The Emperor Strikes Back

Reminder: In the previous chapter we learned that new Golden Guard is a Grimwalker of Luz, named Zul. Belos created her and Odalia used Oracle Magic to make her personality. She has Luz's memories and is a lot like her, but her personality was changed to meet Belos' specifications.

Double Trouble

Luz and her friends kept staring in shock at the spirit of Belos and the Grimwalker he made of Luz, named Zul. She and Belos kept leering at the teens as they kept staring at them in shock and terror, not sure what to do.

Luz pointed at Belos in shock as she said, "Belos! But you're dead."

Belos glared at her before leering again as he evilly said, "Yes, that became apparent when you stopped me from cleansing this world and allowed your wicked friends to finish me. But thanks to a certain Oracle I've returned to finish my work."

Amity's eyes widened in realization before she narrowed her eyes and angrily said, "Mom!"

Zul had a twisted smile as she said, "Yeah, she also helped make me so I guess that makes her my mom too. Huh sweet potato?"

Luz pointed at Zul as she became outraged and said, "You cloned me?!"

Belos had a sinister grin as he looked at Zul before looking back at the teens while he said, "Yes. My newest Grimwalker, my best work yet. I acquired your DNA, but Odalia used Oracle magic to give her your memories and personality, but with a few of my own improvements."

Zul smiled at Belos as she said, "Thanks dad."

Luz was shocked and repulsed as she glared at Zul, then Belos smiled sinisterly as he said, "Don't be so bitter Luz. I told you before that you would help me, whether you want to or not."

The others looked at Luz with surprised and troubled expressions as they simultaneously said, "What?"

Luz showed a mixture of fright and regret as she glanced around, then she angrily said, "In your dreams Belos!"

Belos walked around Zul from behind while she smiled evilly while Belos evilly said, "I knew you were special Luz, but you were too flawed. I wanted you to join me but you chose to side with evil instead. So I made my own Luz, and she is everything I could've hoped for and more."

Zul showed a flattered smile as she looked at Belos and said, "Dad stop."

Luz glared at them both as she fiercely said, "Well, we beat you before we can do it again!"

Stringbean then changed into her staff form in Luz's hands while the others' Palismen did the same thing and they stood in fighting stances. Hunter clinched his fists in a fighting stance while Vee glared daggers and snarled with her fingers out as she prepared to attack. Belos was not deterred as he waved his left finger and encased everyone except Luz in a red aura and telekinetically through them aside while she watched.

They all fell down and groaned in pain before they got up, then Belos smiled at Zul and said, "Why don't I handle the others while you two get acquainted?"

Zul smiled evilly as she said, "Yes dad."

She leered at Luz as she took a few steps closer while holding her staff in her hand while Belos disappeared and Luz nervously stared at Zul.

The others were up when Belos appeared in front of them, prompting Amity to shout, "Get him!"

She made Abomination slime fly out of the bottle on her hip and fly at Belos, but it harmlessly passed through him.

The others were worried as Belos smiled sadistically and said, "You know, one good thing about being dead is you can't be killed."

His hand then morphed into an axe blade as he stretched his arm out toward them and they cried in fear as they scattered to avoid it. His arm returned to its normal shape as he started fighting the five teens while Luz faced her Grimwalker by herself.

Luz was nervous but held her staff out as she courageously said, "Okay Zul, let's see if the remake is as good as the original."

She whirled her staff around and then held it out as she fired a purple blast of magical energy at Zul, but she smiled as she teleported out of the way in a red flash. The blast destroyed a few bushes and rocks behind where Zul once stood, then she appeared behind Luz and swung her staff at her.

She knocked Luz away but she stayed on her feet as she turned to Zul, who gloated, "I'm new and improved."

Zul smiled evilly as she held her staff out and fired a red blast of magic, but Luz quickly used Stringbean to create a purple force-field that protected her.

She dropped it and smiled proudly as she said, "Eda taught me some new tricks to help me fight better!"

She fired another purple blast of magic but Zul dodged it and smiled arrogantly as she said, "You're smart but you still have no magic! You may have Stringbean but without your glyphs you can't do anything yourself!"

