Chapter 9: Meet the Soulwings
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm happy to see my last chapter blew you all away so much but wait until you see what's to come. I've been planning this one for a while and I'd like to give a shout out to Many Faced Mage for giving me the idea for the end part of this chapter. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
It's early in the morning at the Owl House, in a teepee set up in the corner of the main room Lily laid down on a blanket.
They had originally offered her a room, but since she thought she wouldn't be there long she didn't want to get comfortable.
"Wakey wakey Tiger Lily." Slowly opening her eyes, Lily sees Hooty in front of her. "Morning!"
Yelping Tiger Lily grabs her bow and hits Hooty on the head with it. "OW! I just wanted to say good morning! Ow!" Hooty whines going back to the door.
"Ugh the door monster." Tiger Lily groans slowly waking up and sitting in front of it.
She had only been living in the Owl House for two days and she was getting eager to return back to her book but so far nothing was working.
Walking in Minato was holding a bowl of cereal.
"Uh hey Lily." Minato said causing her to turn around and glare at him. "I uh have some breakfast for you."
"Any luck finding a way to get me home?" Tiger Lily asks.
"Uh…no. I'm sorry." Minato sighs.
Slowly putting the bowl down Tiger Lily looks over at it.
"Uh what is that?" Lily asks.
"It's cereal and milk. Nothing special. Thought you might be hungry." Minato offers.
"Uh thanks." Lily said taking the bowl examinging it. "This isn't poison is it?"
"What no? Of course not." Minato said before she gestured for him to take a bite first.
Taking a spoon, Minato grabbed a big bite and ate it. "See I'm fine."
Letting her guard down, Lily took a spoonful and dug in.
"There's more stuff in the kitchen if you want to join us." Minato said walking away but she didn't join him.
In the kitchen, Luz was sitting with Eda and King when Minato walks in.
"So how did it go? Is she loosening up?" Luz asks.
"Iie." Minato shook his head. "She just wants to get home and I don't think she's interested in getting to know us."
"Well any chance you can tell her to take down that stupid tent in my house?" Eda asks.
"It's not a tent Eda it's a teepee." Luz corrects.
"Whatever, it's like one of those lame pillow and blanket forts kids make." Eda said.
"Was she always this depressing in her book?" King asks.
"Well not at first. She uh…she had it tough." Minato said.
"What happened?" Luz asks interested.
"Well in Lily's story she loved being free. Best archer in the whole tribe, but all that changed when she fell in love with Peter Pan and I mean total crush she really liked him, but the problem is Peter couldn't love her back." Minato said.
"No." Luz gasps.
"Yep." Minato nods.
"So the boy didn't like her big deal." Eda said.
"It's more than that Eda." Minato said unaware that Lily was listening. "She really liked him but throughout the book, she struggled between her feelings for him and her loyalty to her tribe. Suddenly she wasn't so free anymore. At the end of the book she chose her loved ones when Peter chose Wendy over her. I bet that's why she doesn't like me much either. I basically took her out of her book and took away her freedom."
Hearing this Lily let out a soft sigh. Maybe she was a little tough on him. He didn't exactly do this on purpose.
"There's got to be something we're missing on how to get Lily home." Luz said when Lily walks in and instantly they all quieted down.
"I uh finished the food you gave me. Thank you." Lily said.
"So uh how are you adjusting to living here?" Luz asks.
"It's alright. Any luck with the three of you?" Lily asks.
"Nope sorry Tiger Lily but I think you're gonna be stuck here until the next Wailing Star." Eda said.
"There's really nothing you can do?" Lily asks.
"Sadly we don't know many other witches on the Boiling Isles that can help us." Minato said.
"Yeah being wanted makes it hard." King said when Hooty moved in.
"Eda used to have the best sources when she was dating Miguel then she screwed up." Hooty said and immediately she hit him on the head.
"Shut up." Eda whispers.
"Eda, who is Hooty talking about?" Luz asks suspicious.
"Nothing, it's just Hooty being annoying." Eda said.
"Eda." All three of them glare seeing she was hiding something.
"Okay fine. Before I was a criminal and had a problem with magic Miguel would take me to the Soulwing manor and helped me find tips on how to solve a magic problem." Eda confesses knowing they would get it out of her sooner or later.
"Wait Minato your dad had a manor?" Luz gasps.
"Apparently." Minato said.
"What is a manor? Is it like this house?" Tiger Lily asks.
"Sort of, it's a house for people who are really rich." Luz explains.
