At the Emperor's Castle, Wild Witches were being brought in for judgment. They were fully aware of what awaits them, and hold no regrets, believing that death was better than bondage. Lilith is watching the procession from atop the castle walls, sighing as she grew tired of watching this occur...over and over and over again. Too many times have people thought to rebel against what she believed was the only way to bring order to her home, and too many times as she saw them perish for it, and yet many of them accepted it without reservation. Heading back inside, she stops by a stained glass window of Emperor Belos, robed witches bowing at his feet while a Hand of the Titan reaches for the sun behind them.
"I haven't forgotten what you've promised me. I will bring you my sister, Emperor Belos." she says to the window, as if she were actually talking to the Emperor himself.
"Then why the delay." said a voice from behind the Coven, who turns around to see the thorn in her side, Kikimora. "The Day of Unity is fast approaching, and other teams have bound many rogue witches to covens, and yet the Owl Lady still roams free. Are you... protecting her?"
Then came a third voice. "Patience, Kikimora. Patience." Both witches turned to see Desu walking out of the shadows. "We have all the time we could ever have to ensure all is as it should be."
"Master Desu?" Kikimora asked. "I commend you for your success. Not only have you collected your fair share of Wild Witches, but have managed to integrate them into our Coven. Well done."
"Took a little convincing, but now they see the error of their ways and are more willing to join."
In some ways, did Lilith envy the mysterious new benefactor of the Emperor's Coven. He's managed to bring in all these new recruits when she can't even bring in her own sister. Though, ever since he's shown up, Desu has treated her with nothing but respect for her and all other members for the coven. Yet, she simply does not trust him. His suspicious looks and behavior made it impossible for her to find him trustworthy, so she tries to keep a close eye on him.
"Still, you seem to have no patience with the Coven's Head." He pointed to Kikimora, who felt smaller than she already was around him.
"Lilith has failed to capture her sister-the Owl Lady, on numerous occasions. Not to mention she suffered a greater failure at the hands of the young Belmont. The Emperor is not one to easily tolerate delays."
"Failing to capture a woman who has been wanted for decades is hardly a delay, Kikimora." Desu said back. "And you'd be wise not to underestimate the Belmont."
"Desu. You don't really think that a single child is capable of avoiding capture of a few of the Boiling Isle's finest, do you?" Kikimora asked
The mysterious sorcerer replied "That child comes from a long line of warriors, hunters and champions that have the blessings of heavenly beings. She has been the bane to many other threats to the Isles, since she has appeared. If I were you, Kikimora, I'd be afraid to ever face such a being."
Kikimora tried hard not to show it, honestly she was pretty scared. If not of the Belmont, then of Desu. The mysterious ones are always the most unpredictable, and therefore more dangerous.
"However, I hold onto faith that Lilith will succeed in the prosecution of both the Owl Lady and the Belmont. I foresaw it, today will be the day of something wondrous, and we shall all bare witness."
"Really? How could you foresee such things? Do you have omniscience?"
"Yes." Desu simply answered, much to Kikimora's surprise.
"Oh...well...if you say so."
Lilith finally spoke again, asking "Are you certain about this...premonitions of yours?"
"I am more than certain. You will carry out the mission flawlessly and gain what you rightfully deserve."
A smile of pride and determination crossed Lilith's face as snaps fingers and guards approached upon her command.
"Then let it be known today that we capture Edalyn Clawthorne. Once and for all."
Ever since the incident that occurred at the Grudgby stadium, and her encounter with one of the Ancient Dark Lords, Luz has been on edge, scoping through everything she could find on the Necromancer, the Lord of Death and the Right Hand of the Dragon. Eda and King were concerned for her, but the Owl Lady understood that it was a matter of utmost importance, as when entities and beings originating from the depths of Hell, it cannot be overlooked. Unfortunately, they didn't have time to assist Luz, as Eda sensed the Emperor's Coven stepping up their game in trying to capture her. Even today, as she was busy brewing something in a cauldron, she could sense that troops were already outside her home, led by none other than her sister.
"Of course, she wasn't kidding about coming back." Eda sighed, staring out into the woods through binoculars. It was then that Luz suddenly walked past her, saying "Don't worry, Eda. I got this."
"No, wait! Luz!" But Eda couldn't catch her in time as Luz walked out the door, where a sleeping Hooty was. Luz stood her ground, whip in hand, in front of the Owl House as she too was well aware of the presence of the Guards a few feet away. From where they hid, their leader, Lilith was there, glaring at the sight of Luz, never forgetting their first encounter.
"It's her." She growls. "The Belmont has left herself out in the open for us. Surround the house and if you're given the chance, kill the child." She orders the guards as they ready their weapons, going off in different directions. But Luz was well aware of her plan.
"Lilith!" She calls out. "I know you're out there! Retreat now or you'll suffer for your actions! And believe me, I don't want to do this..."
