Days have passed ever since Daston made a deal with Emperor Belos and Emperor Belos saw that if Daston could help him with stopping anyone from taking him down or anyone who would stop the Day of Unity from coming. He figured the deal he made with Daston would benefit him if Daston were to stop Maxwell as well as anyone who opposes the emperor in the process.
But Daston got to sleep in a bedroom that wasn't a prison cell this time. His sleeping quarters was luxurious bedroom. He was in the throne room with Emperor Belos, Kikimora, and even the coven heads.
"So you were never a human but a witch?" said a female coven head who had long, green hair that resembles plant matter.
"No, I was a witch disguised as a human. Of course, I was a witch this whole fucking time. You aging plant whore!" said Daston sharply with an insult.
The lady he spoke to looked on at Daston with wide eyed disgust at his personal insult he shot at her. She clenched her fists.
"You really are a violent, vile, blasphemous, evil bastard with no soul!" she shot back.
"You looked so much hotter when you were younger. Now you've grown old and uglier than a monkey." Daston shot back.
"At least I didn't go mating with a human and created a hybrid species as offspring and created an abomination against nature." she shot back again.
"At least I don't crack a mirror everytime I look at one. If I had to fuck an old hag like you. I better be drunk off my ass so I don't have to remember the grotesque horror and throw up." Daston insulted.
"I oughta kick your... " she began.
"Enough!" Emperor Belos sharply instructed.
The room fell silent as they looked on at the emperor who knew that their plans were underway.
"More witches are rebelling against me and the covens, both the children, adults, covenless witches and the numbers are growing. Maxwell Logan has proven to be a bigger problem for us all than I imagined. He's killed Grometheus the Fear Bringer by trapping it in it's true form, lopping off its limbs, cutting its heart out and impaled it, forever killing it. He's killed a Greater Velociraptor, an unevolved vampire, the one known as The Flame, an evil shapeshifter. He's proving to be stronger and more powerful than anyone in the oracle coven predicted." informed Emperor Belos. "He's a demi-witch."
The coven heads gasped at the mentioning of such a word as if they discovered something that horrified even them. Kikimora and Daston were the only ones who weren't the least surprised.
"So that's the proper term for the human witch hybrid? I assume?" asked the female coven head.
"That would be correct, Terra. For one, I need Maxwell and his human friend for the Day of Unity. Much like how I need as many powerful witches and as many powerfully magical beings for when the Day of Unity comes." Emperor Belos informed. "Maxwell may even prove to be far more powerful than ether me or The Owl Lady herself. Despite the fact he admits he's not more powerful than her."
"Afterwards, you give me my son and I'll get rid of him when he's of no use to us. He was useless to me when he started to show defiance to me in the first place." said Daston with a cold expression.
"Sure, why not. But don't kill him or anyone I need for the Day of Unity. We can't make our plans possible if you go off killing everyone." Emperor Belos warned.
"I can't make that promise." said Daston cracking his knuckles.
"Would that mean that Daston needs to avoid alcohol or any controlled, illegal substances?" said Kikimora chuckling.
"Only when his services are required." replied Emperor Belos. "We need to set our plans for the Day of Unity in motion. And the Coven Day Parade is days away so I'm just as busy as any of you. Really wished that half breed didn't shoot me in my leg with that spirit bullet spell. It hurt like a mother. Here's what I'll instruct for you to do. Anyone's names I don't mention will remain here, those whose names I do bring up will be at the parade."
"We understand!" the coven heads said in unison.
As Emperor Belos was explaining what will be done on the day of the Coven Day Parade. They all listened to his every word in case any of them were to attend the parade and be on duty or if they'll remain at the castle. Daston on his end pulled out a bottle of wine from his pocket and began to drink from it. But what was told by Emperor Belos left a surprised look on Kikimora, an interested expression on Terra's face and some of them have had a wide-eyed expression on their faces or they show to be visibly confused.
At The Owl House
"So how did this happen?" asked Luz curiously.
They were in the living room as Luz, King, Hooty, Eda and Lilith were in the room along with the Snaggleback. The pink furred primate demon was sitting on the couch with a confused expression and his tail that he mentioned he lost that one time he was in Eda's stomach when Luz and King learned about Eda's curse. His tail was regrown back from when Maxwell used healing magic to have it regrown. His tail was at least over nine inches long.
"It's kind of strange. Even by Boiling Isles standards. I was heading home as a kindly family has taken me in. I was heading home after making my usual rounds but I got shot with a tiny needle that had tranquilizers. The next thing I knew I was tied up and it was trying to torture information out of me as it kept telling me "You know what I want" but I had no clue what it meant." explained the Snaggleback.
