Escape of the Palisman
That night...
Bijou slowly opened her bedroom door, looking around the hall. She entered the hall on tiptoe, still dressed in her pajamas. If she changed into her regular clothes, she'd be asked a few questions if anyone saw her. She pressed her back against the door, quietly closing it. She couldn't believe she was doing this to herself...
She jerked her head out of it. "Okay, Bijou, just grab it and go..."
The girl encouraged herself for two reasons: one, she knew she'd be late for her lesson if she didn't do this. And number two... because she was stealing Eda's staff without Eda's knowledge.
She slowly opened the door to the woman's room, guiding herself in with her phone flashlight. She then noticed the staff leaning against the wall beside her. When the girl reached out to touch it, Eda snorted.
"Ahh, Miss Jenkinmeyer...you look so bad without your teeth..." she murmured in her sleep, and Bijou raised an eyebrow without saying anything. She contacted the staff once more.
"Hold on!"
The girl flinched as she noticed Eda sitting up with her eyes closed. In her sleep, Eda reached out and ate a box of voles nearby. "Ahh...much better."
Bijou exhaled a sigh of relief and exited the room with the staff. She returned to her room, entering quietly. She walked up to the window and opened it. Owlbert woke up and hooted at her.
"Hey, Owlbert...you're not gonna tell Eda about this, are you? I swear I'll be super careful."
He locked his gaze on her, and she sighed slightly. "I'll include you in one of my fashion sketches and let you beat me in Hexes Hold 'Em~!"
He agreed as the girl climbed onto the staff. She then flew out the window, thankfully not disturbing anyone.
As he waited for the girl, the Golden Guard rubbed his chin. He had already planned the lesson, but he had no idea how it would play out. After all, he was out here to teach a human magic, with the risk of being discovered. He couldn't believe he'd agreed to this...but he was kind of looking forward to it. Bijou appeared in front of him, landing.
"Okay, Golden Guard, what should we learn first?" she asked, dusting herself off. He snickered as he looked her up and down.
"What's with the pajamas?"
"I couldn't change because otherwise people would question me!" she explained to him.
"So, to get into Hexside, you need to learn two spells and basic runes." He paused, staring at her. "The principal already saw you doing the light and fire spells so I guess you need to learn more from your bangle."
"Yeah but I just read more about the bangle and turns out that each of the gems represent an element. I also considered whether I could use glyphs in case something bad happened to my bangle."
"Hmm..." mused the Golden Guard as he examined the bangle. "Then it seems you came to me at the right time. We'll focus on oral lessons first before we go on to the physical part, which will be for our next session tomorrow."
Bijou nodded in agreement as he started telling her about different elements.
Another day had passed in the Boiling Isles. The Slayground was where Luz, Eda, Bijou, and Hazel were. They were seated on a bench, watching King play. Luz couldn't help but be concerned about him.
"What if he gets hurt? What if the kids are mean to him?" she worried, before exclaiming, "My parental instincts are freaking out, man."
"Relax, Luz. I'm sure King is fine," Bijou assured her.
"Yeah, his Highness can take care of himself," Hazel said.
"They're right. He's fine. Look at him," Eda continued.
They notice King attempting to climb onto a slide. "It does look like he's having fun."
Luz cooed, "Aw. I wonder what cute little game he's playing."
"Should we tell him not to go up the ramp?" asked Bijou.
"Nah, just let him have his fun," Hazel said.
"Yes! Yes! This is a throne fit for a tyrant!" he exclaimed, pointing down to the other children. "Bow to me, you snotty underlings! Bow!"
Two children exchanged glances.
"Okay!" One of them bowed backwards, while the other performed a handstand while sticking out his tongue.
"Yes. Appease your master," King said, clicking his claws together.
Luz cast a glance down at Bijou, who was working on her homework for her next Golden Guard lesson. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately, and she had no idea why.
"Hey, I noticed you've been drawing a lot of lines and circles lately," Luz said abruptly to Bijou, who flinched. "What are you doing?"
"Um...um..." She chuckled nervously as she darted her eyes around. "Learning how to draw...can't exactly write think of good fashion designs if I don't draw the notes, can I?"
"But I haven't seen you draw any new designs in a few weeks, so why start now?" the girl wondered.
"She's got a point, kid," Eda agreed, and Bijou slid down a little more.
"What's the deal with the third degree? Am I not allowed to learn new skills?" she defended herself.
"That's not what they meant," Hazel pointed out.
"This isn't for standing, it's for sliding," a boy with snot dripping from his nose said, standing behind King. "You try."
He pushed King, who wobbled. He fell down the slide and landed on the ground.
"Reveal your secrets!" Luz exclaimed to her friend. Fortunately, Bijou didn't have to respond because King charged up to the trio.
"Edaaaaaaa, that monster stole my throne!" King wailed, clutching Luz's legs.
Bijou exhaled a sigh of relief. If she revealed the true reason, Luz would never let her forget it. Not to mention that she and the others would begin asking questions that she was unable to answer. Last night, she and the Golden Guard agreed on several things: they would meet at midnight at the lake every night, she would have to practice her spells before each lesson, and everything about their meetings would be kept secret. And everything they said was crucial. She couldn't say anything about him, and he couldn't say anything about her (at least not to anyone other than the Emperor).
It wasn't that she wanted to keep this arrangement hidden, but it was the only way it could work. Eda would most likely stop her if word got out, and...no one would understand. This is the Golden Guard to which she was referring.
"You mean the baby?" teased Eda.
"No, the usurper," King said, pointing to the boy on a rocking horse. "I want you to go over there and blow him up. Kaboom!"
"Kaboom!" exclaimed the boy, waving his hands in the air.
"Easy there, King. That kid is only playing. He's not gonna hurt a fly," Bijou said.
"Yeah, and mind you, that kid has parents. That's just asking for trouble." Hazel added in.
