A Light to Guide

by Nightshadegirl

Eda once said "But if we all waited around for a prophecy to make us special, we'd die waiting." Only thing, we never know when a prophecy will take place and who will be involved. Two Prophecies intersect, Two Lights, Two Darks. Will Light succeed and Dark fall? Or will one Light fall and one Dark succeed?

38. Chapter 38

I don't own Disney's The Owl House. I do, however own the Main OC and any other OC's that will appear in the story. Hope you all enjoy my story on this lovely show.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

It has been a week and a half since Belos tried to have Eda petrified. A week and a half since Lilith became a covenless witch. A week and a half since Danielle found out the truth behind herself and her magic, even if she was denying it. There was even a few days when Danielle went kitty. Since then, Eda and the girls became bounty hunters to make money. In a cave, the girls were looking for their latest bounty. The girls had a light spell active while searching the cave.

"Foolish child," said the Bounty Target, his shadow displayed on the cave wall. "Leave this place before you meet your demise."

"Do not underestimate me, Garlog. For I am the good witch, Luz, hunter of monsters," said Luz, before holding Eda's staff like a bazooka. "Now eat this sucka… what?"

"He looks nothing like his picture," said Danielle, looking at the creature that was Garlog standing next to a lantern.

"You're Garlog?" said Luz, grabbing Garlog before he could escape while Danielle unfurled the bounty poster. "This is pathetic."

"Small I may be, but you will soon know fear when I lay waste to all that you…" said Garlog, only for King to eat him whole.

"King!" said Danielle, looking at King. "Release him!"

"King, drop it now. Drop it now!" said Luz, her and Danielle chasing after King. "Drop it! No! I'm not gonna play right now! King!"

"I know," said Danielle, taking out a bag of cookies. "King, drop Garlog and you can have…"

"Well, that worked," said Luz, seeing King spit Garlog into the wall before wagging his tail while Danielle gave him a cookie.

"Yay, snickerdoodles," said King, snickering while drawing on the ground with his claw. "I'm snickering while I doodle."

"You never fail to make me laugh at times," said Danielle, before seeing Luz stuff Garlog in a bottle. "I really don't like this bounty job but I don't know what else we could do."

"I kinda agree," said Luz, seeing Danielle break a piece of cookie and pushing it down the bottle to Garlog.

After leaving the cave, the girls and King head back to the owl house. Placing the bottle with Garlog inside down on the table in her room, Luz starts up her cellphone. Danielle watches Luz as she hands Garlog another piece of a cookie.

"Hola, Mama! You haven't heard from me in a while. It's been a week and a half since the petrification ceremony. A week and a half since I destroyed the portal home. I had to. Emperor Belos was going to kill Eda if I didn't hand it over. But I couldn't let him use it, so I blew it up with some magic fire..." said Luz, before talking to herself. "She's not gonna understand any of this. That's okay, Luz. Just keep moving forward."

"You're doing just fine," said Danielle, sitting down next to Luz and rubbing her back.

"Thanks. This world is filled with inexplicable magical wonders, like this portal key!" said Luz, holding up the portal key. "I don't know if it contains magic, but I'm gonna study all I can, and find a way back to you. A-And look! I have friends to help me."

"I'm never letting you go!" said King, hold onto the girls legs. "You're never returning to the human realm!"

"He's gotten a lot more attached than I thought," said Danielle, trying to get King off her's and Luz's leg. "King, please let go."

"He doesn't mean that," said Luz, covering her phone.

"Yes, I do!" said King, clinging tighter. "I won't let go!"

"This is Eda the Owl Lady, the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles," said Luz, going down to the kitchen and seeing Eda and X. "Or at least she was until her curse overpowered her and weakened her magic. She's doing her best now."

"Aah!" screamed Danielle, the bottle of apple blood splattering over her, Eda and X after it exploded.

X had taken on a more witch like appearance. Short gold hair with dark red tips, blue eyes and light skin. Stood at 5'9". Wears an oversized unbuttoned white shirt with long sleeves and a short sleeve red shirt underneath, brown pants, and black boots. His nails were still black and his fang still poked out of his mouth. Had pointy ears with two gold hoop earrings on his left ear.

"Tasty," said X, licking the apple blood off his hand.

"Serpe," said Danielle, backing away from X since finding out about him.

"Eda was cursed by her own sister, Lilith. And she spent her entire life looking for a way to undo it," said Luz, walking towards where Lilith was in the house. "It's still hard for everyone to trust each other, but maybe with time we can all become friends."

"Hello!" said Hooty, popping in through the window only for Lilith to slam it shut when startled.

"Even though Eda gets frustrated, she's found new ways to make up for her lost powers," said Luz, walking outside and seeing Eda doing something.

"Check it, Luz!" said Eda, showing off her new constructed weapon. "A new hunting weapon. I will call her the Stab-Catcher."

"Without the portal, Eda has no human garbage to sell. So, we've resorted to working odd jobs to keep food on the table," said Luz, before pointing her cellphone towards the garden. "Although, Danielle's garden is really helpful… and big."

"Maybe I can start an orchard," said Danielle, not noticing Luz while holding a basket of vegetables. "We could use more fruits."

"Danielle," said Luz, seeing Danielle look her way. "Remember what Eda said."

"Hehehe," said Danielle, slightly giggling while getting out of shot of Luz's cellphone.

"Hey, King, did you know that apple is a hat?" said Eda, Luz turning back towards Eda.

"Really?" said King, picking a nearby apple up and placing it on his head.

"King! Hey, no! King!" shouted the girls, getting King out of the way when Eda threw the stab-catcher.

"This week we're bounty hunters. Next week we could be anything," said Luz, back in her room with Danielle sitting nearby. "So, Mom, please don't be scared. I'm growing more and more every day, and I'm gonna do my best to become a full-fledged witch, and get home to you safe and sound. Te quiero, Mama. Te lo prometo, regresaré a casa pronto."

"I really like when I hear you speak Spanish," said Danielle, seeing Luz about to send the video to her mom before hearing Eda outside.

