Jedi of the Isles

by Helljumper206

Alone, dirty, tired. Having survived one galactic war only to be hunted by the men she led. Can one young Jedi find safety in a land populated by Witches and Demons?

21. War Call

"The Boiling Isles, born from the flesh and bones of a fallen Titan."

"This original magic was so potent, all life on the Isles evolved to wield magic too. For years, we explored those powers freely. Until, a mysterious witch appeared who declared that he, and he alone, could speak to the island."

"He said that we were using magic all wrong. His teachings took hold, his strength grew, and he became... Emperor Belos. Belos said that mixing magic was wrong, that only he had that right."

"So he created the coven system. And there, our knowledge was restricted, and our potential sealed away. Those who resist are called wild witches, and they face harsh punishment. Emperor Belos has since retreated into his castle. Some whispers say he's planning something big."

King closed the book to gauge his audience's reaction.

They were onboard the Cosmic Waves, inside its meeting room. The senior officers of the 3rd Cavalry Regiments stood in silence. Luz had sent a message to gather her staff for an emergency meeting about the events that took place at the Emperor's castle. King brought along a recent history book Eda had stored to give the clones some context about who they would be facing.

"So... what's the play this time, Commander?" Pit asked.

"Yeah, between what you told us and what was said in this book, this Emperor should have gotten shot in the head long ago." Flash held up King's book and looked at the page with the image of Belos.

"I agree. This guy sounds like some of the Separatist leaders with how full of himself he is," Oak responded before turning to his Jedi Commander, who was staring intently at the purple-blue robe in her hands. "Commander, what are your orders? Head Witch Lilith and to the extent, Belos has attacked you and one of us. We can't let that stand. What are we to do?"

Luz rubbed a thumb over a note placed over it when she found it.

"To a young witch from a proud mentor: EDA."

"I hoped that by coming to this world, I could free you all from a lifetime of war. Helping create the Homefront units to help disable clones. Choosing tactics that would result in less death. Free you from an enslavement process that you had never known about. When the war ended, and everything I knew came crashing down in flames, the Force sent me to a strange woman in a strange world in a far, far away place. Now, that woman who has become a keystone in our freedom is held captive in the clutches of a monster. Are we to leave this world in the hands of that monster in charge of a corrupt system? To have it be our neighbor that would stab us in the back when it has a chance? You ask for my orders, Captains? They are simple." She unfolded it and slipped it on. The robe's tail hung in the back like a cape down to the back of her knees. The outer lining was purple, while the inside was more blue. Looking over at the clone captains, Luz gave each of them a hard stare.

"...To war."

---

(Play Bad Batch opening titles)

Jedi Of the Isles

---

Episode 21: War Call

Like she dreamed a thousand times. Eda ran.

The darkness surrounding her was endless. Nothing but a void that swallows everything up. Nothing was there but her...

...and him.

"For Titan's sake, don't you ever leave me alone!" Eda shouted behind her.

Chasing her was the Owl Beast. Big, feathery, deadly. It chased after her with its maw beak hanging open ready to bite and rip the witch apart. It's screeching loud and angry, wanting nothing more than blood.

Before Eda knew what could come next, a red magic aura ripped through the sky and plucked her up.

"Ehh!? Where am I? What is this?" Blinking through the brightness, she saw the unmistakable forms of Empor Belso and Lilith. "Oh, farts. I've been captured, haven't I?"

"Edalyn Clawthorn. The infamous Owl Lady. The wild witch of Bonesboro and mentor to one Luz the human." Belso listed off Eda's titles as he leaned over the witch. "Or should I say... Jedi?"

Eda blinked in surprise before she got angry. "You better stay away from her, or so help me Titan! And for that, how do you know what a Jedi is?"

Belos looked amused by her empty threat and question. "The Jedi ran away in their strange transport with those soldiers. But I will find them. They are now wanted for multiple counts of assault, murder of Coven members, and a few other crimes. But they will be dealt with soon. For now, all I want is the portal in your possession."

"Tough luck, I ain't telling you nothing!" Eda said definitely.

"Pity, although I suppose I will have to ask the Jedi herself."

"Ha! Good luck trying to catch her!" Eda said confidently, showing a smug face. "You go pick a fight with Luz. You'll need more than a few Coven Scouts to take her down."

"They serve the Titian's will, and I have a great many of them," Belso said while dismissing her with a snap of his fingers. A pair of coven scouts grabbed the magic ropes and dragged the Owl Lady away.

"You're going to need a lot more!" Eda shouted in defiance.

Throughout the whole talk, Lilith stayed silent with a worried expression. "Ah...Taking her to the healing ceremony?"

"I would not be healing her," Belos replied simply as if those words wouldn't break Lilith like a fragile mirror.

"But you promised me..." Lilith tried to protect, but Belos cut her off.

"You must understand, Lilith. She tried to kill you." Belos kept his tone even, if a little condescending, as if he was explaining this to a child. "Your sister clearly has no interest in joining the Emperor's Coven, which was part of our deal. She summoned those soldiers from the sky to kill you. Ten of our beloved Coven members lay dead in our morgue, with a dozen others lying gravely wounded in the healing ward. She clings to being a Wild Witch, and as the Titan's Will demands, she must be punished as one, as they all must be before the Day of Unity."

He put a hand on her shoulder as if trying to offer comfort, though his tone implied no sympathy, "You understand, of course?"

Lilith didn't. She couldn't. Yet she obeyed, "Of course."

Belos strode past her, happy or at least satisfied with her response. He stopped suddenly, turning back to face her, "Oh yes, and could you dispose of the Owl Lady's staff? Put it with the others, if you will. She won't be needing it anymore." With a snap of his fingers, Owlbert appeared before Lilith, falling into her hands.

"As for her companions, I want them found and brought before me. They will share their punishment together." With his instructions given, he left.

No sooner had the Emperor left her in disgrace did she fall to her knees, clinging to her sister's Palisman. What had she done?

---

A sense of nostalgia hit Luz as she watched the clones from a distance prepare for combat.

Going through a galactic war after living in peace for a long time can profoundly impact a person. It can leave scars, whether physical, mental, or spiritual. An example of this can be seen in the last time she visited the Jedi temple before the Empire. She had become accustomed to sleeping on the standard, no-frills mattresses the clones use rather than the comfortable mats in her old room. Even staying at the Owl House made it difficult for her to sleep, and she would occasionally resort to sleeping on the floor rather than on the mattress Eda provided for her.

Luz shook her head. Poor example. But seeing the clones gearing up for battle like it was just another day made her think back to what one trooper told her. "Combat is a clone's natural element." Hearing it and seeing it were two different meanings that Luz now understood.

Further thoughts were put on hold as Captain Vultan approached her.

"The men are assembled, Commander."

The former padawan took one last calming breath before nodding with the clone.

"Wait for me!" King said before hopping on her shoulder. Luz gave a small smile at the little demon.

They left together, and the Captain escorted her into one of the Star Destroyer's many hangar bays. Standing ready were the lead troopers of Hawk, Dragon, Eagle, Jet, Mud, Predator, and Packhound companies. When Luz entered, all conversation ceased, and she prepared for their orders.

"Are you troopers ready for some action?"

"OYA!"

"Good! Now, pay attention to the brief I have for you." The 400-plus clones did so as a holograph of the boiling Isles took place before shifting to two fortified locations. "This is the Conformitoriam and the Emperor's palace. As much as I want to reduce these places to rubble via orbital bombardment, they have imprisoned an unknown number of innocent civilians, including our target. Edalyn Clawthorn. She was captured earlier today in an attempt to rescue me when I was captured by the Emperor's head witch, Lilith." An image of Lilith and Belos appeared for the clones to view.

"I want to make something clear: if confronted with either of these two individuals, pull back, if somehow are unable to, request back up to your location. These two are powerful and highly dangerous. They should not be handled alone under any circumstances. Am I clear?"

"Sir, yes, sir!"

"Good. Now for the plan." The holo changed back to the buildings. "Eagle and Dragon companies, accompanied by Packhound as support, will assault and raid on the Conformitorium under cover of night. The darkness will be your ally in this, so the dropships will be running silent, so there will be no lights. From what I've gathered and experienced, many of its captives are ordinary citizens unsatisfied with or oppose the current regime. Eagle and Dragon company will clear the prison and liberate the prisoners, with Packhound providing transport and extraction." Luz looked at Flash, and he nodded in confirmation at taking the lead on this.

"I will lead Hawk company to infiltrate the castle. We will be in disguise, so cloaks will be provided to hide the armor. Meanwhile, Predator will set up positions outside the city's limits, with Jet and Mud companies acting as security and QRF."

"Resistance should be manageable, but consider these guards' magic. Do not underestimate them. Questions?"

"Rules of engagement, sir?" One trooper asked.

"Use of lethal force is authorized. However, if any enemy combative surrenders, stun them and move on. We don't have the capability to hold prisoners yet, but we are professional soldiers, and I expect you all to act like such. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Commander, why don't we park our ships over the castle and assault from above?" A member from Hawk company asked.

