A/N: For those of you new to this fic, Italics will be for flashbacks, dreams, language translations, or hallucinations. Also I made some slight edits to the first chapter so you may want to reread that first before reading this. Also, this fic is also inspired by "Jedi of the Isles" by Helljumper206.
In the Owl House, Luz slept in peace in her sleeping bag, with King asleep on her, cuddling with Francois, while Hunter tossed and turned in his as sleeping bag everything that happened the previous day rewound. The chase for Luz's crossbow, him and his sister meeting Eda and King, learning that magic was real and that he was actually a witch, the Conformatorium, and beating Warden Wrath to a pulp.
Hunter then groaned in his sleep, only this time he was in the middle of a nightmare.
Don't be scared. It's okay."
A small child magenta eyes stared with frightened eyes, up at a face that was too blurry to see. There were sounds of fighting and spells being thrown about.
"Whatever you do, just keeping running through that door, and don't stop, okay?" The person said, putting their hand on the small child's shoulder. They stood up, removing their hand, but the small child clung to the leg, tears in his eyes. The person kneeled back down to comfort the child.
"Hunter, don't worry. Everything will be fine. Keep running, and don't look back. Can you do that for me?" They said. The child reluctantly nodded, sniffling. The person wiped his tears away with their finger. "You can do this."
The child nodded, a determined look in his eyes - but there was still a glimmer of fear. He turned around and ran, as fast as he could, through the door. But the child looked back - and saw someone behind them, someone about to attack, and he screamed and ran towards the door, trying to save them - but the door closed.
The child was left to cry in the rain, scared and alone, for hours.
The scenery changes, this time with Hunter driving his motorbike through a city at night, suited in his Golden Arrow suit with fear and anxiety in his eyes as he rode his bike at high speed.
"Luz! Where are you?!" He yelled. "Luz! LUUUUZ!"
He then falls off his bike and stumbles on the ground, where the scenery changes once more but he is void of pure darkness.
However in that darkness, he sees the bloodied bodies of his family and friends laying on the ground; his mother Camila, his father Manuel, his adoptive father/teacher Oliver, Thea, Felicity, Sara, Roy, Barry, and others.
"No. No!"
"Hunter?"
Suddenly, the ground cracked, gleaming white light forcing its way through the cracks. Hunter screamed as the world fell apart to pieces, leaving him floating in a vast white space
"Hunter? Hunter!"
Hunter then jolted awake and sat straight up, drenched in his own sweat, gasping for air while clutching his chest. He saw Luz in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay, Hermano. Hunter, breathe." She said.
Hunter did what she said, he closed his eyes, inhaling a deep breath before exhaling, and repeated the process for two more times.
When he was finally calmed down, he stood up, stretching himself and rubbed his face as he looked around and realized everything was okay, sighing in relief.
"Are you okay, hermano mayor?" Luz asked, concerned for her brother.
"I'm fine, hermanita. I just had... a bad dream." Hunter responded.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Later." He said, as he looked around and realized that he was in the Owl House, almost forgetting that he and Luz were staying for a while. "So this wasn't a dream."
"Nope." Luz responded, as she headed to the windowsill in the room to open it, gazing at the horizon. "Good morning, crazy magical world."
"Good morning, little children." said a random, green, multi eyed creature from the ocean that waved to Luz and Hunter before sinking back into the ocean.
"Yikes." Luz let out as she reeled back in a small shudder, closing.
"Yea, that was... creepy." Hunter remarked, before Hooty burst through the open window.
"GOOD MORNING!" He announced, startling Hunter and Luz as they screamed, waking up King as Hunter punched Hooty.
"OW!" Hooty exclaimed.
"Oh, sorry Hooty! But never do that again!" Hunter yelled, scolding the owl as he clutched his chest, trying to calm himself down.
"Guys, its so early in the morning... why are you guys up...?" King asked sleepily.
"Fine. Sheesh. I was just wishing you both a good morning." Hooty said, retreating back downstairs.
Hunter and Luz just stared at Hooty before Hunter heads for the bathroom, but Luz runs up to catch him, and enters the bathroom before Hunter.
"I call first." She snarks before slamming the door in Hunter's face.
Hunter just groaned as he banged his head against the door.
Once they got their proper hygiene, refreshed themselves, cleaned themselves up, and were fully awake, they both headed downstairs for breakfast.
Hunter and Luz spotted Eda sipping from a mug, looking tired.
"Morning. What are you drinking? Coffee?" Hunter asked.
"Morning." Eda replied, taking another sip. "Also, I have no idea what that is, but no. This is apple blood."
"Do you mean apple juice?" Luz asked. Eda shook her head.
Hunter and Luz look at each other, bewildered by that statement, with Hunter just shrugging, muttering 'I don't know' while putting his hands up.
King sat in a high-chair, waiting for some breakfast.
"Would you both like some eggs?" Eda asked, as she went into the fridge.
"Yes, please." Luz answered
"Sure, why not." Hunter simply replied.
