As promised, here we are with the first official chapter of The Owl Family. I hope I did okay with Raine's outfit. I've never designed an outfit for a non-binary character before, so hopefully, it came out right.
I made Hunter's design as a combination of his beta design, Simpie-Nii's AU design, and an outfit I'd seen Morningmark use. It's a combination of Demon and Human Realm fashion. He doesn't have as many scars as the canon or his eyebags.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to The Owl House. I only own this story idea. I made some references to Morngingmark's fan comics, so credit for those goes to them. I borrowed part of Hunter's design from Simpie-Nii over on DA, so credit goes to them.
P.S.: I'm going to skip the first third of the episode because it's the same. The chapter will start at the spot where Luz enters the Demon Realm.
Onward we go!
A mysterious, ornate door with an eye decoration appeared out of thin air, unfolding in three parts. When it opened, a small, brown owl hopped through with a hoot, holding a sack in its beak. A few seconds later, a teenage girl named Luz Noceda followed through after it. She was chasing the owl because it had taken her favorite book.
"Stop adorably hopping away, you—" Luz started saying before she realized her surroundings had changed and slowed to a stop. "Huh?" Moments ago, Luz had chased the owl through the door of an abandoned cabin in the woods. On the other side, however, she found herself in a tent full of old odds and ends.
"Whoa. I thought I had a lot of weird stuff," Luz commented before picking up a creepy-looking doll on a hanger. "But this? This is impressive."
"Finally, you're back!" A woman's voice said suddenly. Luz gasped as she dropped to the ground. She peeked back up before she started walking forward.
"What did Owlbert find this time?" Another voice, this time male, asked.
"Back off. We have to sell the stuff, remember? Now, let's see what we've got here," the woman said as Luz moved the tent flap aside. Outside was a pale woman with long gray hair, her back to her. She wore a red dress and a green polka-dot bandana, carrying a long brown pole almost the same height as her.
Next to her was a teenage boy wearing a dark maroon red hat covering his ears with light blond hair peeking out. He had black sunglasses over his eyes and a short-sleeve golden-yellow zipper hoodie over a dark teal blue shirt. The rest of his outfit included black jeans tucked into knee-high brown boots and black fingerless gloves.
The little owl hooted before landing on top of the pole. The woman twisted him around, turning it into a wooden fixture on top of the staff. Luz gasped again, surprised by what she had just seen.
She continued to watch as the woman started going through the bag her owl had brought back. After a minute, the strange woman pulled a smartphone from the sack. "Garbage…" She tossed it aside before looking again. The second time, she found a diamond ring. "Garbage…" She threw that away and rummaged through the items again. This time, she found a golden shining chalice, for some reason, but that didn't impress her either. "Garbage…" She tossed the item before gasping in delight when something in the bag caught her eye.
"Now this…" She pulled out a pair of joke glasses with eyes on springs and put them on. "This will make me rich."
"What are those even for? To have people make fun of you?" The teen asked.
"Ah, come on, Hunter. Don't ya think they're cool?" the woman asked.
"Nope."
"Fine, fine," the woman, Eda, waved off before going through the bag again. "And this…" She pulled out a book called "The Good Witch Azura," causing Luz to gape silently because it was her book. "You want it?" she asked the teen. Hunter shook his head. "Well, then this'll make good kindling," Eda concluded before holding it over a candle to burn, causing Luz to gasp in horror.
"Excuse me! Sorry! That's mine!" she ran out of the tent, snatching her book from Eda, surprising her and Hunter. "Thank you!"
"What the–?" Hunter gasped as Luz ran back into the tent.
She headed towards the door to leave, but it folded up, turning into a suitcase before disappearing. Eda and Hunter stood behind her, the former holding a key with the same eye decoration as the door.
"You're not going anywhere!" Eda said menacingly as she took off the glasses.
"Wha-ah!" Luz yelped in fear, shoving her Azura book into her messenger bag as she fled under the back of the tent. She started running but skidded to a stop inches away from a cliff. Beyond the ledge, she stared in terrified awe at the sight before her.
She was definitely not in Connecticut anymore.
In fact, she was positive she wasn't on Earth anymore.
Before her was a strange, old-fashioned-looking town with gothic architecture. Several buildings looked like teeth and clawed arms, one grabbing a dragon-like creature as it flew by.
Down below, the city was full of denizens who all appeared to be going about their day. It would've been normal if not for the fact that none of them looked human… at all. A cloaked figure was holding an ice cream cone as it started eating someone. The legs of what appeared to be a giant chicken walked past them. A centipede-looking thing opened its mouth to let a winged creature fly out. They kissed each other before going their separate ways.
