I don't own Disney's The Owl House. I do, however own the Main OC. Hope you all enjoy my story on this lovely show.
Chapter Eighteen
Sitting on the couch in the living room, Danielle had set off multiple plant glyphs to offset the bad scent of a potion gone wrong. King was enjoying watching videos on Danielle's cellphone during the whole thing. The Portal Door was open nearby allowing the use of wi-fi on Danielle's cellphone.
"Hey, check this out!" said King, showing a cat video to Danielle. "Two warriors battling to the death!"
"Aw, I love cat videos," said Danielle, looking at the video.
"Senseless violence," said King, still watching the video. "Yes, attack! Death is your god!"
"I regret teaching you about the internet," said Danielle, looking at King. "And I should make sure you don't watch things you shouldn't yet."
"Hah! What possible regrets could come from the Internet?" asked King, before seeing an article. "Oh! Did you know that the Earth is actually flat?"
"Oh gosh, not that ridiculous article," said Danielle, grabbing her cellphone. "Bad enough my dad believes it, I don't need you believing it as well."
"Hoot hoot, Danielle! Time to fill up that darling little head of yours with..." said Hooty, opening the front door and regurgitating a stack of books on the ground. "Mm-hmm. Delicious knowledge!"
"Hooty, how did you…" said Danielle, staring at Hooty and her books. "Never mind, I'll clean my books later."
"Please hurry!" said Gus, peering in through the front door.
"The more I look at him, the more uncomfortable I get," said Willow, peering in as well.
"Hoot hoot!" said Hooty, excitedly.
"Coming," said Danielle, standing up before kissing King's forehead. "Be good King. Don't watch Mewtube all day, give your eyes a break every now and then."
"I forge my own path!" said King, only for Danielle to glare at him before looking back at a cat video. "Okay okay, I'll take a break every now and then. What a dum-dum. Ugh. Who has the energy?"
Heading to Hexside, Danielle notices the school adorned with various things. Banners, streamers, balloons made from abomination goop among other decorations. Even the students were getting into the spirit.
"Looks like a school event is going on," said Danielle, looking around at the hallways.
"Oh yeah!" said Willow, looking at Danielle. "I forgot you've never been here for the social event of the season."
"Welcome to your first…" said Gus, only for a stretcher and medics to rush pass him.
"Outta the way!" said a Medic, rushing over to a Bat-eared Student. "Come with us immediately! Your disease… it's advancing!"
"Is there a cure, doc?" asked the Bat-eared Student, being helped onto the stretcher.
"Only one... finding the perfect date to Grom!" replied the Medic, excited.
"If that's the cure... then," said the Bat-eared Student, holding out a beating heart. "Skara, will you go to Grom with me?"
"Ahhhhh!" said Skara, hugging the Bat-eared Student. "Of course I will, or whatever!"
"Grom… as in a dance?" said Danielle, looking at Willow and Gus. "I'm not much for dances but I'm assuming this Grom has a king or queen by the end of it."
"Yup," said Willow, looking at Danielle. "All though, it's not something people usually sign up for."
"What do you mean?" asked Danielle, only to be bumped into by Amity.
"Watch it, nitwit!" said Amity, only to recognize Danielle. "Oh. Hi, Danielle... and co. Sorry about that."
"It's okay, let me help you," said Danielle, helping Amity pick up her books and such. "Here. Whoa there."
"It's just, it's... private," said Amity, holding a pink note close.
"Attention Hexside students," said Principal Bump, over the intercom. "This is your principal speaking."
"Oh, man, this is it!" said Gus, anxious.
"He's announcing who'll be this year's Grom royalty," said Willow, anxious as well.
"This year, I have the privilege to bestow our highest Grom honor to... Amity Blight!" said Principal Bump, announcing the candidate. "Our Grom Queen!"
"Amity, are you alright?" asked Danielle, only for Amity to run off before becoming concerned. "Amity."
"You might want to give her some space," said Willow, placing a hand on Danielle's shoulder. "Being Grom Queen is a tough job. Even for Amity."
