In the Human World:
Kaleidoscope:
Quick Notes:
Happy Veteran's Day (United States calendar)! That said, I am a U.S. Army veteran, so to celebrate Veteran's Day I am posting a chapter mid-week! Enjoy, and please drop a review if you can.
It's canon that Gus is 12, and while he's intelligent he seems pretty focused on Human Artifacts and Illusions. That said, I am basically choosing to play Gus as oblivious to romantic overtones unless someone points them out.
Bingus, thank you. You really did make my week.
Lexa_Alycia, there is a scene in here which is a reference to one of your reviews. Hope you spot it and enjoy.
Asmodeus666: Honestly if Dana T. and her team making The Owl House found this story and used even a little piece of it I'd be very honored.
Tori Blackwood: Thank you for the assist with the Spanish corrections. I really appreciate it. Please continue to let me know anytime you see errors.
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"This school, Hexside?" Camila asked and received a nod from Eda. "How is Luz doing there? How are her grades? Does she have friends, other than Amity?"
"Oh, the kid loves school, and she seems to collect friends." Eda laughed as she thought over a few notable incidents. "Her closest ones are Willow, Gus, and Amity. Those kids seem to do almost everything together. Luz and Amity were even Grom Queens together."
"Grom? Is that some kind of dance?" The human woman was imagining a prom setting, though from what Luz had told her nothing on the Isles was what you would first expect. Still, she remembered the images on Luz's phone of herself and her friends in formal clothes.
"More or less." The witch smirked and sipped her coffee.
"And her grades?" Camila asked and watched the witch think that one over.
"They don't grade her exactly the same as her friends, she doesn't do magic in the same manner." Eda admitted. "Her teachers say good things about her, and she's been learning a lot of new things. Her grades are good, and she enjoys homework more than a kid should in my opinion."
"It's the magic, Luz has always loved fantasy worlds." Camila gave a tired smile and waved her hand as she spoke. "Once she found that Azura series, I think it became the center of her world."
"I hate those books. I love your kid like she was my own, but I hate those books." Eda lamented and Camila could not help laughing at her. Eda made an exaggerated expression of disgust, even as King started mumbling about his favorite Azura scenes. "They're so flowery! No one talks like that!"
"About her friends or rather about Amity: Is she really okay?" Her concerned brown eyes watched Eda as she spoke. "She seemed so unused to being shown care. The twins assured me her parents haven't actually disowned her, but she seems like she needs more parental love than she gets."
"I knew her parents back in my school days." Eda said this with a sort of huff and a shake of her head. "Amity comes from an old, rich, and powerful family." Eda used air quotes and a tone that made clear what she thought of the powerful families. "The twins seem like they found whatever balance they need, but Little Blight is still trying to live up to the family name. I don't think she's in danger or anything, but her parents were always all about appearances even when they were kids. They probably put a lot of pressure on the girl to be perfect, you know."
"I need you to be honest about my next question, can you do that?"
"Sure thing." Eda smirked and her gold fang caught the light which made Camila raise an eyebrow at the other woman.
"Is it safe for Luz to be in the Isles? I know about her fight with this Emperor Belos person, and that sounded incredibly dangerous."
"Oh, that fight was not something I ever would have suggested she get into." Eda sort of played with one of her gray forelocks. "If I didn't already have gray hair, Luz would turn it gray. Still, I always thought humans were fragile and she keeps proving me wrong. I would do anything in my power to protect her, but I also want to see her learn and grow. There's always some risk in life, but it's manageable."
"And this Emperor?"
"The Emperor wanted me arrested for years, I was dodging that long before I met Luz. Unfortunately, one of his lackies targeted Luz as bait to bring me to him." Eda did not elaborate that the lacky was her own sister. "It was a terrible experience, but it had the benefit that he publicly removed the order for my arrest. So long as we stay away from him, he has no reason to come after us."
"No reason?" Camila gave Eda a very skeptical look and the witch sighed.
"He wants a portal to the human world; I don't know why but he does. The most open and plain fact is this: If he gets a working portal Luz isn't any safer here than she is in the Isles."