"How do you guys want your eggs?"
"Scrambled, please." Hunter, Luz, and King all said at the same time
Eda smiled and then made four plates of scrambled eggs for herself, Luz, Hunter, and King. As the four ate their breakfast in silence, Eda, Hunter, and Luz knew that there was a slight tension in the air, with King not noticing since he was focusing on his food.
Eda was about to break the silence, but it was Hunter who broke it first.
"So, you said that Luz and I could stay here if we helped around, so..." Hunter said. "What's our first task?"
"Actually, before we get to that, why don't you two tell us about yourselves." Eda said, stunning Hunter and Luz a bit.
"Wait, what?" Hunter asked.
Eda continues with a nod. "Yeah, I mean you two helped us out yesterday, and we hardly know much about you both?"
"Yeah!" King joined in and sprayed food from his mouth as he talked. "You two had the Emperor's Coven down at your feet within moments!"
"And you!" He then pointed towards Hunter "You beat Warden Wrath like he was some sort of artificial dummy! How did you two become such mighty warriors?"
King looked at Hunter and Luz with awe while the two siblings looked at each other, trying to find the right words to say.
"We've also heard both of you talk about someone named 'Oliver' a lot during our Conformatorium mission yesterday. Who is he?" Eda asked.
Hunter and Luz set utensils down and thought about yesterday's events.
"Well, our story is a long one. What do you want to know?" Hunter asked.
"How about you start with who is this 'Oliver' guy you two keep talking about? I've been to the Human Realm plenty of times, and I've never heard or seen a human do like what you or your brother did yesterday. And I've never seen someone deal with anyone like how you two did with the Emperor's Coven" Eda inquired.
"So who is he? This 'Oliver' guy?" King asked. "Please tell us!"
Hunter and Luz both thought about it for a moment before shrugging.
"Okay, but you have to promise us that you will not say a word to anyone outside of the house about this. Only we will speak about this when we want to, is that clear?" Hunter spoke.
"Clear." Eda and King said simultaneously.
"Okay, well then." Hunter began, "There are many ways to describe Oliver Queen. To everyone, he was a vigilante, a criminal, a mayor, but a brave and noble hero known as the Green Arrow, and someone who started the Age of Heroes. To others, he was a husband, a brother, a friend, an ally, and a leader."
"He was there for both of us when we were lost in the darkness, he taught us how to taught us how to fight for justice, to always put others before ourselves, help those in need, and every other ideal of a hero" He continued.
Hunter then frowned as tears began to glisten his eyes, looking down to the ground.
"But two years ago, Oliver left to save our world to face a dangerous adversary. He won, but the victory was not without cost."
Eda and King were taken aback, as Luz felt tears glistening her eyes as well.
"Oliver gave his life to ensure we would still be here today, and he left behind a legacy that will live on for generations to come." Hunter choked, voice cracking as he let out a small sob. Luz noticed, so she took her older brother's hand and held it in comfort. Eda and King looked concerned for him.
"To my sister and I, Oliver was our best friend, our teacher, and our father, he was our hero to us before we knew he was the Green Arrow. He was everything to us."
Hunter then broke down in tears, sobbing, with Luz crying as well, hugging her brother in support. Eda and King were both saddened by this so they both joined in the hug by rubbing comforting circles onto Hunter's back, and with King joining in and comforting Hunter's leg.
Once Hunter's tears were cleared out, he took several deep breaths until he calmed down to talk again, wiping his tears from his face with arm as he cleared his throat.
"Oliver may be gone, but there are others out there back in the Human Realm who continue his mission, who honor his legacy to ensure that his sacrifice was not for nothing. Me and Luz are one of those people." Hunter continued
"So that explains your moves and all that from yesterday." King said.
"Yes, Oliver taught us how to fight, from combat training to archery practice, you name it." Luz replied.
"And your weapons, the uniforms, how did you two get them?" Eda asked, remembering
"Hmm? Oh, we earned them. That, and, they were Oliver's final gifts to us." Hunter answered.
"Ooh! Can I try one of your bows? Please?" King asked, with childhood innocence.
Hunter and Luz chuckled at King's innocent question.
"Sorry, King, no can do. Our bows have biometric prints, meaning that only we can use them, no one else. Besides, you're not properly trained for archery, so what happens if you accidentally shoot Eda or Hooty, or hurt yourself while trying to do so?" Luz said, patting King's head.
King groaned in disappointment as he looked down. "Aw, man."
"But maybe soon, when you're ready." Luz assured, with King's mood perking up as he climbed back to his high-chair.
"I think it's best for now, we don't want you shooting arrows or bolts all over the house, or Hooty for that matter." Eda said before focusing back on the two archers. "So you two are vigilantes in your world. How did your adoptive father train his two kids to become vigilantes?"
"That's for another time, Eda." Hunter said quickly, not wanting to talk about that.
Eda could see that Hunter was hiding something, as did Luz. She wanted to asked them both what it was, but she decided to not pry further.
