Hey guys, here's chapter 20 of Rise of Zeo. This is going to be a big one (hopefully). Hopefully this chapter will give Eda the push she needs. I think we all know what I'm referring to. Anyway, here's the next chapter.
Zeo was in the living room, a glass pitcher of water and other ingredients laid out across the coffee table. A sapphire, some green rose petals; the petals of fairy's breath, which was the flower that he got from defeating the minotaur; blue raspberries and the container of gold dust. Zeo placed the pitcher of water on Magma Lizard's back, the fiery reptile barely feeling anything as he acted as a burner. Within minutes, the water came to a light boil.
"Ok, some crushed sapphire" Zeo grabbed the gemstone and tossed it into Crimson-Eyes Onyx Dragon's mouth.
Crimson-Eyes crunched the gemstone in his mouth until it was almost a powder-like substance which was then dispensed into a glass jar. Surprisingly, there wasn't any dragon saliva in it. Zeo took a few tablespoons of the powdered gem and poured it into the boiling water.
"Rose petals and fairy's breath petals…" Zeo took a fist full of each type of petals and dropped it into the water, "Berries…" he took a small number of berries and dropped it into the water where the sunk to the bottom, "Finally, a sprinkle of gold dust" Zeo took a pinch of gold dust and sprinkled it on top.
Zeo then took a wooden spoon and mixed the ingredients together. Within a few seconds the water had turned into a cerulean-colored liquid. He looked at Thunder Snake, who then zapped it with lightning, charging it and making it glow. He took out a funnel that had a strainer in it, along with several potion bottles. Using oven mitts, he carefully poured the liquid into the funnel, catching the remains in the strainer until each of the bottle were filled. Once finished, Frost Lizard then blew a light breeze of cold air, cooling down the now completed elixir. He made at least nine or ten.
"Alright, that should do it. Thanks for the help, guys" Zeo said as he corked the last bottle before recalling the lizard brothers, Thunder Snake and Crimson-Eyes back into their card forms. "You're going to love this, Mom…" Zeo mumbled to himself, placing most of them into a nearby crate, stuffing one into his pocket just in case. Hiding the crate underneath the couch, Zeo pulled out his sketchpad and pencil.
"Hey Zeo" Luz greeted him as she walked down from the stairs.
"Hey Luz" Zeo greeted back, not taking his eyes of the drawings.
"Making a new card?" Luz asked as she sat beside him on the couch.
"Uh-huh. Two of them" Zeo told her.
"So, Zeo, if you don't mind me asking… what did you and Emira do after school the other day?" Luz asked.
"We just had ice cream" Zeo told her.
"Oh. I guess that was her way of thanking you, huh?" Luz said.
"That was my interpretation of it, yes" Zeo replied, "She told me that I was her hero… amongst other things…" he muttered that last part under his breath.
[Flashback]
"Well, that was a refreshing treat" Zeo said, rubbing his belly as he and Emira exited the restaurant, "Thanks again, Emira. Although, I could've paid"
"No, it's ok. I did say it was my treat after" Emira said with a sweet expression, "Thanks again for the Xandopher thing"
"No problem" Zeo replied, "So, I guess this is the part where we go our separate ways?"
"I guess it is" Emira said. She and Zeo smiled each other for a moment before Zeo walked off, "Oh, one more thing, Zeo" Emira quickly placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. He looked back at her and was met with a kiss to his cheek, "For the record, I wouldn't mind if you saw me naked" she whispered into his ear, making him blush.
"I… I'll keep that in mind" Zeo stuttered, clearing his throat.
"See you around… hero" Emira said while walking off, that usual sway in her hips.
"She's ok with me seeing her naked? Oh man…" Zeo said while massaging his forehead.
[End of Flashback]
"Yeah, I'm her hero alright" Zeo said, his cheek turning a light shade of red, "Done!" he said upon finishing both drawings.
Zeo tapped the glyphs on the back of both drawings, turning them into cards. Both cards depicted an alicorn, one flying through the night sky while the other trotted through a grassy field. The one trotting through a grassy field was a level seven nature type, while the one soaring through the night sky was a level five dark type.
