Here it is. The big three-zero. Never actually thought I'd make it here. It's not that I thought I'd quit, it just seemed kinda unreal. Like, yeah, I've been writing a story for over thirty chapters now and people actually like it, for reasons beyond my comprehension. Punching through this chapter was pretty fun honestly. I put on some of those medieval Star Wars remixes and it was a breeze. This chapter marks the beginning of the end of our second season. We have two more chapters left.


Chapter 30: Worlds Away

"The Vex are not individuals, nor are they a true hivemind. Every Vex frame can theoretically draw upon the collective's total intelligence. Imagine a single person, with the sum knowledge of an entire species." -Field Log of Royal-6


Gus placed a plaque under his presentation, stepping back and looking at it with pride. The board was covered with diagrams and cutout pictures, with the label on top reading: THE TITAN; Meat Tyrant or Veggie King. Gus patted himself on the shoulder while his teacher walked over.

"Very impressive work," the Illusion teacher complimented, "And how was working with your partner?"

"It was easy," Gus said cheerfully, "We're practically best friends now."

"Then I think you'll do just fine in this class," the teacher said before walking off to inspect more students' presentations.

"You've done it again Augustus," the young Witch boasted. As he did, his partner walked into the classroom, chatting with one of his friends.

"I killed it in fantasy Grudgby last weekend," he said, oblivious to Gus' presence.

"Didn't you work on the project?" His friend asked.

"Nah, I just got the 'new prodigy' to take care of it for me," the orange-skinned demon bragged, "All I had to do was pretend to be friends with him." He stopped, suddenly becoming aware that Gus was standing nearby. The young Witch had tears beginning to form in his eyes as he backed away from his so-called friend. Gus turned and ran out of the classroom.

"Hey, c'mon man, it was just a joke!" The Demon called after him. Gus didn't care, running through the halls of Hexside. Diving into an empty classroom, he slumped down beside a desk and tucked his head into his knees.

"You've done it again, Augusts," he moped, "Why does this keep happening?" He leaned his head back, accidentally hitting it against the desk. His eye began to glow blue.

"No! Not again!"

Illusions began to appear around Gus, wearing the faces of all his former fake friends. They began to taunt the young prodigy as he tried to bury himself in his knees once again.

"Umm, hello there?" A new voice spoke. A small Abomination walked around the corner of another desk and tried to wave at Gus, only to fall apart. A young Willow poked her head around the corner, offering an awkward smile.

"Sorry, I was trying to be funny but it just ended up being kinda pathetic," she apologized, "I thought I was the only one who liked to hide in here."

"Go away," Gus said softly.

"Are you talking to me?"

"I'm talking to all of you," Gus forced out. Willow gave a comforting smile and pushed through the Illusions, taking a seat beside Gus.

"Hey, I get wrapped up in things too," she comforted, "But my dads taught me a little trick to stay calm." She held up her hand and began taking a deep breath, counting to four with her fingers. She exhaled, counting back down to zero. Gus mimicked the action, slowly calming down. The Illusions faded and Gus' eye stopped glowing.

"I'm Willow," the Witch said, offering out her hand.

"Augustus."


Venator crawled through a small crevice, moving carefully to avoid making any noise. Her current residence was cramped but offered just enough room to move. It wasn't comfortable, but that was nothing new. She finally reached the end of her tunnel and stood up, stretching her back.

"Alright, not looking forward to that return journey," she said, slinging her sniper rifle off her back, "Now, what do we have here?"

Venator was perched atop a large cliff face, looking down on the Vex below her. Through the scope of her rifle, she could see dozens of minor Vex forms patroling a derelict conflux. One Hobgoblin stopped its patrol and turned to look up at her. Venator quickly ducked back, narrowly avoiding detection.

"Blip, what are scans telling us?" She whispered.

"This area was the site of the Vex's previous incursion into the Boiling Isles," he reported, "Vex presence is minimal. I believe we may be able to- Hijack it! -yeah, hijack it." Venator snickered a little at his word choice.

"Guess we better tell Paladin."

"That would be prudent."


The atmosphere at Hexside was electric. All over the school, students had been embracing multi-track studying for the first time in the school's history. This new trend could be traced to who else but Luz Noceda, the first student to study every magic track at once. Principal Bump rummaged through a drawer full of folders. While the students were enjoying their new tracks, the mounting paperwork was not something he appreciated.

"It's nice seeing the kids embracing their new tracks," the Illusion teacher said, "I remember giving up everything for Illusions." She dejectedly looked down at the sigil on her wrist.

"To be honest, I thought this whole venture would be fruitless," Bump admitted, "But I haven't seen them this excited… ever." Suddenly, a hooded figure pushed his way into Principal Bumps' office.

"Well, trouble may be closer be closer than you think," they said ominously.


"So that's the rundown," Venator reported, leaning back in her seat. Paladin nodded, his optics carefully scanning a map the Hunter had provided.

"So, shall we storm the Conflux?" He asked.

"I wouldn't advise that," Venator said, scratching the back of her metallic scalp, "While the Synegorus has only maintained a minimal presence there, it's likely that any hint of our presence will result in… considerable complications."

"So, we do it stealthily."

"You know it," she cheered, "You remember the steps?"

"Move lightly, stick to shadows, remain still even if you think you've been seen," the Titan listed, "I think I'll manage."

"Then follow me." Venator led the Titan away, retracing her path. She took care to avoid the tunnel, not feeling like crawling through it again. Finally, the two arrived at the edge of the same cliff Venator had been watching from earlier.

"Right down there," she pointed to the Conflux, "That was their first entry point. If we can get it up and running, we should be able to slip into the Isles and save our Brother." Paladin stroked his chin as Thatch appeared beside him.

"Do you think you can do it?" He asked his Ghost.

"Rewire Vex tech while avoiding detection so Synegorus doesn't just instantly kill us all," she laughed nervously, "Yeah… sounds fun."

"I estimate a 68.08% chance of success," Blip stated, "And a 13.4% chance of success without detection."

"Not feeling great about those odds," Paladin grimaced, "But it's not like we've got a lot of options at the moment."

"Alright," Venator said, pulling out one of her knives and beginning to trace a picture in the ground, "I think I have a plan."


-]Progress[-

Pyrikaga drew to its full height, standing at attention as its master focused on it.

-]The Guardians remain elusive[-

\Subnote: Previous forces have proven insufficient

-]Analysis: This unit requires more forces[-

It remained still as it felt Synegorus rumbling with frustration.

-]Theoretical: Our patience is not infinite[-

-]Practical: You have expended far too many resources already[-

"My lord," Pyrikaga kneeled, "I promise you I will not fail again."

-]Leave the Guardians and return to your post[-

-]Our hour draws near[-

-]Presence of additional Guardians = insignificant[-

The Minds presence faded, leaving Pyrikaga alone. The Sub-Mind growled, letting its flames grow in intensity. Ever since its last encounter with the Guardians, it had been unable to relocate them. They had kept off the grid, avoiding the Vex at every opportunity. It was nigh impossible to tell where they would be next.

