Chapter 72: Thanks to Them Part 1

Back Home

Camila was in the kitchen, making soup with Vee setting up the table for two. That was until she heard a knock at the door. She went to the door and opened and gasped when she saw Luz.

Luz: Hi Mom. I'm back.

Camila stood there surprised as she quickly hugged her daughter.

Camila: Mija you're finally home. Oh you look hurt. What happened to you? Why...

But she stopped when she saw the rest of Luz's friends standing there also hurt and looking sad.

Luz: These are my friends mom. Well most of them.

Camila: You can tell me inside. Please come in all of you. Vee get the first aid kit!

Amity: Thank you.

The Hexsquad enter, but then Camila got startled when she saw Howl sitting behind the group.

Luz: It's okay mom. He's with us. He just got separated from his owner.

Camila: Oh...uh, it's okay. Come in.

Howl slowly walked inside giving Camila a passing glance.

Scene shifts as everyone was all bandaged up and were fed and helped Camila wash the dishes as they explained what had happened.

Camila: Okay, so in the Demon Realm, you fought the evil Emperor Belos who turned into a monster...

Gus: Well, he started out human.

Camila: Right but you were able to free Christa who helped but then he was replaced by this Keizer?

Willow: We were unable to stop his return.

Amity: He took over our home and we would have been killed if it hadn't been for Christa. But she got left behind.

Camila: Oh I'm so sorry.

Vee: How did you get back here exactly?

Luz: With this.

Luz showed her mom the Eye.

Luz: This the Eye of Ginga. Containing the power of the Titan himself and Christa was the only one able to wield it. She gave it to me right before we got separated so Keizer wouldn't get to it. I tried to use it to go back, but I ( tears up), I couldn't get it.

Camila: You're just tired Mija. I'm sure all of you are. You need your rest, you're all safe here.

The scene cuts to the basement where Hunter, Gus and Alex were settling in with Gus looking around at all the stuff excited.

Gus: Guys look at all this human stuff.

Gus took out a the bubble wrap as he starting popping it while giggling.

Hunter: I think it's just " stuff " here Gus.

Camila came down and brought some bed sheets and covers.

Camila: I hope you boys don't mind it down here. I know it's not much but...

Gus: Oh it's fine Luz's mom.

Alex: Yeah, thank you Mrs. Luz's mom.

Hunter: ( clears his throat and knees and bows to her) Thank you for providing us shelter ma'am.

Camila: Uh, please don't do that again and just call me Camila boys. Buenos Noches.

Camila goes back up stairs as she passes by Luz's room where she see's Vee showing Amity and Willow an alarm clock.

Vee: So in the morning instead of screaming, it does this.

Vee activates the alarm which shocks Amity and Willow.

Amity: ( knocks the clock in the air) Don't worry Vee!

Willow: We'll keep you safe!

Willow destroys the clock with her plant magic.

Willow: ( she and Amity bump elbows) Good work. It's dead.

Vee: Uh, thanks?

Camila looks down and see's the floor with the hole created by Willow's vine.

Camila: I'll worry about that later.

She saw Luz down the hall looking at some of the photos of her and her family.

Luz: Mamá, I... I know I shouldn't have left. I never meant to lie, but I had to stay, and... and it wasn't because I... (gets cut off by Camila hugging her)

Camila: Hey. Hey. We'll have time to talk later. I'm just so happy you're home.

Luz: Yeah. I'm home. But they're not.

Later that night.

Camila was asleep, happy to have her daughter home and was kind enough to let her friends stay. As she slept she began to have flashbacks in the form of a dream. First one being of a younger Luz digging near the playground and finding what appeared to be the shedded skin of a snake.

Young Luz: ( gasps) Look what I found! ( holds it out to the kids)

Children: Gross, don't touch that dead thing. Ew. Gross.

Young Luz: It's not dead. This is the skin of a garter snake. They shed their pajamas as they grow. It means there's a snake near us, and it just got a lot bigger!

Children: Ew! (all scream and run)

Camila: ( laughs) She called them pajamas.