"This monster looked like an old man with a beard, sharp fangs, claws on his hands, and can shape shift?" asked King.
"Yes." answered the Snaggleback.
"I see. That would be the demon of deceit or the demon of deception. They take on the form of those its targets find harmless but lures them away to eat what they want from them. A part of their body if it needs to replace a body part of its own that ether they lost or is weakening. But they're shown to be extinct so that one had to be the last one." explained King. "But not to worry. We took care of the beast."
"You do know they're not easy to kill, correct?" said the Snaggleback.
"The only way to kill those types of demons for good is by complete decapitation or impaling them in the heart." Lilith pointed out. "It's a good thing I tended to your bruises and bumps."
"Good thing Maxie was able to heal him and take down that monster. There's a rumor if you see their true form. You'll never be the same again. Ever." Eda pointed out.
"Is it...dead?" asked the Snaggleback looking hesitant.
"Let's just say that my man took care of it while advising us all to look away." Eda answered.
"Speaking of which. Where is he?" asked Luz curiously.
They suddenly heard a loud male's voice that said out loud "Árbol de los milagros!" and loud rustling came from outside. They came outside to see what was going on but once outside. They saw Maxwell stood near the right side of the house that was at least fifteen feet away from the house. His hands and eyes were glowing a green light but as he stood in front of the rapidly growing tree, he had his hands and arms raised in a "V" as this went on.
As he did so. There was a tree growing from the ground within ten feet in front of where he stood. But what they saw was this tree was growing so fast that instead of taking thirty years to grow. It was growing within less than thirty seconds. But he was chanting something in what sounded like an unknown language.
The tree was nearly fully grown but as they witnessed this. Maxwell was growing a really large tree with plant magic.
"What's he doing?" asked a confused King.
"He's growing a tree but for what reason?" said Eda looking a bit confused herself.
The tree had grown thirty feet tall and stopped growing but Maxwell was still doing the chant as the tree shown that apples were growing from it as they grew to be as big as a beefy bodybuilder's fist. He chanted the words once more.
It took a minute for the glowing green light to dissipate and he clapped his hands once as his hands, eyes and the tree stopping glowing the green light. His eyes were back to their original color. He looked up at the apple tree he had used magic to grow within thirty seconds.
"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains." said Maxwell powerfully in his normal voice.
"Guess who?" called Eda playfully.
Maxwell froze and let out a loud hiccup as he turned to see Eda, Lilith, Luz, King and the Snaggleback standing nearby as Maxwell learned they witnessed what he was doing.
"How much of that did you see?" said Maxwell with a hiccup.
"Everything from when it first started." said Eda giggling.
"The spell says that's how it's done." said Maxwell as he explained how the spell was done.
"It was like pushing the fast forwards button on time." said Luz.
"You grew an apple tree?" said the Snaggleback.
"I grew the tree of endless sustenance!" said Maxwell.
As they all came over to his side. The only people who were unfamiliar with what Maxwell told them was King, Luz and the Snaggleback.
"I know what sort of tree this is. The tree of sustenance is a magical tree that with each apple you pluck from it. You say what sort of food or drink you're wanting. And it turns into what you tell it you want. All it takes is planting the right seed, pouring water over the spot you plant it in, and you do the tree of sustenance summoning. Within seconds, it's fully grown. With each apple you pluck from it. Another one grows back within an instant." explained Eda.
Maxwell reached out to pluck an apple from a hanging branch and as another apple grew back within seconds to replace it. He turned and gave the apple to the Snaggleback. He took it and decided to see if what was told turned out to be true.
"Slices of watermelon with no seeds." said the Snaggleback.
Upon hearing his words. The apple glowed a golden light but morphed into something and once the gold light disappeared. The Snaggleback was now holding a plastic bag of watermelon slices with no seeds. There was twelve slices of watermelon inside the bag and he reached inside it to pull one out. Each slice of watermelon was the size of Maxwell's entire hand. The pink primate like demon took a large bite of the watermelon slice, chewed it up, and swallowed it down.
It tasted fruity, juicy and sweet which the Snaggleback smiled as he pulled out another and another till he devoured the entire bag of watermelon slices.
"Don't forget to chew." said Lilith.
"Primates in the human world love juicy, sweet tasting fruit. Watermelon is like candy to them." Maxwell stated.
The Snaggleback devoured the entire bag of the watermelon slices and once he eaten it all. The plastic bag disappeared in a bright puff of gold smoke. The smoke taking seconds to disappear. The little pink primate demon jumped up high and Maxwell caught him in his arms. He was carrying him as he was the same size as King.
