Hey there readers. Sorry for the long update. Work has been bothering me and writers block hit me. Also got an idea for another fic I started last month. An Aliens X Owl House crossover. The only one that's out there. Check it out!
Coruscant
Eight months prior
High above the heavy sky traffic of the Republic Capital, a single shuttle marked with Republic marking exited hyperspace and flew towards the planet. Passing through the atmosphere, it made its way past the famous Senate, the heart of the Republic, towards a big building with a set of five towers poking on top. The Jedi Temple.
It soon landed on one of its outreaching landing pads with a single individual stepping off.
Padawan Luz Noceda, still clad in her custom armored robes and still dirty from her previous engagement with the pirates. But what struck out the most about her was the fire of emotions she had been fanned by the news she recently received on the flight back to the core worlds.
Due to preoccupying her time with tracking those pirates, Luz had missed a bit on current events these last few weeks. After the Temple bombing, Luz didn't want to hear anything other than someone catching the person responsible, and the Jedi blamed it on Ahsoka Tano. Only to find out she was innocent of the matter and the actual perpetrator had nearly got away with it. She couldn't believe that Padawan Barriss Offee was the one who admitted to the action. The after-action report was almost too much in with Ahoska Leaving the Order. She didn't know what Barriss's fate was, nor did she have the right to it. She could only hope the Council would correct their mistakes.
As she walked along the great halls of the Temple, Luz was getting a lot of looks from the other Jedi that she passed as she made her way towards the High Council chambers. Kind of hard not to, as everyone else wore the traditional Jedi robes while she was still in her battle-tested armor. The blaster scoring on her chest from failing to block two blaster bolts at once was a testament.
The details of her council summons were vague and had her worried. The note of the reassignment order to what it did not specify was her primary. Was it for herself, her troops, ships, or getting redeployment to another world or front?
Upon reaching an elevator that would take her to her destination, Luz went to a terminal nearby and sent a message to the Council to inform them of her summons.
"Luz!"
Her name being called out, she turns to an approaching Jedi. She was a female human with a fiery red mop of wild hair on her with a skin tone that was a lighter shade than herself. The hazel-colored eyes showed a caring nature over two dark purple upside-down triangles that distinguished her from most. This particular Jedi wore a sleeveless green tunic-style robe with a black belt that her lightsaber hung off and gray shin-high combat boots. The Jedi also shows a bright smile that Luz quickly mimics.
"Rivi!" She greeted her happily at seeing a familiar face.
The older Jedi waved to greet Luz, only for her to suddenly be enveloped in a hug, stunning her from the physical contact. Realizing too late what she had done, Luz broke contact and looked embarrassed at what she had done.
"Sorry," Luz said sheepishly.
The Jedi, now named Rivi-Anu, smiled kindly at the Padawan. "You're a little more physical in your greetings than the last time I saw you, Padawan," she addressed.
Luz tilted her head in confusion before seeing that her fellow Jedi no longer had a Padawan braid.
"You passed the trials!" Luz gasps in surprise. "Congratulations! When did that happen?"
"A good while ago, but thank you," Rivi-Aun responded. Then looked at the elevator. "A summoning by the Council?"
Luz nodded. "Could only imagine why."
"Well, when you are done with the Masters, come find me. It has been too long since we last hung out," the Knight suggested.
"I would like that," Luz responded before watching her old friend walk away. The two had a little & big sister relationship by Jedi standards, as Rivi was a few years older than Luz. Rivi was also one of the few Jedi who was kind to her growing up and had a wild, fun side. The tattoos on her face were evidence of that.
She didn't have to wait long after Rivi left as the terminal messaged back for her approved presence. Stepping into the elevator, her hand nearly smashed the up command. Luz tried to remember the last time she was physically in the Council chamber?
"Must have been when I first requested to train with the clones on Kamino. Wow, it has been some time, "Luz mussed.
She didn't contemplate long as she reached her destination. As she entered the Council chamber, Luz noticed several Masters present in their seats. The first to easily spot first was Grandmaster Yoda, looking weary in age, but a smile began to form upon seeing her. The next was the Master of the Order, Mace Windu, with his ever-present expression of a statue. Master Ki-Adi-Mundi was the next Master Luz could see next to Windu due to his easily recognized species' unique heads. Next was the technical head hotshot Master, Kit Fisto. The last two were a bit of a surprise to Luz as it was Masters Obi-wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli.
"Masters," Luz approaches them before giving a respectful bow.
The Masters bowed their heads back. "Padawan Noceda. Welcome back to the Temple. I hear it's been some time since your last visit," Master Windu greeted.
Luz winced at his blunt response. "A little over a year and a half now that I think about it."
"Prefer the great outdoors to the big city, Padawan?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked in a slightly teasing manner.
"Like my former Padawan when he's in the cockpit of a Starfighter," Master Kenobi agreed.
"...I've pretty much made a second home out in the outer regions," Luz admitted. Felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment at the knowing looks a few of the Masters, Yoda included, gave her. That ended quickly when the not-so-subtle Windu started hearing of her being here.
"Padawan Noceda, do you know why you've been called before us today?"
"No, Master." Luz shook her head. "The message I received was to return to the Temple with a possibility of an assignment, and I'm hoping to find what that is today."
Mace nodded. "And you will, Padawan. For you see, there are several things we wish to discuss with you concerning your actions over the last few months."
"My actions?" Luz looked worried. "Have I done something wrong?" Master Kenobi raised his hand in a calming moment.
"Not too worried, Padawan. You're not in any trouble. In fact, due to reports I've seen. The Republic should thank you and your men for the positive influence you've gained in the Expanding regions. Your efforts in defending colonies have gained the people's favor toward the Republic and the Senate."
"Dedication to the protection of the people is an admiral trait," Ki-Adi-Mundi commented.
It was then Master Yoda took forward the conversation. "Localize yourself to the outer regions you have, Padawan Noceda. Taking strides to protect the small colonies that exist on their own, you have. All the while seeking out the injustice who threatened their way of life." Yoda gives her a grandfatherly smile. "Path of the Jedi Watchman, upon which you've set yourself, yes?"
Luz was taken back by that. "Really? I've never thought about that. Honestly, I just wanted to help those who needed it."
"A rare trait, that is. That is if nurtured currently," Master Unduli finally spoke, with her tone not sounding all that approving.
"Master?"
Master Windu spoke next. "Padawan, you have been out in the outer regions using your status as a Jedi to secure and protect Republic settlements. While doing so, you've also been using Republic Military assets to wage a private war against criminal elements."
"But every request I made was approved by the Republic high command!" Luz explained to the High Council. "It should all be documented in the command records."