"So what are you two planning now? Eda asked. "I mean, if the Emperor's Coven got a good look at you two back at the Conformatorium, then they might have bounties placed on you by now."
"We're not sure in all honesty, but as I said yesterday, Luz and I are a bit overdue for a break. I mean we've been doing this for two years now, and this is basically all we've ever done ever since Oliver passed away. That being said, our combat training and archery practice might be fruitful here if we want to search for part-time jobs." Hunter said, as he pondered on what to do next.
"We'll figure something out, Hermano. We always do." Luz assured her brother, placing her hand on his shoulder.
Hunter took a deep breath and exhaled "I know."
"You two really have a strong sibling connection." King said.
"Yeah, but she can get on my nerves at times." Hunter teased.
Luz faked a gasp and glared at Hunter, before a smug smirk appeared on her face.
"And he can get on my nerves as well." Luz clapped back.
Hunter turned to Luz, giving his sister a deadpan look before she stuck her tongue out at him, blowing a raspberry.
Hunter, Eda, and King laughed at this, before getting back to the main topic.
"Okay, as I was saying earlier, what's our first task?" Hunter asked Eda.
Eda pulled her mug away, sipping it away before holding out her left hand. "Magic staff, to me!"
The quartet waited in the kitchen as a plethora of crashes and things breaking was heard as Hunter and Luz looked to the door and saw Eda staff flying to her and smack her in the head.
"Oof, that was a fail." Hunter joked, with Luz snickering as they both gave fist bumps.
Eda rubbed her head a bit before she picked up her staff and twirled it to her side.
"Now normally, a witch is awarded their staff after completing the necessary school route but with me, you two are going to be doing something completely different." Eda said as she crossed her arms behind her back.
"What kind of approach?" Luz asked as Eda leaned forward a bit.
"Hard work." She said to both Hunter and Luz before dropping a burlap sack full of bottles in front of them. "Now follow me."
The siblings nodded to the witch before Hunter picked up the sack and threw it over his shoulder, carrying it as they both followed Eda through the Owl House.
"I run a few businesses here and there, like the stand you two saw full of human treasures that little Owlbert drags over from your realm." Eda said as she stopped in front of a fire place and picked up a toy sword, clicking the button.
"I shall smite my enemies!" The sword said as the blade glowed a bit. "For ages 6-11."
Eda tossed the sword away before pointing towards the sack she gave Hunter.
"But my main business is brewing the finest of homemade elixirs and potions around." Eda said before pointing to Hunter and Luz, right in their faces. "And that is where you two come in, my little delivery partners."
"Okay, I guess." Luz said while shrugging.
"Well, if it beats staying in the house all day, I'm in." Hunter said.
"Good, now follow me again." Eda said as she led the siblings upstairs and to a balcony. "Today, you two will be delivering packages and potions to that town there, Bonesborough."
Pointing with her staff, Eda showed Hunter and Luz a large city like village across the horizon with large rib bones next to it and a bone like structure looming over the town.
"Dios Mio." Luz said at the sight of the town from the horizon.
Hunter whistles in astonishment, amazed at the town.
"I don't know what you said but be warned, I have rivals all over that want to take me and my business down. And since you two are my delivery guys, they'll go for the both of you as well, but I've got confidence you can handle yourselves with all those skills of yours and your weapons. So what do you two say, are you up for it, kids?" Eda said to the siblings.
"I'll bet it's no different than Star City or New Haven back in the Human Realm, but regardless, sure." Hunter said with a nod.
"Let's do this!" Luz said.
The duo then walked back to the front door of the owl house and Hunter and Luz stepped out with Eda watching them leave.
"Alright, just a few more things. Never trust a man who wears sandals, always measure twice and cut once, and be sure to be back before sunset or face doom!" Eda said with a cheery smile and tone before shutting the door.
"Have a nice trip, friends!" Hooty added with a normal tone.
Hunter and Luz glanced at each other before shrugging off Eda's warning "Meh." They both then walked away from the house with the sack as Eda watched them leave from the window next to the door.
Actually, after a few steps, they both realized they forgot something, and no it was not their weapons, mind you.
"Yea, we don't know where we're going." Hunter said.
"Don't worry about them both. They're both tough, skilled, and strong, so I think they can take it." King commented on Hunter and Luz's capabilities as he laid on a chest near the door.
"Maybe, but they'll both need a guide to help them out, and that's why you'll be going with them." Eda said as she pointed to him
"What? But I just found the perfect spot!" King called from inside the house. Hunter and Eda headed back inside.
"Do you want to start paying rent?" Eda asked. King groaned but got up.
"Fine!" he said as he got up from his spot, the perfect spot for him to sleep in his opinion, and ran to catch up with Hunter and Luz. "Hey you two!"
His call out caused Luz to stop her walking into town and turn to see him running to him.
"Eda said you two need a local guide, so I have to tag along!" King shouted to her.