-]Analysis: The Guardians will likely try to regroup with their comrade in the Boiling Isles[-

-]Theoretical: Attempting to commandeer our current entryway would be suicidal[-

-]Practical: There is another point of entry[-

It drew back up to full height and sheathed its sword. Its body faded in blue light as it began to teleport across the Vex Domain.

"The great flame comes for you, Lightbearers."


"These are the last messages I got from Luz," Amity said, holding out her little communicator. Gus and Willow inspected the screen curiously. The three were sitting in the lunch room. All around them, students chatted about all manner of trivial gossip.

"She must've typed it up quickly, because all I can figure out is 'Found a lead, won't be at school today'. Then there was something about the Day of Unity, but I couldn't figure that out."

"And what about all those hearts?" Gus asked. Blushing, Amity tucked the device away.

"I went by and checked up on the Owl House on my way to school," Willow said, "There were Coven scouts everywhere."

"There's no way Hooty or Royal would let any of them get that close," Gus stated, "Somethings not right."

"I was thinking of abducting one to interrogate them," Willow began, "But-"

"It's ok Willow," Amity reassured, "They're tough. Not everyone can stand up to them." Willow narrowed her eyes.

"I was going to say that I didn't want to draw more attention to Eda and Luz," she deadpanned.

"Oh, of course," Amity realized, "Good call." The bell began to scream, letting everyone know that lunch had ended. Students started to pack up and head to their next classes. Bidding her goodbyes, Amity picked up her lunch tray and departed. Willow watched her leave, a slightly dejected expression on her face.

"Hey, you should say something," Gus whispered nudging her shoulder.

"It's fine," Willow declined, "We just started hanging out again. She needs some time to get to know the new me."

"You mean the real you," Gus said. Willow winked and walked off. Gus prepared to depart, only for a rattling sound from a nearby trash can to draw his attention. Moving cautiously, he peered inside the can. To his surprise, a small red cardinal stared up at him with a half-eaten sandwich clasped in his beak.

"I remember you," Gus said, narrowing his eyes. The bird let out a surprised chirp, dropping his prize and taking flight. Gus pocketed his own lunch and summoned his staff. Mounting it, he took off after Flapjack. The bird led him through the winding halls of Hexside, taking seemingly random paths. Eventually, he led the Witch to Hexsides old theater, which had been abandoned ever since the Basilisk incident earlier that year. Now, the area was filled with piles of trash.

Gus hopped off his staff, looking around with a keen eye while Flapjack slipped away. Behind the illusionist, another figure emerged from their hiding spot. As the newcomer drew closer, Gus spun around and aimed his staff at his potential assailant. His stance slackened slightly as he caught sight of the intruder's face.

"What are you doing here, Golden Guard?" True to his words, standing before him was none other than the Emperor's right-hand man. Though his current attire definitely didn't convey that. His clothes looked to be whatever he had on hand at the moment, with mismatched pieces that were either too small or too large. His cloak had been replaced with what appeared to be a thin blanket. His usual dark eyebags were more prominent than ever

"Wouldn't you like to know, Gus," the Guard said menacingly, "But rest assured, I-" He was cut off by a pile of trash falling over, revealing several empty bags of Hex Mix. Hunter quickly stepped between Gus and the trash, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"I'll ask you one more time," Gus lowered his staff, "Why are you here, Hunter?" Hunter didn't respond at first, choosing to remain silent until Flapjack returned and pecked at his head.

"Ow, ow! Fine, I'll tell him," he turned to Gus while Flapjack perched on his shoulder, "Truth it, my living situation has been compromised. So I just needed a place I could crash. Temporarily. Hexside… was the only place I could think of."

"How very vague," Gus said impassively, "I don't suppose you know where Luz is?"

"Is she not with the Owl Lady?"

Before Gus could answer, the loudspeaker screeched to life. Principal Bump announced that every student needed to gather in the gym for a special announcement. Gus quickly summoned his lunch bag and held it out to Hunter.

"I'm not sure what you're going through, but that much Hex Mix can't be good for you." Hunter opened the bag to find Gus' lunch. He looked back up as the Witch ran off, watching him leave.


"What do you think?" Venator asked, standing back up. Carved into the ground was an intricate map of the Conflux and its surroundings. She had described a detailed, two-pronged offensive that the two would enact. The two Guardians would continue to distract the Vex while their Ghosts opened the portal. Then, once their exit was stable, they would pounce. The two would escape, with the Vex being none the wiser.

"I admit," Paladin said slowly, "I am impressed."

"Well thank you," Venator accepted graciously, "I'm not usually one for strategy."

"Just one problem," Paladin held up a finger, "The Vex are gone." True to his words, the Vex that had been patrolling the Conflux had departed, leaving the area barren.

"Oh come on," the Hunter cursed, "The one time I actually use my head, this happens?" Paladin patted her on the shoulder, grinning under his helmet. With a slight grumble, Venator dropped off the cliff, with the Titan right behind her.

The two landed with a dull slam. Rising, they swept the area with their weapons. After a quick confirmation that it was clear, the two sent out their Ghosts to begin working on the Conflux. Propping up her sniper rifle, Venator leaned against it and yawned.

"Man, never thought the Vex Domain would be so boring."


Students poured into the gym, muttering amongst themselves. Recent events had put everyone on edge and now, with news of the Day of Unity growing closer, no one knew what to do. Bump walked on stage, with a strange hooded figure behind him.

"Students," the Principal began, "Allow me to introduce the esteemed-"

"Please," the stranger cut him off, "I deserve no accolades." He pulled back his hood, revealing a ragged, tired face.

"My name is Adrian Graye, head Witch of the Illusion Coven," he introduced, "And I bear ill tidings. The Emperor plans to end multi-track studies by forcibly inducting every student at Hexside into a Coven." A collective gasp of shock emerged from the crowd as worry returned en masse. Graye held out his hands comfortingly while Edric was led on stage by a teacher.

"Don't worry students, I have a solution," he eased, "I'll simply plant an illusion of different covens on everyone so that the scouts think you're already marked. They'll be purely temporary. Harmless."

"Are you sure?" Edric asked uncertainly, "I just started my new tracks."

"Don't worry," Graye comforted, holding out a gloved hand, "Once the scouts see the illusion, they'll leave you be." He drew a spell circle and prepared to place his finger against Edrics wrist. As he drew closer, Gus realized something was up.

"Wait! It's a trick!" He shouted, "He's hiding behind an illusion!" He spun a massive circle. Instantly, the illusion was dispelled. Where Graye once stood, a Coven scout was now present. Edric tore his grip free as Bump instantly moved forward, putting himself between the scout and his student. The other teachers readied themselves as more scouts appeared. The two sides were at a standstill.

"Cut!" Adrian's voice called out. He appeared in a puff of blue smoke, lounging on a chair with an incredibly bored expression on his face.

"Alright, couple of notes," he took a sip of the coffee clutched in his hand, "Tom, that illusion of me was lacking. You get me?" The scout who had been spinning the illusion shook his head in confusion.

"Severine," Adrian continued, speaking to a scout standing beside him who was holding some recording equipment, "That was really poor work. You're on thin ice!" The Demon shrunk away from her aggravated superior.