"Kids these people aren't just rich. They're crazy rich." Eda said turning to them. "Look there are New Big Magic families all over the Boling Isles. You got families like the Blights, the stupid Coven Legacies, even me and my sister, but the Soulwings are old magic. They were around when the first witches settled here and they helped build all of this. Now they're the Landlords of the most expensive areas on the Isles. These people are so posh and snobby, they're snoshy."
"But dad wasn't like that at all." Minato said.
"He's not but I guarantee the rest of the family is." King said.
"Minato the Soulwings only look out for their own. I wouldn't risk it." Eda said.
"But aren't they technically Minato's family? Won't they help us?" Luz asks.
"I'm not sure, to be honest, I don't know if they even know you exist." Eda said.
"What?" Minato said.
"Wait how can they not know about their own family?" Tiger Lily asks.
"After Miguel married your mom and went to the human world the only reason, he ever came back was to check on me and King. He never went back to his family." Eda admits.
"That is so tragic. Imagine the look on their faces when they finally meet you." Luz smiles.
"Oh no, no, no I am not going back there. Whenever I showed up they thought I would be a horrible influence on Miguel. Can you believe that?" Eda asks.
"Well…" Minato, Luz, Tiger Lily and King said at the same time.
"Look Minato, you're better off not knowing this part about your dad. Trust me, the Soulwings are not worth it." Eda said.
"Eda, they're my family. I have to meet them." Minato said.
"Maybe they can even help us." Luz said.
"Oh fine, but I need a disguise. They recognize me, we're in trouble." Eda said getting up.
Later that day, a disguised Eda led them to a giant manor with a giant gate up front.
"Soulwing Manor. Ugh still as snoshy as I remember." Eda said while Minato, Luz and Tiger Lily had their jaws dropped in shock.
"This house is bigger than my whole tribe." Tiger Lily said.
"Eda please tell me we're gonna rob them while we're here." King said.
"Duh." Eda smirks before nudging Minato. "You're on kid."
Taking a deep breath, Minato slowly walks up and rings the bell and suddenly a crystal ball by the door glowed.
"State your business." A male voice said.
"Uh I'm here to see the Soulwings." Minato said.
"Are you a business partner or looking to be one?" The voice asks.
"No uh, I'm family. My name is Minato and I'm Miguel Soulwing's son." Minato said as there was a brief silence.
"One minute please." The voice said.
A few minutes, later, the gate opens and they look to see a butler with combed black hair walk out to meet him.
"I don't believe it. He's still alive." Eda mutters.
"You know him?" Luz whispers.
"Minato?" He asks.
"That's me." Minato nods as the butler slowly looks at him and sees the Monado strapped to his back and the goggles on his head.
"Well I'll be, and the resemblance. Forgive my suspicions. My name is Edwin, and I am the head butler of the Soulwing Manor." He said when he looked at Eda. "Pardon me miss, but you look familiar. Have we met?"
"Hmm no I don't think so. You must have me confused with someone else." Eda said not looking him in the eyes.
"Quite right. Come along now. I'm sure the Master will be very interested in meeting you young man." Edwin said leading them in.
Upon opening the door, everyone looked in awe at the expensive and fancy décor.
"Incredible." Luz said.
"Holy Moley this is the jackpot." King smiles as Eda's eyes turned to gold coins in agreement.
As they walked in Eda noticed a Fabergé egg on a pedestal nearby.
Smirking Eda casually grabs it and slips it into her bag before following them.
Walking into a waiting room, Edwin puts down some tea and small cakes down on a table.
"Ooh those look good." Luz smiles taking one.
"Please sit back and enjoy, I will inform the master that you are waiting for him." Edwin said walking out.
"Mmm Lily you gotta try this." Luz said holding out one for her.
"Well I guess one couldn't hurt." Putting down her bow, Tiger Lily sat down and took a bite. "Wow we definitely don't have anything like this in Neverland."
Leaping up onto the table, King examined the teapot and cups. "Hey Eda this stuff is jewel-encrusted."
"Bag'em." Eda said putting every valuable thing she could in her bag.
"Eda can you not rob my family until after I meet them?" Minato asks.
"You haven't met them I have. As far as I'm concerned this is payback for all the garbage I was put through every time I came here with your dad." Eda said.
"Just be nice for a little bit, I never knew these people. Maybe even they can help me find dad." Minato said hopeful.
"Oh alright." Eda said crossing her arms and sitting down.
