Witches Before Wizards
It had been a day since Bijou had arrived in the Boiling Isles, where she had met Hazel, Luz, Eda, and King. She'd just awoken from a dream about the day before. Bijou stretched her arms and yawned.
"I was right. It wasn't a dream," she said as she turned to face Hazel, who was also awake. "Good morning, Hazel."
"Good morning, Bijou." Hazel greeted back. "Come on, let's get ourselves ready for today."
They exited the room and went to the restroom. Bijou brushed her teeth while Hazel washed his face. She was lucky that Luz had a spare toothbrush in her backpack. Bijou stepped outside after brushing her teeth and noticed Luz approaching in a robe and a witch's hat.
"Good morning, Luz," she said cheerfully.
Luz said, "Oh. Morning, Bijou. Morning, Hazel."
"What's up with the new outfit?" Hazel inquired, noticing what she was wearing.
"Well I figured, since I'm a witch's apprentice, I have to look the part." she replied. "Come on, let's go meet Eda. She's gonna teach on how to be a witch and you on how to do that shield thing again."
They all went downstairs and waited for Eda to emerge. She was dressed in her pajamas. Eda let out a yawn before noticing them.
"Good morning, Eda the Owl Lady. We are ready for our first day as witch apprenticeship and power training" Luz said.
"Who are you guys again?" Eda inquired. The three were perplexed.
"Is she always like that every morning?" Hazel asked Bijou, who shrugged.
Eda then proceeded to the kitchen, followed by the two teenagers and almiraj. King was sitting at the table, poking some yellow mush with his fork.
"Remember us?" Luz inquired, "Luz, Bijou, and Hazel?"
"We've freed the oppressed and defeated the evil warden together yesterday?" Bijou reminded Eda as she grabbed a cup of what appeared to be juice from the fridge.
"Girls, lay off the details, all of you. I haven't had my cup of apple blood yet." She said.
Luz asked, "You mean apple juice?"
"No," Eda said, taking a sip.
Bijou took a sniff of the apple blood. "Yeah. This apple blood smells like alcohol."
"Teach me some spells. When do I get a magic staff? Was I supposed to bring my own runes?" Then Luz let out a shrill gasp. "Do you have a dangerous magical quest for me?"
"And do you know if I can call that shield again?" Bijou blurted out.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down, girls. Being a witch doesn't happen overnight. And summoning that same shield takes a lot of time and patience. Also, Luz, you're wrapped in a bathrobe and wearing the dirtiest traffic cone I've ever seen." Eda chimed in.
Luz removed the 'hat' and blew the dust away to reveal that it was, in fact, a traffic cone. King laughed at her, especially when dust flew into Bijou's and Hazel's faces and they began coughing.
"But a magic staff, huh?" Eda inquired, apple blood on her upper lip. "You really want one?"
"More than anything," Luz exclaimed.
Eda wiped the stain from her lip and extended her hand. "Magic staff, come to me."
There was a lot of clattering and crashing in the distance. Bijou, King, Hazel, Luz, and Eda all looked over to the hallway until the staff arrived, flying right into Eda's face.
"Agh! Yeez!" she exclaimed as she spun it into her hand.
"It's early," she excused herself before beginning.
"Now, witches are awarded their staffs from school. With me as your teacher, you'll be taking a different approach."
"What kind of approach?" asked Bijou.
"It's funny you should ask," Eda said, tossing a bag of potion bottles onto the floor. "You'll have to work for it. And Bijou, when you summon things like shields, try to keep a clear mind when you want to do it. And let's try on other things to summon when the time is right."
"Sure." Bijou replied with a smile.
"Now follow me," Eda said, leading them through the living room. "I run a few businesses. On weekends, I offer rare human treasures that Owlbert drags over from your side of the realm."
She patted Owlbert from the tip of her staff before picking up a toy sword and pressing the button on it.
"I shall smite my enemies. Ages six to eleven." The sword said as Eda tossed it away.