Luz understood where the clone was coming from with this, as they had employed this tactic before against pirates and criminal bases with degrees of effectiveness. They would park a transport high above an enemy base before jumping and freefalling in a mass air assault on whoever they were fighting that day. The casualty results varied on enemy troop placement, entrenchment, and environment.

"Despite this world's lack of technology, that doesn't make them any less of a threat. Plenty of hazardous creatures are on the Isles and undoubtedly have an aerial defense system against them. Parking our ships over them will allow them to reveal them and put our limited number of ships at risk. But that doesn't mean they won't be involved. The Stonewall and a number of our patrol ships will be off the coast as additional medical, QRF, and support. Any additional questions?"

The clone's silence was her answer.

"Good. Operation will start in one hour." With her orders given, Luz dismissed the troops, so they went to do any last-minute preparations. Luz took King and exited the hangar and moved through the ship toward the officer's quarters. One was claimed by herself when the ship was taken. Had little time for any decorations. Jedi never really do due to the no-attachment rule. Walking inside, King hopped off Luz's shoulder before going up and sat on the bed where he had his stuffed toy.

The little demon looked at Luz as she approached the footlocker by the bed. Opening it revealed a armor set made for her. This set was different from the others she wore in the past. While most were sets made of the same material and designed to be used in clone armor, this set was not. The armor was made of duresteel, a heavier metal made better to resist against kinetic attack rather than energy. The design was custom polished chest plates and shoulder pads were in their gray tone color rather than her units colors as they had not yet been painted. After her duel with Boshca in her last armor set, she sent it to the clone's armor for repair. Her Jedi robe was stitched and cleaned. Everything looked in order, but something felt off to the teen as she took the robe in hand and rubbed a thumb across the rough material.

"Are you going to get Eda back?" King said from his spot.

The question tore her eyes away from the robe and settled on King. "I am. I will be infiltrating the Emperor's castle with a team to rescue her. Whether she comes willingly..." Luz didn't finish her sentence. No one as young as King needed to hear those words.

"Then I'm coming too," King said.

"King..."

"We never got along much, but she raised me alone. She's family."

His words hit like arrows to the Jedi's knees. What could she say to deny the little guy rescuing the woman who raised him as his mother? His eyes looked determined like he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Luz rubbed her head in mild annoyance. "I swear you're making me soft, King. Fine, you can come."

"Yippy!"

"But!" Luz emphasized greatly. "You will have to do what I and the clones say. This is a military op, not a school trip. There will be fighting and chaos everywhere, and I do not want to see you get hurt. So if I tell you to hide, you will do so. If I tell you to run, you will run, got it?" King nodded.

Luz eyed the daemon for a moment before she continued equipping herself. Her eyes drifted to the Jedi robe again before turning to the object beside King, Eda's surprised gift for her. Setting down the robe and picking up the present, it unfolded itself to reveal itself to be a hooded robe not unlike her Jedi cloak but with tail points at the end that reached down to her ankles. Feeling softer and lighter than her Jedi cloak, Luz puts it on instead.

She leaves her room with King on her shoulder and her helmet under her arm and makes for the main hanger. There, she saw her men ready to depart. Hopping on one of the LAATs, they flew out. They looked out and saw multiple transports flying behind them, some carrying heavy equipment or vehicles.

It was a sight to see for the young demon. For the Jedi and clones, it felt like they were back to an old routine.

---

"Yes." Luz turned to address the men. "Stager formation till we hit the town. Then, split into squads as we make it to the castle." The troopers nodded before everyone moved out.

The track through the forest was quick and uneventful for the clone war vets. They soon entered Bonesbrough proper and avoided crowds. As Luz led her group down the streets, her attention was gained at the mention of Eda's name. Looking over, she saw a row of crystal balls displaying the latest headline news to a crowd. A male witch with dark skin and hair was on the round magic screen holding a microphone.

"Perry Porter coming to you live from outside the Emperor's Castle. Edalyn Clawthorne, known commonly as "Eda the Owl Lady," has been captured and brought before the Emperor. We will now switch to the Emperor's assistant, Kikimora, for the reveal of her crimes and punishment."

The image replaced by Kikimora stood before a podium in front of the castle. She had two small eyeballs with bat wings flying beside her, possibly acting as living cameras with dozens of microphones in front of her. "For the crimes of attacking a coven leader, refusing to join a coven, and becoming an accessory in the injury or killing of coven members, Edalyn Clawthorne's body shall be petrified in stone! Today, sundown, at the Conformatorium. Following this, those who aid in the Owl Lady's crimes will be captured and judged accordingly to the full extent of the law."

Many gasped at the news. Many mummers whispered out among them.

"A public petrification ceremony?"

"When was the last time that happened?"

"But the Owl lady is a con artist. Does she deserve that?"

"This is the first I've ever heard of her killing someone."

Lus and the clones observed the crowd's reaction. "I'm guessing that's bad?" Vultan stated.

"Petrification is a punishment reserved only for the worst criminals, and once it is carried out, it cannot be reversed."

"That's not good. Commander, if we're going to attack, we need to do it fast." The soldier glimpses over his shoulder slightly at the approaching setting sun.

"Not only that. But I may not be allowed to remain here on the Boiling isles after today," Luz responded.

Luz continues to watch the newscast, which shows several petrified witches in what looks like a graveyard. Each of them frozen in mid-scream, attempting to block the spell or reaching out for mercy! It was too much for the crowd as they dispersed, leaving Luz, King, and the clones to watch before fading to a picture of Lilith. The sight of the head witch made the Jedi ball up her fist in anger.

"Lilith... This started with you cursing your sister and playing with her emotions for years. I won't be holding back when we meet again like last time," Luz declared before turning away, lest she go about breaking something. "We need to get inside that prison before sundown. King, you've known Eda the longest. Did she have any way into that place?"

King sadly shook his head. "No. Eda would just let herself get caught before busting herself out, then rob the place."

"The more I hear about that woman, the less I'm surprised by her feats. Should we do a frontal assault? It would be the quickest way in." Vultan suggested.

Luz dismissed the idea. "We can't just rush in randomly in an all-out attack. No, we need to focus on our assault. Infiltration is still our key to getting in. But how? Luz felt King's claw getting her attention. The little demon pointed out in the distance.

"How about that?"

Looking at the area where he was pointing at two coven guards next to a patch of grass. A sign was posted nearby, which was what the little demon was hinting at. Something that nearly threw the Jedi for a loop and flew over the clone's heads.

"There is absolutely no way that would work."

"What won't work?"

"Just... don't interfere and follow from a distance."

The guards conversing with one another stopped when a disturbance nearby caught their attention. Their eyes settled on the Jedi/demon duo standing on the grass with a sigh that said, "Keep Off Of Grass." The demon made funny faces while pawing the grass while the Jedi ground her heels into the dirt while blowing a raspberry at them.

The coven guards gasped in horror.

Before long, the duo responsible were thrown in the back of a police wagon pulled by a giant purple-horned worm to be taken to the Conformatorium. Luz looked at the scouts with disappointing eyes under her helmet while King lay back like he wasn't getting locked up.

"It is absolutely ridiculous this plan worked."

"What are you complaining about? It worked, didn't it?"

The paddy wagon transported them through the town up to the Confomatorium. The clones stayed back but followed not far behind. Meanwhile, in another part of town, Amity, Willow, and Gus had gathered together after witnessing the news report by Gus's father.

"If we know anything about Luz. She's going to try and rescue Eda," Willow stated.

"And we'll be there to save her when she needs us," Gus responded.

Amity wasn't so convinced they were needed. "I doubt Luz would need us for backup. I'm more worried about what the clone troopers would do. Luz told me they were bred for war. Something that the Boiling Isles hasn't seen since the savage ages."

Willow understood where Amity was going with this. After seeing Luz's memories and hearing the stories about the Clone Wars from their friend and the clones, not to mention the firepower and fleet they have in the Demon Realm. With all that they have, starting a war with the Emperor's coven would be within their capabilities and experience. Willow had little doubt that they would win against whatever the Covens would throw at them.

"We should still be there for them if they need our help. The question is, what can we do?"

---

Back in the paddy wagon, Luz combed through her hair for her weapon. She had taken a page out of Eda's playbook and stored her lightsaber inside. If the older witch could store a cabinet full of stuff in her mane, why not smuggle a deadly weapon into prison?

Fishing it out and clipping it to her belt, she joins King at their only window to observe her surroundings. From their point of view, they've already passed through most of the residential district with their destination in sight. Rather than going through the area Luz had been in the previous times, they were going to another entrance of the Conformatorium in the form of a long tunnel. Entering it, the two bore witness to the Emperor's many victims. A long line of petrified statues made King gasp and Luz sick. Some of them might have deserved it, but for so many? It was hard to look away as many held faces of pure agony or sad and solemn acceptance of fate. Two guards were setting down a podium with a bronze plaque with a familiar name.