But the Coven Head wasn't buying it, huffing at Luz's threat. "You dare to threaten me? Ha! You're out of your element, Belmont! Soon, I'll rid the Isles of your existence!"
"So be it. But just remember. You made me do this."
Lilith was on her guard, wanting to be prepared for whatever Luz had in store. But much to her surprise, all the young Belmont did was raise her left arm, point upward and then...tickle Hooty underneath his chin.
"HOOT HOOT! I'M AWAKE!" said the house demon before slamming his face into the ground. Lilith was caught off guard by Hooty suddenly popping up behind her. "Hiya, Lilith! Peek-a-hoot!" He then slams Lilith into a tree before the guards change their target from the house to the world's most annoying security system. "Sorry! Eda doesn't like trespassers, but I'm always here to make new friends! Hoot!" He bonks a guard on the head before shoving his face through their hood, practically wearing their body. "Oh! Look at me! I'm a person now. Wobbly, wobbly! Ooh, blackout!" He punches another guard with his new 'body' before throwing it away. "Hoot hoot! Bye, friend! Ooh! I feel like dancing!" He then shakes his body around, hitting the guards in the process. "Hoot!"
Luz was just leaning against the house, enjoying the show as one of the guards came towards her before she casually pushes them back in for more torture. All the while, Lilith gets back up and sees everything falling apart. She grabs her staff and takes aim at Hooty, who was bobbing in front of a tree. Then, she fires.
"I did it!" The house demon says before looking down. "Oh hey! Look, it's a bug!"
The blast from Lilith's staff misses Hooty and instead hits a tree, which falls towards Lilith, who barely had time to get away. Exhausted and dazed, she falls to the ground while Hooty still looks at the 'bug'. "Aww. Just an old leaf. Well, that's good too!" He then chews the leaf loudly.
"Huh. Smart move using Hooty to deal with the guards." Eda says, seeing everything from inside the house as Luz comes back inside.
"Well, not with that over and done with, I'm going back to my thing."
"Um, Luz...don't you wanna see what I have cooking here?" Eda asks, pointing towards the caldron. But Luz simply waves her off. "Nope, that's not important right now." This made Eda sigh. When she looked inside of Luz, she wasn't a little girl, she saw a warrior who her family are known to become with age. She knows that each of her bloodline were born into the life of monster hunting, but she never recalled Victor saying that he started fighting Night Creatures at her age. No one should have this burden, it reminded Eda of her own curse. Had she not been able to remedy that ages ago, she could only think of how heavy its toll would've taken on her. King passes by Luz with a look of concern, seeing his human friend simply wave her by.
"Ugh. What are we gonna do, Eda? Luz is back to way she was when I betrayed with that stupid book of mine. I miss the way she was, before all this craziness happened."
"I know, King. Luz has done so much for us and has asked for nothing in return." Eda said. "She is just like everyone from Victor's side of her family, and that shouldn't be happening to her for another decade or so. If this keeps up, we might never see her as a charming little girl anymore."
King whined "Well, there's gotta be something! I don't want Luz to be a stone-cold warrior! I just want her to be our friend!"
"There's not much we can do about it for now, King. But maybe this'll help." She then turns her attention back at what was stirring up in the cauldron. "Once it's done, I'll give it to Luz."
"The wool?" King asked. "I thought you said you needed that for protection."
"Yes, but...Lord knows Luz deserves it more than I right now."
At Hexside, Gus and Willow were lining up with other students who were anxious to go on a field trip to the Emperor's Castle. Of course, they weren't as excited about it as everyone else, as they were missing the friend they'd hoped to be with on this day. Amity has been absent for a while due to the injury on her leg, and they haven't heard back from Luz since then, and any attempts to contact her have been ignored.
"This doesn't seem right without Luz or Amity joining in." Gus said, to which Willow replied "Yeah, and they're gonna both miss out on all the relics the Castle has in store."
"From what Amity said, she hasn't heard from Luz as well. It's like she's completely cut herself away from everyone. Ever since she met that Zobek, or Desu guy, or whatever he's called."
Willow thought about that man "Hmm, that man...Amity said that he was the teacher in her new class, and has been currently assisting the Emperor's Coven with...whatever goes on at the Castle. I'll bet we'll probably have a chance to see him again once we get there."
"If that's true, we should find a way to tell Luz about it. She would definitely not want to miss out on this!" Gus said as both of them went aboard the flying ship that sped off to the Emperor's Castle. On the way there, Gus could tell there was something on Willow's mind as she had an expression of seriousness.
"Something wrong, Willow?"
"It's just that...we were always taught that Emperor Belos built his castle as a symbol of Unity, and that when he came into power, he formed the covens in order to keep witches from doing magic all wrong..."
Gus interrupted "Yeah...but ever since we met Luz and what she's taught about magic from the human world, it's been...liberating. Kind of like there's a wrong way to do magic."