She held her staff out as it glowed red and she made ropes appear and tie Luz up, but Stringbean changed to her natural form and then sprouted sharp spines on her back. She bit down on the end of her tail and spun herself like a sawblade and cut the ropes off of Luz, who smiled as she got up. Stringbean changed to her staff form again and Luz held her as she spun around and waved her through the air and sent a wave of magic at Zul. Zul swung her staff down and cut the magic wave in two, then Luz ran at her and jumped as she swung her staff and knocked Zul's out of her hand.

It fell on the ground and Luz smiled as she pointed her staff at Zul's face and said, "I may not have glyphs, but neither do you. If you're my clone then you're human too, so you're powerless without your staff."

Zul had a devious grin as she waved her left finger as the tip glowed red and she telekinetically knocked Luz back.

Luz fell on her back and sat up as she exclaimed, "Huh?!"

Zul smiled as she held out her left hand as it glowed red and she telekinetically pulled her staff back as it came into her hand.

She clinched it in both hands as she smiled sinisterly and said, "The Collector taught dad how to do magic without glyphs, and he taught me some cool spells. I'm not as powerful as him but I can take you no problem."

She aimed her staff and fired a red blast at Luz, who cried in fear as she dodged it and stared at Zul in fear as she kept fighting. Meanwhile the others were still trying to fight Belos' ghost but they had no luck as most of their attacks had no effect on him. Willow's eyes glowed green as she made thorny roots rise out of the ground and lash at Belos, but they harmlessly passed through him. He floated toward her when Amity joined her and made her Abomination slime form a sword, which she slashed at Belos. Once again it passed through him without any harm and he tried to attack them, but they flew out of the way on their staffs. Vee then came and changed into a lizard-like beast with sharp claws and teeth and she stood on all fours before jumping at Belos, but he used telekinesis to slam her to the ground.

She changed back to her natural form as Amity floated overhead and shouted, "Vee! Drain him!"

Vee slithered back in fear while she yelled, "I can't! Basilisks can only feed on living things and objects, our ability to drain magic doesn't work on ghosts!"

Belos then grabbed Vee's tail and held her upside down while he smiled evilly and said, "That's right. I had my Coven bring your kind back so I could learn how to drain life out of witches. Since the draining spell failed I knew you all would be a problem. But now you are the only free one and I can get rid of you right now."

Vee stared at him in fear until Gus flew by on his staff and carried Vee to safety before making rings of blue light with both fingers. He then made three illusions of himself and they all circled around Belos in different directions at high speed.

He watched them with an irritated expression while all four of them smiled and said, "You know Belos, I've been studying Oracle Magic and I'm pretty sure my mind trick would still work on a ghost. Want to relive some memories?"

Belos then angrily stretched both his arms out to great lengths and hit all four Guses, destroying the illusions and knocking the real Gus to the ground.

Belos floated to him and glared down at him as he said, "My head is not a good place to be, you would be wise to stay out of it."

He prepared to attack when Hunter ran by and grabbed Gus before bringing him to safety before Belos grabbed him.

Belos stared at Hunter with a twisted smile before frowning while he said, "Of all my Grimwalkers you looked the most like Caleb, but you also acted the most like him. Ever the disappointment."

Hunter was scared when he teleported out of Belos' grip in a yellow flash and stopped in front of him as he stared back at him.

Belos was shocked as he said, "How?"

Hunter glared at Belos while he held his fist and said, "Flapjack! He gave his life to save mine, and because of that I have magic now!"

Belos became enraged as he said, "Evelyn!"

He then flew at Hunter and tried to attack him as Hunter stared at him in shock and fear until some roots came out of the ground and pulled him under. Hunter was then raised above ground next to Willow who had her eyes glowing green with green rings of light in front of her hand as she held her staff in her other hand. Gus, Amity, and Vee joined them as they all stared at Belos' ghost as he changed into his monstrous form and roared before flying at them. Meanwhile Luz continued to fight Zul as they swung their staffs at each other but dodged each other's attacks.

Zul then kicked Luz and made her slide back before she grinned and gloated, "You can't beat me Luz. I'm better than you ever were!"

She fired a red blast of magic from her staff but Luz dodged it and glared at Zul as she said, "Just because Belos says that doesn't make it true!"

She swung her staff through the air and sent a wave of purple magic at Zul, but she teleported and dodged it before reappearing in front of Luz.

She smiled snidely as she created a light in her hand by herself while saying, "Really? I can do magic without glyphs, the only time you could do that was when you had the power of the Titan, but now that he's dead you can't do that."