"Captain, the read of your last line was a little…" Adrian made a strange, flippant gesture.

"I have no idea what that means," the captain responded.

"You'll figure it out," Adrian said, handing his drink off to Severine and teleporting behind Gus, "As for you? You just ruined any chance of me making this into… something!" He seized the young Witch by his wrist. Gus unsuccessfully tried to break free. Alas, he was only twelve.

"You were going to trick us into getting sigils!" He shouted. Adrian rolled his eyes.

"Well, yeah. I work for Belos, it's kinda my job." He snapped his fingers and a scout offered him a branding glove, "Now let's make sure you can never use those illusions of yours again." The fingertip on the glove began to glow Abomination purple as it drew closer.

"No, no, stay back!" Gus shouted. As he did, his eyes began to glow. A ripple of power washed over the gym, cloaking it in a colossal illusion. Students cried out in panic as their surroundings vanished.

"How are you doing this?" Adrian interrogated, utterly dumbfounded by the power on display. Gus attempted to escape again, only to fail once more. Suddenly, Hunter burst through the Illusion. He struck Adrians arm, causing him to cry out in pain and relinquish his grip on Gus. Hunter led the younger Witch off, vanishing into the Illusion. Adrian flexed his arm, hissing slightly as he did. He pulled off a small trinket hooked on his ear and used it to stabilize the spell. The now-visible captain walked over to him.

"Sir, it appears that the entire school has been cloaked in an illusion."

"Really," Adrian muttered, "How fascinating. Find the boy who did this." He leaned in on the wall, studying the craftsmanship before him.

"But sir, this is a complicated spell," the captain objected.

"Oh for the love of the Titan, am I the only one who knows how to do their job?" Adrian snapped, "Just figure it out." He turned back to the illusion, poking it as he remarked on its detail and quality. The captain turned away, rallying some of his troops.

"I hate working for this guy."


"I'm thinking of a number between one and fifty-thousand," Venator said, lounging on the ground. Paladin tapped his chin for a second in mock thought.

"Seven-hundred and nineteen."

"Damn, you're good at this."

"What can I say," the Titan shrugged, "You wear your thoughts on your sleeve." In truth, Blip was showing him the numbers his Hunter was thinking of. Not that Venator needed to know that, of course.

"Thatch, how long until the Conflux is operational?" Venator asked.

"Hard to say," she reported, "I'm picking up some kind of strange energy from the other end. Whatever Scholar did, it really did some damage." Paladin was about to inquire further when he felt something wash over the area. Venator shot to her feet, evidently having felt it as well. The two instantly moved back-to-back, holding their weapons at the ready. Paladins fingers tapped the pump on his shotgun while Venator gripped her scout rifle tightly.

The pressure around them spiked as a glowing orb appeared before them. They spun to face it, fingers grazing their triggers. The space before them parted as Pyrikaga manifested itself before the two Guardians.

"By the will of my master," it began, sparks dancing across its body, "I shall boil you disdainful beings inside your own armor!" It pulled out its blade, igniting the weapon.

"This guy doesn't know when to quit," Venator quipped. Paladin didn't respond, waiting for the Torchbearer to make a move. He didn't have to wait long, as the Typhoon dragged its blade across the ground, flinging a wave of flame at the two. They dove away from each other, with Venator quickly rolling back to her feet. She fired a few shots from her rifle, plinking away at the Sub-Mind. It growled in annoyance and swung its blade through the air. Venator fell backward, propping herself up on her elbows. The sword passed over her and Paladin saw his opening. He charged at Pyrikaga and jumped into the air. Grabbing hold of the Torchbearer's leg, he planted his shotgun in its knee and opened fire.

"Insolent pest!" Pyrikaga shouted as it tried to swat him off. Paladin grabbed hold of its arm and let it carry him upward. He leaped onto its face and started to pummel away with his fists. Eventually, he grabbed the sides of its head with his hands and delivered a savage headbutt. Venator pulled out her sniper and began to pick away at Pyrikagas joints. The Sub-Mind grabbed Paladin and tugged him off. Beginning to crush him with its free hand, it swung its blade at Venator once more. She leaped over the sword, drawing her bow and letting a salvo loose.

The Void tether wrapped around Pyrikagas face, blinding it temporarily. Paladin called forth his own flames. He flung searing hammers into the face of his foe. Grunting in frustration, it flung him into the ground. The Titan slammed into the physical data with a pained groan. Venator looked back at him in concern, only to catch a backhand from Pyrikaga. She went flying back into her Brother, sending the two tumbling across the arena. When they came to a stop Venator was crouched in Paladin's hand. He spun a few times to build up momentum, before flinging the Hunter through the air. She soared past Pyrikaga and flung a swarm of solar knives at it. As they detonated, Paladin fired a volley of rockets that exploded against the Sub-Mind. It roared in pain.

"I tire of you," it dictated, raising its blade above its head with the tip pointed toward the ground, "All that you dream of shall burn to cinder and smoke!" It stabbed the blade into the ground and began to manipulate the Vex Domain to its favor. Walls of glowing crimson began to pass through the area. The Vex's deletion protocol, designed to purge unwanted data.

"The Conflux is almost activated," Blip reported calmly while the two Guardians dodged both walls and bursts of flame from Pyrikagas cannon, "I advise you- Hurry up and kill this bastard! -Delay the Sub-Mind for as long as you can."

"Please be done, please be done, please be done," Thatch whispered repeatedly. The Conflux remained unresponsive.

Pyrikaga tugged its sword out of the ground and drew a spell circle in the air. Simulated recreations of Cabal war Beasts began to swarm the Guardians. Venator dropped a pair of grenades at her feet, one smoke and the other a suppressor. As the first one went off, she vanished. The second detonated not long after, destroying a considerable chunk of War Beasts. Not far away, Paladin was content to use the universal language of fisticuffs. He convinced the War Beasts to leave him alone by savagely tearing them apart, bashing their digital skulls in, and flinging them around like ragdolls.

Pyrikaga saw its own opening and brought its blade down on the Titan. Venator reached out for her Brother, crying a warning. The Titan turned just in time for the blade to make contact.


Willow and Amity ducked through the shifting illusion as it stabilized. They found themselves in a carnival. The two looked around in confusion as they stopped.

"How did we get here?" Amity asked. She pulled out her scroll as Willow inspected their surroundings more closely.

"I think we're still in the illusion," she said.

"I just got a message from Ed," Amity held up her scroll, "He, Bump, and a bunch of others are holed up in the healing homeroom. We should try to regroup with them." Her eyes widened as a Coven scout loomed behind Willow. She raised her hand to summon forth an Abomination, but Willow was one step ahead of her. The scout was instantly caught up in a tangle of vines that carried them into the air.

"Lucky shot, Willow," Amity complimented, "Now, let's get moving." She ran off as Willow watched her, a disappointed look on her face.

"Hey, don't listen to her, you totally got me," the scout offered. Willow gave a half-hearted thumbs-up before setting off after her friend.


Elsewhere, Gus and Hunter found themselves wandering through the streets of Bonesborough. Or rather, a replication of them. As they moved, one of Gus's eyes continued to glow, allowing him to see both the illusion and reality overlaid atop one another. Hunter ran into a wall, which was really a set of lockers, and stepped back as he groaned in pain.

