(Imperal castle)
In Belos's bed chamber The golden guard entered carrying a tray of food.
"Uncle…I've brought you breakfast." He said
"Just…put it on the table…" Belos said without his helmet on
Hunter did so and looked over "I've also gotten reports from the scouts as to there investigating with the attack."
Belos said nothing as Hunter read the report.
"They were unable to catch. The perpetrator, however they found several undetonated explosives. But they are not like anything we've ever seen before." Hunter said
Belos narrowed his eyes as he remembered the parade attack vividly ' I only know one thing that makes an noise like that… but how did they get there hands of gunpowder…' Belos thought
"-I can send a group to help with the search see if anyone has any sightings at all." Hunter said
"No that won't be necessary Hunter." Belos said as he sat up
"I want a report on the Grimwalker project. How goes clone batches 3 through 7?"
Hunter looked at the paper
"Fertility was a success and within the week we should be able to start doing memory implantation." Hunter said
Belos nodded "very well."
"I have to say uncle… we're kinda running out of room." He said
Belos nodded "I see. Yes I believe it is time to bump up the Grimmwalker project to stage 2," he said
"Hunter I want you to gather your best 5 of all the batches of the grimmwalkers so far. And of those 5 each of them are to choose 10 people all of which will come see me." Belos said
"At once." Hunter said as he left.
"Hunter." Belos said
Hunter turned to see Belos struggling to get out of bed.
"Uncle you shouldn't move." He argued
"The Titan…he wants to speak to me…lead me to the throne room." Belos said
Hunter paused before nodding "at once Uncle." He said
At the owl house a full week after the events of the parade attack the day that Luz would meet Willow and Gus…
A good time to get her Firends together again…
However luz was instead tense, very tense while Eda and king were digging through the trash slug Luz sighed
Eda noticed this and sighed "kid what's on your mind?"
"What makes you think anything is on my mind?" Luz asked
"Because you've been brooding all week after the parade attack and we know that today is the day you go meet your firends again." Eda said
Luz sighed
"Not all of them." She muttered
Ah and therein lies the issue.
Eda sighed "from what I remember you don't start with the best start but you could change that and it would be as if nothing happened." Eda said
"And put her at risk?!" Luz snapped
Eda froze. Guess she found out. The week after the attack Belos had begun to hunt for wild witches again and even those who were in the coven system.
In short he was trying to stamp out decent.
"Kid, that's not the real thing bothering you is it?" Eda asked.
Luz sighed "your right…it's Amity… and not just the fact of of how im going to break the news to her. But well…I'm scared…scared of our first confrontation. I mean if all goes well our relationship wouldn't even have a hiccup. But at the same time…" Luz said grabbing her knees.
"What if I mess up, what if I do something so aggressors she doesn't want me anymore." Luz said before standing up as she began to pace "I mean what if I do the thing we were planning on and she hates me because we could have gotten together sooner and I didn't." Luz said
Luz felt the triggers of a panic attack coming but she was too wrapped up to do anything about it. Not until Eda put a hand on her shoulder to ground her.
"Woah Woah Woah easy kid easy. Deep breaths." Eda said
Luz sighed and did so once…twice…and a third time.
"Listen kid I understand your worried…if everything played out as it seemed from how we remember then it would be a cake walk…but it's not. And it's life so we pick up and deal with it. As for your little romance troubles. The girl risked her life for you numerous times. I doubt she's not going to understand. She might be upset for a week or two perhaps but even then I doubt it. You Luz are overthinking everything." Eda said as she stood up
Luz looked up at her puedo-mother "you think so?"
Eda nodded "I know so…now come on it's almost time for you to meet Willow." Eda said picking Luz up.
Luz nodded as Eda handed her the seed and Luz headed towards the woods.
After a bit of walking Luz heard the fimilear voice of encouragement from Willow
"You can do it…you can."
"There you are." Luz said as she headed towards the voice.
She moved the bushes away and saw Willow in her abomination track outfit with her caldron nearby
"You can do it, even if you get a bad grade it's not a reflection of you as a witch. And my parents are are better opportunities on this track. Now get to school!" Willow park said as she stepped on a flower.
Luz's heart shuttered when she heard her extremely powerful friend having her self doubt issues again. She hadn't expected such a visceral reaction to seeing her firends again, and that made her worried about what was in store for her and Amity.
While Luz was having an emotional battle over her lover Willow was healing the flower.
Luz looked back to the seen and she held her gasp closing her hands to her mouth as her tear's threatened to overwhelm her.
Standing right there within 5 feet of her. Was her love Amity Blight… as stunning looking as the last time they saw each other. Having her green hair pulled back into a ponytail she hopped off her cauldron.
Luz recognized her hands were shaking her heart was beating faster and she could barely think, it took all her willpower to not just charge at Amity give her a massive hug and slap the remembrance glyph. On the two of them.
As much as she wanted it. How much her heart demanded for it. She held her ground. While the mean hearted Amity talked down to willow All Luz saw was the adventurer's She and Amity shaired.
Luz shuddered and pulled away 'I can't do this I can't do this, I just, I can't do this on Amity.' Luz cried
Liz was so focused on her inner drama she didn't notice Willow was having the rage Luz was grabbed by the ankle and slammed into the ground before Willow.
Suddenly Willow's power's faded as she began to panic. "No no no no no." She said as she fell beside Luz and waved her hand as the vines recessed.
"It's ok. The thorns didn't dig in." Luz said as she massaged her leg, and felt liquid running down. As she looked she saw red staining her clothes. Not a lot of blood but enough that she'd have to deal with it soon.
Luz looked up to see Willow in her face.
"So circily." She said
Luz felt subconscious about her ears and turned away. However Willow didn't give her the space "your hunan this is astonunding. a human on the boiling isels! Willow asked before she went to ask several questions at once.
"How'd you get here? What are you doing here?" Willow asked as she ran around Luz, however before she could ask anything more the bell for the school rang as Willow got depressed.