Master Kenobi nodded as he came to her rescue. "She is correct in this regard, aside from the usual supplies that her units require for operations and a few... unique requests that have been approved. All legal as an officer of the Republic military."
"Doing so while as a Padawan without the supervision of a Master to look after her," Mace argued back. His gaze returned to the teen in question, making her wilt slightly. "Something that we the Council should have corrected a long time ago, it seems."
Master Fisto looked at his PDF in great amusement. "I personally like to know how you can receive enough JT-12 jetpacks for everyone in a whole Regiment."
"And from these forms, the Padawan here requested over two thousand speeder bikes to be delivered to your regiments. Just more than five times the number needed for just one front line legion," Mundi pointed out to the others. "Just what do you need that many speeders and jetpacks for?" He asked Luz.
The other Masters waited as Luz pondered her words before answering. "Well… After seeing the clones fall in open combat in large numbers. I wanted to try if I could to change that. So I studied old battle strategies and anything I could from historical battles. At least, the ones I could get access to."
"And what did you find?" Mace Windu asked. Curious about what the Padawan would come up with. So Luz went and explained it the best she could.
"Well, during the Battle of Ryloth, Cham Syndulla and his freedom fighter used the native species of blurrgs to ride them into hit and run fights to take out Separatist units with minimal loss of life. I saw the same numbers when we used scout walkers in small-scale engagements, and I wondered if I could do the same with our speeder bikes when faced with many opponents." Masters Windu and Kenobi nodded their heads in agreement at Luz's assessment. Both witnessed the effects of Syndulla's effectiveness against Techno Union Wat Tambor and the Separatist Alliance Droids. "And after several open engagements against Separatist Droids and criminal organizations. The numbers speak for themselves as the casualties are minimal to non-existence. A rare scenario in this war. As for the jetpacks, Master Fisto, one of my Captains has a fixation with them and loves mass airborne assaults."
A few Masters brought a PDF they had in their seatings and pulled up casualty records with Kenobi and Mundi looking at them in approval. Master Yoda hummed in acceptance at this.
"Come far, you have on your own. Adapted quickly to the times that we found ourselves in and overcame them. More so than that, of others in the order," the Grandmaster said in his unusual speech pattern.
His words brought a greater joy of approval that Luz did not know she needed. She was about to thank him for his remarks but saw that he wasn't done talking as he held a three-finger hand to stop her.
"But vigilante, you must be. This war long already has corrupted Jedi to the lure of the Darkside, it has. No more do we risk our own. For the reason you're here now, we will tell you." Master Windu took that as his cue and addressed the situation.
"Padawan Noceda, despite your success and positive example you've shown when left to your own devices. Now however, the Council can not permit you to do so any longer. So to correct this, you will be placed under a teacher to further your training."
A bumbling of mixed feelings welled up inside Luz. On the one hand, she will be placed under a Master's supervision and learn more about the Force. On the other hand, depending on the Master, her future teacher might be butting heads on a few topics.
"I'm getting a teacher. Who?"
The Padawan question was answered when she noticed Master Unduli stand up and approach her.
"I will be the one to instruct you from now on, Padawan," Master Unduli announced.
For reasons only to Luz, she saw a few headaches in her future.
{Play Music: Escape (Beat Saber soundtrack trailer)}
The camera zooms in to see a dirty deadeye Luz walking in the rain, passing many dirt mounds with sticks planted in them with brown cloaks of Jedi robes wrapped around them or blaster rifles with clone trooper helmets hanging on them. The smoking aftermath of a battlefield in the background. Photos of Luz with several clones hanging out in a barracks. Luz on a ship's Bridge. The backsides of a younger Padawan Luz and a human male with short black hair in a Knights robe with thick sideburns and a confident smile. An armored Luz riding on her BARC speeder bike with her lightsaber out with several other clones on speeders following her into a battle.
Luz unknowingly walks through the portal door and falls on her knees. She looks up to see a hand in front of her to take. She looks up to see a hand in front of her to take. Looking at the hand's owner, Luz sees a smiling Eda with a happy King on her shoulder. Life is brought back in Luz's eyes, and she smiles back before taking the offered hand.
The door where Hooty was opened as Luz steps outside in her sleeveless yellow vest, with Luz twirling and posing with Eda's staff with one hand and her lightsaber in the other in a low guard. But then Eda took her staff back with an amused grin while Luz gave a sheepish smile. King popped in front with his own pose.
A Boiling Isle mural was seen as Gus, Willow, and Amity are seen briefly before it burns away to show King commanding an army of stuffed toys, which all fall on him. The scene burns away to reveal Luz in front of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, looking at it in sadness. The silhouettes of the Jedi Council, along with other Jedi, stood before disappear, leaving only their burnt robes and lightsabers on the ground.
Emperor Belos raises his staff as he foreshadows behind his castle as red lighting thunder from the sky. His army of Coven guards, numbering by many at his call, standing ready for a fight.
Now Luz was on her BARC speeder, racing past across the landscape. She zooms down the Boling Isles passing, Gus waves at her, Willow smiling, and Amity looking surprised before she smiles softly. Passing by several Coven guards as they try to chase her. Then Eda, with King on her shoulder, hopes on behind the Jedi. Then they hang on for dear life as a massive, monstrous worm-like monster, mouth wide open, lunges at them. Everyone screamed in horror as Luz turns the throttle up and guns it.
Then the scene changes back to the Owl House, where it's nighttime with stars twinkle in the sky as the three are on the roof and looking up into the sky. Luz opens her hands to reveal a ball of magic light and let it float to the sky.
Several lights flashed of fire and ice before the title appears.
Jedi of the Isles
Episode 12: Right with it.
Today should not have made Luz tense, but somehow it did. As the day is the day, Hexside has its annual placement exams for the upcoming semester.
"Don't worry, kid. This will be a walk in the park from all the stuff we've been through together," Eda advises.
"To true there," Luz agreed to the Witches' words. "Probably just nerves. Never had to demonstrate magic before, so it's something different than what I'm used to."
"You'll do just fine, Luz. I had to do the same thing back when I was a little Witchling. Just imagine it like a rite of passage, except I had more spunk and skill," she rubbed her chin with a smirk.
"Are you going somewhere with this?" Luz responded.
"Right, right, sorry about that, this is about you!" Eda turned Luz to the stage and directed her to her entrance exam. "So get out there and show them what you're made of!"
With a push from her caretaker, Luz ended up in front of the stage just as the curtains drew open. Principal Bump sat alone in the audience section with a clipboard in hand.