"My spell is still active," Gus muttered.

"So can't you just unspell it?" Hunter asked, "You are a Witch after all."

"I- I don't know," Gus admitted, "I've never made on this big before."

"Well, if we're still in Hexside, then we should find a teacher," Hunter said, beginning to walk down the alleyway/hallway, "Maybe they'll know what to do."

"Why did you save me back there?" Gus asked, "Don't those guys work for you?"

"I owed you. For the food," Hunter said, stopping at the top of a set of stairs and regarding them curiously, "Are these real or illusions?" He took a cautious step over it, only for them to be real. He fell down the stairs with a painful thud.

"They're real," he groaned. Gus helped him up.

"When we first met, you tried to trick me into joining a Coven, now you're trying to keep me out of one," he said, "All because of a sandwich?"

"It was a good sandwich," Hunter dismissed, shaking the Witches grip off.

"No sandwich is that good," Gus denied, "Look, if we're going to get through it, we need to work together. And that means we need to trust each other. What's going on with you?" Hunter looked like he was about to speak up when a Coven scout turned the corner.

"Hey, it's the kid!" He shouted, pointing at Gus. Another scout joined him and Hunter immediately leaped into action. He pulled out his staff, only to be snatched away by an Abomination tendril. Flapjack began to fly around one scout, pecking at their head. Gus tried to help but found himself quickly restrained by a tangle of vines.

"Wait, aren't you the Golden Guard?" The first scout asked.

"Dude, what the heck, we're supposed to be on the same side?" His partner asked indignantly, only to receive a smack to the back of the head.

"Our deepest apologies sir," he repented, pulling away the Abomination goo, "The Emperor sent out a search party for you, he's been worried sick."

"You don't say," Hunter said hesitantly. Gus looked around for a way to help while flapjack began to pick away at his binds. His gaze lingered on the Abomination goo by his feet.

"We would be honored to escort you back to the castle, sir," the second scout offered, "I'm sure that the Emperor would be thrilled to know you're safe. Say… why aren't you in uniform?" Gus finished tracing his foot through the goo and activated it. A jet of flame soared between the three while Flapjack finished loosening his bonds.

"Follow me!" He ordered, leading Hunter away through an intangible wall. The two slipped into a small classroom, filled with desks. Hunter began to pace the room, hyperventilating madly.

"Oh Titan, he's looking for me," he panicked, his breath coming fast and ragged, "He'll know I'm here! I- I- I gotta run! Gotta hide! He'll tear this place apart brick by brick to get me!" Gus set a hand on Hunters shoulder, causing the boy to focus on him.

"Easy," Gus said gently, "Try to breathe, like this." He took in a deep breath, counting to four on his fingers, before letting it out and counting down. Hunter began to mimic the pattern, calming as he did so.

"Did you run away from the Emperor's Coven?" Gus asked as Hunter steadied himself. He nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

"Why?" Hunter was about to speak up, only to second-guess himself and shut down. Gus let out a sigh.

"You know, when I first started showing talent and got moved up, it felt like everyone who tried to get to know me had an ulterior motive. Until I met Willow. And eventually Luz. And a few other people. For what it's worth, you can trust me."

"Like that means anything," Hunter scoffed.

"Alright tough guy," Gus shrugged, "Then let's just keep moving."


"BROTHER!" Venator shouted, reaching out for the Titan as the blade descended toward him. The weapon slammed into its target, falling still as its momentum was halted.

"One less enemy of the Vex," Pyrikaga growled. It tried to lift the blade back up, only for it to resist the pull. The Sub-Mind looked down in confusion, only to see Paladin crouched on one knee. The blade was caught between his hands as Arc Light danced across them. Paladin shifted to a one-handed grip on the weapon, pulling back his free fist.

"BEGONE!" He roared, punching the ground with all his might. The Vex Domain shook under the Titans blow, causing Venator and Pyrikaga to stagger. As the Sub-Mind tried to reorient itself, a loud noise could be heard emanating from the Conflux.

"It's time to leave!" Thatch shouted. The Conflux sparked in erratic ways, producing strange noises.

"Are you sure this is safe?" Venator asked, helping Paladin to his feet. The Titan groaned under the strain, his servos screaming in protest as he exerted them. He had expended too much energy at once and was now paying the price for it.

"If you want to stay here with that thing, then be my guest," Thatch said, gesturing to the Torchbearer. It had already begun to reorient itself. The flames on its body were going brighter as it prepared to incinerate everything around it in rage.

"Point conceded," Venator agreed, "Come on Brother, one final effort." She dragged the Titan into the portal right as Pyrikaga unleashed a massive explosion of flame. The two Guardians tumbled through unreality with their Ghosts sticking close. Venator tried to hold on to the Titan, only for him to be torn from her grip. The two spun away from each other as they entered the Demon Realm.


Amity and Willow fought through Hexside's library, fending off Coven scouts with their magic. They just finished cleaning up a pair of scouts when another appeared before them. He raised a statue of himself from the ground. The stone golem began to stomp toward them.

"I got this," Willow said, drawing a circle.

"No, I got it," Amity countered, drawing her own circle. A swarm of vines and an Abomination rose up to meet the golem, only for them to collide and destroy each other. The rock creature crashed down on the girls as they narrowly avoided it.

"What are you doing?" Willow asked angrily.

"I just got you back as a friend!" Amity shot back, "Let me protect you!"

"I don't need your protection!" Willow shouted, "I can handle myself."

The scout pulled his stone creation back. It towered over the two. Reaching down, it prepared to snatch them up. As it did, the air in the library began to spark with energy. Everyone stopped, looking around in confusion. A loud snap could be heard as a spinning vortex appeared above the scout. His eyes widened under his mask as a simply massive figure clad in armor as dark as the night sky fell atop him. The scout collapsed under the newcomers' weight, laying still.

"You think he's still alive?" Amity asked, grimacing slightly as she looked at the scout.

"I'm actively trying to avoid thinking about that," Willow replied, "Who's this guy?" The two stepped back in shock as a Ghost appeared beside the unconscious form.

"No, no, no, come on," she pleaded, ignoring the Witches, "Don't die on me, you big idiot! We did not spend all that time trapped in the Vex Domain only for you to strand me in a new world all alone." She suddenly gasped.

"Or even worse, alone with Venator." Amity's ears perked up at that.

"Wait, Venator?" She asked, alerting the Ghost to her presence, "I know that name."

"Who are you?" The Ghost asked, "Stay back, I'm warning you!" Her panicked voice did not match her threat.

"We're not going to hurt you," Amity said, holding out her hands, "You mentioned Venator?"

"Yeah, what's it to you?"

"I just remembered Royal mentioning a name like that-"

"Royal?" The Ghost interrupted, "You know a Royal?"

"Yeah," Amity said while Willow looked between the two in confusion, "Tall, purple robes, creepy orange eyes, completely oblivious to social cues." The Ghost let out a loud, energetic laugh.