"I'm sorry, I can't stay. I have to go dissapoint my teacher." Willow said walking away "it was nice to meet you human."
Luz however grabbed her hand "wait. I'm Luz and your Willow right?" She asked walking towards her "what you did with that flower and those plants it was…wow." Luz said
"Thanks but…I'm not supposed to even be doing plant magic. My parents put me in the abomination track at school." Willow said
"Wait school… as in magic school?" Luz asked
Willow nodded as Luz smiled "I think I have an idea, you see I'm trying to become a witch myself, but my teacher is rather. Unorthodox with her teaching methods… infact I bet she wouldn't let me enroll." Luz sighed
"I just wish I could spend just one day there. I wanna learn all sorts of Magic's." Luz said
"I wish I could get a passing grade for once… then everyone would stop calling me half a witch Willow." She said kicking the abomination slime.
Luz smiled "I think I have an idea of how we can both get what we want." Luz said
"It's simple. I will become your abomination, you get a passing grade and I'll get into magic school. It's fiendishly clever." Luz said
"What?" Willow asked shocked
"I saw that thing A-I mean that girl had it was just chunks of things that talk weird, I'm chunks of stuff that talk weird." Luz said
Willow shrugged "you know…ok it's a deal." She said holding out her hand to Luz. Who shook it.
"This is a great plan." Luz said 'and not at all blow up in my face like last time.' Luz thought. As she and Willow struggled to get off the sticky abomination goo off there hand.
And with that they made their way to Hexside scoop of magic and demonic's.
Meanwhile Luz was in the vat tracing out the remembrance glyph to use on Gus and Willow.
They arrived at willows locker as Willow tickled her locker to retrieve her books and Gus bumped into Willow.
"Willow you will not believe humans." Luz heard Gus's voice inside the vat.
"Humans pff I've not seen any. What?" Willow said trying to play off the lie. Luz facepalmed inside the Vat
'Great lie Willow… of course this is Gus so he's not exactly any wiser…' Luz thought.
"Did you know humans nail barbed wire on their kids' teeth but why? Maybe to make them magnetic." Gus said out loud.
Luz knew it was now as she pipped up "actually it's for storing treats."
Luz didn't need to hear the rest f the conversation as she heard the words Willow commanded "abomination rise."
Luz pulled her head out of the vat and looked at Gus
Gus however saw the ears and put two and two together.
"No no it can't be…" Gus said
"He's the president of the Human Appreciation Society." Willow explaned
Most witches wouldn't be able to recognize a human right away but Augustus is an expert." Willow said
"Where are your gills?" Gus asked immediately putting that to the test.
"Wait!" Luz said grabbing Gus's hand "before we part. Can we talk somewhere private. It's important." Luz said
The two witches looked at each other and headed into the bathroom Where they were alone.
"Ok Luz we only got a few minutes what did you want to tell us?" Willow asked
Luz pulled out her glyph and tapped it.
"Well you see…I wanted to tell you a story…" Luz said as the blinging light flashed around them.
By the time the story was done the light had faded
Gus was holding his head laying on his back.
"Ooh oh my head…" he groaned
"Yep careful I got you Gus." Luz said holding the illusionist.
"Ugh Luz…wait what-? Where are we?" Gus looked back
"Hexside?"
"Ugh." Willow groaned
Luz sighed "ok short version we've time traveled back to the day we first met. Meaning Yes I'm Willows abomination for the day. And play it cool like before. Willow if all goes well you'll be in the plant track by the end of the day." Luz said
"Wait but how?" Willow asked
"We can discuss the why and how later after school come to my house. We have a lot to go over and I mean a lot if we're to take down Belos." Luz said
"He's still around?" Gus asked
"Time travel Gus." Luz said
"Oh right." Gus said as he grabbed his stuff.
"Alright I gotta go see you at lunch." He said as he left.
Soon they were in abomination class where Willow sat down behind amity.
Luz held her heart as she tried her best to steady herself. For her performance. She really hoped she didn't fuck it up.
"And the performance will be. Willow." The teacher said
Luz started getting cold feet not from helping Willow but from how Amity would react.
Luz tried not to think about it as Luz heard Willow call out "Abomination rise."
The presentation went as well as she could have hoped she kept stealing glances as Amity who looked at Willow in shock. Luz saw something in her eyes that Luz never wanted nor expected to see in her lovers eyes.
Betrayal.
Amity felt betrayed by Willow. And to be fair it made sense with the background she came from.
Luz felt her heart break when she saw that look on her.
It crushed her as she returned to the Vat and Willow covered the lid.
When the bell Rang Willow rolled the cart onto the hallway. When the teacher spoke up
Luz however wasn't paying attention her mind was on the betrayal Amity felt. She began to cry feeling terrible for lying to amity about this. She expected that seeing this Amity would be hard but she didn't expect it to be this hard.
"Uh oh I think amity's onto us." Willow said before she heard crying coming from her Vat.
"Luz?" Willow asked looking inside after getting to a quiet place.
Luz sat in the goo her eyes were all puffy "I'm just a terrible girlfriend." Luz said
"Oh Luz." Willow said as she helped her out.
"Did you see the look on Amity's face when we were in class. It was a look of utter betrayal. I betrayed her trust." Luz said
Willow held her shoulder
"Luz no don't forget Amity doesn't know yet. I'm sure she'll forgive you once she does the same as us.
"But what if it's not!" Luz cried "you remember both sets of memories Eda and King too. And so will Amity. We made a promise not to lie to each other again and I did." Luz said
Willow rubbed circles in Luz's back to calm her.
"Luz, Amity still loves you. I have no doubt once you explain the situation to her she'll understand." Willow said
Luz wiped her tears away. "Ok… I'll try…for Amity…" Luz said as she stood up and got back in the vat.
The rest of the day went by as normal including the incident at Lunch
That was a tough bit of acting. Luz was very very very tempted to at one point throw her head forward and kiss Amity right in the lunchroom but she held herself together, and when Amity left Luz let out tears inside the vat, both Gus and Willow were looking worried at this point as this was the second time Luz had broken down after an encounter with Amity.