"It kinda feels like it's a bad idea to limit ourselves to a coven." Willow said. "I wonder what Amity would think of this."
At Amity's home, the young witch laid in her room with her leg in a cast, albeit with a little bit of dried blood. Her giant stab wound bled excessively for several days, thanks to her former friend, Boscha. She turns to a poster of Lilith on her wall, representing the Emperor's Coven with a sword in hand and the words "Join the Emperor's Coven Today!" written under her. Given what she's been through, the only thoughts she had on the poster was...
"What a joke." And then she threw her sword at the poster.
"We shouldn't even be thinking about this out loud." Willow continued. "We're about to enter the castle of the most skilled witch that ever lived and we're talking about going against his system?"
Gus then "Let's just keep these thoughts to ourselves for now. We're just about here."
The ship lands in front of the Emperor's Castle, its towering doors open as Bump leads the students out of the ship.
"Now, the Emperor's assistant will be your tour guide. Please don't make me regret taking you here." As he said that, the assistant herself, Kikimora, stands on a platform as a bridge extends to the ship. The class stares in awe, stepping aboard the bridge, which retreats, bringing them closer to the Imp.
"Children of Hexside, Emperor Belos welcomes you to his castle. We're honored by visits from students. You'll soon be a part of a coven, and some lucky few may even find their home here, in the mighty Emperor's Coven! And as you are the future of the Isles, my job is to teach you its past."
As the tour commences, Gus and Willow drown out what Kikimora talks about, being the history of the Isles and how Belos came into power. Their thoughts turn back to what they've learned before, from Luz and Eda, making them think that what might be considered Wild Magic here can be considered Normal Magic in the human realm. It was such an interesting thought that they couldn't get over magic from the human world, limited by what can be learned instead of subjugated. They didn't want to believe Luz was living proof of that, having powers that they never thought possible. And she's a fugitive for just being in this realm?
"There is so much Luz could teach us if she was given the chance." Willow thought to herself.
Her train of thought was halted by Kikimora speaking up "Our next stop is the Emperor's personal collection of relics."
The doors open to reveal a room with objects basking in a glowing light while resting atop pedestals. "The Relic Room." Kikimora stated. "These items remind us of our great Emperor's overwhelming power."
"Man, Luz would've loved to have seen this." Willow whispers to herself.
"From the curious and mighty." Kikimora says, passing a relic known as the Oracle Sphere, which Gus gazes at. "To the very handy." Then a relic known as the Green Thumb Gauntlet, which Willow admires, saying "I could grow such beautiful plants with that." But then, she notices something, a door hidden on one of the walls. "Um, Miss Kikimora, what is that room over there?"
The biped demon turns where Willow points at and sees the door for herself. "I...I'm not sure. I've never seen that door before. "She then takes notice of the withered Insignia branding the door. It was not of a Coven, but of a clan, one that made witches like her afraid. "But it would seem that the Emperor has marked that door off for a reason. So it should not be of great concern towards you. Now come along, children. There is more for you to see."
Willow and Gus couldn't take their mind off of that door as the class entered the hallway, which Kikimora continued to speak. "Here at the Emperor's Coven, we require members with sophistication, elegance and grace.
But then a door slams open to reveal a not so elegant looking Lilith, accompanied by the Mysterious Desu. The Coven head's hair was disheveled and she spits out feathers before she vanishes her staff before she and Desu begin walking past the students.
"Make way for Miss Lilith Clawthorne, students." Kikimora said with a fake pride. But at least the students still admired her in her current state.
"Oh, my gosh. The head of the coven! Wow!"
Kiki replied "Yes, and if I'm not mistaken, she's on her way to see the Emperor himself. Let's all wish her luck."
The students do all that as Lilith blushes and thanks them. All but Gus and Willow were admiring her, as their attention was focused on the robed and bearded man who was with her.
"That was him!" Willow whispered to Gus, who silently replied "We have to contact Luz!"
Back to where Lilith and Desu were going, they entered the throne room, where a massive beating green heart can be seen hooked up to pipes above the a golden throne where the Emperor himself sat, not really looking the best in shape as his head was buried in his hands. His Golden Guard stood directly behind the throne, along with other various guards that stood around the room as the Witch and Wizard approached the throne and kneeled.
"We are at your service, Emperor Belos."
The ruler of the Boiling Isles breathes heavily as a guard brings a tray with a transparent orb with a glowing teal matter inside.
"Just a moment, Lilith." said the Emperor, who extends his hand towards the orb and its teal substances flow from its container and into the hand of Belos, who basked in its temporal glow as his breathing seemed to have steadied itself. "Ah, that's better. I must commend Desu here for his wonderful gift, saves all the time with palismans, as I never have to sacrifice another. Now, as for you Lilith, I've heard of your attempted raid at the Owl Lady's home this morning."
