Return of The Godlings

by DarkPhoenixKing

Welcome to the second installment of my Mistakes Au. What new adventures await the Hexsquad as they meet the Calamity Trio and what new dangers await just out of sight. I guess we'll see.

1. A Lost Mind

Luz woke up in a cold sweat and looked around. She was in her room on Earth. She was back in her own bed again. For a moment she thought she was dreaming, but then she noticed she wasn't alone. On the floor slept two of her best friends Willow and Gus. From above her she saw a yellow tail hanging down from the top bunk, and sitting against the way staring at her with his scarlet eyes open was Hunter. "Good morning Little Titan. I guess I shouldn't be surprised you would wake up first," said the childlike voice of the Collector.

"Collector? What happened? Is everyone ok? AMITY," Luz asked as she tried to get up and stumbled only to be caught by him.

"Take it easy. Caz's body is still very banged up after last night. Don't worry everyone is still breathing. They're just exhausted. Caz's mind is active, but he's not strong enough to handle being fully awake right now. So ballsy move calling on primordial magic. I didn't think you had it in you." He gave a small chuckle, "Given how much it took out of you. I guess I was almost right. Please don't try anything like that again. We might not be friends yet, but you mean a great deal to my bro… Almost as much as the green one… Willow, I think." He got real quiet for a second before giving a quiet sigh, "Big bro says I should take you to… Amity. He seems to think if I don't you'll try on your own, and either hurt yourself or wake up the older human." Luz gave him a guilty grin, and threw her arm around Hunter's neck so he could help her walk.

As they made their way out the door, and down the stairs Luz whispered to Hunter, "So Caz? What's up with that?"

A smile appeared on Hunter's face, "Actually we have you to thank for that. While our body was kinda… spent. He and I had a chance to talk. He was forced to be Phils Huntsman, and being called Hunter just reminds him of who he was when he was the Golden Guard. So he chose a new name. One that is his and was his to choose. He chose Cazador after hearing you call him that after our fight. According to him it 'honors everything good about who he was, but shows he's not that person anymore', or something like that. I don't really get it, but if that's what he wants I can play along."

When they got to the bottom of the stairs they found Amity laying on the couch looking pale, but otherwise unharmed. Luz stumbled over to her, and managed to keep her feet under her until she made it to the couch. Upon seeing the slow rise and fall of her loves breathing though she fell to her knees, and carefully stroked her cheek. "Mi amor, lo siento mucho. No sé lo que hice, pero estás vivo y sé que es egoísta de mi parte. Pero eso es todo lo que me importa ahora. Por favor, despierta pronto. No me importa si no quieres volver a verme después, pero no podría vivir en un mundo en el que no te tuviera a ti. Por favor batata. Regresa a mí. (My love, I'm so sorry. I don't know what I did, but you're alive and I know it's selfish of me. But that's all I care about right now. Please wake up soon. I don't care if you never want to see me again after, but I just couldn't live in a world that didn't have you in it. Please sweet potato. Come back to me.)," Luz whispered as she gave a small kiss to Amity's forehead, and shifted to put her back to the couch. "You awake up there P.T.? I could really use your wisdom right now," thought Luz, but when she did she just received a splitting headache instead.

Seeing the pained expression on Luz's face the Collector gave a sad look, "I wouldn't do that right now. The spell you cast didn't just do a number on you. It practically tore him apart as well. Until he reaches out to you, I'd suggest you don't reach out either. In the meantime I'll try to answer what I can."

"So how are you two holding up? We never got a chance to talk about what happened to you," asked Luz awkwardly.

"We thought we would hate… this, but it might actually be the best thing that's happened to either of us in millennia. Luz, I owe you an explanation for my part in Phil's plan. I made a horrible mistake. It's not an excuse, but I was a child when he found me. I was trapped in a small dark room alone for… a very long time. I regressed. To people like them…" Collector guesteres and images of everyday people appeared floating in the palm of his hand. "I might as well be an unknowable all powerful god, but to beings like us. I'm only a child." Collector gave a sad laugh. "It might come as a surprise, but I had siblings. The Archivists, The Guardian, they may not be numerous, but they're out there. All of them are arguably just as powerful as me or even stronger, and not one ever bothered to try to free me. They knew I was captured. Even in my prison I could feel them out there, but they either didn't care or refused to help me. They chose to abandon me. So they aren't my family anymore," tears started to well up as he spoke, and then he felt a reassuring hug as Luz wrapped her arms around them. "Caz warned me that this was how you'd react, but I still can't believe he was right. The worst part about being stuck in that place wasn't the isolation, or the betrayal. It was the fact that I was innocent. The Archivists convinced me to go down and play with the Titan's. The baby Titans were so cute. Just like King is, but when they found out that the Titan"s were naturally resistant to our magic they started… hunting them until there was only one left and their egg. After talking about it with Caz I understand why the one you call P.T. locked me away. He didn't know any better. My magic and The Archivists is almost indistinguishable from each other. He was only trying to protect his son, but he got the wrong starborn. It's funny. I couldn't hurt them if I tried. My magic wasn't strong enough. I hated him for so long, and it blinded me to the truth." Collector wiped away his tears and gave Luz a smile as he said, "I'm better now. Caz is my big bro now. He knows what it's like to be abandoned, and used like a tool. He understands me, and accepts me. Sure I'm still technically imprisoned, but I can accept this cage. I might not have total freedom, but I'd happily trade most of my freedom for what I've received in exchange and I'm sure your headmate would agree with me on that."

"I'm not going to lie. I was afraid to meet you for a long time. I only got the chance to see you at your worst, and now I can see that you are so much more than what I saw," Luz gave him another light hug. "I was expecting an unruly brat with no concept of how his actions effected those around them, but that's not who you are."

"In your defense, you wouldn't have been far off. You have to understand, your merger with the Titan, and our forced merger are not the same thing. Sure there is some blending of your essences over time, and eventually there might not be much of a difference between you. I'm not saying one of you will disappear, but like any healthy relationship both of you will evolve and grow over time. Most likely you will always be two minds working together. Partners filling in for each other's weaknesses. In short, perfect symbiosis. Caz and I will probably never have that. Our essences were forced into blending and at an unnatural rate. It's one of the reasons I can have such a clear civil conversation with you. My knowledge and cosmic understanding forced to be processed with his maturity and sense of empathy. It doesn't matter how hard we try or grow to care for each other, our bond will always be a pale imitation of yours. Always only nearly perfect at best. Speaking of which we need to talk about Amity. I can't fault you for what you did. You love her so much that you risked your own existence on a faint hope that you could save her, and you might have," Stated Collector.

Luz pulled away in terror, "What do you mean I might have saved her? She is right there. Yes she is sleeping it off right now, but she's alive. My botata is right there, right?"

Collector looked away unsure as he said, "Luz I wish I could tell you otherwise, but we don't know yet. I'll tell you what I do know though. Physically she is alive, but your spell has and is changing her. What Phil did to her was cruel. He didn't just shred her heart, he eviscerated her bile sack, and it hasn't shown any signs of reforming. On a positive note that doesn't mean that she will necessarily lose her magic. Her new heart is much closer to yours in structure then it is to say Willows. Given the state of Ghost my best guess is that you literally gave her half of what you had left, magically and physically speaking."

"What's wrong with Ghost?" begged Luz, tears threatening to start falling at any moment.

"They're fine, but it would be best if you saw them for yourself," sighed Collector. "Come on out Ghost, it's time." From out of the shadows came a very Ghost-like cat. She had mostly white fur like Ghost, but she also had vibrant scar-like streaks of emerald and amethyst that seemed to radiate power. Where Ghost's fur had always been perfectly short and clean, this cat's fur was slightly longer giving it a more wild feral appearance. It wasn't until she came over and sat in Luz's lap and let herself be pet softly that Luz finally put the pieces together.

"Oh my Titan Ghost. What have I done to you?" Luz cried as she gave Ghost a loving scratch.

Ghost just rolled her periwinkle eyes at her partner's mate, and made purring noises at Luz that the latina was surprised she could understand. Ghost purred, "I'm ok with this. I'm stronger. We can protect her better now." Then Ghost sprang out of Luz's lap and went to curl up on Amity's chest defensively.

Collector then looked at Luz and said, "If you think that's wild you should see Flap. Unfortunately he is still adjusting to his new form, and wants to be left alone. Maybe later though. In other news the sun is coming up. We should probably start making food for everyone, and the older human and basilisk will probably be awake soon. Caz wants me to assure you that we all have your back, but it would probably be best if I let him take control again from now on, as per our agreement. It was his body first so I guess it's only fair I let him drive. You go ahead. He will be with you soon."