"Oh, no, no, no, no! What's going on?" Luz backed away from the cliff before jumping back with a shriek as a fairy approached her. "Oh, hello, little fairy. Are you going to tell me this is all a fantastical dream?"
"Give me your skin!" It yelled suddenly, showing rows of sharp teeth in its mouth.
Luz screamed as she slapped the fairy to the ground before freaking out again. "Where am I? Did I die? Am I in a bad place?" Suddenly, she felt a hand touch her shoulder, causing her to freeze.
"You wish," Eda answered.
She dragged Luz back to the tent where Hunter was waiting, plopping her down on a stool out front. "I'm so sorry! I just wanted my book! If you're gonna eat my skin, just make it quick! Just do it now!" Luz yelled frantically as she closed her eyes, offering her elbow.
"Eat you? Why would I eat… a potential customer?" Eda questioned, putting on a pleasant tone. She ran a stand called "Human Collectibles," whatever that meant, and had all sorts of items for sale.
Confused but figuring she wouldn't be eaten, Luz opened her eyes before Eda started showing what she had for sale. "Can I offer you a human foot filled with holes?" She held up a green Croc, then put it aside before grabbing a stick of men's deodorant. "A bar of green human candy? Oh, oh! How about this black shadow box that reflects only sadness?" She held a portable TV up to Luz, who looked at the middle-aged woman before she started laughing.
"That's not all it can do," she said as she stood up and took the TV. "Here, let me see." Looking at the table, Luz grabbed two batteries from a dish labeled "Human candy! (?)." She put the batteries in and pressed the power button. Once she did, a jazzercise video started playing with loud music. "Voilà!"
"Oohhhh," Hunter 'oohed,' looking closer. "How does it work? How did that person get in there?"
Several customers and vendors stopped at the noise, looking over curiously. "Huh?"
"What's that?"
"The sound– It's so alluring." Several monsters now crowded around the TV for a better look.
"I'll pay forty snails for the screaming box," One monster offered, holding up some green bills.
"I'll give you a hundred!" Another offered, doing the same.
"Can I eat the tiny person inside?" A different creature asked.
Soon, the whole crowd started bidding. Luz looked at them in confusion while Eda and Hunter were stunned. "What did you say your name was?" The older woman looked at Luz with an impressed smirk.
"I'm Luz," She smiled back. "Luz Noceda."
"Well, Luz, that was pretty clever…" She praised as she took people's money. "For a human."
Luz raised an eyebrow at the comment. "That's kind of a weird thing for another human to say."
"Oh, dear child," She took off her bandana to reveal pointed ears. "I'm not like you."
"Here we go…" Hunter muttered, taking off his hat and sunglasses. He also had pointed ears (both with small black hoops on the lobs) and dark magenta eyes.
"I'm Eda the Owl Lady!" Eda introduced herself as she climbed on the table. "The most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles!"
"A witch?" Luz questioned softly.
"I am respected, feared–"
"Busted!" A male voice interrupted before breaking the TV with his fist.
"Run! It's a guard!" All of the customers ran away screaming. Luz was knocked to the ground in the commotion as a big, hulking man stood in front of the table, looking at Eda.
"Eda the Owl Lady," He spoke as Eda hopped down from the table, holding up a wanted poster of her, Hunter, and a small dog-like creature with a skull, horns, and a red collar. "You are wanted for misuse of magic and demonic misdemeanors."
"Whoa! Witch criminal!" Luz said, peeking over the edge of the table.
"You are hereby ordered to come with me to the Conformatorium." The man continued, grabbing Eda's arm.
Eda freed her arm, complaining, "Would you guys quit following me and my kid around? We haven't done squat."
"And you're coming too…"
"Aah!" Luz yelped as she was picked up by her hood.
"… for fraternizing with a criminal."
"Wh–What?! That's not cool!" Luz complained, hugging her legs again.
"Oh, all right, all right, you win," Eda surrendered before reaching under the table. "Just let me get my stuff."
"Mom, what're you doing?" Hunter asked.
"This!" She grabbed her staff and swung it at the guard. She hit him in the face, causing him to drop Luz and fall to the ground with a grunt. Eda then spun her staff and tapped the table, causing a spark of light. Luz picked herself and her book off the ground before looking back at Eda, staring in awe as her stuff floated in midair, surrounded by a yellow aura.
