Coven Fairy
Things were calm, as Lilith stood out on the balcony, overlooking the moat surrounding the castle. She'd suffered great humiliation and anguish from Emperor Belos as she's failed, time and time again to bring her sister into custody to join the coven. The most recent having been her defeat at Grudgby against Eda at the Owl House. She'd even gone so far as to try bringing her niece into custody so they'd both be able to join. Heading into the castle, Lilith stopped at a mosaic of Belos and one of the Titans claws in the background, and worshipers bowing before him.
"I haven't forgotten what you've promised me." Lilith said. "I will bring you my sister and niece, Emperor Belos."
"Then why the delay?"
"Kikimora?" Lilith gasped, turning around to look at the smaller demon that was standing behind her.
"The Day of Unity is fast approaching." Kikimora said. "An' other teams have bound many rogue witches to covens, and yet the Owl Lady and her granddaughter, still roam free. Are you, protecting her?"
"Rest assured Kiki." Lilith began. "I have everything, under control." She stated, before snapping her fingers, resulting in dozens of Coven Scouts marching up from either side of the small demon woman. "Today we capture Eda, and Kali. Once and for all."
~Owl House~
"Morning everyone." Kali yawned, coming down the stairs, wearing her school uniform, before noticing Eda looking out the window through a pair of binoculars, with a smirk on her face. "What's got you so happy Eda?"
"Hooty may be a thorn in my side." Eda paused to take a sip of tea, as she put the binoculars down, while a Coven Scout was thrown against the window. "But he always digs his way into my heart. He's currently beating the snot out of Lilith and her Coven Scout Lackeys."
"Good to know." Kali chuckled, before noticing what Eda was wearing. "What's with the scarf?"
"Ooh, magic 'sghetti." Luz smiled, looking over the cauldron with a smile, and distracting Kali from Eda's fashion choice.
"That's not spaghetti Luz." Kali said, smacking her hand away.
"She's right kid." Eda stated, putting her cup of tea down. "It's actually Witch's wool."
"Witch's wool repels powerful spells." Kali explained. "Every witch worth their salt has a cloak sewn or knitted from this stuff. It's not as effective as my enchanted Palistrom fabrics, but it'll get the job done in a pinch. Speaking of, remember that thing I was making for you in my workshop?"
"You mean the thing you've refused to tell me about since you started working on it?" Luz asked. "I remember."
"Well good news is, Araña's been working non-stop on it since we got back from our sudden death Grudgby match with the Thunder Legion, so it should be done by the time we get back from school today, especially now that you've found all four base elemental Glyphs." Kali smiled. "Bad news is, Araña can get a little too focused, and hasn't slept a single wink at all since she started working on it after our Grudgby match."
"Wait, what was that about elemental glyphs?" Luz asked.
"I have no idea." Kali said. "I think it might have been another piece of information from the circlet."
"Either way, it means you're not getting your hand on this witch's wool. With the Emperors goons at our doorstep, I need this more then ever, especially with Araña being out of commission for a while because of your gift, before she'll be able to make me one of my own." Eda stated.
"I think I finally understand why the Emperor wants you so badly." Luz said. "He's got the hots for you, don't he?" She asked teasingly, with Eda responding with a classic gesture and clicking of her tongue.
"Luz, that's gross, I don't wanna picture that."
"But seriously, no." Eda said. "Emperor Belos wants to control all wild magic through his coven system."
"He ordered Eda's capture years ago, because she refused to fall in line." Kali stated. "The only reason my face isn't on a wanted poster in the Isles anymore, is because I'm still a minor, and in school. But Eda's an adult, and she dropped out of school."
"An' he won't stop until he's got her." Luz said.
"Aw, don't sound so worried, I'm a master escape artist." Eda said. "The only thing that can slow me down is my curse, and that hasn't bothered me for weeks."
As she said that, Eda's body became covered in feathers.
"Uh-oh." Eda said.
Almost instantly after Eda began growing, Kali took out a bottle of elixir from the couch cushion, and pulled off the cork, before shoving the head of the bottle in Eda's mouth, and draining the contents. Almost instantly, the elixir began to work as Eda reverted back to her normal self.
"Thanks for that." Eda sighed in relief.
"Eda, your curse has grown stronger." Kali said. "This elixir was ten times the potency of a normal elixir."
"Holy Titan I…"
"Show me the gem on your chest." Kali stated, removing Eda's scarf, showing it was mostly darkened. "Oh Eda."
"The curse has been getting worse, and you've been hiding it." Luz said.
"You're right." Eda sighed. "It's taking more stronger elixirs to turn me back, and more magic to keep the beast from rearing its ugly feathery head."
"What happens if you use your magic up, do you… do you die?" Luz questioned.
"Eda won't die Luz. Not really." Kali sighed. "But if the curse takes hold, and she's unable to return to herself, then she'll be trapped within the beasts mind, forever stuck as the Owl Beast."