"I'll have to consider that." Camila's expression was clearly uncomfortable with that thought. "Is there some kind of interdimensional mail service?"
"No." The witch eyed her in a very confused manner. "Why would there be one when the portals are kind of rare."
"So how was Luz sending me letters?" The human woman watched Eda seem more confused.
"Actual letters?"
"Yes, I can show you some. She wrote to me pretending she was at camp." As they stared at each other for a few silent moments Camila started to feel extremely uncomfortable. "Someone wrote to me."
"We would have to ask the kid, but I'm pretty sure she only wrote you on that human scroll thing."
"On a what now?"
"Human wonder rectangle!" King interjected and pointed at Camila's phone which was laying on the table.
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Agustus "Gus" Porter was no slouch when it came to Illusions. The day that Luz tried to borrow the Healing Hat he had created and remotely controlled Illusion Clones of Willow, Luz, and himself all at one time. Later that same day he'd successfully cloned Kikimora, a person he had only seen and heard up close on that field trip. Sure, his Illusion Clones of himself sometimes did not do what he told them to, but if he was honest that was because he imprinted his own personality onto them. That said, Gus was no Blight twin and still looked up to them as the Advanced Illusions students they were.
"So, how much magical energy does Mittens 2.0 still draw from both of you?" Gus asked, a notepad in hand as he sat on the floor of Edric's bedroom. Emira lounged on Edric's bed, messaging on her scroll but listening, and Edric himself sat on the floor near the foot of the bed.
"She actually doesn't draw energy directly from us anymore." Edric told him with a pride filled smirk. When Gus looked up at him with wide brown eyes filled with disbelief Edric laughed. "She didn't start out that way, for about a week we were constantly improving her at night."
"For three days or so we didn't let her speak at school." Emira added without looking at the boys.
"But surely an Illusion Clone that has physical presence, one that can be touched, has to be drawing energy to renew itself?" Gus gestured wildly as he considered it. "I mean, she isn't just an image or a sound, she has matter somehow!"
"You aren't wrong." Edric said and waited as he just knew Emira was moving to sit up straight. She was the one who had designed this part of the illusion.
"She eats." Emira said and laughed when Gus looked utterly confused. "Not in the sense you or I do, she eats magic."
"That sounds terrifyingly like that Greater Basilisk." Gus whispered. "And also, awesome."
"We found a way to allow her to absorb simple spells, like light spells for example." Edric continued the explanation. "We use light spells a lot in fact. Oh, and we have also given her illusions of food and she absorbed the energy used to create those spells."
"How often does she, uh, eat?" The young illusionist tilted his head. In his mind he was imagining Mittens 2.0, and by extension Amity, eating a light spell like a piece of fruit.
"It varies and trust me when I say she tells us if she needs a snack." Edric winced at some memory of Mittens 2.0.
"If she can avoid too much physical interaction it helps." Emira told him. "The more she has to sustain her physical form when a normal illusion would pop, the more energy she uses."
"So, she isn't unpoppable?" Gus asked this as he scribbled quickly onto his notepad.
"No, she's not indestructible." Edric sighed. "That's why we didn't want her doing things like scuffling with Boscha in the hallways. She expends energy to make contact with others and loses more energy the more force is involved."
"Like when she elbows, Ed!" Emira added cheerfully. "That takes more energy to do without popping than a handshake would."
"Did one of you program her to do things like elbow Edric? She seems. . ." He paused as he was searching for a way to explain what he was thinking. "I mean Illusion Clones have personality, but she seems on another level. And she doesn't act like you two, which is kind of what I would have expected in the long term."
"That's because we imprinted her with the things Amity has done or would do." Edric flopped to the floor as if he were dying. "It was exhausting!"
"We loaded her with all kind of baby sister, top student, perfect student things." Emira said. "It wasn't perfect though, because we filled her with our memories of Amity."
"Why didn't she know who Luz was?" Gus watched the twins exchange a guilty look.