"Whoops," Eda said, reaching into her hair. "Can't forget this." Pulling out the key, she pressed the eye to summon the portal door to her. She closed her hand into a fist, wrapping the tablecloth around all her stuff. She stuck her staff through the bundle and started running with Hunter behind her. "Follow us, human."
Not seeing any other options, Luz scrambled to her feet and followed the witches. "This is crazy. If I die here, my mom's gonna kill me!"
"Ha! We won't let 'em hurt you," Eda reassured her. "A human like you is much more valuable to us alive than dead."
"Wait. What's that supposed to–" Luz questioned before Eda looped her arm with hers.
"Whoo-hoo!" She jumped, pulling herself and Luz onto her staff with Hunter hopping on behind her.
"Let's fly!" Hunter hollered before they took off into the sky as the guard came around the corner.
"You won't get away with this, Owl Lady!" He shook his fist at her before looking at his hands. "Yeah, all right. You did. You got away with it. She got away with it, everybody!" After his outburst, the guard walked away in defeat. "Typical."
(Somewhere in the sky)
Luz's eyes were shut tight with fearful tears as they flew, clutching her book close. "You can open your eyes now, human," Eda said after a few minutes. Doing so, Luz looked down and saw the ground whizzing by below them. Startled, she yelled in fright and nearly fell off the staff as she hung from it like a koala.
"Flying staffs, crazy monsters, you two are witches! What is this place?" She questioned as Eda picked her up and righted her.
"This is the Boiling Isles," Eda explained as they soared, various winged creatures flying behind them as she talked. "Every myth you humans have is caused by a little of our world leaking into yours."
A griffin flew up next to them and screeched. "A griffin!" Luz gasped, smiling despite herself. The griffin then barfed up a load of spiders. "I knew it!" She cried, pointing at it.
"Yep, griffins, vampires, giraffes…" Hunter counted on his fingers.
"Giraffes?" Luz questioned.
"Oh, yeah. We banished those guys," Eda explained as she dove down to land the staff in the woods before she and Hunter hopped off. "Bunch of freaks."
The older witch didn't see that one of her hands had stayed behind, still clutching the staff. Luz noticed, however, just in time to see it move independently. "Aaah!" She screamed, jumping off the staff.
"Oops," Eda took her hand and screwed it back on. "That happens sometimes."
"Well, I've had enough adventure for today," Luz said, standing up. "This is clearly not the PG fantasy world I always dreamed about. So, can you help me get back home?"
Eda leveled her staff in front of Luz, startling her. "Only if you help us first." She lifted her staff, chuckling for some reason, before walking away with the bag following her. "Ah, now, come along, human."
"Whoa!" Luz whispered in awe as Hunter followed the older witch.
An owl with an uncanny human face cackled from on top of a tower. It flew in front of an odd cottage with a large window that looked like an eye, which Eda, Hunter, and Luz walked up to.
"Aren't you worried about those guards finding us?" Luz looked over her shoulder.
"Nope. My house has a state-of-the-art defense system." Eda replied proudly.
"It can be kind of annoying, though," Hunter said. "And weird… And gross… And creepy…"
"Hey, if it wasn't for him, I would've been arrested long before now."
"Doesn't change the fact I'm right."
Suddenly, the owl carving on the door started speaking. "Hey! I'm right here, ya know? Hoot."
"Great, we need to get in," Eda said to it.
"Hoot-hoot! Password, please!" It said before Eda poked both of its eyes. "Aah!"
"See what I mean?" Hunter looked at Luz.
"We got no time for this, Hooty. Let us in." Eda said, unamused.
"All right, all right! Geez! You never want to have any fun! Ow!" Hooty grumbled. "And Hunter's a meanie! Hoot!" Hooty opened his mouth wide enough to cover the door completely. Eda, Hunter, and Luz stepped through while Eda's bag stayed outside. Hooty then closed his mouth with a burp.
"Welcome to," Eda snapped her fingers. "the Owl House…"
Candles ignited as a fire in the fireplace started. A cauldron started stirring itself, and a broom started sweeping the floor. Overhead, a depiction of an owl beast began to glow with a tremendous screeching noise as Luz looked at all of this in awe.
"… where I hide away from the pressures of modern life. Also, the cops. Mm, also secret admirers." Eda chuckled.
"This place is beautiful," Luz commented, putting her book on the coffee table. "Do you two live here all alone?"
"Actually–" Hunter started to say before he was interrupted.
"Eda, Hunter, welcome back."
Luz turned around and saw another witch walk into the living room. They had mint-green hair with white streaks, medium-brown skin, and green eyes behind a pair of large round glasses. They wore a long-sleeve white shirt under a teal-blue tunic, a brown belt, gray pants, and knee-high dark gray boots.