"Yes. but we were-"
"Unsuccessful? That was obvious enough. It's been over a month since you promised to bring me the Owl Lady. And yet your efforts fail me, time after and again."
"If I may be so bold as to intercept, my Emperor..." Desu interrupted, as whispers can be heard around the room, saying how this man had the gall to talk back to Belos. "I've seen what the future holds. Rest assure, Emperor Belos, that on this day, Lilith will succeed at capturing Edalyn Clawthorne. And as a bonus, we will have the Young Belmont as well."
"Really?" Lilith asks in a sarcastic tone. "Because your earlier premonition failed me."
Desu replied "Everything falls into place, Lilith. The effort you bestowed this morning was not at the right moment. You will capture your sister, but at the best in which I have foreseen." He then turns to Belos. "Now, my Emperor, if we are to succeed in the Owl Lady and Belmont's persecution, I will provide Lilith the edge she needs to see it through. That is, if you allow it, of course."
"Very well." Answered Belos. "Consider her at your disposal. Bring me both the Owl Lady and the Belmont by twilight and I will reward you both. Fail me..." His nails dig into his throne as the heart above beats faster. "...And I shall see you stripped of your rank and banished from my coven. You do know what happens to covenless witches, don't you?"
Lilith looked at the mural of Belos standing over witches. Everything thinks it is about celebrating his power, but it wasn't, they were begging for mercy.
"...I understand." She says. "I will not fail."
As she and Desu leave, Lilith takes a moment to confront Desu about the deal he made with Belos.
"You mind telling me what was that about using me?"
"If it is your sister that you want, you will listen to what I have to say." Desu replied. "I have a plan to ensure your sister's capture and I have the means to ensure that the Belmont is...eliminated in the process. All you will need...this."
It was then that Desu presented to Lilith a long staff with a crescent shaped scythe blade at the end. Coursing through it was a power unknown to the people of the Isles, but it was dark, unholy and sinister, as when Lilith traced her fingers across it, its translucent energy can be felt at her tips and it was invigorating. What it was was the scepter of the necromancers.
"What sort of power is this?" she asks.
"The kind of power that many had died in order to gain, but for you, a living being, I shall allow its temporary use in order to ensure that your mission succeeds and your destiny is fulfilled. I give to you...the power of death."
Presenting to her the staff, Desu smiles as Lilith takes hold of it. She gasps as the outworldly energy wrapped around her, filling her with an extraordinary power no one in the isles has felt. As her eyes glowed in a light blue color, the possessed Coven Head smiles evilly.
Back at the Owl House, Luz's room was filled to the brim with notes and pages about Night Creatures associated with magic abilities. She searched everything she could find on her family's experience with Necromancy, the most evil magic anyone could study. It all goes back to people killing themselves and selling their souls to dark lords just to obtain a fragment of its power, but in truth, all they ever become are puppets to the Lord of Death himself. Her eyes were tired and baggy, she had slept, she hadn't eaten, heck, she sometimes forgot to blink because paranoia was getting the best of her due to that little encounter with Desu. She knew she was up to something, she just needed to figure out what it was, and nothing was gonna stop her, not even-
(BANG)
...Not even-
(BANG)
...N-Not even a-
(BANG)
It was then that Luz finally took notice of what was banging at her window, and it turned out to be black bird that looked desperately wanting to get in. Sighing, she got up and walked towards the window with a knife in hand, wanting to get it over with as she opened it. But much to her dismay, the bird dismayed, rather it simply flew inside and showed that it had a scroll in its claws. Luz simply pulled the scroll out and unraveled it, reading what it said closely with steady eyes.
Meanwhile, Eda is knitting with the witch's wool and King is napping. Holding it up to her finished work, it was revealed to be a cloak. "Yeah! Something tells me Luz is gonna like having a cape."
King wakes up to what Eda was talking about. "Cape? I thought you were making a cake."
"You thought I was knitting a cake?" Eda asks.
"I, uh... anyway! If there's no cake, then I have to get to work! Would you look at us two, being all generous to that kid." He runs off and crashes into something. "You know what, when she first got here, I thought we were gonna eat her." A louder crash knocks a picture off the wall. "But now I only think of that, like, sometimes."
"Yeah, she's changed the feel of this house." Eda then takes a look at the picture, which is that of Luz, battling coven guards and night creatures mixed together. "Well, she has a good heart. And she definitely holds up to her family name...maybe a little too much. But despite all that, she's still a decent kid. Welp, since this cape is finished, might as well give it to her now."
She heads up to Luz's room and knocks on the door, only to be met with Luz. Even the way she is now, Luz always gives a response. Something must be up.
"Luz?" Eda said while opening the door, only to find the room deprived of one human, scattered notes across the ground and one letter coming from a messenger bird. Eda quickly picks up and reads the letter herself, her eyes widening in the process."
"Oh no."