"But most days, I only sell the finest homemade elixirs and potions."
Bijou took one of the bottles from the bag. "Snake Oil, huh."
"No one wants an un-oiled snake," Eda said, holding up a finger. "Follow me."
She escorted them to the balcony.
"Today you'll deliver packages and sell potions to that town over there," she said, pointing to the town they had passed through the day before. "Bonesborough. You'll have to be careful. I have rivals everywhere who'd love to take my business down and you three along with it. You wanted a dangerous magical quest? Well, you three have got one."
"Any chance I can guide them through town while we're on the mission?" Hazel asked.
"Sure," Eda responded.
"We won't let you down, Miss Eda," Luz saluted...and then dropped the bag over the balcony. They looked over the edge and watched as the bag shattered, destroying all of the potions inside.
"I'm sure," Eda replied sarcastically, eliciting a nervous smile from the girl.
With a new bag of potions, she pushed the three outside. "Remember, never befriend a man in sandals and always measure twice, cut once."
"Yeah. Got it," Bijou said, a drop of sweat on her brow.
"Good luck." Eda closed the door before addressing King. "I hate to interrupt your power nap, but you have to go with them" she said to him.
"What? But I just found the perfect spot; why do I have to go?" King grumbled. "You and I both know they're either going to get lost or eaten, probably both."
"No, we won't!" Luz peeked in through the window, startling them. Eda pulled down the curtain.
"They may have Mr. Fluffykins with them," Eda continued, "but I personally think they might not last that long out there."
"We heard that," Hazel and Bijou said from outside.
"And because you work for me, too, unless you want to start paying rent." She explained to him.
This prompted King to throw a small fit before admitting defeat and going outside to meet them.
"Be back by nightfall or risk mortal peril," Eda said as she shut the door.
Hooty said, "Have a nice trip."
"Looks like your with us for the long haul, your highness." Hazel said with a smile.
"Don't bother reminding me, fellow beast. Let's just get this over with," King said as he led Luz, Bijou, and Hazel.
The quartet made their way down the path to the city.
"Whoa..." she murmured in response to the various creatures. They entered, where a butterfly with the face of a worm and an elderly woman fell past her and she gasped.
"Hey, it's rude to stare," King said, crossing his arms.
"Sorry, King," Bijou replied, "but we've never seen how big Bonesborough is."
"I've only seen places like this in my dreams," Luz admitted. "It's incredible! And me and Bijou are the only humans here?"
"Haven't seen any others." King responded.
"Wow! There must be a reason for that, right? Why am I here? What if I, Luz Noceda, average teen, actually had a predetermined path of greatness? Just like Azura!" Luz breathed a sigh of relief.
"Delusional much?" Hazel asked to Bijou.
"Uh, I hate to be negative here, Luz. But Azura the Good Witch is just a fantasy character from your book. This is real life." Bijou quipped.
"Yeah. Did Azura's path to greatness involve her delivering boil cream?" King asks, taking a potion labeled 'Boil B Gone' from the sack.
"Today I'm delivering packages, but tomorrow I'll be earning the respect of everyone on the Boiling Isles with my magical prowess." Luz said.
"Ha! Good luck. The Boiling Isles is nothing but a cesspool of despair." King snickered.
"More like a cesspool of delight," Luz said, grabbing Bijou's arm and dragging her along while carrying the sack. They arrived at a centaur who had just bought a pumpkin.
"What has four hooves and wants to buy a potion? This guy." Luz said.
"My eyes are down here," the centaur explained, revealing his face on his chest. This frightens the two humans.
"Whoa, that's freaky," Bijou exclaimed.
"A lot of creatures who live here are freaky if you didn't know." Hazel said.
Bijou, Luz, King, and Hazel then appear at a house to deliver something. Luz rang the doorbell, but the doorbell began to devour her. King walks away, irritated.
While ringing doorbells and trying to sell potions, one of them came to life and took hold of Luz's hand. It then attempted to suck her inside, and King walked away. Bijou pulled Luz's arm out of the doorbell's mouth, getting it to stop.
