I have to admit, I'm impressed with myself. I managed to finish this chapter in a day.
Anyway, here's chapter two. It skips around the episode since the parts with Luz stay the same. Before anyone complains, I made some of Hunter's wardrobe Human Realm clothes since he goes with Eda to the Human Realm when he can.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to The Owl House. I only own this story idea.
It was the following day at the Owl House, and the sun barely started to peek over the horizon. The wind was howling outside as Hunter ran through the woods around the house.
Hunter was always the first one up. Before sunrise, he would run and do parkour exercises through the forest, keeping himself in shape and his reflexes sharp.
Dressed in a dark blue t-shirt, black track pants, and white sneakers, Hunter took a vaulting leap and grabbed a tree branch before swinging himself up to crouch on top of it. He then jumped through the trees until he came to the clearing where the Owl House sat. Jumping off the branch, Hunter somersaulted in the air and landed on the ground, rolling before he sprung to his feet. Standing up, Hunter shook out his shoulders as he walked to the front door.
"Good morning, Hunter!" Hooty greeted him.
"Morning, Hooty," Hunter said as he went inside. Going to the kitchen, he found Raine dressed for work and making breakfast for everyone. "Hey, Raine," Hunter said, getting their attention.
"Morning, Hunter." Raine smiled at him. "Breakfast will be ready in a minute."
"Okay, let me shower and get dressed for school," the blond said before heading upstairs.
As he walked down the hall, Hunter let out a startled yelp when one of the doors swung open, and Luz stepped out, fully dressed for the day. "Oh, right… We took in a human yesterday," Hunter murmured.
"Oh, sorry!" She apologized before beaming at Hunter. "Good morning, Hunter!"
"Morning." He greeted her as he walked past her to one of the bathrooms.
A short time later, Hunter was dressed in a black school uniform with yellow leggings and sleeves, black boots, and brown gloves. He headed downstairs and sat at the table as Raine gave him a plate of food. King was also there, sitting in his high chair and stabbing a fork into a yellow blob with eyes sitting on a plate.
"Scrambled griffin eggs?"
"Yeah, I wasn't sure what Luz would be able to eat here, so I went with what was closest to human food here."
Seconds later, Eda came into the kitchen, still tired and wearing sleep clothes. Luz came behind her, wearing a black robe and a pointy hat. "Remember me? Luz?" She questioned, grunting when a coffee cup hit her in the back of the head.
"Morning, Eda." Raine kissed their partner on the cheek before eating their own food. Eda only hummed a response as she opened the fridge.
"We freed the oppressed and defeated the evil warden together? Yesterday?" Luz continued.
Eda turned to her once she had her drink. "Kid, lay off the details. I haven't even had my cup of apple blood yet."
"You mean apple juice?"
"No."
"What's apple juice?" Hunter asked as Eda sat on the kitchen table and drank from her mug.
"The juice of an apple?" Luz replied, confused by his question.
"Apples don't have juice. They had blood."
"Must be another weird thing about the Boiling Isles."
"And a weird thing about the Human Realm," Hunter added, returning to breakfast while Luz turned back to Eda.
"Teach me some spells. When do I get a magic staff? Was I supposed to bring my own runes?" She then gasped before grabbing Eda's arm. "Do you have a dangerous magical quest for me?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down, kid," Eda eased the human off of her. "Being a witch doesn't happen overnight. Also, you're wrapped in a bathrobe and wearing the dirtiest traffic cone I've ever seen."
"Mom! Why did you tell her?!" Hunter complained. "She probably would've walked outside like that, and it would've been hilarious."
"Hunter." Raine gave him a stern look.
Luz pulled her hat off and blew on it, revealing that it was, in fact, a traffic cone with a severe layer of dust on it. King and Hunter laughed at her, the latter getting an annoyed look from Luz.
"But a magic staff, huh?" Eda asked, some apple blood on her lip. "You really want one?"
"More than anything," Luz's eyes shined.
Eda wiped the stain from her lip before holding out her hand. "Magic staff, come to me!"