"We didn't think she'd need to since Luz was off in the Human World." Edric laughed where he was still laid out on the floor. "That was an error."
"Okay, so she eats, she thinks, and she isn't tethered to you, but she isn't like, alive?"
"Mittens 2.0 is a masterpiece, but no she isn't alive. We could debate on if she thinks, at least if she thinks any more than those clones we all send when we don't want to go to class." Emira shrugged. "I think it seems more dramatic because those ones act like the person who cast them, normally anyway, but Mittens 2.0 is. . ."
"Not us." Edric finished as he sat up. "So, ready for more detail on the spells?"
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Luz was tired by the end of the school day, but she was also extra motivated to get home. The teenage Latina ran most of the way home, dropping her keys as she fumbled to unlock the front door. She was kneeling to grab them when the door opened, and Eda grinned down at her.
"Hey kid, welcome home." The gray-haired witch let Luz in and watched her basically bolt passed in search of Camila. Eda heard a sort of thud elsewhere in the house as she closed the door, shaking her head with an amused smile.
"Well, I guess Camila's awake now." King commented from the couch.
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Luz accidentally slammed the door of her mother's bedroom open, causing the older Noceda to bolt upright in her bed. The younger Noceda cringed and quickly apologized, as her mother turned to look at her. Luz had not even put her school bag down, and now fiddled with the strap as she fidgeted.
"Cariño, sé que estás ansiosa, pero por favor ten cuidado. (Baby, I know you're anxious, but please be careful.)" Camila's voice was soft as she spoke.
"Sí, mami, lo siento. (Yes mommy, sorry.)" Luz bit her lip, until her mother waved her hand in a little circular motion to get her to speak again. "I was wondering if you've thought about Hexside."
"Ven aquí, mija. (Come here, daughter.)" Camila patted some open space on the bed beside her, moving until she could lean against the headboard. Luz dropped her bag near the door, then climbed onto the bed next to her mother. Camila lifted one arm and Luz happily moved to lean into her side, as Camila draped that arm over her shoulders to hug her close. "I told you I would not make a decision before you got home, didn't I?"
"Sí, mami. (Yes, Mommy.)"
"Cariño, ¿qué quieres hacer? Quiero saber lo que estás pensando. (Sweety, what do you want to do? I want to know what you are thinking.)" Camila asked this and Luz looked down. The teen fiddled with her hands, spinning her fingers about each other almost like she was playing with an invisible rubber band.
"Al principio del verano, sólo quería unos meses de magia y fantasía. (At the beginning of summer, I just wanted a few months of magic and fantasy, you know.)" Luz glanced up, and Camila gave her a kind smile. "Luego me hice amiga de Willow y Gus, y nos divertimos mucho. (Then I became friends with Willow and Gus, and we had so much fun.)"
"You miss them, don't you?"
"Yeah, we've been together almost everyday the entire summer. They're really important to me." Luz flushed a bit and paused before she continued. "And I met Amity. We didn't get along at first, but I think we both changed each other a bit. Amity has helped me learn to focus more, and she and Eda have helped me learn to think a bit more before I act."
"A bit?"
"Well, I still jump into things sometimes, like challenging a sports team captain to a game I didn't know how to play."
"And Amity broke her leg in that game?"
"Yes." Luz sighed at the thought. "She's told me that wasn't my fault, but I still feel bad because she was helping us."
"Us?"
"The team captain was bullying Willow, and something Amity said left me thinking if we beat her at her own game she'd respect Willow. Amity told me it was a bad idea, but when we needed another player she still helped us." A sort of wistful smile lit Luz's face as she thought about Amity walking over to them, even though Boscha was angry about it. "No fue fácil conquistar a Amity, pero siempre está ahí cuando la necesito. Y su sonrisa es tan linda, especialmente cuando se está sonrojando. (It wasn't easy to win Amity over, but she's always there when I need her. And her smile is so cute, especially when she's blushing.)"
"Te estás perdiendo otra vez, cariño. (You're getting lost again, sweety.)" Camila told her with a laugh and Luz bit her lip.
