Hey everyone, here's chapter 34 of Rise of Zeo. This chapter will be an adaptation of the episode Wing It Like Witches.
Be sure to reread chapter 32 because I made a few changes to it. Well, here goes.
Zeo walked down the halls of Hexside, shuffling through the cards of his deck. Since he woke up early and had nothing better to do, he decided to ride to school early; Luz would probably arrive in a few minutes. He had found the two cards he was searching for, Marine Orca and Mechalodon. He tapped the glyphs, reverting them back into simple drawings. Whenever he did this to his cards, it gave him the option to either make edits to them or destroy them.
Earlier at home, Zeo had made edits to Luzura's card. He had made slight changes to her figure to match that of Luz's, so now both had curves in certain places. Basically, they now had the body that they would have in their shared Owl Paladin form. Luz was slightly embarrassed at this, but at the same time grateful.
With the two cards in his hands though…
"Our little beach adventure with the girls was fun, but I quickly realized that the ocean is really boring. Sorry, guys," Zeo said as he ripped the drawings into pieces and tossing them into the trash, "Besides, when am I ever going to have to fight on or under the water?" he added.
He wasn't wrong. He, Luz and the others hardly ever visited the beach and even if they did need to get somewhere that was across the ocean, they could always just fly there.
That's when something caught Zeo's attention.
Up ahead, he saw Willow in front of a group of students. By the looks of it, she seemed to be making plants in the shape of people's faces. He saw her make a plant in the shape of a student's head whose eyes with aligned vertically. He had heard the student comment about how cool Willow was which made her blush, and then another student shouted that she rules. However, that's when Boscha and her gang showed up.
"Wow, she has to make friends out of plants. How sad." Boscha teased, making Willow hang her head a little as Grimrose, who was perched on Willow's head, hissed at the triclops.
That's when Amity walked in.
"Oh, please! You know, I used to be like you, Boscha, obsessed with status, challenging my competition. But I grew up. When will you?" Amity asked.
"What she said," Zeo added, standing next to a few lockers in front of Boscha's gang as Amity walked up and behind Zeo as he took over.
"Careful what you say about Willow and Grimrose, Boscha. 'Cause that smart mouth of yours can get you into big trouble," Zeo commented, making some of Boscha's friends get a little uncertain about crossing paths with Zeo of all students.
"Boscha. Maybe we should..." Amelia began, but Boscha ignored her and decided it was time to confront Zeo.
"Awww. Is daddy coming to defend his family from a bully?" Boscha asked in a mocking tone, pointing behind her towards Willow.
"No, actually," Zeo simply answered as he approached Boscha, having her raise an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" Boscha asked.
"This "daddy" is actually warning the bully that should said bully, that's you, prank, intimidate or hurt daddy's family or friends in any shape, form, or fashion, then daddy is going to show the bully... what's like to be bullied. And believe me, I may not know what it's like to have a father, but protecting my family, defending friends and those I care about from people like you is a father's main priority in life," Zeo explained as some of the nearby students had some respect of Zeo's mindset.
"This is your one and only warning, Boscha. Do anything to my friends, you suffer... badly," Zeo said, popping his knuckles for emphasis, slightly scaring everyone in Boscha's posse, except the tri-clops herself.
"He's not lying, Boscha. My brother and sister aren't afraid of anyone or anything, except my mom," Amity added, making some of the students cringe.
"Ohh... I'm shaking in my boots," Boscha says as she glared at Zeo with a sinister smirk. "I welcome your attempt at putting me in my place."
"In fact, I know exactly where your place is, Zero," Boscha said, mocking his name to show how little she thinks of him as a threat. "It's you on your knees with your head underneath my boots, acting as my foot stool with you calling me you queen," Boscha said as Amity just glared, but Zeo just smirked.
"And maybe, someday soon, you'll be on your knees with your head between my legs, calling me master," Zeo countered, making some of the girls get red faces as Boscha got red with a frown.
"Says the mind of a perverted jerk," Boscha said back.
"Only to the three-eyed, egotistical bitch standing before me who also doesn't deserve the podium she's standing on," Zeo chided back with a smirk, making Boscha wince at that remark.
"It's going to be so much fun kicking you off that podium and watching you fall from grace, banshee," Zeo says with a smirk as the school bell screams, signaling Zeo, Amity and everyone else to head to class.
"Oh, this is not gonna fly," Boscha declared with a mad, determined look on her face as she glared down the back of Zeo's head.
"Over 50 years ago, Emperor Belos appointed a head witch to each coven…" the history teacher rambled on.
Meanwhile, Luz was talking to Gus and Willow in the back.
"I can't wait for Grudgby season to start! I've studied up on all sorts of magical sports. Like this…" Luz held up a DVD cover, "Good Witch Azura 2: The Field of Deadly Fates. A classic underdog tale."
Willow took the case, "Azura challenges Hecate in the smibbitch championship. But will she risk it all by taking a chance on the deadly Thorn Vault?" she read before opening the case, revealing the DVD inside.
"Ooh, a shiny cookie" Gus tried to grab the disc, only to be slapped in the face by a vine from Grimrose.
"Not food" Luz told him.
"The council headquarters was built and paid for by...? Anyone? Willow?" the teacher looked at plant witch, getting her attention.
"Uh, the Pixie Dust Taxes?" Willow answered,
"Whoo, yeah! Go, Willow!" the bird student from earlier cheered from the hall, only for the teacher to close the door with a spell.
"Impressive, Miss Park." The teacher complimented, the other students murmuring in adoration.
"What's going on? It's like all of Hexside's caught Willow fever!" Luz said.
"Ever since I patched thing up with Amity, I've been feeling more confident." Willow said as she gestured to the flower-shaped hair clip she was wearing, "I guess it shows"
The hairclip then levitated off Willow's head and into Boscha's hand.
"Aw, Willow thinks she's popular now. How cute." Boscha said mockingly.
"Hey, I agree, my friend is very cute. But give that back!" Luz reached for the hairclip, only for Boscha to pull it away.
"It's weird that Amity hangs out with you now. Ever since Grom, she's gone soft. But don't worry." Boscha put the hairclip in her own hair, "I'm still here to show you who's boss."
Grimrose turned around on Willow's head, and shot a thistle into Boscha's neck, causing her to lay her head on her desk in slumber. The plant creature used a vine to collect the hairclip, placing it back into Willow's hair in its original position.
"Thanks, sweetie," Willow told her surrogate.
"Well, that temporarily takes care of Boscha. When she wakes up, it's not like she can follow us around all day," Luz commented.
"She followed us around all day… She literally followed us around all day!" Luz said in disbelief, she, Gus, Willow, and Grimrose having toilet paper and harsh stuff written all over their faces.
"Whoa! What the hell happened to you guys?" Zeo asked as he approached them.
"Boscha happened," Luz replied.
Zeo groaned and pulled out a card, "Light of Cleansing!" he tossed the card, summon an orb of light, "Clean up my friends and Grimrose," he told it. In a burst of speed, the light cleaned up the mess that covered Luz and the others, removing the trash and writing from their bodies and faces in a split second.
"Thanks," they all said to Zeo as the ball changed back into a card.
Willow sighed, "I'm really sorry I pulled you guys into this. We should have just kept a low profile. Boscha could get away with murder if she wanted to," she said, petting Grimrose.
"What's this? Boscha got away with murder?" Principal Bump asked as he descended the steps, "I can't say I approve, but at least she's trying new things," he added while leaving, Zeo glaring and growling at him.
"Speaking of trying new things, look at what I made Zeo," Luz held up two drawings of two different rabbits.
"Bunny rabbits?" Zeo raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Luz replied, "I drew the symbol you use on the back to try and turn them into cards like you do with your drawings, but nothing happened when I tapped it."
Zeo took the drawing from Luz's hand and examined them. They were pretty good; Luz certainly had her own style. He turned them over and saw the glyph he used to make his cards. Zeo tapped both of the glyphs which lit up. When Zeo used tapped the glyph on one of his drawings, the glyph would glow with a golden yellow light. This time, however, the glyphs glowed with a hot pink light. Within a few seconds, the cards were formed. So, it didn't work when Luz tried to use it, but it did when Zeo did. He wondered why that was.