"Yeah, I agree with Bij and Hazel for once: I'm not using Owlbert to blow up a five-year-old," Eda said as she unscrewed him from her staff.
"He's got better things to do, like this," she said as she scratched beneath his beak, eliciting a happy hoot.
"Aw, what a sweetie," Luz exclaimed. "How did you get him?"
"Get? I made Owlbert from the branch of an ancient tree," she explained, and he hopped into her arms. "Ah, he's my Palisman, and we're bonded for life."
She scratched him as he flew onto her shoulder. "I'd annihilate anyone who'd hurt him."
"Bijou, use your powers to take out the Usurper!" King demanded, turning to face her.
"I can't, King," Bijou said, shaking her head, "I'm not going to use my powers to harm an innocent child."
"Right-hand beast?" the King inquired, turning to face the almiraj.
"I'm sorry, your majesty, but I have to agree with her on this one," Hazel said as he hopped on Bijou's shoulder.
"Fine! Don't help," King said, glaring at her. "Revenge will taste even sweeter if they fall by my hand alone," he laughed evilly as the boy approached and pushed him to the ground.
"Tag, you're it," he laughed as he ran away.
"Oh, man. Here we go," Eda chuckled. "King's squeak of rage."
King stomped his feet and let out a high-pitched squeal as he stood up. Eda laughed as Bijou giggled with delight. "He's like a little teakettle."
"Talk about being short-tempered and adorable," Bijou commented, relieved that the spotlight was no longer on her. All the while, Hazel nodded in agreement.
Luz turned to face Owlbert, who had lifted his foot. She discovered a hole on the sole of his foot.
"Hey, what's that?"
"That's his interlock," Eda said, pointing to it. "So he only fits under my staff. Every Palisman has one."
She looked at the girls and suddenly the two girls vanished. "Luz? Bijou? Hazel?"
She stood up because she was suddenly alone, standing up because she was in a dimly lit area. The bench she was sitting on had vanished. "Hello?!"
"Eda!" the girls yelled, and she shook her head.
"Guys?!"
"Eda! Eda, wake up!" Luz yelled as she, Bijou, and Hazel loomed over her. She opened her eyes to find herself on the bench.
"Are you all right?" she inquired as the two assisted her in getting up.
"What ?" she asked, perplexed.
"You suddenly fainted, Eda," Hazel replied, concerned. This caused her to realize what was going on.
"Oh, no. The curse. We have to get home now," she said, picking up her broken staff.
"King, we have to go," Luz said as they began to walk away.
"Five more minutes, please," he said to the snotty kid.
"Now!" Bijou exclaimed emphatically.
"Ah, man," he said angrily, pointing at the boy. "This isn't over!"
"Okay, let's play again soon," he said, stepping forward for a hug.
"No, no. Keep those sticky hands away!" King was hugged anyway, much to his chagrin. "No. He's touching me. Ah!"
The group returned home, with Eda throwing her staff near the couch. She flopped onto it, sighing with exhaustion.
"I'll go get your elixir," Luz said.
"Don't worry about it," Eda said dismissively. "I'll get it myself in a bit."
Bijou, Hazel, and Luz exchanged quick glances.
"No offense, but the last time you needed your elixir, you got obsessed with Hexes Hold 'Em," Bijou chimed in. "And then there was the whole Tibbles thing."
"We don't wanna let you risk going through that again," Hazel added in.
"Do you need us to stay at home and take care of you?" Luz inquired, then exclaimed. "We could put King and Hazel in little doctor outfits~!"
She smiled at King, who looked up in surprise. He was planning his retaliation.
"No one wants to see that."
"We do," Luz murmured longingly, Bijou sympathetically patting her back.
"Look, I know how to take care of myself," Eda said, sitting up a little. "I've had this curse longer than both of you have been alive."
"So, how'd you get it?" Luz inquired.
"Yeah, you've never explained how this all started," Bijou said, raising her brow. "Did you touch a forbidden artifact? Was it cast on you by someone else?"
"Ugh, I don't know," Eda said, pressing her face into the couch.
"Don't you at least remember?" Hazel asked.
"Somebody gave it to me. I don't know and I don't care, because I'm fine, all right?" She then sat up fully. "Anyway, don't you guys have plans with Alice, Tweedledum, and Twerpledee?"
She wasn't particularly interested in learning their names. As Owlbert flew over with her staff, she extended her hand.
"Well, Willow, Bij, Jackie, Gus, and I are going to the Grudgby game between Hexside and Glandus High," Luz remembered, smiling.
"Since when are you into sports?" Eda exclaimed, screwing Owlbert back into the staff. Luz leaned in close, her eyes wide.
"Since I found something called 'Hexside pride,'" she exclaimed, groaning. "Argh, to think that Glandus, whoever they are, would dare face us."
"I just wanted to watch the action in the game," Bijou chimed in. "Besides, somebody's gotta supervise my besties. So I guess you could say I'm their chaperone for the event."
"But if you need us to stay-"
"Gross," Eda said as she stood up. "Sympathy. Go. Have fun at sport," she said, motioning to the door.
"Hooray! Hooray for sport!" exclaimed Luz as she dashed away. Bijou chuckled and grabbed her notebook, following her.
"See you later, Hazel," said Bijou.
"Bye, Bij. Let me know how it goes," Hazel replied.
"Hugs and kisses, King," Luz said, kissing his cheek.
As she passed, Bijou patted him on the head.
"Don't spend all night plotting revenge," Luz reminded him.
"That drooly-faced heathen will know my wrath!" he retorted.
"There's no need to exact revenge on a small child, you know!" exclaimed Bijou.
"Yes, there is!" he argued, and she shrugged as she shut the door.
Luz and Bijou were on their way to Hexside, the former trying to find a good cheer. Bijou was still reading and drawing, and she was definitely getting better. She hoped, however, that they'd get to the actual spell soon. She'd drawn all kinds of lines with various techniques (she looked them up), and she was quickly running out of paper.
