Chapter 5: Capture Stitch

At the airport, Jake, Stitch, and Sam got off the plane to meet up with Luz's family.

Jake opened his bag and let Stitch out. "Sorry for keeping you in that bag, buddy," Jake said.

"Jake good," Stitch said as he got out of the bag, while Sam walked over to them.

"Okay, I think I see them," Sam said as they noticed Luz Noceda, Jake's best friend, and her mom, Dr. Camilla Noceda.

"Hey Luz!" Jake said, running to her and giving her a hug.

"Hey Jake," Luz said, hugging him back until she noticed Stitch. "So this is Stitch?" Luz asked.

"Uh, hi," Luz said nervously.

"H-H-Hi," Stitch stammered before hugging her leg.

Luz laughed and patted Stitch on the head. "Nice to meet you, Stitch. Don't worry, we'll keep you safe."

Jake smiled. "Thanks, Luz. We really appreciate your help."

"No problem," Luz replied. "Let's get you all settled in. We've got a lot to talk about."

As they walked towards the car, Dr. Camilla smiled at Stitch. "Welcome to Gravesfield, Stitch. We'll make sure you're well taken care of."

Stitch grinned and nodded. "Thank you."

They all piled into the car, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.


On the Grand Council Ship, the Grand Councilwoman was with Gantu.

"It seems I've overestimated Jumber and Blinkley.," she said.

"Uh, Jumba and Pleakley," Gantu corrected.

"Whatever. The mission is in jeopardy. This could be your chance to redeem yourself, Captain Gantu. How soon can you be prepared to leave?" the Grand Councilwoman asked.

"Immediately," he declared.


At Luz's house, Jake and Luz were deep in conversation while Stitch was engrossed in reading "The Ugly Duckling" book again. They sat in the cozy living room, the warm glow of a lamp casting soft shadows on the walls.

"So, what's the plan to keep Stitch safe?" Jake asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Luz leaned in, her eyes serious. "We need to find a place where no one would think to look for him. Somewhere completely off the grid."

Jake nodded, glancing over at Stitch. "Do you think he'll be okay wherever we take him? He's been through a lot."

Luz smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Jake. We'll figure something out. Maybe we can find a remote cabin or an abandoned place where he can stay for a while."

Stitch looked up from his book, tilting his head curiously. "Hide? Where?"

Jake reached over and ruffled Stitch's ears. "Yeah, buddy. We're going to find a safe place for you. Luz is right; we'll figure something out."

Luz got up and motioned for them to follow. "Come on, let's brainstorm some ideas. Maybe my mom will have some suggestions too."

They followed her to the kitchen, where Doctor Camila Noceda was preparing dinner. The aroma of home-cooked food filled the air, adding a comforting touch to their serious conversation.

"Mom, we need your help," Luz said, explaining the situation.

Camila listened carefully, her expression thoughtful. "I know a few places that might work. There are some remote areas and old properties that are rarely visited. We could start there."

Jake looked at Luz and her mom, a mixture of hope and anxiety in his eyes. "Thank you, both of you. I don't know what we'd do without your help."

Camila smiled warmly. "We're all in this together. Let's keep Stitch safe."


Meanwhile, at Jake's house, Sam was sorting through some old boxes in the attic. Dust swirled around her as she opened one of the more weathered boxes and began sifting through the memories it contained. She found a stack of old photos and smiled nostalgically as she pulled out a picture of her and her husband on their wedding day.

Her smile faded slightly as she turned the photo over and noticed a piece of paper taped to the back. Carefully, she peeled it off and unfolded the yellowed paper. It was a letter addressed to Jake. Her hands trembled slightly as she began to read.


Back at Luz's house, the conversation continued in the kitchen.

"I think the cabin near the old mill would be perfect," Camila suggested. "It's secluded, and hardly anyone goes there."

Luz nodded. "That sounds good. We can check it out tomorrow and see if it's suitable for Stitch."

Jake looked relieved. "Thank you. I just want to make sure he's safe."

Stitch, who had been quietly listening, looked up. "Safe."

Jake smiled at Stitch's understanding. "Yeah, buddy."

Suddenly, Jake's phone buzzed with a message. He glanced at it and saw it was from his mom. His heart skipped a beat as he read the text.

"Jake, come home as soon as you can. There's something important I need to show you."