Luz then sat on her staff and flew at Zul, but she stepped aside and dodged her before Luz turned around and floated in place.

Zul held her staff out as it glowed red while she smiled evilly and said, "If you were as good as me you probably would've beaten Belos a lot sooner."

She fired a red blast of magic at Luz but she dodged it and stood on the ground as she whirled sent a purple blast of magic at Zul.

Zul easily dodged it as she teleported out of the way and sadistically said, "If you were more like me, maybe Eda and Lilith would still have their magic."

Luz became angry as she swung her staff through the air three times and sent three waves of purple magic at Zul.

She dodged all of them and floated in the air on her staff as she goaded, "If you were a better witch maybe Flapjack would still be alive."

Luz was enraged as she held her staff out and fired another purple blast at Zul, but she flew down and landed in front of her before swinging her staff at Luz, only for Luz to block it.

Their staffs were touching as they stared each other in the face and Zul cruelly said, "If you were more like me, then maybe Philip wouldn't have tricked you so easily."

Luz pulled back and glared at Zul as she said, "I know what you're doing! You're trying to get inside my head!"

Zul then kicked Luz in the stomach and knocked her on the back before pointing her staff at Luz's face with the end glowing red.

Zul smiled evilly as she said, "I'm already in your head. I was made from you, I know everything about you. That's how I know I'm better than you. You're the past and I'm the future."

Luz stared up at her in fear while the others avoided Belos' attacks and noticed Zul had Luz pinned down as they showed fear.

Amity watched in terror as she said, "Luz!"

She flew on her staff to help her while Gus made several illusions of himself, Vee, Amity, Willow, and Hunter and used them to distract Belos. The illusions flew around him as the monstrous ghost roared in fury and started trying to destroy them. Amity flew at Zul and made a ring of purple light with her finger and lashed some Abomination goo at her and knocked her away. She then covered her hand in the slime and formed a large fist with spikes on it as she prepared to punch Zul.

Zul looked at Amity with fear as she said, "Hermosa! I thought you loved me!"

Amity held back as she stared at Zul with a conflicted expression, then Zul smiled evilly as she swung her staff at Amity and knocked her down. She prepared to attack her when Hunter teleported in front of Amity and grabbed Zul's staff and tried to take it from her.

Zul did not give it up as she stared Hunter in the face and spitefully said, "You may have magic now, but I'm still a better Golden Guard than you ever were!"

Hunter glared at Zul as he kept holding the staff and said, "You have my old staff, but that won't help you. You're just another Grimwalker. When Belos is done with you he'll get rid of you and make another, like he tired to do with me."

Zul then kicked Hunter away and smiled evilly as she said, "No he won't, because I'll never betray him. He doesn't have to lie to me because I'll serve him no matter what, and I won't fail him like you did."

She fired a red blast at him but a wall of roots rose out of the ground and protected him as Willow flew down on her staff. The roots retracted into the ground as Willow floated down protectively in front of Hunter and she was joined by Gus. They both glared at Zul and then Vee flew down in front of them with bat wings, which turned into arms and then she started to drain magic from Zul. Zul cringed as she started weakening but then she waved her finger and telekinetically threw Vee at Willow, Hunter, and Gus and knocked them down.

Zul stared at Vee as she smiled and taunted, "You're all pathetic!"

She shot a red magical blast at them but then Luz hit the ground with the bottom of her staff and created a force-field dome over her and her friends.

All six were protected and Luz dropped her force-field as she stepped forward and courageously said, "You can pick on me, but you can't pick on my friends!"

Belos' ghost appeared next to Zul in his usual form and smiled as he put his hand on Zul's shoulder and said, "Always so noble. Don't worry, we'll leave you alone for now. Come Zul, we have more work to do."

She smiled at him and then waved at the others as she said, "Si papa! Bye!"

They both teleported away in a red flash of light, and when they were gone Luz hatefully said, "Belos has been haunting me since the day I met him!"

The others got up and looked at her in shock as Vee said, "So it's true? You know he was back?"

Luz looked at the others with a guilty expression as she confessed, "The night mom and I returned to the human realm with Eda and King, Belos visited me in my dream and told me I would help him again. I was hoping it was just a nightmare but now I know it was more than a dream."