A while later, the four bought notdogs from a nearby cart, with King eating his.
"I know I've had enough delight for one day," he explained to the two girls.
"I thought being the only human in a magical world would make me special," Luz explained as she took her Azura book from her bag.
"But, apparently, it just makes everyone want to scream at me or..." She held up her elbow, where the same creepy butterfly was gnawing.
"Eat me," she said, shaking her the butterfly off, with Hazel removing it for her. Bijou tapped her on the shoulder.
"Well, not everyone has an easy start, even if they are in another world," she tried to reassure Luz, but it didn't help.
"At this point, Azura had already been sent on an enchanted quest," Luz said, opening the book to the exact point in the story. "Where's my quest-granting wizard?"
"Sorry to break it to you, Luz, but no one here is that well-dressed," King said flatly.
"This has been a rough day," she said as she slung her bag over her shoulder and took a paper from her pocket. "Let's just deliver this last package and go home."
The four approached the final location.
"Maybe this world isn't what I thought it was-" Luz exclaimed sharply ahead, Bijou looking up. Her eyes widened as she noticed a castle directly in front of them. "Pretty."
"Look at that castle," Bijou exclaimed.
"By the looks of it, it's even fancier than the Owl House," Hazel added.
They all approached the door. Luz pressed the doorbell, causing the doors to open.
"At least this doorbell didn't trying to eat you, Luz." Hazel murmured.
"Yeah, thank goodness," Luz said, relieved.
"Big houses always belong to big whackjobs. Let's kick the package inside and get outta here." King said.
"And without getting paid?" Bijou retorted as she, Hazel, and Luz entered.
"Hello?" Luz inquired.
"Is anyone home?" asked Bijou.
"Hey, wait!" exclaimed King as he followed them inside. The door then shut behind him, startling King.
"We're here to deliver a package from Eda the Owl Lady." Hazel responded.
"So whoever lives here, you can come out and pay us." Hazel added.
The lights suddenly turn on. It reveals that the group was inside a library filled with many books. Then, an elderly man dressed in robes and sandals appeared.
"Today just got good," Luz exclaimed.
Bijou and Hazel can only blink with surprise.
"Magical wizard!" exclaimed Luz as she joyfully danced.
King retorted, "Weird old man in jim-jams."
"I was in my oscillarium, reading the stars," the old man said as he descended the stairs, "and who might you two be, with eyes full of curiosity?"
"We're just two couriers delivering your package," Bijou explained.
"Hmmm. That's not what I see. I see someone with powers just waiting to be released," the man said as he approached them. He then looks at Luz.
"Young lady, dareth I say, I sense something unique about you. Please, won't you join me for tea?"
The wizard conjured up some chairs and a table with snacks on it.
"Okay," Luz exclaimed with a gasp.
"Let's scram! Wizards are just old people with glitter in their pockets," King said as he climbed up Luz's shoulder.
"I agree; I'm not sure I trust him," Hazel said quietly.
"Me, too, Luz. I have a bad feeling about this." Bijou added in.
"But the stars on his robe are sparkling, and look, there's a baby fox in his beard," Luz said, pointing to a baby fox in the man's beard. "Plus, I see scones on the table."
"Where?" King inquired as he dashed over to the table.
"OK, but I still don't trust that man," Bijou sighed.
"Me, too." Hazel agreed.
Luz smiled as she, Bijou, and Hazel sat down.
"We'd love to join you for tea," she said as she sipped her tea.
On the table, King and Hazel ate some scones. While sipping her tea, Bijou kept a suspicious eye on the wizard.
Luz inquired, "Do you sell potions, Sir Wizard?"
"Please call me Adegast. Ma'am, yes, I run a small business," the man, now known as Adegast, responded.
"You should run a small business of scones into my mouth! Ha, yes!" King chuckled.
"I'm surprised to see you here. It was my understanding that Eda delivered the packages herself." Adegast replied.