He looked up at Luz and Camila. "My mom just messaged me. She says there's something important I need to see. I should head back."

Luz nodded. "We'll continue planning. Just let us know if you need anything."

Jake gathered his things, and Stitch jumped back into his bag, ready to go. "Thanks, Luz. I'll be in touch."

As Jake left Luz's house, his mind was racing. What could be so important that his mom needed to tell him right away?


Back at Jake's house, Sam was sitting on the couch, the letter clutched in her hand. When she heard the front door open, she stood up, her eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

"Mom, I'm here," Jake called out as he walked in.

Sam took a deep breath and met him in the living room. "Jake, I found something in the attic. It's a letter from your dad."

Jake's eyes widened. "A letter from Dad? What does it say?"

Sam handed him the letter, her voice trembling slightly. "Read it, Jake. It's for you."

Jake sat down and unfolded the letter, his heart pounding as he began to read.

"Dear Jake,

If you're reading this, it means I've had to leave sooner than I ever wanted. There are things you need to know, things I couldn't explain before I left. My leaving wasn't because I wanted to abandon you or your mother. I had to go because of a responsibility that I couldn't ignore.

I hope one day you'll understand and forgive me. Remember, Jake, Ohana means family. And family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. I never wanted to leave you behind. I've always loved you and always will.

Take care of your mother. Be strong, and know that I'm proud of you, no matter what.

With all my love,

Dad."

Jake finished reading, tears welling up in his eyes. He looked at his mom, who was watching him with a pained but hopeful expression.

"I... I had no idea," Jake whispered. "Why didn't you show me this before?"

Sam wiped away a tear. "I didn't find it until now. I'm so sorry, Jake. I know how much you've been struggling with his absence."

Jake hugged his mom tightly. "It's okay, Mom. We'll get through this together. Just like Dad said, we're Ohana."

Sam hugged him back, the weight of years of uncertainty and pain lifting slightly as they found some closure together.

Stitch watched Jake and Sam from a distance, his large ears twitching as he sensed the heavy emotions in the room. He wanted to join in but hesitated, unsure if it was the right time.

Jake noticed Stitch lingering near the doorway and smiled, beckoning him over. "Come here, Stitch. You're part of this too."

Stitch slowly padded over, looking up at Jake and Sam with his big, expressive eyes. "Ohana," he said softly, reaching out to hug them both.

Sam chuckled through her tears and opened her arms to include Stitch in their embrace. "Yes, Stitch. Ohana," she repeated, her voice full of warmth.

Jake ruffled Stitch's fur affectionately. "We're all in this together. No one gets left behind or forgotten, right?"

Stitch nodded vigorously. "No one left behind."

The three of them stayed like that for a few moments, taking comfort in each other's presence. Finally, Sam pulled back and wiped her eyes. "Alright, we should get some rest. We've got a lot to figure out tomorrow."

Jake nodded. "Yeah, we do. But we'll manage. We always do."

As they settled down for the night, Stitch curled up at the foot of Jake's bed, his eyes slowly closing. For the first time in a while, Jake felt a sense of peace. He knew they had a long road ahead, but with his family by his side, he felt ready to face whatever came next.


The next morning, Jake woke up early. He stretched and looked down at Stitch, who was still sleeping soundly. He smiled and gently shook him awake. "Come on, buddy. We've got a big day ahead."

Stitch yawned and stretched, hopping out of bed. "Big day," he echoed, looking up at Jake with a curious expression.

Jake and Stitch headed downstairs where Sam was already making breakfast. The smell of pancakes filled the air, making Stitch's nose twitch with excitement.

"Good morning," Sam greeted them with a smile. "I thought we could use a nice breakfast before we start our day."

Jake grinned. "Thanks, Mom. This looks great."

As they sat down to eat, Jake's phone buzzed with a message from Luz.

"Hey Jake, I've been thinking more about where we can keep Stitch safe. Let's meet up later and discuss some ideas."

Jake showed the message to Sam. "Looks like we've got some planning to do."

Sam nodded. "We'll make sure Stitch is safe, no matter what."

After breakfast, they gathered their things and headed out to meet Luz. They knew it wouldn't be easy, but with their family bond and determination, they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.


Meanwhile, with Jumba and Pleakley, things were not going as smoothly. They had managed to make their way to Gravesfield, but their disguise was wearing thin, and their frustration was growing.