The Padawan felt slightly better as he was the only one in the audience seats. She expected several school teachers in attendance and a few senior students to watch. Oh well.
Stepping forward, Luz politely bowed to the school's headmasters in greeting. "Hello, Headmaster. Thank you for allowing me this chance to attend your school." Off to the side, Eda pointed her finger in her mouth while making a "Guk'ing" sound.
"Ah, Luz Noceda, the strange human with powers similar to magic. Your attendance in this demonstration is primarily for tradition, as you demonstrated several abilities the last time we talked. Nonetheless, I'm curious to know how you can do so with your human parts." The Headmaster pulls out a pen and readies himself to write.
"Alright, so most humans can't perform most techniques that I've demonstrated before." Luz did so by using the Force to lift several balls into view. "As you can see, I'm from that minority. While humans lack a bile sack attached to their hearts, you can say I have small bits of magic in my blood that allow me to do such feats." She put the balls back before pulling out a notepad. "And I bring more to the show."
"A pad of paper?" Bump asked with interest.
"Recently, I have reason to believe I've stumbled upon a lost magical art that may have been linked to how Wild Witches of old used to perform magic." She takes the first page and shows the Headmaster the symbol of a light glyph. Then taps it with a finger and the glyph activities, crumpling the paper into a glowing ball. Then she takes the next page, which contains a pre-drawn ice glyph, before tossing it on the ground. A pillar of ice quickly forms from it and grows up to her chest height. "By finding these patterns in nature itself, I can perform spells just as well in magic as any Witch."
"Fascinating, using paper to cast spells with strange symbols. Never before have I witnessed such a thing," Bump admitted. "Very well, Luz Noceda. Welcome to Hexside School of Magic and Demonics." He hands her a brochure.
Luz took it before turning to a smiling Eda, holding two thumbs up at her.
The next day, Luz and Eda were flying by magic staff back to Hexside. Luz was wearing a new outfit not too dissimilar to a student's uniform of white sleeves and leggings and a light gray tunic. She had her white backpack with a packed lunch and a notebook of pre-draw spell glyphs for emergencies. The flight was silent as Luz was mentally preparing herself. Growing up in the Jedi Temple, the Masters and instructor droids cramped a lot of schooling in her from a young age alongside their Jedi training. Attending a school like a non-Jedi would be a whole other battlefield to experience. Eda seemed to have picked up on that as she brought it up.
"You alive back there, kid? You've been silent on the whole ride over here," Eda said to her.
"Just mentally preparing myself. Never been to a magic school, let alone a normal one. So I'm trying to think of how to make a good first impression," Luz explained.
"Ahh, don't worry what those dorks think," Eda waved off. "If you want my advice, walk into the first classroom you're in and punch the first student you see! Assert your dominance." Luz gave Eda a flat look.
"I'm attending a school, Eda. Not a maximum-security prison."
The flight ended when the two landed in an area that wasn't too far from where Luz first met Willow.
"You know, if you back out now, you can at least earn the latest patch in the Bad Girls coven." Eda pulled out a patch with the words quitters badge on it. "Quitting! It's like trying, but easier."
"Maybe some other time," Luz said before leaving. "See you later."
"Hold up!" Eda took her hand off and threw it at the Jedi's head. She tilted her head to the side and caught the flying hand.
"Please don't do that." Luz returns the dismembered appendage.
"I just want to say to relax," Eda said as she put her hand back on. "Also, try to stay out of trouble and be a little less of a goodie Luz shoe. You got this."
"Thanks, Eda. Also, watch over King if he goes near my things, especially my speeder bike and the other lightsabers! I mean it. He's not trained in using any of my stuff, and we don't want any property damage on our end," Luz pushed.
"No problem. Have fun suffering through school." Eda flew away, leaving Luz to walk the rest of the way to school.
Nearing the school, Luz saw other students mingling or entering the school. Many flags hung, ranging from the big "Welcome to a new semester" banner to the nine main covens.
Approaching the school, Luz spotted a now-familiar green hair witch with a purple abomination following her.
"Hey, Luz." Amity greeted. "Congratulations on getting in. I heard Bump was impressed with your demonstration."
"Thanks, Amity. And he was for that matter." Amity nodded. "See you later in class?"
"Definitely...and maybe again after school for more lessons of the Force?" Amity asked with a slight blush to which Luz was oblivious and smiled brightly.
"Of course! Same place as before at the stones."
"Great. See you later!" Amity said happily before leaving and taking her abomination with her.
"Still feels somewhat unreal to be here."
"Then you better wake up and smell the trash slugs."
"King?!" Luz whips around to see the little demon's head poke out of her bag.
"Boop!" King poked her nose before leaping out.
"I thought my bag felt a bit heavy. What are you doing?" She asked as he walked to a nearby trash can.
"Hitching a ride to the best buffet in town." King hops in the nearest trash can and pulls out a half-eaten pastry. "The trash cans here are filled with half-eaten gold."
"Okay, ew." Luz stuck her tongue out in dismay. "Just stay out of trouble, okay?" She turned and left the demon.
"Whatever, have a nice day at school," King said as he bit off the half-eaten sweet. He heard someone sniffle and turned to see a tall male student wearing an abomination track uniform.
"I really needed to hear that," the student thanked before moving on.
Back with our resident Jedi, Luz soon met Willow and Gus mingling at the school's front entrance.
"Luz!" The two greeted their new classmate.
"Hey, guys! Ready to start off this new semester?"
"And ready to do so with our new classmate." Willow sent her a wink when saying, "classmate."
"You did it!" Gus used his magic to spin up a glowing message. "Better Luck Next Time!" The girls looked unamused at the male witch. "Sorry, I was trying to cover all my bases."
"Right..." Luz eyed Gus while Willow tried to change the topic.
"Anyway, I'm sure you saw the Witches displayed on the banners?" Willow pointed at the people depicted on the banners that held the nine main covens. "Those are the coven heads of the leading nine covens. Each excelled in magic at a magic school like Glandus, St. Epiderm, and Hexside. You ready to walk these hallowed halls?"
"Ah, Willow. The real question is, is it ready to handle me." Luz walked up its steps and entered the school. "See you later!"
"Bye, Luz!" Gus said while throwing up another spell banner. This one said, "Bye Forever!" Willow again looked at Gus with un-amusement. "You know...Maybe I'll just get rid of these." He rubbed the back of his head.
Stopping by the locker she had been assigned, she hesitantly reached out and tickled it open to reveal a shelving space for her to store school supplies. While placing her bag inside, Luz unclipped her lightsaber and stared at it. With slight hesitation, she put it inside and under her backpack.