"Hexside is gonna wreck your side. Eh, no. Hexside is the best side on the west side." Bijou looked up as she gasped at the sight in front of her. She flinched when she saw their 'bus,' but it was actually a viking-style ship with a dragon head. When it tried to bite them, they moved around it, wincing slightly. They then encountered Willow, Jackie, and Gus.
"Ah, friends!"
Willow had a hat on, Jackie a sash, and Gus a jacket, in that order. Each of these is yellow with the word 'Hexside' written in blue.
"Game day roar!" "Go Hexside!" Gus and Jackie yelled, while Luz, Bijou, and Willow whooped.
"Happy game day, fellow... are we Hexidians? Hexies? Hexoleos?"
"Actually, most people call us winners," Willow corrected, fist clenched and eyes narrowed.
"Grudgby games are the best," Gus said with a smile. "The players go through these exciting trials, and the audience gets to wave flags. Look, I practiced."
He held up two flags and doing a little dance. Luz then examined her clothing; neither she nor Bijou were appropriately attired for the occasion.
"Is it weird that I'm not wearing anything Hexside?"
"Now that you mention it, it's even odder that you're wearing purple and white, because those colors represent Glandus," Jackie observed as they looked at the poster.
Glandus' school colors were indeed purple and white, which didn't help Luz. The matching colors made Bijou cringe.
"Yeah, that's...that's pretty awkward, not gonna lie."
Then a giant passed by.
"Get ready to be creamed, Glandus nerd!" he said as he pressed his hand against Luz's head.
"Hey! I'm a Hexside nerd," Luz said, turning back to the two. "I need to change out of this shirt; where can I get a Hexside one?"
She looked around to see if anyone was selling any. "Oh, Bijou needs one too, for school spirit."
"I know," Gus said. "There's a lost and found box in the cafeteria.
"Ah, the lost and found, where mouthguards retire," Luz smiled. "Come on, Bij."
"Right behind you, Luz," replied Bijou.
They entered Hexside and proceeded to the cafeteria. They come across a chest with a sign on the wall that says Lost & Found. They opened it and discovered some Hexside clothing.
"Yes!" Luz exclaimed as she pulled out a hat.
"Oh yeah. These will do nicely," Bijou said, pulling out a T-shirt and a foam finger.
Bijou was the first one out the door, wearing the Hexside t-shirt and the foam finger on his right hand. Luz appeared next, wearing a Hexside T-Shirt and a novelty drinking hat and holding pom poms.
"Go, Hexside!" exclaimed the two girls as Luz leapt and split, causing a crack.
"Well, I never did that before," Luz admitted before noticing the bus had vanished. "Uh, where is everyone?"
They look up to see the bus taking off.
"Hexside rules!" yelled the colossal student.
"No no no no!" yelled Bijou as she and Luz dashed down the stairs.
"Come back!" Luz exclaimed, waving.
They notice that Jackie, Gus, and Willow have also been abandoned.
"Why didn't you guys board the bus?" Bijou inquired.
Willow responded, "We weren't going to leave you guys behind."
"I was," Gus stated.
"Gus," Willow scolded, elbowing him.
"Thanks for that, you guys. Now the only question is: how are we going to get to Glandus High now?" Bijou asked.
Luz inquired, "Can we walk to Glandus?"
"We'd never make it in time, because Glandus is all the way out in the middle of the island," Gus said, waving his flag.
"Ugh," Luz sighed, rolling her eyes. "Typical Glandus."
"My mom and dad are busy with important stuff and Nick is already there hours agol; he has his flying staff," Jackie went on to say.
"My parents are also working; otherwise, I'd see if they could give us a ride on their staff," Willow added, sparking an idea in Luz.
"A staff...because staffs fly! Of course. I can get us a staff."
"You can?" Gus inquired. "Yes! Come on."
"Hold your horses, Luz," Bijou said as she raised her hands. "Please don't tell me you're thinking what I'm thinking."
"I am thinking what you're thinking," she said before grabbing Bijou's and Willow's hands and dragging them away. Jackie ran after them and Gus danced with his flags as he followed suit.
"Eda, great news!" King exclaimed as he entered her bedroom. "I came up with the perfect way to avenge that usurper," he revealed with a question mark. "Now, don't be put off by the complicated premise. I'll break it down for you in small pieces. Huh?"
He blinked in surprise to see Owl Beast Eda! He yelped and fell to the ground in fear as she snarled.
"Owl beast! Stay back!"
She crept closer, and he braced himself before she backed away.
"Did you just...listen to me?" he asked, surprised, and she blinked.
"Uh, come here. Sit," he said, and she did as he said.
What really stood out was that her right eye wasn't completely black, indicating that she hadn't succumbed to the curse yet. But she was still behaving like an animal and not like Eda.
"Oh, this is an interesting development; Eda's only partially transformed, which means she's totally suggestible," he chuckled as he came up with an idea. "Yes. Yes. I think this will do nicely! Forget fire. I've got a greater force to unleash."
He then raised his finger to Eda.
"You! You're going to help me regain my throne. I mean, if that's okay with you, right?" In response, she grunted. "I'll take that strange grumble as a yes!"
He dashed up to her table, where a bottle of elixir sat.
"I'm just gonna grab a little bottle of elixir in case you go rogue on me," he dragged a bag of empty elixirs, putting the only one left in the bag. "Now, to destiny's battle. The playground!"
Meanwhile, the group returned to the Owl House.
"Wait here, guys," Luz instructed.
"This won't take long," added Bijou. They entered the house. Hazel was reading a book when he noticed them.
"Oh hey there, guys," he said. "Back so soon?"
"Well, the bus took off without us," Bijou said.
"So, we're asking Eda if she can borrow her staff," Luz said. "Do you know where she is?"
"She's upstairs in her room," she said. "King's also there, too."
"Thanks, Hazel," Bijou said as she and Luz walked upstairs.