"I'm still going to go after Amity, just in case she needs it," said Danielle, walking in the direction Amity went and coming upon the school gym. "At least now I know where Grom is being held at."
"Very good," said Principal Bump, overseeing the preparations for Grom. "Lower the streamers, fill the punch bowl, and… how's my disco ball?"
"Nauseous," replied Snaggleback, hanging from the ceiling upside down.
"Great," said Principal Bump, before walking away. "Just keep it up for 36 more hours."
"Looks like a normal setup for a dance… what's this button for?" asked Danielle, slightly pressing the button only for a wall of weapons and the gym floor to open. "What the… … Aah!"
"Whoa there," said Amity, stopping Danielle from grabbing a weapon.
"I think I need an explanation on what Grom is," said Danielle, looking from the opening in the floor towards Amity.
"That's Grom. Short for Grometheus, the Fear-Bringer. It's a monster that lives under the school," said Amity, casting a spell showing Grom's backstory. "Every year it tries to break out, and a student had to defeat it before it invades the town. Ever the optimist, Bump holds a party and calls it tradition. The worst thing is that Grom can read minds and shape-shift into your worst fear. And mine... is very embarrassing."
"If you don't want to do it, talk to Principal Bump," said Danielle, looking at Amity, concerned.
"That's a good idea," said Amity, looking at Danielle as they walk out of the gym. "Thanks."
After school was let out, Danielle heads back to the Owl House. Seeing no one around on the first floor, Danielle searches upstairs before hearing movement in Eda's room.
"Eda, King, you there?" asked Danielle, looking into Eda's room and seeing them.
"Careful with those pins," said Eda, donning a brown tuxedo.
"Why am I doing this?" asked King, staring at Eda. "I don't even wear clothes!"
"I'm assuming from the clothes, you'll be at Grom," said Danielle, walking over to Eda and King.
"I'm chaperoning Grom tonight," said Eda, looking at Danielle. "So I have to look sharp."
"And Gus asked me to co-emcee the fight!" said King, holding up a poster of him and Gus. "We're going to turn this blood-bath into a fun-bath!"
"Ooh! Have they announced the victim yet?" asked Eda, looking at Danielle.
"Yeah, it's Amity and she's not happy about it," replied Danielle, sitting on the edge of the nest. "If only there was a way so she doesn't have to. I already gave Amity the suggestion to talk to Principal Bump."
"Thoughtful but Grom has to be dealt with or it will wreak havoc across the isles," said Eda, looking at Danielle. "And I rather someone from here then you."
"What?" said Danielle, standing up and looking at Eda. "What do you mean not me?"
"You're a human," said Eda, staring at Danielle. "You're... fragile."
"I have been learning a lot since I came here from you, King, and the students and teachers from Hexside," said Danielle, feeling offended. "I'm not as fragile as you think I am."
"Uh, maybe you were too hard on her," said King, seeing Danielle leave the room. "She's saved you from multiple monsters, remember?"
"Facing Grom means facing your worst fear, King. And I don't think Danielle knows what that means yet," said Eda, before looking at a mirror. "Do you think I could pull off red eyeshadow?"
"Girl, you can pull off anything! Up top!" said King, high fiving Eda. "We're style geniuses!"
Leaving the Owl House, Danielle wanders the nearby woods. Watching where she was going as to avoid being lost, Danielle looks up towards the night sky.
"I am not fragile. I'm strong, I'm brave, just like my parents told me," said Danielle, before hearing footsteps coming her way. "Who's there?"
"Just me," replied Amity, seeing Danielle conjure a light spell to see her better. "And here I thought this day... couldn't get any worse."
"From the look on your face, Principal Bump said no, didn't he?" said Danielle, looking at Amity, concerned.
"You're right. I'm Grom Queen, unless I can find a replacement," said Amity, sitting on a tree stump. "And who'd want to switch with me?"
"Think Principal Bump would allow me?" asked Danielle, looking at Amity.
"What?" said Amity, looking at Danielle, shocked.