Jumba paced back and forth, grumbling under his breath. "I can't believe we were bested by a little human boy and a mutated experiment! This is unacceptable!"

Pleakley, still adjusting his wig, sighed. "Maybe if we had followed my plan—"

"Your plan?" Jumba interrupted, glaring at him. "Your plan got us thrown off a plane!"

"Well, your plan wasn't exactly a masterpiece either," Pleakley shot back, crossing his arms.

Before their argument could escalate, Pleakley's phone rang. He hesitated before answering, knowing it was likely bad news. "Agent Pleakley speaking," he said cautiously.

The Grand Councilwoman's stern voice came through the line. "I hope for your sake you have good news, Agent Pleakley."

Pleakley winced. "Uh, well, we're working on it, Your Excellency. We've tracked 626 to a small town called Gravesfield."

"Working on it is not the same as capturing it," she snapped. "You have one last chance to bring 626 in, or you will face the consequences."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Pleakley staring at the phone in dread. "We really need to catch 626, Jumba."

Jumba grunted. "We need a better plan. Something foolproof."

They sat in silence for a moment, both lost in thought. Finally, Pleakley perked up. "What if we try a different approach? Instead of force, we use cunning. Maybe we can trick 626 into coming with us."

Jumba raised an eyebrow. "Trick him, you say? Go on."

"We know he's bonded with the humans, especially that boy, Jake. What if we create a situation where he thinks he has no choice but to come with us? We could use the boy as bait."

Jumba's eyes lit up with a sinister glint. "That's... actually not a terrible idea. If we can separate 626 from the humans, he'll be easier to capture."

Pleakley nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! We just need to create the right circumstances."

As they started to devise their plan, their expressions shifted from frustration to determination. They knew they had one last chance to prove themselves, and they were ready to do whatever it took to capture Stitch.


Before they figured out a way to hide Stitch, Jake and Luz had the idea to show him around and introduce him to all the fun places in Gravesfield.

"Luz, let's take Stitch to the park first," Jake suggested.

"Great idea, Jake! He'll love it," Luz agreed enthusiastically.

As they walked through Gravesfield, Stitch's eyes darted around, taking in all the new sights and sounds. They reached the park, where children were playing and families were enjoying picnics.

"Look, Stitch! There's a playground," Luz pointed out.

Stitch's ears perked up, and he scampered over to the playground, curious about the swings and slides.

"Remember, Stitch, we have to keep a low profile," Jake reminded him.

Stitch nodded and tried to blend in with the other kids, who were fascinated by his unusual appearance but quickly accepted him as just another playmate.

After spending some time at the park, they continued their tour of Gravesfield, visiting the local ice cream shop, the library, and finally the town square.

"See, Stitch? Gravesfield isn't so bad," Jake said with a smile.

"Yeah, and we'll figure out a way to keep you safe," Luz added reassuringly.

Stitch looked at them with a grateful smile, feeling more at ease in his new surroundings.

As the sun began to set, they made their way back to Luz's house.

"Thanks for showing stitch around, Luz," Jake said.

"No problem, Jake. It was fun! But I have to get home now. I still have summer school in the morning," Luz replied with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Definitely," Jake nodded. "Thanks again."


As Luz waved goodbye and walked back home, Jake turned to Stitch. "Alright, Stitch. There's one more place I want to show you. The comic book store. You stay outside, though. Pets aren't allowed in there."

Stitch nodded, understanding. They walked to the nearby comic book store. Jake stopped just before going in, kneeling down to talk to Stitch.

"Okay, buddy, you wait here. I won't be long. If you see anything suspicious, just hide, okay?"

"Okay," Stitch replied with a little nod.

Jake gave Stitch a reassuring pat and then went inside the store. Stitch sat outside, looking around curiously at the people passing by. Jake browsed the shelves inside, quickly finding the latest issue of his favorite comic. As he paid for it, he kept glancing outside to make sure Stitch was alright.


Meanwhile, outside the store, Stitch kept himself entertained by watching people and occasionally sniffing around. He spotted something in the alleyway—a door that just appeared out of nowhere with an eyeball on it. The door creaked open, revealing a woman. She had wild, long gray hair, golden eyes, and was wearing a red dress. She also had owl-like features with feathered ears. This was Eda, and she was rummaging through the dumpster for some human stuff.