"It isn't easy at Hexside, Mommy, but I really love it. I love my friends, I love King, I love Eda, I love Owlbert, and I even love Hooty. Hooty's unique, but he's kind." Luz's brown eyes slipped shut and she sounded nervous. "Te extrañé, mami, y es bueno estar en casa, pero realmente desearía poder seguir yendo a Hexside. Desearía que conocieras a Gus y Willow, y tal vez a algunos de mis otros amigos también. (I missed you, Mommy, and it's nice to be home, but I really wish I could keep going to Hexside. I wish you could meet Gus and Willow, and maybe some of my other friends too.)"
"¿Por qué no invitas a Gus y Willow este fin de semana? Tengo unos días libres, puedo conocer a tus amigos y tú puedes tener una pijamada. (Why don't you invite Gus and Willow over this weekend. I have a few days off, I can meet your friends, and you can have a sleep over.)" The effect of those words was immediate, Luz hopped off the bed in excitement and started toward the door. Camila called to her and Luz paused in the doorway. "No olvides invitar a Amity también. (Don't forget to invite Amity too.)"
"No podría olvidar a Amity si lo intentara, mami. (I couldn't forget Amity if I tried, Mommy.)"
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Luz came back into the living room, her scroll in one hand, just as Eda was pulling the portal from where she kept it hidden in her hair. The human teen would never understand how that worked, but Eda's hair was kind of like Mary Poppin's bag and she had just come to accept that as fact. She rushed over to her mentor as the woman set the portal down and bounced in place, causing the adult witch to eye her skeptically.
"So, did Mama Noceda say something good?" Eda asked, watching her apprentice practically vibrate with energy. There was a pause, and then Luz lost a little of the energy she had just had.
"Actually, she kind of didn't answer." The teen only frowned for a moment before shaking off the expression. "Are you going back? Can I come with you for a couple minutes? I just need to contact my friends."
"Nope, no go." Eda shook her head and ignored the pout the teen aimed at her. She pointed at the teenager, giving her a stern look. "You weren't here for that talk earlier; I am not risking Mama Noceda's wrath."
"But Eda, wait are you saying you're afraid of my Mom?" Luz looked shocked. "The most powerful witch in the Boiling Isles?"
"Stop that." Eda gave a half-hearted glare at the teen. "First, I'm still adjusting to this glyph magic, and more importantly she's your mother. You have proven to be way more formidable than I ever thought a human would be, so I am not testing the woman who made you."
"That's sweet, in a twisted sort of way." Luz admitted and King laughed from the couch.
"I'm just popping through to talk with Lily, catch up on things, and make sure she fed Hooty." Eda waved a hand dismissively. "Hear her complain about how long I am taking." She dropped her voice to a conspiratorial tone. "Then I'm gonna leave her alone with Hooty again, let him drive her up a wall."
"If I promise to stay on this side can you at least leave the portal open? Maybe the signal will be stronger for the scrolls."
"Will I don't see why not, just stay on this side. I really don't want to have escaped petrification to die at Mama Noceda's hands." The witch shuddered and King was laughing so hard he seemed to be having trouble breathing. Eda opened the portal and slipped through it with out another word, and Luz turned to King.
"What did they talk about?" Luz's tone was a mixture of fear and shock that only kept King laughing longer. Her focus on the little demon was interrupted by a few alerts sounding from her scroll, seeming to confirm the idea that messages passed more quickly with the portal open. There were messages from Willow, Gus, Viney, Ed, and Em though they were really all quick well wishes. Then there was a couple from Amity, and that made Luz feel warm inside.
{We made it back safely. Sweet dreams, Luz. Good luck talking to your Mom and Eda.} To Luz from Amity.
{I woke up today at Willow's, and for a moment I forgot I was back in the Isles. I looked around for you before I remembered. I guess that sounds a bit dumb. I just want you to know I'm thinking about you.} To Luz from Amity. {I mean, I think about you a lot actually. Why did I write that? I'm sending this before I can over think it. Miss you.}
{AWWWWWWWWW!} To Amity from Luz. {I miss you too!}
Luz sent a quick response for now, then started setting up a group chat so that she could contact all of them at once. As much as she would love to see if a voice call to Amity was possible, she needed to get all three of them while the portal was open.