"It's a fate much worse then death if you think about it." Eda said.
"Will the same fate befall you Kali?" Luz questioned.
"I'm afraid so." The teen sighed. "But since I was naturally born with my curse, it's gonna take years longer before that happens to me."
"No. No I can't let that happen." Luz said. "I'll do something about it. I'll find a cure and then…"
"Hey, don't worry. I just have to, limit my magic use a little." Eda said, before forcing Luz's face into a teeth bearing smile. "There's the Luz I know."
Luz's face turned into a frown as her eyes began to tear up.
"Ugh, go on. Do the parallel arm thing." Eda groaned, before Luz hugged her.
"It's called a hug Eda." Kali sighed.
"It's Grandma to you." Eda said. "No wait, that's worse. Just keep calling me Eda."
"King demands huggies, too." King said, running up and hugging Eda's leg.
"Okay, it's time for school Luz, come on." Kali said, pulling Luz off Eda.
"Ah, not you young lady." Eda said. "Sapphire looks like she's about to go into labor at any moment, so you gotta stay behind and make sure she's safe. I've already notified Principal Bump about the situation."
"But todays the class field trip to the Emperor's Castle." Kali said, picking King up from the ground, as he wanted to hug her next.
"I know you've been itching for a good chance to graffiti the castle, but I'm afraid that's just gonna have to wait for another time." Eda said.
"But I've already bought the spray paint." Kali whined. "I was gonna paint, Belos Sucks and paint his head on a giant dick. I even have a stencil and everything."
"That's why you were looking forward to this field trip?" Luz questioned.
"But you're right, Sapphire's more important then pissing off Belos." Kali said looking to Luz as Eda carried her to the back door. "Go on, have a good day Luz."
"Kali, make sure Eda gets rest, drinks plenty of water, stays out of the sun, and make sure you do the heavy lifting for…" Luz tried giving instructions, as Eda put her bag on her, before closing the door on the human.
"That was kinda rude." Kali said.
"Ah, what a good kid. So considerate, she deserves something nice from her master." Eda smiled, before grabbing the cauldron of witch's wool. "An' I think I know what."
~Luz~
"Poor Eda. Enemies everywhere, even her own body." Luz said, as she began walking to Hexside. "Even Kali is in the same predicament, and she's still so young. I wish I could help them." She stated, before something caught her attention.
Heading over to the bushes, Luz parted the shrubbery, spotting five guards, all of them looking battered and beaten, one of which trying to get away, as Hooty was keeping them captive while hosting a tea party.
"The roughhousing was fun, but I like this part of our play dates even better." Hooty said, pouring the tea on the ground, like some sort of horror movie scene.
"Ugh!" Luz shivered, leaving the scene before she could see more, and ran off.
As Luz ran, she missed as a magical item began ringing like a phone, and Lilith's hand popped out of the ground, before she pulled herself up and out of it, with a birds nest on her head, answering the call.
"The Emperor demands your presence, in the throne room." Kikimora said, without giving Lilith an opportunity to question what she was calling for. "An' there's a bird on your head."
Lilith's eyes widened a bit before she looked up, at an angle that allowed her to see the bird in the nest.
"Oooh, you're in trouble." The bird stated.
Lilith to groaned in annoyance before she grabbed the bird and shove it into her mouth, devouring it with a big swallow, before she let out a sigh.
"I needed that snack." She said, closing the communication device, before letting out a feathery burp.
~Hexside~
"Luz, Kali. You ready for, the field trip of a lifetime, to the one, the only, Emperor's Castle?" Gus questioned, before he realized someone was missing. "Wait, where's Kali?"
"She had to stay home." Luz said. "It looks as though Sapphire's finally gonna give birth any moment now, so she has to stay by her side until the babies arrive."
"Oh, well you gotta be excited for the field trip at least, right?" Willow asked.
"I was actually gonna stay behind." Luz said, gripping the strap of her bag tightly. "I don't like the way they treat Eda or Kali."
"But you're gonna miss out on all the cool stuff." Gus said, shoving the pamphlet into Luz's face.
"Like what?" Luz questioned.
"Like ancient relics." Willow said, taking the pamphlet and flipping to the relics page. "Look, it's the Plant Covens, Green Thumb Gauntlet. It can grow, whatever you imagine."
"Kali could actually use that for her Palistrom Forest." Luz said. 'Good thing she used the Reality Quill to add that, special feature, to my bag.'
"An' the Oracle Sphere." Gus said. "It shows you which path will help you become your best self."
"The Healing Hat. Made from the Magic of the Savage Ages. It is said to cure the deadliest diseases, and heal any curse?" Luz read aloud on the third relic listed on the page.
"Yeah, you can't miss this." Willow said.
"All aboard students." Bump called, to which Willow and Gus came running to the ship.