"Luz! Danielle!" said Eda, gaining the girls attention. "Time to bring these bad boys to market!"

"Eda, do you own anything that isn't covered in feathers?" asked Lilith, sitting in a carriage while brushing feathers off her person.

"I had to deal with a curse for 30 years, so I think you can handle a few feathers," replied Eda, staring at Lilith.

Leaving the house, the girls, King and X jump onto the carriage. Danielle stayed close to Lilith when X hopped on top of the bounties. Going to Bonesborough, Eda grabs one of the bags while going to the bounty station. More coven guards were out than normal.

"Wow, the Emperor is really taking over," said Luz, looking around and seeing the coven guards.

"I don't like it," said Danielle, walking closer to Luz.

"I see it too, Luz," said Eda, before kicking a demon dressed in emperor's coven apparel. "And I'm trying to stay civil."

Eda places the bag of captured demons on a scale. She and the girls wait while a shopkeeper behind the station reads the scale.

"Tsk. Your payment," said the shopkeeper, showing a single bronze snail.

"A single snail?" said Eda, glaring at the shopkeeper. "Are you kidding me?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't done yet," said the shopkeeper, laughing before breaking the bronze snail in half.

"Cosa?" said Danielle, before feeling Light slowly take over.

"You can't do this to me," said Eda, pointing at the shopkeeper. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yeah, you're Eda the Owl Lady. What are you gonna do?" said the shopkeeper, staring at Eda. "We all know you're powerless now."

"Ah! What the…" said Eda, trying to cast a spell circle only for it to dissipate.

"Ah, this is awkward," said the townspeople, staring at Eda. "Uh-oh."

"I don't need your pity," said Eda, before grabbing her wanted poster. "I was the most wanted criminal for years. You should fear me."

"No magic? Not so wanted anymore," said the townspeople, walking away while a passing garbageman trashed Eda's wanted poster.

"I don't think so," said Danielle/Light, conjuring four light swords around the shopkeeper and gaining Eda and Luz's attention. "Either you pay the full amount or I let the bounties run amok in town."

"He-he-here," said the shopkeeper, grabbing a few bags.

"Grazie," said Danielle/Light, grabbing the bags and walking over to the carriage before regaining herself. "Ooo, I don't like this."

"Helpful," said Eda, seeing Danielle place the money in her bag. "But you need to fight whatever that is."

"Easier said than done," said Danielle, breathing heavy and looking pale. "It's really strong."

"Don't worry, sister," said Lilith, walking over while laughing slightly. "At least my image still commands respect and fear."

"You're a traitor," said King, laughing when Lilith's poster got torched.

"What's going on? This is anarchy," said Lilith, walking over to the person torching her poster. "Who told you to do this?"

"Whoa," said X, dodging some posters that were blasted onto the wall and looking at them. "Pampered prince."

"The Golden Guard?" said Luz, looking at the posters. "Did you know him in the coven, Lilith?"

"Unfortunately, I did," replied Lilith, grabbing the poster and crumbling it. "He always got special treatment because he was the genius teen prodigy. But he's really just a brat. If he's in charge... vomit."

"Here Lilith," said Danielle, saving one of Lilith's posters. "I was able to save one."

"Thanks," said Lilith, before pushing the poster back to Danielle. "Why don't you keep it?"

"You sure?" asked Danielle, looking at Lilith.

"Positive," said Lilith, slightly smiling.

"Hey, I know! What we need is a confidence boost. Why don't we take on the biggest bounty we can find? It'll be great!" said Luz, going over to a bulletin board and looking at the various bounties. "Hmm. Lost Cerberus, no. Witch cackling lessons? Uh, but maybe not today. Aha! There's something called a Selkidomus ravaging boats up and down the coast. We'll be on a high-seas adventure."

"Hmm... no. We gotta keep a low profile while my powers are weakened. And we need fast cash," said Eda, before gesturing to a different poster. "How about this guy?"

"The Abominable Cutie Pie?" said the girls, looking at the poster.

"No, no, no. I hear it's very dangerous," said Eda, seeing and pointing to it nearby. "And look, there he is."

"You'll never catch me!" said the Abominable Cutie Pie, giggling while climbing a statue of Emperor Belos. "You did it. You caught me."

"Your kidding," said Danielle, climbing the statue with Luz and the Abominable Cutie Pie falling in Luz's hands. "How is this one a bounty?"

"Have to agree there," said X, staring up at the girls and King who had climbed up after the girls.

"Things aren't looking great, Lily. This bounty hunting stuff isn't putting food on the table," said Eda, sighing and listening to Lilith's mumbled remarks after throwing one of the golden guard posters stuck to her face. "Oh, I'm sure the girls could handle bigger bounties, but if we wanna eat we don't have the luxury to mess up even once. No apple blood. I spent the money on griffin eggs for the girls. There's not a lot they can digest here, so I make sure to have their favorites around. Even if Danielle has made quite a bit of headway in the food department."

"That's rough, buddy," said the Abominable Cutie Pie, only for King to push him off the statue and taking his lollipop.

"Danielle, you okay?" asked X, seeing Danielle wasn't looking good.

"I-I'm fine," said Danielle, before losing consciousness and falling off the statue.

"Danielle!" shouted Luz and King, only to see X catch Danielle.

"I got her," said X, shifting Danielle better in his arms.

"Mmm… what just…" said Danielle, regaining consciousness.

"You passed out," said X, getting Danielle to sit down.

"I don't like this," thought Danielle, shaking her head. "I've done enough training in my mind long enough. I need some rest."

"Danielle," said King, jumping off the statue with Luz.

"I'll be fine," said Danielle, petting King.

"This is awful. Eda wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for me. Maybe it would be better if I never came here," said Luz, looking at her hands. "I can't change the past, but I can still change the future. I'm gonna help Eda and prove that I'm more than just a burden."

"I'm gonna catch up with the Clawthorne's," said X, walking in the direction of the owl house before looking at Danielle. "Be careful."