Back at the castle, the field trip was at its end as all the student's returned to the ship...almost all of them. Gus and Willow stayed behind, managing to get away with it, thanks to Gus' illusion magic. Their doubles look back and give them thumbs up while the real Gus and Willow watch from a window
"Nice work, Gus." Willow said. "Now we just have to wait for Luz to arrive, and-"
"I'm here."
Both turn around, surprised to see Luz already with them as she pulls something out, which appears to be...a bleeding eye?
"Hold out your hands." She practically ordered both her friends, who were a little hesitant about what Luz was planning, but they trusted her as they did as they were told. They allowed the blood to pour into their hands as the world around them suddenly felt like it changed for a moment...or was it they who changed around the world? Perhaps it was the latter of the two, as both of them now looked at Luz glowing in a blood red aura, and themselves as well.
"Luz, what was-" Willow began to ask before getting interrupted by the young Belmont, who answered "Invisibility Spell, soul magic. Works only until the eye closes. Now let's get to it. Where exactly did you see Zobek?"
Gus and Willow were a little unnerved by their friend's behavior. It was bad enough when she isolated herself from them, now this behavior, acting so not like herself, throwing questions at them like if they were being interrogated, eager to snuff out possible threats the moment she hears about them. What happened to the Luz they knew and loved?
"We...saw him with Lilith Clawthorne, making their way to the Emperor's Throne room." Gus answered. "We only managed to see them at the Relic Room."
"And how far is that from here?"
"10 minutes away?" Willow answered.
Luz looked at the eye in her hand before saying "...We don't have that much time."
Moving as quickly as they could Willow, Luz, and Gus sneak through the halls when they see a guard coming down the stairs. Thanks to their invisibility, the guard simply moved past them without noticing. Luz insists that they move quickly as it's only a matter of time before the eye closes and they're visible again. Ducking through another hall leading to the Relic Room.
"This is where we last saw them." Willow stated. "But we don't know how to get to the Throne Room from here."
"Nevermind that for now." Luz said as she saw the side door that the class saw earlier."
"Oh yeah. Kikimora said that Emperor Belos had that door marked off for a reason."
"We don't even recognize the symbol on it. What do you think Luz...Luz?" Willow got no response as Luz slowly walked towards the door. She put her hand on the old Insignia that was on the door, recognizing it very well. It was her family's symbol, and that was enough to make Luz open it without hesitation. Inside...it looked like a study, with shelves of books and papers. Luz analyzed each book that was on the shelves, only seeing them for the first time here, yet in some way, recognizing them all. These books were her family's hold, the collective wisdom and knowledge of the many generations of Belmonts who fought the creatures of the night; this was Luz's Legacy. And at the very end of the room...was a locked chest, engraved with a lion's head as its opening.
Luz was unreadable at the moment what she was seeing, as history seemed to repeat itself.
"It...cannot be...Can it?"
"Luz?" Willow called to her friend, but got no response, seeing her friend kneel down before pulling out a knife and jamming it through the lock's shackle. After a bit of nudging, the lock broke off and the chest engulfed itself in a strange glow that could be felt throughout the area. Willow and Gus were oblivious to the intensity of this moment as Luz slowly opened up the chest to reveal her family's greatest treasure. A weapon with a cross shaped handle, forged from precious metals that made it stronger than steel. Its lash consists of a long metal chain made of adamantine metal, and at its tip was a spiked flail that shined like platinum. Upon grasping the weapon, Luz was filled with immense feelings of joy, anxiety, shock and more as she only ever dreamed of this moment.
"...Beautiful." She whispered, as her friends peered behind her and took sight of what she held in her hands.
"What is it?" Willow asked, to which Gus added "Is it a weapon of some sort?"
"I don't believe it myself..." Luz said as she tugged the chain, reacting as her ancestor did once before "It's the Morning Star." As she held the sacred weapon in her hands, however, something else was on her mind. "...But why would this be here? Why would Belos have any of this?"
"What are you talking about, Luz?" Gus asked.
"All these books, these artifacts, and even this..." Luz says, holding up the chain whip. "They all belong to my family. These shouldn't be here!"
"And neither do you." A disembodied voice came out of nowhere as it was then that the three noticed that the Invisibility Spell had worn out.
"We need to leave. Now!" And with that, Luz, Gus and Willow began to run out of the Relic Room, only to be stopped by the door shutting in their faces.
"We're trapped!" Willow says, and it was then Luz looks down at the Morning Star and remembers something from her dreams about how powerful it is.
"Time to see if the legends are true." She says as she takes a stance, whip in hand and strikes the door.
Meanwhile, Lilith and Desu were next to the stained glass mural of Belos, as Lilith paces impatiently in front of the sorcerer.
"What is the delay on our plan, Desu?" She asks. "Belos expects us to have our sister captured by nightfall, and you have us here, waiting for something."