This left Luz to ponder about what she should do, as she looked at the pamphlet, before picking it up.
"You've both done so much for me Eda, Kali." Luz said. "Now I'm gonna do something for you." She stated, before marching towards the Dragon Ship that would take them to the Emperor's Castle.
~Kali~
"It's okay Sapphire, it's gonna be okay." Kali said, as Sapphire cuddled close to her.
Kali was very concerned with Sapphire's current condition. She could clearly see the strong movements of the unborn within her, as they searched for the exit from their mothers maternal nest.
"Oh, how I envy you so." Kali said.
("What exactly do you envy?") Sapphire questioned, sounding annoyed. ("Do you envy my big belly full of stubborn young who refuse to leave, or do you envy the pain of labor I'll soon find myself in?")
"I envy your ability to bear life, Sapphire." Kali stated. "Because of that accursed Demon Fetus, I won't be able to experience the joys of motherhood, from start to finish."
Sapphire looked up at Kali, and saw the pained look in her eyes, as Sapphire recalled the night it was discovered.
("I'm sorry. I forgot that this is something you've been wanting to experience for yourself, but no longer can.") Sapphire said.
"It's fine." Kali sighed. "You're in a lot of pain right now, so I can't fault you for being snarky. I'm going down stairs to get some water."
Getting up from her nest, Kali left her room, and headed down the stairs, spotting Eda on the couch knitting.
"Nice knitting skills Eda." Kali said.
"I try. How's Sapphire doing?" Eda asked.
"She's a bit snarky, and kinda opened up an old wound, that's still healing." Kali said. "So, you think Luz is gonna like that?"
"Yeah, I think Luz is gonna love this cape." Eda said.
"Cape, I thought you were making cake?" King questioned, sitting up.
"You thought I was knitting a cake?" Eda asked.
"Oh King." Kali giggled.
"I… uh!" King stammered. "Anyway, if there's no cake, then I have work to do."
"King, what are you plotting?" Kali asked as the little demon got up and ran off to the kitchen.
"I'm making a cake." King said, before he began making a mess of the kitchen. "Would you look at us, being all generous to that kid. You know when she first got here, I thought Eda and I were gonna eat her. But now I only think of that, sometimes."
"You shouldn't be thinking about stuff like that at all." Kali stated.
"Give him a break Kali." Eda chuckled, going to pick up the picture that fell from the wall. "Luz has changed the feel of this house. You and her both. You've both always had a good heart, but she was always the impatient one who always bit off more then she could chew, while you've been the strong patient one who always had her back." She said, showing the photo was of Luz and Kali both in an eating contest. "But despite all that, I think she's finally growing up."
~Dragon Ship~
"No roughhousing, do not make me turn this carriage around." Bump told his students. "Why'd Kali have to be stuck at home today of all days?"
Luz wasn't paying attention, as she was busy plotting out her plan for stealing the treasures of the Emperor's Castle.
"Hey Luz." Willow said, spooking Luz out of her own mind.
"Uh, what was that Willow?" Luz asked.
"I was just saying we were getting close to the castle." Willow said, walking to the side of the carriage, showing Luz the view of the castle at the Titans Heart. "Emperor Belos built it as a symbol of unity. Before he came to power, folks were doing magic all wrong. He taught us the only way to respect what the Titan gave us, is through joining covens. It's a shame Amity couldn't make it, she would love this trip."
~Blight Manor~
Amity was grumpy, laying in bed with her right leg elevated and in a cast, as she looked at the poster of Lilith hanging on her wall, with the poster saying, Join the Emperor's Coven, TODAY!
"Shut up." Amity told the poster.
~Luz~
"So Willow, would you say this Belos guy is, like, powerful?" Luz questioned.
"No offense to Eda, but the Emperor's the most skilled witch that's ever lived." Willow said, after laughing a bit at Luz's question. "He can even talk to the Titan." She stated, as the carriage began to land.
"Now, the Emperor's assistant will be your tour guide." Bump said as the drawbridge extended. "Please don't make me regret taking you here."
"Children of Hexside." Kikimora said, as all the students gathered up on the drawbridge. "Emperor Belos welcomes you to his castle. We're honored by visits from students, you'll soon be a part of a coven. Some lucky few may even find their home here, in the mighty Emperors Coven. You are the future of the Isles. My job is to teach you its past." She stated as she lead the students through the halls of the coven. "Today, the Isles are a place of peace, and prosperity. But that wasn't always the case." She said, showing them a tapestry of witches dancing around a fire.
"That looks, familiar." Luz said, before snapping a picture of it with her phone.
"Up until fifty years ago, Witches and Demons practiced wild magic, during what we called the Savage Ages. Witches had access to corrupt knowledge, and that dishonored the Titan." Kiki continued to explain, leading them down the hall, not noticing how Luz was examining a triangle shaped vent. "That was, until our great Emperor ascended to the throne, and taught witches how to use magic, properly. Our next stop, is the Emperors personal collection of relics."