"I can take your place if Principal Bump allows it," said Danielle, before a spider crawled down in front of them only to be swatted away by a wooden bat courtesy of the wood glyph. "Aah! Creepy crawly."
The next day, Danielle heads to Hexside asking Principal Bump if she could take Amity's place. Seeing the confidence in her eyes, Principal Bump agrees. Glad that she got approval, Danielle heads back to the Owl House to prepare. Looking through her stuff, Danielle fishes out a dress.
"Oh, Danielle!" said Hooty, entering Danielle's room. "You have a guest!"
"Really?" asked Danielle, before seeing Amity enter her room. "Amity?"
"If that bird-tube ever talks to me again, I'm going to destroy it," said Amity, plucking feathers out of her hair. "You ready to train?"
"I already narrowed down the glyphs I'm going to use," replied Danielle, looking at Amity.
"I brought Emira and Edric here to help," said Amity, walking out of the room.
"Their specialty is illusions," said Danielle, following Amity out the front door and seeing the twins. "I'm assuming you'll use illusions to conjure my fears."
"Right," said the Twins, staring at Danielle.
"Grom will transform into your darkest fears," said Amity, staring at Danielle. "What are you afraid of, Danielle?"
"Um…" said Danielle, rubbing her arm nervously.
"Wanna say our greatest fears? On three…" said Edric, looking at Emira. "One, two... being alone forever!"
"Being stuck with you forever," said Emira, making Edric groan.
"It's not surface fears but the deeper fears I'm more worried about," said Danielle, before deeply sighing then looking at Amity and the twins. "It would have to be coming here and not finding my mom would be in vain, that all of this would have been for nothing and I would be forever lost. I still need her."
"Whoa, that is deep," said Edric, looking at Danielle. "This is a tricky one."
"I got this," said Emira, conjuring the illusion.
"Huh?" said Danielle, seeing nothing but darkness around her and a silhouette of her mom far away before running forwards only for it to keep getting further away. "Mom… Mom! No no no-no-no, wait… don't… come back!"
"Wow, you really have it hard," said Emira, ending the illusion and seeing Danielle wiping tears away. "Maybe go with something different."
"I am so not comfortable with the other one," said Danielle, before seeing Eda opening the front door. "Eda!"
"You're training to be Grom Queen!" said Eda, figuring out what was going on. "Aren't you?"
"I don't really want the title," replied Danielle, looking at Eda. "Just want to help Amity and conquer my fears."
"You think training will help against Grom?" said Eda, staring at Danielle. "Danielle, you always go overboard. Now, what's the fun in watching a kid get eaten by a monster if it's my kid?"
"Your kid?" said Danielle, looking at Eda.
"I… uh… that is… ugh," said Eda, rubbing her forehead. "You've become family to me and King here kid. Especially to King."
"Oh… um…" said Danielle, fidgeting slightly while looking at Eda. "I-I-I don't know if I can call you…"
"I know I'm not a replacement for your mom," said Eda, ruffling Danielle's hair. "But maybe a cool aunt will suffice."
"I guess…" said Danielle, not entirely sure of it.
"Danielle, I don't think you're ready, but we're literally out of time," said Amity, placing a hand on Danielle's shoulder.
"Right," said Danielle, before taking a deep breath. "We'll meet you there. I still have to get dressed. Shouldn't take too long."
As Amity and the twins leave, Danielle heads back inside to change and grab her glyphs. Danielle's attire was a dark blue sleeveless dress with gold star and moon accents. Had a matching choker and wore white socks with blue frills with small heel dress shoes. Danielle had undone her braid and let it dangle as she put half her hair up in a ponytail with a matching ribbon. A little light pink lipstick was applied to her lips. Seeing Eda and King waiting at the front door, they head to Hexside. Danielle patiently waited outside the gym as Gus started up his speech.
"Mmm, butterflies in stomach," said Danielle, looking into the gym. "I can do this. Just like mom and dad said, I'm strong, I'm brave."
"Hey there," said Amity, walking towards Danielle.
"Hey Amity," said Danielle, looking at Amity.