"That was the sweetest, juiciest, best tasting watermelon I've ever tasted. Thank you for the treat." said the Snaggleback with a grin.
"Anytime." said Maxwell. "I figured we could use this sort of tree because I know budgeting money, well, it is what it is. Sometimes, if we're too tired to be cooking at the end of the day or if we're low on food and water and have to wait till tomorrow to restock upon anything we need. That's where this tree comes in. We won't have to worry about it getting destroyed in the boiling rain. It'll have a shield surrounding it once the boiling rain starts. I know we don't have weather in this realm but it'll be protected by magic against all of it. I figure we could use something like this when we need it most. Just as they've said about the good Lord. For humanity, it's impossible. But everything is possible with God."
"Don't you wish your man was smart and hot like mine?" bragged Eda in a sing song voice.
"Are you a Christian?" asked the Snaggleback.
"That I am. And so was my mother." Maxwell answered.
"I don't mean to be nosy but I heard about what happened to your mother. And I do apologize for it." said the Snaggleback expressing his compassion.
"I appreciate that." Maxwell said kindly.
"And I'm grateful that you gave me back my tail." said the Snaggleback as he had actual feeling in it.
"I apologize for how you lost your tail. Back then, the curse took over my mind and had me in literal beast mode." said Eda apologetically.
"I wouldn't worry about it since I got my tail back. Thanks to this kind and courageous kid. But I appreciate your compassion. Just like how I'm grateful that you came to save me from that demon that attacked me." said the Snaggleback but he suddenly burped out loud. "I apologize. That was probably what I ate."
"At least it didn't come from the other end. If it happened inside. We'd have to air the house." said King looking relieved.
Eda burst out loud laughing with a snort in her laughter. She apparently remembered the last time that did happen which appeared humorous to her.
"At least it happened in the bathroom." laughed Eda.
"I gotten a face full of the fumes." said Hooty as he made a gagging sound.
"I'm sorry you got a face full of it all but I couldn't help but fall over laughing." laughed Eda.
"Better out than in." said Luz.
"It's worse when someone non-human farts." said the Snaggleback with a shudder.
"You too, huh?" asked King.
"Nope. Me and a few people once saw a heavyset man who got through eating lunch and let's just say he dropped a personal stink bomb on the area." said the Snaggleback. "Makes me wonder if audible flatulence issues in the human world are any better."
"It's actually a common thing in the human realm but it's not as strong as some people who experience it here. But it still has its bad smells." answered Luz. "Some food makes it smell worse though."
The Snaggleback looked up at Maxwell who nodded as a response. Then looking back at Luz who nodded in response as well.
"You once said something about animal rights when you had made the principal have me employed as the Grom's DJ. Do humans not like animals?" asked the Snaggleback.
"Many humans love animals. But that issue with people violating animal rights is a serious offense. Not all humans are bad people. There are good humans who love animals while some humans are not very loving to animals. Those who hurt animals or cause them any form of suffering can be stopped to save those animals. But healing the animals physically and emotionally is the challenge that we take on so they can feel better with their fellow furry friends." answered Maxwell honestly. "No one anointed us ruler of this kingdom. It's not ours to own. We're simply one of the animal species of the planet, both in the human realm and in the demon realm. Not separate. Not superior. We hold in our hands the responsibility to preserve harmony in the natural world. To demonstrate compassion towards all who call ether of these worlds home. So many living creatures have feelings. Who know loss, suffer pain. We must understand the mutual dependence between humans and animals. Same goes for witches and animals. Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, can all be saved."
Hearing Maxwell tell both the Snaggleback and everyone what he told them about wildlife conservation was a heartfelt and genuine answer and response. Both Luz, King, Hooty and even the Snaggleback shed a tear from such beautiful words.
"Eso fue hermoso." said Luz.
"Estoy de acuerdo." Maxwell replied.
The Snaggleback hugged Maxwell as he hugged him back. They all felt like they saw a beautiful sight between man and creature.
"I should confess. Snaggleback isn't my real name. It's just one of the names of my species." the Snaggleback confessed.
"What is your real name?" asked Lilith.
"Milo." the Snaggleback confessed with a yawn.
"I think he's ready to be taken home." said King taking notice.
"I'll take him to his home. I know where it is." Maxwell volunteered.
Maxwell and the Snaggleback teleported and disappeared in a puff of gold smoke. Five minutes later, he teleported and reappeared back at the Owl House.
"So the people that Milo lives with?" said Luz.
