defensive skills. Also, most of the galaxy uses blaster weaponry in combat, so learning how to defend yourself is an essential skill to have. Especially when you get your own lightsaber."
Amity understood where Luz was going with this and agreed with it. "So why can't I practice with one of the sabers in your basement? You've got tons of them."
Luz held her emotions in at the reminder of all those lost. "That's a question I asked my old master about once." She muttered.
"Luz?" Amity felt her shy away from the sensitive topic of Luz's old Master.
Taking hold of her own lightsaber, she used the Force to take it apart like she's done a hundred times in the past. Out of the cylinder came the yellow kyber crystal. Amity watched Luz in wonder at the display before focusing on the aloft crystal.
"Let me explain. Inside each lightsaber is a special crystal that vibrates along with the Force. Hidden throughout the galaxy, these Force-sensitive items grow in places strong in the Force. They are attuned to it; without it, they are just rocks. And while anyone could probably ignite and wield a lightsaber, the crystal must be properly attuned to the Force. But for a Jedi, the lightsaber becomes more: it is a manifestation of that Jedi's connection to the Force. To acquire one, the Jedi Order has a tradition called the Gathering for all its new members." Luz lectures.
"The Gathering?"
"A rite of passage." Luz clarified. "It's where all the top Jedi initiates go to find their lightsaber crystals. It's a challenge that tests the young Jedi to overcome their personal fears or failings and find their kyber crystals. Finding one will be the start of the construction of your lightsaber."
"My own lightsaber." Amity gazed into the floating crystal. Thoughts of what hers could look like. "But my question still stands. Why can't I use the ones you have?"
Luz reassembled her weapon and ignited its blade. "Each of those crystals are found and bonded by other Jedi. You can grab any lightsaber in that basement and use it in any fight. But the crystal inside would not bond nor accept you because you weren't the one it chose."
"Are they sentient like palismen?" Amity asked.
"They have the same importance. At least to me they do." Luz thought back to the temple raid and stole those lightsabers. "They are a part of them; if you destroy one, it is like killing a piece of them. No, we'll search for your crystal when the time comes."
Amity fought a growing blush. "You'd do that for me?"
"I'd be a bad teacher and a terrible friend if I didn't," Luz answered.
"Now then." Luz summoned the remote back. "We have some time left before school starts. Let's continue practicing."
Amity then lost her good feelings.
{Play Music: Escape (Beat Saber soundtrack trailer)}
The camera zooms in to see a dirty deadeye Luz walking in the rain, passing many dirt mounds with sticks planted in them with brown cloaks of Jedi robes wrapped around them or blaster rifles with clone trooper helmets hanging on them. The smoking aftermath of a battlefield in the background. Photos of Luz with several clones hanging out in a barracks. Luz on a ship's Bridge. The backsides of a younger Padawan Luz and a human male with short black hair in a Knights robe with thick sideburns and a confident smile. An armored Luz riding on her BARC speeder bike with her lightsaber out with several other clones on speeders following her into a battle.
Luz unknowingly walks through the portal door and falls on her knees. She looks up to see a hand in front of her to take. She looks up to see a hand in front of her to take. Looking at the hand's owner, Luz sees a smiling Eda with a happy King on her shoulder. Life is brought back in Luz's eyes, and she smiles back before taking the offered hand.
The door where Hooty was opened as Luz steps outside in her sleeveless yellow vest, with Luz twirling and posing with Eda's staff with one hand and her lightsaber in the other in a low guard. But then Eda took her staff back with an amused grin while Luz gave a sheepish smile. King popped in front with his own pose.
A Boiling Isle mural was seen as Gus, Willow, and Amity are seen briefly before it burns away to show King commanding an army of stuffed toys, which all fall on him. The scene burns away to reveal Luz in front of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, looking at it in sadness. The silhouettes of the Jedi Council, along with other Jedi, stood before disappearing, leaving only their burnt robes and lightsabers on the ground.
Emperor Belos raises his staff as he foreshadows behind his castle as red lighting thunder from the sky. His army of Coven guards, numbering by many at his call, standing ready for a fight.
Now Luz was on her BARC speeder, racing past across the landscape. She zooms down the Boiling Isles passing, Gus waves at her, Willow smiling, and Amity looking surprised before she smiles softly. Passing by several Coven guards as they try to chase her. Then Eda, with King on her shoulder, hops on behind the Jedi. Then they hang on for dear life as a massive, monstrous worm-like monster, mouth wide open, lunges at them. Everyone screamed in horror as Luz turns the throttle up and guns it.
Then the scene changes back to the Owl House, where it's nighttime with stars twinkle in the sky as the three are on the roof and looking up into the sky. Luz opens her hands to reveal a ball of magic light and let it float to the sky.
Several lights flashed of fire and ice before the title appeared.
Jedi of the Isles
Episode 14 A State of Mind
"I can't believe this is a thing here."
"Of everything you have seen and done, this is what you can't believe?"
"Oh, don't be such a baby."
Amity sat next to Luz, who tried not to move as Willow went at her ear with a pair of magic tweezers. A few moments later, after "digging" around in her ear. Willow grabbed something, pulled it out softly, and a square plastic and film photo appeared between the tweezers.
"There we go! Another memory to the collection." Willow pinned the photo to a string where others hung. The middle showed a young Luz smiling in an oversized Jedi cloak. The one to her left showed a battle-armored Luz standing proud next to several taller men in white armor. The right showed a younger Jedi Luz crouching down, talking to a shorter green hunchback individual.
