Nightmares were nothing new to Luz. They came and went throughout her tween and teen years. Often popping up near the anniversary of her dad's death or in recent years after a embarrassing moment at school. Surprisingly they'd been few and far between in the actual realm of monsters and demons. Of course, they'd come back after her time traveling adventure with Lilith, and more so after her near petrification. So, when she woke up clutching her blankets and terrified it was nothing new, at least that's what she tried to tell herself as Stringbean slithered around her neck hissing worriedly.
"Hey Stringbean." Her words were weak as she gently nuzzled her snout.
"Don't worry girl I'm fine, just a bad dream." Closing her eyes, she could still see the fully titan version of herself holding her palisman while looking down at a graveyard while sadly running a clawed hand over her friends and family. Thankfully, or unthankfully, she'd woken up after that, but the implications were still terrifying.
Before she could fully register what she was doing she'd left the room and went to Eda's like she still sometimes did with Camila. Her hand hovered over the door unable to move.
"This is ridiculous, I should just leave."
Stringbean had other ideas and loudly banged on the door which flew open showing Eda in her harpy form.
"What's up kid? I just got back from a nightly flight." Luz opened her mouth to speak but when nothing came out Eda on pure instinct grabbed her and held her close as her enclosed around her.
"Bad dream?"
"Yeah."
"Well don't worry, mamma Eda will keep the nightmares away." within seconds she was placed in the nest where Eda curled up next to her letting out a gentle coo. Both her and the owlbeast were brimming with maternal instinct.
Owlet safe? Owlet warm? Echoed in her mind. Yeah, Owlet safe.
From beneath her wings, she heard "I love you mom." something that nearly made Eda cry. Of course, Luz had called her mom in the past, sometimes accidentally, often sarcastically, sure she'd told her she could after the adoption, but hearing it now really hammered it in.
Nothing's gonna harm my daughter while I'm around. Come morning I'm going to make sure she can go into town again. No, I'm going to do more than that!
She didn't fight transforming as the owlbeast transformed but left her in control. Not that Luz minded as she quickly fell asleep in her mom's feathered body.
When the morning came Luz awoke and found a simple note. "Luz went to take care of something, love mom."
Luz reread the last two words several times each time feeling warm and fuzzy as she got out of the nest and made her way downstairs smelling something delicious.
"Mami's cooking!?"
She rushed downstairs seeing her mother's form at the stove happily cooking with Vee. Gwendlyon the collector and King were also there but hey were distracted by something on what looked like a tv crystal ball hybrid.
"Vee!?" hearing her sister's voice Vee turned around and quickly transformed out of her human form as she hugged Luz.
"What are you doing here? I thought you said you weren't ready?"
"I wasn't, well I'm still not quite ready. Maybe when the emperor's coven is just a memory, I'll relax but when mom told me what happened I had to come." She pulled back and took in Luz's new form.
"Woah" she muttered after fully taking it all in. She knew she shouldn't feel like this but seeing Luz transformed made her feel more connected to her.
"Yeah, most people say that after seeing the new me." Without missing a beat Vee transformed into Luz's new form before joking. "Love the horns but we gotta do something about all this fur. Maybe find a good barber? I think you could really pull off the poodle look."
Luz couldn't stop laughing as Vee quickly transformed and showed off various looks for her.
"Alright girls that's enough fun." Camila gently sat them down before placing breakfast before them.
"So, what's up mom? I thought you would only be gone a few hours to a day, but you've been gone two days."
"Welll..." she gestured to the crystal screen where Luz heard a very familiar theme song from her childhood.
"Gotta catch em all, gotta catch em all. Pokemon!"
She wasn't too surprised to see King and the Collector entranced by the show seeing as no kid could resist Pokémon, but Gwendlyon and even Dell were far too intrigued by it. Dell was even doing his best to sketch them happily saying "They'll make wonderful palisman." Something Luz couldn't help but imagine for her friends. Gus would have an abra while Willow would for sure have a Bayleef. Oh Hunter would have a braviary or mabye a Lucario. So many ideas!
Seeing her daughter's gaze Camila explained. "We would have gotten back sooner but after seeing one episode those two got hooked. They said they wouldn't come back until they found a way to bring it with them. Admittedly it's not the worst thing they could have gotten hooked on."
"Dell did you say that!? Charmander is evolving!" The sheer excitement in her new grandmother's voice brought a smile to Luz's face. Even more so when Lilith showed up and was captivated by the statics and types. She barely noticed Luz and Vee before she caught the sight of a ghost and physic type battle. Luz did notice how upon seeing her aunt Vee quickly changed into her human form and hid behind Luz and Camila.
"Did she...?" Vee had told them about her time in the conformatorium. And which coven members knew about them. "No, but they did talk about her."
She was still trembling but seeing the so called ruthless leader of the coven squealing over a Mismagius put her at ease enough to change back.
"Don't forget the other thing mom."
"What other thing?" she asked as Camila took out two pieces of paperwork. Luz squealed upon seeing the adoption papers for her now official sister.