"Yes! We did it! We found Scholar!" She shouted, "Did you hear that Royal? We found your Brother!" The Titan finally began to move, holding an arm in the air.

"No! I am the prettiest unicorn!" He declared before his limb fell limp again.

"And he fried his brain," Thatch groaned, "I don't suppose either of you are neurosurgeons or computer technicians, are you?" The two Witches shook their heads and Thatch let out a sigh.

"Yeah, didn't think so. Guess I'll just do it myself." As she shot a beam of Light into the Titan, a nearby bookcase faded away. Edric and Emira stood behind it, dispelling the illusion. Principal Bump gestured for Amity and Willow to follow him.

"You two, come… who is that?" He gestured to the Titan as he leaned up slightly, pointing at Bump.

"My mind is no fortress," he announced, "It is an open field ravaged by interdimensional conflict with beings beyond your comprehension. And chicken." He collapsed back to the ground.

"I can explain later," Amity said, "But he's friendly, I think. We need to bring him with us." Bump walked over to the Titan and knelt beside him. His hands cupped under the Titans arms and he tried to drag him away.

"Yeah, that's not happening," he said, giving up almost instantly. Casting a levitation spell, the Titan floated off the ground slightly.

"Hey! I'm working here!" Thatch shouted.

"What kind of Palisman are you?" Bump wondered. Thatch let out an angry beep.

"The hell's a Palisman? Is that an insult?"

"She's a Ghost," Amity explained before gesturing to Paladin, "And this is another Guardian. He just kinda appeared."

"Another Guardian you say," Bump placed his hand on his chin, "This could be just the tactical advantage we need. Let's hope this one isn't as temperamental as Royal-6. I still remember that Parent-Creature meeting where I had to explain throwing Luz in detention. Never thought I'd see Eda holding someone else back." He levitated the Titan back the way they had and the twins let the illusion fall back into place.


Eda trudged through the snow, holding her jacket tightly. Lilith was just ahead of her, scouting out the area. The two had abandoned the Owl House shortly before the Emperor's Coven had closed in, taking only what they needed. Now, they were looking for a place to lay low. And they had chosen the Knee. Ever since the Battle of the Knee, it had been almost completely abandoned. Something in the air felt wrong, driving people away.

"If my maps are accurate, there should be a cave just up ahead," Lilith reported, "We can take refuge in there." Eda absently voiced her agreement, her mind elsewhere at the moment.

"Are you alright?"

"What do you think, sis?" Eda asked sarcastically, "We've been driven out of our home, the Day of Unity is almost upon us, Luz and King are Titan-knows-where, we have no backup, and we have no plan."

"At least they have Royal with them," Lilith offered, "He'll keep them safe, no matter what."

"Yeah," Eda agreed half-heartedly, "We could really use a Guardian of our own right about now."

The Universe seemed to hear her words. However, for once, the Universe decided to be generous. The air began to spark as a vortex opened in the air, dropping a screaming female figure facefirst into the snow before Eda and Lilith. The two jumped back in surprise before running over to the newcomer. What they saw was a figure wrapped in spotless silver armor with a dull-blue cloak that had matching silver accents. She groaned in pain, rolling over onto her back and staring up at the Witches. Any surprise she felt was masked by her helmet.

"Are you alright?" Lilith asked.

"Have I met my final death?" Venator asked, "Cause I got a pair of angels watching over me." She fired off a pair of finger guns. Normally, Eda would've been more than willing to bounce off a comment like that. Right now, she was just annoyed.

"Great," she deadpanned while Lilith watched the Hunter in confusion, "When I said we could use a Guardian, this isn't what I had in mind."


Gus and Huter ducked into a hallway, looking around apprehensively.

"Is this real?" Hunter asked. Gus placed his hand against a water fountain, quickly pulling it back when he felt a wad of chewing gum.

"It's real," he confirmed, wiping his hand off on his uniform, "We made it through the illusion! High five!" He held up a hand eagerly. Confused, Hunter mirrored his action. Gus slapped his hand against Hunters, producing a surprised grunt from the Witch.

"Augustus?"

The two turned down the hall to see Willow looking at Gus, a smile on his face.

"Willow, you're ok!" Gus was relieved. Willow ran over to them, placing her hands on Gus's shoulders.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," she said cheerfully before noticing Hunter, "What is he doing here?"

"Don't worry about him," Gus whispered to her, "He helped me escape from Graye. I think he ran away from the Emperor's Coven. Also, he hasn't showered. In a while. Be nice."

"Interesting," Willow said, "Now, let's find the others before these illusions get anymore ahhh." Hunter narrowed his eyes slightly as she said that. Gus quickly agreed, preparing to follow his friend, only for Hunter to pull out his staff and aim it at Willow.

"Who are you?" He questioned. Gus quickly put himself between Hunter and Willow.

"What are you doing? Willow's on our side!"

"That's not the captain," Hunter stated, not breaking eye contact with Willow.

"You're scaring me, Hunter," she said meekly, backing away slightly.

"Have you seen her play Flyer Derby?" Hunter said to Gus, "There's no way she would be scared of me." Realization washed over Gus and he turned away from Willow, backing closer to Hunter.

"Again? Cut!"

The illusion faded, revealing Willow to be Severine from the gym. Adrian appeared not far off, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion. More of his scouts appeared as well, surrounding the kids.

"Severine!" Adrian shouted, producing a surprised squeak from the scout, "You had your chance and you blew it! Not that I'm surprised."

"But I followed your notes," Severine pleaded.

"Maybe you should try reading the note inside the note," Adrian snapped, "Now, you two are making this very difficult for me." The scouts closed in, seizing Gus. Two more reached for Hunter.

"Stop, I command you!" He shouted. They froze, looking between Hunter, Adrian, and each other uncertainly.

"I mean, he is our superior," one of them said. Graye sighed, feeling a migraine coming on.

"He's also a runaway and our dearest Emperor wants him back." They shrugged and one of the grabbed hold of Hunter. He bucked in their grasp, trying to break free.

"Quick," the scout said, "Put him-"

"Out of his misery? Got it," the other scout said, drawing a circle.

"Too sleep dude."

"Oh. Yeah, that makes more sense." He pulled out a flute and played a tune. A cloud of smoke appeared in Hunters face, causing his eyelids to droop. His vision faded as everything went dark.


"Here we are," Lilith said, leading her sister and their newest addition into the cave she had been talking about. It was fairly small and far from comfortable. But it would do for now.

"Alright then ladies," Venator asked, stretching her spinal articulator, "What's the ten-four?"

"We need to lay low from the Emperor's coven until Glowstick gets back with the kids," Eda said, "He should be able to track us here. From there, honestly don't know." The Hunter had already been brought up to speed on the current situation. If she found her surroundings weird, she didn't show it.

"Glowstick?" Venator giggled, "And I thought Scholar was a weird name." Eda raised an eyebrow at that.

"You know Royal?"

"I know lots of Royals," she said, tugging off her helmet, "Oh man, it feels good to have non-simulated air brushing against my faceplate."

"Stay on topic," Eda snapped her fingers in front of the Hunter, "Royal-6? Has an alien problem, wields a pokey stick, likes fire a little too much?"

