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-One
It has been a few days since Grom. And getting Danielle to talk somewhat about herself. Eda, Luz, and King really had to watch Danielle and make sure she didn't do everything around the house and such. There was times Danielle was able to slip past them. Danielle tried one day with Eda, Luz and King to explain death and dying to Aster by going to a graveyard but Aster really wasn't truly understanding it. Well, not fully but Aster finally figured out where meat came from and he didn't like hearing about it. Today was the start of the Grudgby season and the whole school was all enthusiastic. Danielle was also donning new colors on her uniform since dropping some tracks. Her left sleeve was yellow with the right sleeve orange, her left short leg being green and the right short leg being blue and the cord to her cowl being purple.
"My first grudgby season! I'm so excited," said Luz, hopping off of Eda's staff. "I have more school spirit than the school spirits!"
"Why do I even bother?" said a School Spirit, dropping pompoms and floating away.
"I still don't know about Grudgby," said Danielle, feeling Aster shift in her hood. "I prefer kicking and throwing a ball around then just holding it. Like softball and soccer."
"And Horse," said Aster, popping out of the hood.
"Yup, and horse," said Danielle, petting Aster's head.
"Ah, grudgby season is the best," said Eda, staring at the girls. "You know, I used to play, back in my gory days."
"You mean glory days?" said the girls, staring at Eda.
"Well, that too. I was unstoppable on the field," said Eda, looking at the girls. "I had the best moves and the best cheats."
"Cheating!?" said Aster, staring at Eda. "That is not fun. Games are to be played fair and square."
"I agree," said Danielle, before scratching her cheek. "Unless you discover them in video games. I may have exploited a certain one in a certain Wonderful Life game."
"There are cheats in video games?" said Aster, looking at Danielle.
"Yup," said Danielle, sighing. "I don't really like them but that video game had it coming with how hard it was to tend to the fields and such."
"Cheating isn't anything to brag about," said Luz, staring at Eda. "How do you know you were any good if all you did was cheat your way to victory?"
"Ugh. What do humans know, with your goody-goody attitude?" said Eda, looking at the girls. "If cheaters never prosper, why was I the star player?"
"Well, can't reason with crazy," said Luz, before taking a sleeping King out of her hood. "Bye King, you little snoozers."
"Remember to behave," said Danielle, scratching the side of King's cheek before seeing him scamper into Eda's hair as she went towards the school doors.
"Ugh. Eda, when was the last time you cleaned up in here?" asked King, throwing out a snack bag than a rat. "Get your own scalp, buddy. This one's taken."
"All this talk of grudgby has me feeling nostalgic," said Eda, before looking at King. "Whaddya say you and me take a little trip down memory lane?"
"Hard pass," said King, sinking into Eda's hair.
"That's the spirit," said Eda, before a school spirit heard her.
"You mean me?" asked the School Spirit, somewhat smiling.
"Ugh. Come on!" said Eda, flying back towards the owl house.
As for the girls and Aster, they headed to their first class of the day. For Danielle, that meant Oracle class this fine morning. The many complexities of the Oracle track baffled and interested Danielle.
"Now class," said the Female Oracle Teacher, pointing to a diagram on the board. "What does this section of the Sefirot mean? Danielle."
"Um, let's see. That's Keter," said Danielle, looking at the diagram. "Since its meaning is "crown", it is interpreted as both the "topmost" of the Sephirot and the "regal crown" of the Sephirot. Keter is so sublime, it is "the most hidden of all hidden things", and is completely incomprehensible to man."
"Very good," said the Female Oracle Teacher, looking at Danielle.
"Danielle, are you okay?" asked Aster, curled on Danielle's shoulder.
"Just… a headache," replied Danielle, rubbing her forehead. "This is the most complex track. Quite a bit is hard to understand."
"Then why study it?" asked Aster, jumping off Danielle's shoulder and looking at her.
"Cause of these trances I go in on occasions," said Danielle, sighing, her eyes going white with the limbal ring going gold. "Huh… Aster… where is everyone?"
Turns out, the trance Danielle was going through had it to where she was sitting on alone in some fog. Standing up in fright, Danielle looks around for anyone in her class mostly Aster.
"Aster… Aster where are you?" shouted Danielle, only for Dark to appear before her. "No no no-no-no."
"Hehehehehe," laughed Dark, eyeing Danielle. "Still so scared of me. Such a weak incarnation."
"Stay… Stay away from me," shouted Danielle, backing away from Dark and running away.
"Running away," said Dark, chasing after Danielle. "So unbecoming of you. Run all you want… it matters not. The prophecy will be fulfilled, shed that mortal form and fight me."
"No, I don't want to, nor do I understand what you're talking about," said Danielle, dodging Dark as best she can. "Eda, Luz, King… Aster!"