"Uh, you look nice. Like really... nice," said Amity, before placing her hands on Danielle's shoulders. "And, thank you, Danielle. Honestly, I'm kind of amazed with how fearless you are. You've done things I could never do."
"Oh, I'm screaming on the inside," thought Danielle, slightly blushing.
"Now, introducing our Grom Queen. You know her, you love her... you've at least heard of her," said Gus, before gesturing to the gym doors. "Danielle the human!"
"Wish me luck out there," said Danielle, walking into the gym.
"Luck," said Amity, quietly.
"Okay then," said Danielle, grabbing the scythe among the various weapons before walking down into the arena, setting a fire glyph and activating it on the blade of the scythe. "Alright Grom, time for you to meet the reaper known as Grim."
Slashing left and right, as Grom takes on the forms of multiple snakes that were easily dealt with, Grom then takes on the form of looking down from Tokyo Tower. Shuddering slightly, Danielle was about to set off another glyph before a tendril of Grom touches her leg before assuming the form of the Portal Door. Walking out of the Portal Door, a man in his early forties step out. Light skin, short dark brown hair that was combed back and dark blue eyes. Wore thick black framed square glasses and wore a brown coat over a pale green collared shirt and a dark brown vest, denim jeans, and black/white sneakers.
"Dad!" said Danielle, staring wide eyed at the form Grom assumed, shocked. "Crude, the other fear came forth instead."
"Odd," thought Eda, staring intently at Grom-Dad. "Danielle's dad looks oddly familiar but from where?"
"Sweet pea," said Grom-Dad, looking at Danielle. "You're here of all places."
"Please don't, please don't, please don't," thought Danielle, seeing Grom-Dad look around the gym.
"So many demons… and are those witches as well?" asked Grom-Dad, staring back at Danielle. "Fantastic! You found living proof that they exist. Actual living proof."
"What's going on?" asked Student #1, looking at Grom-Dad.
"Why would he be excited to see us?" asked Student #2, looking as well as other students, confused.
"You do know what that means," said Grom-Dad, looking at Danielle. "We can finally expose them."
"What!" said Student #3, glaring at Danielle.
"No no no," said Danielle, gripping the scythe.
"Is he a witch hunter?" asked Student #4, glaring at Danielle. "Is she one as well?"
"Wait…" said Danielle, staring up at the students and teachers. "No…"
"Maybe that's why she's here," said Student #5, glaring at Danielle.
"I thought witch hunters went extinct ages ago," said Student #2, looking at a friend.
"That's not…" said Danielle, gripping the scythe harder.
"Is this how you got here?" asked Grom-Dad, looking at the Portal Door. "I bet if we could mass produce them…"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" shouted Danielle, staring at Grom-Dad. "They are no different from us. Sure, they may look different, but they have feelings, they have fears, they go through the same things we go though in life. They're no different!"
"Danielle, sweet pea, are you defending the enemy?" asked Grom-Dad, twisting with the lower half being Grom itself as it towers over Danielle. "You should be pointing that scythe at them, not me!"
"No no no-no-no," said Danielle, hearing the students and teachers still talking negatively about her before running out of the gym in tears.
Running down the halls, Danielle exits Hexside. The students and teachers follow soon afterwards as well as Eda and King. Wiping her tears away, Danielle runs through the forest before coming upon a cliff. Looking up at the night sky, Danielle turns around and sees Grom-Dad not far behind.
"I was afraid of this," said Danielle, looking at Grom-Dad.
"Why are you running?" asked Grom-Dad, glaring at Danielle. "You should be taking them out for humanity's sake."
"I can't," said Danielle, gripping her head. "Mom, dad, I'm sorry. I'm not brave, I'm not strong. Eda was right, I'm fragile."
"Spicy toss!" shouted Eda, flying by and tossing a fireball at Grom-Dad. "Hands off my human, you misshapen excuse for a monster!"
"Eda!" said Danielle, staring at Eda. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to proof that I could…"
"That's okay, I got this one," said Eda, before hearing a noise and Amity jumping forth before Danielle. "Huh?"
