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?

16. The Fear Of

Underneath the Owl House, two Jedi meditated in silence.

Vos had taken time from finding other Jedi to train with Luz. So much has happened to her and her connection to this realm that he needs to investigate it himself. The Master or not, Vos could feel how balanced the Force is in her. It was like hitting the reset button. Luz looked and felt like a new person.

"Is something the matter, Master?" Luz has broken the silence to ask the senior Force user.

Vos hummed before answering. "In the short time you have been in this world, you have faced quite a few trials. Some would favor your growth, not as a Jedi but as a person."

Luz smiled at the compliment. "Thank you, Master. Though I imagine many from the Order would disagree with my methods. Although some weren't by choice."

Vos chuckled in good humor. "No, they would not. And no pun intended, but be mindful of yourself. No Jedi, to my knowledge, has been in the same situation as yours."

"In other words, be careful."

"Exactly!" He said while giving his signature grin before becoming more serious. "On another note. I've noticed you've been training your friend Amity in the ways of the Force. Care to explain, or do you see yourself as a Master already?" He questions Luz.

Luz shifted slightly in her spot. She anticipated this conversation to happen one day. Though openly discussing it...

"Amity has a connection to the Force. Altho, I'm pretty sure every sentient resident in this world has it on some level through their magic! When Order 66 happened, I found myself alone. No Masters to guide me, no military chain to back me up. I had believed every friend I made in both organizations was either dead or out to kill me. But when I found Amity to have that link, I felt happy and didn't feel alone. And with recent events, I just acted."

"Which led to you raiding the Jedi temple and stealing over a thousand lightsabers in front of a live audience?" He teased.

The Padawan blushed in embarrassment. "...Yeah, not my best well-thought-out idea."

"I'll say. After you showed me your collection, I did a little research on the event, and that one public event was broadcast from core worlds and all the former Republic territories."

"So I was right. Our stunt did get transmitted to the galaxy." Luz thought in annoyance.

"But to the subject of Amity. While the former Council would disapprove of your decision to take on an apprentice, I'm not. The Jedi is all but gone, with the remaining in hiding. You may have rushed in your decision to train Amity, but from an outside perspective, this can help you in the long run whether you want to start a new Jedi Order in this world.

"I have given that some thought, along with if we find more Jedi and bring them here."

"You should be soon. I'd got reached out by an old contact I made through the scrapper's guild. He and a few others have been finding a few Jedi and smuggling them to the Outer Rim to hide. I sent one Captain to Cid's direction and should be there in a week if the Empire misses him." The news uplifted her spirits.

"This is great! The outpost on the Knee is ready for its new residents. The Engineers and droids outdid themselves in its construction. They built a hydroponics lab for food, a decent size warehouse for storage, an improvised training ground, and a small shield generator to ward off bad weather." Luz listened.

"This is good. How many would you say the outpost can hold?"

"Right now, if we squeeze them in? Sixty to seventy. More buildings are still being drawn up, so space is limited for now."

"Mhmm...good, also Luz about the Jedi being brought here. You must keep the secret of being so balanced in the Force to yourself." This surprised the younger Jedi.

"Really? Why Master Vos?" She asked.

"Because many senior Jedi are too fixated on the past and will consider you an outcast or fallen Jedi. They view tampering with the Dark side or any method that doesn't align with the Jedi core teachings as signs of falling." Vos explained his reasoning. "It's how a few Jedi saw me after my undercover operations during the war. Even the sentinel classes of the Order were viewed as outcasts by the others in the temple. Mainly due to their way of doing things, but that's beside the point."

"Keeping my position in the Force is," Luz finished. "I understand, Master. I don't like it, but if it avoids an internal conflict, so be it."

Despite the Padawan's straight face, Vos could easily hear the displeasure in Luz's voice. He also could admit that he didn't like keeping secrets, not after what he did during the war.

"Also, a tip to keep in mind for mentoring Amity. This will be a journey for both of you. You are going to stumble and make mistakes at one point or another. But the real challenge will be how you both go forward after making them."

The two then finished their meditation and went outside for sparing practice. The two locked eyes before drawing their lightsaber hilts.

"Ready to be schooled, Padawan?" Voz taunted.

"You'll find me not so easy to teach, master."

Yellow and green went up as they took their signature forms, with Luz taking a center balance stance while Quinlan took the classic pose of form IV.

---

{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. 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 disappearing, 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 Boiling 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, hops 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 appeared.

Jedi of the Isles

---

Episode 16: The Fear Of

---

Sitting in the living room with King on the couch, Luz, wearing her school uniform, stared intently at the potted plant Willow sent her. A simple yellow flower in full bloom on its single green stock stood in the pot. Probably one of the most harmless plants she'd seen thus far on her stay in the Demon Realm. Willow sent this as a thank-you note for helping her with a school project the other day.

Of course, Luz happily accepted a gift from her friend. Be rude not to. Also, it brought out a bit of color to her room. But earlier, when she was about to bend down and smell it, Luz noticed a particular pattern in the plant's pollen collector. Taking a writing utensil and paper and drawing what she saw.

She started with an upside-down triangle with a line across the bottom. Then connected it to a line heading down to a circle at the bottom with a dot in the center. Finally, add two additional lines at the top of the circle. When it was completed, the thing reminded her of a standard flower, but Luz saw something more when she drew a glyph circle around it.

"Moment of truth." Luz taps the glyph, and a small pink flower blooms from the paper. "Yes! That's three glyphs in the bag, bouya baby!"

"Hey, King. Check it out. My magic powers are growing." Luz showed off her work while pulling a pun. Discovering the new "plant" glyph would solve several problems and ease supply issues.

The furry demon was using her earth phone and watching animal videos native to it. "Yeah yeah, hey Luz, check out these ferocious battles here." The tiny 2D screen showed two little earth cats playing together.

"I see the signal I rigged up is coming through."

Luz needed to make a trip to that world at some point. Its tech was low tier compared to the rest of the galaxy, but the natives had some great ideas and concepts that the Jedi needed to look into. And their entertainment industry was like nothing she'd ever seen. Also, luz wanted to see that one cute animal King had shown her the other day. What was it called, an otter? It was very cute looking to the point that she wanted one.

"Yeah, and this thing has a ton of info on it. Did you know that Earth is flat?"

"And that's enough mindless Holonet for today." Luz took her device back.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Hooty greeted them with his usual cheery attitude.

"Hoot Hoot, Luz! It's time to fill that fierce little head of yours with some good old-" Hooty said while extending his neck before he began retching, just like he did with the mail, and vomiting several books onto the floor. "Mehm...hmm... delicious knowledge!"

Peeking from the door frame, Gus had an uncomfortable look on his face from watching Hooty's disgusting show or just from being around him. Most people are disturbed by Hooty until they get used to him.

"Please hurry," he said with an uneasy look as Willow peaked her head with the same look.

"The more I'm around him, the more uncomfortable I feel." Willow quickly said, wanting Luz to hurry up so they could get away from Hooty.

"Hoot! Hoot!" Hooty hooted as Gus and Willow leaned back.

The scene was humorous to Luz, but she didn't want her friends to suffer. She set the earth phone down and grabbed her things.

"Bye, King. Don't spend all day lying on the couch," Luz said before giving him a kiss on the head and walking to the door.

"You're not the boss of me!" King shouted at Luz. He took the phone and played the following video. This one showed a cat chasing its tail. "Ha, what an idiot." King looks at his wagging tail for a moment with an erg to grab it but refocuses on the video.

After shutting the door behind them, Luz began the walk to Hexside with her friends as the small talk began.

"Sorry about that. I hope you guys weren't tortured too long with Hooty?" Luz joked with a smile to them.

"Oh no, it wasn't too bad," Willow said with sarcasm.

"Just that it was the worst sixty seconds of my life. I'm sure we'll live." Gus said as a joke before the trio chuckled together. "But besides that, our week can only improve from here on."

"Especially with what's tomorrow," Willow said to Gus, making him remember.

"Oh right," Gus said with a smile.

Luz looked curious at the two. "What's so special about tomorrow?"

"We'll tell you when we get to school. Also, I have to ask. How did Amity's latest training session go?" Willow said as she turned to Luz.

A spike of electricity shot up her spine at the memory. One that made her cheeks flare up much to her confusion.

*Start Flashback*

Two teens jumped from branch to branch from the trees surrounding the Owl House.

The Jedi Padawan was leaping over fallen logs, bouncing off rocks, and swinging over mud puddles. Luz hardly looked winded and smiled happily as she glanced behind at her friend.

Her green-haired student, on the other hand, sweated profusely and huffed as she tried to keep up. Today's training was on the physical applications of the Force. Using it to improve one's body. They were doing a game of follow the leader, where Amity had to chase Luz through the rugged terrain within the forest.