"Well, Luz and I are kind of her students," Bijou explained.
"Oh! And how are you two finding the experience so far?" Adegast inquired.
"So far, so good," Bijou replied.
"Unless you count almost being apprehended by guard," Hazel said as he hopped on her shoulder.
"But for me, when I decided to stay in this magical world, I thought I was meant for something special. But Eda thinks I'm meant for chores and I'm afraid I came to the wrong place." Luz said.
"Well, I have a quest..." Adegast began, but Luz cut him off.
"A quest?" she exclaimed, excited.
"You didn't let me finish. I have a question," Adegast chuckled.
"Oh," Luz said. Adegast inquired, "Would you like to go on a quest?"
"Yes!" exclaimed Luz, ecstatic.
Then, Adegast pulls a scroll from his beard. He opens it up to reveal a map.
"I might have just the thing. The prophecy speaks of a two human girls accompanied by a talking almiraj, who will claim the Celestial Staff and free this world from an ancient evil. Perhaps thou hath cometh here for a reason." He went on.
"Perhaps I have," Luz said, taking the map.
"Do you think he's making that stuff up?" Bijou inquired.
Hazel shrugged, "Can't say for sure."
"Should you believe yourself worthy to attempt this quest..." Adegast said as he walked down the hall, followed by Luz, Bijou, and Hazel.
"So worthy," Luz responded.
"You need to know that the road is dark and perilous," Adegast warned. "I love peril. I'm a big fan of peril," Luz responded.
"And your two friends here must be loyal and courageous" he said.
"Uh, thanks?" Hazel replied, unsure.
"And only the Chosen One can remove the staff from its post," Adegast concluded.
Luz said as they came to a halt, "Chosen One."
"Neat story, awesome; anyway, your food is gone, and so are we," King said as he entered the room with the sack.
"Yes, we have to go. And pack for this enchanted quest! I'm in." Luz said.
"Wonderful," Adegast said.
The gang left the castle. Bijou returned with a suspicious expression on his face.
"Is there something bothering you, Bijou?" Hazel inquired.
"Yeah. It's that wizard guy. I'm getting bad vibes off him. You think he might be planning something sinister?" Bijou asked.
"He might be. But what he told Luz might be too good to be true." Hazel replied.
"I know. We might need to talk to her about this." said Bijou.
Back at the Owl House...
Luz was preparing to embark on her quest.
"So, Bijou, what kind of Chosen One should I be? Should I be full of optimism and goodness, like the Good Witch Azura? Or should I be like a "bad girl" Chosen One with black nail polish and a mysteriously withdrawn attitude? 'I act like I don't care, but I secretly do.'" Luz said.
"You're not really buying this whole quest mumbo-jumbo, are you?" Bijou asked.
"What are you saying? That wizard said I was the Chosen One." Luz replied.
Hazel narrowed his eyes and said, "Yeah. Well if you ask me, I think he's trying to scam you."
"Oh, you guys talking about bad girls? Wait, what's going on?" Eda inquired as she entered the room with a disembodied hand.
"Eda, tell Luz how dumb wizards are," King said, resting his head on Luz's sleeping bag.
"Ugh! Wizards are the worst; never trust a man dressed casually," Eda said as she moved her arm. "Why?"
"Your wizard client told Luz that she was a Chosen One!" King exclaimed, laughing.
"Wait, wait, Luz?" chuckled Eda. She collapsed to the ground and burst out laughing.
"He even gave her a map," King said, laughing with Eda.
Even Hazel began to laugh.
The only person who did not laugh was Bijou. She looked at Luz, who was hiding behind her book, embarrassed. Then Eda, King, and Hazel stopped laughing.
"Let me see this map," Eda requested.
Luz handed the map to Eda so she can examine it.
"You two didn't think this was real, did you?" she blurted out.
"What?" Luz asked.
"What do you mean, Eda?" Bijou asked, too.