"Stay away from her!" shouted Amity, glaring at Grom before looking at Danielle. "I'm sorry, Danielle. I should have fought my own battle. I…"
"Amity!" shouted Danielle, seeing Grom grab Amity and reading her mind before assuming a humanoid form that ripped apart a note from Amity's pocket. "Was that…"
"Aw man, don't tell me…"
"The note from earlier," said Danielle, reading the half she picked up. "You were afraid to be rejected. But from whom?"
"… … …" said Amity, handing over the other half of the note.
"Ah crude."
"A-Amity, you were going to ask me," said Danielle, seeing her name on the other half of the note. "You like me?"
"Yes," replied Amity, scared.
"I… um… can't reciprocate these feelings," said Danielle, looking at Amity. "I'm glad that you're my friend and all but I don't think I'm the one."
"What?" asked Amity, staring at Danielle.
"There's someone better for you out there, one that will illuminate your days and nights, that will always make you happy and make you smile," said Danielle, handing the note back to Amity. "But it's not me. I'm not even sure I can even love another person."
"You love your dad, don't you?" said Amity, looking at Danielle. "And your mom as well."
"Well, yeah," said Danielle, rubbing her wrist.
"Isn't that love?" asked Amity, looking at Danielle.
"Well, yeah but…" said Danielle, staring at Amity.
"It may be different but it's still love," said Amity, staring at Danielle. "And if you can tell me that there's someone better for me than I believe there is someone out there perfect for you."
"Thanks Amity," said Danielle, before setting off an ice glyph encasing Grom before it could fully form back. "Want the finishing move? This was originally your duty."
"Gladly," said Amity, sending a spear of abomination goop though Grom shattering it to pieces.
"Looks like that is over with, "said Danielle, seeing tiaras magically form on her and Amity's head before feeling a rock impact against her forehead. "Aah!"
"Danielle!" said Amity, only to see more rocks thrown at Danielle. "What the…"
"Go back to the Human Realm!" shouted Student #5, holding a rock in his hand.
"Yeah!" said Student #1, glaring at Danielle. "And take your witch hunting ways with you."
"I'm not a witch hunter," said Danielle, looking at the everyone from Grom. "I came here searching for my mom."
"Lies!" shouted Student #6, throwing some rocks at Danielle. "She's obviously tricking us. "Oh, my mom is here." What a bunch of baloney."
"I'm not lying," said Danielle, only to flinch when more rocks were thrown her way only to not feel them. "Huh… Eda."
"Alright, that's enough," said Eda, standing in front of Danielle, as well as King, Amity, Gus, Willow, and the Twins, defending her. "Hey, Bumpikins, do something."
"Alright enough," said Principal Bump, walking forward. "Danielle is under Eda Clawthorne's protection while here on the isles and I assured her that her student is safe in Hexside. I expect none of you to raise Eda's ire while Danielle is still here."
"You got to be kidding me Hieronymus," said the Potion Teacher, walking forward. "That human shouldn't even be here. Send her to Emperor Belos. He ought to know what to do with her."
"What?" said Danielle, hiding behind Eda. "No way."
"Danielle is going no where near that creep," said Eda, glaring at the Potion Teacher.
"Maybe it would be best to call it a night," said Principal Bump, looking at Eda. "Get her back to the Owl House and tend to those wounds."
"Let's go Danielle," said Eda, getting Danielle to sit on her staff with King hopping on before heading to the Owl House.
"What happened?" asked Hooty, seeing the state Danielle was in, only for her to flinch away when he got too close.
"Not the time Hooty," replied Eda, getting Danielle into the living room and sitting on the couch. "I'll get the bandages and such."
"Okay," said Danielle, before taking the tiara off and placing it on King's head. "Here King. I don't feel like I deserve it."
"I'll hold onto it until you do," said King, touching the tiara. "Now, I'm both King and Queen, best of both worlds."
"Hehehe," said Danielle, pulling King into a hug. "Never stop being you King, never stop."