"That's it, Amity! Feel the Force around you. Let it flow through you." Luz shouted out in an attempt to teach/encourage the Witch. When passing the first marker, the two jumped and vaulted over small logs or obstacles in their path. With determination and burning legs, Amity hoped and ducked through anything she encountered.

Luz, ahead of Amity, sidestepped around the obstacles, but rather than leaping forward, she stayed within Amity's line of sight. She watched Amity hopping on one log and Forced Jump an incredible distance over the next mud pit and sticking the landing. Then rushing and bouncing off a pair of angled trees.

But it wasn't just the natural environment Amity had to face as Luz knocked over a stick that held a rope down.

Sensing Danger within the Force, Amity looks up to see a deadfall log swing toward her. Without changing speeds, Amity bends backward and limbos under the attacking trap. The attack missed the Witch, but her foot caught a loose rock, making her unbalanced, and she soon tumbled to the ground.

"Ow..." Amity whispered as she felt pain in her ankle. Luz doubled back and crouched down.

"Amity, you okay?" Luz asked, concerned.

"My ankle, I think I sprained it." The Witch grabbed it and held it aloft. What she did not expect next was Luz taking it and carefully taking off her shoe.

"Luz...?" Amity's face was blushing up a storm at the physical contact.

Luz placed her hand softly over Amity's ankle and closed her eyes.

Concentrating on the injury, Luz let the Force flow through her hands and into the injured ankle.

Amity held back a wince of pain at the contact but felt the pain go away as soon as she felt the Force from Luz. It was a relaxing feeling, and even her muscles' soreness slowly faded. After a couple of minutes, her leg was healed.

"Wow. I didn't know you could do that?" Amity said.

"Force healing is one of the few skills Master Unduli got to teach me in our short time together. Can't do anything life-threatening, but simple stuff like this I can do."

"I'd wished I could have met her. She sounded like a great person."

"You two would have gotten along swimmingly."

The two sat silently for a moment before Amity cleared her throat, making the Jedi look up at a rosy-cheeked Amity. "You can let go of my leg now if you want."

Luz looked down and saw that she was still holding Amity's leg. Feeling embarrassed, Luz let go and handed her shoe back. "Sorry for making it awkward."

"Don't worry about it."

As the two got up, Luz stood up too fast, lost her footing on a loose rock, and fell forward on top of Amity. The fall forced the two girls down back on top of each other.

"Urgh," Amity grunted as she hit the ground.

"Oh, Amity! I'm sorry I-" When she pushed herself up, her hand connected with something soft. Looking down, Luz blushed at the situation. She was nearly nose to nose with Amity while sitting on the Witch's waist with her hands holding Amity down by the arms while the Witch grabbed the Jedi's hips. Another thing was that Amity's hair tie came undone, spread her hair, and gave her an untamed look. A blush consumed their faces as they stared silently at one another, neither moving an inch.

*Flashback Ends*

"I-It went rather well! She's doing better but needs help with her balance and footwork." Luz told them rather quickly. Her tone rushed.

They soon made it to Hexside and entered the school. All around them, they saw abomination-made balloons and other decorations being put up. Luz also saw the other students acting strangely. Many of them were getting relatively close to each other, with a few openly flirty.

"Okay, can someone fill me in on what's going on? Did someone slip love potions to everyone but us at some point?" Luz asked as she spotted a guy from her beast keeping track, kissing a female student's hand from the illusion track.

Willow shook her head. "Nope! This will be your first year with us at the biggest social event of the season."

"Grom night!" Gus shouted in excitement.

"What's Gr-" A pair of paramedics suddenly rushed past Luz making siren sounds.

"Out of the way!" One said as they pushed a stretcher to another student Luz recognized from her beast track class. The student with dark skin, blonde hair that covered his eyes, and big, pointy ears similar to a bat. Skara was close by as the paramedics grabbed his shoulders.

"Come with us immediately! Your disease is advancing!" One said as they put him on the stretcher.

"Is there a cure, Doc?" The student pleaded.

"Only one..." The lead paramedic said grimly before placing his hands on his check. "Finding the perfect date to Grom!"

Luz looked confused at the medical staff as the bat kid was rolled up to Skara. "Wait, is this really happening?" Luz asked no one.

"If that's the cure...then, Skara, will you go to Grom with me?" To make his point, the bat kid pulled out an actual BEATING heart with "GROM" written on the front.

"EEEEE! Yes! Of course, I'll go to Grom with you or whatever!" Skara squealed as she hugged the bat kid.

The paramedics and surrounding students all cheered and clapped at the Grom proposal while Luz was just confused, looking up to see a golden web banner with GROM written on it.

"Okay... I really need clarification about what is going on. What is Grom exactly?" Luz asked as she turned to her friends. "Is this some kind of formal event that goes on in the demon realm?"

Willow was all too happy to explain it. "Grom is a school dance we host yearly. A lot of students and couples attend it, but there's a catch for becoming Grom queen..."

"What's that?" Luz asked with a tilt of her head. Before she gets an answer, someone bumps her from behind.

"Hey, watch it!" the person said as Luz turned around to see.

"Amity?" Luz said as she saw the Blight girl on her knees, with three books and a folded piece of paper on the floor.

"Luz? Oh! Sorry about that. I didn't know it was you." Amity said before seeing Gus and Willow behind Luz. "Willow. Gus."

"It's alright. You seemed to be in a rush. I know what that feels like." Luz said as she helped Amity pick up her books and the note. "Here's your stuff. Oh, don't forget your notes."

Hearing the word "note" from Luz's mouth, Amity quickly snatched the book and the note from her hands with lightning speed!

"Whoa, girl! Where've you been hiding that speed?" Luz asked in surprise at how fast Amity snatched the note from her hand. It must be something important.

"S-Sorry about that. It's...private." Amity said about the note before the P.A. system came on, alerting everyone to listen.

Everyone began muttering, saying, "this is it," and "listen up," for whatever Principal Bump had to stay. Whatever it was, it had to be a big deal to make the students this jumpy.

"Attention, Hexside students, attention! This is Principal Bump speaking." Bump said over the P.A. system, which looked like a purple, ravenous monster mouth ready to bite.

"Oh dude, this is it!" Gus said as the group looked towards the speaker.

"The announcement of this year's Grom Royalty!" Willow said with her hands intertwined together.

"This year, I have the privilege of bestowing our highest honor of Grom Royalty to..." Principal Bump said with a pause for dramatic effect. Then tension in the air reached its boiling point as students visibly began sweating! "...Luz Noceda! Our Grom Queen!"

Everyone in the hall gasped before turning to the human Jedi, while Luz felt her jaw unhinged at the news. She looked at her friends and saw their shocked faces and the looks of pity from the other less-known students. Whispers of doom and gloom spread like a plague amongst the student body while they stared at their new Grom Queen. While said queen was feeling a bit annoyed by the tension.

"Okay, enough is enough. Can someone please tell me what is happening and why everyone looks ready to panic?" Luz asked as she turned to her friends, who all looked extremely worried. "What is the "Grom Queen?""

"It's... kind of a REALLY big deal, Luz." Willow said with some stress on the word "really."

"Big? Try huge!" Gus said to her.

Their answers confused Luz about their wording. Meanwhile, Amity was visibly panicking!

'If Luz is Grom Queen. Then there's a chance she could-' Amity dared not finish her thought.

"Can you give me a straight answer, please? I feel like you all are trying to dodge the question." Her answer came from Amity as she grabbed the Jedi's wrist.

"Come with me. Now!" Amity dragged Luz and led her down the hall.

"Whoa! Amity? Where are you taking me?" Luz said as she watched Amity being assertive. Something Luz found to oddly like for some reason.

"To find Principal Bump and get you out of being Grom Queen," Amity responded as they soon reached the school gym.

When they entered and saw Bump talking to the Snaggleback for some reason. The same one that snuck into the Owl House the day Luz found out about Eda's curse. Seeing the little guy again was nice, but why was he here at school with diamonds embedded in his shell while hanging from a rope and spinning like a nightclub ball?

Amity let go of Luz and confronted the school head, and Luz just stood by the doors and waited. She watched as her friend and the Headmaster conversed before dismissing the student and walking up to Luz.

"As Headmaster of this school, I wish you luck at Grom tomorrow. Try not to die and have a wonderful time!" Bump waved goodbye.

Luz felt her eyebrow twitch as the idiocracy of everything was getting to her. She turned to Amity with a flat look. "Can you explain now?"

"It's best if I show you while telling you," Amity said as she walked to a red button on a black and red pedestal with insect legs on the bottom. Pushing the button, the gym floor rumbles before it opens before them to reveal a ramp leading to some sort of underground area with large columns with chains hanging from the walls.

"This school has an underground dungeon?" Luz asked before two walls popped up between her and Amity, displaying many weapons. Like swords, maces, axes, morning stars, shields, crossbows, and throwing knives.