Luz focused on making breakfast for a while. After everything that had happened the last couple months she found it very relaxing. Being sure to take small taste tests as she worked so that she could be sure everything would agree with her friends she ended up with a fresh pot of coffee and green tea along with eggs, toast, sausage, and some apple cinnamon oatmeal. About fifteen minutes in, Cazador joined her in the kitchen, but they decided that he should just sit for now since he was still a bit wobbly on his feet. To their surprise it was actually Vee who joined them first although she seemed very uncomfortable. "Good morning Vee. I hope we didn't give you too much trouble last night," said Luz.

Vee cocked her head and looked at Luz closer, "Are you really Luz? I can smell the magic coming off you, and it's giving me goosebumps. It's similar to the girl on the couch, but you certainly don't smell human."

Luz looked at her in shock and then sighed, "Ya Vee. I'm still Luz, but you're also right that I'm not really human anymore. I promise I'll fill you and Mami in later, but for now please don't say anything. I have a plan, but you're going to have to trust me. It's going to be a lot and it needs to be handled in stages." Luz then put on a smile, "By the way, if you ever wanted to visit the demon realm you will be safe now. We killed Belos. He will never be able to hurt you again. After our last conversation I'm guessing that you won't want to anytime soon, but if you ever change your mind I thought you should know."

Vee collapsed into a chair, "Are you sure? He's really gone? Did you find any other basilisks?"

Cazador answered, "Ninety-five percent sure. Last we saw him, he was nothing more than a splatter of goo, but he did manage to nearly kill Amity in that state so I can say with certainty that if he isn't dead he will wish he was the next time we catch him." Caz's eyes flared for a second and then he calmed, "As for basilisks that's a rough question. Unless they go crazy like One did we'll probably never know if they don't want us too. As long as they aren't hurting anyone, do you really want us to try and find them? You should know better than anyone that they deserve to find whatever happiness they can. They deserve the opportunity to put everything they went through behind them, and maybe find a family who will love them. We know some people who can spread the word that they are safe now, and if any of them want to come forward we will help them however we can, but really that's probably as far as we should push them." Luz shook her head in agreement, before the sound of running could be heard from upstairs.

A few seconds later Camila came rushing into the kitchen, and after making sure that Vee was sitting at the table with Caz she ran over to Luz and swept her up into a hug as she cried, "Dios mío, mi niña está en casa. Te he echado mucho de menos, y mírate. Te volviste tan alto y fuerte. Por favor dime todo." then she sniffed the air, "¿Hiciste el desayuno?" (oh my god my baby girl is home. I have missed you so much, and look at you. You got so tall and strong. Please tell me everything. Did you make breakfast?)

"Si mamá. la comida primero, las historias después," chirped Luz. (yes mom. food first, stories later.)

Caz looked around before saying, "Iré a despertar a todos y luego a la señora Noceda. Un minuto y vuelvo (I'll go wake everyone up then Mrs. Noceda. One minute and I'll be back.). Caz then shook his head and grinned, "Neat. I didn't know I could do that."

While Caz was gone, Camila looked at Luz with a hint of regret, "I'm sorry Luz. We tried to get all of your friends into the house, but for some reason one of you appeared in front of the hospital. She got taken inside for surgery before we could scoop her up."

Luz looked at her mother confused, "I don't think so Mami. I checked before I came down, and all of my friends who could have come through the portal are accounted for. What did she look like?"

Vee and Camila shared a look before they cobbled together a loose description of the girl. She was tall, slim, olive skin, short black hair, about thirteen or fourteen, she smelled like the same type of magic as Cazador does, and maybe Taiwanese. "We had just assumed she had been with you since she was wearing armor and a fur lined cloak," said Camila.

"I guess that's one less thing to worry about, but we should probably still check on her later if she pulls through," said Vee sadly.

"I know you mentioned surgery, but how bad was she?" asked Luz.

"She had a wound the size of her forearm through her chest. Kinda looked like she got run through by a sword," stated Vee.

"Who got run through by a sword?" asked Willow as she entered the room with Gus and Caz.

"Apparently another girl appeared last night through a portal. We can check it out after dark tonight, but it doesn't sound like anyone we know so for now we will have to let it lie. Introductions while we eat, but no stories till after," stated Luz with an air of command. After everyone made up their plates Luz got started, "This is Willow Park my first friend. Her specialty is plant magic and our resident Queen of Green. This is Augustus Porter, Gus for short. He's the strongest Illusionist on the Isles, and is fascinated by all things human. You met Cazador. He went through a lot back on the Isles, and in order to start fresh he chose a new name." Luz gave her friends a look of pleading, "It would be great if we all agreed to honor his decision. Lastly, the sleepy head on the couch is Amity Blight… If everyone could just leave her alone until she wakes up on her own, it would mean a lot to me." Luz looked over at Amity with a sad expression before she forced a smile and continued, "Everybody I would like to introduce my mom, Camila Nocada. With the exception of my magic everything else that is good about me is because of her. I wouldn't be who I am without her." Camila looked stunned and touched by Luz's words. "Last but not least this is my little sister Vee Nocada. We may not be blood, but I wouldn't trade her for the world. Sadly the rest of the Blights or the Clawthorne's couldn't come with us for reasons that we will get into later, but I'm just happy that at least some of my Isles family can meet my human one. It won't be the same as meeting them in person, but I've got something cool to show you later Mami. For now, I promise I will tell you everything that happened… even the stuff I'd rather you did not know, but in exchange I'm going to have to ask you to trust me. There are things that could cause you a lot of stress or worry, and there is a reason why I'm only going to share so much at a time. Everyone should be safe, and that's the important thing." Camila gave Luz a worried look, but nodded that she trusted her and she would try. For the rest of breakfast everyone just shared small talk, and enjoyed the peace of their first day not under the thumb of Belos.

When everyone was finished eating and the kitchen cleaned everyone moved out into the front room where Luz cleaned off the table before sitting on the floor right in front of Amity. Camila sat in her comfy chair with Vee sitting on the floor in front of her so that they can give each other support if they need it. Gus sat across the table from Camila as Luz had instructed him to when they planned it all out, and Caz was sitting with Willow across from Luz so that he could walk away if needed.

Once everyone was settled Luz took the lead, "Ok mom. I have no idea what Vee has told you so we are going to start basic and easy. For convenience I'll start with palismen." Luz took out her egg and placed it on the table still swaddled in its blanket. "A palisman is carved from a special type of wood called palistrom wood. They are not pets or tools. They are fully sentient beings with their own wants and needs. When one bonds with a witch they are partners and equals, sometimes closer than a best friend. They can take on two forms: an animate form and an inanimate form. They don't need to eat, but it's not uncommon for one to snack on something if they wish to. I'm convinced it's a ploy to appear more adorable, but that's just my opinion. Each of us has one, but before we introduce you to them. I need to tell you it is incredibly rude to touch someone else's palisman unless you are given permission by them or their partner. It doesn't hurt, but it is a deeply personal thing. If someone you didn't know came up and grabbed your butt you would be understandably irritated. It's a similar feeling." Luz then waved her hand and called out that it was time, and everyone's palisman came out from behind the couch and jumped up on the table around Luz's egg except Flapjack and Ghost. Flap didn't appear at all and Ghost immediately took up her position on Amity's chest, a sight that caused Gus and Willow to gasp, but Camila and Vee didn't know why and didn't ask. "Ok so the egg is mine. Normally when someone carves there palismen they decide what they will look like, but I decided that my little buddy here should be able to make that choice for themselves. At this point I'm just waiting for them to be ready to hatch so that I can finally meet them. The bee is Clover and is Willow's partner. The chameleon is Emmiline Bailey Marcostimo and is Gus's. Ghost back there obviously belongs to Amity. Flapjack is around somewhere, but he doesn't feel up to being social right now. Some things happened before we ended up here, and he needs some space. Caz and him have an especially close bond so I'm sure you will get to meet him soon. He's a bird by the way."

Camila just looked at them with sparkles in her eyes, but she held herself back from cuddling the little cuties. She did let out an exclamation of, "Ay que lindo," though.

Luz moved on to her next point, "Ok, the next piece of business we need to address before we get down to explanations. For the moment none of us can go back to the Isles right now. We would need a working portal, and the one we used to get here kinda collapsed behind us. So until we can get a new one up and going we might need to shelter them. If your not comfortable with that we might be able to get the shack out back fixed up and habitable, but even that will take time. I know this is a lot to ask, but…"

Camila looked at Luz like she slapped her before saying, "I can't believe you would say such a thing to me. Of course they're staying here. They are your friends, and they no doubt looked out for you while you were there. What kind of ingrate do you take me for mija." Camila gave her daughter a wink when she was done to show she wasn't actually mad.