After X had left, Luz went back to the bulletin board and grabbed the Selkidomus poster. Danielle was about to follow only to grab two other posters before catching up with Luz. Walking on down a dock, the girls spot a lobster like demon garbed in pirate attire.

"The Selkidomus hunt. I want in," said Luz, slamming the poster down in front of the lobster like demon.

"You think you can handle this, squirts?" said the Lobster like Demon, staring at the girls and King.

"I can handle anything," said Luz, staring at the lobster like demon.

"As will I Cap," said Danielle, staring at the lobster like demon.

"Call me Captain Salty," said the Lobster like Demon, handing the girls a set of clothes.

Captain Salty lets the girls in and nods at the Golden Guard, who closes the window of his quarters bearing the Emperor's sigil. Back at the Owl House, where Lilith holds her now burned recruitment poster. Eda sneaks up on her, wearing a bandolier of orange potions.

"Hey, Lily! How do I look?" asked Eda, showing off her bandolier.

"Uh…" said Lilith, staring away from Eda.

"Getting almost scammed at the market was such a bummer, but it gave me an idea on how to earn a little more cash. You wanna come?" said Eda, hopping onto the couch before dangling a potion in front of Lilith. "I may not be at full power, but I can still make potions!"

"I am quite fine. Thank you," said Lilith, pushing Eda away.

"Aight," said Eda, walking to the door. "Have fun wallowing in self-pity and feeling bad for cursing me. Bye-eeee!"

"I guess I deserve this. There's gotta be a way to make it up to her," said Lilith, watching Eda leave before pulling pieces of a poster out of her hair then sees a book and grabs it. "Edalyn isn't the only Clawthorne with a talent for potions. Ooh. I bet she would love a peek inside the castle."

"New roomie check-in!" said Hooty, startling Lilith while a page from the book falls on him. "How's my bestie doing? A scrying potion!? Lulu, you're trying to spy on your old buddies? I can help! We can find out their crushes. We can give them cute couple names!"

"Interesting," said X, laying on the couch. "If it means to take out that coven and Belos, I'm in."

"No!" said Lilith, shoving Hooty away. "I can do this alone. Don't follow me! And don't call me Lulu!"

"Wanna tell her we already have some fire bee honey in the kitchen?" said X, watching Lilith leave the owl house.

"Mmm…" said Hooty, thinking and looking at X. "A good friend would respect her wishes, but a better friend would help no matter what!"

"This household is crazy but fun," said X, following Hooty. "I just wonder where Vee is."

Back with the girls and King, the girls don their new attire. The ship had set sail and the girls look at the sea before them with a smile.

"When we defeat the Selkidomus and get a boatload of snails, Eda won't have to worry about money for a long time," said Luz, looking at the sea.

"I've never been on a boat before," said Danielle, enjoying the sea breeze. "It's kinda neat."

"King want a cracker!" said King, getting into the mood.

"All hands!" shouted Captain Salty, gaining the girls attention and his crew. "Alright, crew. The Selkidomus has been ravaging the coastline. It was last seen in the Simmering Shoals. You know the drill, Snag the quarry, get the money galore-y. We all do the work, we all get a cut."

"That's a lot," said Danielle, staring at the bag of money.

"Till then, keep everything shipshape. This ain't no pleasure cruise," said Captain Salty, tossing brooms at the girls. "Don't be a burden, sea squirts."

"Burden…" thought Danielle, looking at the broom with a downcast expression. "No, I can be helpful. I can."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about me," said Luz, staring at Captain Salty.

The girls see a load of barnacles on the front of the ship. Captain Salty hands scrapers over to the girls. Luz gives King, on her shoulder, a look and uses a plant glyph to lower herself down. Danielle conjures wings and dragon claws and flies down. The barnacles grunt at them. Luz hisses, causing them to quiet down. Luz uses King's horn to scrape them off the ship while Danielle uses her dragon claws. After that, Captain Salty gears the girls and King to the bellows of the ship. Captain Salty demonstrates shoveling coal into the furnace. Captain Salty offers shovels to the girls, but Luz shakes her head and pushes it away. Luz activates three fire glyphs directly into the furnace while Danielle shoots a stream of blue fire and closes the door. Luz, King, and Captain Salty stare at Danielle surprised by the color of her fire, Danielle slightly chuckles. The ship's horn blows as the ship speeds ahead. Salty nods at the girls. Soon after, Danielle is on top of the crow's nest, singing a certain shanty.

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Going to deliver Binks' Sake!

Following the sea breeze! Riding on the waves!

Far across the salty depths! The merry evening sun!

The birds sing as they draw circles in the sky!

Farewell to the harbor, To my old hometown

Lets all sing out with a Don! As the ship sets sail

Waves of gold and silver dissolve to salty spray

As we all set sail to the ends of the sea

Going to deliver Binks' Sake!

We are pirates sailing through the Sea!

The waves are our pillows, The ship our roost

Flying the proud skull on our flags and our sails

Now comes a storm through the far-off sky

Now the waves are dancing, Beat upon the drums

If you lose your nerve this breath could be your last

But if you just hold on, The morning sun will rise

Captain Salty and his crew smile to the tune and clap along. Luz recognizes the song and claps along smiling alongside King. Even the Golden Guard while hiding, was pulled in and clapped along while tapping his foot, smiling as well.

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Going to deliver Binks' Sake!

Today, and tomorrow, our dreams through the night!

Waving our goodbyes, we'll never meet again!

But don't look so down, For tomorrow night the moon will also rise!

Going to deliver Binks' Sake!

Let's all sing it with a Don! A song of the waves

Doesn't matter who you are, Someday you'll just be bones

Never-Ending, Ever-wandering, Our funny Traveling tale!

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho

After that, when back on the main deck, the girls are doing a jig while trying to get a sea creature off their back, even if Danielle was somewhat screaming in Italian. Luz slightly laughs when she's back-to-back with Danielle trying to get the sea creature off. The girls launch the sea creature off towards King, who dodges out of the way while holding a cracker.