"Oh good, Luz and I honestly thought she was just gonna leave us clueless on these runs." Hunter said as King stopped next to Luz and began climbing up to her right shoulder to ride on.
King sighed. "Let's get this over with."
Hunter and Luz then walked back into town and began delivering/selling the elixirs and potions Eda brewed up.
Walking around the streets of Bonesborough, they passed under an archway, the walls of which were covered in wanted posters. Various types of demons and witches passed them, which Hunter and Luz stared at in awe.
"Hey, it's rude to stare." King said.
"Sorry, sorry." Luz said, looking down at King. "It's just that we've never seen magic or demons at all. So it's pretty jarring."
"Yeah, all this time I honestly thought I was human, I never even asked who I was or where I came from, until now. This all feels so new, and yet so... refreshing and amazing to learn that there are others like me." Hunter said in awe.
"Eh, I can understand that." King said. "Why, when I lost my power and size, it was equally jarring for me to adjust to how big the world around me is."
As they both delivered the potions, Hunter and Luz quickly found out that this could've gone better. MUCH better, if it could've been more of people wanting to buy Eda's potions and less people wanting to touch Luz weirdly or eat her. All the while Hunter tried his best to protect his little hermana and not to get angry and shoot them with his arrows, he and Luz didn't want to make the most powerful witch, who is their employer, angry by beating away her customers.
"Well, this task has been a load of BS." Hunter commented as he, Luz and King sat down in a sidewalk, the little demon was eating a "notdog" made of bugs and other strange things while Luz just ate a normal bun from a close by stand.
"Behind all the crazy cool weirdness of this place, it's either cannibalistic or rude, and they all... looked at my sister as if she were some freak, and me as well. " Hunter growled
"Yeah. Humans are NOT well liked here." King commented as he ate his food. "And I'm not sure that they would like it if they saw one of their own associating with them."
Hunter scoffed. "You got that right."
"So how did you two become siblings exactly?" King asked Hunter and Luz.
"Well, I may not remember much of how I arrived at the Human Realm, but I remember some pieces of my childhood. I remember that Luz's parents, Camila and Manuel, found me in the woods one rainy night when I was 4 years old and they took me in, and raised me as their son and as a brother to Luz." Hunter said.
"Really?" King inquired
"Oh yeah, I remember that. Papá and Mamá woke up in the middle of the night to hear crying near our house, and it was raining so when they found you in the woods, they both took you in to clean you up before you caught a cold." Luz said, reminiscing about the fond memory. "Then I saw you for the first time, and the rest is history. We may not be family by blood, but we are family no matter what."
"Amen to that." Hunter said, high-fiving his sister.
"So what about your parents?"
Hunter and Luz froze, with Hunter looking down to the ground.
"They died years ago, King. When we were young" Hunter said solemnly.
King's eyes widen in shock as he looked at Hunter and Luz with a sad face.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-" King apologized before being cut off.
"You didn't know, little buddy. It's not your fault." Hunter assured King, before he got up and picked up the sack. "Now let's go, we still have some deliveries to do before the day is done."
"Right." Luz got up as well.
Hunter and Luz made their way to continue delivering and selling Eda's potions to her clients, while King just sat on the sidewalk, looking at Hunter and Luz new light.
'They're all alone. Their parents and Oliver are gone. If I didn't have Eda, Hooty, or Owlbert, I'd be all alone too.' He thought.
"King, you coming?" Luz called out
"Uh, y-yeah." King responded quickly, before getting back and rushing to the two siblings as he climbed back onto Luz's shoulder.
After delivering and selling more potions to Eda's clients, and avoiding further wackos, Hunter, Luz, and King eventually made it to their final location for the deliveries.
"Well, this is it, our last stop before we head back." Hunter said, as he looked at the map for delivery locations
"Good, because my feet are starting to ache... like a lot!" Luz exaggerated.
Hunter rolled his eyes amusingly before he, Luz, and King, headed down a poor looking alley way before they got to a tarp at the end of it.
"Alright, let's see who's the lucky customer her-" Hunter said before pulling the tarp back and freezing in surprise to view a large and lavish castle, with beams of sun light shining down on it from above giving it a shine of presentation. "What the hell?!"
"Okay this is totally unexpected." Hunter said as they walked to the large door and saw a doorbell on the side. "A normal doorbell? Okay..."
Hunter rang the bell, hearing it ring like a standard doorbell chime.
King was instantly uneased with the place. "Big houses always belong to big whackjobs. Let's kick the package inside and get outta here."
Hunter couldn't put his finger on it, but something about big castles made him feel uneasy.
"There is something very... off about this place." Hunter said, frowning.
Hunter stayed silent as the door opens up. A malevolent chill passed over him and Luz that made them gain goosebumps, making the two archers narrow their eyes in suspension.
"Luz, be ready." Hunter turned to his sister, as he neared his pocket, to where his bow was currently curled.
Luz nodded as she picked King off of her shoulder and placed him down by the entrance before going with her brother.
"King, stay out here. We'll be back." She said before she and Hunter advanced into the castle.