In the main study, an elderly man with red and gray hair and some fancy robes was sitting down with a woman across from him with black hair and equally fancy robes reading. These were Elias and Carla Soulwing.
"Pardon me sir, madam." Edwin said walking in.
"What is it Edwin?" Elias asks.
"You have a guest. His name is Minato, and he's Miguel's son." Edwin said getting their attention.
"How do I know this isn't a conartist trying to get our fortune?" Elias asks.
"He looks exactly like your son did when he was his age. He also carries the Monado." Edwin said.
"Well then, Elias we better go greet him." Carla said standing up.
"Yes, we should." Getting up they pass by a picture that shows a Miguel standing alongside Elias looking formal and regal.
Entering the room, Minato looks to see Elias and Carla enters.
"Well hello there." Elias said.
Seeing them Eda tightens her fist seeing the two people who constantly called her a bad influence on their son.
"I don't believe it." Carla said as Minato stepped up.
"Miguel?" Elias said surprised.
"Close. Miguel's my dad, my name's Minato." Minato introduced.
"Then that makes you our grandson." Carla smiles
"Ojichan, Obachan?" Minato gasps.
"Come here let me have a look at you." Elias said as Minato slowly walked over and Elias looked at him and smiles. "You look just like your father."
"Thank you." Minato said as Elias eyes the Monado strapped to his back
"Oh this so beautiful." Luz smiles loving the family reunion.
"Actually Mr. Soulwing." Minato starts.
"Oh please no need to be so formal. We're family after all. Call me Elias." He said.
"Okay Elias. We were wondering we could look in your library to help find a spell book to help my friend Lily." Minato said.
"I was summoned by the Wailing Star and I would like to return back." Tiger Lily said.
"Well this is certainly a problem. Carla would you mind taking them to our library maybe they can find something in the Astronomy section." Elias said.
"Of course." Carla smiles.
Minato was about to follow when Elias stops him. "Minato, if you don't mind I'd like to you for a little longer."
"Sure, you guys mind going ahead?" Minato asks.
"Absoultely not, get in good with Grandpa while we go hang with grandma." Luz smiles.
"Don't keep us waiting too long." Tiger Lily said.
As they walked out Eda narrowed her eyes suspiciously before following the others.
"You know Minato, I'm not gonna lie when you showed up, I thought you were just some kid trying to con his way into my family. But seeing you here before I can tell you really are my grandson." Elias said.
"Well glad I could put your mind at ease. To be honest I was surprised when I first heard about you guys. I didn't know how this would go." Minato said.
Walking to the balcony, Elias looks out the back and sighs.
"Tell me Minato, what do you think it takes someone to get this comfortable in life? By easy or hard choices?" Elias asks.
"Definitely hard. I mean look at this place. Our family couldn't have gotten this far without dealing with a few struggles." Minato said.
"Correct which is why I have to do this." Elias makes a magic circle and suddenly the metal railing turned to spikes causing Minato to jump back.
"What the?" Minato said when the spikes were fired at him.
Yelping Minato jumps back and blocks the attack with the Monado.
"Like my magic? Your father specialized in Wind but I became a master of Metal." Elias said.
"Why are you doing this?" Minato asks confused.
"To erase a mistake from the past." Elias said grabbing a spike and turning it into a sword.
"But what did I ever do to you?" Minato asks.
"Your father was the pride of the Soulwing family, he was going to take my place as head of the house, but then he chose to walk away from it all. He left for the human world and married a lowly human and had you, a disgusting hybrid offspring. Just the fact that you even exist is a disgrace upon the Soulwing." Elias glares as Minato's eyes widen in horror.
"Luz! Eda! Help!" Minato said trying to run for it but the door slammed shut and locked.
"Don't worry, they won't be leaving either." Elias said as Minato turned to face him.
"Grandpa I really don't want to do this. We're family, we're supposed to look out for each other." Minato said.
"Let me tell you something hybrid, you don't get to be at the top of the Boiling Isles by playing nice. One thing about this family is if you can't benefit us than you are not one of us." Elias declares shocking Minato to the core.
In the library, Carla was watching as Eda, Luz, King and Tiger Lily were looking through the shelves for what they thought would send Lily home.
"I don't see the title you mentioned." Luz said.
"Oh keep looking it's there." Carla said making a small magic circle.
"Ugh this is hopeless." Eda said stepping back when she heard a cracking noise. "Huh?"
Suddenly large boulders shout out of the ground around them surprising them.
Acting quickly Eda takes out her staff and fires a powerful blast creating a smoke cloud.