Luz had History class with Willow and Gus. Most of the class was ignoring the teacher as he spoke.
"Over 50 years ago, Emperor Belos appointed a head witch to each coven," said the History Teacher, being ignored by most of the class.
"I can't wait for grudgby season to start! I've studied up on all sorts of magical sports. Like this," said Luz, taking a DVD out. "Good Witch Azura 2: The Field of Deadly Fates. A classic underdog tale."
"Azura challenges Hecate in the smibbitch championship. But will she risk it all by taking a chance on the deadly Thorn Vault?" said Willow, reading the DVD case and opening it.
"Ooh, a shiny cookie," said Gus, taking the DVD and trying to eat it.
"Not food," said Luz, grabbing the DVD.
"The council headquarters was built and paid for by...?" said the History Teacher, staring at the class. "Anyone? Willow?"
"Uh, the Pixie Dust Taxes?" said Willow, standing up.
"Whoo, yeah! Go, Willow!" said a Bird like Student, from the hallway.
"Impressive, Miss Park," said the History Teacher, magically closing the door.
"What's going on?" asked Luz, seeing the whole class talk amongst themselves. "It's like all of Hexside's caught Willow fever!"
"Ever since I patched thing up with Amity, I've been feeling more confident," replied Willow, gesturing to a flower hairclip she was wearing. "I guess it shows."
"Aw, Willow thinks she's popular now. How cute," said Boscha, levitating Willow's hairclip to her.
"Hey, I agree, my friend is very cute," said Luz, reaching for the hairclip. "But give that back!"
"It's weird that Amity hangs out with you now. Ever since Grom, she's gone soft. But don't worry," said Boscha, putting the hairclip in her hair. "I'm still here to show you who's boss."
"Here, Willow," said Gus, taking the hairclip out of Boscha's hair and placing it back on Willow.
"Oh-ho-ho! The friends wanna get in on this too, huh?" said Boscha, laughing as she magically spills the contents of Willow's bag on them.
"Is that laughter? Hey, hey!" said the History Teacher, pointing at the class. "Learning's not supposed to be fun!"
"We are having zero fun, I swear," said Luz, before pointing at Boscha. "Boscha's picking on us."
"My apologies, sir. I was practicing my aim for grudgby," said Boscha, throwing an eraser at Willow's head.
"Boscha, how could you throw things at them..." said the History Teacher, before drawing a circle on himself. "When you could throw things at me? Am I over here? Or am I over here? Anything for the captain of the Banshees!"
"Oh, thanks, but I already have the perfect targets," said Boscha, throwing some gum on Willow.
"Oh!" said Willow, trying to get the gum out.
"Don't worry, it's not like she can follow us around all day, right?" said Luz, putting a hand on Willow's shoulder.
Unfortunately, Boscha did follow them around all day. Magically drawing on their face. Dumping garbage on them. Boscha even spotted Danielle and would have bullied her if Aster didn't sense her and scare her away. Luz, Gus, and Willow are sitting on the steps of the school stunned.
"She followed us around all day," said Luz, still stunned. "She literally followed us around all day!"
"I'm really sorry I pulled you guys into this. We should have just kept a low profile," said Willow, sighing then looking at Luz. "Boscha could get away with murder if she wanted to."
"What's this? Boscha got away with murder?" said Principal Bump, walking down the steps. "I can't say I approve, but at least she's trying new things."
"We will find a way out of this," said Luz, before seeing Amity walk by. "Amity!"
"Oh, Luz! You're here! I mean, obviously you're here, this is school, and you go here now, with, uh, me..." said Amity, nervously blushing. "I've been talking for too long."
"Amity, we need your help," said Luz, looking at Amity.
"Yes, I can help!" said Amity, before being confused. "With what, exactly?"
"Boscha won't stop picking on Willow, and no one will do anything about it because she's the "Star Captain of the Grudgby Team"," said Luz, looking at Amity.
"Yeah, this time of year, she's extra unbearable," said Amity, rubbing the back of her head.
"You're friends with her, can you help us?" asked Luz, staring at Amity.
"Uh, the hard part is, there's no reasoning with Boscha," replied Amity, backing up some. "She only speaks in grudgby terms."
"Hmm. Okay, okay," said Luz, staring at Amity. "I'm pickin' up what you're puttin' down."
"I'm... not putting anything down," said Amity, confused and looking at her books.
"Willow!" said Luz, hearing Willow scream and running over seeing Willow covered in garbage. "What happened?"
"Boscha happened," said Willow, Gus taking the trash off her and to see some water slowly clean her. "Huh…"
"Does this help?" asked Danielle, walking over and conjuring more water and wiping more trash off.
"Thanks Danielle," said Willow, standing up.
