"Amity, are you sure this thing will work," asked Luz for what felt like the hundredth time.

Amity groaned, but gave the nervous dragon another hug, "Yes, as I said it can't do much to alter your new height, but it will have to be enough. Are you sure your plan will work? It seems a little manipulative to me."

Luz sighs, "Yup, this is the only way. Trust me, mi amor. She won't believe us any other way."

Camila sat on her couch feeling devastated. Her baby girl, her precious little light, had gone missing almost a month ago, and nobody could find any trace of her. A part of her blamed that stupid camp for not telling her that Luz never showed up until Camila had finally called, and asked how Luz was doing only to find out she never even arrived. How they believed that it was ok to not ever bother to check on if Luz was ok, Camila would never understand, but more than anyone Camila blamed herself. Why had she waited four days to call the camp? What did that say about her as a mother? Camila would have continued to wallow in her guilt, but suddenly there was a knock at her door. Hoping against hope that it might be her Lucecita finally coming home Camila rushed to answer it, but her heart dropped as she saw a tall pale girl with long orange hair and a green pendant standing on her porch.

Before Camila could speak, the girl smiled, "Hello Mrs. Noceda. You don't know me, but I know you." The girl sighed and looked away, "I'm sorry, but I need you to come with me. There are a lot of things you need to be told, but this isn't the place to do it. I'm sorry, but I'm going to need you to trust me for at least the next fifteen minutes. I promise all your questions will be answered if you do."

Camila looked annoyed, "And why should I do that? Why can't people just leave me alone? What could you possibly offer me to make this farce worth it?"

The girl gave her an oddly familiar smirk, "I can take you to Luz."

Ten minutes later, Camila was getting frustrated as she followed the mysterious girl through the woods until they reached the old cabin in the woods. The place that all traces of Luz led to, but no sign of Luz could be found. Camila couldn't help letting out a groan as she saw the girl open the door, and usher her to go inside, but when she did Camila found herself in a new room. Camila had seen the interior of the cabin during the search, but this wasn't it. What's more the room she was in was bigger than the whole cabin, and sitting on the couch were two girls to one side, and an older woman in a chair next to it. The girls had odd green hair, one being light and the other almost black, and the woman had a very long gray mane of hair. To Camila she looked like the tall teens mom or grandma. None of that was what surprised her most though. It wasn't their odd clothes either, but the fact that all three had pointed ears was certainly different.

Suddenly she heard a noise, and the doorway she walked through was gone leaving a very nervous look on the tall girl's face as she guided Camila to an unoccupied chair. "Mrs. Noceda, wait here please. I'll go get Luz, and be right back. I promise." With that the girl scurried up the stairs, and after only a minute a shorter darker skinned boy came down with… Luz. Sure she was a bit taller than she remembered, but Camila would never forget her baby's face, and she looked otherwise as she remembered her. Camila went to rush to her, but Luz just smiled sadly, " No te quedes ahí mamá. Te prometo que te lo explicaré todo, pero necesito que te quedes ahí hasta que acabe. Han pasado muchas cosas y necesito que confíes en mí. ¿Vale? Necesito que mantengas la mente abierta, y que estés tranquila por mí. (No stay there mom. I promise I'll explain everything, but I need you to stay there until I'm done. A lot has happened, and I need you to trust me. Ok? I need you to keep an open mind, and stay calm for me.)"

Camila wanted so badly to embrace her baby girl, but she felt like she owed it to Luz to listen to her this time. Lord forgive her, if that was what Luz was asking of her she would do it. With a snort Camila nodded, "Ok nena. Lo intentaré, pero... por favor dime que estás bien. Siento mucho haber intentado alejarte. Te quiero. (Ok baby. I'll try, but... please tell me your alright. I'm so sorry that I tried to send you away. I love you.)"

Luz gave Camila a forced warm smile, "Ya Mami, I'm not hurt, but in the interest of the others I'd appreciate it if we could stick to English for now." Luz snorted, "They haven't had the time to learn Spanish yet, but some are interested in learning." Camila nodded, and Luz continued, "So firstly, introductions." As Luz sat down in the middle of the couch gesturing to her right, "In the chair is Eda Clawthorn. On the end is my best female friend Willow Park, and this is Amity Blight beside me. On the other side is my best guy friend Augustus Porter, he really likes being called Gus though, and they are all witches."

Camila let out an irritated groan, "Mija, I thought you were going to take this seriously, but if you're going to keep sticking to these fantasies then we can just go home."