The cards each depicted a rabbit.
The first was a white rabbit with mint green paws—front and back, mint green on the inner part of the ears, and regular eyes with red irises. The image depicted it soaring through the sky with its ears spread out. It was a wind creature.
The second was a light brown rabbit with a tan underbelly. By the looks of it, its paws, ears and tail appeared to be made of some type of white crystal that had a pink tint to it. This rabbit had regular eyes with red irises too. The image depicted it digging through the surface of the ground at high speed with its front paws. It was an earth creature.
"Hey Luz, since these are yours, why don't you do the honors?" Zeo offered, handing his girlfriend her newly created cards.
"I'd love to!" Luz beamed as she took the cards, and stood up. A smirk crossed her face, "Wind Rabbit, Crystal Rabbit, arise!" Luz shouted as she tossed the cards. In two brief flashes of light, out came the two rabbits. "Aww, they're even cuter up close!" Luz gushed with a blush, crouching to the rabbits' level.
Zeo crouched down beside Luz, taking notice of additional features on the rabbits. Judging by their crotches, one could tell that they were girls. While most of Wind Rabbit's body was covered in fur, her ears were covered in feathers. That explained her flying ability in her card's picture. The most notable thing about them though was the collars around their necks. Wind Rabbit wore a black collar bedazzled with green, diamond-shaped rhinestones; while Crystal Rabbit wore a purple collar bedazzled with pink, heart-shaped rhinestones. Their collars even had golden tags with their initials on them.
"Interesting…" Zeo muttered with a small smile while looking at them closely. He then made his way over to Willow and Gus, "You know, there's something familiar about these bunnies. I just can't put my finger on it," he said while rubbing his chin.
That's when they saw the youngest Blight walking past.
"Amity!" Luz called out to her.
"Oh, hello Luz, Gus…" Amity greeted the human and illusionist, "Hello Grimrose… Willow and Zeo," she greeted the surrogate family of three, blushing a bit due to her last interaction with the latter two.
"Amity, Boscha's been picking on Willow, and no one will do anything about it she's the "Star Captain of the Grudgby Team"," Luz told Amity.
"Yeah, this time of year, she's extra unbearable," Amity replied.
As the two girls talked, Zeo watch the Rabbit sisters closely. Crystal Rabbit hopped in place for a bit, and then hopped excitedly around Wind Rabbit in a small circle. Wind Rabbit, on the other hand, had her forelegs crossed with a deadpanned expression. Crystal Rabbit came up to her sister and threw her forelegs around her in a big hug, smooshing and rubbing her cheek against Wind Rabbit's. Though it seemed like she didn't enjoy the show of affection from her sister, Zeo could see a small smile on Wind Rabbit's face. He looked between the rabbit sisters and Luz and Amity.
"Ah. Now I know why those rabbits seem familiar," Zeo said.
"Yeah, those two are kind of like Luz and Amity," Willow chimed in.
"Yeah, little furry rabbit versions of them," Gus added.
Willow screamed as trash was suddenly dumped on her from above. Zeo looked up and saw none other than Boscha in a second story window with a trashcan in her hands. This made Zeo growl at the triclops.
"Willow! What happened?" Luz asked, running up to her friend.
"Boscha happened," Willow replied.
"Hey, Willow! I just thought all trash should stay in one spot," Boscha called from the second floor.
"That's it!" Luz said, "Boscha!" she called to the triclops, "Willow challenges you to…" there was a pause as Boscha raised an eyebrow, "A grudgby match!"
"She what?" Boscha's eyes widened, accidentally dropping the trashcan.
"I what?" Willow's eyes widened.
"She what?" Zeo and Gus' eyes widened. The trashcan that Boscha dropped fell on top of Gus.
"Seriously, what's going on here?" Gus asked.
The Owl House…
Eda sat on the couch in her old Grudgby jacket as she showed King a photo album.
"And here's when we took down Epiderm High in the semi-finals," she pointed her younger self who was holding a trophy, "Oh, I was the youngest on the team, but I had what some call "star power". AKA, this," She pulled a box from her hair labeled "Eda's Rad Cheats", "This is my cheat box. I have all my best weapons in here. Smoke bombs, sock-worms... Mwah. You name it. Oh, I never lost a game with this bad boy."
The door then slammed open, Hooty entering.
"Hoot-hoot! Guess who found a special friend in the forest," Hooty said, bringing in Lilith who was wrapped up in his entangled body, "It was me. Hoot!"
Hooty released Lilith, who falls to the floor.
"Lilith," Eda glared at her sister.
"Edalyn," Lilith glared back.
"Hooty!" Hooty popped in between them.
"Ugh. Scram, Hooty!" Eda told the bird tube,
"Okay!" Hooty's body retracted back into the front door which slams shut.
"Why are you in your old uniform?" Lilith asked, noticing the jacket her sister was wearing.
"No reason. It's laundry day," Eda shrugged, "What are you doing here?"
Lilith drew a spell circle that summoned a scroll. She cleared her throat as she started to read.
"Edalyn Clawthorne, you are hereby under arrest by the order of the Emperor of the Boiling Isles—"
Eda drew a spell circle of her own, rolling the scroll back up fast enough for the tail of it to smack Lilith in the face.
"Ah!" Lilith yelped.
"You were saying?" Eda asked with a smug expression.
"Come on! I have to bring you in. It's time for you to join the coven. The Emperor has big plans for the Isles, and he wants you—and maybe Zeo to be a part of it all," Lilith told her.
"Ooh, Aah. What an incredible opportunity for me," Eda said with sarcastic, deadpanned enthusiasm while looking at the photo album.
"What are you even looking at?" Lilith took the book out of Eda's hands, "Grudgby pictures? Feeling sentimental?"
"Pah! Me? Never. I was just telling King here how good I was," Eda replied while summoning a grudgby ball.
"Oh, Edalyn. Not only is the curse affecting your hair, but your memory as well," Lilith unfolded the photo of young Eda with her trophy, revealing a young Lilith with an even bigger trophy and several medals around her neck.
Eda groaned.
"Ah, tell you what. I'll go with you peacefully to the Emperor..." Eda started.
"Really?" Lilith beamed.
"Sure. If you beat me at a game of grudgby. Luz and Zeo are always challenging people to things. Why not me?" Eda said.
"Hmm... Game on," Lilith said with a determined expression.
Hexside…
"Wait, what," Zeo adds in shock as he too was caught off guard at what he just heard Luz say.
As Boscha quickly made her way down to the front as Zeo needed a brief summary of what just happened before he got outside...
"Uhm, what's going on here again? Because I need the whole story," Zeo asked himself as he watched Luz and Willow briefly talked to each other before Luz made her way over to the approaching Boscha and sure enough, he knew he had to walk over and join because Zeo had a feeling that Luz got herself deep into trouble without thinking... again.
"Uhm, it must have been the altitude from the second floor, but it sounded like you said leaf girl challenged me to a Grudgby match," Boscha asked in her snobby tone.
"That's right. We'll settle this once and for all on the field," Luz declared
"Or we could talk about our issues," Willow suggested, trying to play peacemaker before this really gets out of hand.
Too bad it already did.
Sorry, Willow, but that's not going to happen," Zeo said, not breaking eye contact from Boscha.
"Let's do this," Boscha said, accepting the challenge.
"Oh, no," Willow mutters.
"If Willow's team wins, you don't get to pick on her anymore," Luz said as Zeo helped Gus get the garbage can off of him.
"Fine! And when we win, Willow and your team will be our water gofers," Boscha says, announcing her stipulation to the challenge.
"Ha! That's not even a punishment. I love water," Luz said, sounding confident.
"Yeah, that's not so bad. Luz and Willow would just have to serve them water after each training maneuver," Zeo thought in agreement.
"And we get to use you as target practice," Boscha added.
Now that stipulation made Zeo immediately frown with worry.
"Wait. Did she just say "target practice"?" Zeo asked himself, now realizing that this sport just got seriously lethal.
And to prove her point (and Zeo's suspicion), Boscha throws the ball up and kicks it, sending it straight through a tree trunk, making a smoking hole in the middle as an example of her skill and power, shocking everyone around her and showing everyone why she is Captain of the Hexide Banshees Grudgby team.