For a second, nothing happened. Then, several things crashed in the distance. King, Luz, Hunter, Raine, and Eda all slowly turned to the sound until Eda's staff appeared and smacked her in the face, causing Hunter to laugh at her. "Ah! Yeesh!" Eda grunted as her staff clattered to the floor. She picked it up and spun it around before tapping it on the ground. "It's early. Now, witches are awarded their staffs from school. With me as your teacher, you'll be taking a different approach." She dropped a bag of potions onto the floor. "You'll have to work for it."
After changing out of the bathrobe, Luz picked up the bag and followed Eda through the living room. "I run a few businesses. On weekends, I offer rare human treasures that Owlbert drags over from your side of the realm." Eda explained, patting Owlbert on top of the staff. She grabbed a toy sword and hit the button near the pommel.
"I shall smite my enemies! Ages six to eleven."
Eda tossed the sword over Luz's head, making the human duck slightly. "But most days, I sell only the finest homemade elixirs and potions."
Luz pulled a bottle from the bag and read the label. "Snake oil."
"No one wants an un-oiled snake."
"Yeah, that's totally what that means," Hunter remarked sarcastically as he grabbed his backpack. Eda looked at him unamused. "What? I said that's what it means." He said, trying to hide a small laugh.
Eda sighed tiredly before gesturing for Luz to follow her. "Follow me," she led Luz onto the house's balcony. "Today, you'll deliver packages and sell potions to that town over there, Bonesborough," she explained, pointing her staff to a town in the distance. "You'll have to be careful. I have rivals everywhere who'd love to take my business down and you along with it. You wanted a dangerous magical quest? Sister, you've got one."
"I won't let you down, Miss Eda." Luz turned to salute her… and dropped the sack of potions off the balcony in the process. The two of them watched it fall, Luz wincing when it crashed loudly on the ground.
"I'm sure," Eda replied sarcastically, earning a broad smile from the girl. Cutting back to the living room, Eda pushed Luz out the door with a new bag of potions. "Remember, never befriend a man in sandals, and always measure twice, cut once."
"Uh…"
"Good luck!" Eda slammed the door in her face using her magic.
"Are you sure she should go by herself?" Riane asked as Eda dusted her hands off.
"Good point," Eda conceded before looking at King as he tried to nap under the window. "I hate to interrupt your power nap, but you have to go with her."
"What? But I just found the perfect spot! Why do I have to go?" He complained.
"We all know she's either going to get lost or eaten, probably both."
"No, I won't." Luz squished her face to the window, startling them. Eda closed the blinds with a spell.
"And because Raine has work, Hunter has school, and you work for me, too, unless you want to start paying rent." King threw a short tantrum before jumping down from his perch. Eda smirked as he stomped out the door to stand next to Luz. "Be back by nightfall or risk mortal peril," Eda added before slamming the door again.
"Have a nice trip," Hooty said.
"Huh! Let's get this over with," King groaned as they walked off together.
"And we better get going, too," Raine said to Hunter before turning to Eda. "Don't get into too much trouble while we're gone."
"No promises, Rainestorm." Eda smiled before they shared a kiss.
Raine then turned to Hunter. "Have everything, Hunter?"
"Yup," The blond confirmed as they headed out the door. "See you later, Eda."
"Have fun with the other nerds, kiddo." Eda ruffled his hair as they left.
Outside, Raine summoned their staff before they and Hunter mounted in and took off to the sky. Eda watched them go with a warm smile reserved only for her family.
(Later that day)
School was out, and Raine and Hunter returned to the Owl House. "How do you think Luz did today?" Hunter couldn't help but ask.
"I'm not sure," Raine answered honestly as they landed. "It struck me that Luz was expecting something different from what she was finding."
"Yeah, she's probably not going to be too happy when she gets home."
"Hoot hoot! Hi, Raine! Hi, Hunter!" Hooty greeted them when they approached the door.
"Hello, Hooty," Raine said. "Is Eda home?"
"Uh-huh. She's been here all day," The house demon reported. "Luz and King just got back, and Luz looked really excited about something."