King was about to follow the siblings, but the big doors closed shut on him. "Hunter? Luz?"
Hunter and Luz walked down the hallway, which led to an open library that had all the walls covered with bookshelves.
"Hello? Is anyone here? We've got a special package from Eda the Owl Lady!"
The first step Hunter took in the library invoked a response in her surroundings with the lamps lighting up. A portrait of the castle owner was displayed on the wall above a large staircase, this portrait was of an old man with a great big gray beard with a purple pointed hat and robes.
"A wizard? Like Gandalf from those books of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings?" Hunter skeptically asked, turning to Luz.
"Or maybe like Harry Potter from J.K. Rowling's works. Never liked her books due to her bigotry." She said.
"Yep." Hunter agreed.
Moments later, the wizard appeared from the shadows and made himself known as he walked from the top of the steps, looking down at Hunter Luz with a grandfatherly smile.
Hunter and Luz immediately felt... uncomfortable but they did their best to show no emotion.
Hunter and Luz glanced at each other, both thinking the same thing.
'Yeah, there is something off about that guy.'
"Why hello there, young ones." the wizard said as he walked down.
"Good afternoon, sir." Luz greeted back. Softly setting the bag of potions on the floor and meeting the old man.
"Apologies for not answering the door, I was in my Oscillarium, reading the stars. And who might you two be, with eyes full of curiosity?" The man asked Hunter and Luz.
"I'm Hunter..." Hunter began slowly.
"I'm Luz." Luz greeted slowly.
"Young children, dareth I say, I sense something unique about you two. Please, won't you both join me for tea?" He made a magic circle, and pair of chairs and a table full of food appear.
"Apologies, sir, but no thank you. We don't take food or drink if we don't know where it's from. We often eat from our garden at home and make our own." Hunter lied smoothly, but decided to join the 'man' in the chair opposite of him, with Luz sitting down to a chair next to her brother.
The old man hummed as he stroke his beard. "I understand."
Luz notices a cart of potions in the corner of her eye. "Do you sell potions also, Mr. Wizard?"
"Please, call me Adegast, my dear. But yes, I run a small business." He confirmed.
Hunter and Luz exchanged quick glances at each other real quick, both knowing that this set a red flag towards them.
"If you are a potions maker, why are you ordering from your competitor's stock?" Hunter asked.
Hunter's question made Adegast twitch, and not in a good way. The man had a look as if he was coming up with a resort. "And to my understanding, I see Eda the Owl Lady wasn't the one who delivered the packages herself."
"We're new hires, but you didn't answer his question? So this time, I'll ask you one, like who are you really what do you want from Eda the Owl lady?" Luz pressed.
The old man Adegast stared silently at the siblings before he started chucking. "It seems that both of you are not as naive as I thought. Very well." Blue fog appeared behind him and started to encroach on Hunter and Luz.
The two archers then jumped away from their seats and dodged with a side flip, grabbing their bows from their pockets, but hadn't uncurled or unfolded them yet.
"So this was your plan, was it? To catch the Owl Lady when she would do her runs?" Hunter demanded
"That is correct, my boy." the wizard said. He rose from his seat and floated into the air. "I had hoped that Owl Lady would come by so that I may deal with her myself."
The blue fog spread into circles, surrounding the archers. Now, revealing tattered scrolls littering the floor, shelves broken, paintings ripped, and chunks of debris block the stairs. The fog recedes behind the wizard, revealing a sizable squid-like creature with black eyes and yellow irises. It had a tentacle in Agegast's back like he was being controlled just like a puppet.
Hunter and Luz had to take a few steps back to reposition themselves. They both expected to fight Agegast but instead, they got a tentacle monster.
"Who or what are you?" Hunter snarled
The squid's mouth parted in a toothy smile. "I am Agegast! For you see, Eda has been stealing customers from my potions business for years! She must be destroyed!" The castle's foundation shook under the siblings' feet before several cracks formed and spread apart, revealing more tentacles, each holding a person or creature. All with loopy eyes and big smiles.
"Puppets?" Luz guessed. The tentacle-controlled puppets surrounded the archers. Looking at the puppets, there were several little creatures such as fairies, a raggedy cat, and a shirtless warrior with an eyepatch.
'Whelp, this is a different level of weirdness.' Luz thought, as she kept her thumb over her crossbow.
"Well, we are obviously not Eda, so why don't we part ways so this won't get ugly. This is your only warning, let us go and no harm will come to you" Hunter said.
The squid laughed. "Part ways?" Adegast mocked. "Do you both find me stupid? I let you two go, and you'll both report this to the Owl lady! No, I have a use for you two." The puppets drew around the archers as if they meant to subdue them both. "I'll capture you both here and use you two to lure the Owl Lady to me!"
"Yeah, that's not going to happen." Luz then unfolds her crossbow, and shoots a bolt at the wizard puppet, turning it to dust. "Fake as you can be.
"So be it then." Hunter then uncurls his bow to its full length, and shoots an arrow at another puppet.