"This map is bunk. There's no lake with a Celestial Staff on the Boiling Isles. I would have stolen it ages ago." Eda remarked. She noticed that Luz is depressed.
"Ah, don't worry. Couple more months here and you won't look like such a mark." "Can I have some time alone?" she asked.
"Sure, Luz. Let's go, guys," Bijou said as she, Hazel, King, and Eda exited Luz's room.
Bijou and Hazel went into their room, while Eda and King went downstairs. Bijou and Hazel were both talking about what had happened inside their room.
"Do you think what Eda said was true, Hazel?" Bijou asked. "Do you believe it?"
"About this map being a fake? She could be right. On the other hand, that wizard claimed that the Celestial Staff was real. I don't know who's telling the truth right now." Hazel chimed in.
"I'm starting to feel even more skeptical about this quest given to Luz. What if it was all just a sham?" Bijou said with a worried expression.
"That's possible," Hazel said.
"I believe we should go check on her," Bijou suggested.
"Yeah, let's go," said the young almiraj companion.
They both exited the room and went to Luz's room. They can see Eda outside as well.
"Oh, hey you two. Are you going to check on Luz?" she blurted out.
"Yeah, and I see you are, Owl Lady," Hazel replied.
"Uh huh. I feel that something is fishyabout what that wizard client told her." She said.
They pushed open the door.
"Hey, Luz?" Eda inquired.
However, they noticed that the room was empty.
"She's gone!" exclaimed Hazel.
They noticed the open window.
"Look, the window!" exclaimed Bijou as they looked out.
"Hooty, where'd she go?" Eda inquired.
"Hoot, hoot. If you want the answer, solve my riddle within a week—" Hooty began, but Bijou cut him off.
"We don't have time for this, Hooty! Tell us where she is right now!" Bijou threatened.
"Better do it immediately. You wouldn't know what Bijou is capable of." Hazel looked at the owl.
"Okay, okay. She went into the forest towards Bonesborough. Sheesh!" Hooty responded.
"Eda, get King! We have to find her!" yelled Bijou.
"Right!" Eda exclaimed, and they both got a move on.
At the Bonesborough City Limits...
"My first mythical quest. Ha." Luz said as she set off into the forest until she was surrounded by fog.
"Okay," Luz said, holding up the map. "Got my scroll, got my youthful optimism, got my trusty weapon," she grinned as she lifted the toy sword and pressed the button.
"By the power of Skullgar! I am out of batteries..." The toy shut down right there in her hand.
"You know, I wonder if I made the right choice coming here?" Luz pondered as she cut away vines. Luz exclaimed as she approached a village of cat people. "Whoa..."
Someone emerged from the town square fountain. They looked up to see a teenage boy dressed in a green tunic, grey pants, black boots, and a black eyepatch covering his right eye. He had long, dark hair that he raked out. He also wore a sword, gloves, and a belt, as well as a bell-shaped shoulder garment over his left arm.
"I see. So you're the Chosen One," he sneered, jumping out of the fountain. "The Celestial Staff should've picked me, Nevareth Bladestrife, teen prince of Angstmore."
She stared at him, smiling in excitement. "Yes. Yes, I did make the right choice."
Bijou, Hazel, and King were leading Eda to the castle in Bonesborough, where they met Adegast.
"This is where we met the scones. I mean, the wizard. Whoa!" King exclaimed as they came to a halt in front of the castle. It was in complete shambles.
"It wasn't like this when we arrived," Bijou said.
"It was just an illusion. I am definitely taking back what I previously said about this place." Hazel said.
"I don't like this." Eda said.
Eda walks over and takes it along with another copy of the map she had picked up.
"I really don't like this." Eda repeated.
Luz and Nevareth were out in the woods with a living onion with bat wings.
"Nevareth, your vengeful backstory is so compelling. And I'm lovin' your animal sidekick." Luz went on to say.
"After my village was consumed, my heart has known nothing but vengeance." Nevareth replied, " He then came to a halt.
"Nevareth," said Luz.
"Lady Luz, do you think love can bloom on the battlefield?" he asked her.