"Yeah, that sounds like Scholar," Venator said, lounging back in a seat made of Light, "He always did hate anything that was even slightly non-Human. I swear, he'd kill you for having six fingers. Not me though, I think y'all are great." She shot a wink at Lilith, causing the Witch to tug at the collar of her coat awkwardly.

"Stop flirting and start explaining," Eda commanded, "Who are you and how did you get here?"

"Ooh, a take-charge woman," Venator quipped, "I can get behind that."

"I give up!" Eda shouted, throwing her hands in the air, "Is this what I was like?"

"I apologize for my companions' demeanor," Blip said as he materialized beside Venator, "She possesses the mental maturity of a child, despite her age."

"It's part of my charm."

"We have been in the Vex Domain for quite some time," Blip continued, ignoring his Guardian, "We were separated from our companions while attempting to enter the Isles in search of their lost Brother."

"And who would these companions be?" Lilith asked while Venator grew bored of the conversation and started flipping one of her knives in the air.

"A Titan, whom we call Paladin, and his Ghost, Thatch."

"Didn't Royal- erm, Scholar, mention a Titan called Paladin?" Lilith asked her sister. Eda nodded.

"And if he's Paladin, then I take it you're…?" Eda's voice trailed off, letting the question hang in the air.

"The one and only," Venator snapped her fingers, "I assume my Brother has told you about me. Only good things, I hope."

"He told us you were a self-centered, vainglorious sniper who talks faster than she thinks," Lilith listed, "And I must say, he was spot on."

"I pride myself on my ability to leave an impression."

"So we have a Hunter," Lilith commented, pacing around the cave, "What do we do now?"

"The only thing we really can," Eda sighed, "Wait for the others to get back."


Hunter's eyes began to flutter open, allowing bright lights to strike his retinas. He quietly groaned at the unpleasant sensation, starting to sit up. Skara noticed and quickly ran over.

"He's waking up," she called. Hunter fully sat up, rubbing his aching head. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. The room was filled with students and teachers hiding from the Emperor's Coven. A few of them lay on makeshift stretchers, being healed by their fellow students. Willow wasn't far off, getting a scrape on her arm healed. One occupant drew his attention, a colossal figure clad in dark armor. A strange Palisman floated around them, occasionally projecting a beam of Light onto him.

"Ow!" Edric hissed, recoiling away from his sister. Emira chided him, casting another healing spell to soothe his wounds. Thatch looked over to the girl, an idea forming in her mind.

"This- this is an illusion," Hunter started, looking around madly. He tried to stand up, only for Viney and Skara to forcibly hold him down.

"Woah, it's ok," Viney calmed, "Try not to stand up too fast."

"This isn't an illusion," Skara explained, "You're in the healing homeroom." Bump approached the now-conscious Hunter with a distrustful look in his eyes.

"Well, Mr. Golden Guard," he began.

"Hunter," he corrected, standing up fully. Flapjack flew over and took a perch on his shoulder.

"We saw you being dragged away," Bump continued as though he hadn't just been interrupted, "And our Flyer Derby team was determined to save you." Hunter looked over at his teammates, surprised they would try to help him after what he had done.

"However," Bump said, drawing his attention back, "I am not yet convinced of your innocence. Where have your scouts taken Augustus?" Students began to gather around Hunter, conversing amongst themselves.

"That's the Golden Guard?" Edric whispered to his sister.

"He looks… sickly," she whispered back.

"Hey, green girl," Thatch whispered as well, joining in on their conversation, "Think you can give me a hand over here."

"Uhh, sure," she agreed, "What do you need."

"I've been fixing my Guardian back up," Thatch reported, "But it's taking a while. I think your healing magic might be able to help me speed up the process."

"Having a Guardian on our side would be great right about now," Edric commented. Emira nodded in agreement and drew a circle.

"I'm still new to this," she admitted, "But I'll give it a shot."

"I punched the sun," Paladin muttered deliriously, "With my face."

Back on the other side of the room, Hunter was being interrogated relentlessly. He tried to shrink away as the students and teachers accused him of being another of the Emperor's stooges.

"I'm not with them, I swear," he denied, "I was with Gus the whole time, trying to get him to you!"

"Maybe we can trade him for Augustus," the illusion teacher offered, "I bet the Emperor would love to have him back." Hunter flinched as they said that.

"I'm not lying," Hunter said, trying to keep himself from shouting, "He was showing me around. T- There was a sandwich and he showed me this breathing thing." Willow's eyes perked up.

"He's telling the truth," she said, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, "And he can help us drive Graye out of Hexside." She offered Hunter a confident, reassuring smile.

"Yeah, Graye said that he would be in the gym," Hunter said, "But he'll be guarded."

"I think we may have a solution for that," Edric spoke up. Everyone turned to face the Blight twins. Emira slowly helped the Titan out of his stretcher. He rubbed the side of his helmet, looking around in confusion.

"Where- where am I?" His voice was rough and deep, practically leaking strength.

"Easy big guy," Thatch comforted, "You used up a lot of Light at once. What do you remember?"

"The Vex," he muttered, "The Conflux. Pyrikaga." His gaze suddenly snapped up.

"Venator! Where is my Sister? Where are we?"

"We made it to the Boiling Isles," Thatch explained, "In a school of some kind. I don't know where Venator is just yet, but I'm working on narrowing down her position. Same with Scholar." Paladin unsteadily walked forward as the students parted, staring up at him with awe and fear. Bump stepped forward, looking up at the Titan. The size difference between the two was massive, with Paladin standing two heads over the Witch and being considerably broader.

"I understand that this is a very strange situation for you," he said, "And it seems rude to ask for your aid when you only just recovered. But, your assistance would be greatly appreciated." Paladins gaze wandered over the students, noting their wounds.

"Will you help us?" Bump asked. Paladin sighed, summoning Arc Light in his fists.

"What kind of a Titan would I be if I didn't?"

"You won't have to do it alone," Willow offered. Paladin looked down at her.

"The battlefield is no place for a child," he began, only for Amity to cut him off.

"You don't have to worry about Willow," she said, "She's the toughest around."

"We're all ready to fight for our school," Skara cheered, "For our freedom!"

"I don't really know what you mean by that," Paladin commented, "But your conviction is impressive."

"Let's just come up with a plan," Bump said. Skara clapped excitedly.

"Yes! My favorite part!"


-]Report[-

Pyrikaga placed its hands together, trying to appear passive before its master. It fell to one knee and kept its head down.

"I simply wished to ensure that the Guardians would not interfere with your plans," it said. Synegorus didn't respond, leaving its minion to wait.

-]You are fortunate their presence is irrelevant[-

-]Return to your post[-

/Subnote: Failure to comply will result in permanent deletion

Pyrikaga bowed its head as the Mind departed and returned to dealing with the rest of the Vex Collective.


"At first, I thought that fooling children was a waste of my impressive talents," Adrian monologued, pacing around the forest illusion. It was a perfect replica of the Looking Glass Graveyard, a site of great importance. Gus had been there not long ago, seeking its treasures before turning and defending it from being looted.