"See you after school, losers," Boscha says as the Banshees leave. The entire tree catches fire, further shocking Luz, Willow and the remaining members of the crowd.
"Whoo-hoo! Willow verses Boscha," an oracle student shouts in enthusiasm at the sudden upcoming match.
If anyone paid attention to Zeo after the tree instantly ignited in front of him, they would've seen a cryptic, yet sinister looking glare form on his face aimed at the back of the leaving Boscha's head. The glow from the fire tree combined with Zeo's mood created a signature outline of an anti-hero preparing himself for the first fight of a war.
"Oh, it's on, Boscha. Banshees vs. Duelists," Zeo muttered as he followed his friends to the school steps. "Let's see who wins."
Later…
Zeo and the others were sitting at the steps of Hexside.
"Luz, as your boyfriend, I love you, but...uhm...," Zeo stammered, hoping this doesn't put a wedge within their relationship but he had to ask the question, "...Are you out of your mind?!" he shouted, blowing Luz's hair back as he quickly calms down to let her answer.
"He's right, Luz. This isn't a good idea," Amity says with worry.
"I'm with Zeo on this one, Luz," Willow added, feeling the gravity of the situation weighing down on her. "Are you crazy? I've never played Grudgby before. How am I supposed to beat Boscha?"
"But you're the better witch. I don't know much about sports, but I do know about sports movies," Luz said, making Zeo and Wind Rabbit sigh as they pinched the bridge of their noses, "We, too, are a ragtag team of lovable misfits joined together to defeat a powerful enemy. With a little team spirit and training montage, we can win."
"Well, if you think this'll work, then I'm in," Willow said, "How about you, Gus?" she looked at the illusionist.
"In seasons past, these flags have waved in support of grudgby greats. Now they will wave for the greatest: Me!" Gus replied as he waved the small flags in his hands.
"Ok, Gus and Willow are on board. What about you, Amity?" Zeo looked at the youngest Blight sibling.
"Me? On a team with Willow? Running around in cute uniforms? Sweating?" Amity said, blushing heavily at the possibilities of what's to happen, "I gotta go!" she said while running off.
"Saw that coming," Zeo said in his head with an amused roll of his eyes.
"Well, I guess she's out. In any case, let's start training
Hexside Grudgby Field…
"So, how exactly do we play grudgby?" Luz asked.
"Well, there's a ball, and you score by getting the ball through the other team's goal," Gus explains as he summons a miniature illusion of the field to demonstrate the action as the illusion dissipates.
"That sounds easy," Luz said with eagerness.
"It is. Except..." Willow began as she summons a leaf and blows it onto the field. The leaf is quickly ripped to shreds by fire, vines, ice shards, and rock spikes that emerge from the field, shocking Zeo and Luz.
"Oh, right. Boiling Isles. Should have predicted this," Luz said, straight face, despite on the inside, she was freaking out.
"This is going to be an interesting training session. And since this is a girl centered sport, I'm going to sit in the stands and watch the madness erupt. Oh! And do me a favor, please don't get killed on the field during training before you have your match with Boscha. Because I'm curious to see a mock Grudgby match in action," Zeo says as he heads to stands with the rabbit sisters and Grimrose to watch the action unfold.
Zeo began reviewing his deck as he heard Luz talk off to the side about a "training montage," whatever that meant. But after a few minutes of Luz teaching her classmates about the montage, Willow and Gus were on the field attempted to put the ball in the goal and well...
"They are going to get themselves killed out there," Zeo commented with worry as he covered his eyes, not wanting to see more as Willow and Gus tried their hardest to survive rather than score a goal.
"Hey Wind, Crystal, want to meet a fellow rabbit?" Zeo asked them.
*Squeak* "Sure," the Rabbit sisters replied, Crystal Rabbit saying it in an excited tone while Wind Rabbit said it in an indifferent tone.
"Electro Rabbit, arise!" Zeo tossed the card, summoning the lightning bunny, "Electro Rabbit, meet Wind Rabbit and Crystal Rabbit. They're Luz's creations," he introduced his rabbit to Luz's.
Electro Rabbit looked at Wind Rabbit and waved which the wind elemental replied with a wave of her own. However, when his eyes landed upon Crystal Rabbit, his ears flattened against his head and his eyes dilated as a blush crept across his face. Through his eyes, Electro Rabbit saw Crystal Rabbit glowing in a light pink aura, the female bunny surrounded by hearts. Electro Rabbit bit his lower lip as his right foot thumped quickly and repeatedly.
"Heh. Electro likes Crystal. It's kind of like Luz and I before we started dating," Zeo said in his head with an amused expression.
Crystal hopped up to Electro and placed a paw on his nose, causing his thumping to cease. The two rabbits looked at each other, Crystal Rabbit smiling a little as a small blush appeared across her face as well.
"Ok, they like each other…" Zeo noted mentally, he looked past the two potential love bunnies and saw Wind Rabbit giving Electro Rabbit a glare, as if she didn't want him to be flirty with her sister, "And it looks Wind Rabbit is going to keep a close eye on them. She must want to look out for her little sister."
Zeo turned his attention back to the training the others were doing.
"Whoo! Go, Willow," he shouts with his arms raised, making Zeo raise an eyebrow at the supporter.
"I can't tell if he is mocking Willow to make her feel better or he's a die-hard Willow fan. Either way, I appreciate his enthusiasm in supporting Willow," Zeo muttered with a small smile as he watched his panicking friends on the field.
Until Gus and Willow landed on plant Willow just summoned, and Gus rolled to the center of the field. This time, Zeo came on the field.
"Gus, you okay?" Zeo shouted, coming to his fallen friend along with the three rabbits and Grimrose who was on his head.
"I think something's broken," he answered as he picked up his flags, but Gus screamed as Zeo saw his signature flags broke horizontally and then, he saw Willow's hairclip broken at her feet.
"Willow... isn't this yours?" Zeo asked, picking up the broken hair clip.
"Come on, Gus. I have some floral tape in the greenhouse. We'll fix them," Willow said as she took Grimrose from Zeo and placed her back on her head.
"Okay," Gus said with a sniff as they both got up and begin walking away.
"Guys, let's try the Thorn Vault one more time," Luz said, trying to keep them interesting in training.
"Not now, Luz. We're tired," Willow said, trying not to hurt her feelings to continue the training.
"But we're the underdogs, we have to stay upbeat and keep trying and—," Luz began, but Willow cut her off.
"Luz! Not everything can be solved with a good attitude and a dope music soundtrack. We're going to lose. And no movie can help us against that," Willow said as she turned her back on her human friend. "The game is off," Willow finally admits as she leaves with Gus, leaving a crushed Luz.
"Willow, wait," Luz says, but they duo walked off and Zeo put a comforting hand onto his girlfriend's shoulder.
"Luz, let them go. Look, I admire your ability to stand up to bullies like Boscha and protect your friends, but remember, you are just one person and not everyone thinks like you. Boscha got to where she is through years of training and you're trying to train some inexperienced peers to take a fighting stand in a sport that neither of us have played against students who play this sport not just for fun, but in the name of this school. Hence the name, Hexide Banshees," Zeo explained, making Luz sigh in despair at the gravity of their situation.
"What am I going to do, Zeo," Luz asked, feeling like she really blew it this time.
"When your back is up against the wall, just take the punishment like a champ, like me," Zeo answered, making Luz look at him in confusion. "I mean, of course, I would go out fighting like there's no tomorrow...but no matter what happens next, no matter what Boscha does to you. Just remember, you were always the better person in this match-up because you did what was right and that's standing up to a bully and saying "Enough is enough," Zeo said with wisdom in his voice as it nearly made Luz teary-eyed, but she fought back the tears as she gave Zeo a hug.
"Thanks, Zeo. I needed to hear that," Luz said as Zeo gave a warm pat on the back.
"But...again, what are we going to do about the match with Boscha?" Luz asked.
"We'll think of something. But at the end of the day, standing up for what you believe in and protecting those you care about is what matters most," Zeo commented as Luz looked at him. Wonder why he's giving all of this wisdom talk so suddenly?
