Ok, here's chapter 21 of Rise of Zeo. As said before in the previous chapter, this one will center around Zeo and Luzura. Enjoy.
Zeo woke up. But something was off. Rather than being in Eda's arms or on the couch in the living room, he found himself in a dark space.
"What the... Where am I?" Zeo asked himself. He then remembered what happened when he lost consciousness, "Oh, right, I took a sword to the chest" Zeo said, "Am I dead? I'm dead, aren't I?" he asked. Suddenly a laugh filled the air. "What the?" He asked.
"You'll wish you were dead after what I have planned for you, clone of the Owl Lady!" An unfamiliar female voice rang out. Suddenly, Zeo found himself in an unfamiliar room.
"What now?" Zeo asked. He then saw, in a nearby bed, a young girl with orange hair. Recognizing her from pictures seen around Hexside, Zeo muttered one word. "Mom?" He asked in confusion.
"This must be her when she was my age. Huh, she's actually kind of cute all asleep like that" Zeo said, admiring her sleeping form, "But what am I doing here? Is this a dream or one of her memories?" He asked.
Suddenly the door opened and an indistinguishable figure appeared in the doorway, the only thing that could be made out was the eyes, and a symbol with an owl pattern.
"Who are you?" Zeo asked the figure.
Suddenly, the scenery changed again and Zeo found himself in a black void. Seconds later, he was surrounded by ten yellow astral foxes which lunged and seemed to enter his body.
Seconds later, Zeo jolted awake, panting a little. Once calm, he immediately took notice that he wasn't in his room. The room he was in was fairly bigger. He felt a few twigs lightly poking his back, and then realized he was in a nest. Wait a minute…
"Am I in Mom's nest?" Zeo asked himself.
"I was wondering when you'd wake up" he heard Eda's voice. He turned his head and saw the Owl Lady snuggled up to him.
"Mom?!" Zeo quickly sat up, "Why am I in your nest with you?!" he asked, confused.
"Can't a mother be concerned for her son?" Eda asked, sitting up in front of him.
"What did you just say?" Zeo asked in slight surprise, tilting his head.
"Can't a mother, me…" Eda cupped his right cheek in her left hand, "Be concerned for her son, you?" she said with a warm smile.
"You called me…" Zeo mumbled.
"Oh! Your elixir works, better than the regular stuff" Eda told him.
"It does?!" Zeo asked, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, and I'm eternally grateful. You've done so much for me, the least I can do is return the favor" Eda said.
Zeo chuckled, a small, nervous blush upon his cheeks. That's when he felt something around his neck. Looking down, he saw that owl necklace that he had bet Eda for. He then looked back at her.
"Is this your…" Zeo pointed to the pendant.
"It was. But now it's yours" Eda told him, "You saved my life, which means you won our bet, so my necklace belongs to you now. You've earned it, kiddo"
"Thanks, Mom" Zeo smiled at her, placing the necklace in his shirt, "Say, do you remember anything about your curse? Like, who cursed you?" he asked.
"All I know is someone placed it on me when I was around Luz's age… maybe a little bit older" Eda replied with a small shrug, "But, hey, don't worry about too much, alright?" she told him while rubbing his head.
"Alright. If you say so, Mom" Zeo with acceptance.
Suddenly, Zeo felt his mother's soft hands cup his cheeks. He watched as Eda leaned in with her eyes closed, and then felt her moist lips upon his forehead. After a good few seconds Eda broke the kiss to his forehead and pulled away, Zeo looking at her with a surprised blush.
"Good boy" Eda said, "Now, did you happen to make more of that elixir?" she asked.
"Oh, yeah, totally. I have more in a crate downstairs. Come on" Zeo stood up with Eda.
"Oh, hold on…" Eda drew a spell circle, repairing the tears to Zeo's shirt and cloak.
A minute later, Zeo and Eda were walking down the hall, when they heard a door open.
"Zeo?" they looked back and saw Luz, amazingly still in her Owl Paladin form, who had come out of her room.
"Uh… hey Luz" Zeo greeted her with a nervous smile. He watched as tears welled up in the girl's eyes, "Luz? Are you ok—"
"Zeo!" Luz lunged at him happily.