"Thank Titan. Ok. Gus, are you ready?" asked Luz.

"Yup. All ready for some razzle dazzle, but I thought you wanted to handle this on your own," pointed out Gus.

"I did, but I need to save all my magic for later. Given what I had to do before we left, I'm still really drained," sighed Luz. "You're the master illusionist though so if I had to trust anyone to help me, you would always be my first pick," said Luz with a smile. After Gus gave an appreciative nod, they got down to business again. "Ok Mami class is in session." Luz pulled out four pieces of paper which each had a different symbol in a circle drawn on it. She showed each one to her mom, and then placed them on the table in a line. "These are glyphs, they were how I initially learned magic, and I had to discover each one on my own since I was the first human to visit the Isles in hundreds of years." As she spoke she activated its corresponding glyph, "I call them the light, ice, fire, and plant glyphs. If we were on the Isles I would let you try them out for yourself since anyone can use them there since they use ambient magic to work, but there isn't enough magic here for anyone who doesn't have innate magic or a staff to use them. The reason I still can is a discussion for later. Anyway speaking of innate magic that takes us to my next point. While witches are nearly identical to humans there are a few differences." When Luz said that Gus got ready to start making visual aid illusions. "For one thing they all have pointed ears, and most have or had fangs at one point in their lives. Much like humans they are born with one set of teeth and then they gain another as they get older, and that's when some lose their fangs. Also some witches have other unique features depending on if and how much demon they have in their genetics. I think that covers external differences. There is really only one internal difference that is worth mentioning and that is a witches bile sack. It's a sack of arcane bile that every witch as a species is born with. It's what gives them the ability to cast magic innately. Since I promised to tell you everything and he has already given me permission to do so, I will tell you that Caz is a Grimwalker. Much like Vee, Caz was made by Belos for his own purposes. In a way I guess that makes you siblings as well, but if it makes either of you uncomfortable I won't ever bring it up again. Back to the point because of what he was born as he didn't have innate magic until recently. Another story we will have to circle back to later when you have context. Ok next we will cover the Isles themselves. They are formed from the decaying corpse of the Titan, and it is from him that all demons and witches came to be. His body was so rich in magic that even in death he is still creating life and it is because of him that there is enough ambient magic for glyph magic to work. As such reverence for the Titan is the closest thing they have to a unified religion there, and due to the prevalence of magic and variety in its residents homophobia is a completely foreign concept to them. After all, when any two beings can perform a ritual to have children the importance of gender as more than a part of someone's identity kind of evaporates. One day I hope to get the chance to show you just how beautiful the Isles can be because I've never seen anything so primal and beautiful, and it wasn't until Eda and King took me on a ride on her palisman to see the Isles from the sky at dusk that I truly appreciated it." As Luz finished her first lesson Camila was left staring at the illusions Gus had made of beautiful orange forests, a city of chaotic buildings and streets, and then a night time view of Bonesbough from a ridge on the Knee with a sea of stars above. Camila couldn't lie to herself, that world looked as beautiful as Luz described, and she knew it would be even more so when she saw it for herself, and then she paused to wonder when it had become a 'when' and not an 'if'. Camila was drawn from her musings when Luz asked, "Ok so I think that's enough for now. We can get into explaining some of my adventures a little later, and the people who make it feel like a second home. I really don't want to overwhelm you Mami. There is so much to tell you, and I really want you to love them the way I do. So if you have any questions, I can try to answer some now. What would you like to know?"

Camila thought hard about what to ask first, and then she settled on, "Ok I'll admit they look beautiful, but there has to be a catch. Vee warned me they could be dangerous?"

Luz scratched the back of her head absentmindedly, "Ya I guess you can say that and accidents can still happen, but honestly if you're vigilant and understand what to watch out for their not much worse then it is here. Like ya you could be mauled by a wild beast, but that's no different than if you go to some of the wilder parts of the states and run into a bear. I will admit that plagues are a bit more intense than our weather is sometimes, but thanks to their magic they are usually not nearly as dangerous. If we keep damaging our environment we might get our own boiling rains someday, but instead of them just being boiling water. It will be acid, and we don't have shield spells to protect us here. And yes painbow are a thing, and they turn you inside out. I'm sorry Gus. I wish I had gotten to meet your mom. But a lot more people die from being struck by lightning here each year. As I said the dangers are only really a problem for the very unlucky or the wilfully ignorant these days. You chose not to pay attention to the weather, things happen. If you allow a grifter to trick you with an obvious scam, that's kinda just as much on you. With Belos gone the Isles are infinitely more safe then they were, and we happen to know quite a few of the people who will most likely be involved in its new government. Heck eventually we might be asked to help them given our level of skill and power. We are safe there. I am more than safe because… reasons. Ugh, just reasons. We'll get into it eventually, but I'm kind of a big deal there these days."

Before Luz and Camila could continue an arm reached out and pull Luz up the Amity's face and Luz felt herself being kissed on the forehead. "My botata has always been a big deal," said Amity with her eyes still closed, but an obvious smile on her face.

"Oh my cramity. Amity mi hermosa, you're finally awake," Luz said with tears in her eyes as she turned around to give her a passionate kiss. After a minute Luz heard someone clearing their throat, sounded like either Willow or Vee to her, and Luz turned around to see Camila's look of excitement shift to one of fear as she saw that Luz's eyes had become black pools with glowing amber irises without Luz herself noticing. Luz chuckled, "I guess I should have mentioned that Amity and I were dating, but in my defense we kinda went through a lot recently and I wasn't sure that she would still want me."

"I would never leave you, mi diosa difusa," said Amity as she finally opened her eyes and pulled Luz into a tender embrace before looking around and in the process showing off her own pair of pitch orbs with molten gold at their cores. "Where are we? And who are.." Amity squeaked as she finally realized who the older latina must be. Amity then pulled away from Luz and did her best to hide herself.

"Amity, mi amor. You don't need to hide. We are among friends and Mami isn't going to hurt you. I promise," softy cooed Luz to her love.

As everyone else sat stunned at either Luz's eyes in the case of Vee or Amity's in the case of mostly everyone else, Camila let out a mournful scream, "Luz Isadora Nocada! What have you done to yourself? What has happened to your eyes?"

Luz looked back at Camila having finally figured out what happened and stated, "Oh guano." Luz shifted her eyes back as she said, "I swear I was only going to hide this for a few more days, a week tops. I wanted to get you used to everything else before I started in on the rough stuff. Guano, Guano, Guano. This is going to make everything so much more complicated." Luz sighed into her hands as she slowly dragged them down her face in exasperation, and she turned to Gus, "Ok bud can you pull off one more illusion of 'wild me'?"

"Sure, leave it till last to give me some time to recharge though," Gus said with a smile.

"Can do bud," said Luz before she moved Amity so she was sitting next to her on the couch, and they wrapped an arm around each other in support. Luz then turned to look at her mom and sister, "Ok I'll do my best to include the important context. I mentioned the Titan earlier, but his situation was a bit more complicated than anyone knew. Before he was the Isles, he got into a fight after sealing up another being called the Collector. It ended up killing his body, but his mind and the majority of his power didn't pass on. Instead that part of him got trapped in "The Inbetween", the place I ended up in when I tried to make a portal. It was where I was when we last saw each other, and I could only appear in reflections. After you and I got separated P.T. or Papa Titan found me. He offered me his power so that I could use them to correct his mistakes and he could hopefully finally rest. He never lied to me. He warned me straight up that if I accepted there would be consequences, but also that I could eventually gain enough control to be able to travel between both of my homes whenever I wanted. I didn't have to choose. I could have both of my families and live out my dreams. He didn't sugar coat it either. He warned me that we were doing something that had never been tried before, and he had no idea what the consequences would be specifically, only that I would be undoubtedly changed." Luz looked away from her mom as she admitted, "I was selfish. I didn't think about how it would affect those around me. I just accepted his deal, and spent the next couple days unconscious as my body adjusted and changed."

Amity, Gus, and Willow looked away as well as they admitted, "Those were the worst days of our lives. We were terrified that we were going to lose her, and no magic could help her or us to help her." The trio felt tears escape as they remembered how afraid they had been.