Camila heard a snort from the older woman, "You were right kiddo. I guess you'll have to show her." Camila looked at her a little frustrated and confused until her jaw dropped as Luz used her finger to draw a purple circle in the air that collapsed into an orb of light that floated over and rested in Camila's hands.

Camila just looked at it in shock before returning her eyes to Luz. Luz smirked a bit as she said, "Seeing is believing, am I right. Mami, Eda is my mentor, and for the last month I've been here on the Isles learning magic."

"The Isles?" gasped Camila, still a little shocked.

"The Boiling Isles to be exact. Mami we aren't in Connecticut anymore. We aren't even in the Human realm. The door you walked through to get here is the same one I came here through, by accident. At first I just wanted to stay for the summer, and learn all that I could so that I could prove to you that this was real, but things have changed. Mami, I never belonged in the human realm, and if it wasn't for you I'd never go back there again. This is where I belong now. I have friends who like me for me, I feel in love…" Luz squeezes Amity's hand making her blush, "And I can still go to school. If you want we can set up a tour for you later so you can see Hexside and meet Principle Bump, but before that I need to get you caught up on what's happened to me so far. Gus here is arguably the best illusionist of our year so he will help with some visual aids, but before that he has to stop the one he's casting now." Luz slips a familiar green pendant on before turning to Gus. "Ok, bud. Go ahead." Gus nods, and there is a blue puff of smoke making Luz disappear, and the mystery girl reappear. "Don't worry Mami, it's still me, but I need to explain a few things before I let you see the new me, so in the meantime I'm borrowing Eda's old appearance from when she was my age with a concealment stone until we get there, but as I said I'm fine. I just went through some changes while I was here."

Camila was terrified, but she would hold herself together for the time being. She had her Luz back, and that was what mattered most. Everything else was secondary. She needed answers, and no matter the changes, Luz was still her daughter. "Ok, Mija, but I'm not going to lie… I'm very worried, but if you say you're ok then I'll believe you for now."

Luz sighed, "Mami I'm going to have to start before I came here in order for you to understand." For the next thirty minutes Luz told and showed Camila what life was like for Luz back at her human school, and around town with Gus's help as he literally created illusions from her memory. It made Camila's shame grow with every minute, but she didn't miss the others' reactions. Amity held Luz's hand through the whole experience despite the pain seeing Luz's memories brought her. Willow looked both horrified and shocked, and Eda grew increasingly agitated as she drank a golden drink at an increasing speed and seemed to shed feathers with each drink. When Luz shifted to her first days on the Isles, Eda got embarrassed, and Camila started getting annoyed, but she kept it in. Seeing the state of the Conformatorium prisoners and hearing their crimes helped reduce Camila's annoyance, but it didn't go away completely.

When they moved to the day of the accident Eda groaned, "So this is going to be rough to hear, but before we continue I want to ask you something Cammy."

"And that is, kidnapper?" Camila growled.

Eda sighed shamefully, "You're a type of healer, so I'm assuming you understand how emergencies are, and I'm assuming that if it was to save Luz's life there is nothing you wouldn't do. Something happened, and we didn't have an hour to find you, much less convince you this was all real. I had to make a decision, and I stand by it because the alternative was too horrible to accept. Before you judge me, I want you to think. In that situation, would you have done any different, or taken the risk that even five minutes could have been too late." Camila nodded, and returned her attention to Luz. Who showed what she could remember, and Camila's blood froze. Before she could ask, Eda spoke, "The blast punched a hole through Luz's chest about two fists in diameter. Magic can heal a lot of things given enough time, but there has to be something left to work with, and while most of her could be healed… her heart was evaporated. Luz was the first human to come to the Isles in hundreds of years, so we didn't exactly have a spare human heart laying around, and due to our slightly different anatomy a witch heart wouldn't cut it."

Camila looked at the room as her terror grew and threatened to overwhelm her, "What did you do to my baby? Dios Mio, please Lucecita, what happened."

Luz sighed, "The healer offered an option, but said it had only a fifty/fifty chance of working. Eda did what she had to do, and I got a new heart, but he didn't say what it was at the time or what effect it would have on me." Luz looked Camila in the face as she said, "It's because of my new heart I am what I am now, and can do magic. I'm happier and healthier than ever before, but I don't think there is much 'human' left. Before I show you what I look like now I'll give you a step by step as we experienced them. First my hair grew out, and started to get a purple sheen. Then I developed scales, and claws. Lastly fangs, and horns started to form. I'm sorry Mami, but I'm still changing, but you deserve to know what happened to your daughter."