Adult 1: Ugh. So unhygienic.

Adult 2: That girl must've been raised by wolves.

Camila: Hey! Wolves are actually great parents, and-

Flashforward to a more recent time, when Luz was performing on the play of Romeo and Juliet.

Camila: Huh?

Young Luz: O happy dagger! Give me death!

Luz performs her fake death which involved using wieners as guts and scaring the other kids running and screaming.

Camila: ( laughs) Her dad taught her that one.

Adult 1: ( wretches) Gross! Now everything smells like lunch meat.

Adult 2: Yeah, she's such a try-hard.

Camila: Oye! What did you just say?

Camila's chair falls backwards, Camila screams, grunts, and is transported to even more recently, in the guidance counselor's office.

Guidance Counselor: I said, grief can manifest in different ways. Like how Luz has been acting out for attention.

Camila: Losing Manny was difficult for both of us, but Luz has always done things differently.

Guidance Counselor: Didn't you say you were bullied in high school, Mrs. Noceda?

Camila: Uh, yes, but-

Guidance Counselor: Luz hasn't made any friends, her grades are inconsistent, and I heard she brought a live snake to school? Take this. It could help her.

Camila ( becomes submerged in water) "Reality Check Camp"?

Guidance Counselor: You don't want Luz to struggle like you did, right?

Luz: Mom?

Camila wakes up and see's Luz entering her room with her palisman egg.

Luz: I'm sorry did I wake you, I couldn't sleep myself.

Camila: Uh oh no, no I've been up. What time is it?

Luz: I want to know, why aren't you mad at me?

Camila: ( sighs) Oh, baby. Come here. ( Luz sits next to her on bed) I've been terrified, sure. But believe it or not, I do understand what it's like to want to run away.

Luz: I'm so sorry.

Camila: But the point is, you came home, and everything is okay now.

Luz: But it's not. Everyone's trapped here and I don't even know if Christa, King and Eda are okay. I really wanted you to meet them so bad.

Camila: I'm sorry about what happened. But you'll make it back to them. You just...you just need to have hope.

Luz: Can I sleep here tonight?

Camila replies by kissing her forehead.

Luz: Give the palisman a kiss too.

Camila does so and places the egg on the nightstand as Luz falls asleep. As Luz slept she too began to have a dream. She opened her eyes and gasped as she was in the in between realm she was once in when she first entered the prototype portal.

Luz: Wait, how did I get here?

Luz...

Luz: Huh? Uh hello? Anybody there?

Luz...

She kept hearing a faint voice calling her name. She looked around and behind her was a bright white silhouette of some giant as he continued speaking but he kept getting cut off like a poor connection when calling someone on the phone.

Luz...

Luz: What the?

Luz you must...back to...restore...must go...back!

But the dream ended abruptly as Luz woke up and it was already morning.

Luz: Whoa, that was a weird dream.

Luz smelled something coming from downstairs.

Luz: Oh breakfast.

Luz came downstairs where the others were in the living room.

Amity: Luz there you are. You weren't in your room.

Luz: Morning Amity. Sorry I was with my mom last night. Did you sleep okay.

Amity: I slept okay, but I think it was best you left because Willow kind of kept me up with her snoring.

Luz looked over at the guys with Hunter looking at some of her culture's antiques and furniture while Gus and Alex were sitting on the couch watching tv with the remote in Gus's hand.

Gus: Luz this human flat screen box projector is amazing. It's so much bigger than the crystal balls back home and look at all these channels.

Alex: Gus stop flipping channels and choose one.

Gus: I can't. There's so much to choose.

Alex: Give me that thing.

Gus: No.

Alex: Give me!

Gus: I got it first!

Alex: Well you won't make up your mind.

Willow: Would you two stop! We're guests here.

Alex and Gus: Sorry Willow.

The channel Gus had stopped at was the news.

Anchorman: And in other news the Frogvasion on Los Angeles has finally ended. Ted Tucker has the story. Ted?