"What you see here is the arena where you will debut as Grom Queen," Amity said as she grabbed a sword from the weapons wall and pointed it down at the arena, where a strange black sludge appeared momentarily before disappearing into the ground. "And that's Grom. Short for Grometheus, the fear bringer. It's a monster that lives under the school."

"What?" Luz looked back at Amity. The Witch placed the sword's tip on the ground and drew a spell circle, showing Luz a moving tapestry. "I have to face that?"

"Every year, it tries to break out, and a student has to defeat it before it invades the town. Ever the optimist, Bump holds a party and calls it a tradition. The worst thing is that Grom can read minds and shape-shift into your worst fear."

"So... what you're saying is I'm the main source of entertainment for this school dance?! Why is something like this allowed, shouldn't some professional fight this thing rather than a student?"

"Trust me, you're not the first to ask this. It's tied to some curse to the school that only a student can fight him. And if you fail, the entire school is doomed, with the Boiling Isles following suit and living out their worst nightmares for the rest of their lives." Amity gets a deadpan star from Luz, not liking this arrangement, with an old familiar feeling coming back.

"No pressure then."

"Luz...?" Amity asked, never seeing her react like this.

"I mean, I'm only going to be forced to fight a mind-reading monster that will find out what I fear most. It's not like I've been in challenging situations before with the war I fought in and the Council pressuring me. As Jedi, we were raised that bringing suffering, hate, and anger will lead to fear." Luz looked up at her friend, and Amity saw the hollowed pain. The Witch had seen that look before and came to Luz's side.

"Luz, you are one of the bravest people I know. After going through so much, I find it hard to believe you are afraid of anything." She told the Jedi.

Luz gave a small smile back. "Thanks for that, Amity, but there have been quite a few times when I have been afraid. Somewhere I thought I was going to die right at the next moment. Others where I felt like I would fail others that counted on me. Both of those I felt every day since the day Order 66 happened. No one is fearless, Amity. But after everything that's happened to me, some monster like this isn't going to stop me now."

Amity watched as Luz's eyes seemed to change from a hollowness she had seen to some of a fire being lit. Then there was what she felt through the Force...

'So warm...' Amity mindlessly thought. Making her cheeks red in admiration.

Before she could respond, Luz left the gym, leaving behind a concerned Amity.

She had preparations to make.

"Somebody throw down a tarp. I'm going to puke!" The Snagglebeast called out.

And she was gone.

---

The school day seemed to speed up, and Luz was walking back home before she knew it. Some students from her class and Ms. Rothco gave her well wishes in facing Grom. The sentiments weren't needed but were greatly appreciated.

Returning to the Owl House, Luz went to the second floor to see Eda. Hoping that the older Witch could give her any advice for facing an amorphous, telepathic shapeshifter. Probably not, but worth a shot.

"Eda, you there? I'm back from school and could use your help with a problem." Luz announced before entering the Owl Lady's room and came upon an interesting scene.

In front of a mirror was King helping Eda tailor some fancy clothes the Witch was wearing. The clothes looked like they were styled for a man rather than a woman, but Eda oddly seemed to pull it off. But that was only half the sight as she spotted Quinlan Vos in a darker set of formal, casual clothes not too dissimilar to Eda's. But the coat he wore brought out the broadness in his shoulders.

"Ow! Careful with those pins, King," Eda warned him with a harmless glare.

"Why am I doing this? I don't even wear clothes!" King argued back.

"But it is an excellent skill to have, Youngling. Never know when it could come in handy," Quinlan spoke, giving some simple advice.

"Guys?" Luz said, getting everyone's attention. "What are you all doing?"

"Old Bump asked me to chaperone Grom tonight, your friend was still around, so I asked him to come along. We got to look our best," Eda flipped her hair with a smile.

"It would be a good reprieve from the wider world we have to deal with. Watching over a bunch of school kids will be a breeze. Plus, what Eda has told me makes me wonder more about what Grom is. Something to look into in the future," Vos explained as he straightened his tie.

"And Gus asked me to co-emcee the fight," King revealed a poster with him and Gus wearing sunglasses on it. "We're gonna turn this bloodbath into a fun bath."

"Ooh, have they announced the victim yet?" Eda questioned with interest.

"Yep, but this victim isn't gonna be as helpless as you think," Luz said, seeing their confused faces before just saying it. "It's me. I will be facing down with Grom tonight."

"Huh?" Eda asked as King dropped the poster, letting it float to the ground. Vos looked slightly taken back by the news. "YOU'RE fighting Grom?!"

"You better be joking because this is not funny, Padawan," Vos advised.

"That's it! It's a joke! Good one, Luz." King started laughing. But it slowly stopped when no one else was laughing with him.

"This isn't a joke, King. Principle Bump chose me. And I'm going to fight Grom." Her words through the little demon into a panic.

Eda grabbed King into her arms to calm him down before facing the younger Jedi. "Easy there. Kid, no offense. I know you're tough, and I know you've been in challenging situations. But Grom is at a whole nother level than what you've faced before!" Eda sat King down in her nest before approaching Luz and placing her hands on her shoulders. "Witches are more...durable compared to humans."

"Eda, I can name a few dozen species off the top of my head that are more durable than humans." Luz deadpans back at Eda. "I know this is going to be a tough fight, and I'm going to be facing my fears. What those are...well, guess everyone will see me bust its head open."

Luz turns and leaves behind a concerned trio.

"You think you were a bit hard on her," King acknowledged, getting Eda's attention. "She's saved you a few times, remember?"

"That girl has faced her share of trials. Both in our realm and this one." Vos agreed.

"Facing Grom means facing your worst fear, guys," Eda turned to the mirror. "And I don't think Luz knows what that means...yet."

Meanwhile, Luz went outside to a shack attached to the house's side. Opening up revealed several objects, like a bathtub with a motor and propeller attached to it. Luz's personal speeder bike. A box of armor. And a hanging rack of four training droids the gang stole from the Jedi Temple. Walking up to the droid racks, Luz activates them and motions for them outside. With the five out just behind the house, Luz sets her lightsaber to training mode and gets in the center of being stance. The droids ignited their training weapons and lunged at the Jedi.

---

A few hours of training and a shower improved the Jedi's mood. Luz was trying to take her mind off things by rummaging through some of Eda's boxes in her room. Mainly to see if the Witch had any formal clothing she could wear, as her Jedi robes felt out of place for the dancing part of the event.

Luz paused after she pulled out a furry otter onesie in realization. "Why do I suddenly care about the dance part, not the match?"

She looked down over the onesie and softly rubbed its furry head with her scared hand. The burn damage still presents from Amity and their Witches' duel. Even healing magic can only do so much, and a bacta tank wouldn't reverse the damage this long after it'd scarred.

"Not like anyone would be interested in going with me..."

"Oh, Luz!" Hooty said, suddenly sneaking up on Luz and smushing their faces together. "Someone is here to see you."

"Hooty, stop lurking outside my window! And for the Force's sake, learn some personal space." Luz warned him, and her door opened. "Amity!" She stated in surprise as the girl came in covered in feathers.

"I swear if that bird tube thing talks to me again...I'm going to destroy it." Amity said as she pulled feathers out of her hair. "And before you ask, I'm here to help you train."

"Help me train? Why?" Luz said as she pushed the otter suit aside.

"Because this is important, and you could use some help dealing with the stress," Amity said as she walked up to Luz and stood before her. "I'm confident in your abilities, but if you lose, Luz, everyone will have to live out their worst nightmare."

"You wanna hear my worst nightmare?" Hooty asked as he touched Amity's cheek against his, and her eyes twitched. Then she started beating him up.

"Hooty-hoot! Hoot! Hoot!" Hooty screamed in pain through the beating.

---

After Amity's lesson to Hooty on personal space, the two went outside where the Blight twins had been waiting for them. After a quick greeting, the three Blights briefed everything they knew about Grometheus.

"Grom will transform into your darkest fears. What are you afraid of, Luz?"

Not meeting her eyes, Luz had some idea of what she was afraid of but didn't voice it.

"Wanna say our greatest fears?" Edric asked his sister. "On three. One, two...being alone forever."

"Being stuck with you forever," Emira stated, and he sighed in disappointment.

"Okay... awkward moment aside. If Grom is as mighty as it is, it will spawn past enemies I've faced. In an attempt to overwhelm or rush me. Drown me in opponents to tire me before striking me when it sees an opening. Probably a Nexu pack and squads of commando droids. I was often hesitant to face those, and those spider cats were nasty." The Jedi deduced with a pondering hand on her chin.

Edric and Emira looked at each other to wonder if they knew what those were, while Amity wasn't bothered by it. "Things that creep and gross you out aren't enough. Grom will go beyond that and hit you where it will hurt. What are you really afraid of?"