"I think I've been giving you too many comic book quotes to read over my phone," Luz commented, thinking he's sounding like a superhero all of a sudden.
"But you gotta admit, it's sort of helping the situation," Zeo added as Luz just snickered under her breath.
"True," she said as he guided her to the stands.
"Let's head to the stands. We'll try to get a game plan rolling," Zeo said as they got off the field.
The Owl House…
Eda and Lilith were outside the Owl House, a makeshift grudgby field set up in front of it. The Clawthorne sisters approached each other from opposite ends. Hooty stretched out to be between them, wearing a ref's hat and whistle.
"You gals ready to hoot? We want a clean game, so no magic allowed," Hooty told them.
"Hold on a sec," Eda held a hand up, and then pulled out a card, "Night Howler, arise!" she tossed the card, summoning the large wolf who howled.
Earlier, before dropping Luz off at school, Eda was sitting on the couch with a cup of apple blood and noticed Zeo had left one of his cards on the coffee table. She remembered something about Night Howler having a crush on King and figured now would be as good a time as any to see that. She could use a good laugh.
The Owl Lady would get just that since, upon seeing each other, Night Howler's tail wagged while King shrieked in fear. King attempted to run away, only for Night Howler to catch him with ease. King whined as Night Howler held him her forelegs, assault his face with affectionate licks. Eda couldn't help but laugh and snort before turning to her sister.
"Pushing paper all day might make you a little rusty. I'll try to go easy on you," Eda said tossing the ball to Lilith who caught it in one hand.
"Remember, dear sister, you may have been star play, but I was team captain for a reason," Lilith teased while spinning the ball on her finger.
Eda grunted then Hooty blew the whistle.
Hexside Grudgby Field…
"Tough practice?" Amity asks as she sits down, next to Luz with Zeo sitting in the next row behind them.
"That's putting it mildly," Zeo said as Luz could only groan out of discomfort at their situation.
"I pushed Willow and Gus too hard. It's just, I hate seeing Willow get picked on. She's one of the best friends I've ever had. Winning this game is the only way I know how to help," Luz said with a solemn face as Zeo gave her a friendly pat on the back.
"Did you know, before Boscha, I was the Grudgby Team Captain?" Amity confessed, making the two look at her with wide eyes.
"You're kidding? You were the captain of this very sport before Boscha took over," Zeo asked in surprise.
"Yep," Amity added with a smile, which took both of them, specifically Zeo, off guard.
"Really?" Luz said with stars in her eyes at learning this new piece of information about Amity.
"What a sec. So, you, Amity Blight were the Grudgby Captain of Hexide? The whole school," he asked with interest, in which, she could only smirk with a nod of her head.
"Okay, Blight. I won't lie, I have newfound respect for you," Zeo admitted with a smile of interest.
Being Captain or leader of a team sport is a big deal and Zeo's not much of sports person, yet. So, hearing Amity talk about her leadership role on a sports team might help him one day if Zeo was ever on or has a team of his own.
But still, more questions come to mind.
"But doesn't that also mean you have an aggressive side, too? I mean, I understand the popularity of being a sports athlete and everything, but if you dominated at this sport as team captain, wouldn't that mean you would've had the same rep as Boscha back then? Not that it's a bad thing, but still...it means you were infamous at calling the shots back then that help your team gets some major victories and maintain a great winning streak. Am I right?" Zeo explained, feeling interested at what Amity did back when she was captain.
Amity could only blush out of embarrassment as the guy literally explained her past Grudgby career like interested agent, ready to recruit her, making Luz get more interested at Amity's past sports career at Hexide.
"I sense a flashback coming on," Luz added with a cheeky smile and a desperate need to know more about Amity's past.
"Well, once I left the team, I decided that was a part of my life I wanted to forget..." Amity began as she described her past experience as Grudgby Captain.
[Flashback]
Amity was dressed in her Grudgby Captain uniform while her teammates were dressed in regular Grudgby uniforms.
Amity: We were playing Glandus High for the Island Championship. We had a move planned, and it was a good one. But, at the last minute, I decided I wanted to do something flashier. I changed our game plan to… the Thorn Vault.
Luz: Good Witch Azura 2: Field of Deadly Fates! You watched it too?
Amity: Uh, yeah.
Amity launched herself to a goal post using a giant thorn. She tossed the ball, making the goal and scoring the win for the Banshees. Amity cheered, but soon realized she hurt her teammates.
Amity: It went disastrously wrong. My teammates got hurt. All because I had an idea of how things should be. I pushed them too far.
[End of Flashback]
"I never played again after that day," Amity said, petting Wind Rabbit's head, the bunny leaning into her touch.
"That's rough, Mittens," Zeo commented, stroking Electro Rabbit's back.
"Still, I love a good backstory," Luz chimed in, scratching Crystal Rabbit under her chin.
The trio then spotted the Banshees walking onto the field.
"I know what to do to make this up to Willow. Thanks, you two" Luz said before leaving.
Zeo had a feeling of what Luz was about to do. Knowing Luz, she was probably going to do something noble yet utterly stupid. Zeo and Amity watched as Luz approached the team.
"It's after school. Where's the leader of your loser brigade?" Boscha asked the human girl.
"I'm here on her behalf. We forfeit," Luz replied.
Amity and the Rabbit sisters gasped.
"And I'm here to tell you that I'll take Willow's place as your water gofer, target practice, whatever you need," Luz added.
Zeo and Electro Rabbit sighed. Yeah, that was stupid.
"Wow, you're a really good friend…" Boscha started, magically lighting a grudgby ball on fire, "And a perfect target."
Luz gasped.
"Think fast!" Boscha shouted, tossing the ball at Luz.
Luz ducked out of the ball's path. Boscha summoned more flaming grudgby balls, Luz running and dodging as they were sent her way.
"Aw, crap!" Zeo said as he ran off.
School Greenhouse…
"There, that should do it," Willow said, taping up Gus' flags.
"These are flags of surrender now," Gus said with defeat.
The door then slammed open, Zeo bursting in with the rabbits.
"Luz needs our help… again!" Zeo said, Gus and Willow looking at him, "Look, Luz can be a dumbass sometimes. She can get in over her head and I often have to bail her out when mom can't. Pushing you guys like that wasn't right, but if we don't help her, she's probably gonna die."
Zeo took Willow's hand and placed her broken hairclip into her palm. Willow smiled.
"Can we resist the call to action? No! May the flags be raised once more!" Gus shouted as he ran out, the others following close behind.
The Owl House…
Eda tossed the ball to try and score a goal, only for it to be blocked by Hooty.
"Hoot!" Hooty said.
"Hooty! Whose side are you on?" Eda asked, rather annoyed.
"I'm an unbiased participant, hoot-hoot," Hooty replied.
Lilith ended up grabbing the ball, successfully avoiding Eda and Hooty. She ended scoring the goal instead, evening up the score. King marked the score, the sisters now tied 5-5.
"Point goes to Lilith. We're at a tie here, folks," King announced, Night Howler sitting beside him with her tail wrapped around his body.
Eda and Lilith panted in exhaustion.
"Time for one more," Hooty said.
"Just one little trick and the game will be mine," Eda said while pulling out her cheat box. She opened the box, only to find it empty with a note inside that had a drawing of a heart and Luz throwing a peace sign.
"I noticed your lunchbox was getting dirty so I cleaned it!"
Love, Luz
"Damn it, Luz! Your nonsense has gotten into my head," Eda groaned, putting the box back into her hair, "Well, time to do this the old-fashioned way."
"Taking your time. Nervous?" Lilith asked teasingly.
"Not today, sister," Eda replied.
Hooty blew the whistle, beginning play again. Eda and Lilith both jumped for the ball. Eda grabbed it and headed for the goal.
"It's me again!" Hooty emerged from the ground, "Ow!" he said when Eda stepped on his face, using him as a launchpad. Lilith leaned on his face, "Oh geez, hey!"
"No!" Lilith shouted.
"Yeah!" Eda shouted, scoring the goal.