Removing the pendant the blue smoke appeared again, and Camila saw Luz almost completely bare. With a simple white tank top and gym shorts there was nothing to help hide Luz's scaled form, her clawed hands and feet, or the couple inch long horn nubs that were growing out. Camila was overwhelmed as she looked at Luz, but not with fear. Yes, Camila was afraid, but seeing Luz as she was now she couldn't help thinking she looked beautiful and powerful. She just seemed so much more mature than she used to be, and that left her awed and afraid, but then a question occurred to her. "How did you give consent to save her? I never gave you guardianship, and you're not her parent. Are those not an issue here?"

Eda blushed, and Luz chuckled, "Actually, I got a chance to attend a healing class, and learned a fair bit about that. That's actually a huge part of the healing coven's creed. When they join they have to make a magical oath that they will not violate certain concepts, and guardianship is one of them. Eda had to officially adopt me in order to allow them to save me. Before you ask, it's only binding on the Isles, and for two more years. I could go back to the Human realm if I wanted to, but it wouldn't be any different than when I came here. Legally, you're both my Mom's, but you remain primary on everything unless I choose to have that change, and I don't see that happening. I'm not as clear on Eda's end of it, but in the eyes of the Isles I am Luzura Noceda-Clawthorn, heir of Eda Clawthorn, and at this point I qualify as a dragon. The last true dragon. Mami, I want you in my life, but I won't go back to being treated like a burden or a broken girl in need of fixing. I like who I am, I found friends who accept me, and Eda loves me like I was her own. I understand that this is a lot to ask, but I want to show you the place I call my home. Give me a chance to show you this is where I belong."

Camila looked torn, and she felt overwhelmed by all the new information she was getting. Everyone just watched the older human until they heard her sigh finally deciding on what she needed to do. "Luz, I love you mija, but I need time to process… everything. I'm sorry, but this is just too much for me right now. Can we just… go home, and talk about this later once I've had a chance to process everything?"

Luz gave Camila a sad smile, "Eda, is there some way we can signal you that we need you to open the door?"

Eda pulled a hand bell from her hair, and spun a circle making it glow for a moment before it faded. "Just ring this when you're ready kiddo. You know our schedule so if it takes a minute don't be surprised, but… I love you Owlet. If you need me, I'll only be a world away." Eda tried to joke, but the sadness in her eyes was unmistakable.

Luz gave Eda a warm smile as she put the bell in her bag, "It will all work out, Owl Mom. Mami and I just need to work a few things out. I love you all, and I promise I'll be back soon. " Luz chuckles, "You know better than anyone that there isn't a force in either world that could keep me away anymore."

With that, Camila and Luz got up to go, but Amity reached out to give Luz one last hug making Luz smile and kiss her forehead, "Don't worry Ami, I promise I won't leave my treasure unguarded for long. Te amo Amity, eres mi amor, mi corazón y mi estrella guía. You are my love, my heart, and my guiding star. I love you."

Amity smiled through her tears, "I love you too, you overgrown handbag. Just come back to me safe, ok?" Luz smiled, and held her for a few more moments before Eda opened the door, and the Noceda's returned to the human realm, with Luz in her Eda disguise.

It was awkward being back in her old room. Everything felt so familiar, but… she felt detached from it. Looking around she could almost see the ghost of the girl she used to be as various memories played. Long hours of creating and editing her videos or her Azura fanfics, better times from back then when she could let her fears fall away… She watched as they played out before her, and she just felt numb to them like watching someone else's life. She wasn't that girl anymore, and maybe it was Oscurenex inside her, but she felt good about that.

Luz Noceda had been too free, too hopeful, too… much for the human realm, but Luzura Clawthorn was stronger. Luzura Clawthorn was better. Becoming a dragon had changed her, but that was a good thing. Luz had been raw and unfocused. Life had hammered away at her. Attempting to beat her into a shape of their choosing, Luzura was the shape SHE chose, and was a result of HER choices. Luz had been a child, a radiant spark, but Luzura was a young adult. They failed to smother her spark, so now she was a raging inferno. She had the power now to make a change, and insure that no one ever had to fear being snuffed again, even if it was only in her new home. Being in her old room had helped Luzura steel her resolve. She was a queen now, and she would be damned if she wouldn't live up to the title.

Deciding to rest like her Mami had, Luzura tried to lay down in her old bed, but it wasn't comfortable anymore. After so much time in her sleeping bag her bed was too soft, and after a while she simply let out a groan. Moving to the floor, Luz created an impromptu sleep cocoon with her comforter, and soon she was sleeping peacefully, and once more in a familiar place… sitting outside her cave. As she felt the wind blow through her hair, and the smell of cinnamon, mint, and down feathers invaded her senses she felt a pair of violet orbs open up inside the cave, and she heard a familiar voice like silk that felt oddly spicy to her mind.

