Coven Fairy
~WARNING: Heavy One Piece Spoilers! You've Been Warned!~
"This should do nicely." Kali smiled, combing her hair, and putting it into a braid. Putting down her brush, the teen reached for something on her dresser in front of her mirror, and opened her mouth, revealing her gold tooth was missing, before she screwed it into place. "Weh." She said, opening and closing her jaw a couple times, before laughing at her silliness while rubbing her belly.
Throwing on a belly compressor, then her jacket, Kali made her way down the stairs, and got started on cooking breakfast. As per the norm these days, she'd make herself a whole lot extra. Entering the kitchen, Kali smiled at how cute Luz looked, with her head resting on the stack of books, after pulling an all nighter on research.
"Morning Kali." Eda said happily, wearing a longer three-toned maroon dress with some semi-clear mid length sleeves, and a ripped hem with light gray tights. Kali noticed that Eda's boots were switched out for a dark gray pair, while her earrings were gone.
"Morning Grandma." Kali said.
"We got any Apple Blood?" Eda asked.
"Stocked our supplies to the top just yesterday, after I got back from grocery shopping for me and Luz. I stocked your Apple Blood, and mine." Kali said, cracking a few dozen eggs into the cooking bacon on the pan.
"Well, isn't this a surprise. You're taking your place as a minor seriously for once, avoiding the hard stuff." Eda said, before squinting her eyes in suspicion. "Spill it, what's going on?"
"Nothing. I just thought it'd be best if I actually tried being a normal teen for once." Kali said.
"Normal teens usually rebel and break rules." Eda stated.
"Before trying to put themselves on their best behavior." Kali added.
"Point taken." Eda said, grabbing the hard stuff, before slamming the fridge door shut, waking Luz.
"Morning Luz." Kali said, putting a plate of food and some non-alcoholic Apple Blood down in front of her.
"Morning Kali." Luz yawned.
"Still no luck huh?" Eda asked.
"None, and I was up all night. I've read every tome, book, notepad, and tea leaf." Luz said, showing her mug and the tea leaves inside, taking the shape of someone shrugging. "But nothing explains how to make a portal to the Human Realm. Are you sure your blade won't work?" She asked, looking at Kali.
"We've been over this Luz." Kali sighed. "I designed my portal blade, to take me to and from Earthland and the Boiling Isles only. I'd have to create a whole new portal tool for the Human Realm, and it's guaranteed the first tool won't even work."
"I wish I could help ya kid." Eda said. "My door was already pretty old when I found it."
"How long did you have it?" Luz asked.
"Well…"
"AAAHHHH!" Lilith's scream came from the living room.
Luz, Kali, and Eda rushed to the living room, and found Lilith struggling on the ground, her half of the curse acting up, as feathers grew out on her hands, which were turning into clawed talons.
"Help… me…" Lilith pleaded.
Kali didn't waste a second, as she grabbed a bottle of elixir from the couch, pulled the cork off, and shoved it in Lilith's mouth.
"There. Now stop your whining, and get up. Stress only makes the curse activate faster." Kali said, before heading back for the kitchen.
"She's still not trusting Lilith, is she?" Eda asked.
"Nope." Luz said. "An' it's understandable why."
"That was, horrible." Lilith panted. "How have you and Kali managed for so many years?"
"Well, it's been hard." Eda said, helping Lilith back to her feet. "But since you and I have split the curse, at least the elixirs are working again."
"That's a relief." Lilith said, before she nearly freaked out as her left hand was missing.
"Ah, don't worry about that." Eda said, picking it up off the ground. "Side effect of the curse. It's actually fun, once in a while." She stated, putting Liliths hand back on her arm.
"I think Kali is still able to do that, despite her curse being gone." Luz said.
"I can, and I don't like it." Kali called from the kitchen.
"Now don't worry, I've stashed elixirs all over the house. Whenever you start feeling, feathery, just help yourself to one of these, bad boys." Eda said, showing the various hiding places, including the elixir she hid in Luz's hair.
"I had no idea, this is what I did to you, to Kali." Lilith said. "I am so, so sorry."
"Eh, at least I got company now. An' you got me if you need anything." Eda said. "But it'll take some time, before Kali feels like she can trust you, if ever."
"Not likely anytime soon." Kali said, marching past them with a mountain of food on a plate. "I'm going to my room."
"Give her time." Eda said, heading out the front door, Luz following her.
Lilith just sighed, as she laid back on the couch, looking up and smiling when she saw elixirs taped to the ceiling. Outside, Eda was looking around, as if expecting something, or someone, as Luz came up to her.