"They look pretty" Luz said, commenting their design.
"Thanks" Zeo replied, "They're called Heal-icorn and Mana-corn"
The nature type, Heal-icorn was a tall, fully grown white alicorn with a flowing, sparkling, partly translucent, pink mane and tail. She wore a golden chest plate and golden metal boots on her hooves. She had purple eyes.
The dark type, Mana-corn was a navy-blue teenage horse with the same type of mane and tail as Heal-icorn, except her were a midnight blue. She wore a black chest plate and black, metal boots on her hooves. She had teal-colored eyes and black eyeshadow, giving her that edgy punk look. She was Heal-icorn's younger sister.
"Like Tracker Tick, they play more of a support role. With Heal-icorn being able to heal any injuries, as long as they're not fatal, while Mana-corn has a more spiritual aspect." Zeo explained.
"How so?" Luz asked.
"Her powers have more to deal with mana. There's also one that allows her to affect people's memories. Never know when something like that will come in handy." Zeo explained, "Oh, speaking of girls, I've figured how to deal with my Luzura situation"
"Really?" Luz smiled.
"Yeah. Tomorrow, I was thinking she and I could go have a picnic… just two of us" Zeo told her, looking off to the side.
"You mean like a date?" Luz asked, a small blush on her face.
"Uh… yeah, something like that" Zeo said, a small blush forming on his face as well. It was then that the poral door opened.
"Hey, kids, what're you up to?" Eda asked, walking in from the portal.
"The usual." Zeo said, slipping the alicorn sisters' cards in his pocket with the rest.
"Luz, could you leave us alone? I need to talk to Zeo for a moment" Eda said.
"Okay! I'll be up in my room getting to know these girls a little better!" Luz said, holding up the alicorn sisters' cards, much to Zeo's shock.
"How did you—"
"Learned from the best" Luz winked at Eda before quickly running up the stairs to her room with a chuckle.
"That girl scares me sometimes." Zeo muttered. He then turned to Eda.
"Well, the week's almost up. You remember our little wager, right?" Eda asked, holding up a necklace with an owl shaped pendant.
[Flashback]
Zeo and Luz walked in through the front door, school having let out some time ago.
"Hey kids, how was school?" Eda greeted the two teens, drinking a glass of apple blood on the couch.
"A kid threw up in their potion mix. It really was gross" Luz said with a cringe.
"Yeah, that happens sometimes" Eda said, doing her best to hold back a chuckle.
"I've got homework to do for the Construction Track. Zeo, mind if I borrow Razor-dillo?" Luz asked sweetly. Zeo reached into his pocket and fished out Razor-dillo, handing it to the human witchling, "Thanks!" she said, kissing his cheek before heading upstairs.
Zeo looked at Eda, who was giving him a knowing smile. Zeo looked away with an embarrassed blush.
"So… How was school for you, Zeo?" Eda asked, not wanting to embarrass the boy.
"Remember yesterday when I when on that adventure in that lush forest with Willow for her project? Well, she wasn't able to complete it this morning due to a thistle in her neck that messed up her magic, so I stepped in and created a plant beast for her and saved her at the last minute" Zeo told her.
"Well, that's nice of you" Eda said.
"What's nicer is that I let her keep the plant beast and its command cards" Zeo added, Eda raising an eyebrow at that, "Yeah, I'm not really into plants…" he shrugged.
"Well, whatever the case, it's good that you helped out your friend" Eda said, taking a sip of her drink.
"Yeah. Technically speaking, that's twice I've saved her. I have weird feeling I'm going to be saving girls a lot… and I don't know whether or not that's a good thing" Zeo said, and gave a small chuckle, "Who knows? I might even save your life one day" he said, making Eda chuckle.
"You save me?" Eda repeated, looking at him a bit of skepticism, releasing another small chuckle.
"What's so funny about that?" Zeo looked at her quizzically.
"Don't get me wrong, Zeo, you and your beasts are probably able to get me out of a tight situation, but saving my actual life is going a bit far, don't you think?" Eda asked.