The tackle had knocked the wind out of him. It also caused the two teens to tumble down the stairs in a ball. Their tumbling ended at the base of the steps, Luz sitting up and straddling him.
"Heh heh. I know you're happy to see—" *smack* Zeo was cut off by Luz slapping him across the face, having removed the gauntlet first, leaving a red handprint on his cheek, "Ow! What was that for?" Zeo asked while rubbing his stinging cheek.
"You're a jerk!" Luz yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks. Zeo propped himself up on his elbows.
King yawned as he walked down the steps, only for Eda stop him with a hand on his head. The tiny demon looked at her as she held a finger against her lips, silently telling him to keep quiet. The two of them watched the scene unfold from the steps.
Luz removed her helmet, her hair slightly longer with bangs and black tips. Zeo was caught off guard by the girl throwing her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder as she sobbed.
"Luz?" Zeo looked at her.
"You really scared me back there." Luz said.
"Luz..." Zeo wrapped his arms around her, embracing her in a hug, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I just wanted to protect Mom" he told her, "Please don't cry" he said.
"You're just lucky I had Heal-icorn out and Mana-corn was able to recharge Knight Owl!" Luz said. "Who knows what would have happened if either of those things weren't the case?!" She added.
"I would've been a goner…" Zeo muttered, glancing off to the side.
Zeo looked at Luz as she reeled back, the owl girl sniffling.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again, Zeo Clawthorne!" Luz said, a small crack in her voice.
"Luz…" Zeo said her name softly, the Luz looking back as he cupped her cheek, "Don't worry, Luz, I won't" he said reassuringly as he wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
"Zeo…" Luz muttered, "Oh, Zeo!" she threw her arms around him once more as she sobbed, this time happily.
Zeo returned the gesture by wrapping his own arms around her waist. Zeo looked over the girl's shoulder and saw Eda and King give him smug expressions which made him blush with slight embarrassment. Zeo cleared his throat.
"So, uh, Luzura and I still have that picnic later on. So, if you don't mind defusing…" Zeo started.
"In a minute. For now, can we just stay with you for a little longer?" Luz asked, still not releasing her hold on him.
"Uh… sure, Luz" Zeo said.
That put a small smile upon Eda's face.
"I'll go make us some breakfast" Eda said as she headed for the kitchen, King following close behind.
Later, around noon…
A Grassy Field…
A picnic blanket was placed on the grass, a picnic basket place on top. Zeo and Luz sat on the blanket, not too far from the lake but not too close either.
"So, was that you or Luzura that decided to tackle, slap and hug me?" Zeo asked, raising a curious eyebrow.
"Mm. A little of both" Luz said with a small shrug of a single shoulder, still merged with Luzura though not in their paladin form.
"I'm amazed you stayed in your merged form. Is Luzura really ok with this?" Zeo raised any eyebrow.
"Yeah, she's ok with it. She and I came to an agreement that, when we're merged, we're basically the same person" Luz told him, "So, in a way, you're on a date with both Luz and Luzura at the same time… since we're sharing the same body and all" she added with a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Eh, alright then" Zeo gave a shrug of his own.
Zeo reached into the picnic basket and pulled out some plates, cups, sandwiches, a large bag of chips, and thermos. He handed one of the sandwiches to Luz and poured some chips onto her plate. He opened the thermos and poured each of them a cup of his homemade apple blood, which had been chilled beforehand thanks to Frost Lizard.
"So, Zeo…" Luz started.
"Hm?" Zeo looked at her.
"Are you ok after what happened? I mean your…" Luz gestured around her chest area.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Heal-icorn patched me up nicely. Although, I do have a scar where the sword impaled me" Zeo said, grazing the center of his chest with the fingertips.
The elder of the alicorn sisters had managed to bring him back from the verge of death. While the injury didn't pierce his heart or any other vital organs, he did lose a lot of blood. It was a miracle he was able to come back at all. The wound wasn't entirely healed though since, as mentioned before, there was still a scar in the center of Zeo's chest. It wasn't a huge, gaping scare as thick as the sword though. It was more like one of those scars that you get after surgery after the doctor finishes the operation.