Gus reached over "Luz are you okay?" Gus asked only to be slapped In the face by the PB&J Gus gave her before. As she slid the cover back over.
Gus and Willow looked at each other as lunch ended
They moved their way to a remote classroom. And undid the cover
"Luz…we're alone…do you want to talk?" Willow asked
"No!" Luz huffed still in the vat and goo.
Gus sighed "Luz we need to talk about this. This is getting out of hand." Gus said
Luz slowly pulled herself out of the goo as both of her friends gasped
It looked at if Luz's spirit had been drained away filled only with sorrow and depression. "I just… I just feel so terrible." Luz said as she fell to her knees.
"After all that we've been through I feel like I'm smacking her love and care she's shown me back into her face." Luz said
"I knew this was a terrible idea." Luz pulled her legs to her chest.
"Hey now.. it's not so bad is it?" Gus said trying to cheer her up while Willow was just glaring at Gus.
Luz had about the same reaction. "Gus…please…shut up." Luz said her voice filled with hurt and pain.
Gus winced he never heard Luz ever say that to anyone clearly this was worst than imagined
Gus pulled Willow aside "what do we do?" Gus asked
"I'm not sure. If it gets any worse I'm thinking we might have to just remind Amity ourselves." Willow said
"Can you do that?" Gus asked
"If I have access to the glyph I can." Willow said as Gus nodded thinking of an illusion that they could do to make make Luz show the glyph.
Suddenly the door opened and in. Walked Amity followed by Principal Bump.
"Good afternoon Students." He said
Luz had laid limp allowing him to get closer as Luz tried her best to not give away her ruse.
Liz was eventually moved to the table and told to lie down this was where the flashpoint would occur. As Bump drew the knife to Luz.
He handed the knife to. Willow. "I'll allow you to make the first cut."
"Principal bump!" Gus said getting everyone's attention as Gus was leaning on vat of Abomination goo
"I'm just wondering if you have any idea if you want to help me with a project I have." Gus said as he "accidentally." Knocked over the Vat "run!" He said
Luz and Willow made a break for it.
"There getting away." Amity said
"No the intruder won't get far." Principal bump said as he activated the defense system.
As they ran through the halls Luz handed Willow the Seed "you know what to do Willow. But be careful with it." Luz said
Willow nodded
As they ran around the school while the principal and amity tried to corner them.
"Willow any time now!" Luz said
"Got it luz get out of here!" Willow said as she made the vines grow all over the school and pin the principal to the wall.
"Remarkable." He said in awe at the plant magic on display.
Luz wasted no time and ran for the exit. However they were stopped by Amity
"Hey!"
Luz wasn't stopping she had no time to think
"Abomination Seize!" Amity yelled as she swarmed the monsters after them.
Luz however pulled out an Ice glyph and froze her solid. Stopping in front of her, Luz looked into Amity's eyes. Her angry eyes deadset on Luz promising to deliver pain.
"Oh Amity…" Luz said putting her hand to the girls cheek… she couldn't stop letting the tears flow "I've missed you…" Luz said as lifted her shaking hands to begin to draw the Remembrance glyph. But then stopped
"I'm sorry…forgive me." Luz said giving Amity a quick peck on the lips before she ran past.
As she ran she threw a fire glyph behind her and melted Amity out of her icy prison.
Amity fell to her knees and didn't pursue as Luz ran out of the school holding her tears back as she made her way back to the owl house.
Luz ran back and entered the house
"Eda…oh what happened here?" Luz asked
The entire room was filled with piles and piles of human weapons. Assault rifles, grenades, bolt action rifles, all sorts of caliber's as well.
"Well you've been busy." Luz said
Eda popped up "Luz!" Eda called
"Ok Eda seriously do i have to be worried about my next visit to the human world being swarming with cops? Where did all these Guns come from?!" Luz asked
"Actually you'll hardly believe it but it actually came from another Trash slug."
Luz winced as she checked the breaches of each gun while she looked for ammo before asking the question
"We're sorting it in the back along with all the guns we haven't processed yet.
Luz stepped In The back and was stunned the rest of the place looked like a warehouse with a lot of boxes of ammo and grenades, mostly small arms but at this point it was all that was needed for now.
Immediately as Luz stepped inside she saw how much ammunition they had enough to equip a small military. All outdated equipment from what she could see. Mostly World war 2 rifles and hunting gear but still. For demons who had never seen a gun this would be a shock.
However to a 1600's pilgrim, Phillip would probably recognize this instantly. Not the entire scope because back in his time they only had muskets heck American hadn't even yet thrown off the British imperial yoke yet but he'd be able to recognize a gun.
Infact now that Luz thought about it, why hadn't he equipped the boiling isles with human weapons there was enough metal's here for forging such weapons and craftsmen but instead they still use magic… perhaps he chose to accept the lesser evil to preserve his perverted life?
She'll have to ask him when they met again.
"Luz your firends are here!" Hooty said
That must be Gus and Willow Luz turned to them. "Pack the weapons away for now, especially by the entrance. We'll finish them up later I'll talk to Willow and Gus and explain the situation." Luz said
Eda nodded as she King made the living room not a powder keg.
Luz exited the house to greet Willow and Gus.
"Is um there a reason we can't come in?" Willow asked
Luz rubbed the back of her head "it's um kinda hard to explain." She said
"We can wait." Gus said as he was ready to cast an illusion
"Right we'll." Luz sighed and decided the best was to rip the bandaid off.
"Belos is a lot more militant than we faced him last time. So if we're to have any hope of beating him the entire population has to rise up and fight him." Luz said
Willow and Gus nodded "yeah I admit there were a lot of patrols in boonesborough especially after the parade bombing… oh my Titan that was you wasn't it?" She gasped
"No way was it?" Gus asked
Luz nodded "we needed the lure the Emperor away to broadcast the message what I didn't expect was the reaction I'd have to him." Luz said
"What do you mean?" Gus asked
"Well I was the one who attacked Belos. I threw the knives and stuff which he did swat down but in my anger I hid another one by invisibility. Which slammed into his eye." Luz said
Willow and Gus were stunned
"And because of that Belos has boosted up reprisals." Luz said
Willow and Gus looked at each other "well we're still with you Luz. We've fought Belos before and the collector we can do this." Willow said
Luz nodded "alright then come inside I'll explain the plan." She said as she opened the door.