"Even the life of most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles can be at risk occasionally" Zeo countered.
"Hm. You sure of yourself. Care to wager on that?" Eda asked with a tone of interest.
"What kind of wager?" Zeo raised an eyebrow.
Eda pulled at the collar of her dress before reaching into it. She then pulled out a necklace with what appeared to be an owl-shaped pendant.
"You see this necklace? I've had it since I was a girl. If you manage to save my life within a week, it's yours" Eda told him.
"Really?" Zeo looked at her, beaming a bit.
"Mm-hm" Eda nodded, "If, however, you don't manage to save my life, I get to have you as my personal servant for a month" she added with a malicious smile as she approached him, "So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?" she asked, offering her hand to him.
There was a brief pause as Zeo looked from the older woman's hand, and then into her eyes. The card wielding witch-warrior then gave a smirk of his own.
"You're on!" he said, shaking her hand.
[End of Flashback]
"You've only got a couple days left you know" Eda told him.
"Yeah, I know. Trust me, that necklace is going to be mine" Zeo replied with a determined expression, "I like you, but there's no way I'm being the servant that's lazy and partly unreliable" he said, causing Eda to cock an eyebrow at him, "Not to mention a crappy teacher and—" he was cut off by Eda stomping her foot on the coffee table.
"You wanna take this outside, kid?!" Eda yelled, glaring at him.
"Bring it on!" Zeo replied.
"Ooh, this ought to be good!" King said, having heard the conversation.
A few minutes later, Zeo and Eda stood outside in front of the house.
"The most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles going up against a young warrior witchling. I should be ashamed of myself" Eda said mockingly with a chuckle.
"A bit of advice, Mom. Don't ever underestimate me!" Zeo replied, holding one of his cards.
Zeo then tossed the card, summoning his Dragon Blade, his weapon of choice. Seeing the determination in his eyes, Eda couldn't help but give a small, subtle smile. As she watched Zeo charge at her, Eda summoned her staff and quickly blocked the swing of his weapon. With a twirl, Eda danced around Zeo and smacked him on top of his head with her staff.
"Ow! Damn it, was that really necessary?" Zeo said, rubbing the spot where he had been hit.
"Sorry, couldn't resist" Eda said with a small shrug of a single shoulder.
Zeo growled, the dragon-themed weapon roaring as its blade was ignited in flames. However, before he could do anything else, a rumbling sound filled the area.
"What the?" Zeo asked in surprise.
"What was that?" King asked.
Meanwhile, up in her room, Luz had taken out the Luzura card.
"Luzura, arise!" Luz tossed the card, bringing out her doppelganger.
"Hey Luz, what's up?" Luzura asked telepathically.
"Have great news for you. Zeo wants to take you on a picnic tomorrow, just the two of you" Luz told her double.
Luzura gasped, "Really?!" she beamed.
Luz replied with a confirming nod. With a squeal, Luzura threw her arms around Luz, the two girls hugging each other as they jumped in a circle. That moment was quickly ended when they felt the ground shake.
"What was that?" Luz asked. They looked out the window and saw a large pillar of darkness in the distance, "This can't be good…" Luz muttered.
Meanwhile, Eda and Zeo were staring at the pillar as well.
"Zeo, you and Luz stay here" Eda told him sternly.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea, mom." Zeo said. "I'm getting seriously bad vibes from this!"
"Exactly. I don't need you and Luz getting in the way!" She told him.
"At least take someone with you!" Zeo begged holding up several of his cards.
"Fine, give me Knight Owl" Eda rolled her eyes. Zeo did as instructed, handing his prized beast to the Owl lady, "Knight Owl, arise!" Eda tossed the card, the armored owl coming out with a powerful screech.
"You'll need these." Zeo said, handing Knight Owl's command cards to her.
"Thanks" Eda said, "Ready, my curse inspired owl friend?" She asked the armored bird.
*Hoot*
"He says he's ready" Zeo translated.
"Alright" Eda hopped onto Knight Owl's back, "head for that pillar of darkness" she told him, Knight Owl doing as he commanded as he took off at high speed.