Stitch's curiosity piqued as he noticed something in her pocket…

Stitch quickly sneaked and took the shiny object from her pocket without her noticing, not making a sound. Meanwhile, Eda pressed the button on a key to open the portal door and went back inside as the door vanished.

Jake left the comic book store and saw Stitch by the dumpster.

Jake approached Stitch cautiously, noticing him fiddling with something in his hands.

"What have you got there, buddy?" Jake asked, curious.

Stitch turned around, holding up a small stone triumphantly. "Look!"

Jake inspected it closely. "A stone? Where did you find it?"

Stitch pointed towards the alleyway. "There. Shiny!"

Jake chuckled. "Yeah, it's shiny, alright. Did someone drop it?"

Stitch nodded enthusiastically. "Uh-huh! Mine now."

Jake smiled. "Alright, keep it safe, buddy. Let's head back home now."

Stitch nodded eagerly, clutching the stone tightly as they walked back towards home.


Meanwhile, in the Boiling Isles, Eda was in a panic, searching everywhere for the Owl Stone she had lost. This magical artifact could grant any wish, but only once, and Eda had been saving it for a special occasion—to finally rid herself of the curse that plagued her.

Frantically rummaging through her cluttered home at the Owl House, Eda overturned books and magical trinkets, hoping to catch a glimmer of the stone. "Where could it be?" she muttered anxiously, her feathers ruffled in frustration.

Just as she was about to give up hope, a glint caught her eye. There, tucked beneath a pile of old scrolls, was the shimmering Owl Stone. Relief washed over Eda's face as she carefully picked it up, cradling it in her hands.

"Now, finally, I can end this curse," Eda said with determination, clutching the stone tightly. She made her way to a secluded spot in the backyard of her house, where she planned to perform the ritual that would free her from the magic that had plagued her for so long.

As she began to chant ancient incantations, the stone pulsed with power, its surface glowing with an ethereal light. Eda closed her eyes, focusing all her will into this one wish—to break the curse and reclaim her freedom.

The air around her crackled with magic as the ritual reached its climax. With a final burst of energy, Eda released the stone's magic, enveloping herself in a brilliant glow. For a moment, everything stood still, and then, with a sigh of relief, Eda felt the curse lifting from her.

Opening her eyes, she looked down at her hands, expecting to see the mark of the curse. But there was nothing—no trace of the magic that had bound her for so long. A weight lifted from her shoulders, and Eda couldn't help but smile.

Eda's moment of triumph turned to dismay as she inspected the stone more closely. The glow was fading, revealing subtle imperfections that marked it as a counterfeit. Her heart sank. "No... this can't be," she muttered, her fingers trembling.

Frantically, she searched the immediate area, hoping against hope that the real Owl Stone might still be nearby. She overturned rocks, scanned every corner of her yard, but there was no sign of it. The stone she held now was just a decoy, a cruel trick that someone had played on her.

Realization dawned on Eda. Someone had known about her quest for the Owl Stone, and they had sabotaged her hopes. She cursed under her breath, anger mixing with the disappointment that now weighed heavily on her shoulders.

"I've been tricked," Eda said through gritted teeth, her eyes narrowing with determination. "But whoever did this won't get away with it." She clutched the fake stone tightly, her mind racing with plans for revenge and a renewed determination to find the real Owl Stone.

With a heavy heart and a fire in her eyes, Eda set off into the Boiling Isles, determined to uncover the truth and reclaim what was rightfully hers.


That night, as the soft glow of Jake's phone illuminated his face, he scrolled absentmindedly through messages from friends back in Gravesfield. Meanwhile, Stitch sat nearby, engrossed in the story of the Ugly Duckling, occasionally mimicking the duckling's movements with his paw.

Feeling restless, Jake finally set his phone aside and glanced over at Stitch. "Hey buddy, I'm going for a walk," he said softly, hoping the creature understood. Stitch looked up, his eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern.

Jake slipped quietly out of bed and tiptoed downstairs, careful not to disturb his mom, who was asleep in her room. The night air was cool and refreshing as he stepped outside, the stars twinkling overhead.

He wandered aimlessly through the quiet neighborhood, thoughts swirling in his mind. Memories of his dad, the recent adventures with Stitch, and the uncertainties of the future all competed for his attention. Jake found himself walking towards a nearby park, drawn to its peaceful solitude under the moonlight.