"Well, ye had me confront my own biases and I got nothing but respect for ya now, squirts," said Captain Salty, looking at the girls. "I mean, sailors."

"Thanks, Salty. You make me feel like a real part of the crew," said Luz, saluting Captain Salty.

"Same here," said Danielle, smiling. "I'm also glad everyone liked the seafood pizza I made."

"Well, that's because you arghhhh," said Captain Salty, laughing and pulling the girls in. "Nice little shanty you sang there."

"Hehe," said Danielle, before walking over and leaning on the ship's rail.

"Hey there," said Luz, walking over to Danielle. "You okay?"

"No," replied Danielle, looking downcast. "Aster would have loved this. If I hadn't screwed up, Aster would have been out and about with us. But he's not. He's stuck in the Emperor's castle and who knows what Belos is doing to him."

"Don't worry," said Luz, pulling Danielle into a side hug. "We'll get him out of there."

"But I feel like I failed him," said Danielle, pulling her hair back. "I don't know how to get him out of the castle now with more of the guards being out."

"Danielle, we'll figure it out," said Luz, looking at Danielle. "I promise."

"But I was the one to promise Aster," thought Danielle, looking at the sea. "I should be the one to get him out. I don't want to burden anyone with my problems."

"Loved the song, I remember watching that anime," said Luz, smiling. "Though from the sound of it, it was translated from Japanese not the English one."

"That episode hasn't aired yet in English," said Danielle, looking at Luz. "Japanese yes, English no. I just recently caught up to the new episode for season six in English."

"What? Season Six?" said Luz, confused before thinking. "It's in season fifteen now. Maybe it's the site she's on."

"I just want to have an out of body tonight," said Danielle, leaning on the railing. "At least to give Aster some freedom, even if it's limited."

"Hey, where's King?" asked Luz, looking around for King.

"He's with someone," said Danielle, feeling King's energy signature. "I can sense him but… King feels… scared?"

Unfortunately, King was captured by the Golden Guard when he accidently found out the ship was under the Emperor's Coven. Back with Lilith, she was looking at the page she ripped out and was wondering the nearby woods. Hooty and X were not that far behind her.

"Okay, next is fire bee honey," said Lilith, seeing some fire bees fly by before trying to enter their area only for them to attack her, though hides behind a tree in defense after her ice spell failed. "How can I get fire bee honey without ice magic, or porcuspine quills without a sleeping spell? Who am I without magic, without a Coven?"

"Without friends?" said Hooty, poking himself out of the ground and startling Lilith.

"I just followed along," said X, leaning against a tree.

"I said…" said Lilith, pointing at Hooty.

"You don't know how to get those fire bees, but I can help," said Hooty, getting into Lilith's space.

"No!" said Lilith, pushing Hooty away. "I don't want your help. I told you not to follow me!"

"If I were you, I would…" said Hooty, looking at Lilith.

"You would what? Because it doesn't matter. You aren't me. You're just some kind of weird bird-worm and escaped basilisk!" shouted Lilith, making Hooty sad and X to look away from Lilith with unease. "You have no idea what I'm going through. I have to do this alone, because if I can't... what kind of witch am I?"

"Let's go Hooty," said X, walking away. "She obviously doesn't need our help."

"Sorry, Lulu. I mean, sorry, Lilith," said Hooty, retreating back into the ground.

"Now, let's try this one more time," said Lilith, grabbing a branch and looking at the hive.

Back with the girls, the sky had turned cloudy and they had entered dark waters. The smell of burning wood was in the air as well.

"We're here. The Simmering Shoals. Eyes peeled, mates," said Captain Salty, the ship passing a burning ship.

"Oh, my goodness," said Danielle, praying alongside the sailors.

"She's close," said Captain Salty, before the ship was hit by the Selkidomus's tail.

"She's here!" said Luz, before seeing the sailors throw harpoons at the Selkidomus.

"Yikes," said Danielle, seeing a sailor lose his head when the Selkidomus fired off quills.

Luz grabs some glyphs and corners the Selkidomus with ice pillars. Luz sets off another glyph wrapping the Selkidomus in vines and starts to pull it towards the ship.

"I won't let you take me," shouted the Selkidomus. "You won't take me from my child."

"Huh," thought Danielle, hearing the Selkidomus's voice. "No way, she's a mother."

"Help her, boys!" shouted Captain Salty, urging his crew to help Luz. "Put your backs into it."

"I did it!" said Luz, tying the vine to the ship.

"Luz, let her go," said Danielle, trying to untie the vine.

"Danielle, what are you doing?" asked Luz, stopping Danielle from untying the vine.

"You don't understand," said Daniellee, looking at Luz. "The Selkidomus is a…"

An explosion happens on deck. The girls fall. The Selkidomus breaks free and swims away. The girls sees a silhouette of someone carrying a bag of money.

"Eda?" said Danielle, in a low whisper recognizing Eda's energy signature. "What is she doing here?"

"Is that a-a ghost pirate?" said Captain Salty, pointing at Eda.

"The money!" said Luz, still not recognizing Eda. "We're being robbed."

"Wait…" said Danielle, conjuring wings.

Eda jumps off the ship onto a speedboat and heads to a nearby island. Danielle flies after Eda. Luz grabs some glyphs and summons a boat-shaped block of ice, jumps on, then propels herself with a fire spell after them.

"Show that specter what for, Luz," said Captain Salty, laughing.

"Huh…" said Danielle, hearing Captain Salty's words. "What about me? I'm going after Eda too."

The girls closes in on the shore. The ice has melted to barely support her feet. Luz loses her balance and is sent flying, colliding into Eda who drops the money at the shore. Danielle crafts a barrier around the bag as it opens and gets washed away.

"The money!" shouted Eda and Luz, only for Luz to finally recognize Eda's voice.

"Hey, Eda," said Danielle, landing and seeing Luz knock Eda's hat off.

"Eda!" said Luz, staring at Eda than Danielle. "Wait, you knew?!"