The question lingered in the air. Luz looked at the sky as she racked her brain for an answer. What was she afraid of? What could put fear into the heart of a Jedi that had been through war, betrayed, and had her mind broken then repaired with her presence in the Force balanced?

"I lost a teacher and a few friends at the start of the war," Luz started getting their attention, and the twin's confusion. "Everything I did, I had to do myself because no one else was going to do it for me. I'd train and study day and night with little sleep or rest. I knew the Council was preparing to get rid of me by sending me to a position where they would forget about me for the rest of my life. I didn't want that, so while I studied, I made myself useful in any way I could. Whether it was doing something mundane like maintenance or something important like bodyguarding, I took it. It was just the beginning when I proposed my situation and what I wanted to do to the Council." Luz gave Amity a knowing look. "You and Willow saw that memory."

"We did. It was one of the broken ones that we fixed." Amity confirmed.

"After that, I had to ensure everything I did was right in their eyes. Or-"

"Risk failure..." Amity cut Luz off by finishing her line. "You are afraid of failure?" Luz nodded.

"Even now. After being in the jaws of death a few times, there's always something else to fear. Looking back, some of the things I feared seemed silly now."

As the Jedi talked, the more it made Amity feel like she was looking in a mirror. Her parents took control of her life at a young age. Everything from school courses, curricular activities, sports, and most of all, her friends. They are what forced Amity to break her friendship with Willow, pushed her to get nothing but perfect grades, and made life at home near unbearable. All that gradually changed after meeting Luz, opening her mind to the Force, and seeing the world she could never think possible. Amity saw herself in Luz, making her mind look back to their talk about expectations and results after their duel.

"I'm unsure what Grom will use for that when we fight. I don't know if I'll be ready to face it. But I will meet it like any challenge presented to me. Besides, not like anyone would switch with me." Luz finished.

"I would."

The words came out, and three sets of surprised eyes landed on a now-blushing Witch.

"Amity?"

The Witch felt flatfooted and at a loss as to why she said that but caught herself in time. "Luz, you have had a bunch of things you must worry about. Between the Empire hunting you, training me, rescuing other Jedi, going to school, and managing an army of clone troopers. You are nothing short of amazing with responsibilities that keep piling on." Amity went and took Luz's hands and gripped them tight. "And now we've placed you in fighting Grom on top because of some stupid tradition. So why not let someone else do the fighting for a change?"

"...No, no, absolutely not," Luz told her. "I am not going to let you face Grom for me!"

"As your siblings, we agree with this!" Emira told her, with the male twin nodding.

"Luz, I know you don't like it, but-"

"You damn right I don't! I don't run from a fight, not at the cost of others." Luz took a deep calming breath. "I can't let you take my place. As a Jedi, I am supposed to be in control of my emotions. We are supposed to face our fear, and if Grom is going to use that against me, he is in for a tough fight. One I am going to win."

'So confident.' Amity thought as she squeezed Luz's hands.

"Okay, I believe in you," Amity said with a smile to her as Emira and Edric nodded, agreeing.

"Thank you. I mean it. Now I need to change into something to fight in. But before that, I need you to do something for me." Luz asked Amity.

"Of course. What is it?" Amity asked.

"Meet me before the fight. I need you to hold something for later. Also, after the fight..." Luz's cheeks reddened as she formed the words in a shy voice. "Can you teach me to dance?"

"Dance?!" Amity's face went completely red. The twins behind their sister edged closer in unhidden interest.

"I am many things, but a dancer I am not... So."

"Uhm. Sure thing, Luz. To both things." Amity said with a shaky smile as Luz nodded, running back into the house to get changed and ready for the dance.

Leaving behind a blushing Amity and her twin siblings, each with mischievous smiles.

"That's one way to ask someone on a date. Right, sis?"

"Indeed, oh brother. Original too."

"Shut up."

"Also what were those things you said about an Empire hunting your love interest?"

"Not. Now. Ed!" Amity snapped.

---

The gym was fully decorated and bustling with students as they all dressed to impress on this night to remember. Still hanging, that poor Snaggleback still stuck from the ceiling. "Arms so tired..." The dance had a band, where all the instruments were alive to play themselves. The guitar riffed as dating duos danced together, though a bit stiff. Willow spun spell fingers to give people corsages, and they clapped. Though some people looked nervous about tonight as they knew the fight with Grom was coming up.

Eda's foot tapped against the gym floor impatiently as she repeatedly checked her wristwatch for when it was time for Luz's debut. "Why so twitchy, witchy?" King asked as he approached. "Trying to remember if I've ever seen you this worried before," He rubbed his chin.

"Well, of course I'm worried! I'm gonna have to save Luz from a nightmare monster," she groaned, leaning against the arch. "So much for mama's fun night out."

"Why not have faith in Luz?" Quinlan Vos appeared next to Eda. "Despite the circumstance, you should believe in her abilities to survive and adapt to the situation. Also, if there is a problem, there is a fireteam and medical unit outside just in case."

Vos pointed at one side door showing a pair of clone troopers next to the bleachers overseeing the event.

"When did they get here?" King asked.

"Luz messaged them a little while ago just in case things go bad."

"But they won't, right?" King asked but didn't get an answer.

The lights suddenly dimmed, and microphone feedback was heard, causing everyone to look towards the stage and see Gus in a gray tuxedo with a white shirt and a blue bow tie.

"Ladies, gentlemen, and assorted demons," Gus' voice boomed out. "It's almost time for our main Grom event! Please, please, take a seat. And beware that the first three rows are designated splash zones." He gestured to the one person eagerly sitting there, wearing a raincoat and umbrella.

"I see we've got Principal Bump in the house!" Gus gestured to the man. "Now, sir, I hope you won't throw us in detention, because we're gonna raise the roof!" A spotlight fell on him, and he waved nervously before doing a "raise the roof" motion with an awkward smile.

Outside the gym, Amity was by the door. Wearing a black vest over a lightish-pink blouse with a knee-high velvet skirt. She looked down at the note she had dropped earlier, rubbing her thumb against it. The girl was standing and waiting for Luz, wanting to wish her luck before the fight.

"I drew quite a crowd." Luz appears behind the girl. Turning to face the Jedi, Amity saw Luz wearing her armored Jedi robes, the clothing clean of any dirt and plates polished to the point that they reflect little light. She also had a backpack slung over her shoulder. Amity wasn't the only one checking out the other girl. Luz was also giving the abomination user a once-over.

'She looks nice in that skirt.' Luz thought absently as she looked at Amity's Grom outfit.

"I wanted to wish you luck," Amity said before she frowned, taking Luz's scarred right hand. "And to let you know, even if you don't want it, I'm jumping in to help you at the first sign of trouble. I don't care what tradition says."

"I expected that from you, thanks Amity. Makes loaning you this much easier." With her free hand, Luz pulls an object from her robe and holds it out to see. Making Amity gasp at what it is.

"A lightsaber?!" Amity could hardly believe it. The lightsaber had a black leather wrap around the handle; the metal shell gleamed with polished silver. "And you're letting me borrow it?"

"It belonged to Master Unduil," Luz told her. "I believe she wouldn't have minded if it was used again in defense of others."

Amity carefully takes the lightsaber and clips it to her side. "I'll take care of it and hope that I don't need it."

"Spoken like a Jedi. Here, this is for later." Luz hands her the backpack that Amity also takes. "Now, you should head in. You don't want to miss the show."

Amity hesitated but nodded in acceptance. Luz watched her go with a small smile before her friend was out of sight.

"And now, to introduce our Grom Queen!" Gus announced to the crowd as Principal Bump joined him on stage. "You know her, you love her, the warrior from another realm, LUZ NOCEDA!"

If tradition demanded her to fight this monster, and after a hype-up like Gus just gave, then the traditions of the Jedi demanded she enter as a Jedi… full regalia. Reaching back, she pulled her hood over herself, shrouding her eyes in the shadows. With a quiet wave of her finger, the doors to the gym opened by command of the Force. She crossed her arms as they hid them in the long sleeves of her Jedi robes. Luz strode into the gym with an aura of confidence. Her mysterious appearance caused the student body and the minor amount of faculty present to gasp. Even Eda and King were wowed, while Vos just chuckled. Understanding clearly what Luz was doing.

Luz continued her mighty steps, walking past the walls of offered weapons without giving them the time of day, which Bump found astounding compared to other Groms he's overseen. Marching down the ramp, Luz steeled herself for a battle like no other. Amity had taken to the stands, finding and sitting next to Willow, hoping Luz wouldn't need backup.

Luz made it to the center of the chamber before Grom moved behind her, black ooze bubbled out of the ground before splitting up into dozens and dozens of small black puddles, and soon tan, skeleton-like forms rose up backed by stockier shiny gray skeletons. Her first fight against Grom was to be by fighting a cohort of Battle Droids supported by a phalanx of Supers in the rear.