Todd: The names Todd, Jerry. But we're standing here of what's left of the battle. All of this, what's left here these robot frogs were apparently lead by a giant lizard king from some unknown world. Possibly from space. Side note, two large birds that look like herons are still at large. They have flow away into the distance to who knows where. Anyone who've seen these herons I advise you to take shelter and call the number down below. But in the end of the day we were all saved by uh...am I reading this right, a middle school girl?

Anne suddenly appears next to him cheering.

Anne: Whoo! I'm Anne Boonchuy! I'm Anne Boonchuy.

Luz: Huh, she looks familiar.

Camila: Breakfast is ready.

The Hexsquad enters the kitchen and sat around the table as Camila had finished making pancakes.

Camila: I know we don't have whatever food you eat back where your from but I hope you like what I made.

The group saw the stack of pancakes and looked with awe.

Amity: Mmm, it does smell good.

Willow: Looks good too.

Alex: Hey if I don't have to worry about it trying to eat me first I'm good.

Luz: Oh you guys haven't lived until you tried my mom's pancakes.

Camila placed a few on each plate. Amity looked over at Luz who was pouring syrup on hers as she passed it over to her. Amity puts some on hers as she passed it next to Willow.

Luz: ( eating) Oh Dios mío. I missed this so much.

Amity cuts a small piece and tried it. Her eyes widened with the taste. It was so warm, fluffy and the syrup made it sweet.

Amity: Oh my Titan this the best thing I've ever tasted in my life.

Amity continued eating her pancakes as the others tried and they too were loving it.

Willow: These are really good Camila.

Gus: It's like I'm eating an angels wings.

Alex: Oh this is the best thing I've ever put into my mouth!

The others look at him awkwardly.

Alex: Did that come out wrong?

Hunter: This is really good Camila.

Luz: You know Hunter, the alternate name for these are flapjacks.

Hunter: Wait seriously? Flapjack you have the most delicious name ever.

Flapjack replies with a chirp.

Alex: (stacking his plate) Give me some more of that.

Willow: Slow down Alex. Vee hasn't had any yet.

Luz: Where is Vee?

Vee: Uh hey guys.

Everyone looked over and to their surprise saw Vee but now in her current S3 look.

Vee: Morning everyone.

Luz: Whoa is that...

Alex: Who are you and what have you done to Vee?

Willow: Alex it's her, basilisks can shape shift.

Alex: Oh right.

Vee: Well with Luz back I think I should stop posing as her and I've been trying to think how I should look when out of the house. What do you guys think?

Luz: You look great Vee.

Amity: You look so pretty.

Willow: You really look cute.

Gus: Yeah girl, you look great.

Alex: It does suit you.

Hunter: I think you look good.

Camila: Oh Vee. Come here ( hugging her), I'm so proud you found your place here.

Later that day.

The Hexsquad thought it was now time to discuss how to get back to the Demon Realm, but they wanted to do this discretely. Luz lead them to the abandoned house that she first went through when she first came. The group also had some new clothes ( their S3 look) to blend in better in the human world. While Camila had something for Amity and Willow, the boys however had to be bought. Alex specifically wore a black shirt with a skull on it, a navy blue sleeveless jacket with blue jeans and tennis shoes.

Hunter: This is how you arrived to our world?

Luz: Yeah, didn't think I'd come back here.

Luz opened the door showing them the inside.

Alex: Sheesh talk about your fixer upper. Do we have to do it over here.

Luz: We should be discrete about this. I don't think people will react too well with witches and magic. I mean don't worry no witch trials but maybe the government would be involved but also weirdos, not the good kind who try to hunt you guys.

Vee: It's true. I know.

Luz: Anyway huddle up everyone. We were lucky to make out alive, but we can't stay and hide.

Amity: That's right, we have to go back and save everyone.

Hunter: And how do we get back?

Luz: The same way we left.

Luz took out the Eye.

Luz: Christa made me the new Holder of the Eye. She said as long as I had this I had hope.

Gus: If she passed it down, wouldn't that make you an honorary Kamerian Witch?