At the castle Belos sat on his throne as the 55 assimbled Grimmwalkers stood before the Emperor
"You men…are the elite of the elite. Handpicked by each other for a special task. While your brothers go out and explore for the good of the empire you 55 will remain here by my hand as my guards." The emperor said as he moved his hand to a Crystal ball and activated it which revealed a Demon in blue skin and 4 eyes wearing a suit like Kikimora
"Admral Yells." Belos said
"Yes your Emperor." The demon admral said
"You are clear to launch the fleet."
"By your command. Open the bay doors!" The demon said as the Crystal ball cleared.
Around the castle a massive shudder like an earthquake rocked the Titan as everyone looked around scared
From the moat of the castle massive Warships like the ship Emperor Belos used before rose up into the sky 10, 15, 20 air ships. As they flew through the air out towards the head of the Titan and away from the land.
There mission…to make an artificial island where the Grimmwalker project would be unimpeded by these rebellious groups.
(Luz's reaction to the ships)
At the owl house Luz looked up to the sky to see the massive Airfleet hovering there.
"What the hell?" Luz asked before the fleet flew off.
"Get inside now." Eda called from the house. Luz shuffled everyone in as the slips flew away.
"What the hell was that?" Luz asked
"Those were military ships. An entire fleet of them."
"Ten warships I countered… Eda how much firepower is that?"
"Enough to destroy all of Boonesborough." She said
Luz sighed… "that's an issue. Do you have any idea where they might be going?"
"If I knew I'd have told you. I think the best people to tell us is either Lilith or Hunter."
"Dang." Luz sighed
"Luz…what's the plan?" Willow asked
"We follow the timeline, the next major event is the Covention." Luz said
The group nodded "keep your heads down low. Eda while your there I want you scout out possible recruits,"
Luz said
Eda nodded
Soon after Willow and Gus left as Luz went to bed.
And then it was time for the Convention.
The day begun normally as Luz and King were sitting by the stand selling the human goods. Which was a good front for them. To get money even though Eda's real money maker was the potion business.
Luz looked up
"Oh Eda. How went the last shipment of potions by the way?" Luz asked
"Oh it went well. It was easier without that damn puppeteer trying to hamper my brand." She said
Luz nodded
Eda noticed she wasn't paying attention and waved "alright alright come on let's go to the thing." Eda said
"Yeah I guess so, it is that time." Luz said as they made their way to the building proper.
Eda threw up her cowl and hid in the shadows
"Eda if you're trying to be inconspicuous you're doing a poor job." Luz said
Eda turned to her "kid trust me my sneaking around has never got me caught." Eda said
Said sneaking around was Eda crouching on her tippy toes and walking in plane view of everyone. She attracted more heads than anything.
They made there way to the tent for the Emperor's coven. And surprisingly no one said anything. Luz was on edge this screamed trap, if it wasn't a trap that was good that meant that this would go good. On the other hand if it wasn't a trap then she really overestimated the threat the Emperor was, especially with that military bullshit that just occurred a few days ago.
Luz felt her eye twitch when the Coven scouts allowed Eda and Luz and everyone to pass by without so much as a look at their direction.
'Are these guys morons or stormtroopers?' Luz thought as they got a seat.
As the lights went out Principal Bump appeared and got everyone's attention.
"Hello Bonesborough, students ask me all the time, principal bump what's the height of magical achievement?"
Luz wanted to roll her eyes when she heard a voice from the crowd say "is it this?"
The kid then used his magic to inflate his head to 3 times larger than his body before he was unable to hold it up and he crushed the person next to him.
Principal bump was…less than impressed
"Wow I've failed you as a principal." He said before he moved on
"Anyway that aside." He said glancing one last look back at the poor student before he continued
"It's being selected to join the best of the best, and there are none other that the jewel of the coven system, most prestigious of Coven's, the enforcer of his will the Emperor's coven." Bump said as 3 members of the emperor's coven appeared.
"Feast your eyes on this elite force, each member handpicked for his skill to usher in a new age of controlled magic." Bump said
While Bump was saying this the three Coven scouts were making a fool of themselves on stage while they used there magic. And lit there robes on fire making Luz roll her eyes her mentor wasn't doing much better.
"When does that elite force get here am I right?" Eda chuckled Luz wasn't much better.
"Members of the Emperor coven have access to All yes All types of magic." Bump said as the crowd followed his calls
"But only the best can accend these ranks, and someday that could be one of you." Bump said pointing to Amity.
Eda chuckled while Luz groaned at how brainwashed Amity was
"However before we move on there is one more group that I have to mention. These people are so skilled. So powerful, so unique, that they can be passed off as legends or even myth." Bump said
Everyone was on the edge of there seat now.
"Only 1 out of 100, no 1000 are recruited into this elite special forces unit. Just hearing there name put the fear of the emperor into the empire's enemies. They are… The Grimmwalkers." Bump said as the coven Scouts were pulled aside by one Grimmwalker wearing essential the same outfit as the Golden Guard but had a number on his shoulder piece. He was number 22.
I the crowd Luz went still as Willow looked over
"Luz is that?" Willow asked
Luz nodded
The Grimmwalker summoned his staff and proceeded to fight the coven scouts who charged at him while he effortlessly beat them back. All the while Bump was monologuing.
"As you can see the Grimmwalkers are an whole mother beast entirely, I mean it's almost as if there a completely different person. These are ranks you can look forward to when you join the emperor's coven."