I see you have returned to where your story began. I expected to feel more conflict in you, but I sense only peace. I could read your mind, but that seems… invasive, so I will ask. Why?

Luz let out a small laugh, "People always said I never listened, but that was completely wrong. I'm always listening, and I heard everything they said. Just because I chose to interpret it in a different way… that doesn't change the fact that I was. You told me what I needed to hear, and it was true. I always said I accepted who I was, but I was wrong. I hated myself, and I allowed others to convince me that there was something wrong with me, but that was never true. I am me, and nothing will ever change that. I might not love myself yet, but I'm working on it, and seeing how far I've come… It feels reassuring." Luz turned to look at the eyes in the darkened cave, "I don't know why you chose to hide like that, but when you're ready… I'll be here to accept you too, Oscurenex."

In time hatchling, but not right now. For now we must be two, because you are not ready to be one. That strong spirit of yours is proving your greatest advantage and weakness. It refuses to be broken under the strain of my power, but at the same time its hunger for more threatens to tear you apart from the inside. It keeps trying to make you run, but you barely have the capacity to crawl. It is inspiring, and terrifying to behold. In one month you have evolved to a point that should have taken a year to reach, and because of that it unbalanced your mind. If Edalyn had not done what she did you would have gone mad before you could even finish transitioning. I can regulate the changes, but you must remain aware. I can keep you balanced, but only as long as you don't try to dig deeper. I can not fight you if you start pushing your limits.

Luz sighed, "I'll try, but there's something else I need you to do."

Yes, princesa?

"I keep hearing about 'Old Laws'. If they're the rules I'll have to play by from now on I need to know… What are they?" asked Luz seriously.

Oscurenex sighed, "The old laws are the guidelines set in place after the Draco-Titan war. They were created to prevent anything like that from happening again. To put it simply the leaders of both came together, and used their combined might to alter the fabric of magic itself so that neither species would ever be able to alter them unless it was done together. When other species came, they were bound to them as well as a condition of their continued survival, and it is from this event that the Courts were created. Each Court managed their own affairs, but as the oldest and most powerful of Courts the Dragons held final say. We were not tyrants. Sadly we were worse. We were like callus indifferent parents, only getting involved when absolutely necessary. We had never been many, but we believed our power was absolute. The Purge was our own fault."

"But what are the laws exactly, and how do you know any of this?" pressed Luz.

No one knows the act wording used, but in time you will develop a sense for what you cannot do similar to the feeling one gets before jumping off of a very high place without any way to prevent going splat. As for how I know any of this… frankly it's a combination of memory fragments and feelings. I am not infallible, I'm afraid, but together we will learn. In the meantime let your first lesson begin…

Luz awoke early the next morning, and out of habit she began to make breakfast. It didn't take long for Camila to hear and smell the situation, but what she saw when she peeked into the kitchen filled her with awe. Camila remembered cooking with her mija, and how scattered her mind could be, but that is not what she saw. Luz almost effortlessly was cooking various items at once while singing her own little song with only her magic to aid her. Camila saw french toast, bacon, grits, gravy, and vegetable omelets all being prepared as if an entire team of chiefs were working in perfect rhythm. A feat normally impossible given the small to standard size of her kitchen, and Luz seems completely unfazed and unaware of her audience. It wasn't until the end that Camila noticed the most amazing part… Luz wasn't even completely awake. Something made all the clearer when Camila heard her shout, "King. Eda. Breakfast. You'd better hurry or I'll eat it all myself."

Camila couldn't help but laugh when she noticed that Luz hadn't even tried to make herself a plate yet. Rendering her earlier threat only a bluff. It wasn't until Luz took a drink of her milk did she realize something was off, and spit it out. Looking around, Luz finally noticed her Mami standing by the entryway, and smiling at her. "Morning Mija. Seems like your cooking has gotten better since you left."

Luz blushed, "Buenos dias, Mami. Um,... ya. I took over breakfast duty in the Owl House since I was usually the first one up, and I don't know… I guess it made me feel like you were there with me, like Papi everytime I read my Azura books." Luz looked away awkwardly, "I know I might not look the way I used to, but I never stopped thinking about you, and allowing myself to feel like you were with me every morning helped me not feel so detached."

Camila smiled, and cupped Luz's face, "I missed you to carino. Now let's dig in before this gets cold."