"As I was saying, I had the portal door for years. But I originally just found it in the dirt near some old ruins of my ancestors on this property, which stretches for quite a while inland." Eda said. "Never figured out who made it, or where it came from though. I just, kept it to myself. Then there was that whole fiasco with the door taking me to Earthland, but that's another story entirely."
"Why wouldn't you tell anyone?" Luz questioned.
"Why? Suddenly curious about my past?" Eda asked.
"Always, always curious." Luz stated seriously.
"Well, I may have been using it to hide from someone." Eda said.
"Hide from who?" Luz asked.
"Probably me!" A new voice said, as the wind picked up into gusts of gales.
Luz and Eda looked up as a giant tornado came through the forest.
"Magic bird tornado?" Luz questioned, before the tornado vanished and out of it came a witch with gray and white hair, landing on the ground with an Eagle Palisman. Her robes were two toned purple, with fur on the hems of the darker purple layer.
"Hello, little Witchlet." The woman said, her Palisman vanishing in a flash of magic. "Come here." She smiled, going to Eda for a hug.
"Gwendolyn." Eda said, holding her arm out, and stopping the woman from coming any closer, before Eda realized something. 'Oh shit, she doesn't know about Kali. Please stay in your room Kali, please stay in your room.'
"Are we still on that?" Gwen asked. "I'm your mother. Call me mom."
"Mom?" Luz, and Lilith questioned, as Lilith's head popped out of the window next to the door.
"It is so good to see you again. How are you feeling, are you eating well? I heard all about the Petrification Ceremony. Trust me, I have a lot of strong words for that Belos." Gwen said, sounding like a frantic mother.
"Mother! Mother, you know, I was there too." Lilith questioned.
"Oh, hello to you too, Sweet Flea." Gwen said. "Still dying your hair I see. It's very sleek."
"Hey Grandma, I saw something brush by the house from my window, is everything…" Kali stopped her question, when she spotted Gwen with Eda and Lilith. "Okay, uh hi there." She said, coming out of the house.
"Edalyn, who is this?" Gwen asked.
"My name's Kali Dreyar Clawthorne." Kali said, bowing politely to Gwendolyn. "I'm Eda's granddaughter."
"Granddaughter?" Gwen questioned with a gasp.
"You remember those three years I went missing?" Eda asked. "I was in a realm called Earthland, there I met a man, had a kid, was forced to leave because my curse was growing stronger the longer I was there, and this is my granddaughter. The product of my son, and his wife having a second child. I also have a grandson, but he's another topic for later."
"Oh my heavens." Gwen said, completely shocked.
"Kali, this is Gwendolyn Clawthorne, Gwen for short. My mother, and your Great-Grandmother." Eda said, introducing them. "Honestly, I was hoping you wouldn't ever meet."
"How can you say that my little Witchlet?" Gwen questioned, pulling Kali in for a hug. "Oh goodness me, I can't believe I'm a Grandmother, and a Great-Grandmother."
"Uh, it's nice to meet you too, Granny Gwen." Kali said.
"Oh, Granny Gwen how adorable. I love it." Gwen smiled, before she pulled back from the hug, a troubling look on her face. "Oh Titan, please tell me you don't have your Grandmothers curse."
"Uh… I did, but it's gone now." Kali said. "It was destroyed, when I had to do something with my Palisman Sapphire, to survive."
"Can we not go to this topic, mother?" Eda asked, pulling Kali away. "Kali's just starting to get through her grief of losing Sapphire."
"Oh dear me I… I'm sorry child." Gwen said. "I'm truly sorry."
"Why are you here Gwendolyn?" Eda questioned.
"Right, straight to the point then." Gwen said, coughing into her fist and clearing her throat. "Today, I am about to complete, a decades long mission."
"Oh no." Eda said.
"Your mother, has finally succeeded." Gwen stated.
"Here it comes." Eda said, sounding annoyed.
"Today, I shall be curing your curse."
"What?" Kali, Luz, and Lilith questioned.
"No thanks." Eda said.
"WHAT?" The trio questioned again.
"I said, no thanks. I got my elixir system. I'm good." Eda stated.
"But… but who knows what they put in those nasty concoctions?" Gwen asked.
"Considering your Great-Granddaughter has been the one making them for me the last couple months, she does, and so do I." Eda stated.
"You make your Grandmother's elixirs?" Gwendolyn asked, looking at Kali.
"It's relatively simple, the elixirs for her are only a single ingredient different from the ones I used to take." Kali said. "An' they're all natural to boot. Just herbs, plants, a few drops of Griffon blood, and a hand full of feathers from an actual Owl Beast, before letting it ferment. For my elixirs however, it was a hand full of dragon scales."
"Oh my word. You are a gifted child, aren't you?" Gwen asked.