"King, are you home?" Luz inquired.
"What?" he exclaimed, quickly removing the bag.
"Sit. Stay," He told them as they approached. He slammed the doors shut behind him.
"Is Eda up?"
"Who? Oh!" He chuckled nervously; if they saw Eda now, they'd give her the elixir, which he couldn't have right now. "That Eda. No, no. She is out like a light."
Behind the closed door, there was a roar.
"Was that her?" inquired Bijou.
"Yep. Oh, man. Can she snore."
"Okay?" Bijou asked, her brow furrowed. She had never heard Eda snore like that before, but she had heard Eda snore before, so she wasn't going to question it.
"Oh, no. I wanted to ask if we could borrow her staff, but I know she needs her rest." She said.
"And you know that if Eda was asked, she'd kill us just for thinking about it," Bijou said, pointing down at her. "The answer is no."
"It's only for one day! And she'll probably just be sleeping the whole time," Luz pleaded. "I really wanna go to the game."
"Please," Luz said, clasping her hands.
"Luz-"
"Oh, I'm sure it's fine," King said as he took the staff and handed it over. "It's fine. Just take it." "I-I can't. Not without Eda's permission," Luz stuttered. They heard a screech and turned to face the door.
"Well, there's your permission. Off you guys go," King encouraged them.
"I really owe Jackie, Gus, and Willow one," Luz said, returning her gaze to the staff. "And it's just for the afternoon. I'm sure Eda wouldn't mind."
"Not our generous, kindhearted Eda. Big heart on her," King said, and Bijou gave Luz a thoughtful look before shrugging.
"Well...I guess if it's okay with Eda, then I guess we can take it." "We'll be back soon," the two said as they dashed down the hall.
"Close call," King declared aloud.
"What?" Luz asked, perplexed, as they weren't that far away. "Nothing!"
"Oh, okay," the two said as they walked away, Bijou waving to King.
"Bye, King. And make sure Eda took her elixir!"
"Close call," he thought to himself as he opened the door to Eda's room. "And now revenge. Right, Owl Eda?"
She was just chewing on a chair.
"I'm feeling confident about this plan!"
The two humans then proceeded downstairs.
"I see you've got the staff," said the almiraj.
"Yep. And now we can go to the Grudgby game," said Luz.
"Let's go meet up with Willow, Jackie, and Gus," Bijou suggested.
"Wait. I'm coming too," Hazel said as he hopped onto her shoulder.
"Really?" Bijou inquired. "Hey, it beats being in the Owl House all day, and I'd like to see the game as well," the almiraj responded.
"I suppose we can let you join," Bijou explained.
"Yeah. The more the merrier," Luz added.
Luz and Bijou opened the door, the former beaming.
"To Glandus High!" She smacked Owlbert into the Owl House by accident. She then lowered him again.
"Oh, sorry, Owlbert. It's okay. We're just on our way to help some friends," she said, smiling at Jackie, Willow, and Gus, who were in awe of the staff.
"Ooh."
"Who's ready to board the Air Luz?" Luz inquired. They were all hired as members of the staff. Hazel remained perched on Bijou's shoulder.
"Look at all this sitting space," Jackie said.
Willow commented, "Feel that power-to-weight ratio."
Gus said as he waved some flags, "Boys, prepare to fly."
"Nest stop, Glandus High. Let's go," Luz said as the staff float up in the air. "Step on it, Owlbert."
She slapped the staff, causing Owlbert to fly away, surprising everyone.
They screamed as they flew over the trees, colliding with some of them. Then they collided with a larger one, landing on the staff. Jackie, Gus, and Willow landed on some bushes, while a branch caught Luz, ripping off her Hexside sweater and causing her to fall to the ground. Bijou and Hazel landed next to Luz, and Owlbert landed on his head, chipping away at some of his hair. In pain, he hooted a little. Luz groaned and rubbed the side of her head as she stood up.
"Is everyone okay?" she asked, looking up ahead. "Huh?"
Bijou sat up as Owlbert looked up at her. She gasped when she saw his injury, and he flew away after unscrewing himself from the staff.
"Oh no. No, no, no. Owlbert, come back!" Luz exclaimed, but he vanished into the woods. They immediately pursued him.
"Owlbert!"
"He's heading for that cave," Hazel pointed to where the owl palisman was going.
They heard him hooting but came to a halt when they saw where it led. A dark section of the forest stood in front of them.
"Man, humans can run," Gus exclaimed out loud. "Must be their dorsal fins."
"No..." Jackie replied, shaking her head.
"He went through those trees," Luz said, pointing ahead. "Come on."
She was about to move forward when Willow grabbed her arm.
"We have to be careful! It's really easy to get lost in this part of the forest."
"But we can't just leave him there!" Bijou exclaimed, gesticulating up ahead.
"She's right, Willow; this is Eda's palisman," Luz explained. "She'll kill me and Bij if we don't get it back. Let's go."
It became increasingly dark as they entered. A lot of crackling could be heard beneath them, and they all seemed a little uneasy.
"Wow! I keep stepping on a lot of crunchy twigs," Willow said.
"Uh, that sounds more like bones, Willow," Hazel pointed out.
"Not if I never look down!" Willow replied, looking up at the ceiling.
Then something flew past them, and they yelped.
"This isn't the kind of forest I'm used to," Luz said, poking the staff at some moss above their heads.
"That's because this isn't a forest," Willow explained as three bat babies appeared. "It's a nest!"
Hazel exclaimed, "I know this place."
"Wait a minute!" Bijou exclaimed.
"Hey, we remember you. You're the Bat Queen's babies."
When the babies see Hazel, they start screeching and hugging him.
"Hey, guys. It's good to see you, too," he replied.
"Wow, they must adore Hazel," Luz remarked.
"Well, he did help babysit them back in the Owl House," Bijou chuckled.
"Wait," Gus backed away in fear. "The Bat Queen?"