Group chat "My babies!"
Amity B., Willow P., Gus P., and Luz the Human
{I know it will be a bit before you see this, will maybe. King and I are sitting in my living room with the portal open. Eda went to speak with Lilith. So, uh, are you guys seeing this?} From Luz.
{Luz! Hi! Is this real time?!} From Gus to the chat.
{Looks like, I just sent that last message.} From Luz to the chat.
{How are you? Has your Mom said anything?} From Amity to the chat.
{Amity misses you. I mean we all do, but Amity REALLY misses you.} From Willow to the chat.
{Willow!} From Amity to the chat.
{I miss all of you too. And awwwwww, Ami!} From Luz to the chat.
{Did I miss something?} From Gus to the chat.
{Yes.} From Willow to the chat.
{No, nothing you need to know.} From Amity to the chat.
{Amity and I are dating. : )} From Luz to the chat.
{What!? Congrats! I did not see that coming.} From Gus to the chat.
{I'm okay, I miss you a lot too, Ami. My Mom has still not said anything about if I can go back to Hexside but I do have some good news.} From Luz to the chat.
{What's the good news?} From Willow to the chat.
{Mom wants me to invite the three of you over for a weekend.} From Luz to the chat.
{Weekend in the Human World?! YES YES YES!} From Gus to the chat.
{I think I'll tell my parents I'm at the Owl House, but they'll probably let me.} From Willow to the chat.
{I'm grounded.} From Amity to the chat.
{What about Mittens 2.0?} Gus asked to the chat.
{Wait, where is Mittens 2.0?} From Willow to the chat.
{Mittens 2.0 is still there?} From Luz to the chat.
{The twins are calling her their masterpiece. I'm not sure where she is, but they said she's safe. I know she's an illusion clone, but I feel a little strange asking her to come be grounded for me. Why does the idea feel so awkward?} From Amity to the chat.
{She's so real.} From Gus to the chat. {But somehow also not.}
{I'll talk to the twins about it.} From Amity to the chat.
{Which weekend?} From Willow to the chat.
{This weekend if you can. Come to the Owl House after school Friday and Eda will bring you guys through the portal a couple hours after school.} From Luz to the chat.
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Edric and Emira were at the desk in his room, plotting a prank, when the door popped open behind them. The twins looked over in unison, thankfully Amity was so used to this it did not even phase her. She closed the door and cast a quick spell to ensure their words would not be audible outside of Edric's bedroom.
"Oh, this already looks interesting." Edric said, smirking as Amity crossed her arms and tried not to look uncomfortable. Edric popped up from his seat, bounding over to drape an arm around his little sister. "To what do we owe the honor of your presence, Mittens?"
"What's on your mind?" Emira asked, relaxing more into her chair, and watching her siblings.
"I need another favor." Amity said this slowly, and clearly with a bit of reservation. Edric pulled away and placed a hand over his chest, as if clutching his heart.
"So soon?" He asked.
"Yeah, this is becoming a real habit, Mittens." Emira's teasing smile made Amity want to leave, but she took a breath and let it out slowly.
"I want to go spend the weekend at Luz's house." Amity told them. "Since I'm grounded though, I need someone to cover for me in case our parents come home from their trip."
"Already missing your girlfriend?" Edric teased, expecting the normal response. Amity turned bright red, averted her gaze and mumbled something. The twins exchanged a look before Edric poked her shoulder. "What was that?"
"I said, yes, I miss my girlfriend!" Amity snapped. "Will you please stop teasing and help me?"
"Wait, so was that a real date you were on right before we brought you home?" Edric asked this with his eyes wide.
"Oh Titan, yes it was a real date, whatever that means."
"We owe Viney snails." Emira commented, which caused Amity to lose her annoyance in favor of confusion.