"I'm just glad you're alive. We were really worried about you, Zeo" Luz said with a face of concern as she took a bit of her sandwich.
"I know, I'm sorry. I'll try not to do anything that reckless again" Zeo said reassuringly.
"Good!" Luz nodded, "And, uh… sorry about slapping you earlier. That's coming from both Luz and Luzura" she added.
"No, it's ok. I kind of deserved it for what I did" Zeo said.
"Well, you're alive and well. That's all that matters" Luz said, she and Zeo smiling at each other.
The Owl House…
Eda stood in the kitchen in front of a large bowl, an assortment of ingredients on the counter.
"What're you up to, Eda?" King asked taking a seat on a stool.
"I'm baking a cake" Eda said while looking at the instructions in a cookbook.
"Ooh! Is it an offering towards me?" King asked.
"What? No. It's for Zeo" Eda replied, drawing a spell circle which made the ingredients combine in the respective steps.
"Huh?" King looked at her some confusion.
"It's my way of thanking him for saving my life. I know I gave him my necklace, but I think my son deserves something more personal that comes from his mother's heart" Eda told him, and then realized what she said, "Ugh. I think Luz is starting to rub off on me" she said while massaging her forehead.
"Did… did you just call him your son? And did you just call yourself his mother?" King asked, unsure if he had heard that right.
"Yeah, yeah, I've accepted the relationship we have" Eda said with a playful expression, "True, he may not be my son in the traditional, natural sense, but he's still my son. I just took him risking his life and almost dying for me to realize that" she said, looking off to the side, a brief look of guilt upon her face. She then gave a quick shake of her head, "Anyway, I'm sure he'll love the sight of this once he gets back"
"I still can't believe he went on a picnic with Luz and they didn't invite me!" King gestured to himself.
"Zeo wanted to take her out to make up for the Luzura incident. I think Luz stayed merged with Luzura just so she could go with him herself. Either way, it's about time those two went on a date" Eda said with a small chuckle.
The Grassy Field…
"Ok, that was some good food. You really know how to cook, Zeo" Luz said while sipping some of the non-alcoholic apple blood.
"Eh, you can thank Viney and her aunt for teaching me how" Zeo shrugged with a small smirk.
"So… how are your classes going?" Luz asked.
"Pretty well. Though now that I've accomplished what I planned to accomplished, that place no longer serves any purpose for me" Zeo told him.
"Is that why you chose to be in the Potions Track? To make your own version of Eda's elixir?" Luz asked.
"Uh-huh" Zeo nodded, "Don't ask why. I have my reason for doing so" he told her.
"I can respect that" Luz said in an accepting tone, "It was nice of you to do that for Eda. You're a really sweetie when you wanna be" she winked at him.
"Uh… thanks" Zeo said with a small blush. There was a small pause as the two teens looked at each other. The short silence was broken by Zeo clearing his throat, "Wanna see the latest beast I've created?"
"Do I?!" Luz said excitedly.
Zeo pulled out his latest card. The card depicted a silver rabbit running with a trail of yellow lightning behind it. This rabbit was a lightning beast like Thunder Snake. This card though was a level three beast.
"Electro Rabbit, arise!" Zeo tossed the card.
In a flash of yellow light, the small beast appeared. It was a silver rabbit with yellow paws that ended at its upper forearm in a black zigzag lightning design, the same applying for its back legs. Though it walked on four legs like a normal rabbit, it had the ability to stand on two. On the sides of its body were yellow lightning bolt-shaped marks. Unlike most beasts which had blank, glowing eyes, this rabbit had regular eyes with orange irises. It had black eyelids, a single line running down each of its cheeks from the center of its lower eyelid. It had long, floppy ears, the inner being yellow like its paws. Its nose was black and had no whiskers.
Luz gasped, "Ay, qúe lindo! (Oh, how cute!)" she shrieked as she scooped the lightning bunny into her arms, "Zeo, he is SO cute! Your cutest beast yet!" Luz said while nuzzling the bunny cheek to cheek, the little guy blushing as he looked at Zeo.
"Heh. Yeah, he could definitely give King a run for his money" Zeo said with a chuckle, "Want to see what he can do?"