"There's no way I'm facing her," Jackie said.
"Yeah, I think I'd rather take my chances with Eda," Willow said, joining them.
"No, it's okay," Bijou reassured them. "Eda and the Bat Queen know each other."
Luz knelt in front the babies. "We're looking for a little owl and-"
She looked up and saw Owlbert.
"There he is!"
But he didn't seem too pleased to see her as he backed away into the darkness.
"Owlbert, thank goodness you're okay. Come here, buddy. Time to go home."
The Bat Queen then flew in front of Owlbert, emerging from the shadows. As she approached, they all gasped.
"Hello, small humans."
Back at the slayground, the kids were having fun when a large shadow loomed over one of them.
"Ahem." She looked up and saw King with Owl Beast Eda.
"Listen carefully!" he exclaimed, wearing cardboard armor and holding a flag with his face on it. "You all have two choices. Grovel or-"
Owl Eda interrupted him with a growl, and the children screamed and ran away.
"A monster!"
"Good enough," Owl Eda said as she entered the slayground, the kids all terrified. "Run! Despair!"
He approached the slide and saw the snot-nosed kid. He was wailing in terror and hyperventilating. "Your time has ended! Mine begins!"
He slid down the slide, crying, and ran away.
"Not so tough now, you spongy hatchlings; I will eat you!"
Owl Eda bowed down to allow King to jump off, then climbed up the slide.
"All who stood in my way are gone. I declare myself despotic ruler of this land! Nothing can stop the almighty-"
Owl Eda was eating the slide when he heard a loud chomp and looked down.
"Hey, whoa, whoa, no eating the throne!" he warned, and she returned her gaze to it. "No..."
He glared at her, but she still did it. "Stop that!"
The Bat Queen hissed when she saw them, unlike the last time she was calm and collected.
"How are things, Bat Queen?" Hazel inquired casually.
"Fine. Just talking about my babies and palismans," the Bat Queen replied. "You?"
"Oh, just getting into all kinds of adventures. Nothing special," the almiraj said.
"It's the-" Willow began.
"Bat Queen. We know," Luz cut Willow off.
"We kinda babysat her kids once."
"Well, it was more Eda and King, because we went off to do...other stuff," Bijou said, averting her gaze from the library incident.
"Don't worry. I've got this," Luz said, jerking a thumb to herself.
"Hiya, BQ! My, your hair is looking greasy. And your kids, they're as hideous as ever."
"...You know, that could've gone worse," Gus said with approval, but the Bat Queen growled, unimpressed.
"Heh. So, Owlbert ran away, and I need to get him back. I'm just gonna grab him, and we'll be on our way," Luz stepped forward to grab the palisman, only for the Bat Queen to stop her with her foot.
"It's very serious to be careless with a staff; I protect him," she said, narrowing her eyes at both Luz and Bijou.
"And thank you for that, but he belongs to Eda the Owl Lady," Luz said nervously as she moved her foot away. "And you owe her a favor, remember?"
"That's right, for taking care of your kids?" Bijou inquired.
"Owl Lady is careless. Her staff was stolen by humans who steal, hurt, and frighten," The Bat Queen argued back.
This perplexed Luz, Bijou, and Hazel.
"He told me all!" Her eyes glowed yellow, and Owlbert's did as well.
"We never meant to hurt you, Owlbert; please trust us," Luz bowed to him.
"We are truly sorry," Bijou said quietly. "I should've flown the staff, or better yet, not even considered taking you when we shouldn't have."
She gave Luz a stern look for a moment. Owlbert replied by flying on top of the Bat Queen's head, their eyes glowing brightly once more.
"I'm guessing that he doesn't trust us anymore," said Hazel.
"He is right. Trust must be earned..." She flew to a stump, surrounded by treasure. "Through trials!"
As she yelled that, flames engulfed her.
"Trials?" Gus excitedly waved his flags.
"Should have seen that one coming," Jackie gulped nervously.
"Guys," Willow said as she took a step forward, "the Bat Queen is well-known for her impossible trials. I've never heard of anyone beating her."
"When I was living in my burrow near the Bat Queen's lair, I've seen her give a lot of trials to other people. Most of them were really tough and many of those who accepted them have failed," Hazel went on to say.
"But we have to get Owlbert back," Luz said.
"We don't have much of a choice," Bijou added, sighing. "We have to at least try."
"We accept your challenge," Luz said confidently, clutching the staff.
"And we'll be right there with you," Willow said, looking over at Gus.
"You might need all the help you can get right now," Jackie added.
"Let the flags raise you up!" Gus exclaimed, and the Bat Queen fisted. Webbing encircled the three, encasing them. Even Hazel is also caught in his own.
"Huh?"
"Hey!"
"What?!"
Hazel inquired, "Bat Queen, what are you doing?"
"I am very sorry, Hazel, but no helpsies."
Bijou scowled at the Bat Queen.
"Now, let the trials begin. Milk the spider demon."
Luz and Bijou were given buckets as the spider demon approached...and it literally had an udder.
"Ugh," Luz exclaimed, as did Bijou.
They looked up at Owlbert and remembered why they were doing it. Bijou inhaled deeply.
"Okay, it's just like milking a real cow...you can do this, Bijou," she encouraged herself.
"All right. Come here, pal. Let's do this," Luz said, lunging forward, but the spider jumped away. "If you run, you'll just make this harder for yourself."
Once that was accomplished, the first flame was extinguished—at some point.
"Remove bees' nest."
Luz and Bijou climbed a tree to find a bee's nest. The bee's nest transforms into a giant before Luz can poke it with her staff. Luz and Bijou were startled and let go of the tree. As the bee chased them, Bijou summoned her light shield to protect them from the bee's sting.
"Thanks, Bij," Luz replied.
"No problem. Remind me to never mess with bees again," she answered.
"Come on," Gus said, attempting to free himself with the flags. "Almost got it."