"Ahh!" Adegast screams in pain. He grits his teeth and looks at the two archers in anger. "You two will pay for that!" Several cat puppets approach Hunter and Luz head-on.
Hunter and Luz readied themselves. Hunter swung his bow and struck the puppets while Luz continued to shoot bolts, as the siblings left them nothing but dust. Adegast screams again in more pain and anger.
Numerous fairies try to blind-side Hunter and Luz, only for those two to slide under them across the ground and between the Puppet Master's strings. Hunter and Luz glanced at each other, and exchanged small quick nods, Hunter then notched his arrows and aimed his bow high as Luz did the same with her crossbow. They both then fired their weapons and the projectiles fired rained down on the fairies, eliminating them with several arrows and bolts. The squid screams more from this barrage of projectiles.
Once the barrage ended, a war cry drew Hunter and Luz to the shirtless warrior puppet charging at them with his sword held high over its head, ready to strike them both down. When he did, the archers dodged quickly to their respective sides and let the blade impact the ground. Hunter puts his foot down on the blade's flat side and pins the sword down on the ground, enough for Luz to draw out her steel fans and slash the puppet's stomach.
"Aww! My meat grinding abs!" The warrior says before turning to dust.
"Amateur." Luz growled. Hunter then fired another arrow at another cat-person puppet, hitting it in the chest as it turned to dust.
The squid screams again, this time only of rage. "Enough of this!" Adegast roared. Another tentacle appeared. This one makes Hunter notch an arrow and aim at Adegast while Luz aims her crossbow at the puppet.
"LET HIM GO!" Hunter snarled.
"Stand down, or the dog gets it!" He counter as he had one last cat puppet he used to hold King hostage.
"I AM NOT A DOG!" King screamed in protest.
"Silence!" Adegast said as he wrapped his tentacle to close King's mouth. "Now, hands where I can see them, now!"
Hunter and Luz growled at Adegast, but the siblings complied and raised them, their respective bows still in their hands.
"Alright, just please don't hurt him." Luz pleaded.
"Drop that weapon, girl! Or I'll squeeze this runt into a potion paste!" King struggled under Adegast's strength.
Hunter ran his thoughts on what to do, until he remembered an old lesson that Oliver taught him and Luz came to mind, the one where he used it to save Roy from the Savior. They were both even given an example of such a move by Oliver during their first year of training, however he had only heard about it and shown examples of it but had yet to put it to combat or practice. With his friend's life on the line, Hunter would need to trust in himself.
"King!" The demon opened his eyes to look at him. "Do you trust me?"
The little demon couldn't say anything, but his eyes did seem to widen when she said that. He then narrowed them and gave a firm nod.
"Good." Hunter smiled before turning to his sister. "Luz."
Luz looked at him confused, before understanding as her eyes widened in realization. She then nodded once more in agreement.
Hunter then lowered his bow and arrow, as he still notched it, but then he let go of the bowstring fired an arrow onto the ground, causing it to ricochet off the ground and into Adegast's head, making him scream in pain as he dropped King on instinct. Adegast's screams of pain changed a few times as he shrinks to the size of a small ball. Hunter, Luz, and King walk up to him and look down.
"So this is your true form?" Luz snarked as she folds her crossbow while Hunter curls his bow and pockets it away, picking up the tiny squid as he did, and sees him shake in fear.
"Not so tough now, are you, huh?" Hunter sneered, before turning to King. "King, are you okay?"
The bone-masked demon looked up at the siblings. Though Hunter and Luz couldn't see it. He was smiling happily. "I'm fine, you two. Thanks for saving me, Hunter. What you did was awesome."
"And reckless, Hunter." Luz added. "If Oliver saw that, he would be reprimanding you on how you risked King's life while pulling off that stupid stunt."
Hunter rolled his eyes.
"But still, you used one of his old teachings, so you did great there, Hermano." Luz complimented, as she lightly punched his elbow.
"So what do we do about him?" King pointed at the tiny squid demon.
The siblings both shifted their focus on their new captive.
"Well, we can't really turn him over to the local authorities and have them press charges. I think the Warden is still pissed at us for causing that prison riot." Hunter began, pondering on what to do with Adegast.
"And for that beatdown you gave him." King added, which earned him a glare from Luz, as she flicked the young one's skull head.
"Not the time." She whispered.
"But letting him go would just spell trouble and give him a second chance to come after us again..." Hunter continued as he paced around, thinking on what to do next before reaching a conclusion. "Let's get back to the Owl House and inform Eda of this, see what she thinks about it. I mean, she was the original target for this creep, after all."
Luz and King nodded in agreement, before King then climbed onto Luz's shoulder once more and pointed forward.
"To home, brave archers! Home!" He 'commanded' Hunter and Luz.
The siblings laughed at this before they returned to the Owl House.
Some things can shock some people, just as much as they shock any regular person. Like how your adoptive father surprises you by revealing that he is a superhero, or how he started to find balance in both his personal life and vigilante life.