EDALYN CLAWTHRONE

"Don't worry, Luz. We're gonna save Eda before that happens." King said as he held the bar of the wagon to see.

"I know," Luz said as she glared at the podium, determined to not let that be Eda's final resting place.

Her attention shifted towards a recruitment poster for the Emperor's Coven with Lilith on the front, smiling at her. This made Luz madder and more determined than ever to save Eda.

'And maybe I'll get a chance to go another round with the traitorous sister,' Luz thought as she clenched around her lightsaber.

The patty wagon entered the prison as the gates slammed shut behind it before the guard driving it backed them up into a docking spot.

"Mission accomplished, sir. We have apprehended the Owl Lady's human student and pet demon." He said as he looked back, seeing his superior and an Emperor's Coven member standing behind the wagon.

Warden Wrath didn't show it due to his plague mask, but he was delighted by this news! That human that humiliated him and his men at their first encounter and had done so again later in rescuing the Owl Lady when a good samaritan had tricked her in a game.

"Excellent work." Warden Wrath nodded before gazing at the double back doors, laughing a bit.

"Hahahaha. Luz the Jedi, how long have I waited to see you again. Since our first encounter, you have been a stain on my honor, but now, now you'll watch Eda's petrification before facing your own demise, along with your little friend."

Warden Wrath eagerly reached from the double doors and opened, expecting to see Luz's fearful expression, but instead, he was met with a wall of fire blazing at him!

"Aaah!" He screamed as his body was pushed back by the pressure.

"Huh?" The guard said before looking back to the wagon.

"Rah!" Luz screamed as she jumped out of the wagon and slashed him across the chest with her lightsaber.

"Ah!" The coven guard clutched his chest before falling down.

Warden Wrath got back up from the attack. He brushed off some ash from his burnt clothes and turned his hands into long blades. Before he could use them, multiple ice spikes shot from the ground and pinned him against the wall. An edge of plasma appeared by his throat, stopping any further movement. He looked up to the owner of the blade.

"I'll say this only once. Where is Eda the Owl Lady?" Luz demanded.

Warden Wrath felt the ice around him make his body shutter while Jedi's lightsaber brought unneeded warmth. "She's being held in the dungeon. Last holding cell in the south block." Wrath stuttered out.

Luz gave him a scrutinizing gaze before turning her weapon away from him and running to the carriage doors. Pulling the latch and opening the doors, letting her men inside.

"What's the word, commander?" Vultan approached.

"Eda's being held in a holding cell in the lower level on the south side. How accurate is this information? We can only find out for ourselves." Luz riled her men to her and led them further inside. Along the way, they met with light resistance from the other coven guards. Many were caught unaware by them due to quick takedowns by Luz's magic glyphs or the clone's stunners. They left a trail of destruction that reached all the way to their destination.

As the group entered the dungeon proper, Luz could feel the lingering traces of despair left behind by former residents. Feelings of pain and suffering echoed here in the Force. It was strong enough to send a shiver down the young Jedi's spine.

'What dark deeds did these people do here?' Luz thought as she kept her thumb over the activation switch of her lightsaber.

"Commander!"

Luz looked to her left at a clone waving her over.

"I found something you want to see."

Going over to him to another cell block that numbered no more than twelve holding cells. The first cell was inhabited, and Luz was met with a rather unforgettable face of yellow-slitted eyes.

"You...!" It hissed in anger.

Luz took a step back in surprise at who she was seeing. "The Greater Basilisk from the school attack."

The snake creature diminished in size significantly from the last time they met. Probably from when all the magic it stole was released back to its victims, Luz saw back at Hexside. Although it still towered over a clone trooper.

"You know her?" Said Vultan.

"She's that shapeshifter I encountered a while back."

"Surprised to see me again, morsel?" The shapeshifter said with a threatening hiss.

"A little," Luz admitted. "More so that you are still alive. Figured the Coven would execute you for attacking a school." She knew a few worlds that held no issues executing individuals on such charges. The Basilisk huffed in a mixture of annoyance and amusement.

"That's the creature that nearly killed you on the first day of school?" King questioned her adoptive sister. Luz nodded. "I'm with luz, why did they get rid of you?"

"They won't get rid of me. Not after all the time they spent on us." That last word got the party's attention.

"Us?" Vultan clarified.

The clone went over to the next cell and peered inside. What the Captain saw inside alarmed him. "Commander!"

Luz and King went to his side and were shocked by what they saw. Inside the cell was another Basilisk chained by the wrists to the wall. She had sickly green scales, dark navy-blue hair, and was much smaller than her counterpart next door. But what shocked them was the number of injuries and obvious signs of abuse.

Luz sliced her way through and entered the cell by bringing her lightsaber out to the cell bars. The Basilisk inside slowly awoke from outside activity at the weapon's activation. When the sound of metal rods falling to the ground made her snape awake. She looked at the scene and saw Luz step through, making the Basilisk scurry to the wall in a fearful panic. Luz saw that she was making the creature scared of her and took off her helmet to show she wasn't a threat.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm not here to harm you." Luz raised her hands up in a show of non-violence. Eyeing the creature's restraints, an idea hatched. "How about let me take a look at those. Do you want to take off those restraints?"

"Don't listen to her, five!" The other Basilisk shouted. "She's trying to trick you!"

"Five... That is your name?" Luz looked at the Basilisk in confusion. Wondering why for such a name.

"Strange name," she innocently commented.

"Commander." Luz turned away from the snake creature as a clone delivered a clipboard with some paper documents.

"What did you find, trooper?"

"These documents point out differently than what we found in the other prison sections. They don't show up as prisoners with any crimes. Only individual evaluations and random number charts I can't make out." He handed the documents over to her, and Luz looked them over with King peering over her shoulder. Flipping them over, the Jedi came across several line graphs and bar charts. Phrases like "Drainage rate" and "Consumption range" are obviously related to basilisk abilities. But others, like "variants" and "age group differences," were confusing. Overall, it was also familiar, as it was from time on...

"We can't let it see us! I think I know what that is. I've heard about them in a class. It is a Greater Basilisk! My cousin at St. Epiderm said she saw one, but they're supposed to be extinct."

The memory of what Viny said to Luz over a month ago made the Jedi snap her head towards the cowering Basilisk, the chart, and the clones.

"Extinct... They said you all died out, but here you are. Alive but imprisoned." Her words made "Five" stop shivering in fright. Luz pulls out a pick, approaches her again, and takes her wrist restraints. Inserting the pick into the lock, the Jedi took a few moments to work the pick around the keyhole before hearing a satisfying "click," and the restraint fell off.

Five was surprised by this, so much so that the other fell off soon after before she knew what happened. She looked up to see the Jedi's smiling face. "There, that better?"

The Basilisk began to openly cry and pulled Luz in a crushing hug. "Thank you..."

Luz was momentarily taken back by the action but smiled softly before returning the hug in return. Feeling a bit of warmth flowed into her from the act. Breaking the hug, Luz led the Basilisk out of the cell before addressing the clones.

"Send Third squad to free these people and escort them to safety!" Luz looked back to the nervous demon. "Don't worry. These guys will get you out of here and take you somewhere safe."

Five looked surprised at her. "You're not coming with us?"

Luz shook her head. "There's a person trapped here that I've come to care for about to be executed by the covens for my mistakes." She explained. "I won't let her suffer like you have." The demon nodded her head in understanding. But looked uncertain at the clone troopers as they opened the cells of three other Basilisks.

"These are good soldiers. They won't harm you, not unless you wish to harm others."

"What will happen to us? Where will we go?"

"Somewhere that the Covens won't find you so easily and can be at peace." Luz waved a trooper over to help Five out here. King waved goodbye at the magic sucking demon to which she responded with a grateful smile.

Vultan approached her from the side. "We got seven captive basilisks here ready to be taken out."

"Have a squad escort them out. Have any given you any trouble?" Luz asked.

"The first basilisks you talked to openly threatened us if we tried anything harmful against them, but so far, they're cooperating," Vultan reported as he glanced at the clipboard in Luz's hand. "Is that something important?"

"It is, and it sheds a dark light on a few capabilities we were unaware the covens could do," Luz responded and handed him the clipboard. "Spy something familiar?"

Looking over the data presented to him. The clone felt a wave of confusion roll over as he read the charts and notes. Not for what they were but for how familiar they were to him and his brothers.

"They're clones..."

"From a collection of an unknown number of DNA samples," Luz relays her theory. "I was told the basilisk race went extinct. Now they're back, thanks to no small part from the Emperor. If they put enough thought into it, they can make a bunch of magic sucking soldiers at their command if they put together enough funding, capacity, and potential."

"A clone army of demons. That's a scary thought."

"Agreed. These must be a test batch for something important. But I don't think soldiers are what they're looking for." Luz shook her head. "We'll figure this out later. For now we have a mission to complete."