He eventually managed to free himself.
"I am free, Bat Queen! You will rue the day you tried to trap-"
She had just encased him in webbing once more, this time dangling him from the ceiling.
"Ah..."
After the trial, the second flame went out.
"Give babies a bath!"
The babies were probably the most painful thing, even more so than the first two because they kept fighting the two. Luz grumbled as she scrubbed at one of them.
"Quinton was never this feisty when I bathed him," Bijou muttered quietly.
"You got this, guys!" Hazel exclaimed, adding, "Oh, I think you missed a spot!"
"Go, Luz! Go, Bijou!" Willow exclaimed.
"You can do it!" Jackie called out, pumping her fists.
"Guys, we're here if you need us," Gus said.
"Yeah, cut us loose so we can find Eda," Willow added.
"No! We were selfish and hurt Owlbert; we need to do this alone so he knows we care," Luz said as she poured water over the babies. They turned around to reveal that they were spotless, with even rosy cheeks.
"Aww," Luz said to them.
"Now that's a good bath," Bijou said, smiling down at them. They shook themselves dry, and the cuteness faded as they screeched. The two girls were taken aback by them.
Back at the slayground...
"No, no. Bad Eda!" King continued to ignore Owl Eda as he ate the slayground. "You are my beast, and I control you. Hey!"
He then kicked her, infuriating the beast as she growled at him. In fear, he backed away.
"What was I thinking? I'm such an a-"
His back hit the bag, and he remembered the elixir. He grasped it in his hands.
"Genius!"
He threw the bottle into Owl Eda's mouth after she screeched at him. She gulped it down, spitting out the cap.
"Great. Now, change back to Eda."
But that didn't happen as she growled at him again.
"Any time now. Just magically transform."
She snarled and raised an arm.
"Aw, nuts," He slid out of his armor, and she slashed the cardboard in half with her sharp claws. He dashed down the net, only to have his foot caught in it. When he saw Eda in front of him, he fell. Squawking was heard before she could do anything...
It came from animal control. Not only that, but the demon hunters' leader was present.
"Ugh, this is so embarrassing," a female hunter sneered as they wore vests over their robes.
"Hey, hey. This job is all we have right now," the leader said. "So I wanna see happy faces. Okay?"
She gave me two thumbs up and a big smile.
"Let's roll out."
She poked him with her tongue when he wasn't looking.
"Ah, animal control!" yelped King, alarmed.
"Matches the description the parents called in," the leader said after inspecting Owl Eda. "Bag it."
"Oh no! No, no, no!" King exclaimed, worried about Eda.
She crept towards them, and the three of them cast a spell circle. This, in turn, caught Eda in a net. King didn't want to see Tom step forward and electrocute her. She fell to the ground, and Tom helped her up. When King looked up, he saw them dragging her away.
"Eda!"
She was dragged into the carriage, and he struggled to free his body. And when he did, his foot remained stuck.
"Awesome. Fantastic," he remarked sarcastically.
The final flame was extinguished, and the Bat Queen narrowed her eyes.
"Yes!" Gus exclaimed, breaking free.
"I am free again!" He landed on his hands and became trapped once more.
"You really need to stop saying that," Jackie said quietly to him.
"Noted..."
"Okay, Bat Queen," Luz said, wiping sweat from her brow. "That's the last one; Bijou and I have done all your chores and we've proved our dedication to Owlbert."
The Bat Queen's eyes narrowed at them.
"I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you, Owlbert," Luz said as she approached him. "I promise to be more careful."
"And I promise to be more strict about allowing anyone other than Eda to fly you," Bijou said to herself. "Will you come back home with us?"
Owlbert nodded and descended to them. The Bat Queen, however, was not pleased and trapped him in moss.
"Hey! You said we could have him back after the trials," Bijou protested.
"No! More trials, last trial, you must face me," the Bat Queen said, spreading her wings.
"What!?" yelled Luz, Bijou, and Hazel.
The Bat Queen roared and swooped down on them. The two people dove out of the way.
"You will never get him back!" exclaimed the Bat Queen.
Luz and Bijou both fell to the ground.
Bijou whirled around to face the Bat Queen, her teeth clenched.
"Look, I know it looked bad, but you can't make that decision for Owlbert! He has the ability to make his own choices!" She cried out.
"You!" exclaimed the Bat Queen, and she flinched. "Such an irresponsible caretaker for your younger friend. Letting her fly a staff when she was not ready. How can you call yourself responsible when you are clearly unfit to look after anyone, much less a palisman?"
Her eyes widened at those words, and she was unable to respond or say anything.
"Luz, Bijou, get us out. We can help," Willow called out.
Bijou went over to Hazel and got him out as Luz freed Willow and Gus.
"You okay, buddy?" Bijou inquired.
"Yep, but I think I got some webbing in my fur," Hazel replied, rubbing some webbing out of his fur.
"Look out!" exclaimed Willow.
They noticed the bat babies getting ready to attack.
"I'll hold 'em off with my flags," Gus said. After that, the bat babies attacked him and Willow. "No! That was a bad plan."
"Bijou, come on!"
Luz and Bijou fled as The Bat Queen pursued them. They ran past trees, the Bat Queen pushing them aside. She screeched as she flew towards them. Owlbert was able to free his wing.
"We won't let you imprison Owlbert!" Luz yelled, fighting her off with her staff.
They both landed on the ground, vines wrapping around their legs. In horror, they looked up to see the Bat Queen closing in on them.
Luz extended her staff to obstruct the Bat Queen. They noticed something on the Bat Queen's foot at that point... An interlock. It made the two gasp.
"Is that an interlock?" Bijou pushed the Bat Queen away from them, causing her to fall to the ground. The two slowly rose to their feet.
"Bat Queen, you used to be on a staff, didn't you? You were a palisman."
The question made her gasp.
King was eventually able to free himself from the net and land on the ground. He sat up, thinking that...if it hadn't been for his 'plan,' Eda would not have been apprehended.