Sitting down on a bench, he let out a deep sigh and looked up at the sky. "I wish I could talk to you, Dad," he murmured softly, as if the stars above held the answers he sought.


Back at the house, Stitch, feeling unsettled by Jake's departure, glanced out the window, watching his friend disappear into the night. Something tugged at his heart, a connection he couldn't quite understand but felt deeply.

Stitch waited anxiously by the window, watching Jake's figure fade into the darkness. Feeling a surge of determination, he clutched the Ugly Duckling book tightly in his paw and made a decision. Without a moment's hesitation, he darted out the door and down the street, following Jake's scent as best as he could.

However, as he ventured farther from Jake's house, the unfamiliar surroundings began to confuse him. Stitch paused, looking around with uncertainty. The streets all looked the same in the moonlit night, and he realized he had lost track of Jake's trail. Frustration welled up inside him. He didn't like being alone, especially in this strange place where everything seemed so different from Kauai. But he knew he had to find Jake. Holding the book close, he sniffed the air again, trying to pick up Jake's scent amidst the myriad of other smells.

After a while of wandering, Stitch found himself in a quiet park. He sat down on a bench, still clutching the book. His ears perked up at the distant sound of footsteps, and he looked around hopefully, hoping it was Jake. But the footsteps faded, leaving him alone once more. Feeling a pang of sadness, Stitch opened the Ugly Duckling book and flipped through the pages, staring at the illustrations that reminded him of Jake's comforting presence.

Stitch kept walking and found himself in the woods. He gazed towards Jake's house in the distance before venturing deeper into the forest. He placed the book down and opened it to the page where the Ugly Duckling found his family. Looking at the illustration, he saw the Ugly Duckling crying. "L-L-Lost….Stitch lost," he muttered to himself, feeling a sense of confusion and loneliness. Stitch wandered through the woods, uncertain of where to go next, hoping to find a familiar path or some sign to guide him.


Meanwhile, back with Jake, he returned home and collapsed on his bed, bidding good night to Stitch, unaware that Stitch had already gone. Exhausted, Jake quickly fell asleep, but before drifting off, he glanced at the stone that Stitch had found. Curious, he picked it up and examined it, marveling at its smooth surface and strange markings.

As he held the stone in his hand, thoughts raced through Jake's mind. "What could this be? It looks so unique," he murmured to himself. "And why did Stitch bring it home?"

Despite the questions swirling in his head, fatigue soon overcame Jake. He gently placed the stone on his bedside table and settled into bed, the mystery of the stone lingering in his dreams.


Back with Stitch, he was sleeping in the woods with his head on the book when he heard a noise. Looking up, he saw Jumba walking out of the bushes with a plasma cannon in his hand.

"Don't run. Don't make me shoot you. You were expensive. That's it, come quietly," Jumba said, walking towards him, but Stitch stepped back.

"Waiting," Stitch said.

"For what?" Jumba asked, looking down at the book.

"Family," Stitch replied.

"Aah. You don't have one. I made you," Jumba said.

"Maybe I could—"

"You were meant to destroy. You can never belong. Come with me and we can take you apart," Jumba said, causing Stitch to run away.

"Don't run!" Jumba groaned before chasing after him.


Meanwhile, back with Jake, it was the next morning, and he was having breakfast when he suddenly realized Stitch wasn't with him. Remembering last night, he asked his mom if she had seen Stitch.

"Mom, have you seen Stitch this morning?" Jake inquired, his brow furrowed with concern.

Sam glanced up from her coffee, shaking her head. "No, I haven't. Maybe he's still out exploring?"

Jake sighed, a sense of worry creeping in. "I hope so. He's never been out alone like this."

"He'll be safe, Jake," Sam reassured him, setting down her mug. "He's smart. He'll find his way back."

Jake nodded, trying to believe his mom's words as he quickly finished his breakfast. He reached into his pocket and touched the stone he had found the night before.

"Anyway, I've got to go to work, honey. Just wait for Stitch to come back here, okay? Love you. Bye," Sam said before walking out the door for work.

"Love you too, Mom," Jake sighed before pulling out the stone and looking at it.

But just as she left, Stitch came running in with Jumba right behind him.

"Stitch? You're back," Jake said, but Stitch shushed him as Jumba walked in.

"Oh, hiding behind your human shield won't work. Didn't I tell you? We got fired this morning," Jumba chuckled.