"Oh Luz, you'll like this, it's where… huh?" Willow was confused as she saw Luz pulling at the vent, to which Luz stopped once she realized she'd been caught.
"Love me a properly ventilated castle." Luz said, walking past Willow and Gus with a nervous chuckle.
Regrouping with the others, Kikimora showed them through the collection of relics.
"The Relic Room." Kikimora said. "These items are great reminders of our Emperors overwhelming power. From the curious and mighty. To the very handy."
"Oh, I could grow such beautiful things with that." Willow said, admiring the Plant Covens Gauntlet.
"An' even, the most valuable." Kikimora said, showing them the Healing Hat. "Come along children."
Luz was about to sneak up and snatch the hat away, before Gus grabbed her wrist and pulled her along with the rest of the class.
"Let's go Luz." He said.
"Here at the Emperors Coven, we require members with sophistication, elegance, and grace." Kikimora said, right before the doors opened, revealing Lilith as she came into the building, covered in branches, and dirt.
"Oh shit." Luz gasped, before hiding as Lilith made her way to the group.
"Oh my, make way for Ms. Lilith Clawthorne students." Kikimora said, pushing the students back.
"Oh my gosh."
"It's the head of the coven. Wow."
"Yes, and if I'm not mistaken, she's on her way to see the Emperor himself." Kikimora said. "Let's all wish her luck."
"Good luck Ms. Lilith." The students said.
"Thank you, students." Lilith said, looking at them over her shoulder, before facing forward again. "Good luck with puberty."
"This way children." Kikimora said, leading the students away.
While they left, Luz snuck up from behind Lilith, and followed her to the chambers of the Emperor himself. The doors were closed, but Luz was able to see what was going on, through the key hole. Inside, sitting in the throne under the giant thumping heart of the Titan, was the masked Emperor himself. He was breathing heavily, and seemed like he was in a lot of pain.
"I am at your service, Emperor Belos." Lilith said.
"Just a moment, Lilith." Belos said, as he was served a Palisman like it was a piece of food.
Breaking the wooden creature apart, the magic within seeped out and flowed into Belos's mask, causing his eyes to shine brightly in an eerie green hue, as the Palisman turned to dust.
"Ah. That's better." He said.
The sight of this caused Luz to gasp, as she grew increasingly concerned for Sapphire, her babies, and all the Palismen in the Bat Queens domain. She couldn't take the sight of this anymore, and left. Traversing through the castle, Luz hid from guards, and even her own classmates as the tour soon ended.
Peeking out from behind her hiding spot near a window, Luz looked as her class began boarding the carriage.
"Please don't notice I'm gone. Please don't notice I'm…" Luz stopped when she spotted a peculiar sight. "Boarding the bus?" She questioned, before jumping as she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Oh. Guys I uh…"
"You were planning on taking the Healing Hat, weren't you?" Willow questioned, showing she was familiar with Luz's plan to steal the hat, while Gus was struggling to maintain three illusions at once.
"You got me. But you don't understand." Luz sighed. "Eda and Kali both have this curse that's eating away at them from the inside, and…"
"Luz no matter what you can't steal this hat." Willow stated.
"But you can borrow it." Gus said, popping up in front of Willow.
"Hey. I wanted to say that." Willow said. "We learned about Eda and Kali's curse from your notes. We're totally gonna help you."
"Thanks guys, Eda and Kali might kill us, but I know they'll appreciate the effort, and I know exactly what we gotta do. It's time for a heist." Luz said.
"Heist time." Gus and Willow cheered.
~One Sneaking Montage Later~
"Did you have to make the fake Kikimora do the worm after she dismissed that guard?" Willow asked as they entered the hall of relics.
"Hey, I'm a creative artist, I saw an opportunity." Gus smiled.
"Healing hat, you're Eda's last hope." Luz said, stepping up to the item she was after and grabbed it, before the hat itself began to glow. "I can feel it, I can feel the magic flowing."
"Me too." Gus said as he was holding the Oracle Sphere. "Finally, I'll know how to become my best self." He stated, before a violet illusion of Gus appeared.
"You're always your best self." The Oracle Sphere Gus said, causing the real Gus to cry as the Oracle Sphere him was patting his head.
Willow had put on the Plant Covens Gauntlet, and created a giant muscular arm out of a tree, before bringing it back into the glove.
"I just wanted to try it out." Willow said, before putting it back on its pedestal.
"Now we can sure Eda and Kali, and get this hat back before anyone knows its gone." Luz said with a giggle.
"I will know." Belos's voice echoed around them.
The three students gasped, totally freaked out that Belos's voice had echoed throughout the chamber around them.
"We need to go, now." Luz said, before all doors and windows were bared and locked, sealing the three of them inside.
"Stand back." Willow said, putting the gauntlet back on.