"Ha ha! Game over! Team Owl House rules supreme!" King cheered, writing down the final score, and then was tackled and affectionately licked by Night Howler, "Aw, come on!" King groaned in annoyance.
"Yes! Still got it! Still got the skills to pay the bills!" Eda danced in triumph.
"No!" Lilith yelled, on her knees, "No! I can't go back to the emperor empty-handed," she said, slamming her fists angrily at the ground.
Eda sighed. She took off her ring, and held it out to Lilith, making her sister look at her.
"Here. Tell them I put up a hell of a fight," Eda told Lilith.
Lilith took the ring and stood, "I will be back for you. And next time, I won't be alone."
"I'll be waiting," Eda said eagerly with her hands on her hips.
Lilith looked over her shoulder at her sister for a moment before walking off into the distance.
"I'll be waiting, too! Hoot-hooty-hoot!" Hooty sang.
Meanwhile, as Lilith walked, she heard rustling in the distance.
"Failed to catch the Owl Lady yet again?" she heard a voice say.
"Who said that?" Lilith asked
"I did," the person said. It was the hooded figure, appearing from behind a tree, leaning against it.
"Who are you?" Lilith asked suspiciously.
"An observer," the hooded figure replied, "Eda is quite skilled and powerful, I can see why Belos wants her to join his coven."
"Are you offering to help me capture my sister?" Lilith asked.
"Sort of," the hooded figure replied, "To be honest, I'm more interested… in Zeo."
"My nephew?" Lilith raised an eyebrow.
"Mm-hm," the hooded figure nodded, "I've seen a few of his battles, from the death worm to the winged satyr that nearly caused his death. He's a remarkable child."
"He is. What're you getting at?" Lilith asked
"I wish to test Zeo's strength, and you obviously can't capture your sister on your own. I have solution that'll give us both what we want. All you have to do is say yes," the hooded figure told her.
There was a short pause between the two.
"I want to at least know your name," Lilith said, furrowing her brows.
The hooded figure adjusted their cloak to reveal a feminine body wearing a skin tight, black leotard that showed off her curves, with her wide hips, thick thighs, and ample bosom. She lowered her hood to show her long, black hair and face with sapphire-colored eyes and black lipstick.
"It's Vera," she introduced herself.
Hexside Grudgby Field…
Luz still running for her life. She had been dodging each of the balls thrown by Boscha.
"Having fun yet? 'Cause I'm just getting warmed up," Boscha said mockingly.
Boscha threw another flaming grudgby ball at Luz, only for it to be intercepted by a large seed which caused to explode upon impact.
"What?" Boscha looked on in surprise and confusion.
"Attacking a defenseless human? Forshame, Boscha," a voice chided. Descending from the air, Boscha saw none other than Willow. Except it wasn't Willow, it was…
"Grimrose?" Luz looked at the person in front of her.
"Hey Luz," Grimrose replied.
"Grimrose? That annoying little weed that's always on top of Willow's head?" Boscha questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep! And it will never be a pleasure to see you, Boscha. No matter what form I'm in," Grimrose said with an intense glare.
"Thanks for the save, Grimrose," Luz said as Grimrose gave her a smile.
"Good job protecting Luz, Rosie," Willow said as she and Zeo walked up to their daughter's side. She then turned to the Grudgby Captain, "Boscha. Your issue is with me, not Luz. Leave her be."
"Willow!" luz ran up to her friend, "Willow, I'm sorry I got you into this mess. You're right, I got my head too stuck in the movie biz."
"That's putting it mildly," Zeo rolled eyes, and then was elbowed in the arm by Willow.
"It's ok. I know you were just trying to help in your Luz way," Willow placed a hand on the human girl's shoulder, and then gave a serious look, "But now let's finish this… my way," she said then turned back to Boscha, "The game is back on."
"You need three players on your team. Where's your third?" Boscha asked.
Everyone looked at Gus and saw he was in no condition to play.
"Well, uh—"
"Right here," Amity said with a determined look.
"You just destroyed your social life," Boscha said as Amity walked past her.
"Nah," Amity looked at others, more specifically Willow and Zeo, "I think I made it better," she corrected.
"Ugh! Game on!" Boscha scoffed, walking off.
"Good luck, girls," Zeo said as he walked towards the stands, Grimrose and the elemental rabbits following afterwards.
The trio of girls smiled at each other.
Shortly After…
Willow, Luz, and Amity stared down Boscha, Cat, and Amelia, all six now in Grudgby gear. Meanwhile, Gus and Zeo were in the stands the cheer them on. Though Zeo was in front while Gus was a few rows behind. Zeo glanced at Grimrose who was now wearing a sleeveless cheerleader's outfit.
"Should you really be wearing that?" Zeo raised an eyebrow.
"It was mom's idea," Grimrose replied with an innocent smile.
"Note to self: Don't stare at Grimrose because now you can imagine what Willow looks like in a cheerleader's outfit," Zeo muttered as he focused on the grudgby girls.
*Squeak* "Hey, Wind, want to help me cheer on Mom?" Crystal Rabbit asked her older sister.
*Squeak* "Mom?" Wind Rabbit raised an eyebrow.
*Squeak* "Yeah, you know, Luz, our creator. Mom," Crystal Rabbit said, making her sister wince.
*Squeak* "You can call her mom if you want. Me, I'll just stick to calling her Luz," Wind Rabbit replied. *Squeak* "But if it makes you happy, I'll cheer her on with you."
Happily, Crystal Rabbit brought her sister in for another hug, the white bunny smirking as their cheeks were smooshed.
"Hey, Gus, could you put the rabbit sisters in little cheerleader outfits?" Zeo asked the illusionist.
"Sure" Gus twirled his finger, creating spell circle.
In a puff of smoke, both girl rabbits were wearing smaller versions of the cheerleader outfit that Grimrose wore. With the addition of a large, yellow bow between their ears. Wind Rabbit flapped her ears, floated towards Zeo and smacked him hard across the face, annoyed at him. Or at least as hard as she could since he barely felt anything. Zeo chuckled in amusement. It was like getting smacked by a stuffed animal.
Electro Rabbit stared at Crystal Rabbit in her cheerleader outfit and once again saw her in that pink aura. Just as before, the electric bunny's foot thumped like crazy. Crystal Rabbit placed her paw on his nose again, causing his thumping to stop.
The grudgby game went on for a while. Both teams managed to score goals. Grimrose and the rabbit sisters cheered on their mothers while Gus, Zeo, and Electro Rabbit watched on with proud smiles. Willow used her plants while Amity used her abominations. Even Luz was able to score using her glyphs. Speaking of which…
Boscha threw a fire ball at Luz, which the human countered by blocking it with an ice pillar created by an ice glyph. The ball hit one end, melted through, and came out the other end where Luz caught it in her hand. The fire had been extinguished from the ball, revealing a new glyph. Luz placed a piece of paper over the glyph where it was imprinted. She tapped the glyph, reigniting the ball in the flames.
"Fire magic!" Luz gasped, "Amity!" she tossed the ball to her teammate.
Amity knocked the ball through the goal with a giant abomination fist.
"Yeah!" Amity laughed happily.
The score was now tied, 9-9. Both teams huddled up.
"There's time for one more play," Amity told her teammates.
"And this play could determine whether we underdogs win or lose," Willow added.
"Here's what I have to offer," Luz held out the glyphs of light, ice, plant, and fire.
"I think we should try… this one," Willow pointed to the plant glyph.
Luz gasped, "The Thorn Vault? Are you sure?" she asked.
"I'm ready this time," Willow nodded.
The two teams then met in the center once more.
"Go, Mom!" Grimrose cheered on Willow.
*Squeak* "Go, Mom/Luz!" the rabbit sisters cheered on Luz in unison.
The ball launched into the air and Luz caught it.
"Watch out!" Amity pushed Luz out of the way, and was then tackled by Boscha.
"Amity!" Luz called out with concern.
"Oh, that has got to be a foul or something," Zeo said in disapproval.
They watched as Luz ran from Boscha's teammates, who chased after her. When at a good enough distance, Luz placed the plant glyph on the ground, activating it. Willow stepped on it with the ball in her hands, an enormous thorn sending her across the field as she ran on top of it. Willow then jumped from the thorn, dunking the ball through the goal. She released her grip of the goal, creating a bush underneath to cushion her fall.