"Your pride has destroyed you," he said, looking back to see the snot-nosed kid not far away. "The throne belongs to me now."
"Over my dead body!" yelled King. Owl Eda screeched from the distance, his face concerned. "Eda!"
"Yes, leave and forfeit your reign!"
King was eventually able to free himself from the net and land on the ground. He sat up, thinking that...if it hadn't been for his 'plan,' Eda would not have been apprehended.
"Your pride has destroyed you," he said, looking back to see the snot-nosed kid not far away. "The throne belongs to me now."
"Over my dead body!" yelled King. Owl Eda screeched from the distance, his face concerned. "Eda!"
"Yes, leave and forfeit your reign!"
"Well, then, forfeit I shall!" he exclaimed as he ran away from the slayground.
"I'm coming for you, Eda!" he exclaimed as he approached the streets and noticed the animal control carriage had come to a halt at a railroad crossing.
He ran over to Owl Eda, who was screeching from inside. He crept inside and landed on the ground.
"You in there, Eda?" she snarled, still caught in the net, and he recoiled back as she attempted to eat him. He wouldn't blame her for that.
"Eda, I'm sorry. I used you for your strength cause I felt weak. I'm your friend! If only there was some way to remind you who I am."
She retaliated by snapping her teeth at him.
"Wait a sec! Eda loves my rage squeal, like this..." He huffed before releasing the squeal. Owl Eda burst out laughing.
"So tiny, so angry!" she exclaimed in her normal tone.
She hiccupped and then reverted to Eda, freeing herself from the net.
"Eda, you're back!" he exclaimed, leaping forward to embrace her.
"What happened?" she asked, perplexed.
"Okay, so I went into your room and you were the beast. And then...and then I woke up here, one second before you did."
"Uh-huh," her tone didn't convey to him that she trusted him. "I'll deal with you later. But for now, you wanna bounce?"
"Yes, please."
A blast was heard, and the leader returned his gaze. "Ahh, where did it go?" he wondered, looking up ahead and seeing Eda.
"Hey, lady. Have you seen a monster that kinda looks like you?"
She smiled and shrugged as she walked away.
"Lady!"
The two bravely looked at the Bat Queen.
"You were once a palisman, weren't you?"
The Bat Queen averted her gaze and lifted her foot.
"...Yes, I was once part of a grand staff. A staff made for a giant! But I was broken, discarded!" She sounded as if she was about to sob.
Bijou looked at her sympathetically.
"Oh, Bat Queen, I'm so sorry," she apologized.
"Me, too. I had no idea you went through something like that," Hazel admitted, his voice faltering.
"You felt Owlbert was similar to you," Bijou murmured, understanding.
"So that's why you're so protective of Owlbert," Luz explained.
"I protect ALL!" Her eyes glowed, as did multiple pairs of eyes. The three gasped because they were all palismen. "I made home in forest. I'm here to take the lost. The forgotten."
"We understand. But Owlbert is not forgotten! He has someone at home who loves him very much," Luz said in response.
"He will not go back with you," the Bat Queen said as she walked away.
"That's not fair to him!" Bijou exclaimed, fists clenched.
"That is Owlbert's decision, not yours!" Hazel protested.
"That's not your decision to make," Luz pointed out.
"How can you be so selfish? He can't spend his life cooped up here!" Hazel growled.
She then spun around to face them. "I won't let him!"
She charged forward, causing them to flinch, Bijou defending Luz and Hazel. She came to a halt, however, because Owlbert's wings were holding up.
They then communicated with one another.
"You...you care about them," Owlbert said as he returned to the three. He rubbed his cheek against Luz's, let Bijou kiss his cheek, and hugged Hazel. The Bat Queen then signed her name.
"Very well. Go. And take your friends." The bat babies were still biting at Jackie, Willow, and Gus as they ran over to them. They took off and flew over to their mother.
"I don't think I'll ever be clean again," Gus murmured, covered in saliva.
Owlbert flew over to the staff, took it, and handed it over to Bijou. He then fell onto Luz's shoulder.
"Bat Queen," Luz inquired, "do you know what happened to your owner?"
"It's been thousands of years, and I have forgotten," she admitted sadly.
"If you ever want to search for the truth, I'll help you," Luz said, smiling.
"Thank you," Bat Queen said gratefully.
"Oh, and Bat Queen," Hazel added as Bijou pulled a pouch of fruits and nuts from her bag. "Can you give this to my family when you return?"
"Of course, Hazel; I'll also tell them you said 'hello,'" Bat Queen said before departing with her children.
"I can't believe you guys took on the Bat Queen!" Willow exclaimed as she hugged the three.
"You've even helped her understand Owlbert more," Jackie added.
"And we're not dead!" Gus added as he waved his flags.
"Thank you for helping us get Owlbert back. I'm sorry we missed the game," Luz sighed.
"Are you kidding? That was better than any grudgby match! There were action-packed trials, I got to do my flag wave and I'm slightly traumatized. Hooray!"
"It was also nice to see the Bat Queen again," Hazel added.
Luz looked up as Bijou chuckled. "You okay? I-I know the Bat Queen said all that stuff, but it's not true."
"Yeah..." She shook it off for the time being. "Anyway, I've had enough action for one day."
"Good thinking," Luz replied, smiling down at Owlbert. "Let's get this little guy home."
Bijou, Luz, and Hazel parted ways with Jackie, Willow, and Gus and returned to the Owl House. Luz wrapped a pink bandage with stars around Owlbert's head while he was inside.
"And now you're a part of the boo‐boo buddy club," Luz went on to say.
Owlbert hooted in response.
"I think he likes it," Bijou concluded. "Owlbert, why are you off the staff?" Eda inquired as she and King entered through the front door.
Owlbert flew over to her and landed on Eda's shoulder, hooting.