For Hunter and Luz, it was seeing a witch, Eda, eating Adegast whole.
"Well, that's the last time I will take an outside referral." Eda sees Hunter and Luz's shocked and grossed out face. "Oh, you wanted some?"
"Why?!" The archers exclaimed simultaneously, expressing what they saw in complete disgust.
"Meh, I was hungry." Eda shrugged
Luz groaned, lowering her head while Hunter facepalmed.
They both then turned around to return to their room.
Eda saw this and was concerned for them both.
"Kids? Are you two okay?" She asked
They both stopped and sighed.
"Eda, no offense, but this place is so strange, and very dangerous as well. I was hoping that Luz and I could take a break for a while, just for a few days, but now it seems ugly will rear its head no matter what my sister and I do. The Boiling Isles may be my birthplace and I may be a witch, but I'm more of a human than a witch, and I guess here is no different than the Human Realm." Hunter said.
"Hunter's right, Eda. Maybe, we're... not suited for a normal life." Luz added.
Eda frowned at the siblings' depressed attitude. From their story, they were both still new to how things worked around the Isles. So far, the two have been repeatedly exposed to the darker aspects of this world. Then there are their ages...
"Hey, kids. I know this place may not seem that special but let me show you both something that is special." Eda said as she put her hand on the siblings' shoulders and led them out the door.
They all boarded her staff and flew away from the Owl House, Hunter and Luz having to close her eyes upon Eda's request for the surprise.
After a couple minutes of flying, Eda stopped flying and "parked her staff in the sky."
"You two can open your eyes now." She said to Hunter and Luz.
They both opened her eyes to see something beautiful.
"Behold, the bones of the Isles." Eda said as Hunter and Luz took in the awe the giant skeleton that made the Boiling Isles, glowing over the sunset.
It was unlike anything they had ever seen before and it was the most majestic thing they had ever seen.
"Woah!" Hunter breathed out.
"It's... amazing." Luz said, amazed at the view.
"Yep, if you see things up close, then everything on the Isles seems stinky, slimy, and weird," Eda said to the siblings.
"Especially gross." King commented.
"Yeah, that. But if you see it from a new perspective, it really is a wonderful place." Eda said while gesturing Hunter and Luz to look up to the sky and see the stares beginning to appear.
"Yeah, it is." Luz said before Hunter looked back to Eda.
"Eda, thank you, truly." Hunter said, with a genuine smile on his face "But why did you bring us here?"
Eda looked away a bit while thinking of an answer before she turned back to Hunter and Luz.
"Because I want you both to understand that no matter what you two have been through back in the Human Realm, you don't have to do this alone. Just because you two are heroes in your world doesn't mean you two have to carry the weight of it on your shoulders all the time, and you don't always need to bear any forms of burden ever." Eda said as she placed comforting hands on Hunter and Luz's shoulders before a concerned look appeared on her face.
"How old are you both now?"
"I'm 16 years old." Hunter answered.
"And I'm 14, why do you ask?" Luz asked.
"I know that Oliver trained you both, but exactly how old were you both when he began training you two?" Eda inquired.
"I was 8, and Luz was 6, why do you ask?" Hunter asked.
"Because I want to know why you both do this, because teenagers your age shouldn't focus on vigilantism or anything like that. You should be in a nice home, focusing on nothing except going to school, doing homework and chores, making friends, and fun teenage stuff. Oliver gave you two a chance to live a normal childhood, did he?" She asked. "I know if you both don't want to tell me, but whatever it is, you don't have to keep it hidden."
Hunter and Luz both glanced at each other, with Luz nodding.
"He did, it's just..." Hunter took a deep breath before speaking as Luz grabbed her brother's hand once more. "When Luz and I were young... our parents were killed in a shooting, murdered in front of our eyes." Hunter shakily revealed.
Eda and King recoiled in shock, widening their eyes as the former covered her mouth while the latter gained a saddened look once more.
"After it happened, we were left on the streets, while I felt the blood of my parents, more specifically my mother's, on my face." Hunter clenched his fists once more, remembering the traumatizing memory of that day. "I took matters into my own hands. I hunted down and found the man who I thought killed our parents, and I tried to get what I wanted... but I didn't do it. Not only because it wasn't him who did it, but also because I knew that it wouldn't make it better. After that, I made a promise to always be there for Luz, to never let anything horrible happen to her."
Eda's eyes widened slowly in realization and understanding.
"So that's why you went full rage mode on Warden Wrath yesterday, you were scared of what he was going to do to her." She said.
Hunter nodded slowly before continuing with the story.
"Luz and I spent a few days, at a foster care home until they could find someone who could take care of us. That was when Oliver came in one day, took one look at us, and adopted us." Hunter confessed with more tears glistening his eyes. "He said he knows what it's like to see families ripped away from someone, and said that no child should ever have to see their families ripped away from them, let alone witness such horrible things.