"Everything worked out though. I woke up stronger, and more durable then I had been before. I even had innate magic and eventually I found out I had picked up a room mate in my head. It sounds odd, but he can't do anymore more than talk to me. P.T. got his freedom from that place and together we made a difference. He has an immense understanding of magic and how it works. He even helped keep me from doing some of my crazier plans. Since we can't lie to each other he helped me see my own immaturities and how they lead to the situation we were in before I ended up going through the portal for the first time. I never used to think before I lept, but P.T. gave me what I needed. A friend that would constantly be there when I got too excited to think, and remind me that there are consequences." Luz looked back at Camila with a look that begged her to try to understand, and a few tears of fear that she wouldn't. "I wish I could let you meet him. We made up this whole plan together, but he's sleeping right now, I think. I had to do something drastic right before we arrived here, and in the process I ended up destabilizing the portal which is what caused me to be so drained and for all of us to be unconscious when we arrived."

Camila looked at her daughter with a look of fear and worry, "How drastic are we talking about here mija. You didn't kill anyone did you?"

Amity jumped in to save Luz from having to lie, and she moved aside her shirt to show a star shaped scar over her heart, "Mrs. Noceda your daughter saved my life. We thought Belos was dead and we were escaping toward his portal, but he tried one last attack. He tried to take Luz with him, so I shoved her away, and then I remember this burning awful pain in my chest. I felt myself drifting away, but then I felt these loving arms reach out and carry me back. I couldn't see what they looked like, but I think it was P.T. Except for Luz I've met him the most times in one way or another, and I remember him begging me to hold on. He said he would help me, but I couldn't give up."

For the first time since they had left the kitchen Caz spoke up, "Amity took the attack Belos intended for Luz. He put a spear through her heart and bile sack. I have no doubts that he destroyed them both completely. It happened so fast that I can't guarantee it, but I've heard you are some sort of healer. You know as well as I do that sometimes you just know without having to look very closely. What Luz did was possibly the most suicidally stupid thing that she could ever do, and at the same time I can't imagine ever being that strong. She used the most ancient of magics on instinct, and literally saved Amity from a guaranteed death. I don't remember the exact words but…"

With this spell I do give, Half my heart, to save my world. May they forever beat as one, by my power may it be done.

Everyone looked over at the pair who had just spoken as one to see Amity and Luz shaking their heads as if they were trying to clear away some shared experience, and then Caz continued, "Ok that confirms my suspicions. Luz gave Amity half of herself to save her life. It would certainly explain Amity's eyes, and given how close it brought Luz to joining her it was probably a one time thing." Caz shot Luz a stern glare that she immediately returned with an adamant nod. Caz then released a sigh, "Well at least we know what to expect this time, more or less. I am curious to see if and what your demon form will look like though."

Camila snapped her head to look at Luz, "Demon form?!"

Luz gave Caz an irritated look, and he returned it with one of apology. Luz let out a long sigh before stating, "I guess you accepted that one of your daughters is a shape changing basilisk, so I should have given you the benefit of the doubt and showed you right away, but please Mami, I promise I'm still me. I'm still Luz." With a tentative nod from her mom and an excited look from Vee, Luz let herself fully shift into her other form. Luz's eyes shifted back and her horns appeared first as she grew to her full height. Then came her longer hair, fur, and tail. Lastly the skeletal coverings appeared on the ends of her limbs. For a moment Luz felt fear well up inside her. Fear that her mother would reject her.

And then Luz saw her mother tear up and smile as she said, "Mira a nuestra poderosa niña. Manny, ella ha crecido mucho. Tal vez sea más peluda de lo que esperaba, pero de alguna manera esto se siente bien," and then she laughed, "Sin embargo, probablemente podría prescindir de la cola (Look at our powerful baby girl. Manny, she has grown up so much. She may be a bit furrier than I expected, but somehow this feels right. Could probably do without the tail though). Camila and Vee then got up and hugged Luz tenderly, and luz started to cry tears of joy.

Outside the hug the rest of the Hexsquad looked on with happy smiles before they noticed that Luz's egg was beginning to crack silently, and they heard Luz say, "I think I just realized something. I don't know why it took me so long to figure out that the only thing I've ever really wanted was to be understood." As soon as the words left her mouth Luz's egg exploded into swirling purple light. Camila and Vee felt Luz's form shift as well. When they could see again Luz stood before them in a less bestial appearance. Her tail was gone and so was the majority of the skeletal arm coverings, leaving only her finger claws behind. Instead of her binder top Luz now wore a black cloak that perfectly blended in with her fur and flared out starting at her hips and revealed what looked like gray form fitting sweat pants beneath. Below her sternum and above her waist were a set of bony ribs, and in the middle of her chest was a glowing sun symbol with the light glyph inside. Where before her demon form had always radiated a wild uncontrollable power, now it felt like a reassuring warmth on everyone's skin that filled them with a feeling of being protected and loved. Then Luz felt a familiar voice in her head. I'm proud of you, Luz the Titan. My power is truly yours now. I'm just sorry I won't be able to be there to see you use them the way they always should have been used… I'm fading away. I'm leaving behind a copy of all my knowledge so you can study them, but my spirit is finally moving on. Luz suddenly fell to her knees and started crying while everyone else looked on in confusion and a bit of fear, except Amity and Caz who just looked away. Now, now. None of that. I'm not going far. I'm just going to go join your human father so that we can watch our beautiful daughter be the hero we always knew you would be. I left a parting message for your mom as well. Feel free to use it to open our show later. Now, It's my time, but before I go. Collector, I'm sorry for what I did to you. Of all my mistakes that is the one I regretted the most. Please young Cazador, protect him and be the family he always deserved, and Amity… protect our girl. She's going to need you, but if I had to choose anyone to undertake this mission, you would always be my first pick. Look out for each other, and Good luck.

Luz felt him disappear and leave behind an empty void in her mind. Until she felt a new presence take its place, and Luz found herself raising her eyes to look at the table. Where she saw the face of the cutest snake she had ever seen looking back at her with vibrant purple eyes. She was long enough to wrap around Luz's forearm comfortably if she wished, and had a body of three different shades of purple with the darkest on her back and the lightest on her belly. Below her head was a collar of black fur the same shade as Luz's. On her head sat a pair of cat-like ears, a small set of nubby horns, and at the end of her tail was an orb with a galaxy swirling within. Luz heard her voice for the first time as she hissed, "Hi mama. It's nice to finally be able to meet you."

Luz smiled and reached out to pet her as she said, "It's nice to finally be able to meet you too, Stringbean." Stringbean then quickly shot up her arm and nuzzled Luz's face with her head. Luz looked around at everyone and said, "Everyone I would like to introduce you to Stringean. My perfect little snakeshifter." Everyone smiled and cooed at their adorable new friend, until Vee got a mischievous smile and got Stringbeans attention. Vee then changed into a dog, then a rabbit, and finally a bird. Stringean cocked her head then did the same before then continuing to change into a scorpion, english dragon, and a cat who jumped off of Luz's shoulder and culled up next to Ghost happily.

Since it was just before noon everyone decided to have an early lunch before they went on to the next part of Luz's plan. As they finished up eating Willow asked, "I don't mean to pry, but why did you start crying after you changed into this new form?"

Luz gave her best friend a sad smile before she said, "I think it's time we call it what it is, my Titan form, and P.T. moved on. I don't fully understand why, but he's gone. He left me with some things, like… I guess you could call it a book in my head containing all of his magical know how. I tried to check to see if it could show me how to open portals while everyone ate, but that sneaky old demon made it so that anything that would be beyond me just looks like gibberish…" A tear formed in Luz's eye, but she smiled it away, " I'm going to miss him, Willow. It was nice to feel like I had a dad again, even for a little while." After that everyone took their places again, but when Gus started to get ready to cast Luz stopped him, "Gus just sit back and relax. This solo is all mine." Luz gave Gus a wink that he answered with a showman bow before he got comfortable. "Ok mom. I was really worried after our last meeting, and I couldn't think of a way to show you how much the Isles changed me for the better. It was only thanks to P.T. that I came up with the perfect way. Instead of trying to show you how the Isles affected me, we decided to show you how much I affected them, and that was a job that could only be done by the people I interacted with. Obviously I couldn't bring them all to you in person so instead I had each of them tell me what they would say to you and with his help I was able to 'record' them so I can play them back for you now, but first P.T. left one for you before he left. Even I don't know what's in it, but he suggested that I start with his."