The coven scouts faded away while the Grimmwalker remained as he went to Bumps side
"And now I'm pleased to announce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest, you know her, you love her,. Lillith!" Bump said
In the Air a shape of a Ravin riding a broomstick appered before it flew down slamming into the stage and revealing Lillith Clawthorne to wide audience approval
Lilly…" Eda said melancholy…
Luz turned back… it appeared she wasn't the only one having melancholy issues with this.
"Thank you all… it wasn't easy to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings." Lillith said as she summoned her cloak away tossing it to Bump who walked off while the Grimmwalker remained scanning the crowd.
"Now I have the greatest honor to enforce the emperor's will. So be more the Emperor's coven awaits you!" Lillith said to huge fanfare
Luz and Eda rolled their eyes thinking the same thing… 'shills.'
The event ended without incident and Luz's distain for how shitty security was here ground to a new hight as she talked to Willow.
Luz face palmed while walking out of the event hall "I'm starting to think that we're all just incompetent." Luz said pulling her face down.
Willow leaned in "we could be in a children's cartoon."
Luz looked at her and blinked for a second before saying
"That's one of the most stupidest theories I've ever heard. A children's cartoon maybe if fate was a thing then I'd also bump into Amity right now too-." Luz was cut off as she bumped into falling on her butt she looked over and sighed
'Fuck.' She thought.
If fate was real then she'd just been given a solid evidence for proof of it. Right before her. The person who she knocked into was Amity Blight.
Amity turned around holding a half empty cup of liquid…
The other half was on her uniform
'Oh this went from bad to worse real quick.' Luz thought as she felt her hope of making up to Amity spiral downward into a never ending tail spin.
"What are you- Oh it's you." Amity said
"Well it's been fun gotta go." Willow and Gus said before running off
'And there went my firends. Great.' Luz thought as she turned around to see Amity right in her face.
"Oh it's you Willows Abomination…thing…" Amity said
Luz winced but tried not to show it 'yep that hurts just as much as I expected it too.'
Luz stood up and rubbed the back of her head
"Hey Amity…so funny story…not an abomination…sorry for the confusion last week I'm Luz the human hi." Luz said extending her hand out.
Amity slapped it away "ugh put that thing away. Your the one who got me in trouble with principal bump, and I never get in trouble," Amity said before walking away
Liz cradled her hand trying her hardest not to cry it hurt, it hurt so very much being right there next to your lover and at the same time then not recognizing you as if your a total stranger, Luz wiped her eyes and pushed down her anger this was a new chance to make it up to Amity early she was going to do it.
Luz pulled herself up and followed after Amity.
"Amity wait!" Luz said
Amity turned around "what?" She hissed
Luz stopped dead feeling all her courage drain from her. Replaced with hurt once again. "Look I get we didn't have an amazing first meeting but I'm willing to bury the hatchet and I want to try to get to know you… so what do you say?" Luz asked holding her hand out again
Amity looked at hand before defiantly scoffing "No." She said before walking off.
Liz's heart just shattered all over again as she fell to her knees.
Off to the side Eda, Gus and Willow watched the interaction play out as Amity stormed off
"It does not look good." Gus said
"Yeah but what can we do We don't know the Glyph Luz used to remind us." Willow said
"We can do what Luz wanted us to do. Has anyone seen King?" Eda asked
"Uh-oh." Gus said as he saw King approaching by the bakers coven as they walked towards Luz.
King ran up to Luz as he put the cupcake down and towards luz
"Looks like King is going to try to lift her spirits." Willow said
Eda however noticed Amity was coming back towards Luz this time even angrier
"Oh this doesn't look good." Eda said
King was patting Luz's back "there there it will get better." He said as he reached for the cupcake to hand it to her only to find it gone.
He looked over to see Amity had it in her hands an angry expression on her face.
"How dare you try to play the victim card. Your not the victim don't play act as one!" Amity said as she crushed the cupcake and threw it on the ground.
That threw Luz over the edge lover or not, feelings or not, you do not fuck with her family.
Luz growled and stood up "how dare you!?" Luz roared in ferocious rage. And it was up to King to hold Luz back
"I do dare." Amity said
Luz reeled her fist back into a punch while King was dragging her back "no Luz please this isn't how you want this to go!" King said
Luz snarled "listen here all I've done sense that event is I've tried to be nice but you keep brushing my attempts!" Luz said
"You froze me!" Amity said
"For like 5 seconds!" Luz argued
"that doesn't make it better!" Amity hissed
"Ugh your listening to what I'm saying!" Luz said
"Because I don't want to! I want you out of my life. You and your dumb pet." Amity said
Luz snarled "alright FUCK YOU BLIGHT!" Luz yelled pointing her finger into Amity's chest.
"Oh shit." Eda, Gus and Willow said realizing Luz had snapped
"I challenge you to a witches duel!" Luz said
Amity closed her eyes and walked forward "I accept." She said
"If I win you at least hear me out and consider to accept me to be your friend." Luz said
Amity smiled "And when I win you will never speak to me again. Better hope you got better than Ice spells luzer. We'll meet back in an hour" Amity said as she activated the everlasting oath before she walked away.
Luz stood frozen as Amity walked away. The same word echoing in her head over and over again.
'Luzer, luzer, luzer.'
The same thing her bullies back at school called her and now her lover had said it…
Luz turned away and put her fist straight through the stone pillar, pulling out her bloodied fist
"Luz…" King said
"Leave me alone King…" Luz said, sounding defeated.
King looked at Luz before scampering off.
"Nows our chance." Eda said as they ran towards Luz.
However before they could get anyplace Eda heard someone call to her.
"Sister?"
'Ah shit.' Eda thought as She turned around to come face to face with Lilith.
"Hey Lillith." Eda said Lillith scooted the kids away and approached
"You shouldn't be here it's not safe." She said
Eda was touched "Aw sis you do care." She said
"What are you doing here?" Lillith asked
Eda shrugged " well you know me outlaw for life down with the Emperor." Eda said
Lillith panicked and covered her sisters mouth "keep it down there are Grimmwalkers around." She said
Eda got a serious look "I know I saw them."