"I particularly like this one." Amity picks up a photo of a young Luz smiling with wild hair as it was done in a certain way to make herself look like a twi'lek head tails. They were mismatched in height and had many different colored ribbons in the poorly braided hair. The two witches in the group found it to be very adorable.
Luz blushed in embarrassment at the old memory. "I was going through an awkward hair phase." Amity and Willow laughed at their friend's suffering. "You guys suck..."
The three continued to talk with one another about the pictures till the teacher walked up to them. "Remember students. Each photo is drawn from a specific memory. The stronger that memory, the clearer the image will become. Also, if the print becomes damaged, so will your memory."
The Jedi could not hold the look of shock at that information. "...Memories sure are fragile."
After taking a few more memories from her head, the bell screamed, and three students exited the photo class and headed for the cafeteria.
On the way, Luz bumps into the three-eyed Boscha. "Watch where you're going, human!"
"Sorry!" Luz apologetically responded.
The tri-clops eyed the human, then spotted Amity and the half a witch with her.
"What are you doing hanging out with these losers?" Her question was directed at Amity.
"Building connections." Amity had long anticipated this conversation. Boscha lived the social ladder life and liked being on top; any deviation from such was almost an affront to her. "Luz is a strong warrior with a cultural background of valuable outside insights, while Willow is reaching top marks in the Plant Track courses."
The three-eyed girl narrowed her eyes at the Blight. "You do know you're hurting your social position, don't you?"
Amity smirked before turning to her two friends. "Naw, I think I'm making it better."
Boscha gritted her teeth as she watched the three walk away from her. When she turned away, she saw the photos class open from where they had left. A few caught the attention of her third eye that showed the human Luz in them. Thinking how that same human had been rocking the social status of the school, Boscha felt it was time for the round-ear weirdo to be put in her place.
As Luz, Amity, and Willow moved to the lunchroom. Along the way, they met up with Gus, dragging a conspiracy board, and sat together with their lunch. The four openly discussed several trivial school topics, teachers, homework, and school drama. Things of that nature.
Gus was fessing over an interview he needed to conduct with someone for his journalism class. The problem was it was due the next day, and he didn't have anyone in mind.
Then the only male Witch at the table switched to a new subject. Hoping to get his mind off of work. "So Luz, how's things with your… Soldiers?"
Luz visibly flinched. Especially after recent news Omega sent her. "The clones could be better, and more of them are getting agitated. I fear for their safety as they could be found out any day now."
"How many are still under those chips?" Willow asked.
"As of now, everyone planet side is chip free. Now they are trying to get the ones in orbit and on patrol in the surrounding systems. Not an easy task, but I couldn't be more proud of the discipline they've displayed."
It had been over a week since the Empire bombed Kamino and the destruction of Tipoca city. The home of every Republic clone trooper. It shocked her just as it did the clones, nearly causing the troopers of the 3rd to openly rebel and remove the new Imperial base command staff right there when hearing the news. That was the closest thing to a home for the clones and was now gone.
Luz had told the others of this and became quite shocked. No one couldn't believe such a thing as cities bigger than their hometown could be destroyed at a moment's notice. Her friends looked scared that a government would do such things, horrified even. Eda and King looked lost at what to do, with the Owl Lady leaving the house for a time and King staying by the Jedi's side.
It didn't help that word of new soldiers was being recruited from the population. If the information the clone commando, the Bad Batch rescued, was to be believed, Luz may not have much time to pull her guys out sooner than anticipated. Despite her men being stationed so far from the core worlds, she gives it two weeks before the Empire ships them these new stormtroopers to replace her men. She may have to hire the Bad Batch clones again to infiltrate the Empire's networks for troop deployment and assignments. Luz should also make a note to check up on them later.
Between Hunter being taken hostage, the team surviving an orbital bombardment in a sinking city and dealing with Cid. Those men have endured much in the short time since the fall of the Republic. Something like a little vacation away from battle would do them some good.
"In brighter news, the new home I have building for the clones is underway, and we even have a small garrison permanently stationed on the Knee to help with the construction. It should be done by the end of the week."
"Luz, are you sure bringing that many soldiers here to the Titan's Knee is a good idea?" Amity asked in concern.
''Yeah, won't they be cramped up there? There's not a lot of space to move around." Gus spoke up and missed Amity's point.
'"That's not what I-"
"I talked it over with them, and they're only setting an outpost and a home for all the Jedi to bring over." Luz cut Amity off as she answered Gus. "With all the stuff being brought over, we'll need more room. The troopers sent probe droids to map out nearby islands and hoped to find one just big enough for us to occupy. We'll need the room and be creative with our limited space and supplies."
"Can't you buy some more supplies?" The illusionist asked.
The question brought back a headache Luz was trying to avoid. "The clones never got officially paid for their services in the war. Doing it for "honor" and "duty" to the Republic." Luz spat the words with a bit of venom in her tone.
"They went through a whole war without getting paid?" Amity looked at her teacher/friend in bewilderment.
"They get a stipend for when we go on shore leave. Beyond that, no."
"Sounds like something my mother would approve of..." Amity responded negatively.
"So... when can we meet everyone?" Willow asked.