Luz watched as the clones led the basilisks out of the cell block. The one called Five looked at the Jedi in worry while Luz gave a kind smile back. As they left, Luz told the rest to return to their duties. They had a mission to complete. The Jedi led the clones deeper into the dungeon, encountering more guards. Then they reached their destination.

'This is the last holding area on the south side.' Luz thought. She looked at Vultan and the low number of her men. They encountered more wrongfully imprisoned witches along the way. Many having their worst crime of refusing to join a coven. She had sent more of her men to escort them out. Leaving her with Vultan and a single squad of seven troopers.

"Be ready. Eda may not be in a sound state of mind," she warned them. The clones nodded in confirmation. All having been briefed about Eda's cursed form.

They opened the doors, and clones stormed the room as they scanned for hostiles. Seeing no coven scouts or guards anywhere, they could proceed inward into the dungeon. There, they spot their reason for being here.

"Eda?!" Luz and King called out, gaining the creature's attention.

Eda turned her face toward the newcomers, revealing her solid black eyes and snarling fangs. Having never seen this side of the witch, the clones couldn't help but gape at Eda's cursed beast form. They were told her curse changed her body structure to that of a beast, but seeing her like this and the size of a standard air car shocked them. A prime example is that magic can do terrible things to a person. Luz sensed the troopers' discomfort at Eda's current appearance and motioned a hand down at them.

"Steady men, I've got this handled," Luz assured them.

"Whatever you say, Commander," the Captain responded. Trusting his Jedi leader to handle this.

The Owl Beast was struggling against the restraints that held it in place. Luz knew exactly what to do in this situation and quickly took out a light glyph, which usually worked wonders in calming down the beast and allowing Eda to regain control. As soon as the glyph was activated, the beast's solid black eyes locked onto it, transforming into the familiar golden eyes of the Owl Lady. However, her eyes were filled with horror as they looked directly at Luz and King.

"Luz!? King!? Oh no, no, no, no, no! What are you doing here!? You can't be here!" Eda cried in a panic.

"It's okay, Eda, we're here to save you!" Luz smiled.

"Yeah! We even brought Luz's soldiers with us!" King pointed to the men behind them.

"And now that we're here. Let's get you out of that cell." With his pistol out, Vultan approached behind them and shot at the lock. The blaster bolts impacted it but stayed intact. Vultan frowned under his helmet and sent another couple at the lock, only for it to remain intact. "Umm... Commander?"

Luz ignited her lightsaber and sent her blade against the lock, finding the crude safety measure resilient to hot plasma. Turning the weapon against the chains, her weapon bounced off them uselessly. "Okay, this might be a problem."

"These chains were made to block out all kinds of magic. Your weapon won't cut it this time," Eda said solemnly.

"But then what do we do!?" King cried.

"You leave." Eda replied, "Look, kids, I'm grateful you care so much, but you can do nothing. Get your men out and get out of here before you're caught! Belos has got to be expecting you!"

"NO!" Luz said in defiance. "You got captured because I went and stole that magic item for you to rid you of your curse. Speaking of which, why didn't you use it in the first place?!" The Jedi questioned the older witch.

"It's out of magic," Eda told her, much to the Jedi's bewilderment.

'What! but-"

"Well, not out per se, but its original properties have diminished due to not having a few certain rituals to refill those properties. With those being lost to time, I couldn't use it to lift the curse," Eda explained.

"How do you know this?" Asked King.

"I stole that hat from the Healing Coven like twelve years ago, before they moved it into Belos' castle. I tried to pawn it off but lost it in one of my many busts. But that's not important. What are you guys getting out of here!"

"Not an option. Captain, search the room. Find a key to this cage." Luz said, turning and ordering the clone. The clone nodded and directed the others to begin looking. Luz refocused back on Eda. "This whole situation is all my fault! You got captured because you needed to save me!"

"That's not true, Luz!" Eda shook her head as Luz tried using ice glyphs to freeze the magic chains. "Listen to me, both of you. I came here because of my own choices. I opposed Belos and his laws, knowing what would happen. I could have escaped the consequences earlier because of my magical abilities, but now the curse has taken away that privilege."

"We'll figure something out. We always do!" King hopped off Luz's shoulder and ran up and hugged Eda's leg.

Eda gave a sad smile to the little demon and put a claw around him, returning the hug. "Luz, King, that's enough," said the Owl Lady. "I'm sorry it had to end this way, but I accept it. I don't regret the life I've led. I lived freely and had the pleasure of meeting both of you. And for a while we were even like a family, a dysfunctional weirdo one, but one I found happiness in." She smiled at her children and then sighed sadly. "But I can't protect you. If you stay, you'll be caught, and I'd rather turn to stone than see either of you fall into Belos' clutches."

"Luz, you showed me things that have opened my eyes to a whole new galaxy outside the one world I know. You have given me memories and moments I would cherish for a lifetime." Her words touched the Jedi in a way she never knew could happen. Eda grabbed the little demon and held him close. "King, in the beginning, I treated you more like a pet than anything, later as a roommate. These last few months, I began to see you as the son I never had."

Luz and King stared at her with tear-filled eyes and grief-stricken faces. It broke Eda's heart to see them like this, but she was doing this for their sake. Stuffing that feeling down, Eda did what she had to do; "Luz, do you have the portal key?"

"It's secured aboard my ship. Belos will need a fleet and army to get it." Luz said confidently.

"Good, Belos wants it for something. I don't know what for, but all the better if it stays out of his hands."

As Luz was about to respond, a loud siren went off, causing everyone to startle. She was afraid that they had triggered an alarm, but it turned out to be the siren announcing the beginning of the petrification process. Suddenly, a trap door opened on the ceiling, and Eda's cage rose towards it.

"EDA!" Luz and King cried together. The two jumped on the rising platform in a vain effort to slow it down. "Captain the key?!"

"It's not here!" Vultan called back.

"I'm sorry. Goodbye, Luz, King. I love you both." Eda said tearfully before pushing the two off as she and her cage disappeared through the ceiling door.

Luz fell to a knee and punched the ground in frustration as King weakly asked, "What do we do now?"

"We aren't giving up just yet. There is still time to rescue Eda." Luz got up and was prepared to order the men when the dungeon doors opened, revealing the Head Witch Lilith.

"Drat, I'm too late." Lilith spotted that her sister had already been raised up to be petrified. "Well, at least I found you, human," Lilith said, turning her attention to Luz and stopping between Luz and the door. Lilith heard a few clicking sounds and suddenly found herself surrounded by a squad of clones with Vultan leading them. All of them with their weapons raised up and ready to execute her. "I should have expected you here as well."

"Lilith Clawthorn." Luz turned to face the head of the Emperor's Coven as she addressed her. She ignited her blue blade, feeling a sense of foreboding as she saw Lilith standing nearby, seemingly carefree despite her sister's impending fate. The sight of Lilith's nonchalance stirred a dark feeling in Luz's chest. Lilith raised a brow at the human addressing her. "You have caused much grief to not only many of this world but to your own family..." Luz got in her signature stance. "For all those that have suffered by your hands, we will take you down!"

That was cued by the clone's open firing at the head witch. Lilith quickly cast a shield that created a bubble around herself. Bolts of plasma impacted the transparent blue bubble, each making a ripple effect but leaving the user unharmed. She held the shield up as the clones didn't let up in their attack.

"Hold on! I just want to talk!" Lilith called out, unable to retaliate while her defenses were up. But Luz wasn't having any of it.

"Talk to the glyph, witch!" Luz responded by slapping an ice glyph to the ground, forcing an ice block to shoot up from under the older witch's feet. Lilith canceled her spell as the ice forced her off her feet. She jumped and rolled towards the nearest clone trooper before bashing away his weapon with her staff. Followed by knocking him over with a thrust to the chest. With one down, Lilith ducked away as two more clones advanced on her, guns blazing for a lucky shot. Lilith sent a magic wave of kinetic energy that sent the two flying back against the wall.

A war cry drew her attention, and she looked to see Vultan using his jetpack to fly straight at her. He got in close and delivered a solid right haymaker connected to the head witch's jaw. Lilith's head whipped to the side, and she swore she felt her jaw bone crack. Vultan landed and twisted his body around while using his J-12 pack to stick the landing with a slick slide before continuing to engage Lilith in close combat. Lilith held her staff up to defend herself, but the clone got low below her guard and delivered a two-punch uppercut to her abdomen. Lilith was unprepared for the clone's sudden strikes and gasped as she lost her breath. She tried to back peddle away from the attacking clone, but the veteran clone was too quick, grabbing her and tossing her to the ground. The clone went to finish her off with an overextended fist to the face. Lilith rolled away at the last moment, missing the clone's attack. Making a hastily drawn spell, she launches a concussive wave that sends the clone captain away.

Lilith thumbs a trail of blood off her lower lip. "You are good soldiers. But there is a reason I made head witch!"

"Not for long!" Luz shouted.