"You're not really going to just let her go off on her own, are you?" Luz asked from her window.
"Hell no. Toss me the alicorn cards" Zeo told her, Luz dropping both cards to the card wielder, "Heal-icorn, Mana-corn, arise!" he tossed the cards, summoning the alicorn sisters. He then hopped on Heal-icorn's back, "You coming?" he looked over his shoulder at Luz who was in her room. Mana-corn flew up to her window.
"Duh!" Luz said, merging with Luzura before leaping out of the window and on to Mana-corn's back.
"Yah!" Zeo kicked Heal-icorn in the side with his heel, the alicorn releasing a neigh as she took to the sky with her sister. Though they were nowhere near as fast as Knight Owl.
*Whinnie* "I've got a bad feeling about this." Heal-icorn said.
"You and me both" Zeo muttered.
The Forest…
"Alright, time to see what's going on" Eda said, "Be on your toes." She told Knight Owl, "I hope this isn't anything too dangerous. This would be a bad time for my curse to act up"
*Hoot* Knight Owl said. While Eda couldn't understand him like Zeo, she could tell that he was concerned about her predicament.
"Zeo's right, this does have a strange vibe" Eda commented.
Knight Owl instinctively put himself between Eda and the tower of darkness upon landing.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the infamous Owl Lady" a voice said from the tower of darkness.
"This can't be good." Zeo said as he, Luz, and the alicorn sisters watched from a distance.
*Whinnie* "I sense a great amount of darkness here." Mana-corn said in fear.
*Whinnie* "As do I, little sister" Heal-icorn said in agreement.
"Zeo, are you sure you want to go through with this?" Luz looked at the card wielder with concern, "No bet is worth this!" Luz added, surprising Zeo. "King told me when you guys started it." She explained.
"Two things. One, I care more about Mom than I do about the bet. And two, remind me to sic Night Howler on that little runt when we get home" Zeo replied.
"Is it just me, or does Night Howler like King a little too much if you catch my drift?" Luz said.
"Yeah, I never thought any of my beasts would actually like that little twerp. That just makes torturing him all the more fun." Zeo said with a chuckle, "But seriously though, I want to be there to have Mom's back" Zeo said.
Back with Eda, she watched as the pillar of darkness dissipated, revealing a satyr with wings.
"Eh, I've seen scarier." Eda said.
"You know what they say, big things come in small packages" the satyr said.
"Just who are you?" Eda asked.
"I am Cormac, AKA, you're doom!" The satyr said.
"Better than you have tried to take me in to the Emperor's Coven" Eda said mockingly.
"The Emperor's Coven? Oh, no. I have much more sinister plans in mind" Cormac smiled maliciously. He then pulled out a 10-foot long greatsword.
"Overcompensate much?" Eda asked with a chuckle at her innuendo.
"Hate to do this to you, but..." Eda said while drawing a circle in the air with her finger. However, she found that nothing happened, "Oh, that's not a good sign." Eda said as feathers started sprouting. "And that's even worse." She said.
"What do I..." She began before looking at the cards in her hand, and then at Knight Owl. "Just toss these into you?" She asked, to which he nodded. "Alright, let's see..." Eda looked through the four cards, "Shadow Rush?" She looked at card questionably.
She tossed the card into Knight Owl, who transformed into a shadowy version of himself before charging at the satyr who simply backhanded him.
"Stay out of this, birdbrain!" Cormac said.
The card then reappeared in Eda's hand, "ok, let me try something else... Feather Knife Storm?" She said before tossing the card into Knight Owl, the bird launching several razor-sharp feathers from behind Cormac.
The satyr simply raised his sword, blocking the feathers before stabbing Knight Owl in the chest.
Knight Owl trembled a bit before releasing a loud screech of pain. Soon, in a flash of light, Zeo's mightiest beast was nothing but a gray card.
"Knight Owl!" Eda cried.
Luz looked on in horror at what she just saw.
Zeo glared at the satyr, "You... Bastard!" He growled under his breath, clenching his fists.
"Knight Owl's your strongest base beast. To beat him so effortlessly..." Luz said, still shocked as Zeo ran out.