"I just recognized her energy signature when I saw her on the ship," said Danielle, watching Luz groan.

"Hey," said Eda, chuckling sheepishly.

"Why are you robbing our ship?" asked Luz, before spotting that Eda lost her legs. "And what happened to your legs?"

"Here you go," said Danielle, grabbing Eda's legs.

"It's called disguising your tracks," said Eda, magically reattaching her legs and standing up. "Now, why were you two on that ship to begin with? You coulda' gotten killed!"

A giant water fist rises from the sea. The Golden Guard lands holding a birdcage with steam pouring from his mask.

"That can still be arranged," said the Golden Guard, staring at the girls and Eda. "Hello, criminals. What's about to happen should be relatively painless, if you just do what I say."

"Huh…" thought Danielle, seeing a spirit next to the Golden Guard.

"Hello there," said the Spirit, looking at Danielle. "My name is Caleb Wittebane and I'm very sorry for what is about to happen."

Caleb is a young man with light skin, brown eyes, thick black eyebrows, and ash-blond hair tied back in a ponytail with a hanging forelock. He had a slender build and a hooked nose. Caleb wore a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, olive green trousers held up with suspenders, and brown calf length boots.

"And why would we do that?" asked Luz, glaring at the Golden Guard.

"Because none of you can use real magic," said the Golden Guard, before pointing at Danielle. "Well, except for you."

"You don't know that!" said Eda, pointing at the Golden Guard.

"Maybe not, but I do know you're standing on a plant that eats flesh," said the Golden Guard, laughing.

"That's not funny," said Danielle, tending to Eda and Luz with water magic healing their feet. "Better?"

"Yes," replied Eda and Luz, enjoying the soothing feeling.

"Okay, the human will remain a sailor to repay all the money she lost, while the Owl Lady will be arrested, again, for attacking one of the Emperor's ships," said the Golden Guard, before pointing at Danielle. "And you will come with me back to the Emperor's castle."

"Not happening bub," said Danielle, crossing her arms over her chest. "Wait… Emperor's ship?!"

"Emperor's ship?" said Luz, staring at Eda.

"They're the only ones worth robbing," said Eda, staring at the girls than the Golden Guard. "Why are you guys hunting the Selkidomus? It's a peaceful creature, and you're provoking it!"

"For its scales," replied Caleb, looking at Danielle. "Belos has done unspeakable things over the years. Galdorstone, palistrom wood, stonesleeper lungs, Selkidomus scales, and a bone of ortet. I'll let you figure out the rest."

"Whatever Belos is doing can't be good," thought Danielle, looking at Caleb. "Ortet… I know I've heard that word before. But where?"

"The Emperor ordered me to slay one," said the Golden Guard, staring at the girls and Eda. "I'm just following orders."

"Well, I'm just gonna smack you around a bit!" said Eda, ripping off her arm to use as a weapon, swings but misses and is blasted away.

"Leave Eda alone!" said Luz, attempting to use a fire glyph only for the Golden Guard to send her towards Eda.

"Whoa!" said the Golden Guard, using his staff to parry Danielle's new sword, admiring its beauty. "Such craftmanship, such focus."

"Leave us alone," said Danielle, slashing at the Golden Guard who kept dodging. "Leave the Selkidomus alone and release King."

"Someone's more skilled than the other," said the Golden Guard, gaining a crack on his mask over his left eye hole. "But I've been doing this long… oomph."

"All that training is paying off," thought Danielle, after striking the Golden Guard with her right palm. "Aah!"

"You still are a pain though," said the Golden Guard, using his staff to trip Danielle and using its magic to have the sand pin Danielle down.

"Let go!" said Danielle, struggling against her binds.

"Danielle!" shouted Eda and Luz.

"How about I leave you dangling above the Boiling Sea?!" shouted the Golden Guard, manipulating the sand and sending Eda and Luz above the boiling sea. "Around these parts, just the steam is enough to cause third-degree burns."

"Eda! Luz!" shouted Danielle, only for her eyes to go white and gain wisps in the corners, blasting the sand away and conjuring the sword again, her voice getting echo-y. "You won't take them from me."

"Whoa!" shouted the Golden Guard, his chest plate gaining a slash mark. "Okay, you're easily angered."

"I won't let you harm Eda and Luz," said Danielle, putting weight into her sword and pushing the staff down.

"Okay, there happy," said the Golden Guard, bringing Eda and Luz back onto land.

"Eda! Luz!" said Danielle, only for the Golden Guard to grab and restrain Danielle. "Let go!"

"Look I don't have to be that mean. No one will have to be a sailor or get arrested, if one of you follows those Selkidomus tracks and slays the beast. Here! I'll help!" said the Golden Guard, materializing a sword in front of Eda and Luz. "Ugh, you're making this difficult... Go, or I drown the bird."

"King!" said Danielle, seeing the Golden Guard bring out a cage with King in it.

"Weh!" shouted King, only to snore after the shade was let down. "Ah, it's dark now."

"King," said Danielle, sighing.

"Fine," said Luz, grabbing the sword and looking at the cave. "I'll do it."

"Luz, wait!" said Eda, watching Luz walk towards the cave. "Luz!"

"Luz!" shouted Danielle, staring at Luz. "Don't do it!"

Back with Lilith, the swarm of fire bees swarmed around her. Brandishing the branch, Lilith went on the defense. Hooty and X though were still nearby in case things went dicey.

"I am not one to be trifled with, bees. I am a witch... unhinged!" shouted Lilith, swinging the branch around only to pull it back after a bit and seeing it burnt. "What? No, no, no, no, no! I can't do this alone. I need help!"

"I'm here for you, Lulu. No witch is an island," said Hooty, popping out of the ground and about to attack the fire bees. "Now face my wrath!"

"Ooh!" said Lilith, excitedly clapping before X's tail wrapped around her and pulled her back.

"Looks like we got the honey," said X, seeing a glob of fire bee honey hit a nearby tree. "I bet Danielle can use some more."