And for the next hour everything felt like it used to in the Noceda household. Since nobody could know Luz was back without having to answer a lot of questions that they weren't ready to answer, 'Eva', Luz's cover, shadowed Camila at work, and for the most part it went well. Using the one Beast keeping spell she knew, a calming spell, and a combination of her fire and light runes, Luz was subtly able to help around the office. Everything had been going well until a man covered in blood stormed in carrying a barely alive massive dog that might have been a Greatdane or Wolfhound, it was hard to tell given its sorry state. Luz tried to insist she could help, but Camila was adamant she not get involved. "I'm sorry, but you can't. You're not a vet, and there will be too many eyes for you to do anything," insisted Camila, while whispering the last part. Despite Camila's best effort there was nothing they could do, and when Luz got the news, she ran off.

Once she was out of sight, Luz made herself invisible and simply walked around town until she found a quiet spot in the park that reminded her of the forest outside the Owl House. Since she was well hidden from view, Luz decided to let her spell fade, but kept her stone on. Despite the concealment spell Luz could still feel how the sun beat down on her scales, and warmed her muscles. It felt so peaceful, but then Luz caught a familiar set of voices. Resuming her invisibility spell, Luz inched closer to investigate, and there they were: Cheer captain Jen and her squad of minions.

"... Ugh, frankly I'm glad she's gone. Seriously, the last month has been the best. Like ya, I 'helped' look for her that first weekend, but that was only because Mom made me do it to keep up appearances," groaned Jen.

"Come on Jen, I know she was a freak, but she could have been kidnapped. Don't you think that's a bit too-" one of her minions tried to say before she was cut off.

"Get real Stace, there's no way she was kidnapped or whatever. In order to be kidnapped someone would have had to want her, and nobody's that desperate. No, chances are she ran off and got eaten by a Bobcat or a Black bear, or something like that. It doesn't matter though, little Luzer is gone and good riddance," groaned Jen in frustration, before ending with a small cheer that her crew joined after a moment.

Luz thought she would feel something hearing Jen say those things, but… nothing. Sure, Luz recognized that she should, but for the first time in her life Jen's words didn't sting. Luz simply didn't care anymore about anything they said because… they simply didn't matter anymore. Jen and her cronies were small minded, hateful, and entitled. They would live their mundane sad little lives, and never get to experience a tenth of the wonder she had seen in the last month alone. Jen might think herself a queen, but Luz actually was one. Luz was a dragon, and that fact alone gave her the strength to ignore them. After all, why should a dragon concern themselves with the opinions of ticks?

But then another girl spoke, "But what about Dr. Noceda? She was always so nice, and didn't she save your poodle Dutchess last year?"

Jen let out a sigh, "Just between us, I've always felt bad for Dr. Noceda. She had a hero husband, and you're right she did save my little Dutchess. It's not fair she got saddled with such a broken kid, but this might be the best thing that could have happened to her. Without that pest to hold her back, maybe she can finally find someone to keep her company, and maybe she could even have another kid. There's no way she could be unlucky enough to get a second screw-up. I'm sure things will finally get better for her. Ugh, now I feel bad. Thanks, Ginger."

"Sorry, Jen, but you're right. Without the Luzer to screw it all up high school might actually be nice and peaceful. Let's just focus on that," replied Ginger.

After that the group moved onto other topics, but Luz didn't care about any of that. Quietly, Luz moved away toward the forest behind her house to think. While they had been completely wrong in their assessment of her, maybe they had a point about her Mami. Was Luz being selfish in wanting to hold on to her? Was her Mami really better without her? Camila was normal, and had a chance at a normal life without Luz to get in her way. Now that her Mami knew she was safe, should they simply go their separate ways to live their best lives? Luz was so deep in thought, she didn't notice until it was too late, and the bear trap snapped around her ankle.

Luz let out a deafening roar as white hot pain suddenly flared through her mind, and without thinking Luz reached down and used her earth rune to give her enough strength to break open the trap's slightly rusted jaws. Thankfully Luz's scales and bones were tougher than anything the trap was designed to catch, but they only helped so much. After throwing the mangled lump of metal against a tree, Luz assessed the wound like Hypox and her Mami taught her to.