"Hey, Raine." Hunter smiled at the older witch. Raine ruffled Hunter's hair affectionately before sharing a short kiss with Eda.
"Rainestorm." Eda purred.
"You're back early from the market." They commented.
"Yeah, we ran into a guard. Again," Eda rolled her eyes. "Also, we brought back a human with us."
"Oh, that's– wait a minute, what?!" Raine looked at Luz with wide eyes as she waved back sheepishly. They then looked back at their partner with a side-eye expression. "Eda…"
"Yeah, Owlbert made off with her book, and we had to run from the cops before we could send her back," Eda explained. "Besides, she can help us with our problem."
"Eda, no…"
"Eda, yes." Hunter joked, laughing when he got his own side-eye from Raine.
Luz smiled as she watched the three of them. Even though she didn't know their story, they looked like the sweetest little family to her.
Suddenly, thudding footsteps started shaking the house. "Oh, yeah. We have a housemate, too," Eda added, crossing her arms.
"Who's also very dramatic," Hunter added.
Luz braced herself as a shadow appeared near the doorway. "Who dares intrude upon I," A deep voice bellowed before turning into a softer, normal one. "The king of demons?" Then, the dog-like creature from Eda and Hunter's wanted poster entered the room, still wet from bathing. He had a duck and heart towel around his waist and head, squeaking the rubber ducky.
Luz gasped in overjoy, eyes shining at how adorable he was. "¡Ay, que lindo!" She cried, running forward to scoop him up in a hug, knocking away his towels and ducky. Hunter started cracking up as the human cuddled King like a plush toy. "Eda, he's so cute! Who's a widdle guy? Who's a widdle guy? Is it you? Is it you?" She cooed at the little demon, freaking him out.
"No! I don't know who your little guy is!" King cried, struggling to free himself. "Eda, who is this monster?"
"Oh, this is Luz, the human," Eda dragged Luz away from King before putting her down. "She's here to help us with our little… situation."
"Oh! Hooray!" He cheered.
"Wait, wait, wait. I don't like the sound of this "situation."" Luz interrupted.
"Just… let me explain," Eda stepped back before looking at her partner. "Raine, could you…?"
Raine sighed before nodding. "Okay, do what you have to. I see and know nothing."
"Thanks, babe," She smiled at them before twirling her hands to draw a circle in the air. It darkened before effectively turning into a storybook, as Eda narrated. "King was once a mighty king of demons until his Crown of Power was stolen, and he became… this."
"You mean this little bundle of joy?" Luz asked, hugging King again.
"The crown is being held by the evil Warden Wrath and locked away behind a magical force field that only a human can break through…"
"A human like you!" Hunter summed up as the storybook circle faded.
"If you help us retrieve his crown, we'll send you back to your realm. So whaddya say? Plus," She picked up King by his face and shook him gently. "Who could say no to this cute face?"
"No! Please don't encourage her!" King cried, squirming until Eda dropped him. "Nyeh!"
"I mean, we're kinda your only way home," Eda added offhand.
"So, I don't really have a choice, do I?" Luz said nervously.
"Nope. Now, we've got no time to lose." She picked up Luz and tossed her over her shoulder as she turned to her partner. "Usual drill?"
"If you're not back in an hour, I'll come look for you." Raine nodded as she headed for the door. "Hunter, stay safe."
"I will," Hunter promised before following Eda.
"Soon, Mr. Ducky, we shall drink the fear of those who mocked us." King picked up his bath toy before following the other two.
"Where are we going?" Luz asked.
"Somewhere super fun," Eda replied, staff in hand.
"Yeah, that's one word for it." Hunter snorted.
(A few minutes later)
Thunder clapped as they stood outside a creepy-looking prison with spikes on the walls. "The Conformatorium, a place for those considered unsuitable for society," Eda explained as Luz cringed, King riding on Hunter's head for some reason.
Stepping back, Luz noticed another copy of Eda's wanted poster on the wall they were hiding behind. "Whoa," She murmured, taking it down for a closer look. "These guys really have the hots for you."
"Yep," Eda winked at her. "But we were never caught because we're too slippery."
"Try to catch me when I'm covered in grease. I'm a squirmy little fella." King declared.
"Off!" Hunter growled half-heartedly as he tilted his head.
"Aah!" The little demon cried as he fell off Hunter's head but quickly bounced back to his feet, looking at the human. "You and I will sneak up to the top of the tower, where they're holding my crown."