Adrian continued to speak while Gus stood before him, Coven scouts flanking him to prevent any escape attempts. Not that he was in the mindset to try. He was looking down in despair, not listening to a word Adrian was saying.

"But I realized that a true genius can find the art in everything he does and- hey, are you even listening?"

"You've done it again Gus," he muttered, ignoring Adrians question, "You couldn't even tell the real Willow from a fake." Adrian snapped his fingers in front of the boy.

"Hello, this is my moment," he said, "Now, was this your doing?" He gestured to the illusion cloaking the room.

"Yeah, it's all my fault."

"Yes, yes, it's all about you isn't it," Adrian rolled his eyes, "How about you tell me how you know what the Looking Glass Graveyard looks like? I've been looking for the Galderstones for a while now. They would make a wonderful gift." Gus remained silent, not wishing to reveal his secret.

"A shame." He gestured to the scouts and they seized Gus by his arms. He reached up to his earring and tugged it off. It was a small mirror, resonating with magical power.

"You see this?" He taunted, dangling it in front of Gus, "This is a magical amplifier. It should help me sort through those memories of yours." Using the amplifier, he spun a circle. Gus began to cry out in pain as the spell took effect.

"Stop being so dramatic," Adrian scoffed. The illusion was finally dispelled, fading away as the school returned to normal. Adrian smirked, redoubling his efforts on Gus. The boy continued to cry out, both his eyes now glowing blue. A wave of magic washed over the area around him, causing his captors to recoil.

Outside the gym, the scout captain guarded the doors. A few of his scouts stood nearby, all holding their staves at the ready. Movement at the edge of his vision caught his eye. Turning, he saw Principal Bump drawing closer.

"Stand back," the captain ordered, "The gym is off limits. Head Witches orders."

"He may be the Head Witch, but I am still the principal," Bump said, "It would be wise to let us through."

"Or else what?"

"I'll be forced to use logic and reason," Bump stated plainly, causing the scouts to laugh. Around the corner, Edric dispelled his illusion, revealing the hidden Titan. The laughter died out as the scouts stared up at the colossal Guardian.

"Greetings," he said, cracking his knuckles, "Allow me to introduce you to logic and reason." His fists coursed with electricity. One very bold or very stupid scout leveled his staff on the Titan and fired a blast of Void energy. It slammed into the Titan, causing him to stagger slightly. Recovering quickly, he lashed out at the scout. A punch to his chest sent the Witch across the hallway.

"Get him!" The captain shouted as more scouts poured in. A loud battle cry emerged from down the hall as the students charged into the fight. Abominations, beasts, swarms of plants, rocks, and other spells began flying through the air. The captain pulled out a remote and began to press its buttons. Several Abomitons smashed through the wall, moving into the fray. One raised their hand at Paladin, preparing to fire upon him. He quickly summoned a barricade as Amity, Willow, and Hunter moved in behind him.

"Hunter, get in there and save Gus," Willow commanded, "We can handle the Abomitons." Paladin leaped into action, striking one of the constructs in the chest. His fist plunged through the shields and metal, allowing him to tear out its internal components. Another rose up behind him and swung. He caught its fist, holding back its blow. A quick spell from Willow raised a horde of vines that quickly entangled it, leaving it vulnerable to an Abomination from Amity.

Seeing his opening, Hunter slipped past, diving into the gym. The students, teachers, and Guardian continued to battle the Emperor's Coven. The captain pressed another button on his remote, causing one of the Abomitons to manifest a large Solar flamethrower. It sprayed a jet of flame down the hallway, only for Paladin to summon a sentinel shield and hold it outward, projecting a massive wall of Void energy.

"I gotta talk with my parents about these things," Amity grunted, huddling behind the wall with Willow.

"You, purple one," Paladin said, "Can you summon more of those things to swarm it?"

"Yeah, just give me a second to get them ready."

"Alright. Then I need you to try and bind the others so they cannot interfere," he said to Willow. The plant Witch nodded.

"Just give me the word."

"Now!" The two Witches sprang into action. A horde of small Abominations began to assault the lead Abomiton while Willows vines sprang up from the ground, binding the remaining machines. It wouldn't last long, as they were already beginning to break free. The Solar wielding Abomiton incinerated swathes of Abominations. Their window of opportunity was short, but it was all Paladin needed. He lowered his guard and spun, flinging his shield down the hall. It began to bounce off the walls, cleaving through the Abomitons with minimal effort.

"Fought like Titans of the first pillar!" Paladin cheered, moving to his next target.

Hunter entered the gym, Flapjack held at the ready. Inside, he saw Adrian and his scouts lying on the ground. Their eyes glowed blue as images flashed through their minds. Adrian whimpered pathetically as his memories replayed before him. Ignoring them, Hunter closed in on Gus. The boy sat in the center of a swirling blue sphere, not looking at his surroundings.

"What's wrong with me?" He despaired, "Why can't I learn?"

"Gus!" Hunter called out, trying to push through the barrier isolating him. Memories of being trapped in the Emperor's mind flashed through his head.

"I let myself get tricked again," Gus continued as if he couldn't hear Hunter, "Everyone says I'm a prodigy, so why am I so stupid? I can't even trust my own judgment." Hunter finally broke through the barrier, standing beside Gus.

"It's tough when you don't think you can trust yourself," he said, taking a seat beside the boy, "I spent my whole life thinking I was doing something good for someone good… but it was all a lie. And a part of me still wants to believe in that lie, just like how you want to believe you're dumb. But it's not true!" He seized Gus's shoulders, staring the Witch in the eye. Gus looked up at him.

"I promise, I won't let anything hurt you," he vowed, "Now, how did that breathing thing go again?" He tried to mimic the breathing pattern, only to fail miserably. Gus laughed, his defensive barrier fading. As he did, the door to the gym was flung open as Paladin punched an Abomiton and sent it flying. It slammed into the ground, slowing to a stop. Willow and Amity ran in while Bump walked up beside the Titan, the rest of the scouts being subdued by the students.

"I cannot thank you enough for your help," Bump said, offering his hand. Paladin accepted, shaking it.

"I was only doing my duty." Across the gym, Willow practically tackled Gus with a hug.

"I'm so glad you're ok!"

"Likewise," Gus said, returning the hug. Hunter tried to slip away, only for Willow to grab him by the arm and drag him in.

"What is this?" He questioned, blushing slightly.

"I recommend you roll with it," Amity advised.

"Say, who's the big guy?" Gus asked, finally ending the embrace and gesturing to Paladin.

"He's a friend of Royal's," Amity answered, "He came here with someone else, but they got separated." Gus nodded in understanding.


Soon, all of the Coven scouts were rounded up and sent packing. Most had conceded that the battle was lost and simply turned around. Some needed some additional convincing from Paladin. The captain boarded their airship, turning to face Bump and Paladin.

"When the Emperor hears of this-" He began, only for Bump to cut him off.

"Yes, go tell him that there's a new Guardian on the Isles," he goaded, "I'm sure he'll just send more of you scouts."

"There are a great many of us," the captain threatened. Paladin slammed his fists together, producing a thundercrack.

"He's gonna need to send all of you."