Lilith looks to see Luz coming down with her lightsaber in a downward swing on her. A small blue shield appeared at the end of her staff to counter the lightsaber. She spun the magic staff around and blocked a trio of side strikes. Luz pushed her attack, returning her weapon; she charged into a thrust but was moved away.

"Please stop this pointless fight!" Lilith then used magic to lift herself out of the Jedi's reach. That turned out to be a mistake, for she was suddenly stopped by an unknown force. Which levitated her up in the air. And turned her around. Telekinesis. The shock was apparent across her face.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Are you performing-?! Oh, right, you've used this power before..."

"No, it's obviously a light spell," Luz mocked her before sending her to the wall behind her, onto a table, and then a pillar, and finally head first to the ground. "When are people ever gonna stop underestimating me."

Lilith groaned at the slight pain throughout her body. Getting her hands under her, she pushed herself up to a knee. There, she was met with a blue lightsaber in her face. Luz readily stood to deliver the ultimate mercy with her remaining troops behind her with their weapons raised.

"Feeling bad? Good, because you are about to feel real bad, nerf hurter."

"After all the pain I caused. It's what I deserve..." Lilith admitted.

Her confession made Luz pause any further action as she looked over the witch. Reaching out to the Force, she felt only sadness, pity, and a large amount of guilt. But even feeling that. Luz held a lot of doubt about this, but the last words of her late master echoed softly in the back of her head.

"...If you believe that, why did you do all this? Why did you curse your sister?" Luz asked as Lilith leaned up, ignoring the pain she received.

"Edalyn and I were the closest of friends when we were young girls. We always dreamed of joining the Emperor's Coven, hoping to bring peace and justice to the Isles and make the world a better place. Edalyn, despite being younger than me, was equally powerful and wanted to stand by my side. Unfortunately, we soon found out that there was only one spot left at the coven tryouts, which created a problem for both of us."

"So all this because you wanted to join the covens more than your sister!?" Luz said, feeling her anger build up.

"No! I mean, yes, it's true, but not in the way you might think. Edalyn put in twice as much effort as I did, and I was afraid that she would be chosen for the position instead of me. It was in that moment that I recalled something that Emperor Belos always said: 'To achieve greatness, sacrifices must be made.'"

"And what a sacrifice you've made. It only costs you your sister's future and happiness with a one-lifetime curse." Vultan stated. He had gotten up and approached them with his pistol drawn.

"That wasn't supposed to happen! It wasn't part of the plan. I thought it would only render her magicless for a day, and the next day at the tryouts, Eda forfeited the match before it started. Then she first transformed..." Lilith breathed in to calm her nerves as the memories of that day haunted her nightmares for years. "The students and members of the coven rejected her and called her a monster. I tried to follow and comfort her, but I wasn't able to. Instead, I was accepted into the coven and worked hard to become its head. I made a deal with the Emperor, promising that if I could capture Edalyn, he would cure her, and she would become my co-head in the coven. However, the Emperor lied to me and did not keep his end of the bargain."

"So the horn head was never going to agree to curing Eda. Used you for his own ends." Vultan deduced while Luz stayed silent as she listened, feeling like whatever negotiations she would have in the future wouldn't be that beneficial.

Lilith bowed her head and confessed, "I was in utter shock when I realized that I have been foolish all these years. I want to correct my mistakes and save Edalyn, but I know I can't do it alone. I need help."

"Now, here is where we are at an impasse. Even if I AGREE to work with you, how would I know to TRUST you?" Luz asked with narrowed eyes.

"Because of these," Lilith said as she drew a large spell circle.

Summoned to her hands, Lilith offered Luz something she knew would gain the human's trust. Eda's staff and palisman, Owlbert! Lilith holds them out for Luz to take.

"Owlbert! You're alright!" Luz said as she deactivated her weapon and took the staff and palisman, holding them close. "I'm so glad you're safe, buddy." Owlbert awoke to see he was in Luz's arms, hooting in glee as he snuggled into her cheek.

"And that's not all," Lilith said as she reached into her back pocket. "I believe this belongs to you."

Vultan and his squad raised their weapons at her movement.

Luz looked and was pretty surprised to see HER lightsaber in Lilith's hand.

"My lightsaber!" Luz said. She put Owlbert on her shoulder before taking it. Looking it over, she thumbed the activation switch, and its yellow blade shot out like she had seen it done a million times over. "You kept them?"

"Belos ordered them to be destroyed. I disobeyed him."

Luz internally debated what she had been told and given. Looking over her lightsaber and thinking about her offer, Luz shared a glance with Vultan and Owlbert. The clone shrugged his shoulder while the palisman nodded. Seeing the silent debate has ended, Luz deactivates her weapon before clipping it to her belt.

"Listen carefully, Lilith. Although this may seem like a kind gesture, it does not necessarily mean I suddenly trust you. The only thing we have in common at this moment is our desire to save Eda." Luz summed up the matter. "If you truly committed to leaving your current employers to save your sister. I will allow you to join us."

"I understand your concerns, and I thank you for them. Know that your faith will not be misplaced." Lilith bowed her head before turning to the door. "Follow me. I know a shortcut that will get us close to Eda's location."

As Lilith exited the dungeon, Vultan spoke. "You sure about this, Commander?"

"Nope," Luz replied bluntly. "But right now, she's our only lead. If Lilith is genuinely committed to saving Eda, we go for it. If not... Keep your blaster ready." She said before they left to save Eda. Lilith kept her promise and guided them through a shortcut. Before they knew it, they found themselves in a dimly lit corridor, surrounded by numerous angel statues, each one entangled in strange, fleshy tendrils or intestines of the Titan. The sight made Luz question more about the landmass of a corpse they all live on, but put those thoughts away for another time.

They soon reached a circular stone platform in the room's center.

"This platform will take you to the stage where Edalyn is being kept. If I'm right, you get to her right before petrification begins." Lilith said as she gestured to it.

"Good to know, Lilith," Luz said as she and company looked at it. "But what will you do after this?"

Lilith looked down with uncertainty. "I'll stay here... at least for a time. The Emperor broke his promise to me. I will start training a successor and then leave. There is little left in the covens for me anymore."

They approached the platform, but halfway in the room, Luz stopped dead. The Force was trying to warn her about something. That something was recognizable by the clones.

"What is it, commander?" Vultan said as he tightened his grip on his weapons.

A stray thought entered Luz's mind as years of military experience returned as she took another hard look at the platform. "Lilith, you sure this leads up to Eda?" she said in a neutral tone.

Lilith and King looked taken back by her emotionless voice but to the clones present. But to the clones, it was clear that something was wrong, and they silently clicked off their weapons safeties.

"Yes, I'm sure of it."

"Then wouldn't someplace like this be guarded?" The other got her meaning and brought their guard up. Luz looked around the room, at every corner and dark spot. Until they snapped forward and felt a dark and toxic presence. Before Luz could voice a warning, a fleshy tendril grabbed Lilith's leg and pulled her away!

"Ahhhh!" Lilith screamed as she was suddenly dragged away.

"Lilith!" Luz shouted.

Another one wrapped around King and pulled him away as well!

"WYEH!" He screamed!

"King!" Luz screamed at him!

Vultan looked down and saw a tendril come for him next. He activates his jetpack to get away while firing his pistols at the approaching foe. Two other clones followed their Captain's example and fled to escape their attackers, but the others were quickly apprehended.

Following her captured friends, Luz saw Lilith, King, and a few captured clones dragged up near the ceiling before they were suspended on either side of the far wall. As the fires below them illuminate the scene, a remarkable sight comes into view: a skull-shaped throne on which Belos sits, holding a strange metal staff with a red orb and a white-gold wing.

"Aw, Lilith. It saddens me that you've chosen the wrong side." Belos said to her.

Not even looking at them, he sent his captives to the same platform where they held Eda.

Luz and her remaining troopers watched helplessly as their comrades disappeared.

"Hello... Jedi. I'd like a word with you." Belos said from his throne.

---

Up at Eda's execution platform, Eda looks up in shock as Lilith and several of Luz's clone troopers get thrown into her cage. She might have pounced on her sister if it weren't for them being there. "What the heck is going on?"

Beast Eda felt something wrap around her leg. Looking down, she saw it was King. "Belos found us and is confronting Luz!" King said.

"Oh no!" Eda was now more worried and sent a murderous glare at her sister. "Lilith, this is all your fault."

Eda was ready to tear her sister a new one. She really wanted to, but stayed her claws as there were more important things to worry about. The beast turned to the clones. "What plan did Luz have for getting me out of here?"

Across the courtyard, the news of Eda's petrification was being broadcast, "This is Perry Porter coming to you live from outside the Emperor's Castle, where a shocking new update has happened. Lilith Clawthorn, Head Witch of the Emperors Coven, is now seen in the holding cage. Along with four other armored figures and a strange cat."

Perry's arm sleeve was grabbed and pulled down where Gus was. "Augustus? I'm live."