"And Hunter and I are gonna make sure the warden's distracted," Eda added, stepping back a few feet.
Luz gasped in excitement. "Will I need a disguise?!"
"Uh…" Eda glanced away awkwardly, not sure how to answer her.
"I've been waiting to use this." The girl pulled her hood on, flicking its cat ears upright. "Meow, meow."
"It's hideous," King commented bluntly.
"I'm with King." Hunter agreed.
"Oh, you'll fit right in," Eda said happily. Getting to work, Eda tapped the butt of her staff against the ground, creating a round glowing platform, startling Luz and King. "Hang on tight." She said as she and Hunter stepped away from it.
"Whoa!" Luz gasped as the platform rose into the air. They floated over the prison walls and up to a window in the tower, where it suddenly disappeared. With a yelp, Luz grabbed the edge of the window sill while King clung to her feet.
Meanwhile, Eda activated her staff. She tossed it before she and Hunter casually sat down on it as it rose. "Meet you guys at the top of the tower."
"You sure they'll be okay?" Hunter questioned offhand.
"Nope!"
(A few minutes later)
After a few minutes of searching, Eda and Hunter spotted the warden beating up one of the prisoners. "Welp, less work for us," Eda said before heading through the window where they dropped Luz and King off.
They quickly found Luz and King walking down one of the halls, flying up beside them. "Hey, I just checked," Eda said as they hopped off her staff, causing Luz to pause. "The warden is distracted, tormenting some tiny creature. He won't be coming around here anytime soon."
Luz continued walking with her head down, not saying anything and looking upset. The witches watched her in confusion, glancing at each other as they wondered what they missed.
They soon reached a towering door reading "CONTRABAND." "My crown! It's close! I can sense its power!" King cried happily as he ran toward the door. He jumped on the doorknob that was as big as he was, fiddling with it to try and get inside.
"Oh, brother." Hunter rolled his eyes.
"Aw, he gets so cute when he's thirsty for power." Eda smiled.
"It's not fair that they're all in here. They just want to be themselves," Luz said suddenly, turning to Eda and Hunter. "Why does everyone think that being a weirdo is so bad?"
Neither witch had time to think of an answer when they heard King grunt. They turned just in time to see the doorknob be thrown to the ground by their feet with a clink. King then pushed open the door, cackling as he ran through.
"Come on," Eda sighed before they followed King in. "Before he hurts himself."
They heard something zap before King cried, "Ow!"
"Too late," Hunter muttered, jogging ahead of the girls.
The inside of the room was empty save for a giant glowing pillar in the center. That was most likely the force field Eda had mentioned earlier.
King rubbed his skull before charging at the pillar headfirst. However, to his annoyance, he only succeeded in launching himself backward. "King, take it easy!" Hunter kneeled next to him along with Eda.
"We have a human, remember?" Eda reminded him, smiling.
"Oh, yeah."
Luz took a deep breath and approached the pillar, placing her hand against it before walking through it. On the other side were piles of what could only be described as junk: everything from books, skulls, and a dead fish in a tank. Atop the central pile was a glowing spot resembling a crown.
"Wait a second," Luz murmured, taking a closer look. "Is that a…"
Luz returned with a paper crown with "Burger Queen" written on it, looking incredibly frustrated.
"My crown!" King jumped in place before taking the crown from Luz and placing it on his head. "Yes. Yes! I can feel my powers returning! You there. Nightmare critter." He pointed to a stuffed rabbit with one button eye falling out of a box before picking it up. "I shall call you Francois, and you shall be a minion in my army of darkness. Ha-ha!"
"That crown doesn't give him any powers, does it?" Luz said, gesturing to King.
"Uh, no," Eda answered.
"Nope." Hunter shook his head. Luz glared at them, crossing her arms. She didn't appreciate being convinced to break into a prison for a paper crown.
"Oh, look at us, Luz," Eda sighed. "King, Hunter, Raine, and I don't have much in this world. We only have each other. So if that dumb crown is important to him, it's important to me."
"Me, too." Hunter nodded, smiling when Eda ruffled his hair.
"Besides, us weirdos have to stick together, you know?" Eda added with a wink. Luz grinned with a blush, realizing that her earlier question meant something to Eda and Hunter.
"Well, we owe you one," Hunter said.
"Now, let's get out of here before the warden finds us and loses his head," Eda added, not noticing the figure coming up behind her.
"Too late." Warden Wrath loomed over her. He held up his hand as it turned into a blade, and with an easy swing, he decapitated Eda.