Groaning, the captain turned to one of his lagging subordinates, "Severine! Get on the ship already!" The scout in question tensed up, clenching her fists angrily.

"You know what, it has been a stressful year, and I can only take so much," she tore off her mask and threw it on the ground, "I quit! I'm going back to the Tiny Cat Coven."

"So, what are you going to do now?" Bump asked as the scouts departed.

"Well, I have managed to kinda lock in on Venator," Thatch reported, "Scholar is still MIA though."

"The Guar- sorry, Scholar is currently living with Edalyn Clawthorne," Bump provided, "Ordinarily, I would recommend you stop by the Owl House, but the Emperor's Coven beat you to it."

"I'm sure we'll manage," Paladin said, "Farewell, and may we meet again." The Titan walked down the stairs and students began to crowd around him.

"How do you do the lightning things? I thought Humans didn't have magic."

"How can your Palisman talk?"

"Where did you come from?"

While the Titan was busy being swarmed, a few students stood off to the side, conversing amongst themselves.

"Hunter, what's going on at the castle?" Skara asked.

"Did you leave the Emperor's Coven?" Viney was next.

"Have you ever sneezed with your helmet on?" Edric concluded.

Hunter took in a deep breath before starting, "Everyone in the castle is traveling to the Head for the Day of Unity. I think I did. And, yes."

"That's gross dude," Edric said, slightly disgusted.

"Listen, Emperor Belos has been lying to everyone about the Day of Unity," Hunter said, trying to get back on topic, "It isn't about the Titan or magic. It's much scarier than that. It's… it's a lot to explain."

"Then I guess you better get started," Bump said, joining the group.


Venator lounged on a makeshift seat, busy sharpening her knives. Since there was nothing to do but wait, she got very bored, very quickly. Her efforts at wooing either of the Clawthorne sisters had ended in cataclysmic failure. Lilith had even worked up the guts to punch her in the face after going one step too far. The Witch came away from it worse, considering that Venator was an Exo, but it got the message across.

She leaned back further in her seat, watching Blip speak with Owlbert. They seemed to have struck up quite the conversation, despite the obvious limitations. Suddenly, the Ghost spun his shell frantically. He let out a warning beep, turning to his Guardian.

"I am detecting motion nearby," he reported, "Someone is- Trying to ambush us! -getting closer." Venator instantly rolled out of her seat and drew her hand cannon. Both Witches stared at the Dark weapon as the Hunter pulled out a smoke grenade.

"How long until they're here?"

"Ten seconds and counting." Without another word, she threw the grenade into the ground. It burst, cloaking the three females in Void energy that masked them from sight. As soon as she did, a large figure appeared in the doorway. They swept the shadowy cave with a shotgun, carefully peering into the darkness. Venator crept up behind them, aiming at their skull. She pointed Malfeasance at the intruder's head right as they detected her and spun, leveling the shotgun at her face.

"Friendly," Paladin said, standing down.

"I know you," Venator mimicked his actions. She lightly punched the Titan in the chest, "What took you so long, Brother?"

"Got tied up in some domestic squabbles," he reported, "I'll explain more once we regroup with Scholar. Have you managed to locate him."

"According to these lovely ladies, he should be coming right to us," she said, sweeping her arm to gesture at the now-visible Witches. Paladin looked between them and his Sister.

"Have you already…?"

"You know it," she grinned. Paladin sighed, rubbing his faceplate.

"I would like to apologize for my Sister's actions," he said, bowing his head. Eda raised an eyebrow.

"Much appreciated," she said, "Now, how about you tell us what you're really doing here." Paladin and Venator shared a glance.

"You haven't already told them?"

"I did," she began slowly, "But I may have embellished some details. I don't think they trust me."

"Can't imagine why," Paladin muttered before summoning a chair to sit on, "Alright, I may as well start from the beginning. Our names are Royal-6. And we have been lost for a very long time."


Bada-bing, bada-boom, we march to our inevitable doom. Originally, Paladin and Venator were not going to appear until the Season 2 finale, but I thought this would be more fun and it gives me a chance to have some more character interactions that I would've missed out on otherwise. As a side note, I am crossing my fingers and praying that Venator didn't come off as annoying. Well, not annoying to you guys, she is supposed to be kind of annoying to the other characters.

Now, we have less than a week left until Watching and Dreaming airs. I honestly don't know how to feel about that just yet. I guess I'll see you guys on the other side. Until next time.

Thatnewguy11: Glad you liked Saint making a cameo. But yeah, I've been looking forward to detailing the Collectors backstory in this fic for months now. The Collector exists as a kind of parallel to Luz, being a kid who never really learned to separate fantasy from reality. I saw Rhulk as a bit of a chance to parallel Royal in that regard.

OMAC001: Oh yeah, the Destiny universe is a pretty twisted place.

GodzillaMaster: King did keep the Darkness Shard, yes. As for hints, I left quite a lot.

-In Chapter 3, Royal just flat out says that there are alternate versions of himself.

-Each of the chapters featuring the two (save for Chapter 15) starts with a quote from Royal.

-There are several little things that each of them and some other characters do or say. For example; Paladin coating his hand in fire is a move pulled directly from Royals playbook, no one ever refers to either of them by their actual name, and when the Drifter is calling for Venator before she gets teleported to the Vex Domain, he's trying to say "Stay safe down their, Royal!" but the static cuts it up.

-I pretty blatantly hinted at it in Chapter 22. Outcast is directly described as having Royals face. He also says that they hail from different timelines, but their fates are intertwined. He also referred to Royal as 'Brother', which no one else aside from Paladin and Venator had.

There are probably more that I can't recall off the top of my head. If you want to go back and look then feel free. I'll farm up that sweet sweet engagement.


Eda placed her hands on her ear, trying desperately to block out the noise that was pounding through her skull. King had two pillows duct taped to his head in a vain attempt to muffle the sound. Hooty was wearing at least three pairs of earmuffs. Lilith was trying to brew a potion that would put her to sleep, so she at least wouldn't be conscious while that dreadful music wouldn't be blasting her ears. Oddly enough, only Royal seemed unbothered, meditating on the floor as though nothing was wrong.

Something was desperately wrong, however. Luz was practicing her Bard homework. Eda loved the girl like she was her own daughter, but Titan help them all she could not play music to save her life. The sound of Luz's tunes bounced through the Owl House and, due to the current weather, she couldn't go anywhere else.

Eda walked over to Royal, still meditating without a care in the world, and delivered a swift kick to his leg. He looked up at her in shock, an inquisitive expression on his face.

"How the hell are you so… unbothered!" She practically screamed. Royals expression morphed into one of amusement.

"I've had my audio receptors turned off for the last half-hour," he said evenly, "And before you ask, I am able to read your lips. That's how I know what you said."

"Seriously!" Eda was getting fed up, "The rest of us are suffering here and you can just turn your ears off?" The Warlock gained a mischievous glint in his optics.

"You know, you're right. I don't think this is fair," He admitted. Then, turning to the stairs, he shouted up them.

"Hey Luz, you're doing great! Keep it up!" The girl shouted back in affirmation and began to play with renewed vigor. Royal turned back to Eda, a smug grin on his face while she glared daggers at him.