"Hey, Willow!" said Boscha, up on the second floor and holding a trashcan out the window. "I just thought all trash should stay in one spot."
"Is she…" said Aster, glaring at Boscha. "She is! Stay away from Danielle!"
"That's it! Boscha! Willow challenges you to..." said Luz, pointing up at Boscha. "A grudgby match!"
"She what?" said Boscha, dropping the trashcan.
"I what?" said Willow, shocked.
"She what?" said Gus, staring at Luz.
"Luz!" said Danielle, staring at Luz and stopping the trashcan with a pillar of ice. "You shouldn't speak for others like that."
Meanwhile back at the owl house, Eda had rummaged through her old stuff. Donning her old letterman jacket from school, Eda shows some pictures of her days in Hexside to King.
"And here's when we took down Epiderm High in the semi-finals. Oh, I was the youngest on the team, but I had what some call "star power". AKA, this," said Eda, taking a box out of her hair labeled Eda's Rad Cheats. "This is my cheat box. I have all my best weapons in here. Smoke bombs, sock-worms... Mwah. You name it. Oh, I never lost a game with this bad boy."
"Hoot-hoot! Guess who found a special friend in the forest," said Hooty, bringing in Lilith wrapped in his elongated body. "It was me. Hoot!"
"Lilith," said Eda, seeing Hooty let Lilith go.
"Edalyn," said Lilith, standing up.
"Hooty!" said Hooty, popping up between Eda and Lilith.
"Ugh," said Eda, getting up and walking over to Lilith. "Scram Hooty."
"Okay!" said Hooty, going back to the door and closing it.
"Why are you in your old uniform?" asked Lilith, staring at Eda.
"No reason. It's laundry day," replied Eda, crossing her arms over her chest. "What are you doing here?"
"Edalyn Clawthorne, you are hereby under arrest by the order of the Emperor of the Boiling Isles," said Lilith, summoning a scroll and reading it before Eda magically furls it up and smacking Lilith in the face. "Ah."
"You were saying?" said Eda, smirking.
"Come on! I have to bring you in," said Lilith, pointing at Eda. "It's time for you to join the coven. The Emperor has big plans for the Isles, and he wants you to be a part of it all."
"Ooh, Aah," said Eda, picking up a photo album and looking through it. "What an incredible opportunity for me."
"What are you even looking at?" asked Lilith, grabbing the photo album. "Grudgby pictures? Feeling sentimental?"
"Pah! Me? Never," said Eda, summoning a grudgby ball. "I was just telling King here how good I was."
"Oh, Edalyn. Not only is the curse affecting your hair, but your memory as well," said Lilith, grabbing a picture and unfolding it, showing Lilith with a bigger trophy and several medals than Eda.
"Ah, tell you what," said Eda, looking at the grudgby ball than Lilith. "I'll go with you peacefully to the Emperor..."
"Really?" said Lilith, smiling.
"Sure. If you beat me at a game of grudgby," said Eda, twirling the grudgby ball on her finger then stopping it with her hands. "Luz is always challenging people to things. Why not me?"
"Hmm…" said Lilith, thinking about it then staring at Eda. "Game on."
Back at Hexside, Boscha stares angrily down at Luz. Danielle is able to get the last bit of garbage off Willow. Boscha walks away from the window and starts to head outside.
"Luz, what are you doing?" asked Willow, staring at Luz.
"I'm just following Amity's advice. Boscha only speaks in grudgby terms," said Luz, staring at Willow. "Trust me, I have a plan."
"I don't know about this Luz," said Danielle, seeing Boscha come their way.
"Okay, maybe it's the altitude of the second floor, but I thought I heard you say that Leaf Girl wanted to challenge me to a grudgby match," said Boscha, Luz approaching her.
"That's right! We'll settle this once and for all on the field," said Luz, students flanking her and Boscha.
"Or we could just talk about our issues," said Willow, getting between the two.
"I think we need Principal Bump," said Danielle, sighing. "Before this gets out of hand."
"Stay out of this!" said Boscha, summoning trash over Danielle and dumping it on her.
"Danielle," said Aster, swiping a piece of trash off Danielle.
"I should have kept my mouth shut," said Danielle, backing away from Boscha and conjuring some water to get the trash of her.
"Let's do this," said Boscha, staring at Luz.
"Oh, no," said Willow, looking at Boscha nervously.
"If Willow's team wins, you don't get to pick on her anymore," said Luz, looking at Boscha.
"Fine! And when we win, Willow and your team will be our water gofers," said Boscha, staring at Luz.
"Ha! That's not even a punishment," said Luz, pointing at herself. "I love water."
"And we get to use you as target practice," said Boscha, before kicking a grudgby ball at Danielle. "See you after school, losers."