It was for the best, she believed. This was a school of learning and not a place a weapon would be needed. Many saw her use it during her duel with Amity, Bump included, and did not want to cause others alarm. Also, she couldn't hide it with how her school uniform was so open compared to her robes.
Leaving her locker and her weapon behind, Luz made way for the Principal's Office. Finding said office, she politely knocked on the door and waited for a response.
"Come in."
Entering the office, she saw Principal Bump at his desk.
"Good morning, Principle Bump. How has your day been treating you?" Luz said.
"Busy, just the way I like it. Furthermore, I'd like to inform you that the Emperor's Coven will be sending an inspector to evaluate the school. If you want to impress them, you must select a track," Bump informed her.
"I understand," Luz responded. "And I presume from what I've seen that each track matches one of the nine covens?" Luz stared behind the Principal to gaze at the nine banners of the main covens. From left to right, Potions, Abominations, Plants, Healing, Construction, Beast Keeping, Illusions, Bard, and Oracle.
Principal Bump nodded. "You presume correctly. The rulebook clearly states that each student must "hocus focus." One track per student, just like the coven system we follow today."
"I understand." And disappointed. There had been at least three tracks Luz wanted to learn more about. Their rules reminded Luz of some of the restrictions Jedi Masters placed on herself when she was a youngling wishing to learn more. But a lot of material was denied until she reached age and rank, and even then, it wasn't much.
"Good. Now then, what track of magic do you wish to pursue?" Luz pondered her choices before answering.
"I will study with the Beast Keeping track," Luz pointed at the orange banner with an animal coming out of an egg.
"Beast keeping? I guess that would work for you as it requires the least amount of magic and more contact with animals." Bump assumed as he rubbed his chin.
"That and I want to learn more about the land itself. What better way than learning about the animals that inhabit it?" Luz said.
"As you wish. The Beast Keeping track it is." Bump said as he drew a spell circle, causing Luz's white Hexside uniform to transform into one matching the Beast Keeping track. With her leggings and sleeves turning from white to orange.
"I guess that is done. Now what?" Luz asked as she inspected her new outfit.
"I expect you to be on your best behavior, miss Noceda. Thankfully due to a lack of incidents in the previous semester, the school budget remains up at a decent level. Though I believe it could be better with a generous donation from the Emperor's coven..."
"Again, I understand," Luz quickly respond. It was similar to how the Republic military needed more money and constantly pleaded their case to the Senate.
"Good, now off to class," Bump said, handed her a pamphlet, and pointed at the door.
Walking out of the office, Luz opened the pamphlet and was greeted with a class schedule inside.
*Care of Magical Creatures. (Beginners) [Back Building 2]
*Spell theory Level 1 [Room A511]
*Aquaculture & Forestry [Room C111]
*Care of Magical Creatures (Beginners) [Back Building 2]
*Animal Husbandry [Room A321]
*Beast Taming [Back building 4]
"So this is what school is like for normal kids? Huh… Neat." Luz followed a map to the room classroom she would be attending first.
This led her to the school grounds near a row of separate buildings near the back. The one she was going to for her first class looked like an oversize barn. When Luz walked inside, the room looked like a cross between a classroom, a stable, and a pet clinic. Desks lined up in three rows of eight in front of a wide chalkboard and wooden countertop island. The back of the class and its sides held stalls made to keep animals in.
"Nice place," Seeing several students present but no teacher, Luz decided to take a nearby seat and wait for class to start. As she took out a pen and paper, the classroom door opened up, and the teacher walked in.
Looking at her teacher, one could mistake her for a member of the Cathar race with her feline features. Her hazel fur covered her feline face and slender neck, with white specks on her cheeks and wild black mane. She was also kind of short for an adult. Being around Luz's height, she could be mistaken for a student if it weren't for the other teachers' black robes.
Instead of addressing the class, the teacher cast a spell on some chalkboard, and words began to write themselves into words.
"Good morning, class!" It read.
"Good morning Ms. Rothco!" The class responded to the teacher.
"Welcome back to a brand new semester. I hope you've all kept up with your studies." The teacher wrote. She eyed her students and zeroed in on Luz with slight interest. "I also see some new faces joining us for the first time. I welcome you on this path you have chosen and hope to guide you on your journey." The teacher finished before casting another spell, and a few small booklets appeared in front of her. "Now, let's begin."
Picking them up, Luz looked them over. The title of the little booklet held a simple label, Be the Alpha, in bold green over a canine leading a pack. The next had a paw print of an animal with the title Environmental studies. The third and last book had a witch and a horned demon holding hands, Demon coexistence.
The class continued as Ms. Rothco instructed and reviewed a few common animals and wild demons found and often tamed by the Beast Keeping Coven. It mainly was informative, with the occasional showcase or live demonstration with an animal. Luz happily wrote notes as the class went, jotting down every example given and making a few small drawings with a specific note for reference.
As quickly as the class started, it seemed to end as the bell screamed. Luz and the rest of the students packed their things to leave for their next course. As Luz was about to leave, the teacher Ms. Rothco waved her over to her desk. "Yes, ma'am?"
"So well mannered. Such a refreshing thing to hear from the young generation. As a new student to the track and this world, I presume. I will have to hurry to catch you up on some things in class." Ms. Rothco pulled out an egg of all things from her desk. "This will be your first makeup assignment. Care for your first familiar."
"My...familiar?" The word was unfamiliar to the Jedi as she took hold of the egg.
"As users of the more primal side of magic. Our spells focus on the animal within us to bring it out in times of need. As a good example, my son uses it to improve his eyesight when he's out hunting at his job," Rothco explained. "But we're also limited in what we can physically do."
"It tests us and often forces us to be stronger. For this, we make up for our shortcomings and receive help from creatures that would benefit them. A master beast keeper will have over a dozen heavily cared for familiars as his beck and call." She holds out the egg for Luz to take. "For school, I only require that you take care of one easy-to-care creature. In this case, a hippogriff."
Luz recalled the creature from King's demon study. A bird's head and wings with a body and legs of a hooved animal. "That's a simple animal?"
Ms. Rothco smiles happily. "Oh yes! I often give new students easy animals to bond with or tame based on how they act in their first class with me. For some examples, if they are withdrawn and doubtful of their choice, I give them a playful spider cat that could gain their attention. If a student can't sit still and is more outgoing, I hand them a ragworm pup to care for. They often give them what they need and are a great way of traveling around the Titan." She then points to the hippogriff egg in Luz's hands. "I give hippogriffs to students who are willing to learn and dedicated to our craft, and they require a bit more caring than the other starter animals I give out. To provide a challenge and allow them to grow stronger."