Luckily the bone wasn't broken, and a quick purifying spell could make sure no infection would set in, but Luz could tell the bone was fractured and she was losing a lot of blood very quickly. Luz could stop the bleeding, but the fracture was a different story. If she was at one hundred percent, sure not a problem, but she felt woozy from blood loss, and she knew better then to try if she wasn't sure. An incorrectly healed injury could cause more problems in the long run. Quickly making a decision, Luz started dragging herself up, and limping toward the old cabin since it was closer after stopping the bleeding. After a short rest, Luz would start feeling better, and she could heal the remaining damage, or that's what she told herself.

When Luz woke up, she was lying in the cabin, but something was wrong… Why was she tied up, and why were her hands covered? Luz tried to squirm herself free for a while, but it was no use. Without her hands she couldn't use her magic to free herself, and while sure she could try her tongue trick she was still slightly dizzy so she didn't feel comfortable doing anything more complicated than a blast. Without a good angle to work with, that was a bust since a misfire could cause any number of new problems, and burning to death or bleeding out in an old cabin was not her idea of a great way to go.

Eventually the door to the cabin opened, and a man walked in with what looked like an old surgical bag. In Luz's opinion the guy looked fairly unthreatening with his tiny chin beard, and generally unremarkable appearance. Honestly the guy looked like he just came from some preppy college with his dark vest, brown jacket, squared glasses, and collared shirt, but the manic look in his eyes and unhinged grin certainly helped him get a bit higher on the danger scale. The fact that he didn't seem intimidated by her appearance helped too. Somehow Luz had lost her concealment stone at some point after getting caught in the bear trap, and without it she was left with nothing but a red sleeveless tank top and black gym shorts to hide her.

After closing the door he pulled a tape recorder out of his bag, and started it, "Log entry 184. In the interests of posterity, this is Jacob Hopkins, and today I have finally caught one. I can finally prove the existence of demons-"

Luz started to laugh, "Wow. I'm touched, but… not a demon Jaky-boy. Now if you would be so kind as to-"

"SHUT YOUR LYING MOUTH, DEMON. I WILL NOT BE FOOLED," yelled Jacob, before he cleared his throat. "Now, demon scum, this will be your last chance. Tell me where your fellow demon's are hiding, and I'll make what comes next as painless as possible."

"Sending mixed messages there Crazy J. Do you want me to shut up or talk? Also, as I said, not a demon," snarked Luz. "Why are you doing this anyway? It's not like I'm hurting anyone. Tell ya what, let me go, and we can both forget this ever happened. How's about that, Hopadiaha?"

Jacob scoffed, "I think not. I know what you're planning. You and the rest of your Martian friends are here to invade, and steal our teeth to fuel your time machines. Now that I've caught you I can prove it, and finally get my Mewtube account verified. The whole world will know my name soon, and I will be celebrated as the savior of all mankind." Jacob started to laugh triumphantly.

"Wow my dude. That's impressively dumb, like seriously, you're not just crazy. You're an actual moron. I'm almost speechless. How would teeth even be used as a fuel source, and why specifically teeth? Wouldn't bones make more sense? What's more, why would anyone need to steal them from living people? Kids lose teeth all the time, and there's got to be hundreds of graveyards just choked full of unclaimed teeth. Also, if I had a time machine why would I come to this era? Global warming, discrimination, and war all around… no thanks. Then there's that Mewtube thing. Are you serious with that? Are you really that desperate for validation? Lastly, but not least… I… AM… NOT… A… DEMON," stated Luz flatly before she finished with a roar of frustration.

Jacob seemed taken aback by Luz's analysis, but stated simply, "Well, if you're not a demon then what are you? Clearly you're not human, unless you want to try and claim scales, claws, and horns are normal human features."

Luz sighed, "Fine, but only because you're to dumb to ever prove it. Come closer ya nut bar, and I'll tell you." Jacob seemed to debate with himself for a moment before he got closer to the bound creature. "Ya, just a bit closer. Now here's the truth." Luz leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "I'm a dragon." Releasing a small bit of fire Luz managed to light up Jacobs hair and shoulders. With her head starting to clear, Luz managed to flop herself forward, and fire herself at the door like a rocket with a light blast from her feet. Thankfully the door was old and less then sturdy, but still didn't feel great to slam through. Continuing her small hopping flights, Luz managed to make it most of the way back to Casa Noceda, and gingerly headbutt their backdoor until Camila came running.

It took a few minutes for Camilia to cut through the heavy reinforced cord, but that gave Luz time to fill her in on what happened. Luz chose to stay quiet for the time being about her worries that her Mami might be better without her, but Camila seemed too angry to notice any awkwardness. "Cómo se atreve ese imbécil delirante a tocar a mi hija. Cuando lo encuentre ya no va a tener que preocuparse por sus dientes, porque se los voy a tumbar a todos con la chancla, o mi nombre no es Camila Carmon Noceda. (How dare that delusional moron touch my daughter. When I find him he's not going to have to worry about his teeth anymore, cuz I'm going to knock them all out with la chancla, or my name isn't Camila Carmon Noceda.)," Camila growled, reminding Luz that under her kind exterior they weren't all that different, and making her smile.