Back with Eda and the girls, Eda had followed Luz into the cave. The Golden Guard held on to Danielle tightly. Unfortunately, the Golden Guard didn't take into account that Danielle could manipulate earth now and ended up with his pants filled with sand.

"This is unpleasant," said the Golden Guard, shaking the sand out of his pants. "Hey, get back here."

"King, are you okay?" asked Danielle, lifting the shade up only for the Golden Guard to magically pull it back. "Hey!"

"Want him back?" asked the Golden Guard, holding the cage with King in it. "Then help the other two."

"King," said Danielle, sadly looking at the caged King. "Fine. But should you hurt him, you'll regret it."

"Luz, don't hurt the Selkidomus," said Eda, walking alongside Luz. "We can find another way out of this."

"You heard what he said, Eda," said Luz, jumping onto a post of a wrecked ship. "If you, Danielle and King want to be free... then I have to do this alone."

"Eda! Luz!" shouted Danielle, catching up to Eda and Luz near a wrecked ship.

"Danielle," said Eda, pulling the girl in then staring at Luz. "What's this alone business? Don't you remember? Us weirdos have to…"

"What? Stick together? Because you stuck with me, you lost your magic. You almost got turned to stone, and now you can't even afford your apple blood because you're worried about what me and Danielle need to eat," said Luz, before hearing the Selkidomus roar. "It's my fault all this happened. That's why I've got to do this alone. I'll make it all up to you, Eda the Owl Lady. I promise."

"Luz!" shouted Eda and Danielle, watching Luz fall backwards off the ship's post.

"Whoa!" shouted Luz, landing on top of the Selkidomus only to be tossed off. "All right, let's do this."

"Luz, don't harm her," shouted Danielle, flying and seeing Luz jump up high with an ice glyph, only for Eda to grab them both while swinging on a vine and landing in some covering made of seaweed.

"You think throwing your life away is gonna help me? Well, it won't. You two helped me find King's crown when you barely knew me. You two saved me from turning to stone and you two even got me talking to my sister again. So, unfortunately for you, my life is pretty great, because I'm friends with Luz and Danielle the humans," said Eda, getting the girls teary eyed before grabbing their cheeks. "Now, your guilt-ridden brain is clouding your judgment. There's gotta be a way out of this, where no one has to get hurt."

"The Selkidomus is a mother," said Danielle, feeling the baby Selkidomus near them and pulling some seaweed aside showing Eda and Luz the baby Selkidomus. "She just wants to protect her baby. See."

"Eda, do you want to learn your first glyph?" asked Luz, coming up with a plan and holding a light glyph up.

"Whoa, easy there, easy," said Danielle, seeing the Selkidomus poke its head towards them and gently stroking its muzzle. "We just figured out a plan where you and your baby are not harmed. Please trust us."

"Alright Lady Light, I'll trust you," said the Selkidomus, leaning her head into Danielle. "But if my boy gets hurt…"

"Don't worry," said Danielle, seeing the baby Selkidomus cling to her leg and bending down to pet the baby Selkidomus. "I'll make sure he doesn't."

Back with the Golden Guard standing outside the cave, he was pulling the shade of the cage up and down. Every time the shade was lifted King would wake up and spin around the cage before falling back asleep. The girls and Eda had already enacted their plan. Lots of plant glyphs were used to make a Selkidomus out of seaweed. Eda and Danielle set up quite a few light glyphs to project their fake fight on the cave wall.

"You're actually weirdly endearing," said the Golden Guard, laughing at King's cuteness.

"No, I'm not," said King, snoring. "Only Eda and the girls get to say that."

The Golden Guard looks up and sees shadows on the wall of Eda and Luz fighting the Selkidomus. Danielle stays back out of sight with sword in hand, protecting the mother Selkidomus and her baby. Luz slays the fake Selkidomus, and begins dragging the head into the Golden Guard's view.

"Oh, that thing smells awful," said the Golden Guard, waving the smell away. "Why are you touching it with your hands? Gross."

"You're gross," said Luz, pointing at the Golden Guard then gesturing to give King back. "Now give me King."

"Actually, he smells pretty bad too. Take him," said the Golden Guard, tossing the caged King towards Luz, not knowing Danielle was bristling with anger on that comment. "Thank you for your service. You can find your own way home. And try to stay out of trouble. The Emperor is not a merciful man. Bye-eeee!"

The Golden Guard gets on his staff and vanishes. Luz blows a raspberry after he leaves. Beside the Selkidomus corpse, Eda is drawing light glyphs and casting them. Luz walks up to her. Danielle is gently stroking the mother Selkidomus and her baby nearby.

"My first glyph," said Eda, holding up an orb of light. "Did I do good?"

"Yeah. You did great," said Luz, holding King in her arms.

"You'll be a natural in no time," said Danielle, walking out of her hiding spot alongside the mother Selkidomus and her baby.

"Baby! Awww," said Luz, the baby Selkidomus coming up to her and hugging her.

"Wait, what is that?" asked King, pointing at the baby Selkidomus.

"Don't worry, King. Once the mother saw we weren't a threat to her baby, she calmed down," said Eda, before looking at the mother Selkidomus. "This area is dangerous. You need to move further out into the sea."

"See, I told you you could trust us," said Danielle, seeing the mother Selkidomus nod and regurgitates a pile of gold substance on the ground.

"For all that you've done for me and my baby," said the Selkidomus, gesturing to her baby to follow her.

"You're welcome," said Danielle, waving bye to the mother Selkidomus and her baby. "Stay safe."

"We will," said the Selkidomus, staring at Danielle than leaving the cave with her baby.

"Bye bye," said the Baby Selkidomus, waving its flipper then following after his mother.

"Hot dang!" said Eda, pulling the girls into a side hug. "It gave you the treasure of the sea."

"Gold? Tuna?" said Luz, wondering what the Selkidomus actually left.

"It's selkigris. Ah, people pay big money for it at the Night Market," said Eda, before lathering some on Luz's face. "Ah, feel that money, Luz, Danielle."