"How in the?" Carla gasps.
"I should have known you were up to something." Eda said taking off her disguise surprising her.
"Edalyn. I thought I was done with you years ago." Carla glares.
"You wish lady." Eda said readying her staff.
"Eda what's going on?" Luz asks.
"I thought she was helping us." Tiger Lily said.
"Hardly, this old bag just brought us here to take us out. I bet the second you saw Minato walk in you didn't even care about him at all." Eda accuses.
"For your information, I was very happy. Happy he brought back the Monado, but my husband should be taking care of that hybrid as we speak." Carla said.
"You're gonna do what?" Tiger Lily and Luz gasps.
"But he's your grandson." Luz said.
"He's a threat to my family's reputation." Carla said.
"Oh I am gonna enjoy this." Eda growls spinning her staff. "King, girls you might want to stay back. I've been wanting to do this for years."
"You sneak! There never was a book that could help us was there?" King asks.
"If there was do you honestly think we would just give it to you?" Carla said before making magic circles causing stone pillars to shoot out of the wall causing everyone to scramble and run to avoid being hit.
Slamming her staff down, Eda deflects the pillars before making multiple magic circles causing owls to fly from the pillars towards Carla.
Acting quickly Carla makes a giant stone wall to block it.
"Book attack!" Leaping over the wall, King swings a book at Carla but she grabs him with ease before holding him up in the air. "Let me go! Let me go! That's an order!"
"I don't take orders, I give them." Carla said before throwing King sending him crashing into Eda knocking them both into a fancy chair destroying it.
"Lily we got to help." Luz said.
"What? How can we stand up that crazy lady?" Tiger Lily asks.
"Didn't you encounter dangers in Neverland?" Luz asks.
"Pirates and a ticking crocodile, not crazy magic grandmas." Tiger Lily said.
"Look Lily I get why you're acting like this but we can't help you if you won't help us." Luz said putting her hands on her shoulders. "If we don't get out of here we can't get you home."
As Carla knocks Eda and King to the ground, Carla makes rocks gather above them.
"Since this is the end Edalyn I might as well say it. My son was too good for the likes of you, the day he said you two broke up was one of the best days of my life." Carla declares about to end it.
Suddenly multiple books flew in and hit Carla distracting her.
"Carla Soulwing! You are a horrible Mother/ Grandmother!" Luz yells throwing a book hitting her right in the face.
Shaking it off Carla hurls the boulders at them but Tiger Lily grabs Luz and yanks her out of the way before firing an arrow at the trophies above causing one with antlers to fall down and hit her on the head.
"Why you worthless ungrateful—" Before she could finish Eda appeared in front of her with her staff aimed at her chest.
"Lousy girlfriend huh?" Eda asks before blasting Carla into the bookshelf knocking her out. "Aw you dream of moments like this all the time but when they finally happen…they just take your breath away." Eda sighs.
"Wait, Minato!" King gasps snapping them out of it.
"We gotta hurry before his grandpa kills him!" Luz said as they ran out.
As Edwin watches from down the hall he pauses about to attack when at the last second, he stops himself.
On the balcony, Minato and Elias were clashing metal as Elias forced Minato back towards the edge.
"Come on Elias, can't we just get along?" Minato asks as Elias knocks him to the ground.
"Don't worry, I'll make this quick." Elias said holding out his hand his metal blade grew three times in size.
Eyes widening in horror Minato looked to see Elias raise the sword.
As they ran down the hall, they saw Elias about to strike him down.
"MINATO!" Luz yelled in horror when suddenly a powerful tornado appeared and struck Elias out of nowhere sending him flying back and crashing through the door.
"What power!" Eda gasps.
"Did Minato do that?" Tiger Lily asks.
As Minato tried to make sense of the situation a small gust blew his goggles down over his eyes snapping him out of it.
"Minato come on! We gotta get out of here!" Eda said as they ran in and grabbed his hand.
"Edwin! Stop them!" Elias orders.
As Edwin tries blocking the door, Tiger Lily fires an arrow at the chandelier above him forcing him to jump out of the way allowing them to climb onto Eda's staff and fly out.
Turning around Minato took one last look at the Soulwing manor and his grandfather before flying away.
Back at the Owl House, Tiger Lily was in the bathroom as she took off her feather headband for a second before she looks at herself in the mirror.
Pausing Tiger Lily remembers her struggles in Neverland and while she missed her loved ones back in her book, she had to admit being at the Boiling Isles was something else.