"As I said before, everything falls into place. We are simply waiting for the opportunity of our success." Desu explained
"You merely waste our time! It's not like Edalyn is going to come to us. There's nothing that could drive her out of her home to-"
(BOOOM)
"What was that?!"
"Opportunity." Desu said with a smile.
Back inside the Relic Room, dust fills the area as Willow and Gus cough from what seemed like an explosion that could be felt around the castle. They looked to see that Luz was still standing, Morning Star in hand as a gaping hole replaced the locked door of the place.
"Come on, let's go!" But before they could even step out of the room, they are once again stopped by Lilith, who points her staff at Luz with a smile on her face.
"Ah, the Belmont. I've been waiting for our little reunion."
Luz groaned, as she didn't have time for this. "I have no quarrel with you today, Lilith. Out of my way."
"You are in no position to command me, child." Lilith said, advancing towards Luz who takes a few steps back, yet holds her ground. "Nothing would make me feel better than to rid this world of you. But first, I need to draw my sister in. Only then...you will have my permission to die."
Luz saw a glimmer of magic in Lilith's eyes, but it wasn't that of the Boiling Isles. No, she recognizes this power from the one true master of it all.
"...Tell me where I can find Desu." She growled through gritted teeth.
"He is not your concern at the moment. And while your weapons and tactics are impressive...they're inferior. They will not save you this time."
"...Gus, Willow, get of here." Luz told her friends, as she pulled out something else and tossed it to them. It was a small disk that had runes carved on it, and Willow could feel magic emanating from it. "Use that to warp out of here." They refused to leave her alone.
"You can't seriously think of-" Willow started to say, but Luz said back "This fight is mine alone, and doesn't concern you. If you find Eda, tell her to stay away."
"We are not gonna leave-"
"Just do what I say, damn it!"
Hearing that outburst made the two step back, as they were beginning to see the same hardened warrior that the Owl Lady saw Luz becoming. Having no choice, they decided to use the relic and were gone in a flash of light, leaving Luz and Lilith alone.
"This is where the line of Belmonts comes to an end." Lilith said, holding up her staff.
"We'll see about that." Luz replied, holding her newly acquired whip in hand. Both magic users took a stance against each other...before the foundation of the entire castle began to shake.
Eda was already making her way to the Emperor's Castle, the one place she ever refused to go. But she wasn't planning on doing any stupid, she only wanted to bring Luz home, as what brought her here was not worth risking her life. Standing at least a mile away from the Castle, Eda saw Gus and Willow suddenly appear out of nowhere, still holding the warp disk.
"Gus? Willow? What happened?" She asked them both.
"We were trying to help Luz with something that's been bothering her...then, everything just kind of snowballed." Willow explained. "Lilith caught us and Luz stayed behind, forcing us to escape.
"She's still in the castle?!" She asked, pointing to the location...where an explosion just took place. They all looked in horror at what was going on there. Two figures burst through the just dust cloud, falling onto the drawbridge of the castle. And Eda knew exactly who they were.
"...Luz." Wasting no time, she rushes over there as the fight between her pupil and sister raged on. At the top of the castle, Emperor Belos watched what was going on as Desu walked over and stood beside him.
"Entertainment at its finest." Desu said. "Would you agree, my Emperor."
"Call this off." The Emperor stated, making the old sorcerer next to him raise an eyebrow. "You have the power to do so, I can sense it. Now do it."
Desu replied "But things are finally starting to get interesting. Very soon, we will have both the Owl Lady and Belmont taken care of."
"I wish for Belmont to be taken alive. I have things to discuss with her."
"...Really? After all this time?" The sorcerer asked. "That's not what you said several days ago. Why am I so interested in the girl now? ...Is it because you believe that you and she share a common interest."
"Oh, I do. That is why Lilith must not kill her."
"Rest assured, my Emperor. Everything...is as it should be."
Jumping across the bridge, Luz leaped away from Lilith who shot at her with blasts of fire. Lilith teleported and Luz quickly swung her new whip behind her, knowing Lilith was going to appear there. Yet again, both combatants were pushed back by the massive impactful force that came from the Morning Star that Luz could barely handle. She may be skilled, but she was still young.
"So this is what it's like the first time." She said as she grabbed the whip but its chain and began to spin as Lilith advanced with her next attack, sending fast ethereal projectiles her way.
"You may have your family's weapon, but you have no place in this realm!" Lilith said as she seemed to have boosted up with power. "You will never leave this place alive!"
Luz could sense this power was not of Lilith's own abilities. Something was energizing her, making her stronger, but also more corrupted. She looked up to see Zobek watching the fight from the top of the castle, and realized what was going on. Lilith was merely a pawn in this game of death, orchestrated by the Lod of the Necromancer's who decided to sit back and enjoy the show. She didn't have time to think about that as Lilith dashes towards Luz, swinging her staff at her with a blast of energy coming from it for extra effect. Luz swore with the way the staff was swung, Lilith was using her weapon as if it were a scythe. Once more, Lilith moved back quickly and launched herself into the air, shooting projectiles in the form of monstrous skulls.