Luz smiles happily to answer. "Captain Vultan is here to inspect progress on the Knee and will meet up with me after school. You're all welcome to OUCH!" The Jedi grasped her head at the sudden pain spiking through her head.
The sudden shift of pain caught the others off guard. "Luz, everything alright?"
Willow's question seemed to fly past the Jedi as she clutched her head. Her mind felt like it was being split, and the Force was warning her of danger but could not direct its point of origin. But even if she did, the pain in her head was unlike anything. She'd been punched, shot, electrocuted… shot? Luz opened her fully dilated eyes to see she wasn't alone and saw three people sitting in front of her.
"Oh! Sorry I didn't see you there. I'm Luz." She introduced herself with a smile.
"Ha, nice joke there, Luz. Now, what were you saying about this Vultan? Do you think I can interview him?" Gus asked, dismissing Luz's silliness. Willow and Amity, on the other hand, looked worried.
"Who...?" Luz's response drew out as her eyes went from dilated to blank. Her head flopped forward and down on her food.
"Luz!" Amity and Willow were quickly by her side. "What's wrong?"
Luz glanced at Amity, raised her hand, and "Boop!"
"Your real pretty, you know that?" Luz said out of the blue to Amity. Making the Witch blush madly that her secret crush said that. She then reached out, pulled the two Witches into a group hug, and played with their ears. "So pointy!"
"Luz, stop!" Amity snapped out of her blushing mess as she started to laugh. Witches' ears were sensitive to touch. "What's got into you?"
Willow pushed her friend away. "It's like she's forgotten everything!"
The moment she said that the girl's eyes locked to one another in realization. "Her memories!"
Back in the photo room, Boshca snipped up the last memory photo and left the class. "There, that should teach that human who's on top."
After she left, Amity, Gus, and Willow arrived to see several cut-up photos.
"Oh, no!" Willow bent down and picked up a few scraps that showed Luz's memories all cut up. "This is terrible! Who would do this?"
"We can worry about that later. Right now, we need to get Luz to someone who can help her." Amity said. Luz walked in a drunken stupor as she observed everything.
"Did I always have these?" Luz looked at her hand before sticking her finger up her nose.
The three gave various degrees of worry to one another.
Over at the Owl House, Eda discusses some things with an armored Vultan. Nearby, King was over with five other clone troopers as they entertained him with a few kid-appropriate war stories. The clones had returned from their scouting mission from the surrounded islands to look for potential bases.
"So that is a no-go on settling the Ribbing Straight and Teeth Island. I thought you clones like living on the wild side?" Eda asked Vultan.
The Captain shook his head. "We do, but we also like to be able to sleep without worrying about being eaten by giant sand eels. We lost two speeders on that island. I'm glad the men were lucky that we all carried our jump packs. Otherwise, they'll be goners."
"You know Luz isn't gonna like this. Aren't you all on a time crunch?"
"We'll figure something out. We always do."
Before any conversation could continue, a bird phone flew to Eda's hand and cawed. "Sorry, Cap. Incoming call. Bad Girl Coven residents." Eda answered.
Vultan gives the bird in the Witches hand a look over before shaking his head. "What a strange world."
"Hey, Bumpy, what's happening?" Eda's face scrunched up in confusion at the voice on the other line. "Huh, what did the kid do now?" Vultan suddenly became worried when the Owl Lady's face turned to horror, then anger. "I'll be there..." She hung up the bird, and it flew away.
"What was that about?" Vultan asked.
"Someone attacked Luz at school and was sent to the school's clinic.."
The clone Captain matched the Owl lady's expression. "What's her condition?"
"Bad. And if we don't hurry it will get worse.."
The Captain donned his wing-painted helmet and turned to address his men. "Hawkmen, to arms! The Commander is in danger!"
At Hexside, Luz's friends tried keeping her safe while Bump called Eda. With how powerful the Owl Lady is and outside the Coven law, he'd suggest bringing Luz to her for a treatment solution. Now they were out front waiting for her to pick her charge up.
"Do you really think the Owl Lady can help? Wouldn't taking her to the Healing Coven be better?" Gus questioned the two, to which Amity shook her head.
"Normally, I would agree to bring her to the Healing Coven for injuries, but this is different. This is memory damage and destroying another person's thoughts is grounds to get the Emperors Coven involved. With Luz being associated with Eda..." Willow made the connection and agreed with the logic.
"You're afraid the Coven would try something?"
Amity rubbed her arm and held an uncertain look. "Not long after my duel with Luz, I confronted Miss Lilith about something private and haven't seen eye to eye on a few things since. I also learned that she and Eda are sisters and is determined to bring her in... By any means." She said while glancing at Luz, who was distracted by Gus's illusions. "Luz has done a lot for us in her short time here, and I want to repay the kindness in return."
Willow gave her old friend a soft smile. "You've certainly matured, Blight."
"I hope so. When I look back at myself, I see a younger version of my mother!" Amity shivered at the thought. Before the conversation continued further, a noise drew their attention away.
It sounded like the roar of a dozen predators and was coming closer.
A few seconds later, they see Eda riding on Owlbert and leading over a dozen men wearing white, greenish-yellow armor. All riding speeder bikes like the one Luz has at the Owl House. They sped up to the school before they dismounted their rides with blasters in hand. They formed a U-shape defense perimeter around the school front with an aura of authority.