"This quest is questing in all the right ways," Luz laughed.
They then walked across a bridge, where a cat with a lazy eye jumped out.
Nevareth exclaimed, "Ew."
"Hum-di-diddle, in order to cross the bridge, you must first solve my riddle," the cat said, dancing.
"Hit me, little furry man," Luz said, pointing down.
"Your quest will be terminated if you fail this game, so tell me, my dear, what is my name?" He inquired, and she bowed her head, raising a brow.
He was wearing a nametag, which she noticed.
"Uh...Chris?"
"That's it! You may cross the bridge, and please take this, Chosen One," he said, holding out a blue ring to Luz. "It will be useful to you on your journey."
"Wow. This is amazing. Thank you." Luz said as she stood up.
"Do you need a cape?" Nevareth asked.
"Nah, I think I'm good-"
"You can use my shirt," he ripped off his shirt as the girl stared at his muscles.
"Yes, I need a cape," Luz exclaimed as he wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Three cheers for the Chosen One. Hip, hip-"
"Hooray!"
"Hip, hip-"
"Hooray!"
"Hip, hip-"
Bijou, Hazel, King, and Eda are in the cat village, which is a deserted wasteland.
Eda deadpanned, "Oh no."
"This village seems to have seen better days more than others." Hazel commented.
"Are you sure she came here?" Eda inquired of King and Hazel, who were scent and sound detecting.
"Like lemons and young, naive confidence," the demon responded.
"And I can detect that Luz was here but she is not alone. I mean that in a bad way." the almiraj continued.
"Hmm," The Owl Lady rubbed her chin as she approached a cat person. As she bent down, it appeared to be dead.
"Hey. Wake up, you," she said, flicking it on the brow and grabbing it by the shoulders. "What have you done with Luz? What's your endgame?"
It was, however, only a puppet.
"To find your pupil and still your wrath," the puppet came to life, turning to face her. "Look ahead and follow the path," it said evilly before disintegrating in her hands.
King exclaimed sharply, terrified. "The cat man melted!"
"It's just as we suspected, Eda. It's a trap." said Bijou.
"Yes." Eda nodded, "They want me to follow Luz."
"I'll tell you what we need to do: we get to Luz before she gets herself into trouble," Hazel said, encouragingly smiling.
"And we will, Hazel," Eda stated emphatically.
Luz continued down the forest, accompanied by Nevareth, Chris, and a fairy princess.
"Thank you for inviting me to your feast, Princess. All your food was so tiny and cute." Luz said.
"For you, Chosen One," the fairy princess said, conjuring up a bracelet for Luz to wear.
"Thank you all for being so kind and thoughtful; I hope this quest never ends," the girl said as she struck a pose.
"Your quest will soon come to an end, for the staff you seek is around the bend." Chris went on to say.
"Thank you for ruining the mood, Chris," Luz said as she sagged with disappointment.
"Go on, Chosen One. The Celestial Staff is yours. You've earned it." Nevareth said.
Luz regains her composure and walks down the path as the creatures bid her farewell.
"Farewell, Lady Luz," Nevareth said, waving goodbye.
"Farewell, Chosen One; we love you," the fairy princess said.
Luz walks through the forest until she notices something ahead. She exclaims as she notices the Celestial Staff on a platform surrounded by water. She walks up to the lake, where a stone walkway rises.
"If only Bijou and Hazel were here to see this. I knew this world wasn't all gloom and doom like Eda and King said. There is wonder here. And I... I think I came here for a reason." Luz said to herself as she walked along the walkway.
She then approached and examined the Celestial Staff.
"All right, this is it. The moment of truth," she says as she reaches for the staff. Luz pulls out the staff as blue magic begins to swirl around her.
"Yes! I am the Chosen One! I knew it! I always suspected there was a reason nobody understood my wacky antics back at home. Now I have concrete proof." Luz said with a laugh.
Unfortunately, her victory was fleeting as the staff disintegrated in her grasp.