"No, I'm good," said Danielle, backing away from Eda before looking at the seaweed. "Maybe this seaweed is edible. I'd love to introduce some dishes to you and King with seaweed in it."

"Very questionable," said Eda, staring at Danielle.

"No, Eda! Stop!" said Luz, laughing.

"Luxuriate in it," said Eda, holding Luz's hands. "What, you two don't like to luxuriate? There's a whole pile of luxury right in here."

"No, no, no, no, no," said the girls, giggling while Eda tosses them into the selkigris.

"Move over!" said Eda, jumping into the selkigris.

"Eda!" said Luz, popping out of the selkigris before seeing it turn into stars and going into Danielle's bag.

Leaving the cave, the girls, King and Eda walk over to the speedboat. Unfortunately, Danielle was itching up a storm.

"So itchy," said Danielle, scratching all over before seeing a scale on her arm. "What the?"

"What's going on?" asked Luz, before seeing Danielle's magic lighting her up.

Standing before Eda, Luz and King, Danielle's appearance had changed. White scales adorned her whole body with specks of pink and gold here and there. Her long hair was replaced by a Selkidomus tail with green seaweed dangling on the sides of her face. Frills were on her hip and shoulders with the edges being pink. Her eyes were still hazel though.

"Did I just become a Selkidomus version of a zora?" asked Danielle, staring at her body. "This feels weird."

"Why did this happen?" asked King, staring at Danielle.

'Oh, please don't tell," said Danielle, sighing. "I may have put a barrier around the money before I landed."

"Sounds like your magic is telling you to dive down and get it," said Eda, looking at Danielle than the sea. "I'd take your clothes off before diving."

"Whoopie," said Danielle, going behind a boulder and taking her clothes off before diving into the sea. "This isn't half bad. It actually feels nice. Alright then."

Diving under the water, Danielle looks for the bag of money. Sensing her magic, Danielle spots the bag of money deep in the sea. The mother Selkidomus and her baby swim nearby and see Danielle.

"Lady Light," said the Selkidomus, swimming near Danielle. "Prey tell why you're down here?"

"A bag of money was washed down here," replied Danielle, looking at the mother Selkidomus. "I had erected a barrier around it to keep it safe but I completely forgot about it when we kept you and your baby safe."

"I see," said the Selkidomus, watching her baby cuddle Danielle. "Would you like our company while down here?"

"I would love it," replied Danielle, swimming alongside the mother Selkidomus and her baby. "Also, you don't have to call me Lady Light. Danielle is just fine."

"Do you not know who you are yet?" asked the Selkidomus, staring at Danielle.

"I do," replied Danielle, looking downcast. "I just… I don't want to believe it. I want to be me."

Swimming down to the bottom of the boiling sea, Danielle grabs the bag of money. The Selkidomus helped after seeing the bag was too heavy for Danielle and lifted her on her back. Swimming towards the surface Danielle encases herself in spiraling water. Launching off the Selkidomus, Danielle waves bye before breaching the surface. On shore, Eda and Luz see a spiraling tower of water before it splashed away and Danielle conjures wings and flies their way.

"There we go. One bag of money," said Danielle, dropping the bag of money before running towards the boulder. "Now to get dressed before this form shifts back to my normal self."

After getting her clothes back on, Danielle hops in the steamboat with Eda, Luz, and King. Took a while before they got back to the isles but the moment they pulled in and got off the steamboat, a Cerberus barreled into Danielle, making her laugh as she received affection from the Cerberus. Noting that it was the one on the poster, Danielle pulled out the poster she took earlier and showed it to Eda, Luz and King. They were able to show Captain Salty the bag of money they saved and got their share. Taking a detour before heading to the owl house, they return the Cerberus to its owner. After taking their reward, they head back to the owl house to which Lilith is putting ointment on Hooty's fire bee stings.

"I'm sorry for sending you away before," said Lilith, applying ointment to another area on Hooty. "It's hard for me to ask for help."

"I think we all kind of do that to an extent," said X, applying ointment as well on Hooty.

"It's okay. I'm sorry for being all nosy-nosy. But hey, Lulu, every friendship comes with its ups and downs," said Hooty, smiling at Lilith. "Right, best friend?"

"I'm not commenting on that..." said Lilith, grinning. "Hootsifer."

"A nickname?" said Hooty, laughing. "Hoot."

"I don't need one," said X, turning away.

"The scrying potion, it's ready," said Lilith, seeing the potion was ready.

"We're home," said Eda, walking in and tripping on Hooty.

"Eda," said Danielle, helping Eda up.

"Eda, come here. I have a gift for you," said Lilith, walking over and gesturing to the potion. "To prove that I'm trustworthy, I'm giving you a peek inside the Emperor's Castle."

"What are we supposed to do with this?" asked Luz, staring at a few coven guards in a hallway.

"Can we project this somewhere else in the castle?" asked Danielle, wanting to check on Aster and see if he was okay.

"I don't see why not," said Lilith, looking at Danielle. "Whatever you want. Don't you see? These troops don't know what to do with themselves. So, go crazy. Pull whatever pranks your heart desires. They're clueless without me."

"I just want to check on Aster," said Danielle, before finally noticing the fire bee stings on Hooty. "Hooty! What happened?"

"Fire bee stings," replied Hooty, looking at Danielle.

"Oh, Lily, you couldn't have been more right. And that Golden Guard... what a chump," said Eda, cracking her knuckles before looking at the girls and King. "Oh, I'm in a good mood. Who wants to get takeout and draw faces on Hooty?"

"Not drawing on Hooty," replied Danielle, placing her hand on Hooty and slowly healing him. "Also, no seafood, please."

"Hooooo..." said Hooty, enjoying the feel of Danielle's healing magic.

"Yay! Me, me, me!" said Luz and King, running after Eda. "I do! Yeah! I'm in!"

"I'll protect you, Hootsifer," said Lilith, getting Hooty to smile.