Creating a giant tree, Willow used it to send its branches towards the sealed off door.
~Lilith~
"C'mon Lilith, think." The Witch said. "You've given your entire life to this Coven, you can't lose it. What's Eda's weakness? Aside from those in Earthland, she has no attachments, no friends. An' I don't even know where to begin with Kali. Think!" She exclaimed, slamming her fist against the wall.
At the same time that her fist hit the wall under the mosaic, the entire structure began to shake and rumble, with a loud crash.
"C'mon, let's go." Luz's voice echoed from where the crashing originated from.
It was simple for Lilith to use a spell to get to the scene, before she held her staff out, stopping one of the three intruders from running off with the hat. Using her staff, she removed Luz's hood, revealing the human girl.
"Why, if it isn't Eda and Kali's human pet." Lilith stated.
"An' if it isn't Kali's bitchy control freak aunt Lilith." Luz glared.
"How perfect." Lilith growled, a little annoyed by the comment. "Aren't I lucky, to find you here?"
"Stay away." Luz said. "If you touch us, Eda and Kali will come after you so fast."
"That's the plan." Lilith stated, getting in Luz's face almost instantly.
"Run Luz." Willow called out, using the gauntlet to attack Lilith.
The giant wooden hand grabbed Lilith's staff, only for the Coven Head to throw Willow aside, as if she weighted nothing.
"Wrong move Lilith." Gus said, stepping up to her with his Oracle Counterpart. "It's two against one, and you don't stand a chance against…"
Gus stopped talking, as Lilith poofed the Oracle Gus just by poking him. A moment later, Gus was sliding away, and hitting one of the pedestals, stopping next to Willow.
"Now, that doesn't belong to you." Lilith said, using her magic to grab the hat.
"No." Luz stated, pulling back. "I won't let you take Eda and Kali's last chance at removing their curses."
"You think, a simple hat from the Healing Coven, is strong enough to remove the curse on my sister and niece?" Lilith questioned, before she pulled even harder, tearing the hat to shreds.
"No." Luz cried out as the hats remains vanished into flames. "What have you done?"
"These decrepit relics are useless." Lilith stated, taking Luz into her arm before looking to Willow and Gus. "If you ever wanna see your friend again, deliver this to Edalyn." She said, throwing her staff to the two students.
The staff came alive, and slammed into both Gus and Willow, before correcting their postures, and flying away with them through the open security door.
"Luz!" Willow called out in fear.
~The Owl House~
"So, you think Luz is gonna like both our gifts?" Kali asked, bringing her gift to the couch, while setting it down on the coffee table. "She's grown so much since she first came here a few weeks ago."
"An' Makarov even let her join the Guild despite not having unlocked any magic at the time." Eda smiled. "I'm certain Luz will love what we have in store for her."
"I Spy with my little eye, something coming this way." Hooty said, opening to look at them.
"That's not how the, I Spy, game works Hooty." Kali chuckled, petting his head as he slithered on over to her.
"Luz." Eda said happily.
"Wait, wait for me." King said, rolling in a cake with strawberries and whipped cream, as well as candles on it, while the door closed again. "You're not the only ones who know dark magic." He stated, showing a box of instant cake mix.
"I hope you cleaned up the mess you made after putting it in the oven." Kali said.
"Of course I did." King said, opening the top. "Now stop gawking and load me in."
The instant there was a knock at the door, Kali opened it expecting to find Luz. But what she found, was far more unsettling. In front of her, were Gus and Willow, with Gus having a black eye, and Willow a bruise on her cheek.
"Kali… we have some bad news." Willow stated.
Kali looked up from her friends, to see Lilith's staff floating behind her. Kalis breath caught in her throat, before she gripped her fists as tightly as she could. Grabbing the staff, Kali reequipped her wakizashi onto her back, before she whistled loudly.
"What's all the commotion out…"
Eda stopped when Kali went flying past her, heading high into the air, before practically vanishing in a sonic boom, towards the Titans chest. Her eyes were filled with concern, before she looked at Gus and Willow.
"Tell me everything that happened." Eda said. "Now!"
~Emperor's Castle~
"Come on Edalyn." Lilith huffed, pacing on the drawbridge, as Belos was watching her from atop the towering castle. "You would be late when I need you most."
There was a strong flash of magic, alerting Lilith to the arrival of her invite. The flash of light took on the shape of the Fairy Tail emblem, before her Palisman came flying past her head, scraping her cheek, and causing blood to fall from the cut, and destroyed part of the castle wall behind her.
Gripping her cheek, Lilith was barely able to recognize this signature, before her eyes shrank in horror, when Kali appeared right in front of her, wakizashi pulled back and ready to strike the Coven Head down.