"Now, Owl Lady, it's your turn!" Cormac said as he raised his sword, preparing to do the same to Eda.
The satyr drew a spell circle which bound her legs in chins. Cormac then tossed the sword at the Owl Lady, who hung her head as she braced for the worst. She heard the impact of the sword. However, she felt nothing. Upon hearing a hacking sound, she lifted her head. What she saw made her eyes widen in shock.
"Zeo..." Eda whispered the boy's name, Zeo standing in front of her with the sword through his chest, having taken the attack for her, "Zeo... Why?" She asked.
"I couldn't let him hurt you." Zeo said as blood came out his mouth.
"ZEO!" Luz cried in fear from afar.
Zeo turned to her with a smile, "I did it for you. You're more important to me than some bet..." He said before collapsing. Luckily Eda was there to catch him in her arms, "I'm glad I... was able to… protect you" he told her.
"Oh no, this is bad, this is bad, THIS IS BAD!" Luz said, before remembering something. "WAIT A MINUTE! Heal-icorn! Zeo said your powers can heal ANY injury, right?" Luz said.
*Whinnie* "Yes, as long as it's not fatal. But I can't do anything with that sword embedded in his chest" Heal-icorn replied.
Luz looked at Knight Owl's card, "Mana-corn, can your power recharge Knight Owl?" Luz asked the younger alicorn.
*Whinnie* "Easily, why?" the teenage horse asked.
"I'm going to take this bastard down" Luz told her. The young alicorn made her horn glow, quickly levitating Knight Owl's card to Luz which went unnoticed by the others, "Command Card: Energizing Horn" she tossed a card into Mana-corn.
The young alicorn fired a blue beam into the gray card which was reenergized in seconds. Luz nodded in preparation.
"Such a noble sacrifice." Cormac said. "But otherwise futile!" He said, preparing to finish the job, only for his sword to meet Owlcalibur's blade. "What?!" Cormac looked at the warrior that stopped him.
"You bastard, I'm going to kill you!" Luz growled, glaring at him with tears of anger in her eyes. They were the tears of both Luz and Luzura.
Using surprisingly little strength, she was able to knock the satyr's sword out of his hands before delivering a roundhouse kick straight to his face.
"Quick, Eda! You need to get that sword out of Zeo's chest, once you do so, toss this into Heal-icorn!" Luz said tossing one of the older alicorn's command cards to Eda before taking flight and charging at Cormac.
"Heal-icorn?" Eda repeated.
She heard a whinny before turning to see the sisters. Eda clenched the handle of the sword, tears falling from her eyes on to Zeo's forehead. She looked at the older alicorn, who nodded. Eda nodded in return, slowly removing the blade from Zeo's chest. A pool of blood formed underneath him. Eda then looked at the card.
"Command Card: Healing Horn!" Eda said as she tossed it into Heal-icorn's horn.
The alicorn then fired a green beam of energy at Zeo's body, the light enveloping him. It quickly stopped the bleeding.
"Don't die…" Eda muttered, "Don't die…" she muttered, "Don't die…" she muttered, "Don't die…" tears filled her eyes.
Meanwhile, with Luz and Cormac.
"Just who are you?" Cormac asked as he clashed swords with Luz.
"Someone you DON'T to mess with!" Luz said, flicking her war talons. "Supreme Blade Storm!" She called out.
Luz tossed her sword into the air. She swiped her talons, sending two groups of energy slashes which struck Cormac.
"I am Luz..." Luz said before launching herself into the air, and then grabbed her sword, "Luz Noceda!" She cried as she brought her weapon down, slashing the satyr down the middle. "And you are another kill for my sword!" Luz said, the satyr screaming as he was consumed in light, his body obliterated. "Now that he's taken care of…" Luz flew back to Eda.
Luz then flew towards Eda, sitting on her knees beside Zeo. She watched as Heal-icorn continued to restore him. The large gash in his chest was then sealed up. A few of Eda's tears had fallen on to where Zeo's wound once was.
"Is he going to be ok?" Luz asked Eda and Heal-icorn with worry.