"Jumba," Jake said, as Stitch pushed him down the hall.

"New rules!" Jumba declared, firing a plasma ball at Stitch, but Stitch caught it and threw it back, hitting Jumba and Jake's TV, turning on "Hound Dog."

"Oh, I love this song," Jumba smiled, looking up to see Stitch climbing on the ceiling. "Come on. What's the big deal?" Jumba asked, and Stitch replied in alien.

"I'll put you back together. Maybe taller, less fluffy," Jumba threatened, grabbing the entire plate cabinet.

"I like fluffy!" Stitch retorted, as Jumba threw all the plates at him, and they flew through the roof.


Outside, Pleakley was panicking in horror at what was happening.

"Yu porma dissy," Stitch mocked Jumba in alien before the roof came crashing down on him.

"Leave my mother out of this! You could do with a makeover. I tried to give you my good looks, but let's face it, something went wrong," Jumba mocked, when Jake punched him in the face.

"What the?!" Jumba exclaimed.

"Get away from him!" Jake said, hitting Jumba in two of his four eyes, giving Stitch an opening to grab Jumba and throw him through the side of the house. "Whoa, you're strong."

"Running away?" Jumba cackled, walking back in. "Here, let me stop you!"

"Duck!" Jake yelped, pushing stitch to the ground as Jumba threw a throwing star made of bathroom appliances through the door, almost hitting Pleakley.

"You always get in the way!" Jumba exclaimed.

Stitch then broke through the wall holding a blue car.

"Blue punch buggy!" Stitch said, whacking Jumba through the house. "No punch back!" Stitch threw the car, smashing into Jumba.

"Stitch found the chainsaw cool!" Jake said as stitch interrupted, leaping at Jumba with the chainsaw. Stitch was about to attack when Jumba threw a toilet plunger, knocking him near the plasma cannon. "Aha!"

Stitch pointed it at him, only for Jumba to shove a carrot in it. "You shouldn't play with guns."

"Oh, okay," Stitch said, giving it to him.

"Wait! It's your birthday! Happy Birthday!" Jumba exclaimed, tossing the gun to him.

"Merry Christmas!" Stitch replied.

"It's not Christmas!"

"Happy Hanukkah!"


As the two of them played hot potato with a gun about to explode, Pleakley grabbed Jake and got him outside.

"Wait! What about Stitch?!" Jake asked.

"Trust me, this is not going to end well!" Pleakley said.

"My mother told me you are 'It,'" Stitch said.

"I win!" Jumba declared as the gun exploded, destroying the entire house and knocking Jake to the ground.


Meanwhile, Luz heard a loud noise. She looked out the window and saw it was coming from Jake's house. Concerned, she quickly ran out of her house and headed towards Jake's, adrenaline pumping.

"Luz! What's going on?" she shouted as she approached the chaotic scene.

Jake, slightly dazed and covered in debris, looked up at her. "It's Jumba... and Stitch. They were here."

Luz scanned the wreckage of the house, eyes widening. "Is everyone okay?"

"I think so," Jake replied, still trying to process the surreal situation.

Just then, Stitch emerged from the rubble, looking sheepish. "Stitch sorry," he muttered, ears drooping.

Luz rushed over to him, kneeling down to inspect him. "Are you alright?"

Stitch nodded, his expression remorseful. "Stitch fluffy."

Luz gave him a reassuring smile, patting his shoulder gently. "It's okay, Stitch. Let's just try to figure out what happened here."

Jake sighed, rubbing his head. "Yeah... I need to figure out how to explain this to my mom."

Until the cops arrived, surrounding the area, Jake, Luz, and Stitch quickly slipped into the dense forest, not venturing too far from the house. They moved swiftly through the underbrush, keeping a cautious eye out for any signs of police activity behind them.

"We should lay low here for a while," Jake suggested, his voice hushed as they found a secluded spot amidst the trees.

Luz nodded, her expression serious. "Yeah, until things calm down. What do you think caused the explosion?"

Stitch glanced around nervously, his ears twitching at every rustle of leaves. "Bad experiment," he muttered, still clutching the Ugly Duckling book tightly.

Jake rubbed his temples, trying to think. "It might have been something Jumba did. He's been after Stitch."

"We need to figure out our next move," Luz said, her gaze flickering between Jake and Stitch. "And we need to make sure we stay safe."