"Same here," said Danielle, still healing Hooty.

"Alright, what do we wanna eat?" asked Eda, looking at everyone.

"Anything but seafood," replied Luz, not in the mood for anything sea related.

"No honey," replied X, laying on the couch.

"Crackers," replied King, wagging his tail.

"We're not ordering crackers," said Eda, staring at King.

"We can have crackers for a snack later," said Danielle, looking at King. "With some peanut butter and apple slices."

"Ooo," said King, looking forward to the snack.

"Bees!" said Hooty, staring at Eda.

"I'm fine with whatever. Things are starting to feel right again," said Lilith, leaning back on the couch.

After getting dinner for the night and having snacks, everyone heads to bed. Brushing her wet hair back, Danielle falls asleep and later appears in the crossroads. Looking around for Aster, Danielle spots him sitting on a slab.

"Aster," said Danielle, floating towards Aster.

"Danielle… Danielle!" shouted Aster, barreling into Danielle and pulling her into a hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you too Aster. I missed you too," said Danielle, hugging Aster back before looking at him. "Belos hasn't hurt you, has he?"

"No but…" said Aster, looking scared. "I've been having really bad dreams. And-and you're hurt in them."

"It's okay Aster," said Danielle, pulling Aster back into a hug and rubbing his back. "It's okay. I'm right here, I'm right here."

Owl Pellet #16

(Set after Ch. 37 but before Ch. 38)

"Has any one seen my ducky towel?" asked King, walking in the living room and seeing Eda, Lilith, and Luz.

"No," replied Luz, staring at King. "But now that you mention it, my bedding has gone missing too."

"Really?" asked Lilith, holding a cup of tea. "I can't seem to find my old dress."

"My pillows have gone missing too," said Eda, wondering why their stuff has gone missing.

Hearing a noise upstairs and what sounded like purring, Luz, Eda, King, and Lilith head upstairs. Listening to where the sounds were coming from, they notice the closet that King sleeps in. Looking at each other, Luz opens the door to reveal that Danielle has gone kitty and had their stuff, sleeping on top of everything.

"So that's where all our stuff went," said Eda, before her and Luz started taking pictures.

"She must have taken them to feel safe," said Lilith, eyeing Danielle and their stuff. "She must not have liked when Belos had us captured."

"Well, we not going anywhere any time soon," said Eda, bending down and petting the sleeping Danielle's head, earning purrs.

Owl Pellet #17

(Set after Ch. 37 but before Ch. 38)

"Danielle, put me down," said King, struggling against Danielle. "Put me down."

Danielle had gone kitty again and had claimed King as her kitten. Setting him down for some odd reason in Eda's nest, Danielle goes back downstairs and spies on Lilith. Ever so quietly, Danielle jumps on the opportunity and grabs Lilith by the back of her shirt.

"What in the name of the Titan are you doing?" shouted Lilith, earning a purr from Danielle as she drags Lilith up to Eda's nest. "Let me go."

"Hey," said King, watching Danielle place Lilith in the nest.

"What is going on?" asked Lilith, looking at King then Danielle as she left the room.

"Who knows?" replied King, crossing his arms over his chest.

Danielle once again heads downstairs and spots Luz drawing glyphs. Purring, Danielle grabs Luz by her leggings and starts dragging Luz upstairs.

"Danielle, hey, stop," said Luz, laughing slightly before being placed in the nest. "King? Lilith?"

"Don't ask," said King and Lilith, staring at Luz.

Once again, Danielle heads downstairs and spots Eda trying to use magic, only to spill apple blood all over the place again. Danielle licks whatever apple blood landed on her before grabbing the end of Eda's dress.

"Hey now, what are you doing?" asked Eda, Danielle trying to pull her upstairs with little resistance and into her room. "What are you guys doing in my nest?"

"Ask her," said Lus, Lilith, and King, staring at Eda.

"Whoa," said Eda, Danielle pushing her into the nest before hopping in and curling around everyone before purring. "Okay, I think she just wants us nearby."

Owl Pellet #18

(Set after Ch. 37 but before Ch. 38)

"Hey, Danielle," said Eda, leaning against the doorframe to Danielle's room, holding a present. "How you doing?"

"Not so well," replied Danielle, looking at Eda and seeing Luz and King nearby. "Is everyone else okay?"

"We're more concerned about you," replied Luz, sitting next to Danielle. "It must have been very painful having your magic increase so much."

"It's not going to stop either," said Danielle, before seeing the present in Eda's arms. "What's that?"

"Here. Luz all ready got her's now it's your turn," said Eda, handing the present over.

"This is…" said Danielle, unwrapping the present and seeing a witch's cloak with a diamond shaped clasp. "Eda…"

"I thought you'd like it just as much as Luz," said Eda, sitting down as well.

"Even though I don't want to be a witch," said Danielle, confusing everyone.

"You-you don't want to be a witch," said King, looking at Danielle.

"I never even mentioned it," said Danielle, looking at everyone. "You just assumed after Luz mentioned being a witch at the beginning. I just want to be able to control it and not hurt anyone."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with that," said Eda, pulling Danielle into a side hug.

"Still… thanks for the witch's cloak," said Danielle, getting teary eyed and giving a side hug to Eda.

"Why don't you continue to rest," said Luz, standing up. "I'll heat up some tomato soup for you."

"Thanks Luz," said Danielle, stretching before standing up. "But I think I need to move around some. I'll be careful though, okay."

"All right," said Luz, holding a hand out for Danielle.

Owl Pellet #19

(Set after Ch. 37 but before Ch. 38)

"Aster, it's going to be okay," said Danielle, blood all over her and tears in her eyes. "I won't let Dark or Scarlet Eyes hurt you anymore."

"But Danielle…" said Aster, crying. "You're hurt… you're hurt…"

"I'll be fine Aster," said Danielle, smiling and leaning her forehead against Aster's forehead.

"Noooooooooo! Danielle!" screamed Aster, waking up in his prison. "It was just a dream… just a dream. But it seemed so real."