"Commander!" The students brought their attention to a soldier wearing heavier armor than the others who approached them with the Owl lady by his side. "Are you alright? We heard there was trouble." That just made Luz giggle.
"Hehe, you're very tall..." Luz strode drunkenly over and head planted against Vultan's chest plate. "...and hard chested."
Her actions threw every clone trooper within hearing distance to stop and look weirdly at their Jedi commander. The Owl Lady wasn't surprised at all.
"Yepp, just as Bump said." Eda went over and took hold of the human teen. "Someone pulled a whammy on Luz and destroyed her memories. And with how she's acting, someone did this without regard for her safety. Absolutely despicable!"
This caused a wave of anger through the clones present, with Vultan making a note to track down the one who did this to Luz. Eda meanwhile put a sleep spell over Luz so the kid would hurt herself and fall into the Captain's arms. "There, that should keep her relaxed till we get situated. Let's get her back home and fix this mess."
As this continued, more students and faculty went to the windows to see what was happening. Two clones pulled out a stretcher, attached it to one speeder's side, and loaded Luz onto the stretcher. As they readied themselves to leave, the remaining Hex squad members intervened.
"Wait, take us with you!" Willow pleaded to the soldiers.
Captain Vultan was about to refuse the students, but Eda beat him to it. "Pick a ride and hop on. We need to hurry if we want to fix Luz."
Amity, Willow, and Gus rushed and hopped on the speeders, each hugging a clone before everyone sped off away from school. Over by one school window, a shocked three-eyed half-demon/witch watched the whole show from afar. A hint of curiosity about what half a witch and Amity would do. Boshca did not expect an armed squad of unknown soldiers that looked like they could go toe to toe with a platoon of Coven scouts and win.
"Just who is this human?"
Over in his office, Principal Bump watched the entire scene with a critical eye. "Interesting..."
Eda, the students, and the clones quickly returned to the Owl Lady's home, where the soldiers laid the stretcher with Luz in the living room.
"Is there anything we can do to help her?" Captain Vultaqn asked the Owl lady.
"...There is a way. But it's hazardous and illegal in some places. So you're in the right place for this!" Eda assured the clone before explaining the rest. "I'll send some of you into her mind to fix the damage."
"That's a thing here?" The clones looked at the Witch in disbelief.
"It won't be easy. Whoever did this left a big mess in Luz's head with no consideration for her safety. There's going to be a lot that needs fixing." Eda glanced over at everyone in the room. "Now, the next question I need to ask is more complicated. Who among you are going in?"
As soon as the word was said, all the clones stood up to volunteer.
"I will go!"
"Aye!"
"Send me!"
Eda lowered her hands in a settled-down motion. "Hold up! I shoulda figured this would happen, but it doesn't work that way. Too many people going into one head would hurt the person's mind without substantial magical power to sustain it." The clones backed off while they listened. "As I am now, I can send two people in her mind, no problem, for however long they need. Anymore, and we'll be pushing it."
"I'll go!"
Everyone turned to look at Amity stepping up. Looking nervous but no less determined. "In the short time Luz has been here, she helps everyone around her despite what they've done. I want to return the kindness she showed me."
"I'll go too!"
The action turned to Willow stepping next to Amity. "Luz is my friend, and I want to help."
"Whelp! That's two!" Eda summoned a small white handle bell that Amity caught with her hand. "Ring this to signal when you're finished."
"Wait-"
Vultan raised his hand to protest to Eda but was too late as she had already spun the large spell circle that surrounded the floor where the two young witches stood. "Oh! Also, keep an eye out for her "inner Luz." She acts as the gatekeeper to her emotions and memories. She could lend you a hand while in there." Eda said to them before she commanded her spell circle to rise and cover Willow and Amity in a yellow layer of light as the wind made their clothes and hair float a bit. "Hang on tight. This is gonna be a crazy ride!"
The clones watched silently in awe as Eda waved her arms up and caused Willow and Amity to shout as they became yellow magic particles, guiding them toward Luz's head and entering her mind through her ear.
Everyone was silent before one trooper broke it. "...That was some mystical shit."
Inside Luz's mind, Willow and Amity landed in a pillar of yellow magic in a black void. They waited for a few seconds before the void flashed in white light.
The girls shielded their eyes, squinting as they tried to pierce through the blinding surroundings. Just as quickly, they were placed upon a flight of massive steps just below the summit.
"Woah…"
Was all Amity could muster as she looked behind her, the ambiance and sounds of the technological city bustling with strange shiny flying machines following specific traffic lanes as the young teens gazed above to the midday sky filled with these things. The shine of skyscrapers and their windows bouncing light from the sun.
"I think this might be a reflection of Coruscant, the capital of the government Luz fought for." Amity looked over to her partner. An eyebrow crept up as Willow hugged herself with a crestfallen frown, "Willow?"
"I-I don't like it here… too much metal, no trees like Kashyyyk."
Amity sighed, holding a hand out for the plant Witch, "Come on, we got memories to fix." Willow accepted her hand and together climbed the series of steps onto the summit.
What followed was the teens losing all control of their jaws. Monstrous, ironically, is what they would call it. Towering above heights beyond even the Titan himself. Ancient, everlasting, and forevermore stood the Jedi Temple, with its four stone guards standing vigilant over the rest of the world. Two monolithic statues that stood closest to them were hooded with an air of mystery, flanked by two others on the outside taking combat stances with a lightsaber. Passing the statues, ahead of them were three rows of massive pylons with the face of them decorated with:
"The Four Masters…" Amity whispered in silenced awe.