"They're good people just like us. He's happier than a cowboy at a rodeo." reassured Maxwell.
"What's a rodeo?" asked Lilith confused.
"A rodeo is a public performance featuring horse riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and bull riding. Along with other activities. I've only been to them twice in my life." Maxwell explained.
"Twice?" said Lilith with a raised eyebrow.
"Once when I was five with my mom and a second time on a school field trip when I was ten. It was all good fun." said Maxwell.
Hearing Maxwell mention his mother had sent a grieving feeling in Luz's mind. She began to instantly pull Eda in her arms for a hug. They all could see that the mentioning of Maxwell's mother may have been triggering what she remembered from the trip to the human realm. The trip to the human realm was an emotional one that didn't go so well.
Maxwell felt like not much or nothing had changed when he went to the human realm with Luz. Luz felt like it left an emotional wound on her out of fear and worry. She had talked about the whole situation with Eda, King, Hooty and later on, with Lilith. Maxwell was there to explain things with her for support. Eda wrapped her arms around Luz to console her.
"I think I shouldn't have brought up the you know what term." said Maxwell looking guilty.
"It's no one's fault. It's just I'm afraid that my mom will make me choose between her and everyone in the demon realm along with this world as well. I don't want to leave the Boiling Isles or the people I love here." said Luz sounding calm yet saddened.
"Luz, it's alright. While the trip to the human realm from what you and Maxie told us was not what you both expected. Still, there's no way that your mom will make you leave the Boiling Isles after we talk to her. Even Maxie will be there and he's really good at convincing people to see what is best for others." reassured Eda.
"I'll be with you every step of the way." reassured Maxwell.
"I'm glad to hear that from you guys." said Luz feeling reassured. "Sort of makes me wonder about some other thing."
"What's that?" asked Eda and Lilith in unison.
"How will things turn out when Maxie meet's your dad?" answered Luz.
Maxwell suddenly blushed and hiccupped loudly at the mentioning of the idea of meeting Eda and Lilith's father. He met their mother and so did Luz. But they haven't met the father yet. This made Maxwell blush deeply, hiccup a few times and his heart racing a bit.
"We all know that he was a blushing, hiccupping, nervous wreck when he met our mother since we all know why for many obvious reasons." said Eda pointing out what happened before.
"But meeting our dad might be a little harder for him since his real father was..." Lilith began.
"A monster?" answered King.
"Big time." said Eda and Lilith in unison.
"He was a nervous wreck around Gwendolyn because he was worried if she would or wouldn't give him her blessing to marry Eda and we all know how Maxie is when it comes to women from what his mother taught him." Hooty pointed out.
"Despite the fact that things were rocky at first but everything worked out in reconciling between us and our mom. Meeting our dad might be different for Maxie, even Luz." Eda pointed out.
"I only saw who he is or what he looks like through Eda and Lilith's minds, even though I didn't want to delve into their minds since what goes on in a woman's mind is their own business. Still, seeing someone I've never met through someone's mind is different face to face. I may not of had a good relationship with my own father. But I'm a bit nervous in meeting daddy, I mean Mr. Clawthorne, I mean Dell." said Maxwell tripping over some of his words with a few hiccups.
Eda was about to step in but Lilith raised a hand to let her know she'll take it from there. Lilith approached him, wrapping her arms around Maxwell to hug him while gently rocking him back and forth. This apparently worked as his blushing disappeared, the hiccupping spell stopped and his heart rate calmed.
"There's nothing to worry about, Maxwell. Ever since you met our mother. We've informed him on the good that both you and Luz have done for us all. He was a bit stoic in his response to what we've told him but he's shown a great deal of interest in meeting you and Luz." reassured Lilith.
"I appreciate that you and Gwendolyn have put in a good word for us. I just hope that he can accept me for who I am, like father and son. Especially for the same with King now that he's officially Eda's son and a Clawthorne." said Maxwell showing hope in his words. "There's going to be a lot to unpack there."
"No kidding. I've become like a mother to Luz who I love with all my heart, a younger man and I fell in love, Maxie did a lot for us all just like Luz, King is officially a Clawthorne and my son, Maxie found out he's a human witch hybrid when there's never been a hybrid before, and that our mother gave Maxie her blessing to one day marry me once he's of legal age or older. I know that Lilly and our mom informed our dad about a lot of that but telling is different than showing and witnessing. And I want our dad to love them with King as my son, and his grandson, Luz as a daughter to me and a granddaughter to him, and that he'll love Maxie as father and son since that monster Daston didn't act like a dad to him." Eda said hopefully but had a moment of silence. "Whoa! That is a lot to unpack when he meets Luz, Maxie and King."