"Yep. Definitely Death's power." Luz said to herself as she moved away, dodging as many as she could. She was fast, but it seemed as if Lilith was fast, not letting up on any attacks as she came and suddenly forced Luz to the ground. Luz choked as Lilith's staff was pushed against her through, she couldn't get the witch off of her as the pressure started to cut off her oxygen. She looked into Lilith's eyes, seeing the killing intent in them along with the corrupted will that belonged to Desu as Luz was about to pass out...but then, Lilith was suddenly blasted off by a wave of orange magic. It was Eda, staff in her right hand, who came just at the time to stop her sister from killing Luz. She wasn't looking too happy with what she had just witnessed.
"I warned you, sister." She said in an angry tone. "You just couldn't see the truth for yourself, could you?"
"Edalyn..." Lilith said in a dark tone. "Finally, with pupil and master together, this may be a fight worth my time."
"Leave Luz out of this! This is between me and you!" Eda yelled out, but Lilith wouldn't listen as she reached her hand out and revealed a weapon that Luz recognized.
"The staff of the necromancers. I was right." Luz said, looking back up to the top of the tower. "Desu is behind all of this."
And it was then that Lilith said "Can't you understand, Edalyn? She is a Belmont! And I will not allow that bloodline to live...ANY LONGER!"
Seeing the insane Emperor's Coven Head charge at them, both Eda and Lilith brought their guard and were ready for the fight of their lives. Eda 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. Luz intervenes launching the Morning Star towards Lilith, who repels it with a beam of light that causes another explosion, sending Luz flying over the bridge.
"Luz!" Eda says as rushes to help, but then sees Luz save herself by launching the whip into the bridge right as she went under and swung back onto the top. Growling at seeing the young Belmont still alive, Lilith drops down with her sister chasing after her. Eda summons a Hooty Hydra to wrap Lilith, only to see her sister cut it to pieces with her new staff. Eda spins her staff and sends a giant blast at Lilith, but even that is easily deflected as Lilith sends a blast of her own so fast that it sends Eda falling out of the sky. With her sister down, Lilith turns her attention back to Luz.
"I'LL EXTERMINATE THE FILTHY LINEAGE OF THE BELMONTS!" She roared as she threw the Necromancer Staff, sending it spinning mid air like a buzzsaw. Luz dodged as quickly as she could and sent the morning star towards the staff, its chain wrapping around it before returning it to the sender. Lilith grabbed the staff as it was launched back at her throw it once more, this time higher above as energy coursed through it and from its crescent blade, made blasts of magic rain down over Luz, who moved away before running towards Lilith, wasting no time going on the offensive with her weapon, forcing Lilith to counter each time the flail came close to blasting any part of her body off. It was then that Eda recovered from the shot Lilith sent her and looked to see her sister and Luz clashing their weapons. Getting back up, Eda spins her staff and summons a dozen rings of magic, all of which send bolts at Lilith.
Seeing this, Lilith summons a shield to protect herself while also holding off Luz, who decides to an old classic item crash; bringing out pages of the Holy Book, they fly and spin in a circle through the air until they form a symbol lined through the pages and send a beam of holy light towards Lilith. Seeing this, Lilith forms another shield, holding off both attacks as much as she could, but even that was enough. She just needed to tap into the Necromancer's dark magic a little more. Her eyes glowed light blue as she suddenly found the strength to blast away the attacks, repelling them entirely. Caught off guard by strong her sister was, Eda brought out her own combat cross whip and swung it over to her sister, her merely held her Necromancer staff, watching as the chain wrapped around it as she gripped it firmly and tugged, making Eda step forward forcefully.
"You'll never be a match for me, sister!" Lilith laughed, pulling the staff harder and having Eda swing over to her. But Eda redirected this, as she used this maneuver to kick Lilith in the chest, sending her flying towards Luz who strikes her from behind, blasting Lilith back to Eda, who catches her by the throat. Lilith's head is down, but then she starts to laugh maniacally before looking at her sister with light blue eyes, surging with dark power
"Did I ever tell you...that it was I who cursed you?" Lilith said so evilly, as if to mock Eda for what she's done. "I'd hope it would've given me the advantage I needed to beat you on that day. But then, it was all for nothing! You forfeited and made us the way we are! We could've been in this together, Edalyn...but now-" But Eda seemed unaffected by this, aside from her grip on Lilith's throat tightening, cutting her off.
"You didn't have too say it, Lilith. I found out a while back." She said back to Lilith, who was surprised by what Eda just said. "I should honestly thank you for that. You freed me. That Emperor that you blindly serve..."