"I see." Luz gave the hippogriff egg a once over before carefully setting it in her bag. "Thank you for this, ma'am."
Ms. Rothco smiles happily. "You are welcome, young Luz. Best be off to your next class then. Wouldn't want to be late now."
With a wave goodbye, Luz left for her next class.
She had to admit that her thoughts before school seemed silly now with how well everything had been going. Maybe coming here wouldn't be so bad.
Her thoughts were drawn out when her foot connected with something along the ground. It was a potted plant on its side with a strange yellow flower. Luz blinked owlishly at it, as it wasn't there before.
"Strange... perhaps someone from the plant track dropped it. Oh well, might as well put this back in the plant track room. Sure is pretty looking, and I love the color."
Changing directions and heading for the school's greenhouses that were located nearby. Luz failed to notice the disapproved look of Principal Bump. Entering the first greenhouse showed Luz empty of both teaching staff and students. In one corner was a table with a few planets of the same one as the Jedi carried. Placed it with the others and turned to leave only to face the school's Headmaster with a disapproving face.
"Principal Bump?"
"What do you think you are doing here, Ms. Noceda?" Questioned Principle Bump.
"Oh! Well, I found that potted plant lying outside. Thought it belonged in one of the greenhouses. I was also wondering if Willow was around and see if she could tell me what kind of plant this is?" Luz quickly explained. "It's rather pretty."
"Mmm...That may be the case. OR you could be sneaking into other tracks to mix magic! Something we had a prior agreement that you may only study one!" Principal Bump stated, much to the Jedi's surprise, and disbelief.
"What?! No...sir, listen, that's not was not my intent!"
"Perhaps, but I can't take that risk on a day as significant as today." Bump said as he grabbed Luz by her left wrist. "You'll have to come with me."
Before Luz could reply, the school principal pulled her through the halls as everyone else went about their day. Before long, the two stood at a door to another classroom. To Luz, it looked more sinister with the metal bars over the window, and it gave more of a prison feel with more bars in the classroom's windows when entering. Luz also saw three other students in the glass with gray Hexside uniforms.
"Principal Bump, where are we?" Luz asked.
"This is the Detention Track." Bump drew a spell circle, turning Luz's uniform legging and sleeves from orange to gray. Just like the other students.
"Detention Track?!" Luz shouted in shock. More so with how absurd this sounded.
"Yes. I'm using this room for a new track to keep troublemakers away from the Coven Inspector." Bump said as he turned to leave. "You can try for a new track NEXT semester."
"Next semester?! But I don't know if I'll be here for next semester!" Luz said to him.
"I'm sorry, Luz. Then perhaps this wasn't meant to be." Bump said as the door shut in Luz, leaving her in the Detention Track.
Running her fingers through her hair and suppressing her frustration at the sudden turn of events was building on Luz. It was just like in her youngling days when she did something disapproving in the eyes of the Temple caretakers. As well as the long boring punishments they gave her. Removing her hands from her hair, Luz sighed heavily as she turned to everyone else in the Detention Track currently staring at her.
The girl had brown hair with four bangs and a messy bun held together by a dark orange, spiky hair tie, green eyes with one lash on the top, one lash on the bottom, and a fishhook earring in her right ear. Her uniform cowl was ripped and held together by a large thumbtack in the middle. One look at her skirt showed it was also torn on the side and tied together.
Next to her was a hornless Kath hound with a human-like face, covered with chestnut fur and light tan fur on his stomach and neck. He had dark orange tufts of hair on his head and two ears pointing upward, with a small gold hoop earring on his right ear. He had blue eyes hidden behind green tinted square glasses with white tape in the middle and black eyebrows. That alone gave him a more sentient outlook. His uniform was only a cowl and two sleeves for his front legs.
Next to him was the last of the trio and the tallest of the group. He had short brown hair combed over the right side of his forehead, thick black eyebrows, a pointed nose, and brown eyes. His uniform was typical, except that his cowl hood was ripped.
Luz decided to sit next to the only other female in the room. Setting her bag to the side, she decided to greet her fellow detention inmate. "I'm Luz. What are you in for?"
"Hey! No talking in detention!"
Luz looked to the front to see the teacher, and he had looked up from his scroll. The teacher said he had a long head, white hair with a matching mustache, pinkish-purple skin, and three pairs of red eyes with glasses over each, wearing a black robe with white sleeves. "One more peep out of you kids, and you're cleaning this room again."
Just looking at him, Luz could tell he didn't take his job seriously. She hated guys like that. More so when they were in influential positions.
"Hey, calm down. I was just trying to have a simple conversation. Don't get on them for something I did." Luz defended the other detention students, making them turn to her in interest.
"Oh, a hero type! Very well." He drew a light blue white spell circle as he said, making a mop and bucket appear in Luz's hands. "Now, get cleaning."
Luz's knuckles whitened a bit at how tightly she gripped the mop but set out to clean the area by the door. Though she did see them, the Padawan received grateful smiles from the other students.
As time continued on with Luz finishing up cleaning the classroom, she couldn't help but wonder if she had made the right decision in attending school if this was going to be the outcome.
After watching a group of children going off on some field trip, Luz sighs, ducks down, and rummages through her bag. Unknowingly just missed Gus and Willow as they searched around for their friend and did not notice Luz in the detention track.
"Might read some of these books that Miss Rothco gave me. Better than watching the paint wrinkle off the walls." Picking the first book on her stack, she saw it was the environmental studies book.
After a minute of flipping through the pages and reading about the everyday life of creatures in the Titan's forests, Luz's attention was drawn away by someone tapping her shoulder.
Looking over the said shoulder was the girl Luz was trying to start a conversation with earlier. The teen put a finger up to her lips before waving her over to follow.
The young Jedi raised an eyebrow at the girl but understood the message and followed silently behind. The girl led Luz to the chalkboard at the front, just right where the teacher slept soundly in his chair. The girl then smiled at Luz when she picked up a piece of chalk and drew a box with a keyhole in the center. Before Luz could figure out what the girl was doing, she twisted the chalk like an old-fashioned key.
Luz was then surprised at hearing a clicking sound followed by a section of wall pooping out and revealing a secret hideaway.
'A secret passage within the school?! This place just got a whole lot more interesting.' Luz thought. The girl's smile never left and waved Luz to follow before entering the hidden passage.
Sparing one last look at the sleeping teacher before entering the passage behind the girl and closing the path behind them.
She found herself in a hallway with a few low lights to illuminate the area.
"What is this place?" Luz asks as she looks around.
"The last place you'll ever see alive." The girl finally speaks while she jabs a finger in Luz's chest.