"Did you say something?"
"Oh! Uhm, Luz… talked about her home: the Jedi Temple, a few times when we trained together. I… I don't know how, but I feel connected to this place."
"Maybe not," Willow countered. "We don't know all that much about Luz's power with the Force she talks about, and only from what she told us. Maybe what you are feeling is what Luz felt about this place?"
This made Amity nod in agreement. "You may be right. The Force is a strong power that seems unlimited when you look at it. Still, even though I've never seen this place… or never will, maybe, because of that whole betrayal and Empire stuff. I feel that connection."
Reminded of all the suffering that had befallen Luz. A silence came as the two pressed on, moving under the pylons and through the Temple's entrance.
Inside, the two teens found the largest hall they had ever seen. The hall soon opened up to something of a bridge with grand stone pillars soaring above the unseemly high ceiling. Beyond that were more gargantuan Jedi statues, but with the raised position of the bridge, only the upper torso and above were seen. Hooded stone faces looked down on these two 'intruders' with sabers at the ready as they guarded this Temple of a certain Jedi's mind.
"I…" Willow was the first to speak, "I imagined something different to this…."
Shaking her stupor away, Amity responded, "Uh, yeah. I read a book about the spell Eda used on us from before Emperor Belos banned it, and all first-hand accounts described it being an orchard of trees, not buildings. Then again, Luz is neither witch nor demon like those accounts, So who knows what we'll find."
"Who knows indeed…" A dark chuckle silently echoed silently throughout the Temple.
A cold swept through the air.
This unnerved Willow as she rubbed her arms, but for now Force-sensitive Amity…
"Why did it feel chilly all of the sudden?" Willow asked with a bit of confusion in her tone.
"...I don't know." Amity searched where this feeling came from, but it disappeared before she could pinpoint the source. "Let's keep moving. Luz's mind won't fix itself."
As the Witch searched, she saw something different.
"Willow, look!"
Over towards a pathway to a long hallway showed a panel of paintings.
"Those must be her memories. Let's go!" Willow moved toward them, with Amity giving one last look behind her before following.
Not far within the dark shadow of one of the Jedi statues, a figure in a black robe walked out. A wicked smile grew behind its black mask at the new opportunity.
"Oh, what fun~."
"Of all of us here, why did you send them?!" Captain Vultan shouted at the Witch.
Eda let the anger directed at her roll off her. "They'll be fine." She waved off. "The kids' got this."
"Sending in a couple of kids, literally, into the mind of a Jedi is hardly what I call fine, Eda," the clone Captain responded.
"They'll fix her. Just have to have faith."
"Faith?" Vultan snorted without humor. "Haven't seen a lot of that as of late." He turned and moved away before taking place against a wall that gave him a clear view of the room and Luz.
Eda rolled her eyes at the clone. "Look if you want to make yourself feel useful, why not head back to the school and go talk to Principal Bump about the attack. I'm sure the two of you can put your heads together and figure out who attacked Luz." The Witch suggested.
Vultan rubbed his chin in thought as he contemplated the idea. He took one last look at Luz before putting his helmet back on. "LockShift, Twice, Pager, with me. We're going back to that school to talk to this Principal. Areo, AA, Net, stay here and looks after the place." He ordered before leaving out the door with the men following. The others stayed at their posts with the house residents watching from the side.
The Owl Lady could see where Vultan was going with this. Using a mind-diving spell on two teens and sending them into a third to fix a few damaged memories could be considered irresponsible to some, and much more if that third teen has a history of tragedy and war. But Eda was still hesitant to trust these soldiers' breed for combat and war. Luz was back to trusting these guys after what they did, but the Witch wasn't about to send them into the kid's head. No, her school friends will be just as driven to fix Luz.
'Faith, huh… When did I get so spiritual? The kid's probably rubbing off on me.' The thought brought a small smile to her face. Looking over Luz's still form did bring forth a moment of worry. 'Please be okay...'
"Whoa..."
Willow and Amity looked down a great hall with portraits hung down the walls. Though these weren't made of oils and paints like in the books Amity read but digital like crystal ball monitors. Each with an image of Luz or an event she participated in.
"Her memories... Look!" Amity approached one that showed herself and Luz standing across from each other. "That's our Witches Duel!" The memory suddenly played for the witches.
They see Amity sending spikes of abomination goo at Luz as she defends herself before the abomination user gets mad and sends another abomination at her. Luz then throws a metal ball into it, electrifying and dispelling it. Amity gets even madder and sends a wall of pink flames at her. To which Luz bearly blocks it with the Force. When the fire settles, they reveal a burnt and scarred Luz.
Amity couldn't help but wince at the memory. It was weird seeing this from an outside perspective and seeing Willow giving the abomination user a flat stare. "Not my best moment, is it?"
"You think?" Willow's expression changes at seeing another memory that excites her. "Oh, my Titan! Check this out!"
The two walked over to the memory. It showed a much younger Luz running around with an older Jedi chasing after her. Luz laughed as she started jumping into the air and bounding off several support columns. Memory Luz then misstepped and fell on a bust statue, breaking it. When Luz got up, a tall, dark-skinned bald Jedi stood over her with his arms crossed, giving Luz an unamused look. Luz responded with her best innocent sheepish smile.