Acting without thinking, Lilith bent backwards, narrowly avoiding the swung blade, before kicking upward and knocking it out of Kali's hands. With her weapon gone, Kali jumped back, as Lilith did the same. Standing with a leer on her face at one end of the draw bridge, Kali raised her hand, and caught the weapon by the hilt, before swinging it down, pointing it to the ground at her side.
"Well, I will commend you on bravery, but it was foolish for you to come alone Kali." Lilith said, taking her staff in hand. "Did Edalyn teach you nothing about picking your battles?"
"Don't try pinning this on Eda." Kali growled, pointing her blade at Lilith, dressed in the same clothes she'd worn, fighting the Leviathan. "Fairy Tail is a Guild, that looks after one another. We're a family, and family comes to rescue their own, no matter the danger."
"I see you've inherited more then just her curse." Lilith scoffed. "You've also inherited her naïve sense of justice."
"Where's Luz?" Kali questioned in anger.
"Your pet is safe. She's alive." Lilith said, tapping her staff on the ground, causing a bubble with Luz inside to come flying to the field of battle.
"Kali." Luz gasped, seeing her friend standing there.
"You can have your human back, provided you do as I say." Lilith stated. "You and Edalyn must renounce your wild ways, and join the Emperors Coven. He can help heal your curses."
"Don't believe, everything that lying sack of shit tells you. He doesn't wanna heal me or Eda. He wants to control us." Kali stated.
"Then I will take you and my sister in by force." Lilith stated.
"You know, Eda told me that you've always looked down on her, because she's wild." Kali said. "But fortunately, that just made her work harder then you. An' I followed her example."
Kali vanished in a burst of light, zipping around the air, as she attacked the Head of the Emperors Coven. Strike after strike, Kali knocked Lilith back, and her attacks only grew stronger, each time Lilith tried using Luz as a shield.
"Come now Kali." Lilith began, pushing Kali back. "You're young, and easily swayed. Is blindly following in your grandmothers wild carnage really worth risking the life of your human pet?"
"Pet?" Kali questioned, before she took a single step forward and ran at Lilith.
The Coven Heads eyes widened in shock, as Kali released a shockwave, before using her staff to block a strike from Kali's blade, with the pressure cracking the bridge bellow their feet.
"Luz, is not a pet!" Kali glared, before she pushed Lilith back, and threw both their arms into the air.
Lilith gasped as Kali's tactic, before the teen spun around and kicked the Clawthorne woman in the stomach, sending her back and into the broken wall that her Palisman had been inside.
"Luz is a proud member of Fairy Tail, and my friend." Kali declared, he blade igniting with flames before she went running at Lilith.
The womans eyes grew in anger, before she rushed Kali, meeting her half way.
"Why can't you see that I'm only trying to help you and Edalyn?" Lilith questioned.
"Help us? You're wanting us to join a corrupt system of control, and abuse of power, run by a madman who can't even actually speak to the Titan." Kali hissed, her strikes on Lilith's staff growing faster and stronger.
"Belos can speak to the Titan." Lilith said.
"No he CAN'T!" Kali shouted, swinging down one last time on the staff, causing a ringing sound to echo throughout the air, as it grew eerily quiet.
Lilith stared in horror, as Kali had sliced through the center of her staff. Almost instantly, the Palisman began losing its color, as it returned to being a hunk of carved wood, before Lilith fell to her knees, holding the Palisman in her arms, as if holding an injured beast.
"Oh Kali." Luz gasped, seeing how hurt she was after that final attack.
"What makes you the expert, on what Belos can, and can't do?" Lilith questioned.
"I know, he can't talk to the Titan, because I have." Kali said, before producing her Portal Blade. "This blade, that allows me to travel through realms of Earthland and the Boiling Isles, is comprised of crystallized Titans Blood. In Earthland, there was a tower filled to the brim with power, and my blade absorbed a substantial amount, so much that it allowed for the Titan to communicate with me, for the briefest of moments. An' he told me, that Belos was a fraud, unable to actually communicate with him. He gave me the task, of stopping the Witch Hunter, Philip Wittebane."
Kali looked up as she said that name, and she could see Belos was actually shaken, when it was revealed Kali knew his actual name.
"I'm sorry that your Palisman had to suffer like this." Kali said, taking the severed pieces of the Palisman from Lilith. "The Clawthorne Clan were known as the greatest Palismen Artisans of all time, so it truly breaks my heart to see a Palisman whose life has ended."
Holding the pieces together, Kali called upon her plant magic, channeling it through the broken staff as it shined a brilliant light from her clasped hands. Opening her palms once more, Kali revealed to Lilith that her staff had been repaired.
"Speak your greatest desire to your Palisman, and it shall awaken once more." Kali said, holding it out to her.
"My greatest desire?" Lilith questioned, taking her staff back. "My greatest desire… is to heal my sister of her curse." She said, gripping her staff tightly as it began to shine and come back to life.
Kali could tell Lilith was angered, and she was right in being cautious as Lilith used her newly revived staff, to telekinetically grab the teen and throw her to the ground hard.