Luz gives the girl a deadpan expression, not amused in the slightest at the poor intimidation the girl was giving her.
"I've heard better threats from two-bit thugs." Luz grasps the girl's hand before twisting it in a jerking motion.
The girls winced and were quick to apologize. "Ouch! Sorry. Sorry! Bad joke. I was only joking around!" the girl winced.
"Really?" Luz looked at her fellow detention track mate with a raised eyebrow before releasing her. "I figured as such. Sorry for the twisted arm."
"No, I'm sorry. Shouldn't have made the threat." The girl rotated her wrist and shoulder to loosen up. "I'm Viney. You're that human that's been the talk of the school recently. The one the paper was talking about that can do magic?"
"Yeah, that's me." The mentioning of the news article made Luz hold back a wince. "Now, can you tell me where we are and why you brought me here?"
"This is someplace I wanted to thank you for what you did earlier. Not many people would stand up for people like my friends and me." Viney said as she led Luz down the secret passage. "A place that troublemakers like us can appreciate."
"Troublemaker? Well... you're not wholly wrong." Thinking about how she broke Eda out of prison and assaulted several guards.
"To which you shouldn't be ashamed because of it. Be proud, for now, Luz, you have access to..." Viney as she opened the door at the end of the passage to reveal the room behind it. "The secret room of shortcuts!"
Luz felt her jaw drop at the obscurity of the room before her. It was a random multi-floor plan with every kind of door, trap door, and window of any shape and color. All contented via a spiral ram that just goes up. There were even doors and hatches on the ceiling!
"Whoa..." Luz looked on in amazement as Viney shouted out in the air.
"Jerbo. Barcus! You can come out now. She's cool." As soon as she said that, the other two detention track students appeared and approached the girls.
"I don't know, V. Can we trust her not to rat us out?" The tall boy said before turning to the intelligent Kath hound. 'What do you think, Barcus? Is she trustworthy?"
"Ruff! Bark!" Barcus barked. Jerbo nodded as if he understood him.
"Fascinating. Barcus says you have a strong aura like hardened steel but has a protective nature of a guardian." He translated before he smiled at Luz. "She's okay."
Luz blinked in surprise as she looked at Barcus, wondering how he deduced this just from looking at her. Interesting. "Thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your secret. Know it will not be misplaced."
Luz walked to a random door. "So I am guessing like the name implies. Each of these doors takes you to a different part of the school?"
Luz opens the door and peaks through, seeing a random hallway with Amity pacing back and forth.
"So she goes to the same school as you do now? That doesn't change anything, and it's no different from training together," Amity said to herself. "What am I going to do?"
Luz backed away and silently closed the door behind her. It sounded like a private conversation, and she didn't want to interrupt her thoughts.
"So these doors lead anywhere in the school?" Luz asked the other students again.
"And to any room you can think of," Viney said as she brought Luz to one section of the room. "We discovered it one day after Principal Bump threw us here in the detention track."
"This is madness! ...I wish we had this back at the Jedi temple. It would have made getting out of trouble a lot easier back then." Luz wished as she thought back on her youngling days.
Viney didn't know the places Luz mentioned, but her tone pleased her. She led her to a portrait hat that was heavily defaced with graffiti. "This place was built by the power of its creator, Lord Calamity!"
Looking at the wall portrait. Luz saw that it was covered in names that obscured the original picture. She quickly spotted Viney, Jerbo, and Barcus's names while the rest was legible but faded with time.
"This is marked as our symbol of the troublemaker righteousness, and everyone before us has added their name down to it." Jerbo explained.
"Wow. That's pretty cool. So what do you guys do here other than getting around school real quick?" Luz asked the students, to which Viney explained.
"Since the school doesn't allow students to learn more than one coven track of magic, we use them to peek in on all the tracks." Viney pointed toward Barcus, who sat in front of one slightly opened door.
Luz walked over and stood behind him and observed the class being taken. It was the Oracle track, and the teacher was going over the magic in the crystal balls. Looking over Barcus's shoulder saw that he had his own crystal ball and was writing down notes in a notepad. Luz saw the satisfaction in the beast's face before returning to the others.
"If you guys love studying magic so much, why did Bump throw you all in the Detention track?" Luz asked.
"Well, we might have gotten into our love of magic a bit too much. We're here because we all tried mixing magic from more than one track," Viney said with an embarrassed look.
"I mixed plant magic with abominations that destroyed the plant track room," Jerbo said with a guilty-looking face. He then thumbed over at Barcus, who joined them. "Barcus here tried mixing oracle magic with potions. The potion teacher did not like the aftermath.
The demon dog nodded and showed a sheepish face as he rubbed the back of his head.
"And I tried to mix healing magic with beast keeping. May have broken a few walls by accident, but Puddles is a great assistant!" Viney said in defense of her creature. "We all made mistakes, but that shows how much we want to learn! But Bump always says..."
"Hocus focus..." Luz quoted. "Wow, Bump threw me in here because he thought I was mixing magic when I was just cleaning up another student's mess. But I don't think you guys should be punished for wanting to learn more about magic. Nor do I think it's wrong to mix magic." Luz looked back on her time with the Jedi. They told her to open her mind to knowledge when she started her training. To seek wisdom in the Order's teachings and learn from the mistakes she and others would undoubtedly make in life and learn from them.
"I'm glad you are one of us. You've made an excellent first impression today when you defended us, so..." Viney pulls out a marker and hands it to Luz. "Want to add your name to the wall?"
Looking at the marker, Luz grabs it and adds her name to the painting. The other three detention students cheer for their new member.
After a quick celebration, they broke to each go do their own thing at different doors, likely leading to other track rooms.
Luz wanders around and peeks through different doors. Most were empty classrooms or back-ended hallways, and some even appeared in the most unique places. She even found one that led to the boy's bathroom, which showed how filthy they were. Eww.
Opening another led her to another hallway with a row of lockers. Luz was about to close the door when she spotted Willow and Gus running around the corner with a teacher in tow behind them. Then behind them, a large snake-like creature appeared. The teacher turned back to fire a spell at the snake, only for it to EAT the spell fired at it before the teacher's color drained from her face and she fell over.
It had black hair held up in a swirled bun with a few locks coming undone. Slimy green eyes with rectangular pupils that screamed hunger. Webbed ears with pale yellow scales down her large serpent body. Sharp scaled clad arms with point claws. Then there was its most intimating feature, its wide toothy maw that looked like it should be on an adult rancor.
"What in death's name is that?!" Luz said in growing horror as it turned on her two friends as they defended themselves. "Oh no, you don't!"