"We'll put an end to his rule." Luz said, finishing what Eda was gonna say. Lilith started to look angered as magic coursed through her hands, taking hold of Eda's arm as she suddenly sent out another wave of energy that blasted both of them away from her. Luz barely got up when Lilith focused on her again, not holding back any attacks as beams of magic scattered across Luz, who couldn't deflect or dodge all of them. Pretty soon, one shot managed to hit her hard and send her flying over the bride, the Morning Star sent flying from her hands...
"LUZ!" Eda screamed out, thinking the last Belmont had finally been defeated. Lilith smiled evilly as the deed was done.
"And now, sister...it's time for you-" But she was once again interrupted by a sudden sharp pain in her abdomen, knocking her back. She looked to see Eda, looking really pissed off, her own combat cross in hand, it's harpoon like tip stained with Lilith's blood. Letting go of her staff, she swung the chain whip across the bridge, managing to grab hold of Morning Star and reel it towards herself. Taking it in her right hand, Eda stared at the legendary weapon, fully aware of the legends behind it. But after what her sister just did, she held no regrets. Seeing Eda take a stance with both whips in hand, Lilith glares as she holds both her Palisman and Necromancer staff in hand, spinning them around her fingers while Eda swung the chains of both whips around herself. Now advancing, Eda swung the weapons and watched with steady eyes as they collided with Lilith's staves, continuing the process, moving faster and faster with each blow, fully determined to win this fight. With every blow from both whips, Lilith could feel as if dark magic that surged through her got expelled from her body, as she couldn't seem to keep up with the array of chains that were coming her way.
Soon enough, both chains wrapped around the Necromancer staff in her hands, to which Eda pulled in order to relieve Lilith of the weapon, but her sister refused to let go. They both found themselves in a game of tug-o-war between the staff, using all the strength to keep the staff in their own grip. Until
(CRACK)
The staff broke in two, making all the powerful magic that Lilith just had vanish into thin air. The blue glow from her eyes vanished, as she looked as if she had just woken up from a trance. Lilith found herself on the bridge of the Emperor's Castle, looking a mess as if a great battle just took place. In front of her was her sister, breathing heavily and holding two whips in hand, their adamantine chains falling to the ground and dragging behind her as she tiredly stepped forward, wanting to continue this battle.
"Edalyn?" Lilith asked as Eda came her way. Her breathing was strained and her hands were calloused and she looked ready to fall over. Eda could hear the sound of her own heartbeat, and it was fainting, knowing the effects of the using the Morning Star were already taking its toll on her body.
"Not...now." She managed to get out. "Luz...I'm sorry." And with that, Eda fell to her knees and then fell flat on her face.
"Edalyn!" Lilith gasped, rushing over to her sister, no longer the psychopathic murderer she wasn't a second ago. She flipped Eda over and brought her into her arms, seeing Eda was unconscious and looking drained of magic and life energy. Even the gem's golden color was fading into black. And Lilith couldn't help but feel that this was all her fault.
"Did I...did I really do this?" Lilith said, looking at her sister, and then at her own hands. "What have I been doing?...W-W-What have I done?"
Suddenly, the bridge of the castle retracted itself, and Lilith looked up to see Desu and Belos still staring down at her before both of them headed back inside. Lilith took another look at her sister and thought "I finally managed to get you, Edalyn...but at what cost?" As she got up onto her feet and carried Eda bridal style, she failed to see the Morning Star whip fall into the chasm of spikes below.
Luz didn't know what happened, but she suddenly found herself being pulled in the air...by Owlbert. She remembered that shot that Lilith managed to get her with, and it must've knocked out. But what happened afterwards? What happened to...
"Eda!" She said, fully awake as the Owl palisman decided to bring her back down. Falling to her knees, Luz struggled to recover from what her body had been though as she could see that it was nearly dawn and looked up to see that Owlbert managed to bring her back to the Owl House, and even bring back the Morning Star in its claws. Giving it back to her, Owlbert watched as Luz examined her ancestral weapon before she looked up to her.
"What happened?" Her answer was Owlbert looking sad as he turned his head over to the path he just flew from, and Luz looked over there as well, now remembering what had occurred. Eda had let Owlbert save her...and stayed behind to fight Lilith.
"...She's been captured, hasn't she?" Luz asked, and the Palisman nodded. Looking down, Luz gripped the Morning Star as she got back on her feet and walked towards the door. Hooty yawns and sees Luz coming by.
"Oh, Luz, there you are!"
"Hi, Hooty." She simply responded before walking into the dark living room. She looks at the side, her eyes widening. She gasps. 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.
"Ha! The cake is me!" the little demon gasped amusingly. But as he looked around, he could see that Luz was only with Owlbert. "Uh, where's Eda?"
Luz does not respond as she puts Owlbert aside and walks over to the direction of her room, avoiding eye contact with any of her friends, who looked upon her worryingly. Though they couldn't see it, Luz's eyes weren't filled with sadness or anger, they were filled with determination. The determination to save Eda...and take her revenge.