"That's right sis, as of forty eight hours ago I'm officially Vee Noceda."
She then slid the other bit of paperwork showing her new school schedule. "I even start school in a week. I really can't wait!" Luz was happy for her new sister as during her time back home she'd mentioned how she'd like to go to school and have a normal life.
Two Noceda daughters, one from the demon realm who's normal is being human while her formerly human daughter feels at home among demon and witches. Luz thought to herself seeing Vee pull out a backpack. "I even have a friend to show me around." From how Camila winked at the word "friend" Luz knew there was more to it.
"Now as to why I brought her here. I was thinking that since Vee can absorb magic, she could theoretically drain enough of out of you to at least be able to change back. Assuming that's what you want?"
To answer her mom's question Luz stood up and pulled up her shirt showing two small bumps on her furry back with a smaller one just below her pants. Camila let out a gasp which alerted the collector and Gwendlyon and turned away from their new favorite show and rushed over. Luz was quickly examined using her beastkeeping magic that made Luz's fur puff out.
"Oh my! Such wonderful wing sprouts! And this tail of yours. I'd say two maybe three days before they fully pop out. Don't worry owlet I'll brew you up a fantastic pain potion." As she went off toward Eda's supplies Camila reached out and ran a hand along the bumps. "How long?"
"I noticed them a day or so ago. Though they were just bumps but they've been hurting pretty bad."
Seeing this the collector floated up his sparkling finger raised. "You want me to magic them out?"
Luz thought about it for a moment before shaking her head. "let's see what Vee can do first."
All eyes turned to Vee who took a deep breath before she started inhaling the magic. Camila and Vee had seen her do this hundreds of times and the others had described when Vee tested her abilities on them, with their blessing of course.
But for Luz the sensation was strange. To say it was draining would be an understatement. Every second she felt her energy being sucked out of her, but it did at least appear to be working. Somewhat painfully her horns began to recede into her skull, her fur disappeared and her hands and feet began to change back.
"It's working! Vee keep it up!"
Vee had never felt or even tasted this kind of magic before. It was just so pure and powerful that within a minute she'd reached her limit and had to stop. She sat down in her chair trying not to burp as her stomach swirled with the magic. Luz on the other hand looked at her human hands again.
"It worked!"
"That's awesome Luz, but can you really change at will now? I liked your titan form."
Curious, she tried to imagine her titan self. Okay just have to transform. How do I do that? I really should have paid attention when Eda told me how she did it. Oh, come on Luz just focus!"
Focusing as hard as she could, she imagined herself changing but nothing happened. She tried a few more times even trying for a anime like anger fueled transformation but still nothing. It got so bad that she was on the verge of tears as she tried to do magic, but nothing happened.
"Luz I'm sure it will-" Camila was cut off as Vee opened her mouth and threw up magic that rushed back into Luz in a blinding light.
"Too much magic."
As the light died down Luz was back in hybrid form. Her response was mixed. "Not sure if I'm happy or sad about this." She then noticed the pointed finger of her sister and followed it to see a very fluffy tail behind her.
It took a moment for her to feel it swishing behind her. "I'm sorry Luz" Vee said looking apologetic.
"Vee it's fine, titan magic is pure magic and if a few drops can get you to another dimension, so having it in your stomach couldn't have been good."
"Perhaps it was the quantity? Maybe we just need to find the right amount to allow willful transformation." Camila pondered as Luz tried to contain her new tail.
"Maybe but at least it's just a tail. I can work with a tail." After saying this she felt her back but thankfully now wings, wing bumps, but not wings.
King, having seen all of this once again latched onto Luz and apologized.
"I'm sorry Luz."
"King we've been over this already. I'm not mad at you, sure I would have like a choice but thanks to you I can do magic and continue my life here. So, for the last time you don't need to apologize." Normally this would have worked but he saw the slightly pained expression as she arched her back to stretch.
I have to do something! But what? He thought before trying to think of something, anything that could at least help Luz.
Thankfully he didn't need to think long as Eda landed and all but kicked in the door holding a large crystal ball. She took one look at Luz and her tail and let out a "okay then" before she saw Vee.
"You must be Vee, Luz has told me a lot about you."
"It's actually Vee Noceda now." she said proudly, making Camila smile. Eda let out a chuckle seeing this. "Well welcome to the family. Now Luz I think I found a solution for all this."
"How and what's that?"
"This is a memory orb, similar to the memory tweezers but it acts more like your human video camera. See people are to amazed by what they think they know of the titan, but if they see what they really looked and acted like well..."
All eyes shifted to the fridge where King's dad in all his "glory" sat under a magnet. Upon seeing this even Lilith and Hunter, the formally two most devoted members of the emperor's coven and total titan worshipers had made a face like they'd just seen Hooty without skin. Only King and Eda were amazed, one for finally seeing their dad, the other for appreciating his carefree style. Well, that and her bad girl coven shirt, something Luz still wondered how he got.
"Let's see how the Isles reacts to dad bod god."