"Oh, would you look at the time." Eda said, looking at her wrist, as if looking at a watch, while grabbing her mothers staff. "I got a lot to do today, so sad to see you go. Okay…"
"Grandma wait." Kali said, stopping Eda from sending Gwen flying off. "You might not wanna hear about the cure she has for you, but can't she at least stay? I wanna get to know her."
Eda looked at Kali, before she sighed, not having the heart to deprive her Granddaughter of spending some quality time with her Great-Grandmother.
"Alright, fine." Eda said. "But no funny business."
"I promise dear." Gwen said.
"I'm going back to finish breakfast." Eda stated, heading back into the house.
"Well, come on. I'll show you to my workshop." Kali said, leading Gwen around the other side of the house.
"You have a workshop?"
"It's where I do most of my carvings." Kali said. "I recently had to expand it a bit to make room for my cauldron, where I make Grandma's elixirs, so I just built a smaller shack next to it. I have all the ingredients for the elixir in bulk-stock as well, if you wanna take a look at them."
"Oh my, you really are a Clawthorne, aren't you?" Gwen asked with a smile, as they stopped in front of Kali's workshop, with another smaller building next to it.
"Grandma told me about the Clawthornes, once being the best Palismen Artisans on the whole of the Isles." Kali said. "I found that to be a bit of a shock actually."
"This is quite the marvelous feat." Gwen said, before she spotted Araña coming out of the window to the workshop, and running up Kali's leg. "You've already carved another Palisman?"
"She's an Arachne. A mythical species of a human and spider centaur creature. An' I initially carved her when I still had Sapphire. She was carved for the purpose of being my partner, and helping me in the workshop, but things changed." Kali said, pulling a bag of chips from her hair, and munching on them. "Sorry, I'm kinda hungry right now."
"I can see that dear." Gwen said, as Araña crawled from Kali's shoulder, to hers. "Oh my, aren't you well crafted, and so detailed as well. You'd think someone with a lifetime of experience carved her."
"Actually, I have more magic then just the magic I inherited from Grandma." Kali said. "Earthland's filled with all sorts of mages, and magic. Several of which, are artistic. I'm skilled at the carvings and stuff like that by hand, and only rely on that magic when I'm short on time."
"A true artisan through and through." Gwen smiled as they went into the workshop. "Oh my, it's so well organized in here."
"I like to keep my work place clean and mess free." Kali smiled. "So, I clean up after every project."
"Is this Palistrom wood?" Gwen asked, spotting the logs stacked in a pyramid pile.
"My own crop of it." Kali said. "I've got some private property in Earthland, and I planeted my own forest of Palistrom Trees there."
"Wouldn't Belos have confiscated them to the Plant Coven though?"
"Earthland isn't within the Emperor's jurisdiction." Kali said. "As Grandma said, it's within a separate realm from ours. Just like the Human Realm."
"Is that right?"
"So, I gotta ask." Kali said, as they moved on to Kali's elixir workshop. "Are you here only for Grandma?"
"Well, she is cursed dearie, but knowing you've got her covered with your elixirs, makes me feel all the better about it." Gwen stated.
"You do know, Lilith split the curse and took half of it on for herself, right?" Kali asked.
Gwen stopped in her tracks, before looking back to Kali, a look of shock on her face.
"She did what?"
"The curse had taken over Grandma completely, and the elixirs weren't working anymore. So Lilith took half the curse, and now shares it with Grandma." Kali said. "You honestly thought that gray streak in her hair, was nothing more then hair dye?"
"Oh, how could I have been so blind?" Gwen asked in disbelief. "I've been paying so much attention to my little Witchlet, that I hadn't noticed Sweet Flea's needs."
"Well, maybe now would be a good time to sit down and talk things out with her." Kali said. "An' I know just where to go for this conversation."
~Fairy Tail Magic Library Café~
"This place is amazing dear." Gwen said, looking around as she came through the portal with Luz, and Lilith. Kali was already ahead of them.
"It is awe inspiring." Luz smiled. "I was shocked when she said she opened up a café and gift shop in Earthland."
"She owns this amazing place?" Lilith asked.
"Not only that, but it's mostly automated. Meaning almost everything is done without manual intervention." Kali said. "But I still need someone here, to handle the cash register."
"That'd be me." Levi said, coming to them with a tray of drinks. "Welcome back Kali."
"Thanks for taking care of the shop Levi." Kali smiled. "Levi, this is my Great Aunt Lilith, and my Great Grandmother Gwendolyn."
"Please, call me Gwen dear." Gwen smiled. "I'm amazed, at how strong and independent my Great-Granddaughter is. I wasn't even aware that I had a grandson, let alone an amazing Great-Granddaughter until this morning. Your parents must be so proud of you."