"Whoo!" Luz ran up to her and hugged her, "You did it, Willow! We did it! We won!" she cheered.
Everyone looked at the scoreboard, 9-10. However, the Banshees' score suddenly skyrocketed to 999.
"What the hell?" Zeo looked on in disbelief.
"Oh, thorns. She caught the Rusty Smidge," Willow said in disappointment, seeing the golden insect in Boscha's fingers.
"Rusty Smidge?" Zeo repeated.
"Yeah, while you were celebrating your "victory", I caught this guy. It means we automatically win. All magic sports are like this," Boscha informed them.
"That just invalidates all our efforts! If catching that thing is so important, why do anything else? There's no reason to watch any of the other players! That's such a stupid rule!" Luz shouted in anger.
"I agree! That was such a great match…" Zeo said, making his way onto the field, "Up until that little bug gave an automatic win to your team. In my opinion, it shouldn't be on the field, if it takes fun out of the match like that! In other words, you just killed the sportsmanship and the atmosphere for this match… and I'm not even a sports person."
"Well, sorry, losers! It's how it's done here in Grudgby," Boscha said in her snobbish tone as something just snapped inside Zeo when it came to the rules of this sport.
"Oh, no. She is NOT getting away with an easy victory like that! Not while I'm around," Zeo said in his head as his mouth started running on autopilot out of anger like Luz did earlier.
"In that case, how about a sudden death match?" Zeo announced, forcing everyone to gasp and Boscha to freeze in shock, "One-on-one. Me vs you," he announced as he walked up to Boscha, grabbing the Rusty Smidge from her hand.
"First to 100 points wins... without the Smidge," Zeo said as quickly summons his Dragon Blade, drops the Smidge onto the court and stabs the Smidge into fiery pieces, showing everyone that he wants this to be a fair match.
"Think you can hack it, Banshee?" Zeo said, glaring into Boscha's eyes as she was surprised by Zeo's outburst, but couldn't pass up a challenge directed straight at her with no easy ways to win.
"Hmph. You're on, Zero," she said back, making everyone around them gulp, knowing this match was going to get messy.
"Since you just finished your match against Willow and the others, I'll give you an hour to rest and regain your energy," Zeo told her, wanting to keep things fair.
"Pfft! I'll only need half an hour of rest in order to beat you," Boscha scoffed as she walked away.
Zeo sighed as he walked over to Amity who was holding her leg.
"You ok, Amity?" Zeo asked as he knelt beside her with concern.
"I think… I think I hurt my leg," Amity groaned a little, "But I'll be ok," she reassured.
"Well, just to be safe…" Zeo pulled out a card, "Heal-icorn, arise!" he tossed the card, summoning the healing alicorn, "Amity hurt her leg. Command Card: Healing Horn!" he tossed the card into the alicorn's body.
Heal-icorn neighed, her horn charging with a green energy. She then fired a beam at Amity, the young Blight giving a relieved sigh as she felt the pain subside. Heal-icorn then stopped.
"Feel better?" Zeo asked.
"Yeah," Amity replied as he helped her up, "But were you serious back there? Are you really gonna go up against Boscha, one-on-one?"
"We barely stood a chance against her. And we were on teams," Willow emphasized.
"Somebody's gotta put her in her place and take her down," Zeo replied, "It won't be easy, but I going to do my best," he said with a fist of determination clenched.
"That's our Zeo," Luz smiled.
Half an Hour Later…
Zeo and Boscha met back up at the Grudgby field. Zeo wore the same outfit Luz and the girls wore except his clothing and face paint were crimson. It was only a few more minutes until their sudden death match would start. That's when he noticed a bunch of extra students started to fill the bleachers. Actually, it was more like the entire school was there.
"What the hell?" Zeo looked on in the confusion, "What's going on?"
"We're here for the grudgby match against you and Boscha," Principal Bump said, walking up and standing on the sidelines, "This should be exhilarating."
"This was supposed to be a private match…" Zeo muttered, "Which one of you told?" he looked at the girls in the stands, including Boscha's posse.
All the girls looked at Skara. Skara looked back and forth between the girls the back at Zeo.
"I just said Zeo and Boscha were going up against each other in a grudgby match. I didn't think anybody else would actually show up," Skara said with nervous yet guilty grin.
Zeo groaned, pinching the space between his eyebrows. Why did stuff like this always have to happen to him? He wanted this to be discreet, and now the whole school was going to see.
"Makes no difference to me," Boscha spoke with a shrug, "I was already going to crush you. The whole school watching is just the icing on the cake."
The girls, along with Gus, were in the front row of the stands. Luz, Willow, and Amity had changed from the grudgby outfits into cheerleader outfits. Willow had reverted Grimrose back to her base form and decided to wear the cheerleader outfit she was wearing. Viney was wearing one too.
"Ok, I'm ready," Emira said approaching the girls, along with Edric.
"Edric? Emira? You're interested the grudgby match?" Amity looked at her siblings who sat down beside her.
"Just this specific match. The two most popular kids in school going against each other? Can't miss that," Edric said, pulling out his scroll.
"And did you honestly think I wouldn't cheer on Zeo?" Emira chimed in, wearing the same cheerleader outfit as the others. Although hers was a two piece that showed her belly.
"Even though he totally got back at you the other night by—"
"Yes, despite that!" Emira quickly cut her sister off with embarrassed blush, the younger sister snickering. Emira cleared her throat, "Zeo needs all the support he can get."
"Ok, Rosie, time cheer on Daddy," Willow told the botanical creature on her head.
The elemental rabbits stood on top of the wall in front of Luz, Amity, and Willow.
*Squeak* "This awesome! First, we got to cheer on Mom, and now we get to cheer on Dad!" Crystal Rabbit beamed.
*Squeak* "Dad?" Wind Rabbit raised an eyebrow.
*Squeak* "Yeah, Zeo. Dad," Crystal Rabbit replied.
*Squeak* "Again, you can call him dad if you want. Me, I'm just going to call him Zeo," Wind Rabbit said with a roll of her eyes.
*Squeak* "This is going to be some match," Electro Rabbit said, his forelegs folded with an interested smile.
Zeo and Boscha stared each other down.
"So, how do you want to do this?" Boscha asked, raising an amused eyebrow.
"One, no Rusty Smidge—I made that very clear earlier," Zeo held up a finger, "Two, the first to 100 points wins," he held up two fingers, "And three, each goal will be worth 5 points instead of 1 because I'm pretty sure neither of us want to be here any longer than we have to," he held up three fingers.
"Fine by me," Boscha shrugged.
"I'll even give you a handicap," Zeo said, pulling out his deck of cards. He walked over to the stands and the entire deck to Luz, save for one, and returned to his original position, "I'll only be using one of my cards."
"Which would be?" Boscha asked.
"Beast Weapon: Cheetah Claws!" Zeo tossed the card.
In a flash of light purple energy, a pair of black and gold, fingerless gauntlets appeared on his hands. A symbol of a cheetah's face appeared on the back of the gauntlet. One day, Zeo was reading a book on animals from Luz's world and saw a picture of a large yet slender spotted cat with lines running down its cheeks. Luz had mentioned that it was called a cheetah, the fastest land animal on Earth. That gave Zeo the idea to make these.
"You'll see the claws in a bit," Zeo told her.
"Are you both ready?" Bump asked them, acting as a referee.
"Yeah!" the both replied.
Bump blew a whistle, the grudgby ball launching into the air. Both players jumped into the air with Zeo managing to catch the ball and maneuver around his opponent. The beast summoner ran towards the goal, Boscha chasing after him. That's when a giant axe popped out of the ground.
A roar emanated from one of the gauntlets, three 9-inch blades made of hardened yellow lightning protruding from between the knuckles. Zeo leaped into the air and, with a spin, slashed at the axe. Not only did it block the enormous blade, it cut through it, leaving three elongated claw marks within the metal.
When Zeo landed, he retracted the lightning claws. The gauntlets then charged his body with electricity. In a burst of speed, Zeo dashed to Boscha's goal and tossed it. The ball flew straight through the goal, earning Zeo 5 points. The ball then teleported back to its original position.