"A Jedi!" A yellow-highlighted command droid announced, "Blast her!"

"Roger Roger!"

The droids send a wave of red blaster fire at Luz. Shooting wildly in her direction at speeds unheard of in the Isles, the audience gasps in horror. Their fears turn to awe when Luz unleashes her saber and begins deflecting every shot that draws near, flashing wildly in a blur with grace and ease. With even a few being returned back at the enemy, turning them back into piles of goo. Seeing this, Luz Force jumped high in the air and threw several sphere objects at the Grom Droids' feet. They rolled onto the arena and blew up several of Grom's super battle droids. She landed and moved into a quick roll before reading her saber and slicing several droids into pieces at the legs or torso before channeling the Force to increase her speed. She raced across the battlefield and sliced down droids as she did before jumping behind a pillar before more Grom Droids manifested.

Up in the bleachers, the crowd was going wild. Many who didn't know Luz quickly became interested in the human's strength and prowess. Some watched in awe at the humans' fighting speed, while others marveled at her glowing weapon. A few, like Bump, took a close interest in Luz's fighting skills. Meanwhile, from Luz's friend's section, they were getting a front-row seat to a reenactment of the clone wars.

"Woah! This is intense!" Jerbo said as he watched the battle with starry eyes.

"I've never seen creatures like those before," Viney looks at the battle droids. "What is she facing?"

"Bark!" {She fights with a will of fire!} Barcus said.

Willow and Amity said nothing as they watched the fight with laser-focused attitudes.

Over with Eda and Vos, they watched the fight closely. One worried about what the young Jedi would face, while the other studied the monster Luz met head-on.

"So those are the things you Jedi had to fight in the war," Eda said in a bitter tone as she watched Luz leap from cover and slice a Super Battle Droid down the middle. "They don't look so tough."

"This is a minor skirmish compared to what the Separatists would launch," Vos dismissed the Witch's criticism. "They were known to send thousands, even tens of thousands, in an open battle against us. It was common for Republic units to be bogged down while facing literal hundred-to-one odds. What you're seeing now is a young Jedi whose skills were tested against in war."

"And look at Luz go! Using her insane battle skills with that crazy weapon of hers!" Gus smiled at her. "And now to hand things over to my co-emcee… King! Hey buddy, can you tell us how Luz is doing?" As King climbed up onto the stage, Gus handed him the microphone.

"Hello, Hexside! Great to be here! He, he, Uhm... Luz is sure starting out strong. That is a lightsaber, her weapon! She is very good at using it and has saved me a few times with it." He tugged at his bow tie, finding this a bit unnerving, but powered on. "But more is to come as she has yet to use her impressive human magic!" King commentated as the crowd cheered, turning back to the fight.

'Yes! I did it!' King mentally cheered.

Luz kept low as she charged the following line of B2 supers. Chopping them to bits. A growling drew her attention to a Grom creation that formed into a big gray furry cat with a wide toothy mouth and four black eyes.

"Nexu, Kriff, it took me a month to not hear the screams of those clones that got ambushed by you guys." Luz readied her saber before pouncing on the alien cat. The Nexu also lunged with its open razor-toothed mouth and got a healthy dose of yellow plasma in its mouth. After dissecting the cat, Luz turns to face a large blob of Grom, forming something new.

"Luz is dominating in this fight! But Grom looks like he still is in it. What will he pop out next?" Gus commented to the crowd.

"Luz has indeed lasted surprisingly long," Principal Bump had taken the stage next to Gus and King. "But what form will Grom take next?"

"Alright, you shulk'la sheb Di'knut. What else have you got?" Luz taunted the shapeshifter.

The form of Grom growled in anger before splitting itself into several globs before they reanimated into several people. As the details came out, Luz felt a wave of dread flow in her when they took a humanoid shape with a clear indication of armor and barreled weapons poked out. When the colors and details were done, the whole command staff of the 3rd stood in front of her.

Amity and Willow gasped at what Luz will be facing next. Knowing what this fear was about. Vos's face scrunched up in anger as he recognized this moment. While many of the student body recognized the soldiers that came to the school not too long ago.

"This is bad!" Vos stated as he saw Luz take a step back.

"I remember how she looked when I first met the girl. She was not in the best shape. Because of this moment." Confronting the girl at her stand reminded Eda of herself long ago.

At the arena, Luz was stunned to see all her friends and officers.

One clone in green ARC trooper gear walked towards her. "Hey, commander. Where have you been?" The ARC greeted her casually.

Another appeared in heavy trooper gear, approached and carried a Z6 rotary cannon. "Commander, where's the fight?"

A clone with a flame pattern design with a DC-15 heavy blaster in his arms walked up to Luz. "Good to have you back, sir."

More and more clones appeared and greeted the Jedi before the whole command staff of the Brave Rifles regiments stood at the ready.

"Oh no." Amity became a lot more fearful as to what was to come.

As one of their com links activated, an old man's voice came through for everyone to hear.

"Execute Order 66!"

With the command given, the clones stood rigidly before they brought their guns on the lone Jedi. Seeing all the weapons pointed at her, Luz had only one option. Run!

The Grom Troopers fired blue plasma that made Luz block, duck and sidestep them. But these didn't act like the half-job programs the Separatists put into their battle droids. These fired like Republic marksmen, ready to face down an army.

Luz moved into cover and was pelted by their fire. The sound of jet packs being stared at drew her attention upwards to see the Grom clones of Vultan and three jet troopers. They fired down at her to catch her off guard. But the Jedi had none of it, and Force jumped to meet them. The jet troopers were caught off guard as Luz closed the distance on them and slashed the nearest one. What followed was her leaping from Grom clone to clone before landing back on her feet, leaving little bits of raining black goop behind.

"You may have taken their image but not their skills, Grom." Luz blocked more attacks before the Grom trooper of Captain Oak appeared and started firing but was easily deflected away. "Which is why you will lose!"

She moved forward and bisected Grom Oak at the waistline. Luz then gave a war cry as she Force jumped toward a group of Grom clones. What followed was the inhuman screams of Grom coming out of the mouths of his creations. For Luz's lightsaber swung, slashed, and stabbed wildly at anything around her.

"It's a no holds slaughter fest! To which Luz is bringing down on Grom like never before!" Gus shouted.

"Violence!" King screamed in glee as the student body cheered for Luz. But a few did not.

Off to the side were a few clone troopers. The men of the third watched intently at the battle between their commander and Grom.

"Can you believe that thing tried to imitate us? Like it could copy our skills." One medical clone said.

"Don't forget how this thing just recreated our worst moment in life!" A clone trooper snarled.

"Are we going to stand by and let our Commander do all the fighting?" Another clone questioned in anger.

"We are."

The troopers turn to see Captain Vultan approach from the side to watch the fight. Just in time to see Luz fight other manifestations of them. A fit of anger builds at seeing the grotesque blob.

"The Commander tasked us to leave the fighting to her. So that we'll be the last line of defense against that thing and the civilians. Should we fail that is. And not once since meeting Luz has she ordered us to do anything she wouldn't do herself."

He levels a commanding look at his brothers. "So trust in our Jedi Commander and back her up when she calls!"

"Sir, yes, sir!"

A loud detonation returns their focus to the arena, where an explosion blows their Jedi commander away.

Lux bounces off the ground while leaving behind a trail of smoke. She grimaced as she looked up to see an ARC trooper with a rocket launcher aiming at her.

The sight made Luz curse under her breath. "Damn it. Nearly forgot Swift specialized in heavy ordnance." The Grom ARC shot another missile at her, but Luz wasn't having any of it. The Jedi reached out with the Force and directed it back to its owner, destroying the Grom ARC. "The real Swift would have dodged that!" Luz barked before walking away with a noticeable limp towards a shapeless Grom pile.

"Is that really all you've got?" Luz huffed. Feeling the damage done to her was not a good thing.

The glob of Grom reaches out to Luz's head with a black tendril and makes her eyes glow before it pulls it back. Grom's eyes glowed before they began condensing into themselves and forming something new. It stood at her height, wearing black robes with a black hood over its head and a mask covering its nose and mouth. Leaving only their gold-red-rimmed eyes. The body was slim and female, but her most prominent feature was the dark metal lightsaber in her right hand.

Luz eyed them in confusion about what fear this could be. Was this supposed to be her falling to the Darkside? The Jedi admit that the fear of that still lingered but not to the same degree as before. So why is it showing her this?"

Luz glanced at the weapon and saw it wasn't her lightsaber, so who was this Dark Jedi?

A hush fell over the crowd as they didn't expect the Fear Bringer to assume such a humanoid form. Some even wonder what this fear could be for Luz.

"Any idea what this is?" Willow asked Amity.

"I'm not sure," Amity answered. "The one fear Grom hasn't shown from Luz that we have seen is "failure." So, could this be her failure in something?"