The memory ended and made the two witches laugh softly at young Luz's misfortune.
"Luz was a troublemaker even as a child? Why am I not surprised." Amity shook her head in good humor.
"It does seem like she's always the center of attention." Willow agreed. "So now that we found her intact memories, where are the damaged ones?" The two went out and searched for the damaged ones. To their credit, it did not take them long.
"Is that...?"
"Yes, these must be Luz's damaged memories."
The hallway they entered was a wreck, unlike the rest of Luz's mind. The floor and walls were cracked, the lights flickered, and what's worse was how the memories themselves. Unlike the others, which clearly showed Luz's past moments, these were ripped and torn as if someone had taken a knife up to them.
"This doesn't look good, Amity. How are we supposed to fix this?" Willow asked as she looked over the damage.
The abomination summoner hummed to herself as she walked over and inspected one of the damaged pictures. It showed a window overlooking something, but she couldn't determine what. Testing something she read, she placed her hand on it, and it glowed white before her hand phased into it.
"Willow over here. I think I've found something!" Amity said. Willow came over before Amity grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the memory.
Willow barely had the time to shout before being dragged in.
The two appeared in another hallway. This one looked smoother and fancier with its metal walls and shiny floors. Or it would be if the window in front of them didn't look in shambles.
"Did we enter Luz's damaged memory?" Willow asked.
"We did," Amity confirmed. She went to the broken window and placed her hand over the damage. "The question now is how do we fix it without hurting Luz? I wish I had paid more attention to that book or had an expert like Lilith or Eda to explain this."
Willow gasped before rummaging through her pocket and pulling out her scroll. "Maybe we can!"
Amity looked skeptical at the magic device. "Are we even sure that would work?"
The plant girl's shoulder shrugs. She enters a few runes on the magic screen and then silently waits. It wasn't long before they got an answer.
"Hello?"
"Gus, it's Willow. Can you put Eda on?"
"Willow! But you're in Luz's head?"
"Don't know how, but can you get Miss Eda for us? We need her help."
A few moments later, before the older witch's voice came through. "Well, this is new. I never thought I would talk to the voices inside a person's head. What's the damage there?"
"We've found where the damaged memories are, and inside the first one. It doesn't look good here," Amity reported.
"Lay it on me, Boots."
Amity quirked an eyebrow at the nickname but continued. "Some things look misshapen, and some things are broken up."
"Focus on the broken stuff. What's broken?"
"A big window overlooking something in the distance."
"Then focus on fixing that window. That could be the center point of the damage done to this moment in luz's life. Fix that, and the rest of her memory should right itself."
Not needing any other instruction. The students got to work. Getting the window frame together was simple, with Amity using her abomination magic to create a sludge that grabbed them together while Willow collected the shards of glass and began piecing them together like a puzzle. When the two finished, they took a step back to appraise their work.
"You got it?" Eda's voice asked from the floating scroll as it hovered by Willow.
Amity dusted her hands off, "Phew… Yeah, all done." She answered after fixing the memory.
In a blink, they were out of the former damaged memory and watched the repairs activate the memory. The girls could suddenly hear sobbing. From a nearby overhang balcony, the girls saw a younger Luz. Amity guessed she was around eleven or twelve. She was bathed in a menacing amber - almost maple-red glow of the waning sun.
The girl was crying, like she sounded in pain, and looked so lost it almost broke Amity. Willow saw this too, and Amity's reaction. She patted her fellow witch's shoulder.
With a long sigh, she spoke, "Let's go… this looks like a memory that should stay private…."
Amity looked back again with longing eyes but then relented and nodded. But as they turned to head back, footsteps and the tapping of a cane were heard. A strange creature in similar robes to Luz walked out of the shadows. It looked at Luz with sad eyes before sighing and forcing a smile onto his face. Moving closer, it spoke.
"I wondered where one of my brightest students had wandered off to."
Luz glanced back with a gasp, turning her hooded face back out to the view in an effort to hide it. She hurriedly wiped away her tears. Pulling down her hood, she faced the Elder Jedi with a crooked smile and wet, red eyes.
"Master Sinube, I'm sorry… it's just, during your lesson, I… felt a disturbance that required attention." She forced an awkward grin like she was hiding something.
The Cosian elder's face dropped, "Padawan, I sensed your emotions from afar, but it doesn't take a Jedi to know you're in pain."
That was all it took for Luz to break down. Tears fell as she began to weep again, her hands coming up to try and fail at wiping them away.
"It-hic-it's Master Tassu… He said he was going on a quick mission with the other Knights and… an-and…."
"He fell in battle at Geonosis." Amity and Willow gasped at this revelation. Eda, however, was quiet over the scroll as she listened to the memory. "Considering the large loss of life there and a number of our Order that fell. I imagine many Padawans are feeling just as much pain as you, my dear…." Master Sinube frowned as he stroked his chin.
The Jedi elder thought of a way to lessen Luz's distress, and a story came to mind, "Young one?" This made Luz look at the Master, "Do you know what your name means?"
She cocked her head "Master?"
"Your name!" He smiled as he gained her curiosity, "Your late Master once said your home planet inhabited a human culture with a different language to galactic basic. You were named in that. Being a curious scholar, I sometimes spend time in the Jedi Archives learning about the younglings I see come and go, including sub-culture and languages that can spawn from single species from a single system. And to my surprising delight, you were given a very fitting name for a very fitting young Jedi."