"Dad, you have to stop this!" Gus said to his father, which was broadcast to all the Isles. Before the older witch could respond, Willow took his microphone away.

"What is happening isn't right! Eda may have done some things that didn't always go with the rules, but nothing to warrant petrification." Willow's words echoed against something within the crowd.

The crowd then began to murmur as a few voiced their thoughts to one another. Many had known the Owl Lady over the years. She was a wild witch, a con artist, and a crazy potion brewer. She was wanted by the covens with an absurd bounty of multiple misdemeanors. The one big thing against Eda was her never joining a coven.

"Let Eda go! Let Eda go!" Gus began to chant.

The chant was instantly infectious as the crowd and a few began to chant. It wasn't long before more chanted along. Making many of the coven scouts along the perimeter worry.

---

Back down below, Luz stood ready while the remaining clones trained their weapons at Belos.

"Ah, now then, would you dismiss your soldiers, human? I would like to have a word with you alone." Belos said with a finger up.

Luz's mind raced around at the situation she was in. Realizing she needed to buy time, she tilted her head back toward Vultan. "Captain, double back and get topside. This is beyond your ability to help." Luz ordered.

"Commander?" Vultan warned, not taking his guns off Belos.

"Go! Remember the plan," Luz reminded him.

Vultan tilted his helmet toward Luz. He gave a brief nod before signaling his brothers back out but not taking his eyes for the horn head leader till they were out. Leaving just the two alone in the room.

Belos watched them leave with a bit of interest. "It's hard work to find good help these days."

Luz didn't respond. Instead, she was putting up blocks to shield her mind from any mind assaults the dark being may throw. She had long heard that this guy was the most powerful witch on the planet. If so, then that leaves little chance that Belos may know something about oracle magic. Luz also took Owlbert and hid him in her armor. Not wanting him to get retaken before taking hold of her lightsaber. Luz understood she was not a master of Jar'Kai, but having an extra lightsaber on hand should give her an edge.

"Now, down to business," Belos rose from his seat.

"Couldn't agree more!" Luz activated her yellow and blue lightsabers and rushed toward the tyrant. She made a double sideswipe at him at his torso. Only to miss as his whole body just... melts away from her strike!

"Aw! you wish to play?"

Luz spun around with her guard up as Belso reformed back to his former self.

"I've got time to play. But...let's make things fair between us." Belos raises his staff and clicks a mechanism on its side. Luz's eyes widen in surprise as the staff slides into itself, the single-wing attachment flipped upside down and covering his hand while the red orb opens up and reseeds into the mechanical staff, followed by the crystal it housed.

When it was complete, Luz became afraid as a RED blade shot out from on top.

"What's that matter? I thought you wanted to fight?" Belos taunted as he held the lightsaber loosely to the side.

Luz knew what a red blade meant in all her years of fighting, but this was the first time she saw one in person. Seeing Luz could only mutter one word.

"Sith..."

That sprung Belos into action. For a man of his stature, he moved surprisingly quick. Covering a distance of ten meters in nearly two seconds. Belos came in hard with an overhead chop on Luz, quickly blocked, but staggered back at how much power the tyrant put into it. Darting forward, Luz's Lightsabers flared into life as she brought hers down towards Belos, only for his red-bladed lightsaber to come between them.

"Ah. So there is some fire with you," Belos said before lashing out with his knee, smacking Luz in the chest and catching her off guard.

Fending off another attack, Luz tried to get back on the offensive by swinging her second blade at Belos' leg, only for the Sith to lift his leg over it, converting the motion into another kick to Luz's shin, sending the Jedi sprawling to the ground.

Luz recovered by rolling away and sweeping her blades around in a 180-degree spin. Doing so would stop any advance Belos would do. But the Ruler didn't and instead stood his ground. Waiting for Luz to get back on her feet.

Snarling, Luz darted forward, spinning her lightsaber around so the blade was along his arm. As she had predicted, Belos moved to block the blade of the lightsaber, but the blade was not the only part of the weapon.

With a grunt, Luz slammed the rear of the blade into Belos' chest, the blunt force finally stopping any offensive, forcing him to stagger backward, and Luz bore down on him. Until she was frozen in place by red magic.

'What?! No way!' Luz thought as she saw Belos hold up a single finger with a spell circle the side of a grape over it. He then flicks it away, just like throwing Luz into the air.

Luz hits the ground but uses the momentum to roll herself back to her feet. Using two fingers, she grabbed a fire glyph from her pocket, activated it, and launched a fireball at Belos.

The tall witch made a casual swipe across the air before him. Just as the fire reached him, it parted in two, leaving him harmless.

"Hmmm... I was expecting more." Belos pointed his weapon at Luz. Out from around him, a multitude of fleshy hands popped from the floor around him and lunged for the Jedi. Luz slashed the first few that came near her but was backpedaling away as they multiplied with each passing second. Luz pivoted to the left, extending both arms with the blades pointed out, and swung her lightsaber around, creating a brilliant whirlwind.

Reverse handling both lightsabers, Luz reaches, pulls out two ice glyphs from her pockets, and slams them on the ground under her. An ice platform forms and rises under her high above the fleshy claws. At the height of the platform, Luz jumps with a summersault towards Belos.

"Aaaah!" Luz screamed as she brought the lightsabers down, intending to split Belos in three. Belos just stands there before disappearing from sight as a giant worm-like creature appears under him with its mouth open wide!

"WHHAAAAAH!" Luz's scream turned to one of panic. She could do nothing as it swallowed her whole.

The worm flopped on the floor. Then it started seizing before it dropped on its back. Two lightsaber blades poked out of its belly before being sliced open. Luz popped out, covered in gore and intestine.

"Of all... the things I've done. That... was straight nasty." Luz huffed as she moved herself out of the monster.

"Getting tired, human? Just when I thought we were having fun." Belos said from the darkness, teasing Luz.

Luz looked at her surroundings but could not see Belos. Was he using magic to hide in the shadows? Luz held her guard up as she looked for him while her mind raced to comprehend who or what she was dealing with.

Was Belos an actual Sith Lord? He had a red lightsaber and was using darkness to mask his presence. Plus, how he said "Jedi" sounded like he knew about them personally. Much of what he's done and what she heard made her think of just that.

"Getting distracted, are we?"

Danger crept from behind her, and she moved to-

"Too slow." A lightsaber swept before her and impacted the emitter on her blue-bladed lightsaber. Luz dropped the now useless lightsaber and brought her other to attack.

Luz moved to quickly strike at Belos without giving him a chance to react further. While Belos developed a defensive tactic of catching and redirecting Luz's attacks away before returning a slashing attack. Luz moved away from another attack before procuring a plant glyph and unleashing a garden's worth of vines at the Emperor. The Emperor swung his blade upwards, and a column of stone shot up, blocking the plant attack. Having lost sight of her opponent, Luz rushes to the side to regain view of him, only to see him disappear again. Biting back a few Hutt curses, the Jedi swept the area for danger.

'Disappearing trick again? He has to be here somewhere. I just have to focus. Focus.' Luz thought as she took a deep breath, calming her racing heartbeat and stretching her senses in the Force. 'There!'

Luz took one step back and revered her body, bringing her saber in an underhand attack that intercepted Belo's coming blade. Putting the two in a deadlock

"You deduced where I would come next. Impressive." Belos said. He broke the deadlock and summoned another rock pillar from the ground, this one coming up right under Luz, catching her in her belly and throwing her into the air.

"Ahahh!" Luz screamed as she flipped through the air before landing inappropriately against the ground. Luz clenched her stomach from the pain before pushing herself up on her feet. Owlbert popped out of her cloak and hopped on her shoulder.

"Hoot! Hoot!" Owlbert hooted in concern.

"Yeah, I'm getting the sense that running sounds like a good idea," Luz wheezed as she got to one knee.

A chilling laugh filled the hall.

"Such spirit, girl," Belos said as he appeared before Luz. "I would say you would be perfect for my coven if you renounced your ways of a wild witch, but I know that is unlikely to happen."

"Yeah... sounds about right." Luz stood up on shaky knees. She was getting beat bad. Hopefully, she gave Vultan and the others the time to rescue Eda. "Among other things that are sure we don't agree on."

The two stared down at one another. Waiting for the other to make the first move. When neither did...

"It appears that we have started our interaction in an unfavorable way. Let us change that." Belso raises his lightsaber and turns back to its staff form.

Luz eyes the weapon before shutting off her lightsaber but keeps it in hand. Reaching out with the other, she pulls back the destroyed remains of her other weapon. She gives it a brief look before putting it away.

"Apologies for that. It has been some time since I was challenged in such a way and went a tad overzealous." Belos said as he walked around Luz, using the lightsaber/staff as a walking stick. "Although you may perceive me as a tyrant or even a monster, in reality, I am simply a humble messenger of the Titan. I am merely a puppet carrying out his will. In the grand scheme of things, I understand that the lives of both the Owl Lady and myself are insignificant."