"Do I?!" Luz said, letting the rabbit on the ground. Instinctively, Electro Rabbit faced the lake, reeling backward to stand on two legs.
"Command Card: Lightning Volt!" Zeo tossed the card into Electro Rabbit's back.
Electro Rabbit's eyes went blank, as if he lost consciousness. From his mouth, the rabbit shot out a powerful blast of yellow lightning. The lightning shot clear across the lake, hitting a large tree on the other side, causing it to blow up into pieces. Unfortunately, a part of the lightning diverted and struck the water.
"Wow! That's one powerful little bunny!" Luz said with amazement.
"Damn right he is" Zeo said, smiling at the lightning creature.
It was in that moment they felt the ground shake. They looked towards the lake, the water rippling and it jump slightly up and down. The two teens looked at each other, and then back at the lake. Seconds later, out came an enormous monster which sprang from the water. It was a large sea serpent with golden metal plating along its face and down its back.
"Oh, crap" they both said, Zeo recalling Electro Rabbit back into his card state.
"Zeonidas, arise!" Zeo summoned his doppelganger, "Mind Convergence!" he tossed the command card, merging with his doppelganger just as Luz had.
"Kunai Bomb/Magic Missile!" they shouted, launching their explosive based ranged attacks.
The attacks hit and exploded upon impact. However, when the smoke cleared, the sea serpent was still there, not a scratch on it. Zeo and Luz looked at each other. They leaped out of the way just in time to avoid the serpent's tail which left trench in the ground.
"Zeo…" Luz looked at the card wielder.
"Looks like we're going to need a power boost" Zeo said, holding Knight Owl's card between his fingers, causing Luz to shriek in excitement, "Knight Owl, arise!" he tossed the card, bringing out his ace monster, "You ready for this, Luz?" he looked at the human witch.
"Are you kidding? This is my favorite part!" Luz beamed.
"Fusion Vortex!" Zeo tossed the card between them.
Both Luz and Knight Owl entered the vortex which exploded in a swirling pillar of light and darkness. The pillar soon vanished, Luz now in her Owl Paladin form. She then flew towards the sea serpent. The water monster swung its powerful tail at the owl girl, but Luz caught it in both hands, recoiling a bit as the force of it pushed her back some. Luz simply smirked at the water monster. She pushed the monster's tail away and started flying around the beast.
Zeo watched as Luz fought the sea serpent. When he and Luz shot their explosives at the beast, it did nothing, not even so much as a scratch. Either they were weak blasts or this thing had tough skin. Skin. The monster's front was made of skin and tough scales, but the back was made of metal. Metal that could easily heat up… and possibly burn it.
"Beast Weapon: Dragon Blade, arise!" Zeo shouted, summoning his dragon-based sword, immediately igniting its blade with flames. Once the creature's back was turned, he knew he had a clear shot, "Dragon's Inferno!" Zeo shouted with a swing of his sword, unleashing a large flaming dragon.
The fire dragon hit the sea serpent, engulfing it in flames. The water monster roared in pain, feeling the metal parts of it body heat up, some of the metal even melting. When the flames dissipated, the metallic parts of the sea serpent were glowing orange. Luz looked back at Zeo, who nodded as a way of telling her it was her moment to strike.
"Since we're all using swords here…" Luz muttered and pulled out a card, "Beast Weapon: Owlcalibur, arise!" she tossed the card, summoning her paladin form's signature weapon. She then ran her talons along the blade of the sword, energizing it in blue mana, "Avian Slash!"
Luz launched herself further into that, and then came down, slashing clean down the sea serpent's body, cleaving it in two. The two halved then fell into the water, sinking to the bottom of the lake. Hopefully to be eaten by other animals.
"Nice job, Luz" Zeo said as she descended from flight. The human owl hybrid then threw her arms around his neck in a hug which he gladly returned, "Listen, Luz, there's something I've been meaning to tell you—" Zeo was cut off by Luz placing a finger right on his lips silencing him.
"Shh!" she hushed him, "You can tell me when we get back home" she whispered to him.
The two teens looked at each other, blushing as they gazed into each other's eyes, their hearts starting to race.