The dark figure ignited a red lightsaber and performed a "salute." Surprising Luz nevertheless brought her yellow blade to her face and returned it.

The Dark Jedi charged and leaped into the air, bringing their red saber down with an overhead slash that Luz blocked before she pushed back. She leaned back and blocked a slash to her right before parrying it to her left and then jumped to avoid a slash to the leg. She caught the Dark Jedi's arm when she came down with a single overarm slash but then moved her head to avoid the punch from the other arm. She blocked another slash at her leg and then two strikes to her body before backing up to avoid a slash and responded with her own to her blocked side.

Luz responded with a charge of her own with several quick strikes to the leg and chest that were blocked before she shoulder-bumped the Dark Jedi to knock her back and swiped at her chest. Unfortunately, the hit didn't connect as the Dark Jedi retreated back a few steps, but Luz pressed on. Luz performed a leaping lunge that she parried and then threw a slash to the head that she ducked and spun around to gain some distance. Grom did something to the ground, pulled out a chunk of stone, and flung it at Luz, and she countered by cutting the rock apart, which resulted in the stone and dust exploding. The Jedi was caught off guard until Grom emerged from the dust with a growl, delivering an upwards slash followed by a barrage of attacks that Luz defensively parried with her own blade. A powerful slash delivered by Luz is parried where the Jedi finds an opening and attacks from her side, only for the Dark Jedi to block her attack by holding her blade downwards.

The deadlock lasted enough for Luz to get a better look into her opponent's eyes. Despite the dark side in her golden eyes, it also gave way to a familiarity she knew wasn't herself but someone close to her.

One that she will find out now!

Breaking the deadlock by forcing both their weapons to the left, Luz lunges with an uppercut, knocking Dark Jedi's mask and hood off. Revealing a mop of green-dyed hair. The form Grom had decided to copy was almost an exact replica of Amity. Only this one's skin seemed even paler, and her hair was not tied up in a high ponytail but let loose. She also snarled at Luz.

"So... this is the failure I fear," Luz's voice trembled.

"I… was never your failure!" The Grom Amity snarled.

More stones were ripped off the ground by what looked like black abomination goo and tossed at Luz. She was able to dodge or cut through the first three stones thrown at her with little problem.

Up in the audience, Amity's jaw had dropped at the sight of Grom taking an evil version of her fighting Luz. Was Luz afraid of her? "What is this?"

"Failure." Amity and Willow turn to see Quinlan Vos making his way up the bleachers to them. As soon as Grom turned into Amity, the Maverick Jedi made his way toward the Witch. "This is what every teacher fears most, not failing themselves, but failing their students. When Jedi take the role of mentorship to another, they are constantly testing not only their charge but themselves as well. Did they do it right? Had they taught them all they needed? Did they do enough? These are questions we ask ourselves regularly when we take an apprentice"

Amity looked shocked at the Jedi Master before returning her attention to the fight.

"Luz..."

Dark Amity sent a tidal wave of abomination base sludge from the ground, bringing more stone with her, planning to swallow the Jedi whole.

Luz returned her lightsaber to her waist before flinging both her arms out. With the command of the Force, she slowed the incoming attack to a near standstill. Luz's face scrunched up in frustration from the strain.

"Amity always did have potential. But here's the thing, Grom. You're not her!"

The air around her hands seemed to compress around Luz's hands. She crossed her arms over her chest before flinging them out with a Force wave throwing the stone and goo away.

Luz huffed as the Force filled her reserves. Like any Force user, she had been using it to strengthen her body and increase her speed. Such techniques were standard in usage but using them constantly since the start of this battle was starting to wear her down.

"Now, is that all you got?" Luz sarcastically mused as she circled the fear bringing. "The way you're fighting is a joke to monsters in general."

Renewing its offensive, Grom aggressively struck blow for blow towards her, but Luz skillfully used her left in parrying Grom's attacks before deciding to go on the offensive herself and began to push back the shapeshifter, landing an acrobatic down kick onto its face. This knocked Amity's face off Grom and became more demonic.

Grom roared and charged into Luz with a ram attack catching Luz off guard and into the arena wall. Then four tentacles emerged, capturing each of Luz's limbs and pinning them down. The Jedi looked at them in surprise before focusing back at Grom, who converted his fists into spiked maces.

"Oh, crap." Luz cursed before getting a mace fist to the face, followed by a fury of hits to the torso and head. Everyone watched in horror as Luz was beaten. Some turned away to not look, while others could not look away from the beating!

"Luz is being beaten down! Oh! The Witch-Amity!" Gus shouted as he tried looking away by covering his eyes, only to peek through his fingers as his human friend was being mercilessly pummeled.

It ended with a final punch that landed in Luz's chest and cracked her armor down the center. Satisfied with what it did, Grom Lifted the Jedi and tossed her to the ground. She bounced with a tumbled before stopping and remained motionless for all to see.

"I... I don't believe it, but...Luz has fallen." Gus said as he burst into tears and dropped the mike on stage.

'Kid...no. Not like this!' Eda thought, shutting her eyes as she blamed herself for not stepping in!

"Luz, no!" King screamed as he fell to his hands and knees, sobbing alongside Gus on stage!

As everyone began crying and fearing as Grom made his way to the ramp, Amity was the one most torn up by this.

"Luz...no." Amity thought as tears fell down her face, but her face was motionless. 'You said you'd win. You promised me a dance! You...you...'

The youngest Blight felt her heart breaking as she gritted her teeth while turning her eyes to Grom, feeling such anger and hate as it had a smug grin on its face! She wouldn't let this stand!

"RAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Amity screamed as she jumped from the stands, igniting her green lightsaber, surprising everyone as she landed near the ramp and before Grom. "You are not going anywhere!"

"Pore it on them, boys!"

She wasn't alone as blue blaster bolts rained from above as clone troopers of the 3rd regiment joined in support. Captain Vultan led several clones with jet packs over the shapeshifter while Amity attacked low and made several attacks on Grom.

"I... I don't believe this! Amity Blight, the rumored runner-up for Grom Queen and a squad of soldiers, has stepped into the area!" Gus said between sobs and sniffles.

"This has never happened before!" Bump said, quickly drying his tears to remain professional. "It would appear they are challenging Grom!"

With so many opponents facing Grom, the fear shaper couldn't get a read on their fears. Frustrating the monster into reverting it to a big blob of slime and tentacles. It attacked the clones and Amity with frustration, but the Witch cut them with ease with Master Unduil's lightsaber while the clones jumped out of the way.

As Amity and the clones suppressed Grom, the medical team went in begun treating Luz.

"Commander! Are you with us?" One Medic said to the Jedi. But received no reply. "She's out."

"I've got the bacta bag ready." The other clone held up an IV bag of blue liquid.

Over in the battle, Amity was chopping at Grom like a lumberjack while the clone troopers pelted it blaster bolts from a distance.

"Why doesn't it stay down!" One clone shouted in frustration as he fired his DC-15S into Grom.

"Just keep shooting!" Vultan ordered as he repeatedly fired his twin DC-15 blaster pistols.

"Abomination, rise!"

The clones watched in confused awe as a golem of purple and violet rose from nowhere.

"What the blazes?" The clone Captain stared at the strange creature. But he saw Amity riding on top with a green saber pointed at Grom.

"Abomination, attack!"

The golem raised its fists and began to pound mercilessly on Grom. The shapeshifter roared in anger and pain from the attack. It tried to cover itself with its tentacles, but the clones had other ideas as they let loose their supply of thermal detonators. Explosions rang out across Grom's body, destroying pieces of it.

"Well, that's convenient. Support the Commander's student. Don't give it an inch!" The captain ordered, and clone troopers did and helped the young Witch.

Three troopers flanked the left, firing their blasters at Grom's side.

While Vultan and three other troopers flew right above Amity and her abomination with their jet packs, firing their weapons over them and causing more damage and confusion to the monster. Grom retaliated by flinging its tentacles to swat them out of the sky. One clone was just unlucky enough to get snagged by one and tossed through the air. The clone sailed out of the arena and towards the stands where the audience was. Before he smashed into someone, plant vines flew from the ground and caught the clone.

The soldier looked at himself and then up to see Willow with a green spell circle.

"Thanks for the save," the clone said to the girl.

"Glad I could help," Willow answered.

As Amity and the clones fought Grom, Luz's bloody and bruised body found herself staring at darkness but hearing a roar of voice as she lay still.

'Ow...what is it with me and dark voids?' Luz thought as she slowly opened her swelling eyes. The light slowly grew and faded as her vision cleared. 'The gym?'

"Commander!" The voice of a Jango clone drew her gaze to the medical clone crouched over her. "Good to see you back, sir!"

Turning the sound of combat, Luz saw Amity fighting Grom with Vultan and the clones. Seeing them fight made Luz remember what she was supposed to do. Defeat Grom.

Sorrow. Sadness. Love.