With Stringbean around her neck and Amity beside her, Luz called forth a pair of complicated glyph combos in the air and the whole room changed into their place at the base of the Grom tree, and sitting there as content as he could be sat P.T. "I know you have no context for this place yet, but it is my favorite place in all the Isles. I'm sure that Luz and Amity will eventually tell you the story behind it, but until then I think you should get to see it at least once even if you never decide to visit yourself. On to business then. To begin I would like to apologize to you for a few things. Firstly it sickens me that we are both considered parents, because next to you I could never deserve the title. I'm not going to be the last person to tell you this, but we were truly blessed to even get the chance to meet your precious Luz. As wonderful as she is, I alone got the opportunity to see all her memories of you and your husband Manny. I want you to remember that everything that you see is, at least in part, because Luz had you as a mother and a role model. She has a heart that radiates love, but only because you molded it and encouraged it to glow. I have watched the lives of countless generations of beings live and die, and not one deserved the gifts I gave to her. Which leads me to my next apology. I'm sorry that I had to offer my powers to her, but if anyone was going to use them properly it was that little light. I regret that she will have to be the shepherd for so many going forward, but we both know that she would have tried to do it either way. At least now she has the power to get it done right. I have made a lot of mistakes in my existence, but the only one I would never change or take back was betting my existence on the chance that this frail young human girl could not only rise to the occasion, but truly shine like the sun. There is so much I wish I could say to you, but my time grows short. Even now I can feel myself fading. Thank you Camila Nocada for giving me the chance to have a daughter even if it was only for a little while." After that the whole scene faded away leaving a crying and smiling Luz on the couch.

Camila said, "I wanted to be angry with him, but after that I just can't. He clearly loved you as much as you loved him."

Luz smiled as she called out another glyph combo, and this time Principle Bump appeared standing on the table before them at three quarters scale. "Good evening Mrs. Nocada. My name is Hieronymus Bump. I am the Principle of Hexside School of Magic and Demonics. As her Principle for the time she has been on the Isles I would like to assure you that she has been a breath of fresh air here. She may not be the top of any of her classes, but she tries hard and because of that she is doing well in all of them. This is an extraordinary feat since she is the only student ever to try to do all nine spell tracks at once. The next most number taken at once is three, and even they have trouble from time to time. I would never show favoritism toward any of my students, but as her Principal I sincerely hope I will get the chance to continue watching her grow into the witch she was meant to be." Bump then sighed and sat at a desk, "Mrs. Nocada for this next part I would like you to ignore my position and just let me be a teacher again. Luz has brought so much change to Hexside, and more than that she has reignited my love for teaching. This is a feeling that all of her teachers feel to some extent. I have never pressed her for stories or specifics, but I would be lying if I said that I hadn't heard some of the horror stories of Luz's time in her human schools. I can't speak to their competency, but after spending this time with her as an educator, I do have to question. Luz has given me the greatest gift an educator can receive. She made me a better educator like her mentor before her, and for that I owe both of them my sincerest thanks. I hope to get the chance to meet you soon so we can discuss her progress more privately and in more detail. Please have a great day."

Camila just sat there stunned. She had never expected to hear anything like that from a teacher, much less a principle. When she looked at Luz she said, "I like him. He seems more sensible than any of your other principles. No promises, but I think I will make time to have that meeting with him," and Camila smiled.

After that came a stream of other individuals including the detention trio, Skara, Willow, Gus, Edric, Emira, Hunter, Raine, Katya, and Alador among others took their turns, and then only four remained. And with the exception of P.T.'s these four were the most important to Luz.

First up was Lilith. "Good evening Mrs. Nocada. My name is Lilith Clawthorne. I am one of the witches that your daughter saved, but unlike most of them. She saved me from myself. I was once the head of the Emperor's coven. As such I was once the closest thing Emperor Belos had to a second in command. This fact alone means that I should have been petrified years ago for all the things I did and didn't do. It wasn't until I left that life, with the help of your daughter, that I was made aware of all the things that I was guilty of without even knowing it. There is a long list, but in this case I only want to address two. Firstly I can guarantee you I knew nothing about Vee or the other basilisks. I would never have allowed it to continue, even at my worst. I know it will never be enough, but you both have my sincerest apologies. I know for a fact if I had known, it would have gotten me killed, but I would be ok with that. At least I would have died trying to save them, and doing the right thing. My other crime is one that I did completely of my own choice, and to this day it is tied for the worst thing I have ever done along with cursing my sister as children. Edalyn is her mentor and my sister, and in an attempt to capture her I tried to use Luz as bait, and when Edalyn proved stronger than me I put her life in danger so that I could win. Even now I am disgusted with myself for what I did. I tried to apologize to Luz numerous times, but she would never let me. She would always say that I was just a victim of Belos's manipulations, and because of that she had already forgiven me. I'm sure that the fact that I took on half of Edalyn's curse had something to do with it too, but all the same I owe you an apology as well. I got the chance to get to know her quite well over the last month, and it only proved to me that I don't deserve to breathe the same air as such a wonderful kid. These days she has taken to calling me her 'Cool Aunt Lilith' and everyday I wake up knowing that I have to be better than I was the day before if for no other reason than so that one day I might actually deserve that kind of love and respect."

Luz blew a raspberry at the Illusion as it faded, "Aunt Lily just doesn't get it. I have already seen how great she is at her core. She doesn't have to prove anything to me. I love her already, but I'm still proud of her for trying to be better like that. Ok. Next is Amity so… let's get to it."

Amity appeared sitting on her bed, and looking around awkwardly, "Hello Mrs. Nocada. I'm Amity Blight, and if you're ok with it, Luz's girlfriend. She asked me to try to tell you how she changed my life, but I doubt she wants me to spend the next three days recounting all the ways that she has made me a better witch so instead I'll tell you about who I was before I met her. I strongly doubt that my… Odalia, ever loved my father or any of her children. My whole life she pushed me and forced me to do terrible things all in the name of making me 'The Perfect Daughter' in her eyes. She made me cut myself off from the people who cared about me like Willow. What kind of person tells a six year old child, on her birthday, that if they don't stop associating with their best friend they will ruin the friends life, and given how she later tried to kill Luz in front of a crowd of investors just to drum up sales I wouldn't have put it passed her to have thought of making Willow just disappear if I didn't listen. My greatest regret is that I was too weak to fight her, and the things she made me believe for so many years. When Luz found me I was nothing but a self absorbed bully constantly pining for the love of a mother who I couldn't even realize was incapable of ever actually doing so. All that mattered to her was status and power, and she would use me to get both. For Titans sake the first time I met Luz she was trying to help Willow pass a test in a track that she should never have been in. Willow is a lot of things, but an abomination's witch isn't one. That's probably for the best because if she was there wouldn't be a force on either world that could stop her. Regardless, Luz was trying to help a friend, and my great idea was to try to get Bump to dissect Luz to prove Willow was cheating. I was a monster, and how she ever saw anything good in me is a Titan dam miracle. Mrs. Nocada I will never be worthy of standing next to your daughter, but if you'll let me try… well I don't know what else to say or do, but I would gladly die to protect her. I love her with all my heart, so please don't take us away from all of them. We already discussed it, and if Luz has to stay in the human realm then I'm going with her. I don't have a life here if she's not here to share it with me. I hope I get the chance to meet you soon."

As Illusion Amity faded Camila came over to Amity and wrapped her in a hug as she said, "No matter what happens you will always have a home here, even if I never become your sugra. You will always be safe with me." When she was done Camila went back to her chair, and got ready for the next Illusion to start.

"Luz what does 'sugra' mean?" Amity asked, confused.

Luz leaned over and whispered, "Mother in law." Which made Amity's eyes shift and her face to turn completely scarlet as she blushed and passed out. After getting Amity a glass of water, and Vee and Cazador stopped laughing. They proceeded.

King in his full splendor appeared next, earning a "Que Lindo" from Camila in the process. "Mrs. Luz's mom. My name is King Clawthorne and as King of Demons I demand that you let my best minion, and boo-boo buddy, come back to the Isles after she makes a new portal." Then everyone heard Luz's hurt voice from back then say, "Really little bro that's the best you've got. I asked you to show her how much we mean to each other, and this is all you've got. I thought we were closer than that. Is that really all I am to you?" They could hear the pain in Luz's voice. "Ok, I'll try again, but only because I love you. Ok. Mrs. Luz's mom, my name is King Clawthorne, and Luz is the best big sister a guy could ask for. Without her I might have never met my dad. He's the Titan, but he died a long time before I hatched. For a long time it was just me and Eda. Back then we were just 'roommates'. She gave me a place to stay and looked out for me, and I looked out for her. We were weirdo's, but at least we were together and surviving. And then this overly sappy energetic girl came through our doors, and changed everything. Now I know who I am, and what I am. I have a family that includes said best sister. I'm happier than I have ever been, and I owe it all to Luz. I don't know what my life would be without her in it, but I know for a fact I never want to find out. I'm sorry Luz. I wish I could say more, but the words just won't come out. Now all I think about is you never coming back, and I'm scared. I still need you Luz. Who else is going to give me bully rubs? Who else is going to let me cuddle with them when one of us has a bad dream?" The Illusion cuts there, and everyone looked over to see Luz crying as well.