"Excited about what?" Raine asked, confused along with Hunter.
"Don't know, hoot," Hooty replied before opening the door.
Entering the Owl House, Hunter broke away from Raine and headed upstairs as he passed King and Eda. "Hey, King. Hey, Mom."
"Hey, kiddo," Eda said to the blond before looking at her partner. "Rainestorm."
"Eda." The couple kissed.
"Finally!" King said off to the side as he curled up on the couch. "All that mean-spirited laughter made me sleepy."
"Huh?" Raine looked at the little demon in confusion.
"One second, Raine," Eda told them before walking over to King. "Crony, wake up. You said that wizard was one of my clients?"
"Yes. Now go away." King replied.
"Wizard?" Raine questioned.
"One of my new clients. I don't know him that well," She explained as she sat on the couch with enough force to send King flying into the air. "And I don't trust this itch he's scratching in the human."
"What itch?"
"Less talky, more nappy," King spoke up, not caring.
Eda looked at the stairs before sighing, catching Raine's attention. They had been together for them to tell when something was eating at her. "What's wrong, Eda?" Raine asked, sitting on the loveseat.
Eda looked at them before sighing again. "I may not have handled something the right way earlier…"
Raine nodded, not saying anything. Despite the vague answer, they could guess that something happened between her and Luz that Eda regretted. Remembering what King said earlier and adding what Eda said about this wizard client scratching an itch in Luz, it wouldn't be hard to conclude that the wizard was offering Luz the quest she was looking for, and Eda and King didn't believe it.
"… And despite not saying anything, I can tell you're going to say I know what I need to do, and that's apologize."
"I love how we're at the point in our relationship where it's like we can read each other's minds," Raine remarked, but they were smiling to show Eda she was right.
"Or I'm just using oracle magic." Eda threw back, getting a chuckle from both adults. The Owl Lady then got up and headed for the stairs. "I'll be right back."
Raine watched her leave with pride. "She's getting better. Not perfect, but better." With that, they got comfortable on the loveseat before levitating a book from the shelf for them to read.
Meanwhile, Hunter had just changed out of his school uniform into casual clothes. Before he could decide what to do next, something shook the whole house, scaring the daylights out of him. "What the–?" he gasped before leaving his room. He turned down the hall just in time for Eda to leave the room they gave Luz. "Did you just kill the human?!"
"No, but something else is going to if we don't catch up to her," Eda replied. "Go grab the bandolier I got you and your potions."
"Ma'am!" He saluted before leaving, knowing not to argue with Eda when she was serious.
Eda then ran downstairs, where Raine met her at the bottom. "What happened?" They asked, concerned.
"Luz snuck out, and I think she's walking right into trouble," Eda explained before shaking King awake. "King, I need you to take me to where you met that wizard! Now!"
"Alright, alright!" King groaned, though he could sense the urgency. The little demon jumped off the couch just as Hunter came downstairs with what Eda told him to get.
"Got it!"
"Okay, I'll explain on the way, but we need to move now." The Owl Lady said before she and her family raced out the door.
(Cut to the city)
"Let me get this straight," Hunter said as they followed King. "This wizard guy said Luz was the "Chosen One?" Like in those human fantasy stories?"
"Yes," Eda replied. "And Luz wants to live one of those fantasies, and I'm worried he's taking advantage of that."
"Then we need to hurry." Raine agreed as they turned down an alley.
King sniffed the area before pointing ahead. "This is where we met the scones. I mean, the wizard."
At the end of the alley, Eda pushed aside a patched curtain. "Whoa!" King said in surprise at the sight.
When he was there with Luz that day, the castle was grand and beautiful, like something from a human fairy tale. Now, it was in complete ruin, with crumbling walls, no spire, and faded banners. One of the front doors was lying on the ground, and as they looked at it, a chunk of wall fell from a pillar.
"It wasn't like this before."
"I don't like this," Eda said, the others sharing their sentiment.
Going inside, a door creaked open, revealing the library. Tattered scrolls littered the floor, shelves were broken, paintings were ripped, and chunks of debris were blocking the stairs. As the family looked around, Eda looked down when her foot hit something and found a bundle of scrolls. She picked them all up, each illuminated with the glowing message: "The chosen one."