She rushed forward out of the secret door thrusting her hand with the Force. She was rewarded when the snake creature was surprised when suddenly thrown clear down the hallway. Reaching her friends, she found that she had arrived too late as their skin tone was deathly pale.
"Don't worry, guys, I've got you." Luz grabs Gus, throws him over her shoulder, and helps Willow onto her feet but lets her lean on the Jedi for support. Luz glances down the hallway where she tossed the giant snake and sees her getting back up with an angry look. Luz rushes her friends back to the secret entrance, not wanting to be its next victim.
"Luz? That you... why do I feel so... weak." Willow tried to speak more, but her body felt weak as she tried to stand.
"Don't talk, just move," Luz urges her friend.
Luz rushed through the secret door with her friends in her arms before slamming the way behind them just before the magic-sucking snake crossed around the corner. It screamed in anger at being denied its meal before slithering away.
The Jedi gently lays them on the ground. While the commotion alerts the other detention track students.
Viney, a former healing track student, sees the two fallen Witches and rushes in to help. "What's wrong with them?"
"The school is under attack by some big snake monster. I don't know how but I think it's somehow eating the magic in everyone!" Luz said as she walked over to a door and cracked it open for the others to see.
They see the snake sucking up magic from random students through the door crack. Viney quickly shuts the door before the monster spots them.
"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."
"Apparently not if this one is still alive. It must have been impersonating the inspector Bump talked about. That must be how it got past the school defenses. It must be the same one that attacked the other schools if the news was correct." Luz turns to the trio. "We have to do something!"
"But if Bump catches us mixing magic again, we'll get expelled..." Jerbo started off.
"He'd kick us out of school," Viney finished.
Luz shook her head in disbelief. "I don't know about you guys, but I instead break the rules to save others rather than stand by and allow that thing to continue to harm others."
Luz pointed towards the door. "We're Troublemakers, aren't we? Then let's go out there and cause some trouble for I aim to misbehave."
The three detention students looked at each other and nodded in unison with determined eyes.
In another part of the school, the Greater Basilisk drained yet another student of her magic.
"Hungry, still hungry..." She growled.
She slithered down the hall and passed more students already drained of their magic. A paper plane flew in the air and landed in front of the Basilisk. The Basilisk was still in a feeding daze and did not stop to notice the ice glyph on it when her arm came down and activated the magic. An ice column shot up from under the snake and knocked her back.
Getting back up, she saw the one that ran from her earlier. "That looked like it hurt. How about I'd put some ice on that!" She threw a few ice glyphs that turned into bigger glaciers.
The Basilisk weaved around the attacks as it charged at her. Luz ran down another hallway to avoid being eaten.
"Viney now!" Luz shouted before Viney's griffon Puddles came swooping in and tackling the slithering monster to the floor.
"Ada girl, Puddles!" Viney cheered. She spun a spell circle in the air. "Jerbo, now!"
"On it!" Jerbo used an abomination to open one of the doors in the room of secret shortcuts and used his plant magic through the secret entrance. As the Basilisk knocks Puddles off, a magic shortcut opens under her and causes her to fall in. Viney and Luz calmly walked up to it.
"Let's wrap this up!" Luz somersaulted with a downward kick into the door.
Falling into the secret room of shortcuts, the Basilisk got stuck in the door Jerbo's abomination opened before Luz stomped her through!
"Must find help," Principal Bump looked up weakly from the auditorium. He saw the Basilisk crash through, with the human landing safely.
"It's all you, Barcus!"
He barked, holding the creature's hand. He then poured a potion on her hand as the Basilisk came to. "Where am I?" His eyes glowed purple as he barked. "What's he doing? What'd he say?"
"He's reading your palm, and your future looks bleak," Luz explained as the abomination pulled down a rope. Puddles cut it, and sandbags landed on her, releasing all the magic she swallowed and restoring strength to everyone. Two orbs flew back into Bump and Amity in the auditorium aisle as their color returned, and they took a deep breath of life. Along with other students and faculty in the school. The other portions of magic flew away to fix the other schools. Viney healed Puddles, who nuzzled her cheek and then flew off.
Luz lunged forward and hugged Viney. "We did it! You were amazing. You guys-"
"Are in so much trouble," Principal Bump interrupted angrily. Luz's good mood vanished before glaring at him. "Leaving your homeroom, mixing magic, and is that a secret hideout?" He pointed up to the ceiling, Willow and Gus rolling away from it.
"Yeah, it is," Luz defended, arms crossed. "But let's think about this, Principal Bump. We just saved the school and everyone in it from losing their magic." Luz pointed at herself and the other detention students. "Also, why would kids in the detention track need a secret hideout?"
"I don't care to know the ins and outs of rascality," He took out the rule book. "But if the Emperor's Coven can send an actual inspector this time-"
"Oh, Force preserve me. Enough with the damn inspector! Is getting money for this school so important to you that you would sabotage your student's education, wellbeing, and happiness!" Luz pointed and accused Bump. Shocking everyone that heard her.
"What?! I would never do such things to-..." Bump trailed off and got an honest good look at the three he sent to detention.
Viney and Jerbor couldn't meet his eyes while Barcus looked back at him in sadness.
A feeling of disappointment and failure begins filling the heart of the Principal, not at others but at himself. Showing that he did fail as a Principle to these students. He took a lone last look at the rule book before setting it in his robes.
"But what can I do?" Bump asked as he felt the weight of his mistakes.
"At the very least, they don't deserve to be in the detention track anymore. Don't you think we're well due for a change, Principal Bump?" The Jedi gestured to the trio.
"Do the right thing, ya dingus!" Gus called out from the trapdoor.
"All right," He relented with a small smile. "I know when I'm beaten. And when I've made a mistake. What tracks do you three want to pursue?" The trio smiled brightly as they could finally study more than one track.
"Healing and Beast Keeping," Viney said first.
"Plant and Abomination, good sir!" Jerbo said with his hands on his hips.
"Ruff." Barcus barked/said.
"Then so be it," He waved a finger, turning their gray Detention sleeves and leggings into their desired coven tracks. All looked quite happy with their new attire. "But if any of you cause more property damage, I'm feeding you to the Choosy Hat." He then turned to Luz.
"And you?"
"I'll stick to just Beast Keeping." Luz's answer shocked everyone.
"Truly? After fighting so hard to get others onto more than one track. Why?" Bump asked, interested to hear what the human would say.
"It's because there's so much to learn. I would like to learn all kinds of magic this school will teach me, but I know I'm not ready for it. I've got all my life to discover the magic around this world, and I want to learn it at my own pace. If it means learning one track at a time, that is fine by me. If more tracks interest me while going here, I will pursue them. But for now, I'll stick to this Beast Keeping."