Luz: I guess so, but I think she mainly did this so Keizer wouldn't get it. But at least we have a chance to get back.

Gus: Do you even know how it works?

Luz: Well...no. But before Christa got her memories back she didn't really know how it worked either.

Willow: You can do this.

Luz: Okay.

Luz held the Eye as she took a deep breathe and closed her eyes.

Luz: Eye of Ginga, here me. Open the portal and take us back to the demon realm!

But nothing happened as the others just looked at her and each other confused.

Luz: I said open!

Still nothing.

Luz: Okay uh...open sesame!

Still nothing.

Luz: Open up! Go! Go! Go Eye go! Shazam! To infinity and beyond! Rasengan! Windscar! Bankai! Gum-gum pistol!

Alex: I don't even want to know what last one is.

Luz: Come on open the portal. ( frowns) Please?

Amity: Luz...

Luz: I'm sorry I can't. I thought I was ready but I can't get it to work. You guys give it a try.

Amity: We can't. It was passed down to you. It was said to only be wielded by those worthy to Ginga.

Luz: You think I'm worthy? I can't get it to work. I'm...I'm not worthy.

Luz covered her face in frustration as Amity held her shoulders to calm her down.

Hunter: So I guess using the Eye is out of the question.

Alex: Alright then we move on to plan B. You still got those blueprints from the Unknown Isles?

Luz: Yeah.

Alex: Perfect we can make a portal.

Vee: But doesn't making something like that require Titan Blood.

Hunter: Yeah, how are we supposed to make a portal with no blood?

Alex: We don't need. Look Christa's mom said that the Eye does what Titan blood does but so much more. We saw Christa use this to open a portal here, so if we can just harness the power, we can use it as a substitute power source.

Luz: That's great idea. Alex your a genius.

Alex: Well of course. When it comes to stuff like ( shakes off mosquito) shoo. When it comes to stuff like...( shakes mosquito) buzz off! I said when it comes to...ow. What are these small flying bugs biting me?

Luz: They're mosquitos and they're trying to suck your blood for nutrition.

Alex: I've been bitten by a vampire mosquito! NOOOOO! ( falls to his knees) I'm gonna turn into a vampire now! It's already happening.

Alex began twitching and make all sorts of weird growling noises.

Amity: And there he goes.

Luz: Alex there are no such things as vampires. Okay there are but not in the human realm.

Luz clicked on the bronze box as it showed the hologram blueprints of the portal as the group examined it.

Alex: Hmm, oh.

Luz: What, is it impossible?

Alex: No but I don't think this world has the exact things we need to make it. So we might have to improvise some steps. But even if it did, this looks way more complex than the prototype blueprints you got from that journal. I'm more of a construction worker than an engineer.

Amity: I can help with that. I'm future heiress of my family company and I've been studying my dad's work. I didn't think I'd ever have to use that knowledge so soon.

Alex: Good. Okay, then I'm going to need some tools and equipment.

Vee: We have some things in the garage.

Later.

The scene shifts to Hunter placing jumper cables on the door with some glyph combos taped on. Attached to the cables were some large hamster like wheels for the palisman to run on as the cables were duck taped to the Eye with a power generator.

Willow: This is our final result?

Alex: I told you we had to improvise

Luz: Are you sure this will work?

Alex: If we can at least make contact to the other side like we did before we can see how everyone else is and get help .

Hunter: All set.

Alex: Ok go!

The palisman began peddling. At first nothing happend, but then some sparks flickered as the cables got some power from the Eye as it made its way to the door.

Alex: That's it. Just a little more.

The door began to glow.

Luz: It's working.

Alex: Little more.

But the the magic surrounding the door began to fade away.

Alex: No don't stop. Go faster! Faster!

The palisman tried running faster as it was generating the door once again.

Alex: Come on. Come on.

But the door explodes and caught on fire.

Alex: Damn! Over shot it!

Willow: Put that fire out!

Gus came running with a fire extinguisher. But he didn't know how it worked as he waved it around.

Gus: Why isn't this working?

Vee: Give me that!