Luz coughed a chuckle through her tears, "I know what you're trying to do, Master. But, I'll bite… what does it mean?"
Even the two teens watching this memory were really curious now. Eda too, as she listened closely to what the old man was saying.
The Cosian laughed in kind, "hmm, hmm… well, it means… Light… by your parents' word, passed on to Knight Tassu and then to me: Luz means Light. Truly befitting if you ask me, for when you enter a room, pass a trial or exam, your smile can brighten an area better than any lamp. Even your choice of kyber crystal is a reflection of what you are; a shining beacon of the Force." He pointed his cane at her hung lightsaber on her belt.
The people watching or listening couldn't help but agree with this. Since meeting their Jedi friend, Luz had done her best to approve the moods and well-being of others. Always wanting to help, whether it be with homework, fighting for someone, or even lending an ear to listen. She even returned to free soldiers who were influenced and ordered to KILL her. Why? Because that was just how Luz was.
A light in the darkness.
"Master? Why is it that we must fight these 'Separatists'? I thought everyone loved the Republic."
Tera Sinube sighed, "Child, not every planet in every star system is given equal rights and priorities. Those of the core worlds with more wealth and power are able to speak louder in the Senate compared to the Outer Rim planets. Frustrated and neglected worlds or those looking to further their profits have sided against the Republic. And so, we are now at war…."
The memory seemed to zoom outward of the window they looked at. The view showed a large open area. In it, the witches present could only describe it as a large army of white armored soldiers either standing in formation or marching up ramps into enormous wedge-shaped ships flying out to the horizon.
Seeing the Republic military so enormous that it would put anything the Emperor's Coven could put together to shame.
The memory ended as quickly as it came, leaving the stunned witches alone.
Amity was the first to comment. "Luz said the Republic clone army was massive but seeing it from her memories really blew my expectations."
"I could only imagine the battles..." Willow tried not to.
"We may have to if any are damaged." The thought of possibly seeing the war Luz participated in through her eyes and memories brought no joy to them, never giving them details of what she went through or what she had to do. "Let's get started."
For what felt like hours, the duo worked to find and restore Luz's memories. In doing so, they learned much about their friend and saw her as a very energetic child and dedicated protector. Straightening a room to see Luz fixing a droid with a few other Jedi. Fixing a few platforms to show Luz doing incredible feats of acrobatics as she runs through an obstacle course. Putting together a Republic Assault walker with Luz standing on top leading what looked like a mix of clone troopers and civilians in a refuge train across barren planes while a storm raged over them.
"I remember that campaign." Spoke Aero, a clone that stayed at the Owl House. He'd been helping the students by giving out some background information and context to help. "Our fleet had to pull out or risk getting destroyed due to being outnumbered three to one. Leaving the ground forces behind to fend for themselves. Our groups were spread out in a region that provided little cover from air raids. So, under cover of a storm that was passing overhead, the Commander ordered the civilian population and us to move to a region that provided better natural fortifications. The march was terrible but fruitful as the storm protected us from air attacks. Not long after reaching our destination, an old fort that was built and abandoned by planetary security forces. We staffed the fortifications and staved off Separatist attacks for fourteen days before the 8th sector fleet could break through to reinforce us."
"I can't even imagine what that must have been like," Gus responded as he had his notebook out and wrote the stories. He asked the clones if he could ask them questions for his school project, and the troopers obliged the kid with a few tails.
"Well, Commander Noceda did not act like other Jedi we've served under." Another trooper, Rags, piped in. "While many Jedi fought alongside us clones, our Commander took the time to check on each and every one of us. Made sure we had enough water and rations to go around as well as adequately rested. There was more than one time she took watch herself just for some of us to rest for the coming day."
"She really cares for all of you, doesn't she..." Willow stated.
"She's vod. A sister to all of us in the 3rd..."
"Till you all started shooting at her."
Everyone turned to a glaring Eda as she bore down on them.
"Order 66. That's what triggered those chips in your heads and made you forget everything about your friendships and gun down any Jedi you see. Then even after you go and kill the ones who raised her, she still returns and risks her life to save you all from a life of mindless enslavement." Her words hit the clones hard while they clinched their fists and ground their teeth. Eda turns away from them to look down at her charge with a neutral look and cover up her emotions. "But that just says a lot about her now, doesn't it?"
"...It does." The clone turned away in silence.
Gus felt a little hesitant asking his next question. "If you don't mind me asking... What was it like under those control chips?"
The question made the trooper go still as if trying to come up with the correct answer. "It was like the world around me was covered in a dull haze. As if someone put a colored filter over my eyes. I could still feel like myself, but I felt stiffer when I started to move. Everything after that was a haze with orders that needed to be done no matter the cost. I didn't feel like me anymore." The clone looked depressed as he and the others glanced at Luz's sleeping form. "When the command was to kill all the Jedi, I couldn't stop myself from following it. You couldn't fight it no matter how hard you resisted. You just did. I felt relief and shame when they took that chip out of my head."
Another clone gave a comforting hand on Aero's shoulder. "We all were brother. The fact is that Luz risked her life and safety for us, and we will do the same for her. We owed her much during the war and more so after."
Back with the duo in Luz's head, the two were inside some chambers arranging chairs to their correct spots. After the fifth time they set them, the memory fixed itself and played.