"Then what are you doing here?" Lillith hissed
"Well I'm showing someone around, kinda thing a student of mine." Eda said
Lillith looked shocked "oh is that so? Well I too have a student under my name too. And she quiet good I think she'd make a worthy successor if I say so myself."
Eda cringed at the thought of Amity becoming apart of the Emperor's mind control
"Please my student would kick yours ass in a heartbeat." Eda said
"Oh really?" Lillith asked as Amity stepped forward
"And who exactly is your student you keep proclaiming about." Lillith asked
Eda smirked "well you see-."
"Eda!" Luz cried as she ran up to Eda
"I can't do it, I can't do it. I can't do it!" Luz cried as she hugged her mentor.
Eda hugged her back "it's ok, witchlet we'll deal with it."
Lillith laughed "oh it's her? I see…" Lillith said "how about a little wager then." She said "…I'll resend your wanted status for a day and if you lose your come with me to the coven."
Eda glaired at her sister "Fine but if you have any foul play the deal Is null."
Lillith accepted as she turned away "come Amity we have a battle to train for."
As they walked away Eda hugged Luz.
"What's wrong Luz?" Eda asked
"I challenged Amity to the duel but i can't face her. I can't hurt her… and if I give up I'll have no chance to win her feelings for me." Luz sobbed.
Eda hugged her "it's ok.. we'll do what we did last time." Eda said
Luz didn't look hopeful
"Non lethal I promise." Eda said
Luz sighed and nodded
With Amity and Lillith they were training while Amity was trying to make larger and larger abominations.
Lillith was sitting off to the side sipping a cup of tea. While Amity was pushing herself hard as seen by her shaking hands.
"Try harder…" Lillith said
"I'm trying…" amity grit her teeth.
"Focus have a clear image in your head about the shape and form." Lillith said
"I am…" amity growled as she tried to make it larger but only went so far as to make it explode all over her.
"Argh!" She huffed
"You weren't focused enough." Lillith said
"Argh Stupid Abomination!" Amity huffed before she at on the ground holding her knees.
"The abomination is just fluid. Doesn't matter at all… tell me what's really bothering you." Lillith said
Amity blushed and looked away.
"It doesn't matter, I don't understand why we're training I'm facing a human. Someone who everyone knows can't use magic." Amity said
Lillith sighed she knew Amity was avoiding the problem but she indulged her.
"When I was little It was my both my sisters and I dreams to be in the Emperor's coven together, but due to reasons that became impossible. Now I'm
Trying to make up for it." Lillith said
Amity looked down at her feet as she closed her eyes.
Luz was just doing the same thing to her right? Yeah she messed up and got her in trouble about a stupid badge but at the same time did it really matter? It's not like she cared about it, it was just what her mother wanted.
And what was that when She was frozen in the Ice… she looked…saddened torn up.
Amity had to admit that when they met she wasn't the best impression but to have her be that torn up…something was different.
Amity stood up "I'm willing to try again." She said
Lillith looked at her and put a hand on her shoulder "Amity. I know your home life isn't exactly the best… you can talk to me about it whenever you want. You are your own person. Remember that." She said
Amity felt tears well up in her eyes as she rubbed them away and went back to practicing.
Soon enough an hour had passed as Eda and Lillith and Luz and Amity stood facing each other.
"Beloved citizens, the Emperor's coven proudly presents an impromptu demonstration of the sort of witch we seek every year." Lillith said
Beside her looking quiet smug was Amity. While across the way Luz was jittering like a leaf. Looking anxiously at Eda who just gave her the thumbs up, which didn't calm her nerves
"Introducing Amity Blight." Lillith said as Amity came forward to applauds.
"Verses…some human girl." Lillith said as the crowd looked confused by Luz.
"A human? I didn't think Humans could do magic?"
"They can't."
"This will be fun to watch." Another demon said
As Lilllith gave a congratulatory tap on the neck Amity stepped forward
Eda pulled Luz to the side.
"Now just like last time you get her to step on those mounds and it will trigger the traps." Eda said
"And your sure they're all non-lethal?" Luz asked
"Kid the fireball one will just get her warm. The ice spell will just get her cold, trust me." Eda said
Luz gulped and stepped forward.
And like that the fight began.
"Abomination rise!" Amity said casting a circle on the ground as the abomination rose to tower over Amity herself
Amity looked shocked at the size of it for a brief moment that Luz caught.
'So far so good,,, oh what am I doing this Is gonna go so bad.' Luz thought before she was forced to duck underneath a blob of goo.
"Shit shit shit!" Luz yelled as she ran for the wall. Amity going after her. Her abomination following all the way.
Luz laid against the wall as the abomination rose above her and went to step forward
Only to step on a fire mine.
The magic mine exploded engulfing the abomination in fire.
Amity stood shocked
"H-how did you do that?"
Luz reconized Amity was talking to her and stuttered out "um m-magic?"
Amity Grit her teeth and clenched her fist making the abomination collapse in on itself smothering the fire out before reforming. The abomination went to attack again.
Luz seeing the attack acted on instinct and rolled under the swing and fled farther
'Damn it, Damn it.' Luz hissed as she turned around and saw Amity's abomination was thrown back along with Amily who landed on the ground as the abomination went splat
Amity was shocked "y-you didn't use your hands! You were looking away what are you trying to do!" Amity cried
"Not dying." Luz said
"We'll hold still!" Amity hissed
Luz just ran allowing the abomination to run into another mine and explode
Damn it how do I get out of this?" Luz thought as she noticed Amity's abomination stepping closer. And triggered another mine.
This time spikes shot up impaling the entire abomination.
Luz turned to Eda "SPIKES I THOUGHT YOU SAID THEY WERE NON LETHAL?!" Luz raged
"Hey! Why are you talking to her? What does she have to do with this unless?" Amity said as she kicked the dirt to reveal an I triggered mine.
"You cheated, you sabotaged the field!" Amity yelled
The crowd gasped as Lillith went to inspect the spikes which crumbled to dust as she touched it.
"Oh Eda I do believe this means you lose." Lillith said looking smug at her sister.