"I really don't like this." Eda narrowed her eyes.
"What did you find?" Raine asked when they came over.
Eda handed them the scrolls. "These are all copies of the map Adegast gave Luz."
Hunter came over to look at the maps over Raine's shoulder. "I think I know that area… We learned about it in school a few years ago. There used to be a ritual circle out on a lake that wild witches used for spells in the Savage Ages. The place is deserted now."
"Okay, we need to catch up to Luz now!" Eda said, having heard enough. "Hooty said she was heading towards the forest near Bonesborough. Let's fly out there and see if King can pick up her scent again."
"Let's go!" Hunter ran out first, with everyone else behind him.
(Cut to the woods)
A quick staff flight later, and they were beyond the city limits. King started tracking the human girl again as they walked through the woods. Following the map they found, the Owl Family found something that raised more alarm bells for them.
"Oh no." Eda gritted her teeth, and her partner and adopted son were on guard.
They were standing in front of a destroyed village, unaware that it was a thriving city of cat people when Luz passed through. Dark clouds hung in the sky, and fog clouds hung in front of the houses.
"This is not a good sign," Raine remarked.
"Are you sure she came here?" Eda asked King as he sniffed some more.
"Can't mistake her smell. Like lemons and young, naïve confidence."
"I don't even want to know how you know what that smells like," Hunter said.
"Hmm," The Owl Lady rubbed her chin as she walked up to a broken fountain covered in dying vines. There was a cat thing lying in the lower basin wrapped in vines. Eda kneeled in front of the fountain for a better look.
"Hey! Wake up, you," She flicked the cat's head before shaking it. "What have you done with Luz? What's your endgame?"
The cat turned out to be a puppet, but then it suddenly came to life, turning its head to look at her. "To find your pupil and still your wrath, look ahead and follow the path." It cackled evilly as it disintegrated in her hands.
King and Hunter gasped sharply, a bit creeped out. "The cat man melted!" The little demon cried.
Eda sighed as she stood up, dusting herself off. "It's a trap. They want me to follow Luz."
"So, what do we do?" King asked.
"We fall in," Raine said, knowing what they needed to do.
"You hit the nail on the head, Raine." Eda pulled out her staff and pulled King on before taking off. "Let's fly!"
Raine pulled out their staff, too, as they and Hunter climbed on before following them. "Any idea what this is about?" Hunter asked as they flew through the woods.
"I know this guy," Eda said, King barely holding onto the staff. "He's no wizard. He's what you'd call a puppeteer, a demon who specializes in scamming and manipulating people. He's trying to use Luz to get to me."
"Yeah, and we're flying directly into his trap," King pointed out sarcastically. "Hurray."
"Well, if you can think of a better plan, I'd love to hear it," She glanced over her shoulder in annoyance before slapping her staff. "Hey, faster you." Owlbert hooted before picking up speed.
"Step on it, Salem!" Raine told their palisman. Salem yipped before catching up with Eda.
Soon, they reached the lake. Below them, they saw Luz tied up in magical restraints, surrounded by puppets controlled by an octopus-looking demon.
"Adegast!" Eda called, catching their attention.
"Oh, heck," Luz said in disbelief as the rescue party landed at the end of the walkway.
"Eda, I have you now!" Adegast declared.
Four cat puppets erupted from the ground, each grabbing Eda, King, Hunter, and Raine and holding them above the ground. "That's right. You have me. Now, release Luz." Eda demanded, pointing at him.
"I didn't have to be a part of this!" King yelled in protest.
"Oh, she can leave. If she wants to," Adegast said as he turned back to the human. "But I sense she wants a real fantasy." One of his puppets breathes a cloud of fog at Luz, obscuring their view of her as some puppets swarm around her.
"It is beautiful here," Luz said softly.
"Luz!" Eda called out, but it went unheard.
"And you guys think I'm special."
"No!" Eda grunted as the tentacles started to envelop them.