She felt it through the Force when she saw Amity's look, which shocked Luz. Amity was crying. Tears were falling over the Witch's cheeks. The bond they made had Amity flood her feelings though it was always suppressed in the past, but due to this world's magic, Luz felt it all.

"Amity…?" Luz pushed herself up, but the Medic wasn't having it.

"Don't move, sir! You are in critical condition with a few broken ribs. If you move around so much, you may puncture something," the Medic advised.

"They need our help… Give me some meds, Trooper. I've got an idea."

Everyone was so focused on Amity fighting Grom they didn't notice their human Jedi being helped up from the ground by the medics. With the others, things looked like they were getting the upper hand on Grom as she backed it into a pillar with its arms up.

"We've cornered it. Now end it!" Vultan shouted.

Amity pointed her lightsaber at Grom's center and charged at it with the intent to impale it. Grom saw this, and an empty void appeared in its chest that the green plasma blade passed through and hit the stone behind it.

"What?!" Amity asked in surprise before gasping as Grom's opening engulfed the lightsaber and the Witch's arms.

Grom seemed to laugh as it picked Amity off the ground and threw her away toward the opposite wall.

"Open fire!" The clones fired with their blasters causing Grom to yell in pain.

Amity gritted her teeth as she slowly got on her hands and knees. When she opened her eyes, she noticed a tan skin hand in front of her.

"That didn't look like a good landing." Amity looked up to see Luz smiling down at her.

"Luz...?" Amity gasped.

"Thanks for keeping Grom occupied," Luz said. She then reached down and helped Amity up on her feet. She gave her friend a kind smile. "Hey. Sorry about worrying you. You're not hurt, are you?"

"Me? You're the one looking like death warmed you over!" Amity shot back. Taking her hand for help.

"You know I've lived through worse."

"Doesn't mean I like seeing it!"

"Oh, please. What's a little dirt in my hair?"

"That's more than just dirt, you dork!"

The heads in the audience above swerved back and forth between the girls. Wondering how they were talking so casually during a battle. The sight was both confusing and humorous to look at.

One included the Owl Lady with one hand pinching the bridge of her nose next to a clearly amused Jedi.

"I swear that kid will make me drink more with how much she puts me through."

"I'm more interested in the chemistry those two are bouncing off one another."

An explosion in the background between Grom and the clones forces the girls to look back on the current situation.

"We can talk about this later. For now, I need to deal with ugly over there." Luz refocuses on Amity. "Wait for me later?"

Amity looks back and sees the fire in the Jedi's eyes. She's hesitant to let her go but puts her faith in her human friend.

"I will."

The clones backed up to avoid Groms attacks. They had run out of explosives and were doing little more than containing its spreading mass with blasters. How were they supposed to stop this thing? How did this school do it every year?

"Captain!"

Vultan turned to see Luz return to the battle.

"Commander!"

"Pull the men back. I'll take it from here." Luz drew her and ignited her lightsaber. The clone stared at his Jedi leader for a moment before accepting the order.

"Understood. Fall back, troopers! The Commander has this!" The others heard this and followed the order to retreat over at the ramp to the arena.

Luz approached Grom while carelessly dragging her lightsaber across the ground. It almost seems that Amity and the clones hardly did any damage to the beast, but the Jedi didn't care. She was going to win and was motivated to do so.

"I'm back, ugly. And I'm going to beat you." Luz's declaration was marked when she made diagonal indentations into the stone floor.

"I don't believe it folks! Luz is back in the match for another round against Grom!" Gus announced, making the crowd cheer.

"Go! Luz! Go!" Willow shouted from the stands.

"Beat that thing, kid! Go!" Eda shouted as she stood up again!

Grom roared and went to body slam Luz with his mass. Only to Force jump back away before she did a long lap around it. All the while, Luz dragged her lightsaber across the ground. Grom tried to follow, only to get slabs of ice thrown in his face.

From Luz's hand held several cards with her magic glyphs. "You know, Grom, I'd almost forgotten. About the lessons that I've learned here. About the magic and the connections. The bonds I've made!" She threw three more glyphs that turned into ice stars before impacting against the shapeshifter, making it cry in pain.

"I understood why I almost lost. It was me fighting you like a Jedi." She reached a half lap before rushing forward and slicing at Grom's underbelly, making it wince in pain. She quickly cut to the ground before jumping away for a sideway swipe.

"What is she doing?" Willow asked as Amity and the troopers joined them in the stands.

"She's deliberately slashing at the ground at random. Never seen the Commander do that before," Vultan commented.

"It's not random."

The group looked over to see Eda with a broad smile that threatened to split her face.

"She's doing it deliberately because she has a plan." The Owl Lady said as she awaited what her student would do next.

Luz jumped over an attack before landing on top of Grom. She gave the creature a confident smirk before shoving her saber down and stabbing the beast. Grom roared in pain as it tried to buck the Jedi off its back. She jumped down and landed with a combat roll. Looking at where she landed, her smirk never left her face as she carved into the ground more before running again with her weapon scraping against the floor.

"I shouldn't have just been fighting like a Jedi."

Luz stopped and put away her lightsaber and pulled out two more cards. One ice and the other plant.

"In the beginning, Grom. I should have come in fighting like a Witch!"

She slams the two glyph cards together between her palms before slamming them into the ground at the edge of the cut floor. A light powered out of the cut and illuminated the arena, revealing the first spell she learned, the light glyph. Tendrils of light formed out of the ground and insnared Grom from below before cycles of yellow ice formed over them. The fear-reading shapeshifter struggled against the binding but came fruitless as more and more covered it. With the last of Grom covered in ice, plant, and light magic, with the Force as her ally, Luz fueled the spell with more power. The spell overcharged and compressed Grom into the ground.

Grom gave one last scream from within the light construct before the mixed magic burst against it, freeing it yet consuming it in the light. The wind from the magic released at Luz, flinging her robes back in a dramatic fashion, but she held her ground as the light blinded everyone in the gym before it died down in a matter of seconds to reveal Grom...was no longer Grom.

Towering from the arena floor to the gym's room. A giant tree of white, blue, and green exploded from Grom. Flower petals of yellow ice light glittered from the branches, with a few falling from them.

"Kriff me...I did that?" Luz looked at the tree in awe as it seemed to resonate with the Force and magic. Its beauty was like none other she could describe.

"S-SHE DID IT, FOLKS! G-GROM IS NO MORE! GIVE IT UP FOR OUR GROM QUEEN, LUZ NOCEDA!" King announced/screamed into the microphone as everybody cheered and was awed at her creation and the defeat of Grom. Many even took out their scrolls to take pictures of the tree and Luz to post on Penstagram.

Luz blinked in surprise as she looked at the students as they cheered her on her victory. A warm feeling of acceptance filled her heart as she took the sight of them all. From excited looks from the detention trio to the excited school staff. She saw Principal Bump clapping at her victory, Captain Vultan, and the soldiers from the 3rd cheering. The proud motherly look Eda on her face. It was all something she had seemed to miss for a long time.

Acceptance.

A soft weight landed on her head that drew the Jedi's attention. She then noticed a crown made of silver glass with a gold flower jewel forming over her head to symbolize her "queen" status. Taking that as her cue to leave, she went up the ramp. There, Luz was met with the a few healing track students and the medical clones. They had guided her to the hallway as the arena sealed up the elemental tree she had unknowingly created.

"What you did was nothing short of awesome," Viney said as she helped Luz out of her robe top and stuck healing patches over her shoulders.

"Incredible is more like. I didn't think anything like that would happen at a dance," the clone medic said as he applied a bacta-laced patch.

Luz saw the healing glyphs and bacta do their magic as she felt the pain she had been suppressing in her body go away.

"Oh, that's the stuff," Luz said in relief, much to everyone's amusement.

"Luz! You did it!" The teen saw a party with all her friends approach with Eda leading the pack and enveloping her in a hug. "You cannot believe how proud of you I am. That said, you are not allowed to worry me like that again for the rest of the night."

"Sure thing, Eda," Luz chuckled.

"You were so awesome!" Gus said with a smile.

"Don't be surprised if you get a few fans from this. Probably a few people would want to take sword lessons from you," Willow told Luz from what she heard in the grapevine.

"You've never done that before, Commander. It was something else." Vultan commented, Master Vos and him bringing up the rear. "Was that something you learned here?"

"We will have to talk later about that magic trick you pulled at the end later. For now, why don't you enjoy this victory? You've earned it. All of you."

"That sounds like a great idea, Master. Still have my bag Amity?" Luz turned to the green-haired teen.

"Oh! Here." Amity hands the bag to her.

"Thanks, be right back." Luz took the bag and left the group to change, with Willow and Viney to help, while everyone else enjoyed the rest of the dance.