"I miss you too little bro," whispered Luz, as Amity wrapped her in a hug.

"Eda is the last one isn't she," asked Willow quietly. When Gus nodded, Willow grabbed Caz and Gus and led them out of the room. "I'm sorry everyone, but this one should only be family so I'm taking the boys upstairs. Let me know when you're done or if you need us," and then she dragged them away.

Camila had heard a lot of people mention the mysterious Owl Lady, but nothing prepared her for the alabaster skinned women that appeared before her. She looked older and more tired than she expected, but even through an Illusion Camila could see the look in her eyes. "Hey there Cammy. I am Eda Clawthorne also known as Eda the Owl Lady and unlike the rest of these doops I talked to P.T. to change my message. Sorry kiddo, never try to outsmart a con woman. I thought I taught you better than that. For the record, right now she is sleeping cuddling with Boots so I have to be kinda quiet. I'm going to be honest with you Camila. I wish everyday that Luz was really my daughter. I'm not going to lie to you. I resented you for a long time for how you treated her, or maybe I just saw my own hang ups with my own mother reflected in her. I will never be able to understand how anyone, much less her own mother, would ever try to change this perfect ray of light. I don't want to hurt you or make you think I'm trying to replace you, but this little owlet is my daughter too and until my dying day I'm going to be her Owl mom. Even if you try to keep us apart neither of us can endure that anymore. We are too much of a part of who each other are. She has made me accept who I really am inside, and I gave her the support to fly where so many tried to clip her wings. I don't blame you for being fooled into whatever plan they sold you on anymore. I understand now the overwhelming need to protect your child, but Titan damn it Cammy. We need to do a better job of protecting our girl. She might be a near god-like magical being now, but we are her mother's. It is our job to protect her, and so help me if I have to bind her to your realm or mine forever to do that I'll find a way. Ugh, look at me, I'm threatening a woman I've never even met. Luz would be so disappointed in me, but my point stands. We need to be better, and I'd like to do it as a united front. I'm full of flaws, I'm a big enough bird to admit that, and we both know you can't be perfect, but Luz deserves to feel loved and appreciated every minute for the rest of time. If that takes both of us to do, I'm in. I'm fighting with everything I've got to make this a safe place for her to live. Please give me a chance to prove that this can work. Luz is too important to me to ever risk losing her. The balls in your court, literally, so tell me how we can make this work. I'll do anything" and then Eda faded leaving the room quiet until Luz started to laugh with tears in her eyes.

"I should have never doubted Eda's ingenuity, and she went a whole conversation without lying, I'm really proud of you Mo-" but she stopped herself, and looked at Camila with a guilty expression.

Camila smiled back, "I knew this was the case the moment I looked into her eyes. She loves you as much as I do, and that hurts a bit. Not because of anything to do with you, but because I have to admit she's right. It used to be you and me versus the world, but it ended up hurting both of us. I almost snuffed the light of my life because I chose to listen to people who wanted to change you. If seeing you happy means I have to share you with others, then that is what I'll do, but this time I will only listen to other people like me who love you just the way you are." Luz gave her mami a hug. "This will be good practice for the day I might have to give you away to a purple haired witch," Camila laughed as Luz and Amity blushed.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself Mami. I don't want to be a tia yet," added Vee, which finally got Camila to blush.

"That isn't something I have to worry about, right? I know you mentioned a ritual, but…" sputtered Camila.

"Yes, mami. No danger of that. Eda gave me the witch version of the talk when she heard we were together, and the ritual can't be performed by accident," stated Luz firmly.

Camila sighed in relief. "Good I can't have both of my daughters playing by the seat of there pants," said Camila in relief. Vee looked betrayed.

Luz looked at Vee with sparkles in her eyes, "I need all the details, and I need them now." Vee sighed and agreed to fill her in later.

The rest of the day was spent telling Camila random stories from Luz's time in the Isles, but bigger stories like Grom, Eda's almost petrification, or the details of their final clash with Belos were avoided for now. Occasionally Gus, Luz, or even Amity would create an illusion as a visual aid, but none of them as intricate or lifelike as the ones Luz had made for her plan. Scattered throughout Luz heard about Masha and the rest of Vee's friends from camp, and how Vee and Masha had only started dating a few days before. Vee was having a hard time telling Masha about her secret, and Luz decided that as her big sister she would come up with a way to help her out later. All of this continued until and through dinner, but as dusk approached the Nocada's and Hexsquad knew that they had to make a plan to handle the mystery of the other girl. Back in their positions from earlier they started to make a plan.

"I think Caz and I should investigate alone. Vee mentioned the girl's magic smelled like Caz's so he should be able to help identify who or where it's from. I have the most experience with hospitals except for Mami, and I should be able to keep us invisible while we find her. This needs to be done as quietly as possible so a small group would be best. Comments or suggestions?" stated Luz.

"I don't doubt the capabilities of this realm's healers, but if she was hurt as badly as Mrs. Camila said either Willow or I should go with you to assess her and provide more healing if needed. Naturally I would prefer that it was me since I have more experience with healing magic, I think…" said Amity questioningly, to which Willow nodded. "Also you might know this realm, but I don't. It would make me a lot more comfortable if there were at least two people watching your back Luz. Cazador has a lot of experience with stealth, but he still only has two eyes," added Amity.

"I agree with both of you. From a strategic point of view a small strike team is best, and while I have some experience with healing magic myself, human biology is completely new to me. Unfortunately my magic and Titan magic don't mix so well so we can't really support each other with raw magic, but Amity's magic might be different enough that she could potentially aid either of us." Cazabor stopped for a moment as he seemed to space out before his demeanor changed, "Sorry guys, but Caz is being pig headed so I'm going to jump in here. I know this is going to sound really bad, but hear me out. If this girl was taken in by the Archivists we should probably make sure she can't get back up. I'm not saying kill her, but after injuries like that she's probably in a coma. It wouldn't take much for me to make that permanent, and I can even make it a never ending dream for her. I know it sounds bad, but none of you know them the way I do. They are clinical, and have no qualms ending entire species if they see them as a threat. They nearly wiped out the Titans just because of their magic. If it's not them, I know it's a huge violation of privacy, but I suggest a head dive. We can get untainted answers, and if she's a potential ally there is no better way to help her wake up." Caz turned to Camila and smiled, "Hi Mrs. Noceda we haven't really gotten the chance to chat. You can call me Nico. If big bro Caz can pick a new name why can't I. We can get into details later but for now. Do to some… things that happened to us, I live in Caz's head now. He's getting cranky so I'm swapping back. Bye friends," and Caz spaced out again before an irritated Caz came back. "I thought we had this problem dealt with. Sorry, everyone. He's still learning. Anyway if no one else has any suggestions, I say we put it to a final vote. All those In favor of going forward with this plan…" Luz, Amity, Caz, and Willow raised their hands. "Against…"

Vee and Camila raised their hands. "Sorry mija as the adult in the room I can't support this. I won't stop you, but…" sighed Camila, before Vee added, "It just seems like too much of a risk in my opinion. You all have only been here a day. Maybe we can get more info, come up with a better plan in a few days."

Gus just looked at everyone and smiled as he said, "I'm undecided. I like the plan, but Willow and I don't really have a part to play in it. I think for now I'll just focus on being ready for when this goes sideways."

"Ok that's five to two, so we move forward," stated Caz.

"I think we should hold off until after ten. That's when visiting hours end so there will only be night staff to deal with. Also I understand where you're coming from Mami, and I can respect that. Vee, I can't disagree, but if we wait she could get away or pass. If that happens we have a potential issue out there that we know next to nothing about, or we leave a potential ally out there that we could have helped sooner," Luz said, giving a pleading look before they both nodded in understanding.