"Man, am I glad I was goalie on occasions," said Danielle, before the grudgby ball lit up in flames. "Ah! Hot potato, hot potato!"
"Got it," said Aster, dousing the grudgby ball with water magic. "Better?"
"Yes, thanks Aster," said Danielle, lightly scratching Aster's forehead.
"Whoo-hoo! Willow verses Boscha!" said the Bird Student, cheering.
"Luz, this isn't a good idea," said Amity, staring at Luz.
"Yeah, I've never even played grudgby before!" said Willow, looking at Luz. "How am I supposed to beat Boscha?"
"But you're the better witch. I don't know much about sports, but I know about sports movies," said Luz, taking out the DVD from earlier and jumping up onto the steps. "We, too, are a ragtag team of lovable misfits joined together to defeat a powerful enemy. With a little team spirit and a training montage, we can win."
"Well, if you think this'll work, then I'm in," said Willow, before looking at Gus. "How about you, Gus?"
"In seasons past, these flags have waved in support of grudgby greats," said Gus, holding some flags before waving them. "Now they will wave for the greatest: Me!"
"What about you, Amity?" asked Luz, staring at Amity.
"Me? On a team with you? Running around in cute uniforms? Sweating?" said Amity, blushing heavily before running off. "I gotta go!"
"I think Amity like-likes Luz," said Aster, looking at Danielle.
"Huh? Well, I guess she's out," said Luz, jumping off the steps. "In any case, let's get training! I bet some of your soccer moves will come in handy Danielle."
"Okay," said Danielle, nervously rubbing her arm. "I guess I can give this a try."
"Danielle, do you want to do this?" asked Aster, staring at Danielle.
"If I don't want to be Boscha's water gofer," said Danielle, deeply sighing. "I'm gonna have to. I can probably show Luz, Gus, and Willow some basic soccer moves."
Walking over to the grudgby field, Danielle and Aster looked at a cart of grudgby balls as the others talked. Danielle was unsure how to handle a grudgby ball as one blinks at her.
"So, how exactly do we play grudgby?" asked Luz, staring at Willow and Gus.
"Well," said Gus, conjuring an illusion of the game. "There's a ball, and you score by getting the ball through the other team's goal."
"Huh, that looks much like rugby," said Danielle, holding a grudgby ball. "But I bet there's more to it."
"That sounds easy," said Luz, staring at Willow and Gus.
"It is, except..." said Willow, blowing a leaf onto the field and the leaf being shredded by fire, ice, vines and spikes of earth.
"Oh, right. Boiling Isles. Should have predicted this," said Luz, watching the display.
"Santo Toledo!" said Danielle, backing away. "I don't think I'm ready for this level."
"I'll be out there with you," said Aster, looking at Danielle. "I'll make sure nothing bad happens."
"You're a gem Aster," said Danielle, cuddling Aster.
"Hehehe," said Aster, rubbing his head against Danielle.
"Alright! Every great sports story includes a training montage," said Luz, donning a headband.
"Montage?" said Aster, tilting his head in confusion.
"What's a "mon-tage"?" asked Gus, raising his hand.
"Well..." said Luz, thinking.
Luz had set up a board and explained what a montage was to Gus, Willow and Aster. Gus was taking notes and Aster was still tilting his head in confusion. Luz and Danielle were able to set up a television and showed a football game that was being played. Aster was finally understanding a little what a montage was. At one point, Danielle was able to show some basic soccer moves to Willow and Gus and helped them when they stumbled and showed them again much slower so they could understand. Afterwards, Luz was able to get everyone in some animal onesies during a tea party, Willow as a pink axolotl, Gus as a blue walrus, Luz as an orange tabby cat, Aster with a red/white shrine rope around his neck with a gold bell and Danielle as a white alicorn with a sparkly dark blue mane and tail. Danielle is pulling the collar away trying to cool down as Aster pulls the hood down and hops in it. Once done, they head back to the grudgby field.
"Oh, I get it now," said Gus, before wondering something. "Wait, were we just having a tea party in animal jammies?"
"You're never getting me in that hot stuffy thing again," said Danielle, glaring at Luz. "Never!"
"What happens in the montage stays in the montage!" said Luz, grabbing a grudgby ball and a whistle. "Now let's hit the field."
Luz blows the whistle and throws the grudgby ball at Gus and Willow. As Willow is about to kick the grudgby ball, a tentacle bursts from the ground sending the grudgby ball flying into Willow's hands. Gus and Willow scream and run as they dodge the tentacle. Gus is grabbed by a large dismembered hand from the ground before Danielle slashes at it with water and grabs Gus before hightailing away from it. Three flaming grudgby balls follow Willow as she still runs. Sliding behind Willow, Danielle sends a stream of water towards the three flaming grudgby balls before slamming them down to the ground. The Bird Student from earlier is watching from the bleachers and cheers Willow on. A trampoline emerges from the ground and launches Willow backwards.