"Lucky shot, Zero," Boscha scoffed as they made their way back to the centerfield.
Bump blew the whistle, the ball launching into the air again. This time it was Boscha who got the ball, dodging Zeo. As she made her way to the goal, Zeo chased after her. Boscha pointed behind herself and drew a spell circle, releasing a cloud of smog. The smog cloud stopped Zeo in his tracks, coughing.
With Zeo distracted, Boscha tossed the ball through Zeo's goal, earning her 5 points. The smog soon cleared, fresh air filling Zeo's lungs. He looked at Boscha, the three-eyed girl shooting him a smug expression.
"Oh, you haven't won yet, bitch," Zeo muttered with narrow-eyed glare.
The two went at it as the match went on. Zeo used the claws and superspeed of his weapons while Boscha used her magic to stop him and/or catch him off guard. Zeo thought the superspeed given to him by the Cheetah Claws would've given him the edge, even if only slightly. However, he quickly found that that wouldn't be the case since Boscha could do stuff to prevent that. From an ice puddle that caused him to trip and slide, to launching explosive fireballs around him.
It didn't help that the Cheetah Claws drained his magic more than any of his other Beast Weapons when he used the superspeed. It kind of made since Luz mentioned that, while incredibly fast, cheetahs could only run at short bursts. After a while, Zeo started to feel a little winded, beads sweat on his forehead.
"Starting to slow down, Zero?" Boscha asked mockingly.
"You wish!" Zeo spat, "Man, these claws are cool and all, but they're so draining," Zeo said in his head.
He then looked at the scoreboard. They were tied, 95-95. The final score would settle it all. The atmosphere was thick with excitement. The girls in Zeo's group, lead by Emira as his personal cheerleaders, chanted for their favorite summoner. Never has a newcomer, and a guy no less, has came this close to defeating the Captain of Hexside's Grudgby team.
"This is it, everyone. Final round. Whoever scores the next goal wins," Principal Bump announced.
When the game ball was released onto the court, Zeo rushed forward and got the ball with Boscha on defense, ready to intercept and steal the ball. Zeo looked at the ball, and then at Boscha, and then to the crowd of fans. That's when he got an idea. It was risky, but it may be worth it.
"Wait, timeout! I'd like to offer a special rule for this last score, if my opponent agrees to what I have to say," Zeo announced as Bump acknowledged the idea and looked at Boscha, who only looked away in a huff.
"Whatever you got to say, make it quick. Cause I was just about to wreck you," she advised as Zeo sported a smile.
"Let's make this last score attempt interesting, not just for you and me, but for the crowd," Zeo suggested, playing on Boscha's ego for her status and popularity.
"What do you mean?" she asked, starting to feel interested.
"Here's the deal," Zeo began, "A one shot attack between the both of us. If you nail me and it renders me unable to stand up and stop you from scoring the last goal, you win and vice versa. And to make it more interesting…" he returned his dual weapons back into their singular card form, "I won't use my weapons to attack you," he said, making Boscha's eyes go wide, yet making everyone else in the crowd get worried about Zeo's idea.
"So, you are saying that if I hit you with one powerful, charged attack that is borderline lethal enough to kill you, and it renders you down and out so I can score, in which, I do, then I win this match?" Boscha repeated, making sure he wasn't messing with her.
"If your attack can keep me down or knock me out of the stadium long enough for you to score, then yes," Zeo said as Boscha sported a sinister smile.
"Careful, Zero. You're literally telling me it's ok to kill you with just one attack," Boscha clarified as Zeo's confidence didn't falter in the slightest.
"I don't plan on dying today, Boscha. So, don't get a swelled head from your enormous ego if you miss me when you attack and lose this match," Zeo said as Boscha glared at him, not trusting him in the slightest to play fair.
"But if you think I'm pulling your leg, then let's shake on it," Zeo said, wanting this to be a fair final round. Flashy or not, this was still a sport.
"Fine," she said as they both gripped each other's hands like they were meant to be rivals, "But I'l be using the game ball."
"Ok. But remember, one shot is all you get," Zeo said with caring as Boscha pulled her hand out of the handshake, taking the ball as Zeo eyed the audience.
Zeo calmed down and stared down Boscha, who sported a confident smirk as she ignited the game ball into a fireball within her gloved hand, thinking she's got this in the bag.
"In the name of freedom and magic, give me the strength to fight this wickedness before me," Zeo said to himself and to any titan listening above as he began to channel his mana into his right hand like he did with Warden Wrath. He wanted to put only force into this one rather than too much swirl, otherwise, this attack may miss both of its targets, because he knew he won't have the mana to do this twice.
"What is he doing?" Luz muttered as she stopped cheering and saw something familiar about Zeo's stance, until it clicked, "No way! He's not going to use that move here. Is he?"
"You ready, Zero?" Boscha mocked as she held the fiery game ball in her hand.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Zeo said as Bump blew the whistle and both opponents stared each other down.
Then, after a few seconds of suspense, they launched towards each other and Boscha put both hands on the flaming game ball and jumped as high as she could. Her plan was to slam dunk the fire game ball ono Zeo, head first.
Big mistake for her, as it left her abdomen exposed when she descended onto her opponent and Zeo knew she couldn't dodge in midair.
"Here we go," Zeo said as he dodged to the side, his hair barely getting singed as he brought his loaded hand straight into Boscha's gut, catching her, not just off guard, but also knocking the wind out of her, as if it were a devastating gut punch.
"RASENGAN!" Zeo shouted as Boscha felt her stomach twist inside and as Zeo pressed the ball further into her belly, she felt the swirling ball Zeo had get bigger as he pushed it further in.
And just like with Warden Wrath, the next thing she knew, she was being pushed back, then pulled back and finally launched backwards while she held onto the game ball as if it was her saving grace, shocking the audience at what they were seeing.
As Boscha flew backwards from the force generated by the Rasengan, she barely had time to realize she was airborne, over 15 feet off the ground, and before she realized how to get down and counterattack, she passed by a familiar structure.
"Was that my goal?!" Boscha asked herself as she quickly descended and landed on her back with a skid trail and the game ball still in her possession, although extinguished due to Zeo's attack. She looked at where she was, where Zeo was and slowly realized something in shock while the game cameras did a replay of that last play.
Apparently, from the audience's perspective, Zeo's new move shown to the public launched Boscha from the center of the field through the goal post that she was guarding and out of the boundary line, while she was holding the game ball. And since the ball (and Boscha) went through the goal first before going out of bounds, it's legal. Meaning…
"I've... won…" Zeo said proudly in exhaustion at his handiwork as his score went to 100 to Boscha's 95.
"Final score, 100 - 95. Zeo Clawthorne wins!" Bump announced as the crowd erupted in cheers as Boscha, still on the far side, offside the field where she landed, just fainted in shock at what she just heard as her Banshee teammates came over to take her to the locker room.
Zeo could only smile as he eyed the scoreboard, then to Luz, in which he gave a thumbs up...before losing feeling his legs and finally fainting and passing out as well do to using so much mana in the match, making everyone in the audience immediately go silent with worry.
Luz immediately sees Zeo fall over and runs onto the field to check on him just as Bump comes over to check on him. Emira felt her heart break and rushes after her as well while Willow and Amity stayed on the sidelines with worried looks on their faces.
"Zeo!" Luz shouted in dismay as she saw Bump checking his pulse and breathing.
"He's tired. Get him to the Nurse's office for observation," he suggested as Emira and Luz nodded and quickly carried the Clawthorne boy off the field with several of the audience members clapping at Zeo's performance on the field and swift recovery.
Zeo woke up with a stir in a bed, facing the ceiling. He adjusted his head to the side and saw lots of ingredient jars for herbs and ointments with gauze wraps and many other things for medical treatment.
"I'm in the Nurse's office? Man, that match took more out of me than I thought," he said as he stretched his arms out to loosen up his joints after his debuting his new move earlier. Until he felt something laying in his lap on top of the covers.
It was Grimrose, who was sleeping peacefully in daddy's lap.