They understood as Amity put her hand on Luz's shoulder and said, "You didn't tell us because you didn't want us to worry if it was nothing."

Luz nodded as she honestly said, "Yeah I didn't know your mom brought his spirit back or that they cloned me!"

Hunter placed his finger on his chin in thought as he said, "Zul must be the one committing crimes and framing you."

Luz immediately became concerned as she said, "We have to tell Eda and Raine!"

They all flew away on their staffs while Vee flapped her bat wings and followed them as they quickly hurried back to the Owl House. In the forest, Belos and Zul watched them fly away with evil smiles on their faces before they disappeared into the shadows.

Later at the Owl House

Eda, King, Lilith, and Raine were in the living room as Eda smile at Raine and said, "Thanks for helping me fix Luz's Witch's Wool cape you two."

Lilith smiled generously as she said, "It's the least we can do."

Raine smiled at her as they said, "Our pleasure, I'm sure she'll love it."

Eda smiled and hung Luz's Witch's Wool cape on her arm when Hooty opened the door and said, "Looks like Luz is bringing some friends over for another party."

Eda looked annoyed as she strictly said, "Oh no! No parties!"

Luz immediately flew in with the others and landed frantically as King said, "Weh!"

They came in so fast they caused a gust of wind and Eda said, "Whoa! Kids where's the fire!"

Luz was freaking out as she frantically pointed her fingers outside and exclaimed, "Belos! Phantom! Me! Grimwalker! Battle!"

Lilith and King got off the couch as Eda patted Luz on the head and calmly said, "Whoa! Take it easy kid! Calm down. Tell us what happened, slowly and clearly."

Luz took a deep breathe as she and the others explained everything while Eda, Raine, Lilith, and King sat on the couch while Hooty stretched his head over next to them.

Luz finished the story as she said, "And then they both escaped and we don't know where they are now."

Eda, Raine, King, Lilith, and Hooty were all speechless as they stared at them with wide eyes and Hooty and Lilith had their mouths agape.

Lilith was terrified as she said, "Belos is back?!"

Luz fearfully nodded as she held Stringbean close for protection and said, "Yes! He's back and he's made a Grimwalker of me!"

Eda was having trouble processing the information as she said, "Didn't see that coming."

Raine looked at the others with a concerned expression as they said, "This is serious!"

Amity agreed as she urgently said, "I knew my mom was bad but I didn't think she'd be crazy enough to bring Belos back from the dead!"

Eda pointed at Amity with a brutally honest expression as she said, "No offense purple hair but your mom's the worst."

Amity shut her eyes as she shrugged and calmly said, "None taken."

Luz was beginning to panic as she said, "We have to do something! Belos probably already has a new plan to wipe out all life in the demon realm, and with Zul helping him he might actually do it! We have to… We have to…"

Eda pointed at Luz as she said, "Somebody comfort her."

Amity held Luz's hand while King hugged her leg, Vee leaned against her, and Hooty wrapped his body around her as a hug.

The others all looked at her with sympathy as she took a deep breath and said, "Thanks guys."

Raine stood up and spoke seriously as they said, "Well, Luz is right. We have to do something. I'll warn Darius and the other Coven Heads about this. We'll see if they can help us in any way."

Lilith stood up and put her hands together as she said, "Good thinking. I'll tell mom and dad. I'm sure they'll help us."

Gus raised his finger and said, "I'll tell my dad, he can probably send a news broadcast to help spread the word and clear Luz's name."

Amity showed a serious expression as she said, "I'd better tell my dad about mom. Just wait until he hears about her deal with the devil."

Amity kissed Luz on the cheek before she, Willow, and Gus left and flew home on their staffs before Raine left and Lilith went into another room.

Luz was left with Hunter, Vee, King, Hooty, and Eda as Eda stood up and asked, "You okay?"

Luz felt very anxious as she explained, "Not really. Belos being a ghost is bad enough, but that Grimwalker really scared me. She's like me but she's so evil."

Hunter understood as he said, "Yeah, Zul is definitely gonna be a big problem."

Vee smiled as she tried to be optimistic and said, "Don't worry Luz, we'll stop her and Belos, somehow."

Luz looked down in despair as she said, "But what if I can't beat her? What if she's right? What if she is better than me?"