"Willow, are you okay?" asked Danielle, running over to Willow who landed near Luz.
"I need a cup of water," said Willow, sighing as Gus walks over and falls to the ground.
"Here," said Danielle, shaping the water into two cups and handing them to Willow and Gus.
"Thanks," said Willow and Gus, slowly sipping from the water cup.
"Now for our big finale! Let's try..." said Luz, activating a plant glyph. "The Thorn Vault."
"Luz, wait…" said Willow and Danielle, seeing the plant glyph conjure a column of thorns.
Danielle, Willow, Gus, and Aster are launched into the air by the column of thorns. Willow summons a large flower to act as cushion for them. Danielle, however lands on the goal post, not able to conjure her wings in time. Gus rolls off the flower as he and Willow land on it.
"Gus!" said Willow, running after and checking on Gus. "Talk to me, Gus!"
"I-I think something's broken," said Gus, seeing his flags have snapped. "My flags! I never should have tried to play. You were always enough for me."
"Come on, Gus," said Willow, seeing her hairclip broken on the ground before helping Gus up. "I have some floral tape in the greenhouse. We'll fix them."
"Okay," said Gus, sniffing.
"Danielle…" said Aster, floating out of Danielle's hood.
"I-I-I don't think grudgby is for me," said Danielle, conjuring her wings and floating down before wincing in pain. "O-ow."
"It hurts here," said Aster, touching below the sternum on Danielle. "Right?"
"Yes… yes, it does," said Danielle, leaning against the pole before sliding down. "Luz pushed way too hard."
"Guys, let's try the Thorn Vault one more time," said Luz, watching Willow and Gus walk away.
"Che cosa!" said Danielle, before wincing in pain.
"Not now, Luz. We're tired," said Willow, walking away from Luz.
"But we're the underdogs, we have to stay upbeat and keep trying and…" said Luz, looking at Willow and Gus.
"Luz!" said Willow, walking up to Luz. "Not everything can be solved with a good attitude and a dope music soundtrack. We're going to lose. And no movie can help us against that. The game is off."
"Luz, you pushed us way too hard," said Danielle, staring at Luz as she walks over. "That's not good coaching. Even I know that. Luz…"
"Is she even listening to you?" asked Aster, staring at Luz.
"Most in likely not," said Danielle, sighing.
"Willow, wait!" said Luz, looking at the broken hairclip and picking it up.
Meanwhile, at the owl house, Eda and Lilith had set up a makeshift grudgby field. Eda was able to convince King into wearing a cheerleader outfit calling it an intimidation armor.
"You gals ready to hoot?" said Hooty, wearing a hat and whistle. "We want a clean game here, so no magic allowed."
"Yes! Now I'll strike fear into my enemies with this armor of intimidation," said King, standing next to the scoreboard.
"Yeah, intimidation armor," said Eda, laughing a little before looking at Lilith. "Pushing paper all day might make you a little rusty. I'll try to go easy on you."
"Remember, dear sister, you may have been star player, but I was team captain for a reason," said Lilith, kicking the ball around before tossing it back to Eda.
Back at Hexside, Luz is fixing Willow's hairclip with a band-aid. Danielle is laying down a couple of seats down. Amity approaches Luz.
"Tough practice?" asked Amity, looking at Luz.
"I pushed Willow, Danielle and Gus too hard. It's just, I hate seeing Willow get picked on," said Luz, staring at the hairclip than Amity. "She's one of the best friends I've ever had. Winning this game is the only way I know how to help."
"Did you know, before Boscha, I was the grudgby team captain?" said Amity, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Really?" said Luz, staring at Amity.
"Amity… captain," thought Danielle, staring at Amity. "Wonder what could have happened for her to lose that position."
"Well, once I left the team, I decided that was a part of my life I wanted to forget," said Amity, thinking back to a certain game. "We were playing Glandus High for the Island Championship. We had a move planned, and it was a good one. But, at the last minute, I decided I wanted to do something a bit flashier. I changed our game plan to... the Thorn Vault."
"Good Witch Azura 2: Field of Deadly Fates!" said Luz, looking at Amity. "You watched it too?"
"Uh, yeah," said Amity, blushing. "It went disastrously wrong. My teammates got hurt. All because I had an idea of how things should be. I pushed them too far. I never played again after that day."
"Oh Amity," thought Danielle, sitting up.
"Wah! Sorry," said Luz, her face incredibly close to Amity before stumbling back. "I just really love backstories."
"Looks like Boscha's ready," said Danielle, seeing Boscha and her team enter the field.
"I know what to do to make this up to Willow. Thanks," said Luz, placing the hairclip in Amity's hand.