"Aww. Did mommy bring you in to keep me company while I slept," Zeo asked in a whisper as he gently petted Grimrose, causing her to slightly wake up from her father's gentle touch.
She began to chirp loudly in happiness at her father's awakening while sending a physic message to her mother, telling her that Zeo was awake. In which, Willow was immediately on her way.
"Don't worry, baby! Mama's coming," Willow shouts as she busted through door like a crazy person, slightly scaring Zeo almost out of the bed at what she did. She was still wearing cheerleader outfit.
Sooner than Grimrose thought.
"Zeo, you're awake!" Willow said with an excited smile.
"Yeah. I am definitely awake now," Zeo added, trying to sound calm after what Willow just did to the door.
"Guys! He's awake," she says behind her as Luz, Emira and Amity followed her in and began to crowd around his bed. They too were still in their cheerleader outfits. Zeo quickly gave Grimrose to Willow as he was quickly barraged by several questions and statements by the crowd of girls around him.
"Zeo, are you okay?" Luz asked, grabbing Zeo's right arm.
"My poor Zeo. Is there anything I can do to make you better?" Emira asked, grabbing the other arm as her chest pressed against it.
"Zeo, what was that move used to beat Boscha and win the match?" Willow asked as Zeo was tongued to even answer as Amity felt an anime vein pulse on her forehead.
"Come on, girls. Give him some space," Amity ordered as she pulled Luz and her sister by the back of their tops to get them to let go of Zeo. "Remember, he just survived a Grudgby match against Boscha, so I think it's the right idea to give him some space and let him rest for a bit," Amity said as the two heeded her words and backed away from the bed.
"Thank you, Amity," Zeo said, feeling relieved to get some breathing room. That is until Amity latches onto Zeo for a hug with a quick peck on the cheek, surprising everyone and making Luz frown with a twitching eyebrow.
"Really, Mittens?" Emira asked with a deadpanned stare at what she was seeing. Although, she couldn't really be mad at Amity because that's exactly what she would do to get ahead of the others to get Zeo's undivided attention.
"Oh, come on, Em. He just made this one of the best days at Hexide ever. I mean, do you know how long I've waited for Boscha to lose a Grudgy match?" Amity asked.
"Yeah. Ever since you left the Grudgby team," Emira answered.
"Exactly. And Zeo has fulfilled both of those things today, so he's has earned my respect," Amity says as she maintains the hug as Zeo pats her back.
"And speaking of earlier, Grimrose could never stop talking about daddy's match, so she wanted to be the first face you saw when you woke up to give you congratulations for your victory against the evil Banshee leader, at least that's what Rosie here says," Willow said as Grimrose chirped.
"Thanks, Grimrose. I appreciate the support," Zeo said as he sighed "In fact, after what happened in that match, I need as much support as I can get because I felt like that match could've ended much differently."
"I'll say. Thanks to your little intergender 1-on-1 mock match with Boscha, Principal Bump is already suggesting talking to the School Board about allowing male players on the Grudgby team or possibly start a new Grudgby division for the guys. And it's all thanks to the footage from your match with Boscha to support the idea. Will it gain traction? Don't know. Will the Board agree with this suggestion? Possibly not, but it will turn a lot of heads for suggesting future sports opportunities that could be added to the school programs. So... fingers crossed," Emira explained as she pulled out her scroll phone and showed Zeo the highlights of the mock match on the school website.
The video has been viewed over 1000 times, but has been shared over 100 times, making it a big deal around campus.
"Guess you're a celebrity now," Luz said as Zeo just rolled his eyes.
"Just another day in my life. Come on, let's find the nurse in charge of me, so she can release me from her care, so we can go home," Zeo said as the girls made room, so he could get out of bed.
After tracking down the nurse and finally given the freedom to go home and as the group exited Hexide and walked down the front steps, Amity came out in front for a small announcement.
"And just to let you know, Zeo, before we all met up at the nurse's office, I was talking to Amelia and Skara. They told me that Boscha wouldn't stop punching a tree until it fell over because she was just that mad that a new guy beat her in a Grudgby match, despite the match not being in the official record and it won't mess up her "undefeated streak"," Amity said with a smirk.
"Boscha's got a superiority complex when it comes to Grudgby and has to double-back on that. She has to realize the world doesn't revolve around her and eventually, everyone loses at something, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world,"
"Not unless the stakes were high," Luz added, making everyone look at her.
"Yeah. Let's not let that become a reality," Willow added, not liking the idea.
"Don't think about it, Willow. Let's just head home and enjoy the day. Besides, Amity and I are going to be busy tomorrow night, so don't both trying to reach us.
"Going on a date," Luz said without skipping a beat.
"Nope. We've got Skara's birthday party to attend...and I'll meet you over at her house whenever I can," Zeo answered before looking over at Amity.
"Right. I gotta get Skara her gift anyway," she said, realizing how short notice the party was.
"Don't you'll be fine," Zeo said as they walked past a tree, who had a person shrouded by the leaves while leaning on it, revealing it to be Boscha.
With a mad Boscha eyeing the group, specifically Zeo, as a fiery glare formed in her eyes.
"See you at Skara's party, Zero. Because I can't wait to give you the same gift you gave me today. Utter humiliation as you suffer defeat," she said with a balled-up fist as her eyes narrowed in hate.
Nobody knew it, but a rivalry has formed between Zeo and Boscha. And one thing for sure about rivalries, everything around them was only gonna get crazier from there on.
The Owl House…
Zeo and Luz approached the house seeing Eda sitting out in the front yard.
"Hey, mom...Whoa! What happened here," Zeo asked in shock at the area in front of the house.
"Yeah. It looks like a fight broke out," Luz added, seeing all the holes in the ground.
"You could say that. I was just reliving the glory days of Grudgby with my sister," Eda answered.
"Again with Grudgby? I swear, the most action-addicted witches play Grudgby," Zeo commented.
"You have no idea, son," Eda commented within her head.
"Wait. You and Aunt Lily played Grudgby at Hexide?" Zeo asked as Eda showed her the yearbook pictures, stunning the two teens.
"Yep. Good times," Eda said with a cheerful smile.
"Now, I see where I get it from," Zeo muttered at his teenage mom and aunt while Luz had stars in her eyes.
"Zeo, it's a merry-go-around. You were definitely meant to play this sport," Luz said in awe.
"What do you mean, kid?" Eda asked since word of what happened at Hexide hasn't reached her yet.
"Zeo faced the Grudgby Captain of the Hexide Banshees, Boscha, 1-on-1 in a sudden death match. And not only did he survive the match as you can see, he won," Luz announced as Zeo rolled his eyes as Eda nearly dropped her yearbook.
"My son beat the current Grudgby Captain of Hexide? You are on a roll, kid. Proud of ya," Eda says as she rubbed his hair.
"That means I'm the proud momma of a future Grudgby player. Eat it, sis," Eda shouts in her head with a victorious smile.
"How about we get dinner started and you tell me all about your match?" Eda said with an interested smile.
"Alright," Luz said, opening the front door and running in. Zeo was about to go in too, but Eda stopped him.
"Good job, Zee-Zee. You're making your mama proud," Eda said giving her son a hug.
"I try," he said with a smile as they went inside.
Damn, that was a long one. But it's finally done. This chapter was worked on with the help of JTWAS1994 and Clock King 10. I've got to say, this was probably one of the longest chapters created for this story.
Looks like we've got an official name for the hooded figure.
The rabbit sisters were thought of by IrishKatana. So, people can draw beasts to make cards, but they can't actually use the glyph to make cards like Zeo can. Zeo's the only one that can turn drawings into cards. Just to be clear, Luz's beasts are different from Zeo's beasts. Zeo's beasts (except for Tracker Tick) are like warriors ready for battle, while Luz's beasts are basically pets (hence the regular collars the rabbit sisters were wearing).
Also, can you guys not leave reviews on my other stories asking me to update this story? I know you guys like this story and I appreciate all the positive reception and eagerness to see upcoming chapters, but please be patient. The chapters will come out when they come out.
That being said, if you have ideas for future chapters, say it in a review or feel free to message me.
And be sure to reread chapter 32 since I made a few changes to it.
Remember to Read, Review and Favorite/Follow.