As Hunter spoke, Eda and King listened while Eda became more saddened for the two siblings. What they went through, witnessing their parents' murder... it should be impossible to recover from, and yet, Oliver took those two in and saved them. But now he's gone, and these two have to endure more pain and loss.
"So for 6 years, Oliver raised us, cared for us, and trained us, both physically and mentally. He even taught us how to control our emotions, teaching me how to control my anger and channel it into strength. At times Oliver was our teacher and we were his students, but he mostly made sure to spend time as a father to us because he wanted us to have a normal childhood with a family, but I'm not sure if a normal childhood was ever an option for us." Hunter continued, before he finally stopped clenching his fists. "And now that Oliver's gone, we must honor his legacy and continue what he started to ensure that his sacrifice will not be in vain."
Hunter sighed as he rubbed his face with his hand, "It's been hard, but it's what he would've wanted."
"That may be, but I'm pretty sure that he still would've wanted you both to have a normal life, a normal childhood. Maybe I can give you both that." Eda said.
Hunter and Luz both turned to her in shock.
"Hunter, Luz, I'll be your new teacher." Eda revealed.
Hunter and Luz both widen their eyes in surprise and confusion, but with curiosity.
"I thought real hard about this, so bear with me. From what you two said, your parents were taken from you both, so Oliver adopted you both and gave you a normal life, and now he's gone as well. So while you two are living with me here in the Boiling Isles, I'll be your teacher in teaching you both on how this world works."
Hunter felt something fill up in his chest for the first time in two years, hope, while tears began to form in Luz's eyes. "You do that for us? For me and my brother?"
Eda just nodded, and then was surprised when Luz gave the Witch a hug. "Thank you, Miss Eda."
"Just Eda, Kid." Eda laughed and patted Luz's head. "Heck, with what I've seen so far with both of your combat training, I may be able to teach you magic! Think about it, the first human in the Boling Isles to perform magic."
Eda then turned to Hunter.
"And as for you, my fellow witch, I think, since you're a witch and all, that you should get some spells under your belt. So, you're becoming my apprentice as well, so that I can teach you both how to use magic."
Hunter smiled. "Really?"
"Yup. You were pretty much skilled back there, but we always need support of any kind at some point and I'm not always gonna be around to save you or your sister, so might as well." Eda said. "Plus, it could give you something to do other than train yourselves to the bone. You don't wanna exert yourself."
Eda ruffled Hunter's hair and he chuckled a bit.
"And I can teach you both all about demons - their strengths and weaknesses, and how to command an army of them! From a king with firsthand experience!" King said, climbing up to Luz's head.
"Yeah. I..." Hunter smiled. "I guess we'd like that."
Hunter turned to his sister "Luz?"
Luz eagerly nodded as then before asking Eda one more question. "So, I guess this'll be a good start to getting our own magic staff in the future, huh?"
Eda chuckled a bit, smiling.
"It sure is, kid. Not a great start but a good start." Eda said as they watched the sunset over the horizon.
Near the head of the Titan's skull, a large siege-proof castle stood tall around a moat of stone spikes. Within the Castles thrown room sat the most powerful individual of the Boling Isles. It was a figure wrapped in white with a brown hood with gold trim. Long smooth gold mask with two long upward-facing horns. The figure's facial features were hidden under the mask, leaving two glowing blue eyes.
Emperor Belos.
Across from him was Warden Wrath, bending the knee to the Emperor as he recounted the events of last night's prison riot, although he was wrapped in bandages. Emperor Belos wasn't too concerned over the damage caused to the Conformatorium, but what interests him are the two responsible for them. The abilities displayed were rather unfamiliar to him, yet they were interesting and the descriptions of the two archers were specified but he needed to confirm one more thing.
"Interesting...Warden, tell me. Did any of those two look off to you in a way?" Questioned the Emperor.
"Yes, Emperor Belos. One was a female human, a young girl, and the other was a male, adolescent witch.
"A witch?" Emperor Belos inquired.
"Except this one was different from the other witches I have seen here in Bonesborough, he had... magenta eyes." the Warden confirmed.
Emperor Belos said nothing as he grasped his staff tightly, with a silence that even unnerved the Warden.
No word was spoken until Emperor Belos spoke to Warden Wrath once more...
"You have done well to report this to me, Wrath. Return to your post and continue your duties." he ordered.
"What of the Owl Lady and the human or this rogue witch?" Warden Wrath asked.
"The Owl Lady will be captured in due time. As for the human and the witch... leave them be. They're still children, and therefore, not a threat to us or the Isles, but if either one of them continues to be an obstacle, then they may both join the Owl Lady in her punishment."
"Your will be done, my Emperor," Wrath said before exiting the chamber.
Once he was fully alone, Belos sat in silence for a minute before removing his mask as he gave a silent chuckle.
"I will see if it is true, but if you indeed have arrived... then I will find you, Hunter, and then finally, our work can begin." He said.
The Owl House may be over you guys, but the fandom will live on forever in our hearts, as will this fic.
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