"Well… that's a touchy subject actually." Kali said. "Luz and I will be over by the counter if you need anything, okay?"
"Wait, you're not going to stay with us?" Gwen asked.
"No, this is time for you and Lilith to patch things up." Kali stated. "Besides, I'm not wanting to be around the woman who ruined Eda's life if I can help it."
Without another word, Kali walked away, Luz following her.
"You're being kinda hard on Lilith, don't you think?"
"Luz you still have your mom. I don't." Kali said.
"I know, Lilith did curse Eda, but think about it. If she hadn't done that, then you wouldn't have been born."
"An' my mom would still be alive." Kali stated, sitting at the counter. "Luz I know you're trying to make me see the silver lining in all this, but it's not the time for that."
"Sorry, I was just trying to help." Luz said.
"I know you were." Kali smiled, before Levi came over with a bag of coins in her hand. "Thanks Levi."
"What's this?" Luz asked, as Kali gave her the coins.
"That book you wrote, the one that King actually helped you write after that whole fiasco with that Piniet creep, remember how I told you I'd put it up for sale at my shop?" Kali asked.
"Yeah?"
"Well, the book was a success, and we're barely able to keep it on the shelves." Kali smiled. "An' what you're holding is part of what you earned from the sales."
"Really?" Luz gasped, looking into the bag to find it was filled with Boiling Isles Currency. "Wait, part of it."
"The rest, is in jewels. Earthland Currency. Now remember that question you asked me about the Titan Quill?" Kali asked.
"You mean… I earned enough for, that?" Luz asked in awe.
"You did." Kali said. "I'm gonna give you a choice though. Do you wanna keep the money, and save up a bit more, or do you wanna spend it on the alterations you asked me about. Because what you're holding right there, is worth two alterations."
"Split this in half, and I'll take one anime super power." Luz said excitedly.
"I thought you might say that." Kali giggled, sliding a list to Luz. "I've comprised a list of super powers from the various anime's and manga I've watched and read from your world. Pick one and I'll give you that power using the Titan Quill."
"Right." Luz said happily, looking over the list, while Kali put half the snails in a different bag, and put it behind the counter.
"You sure this is a good idea Kali?" Levi asked. "I mean, I know we have magic here in Earthland, but that list of super powers seems like they'd be too much for her body to handle."
"Normally you'd be right." Kali said. "But Luz is wanting to use more then just her Glyphs and Earthland magic to defend herself and her friends, so I'm more then happy to oblige her request, while making it so her body can handle the power."
"Okay, I've picked one." Luz said. "I want the same powers as Beast Boy from DC Comics."
"That's interesting." Levi said.
"But… that wasn't on the list." Kali said.
"So? All you gotta know is he can turn into different animals if he knows what they look like and what they are." Luz stated.
"Well, guess that's simple enough." Kali shrugged.
Pulling the Titan Quill from her bag, Kali charged it with her magic, and drew a circle around Luz, just like how the human girl enveloped Kali in a bubble, before Luz's stats showed up, and Kali seemed intrigued.
"Interesting." Kali said.
"What?" Luz asked.
"Well, it says here your Earthland magic, is elemental based." Kali said. "So eventually, you should just be able to control all natural elements, metal probably included."
"That's cool. But please give me the powers I asked for." Luz said.
"Alright, alright." Kali giggled, adding an extra space to Luz's abilities list, and writing down the specifics of Beast Boys powers, in the subsection. "There, I made the powers similar to a Zoan Type devil fruit from One Piece. You can go partial, or full animal. All you gotta do is picture the animal you wanna transform into." She said, releasing Luz from the bubble.
"I wanna try it out so bad. Let's go get a job request from the guild." Luz said.
"Not a smart idea Luz." Kali said. "We should let your body get accustomed to this power first. We'll go on a job, when it looks like you've got control over this power."
"Smart, don't wanna die on a simple job." Luz smiled. "Mind if I give you a power?"
"Sure, I'll leave it for you to decide. Just don't make it something stupid." Kali said, giving Luz the Titan Quill, fully charged.
"You got it." Luz smiled, repeating the process Kali did.
After adding the power to Kali's abilities list, Luz added a few details, before something caught her eye, that shocked her.
"Kali…" Luz said, releasing her friend from the reality bubble. "Are you pregnant?"
Kali froze up and Levi looked to Kali in shock.
"How did you know?" Kali questioned.
"Your body stats." Luz said. "There was a diagram on it, and it showed you carrying twins."