Amity, Luz, and Caz found the experience of breaking into the hospital wildly underwhelming. Luz had been right that invisibility really rendered the majority of safety measures moot, and with a bit of creativity getting nurses to open the remaining doors wasn't very hard. Caz proved just as useful since as soon as they entered the hospital he could sense the lingering spark of the Guardians power within the girl, and could guide them to her. With the door closed and the privacy curtain pulled the trio got their first look at the unconscious girl. She was just as Vee and Camila had described, and much like the trio she looked like she had gone through a rough time lately. The doctors had managed to stabilize her, but that was about it. It took Amity and Luz almost an hour and a half to repair all of the damage left inside her, and even then they couldn't get rid of all of it right now. They did manage to shrink her scar though from a jagged mess that basically ran from her collar to her navel into a smaller less obvious blemish that was only as long as her sternum. They wouldn't know if she would be able to walk until she woke up and tried. That left only the girl's coma to deal with, and against their better judgment they decided to go through with Nico's suggestion. Caz performed the necessary spell.

Luz and Amity found themselves in a black void. After a moment a room appeared around them. It looked like a fairly normal teen girl's bedroom, and reminded the pair of Luz's own room. The main difference was that it was gray and colorless. It didn't look like it was supposed to be that way, but whatever had happened here had stripped the room of all its colors except gray and black. To the girl's surprise they had not lost their color upon entering the mind, but Luz was now back in her Titan form and Amity was in a new ensemble. Amity was wearing a pair of fashionable but sturdy black boots, and a short sleeved emerald version of Luz's cat hoodie with a plain black skirt. She also had her lavender hair grown out and in a ponytail held together with a tie that looked like a raven talon, and her crescent moon necklace still hung around her neck. Her brown roots could still be seen, but they only seemed to make the lavender color look more vibrant by comparison. Luz stood there stunned as she looked at Amity until she shot forward and twirled her in the air as she said, "So pretty. When we get back I'm going to have to take you shopping because dang girl." Amity blushed, but appreciated the compliment. "I don't know why I'm in my Titan form though."

"Well after our trip into Willow's mind I did some research, and then Mrs. Lilith helped me understand more. Apparently when you enter a mindscape you take on a form that either matches your current appearance or is a reflection of how you see yourself. My guess is that this is how we see ourselves or at least how we want to see ourselves," stated Amity.

"Cool. I guess when I accepted that this is who I am now my form shifted to this in my own head. It is nice to see that me hermosa is always pretty though, no matter where she is," Luz gave a flirty wink. "We should probably get to work though. You check that side of the room for anything out of place, and I'll take this side."

They searched for a bit, but found nothing until Luz tried the computer on the desk. On it was a single folder that said level one, and Luz called Amity over before she clicked it. Suddenly the pair were brought to a different room that contained numerous awards and trophies for a variety of academic topics and all of them had the name Marcy Wu on them, but once again the entire room was gray and colorless except for the girl on the couch who was currently being berated by a pair of adults that could only be her parents for getting a 'B' on one of her tests. As the pair watched the scene, they saw Marcy's shoulders slump more and more as the tirade continued and her color began to fade as well. No matter how hard Marcy tried to explain that she had already made up for it with extra credit, or that she had actually been the only one in her class to even pass, it didn't seem to matter to her parents. As the last of her color left her it consolidated into a green floating wisp that came over and circled the pair as if it was investigating them, before giving a joyous shake and making a happy noise. Then it started to drift toward the front door, and seemed to wait for them to follow. When the trio walked through the door they found themselves back inside the same room, but it was now multiple years later and Marcy looked to be roughly the same age she is now and not just full of color but she seemed to radiate a green aura that matched the wisp. As they watched they once more saw the pair of adults start to talk to Marcy first calmly, but soon they were yelling at each other. The adults were adamant that the family was going to be moving away due to a job opportunity her 'father' had gotten, and Marcy yelled back that they were ruining her life. The whole time the color faded more and more from Marcy until finally they saw her run away with almost all of her color gone, but her aura remained. The wisp collected what leftover color it could, and then it swirled around them bringing the pair back to the bedroom. As the pair watched the wisp dispersed some of the color it had collected into the room. It wasn't much, but it made the room look infinitely better. The wisp then flew over to the computer, and disappeared into it making a new file appear simply labeled level two.

Before they clicked on the new file Luz looked to Amity and noticed she looked concerned. "Ami, are you all right? I know that seeing that must have been rough on you, but maybe we can help her," said Luz with a grin.

Amity looked back at Luz and couldn't help cracking a smile, "Well we do have a lot of experience dealing with overbearing and controlling parents so… ya. Let's keep going."

After they clicked on level two the duo found themselves sitting in the stands watching a tennis match. Once more the whole world was gray, but this time a gray Marcy sat in front of them. Next to her sat a sporty blond about Marcy's age who sat in full color and radiated a magenta aura, and on the court playing was a Thai girl with an afro of brown hair. She was also the same age, and just as colorful but radiated a blue aura. As the pair watched they heard Marcy and Sasha talking, and watching the match. At first it was all innocent stuff. Apparently the three girls were best friends, but soon Sasha got more serious as she told her friend that she needed to just ask Anne out already. Sasha tried to reassure her friend that the only way to know if she was interested would be to take a chance. As they spoke Marcy began to gain more and more color until she was as vibrant as either of her friends. The memory continued until the three met up after the match, and Marcy congratulated Anne on her win and seemed to debate saying more but lost her nerve. The pair just watched as the three girls walked away, and the wisp appeared from under the stands to guide them somewhere else. The world rippled and changed around them as they walked until the duo found themselves in the hallway of a school where they saw Marcy and Anne being harassed by some bullies. Once more the world was gray, and they could see that the color was fading from Marcy and Anne as they watched. When out of nowhere Sasha came storming over and drove the bullies away. The pair saw Sasha put out a hand and draw her friends into a friendly hug as they walked away. As the trio walked away they noticed that all three girls had regained their color, and the duo heard Marcy's voice from the wisp, "That was the day I realized I was in love with Sasha too."

Before Amity or Luz could say anything the wisp flew through one of the classroom doors and disappeared. With nothing else to do the duo walked through the door and reappeared in the bedroom again. Once more it had more color than the last time they were there, but a third of the room was still gray and lifeless. When they checked the computer there was a third file, but when they tried to open it nothing happened and a lock appeared on it. From under the bed came a soft flashing light, but when Amity checked she just found an ornate gold box. When they tried to open it they heard a voice from all around them, "You have seen her story so far, but are you really ready to save her. If not, leave the box. Let her dream. Some of these memories are painful, but if you proceed you will doom her to never have a peaceful sleep again."

"We will help Marcy. Whatever awaits, we will face it together," stated Luz firmly as she through open the box to reveal a sword shaped key. As soon as Luz touched it she could feel how heavy it was, and it felt like it was trying to burn her of it's own will. As soon as it got close to the computer it shot out of her hand and shattered the screen, but when it did it didn't sound like breaking glass. It sounded like a knife stabbing into meat, and the whole room went dark. When they could see again they saw a mostly gray Marcy standing with Sasha outside a pawn shop. Through the window they saw Anne pick up what the duo assumed was the real box, and stuff it into her bag before leaving the store looking ashamed. The five girls then ran to a neary abandoned park, and the duo saw the three girls open the box only for a blinding light to overtake them all. When next Luz and Amity could see they were in front of a bench and fountain, and all around them they saw anthropomorphic amphibians milling about. Before them sat a more confident tired version of Anne as she positively shone with color, but as they spoke Marcy's color faded and regret came off her in waves. The world melted away and overtook them as a new scene came swirling into focus.

The duo was left disoriented on their knees at the repeated rush of strong memories. When the room finally stopped spinning and stabilized they stood up and found themselves in a large throne room where sat a giant blue anthropomorphic newt in a crown and sitting on his throne. To his right was the wisp in a human sized cage, and on his left was Marcy who was hunched forward on her knees and held up by the pulsing energy sword that had run her through her abdomen and into the floor before her. To the duo's surprise the newt smiled and said, "Welcome visitors, to my mind. I know my appearance must confuse you, but as you must know since this is my mind I may appear in whatever form I choose. In this case the form of the betrayer King Andrias feels right." She gestured toward the cage next to him and the wisp's form shifted into a green energy construct in the shape of Marcy.

"Do not let her deceive you. She is not the owner of this mind. She is only the worst parts of me empowered by the energies of the mind calamity gem, and given autonomy by the shock and pain that Marcy went through," spat the construct.