"Amity please I don't want to fight you." Luz said
" your trying to scurry off of this now?! After what happened?!" Amity roared before turning away.
However when she did so Eda noticed a patch of brown on the back of her neck.
Eda walked forward and went to reveal the patch.
"Ow hey!" Amity groaned as the patch was ripped off making the abomination shrink and collapsed
"A power glyph from the construction Coven!" Eda said showing the crowd.
Everyone gasped
"So Lillith I do believe that means that our bet is null and void." Eda said
"I only cheated because I knew you would as well., besides that glyph would have no effect on the outcome of the match." Lillith said trying to defend herself.
"Doesn't matter you cheated! Welcome to my level!" Eda said rubbing it in.
All the while the crowd began to boo the match more and more.
"I-I didn't know!" Amity cried to the booing crowd. Seeing their perfect top tier witch cheat.
"Amity…" Luz said trying to approach the girl and comfort her However Amity ran off. Luz ran after her while King Willow and Gus sat in the stands.
"What do we do?" Willow asked
"Only thing we can do…we wait…" King said
Gus looked around "guts there are guards moving in." He said
Willow gasped "we need to warn Eda." Willow said but King held her down.
"If you do it now the guards will be onto us. Eda can take care of herself don't worry." King said
In the arena Eda and Lillith were going at it.
"Listen I'm trying to help you, perhaps there could be a way to cure you." Lillith said
Eda just kept dancing. Ignoring her sister.
Lillith growled and summoned her staff sending a blast of magic at Eda who without looking deflected it and shattered the ceiling leaving Lillith stunned
Eda smirked looking at Lillith cockly "your gonna have to do better than that Sis."
Luz ran out of the arena… looking for Amity. After a bit of searching she found her huddled against the wall. Trying to make Abominations but after getting half way they collapsed. Leaving Amity to sulk in the shadow.
"Amity…" Luz said approaching
"I'm sorry." Luz said
Amity scoffed "just leave me alone." She said
Luz knelt down. "I didn't mean to embarrass you infrot of everyone." Luz said
"That just it, isn't it. That's all you do, that's all you ever do?" Amity said before turning to Luz.
Sense the first time we met all you've done was embarrass me. And show off, and ridicule me infront of my peer's In Front of my future.
My one hope. My one possibility, my passion! And you had to butt in and shatter my hopes and dreams!" Amity cried as she faced Luz tears streaming down her face.
"I was mentored to specifically prepare me to join the Emperor's coven. To be the best of the best. I had the best teacher. The best grades, the best role model's I was expecting to be the best. And I had it and I just needed another year or two, then you showed up. You dumb! human! Bitch!" Amity ranted poking her finger in Luz's chest. Making her stumble back
Amity glared at her
"And don't even get me started about after I caught you. You froze me…tried to…mess with my feelings… you just barged into my life that was going just great and had to ruin everything!" Amity yelled
Luz slid down the wall feeling her knees collapsed under her. She felt every word Amity said ti her. Everything that had happened, everything that had been done struck her, made her understand how much of a fuck up she really was…
Because at the end of the day. Those words were in Amity's voice. Not her own from a horrible nightmare, or a Belos concocted poison to torment her, no they came from Amity Blight. An Amity that she hurt, and hated her.
And deep down Luz knew the Amity that had loved her also felt the same feelings as well. Hidden perhaps under a veil of love and affection, but the hate still lingered.
It was hate that never goes away…
Luz fell to amity's side tears sliding down her face
"I'm sorry…" She said her voice cracking up by the pain.
"All I've tried to do was to make people's lives better… yet all I do is make them worse…" Luz said
Amity huffed "yeah it's funny how that goes." She said dismissively.
"I've tried…so hard, past…the future…what has happened… no matter what I do I always FUCK SHIT UP!" Luz screamed pounding her fist into the ground before as she shattered it in her anger.
Amity looked stunned and slightly horrified.
Luz just sat there a distant look in her eyes Catatonic.
"I understand how you feel Amity…I'm sorry…I just… fuck I can't do it!" Luz yelled grabbing her head and slamming it into the wall behind her.
Amity was getting scared now. Was this human insane?
Luz panted as she lowered her hands and began to draw on a piece of paper that she pulled out from her pocket.
"Here. I understand if you never want to see me again. But before I go… I wanna show you this." Luz said as she tapped the Remembrance glyph and the two were blinded by the light.
In the Arena Lillith and Eda were dueling. With Eda summoning versions of Hooty. While Lillith was blasting them away with shapeless blasts.
Around the stands The Grimmwalker stood with Other coven scouts as the citizens began to flee.
"Sir your orders?" One of the scouts asked
"Get the civilians out of here." He said
"But sir what about the fugitive?" Another scout asked
The Grimmwalker narrowed his eyes at the duel.
"It's Lillith mess…so she can be the one to clean it up." He said as he began to help organize the evacuation.
While this was happening Lillith and Eda fought, getting more and more destructive in their firepower.
Stands blew up as both witches used the rubble to transform there surroundings into useable weapondry to destroy the other.
Lillith looked like she was clearly on the defensive
The Grimmwalker watched the battle passively behind his helmet when another coven scout came up to him
"Sir! all the civilians have been evacuated." The scout said
"Very good, all units move in and secure the wild witch!" The Grimmwalker said as he used his palasmen to jump into the frey the other scouts used their magic to attack from afar.
Outside Luz dropped the piece of paper and stood up "goodbye Amity…" Luz said sadly.
However as she went to walk away she found her arm wouldn't follow.
It was being held by Amity.
"Batata." Amity gasped
"Sweet potato." Luz cried
Luz looked at Amity shocked tears dragged from her eyes as the two flew at each other and embraced for a kiss. It was sloppy and a mess full of passion and desperation of long lost love but they didn't care. They were there for each other.
"I'm sorry." Amity said after breaking the kiss.
"What for?" Luz asked holding Anitys cheeks
"I remember everything what I said what I did, you know I'll always love you." Amity said holding her close
Luz accepted the hug while at the same time her cogs were going her self doubt and loathing at an all time high.