"Holy crap, you're…"
"Keep your voices down, both of you." Kali said, putting a hand over both their mouths. "Look, yes I pregnant. But they're not Edric's."
"Then who's the father?" Levi asked.
"It's complicated." Kali sighed. "But in reality, they're Sapphires."
"Can you please explain that?" Luz asked.
"What I mean is, Sapphires babies aren't dead. They're not gone. She just transferred her pregnancy to me, when we become one." Kali said. "An' they've gone through accelerated development, to grow back to full term size. Which is what they're nearly at right now, despite my flat stomach. You can't tell anyone about this."
"Who else knows about the babies?" Levi asked.
"Porlyusica, the Bat Queen, and King." Kali sighed. "Porlyusica knew before me, the babies are the reason why I've been feeling sick on and off. Nausea and morning sickness aren't fun. An' then there's the Bat Queen, when I told her, she already knew because she could sense their lives within me, and apparently I passed out before she could tell me, after she said Sapphire didn't give birth to her babies. An' I told King, when we were at the island where he hatched. He needed some encouragement, and I told him he had to be a strong big brother for these little ones." She explained, putting a hand to her flat stomach.
"So, how big are they now?" Luz asked.
"Nearly full term. My stomach's flat right now, because of a hammer space spell I put on a belly compressor." Kali said. "They're perfectly fine, they're not being squished anymore then they already are sharing the limited space inside me. I just don't wanna go around with people making assumptions about me, especially Boscha. Knowing that attention whore, she'll probably start up some nasty rumors, saying I sleep around with anything that has a pulse."
"Yeah, she can be a real piece of work." Luz sighed.
"So what are you gonna do?" Levi asked.
"What else, I'm gonna raise these two with all the love and care I can give them." Kali said. "Though Porlyusica said that once they reach full term, they won't come out for a while, since my body will still be catching up, in preparation for them."
"At least now I know why your appetite's gotten so big." Luz said. "You gonna be okay?"
"I should be fine." Kali said. "Hopefully."
"Hey, once these babies come, you're gonna have a loving support team to help you." Luz smiled. "They're gonna have the best Mama in all the realms, and they're gonna love you, no matter what."
"Thanks Luz, that means a lot to me." Kali smiled.
Before Luz or Levi could say anything else, the doors to the café were kicked in, resulting in one hanging off the hinges.
Through the doors, stepped some rough looking men, who looked like they brought trouble with them wherever they went.
"What do we have here?" The man leading the group said. "A quaint little café connected to a gift shop? Business must be booming."
"Can I help you gentlemen?" Levi asked, coming out from behind the counter.
"That you can. We'll take a few bottles of your finest whisky, a few meals, and some… protection money, to keep your shop safe." The leader said.
"I'm sorry, but we don't serve alcohol here, despite how the café's set up, I can get you some meals, but I don't believe your protection would be needed." Levi said.
"Well that's a shame. Would be even more of a shame, if someone were to… destroy your counter." The leader said, one of his subordinates swinging a club on the counter, breaking it to splinters.
"Those jerks." Luz said getting to her feet.
"Luz, don't." Kali said, grabbing Luz's wrist.
"It'll be fine Kali. I got this." Luz said.
Kali watched, sighing as Luz was at it again.
"Hey, knock it off." Luz said. "You're destroying private property, and you're disturbing other patrons of this establishment."
"Oh, and what is the little girl gonna do about it?" The leader asked. "I'm Boss Grave, a member of the Grave Family. You can't touch me."
"A Yakuza General huh?" Kali asked, getting to her feet. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the Grave Family were forbidden from instigating quarrels with Fairy Tail as a show of good faith and respect."
"That's horse shit. My old man swore a life debt to this bitch from that guild, all cause she saved his life once. I mean I get it, my dad owed her, but a life debt? Come on." Boss said. "But what's it to you?"
Kali moved her top, to show the Fairy Tail emblem on her breast.
"I am the Granddaughter of Guild Master Makarov of the Fairy Tail Guild. You've broken Ross Graves treaty with Fairy Tail, and are currently trying to shake down my establishment, for protection money, to provide protection that we don't need." Kali said. "I'm sure Ross Grave will be interested to hear how you tried shaking down the person he owes his life to."
"You own this establishment?" Boss questioned.
"Got a problem with that?"
"I do actually. I think this place is too good to be run by you." Boss stated.
"Well, guess what." Kali said, grabbing Boss by the lapel of his jacket. "You're not untouchable."
Before Kali could pull her fist back to punch him, she was hit in the side of the head by a metal club with round studs all along it.
"Kali." Levi gasped.
"She's fine." Luz said, looking in the direction Kali's head flew to show her neck stretched out quite long. "She's made of rubber now."