"No!" exclaimed Luz.
The land around her then aged and died.
"What?" she exclaimed, surprised.
Bijou, Hazel, King, and Eda were flying through the trees on the latter's staff to reach Luz.
"So what's your beef with this client?" Hazel asked.
"I know this guy. He's no wizard. He's what you'd call a puppeteer, a demon who specializes in scamming and manipulating people. He's trying to use Luz to get to me." Eda told them.
"I'm glad I didn't fall for his con," Bijou remarked, relieved.
"Yeah, and we're flying right into his trap, hurray," King pointed out sarcastically.
"Well, if any of you can think of a better plan, I'd love to hear it," retorted the Owl Lady before slapping her staff. "Hey, faster, you."
This accelerated the staff's pace.
'Hang in there, Luz. 'We're coming,' Bijou thought as she clutched the staff.
Luz, on the other hand, was standing guard with a toy sword in her hands.
Adegast said as he emerged from the fog, "Luz, the human."
"Magical wizard?" Luz asked.
Adegast cackled, "Your hubris has failed you, Witch Apprentice."
The real Adegast was revealed to be an octopus-like demon controlling a wizard puppet. All of Luz's previous companions emerged from the ground at the same time. They are all puppets as well.
"Okay, Luz. Don't panic. This is classic Chosen One biz. You just have to rescue everybody and defeat the final boss," Luz told herself as the puppets surrounded her.
"I am everybody! You fool, don't you see? I'm no wizard. And you're no Chosen One. I've tricked you." Adegast said.
"What?" Luz inquired.
Her accessories suddenly tied her up and cuffed her hands.
"No! Betrayed by my own cool accessories!" the human girl exclaimed. "Why are you doing this?"
"Your mentor has been stealing customers from my potions business for years. She must be destroyed. Though I am disappointed that your human and almiraj friends aren't here with you." Adegast explained.
"Does everybody have a beef with Eda here?" Luz asked.
The puppets all agree with her.
"And you lure them here right into my trap, all because you wanted to think you were special." Adegast went on to say.
"No. Joke's on you, 'cause they aren't stupid enough to fall for your trap." Luz said.
"Adegast!" exclaimed Eda.
"Oh, heck," cursed Luz.
Eda, Bijou, Hazel, and King landed on the ground after flying in. They then approach them. "Get away from her, you lying mollusk!" exclaimed Bijou.
"Eda, I have you now!" exclaimed Adegast. He then turns to look at Bijou and Hazel. "And look, you brought the other human and her pet almiraj."
"Not a pet!" Hazel shrieked.
Adegast grabbed them all with his puppets.
"That's right, you have me. Now release Luz," Eda demanded.
"I didn't have to be a part of this!" whined King.
"Oh, she can leave if she wants, but I sense she wants a real fantasy," Adegast said as he sprayed some fog onto Luz with his Chris puppet.
Luz finds herself in a dark void, free of her shackles. Then she sees all of Adgast's puppets.
"Stay with us, Luz. Stay with Adegast. We need you here. You could be our Chosen One." Nevareth said.
"Yeah. You can eat our tiny foods forever," the fairy princess continued.
"Luz, why would you want to live in a world where people laugh at you?" Nevareth asked.
"It is beautiful here," Luz said.
"Don't listen to them, Luz!" exclaimed Bijou as she struggled in Adegast's tentacle. For a brief second, she noticed the gems on her bangle flickering. 'My bangle.'
Another flash of light appeared and a sword made of hard lift appeared in her hand.
'Oh my gosh. A sword.' She gasped mentally.
"And you think I'm special," Luz continued.
"No!" Eda exclaimed as the tentacles wrapped around her.
"But it's not real!" Luz exclaimed, snapping out of the illusion.
She reached for the toy sword.
"I am a Witch's Apprentice. And I'm gonna earn my magic staff the hard way. I believed you, Magic Man. Now feel my wrath!"