While she didn't know what this new experience had in store, she had a chance to do something she could never do in Neverland. Learn and grow.
Looking at some folded clothes, Tiger Lily picks them up.
"New life, new start." She sighs.
In the kitchen, Minato was prepping dinner while Eda, Luz and King were at the table.
"Eda, I am so sorry I doubted you. The Soulwings are the worst." Minato said.
"I can't believe they were willing to go so far to protect their reputation." Luz said.
"Well I didn't even know they'd go that far. I'm sorry kid. I guess it wasn't the family reunion you were hoping for." Eda said.
"Well, even so now I appreciate the family I do have, my parents, my friends and you guys." Minato smiles.
"Uh can I join you guys?" Entering the room, everyone looks to see Tiger Lily walk in wearing a yellow t-shirt, with brown pants, her moccasins, and her feather headband turned upside down with the feathers going down her hair rather than up in the air.
"Sorry this is a little new for me." Tiger Lily said getting a feeling for her new clothes.
"No you look great. I'm glad some of my clothes could fit you." Luz said.
"Thanks again." Tiger Lily smiles sitting down. "So uh listen I uh I'm sorry for how I treated you guys. Thanks for taking me in and trying to help me get home."
"Well us weirdoes have to stick together." Minato smiles.
"Yeah I guess we do." Lily smiles sitting down.
"So since you're officially staying here any chance you can take down that dumb tent in my living room?" Eda asks.
"It's a Teepee." Lily and Luz said.
"Whatever." Eda said rolling her eyes.
"Come on guys we can figure out Lily's sleeping arrangements after dinner." Minato said putting everything down.
"What is this?" Lily asks.
"Teriyaki Shrimp with Fried Rice and veggies." Minato said.
"Hey Lily try eating some of this." King said pushing wasabi towards her.
Slowly Lily picks it up. "Lily no!" Minato yells but it was too late Lily ate the whole thing of wasabi and instantly her mouth started to burn as tears came down.
"Aaah why does this sting so much?!" Lily cringed as Minato handed her some water to drink.
"King that was a low blow." Minato said.
"Hey I'm a demon. It's what I do." King smiles as Lily gasps for air.
"Oh is that so." Grabbing King she opens his mouth and drops a huge amount of wasabi down his mouth causing King to scream like a little tea kettle.
"AAAH! WATER THE KING OF DEMONS DEMANDS WATER!" King screams causing everyone to laugh.
"Lily, I think you're gonna fit in just fine here." Luz smiles.
Meanwhile at the Soulwing Manor, a less than cheerful gathering was going on.
In main room, various Soulwings had gathered in argument after hearing the news and seeing the image of Minato in the middle of the room.
"I knew it. I knew it. That Miguel was always a troublemaker." A female Soulwing said.
"Don't look at me, he gets if from your side of the family." A male Soulwing said.
In the corner a woman in her 30's with long red hair in a ponytail was watching this not sure what to say.
"A hybrid of all things." The female Soulwing said.
"If word gets out that this hybrid is one of us, we could be disgraced throughout the Boiling Isles, our profits would be drastically lowered, we could even lose the manor." The male Soulwing said.
"My children never caused such trouble, they all joined the Healing Coven." An adult woman said.
"Well, we can't all be in the healing coven." An adult male said.
"No your nephew had to be a freak!" A woman yells.
"Hold on everyone hold on!" Looking over they saw the young woman walk in. "Is this really necessary? I mean the boy is innocent. He never even knew about us. Can we really punish the son for the father's mistakes?" She asks.
"Naomi, while I understand your concern the fact of the matter is we cannot let this abomination ruin the Soulwing name. He wields the Monado, our most powerful weapon. Which is why we must do something about him." Elias said.
"But how will we get to him? The Owl Lady protects him." A man asks.
"That's why we needed some outside help." Elias said.
Suddenly the door opens revealing a figure in silver robes with a hood over their head.
"I've heard of you. I hear you're the best at what you do and even better at making problems disappear." Elias said as the figure nods.
"For this job you will need to earn the trust of your enemy or they will not let you near your target. Pretend you are an ally, a friend, then when they finally lower their guard. You will end the hybrid's life and bring me the Monado. Do and you will be handsomely rewarded. Do we have a deal?"
Slowly the figure reached to their side and with a quick motion throws a dagger across the room hitting the image of Minato right in the head.
As all the other Soulwings looked at this situation with interest the one named Naomi and Edwin had uneasy looks on their faces.