Kali's head snapped back, before it slammed into the face of the Yakuza who had tried decapitating her in the first place, knocking him back.
"The hell Luz, what did you do?" Kali questioned, her head snapping back into place. "Is this the power you gave me?"
"Yep, I gave you the power of the Gum-Gum Fruit from One Piece. Only you're still able to swim." Luz smiled. "Neat huh?"
"It's weird, but yeah." Kali said, before smiling as she hooked her finger into the corner of her lips and pulled, stretching it far. "I like it. I wonder though."
Grabbing both sides of her head, Kali pulled a bit, before her head popped off, freaking out Levi, and the Yakuza.
"Cool, I got rubber powers, and I can still split my body apart." Kali said, reattaching her head with a smile. "I didn't like that feature before, but now I don't mind it."
"The hell kind of magic is this?" Boss questioned.
"Can I use Haki?" Kali asked.
"Find out and see." Luz smiled.
Kali's smile broadened, before she ducked down, evading a swing from Boss's sword as he swung at her neck, before hitting him out the broken door, sending the young man to the ground outside.
"You owe me for all repairs by the way." Kali said, marching outside as Boss picked himself up.
"The hell are you?" Boss asked.
"I'm a rubber woman." Kali smiled, before throwing her arm back, to the empty clearing next to the shop. "Now, Gum-Gum…"
"What the hell?" Boss questioned, before Kali's arm came flying back, covered in a black armor like aura.
"PISTOL!" Kali shouted, hitting Boss in the face with the attack.
This sudden violent and powerful strike, sent Boss flying through the air, right past some visitors who were just making their way to the shop, but stopped before Boss could collide into them.
"Did that man just go flying?" Hisui asked, looking in the direction Boss flew, as he slammed into a tree.
"Princess Hisui?" Kali asked, spotting her.
"Kali, it's so good to see you. Did you dye your hair? I like it, looks nice." Hisui smiled, running up and hugging her. "I came to get a copy of this book one of my servants told me about. Written by someone names Lois Lane?"
"Oh, that's the pen name she used. Her real name's Luz Noceda. I told you about her, come on in." Kali smiled. "Greetings Arcadios."
"Greetings Lady Kali. I take it we came at a bad time?"
"Somewhat." Kali said. "The Yakuza Family came and tried shaking me down for protection money. Thing is, this was done behind the head's back, meaning he has no clue it was happening. All thanks to an overeager son, trying to show he's ready to take over the family."
"I see, so this matter can't be tied directly to the Grave Family, can it?" Arcadios asked.
"How'd you know it was the Grave Family?"
"They're the only Yakuza group, who have the stones to try going toe to toe with the royal guards, which means this ruffian's under arrest." Arcadios said, as two of his men arrested Boss.
"His men were inside, don't know if they've ran or not." Kali said.
"They most likely have, to report back to their boss." Arcadios said. "You're not injured are you."
"Well I…"
"Kali." Gwen called out as she and Lilith ran outside, and pulled her in for a hug. "Are you okay? I swear I saw that brute clobber your head clean off. No scratches, no blood?"
"I'm fine Granny Gwen." Kali said as Lilith and Gwen were looking her over.
"Just to be certain, let's take a look at you." Lilith said, grabbing at Kali's belly compressor.
"No wait…" Kali tried to stop Lilith, but was too late, as she lifted up her belly compressor, and let Kali's pregnant belly hang out.
Kali just stood there, frozen in embarrassment, as Gwen, Lilith, Arcadios, and Hisui looked at Kali in shock, while one or both of the babies inside her, kicked. It wasn't until a few moments later that Kali's cheeks turned red, and she was nearly crying in embarrassment, as Lilith still held up the belly compressor.
"Put that back down." Luz said, running out and pulling Kali's belly compressor back down, flattening her stomach again. "I think this is a conversation best to have in private."
~Afterwards~
"I see, so Sapphires babies, were given to you, when the two of you became one." Lilith said, the seven of them sitting in a now vacant and closed café, while Kali's belly was out again, with the teen rubbing it.
"The magic that made me their mother, also healed my uterus, allowing for it to become strong, and healthy. A perfect environment for growing the babies Sapphire was never able to have." Kali said.
"That explains your different hair color." Hisui said. "It became blue when Sapphire bonded with you."
"My stars." Gwen sighed. "I never thought I'd live to be a Great-Great-Grandmother. Does Edalyn know about this?"
"No, and neither does Grandpa." Kali said. "So far, the only ones who knew were a grand total of three people, but now we can chalk it up to nine."
"So what do you plan on doing from here on out?" Arcadios asked.