Belos halted his pacing, turning to Luz with his piercing blue eye.

Belos leaned down towards Luz and spoke, "Your arrival was never part of the Titan's plan, but that doesn't matter now. What's important is that you have something that I need, and I have something you need. It's a simple trade that will benefit everyone. If you give me the portal to the human realm, I will allow you to save your friends."

"Now, why do I find that hard to believe?" Luz responded.

Before Belos could answer, a painful scream was heard from above.

"AHHHHH!"

"The ceremony has started. You don't have much time to save your mentor, and I can guess what you're thinking. You might believe that we want to invade the human realm, but the will of the Titans is not so crude," Belos announced, turning away from Luz. "Tick, tock, Jedi. Time is running out, human. Make your choice, or the Owl Lady won't survive."

Then, to Belos' surprise, Luz smiled.

"How about I go with option three?" Luz lifted her gauntlet and pressed down on her communicator, making it flash red.

---

In the forest near the Emperor's castle, Clone troopers of Predator company had set up an artillery battery of four AV-7 Mobile Cannons. And they were aimed at the Emperor's castle.

Oak had landed with his men and set up the artillery battery in record time. Now, all they were doing was waiting for the signal to start.

"BEEB! BEEP!"

Oak looked at his wrist-mounted comms and nodded. "That's the signal! Commence the attack!" He ordered his men

Several AT-TEs marched out of the tree line with their infantry support. Their mass-driver-cannons took aim before firing at the castle. Their 20-pound shells soared through the air before impacting against the castle walls, shattering rock and stone. From around, the QRF companies road out on their speeder bikes in open formations, each with a rider and a jetpack trooper passenger.

The Coven garrison was caught unaware of the incoming attack. Many were already at their posts due to the importance of the petrification ceremony that day, but they were not prepared for this level of assault.

In one tower, a captain ran up the steps up to the watch tower to the observers.

"What's happening?! Who's attacking?" A scout captain called out.

"Several giant steel beasts are attacking us from the tree line to the south. They are launching ranged attacks at us. Along with a calvary of fast-moving vehicles heading towards us." The scout reported.

"It's a full assault!" The Captain sweated nervously at the situation. He pulled out a pocket mirror communicator. "Control! Get witches out here and raze the magic shield!"

A dozen scouts formed up at the battlements. They unleashed a spell together that shot out into the sky. A moment later, they created a purple shield covering the whole castle. The Republic shells impacted hard against the magic shield, straining the users into putting more magic into their creation. Already, small cracks were showing.

The speeders made it to the shield wall and stopped before it.

"Is this thing ray shielded?" One clone asked.

"How about you test that, Dash. See how that goes," one clone rider said.

"No way I'm touching that death trap."

"Just be ready to fight when it comes down," the sergeant announced.

---

Up on the hill, Oak saw this through his binocs. "The shield is cracking. Fire the main cannons!"

The AV-7s lined up together and fired their heavy artillery shells. They sailed through the air before impacting against the magic protection spell, causing greater cracks to form. The scouts that performed the spell cried out from the backlash. More scouts came together to reinforce the shield.

"What in Titan's name are they using?!" A scout said as he felt his magic burning within him. "We need reinforcements!"

A few moments before the attack, in Petrification Square, the crowd gets louder in their demands to let Eda go. So much so that the Coven Guards were getting nervous and formed a perimeter between the people and the execution platform. The crowd was stunned when the petrification started and heard the Owl Lady's screams. Within the crowd, many closed groups got word of the signal.

They grouped up and launched themselves out of the crowd, cloaks falling off as they soar. The clones raced over the people before tackling the Coven enforcers, some even to the ground. This caught many by surprise as more than a few received a buttstock to the face, while others were hit with stun shots.

The citizens of the Boiling Isles who witnessed this, either there, on their scroll or crystal ball, were quickly taken back by the sight of flying armored soldiers attacking the Emperor's Coven. Some recognized them from Hexside and during Grom, but many were left speculating.

Who were these soldiers?

---

Back inside, Luz smiled as she felt Belos' questioning gaze. Then, the sound of fighting could be heard from outside. The Boiling Isles Ruler looked up before they returned to the Jedi, who spotted a cocky smile.

"What did you just do?" asked Belos.

"Retaliation, I guess you can call it." Luz held her hand up as Owlbert turned into his staff form. "Truthfully, Eda Clawthorn is an ally and under my protection. She's done so much good for me and others around her that rescuing her was a no-brainer. This rescue was going to be a one-and-done sort of thing. Starting a war with the Boiling Isles was never an option I was planning to pursue. But seeing you and witnessing your true colors, I know what must be done."

"Do you think the other Jedi from your order would approve of you starting wars? Do you think you could stand up to the might of the Titan's chosen?" Belos challenged.

"No. The council wouldn't approve." Owlbert's wing spread out before Luz sat on and floated up. "They would be disappointed by my actions. They would dismiss my methods and possibly strip me of my rank and position. I could even be exiled from the order."

"Then why continue this fight?" Belos inquired as he readied his weapon. "And you still haven't given your answer."

"I didn't bring the portal with me. I would be an idiot if I did. No, it's somewhere beyond your reach. As for why I fight? Well... I'm still figuring that out myself. So till then…Gun it, magic stick!" Luz kicked off Owlbert and raced into the air.

Belos looked at the fleeing Jedi and tapped his staff hard against the stone floor, making an echo across the room. Out from the ground came a multitude of fleshy claws, tentacles, and other monster appendages. All went and reached for the fleeing Jedi.

Luz flew fast and didn't dare look back as she felt the Force scream, "Danger!" chasing her. So she focused her attention forward toward the open sky. Flying through the opening, Luz got a good look at her surroundings. She spotted what had to be the device used to petrify people: a statue of three weeping angels with active green eyes. The device was active towards Eda's cage. Eda was using her big beastly body to shield Lilith, King, and the four clones and showed signs of her body turning to stone.

Luz quickly pulled out her glyphs and threw a few activated plant glyphs at the statue's base. Vines sprouted and took hold of it before squeezing, breaking a few pieces off. The damages caused the petrification statute to shut down, canceling the ceremony.

Kikimora saw all this and was flabbergasted. "What is going on?!"

Her answer came in the form of a Lightsaber activating right by her head. Looking at the yellow blade, the short demon trailed it back to her owner, Luz. Who stood ready to slice her head off.

"Release them," the Jedi demanded.

Kikinora didn't need to think twice about this. She cast a spell that caused Eda's cage to open, revealing the occupants. The captive clones took security positions around them as Luz went next to Lilith and King, who were looking over a semi-petrified Eda.

"How bad is she?" Luz asked the former Head Witch.

"The spell was incomplete. I can reverse it, but I will need a minute," Lilith explained.

"You heard her. Give the witch a minute!" Luz ordered her troops.

And not a moment too soon as several coven scouts appeared on the battlements above. They aimed crossbows down on them and started raining iron bolts from above. Some hit the clones, but their armor held and deflected off their shots. The clones responded by firing back with their blasters while Luz could fight back, but she could defend Lilith and King with her lightsaber, so that's what she did.

Some scouts took hits to the head and fell over dead, while others ducked in cover in fear of the enemy's superior firepower.

"What are they using to shoot us with?" One scout shouted to another.

"I don't know! Maybe some new weapons from BlightTech?" The other scout replied. He shot another bolt only for it to deflect off the enemy's armor. "Our crossbows aren't cutting it. Use spells!"

A scout set his weapon aside before drawing up a spell circle. But before the spell was cast, a blue plasma bolt impacted him in the back. Killing him. The other scouts turned to see three more enemy soldiers had come up from an open door at the end of the wall.

"Where did you come from?!" One scout shouted in surprise. His answer came in the form of another plasma bolt to the chest, ending his life. The others tried to flee but were quickly gunned down.

Seeing no more enemies, the clone looked over the battlements to see their objective. "There you are, Commander!"

Luz saw the familiar helmet and smiled. "About time, Vultan. I was getting worried you may have gotten lost."

"We did! This place is a maze." Vultan replied. He and his two troopers activated their J12s and flew down to their position. He looked at Lilith using magic to rid Beast Eda of her stone state. "Will she be safe to transport?"

"I'll fly out of here myself if I have to!" Beast Eda replied groggily as Lilith finished undoing the stone progress.

"Eda! Are you okay?" Luz asked her as the stone covering her faded away, allowing Eda to open her eyes to Luz.

"Yeah, kid. I'm as good as I can be." Eda said, slightly sober in her cursed form.

The cursed witch got up on all fours and shook herself, getting her body up and ready. Eda bent a wing down for Luz. "Come on, let's fly!"

Lus, King, and Lilith hopped on Eda's back before taking to the air. The clones activated their packs and followed behind.

"Amity!" Willow said as she saw Amity beginning to leave.

"Where are you going?!" Gus asked.