"… But it's not real," Luz said a little louder. Grunting, she waved the fog away and pushed past the puppets, running to pick up her sword. "I am a Witch's Apprentice. And I'm gonna earn my magic staff the hard way. I believed you, Magic Man. Now feel my wrath!" She charged forward and stabbed the wizard puppet through the stomach, making it disappear with a poof of smoke.
Adegast screamed in pain, losing his grip on the Owl Family enough for them to free themselves and land next to Luz. The princess puppet flew towards Luz, and she swung her sword at it like a bat, making it poof away.
Three cat puppets approached Eda. She drew a spell circle and sent a plume of orange flames at them. The puppets disintegrated with distorted screams, and Adegast screamed in pain again.
Another group of cats came at Raine as their staff changed into a violin with a fox motif. They plucked a string, causing the puppets to freeze where they were. They plucked their violin again, and the puppets twisted themselves on the tentacles until they were in one big knot. Then, with a strum from their violin bow, a solid soundwave flew at the puppets and made them disappear, too.
The scraggly-looking cat puppet approached Hunter, who raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. Then, in a flash of gold light, Hunter disappeared, reappearing behind the puppet. Taking a potion from his belt, Hunter threw it at him and watched as the contents broke open and caused the cat to burst into flames.
Nevareth tried to blindside Luz, but his yell alerted her. She caught his sword with her own and dueled him. "I thought we had a connection, Nevareth!" Luz remarked before plunging her sword through his chest.
"Ah, my flawless pecs!" Nevareth grunted before poofing away.
Eda landed next to Luz as the others joined them, all sharing a smile. "Back off!" Adegast got their attention as he held up King. "Or the dog gets it."
"I am not a—" King protested before Adegast moved his tentacle over his mouth to silence him.
"King, I'm sorry," Luz apologized as they all dropped their weapons and raised their hands in surrender. "I should have listened to you and never trusted that wizard. You were right. He isn't mystical or magical. He's just a big, slimy jerk." She kicked her sword, sending it flying point first into Adegast's head.
The demon screamed and dropped King in pain, who was caught by Luz. The scream changed pitch as Adegast shrunk to less than an eighth of his previous size. Luz and the Owl Family approached him before Eda picked him up. "Well, that's the last time I take an outside referral," She remarked before eating him whole, making Raine cringe slightly. "Mmm. Oh, did you want some of that?"
"No. I'm just confused." Luz said sadly.
"Thinking of calling it quits, huh?" Eda raised a knowing brow, crossing her arms.
"This place is nothing like I imagined."
"Hmm. Maybe not here," the Owl Lady said, looking around before walking past them. "But come with me. I got something to show you."
(A short time later)
The Owl Family was flying through the sky, Luz holding onto Eda's waist while wearing a blindfold. King rode with the girls while Hunter flew with Raine before they came to a stop.
"Okay, you can look," Eda said.
Luz took the blindfold off, taken aback by what was in front of them. "Whoa!" From where they hovered, they could see the whole of the Boiling Isles: the decomposing body of a Titan. It was lying with its arms splayed in the sea, its skull illuminated by the setting sun.
"The bones of the Isles. Up close, the Isles can be slimy–"
"And very stinky," King added in.
"And gross," Hunter included.
"But if you look at it from a different perspective…" Raine said as they all looked up. Stars were beginning to appear in the sky above the Titan's skull. As they watched, a shooting star crossed the sky, there for only a moment.
"It's beautiful," Luz smiled softly.
"Yeah," King leaned against the human, falling asleep.
"Eda, how did you know that wizard was lying?" Luz couldn't help but ask.
"Look, kid, everyone wants to believe they're 'chosen.' But if we all waited around for a prophecy to make us special, we'd die waiting," She chuckled. "And that's why you need to choose yourself."
"Does that mean you'll give me a magic staff of my own?"
"Not yet. But… someday."
Luz leaned against Eda, and Hunter did the same with Raine as the owl family watched the sun continue to set, the human's first day on the Isles coming to a close.
This chapter is done. Next on this list will be "Moonlight Phantom."