"I'm gonna raise these babies, and I'm gonna be as good a mother to them as I can be." Kali stated. "But before that, I gotta be a good friend."
"What do you mean?" Luz asked.
"Luz I know how you wanna see your mother again, so badly." Kali said. "An' with the portal to the Human Realm destroyed, it's near impossible to do that. So I'm gonna do my part and help you to return to the human realm. I'm gonna make you a portal tool, that'll take you home."
"Kali, you're already dealing with so much, I couldn't possibly ask you to do anything more." Luz said. "Putting that burden on your shoulders alone, in the state you're in, it's just not right."
"Then why not work it from both angles." Gwen suggested. "While Kali's working on creating a portal tool to the Human Realm, you can do some research of your own Luz."
"How? I've practically exhausted all my options for finding ways to the Human Realm." Luz said.
"I doubt you've tried this." Gwen smiled. "You weren't the first human to visit the Boiling Isles. An' Kali wasn't the first from Earthland to visit either."
"Yeah, we know about Athena originating from the Boiling Isles, and coming to Earthland, then the Human Realm." Luz said.
"Ah, I said from Earthland." Gwen said. "About four hundred years ago, there were two travelers, one of them was a human from the Human Realm, named Philip Wittebane. The other was from Earthland, a healer who wanted to learn the ancient ways of healing from before our bile sacks formed on our hearts. His name, was Ragnar."
"What does this have to do with getting to and from the Human Realm Granny?" Kali asked.
"Because there's a rare, and powerful substance, called Titans Blood." Gwen said. "It's what causes the rifts to open up between all three of our worlds. If you can find Philips journal, you will learn how he was able to return to the Demon Realm, and I happen to know where it is."
"Hold on, how can we be certain your information is valid?" Arcadios asked.
"How dare you, my mother would not lead anyone astray." Lilith stated.
"Let me handle this." Kali sighed, lowering her belly compressor, and getting to her feet. "Arcadios, Hisui, allow me to introduce you to my Great-Grandmother, Gwendolyn Clawthorne. Granny Gwen, this is Arcadios, Captain of the Royal Guard, and this is Princess Hisui E. Fiore. Her father, is actually the one, who invested in my book to begin with."
"Oh my, Kali certainly knows some high and mighty people." Gwen said.
"I apologize for my brashness." Lilith stated.
"It's no trouble. I should apologize, I had no idea you were Lady Kali's family." Arcadios said.
"An' this, is my Great-Aunt Lilith." Kali said. "A.K.A, the one who cursed my Grandma to begin with."
"That's, another can or worms we don't need to open right now." Luz said.
"Be that as it may, I do have to get back to the Boiling Isles, my husband is probably wondering where I am by now." Gwen said.
"I'll contact you later Hisui." Kali said, giving her friend a hug.
"Take care Kali, and I promise, on my status as a Princess, I won't tell anyone outside my family."
"No, not even King Toma himself can know about this." Kali said. "If he were to find out, who knows what kind of party he'd throw and blow my secret to the world? I don't want my Grandpa finding out about my pregnancy that way."
"Good call." Hisui said, with a nervous chuckle. "Take care, and I'll keep my lips sealed."
"I swear to keep this secret as well." Arcadios said.
"Take care Kali." Levi said.
"I'll let you know who to send the invoice for the repairs to, once they're done." Kali said, hugging Levi.
Opening a rift back through to the Boiling Isles, Kali returned with Luz, Gwen, and Lilith, allowing for the rift behind her to close, as they stood in front of the Owl House.
"I'll be back out in a moment." Lilith said, heading in while Eda and King came out, running into Kali's arm.
"Welcome back." King said, hugging Kali happily.
'At least now I know why King's been so clingy to her as of late. He's excited for his siblings to come.' Luz thought.
"Hey mom, still here?" Eda asked.
"Yes Witchlet." Gwen said. "Listen, I wanna tell you. I'm sorry for constantly butting into your life. I was just trying to help, but I guess I took it a bit too far. What I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry for causing to much trouble for you. I should have trusted you more, and I'll respect your wishes from now on, and give you your space."
"It's good to hear you say that." Eda smiled. "An' yeah, you should have trusted me more. But hey, don't be a stranger, okay mom?"
Knowing her daughter felt this way, actually made Gwen smile, thankful that she finally had a real relationship with her youngest daughter.
"Mom, I'm ready." Lilith said, coming out the door with her things.
"Huh?" Eda questioned, looking at Lilith.
"Well, we were talking earlier, and I've decided to go home with mother, and make up for lost time." Lilith stated.
"What?" Luz asked.
"Lily?" Eda questioned.
"You lived here?" King asked.
"Be nice King." Kali said.