The memory brightens with a teenage Luz standing in the middle of the circle of chairs with several figures sitting in them.
"Padawan Noceda," Announced a bald head Mace Windu, the human the witches seen in other memories. "You've come before the High Council with a request to speak on your behalf."
"Yes, Master Windu." Memory Luz responded.
"Then the Council will listen to what you have to say." Master Windu allowed her the floor.
Luz took to a deep breath. "Members of the Council. My Master Nicanas Tassu, along with many Jedi, died fighting on Geonosis. Like myself and many of my fellow Padawans left behind here at the Jedi Temple, we could do nothing but feel them becoming one with the Force."
The Council felt pangs of sadness for the amount of life lost in that first battle, as it was the bloodiest battle to date since the new Sith wars.
"A terrible loss, we all felt." The short old goblin, Master Yoda, said in agreement.
"Like my fellow Padawans, I became lost. Then I asked myself questions. What to do? After the battle, I decided I wanted to help fight and devoted myself to my studies. So I've studied and taken the Republic Officers course these last few months and succeeded." Luz pulled out a tablet and headed to Master Windu.
The dark-skinned man studied the documents with a skeptically raised eyebrow that he was known for. When he finished, he nodded his head in acceptance with a nod. "Indeed you have."
"This is something that many Padawans have yet to achieve and are already on the front lines. You could wait till the Council assigns you as a Master. Why put your effort into this?" Question Master Saesee Tiin, a male Iktotchi Jedi.
"The Council of Reassignment has pushed many of my fellow Padawans into the Service Corps due to finding no master's willing to help to continue their training. So instead of being tossed away and forgotten, I want to go to Kamino and help with the clone's training."
The memory ended there for the viewers.
"She was determined to help fight in the war even if she couldn't fight on the front lines. Pushing herself to always help others." Willow felt a bit sad seeing Luz sacrificing so much of herself for others.
"But that memory showed Luz wanting to help train the clones. How did she end up training soldiers to leading them?" Amity wonders. "Aero, can you tell us?" She asked the clone over the flying scroll.
"This happened before my time being under Commander Noceda. Before the third Regiment was formed proper." The clone responded. "She was on Kamino when the Separatists made a daring attack there. Hoping to take out the cloning facilities and kill off the production of clones. Luz helped the city's defense by leading a newly formed garrison made from freshly graduated troops she helped train. They fended off attacks that breached the orbital defenses. That garrison she led would soon become the members of the first Regiment of the Rifles."
"Luz told us what the Empire did to Kamino. I'm sorry for what happened."
"You weren't the ones that pulled the trigger, so don't be. But thanks anyway."
Amity and Willow continued on to search for more damaged memories. They were tempted a few times to look into a few undamaged ones to learn a bit about their friend but didn't out of privacy.
"You don't belong here."
The voice startled them as they turned to see Luz standing down the hall.
"Luz?!" Amity and Willow said in surprise as they rushed to their friend before stopping at the sight of her.
The first thing they noticed was that Luz had a glow of a white light aura around her. Giving the Jedi a radiant look. Next was her attire. She was wearing a brown robe and shin-high boots that looked worn for formal events and combat. Her hazel hair was done up in a tigheed-off bun in the back. The last thing was the ignited blue double-bladed lightsaber pike in her hand.
"Luz?" Amity and Willow looked at the weapon with unease. "What's wrong?" Amity asked.
"You do not belong here. Leave." Luz ordered.
"This must be her inner Luz Eda was talking about. We're not here to cause trouble, Luz. We're here to help!" Amity told the Inner Luz.
"You can help by leaving this place." Inner Luz pointed one of the blades toward the witches. "You will only get in the way."
"In the way?" Amity and Willow glanced at each other; unsure what Luz meant as they were fixing her memories. "Of what?"
"Probably me."
Inner Luz throws her double-bladed saber toward the witches, making them yelp before ducking under the attack as it spins through the air and into the shadow of one pillar. A wild laugh fills the air as a dark figure drops from above and lands not far behind the two students. When they looked up, they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"Another Luz?" Willow gaped.
This one was different. While one had a highlighted aura of white light, the other seemed to absorb the light around her. She wore a black robe with two lightsabers hung on her sash. The sides of her head were shaven off, but the top and back were tied to a back braid that curled back and rested on her shoulder. But it was her face that was the most eye-catching was the yellow glow within her eyes.
"Two inner Luz's?!" Amity's head moved back and to the two. "How can this be?!" The dark-robed Luz giggled at the witch's confusion.
"Well, hello there… My apprentice."
Cliffhanger!
There you have it readers. Another chapter in the bad for this story and turning this into a two-part chapter into Luz's crazy head.
This is thanks due to a suggestion by my editor Ghost-G339 when I got to the end there. With the Chapter being over 9,000 words up to that point it seemed like a good cut off point.
Lots of stuff going on here with more back story into Luz's past and taking part in the clone wars. Plus, a major plot twist with Luz having essentially two gate keepers to her memories. Big "WHAT?!" moment there.
In other news we're finally getting dates of the last season 3 of Owl House. The first being aired this month on the 15th. Can't wait for that to appear. Going to be interesting to see how this plays out with it being 44 minutes long. I'd imagine there is going to be a lot of debate on what things are going to happen and can't wait to see it.
Like always, Follow, Fav, and Review and I'll see you next time.
Thanks to Ghost-G339 for cleanup and editing