Eda smiled with faith as she waved her hand through the air and said, "No way kid! That doppelganger may have magic but she's got nothing on you! She's nothing but a poser trying to make you look bad!"

Luz looked at her and smiled briefly before sulking as she said, "Thanks Eda, but I'm not sure I'm good enough to beat her."

Eda was concerned but then smiled as she got an idea and picked up Luz's cape as she said, "I know you've got a lot going on right now, but maybe this will help."

She held the cape out toward Luz and she was amazed as she took it and said, "My Witch's Wool cape!"

She held it in her hands while Eda smiled and said, "Lilly and Raine helped me fix it for you and now it's as good as new. It'll probably help you face whatever challenges lie ahead."

Hunter smiled as he pointed at Luz and said, "Yeah, it will make fighting Zul and Belos a bit easier."

Vee smiled as she said, "And you've still got all of us to help you out."

King had a happy look in his eyes as he said, "Yeah! That Luz wannabe and her ghost dad are going down!"

Hooty raised his head as he excitedly said, "I am your fortress!"

Luz smiled as she became cautiously optimistic and turned from Eda to the others while saying, "Thanks Eda. Thanks everyone. I'm still worried about Belos and Zul, but together I know we'll find out what they're planning and stop them!"

Hunter smiled overconfidently as he shut his eyes and shrugged his shoulders while saying, "Besides, it's just them and Odalia. How bad can just the three of them be."

Meanwhile at the Archives

Odalia sitting on the Emperor's old throne which was at the top of the staircase in the foyer of the castle with an evil grin.

She was also looking through scrolls when she opened one and smiled maniacally as she said, "Yes! Finally, I'll be a queen and Amity and the twins will finally join back with me!"

Belos suddenly phased in and responded to her statement as he said, "Do not forget about our arrangement."

Odalia put the scroll on the arm of the chair and groaned in annoyance before she said, "I remember our deal and I'll hold up my end of the bargain as long as you hold yours."

Zul suddenly walked in through the door and joined them as she glared at Odalia and said, "Dad and I are holding up our end. Our plan's working fine so far. We just faced Luz and her friends and they can't stop us."

Odalia smiled evilly as she approached Zul with her hands together and deviously said, "Good! You know, Belos is right Zul. You are much better than that human we cloned you from. If she was more like you I'd actually allow Amity to date her."

She then moved her hand toward Zul's face but she slapped her hand away and said, "Hands off!"

Odalia scowled Zul before Belos spoke up and said, "So, do you have an update for us?"

Odalia looked at Belos and smiled as she said, "Yes. Graye has enlisted Kikimora and those Glandus kids to retrieve the Galderstones tomorrow."

Belos smiled evilly and then pointed at Odalia as he said, "Excellent, now instruct Terra and Vitimir to prepare the other ingredients we need."

Odalia smiled deviously as she said, "Gladly. I love giving orders."

She walked out with an evil grin and when she was gone Belos turned to Zul and said, "Zul, tomorrow while they're all occupied we need get the last and most important ingredient for our surprise. I need your help to accomplish it."

Zul narrowed her eyes and saluted him as she said, "Sir yes sir!"

Belos looked down at her with a twisted smile as he caressed her cheek and said, "Zul, I'm so happy I have you. You are so much better than all the other Grimwalkers I've made, especially Hunter."

Zul then curiously asked, "Am I better than Luz."

Belos smiled as he sincerely as he placed his hand on her shoulder and said, "Of course. I suppose I should be glad Luz didn't join me, because if she had I wouldn't have the perfect apprentice and daughter."

Zul showed a flattered smile before looking ambitious as she said, "Thanks dad. Don't worry. I won't let anything stop us."

Belos smiled with confidence as he said, "I know, and when we're done you'll have a glorious new title and a perfect brother."

They both smiled deviously as Zul kept looking up at him and then Belos moved aside and held his hand out as he let Zul sit on the throne that was once his.

Author's note: I'll try not to drag the story out to much. After a few more chapters I figure we'll get to the climax. We also start to see Belos a bit differently, though he is still the horrible monster that he's always been. He has formed an attachment with Zul, who serves him willingly without question, not in blind loyalty but in a twisted form of love. Zul has proven to be a serious threat and we will see much more of her in the future. Like Belos she will not redeem herself and she is somewhat obsessed with destroying Luz. Please review.