Luz caught her head before both teens screamed in horror, thinking Eda was dead. Her tongue was sticking out like a bad fake corpse when suddenly, she blinked and started talking like she was okay. "Ow! Oh, I hate it when that happens."
The teens screamed together, louder and longer this time. "Okay, I did not know that included the head!" Hunter exclaimed.
"Eda! Are you okay?" Luz asked with panicked eyes.
"Yeah. This just happens when you get older." Eda replied.
"Does it?"
"Finally," the warden said as his hand transformed back into a hand, two guards standing behind him. "I have you cornered, Eda the Owl Lady." He then stepped forward and took King's crown.
"Weh?"
"My guards could never get you," Warden Wrath said as he walked closer to Luz, Hunter, and Eda as King followed him. The little demon raised his arms, jumping up and down as he reached for his crown. "But I knew if I took your pet's toy, you'd come running."
He then cruelly crumpled the crown in his fist. "No! My power!" King cried, falling to his knees.
"What do you want with me?" Eda demanded as the teens glared at him. "I've never actually broken any of your stupid laws… in front of you."
"I want you…" he began before suddenly pulling out a bouquet and dropping down on one knee. "To go out with me."
"Wha…?" Eda replied, taken off guard.
"What?" Luz questioned as well, disgusted.
"Didn't see that coming," Hunter commented, equally creeped out.
"Go, boss!" One of the guards called out, the other giving him two thumbs up.
The warden shot the guards a thumbs-up before focusing back on Eda. "You've always eluded our capture. You've always been the one who got away. I found that alluring."
"I hate everything you're saying right now," Luz said bluntly.
"I think I'm gonna hurl," Hunter added.
"You stay out of this!" Warden Wrath tossed the bouquet over his shoulder, turning his now free hand into tentacles to grab the teens. This forced Luz to drop Eda's head as they were held above the ground.
"Hey, put us down!" Hunter yelled.
"So how about it, Owl Lady?" Wrath asked, picking up her head by the hair. "The most powerful witch of the Boiling Isles and the feared Warden Wrath. We'd be the strongest power couple ever. I mean, it's–it's not like you can say no right now."
Eda looked up at the teens, who struggled to free themselves from the warden's grasp. She then looked at King, who had been picked up by one of the guards and struggled for freedom. "All right, Warden," Eda sighed in defeat. "You win. I'd just like to say something first. Come closer."
He did as she asked, bringing her head closer to his face. "No. Just come a little bit closer. Just…" He pulled her in closer until she was at eye level with him. "Yeah, that's good." Once she was close enough, she blew a raspberry right in his face. Warden Wrath yelled in surprise and dropped the teens, who also yelped.
Wrath wiped Eda's spit off his mask as the witch laughed. "Impudent wench! Don't you know how many germs are in your mouth? Blegh!"
"Get over it," She retorted. "You had your guards stalk me, and then you cut off my head. I am not going out with you."
"If you don't accept, then I have no choice but to des–Oh!" His threat was cut short by Luz hitting him in the head with Eda's staff, causing him to fall to the ground with a loud crash.
"Nice!" Eda chuckled. The two guards stopped next to her head. She glared at them as her body, which had been moving independently, walked up behind them and dragged their hoods over their eyes.
"Okay, we're going now," Luz said, knowing they needed to go.
"Good idea, human," Hunter agreed. They both ran forward, with Luz grabbing Eda's head. Eda's body freed King from the guard's grip, and Luz grabbed her body by the waist to lead her away.
Owlbert unfurled his wings with a hoot as they all mounted the staff. "Expecto… flying? Magicus… escapicus!" Luz said nervously as she tried to get the stick to fly.
"You gotta be kidding me." Hunter deadpanned.
Warden Wrath grunted as he got up.
"Gun it, magic stick!" Eda commanded.
"Byeee!" Hunter waved as Luz yelped when the staff took off.
They raced out the door moments before Warden Wrath clamored to his feet. "Owl Lady, I won't let you get away again!" His arms transformed into bundles of tentacles, which he then used to chase after the staff.
Luz screamed as they made a steep turn around the corner, flying towards the prison cell area with Warden Wrath in hot pursuit. Facing forward, she zeroed in on the lever keeping the cells shut and got an idea.
"Eda, Hunter, lend me a hand!" She called, holding up her own. The witches placed their hands against Luz's. As they flew past the cells, they flipped the switches and opened the cells of several prisoners. All of them looked excited as their cell doors went up.
The heist group burst through an outer door high in the center of the Conformatorium with a yell from Luz, smashing two guards against the wall. Warden Wrath exited right behind them, front flipping off the pillar.