The Owl House…
Zeo and Luz returned to the house, Zeo allowing Luz to stay in her Owl Paladin at her request.
"Hey kiddos" Eda greeted them, a small smile on her face and her arms behind her back, "How was your little date?"
"It went well" Zeo said, he and Luz smiling at each other.
"Considering Luz is in her Owl Paladin form; I assume you guys had to fight some kind of monster?" she raised an amused eyebrow.
"Oh, she's good!" Luz said.
"I have something for you, Zeo" Eda said.
"What is it?" Zeo looked at her.
"Ta-da!" Eda pulled her hands from behind her back, showing him a cake.
"Chocolate cake?" Zeo looked at the dessert with amazed eyes.
"Red velvet chocolate cake" Eda corrected.
"Ooh!" both Zeo and Luz beamed, their mouths watering a little.
"And look, it even has a little message" Eda pointed to the top of the cake.
"For being an amazing son."
– Mom
"Aww, thanks, Mom" Zeo smiled at her, taking the cake in his hands.
"Eda, you finally see Zeo as your son?" Luz beamed.
"Yes. Yes, I do" Eda said while ruffling Zeo's hair.
Luz chuckled. "So, Zeo, what were you going to tell me earlier?" she asked the card wielder.
"Hm?" Zeo looked back at her.
"After we defeated the sea serpent, you said there was something you've been meaning to tell me" Luz reminded him.
"Oh, right…" Zeo placed the cake on the coffee table. He then took Luz by the hand and sat her down with him on the couch, "Luz—and this is for you, too, Luzura…" he said to both versions of the human witchling, "Ever since our little minotaur adventure, perhaps even before that, I've thought about how I've felt about our friendship, how I've felt about you"
"About… me?" Luz repeated, her cheeks turning red, this coming from both her and Luzura.
"Luz, you know you're practically my best friend, right?" Zeo asked.
"Uh-huh" Luz nodded.
"Well, ever since Luzura confessed her feelings towards me, it's got me thinking about my own feelings. After that little incident yesterday, I thought I was done for…" Zeo said, looking down at his chest for a brief second before looking back at Luz, "Like you said, you and Luzura are one and the same" he placed one of his hands on top of one of hers, "This whole experience also made me realize that the way I feel about Luzura is the same way that I feel about you and I realized…"
Luz was looked into his eyes, her heart racing as she looked at him. Inside, both she and Luzura were freaking out a bit.
"I…" Zeo raised his free hand, cupping her cheek, "I love you, Luz" he told her.
To say Luz was surprised was an understatement. Both her and her other personality were freaking out on the inside.
"Zeo… I—mmph!" Luz went wide-eyed at what just happened. Zeo had cut her off… by pressing his lips against hers. Luz slowly closed her eyes, hooking her arms around Zeo's neck as she melted into the kiss.
"Finally!" Luzura cheered within Luz's head.
"That's my boy…" Eda smiled with pride, her hands on her hips.
The kiss was then broken a minute later, the two teens gazing into each other's eyes. Luz giggled as she bit her lower lip.
"I love you too, Zeo" Luz said, leaning in with a tilt of her head as she and Zeo shared a longer, deeper kiss.
"Well, it's about time…" Eda muttered with a chuckle.
Well, this was a fun little chapter to write. Looks like Zeo and Luzura have finally made up. As of this chapter, Luz and Zeo are officially dating; and since they're technically the same people, this applies to their doppelgangers as well. Some of you may be wondering if this'll effect the harem concept that's being on. Not really, I still plan to go along with the harem thing. I've seen some anime where the protagonist has a girlfriend and still has a harem.
That being said, the concept of Zeo and Luz getting together before the episode Enchanting Grom Fright came out, so sorry to those of you the ship Luz and Amity (I kind of ship them too, just not in this story). Will Amity end up with someone else in this story? Maybe. Who that person may or may not be, I can't say.
Feel free to guess which anime character I based Electro Rabbit on. And no, not Pikachu. Here's a hint: He has a red spell book and wants to be a kind king.
This chapter was co-written with JTWAS1994.
The next chapter will be an adaptation of Really Small Problems. It's been a while since I did an adaptation of an episode from the show.
Remember to Read, Review and Favorite/Follow.