"The wound has closed up, but he hasn't woken up yet." Eda said with worry.
*Whinny* Heal-icorn said.
"She's saying we got to him in time, and she was able to heal him, but he still needs rest." Luz translated.
"You can understand them now?" Eda asked.
"Only when merged with Luzura." Luz shrugged. "They're surprisingly good listeners. No offense." She said, referring to the beasts.
It was then that Eda saw something fall out of Zeo's pocket. She took it out and saw it was potion, a blue one.
"This… This a potion" Eda said, looking at it.
She remembered listening in on how Zeo said he was going to create a more powerful version of the elixir she used to treat her curse. Could this be it? Eda uncorked the bottle. After pondering for a few seconds, the Owl Lady took a few sips of the elixir made by the boy. Immediately, all signs of her curse disappeared. So, he was serious about helping her after all.
"I was wondering what he's been working on in Potions class. Now we know" Luz said with a small smile.
"Yeah…" Eda replied, looking at the sleeping boy with a small smile of her own, "And it didn't take that much either" Eda examined the bottle, having drunk only a third of the liquid before putting the cork back on putting it into her pocket.
"Zeo really paid attention in Potions class. It must have taken him a while to get all those ingredients" Luz said as Eda scooped him up into her arms.
"He did all this for me. He really is something else" Eda stood and smiled at the unconscious boy in her arms.
"Yeah, he is, isn't he?" Luz said with a slight blush.
"Come on, let's go home" Eda said climbing on Heal-corn's back, Zeo cradled in her arms as she did so.
The alicorn sisters took off with Eda, Luz flying close beside as they flew back to the owl house.
At that moment, the cloaked figure from some time ago, stepped out of the shadows. They picked up the feather left by the satyr and drew a spell circle over it. They saw the memories of the defeated creature which made them chuckle.
"Zeo seems to be very noble and loyal, especially towards the Owl Lady" they said to himself, "And that girl seems to be just as impressive if she was able to take down my creation. I'll have to keep a closer eye on them" they said vaguely.
The Owl House…
Eda and Luz walked into the house, Luz having recalled the alicorn sisters back into their card forms while still being in her Owl Paladin form,
"You ok, Eda? You haven't taken your eyes off Zeo this whole time" Luz asked, her mentor still having that smile on her face as she still held the boy in her arms.
"I'm fine, Luz" Eda said as she approached the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Luz asked.
"Putting him in bed. You'll see him in the morning" Eda said without turning her head.
The Owl Lady made her way to the second floor. She approached the door to Zeo's room and considered opening it, until she had second thoughts. Eda headed further down the hall where she approached and entered her own room. She then stepped into her large nest where she gently placed Zeo in the center of. Eda took the newly made elixir out of her pocket and placed it on the floor near the outside of her nest. With a snap of her fingers, she changed into her sleepwear. Reaching into her shirt, Eda pulled out the necklace from earlier.
"Well, a deal's a deal" Eda said to herself in a soft voice. She then lifted Zeo's head and placed the item around his neck before resting it, "You really did save my life, kiddo" she told him as she laid beside his unconscious body.
Eda kept that smile as a certain memory came to her. It was back when Luz and Zeo were trying out for Hexside and had to show Bump their magical prowess…
[Flashback]
"I'm proud to be the clone and son of the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles!" Zeo declared.
"You see yourself as her son? That's kind of sweet" Bump said.
[End of flashback]
"It really was sweet… just like most things you've done" Eda muttered, "Such a tough yet sweet boy" she said as she scooted closer, pulling him in and embracing him, "Tough yet sweet. Just like…" a tear of pride rolled down her right cheek as her voice fell to a whisper, "… his mother"
And that's the end of this chapter. Well, it's official, Eda now sees Zeo as her son. Expect to see more mother/son moments between the two. The next chapter will center around Zeo and Luzura. This chapter was co-written with JTWAS1994
If you've seen My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic then you can probably guess who the alicorn sister beast cards are based off of.
If you have ideas for beast cards, say it in a review or feel free to message me.
Remember to Read, Review and Favorite/Follow.