When they hit open air, the staff began to plummet as the heist team and Warden Wrath fell toward the ground. Warden Wrath extended one of his tentacles, hitting the back of the staff and launching Eda, Luz, Hunter, and King off of it. They rolled as they hit the ground, and Warden Wrath landed before them, his hand shifting into a blade again.
"Ow, my bones!" King cried as Eda reattached her head.
"Hunter…" The witch reached into her hair and pulled out the key to the portal door. "Take Luz back to the human world." She handed the blond the key before running at Warden Wrath.
"What about you guys?" Luz asked.
"Yeah, we can't just leave you here!" Hunter agreed, genuinely worried, as he put the key in his pocket.
"If you think this guy is bad, you shoulda seen her last admirer!" King stood up and ran to join Eda.
"Not talking about it," Eda grumbled as she avoided Wrath's blade hands. She grabbed King and jumped out of the way of another strike. "Go! Go!" She ran back towards the teens, putting them on her staff.
"But–But we–!" Before Luz could get any protests out, Eda slapped the bottom of the staff, sending it into the air as the teens screamed in fright.
Warden Wrath took off his mask, revealing a face that was mostly mouth, and opened his jaws to breathe a stream of fire at the Owl Lady. Eda countered by expertly drawing two spell circles, one to catch the fire and another that launched it right back. Wrath slammed back into the wall of the Conformatorium, kicking up a cloud of dust from the impact.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Hunter gasped as he and Luz tried not to fall off the staff. Thankfully, the blond managed to stop it and right the position. "You okay?" He looked back at Luz.
"Nope!" Luz whimpered, freaked out.
"I'll take that as a 'yes.'" He responded before they looked back at the fight below them.
Wrath stood up, brandishing his blade hands as he ran at Eda again. Once he was gone, the three prisoners peeked out of the hole he left in the wall, looking hesitant.
Luz looked at them in confusion before turning to Hunter. "Take us back down."
"Alright," The teen witch nodded, flying back down. He didn't know what she was up to, but he was willing to go along with it if it meant going back for Eda and King.
They landed in front of the prisoners as Luz took the staff from Hunter. "Why are you guys just standing there?" She asked. "This is your chance to escape!"
"The warden'll catch us. He always does." The multiple-eyed prisoner looked down sadly.
"We belong here." The witch in a purple dress added.
"Self-doubt is a pwison you can never escape fwom." A tiny creature sporting a black eye said, the other prisoners muttering in agreement.
"So, you have a different way of doing things, a different way of seeing things. That might make you "weird," but it also makes you awesome. Don't you see?" Luz told them.
"Why are you helping us?" The witch couldn't help but ask.
"Because us weirdos have to stick together," Luz pulled her hood on before she and Hunter mounted the staff, taking flight again. "And nobody should be punished for who they are."
"Yeah!" The three prisoners all cheered, feeling emboldened by her encouraging words. Hunter couldn't help but smile a little as she turned the staff around.
"Now, let's get 'em!" Luz yelled, flying towards the fight as the prisoners followed them.
Eda was thrown against the ground a few feet away, and King was thrown into her arms a second later. "No more running away, Owl Lady," Warden Wrath loomed over them, his blade hands raised. "Today, I capture you once and for all!"
King whimpered, hiding his face in Eda's chest as the witch glared in defiance.
"Go, go, go, go!" Luz called. The prisoners screamed loudly, taking the warden by surprise as they barreled into him, knocking him away from King and Eda. Luz flew behind them as Hunter jumped off the owl staff, running over to the others.
"Luz? Hunter?" Eda questioned as she looked between the teens.
"Don't worry," He said confidently. "She's got this."
"I eat my own eyes!" The multi-eyed creature declared while shoving Wrath.
"I think the world as a twiangle!" The smallest prisoner used her body to trip Wrath.
Falling to the ground, the witch sat on his chest to hold Wrath down. "And I practice the ancient art of fanfiction!" The tiny prisoner joined the witch in holding Warden Wrath down while the eye-eating prisoner grabbed his arms and tied them together. He then flipped Wrath onto his stomach.
"You!" He growled as he saw Luz descend on Eda's staff. "Who do you think you are?"
"Do not underestimate me, Warden Wrath," Luz pointed at him. "For I am Luz, the human, warrior of peace." She paused as the wind blew her hair dramatically before yelling, "Now eat this, sucka!" Luz pulled a cluster of firecrackers out of her messenger bag and tossed them into the air. She then jumped up and hit them with Eda's staff like a baseball bat.