"I'm sorry I ran off Mami. It's just… I've learned and grown so much since I went to the Isles. I'm not that screw-up anymore, and I wanted to prove it. If I'm being honest, I have no idea if I could have helped earlier, but the fact that you didn't even let me try… It made me feel like a burden, and I promised myself I'd never let that happen again. Mami… maybe I should leave. You have friends, a job, and a life. You don't need me… you're better without me. Without me to get in the way you can finally move on, and start over. You'll know that I'm safe and loved, and best of all I won't be able to mess it up for you again. You deserve to be loved, and people accept you here," stated Luz as she looked away while fighting back tears.

Camila looked stunned, heart broken, and slightly angry, but with a gentle hand Camila nudged Luz's chin until they were looking eye to eye again, "Mija, I… oh, god. What have I done? Luz, is that really how you feel? Have I failed you that bad?" Camila started to tear up, "Luz, you are and always will be the most important thing in my life. I love you, my little light, and I'm sorry if you ever felt that wasn't the case. After your father passed I promised myself that I would be there for you, but it looks like I've messed that up too."

"Mami…" Luz tried to comfort her Mom, but that only made Camila feel worse.

Camila shrank back as she felt all of her mistakes grow heavy on her shoulders, "I was a terrible mother. How could I allow myself to be blinded by my work? How did I overlook all the signs that you were struggling? You were being abused at school and I never suspected. It took me four days to realize you were missing… FOUR DAYS. What kind of mother doesn't even notice her baby girl is missing?"

It was Luz's turn to look stunned, but then she started to laugh despite her tears, "It's ok Mami. We both messed up, but I guess that just proves how similar we are. You never failed me Mami. Papi might have been my hero, but you inspired me to keep moving. When I fell apart after his funeral, you were there for me, and reminded me that, though my feelings were valid, I couldn't allow them to hold me back. Papi would have wanted us to keep moving forward. When times got rough you just dug your heels, and fought harder. Half the reason I had so much trouble at school was because I was weird, but the other half was because I refused to let others be bullied. Yes, you working so many hours was rough, but you did it so we could eat and live. I can't blame you for that. We both got beat down, but it never broke us, and that's what makes us Noceda's."

Camila smiled at Luz through her tears, "You really grew up while you were on the Isles didn't you? Luz, I'm so sorry I tried to send you away. I never wanted you to change, but… I know what it's like to be 'weird' and feel so alone. I just wanted you to have friends, and learn how to channel your uniqueness a bit better. I didn't want you to have to go through what I did, but as a result I made you feel like there was something wrong with you. I'm just a disappointment."

Luz wrapped Camila in a hug, "No you're not, but I know me saying it won't make you believe it. When I got to the Isles, I constantly felt like I was disappointing Eda, but eventually she sat me down, and we talked it out. Mami, I know how it feels to believe that you're disappointing the people you care about, and Eda is still working with me to help me break that mindset, but maybe we can work on it together. I think we just need to be willing to hear each other again, and not just listen. No more lies, or secrets."

Camila hugged Luz back as she whispered, "Ya. I like that idea." Pulling away a bit Camila looked Luz in the eye, "I might not like how it happened, but clearly the Isles have helped you. I don't trust that bruja, but despite her faults she appears to be able to be there for you in a way that I can't. I hate it. It makes me feel sick to admit it, but it's true. If living in that place is what makes you happy, then I will just have to get used to that. Your happiness will always be my first priority along with making sure you're safe. There are still some things that I need to check on before I can give my full consent, but for tonight why don't we go sit on the couch, and watch some of those documentaries we enjoy? While you were gone they released a five part miniseries on various large reptiles, and how they might have inspired the myths of the surrounding cultures. What do you say?"

Luz's eyes lit up in glee, "That sounds amazing. Maybe I can share some of the things I've learned while we're at it. First things first though… gotta make some spicy popcorn if we are going to do this right." They both chuckled, and soon they were cuddled up on the couch with a big bowl of spicy popcorn as they dove into their show. For the first time in years, both Noceda's felt light and free of their concerns, and enjoyed spending time with each other without a care.