"Luz wait up," said Danielle, following after Luz.
"It's after school," said Boscha, looking at Luz when she came down to the field. "Where's the leader of your loser brigade?"
"I'm here on her behalf," said Luz, hands on her hips. "We forfeit. And I'm here to tell you that I'll take Willow's place as your water gofer, target practice, whatever you need."
"Wow, you're really a good friend," said Boscha, magically setting the grudgby ball on fire. "And a perfect target."
"Luz, run," said Danielle, backing away from Boscha.
"Think fast!" said Boscha, throwing the fiery grudgby ball at Luz.
Amity runs off towards the school. Entering the plant homeroom, Willow is taping Gus's flags with floral tape.
"There, that ought to do it," said Willow, handing back the flags to Gus.
"These are flags of surrender now," said Gus, looking at his flags.
"Luz needs our help! I know she pushed you guys, and she always gets in over her head," said Amity, slamming open the door and walking over to Willow and Gus. "She can be so stupid, which I love— I mean hate! In any case, she needs you right now, which is sweet— I mean, I hate it, and it's dumb!"
"You lost me," said Gus, looking at Amity.
"Just, here," said Amity, handing the hairclip to Willow who smiled in return.
"Can we resist the call to action? No! May the flags be raised once more," said Gus, running out of the classroom with Amity and Willow.
Back at the owl house, Eda and Lilith's game had finally begun. Hooty was also ticking Eda off.
"Hoot!" said Hooty, blocking Eda's toss.
"Hooty! Whose side are you on?" asked Eda, staring at Hooty.
"I'm an unbiased participant, hoot-hoot," replied Hooty, while Lilith grabs the ball.
"Point goes to Lilith," said King, seeing Lilith score a goal. "We're at a tie here, folks."
"Time for one more play," said Hooty, seeing Eda and Lilith pant in exhaustion.
"Just one little trick and the game will be mine," said Eda, pulling her cheat box out of her hair only to see that Luz had cleaned it. "Dang it, Luz! Your nonsense has gotten into my head. Well, time to do this the old-fashioned way."
"Taking your time," said Lilith, staring at Eda. "Nervous?"
"Not today, sister," said Eda, getting into position.
Hooty blows the whistle, beginning play again. Eda and Lilith both jump for the ball. Eda grabs it and makes for the goal. Hooty emerges from the ground.
"It's me again!" said Hooty, before Eda uses him as a launchpad. "Ow! Oh geez, hey!"
"No!" said Lilith, leaning on Hooty as she sees Eda get the final point.
"Yeah!" said Eda, winning the game.
"Ha ha! Game over!" said King, putting a point on the scoreboard for Eda. "Team Owl House rules supreme!"
"Yes! Still got it!" said Eda, doing a little victory dance. "Still got the skills to pay the bills!"
"No!" shouted Lilith, on her knees and slamming her fists on the ground. "No! I can't go back to the Emperor empty-handed."
"Here," said Eda, taking her ring off and handing it to Lilith. "Tell them I put up a heck of a struggle."
"I will be back for you… and the human," said Lilith, taking the ring. "And next time, I won't be alone."
"I'll be waiting," said Eda, watching Lilith leave.
"I'll be waiting too!" said Hooty, startling Eda. "Hoot-hooty-hoot!"
Back at Hexside, the girls are dodging the grudgby balls Boscha kept throwing at them. Danielle was able to make a stream of water and slammed a few grudgby balls to the ground before sliding away from another. Another grudgby ball was easily kicked straight at a goal post.
"Whoa," said Skara, watching Danielle handle the grudgby balls coming her way. "She's good."
"Having fun yet? 'Cause I'm just getting warmed up," said Boscha, setting another grudgby ball on fire and throwing it at Luz.
"Luz," said Danielle, seeing a tree emerge from the ground. "Incoming."
"Huh?" said Boscha, seeing Willow out on the field.
"Boscha. Your issue is with me, not Luz. Leave her be," said Willow, staring at Boscha.
"Willow!" said Luz, running up to Willow. "Willow, I'm sorry I got you into this mess. You're right, I got my head too stuck in the movie biz."
"Okay," said Danielle, walking over to Luz and Willow. "Little breather here."
"That was so cool how you handled the grudgby balls," said Aster, popping out of Danielle's hood.
"It's been a long time," said Danielle, stretching before smiling. "But it was fun… though I could do with less of the bullying."
"Agreed," said Aster, landing on Danielle's shoulder.
"It's okay. I know you were just trying help in your Luz way. But now let's finish this... my way," said Willow, before turning to Boscha. "The game is back on."
"You need three players on your team," said Boscha, staring at Willow. "Where's your third?"
"Uh, well..." said Willow, seeing Gus on the bleachers.