The firecracker landed in Wrath's flaming mouth and went off, sending fireworks into the air with an explosion of color. He then ran away, humiliated, fireworks still going off in his mouth while the prisoners cheered.
"Woo hoo! We won!"
"We are victorious!" The tiny prisoner jumped up and down.
Luz stood proudly as Eda, with King on her shoulder, and Hunter walked over to her, the older witch putting a hand on the human's shoulders. "That was actually one of her better rejections," King commented.
"'Not talking about it," Eda glared at him before looking at the teens. "Anyway, let's bounce before any more monsters fall in love with me."
The four soon flew off on the staff, fireworks still going off behind them.
(Back at the Owl House)
"Thank the Titan," Raine breathed, relieved when they came through the door. "I was about to go looking for you."
"Sorry about that," Eda apologized, leaning her staff against the couch before turning to Luz. "Well, a deal's a deal. Let's get you home." Snapping her fingers, the key flew out of Hunter's jacket and into Eda's hand. She pressed the eye, and the portal door unfolded before the fireplace.
Luz walked up to it before hesitating, hugging herself. She turned back to look at the Owl Family as King looked at the ground, visibly sad.
Getting an idea, Luz reached into her bag. "Before I go…" She approached the little demon before holding out the head of her Azura doll. "I know it's not the same, but…" She removed Azura's crown, holding it out as a parting gift. "A king shouldn't be without a crown."
King looked at it briefly before accepting the crown and placing it on his head. "This shall suffice." He nodded before pointing at something and going into his act. "You there, plant! You are now under my command." Hunter snickered quietly as the little guy walked off.
While that happened, Raine grabbed the Azura book off the table and handed it to Luz. "Oh, and don't forget this." Luz took it and a pamphlet for a place called Reality Check Summer Camp that was on top of it back as she stood up, walking towards the portal with a sad look.
Luz stared at the pamphlet before putting it under the Azura book. She paused in front of the door, looking at it. She looked back down at her book, then up at a mirror above the fireplace.
Noticing something, Luz gasped and held up her book. On the cover was Azura in the foreground, with an older witch looking at a dog/cat creature in the background. Next to the beast was a white-haired warrior teen with a sword strapped to his back, and an androgynous minstrel with a flute was next to the older woman. Luz lowered the book to reveal the mirror, showing a very similar image with King, Hunter, Raine, and Eda in the same positions as the creature, warrior, minstrel, and the older witch with herself in the foreground between them. She brightened up as a thought occurred to her…
"Okay," She said, turning around. "I know you got your head cut off, and we started some kind of prison riot, but this was the most fun I've ever had."
"Wait, what?" Raine looked at Eda, who just avoided their gaze sheepishly.
"What are you getting at?" Hunter questioned.
"I don't fit in at home. You don't fit in here. If I stay, we could not fit in together," Luz suggested, hopefully. She looked at the Reality Check pamphlet one last time, then crumpled it. "I'm not going back to summer camp."
Eda chuckled awkwardly. "What's summer camp? What are we walking about here?"
"I want to stay and become a witch. Like you guys," Luz explained, holding her book to Eda. "And Azura."
"What?" The Owl Lady laughed incredulously before pushing Luz's book down. "All right, that's crazy. Humans can't become witches."
"Maybe that's because they haven't tried. If you teach me to become a witch, I'll do anything you want."
"You sure you wanna make that offer?" Hunter half-joked, though he was just as surprised as the others.
"Let her stay!" King pulled on Eda's skirt, whispering, "She can make us snacks."
Eda looked down at him briefly before looking at Raine. An unspoken conversation passed between them as Raine gave Eda a slight smile. They were leaving the decision up to Eda, and whatever she decided, they would support her.
Personally, Raine wouldn't mind having Luz around. Hunter would like someone closer to his age to talk to, and King would love to have someone of his energy level to play with.
Getting the signal, Eda sighed before smiling and picking King up. "Well, I could use a hand keeping this goofball out of the cupboards. All right. I'll teach you how to be a witch. But you have to work for me before you learn any spells. Deal?" She held out her hand for Luz to shake. Luz looked at it before grinning and crushing the two in a hug. "Gah! What's going on?" Eda asked, uncomfortable.
"Too tight! Too tight!" King complained.
Hunter snorted while Raine just watched with amusement. Something told them things were about to get more lively in the Owl House.
And with that, we're done for now.
Anyway, I'm gonna post another chapter on Hunter Noceda and then edit what I have with the Owl House stories so far before moving on to another fandom.