Luz was awoken by the smell of smoke, and for a moment she was worried they might have forgotten to turn something off, but then she saw the flames. Luz started frantically shaking Camila, but she seemed dizzy and out of it as she coughed, and tried to look around. Luz guided her to the door, but it wouldn't budge. After checking the back door they found it blocked as well. With no other choice Luz practically dragged Camila through the smoke and fire as they made their way up the stairs. Thankfully Luz had already packed up her most prized possessions in preparation for eventually going back to the Isles.

As they made their way to Camila's room so they could escape out her windows, since they faced the woods, Luz was sure to grab the picture off of Camila's nightstand. Casting an invisibility spell over the both of them, Luz blasted out the glass, and after using her earth rune for a quick strength boost, Luz scooped up her mother, and jumped out the window landing amongst the trees. Once they were out they started heading for the cabin with bell in hand.

When the firefighters and paramedics arrived at the Noceda house, they found it already a lost cause. While the inferno made them sad, it was the impromptu barricades blocking the doors that gave them the most pause… along with the singed and crazed man appearing to laugh and celebrate as the house went up in flames. Once they managed to get the fire out, the questions began, but that proved a short process as all the clearly insane man would say was crazed babbling about how he'd 'killed the demon' or small laughs about 'how she liked being burned'. Nobody took anything he said seriously, and it was quickly determined that he had lost his mind. He didn't help himself when he tried to convince them by showing off his 'demon hunting' gear or the very illegal surveillance footage he had. Suffice it to say, Jacob Hopkins was going to spend a while in jail for arson, and maybe even longer if he was telling the truth that there had been people inside.

By the time everything was settled, they knew a few things for sure. Ms. Noceda had been inside with someone else when the fire started, but no bodies were found. Sadly there wasn't much that could be salvaged after the fire, and despite their best efforts they found no evidence that they escaped. Once more the town mourned as news spread that everyone's favorite vet and the wife of a hero had been murdered, and the rage that came Mr. Hopkins' way from it was staggering. Murdering the widow of a hero firefighter in such a way only made it seem more heartless. While some found his footage to be odd, Hopkins insistence that there were demons trying to steal peoples teeth soon turned even them against him. With the footage written off as fake, the whole incident got choked up to a psychotic break, and Hopkins was charged for arson, murder, and a number of other charges. The trial was quick, and definitive. Hopkins was going away for the rest of his life.

Author Notes: Kind of an awkward place to cut at, but after finishing this chapter and the next one this is the best place for it given what comes next. Next chapter will pick up immediately after, but don't worry, nobody's going to end up dead. This chapter was a rollercoaster from start to finish so I hope you enjoyed it.

Camila's trip to 'acceptance' isn't over, but it's all a work in progress. Luz showing up in a young Eda glamor was one of my better ideas I think, but it was a lot of symbolism too. So for the record giving Luz a witch heart is something that would fly in other Au's, but for this one it wouldn't. I'll get into why in a future chapter, but rest assured I already thought of that.

Fun fact: on the isles in the case of adoption of older children an age limit of 16 is put in place for the child's well being since it is believed that by that age they can make decisions for themselves. In no way does it mean that Eda would lose 'custody' of Luz at that point, but it would mean that Luz would have a lot more say then Ed/Em do despite being the same age comparatively. It's kind of an auto-emancipation clause. Also as Luz's birth mom, despite her human status, Camila retains more rights than Eda, and that is true for all 'birthing' parents. The one who carries is rewarded thus, and yes I do mean 'birthing' even in heterosexual couples on the Isles the man can still end up being the 'birther' if they so choose, and unless abuse is involved. The child is the only one who can force a shift on 'primary guardianship'.

Spoilers, yes at some point Camila will look into her rights on the Isles, but doing a deep dive into the nitty gritty of legalese would be boring. If people really want a 50k chapter of Boiling Isles law… I might be able to swing that, but try reading a legal textbook first. That chapter will be like sand… so dry.

I will not discuss the blatant puppy death. I hated doing it, but I tried to get past it as quickly as possible. I hate it was needed, but it was. Also the park scene is important because it shows that there is some depth to the 'mean humans'. They aren't just one dimensional villains, they're just sucky and hateful, but not without some redeeming qualities. Everyone is complex. Also giving Luz a scene to solidify that the words that used to hurt her so much no longer can is pure catharsis, and the cabin scene was doubly so.

Once again it didn't occur to me what I had done until I did it, but 'killing' a firefighter's widow in a fire is next level evil, and is it bad that I'm proud of myself… maybe I should see someone… problems for later. In the meantime, shine on beautiful readers. Shine on.