The newt pointed at the construct, "Semantics. Once I destroy this one and absorb her powers I will have what I need to dominate the rest of my mind and wake us up, but this time that weak cowardly child won't be in control, I will." The newt turned back to Luz and Amity, "I really must thank you. Without you this poor excuse of a being wouldn't have had the spark necessary to begin pulling herself back together, and if you hadn't broken that meddling monster's lock I would have been trapped here with only this poor broken little girl to keep me entertained." The newt turned to the skewered teen and she flinched as the newt smiled forcing them to see more memories. Marcy with a broken leg climbing into the newts pocket, and giving him a small robot pin as a gift. Marcy and the newt reading books together. Marcy and the newt sitting in a grand garden laughing and joking. Marcy and the newt playing a game that looked like some version of chess as she confided in him. Marcy reporting in that her last mission was another success as the newt beamed like a proud father. Marcy telling the newt about ways to make the city run smoother, and the newt giving her another proud smile. Every memory hurt like a blade through the heart, and then the newt just stood over them with a look of superiority. "I'm sure you've put it together by now, but just in case. I'll spell it out for you before I destroy you and free us from this farce. Poor little Marcy Wu, gifted with a mind like no other, and parents that demanded perfection. She was doomed to walk alone. To stand apart, because no one could handle her uniqueness. By some miracle she found two girls who just refused to leave her behind. They became best friends, but that wasn't enough. Greedy little Marcy fell in love with them both, but couldn't choose between them and wasn't strong enough to tell them how she felt. Then a tragedy occurred. She would have to move away, and never get the chance to tell her lady loves the truth. Then salvation, she remembered reading about a box in a book earlier that very day, and low and behold she found it sitting in a pawn shop. Marcy knowingly took advantage of Sasha's more toxic traits, and they made Anne steal the box with a half-lie about it being the perfect gift for Anne's birthday. Her plan worked. The trio was transported to a whole new world of magic and adventure. Selfish little Marcy got everything she had ever wanted, but her two friends weren't so lucky. While she had grand adventures, and put the girls she had told herself that she loved out of her mind. Said girls went through trauma after trauma, but eventually they were reunited. While Anne grew stronger and more confident. Sasha allowed his toxicity to overwhelm her, and she tried to betray them for even greater power. She failed, but the kindly old King Andrias, a being whom Marcy had come to look at as a father, did not. In the end it was he who left her as she is now, broken and afraid, but before he broke her body he broke her spirit. Andrias told Anne and Marcy the truth. Told them that their sweet little Mar-Mar had been the one to trap them in that place. It was her fault they had to go through so much trauma, and Marcy got to see her worst nightmare come to pass as the two people she loved most in the world looked at her with hate and pain in their eyes." By the end of the newt's retelling the skewered teen was openly weeping, and the construct only looked away, but then they heard laughter coming from their visitors.

Luz spoke to the skewered Marcy first, "That's it." Luz continued to laugh, "Oh you poor girl. You have gone through so much, but it's ok now. We will help you. I know what it's like to choose to run, and want to have grand adventures."

Then Amity spoke to her, "And I know what it's like to have overbearing parents who try to use you as a trophy of their greatness."

Then together they continued, "We know what it's like to be alone and desperate for love, and to hurt the people that matter most to us. We are literally from different worlds, but we found each other and now we can't imagine a life without each other. We will stand with you, and when we get back to the real world we will help you to make everything all right again. You just have to be willing to stand up, and give it one more chance." The duo could see the skewered teen's head begin to rise, but she seemed hesitant.

Then the newt yelled in rage as its form shifted into a dark reflection of Marcy in her armor and wearing Andrias's crown, and she attacked the duo. To their surprise the "Darcy' as Luz would have called her was surprising quick and nimble as she threw punches and kicks at them to throw them off balance, and since neither girl was adept at hand to hand combat Darcy managed to land quite a few painful blows on both of them before the duo split up to force her to only be able to fight one of them at a time. Darcy chose Luz first, but that proved a poor decision as it gave Amity the time to draw a spell circle and form an abomination sword in one hand and begin firing palm sized fireballs at Darcy's back. None of the fireballs managed to strike her, but it gave Luz the time she needed to ready a light spell that she detonated in Darcy's face blinding and disorienting her enough for Luz to give her a powerful kick to her midsection sending her flying back in the direction of Amity. Amity then put her sword through Darcy's back as she said, "It's not so funny when it happens to you is it?" Darcy gave her an annoyed scowl before her form disintegrated into shadows.

Before the duo could do anything else besides reunite in the center of the room they heard clapping coming from the throne. As they looked at it they saw an unfazed Darcy sitting in it sideways, and looking bored. "Ok I'll admit you two have some skill, but this is a waste of my time. This is my mind. I am invincible here, and unlike little Mouse-y over here I'm not limited by her uncoordination. I can do things that you can only imagine. I've watched every one of Sash's routines and I've seen Anne practice her Muay-thai enough to know it inside and out. Combine that with all the memories I have of seeing different kinds of weapons used on Amphibia, and…" Darcy snaps, making two sets of shadowy clones of Sasha, Anne, and Marcy appear from behind the throne. "I control everything that happens here. You have no hope of defeating me. If you give up and leave now I might just let you live."

Luz looked at Amity and smiled as she reached out her hand, "May I have this dance, me amor?"

"Always and forever my diosa difusa," smiled Amity back as she took Luz's outstretched hand, and the second round of this battle began. The Anne's came in first with a flurry of kicks and punches, but the duo simply dipped and danced around them. Next came the Sasha's with two swords a piece as they slashed and chopped at the dancing duo, but Luz simply spun Amity as she used her feet to draw another spell circle from which came two familiar abomination beasts that looked like Luz's beast form. Amity let out a soft chuckle as Esperanza and Alegría roared out a challenge and engaged the Sasha's. Finally the Marcy's pulled out crossbows and began firing at Luz and Amity only to find their shots repelled by small shields of light that popped into existence only to break and disappear causing the shots to explode around the dancers sending up smoke and flashes of light that only made their dance look ever grander. As the pair finished another series of spins and flips Darcy finally noticed the large circle that Luz had burned into the floor as they went, before as a grande finale they activated it together causing vines to appear out of the floor and bind the Anne's in place as they became almost completely covered in them, and they shot their hands out to their sides taking a deep bow that made bolts of lightning rain down and evaporate the shadow Marcy's. Undenounced to anyone else the construct's cage began to break from the shockwaves let off by the bolts as they landed.

As the duo caught their breaths through ecstatic smiles, Darcy righted herself on the throne, and began walking forward with her hands behind her back. Darcy sighed, "Ok. I get it. Fighting my shadows wasn't enough, you had to try to style on them. Well done, but we can all see that you're getting tired. How much longer can you keep this up before I finally get one of you? How long do you think you'll be able to fight alone?"

But then a smashing sound came from the throne as they all saw the green construct Marcy pull herself from the cage and walk over to the skewered Marcy, and as she did everyone heard her say, "I think that they have done enough. What do you say Marcy? Want to end this so that we can go save our girls?" With one swift motion the construct pulled free the sword and released a dazzling flash of green light.

When it cleared the duo saw Marcy standing tall with her fair glowing green and Andrias's sword in hand. The construct was nowhere to be seen. "I think she was right. I wallowed in my pain and fear for long enough. I'm going to go save my best friends, and tell them how I feel. Hopefully they can still find it in their hearts to forgive me, but I'll never know until I try," stated Marcy, her eyes full of hope.

Darcy began to charge at her lighter counterpart, "You can't do this. Only I can, Mouse-y. You've never been strong enough to do what needed to be done. You had a thousand opportunities to tell them, but you failed every time. You need me."

Marcy just smiled at Darcy, "I don't need you, but I accept now that you are a part of who I am. Pain, anger, jealousy these are what you are. Along with every other emotion I kept locked away for too long and allowed to fester, but no more. If I want them to forgive me I have to forgive myself first." And before Darcy could attack her, Marcy wrapped her in a warm embrace that made her form began to crack and then she disappeared into shadows as they formed into Marcy's shadow. "Well I think we owe each other some explanations," Marcy said with a smile.

Luz scratched the back of her head awkwardly, "Ya we probably do, but let's leave them for later. For right now, let's just get you back among the waking world. You ready?" Marcy just nodded her head as the world around them faded away into a black void once more.

Author notes: And that's the first chapter of the next season of my Mistakes AU. I hope you enjoyed this super sized showing. It was always my plan to do this all as one chapter, but I never expected it to end up so girthy.

Ok so I want to say I understand I made some odd decisions here and there like giving The Collector an actual name and not a glorified title, but I think it will help humanize him a bit and Nico (nino but with the first letter of his title substituting the second 'n") sounded like a good choose, and having Hunter choose a new name, and solidify his own identity as more than Belos's tool is an idea that always brings a smile to my face. I'm not going to take him into a full 'transition' if you know what I mean, but themes