"Luz, Bijou, and Hazel took you to get ice cream? Aw, that's... a horrible lie." she replied.
Luz, Bijou, and Hazel exchanged glances. They were expecting a lecture from her.
"Well, luckily for you all, I don't care right now; I'm going to take a nap," she said as she walked to the stairs.
"I'll, uh, be at the playground," King said as he walked out the door.
"You better not be getting revenge on that kid!" Bijou exclaimed.
"That was close," Hazel sighed.
"Yeah. If they found out what really happened, we would be in big trouble," Bijou said. Then Owlbert flew back over to them.
"We'll keep this one to ourselves, shall we?" Luz inquired of Owlbert. Bijou and Hazel agreed with a nod of their heads.
"Bij, are you okay?" Luz inquired, concerned. "Don't listen to what the Bat Queen said. You are a responsible girl."
"Luz," Bijou said, holding her hands up. "I'm fine, really..." She turned around and walked away, frowning to herself. Luz gave her friend a sad look, wishing there was something she could do to persuade her.
Eda's stomach churned as she entered her room. She coughed up an elixir bottle, concerned.
"The elixir. It isn't working on the curse anymore. This is bad."
She then vomited and held up a section of a playground swing.
"When did I swallow a swing?"
The Bat Queen made her way to a burrow near her lair. She knocked above the hole, and an almiraj resembling Hazel emerged, except the horn is decorated with flowers and the fur is a lighter shade of brown.
"Good evening, Bat Queen," the female almiraj greeted.
"Hello, Sunny. Hazel asked me to sent this to you," Bat Queen gave the pouch over to Sunny.
"Thank you," Sunny replied as she took the pouch. "By the way, has Hazel had done anything since he left our burrow weeks ago?"
"Yes. Hazel has been doing well this whole time. He's made a lot of new friends."
"That's great to hear, Bat Queen."
"Well, I have to leave. I have other important things to do. Farewell, Sunny."
The Bat Queen flew back to her lair.
"See you later," Sunny waved at her before heading back in her family burrow.
Back at her den, the Bat Queen, her hair in curls, was chasing after her babies.
"Babies, to bed." They flew up to their branch, and she smiled as she landed in front of them. "And now it's time to read before sleeping."
She spit out one and held out A Pox on a Fox, which she opened...and tore out the page, feeding one to a baby, as she did with the others.
"Yes. Consume. Grow wise. Avoid paper cuts."
They closed their eyes slowly, and she landed behind them, wrapping her wings around the babies and falling asleep with them upside down.
Midnight arrived, and it was time for Bijou's next Golden Guard lesson. They sat next to the lake, surrounded by trees, across from each other. He was teaching her how to connect lines and circles for the light spell this time. But, to be honest, all she could think about was the Bat Queen's words from earlier. She couldn't help but think the bat demon was correct; if she had simply said no, Owlbert would not have been harmed. She could also have insisted on flying the staff herself...
"Is there something bothering you?" asked the Golden Guard.
"I just...ugh, I ran into the Bat Queen earlier, and it put me in a bad mood..." she confessed to him, about to return to her drawing when the Golden Guard grabbed her notebook. The girl looked up, perplexed.
"Wait, the Bat Queen? What did you do to get on her bad side?" He shook his head; he had recently seen Bijou whenever she was doing something illegal or trying to avoid something unusual. To be honest, he found it amusing.
"Technically, it was Luz, but I am the reason that it happened...see, the Grudgby game between Hexside and Glandus was today, and we wanted to go with our friends. And... long story short, she took Eda's staff even though I tried to convince her otherwise. Owlbert, Eda's palisman, got damaged, and the Bat Queen...after doing her disgusting weird trials," she said with a sigh of annoyance. "...She said that I'm too irresponsible to look after him or anyone for that matter... And it had me thinking…am I really not good enough to take care of anyone?"
He locked his gaze on her for a few seconds as she remained silent. She shook it off, but it was clear that it bothered her.
"Forget what I just said; let's get back to the lesson," she said, wanting to forget about it and concentrate on something else.
"Wait," he said, and she looked up, surprised. "Bijou...I'm not sure if this will help, but...you know, you're not...anything like that old bat lady says; I mean, people might get the wrong impression of you, but you've got a good heart, you know? And you're...very...caring," He struggled to say it because he wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it from him.
"That means a lot, thank you," she told him. He was frozen by her smile. He really didn't know what to make of it.
"...I-It was nothing," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "How about we get you to do that plant spell?"
"All right," Bijou said, slightly hesitantly. He displayed the photo from her phone to her.
"Take a good look and draw it when you're ready." He placed his hand on top of hers as she hesitated.
"Don't worry. I know you can do it."
She took a deep breath and slowly drew out the spell. She then tapped the symbol, which glowed and summoned vines. Both of them were stunned as Bijou marveled at what she had accomplished.
"It worked."
"Wow...so that's how it's done," the Golden Guard murmured, intrigued. "Great job."
The girl smiled at him once more. "Well, I do have a pretty good teacher. So what's next?"
"Now, try doing that same spell again, but this time, with your bangle. Picture the symbol you drew in your head." Bijou closed her eyes and concentrated while taking deep breaths.
Eventually, the same symbol she drew appeared in front of her wrist, and she summoned another set of vines with a wave of her hand.
"Impressive, Bijou. Now, mastering spells takes a lot of work and patience so don't be surprised if you have difficulty mastering an unfamiliar one," said the Golden Guard.
For some reason, she appreciated his words of wisdom. Perhaps it was because she hadn't previously heard it from him. She grinned and laughed along with him, and the two of them began to enjoy each other's company as the lessons progressed. She couldn't deny that, while the homework was exhausting, it was also beneficial. And he finally got to talk about wild magic with someone...even if it was with a human.
They both couldn't wait for the next lesson.
A/N: Hey, readers. I just made a poll on what Bijou's love interest will be in this story trilogy. Feel free to vote whoever suits your interest.