Principal Bump looked at Eda's apprentice with approval and slight awe. Never would he think she chose a human child that showed more maturity than he'd seen in most adult Witches. He could only imagine what other changes Luz would bring in the future. And if he was being honest with himself, he was slightly looking forward to it.
"As you wish." Using a wave of his hand, Luz's school outfit was back to its orange configuration.
"You know, only one other student wanted to study every track," Principal Bump summoned the Lord Calamity painting. "Unfortunately, she was never given the opportunity."
"She?" Luz asked, then gasped when all the graffiti went away to reveal a young girl in a potions track uniform, with lively bright orange hair, her arms crossed, and a confident smile.
"Eda?" Luz said before chuckling softly and shaking her head. "I shouldn't be surprised, should I?"
The school was let out early due to the attack to allow both teachers and students to physically and mentally recover from the Basilisk attack. Said Basilisk was restrained, and mouth clamped shut.
Eda listened to the accounts of her kids' first day and could not have been more proud of what she had accomplished.
"You mean to tell me that not only did you get yourself in detention and beat up a Basilisk, but some convinced Bumpy of all people to agree to allow cross-track magic studies!" Eda slumps in her chair as she looks out like she is looking into a void. "Where were you when I needed you all those years ago?"
Luz chuckles at Eda's dilemma. "Not even a twinkle in my father's eye by my account." She received a flat stare for that comeback.
Further conversation was interrupted when Hooty's door flew open. "Hey, Luz! You have a visitor!"
They see Amity peeking through the door while also trying to lean away from Hooty. When she spots Luz, she gives an awkward smile. "Hey, Luz..."
"Amity! Here for your lesson?" Luz said with some excitement in her tone.
"Yes. You didn't have a scroll, so I wasn't sure if we were still on for training."
Luz waved her concerns off in an attempt to play it cool. "Please, that was nothing compared to some of the stuff I went through." Thinking about a few battles during the clone wars.
Amity felt amused by that notion as Luz began leading her out to their usual training area. When they reached it and sat cross-legged in front of each other, Luz began her instruction.
"On the Knee, you tapped in your potential by listening to the warning the Force gave you. Managing a leap at a height you did not think you could do with the aid of magic. Today, we will train how to physically interact with our environment." Luz produces a small ball that fits in her hand and places it in front of her. "Focus the ball and pull it towards you."
From afar, the Owl Lady smiled softly at the interaction. Even if it was sickly sweet. She was glad that Luz had some outlet to distract her from the horror on the other side of the portal. Taking said key out, taking notice of its eye flashing blue again.
Rain pelted down on top of the metal junk that littered the area. Nearby, several squads of clone troopers investigated a crashed escape pod that buried its way underground in the trash.
An officer in the new Empire black officer uniform with Captain bars looked at it with annoyance. Mostly because he had to stand in the rain while conducting this operation. His were on the Jedi and the extermination order to hunt them down. He hadn't been around the Jedi during the war, so he had only the opinions of others to go off on when dealing with them. His thoughts were halted when a clone walked up with a report in hand.
"Sir. We matched the pods I.D. The records matched along with the identity of the Jedi inside." The clone hands over the report.
"Jaro Tapal, status deceased. Jedi Master and General of the 13th "Iron" battalion. Last confrontation was the Bracca invasion. Mentor to Cal Kestis, status unknown. Padawan and Jedi Commander. Same battalion, same last confrontation." The captain looked back at the troopers. "Was there no sign of the Padawan?"
"No, sir. Only the traitor Tapal was found. Having found several blasters shot markings on his body. When we recovered it, we noticed he did not have his lightsaber."
"Meaning it's in the Padawan's hands, and he's more than likely in hiding after what's happened. Send word to have the planet screened for any ships leaving this world on my recommendation. He will not escape justice," The Captain ordered.
"Sir!" The clone saluted and left to relay his orders.
Not to far away, hidden inside a broken and beached Venator. One Jedi Padawan cried as he tried his best to meditate
Omake.
Blaster training.
Right outside the Owl House Luz stood next to Eda with both holding DC-15s side arm blasters.
"Tell me again why we're doing this?" Eda asked.
"I don't want you getting captured again when you don't have access to your magic. Like what happened when you went to the night market and Tibbles," Luz answered.
Eda grumbled at the mention of her last capture. She was never going to let that down and decided to go along with this training her apprentice was trying to teach her. Funny that it should be the other way around.
Luz began telling her the rules of firearm safety.
"Before we begin, I need to tell you a few simple rules that need to be followed before we start." Eda grew tired of this already just from hearing word rules. The Jedi continued despite the Witch's displeasure.
"Rule One: Keep your weapon pointed in the safe direction." Luz listed.
"Rule Two: Treat all blasters like they are loaded."
"Rule Three: Keep your trigger finger outside the guard and off the trigger until you are read to fire." Luz pointed the location on her pistol for Eda.
"Rule Four: Be certain of your target, your line of fire, and what lies behind your target." The Jedi pointed at a few coven scout masks hanging on sticks.
"Rule Five: last one Eda" "Thank Titan…" "Always wear the appropriate eye and ear protection when shooting and maintaining your blaster." Luz pulls out a pair of earmuffs and safety glasses. Putting on the safety wear, Luz continues with the lesson.
"Now that you know the safety rules, we are ready to start," Luz said.
"Great, so how does this thing work?" Eda looks at the side arm.
Luz pointed at a switch on its side. "Safe. Stun. Lethal." She indicated the selector switch.
Nearby several scouts of the Emperors coven moved forward with their latest assault on the Owl lady. They were suddenly stopped when several blue blots flew through the air and his two of them.
"Ambush!" One calls out.
"Where's that coming from?!" Another said.
"Flags bin hit, doesn't look good!" One scout called out as he tried to help his friend that had been shot in the arm.
The leading scout gritted his teeth. "The missions' compromised. Retreat!"
Back at the Owl House. Luz rubbed her face to hide her sight of the three intact masks and their scorched surroundings. Eda hit everything but the targets and she wasn't sure if she heard the panicked yelps of creatures in the distance as a few shots went past the trees.
"I think I did alright." Eda smiled at her work. "So... How'd I do coach?"
"Like I need to pay Cid a visit for some swill."
Eda grinned sweetly, "I could go for a drink. I've been wondering what alcohol from an alien planet tastes like!" Luz could only slump and groaned in exhausted annoyance.
Thank you all for sticking with me in this story. Tried to mix things with events so they don't consider with other stories or Cannon.
Hope this story satisfy the lot of you.
Its 0ne AM and I'm tire goodnight.
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