"Yeah…" she said 'but she wasn't saying what she said was wrong…'
Amity just held Luz close. "I don't understand what exactly is going on but im willing to figure it out together." She said
"Well…" luz said before she was cut off
"Luz!" Willow called as she Gus and King ran up to her.
"Luz we got to get out of here. Eda is fighting her sister and Coven scouts are moving in to capture her." Willow said
Luz jumped into action.
"Amity we will talk tonight meet us at the owl house I'll explain everything there. Gus, Willow take King and get out of here he's not as wanted as Eda or myself so you should be fine getting out but just incase cast an illusion." Luz said
The other nodded
"What about you?" Amity asked
"Myself and Eda can fight our way out just fine all I need to know is that you are safe." Luz said before kissing Amity on the lips "go and good luck." She said before she tapped a Glyph and make a cloak before running off back into the arena.
Luz entered the arena and looked around to see despite Eda fighting alone she was holding up against them as well as she was fighting a 2v 1 with both Lillith and the Grimmwalker attacking Eda.
Luz grabbed several glyphs and threw them down creating a distraction as giant vines covered the room allowing Luz to get up to Eda.
She jumped in the air and sent an Ice Glyph to make a ramp allowing her to slide down as she broke off a piece and used it as a sword she landed before the Grimmwalker and parried the strike in the middle of the staff the force of the blast blowing her hood off exposing her human ears however she had a bandanna covering the rest of her face.
"A human hmm." The Grimmwalker said
Luz grit her teeth knowing this was a bad situation she kicked the Grimmwalker in the groin and jumped back to Eda
"We have to get out of here, the Empire is closing off all exits." Luz said herself back to back with her mentor.
Eda huffed "damn I got so distracted by the fight I didn't notice."
"I'll make a smokescreen and we'll go." Luz said
Eda nodded as she blocked a blast from her sister.
"Ready when you are kid." Eda said
Luz threw down the smokescreen as the pair escaped.
By the time the smoke cleared they were gone.
"Damn it find them!" Lillith ordered as the scouts moved into the halls to search.
Lillith sighed
"That was risky." The Grimmwalker said as Lillith spun around to see him.
"It was cunning but foolish, I don't know what you were planning but belos will be hearing about this from me. And he'll be most dissatisfied at your failure to catch these wild witches." The Grimmwalker said
"I don't understand why this is an issue?" Lillith said
"Because intel believes that those where the ones who attacked Belos at the parade and because of what you did you let them escape," the Grimmwalker said as he turned away Lillith falling to her knees
"Stop groveling, we have work to do." He said as he walked out of the arena
Outside the arena Luz and Eda stopped
"Eda get out of here." Luz said
"What Luz I'm not leaving you." Eda said
"Eda I was spotted my hood blew off during the melee I can be traced back to you. And it will interfere with us getting into Hexside, I need to clean up loose ends. Don't worry I'll take care of myself."
Eda looked stunned at Luz she could read between the lines of what Luz was saying. And she remembered her last confrontation with Belos…but she was talking Cold blooded murder.
"Kid, your not a murderer. Let me handle it." Eda said holding her shoulder
"Eda it's my mistake, I need to make up for it." Luz argued
"No you-." Eda was cut off as coven scouts flooded into the Halls
"We can't argue now, just know if you can't do it, leave him, we'll deal with the consequences later." Eda said
Luz nodded and slunk back into the shadows. As Eda did the same
Eda was thinking about what spells she had that could kill a man but with her limited pool she was low on options. 'If I had the owl beast I could just claw the fuckers throat out.' Eda hissed she'll have to deal with the owl beast sooner than she expected, she's not letting that power boost that could be needed go to waist not after this. In the meantime she had to find the Grimmwalker before Luz did before the kid did something she'd regret.
Luz for her part was slipping in from shadow to shadow looking for the damn Grimmwalker.
She found him commanding a few scouts.
"I want you to lock down the exits and cover all windows on the ground floor." He said
Luz grit her teeth and activated an Ice Glyph making a pair of daggers
The coven scout ran off leaving himself alone.
He looked around trying to think of ideas for where the hell they could be. They locked down the exits rather quickly so they must still be here.
As he walked past the Construction coven Stand he felt a hand on his neck and pull him around the corner of lumber with a dagger to his heart.
"You." He hissed
"No talking or I slit your throat where you stand." Luz said as she moved the mask off his face
And staring back at her was the face of Hunter. However unlike Hunter the Grimmwalkers Eyes were cold hard and calculating. There was no point in trying to remind him. He's just a shadow not the real thing.
"What is the plan for all of you?" Luz asked
"Wouldn't you like to know." The Grimmwalker said
"How many are you?"
"Enough." He countered.
Luz grit her teeth she was getting nowhere
Luz kills the Grimmwalker right as Eda finds them.
"Your too late Belos's plan…"
"Shut up about the day of unity. Belos has already lost he just hasn't relized it yet." Luz said
"…why tell me that?" The Grimmwalker asked confused that she would let slip information like that.
"Oh I'm sorry you expected me to keep you alive?" Luz said as she slit his throat then followed up with a stav in the heart. Killing him instantly in a way he wouldn't scream.
At the exact same time Eda rounded the corner and found the Grimmwalker against the wall dead.
She had been too late.
Luz looked at Eda "come on let's go. We can't take the ground floors well have to go out by air." Luz said
Eda nodded "kid are you sure you don't want to talk about this?"
Luz just looked at Eda "there's no time." Luz said as they escaped into the night.
A/n And now you know exactly why this story is rated M.
Say what you will about RWBY but there heart to hearts (and many of Rooster teeth's shows are some of the best there are period (yes the Amity training seen is based off of Weiss's talk with Winter from Volume 3.
Tell me how did I do with this chapter. I was concerned if I rushed the feelings with Luz and Amity a bit too much, tell me how you think this chapter went.
Keep reading Bankerrtx01.