"You think, that just because you repaired the damage you caused to Raven, that I'll listen to you?" Lilith questioned.
"No." Kali groaned, before she smirked. "But I think, they have a few words to say."
Lilith looked at Kali, before her head shot up as she felt four unfamiliar magical presences, alongside one. The woman was forced to step back as to evade each of the attacks coming at her.
"Fire Dragon: Iron Fist!" Natsu shouted, throwing the flaming punch at Lilith.
"Ice Make: Lance!" Grey cried out, sending the ice spears at the Coven Head.
"Heavens Wheel!" Erza shouted, sending the swords towards Lilith.
"Iron Dragon: Club!" Gajeel chanted, sending the club at her.
The attacks came at Lilith, one after the other, forcing her to step back, while creating a barrier to protect herself, before Eda appeared behind her in a flash of light, and struck the Coven Head with her own magical attack. With her concentration so divided, the barrier around Luz broke apart, freeing the human girl before Erza pulled her back.
"But… how, who are they?" Lilith questioned.
"Lilith, I'd like you to meet a few members of my Fairy Tail Family." Kali said, picking herself up, as Eda came flying around and landed on the ground in front of her. "I invited them to our little fight, before I arrived."
"Eda no, your curse." Luz cried out. "If you use anymore magic, it'll consume you."
"Edalyn, please." Lilith glared.
"I think the kid said it perfectly for me Lilith." Eda stated. "You've always looked down on me because I was wild. But as Kali said, that just made me work smarter then you."
(Cue Music… Sucker for pain: Suicide Squad)
Eda slammed her staff into the ground, creating a giant owl of light, before rushing Lilith. The Coven Head was unable to move, before Eda slammed Owlbert into her, sending Lilith flying over the castle, with the Coven Scouts watching.
"We gotta help her." Grey said.
"No don't." Kali huffed, pulling out her portal blade again. "Leave her be. We got Luz back, she's providing the perfect distraction for us to escape."
"Where's this portal gonna take us?" Erza asked, requipping into her normal armor, as Kali opened a breach in space.
"Back to the Owl House." Kali said. "You'll all be safe there. Hooty will make sure you're okay."
"But Kali…"
"Go, I'm right behind you." Kali said, stopping Natsu from talking.
Before anyone could say anything more, Kali had to move past them, and use her magic to create a barrier that protected them from an attack Lilith deliberately sent at them.
"GO!" Kali shouted.
"You heard her, let's move." Gajeel said, rushing through the portal.
Natsu, Erza, and Grey soon followed close behind, but just as Luz was about to go through the portal, she was trapped within another bubble, and pulled towards the battle between Lilith and Eda.
"Luz." Kali gasped, closing the portal and rushing after her, only to be stopped by Coven Scouts, who all aimed offensive magic at her. "Damn it." She growled.
Lilith had used Luz quite well, as she managed to get Eda to redirect her attack.
"Stop hiding behind Luz, you coward." Eda glared as she huffed.
"It's sad to see you slowing down, sister." Lilith smirked. "Tell me, is it the curse?"
Eda just looked at Lilith with a glare, the darkness of her gem flaring up as it slowly covered more of the gemstone.
"Eda! Your gem."
"Maybe it is the curse." Eda huffed. "But then how pathetic are you, that you can't even best me, at my worst?"
Casting multiple spells, Eda sent a numerous amount of attacks at Lilith, while using another spell to move Luz out of the way from the fight. Creating a barrier, Lilith pushed back against Edas attacks, while grunting in annoyance.
"Maybe you are stronger then me sister." Lilith said. "But that just made me work smarter. I became sharp, crafty."
"A lapdog for a conman tyrant." Eda stated, as she didn't let up on the attacks. "Kali told me about her experience inside of the R-System. She told me that she spoke with the Titan, and how Belos is nothing but a fraud who can't even hear a word the Titan says."
"Now I see where Kali got that ludicrous notion." Lilith stated. "You always thought you were better then me, that I could never beat you in anything."
"I am better than you." Eda stated.
"Then why, were you so easy to Curse?" Lilith questioned, before covering her mouth in realization.
(End Song…)
Eda's eyes widened, and Kali's head shot up hearing Liliths words. Kali was in the middle of taking down the guards that had surrounded her, but she was frozen in shock, at hearing Lilith, was the root cause of all her pain and suffering, that was brought on by her curse.
"A-and I have the power to remove it, if you would just let me explain." Lilith said, nervously.
"You?" Kali questioned, releasing a wave of power that knocked away all the Coven Scouts surrounding her. "You're the reason, why Eda was cursed? You're the reason, why she was forced to abandon her own son, why he used that as reason enough to tear me apart, kill me, revive me, and repeat that process over, and over again?" She asked, crouching down on one hand, like an animal as scales began covering her body. "You're the reason why my curse, killed my mother when I was born?"