Vee used the fire extinguisher and puts out the fire. However Luz crouches down in depression as Amity tried to comfort her with Alex helping her up.

Luz: It failed.

Amity: Don't give up Luz.

Alex: Hey don't look so down Luz, this was more of a test run. Something like this is going to require some trial and error, but I promise to keep working on this. As soon as we clean this up. And get another door.

Luz gave him a small smile feeling some reassurance, but looked away still sad.

The group returned to the house tired but looking bummed out as Camila watched them slump on the couch.

Camila: I'm guessing your portal test run failed.

Luz: Yeah it did.

Camila looked around the room seeing how sad everyone looked and went over to Luz.

Camila: Mija why don't you show your friends a little more around the house. Show them your collection. Show them around and I'll order dinner.

A small smile formed on Luz. We cut to sometime later where she now had her friends standing in front of her bedroom door.

Luz: You guys ready?

Amity: ( excited) I'm so ready.

Willow: What are you excited for? You slept here last night.

Amity: I was too tired and didn't get a good look around.

Luz: Well Ami your about to be dazzled.

Luz opened the door as she let her friends enter her room.

Luz: So this is my room where all the magic happens. Okay not really but you get what I mean.

Amity was looking through Luz's shelf of her Azura collection of toys and dvds.

Amity: Luz you have such a nice collection.

Luz: Thanks but it's nothing compared to your Shiny Azura doll.

Amity: Sure but you have all the 6 inch sets as well as the castle model. ( gasps) And you have all the movies.

Luz: Yup all of them on dvd. A blu ray set is coming with some newly added bonus features and directors commentary. Oh but I also heard they're making a live action remake of the first film.

Amity: Get out. I am so in.

Hunter: Uh Luz, why do you have sword?

Hunter was pointing to a sword she had displayed on her wall.

Luz: Oh ho that. Eh just something I got from the Azura convention when I was a younger. Funny story actually I once tried to cut my hair with it.

Hunter: How did that go?

Luz: Horribly.

Gus: Whoa! Luz what is this?

Gus saw her Nintendo Switch.

Luz: Oh that's my Switch. This is perfect. I never had anyone to play multiplayer with.

Luz turns it on and inserts Mario Kart 8 in.

Luz: Oh it's been forever since I played. Hang on I don't remember these new tracks.

Vee: They released an expansion on the game I bought a couple weeks ago.

Luz: Oh even better. Um let me see, aside from my joycons I only have two wired controllers. Well Gus you can definitly play.

Gus: Yes, yes!

Luz: Amity you want to try?

Amity: I'll watch first. See how you do it.

Willow: Same here.

Luz: Okay so here Vee and...

Luz looked over at Hunter and Alex who were fighting over the controller until they decided to settle with rock paper scissors. Hunter won much to Alex's disappointment.

Luz: Here you go Hunter.

Hunter took the joycon as he looked at it confused.

Hunter: How are you supposed to hold this thing? It's so tiny.

The game began as Luz, Vee, Gus and Hunter played, but the latter was struggling.

Hunter: Hey I wasn't ready.

His character then slipped on a banana peel.

Hunter: No fair cheater!

Then he was hit by a red shell.

Hunter: Hey I thought we were all a team.

Luz: Nope.

Gus: Not here.

Hunter: Wait why am I stopping? Why am I suddenly going backwards?! Something's wrong with my controller.

Gus: Mines fine.

Vee: Mine too.

Hunter: This game is dumb!

Hunter threw the joy con at the tv only for it to bounce off and hit him in the eye.

Alex: It's mine!

Alex took the joy con as he played.

Hunter: I have way more fun playing flyer derby than this.

Gus: Come on it's not that hard.

Luz: Dang Gus you're a natural at this game and this your first time.

Gus: I think I have a gift on human video games.

Camila: Dinner time!

Luz: Oh pizza night!

The hexsquad came down stairs as Camila brought a few boxes of pizza.

Amity: What is pizza?

Luz: Only the best food in my world.