"Right here," said Amity, walking onto the field.
"You just destroyed your social life," said Boscha, seeing Amity walk over to the girls and Willow.
"Nah. I think I made it better," said Amity, looking at the girls and Willow.
"We could make this a four-on-four match," said Danielle, looking at Boscha. "So, everyone on the field plays."
"Ugh!" said Boscha, stomping away. "Game on!"
As the girls, Willow, and Amity don grudgby gear, they face off against Boscha's team. Gus is cheering from the bleachers.
"Go Willow!" shouted Gus, cheering.
"There's something on your shoe," said Willow, staring at Boscha.
"Like I'd fall for that," said Boscha, scoffing before lunging for the ball only to be stopped by vines wrapped around her ankle. "Huh? Oh!"
The game progresses. Amity uses a giant abomination arm to hold back an axe for Luz, who scores another goal. Gus creates illusion duplicates of himself to cheer Luz, Amity, Danielle and Willow on.
"Nice work," said Luz, raising her hand for a high five.
"Thanks," said a Female Plant Student, high fiving Luz.
"Hmmm," said Boscha, annoyed.
The game progresses further. Boscha throws a flaming grudgby ball at Luz, who blocks with an ice glyph. Danielle was able to pull some of the fire off the grudgby ball. Twirling around, Danielle was able to get the fire bigger before it collapsed towards her and burned her hands. Luz catches the ball, seeing a fire glyph burned onto it.
"Danielle, are you okay?" asked Aster, seeing burn marks on Danielle's hands.
"Fa male," said Danielle, only to see her magic heal her hands. "Huh?"
"Whoa," said Luz, putting a piece of paper on the grudgby ball, burning the glyph onto the paper. "Fire magic! Amity!"
"Yeah!" said Amity, cheering happily after scoring another point.
"Danielle!" said Aster, spotting something flying about. "There's something flying fast around the field."
"It couldn't…" said Danielle, thinking before looking at Aster. "Think you can get it?"
"Of course," replied Aster, flying in the direction of the object.
"There's time for one more play," said Amity, seeing the tied scoreboard.
"And this play could determine whether us underdogs win or lose," said Willow, looking at her team.
"Here's what I have to offer," said Luz, holding out the glyphs she drawn up.
"I think we should try..." said Willow, pointing to the plant glyph. "This one."
"The Thorn Vault?" said Luz, looking at Willow. "Are you sure?"
"I'm ready this time," said Willow, before heading to the center of the field.
"Ha!" said Luz, grabbing the grudgby ball.
"Watch out!" said Amity, pushing Luz out of Boscha's way, getting tackled as a result.
"Amity!" said Luz, seeing Amity tackled to the ground.
"Luz!" said Amity, staring at Luz.
"Over here," said Danielle, getting Luz's attention and getting the grudgby ball thrown her way, bouncing it off her chest while Luz prepared the plant glyph before kicking the grudgby ball towards Willow as the plant glyph activates and sends Willow and the grudgby ball towards the goal.
"Whoo!" said Luz, seeing Willow score the final point and hugging her. "You did it, Willow! We did it! We won! Wait, what?"
"Sorry Danielle," said Aster, floating back towards Danielle. "I couldn't get the thing."
"It's okay," said Danielle, rubbing Aster's back. "We still had fun, didn't we?"
"Yeah, we did," said Aster, before looking at Boscha. "But now you and the others have to be her water gofers. Whatever that is."
"Oh, thorns," said Willow, seeing Boscha hold a gold insect.
"Wh-What happened?" asked Luz, confused.
"She caught the Rusty Smidge," replied Willow, sighing.
"The what?" said Luz, even more confused.
"It's an automatic win," said Danielle, looking at Luz. "Remind me to lend you a certain book series later."
"Yeah, while you were celebrating your "victory", I caught this guy," said Boscha, holding the rusty smidge. "Just like Danielle says, it's an automatic win. All magic sports are like this."
"That just invalidates all our efforts! If catching that thing is so important, why do anything else?" said Luz, getting slightly angry. "There's no reason to watch any of the other players! That's such a stupid rule!"
"It's still a thrill to watch the game," said Danielle, before a thought came to mind. "Wait… is there a game flying around on palismans? I may get into that."
"Well, we beat them and proved our social dominance. All is right in the hierarchy," said Boscha, walking away before seeing her team run up to the girls and Willow.
"Danielle, over there," said Aster, pointing at Amity. "Amity got hurt."
"Oh my," said Danielle, running over to Amity and bending down to check on her. "Your ankle, right?"
"Yeah," replied Amity, before trying to stand up.
"Amity!" shouted Willow and Luz, running over.
"Easy there," said Danielle, supporting Amity.
"I think-I think I hurt my leg," said Amity, leaning on Danielle. "But, I'll be okay."