Just then, Stitch heard something and tried to push Jake and Luz out of the way, but stitch was captured along with Jake.

"Surprise!" Luz looked in shock as Gantu appeared out of the trees, grabbing the net. "And here I thought you'd be difficult to catch. Silly me," he smirked.

"Let them go!" Luz shouted, throwing rocks at Gantu.

"Stop throwing rocks at me, Earth girl," Gantu said before blasting Luz and tying her to a tree.

"Jake!" Sam called out before Gantu walked past her, causing her to gasp.

"Miss Evans, that big whale guy took Jake and Stitch," Luz said, trying to untie herself from the tree.

"Wait a minute, look," Luz said as she saw Stitch wiggle out from the container, but Jake was still inside when it took off.

"Jake!" Sam screamed, seeing her son flying away.

Groaning, Stitch picked himself off the ground when Sam grabbed a stick and whacked him with it.

"Where's my son? Talk! I know you can!" Sam demanded.

"Okay, okay," Stitch said before Sam hit him again with a branch.

"Where is Jake?" Luz asked.

"Jake is..." Before Stitch could finish, he was blasted by a plasma cannon, allowing Jumba and Pleakley to rush over and handcuff him.

"Yes! All your washing is up!" Jumba smiled.

"You are under arrest! Read him his rights!" Pleakley ordered.

As Luz looked at the aliens in shock, Sam walked up to them.

"Hey!" Sam said, getting their attention. "Where's Jake?" she asked.

"Who?" Jumba replied.

"Jake, my son," Sam said.

"And my best friend," Luz added.

"Uh, we don't know anyone by this uh…"

"His name is Jake Evans! He has a small black afro hairstyle, brown eyes, and he hangs around with that thing!" Sam snapped.

"We know him," Jumba sighed.

"Then bring him back," Luz demanded.

"We can't do that. That would be a misuse of Galactic Resources," Pleakley said.

"We just came here for him," Jumba said, holding up Stitch.

"So he's gone?" Sam asked, horrifying everyone.

"Look on the bright side…you have so much free time now," Pleakley said as Luz punched him right in the eye.

"No! No!" Luz snapped before breaking down and dropping to her knees, crying.

"I lost my husband, and now I'm losing my son," Sam said, breaking down in tears.

"What is wrong with you people?!" Luz asked as Stitch walked up to them.

"Ohana," Stitch said as Jumba grabbed him.

"What are you doing?" Jumba asked.

"No, wait!" Sam said, putting Stitch down.

"Ohana means family. Family means…"

"No one gets left behind," Sam and Luz said.

"Or forgotten," Stitch finished before turning to Jumba and talking in alien.

"What?! After everything you put me through, you want me to help you just like that? Just like that?!" Jumba snapped as Stitch nodded. "Fine."

"Really? us out of a plane," Pleakley said.

"He is very persuasive," Jumba said, freeing him.

"Persuasive? What are we doing?" Pleakley asked.

"Rescue," Jumba said as they all smiled.

"We're getting Jake?" Luz asked as Stitch smiled.


Meanwhile, with Jake, he was punching the glass, trying to get out, only hurting his hand in the process. He pulled out the stone and started talking to himself.

"This is all my fault. This is my fault we got captured. This is my fault. I wish... I wish I was stronger. I wish I was strong enough to protect my family. I'm weak. I'm nothing," Jake said to himself, unaware that the stone in his hand was starting to glow.

Jake, still holding the glowing stone, felt a strange warmth spread through his body. He looked down, noticing the stone's light.

"What's happening?" Jake muttered, feeling a surge of energy.

"You want power, right?" a voice said.

"Who are you?" Jake asked.

"Just call me the Owl," the voice replied.

"What do you want from me?" Jake asked.

"I'm only here because of your wish," the Owl said. "So let's make a deal. I'll give you power if you do something for me."

"Okay, what do you want?" Jake asked.

"For every positive, there's a negative, and you, my friend, are the positive. In the future, there will be experiments running around a place called the Boiling Isles. I need you and your little blue friend to catch them for me. Do we have a deal?" the Owl said.

"Okay, deal," Jake agreed as the Owl Stone absorbed into his hand.

"Okay, where's my power?" Jake asked.

"It will come when you least expect it. Have fun," the Owl said before the Owl Stone returned back to his pocket.