Camila opened the boxes as the group looked at the pizza in awe as the smell was amazing. Camila placed cheese slice on Amity's plate. She looked a bit unsure about this at first, but trusts Luz if she says it's good. She picked it up and took a bite. Like breakfast this morning she fell in love with the first bite. It wasn't fairy pie but it was still delicious.

Amity: Wow this is amazing.

The others tried it to as they were liking it. Alex took the slice of pepperoni and took huge bite, but was too hot as it burned his tongue.

Alex: Ow!

Willow: Let it cool a bit.

Alex: I can't help it. It's so good.

Gus: Why don't we have something like this back home?

Hunter: Ooh give me this one.

Hunter takes the slice of chorizo and jalapeno.

Camila: You sure you want that one? It maybe a little spicy.

Hunter: Please, nothing is too hot for me.

Hunter takes a bite, but he quickly put the slice down as it was a bit hot for him with the jalapenos.

Hunter: Oh geez that is hot. Ah, ah, too hot!

Hunter took some water and chugged it down as everyone laughed.

Later that night.

Everyone was settling in, but before they did Luz and Hunter made a small bed for the palisman to sleep on. Ghost, Clover, Emmiline, Phil and Flapjack were huddled together sleeping soundly.

Luz: Oh they're so cut when sleepping.

Hunter: Yeah they are. Wait one, two, three...one's missing.

Vee: Hey guys, I think one your palisman is outside.

They looked out the window and they see Howl just sitting outisde on the front porch.

Luz: Poor Howl. I know what he's feeling.

Hunter: I'll talk to him.

Hunter goes outside as he sits next to Howl, who didn't pay any attention to him.

Hunter: Hey, want to come in?

Howl doesn't respond to him nor does he even give a passing glance.

Hunter: ( sighs) Look I know you don't like me and you probably blame me for this since I'm her boyfriend. And you know you're probably right. I blame myself too. I promised her mom that I'd look after her yet I failed not once but twice. Now I'm left wondering where she is or if she's even still alive. I'm trying so hard right now to keep it together and we're going to keep trying to get back. I'm sorry I couldn't save her and for separating you. I know what your feeling. You think you're alone, but you're not.

Howl finally gave him a glance and to Hunter's shock, Howl laid his head onto his lap making a small whimpering sound as Hunter pets his head.

Back inside Luz and Vee smiled seeing Hunter and Howl bond.

Luz: I think he got through to him.

Vee: Yeah. Hey, since I can't think of a better time. I'm glad I can finally meet you in person. I'm thankful you guys still let me stay here despite knowing the truth about me.

Luz: My family is very little, so it's nice to have a new member and that I could introduce you to most of my friends.

Vee smiled as she hugged Luz as she hugged her back.

Luz: Oh Vee, I actually have something for you.

Luz took out the brooch Mr. Hirata wanted her to give to Vee.

Luz: This is from Mr. Hirata.

Vee: For me?

Luz: He wanted you to have this.

Luz places the brooch in Vee's hair.

Vee: How do I look?

Luz: You look very pretty.

Vee: So he's still back there?

Luz: Yeah, he's been helping me so much lately. Said he was trying to correct his past mistakes.

Vee: ( frowns) His mistakes in creating my kind.

Luz: You're not a mistake. I told him about you here and he's glad to know you're okay.

Vee: I didn't think he'd still remember me. Hey when or if you guys ever get the portal working, I want to come.

Luz: You sure? Because things are probably different at the Boiling Isles with...

Vee: I know but I want to see him. I want him to know how I'm doing. I hope he's okay.

Luz: Yeah, me too. I hope they all are, but we will find a way back. Someday...somehow.

To be continued...

Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. Alright I'm back. Took a little break to rejuvenate my mind and know what to do next and trying to do this whenever I have the chance. Wanted to start off something simple and easy. Sorry if there was a bit too much here, with how I'm playing out this arc I had trouble trying to think where to add Camila's dream scene here. But now I can give us a full season 3 here or as much as I can or think of. If you liked this chapter be sure to follow, favorite and review. As always thank you and until next time.