Lilith's eyes widened, before Kali had vanished from sight. The Coven Head didn't know what to make of this, before she felt a strong fist embedded into her torso and sent her into the wall behind her.
"Kali stop." Luz said, showing she'd broken free of the bubble, before she gasped when she saw her friends face.
"Because of you, I was born with this curse." Kali said, tears falling down her cheeks in rivers. "I always believed I was the reason my mother died the day I was born, because it was my curse that took her life."
Kali's hands shook as she brought them up, and clenched them as they turned into dragon talons.
"I wasn't born… like a normal child was." Kali said, pain evident in her voice. "My mother might not have blamed me, but I knew I was the reason why she died."
"Kali." Eda said, trying to calm her down.
"She died, because the first time my curse took control of me, was when I was still in the womb. An' I tore my way out of her, like a damn mole burrowing through the ground." She cried out, her teeth growing into fangs as her eyes glowed red, the tears continuing to flow. "I never knew how she died, until my grandfather told me, when my curse first took on the form of a dragon. When Sapphire first fed me my elixir, and my body reminded him, of how my mother looked when she carried me."
"Kali…" Luz said, tears forming in her own eyes.
"An' now, I find out I owe all that pain, all that suffering, to you?" Kali questioned, slamming her hands on the ground as her curse was taking control. "I don't care, if you are Eda's sister. I will, END YOU!"
Lilith gasped as Kali's dragon form was far larger then she'd expected, and she let out a roar of rage, all directed at the Coven Head.
Springing to her feet, Lilith managed to evade Kali's cursed draconic form. Lilith didn't know what to do, as Eda came attacking her as well. With attacks coming on two fronts, Lilith was short on options, and used her magic to knock Luz over the edge.
"Luz." Eda cried out.
Using her magic, Eda grabbed Luz and kept her from being skewered by the spears of stone bellow.
As Eda was distracted with this, Lilith managed to get the Coven Scouts an opportunity to subdue Kali in a net, and encased her in a bubble of magic. Looking towards Eda, Lilith sent her own attack at her, forcing the Owl Lady to exert her magic, while using another spell to push Luz down further towards the spears of stone.
"Eda, your gem." Luz gasped, noticing how Eda's gem was going dark. "Stop, you're gonna use your magic all up."
"Alright kid." Eda began, as her sclera began to turn black. "I'm going away, and I don't know if I can bounce back this time, so no matter what happens to me or Kali, take care of yourself. Watch over King, and remember to feed Hooty, and be sure Sapphire and her babies are well protected."
"Please, no." Luz pleaded.
"An' Luz." Eda said. "Thank you, to you and Kali both, for being in my life."
Eda fell to her knees, as the last of her magic was sapped away by the curse. With Eda's last command, Owlbert flew through the air, catching Luz before she could fall into the spikes, stopping at the drawbridge, where Eda laid unconscious.
"Eda." Luz gasped, before Eda grunted in pain, and transformed into the Owl Beast, as her curse took over completely.
The Owl Beast approached Luz, before Liliths magic enveloped her, and dragged her back, next to Kali.
"Come along sister. Now we can let the healing begin." Lilith stated, while looking up at the emperor.
"You monster." Luz declared, tackling Lilith with Owlbert pulling at the Coven Heads hair.
Lilith wasn't amused by this, and threw Luz off of her, to the ground.
"Leave human." Lilith stated, before grabbing Owlbert. "Edalyn and Kali, are finally with their family, their real family." She said coldly, before the draw bridge began moving them apart. "Go back to your world. This one is ours."
"KALI, EDA!" Luz cried out in anger.
~Later~
Luz was slowly, making her way back to the Owl House. It wasn't hard for her to find her way back, but the journey felt so lonely, and she felt so hurt and angry with herself, for getting Eda and Kali wrapped up in this, when she was just trying to help them. Reaching the Owl House, Luz opened the door, to find the four Fairy Tail Mages sitting around a half destroyed cake, with King sitting at the coffee table with Happy, and Sapphire at his side.
"Luz." Erza gasped, as they came to her. "Oh where have you been? You've been gone all night, we thought something terrible had happened to…"
Erza stopped when she saw Luz had looked like she'd been crying, and she even saw the pain that she'd been holding in.
"Luz?" Grey asked. "What's wrong?"
"Where are Eda and Kali?" Natsu questioned.
Luz just looked at them, before she saw the gifts that were labeled to her, and broke down crying.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have tried stealing the Healing Hat." Luz cried, falling to her knees. "I just wanted to help Kali and Eda. I just wanted to heal their curses, but I failed, and now they're gone. Trapped in their cursed forms forever."
"What are you talking about, where are they?" Natsu questioned.
Luz just continued to cry, as the next words she spoke, left them shaken to their cores. "Eda and Kali, are gone. They've been captured by the Emperors Coven!"