At the gym, everyone was in high spirits. Principle Bump and the teachers were conversing with the clones and thanking them for their aid. On stage, Gus and King were DJing over some records and playing them to the crowd. Eda, Quinlan, and Vultan were at the food table with the older Witch showing the two the Boiling Isles' version of party food. Meanwhile, Amity sat on the bleachers waiting for Luz.

"Hope I didn't keep you waiting."

Amity turned to Luz, and her voice caught in her throat at the sight before her.

The Jedi had changed out of her damaged robes and was now wearing a navy blue dress with long sleeves, a maroon hem, pair of gold earrings, and red-heeled boots. She also had her hair done in a low ponytail draped over her right shoulder with a red band, light eyeshadow makeup, and pink lip gloss.

"I didn't have anything formal other than my robes but decided against wearing them. Found this in Eda's storage, which probably belonged to her once upon a time." Luz twirled a few hairs with a finger. "I've...never worn stuff like this before. Did I do good?"

"You look...perfect," Amity said without thinking, making Luz smile.

"Thanks. I hope it doesn't clash with the crown." Luz said as she lifted the Grom crown. The two stood in silence for a moment, but she spoke again.

"So... about that lesson? I believe it's your turn to teach me something." She said with her hand out.

A spotlight shot down on the two, catching both off guard. Looking up on stage showed Gus and King giving them a thumbs up.

Everyone in the gym stopped what they were doing to look at the pair. Seeing no way out, Amity took Luz's outstretched and led her to the dance floor. Taking one hand up and the other around the Blights while Amity put hers on Luz's shoulder.

A needle landed on a record, and a soft melody played through the speakers. Neither girl spoke as they let the music carry them across the dance floor. Just enjoying each other's presence.

"Luz. Thank you." Luz raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.

"For what?"

"For...a lot of things. For helping me out of my shell. Getting me and Willow to be friends again. Showing me a new path to be a better person. Before our meeting, my life was governed by others with no say, and I believed it. I thought I was destined for a life where my actions would have no vote, and I didn't get the courage to have a say. Then the day of our duel, my life was turned around, and I couldn't have been happier. All because of you. And... I'd like to..."

Amity paused, trying to say the words she wanted to say to her crush.

But the young Witch didn't need to as the Jedi felt it from her through the Force. So, Luz put a finger over the girl's lips and silenced her as she spoke.

"Amity. You don't have to say it. Being this close to you. I can feel what you think of me, and it's... you care for me in a way I've no words for. Growing up with the Jedi, I have no experience in this as they taught me not to be attached to these emotions. But the clone wars changed that, and being here in the Boiling Isles, with Eda, King, all the friends I've made, and above all, you." She lets her hand rest over the Witch's cheek. "I... don't know how to return your feelings. Makes me feel broken."

"You're not." Amity leans into Luz's hand. Feeling the warmth from the human. "You're experiencing new things. With thoughts and feeling you've never felt before. I'm in the same boat."

"So..."

"So..."

"One day at a time?" Luz offered.

Amity responded by snaking her arms around Luz's neck and bringing her forehead to touch her. A happy smile adorns her face. "Sounds perfect to me."

The two shared a happy smile, neither moving away from the other as they danced the night away.

---

Back at the Owl House, the four arrived back. "Whoo! Watch out for this human!" Eda cheered, but Luz didn't look so enthusiastic as she was tired. "Oh, you did good, kid."

"Thanks for the support, Eda. Now then, if you don't mind, my bed calls for me, and I shall answer." Luz waved the other residents goodnight before walking up to her room.

"I worry about that kid," Eda said silently. Quinlan pats her shoulder in an understanding way.

"Give her a bit of time. She's exploring a new side of herself that was unknown to her. After all, not every day a young Jedi falls in love for the first time."

Luz reached her room, closing the door behind her. She sighed as she opened the window, leaning against it. Content with watching the moon and sky above. "What a night. But one that I wouldn't mind repeating again." Her communicator beeped in a way to show she had received a new message.

Taking hold of it and a tablet. Luz connected the two and read the message that now showed was from Captain Pit. Looking it over, her brows lowered at the sudden concerning news.

"It's time."

---

Omake- Lightsbers II

Outside the Owl House, Amity and King sat on the ground, each with a training saber resting with them. While Luz stood in front of them with her lightsaber suspended in the air with the Force.

Today's topic was on Lightsabers, and the young King included himself in Amity's lesson.

"Lightsabers are not toys, but tools. A dangerous and destructive instrument with a powerful blade that can strike down an opponent—or a friend, if you're not careful." Luz instructed her students as her lightsaber hovered down to their level for them to see.

"Each is unique in shape and size. Can either of you tell me why?"

"Me! Me!" King waved his clawed hand fanatically.

"Yes, king?" Luz smiled at the young demon's enthusiasm.

"Cause they all have to be awesome in their own way," King answered. Amusing the girls.

"Not quite. But you are on the right track," Luz responded to his answer. She then took two more lightsabers out from her back. One was Master Unduils, and the other belonged to the fallen Padawan from Telos. "As you can see, each saber has a different design. This is because after you receive your Kyber crystal. The Force guides you in designing the lightsaber that would fit you. Just as the tens of thousands of Jedi before."

Luz takes the lightsabers back and sighs. "Wish I knew where Master Huyang went. He would be more helpful than me in explaining how to build your own sabers."

"Who was he?" Amity asked.

"A teacher who taught Jedi how to craft their lightsabers for the last thousand years. With knowledge of every Jedi lightsaber he helped in crafting." The answer awed the two.

"Whoa..." The two students said in unison.

"Does that mean he helped make your lightsaber, Luz?" King asked.

"That's right. Helped me after I received my kyber crystal."

"When will I get mine?" The demon asked innocently.

Luz hesitated a moment before answering. "When you learn to move a ball without touching it or using magic." King huffed and crossed his arms at her answer.

"Fine..."

Luz knelt down and rubbed his bony skull. "I don't mean to bring you're hopes down, King. The cave I went in to retrieve mine was not for the faint of heart, and it tested me in ways that attacked my weaknesses and faith."

"What do you mean by that?" Amity asked the question.

"Kyber crystals are the Force made physical. Similarly, I imagine when a Witch gets her staff. But the caves they grow in are strong in the Force and can overwhelm weaker minded beings. They can make you see things or people that are not there and find yourself trapped with no way out. Some Jedi Initiates fall into self-doubt or fear, preventing them from finding their crystal in the gatherings. Few have even died."

This shocked the two, now getting a better understanding of why Luz was a bit stricken at times with training.

"Okay, be ready, keep a calm mind and be diligent. Understood." Amity nodded in understanding.

"Don't panic and don't die, right." King nodded with the Witch.

"Good. Now then, let us start with today's sparing practice. Draw your blades and prepare to fight to the death."

"Really?!/What?!" The demon Witch duo shouted.

"Kidding!" The Jedi said with an innocent smile. "You guys aren't ready for that level of combat."

"Good, I was not ready to murder King." Said demon gave an accusing glare to the Witch.

"What, no! I would destroy you." He pointed an accusing finger.

"That's the spirit! Now turn around to face your opponents!" Luz pointed behind them. They looked and saw several clone troopers coming out of the tree line.

"Hey, Commander! You called for a training exercise?" The lead clone with a sergeant's marking said.

Luz smiled brightly. "That's right! Bring your stun tick over, as we've got some young recruits that need shaping up."

"Yes sir! Alright shinnies show us what your made of!" The sergeant said as the others put their blasters away and readied metal polls with arc of lightning coming off them.

Amity and King shared a look with one other. Today was not going to be a good day.

---

Here we are folks 2023! Happy new years to all and hoped you had a good Christmas with your families.

So a new chapter out with this bran new year, Let's get down with it. I've originally planned to have this out before the new year but life always throws a fast ball at you suddenly. Some of you know this well by now.

Luz facing Grom! Who saw that coming? I admit I ended up changing the fight like three times because I wanted this to differ a bit from others Grom fights from other stories. I did have to look at other stories to see what they did while rewatching the cannon Grom fight. I had to think a bit these last a few months on what Jedi Luz fears most. While also what would make sense in what she fears. As growing up as a Jedi would make, they are taught to fear the Dark Side and Sith. But Luz had never encountered Sith? What else could she fear? Talks with others wanted to bring Dooku or Grievous in the final showdown but I believe that wasn't enough. Others were physical fears I wanted an inner one. So, what can someone like Luz who pushed herself into war fear?

Failure.

With Amity who has slowly been getting closer to Luz on a personal level then, well you can connect the dots.

As for their relationship I'm taking it slow. Like they say, one day at a time.

Now some of you may be thinking about what Luz is talking about at the end there. Well, if some have been paining attention to the the past chapters you can connect the dots. Hopefully I can bring the hype.

Like to give thanks to Ghost-G339 and Wesley9516 for cleanup and editing.

Fav, follow, and review and see you all next time!