"Let's get you to the nurse's office," said Danielle, looking at Amity.
"Are you sure?" asked Luz, looking at Amity. "I could help carry you if it really hurts."
"I'm fine! Who's Amity?" said Amity, blushing up a storm.
"Aaaaand, scoop!" said Luz, scooping Amity up bridal style.
"Oh, wow. Sports," said Amity, blushing harder.
"Is this normal when people fall in love?" asked Aster, looking at Danielle.
"It depends on the person," replied Danielle, scratching the top of Aster's head. "Some can be oblivious to it."
"Can we have another montage?" asked Gus, running over to the girls, Willow and Amity.
"Yeah! Montage, activate!" said Luz, excited and happy.
After getting Amity to the nurse's office, the girls, Willow, Aster and Gus head back to the field. Willow summons some springy flowers that acted like trampolines as they toss grudgby ball after grudgby ball into the goal. Danielle and Aster just bounced on the flowers before laying down on them. Gus later uses his illusion magic to change the scoreboard to their favor. After school, the girls, Aster, Willow and Gus head to the owl house. Luz, Willow and Gus climb over Hooty as he tries to greet them. Danielle bends down and checks on Hooty as Aster floats to the ground. Luz is recording King dancing in his cheerleading outfit.
"You're-You're not gonna show this to anyone, right?" asked King, chuckling.
"Of course not," replied Eda, chuckling alongside the girls and Aster. "Keep cheering."
"So adorable," said Danielle, wiping a tear away while Aster is rolling on the ground laughing as well.
"This is why baby titans are the cutest," said Aster, still laughing. "So cute."
Later on, after having a cast placed on her leg, Amity comes over to the owl house. Hooty places Amity on the couch as everyone else is having some tea and cookies. Danielle takes some markers out of her backpack while Luz grabs one and starts writing her name on Amity's cast. Everyone else picks up on what Luz did and grabs a marker before placing their name on Amity's cast. Danielle rubs the cast after writing her name on it, only for the cast to glow and the healing glyph to meld into the cast, making the cast have a light blue glow.
Owl Pellet #13
(Set after Ch. 8)
"Alright you two," said Eda, concocting some white potion. "Enough with the dramatics. You make it seem like you're dying."
"I'm not being dramatic," said Danielle, curling into a ball while holding her abdomen. "I've never had one hurt this much before."
"How much longer?" whined Luz, falling off the couch and staring at Eda.
"Alright here you go," said Eda, handing the girls a vial filled with a white liquid. "Now, this potion happens to be…"
"Blegh!" said the girls, after downing the white potion.
"Very nasty," said Eda, staring at the girls.
"They're going to okay, right?" asked King, staring at Eda, concerned.
"They're okay," said Eda, looking at the girls. "Just a part of being a woman."
Owl Pellet #14
(Set after Ch. 31)
It has been a few days after the grudgby match against Boscha. King wanting to impress Danielle with his cooking decided to do a trick with a knife. Unfortunately, it didn't go as planned and King ended up hurting himself.
"OW!" screamed King, the knife slashing his arm after tossing it in the air.
"King, what happened?" asked Danielle, coming into the kitchen and seeing King bleeding. "Oh, my goodness, what happened?"
"Well, I wanted to show off my developing cooking skills to you," said King, Danielle bending down and checking his arm. "So, I thought a knife trick would do."
"Please, don't do that without supervision. That could have… oh my gosh, too much blood," said Danielle, panicking a little before grabbing a kitchen towel and setting it against the wound before pulling the knife out. "Okay, this is gonna sting a bit. There, better… oooh, still too much blood."
"Don't worry, I'll get Eda to heal me," said King, holding the kitchen towel against his arm and walking out of the kitchen.
"King…" said Danielle, before looking at his blood on the floor and using her magic to form King's blood into floating spheres before getting a vial and placing the blood in it. "Titan Blood… Aster. I'm so close to freeing him. But is it right to use King's blood without his permission?"
Owl Pellet #15
(Set after Ch. 31)
Aster is resting at the Crossroads this night. Humming a tune from a video game he was playing, Aster doesn't see Dark slowly creep his way.
"Huh… who's there?" shouted Aster, feeling Dark's presence and turning around to face him.
"My word, scared little Starchild," said Dark, hovering over Aster.
"Don't tell… you're… Aaah!" screamed Aster, Dark grabbing hold of his head and using a specific magic on him. "Stop… Stop! It hurts!"
"Damn, that child is teaching things to him that will most in likely interfere," said Dark, suppressing various memories Aster had of Danielle. "No matter, suppressing these memories is better than nothing."
After suppressing certain memories, Dark left. Aster just floated around in the crossroads in a daze, not remembering what had just transpired.