"You what?" She asked and the twins exchanged a look.
"Oh, nothing you should worry about." Edric hugged her tightly and let out a nervous chuckle. "You just focus on catching up on homework so you and Luz can have your couple's weekend."
"What kind of siblings would we be if we didn't have Mittens 2.0 cover for you?" Emira agreed. It was clear Amity knew they were changing the subject, but currently she was more concerned with the favor she wanted.
"Willow and Gus are coming too." Amity told them and the twins waved that comment away in unison.
"Try not to forget they exist." Emira teased, causing Amity to roll her eyes and turn toward the door. "Wait, when are you planning to leave?"
"After school Friday, straight from Hexside to the Owl House."
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"Hey, beautiful, come here often?" Emira's voice nearly purred as she strolled over and kissed Viney's cheek. The Duel Track student laughed, as she finished putting books in her locker.
"Emmy, that was terrible. Of course, I come here often, this is my locker." Viney turned to look at Emira, who was leaning on another locker, as she closed her own. She smiled at the Illusionist. "How's my favorite girl?"
"I'm incredible now that I'm here with you." Emira winked before they shared a laugh. "And I have the snails Ed and I owe you."
"What snails?" She gave her a confused look.
"Well, you won a certain bet. You'll have to collect from the old ladies yourself though." Emira handed a pouch full of snails to her girlfriend, who took it with an amused smile.
"Good for Luz and Amity, I'm happy for them."
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Friday seemed to take forever to arrive, even with Eda and King staying at the Noceda home those few days. Luz had done her absolute best not to cause any weirdness at school, not wanting to risk her mother changing her mind about the weekend sleep over. Even though Friday was a half day at her high school, it still seemed to take forever to end. She arrived home after school to find Eda and King sitting on the couch. Luz noticed Eda was reading "The Crucible" and frowned.
"Uh, Eda, where'd you get that?" Luz asked, wondering what her mentor was thinking about the play.
"Found it on a chair." Eda commented, glancing up with a smirk. "These characters have no idea what they're doing."
"You're enjoying it?" Luz asked with confusion.
"It's a little tame, but I love a good horror story." Eda responded before setting it aside. "And, I have a surprise."
"What's that?"
"Mama Noceda said you can come with me to go wait for your little friends." Eda told her. Luz dropped her book bag and did a celebratory dance on the spot.
Several minutes later the portal opened inside the living room of the Owl House, and Eda, King, and Luz stepped through. Eda called out for Lilith, while King bounded off yelling the name of one of his stuffed minions. Luz took a moment to just breathe in the air around her, closing her eyes and basking in the sense of being in her second home. She opened her eyes when she heard someone coming down the stairs and turned to see who it was. Her eyes landed on a teen witch with green hair, a brown flair at the front, and a bored look on her face.
"Amity!" Luz nearly tackled the other girl as she reached the living room, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and hugging her tightly. "I missed you SOOOOO much!"
"Who are you?" The green-haired teen asked, and Luz jumped away in shock. Hurt did not properly explain what she felt at those words.
"Amity, it's me, Luz." She said. The bored look did not change much, merely acquiring a raised eyebrow as cold gold eyes watched her.
"Fear not, Human, that is not Amity." Lilith's voice proceeded her entrance into the room from the other side. Luz and the other girl both looked over at the dark-haired woman. "That is a very advanced illusion."
"Oh!" Luz flushed in embarrassment and backed away from the illusion a bit more. "You're Mittens 2.0., I've heard a lot about you."
"And you are the one Amity is not allowed to spend time with." Mittens 2.0 said this as if it was common knowledge though both Luz and Lilith gave her confused looks.
"Since when?" Luz asked slowly.
"Since her mother insisted." Mittens 2.0 looked at her nails, as if checking to see if her nail polish was chipped.
"If I am honest, I do not care much for Odelia Blight." Lilith commented, causing the teen and the illusion to look at her again. "Even by the standards of the Emperor's Coven she, and Alador, are rather stiff and obsessed with appearances."
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