"To see Luz!" She said, pushing through the crowd to get to the Owl House. The two friends shared a glance before following.

Cut to Kikimora glaring after them until Emperor Belos walks out.

Kikimora bowed. "My liege!

Emperor Belos walks to the edge of the roof before addressing the crowd. "Children of the Isles. The Titan has told me to spare the Owl Lady's life, but in return, her curse will strip away all her powers. Let her monstrous form be a lesson about the dangers of wild magic. As for the invaders who have attacked us. Plans of retaliation are being put in place to fight this new threat to our home."

"All units! The mission was a success. Pull back and head to your rally points!" Luz ordered over her wrist comm.

In other theaters, the order was heard, and the clones either retreated from the field or began to pack up. Dropships and transports swooped in and picked up both man and equipment. They did so with such quickness and efficiency. Before the Emperor's coven members knew it, the attack had stopped, and the enemy was gone. Leaving a ruined castle in their wake.

After a short flight, Eda crashed on the front dirt road before the owl house as everyone got off while the clones landed nearby. Luz throws her helmet off and crouches to the witch's side.

"Eda!" Luz said in worry, checking on her as Eda breathed heavily.

"She must be exhausted from both the ceremony and the flight," Lilith said as she looked over Eda's condition.

"Don't worry, Eda. I'll run and get you some elixir and—

"No, human. No amount of elixir can heal her now." Lilith interrupted. She grabbed Eda's face and gazed into her eyes. "I am so sorry, sister, for all of it. I am sorry for not doing this a long time ago."

Lilith shut her eyes and placed their foreheads together.

"With this spell declared, let the pain be shared," Lilith said before a wave of magic overcame them, lifting them into the air.

Luz, King, and the clones backed away in awe as they watched the spectacle happen.

In mere moments, Eda's body returned to normal before she and Lilith descended back to the ground. The Clawthorne sister had their eyes shut before they opened them and gazed at each other.

"Eda! You're back to normal!" Luz said as the sisters looked at her, letting everyone see the after-effects of the spell.

Eda and Lilith had undergone some minor changes in their appearances. They now both had Heterochromia iridium, meaning they had different colored eyes. Eda's right eye was gold, while her left eye was gray. On the other hand, Lilith's right eye was gray, and her left eye was aquamarine. Eda's gem color had changed from bright amber to pitch black as if she was in her cursed form. Lilith now had a streak of gray hair on her right side, while Eda had a new streak of white hair on her left.

''Eda!" Eda laughed as Luz and King ran and hugged her as Lilith watched with a smile.

"What about your magic?" Luz asked.

Eda pulled back to test her magic, drawing a small spell circle, only for it to shatter into small pieces and fall to the ground.

"That's a no. It'll take some time to get used to this."

"I feel that I've been weakened as well," Lilith said, holding one of her own hands.

"Guess that means you'll have to figure things out like the rest of us," Vultan stated as he joined the conversation.

"It's okay. I can teach you what I know, and what we don't know, we can learn together." Luz puts a light glyph in Eda's hand. Eda activates it, looking shocked that it worked. The ball of light floats into the night sky.

"Thanks, kid. I look forward to learning from you." Eda said while giving Luz a side hug.

"What do we do with her, Commander?" Vultan turns his head to Lilith. The Clawthorn sister looks a bit concerned at the stares the clones give her but also confused.

"I assure you I am not a threat. Also, Commander? Edalyn, since when did you hold a military rank?" Lilith asked her sister.

The wild witch barked a laugh. "That's not me, Lily. That's Luz's. These are her soldiers."

Luz rolled her eyes at Lilith's sudden disbelief. "It is a long story that I will tell later. But my Captain raises a valid point." Luz approached Lilith. "You helped us today in our mission to rescue Eda. But one good thing doesn't outweigh years of wrong. I should follow protocol and throw you in a cell on my ship's brig..."

"Luz..." Eda said worriedly. This made the Jedi eye-roll at the woman.

"But some parties will think that would be too much. So! I let this slide and have you under house arrest for an undetermined time that can be set for your release." Luz gives Eda a flat stare. "That's three you owe me for?"

"You're keeping count?" Eda said playfully.

"Luz!"

The group looked to see Amity, Willow, and Gus running toward them.

"Guys? What are you all doing-" Luz was cut off by Amity. Who lunged forward and grabbed Luz by her collar straps before shaking the poor Jedi silly.

"Luz Noceda, do you know how worried I was?! Your little operation saving Eda has gotten many people thinking you've started a war. How do you think I feel knowing my girlfriend was going to battle against the Emperor's coven?!" The green-haired witch chastises her Jedi girlfriend.

"I-I-I'm S-s-sorr-y-y." Luz said in between shakes. When the shaking stopped. It allowed Luz a moment of reprieve. "Amity, I'm sorry. With Eda getting captured, I wasn't-"

Luz's speech was stopped when she felt soft flesh pressed up against her lips. She realized Amity's face had gotten really close to hers. It was quickly discovered that Amity was kissing her, and made the Jedi's brain stall. Luz felt like flying, like the Force lifted her up. When Amity parted, she felt a funny tingling sensation in her lips from the contact.

Then, the realization hit them.

'I/She kissed her/me!'

The Jedi and Witch both turned into blushing meshes. All the way, Eda and the clones were wolf-whistling and howling at the two. While the rest of the group watched them with amused faces.

---

"I haven't done this in a while. Didn't have a need to before, but it might be best to get the habit back up. Okay, here we go.

It's been over 92 days since the fall of the Republic and the destruction of the Jedi Order. Having escaped the world of Kashyyyk and landed in another world full of witches and demons. Quite the surprise for me too. Doubt that any of the surviving council members would believe me if I told them without hard proof. It's not like it would matter anymore. Here, I've met the most unlikely companion.

Eda Clawthorn, AKA The Owl Lady.

A cheap con artist, a scandal, a criminal, and one of the weirdest people I've ever met. But I couldn't imagine a better friend to help me in my time of need. Her help and access to a portal door that led to her world and could be used to go to others if you knew what to do had saved my life from being killed by my troops. And eventually, save those same soldiers from themselves. How funny life can be, right?

With Eda's help and a team of rogue clones, we were eventually able to save the men of the 3rd and steal a multitude of equipment and ships. Eda even helped bring everything we stole to the Demon Realm. Force, did I ever come to love magic.

And that's not even half the shit we've got into!

Probably the most thankful was her helping me do a raid on the Jedi Temple and steal all those Lightsabers from being destroyed. I could only hope their owners were at peace with the Force and grateful for our efforts.

And finally, to end this report. Another thing to worry about is one of the current ruling bodies. The Emperor's Coven, led by one Empoer Belos.

His coven are few in numbers but supposed to be the best witch kind has to offer. I have yet to see that as they fall quickly to blaster fire. But the real danger is Belos himself. His magic and power are not to be underestimated. What's more is his mysterious past. He has a custom lightsaber in his possession, and he knows how to use it.

When I confronted Lilith about this, she was shocked and utterly confused. If the former head witch of his coven had no knowledge of that. That meant no one did. No one knows who's Belos under that mask.

But I have one theory. Belos is a Sith Lord. Maybe not the one that took over the Republic, but there is one here in this world, and he's using it for his own means. What his game plan is, I do not know. All I know is how to be a Jedi, and my training tells me I need to fight him. Good thing I have an army. That should make things easier...right? I've been through one war, why not another.

I shouldn't think like that. War is ugly, and as a Jedi, I should be pursuing peace rather than conflict. But after confronting Belos when I tried to save Eda, peace would not be an option. Sith lords thrive on conflict, after all.

I wish it wasn't so. Belso now knows a Jedi is here on his territory and has a lot of time to build his forces and sway with the people. It's going to be a tough fight ahead for all of us. I could only hope I could bring an end to the fighting.

End Log

---

Happy Halloween!

Manage to get this out right on time for the holidays and man was this sucker a dozy to write. It was fun thinking up ideas for this chapter and trying to put my spin on things that for Jedi luz verse Belos fight was fun. Bet some of you didn't see what I did there. The emperor's story is going to get strange next season so be forewarned. Along with a few tales from the Star Wars galaxy. So keep an eye out for that.

Thank you all you readers who fav, followed and put in a review. You all have been a great motivator in helping me write this and a few have given me new idea's to writing this story. I hope for all of you to continue supporting me in the future as I keep writing.

Okay time for the bad news some of y'all don't want to here. I'll be taking a break from this story to focus on other projects that I have. As I've been neglecting them in favorer of focusing on this. So, expect updates on my other stories real soon. This doesn't mean I'm canceling this; it only means I'm going to have a sit down improve and/or work on something else for a bit.

I'd like to thank Essosson and SuperHeroTimeFan for doing some awesome fanart. You guys' rock.

Special thanks to Ghost-G339 and Wesley9516 for coming to help in cleaning up my story and offering new story ideas.

Again, thank you all for keeping up with this story throughout all the strange times we have been together and i will see you all later over the web/