"What?" Hooty asked in shock.
"Edalyn, while we were at Kali's café store, Lilith told me how she gave you the curse." Gwen said. "I am so, so sorry to you both. To have this secret weighing you down. I wish I knew sooner."
"There's still a lot to be learned about this curse, but it'll be nice to spend some time home, and reconnect with dad." Lilith stated.
"We'll be away for a while, but Kali gave me the recipe for the elixir, and also gave me plenty of stock." Gwen said, pulling several bottles of elixir from her hair.
"Someday, my hair's gonna be big enough to do that too." Luz said with a smile.
"You actually want that?" King asked.
"My hair already is." Kali said, pulling a closed can of soda from her hair.
"No. Lulu, you can't!" Hooty said, crying as he stretched out to her.
"Hootsifer, I have to." Lilith said calmly, but it was clear to see she was just as hurt by it. "But don't worry, we can be pen pals." She stated, nuzzling him a bit.
"But I can't hold a pen." Hooty cried, as he fell to the ground sobbing.
"It's okay Hooty, I can write for you. You could even borrow Terry for writing your letters." Kali said, petting Hooty's head in comfort.
"Kali dear, here." Gwen said, holding out a bag of items out to her.
"What are these."
"I was the disciple of a healer, a miracle worker, but since Edalyn's fine with her system, I don't have a need for these anymore. I was meant to give these to him for the cure, but I won't need it."
"These are some pretty rare, and valuable items Granny. Where is this healer?" Kali asked.
"Take this, it'll lead you to him." Gwen said, removing the pendant from around her neck, and putting it around Kali's neck. "His name is Wortlop."
"I'll be sure to pay this, healer a visit." Kali said, sounding rather suspicious of this so called healer demon.
"An' Luz, about what I was gonna tell you back at the café. You can find the journal at the library in Bonesborough." Gwen smiled.
"Great, thank you so much for your help." Luz smiled.
"Take care now." Gwen smiled, before disappearing with Lilith into the air, taking off on their staffs.
~Later~
"Alright, I am done here." Kali said, destroying the pendant that lead her to Wortlops location.
To Kali's lack of shock, when she came to confront Wortlop, she found that the Demon lived in a sealed off cave, with four actual trolls inside, one of them putting on makeup that made him look like he was sick with some sort of plague, while the other three were lounging around, with a sagely elder costume lying on a bundle of rocks. When she barged in, she gave those four trolls a sound thrashing, and a hefty piece of her mind.
"Okay, time to haul you four to the nearest bounty collection office." Kali said, throwing the bag filled with the unconscious trolls over her shoulder, and another bag filled with snails over the other. "A little extra pocket change wouldn't hurt." She smiled, putting the bag of money on Araña's staff, as the Palisman was just floating in the air at the entrance to the cave.
Before she could hop onto her Palisman however, Kali's PCL began going off. Taking the magical communications device from her pocket, Kali saw it was someone, she was expecting to get a call from.
"Ross Grave. I was wondering when you were gonna call." Kali said, hopping on her staff, while answering the call.
"Skip the pleasantries. I heard you struck my son, and he's now in jail." The mans voice said.
"I did, and he is, though not by my choice. The Princess and the Knight Captain were visiting at the time that I took him down." Kali said.
"An' may I ask, why you thought it was such a good idea, to do something in violation of our non-aggression pact?" Ross questioned.
"Well let's see. Your son, decided to come into my shop, destroyed my door in the process, and tried to shakedown my employee for protection money, before one of his men destroyed the counter where the drinks are served, when she refused to pay him. On top of that, he was attempting to take my life, several times, when I tried to put a stop to his shakedown. So you tell me Ross Grave, who broke the pact first? Because I was only defending myself and my establishment against someone, who came into my shop, destroyed the place, and attacked me, while talking disrespectfully about you honoring the life debt you owe me."
"Oh." Was the only thing that Ross said.
"I'll be sending you an invoice for the repairs." Kali said, before hanging up. "I really need to find friends who aren't part of the Yakuza underworld."
After making a quick stop at the bounty collection office, Kali returned to the Owl House, and went to her room, finding Luz there, reading some Manga.
"Holy cow Kali, you weren't kidding." Luz said.
"I told you. Oda really took the world by storm with that little tidbit about the Gum-Gum Fruit!"
"So the Gum-Gum Fruit is… it's really the…"
"Hito-Hito Nomi: Mythical Zoan, Nika model!" Kali smiled. "An' since you gave me that power…"
"You'll be able to actually use it some day." Luz said. "I had no idea, I just made you OP as hell."
"But hey, at least when the time comes." Kali smiled. "My heart, will beat with the Drums of Liberation!"