"A little bit." they said in unison.
"And are you okay with seeing your dad after it's been however long since the last time you saw him?" asked King curiously.
Eda fell silent and had an awkward expression upon her face. She felt a bit nervous or felt a tinge of panic from seeing her dad after so many years.
"Eda, everything alright?" asked King.
"What? I know nothing about what you're talking about." lied Eda.
"I know that Eda and her father had to of gotten along or something from what Lilith told me. So he's not a bad man, right?" said Maxwell hopefully.
"What did you tell him?" asked Eda with a raised eyebrow.
"Just old Maxwell that you and dad were really close long time ago, what our dad did for a living, how you looked more like dad and some random things. I didn't tell him anything personal." answered Lilith trying to reassure Eda.
"I feel like this is something that only Eda should tell us about when she's ready to. Let's not force her." said Maxwell showing compassion and respect in the situation. "But is Mr. Clawthorne as good of a man as Lilith said?"
"Yes. But let's just say that something happened between me and my dad years back and I'm not sure how to... resolve it." said Eda looking hesitant.
"Well, if we actually meet him. We'll be there for you to help you and your dad resolve the said issue." reassured Luz.
"That's the thing. I haven't seen my dad in twenty years and I don't know if I'm ready yet. The issue that happened between me and him all them years ago. Let's just say it's complicated and it's better to resolve it if and when we introduce you kids to him." Eda advised while showing some hesitancy.
"Not to worry, Eda. We were taught better and we know it's best to do like you've said. Resolve it if and when we meet him. Also, no one bother Eda for answers, this is her personal issue. It's no one else's business but her own." said Maxwell showing respect for the issue.
"Understood!" said everyone in unison.
"Truth is, I'm a little nervous meeting him too. My biological father, well, like King said. He's a monster. I knew the love that came from a mother but not a father. So I'm just as nervous as Eda is about this. I hope he likes me. Meeting your mother might've had a rocky start like a rocky mountain in Colorado state. We may have helped your mother reconcile the issues between you and your mother but meeting the father. I'm kind of nervous about that too. To every dad, they're not always okay with their daughters dating, even if their daughters are already teenagers. mainly because they don't want their children to grow up but every dad knows one day, they'll have to." said Maxwell with a word of wisdom while admitting his own fears.
"I do remember our dad saying that when he saw how me and Lilly were growing up as kids. You actually nailed it down word for word." Eda admitted.
"That I did not know." said Maxwell surprised slightly.
"But not to worry. The day you meet our dad. We'll be there to explain everything to him. There's a lot that he might not know yet. If Lilith and our mom put in a good word for Maxie, our mom giving him her blessing to marry me, him meeting Luz, King and Maxie, I know he'll grow you love the kids and my man. There's no way he's denying my man becoming my husband when he reaches legal age." said Eda with a word of comfort.
"That's because he's got four women outnumbering him." joked King with a laugh. "I'm just kidding. I know he's got to be a really nice and understanding guy."
"You comedic little furball you." joked Eda.
Both Eda and King shared a laugh while Maxwell was wondering what Eda and Lilith's father looked like, both him, Hooty, Luz and King were curious to what he looks like. But Maxwell was worried about meeting the father of his future wife. His father Daston was a horrible father to him, he never knew the love of a father. On one hand, he was worried about being denied the blessing to marry Eda by being denied by Eda's dad, but on the other hand, he was wondering if he'd find a father figure in Eda's father, he felt a mix of emotions and didn't know which to feel. But he knew something that was a comforting thought.
Lilith approached Eda and pulled her aside to whisper something in her ear. What she whispered in her pointy ear apparently made her smile and she nodded in response.
"It's getting late everyone. Let's go back inside and rest up for the night." said Eda.
"Yes ma'am." said Maxwell obediently.
They all walked back towards the house while King and Luz walked by Lilith's side but Maxwell walked by Eda's side as they all walked inside and made sure that the doors and windows were all closed and locked.
"So what did you tell Eda?" asked Luz curiously.
"I'm sleeping over for tonight. Figured I could do my part in comforting you, Maxwell, King and Hooty. I've grown fond of you, Maxwell, Hooty, even King. Me and Eda have developed the mama bear instinct. I think I like that instinct." answered Lilith as she pulled Luz into her arms to hug her.
Luz felt touched by Lilith's words and Maxwell could hear her words too. He knew that Lilith was taking a liking to having the mother bear instincts as she's grown to love being this way in terms of family.