She charged in, stabbed the wizard puppet in the stomach, and it exploded in a cloud of dust. Adegast screamed as a result of this. Bijou smiled at her as she used her light sword to stab the tentacle that was clutching her tightly. Adegast screamed in agony and released Bijou. Bijou then slashes the tentacle that was holding Hazel, causing it to release the amiraj. Eda and King were set free. They started fighting Adegast after they were freed. Luz hits the fairy princess puppet, causing it to poof. Bijou battled the Chris puppet. She swung the light and slashed it, making it vanish. Eda then conjured a fire circle around the remaining cat puppets, burning them and causing them to poof. Luz then fought the Nevareth puppet who tried to catch her off guard.
"I thought we had a connection, Nevareth!" said Luz as she stabbed it through the torso.
"Ah, my flawless pecs!" cried the Nevareth puppet as he poofed away.
Bijou, Hazel, and Eda appeared beside Luz and exchanged smiles.
"Back off! Or the dog gets it!" Adegast warned King as he held him hostage.
"I am not a.." before King could protest, he was gagged by the tentacle.
Bijou, Luz, and Eda all laid down their weapons.
"King, Bijou, Hazel, I'm sorry. I should have listened to you guys and never trusted that wizard. You were right. He's not mystical or magical. He's just a big, slimy jerk!" Luz yelled as she kicked the toy sword away.
It landed right on Adegast's head. As he let go of King, Adegast screamed in agony. He then shrunk to the size of a young octopus. Eda then came to pick him up.
"That's the last time I take an outside referral," Eda said as she ate Adegast. "Oh, did you want some of that?"
Bijou replied, "No thanks."
"I'll pass," Hazel said.
"I'm just confused," Luz admitted.
"Thinking of calling it quits, huh?" Eda inquired.
"This place is nothing like I imagined," Luz said, disappointed.
Both Bijou and Hazel looked at her with sympathy.
"Hmm. Maybe not here. But come with me. I got something to show you two," Eda said.
The group was now soaring through the sky. Bijou and Luz were blindfolded.
"Okay, you can look," Eda said. Bijou and Luz both removed their face blindfolds. They exclaim as they see a clear view of the Boiling Isles. It was a giant skeleton.
"Whoa!" exclaimed Luz.
Bijou said, "Amazing."
"The bones of the Isles. Up close, the Isles can be slimy—" Eda went on to say.
King added, "and very stinky."
Hazel added, "And repulsive."
"And gross. But if you look at it from a different perspective..." Eda said.
"It's beautiful," Luz finished.
"Yeah, I guess it's not so bad after all," Bijou agreed with Luz.
"You got that right." King said as he leaned against Luz.
"Hey Eda, how did you know that wizard was lying?" Luz asked.
"Look, kid, everyone wants to believe they're "chosen." But if we all waited around for a prophecy to make us special, we'd die waiting. And that's why you need to choose yourself." Eda explained with a chuckle.
"Does that mean you'll give me a magic staff of my own?" Luz asked.
"Not yet. But... someday." Eda answered before turning to Bijou. "And I gotta say, Bijou. The way you summoned that sword was impressive. How did you do it?"
"I don't know but somehow when I tried to tell Luz to fight the illusion, it gave enough will to concentrate and think of something that could free myself. And that's how it was, thanks to this magical bangle." Bijou replied.
"Well, it looks like you are taking your steps towards understanding magic, as well. And you seem to be beginning your search for the previous owner of the bangle you are wearing." Eda chimed in.
"So you know who was the previous owner? Please tell me who they are." Bijou pleaded eagerly.
"Maybe later. Right now, let's focus on your magical training, too." Eda said as they continued to gaze at the view of the Boiling Isles.
A/N: Looks like Bijou here is slowly getting the hang of the magic imbued in the bangle. So there you have it. Chapter 2 is finished. The next chapter is where I will introduce my new OC: Jackie, a friend of Gus and Willow. She will also be a new addition to the fledgling Hexsquad team. Stay magical, readers. Byeee~!