Chapter 14 : The Covention
Hey everyone, I'm back with a new chapter! Since I'll be taking a short break after this, I wanted to get this chapter out now.
Sit back, relax, review, and enjoy!
We find ourselves at Eda's booth, trying to sell human trinkets. Jake was reading a comic to Stitch while Luz was reading Azura to King.
"Emboldened by the dishonor Hecate had shown, Azura lifted her staff to the cotton-candy skies and shouted, 'I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!' And look! I drew a flip book. Pew, pew, pew!" Luz said, showing a little flip image at the bottom of the book.
"Show me the picture," King said, interested.
"What?" Luz asked.
"Show me the picture," King repeated as Luz turned it around to show him. "Hah! I can draw better than that. You know, they once called me the King of Artists."
"I thought they called you the King of Demons," Jake said, showing the comic to Stitch.
"Are you just making stuff up?" Luz smirked.
"Doesn't matter. What's important is that my followers would leave me offerings in fear of me," King said.
"Well, I can offer you more of this tantalizing book," Luz offered.
"Ugh! Please stop reading that. Its flowery language is an insult to witches and wizards and is driving away all of our serious customers!" Eda complained.
"Eda, what customers?" Jake gestured to show they were the only ones there. "There aren't even any other stands."
"What's happening and where are Finn and Asher?" Luz asked.
"This is a bad omen. There must be something horrible happening today," Eda said, narrowing her eyes when Willow and Gus ran over.
"Luz, Jake, Stitch, something amazing is happening today!" Gus said.
"Gus, Willow!" Luz smiled, happy to see her friends.
"What's going on? And also, have you seen Eda's nephews?" Jake asked, closing his comic to Stitch's annoyance.
"Yeah, we haven't seen them in a while," Luz said. Willow held up a poster.
"It's the annual Covention! Student witches get to see all the types of covens before they're placed in one. There's even a mystery guest this year," Willow said.
"A job fair for witches! Eda, can we go?" Luz asked excitedly.
"Absolutely not," Eda said, causing Luz to whimper. "I never joined a coven for a reason. Sure, it's like a fun club for witches, but you're also giving up your magical independence to be part of a crooked system."
"Uh, Eda," Jake said, pointing to Willow and Gus.
"But you know, no judgment. In any case, I haven't been to one since we were girls," Eda said.
"We? Who's we?" Jake asked, interested, while Luz popped up equally intrigued.
"You have a mysterious past! Now we gotta go!" Luz said.
"No way," Eda said.
"But I did see Asher and Finn over there," Willow said.
"What? Those traitors! Fine, we're going, but only to get Asher and Finn back," Eda said.
"Yes!" Luz said.
"Ready, Stitch?" Jake asked, looking at Stitch.
"Ih," Stitch said as they ran to the Covention.
Soon, they were all standing in front of the Covention, and King was struggling to get Eda's cowl over her head.
"Gotta keep a low profile," Eda grunted.
"Is that cowl really necessary?" Luz asked, helping her.
"Do you think all my wanted posters are for petty theft?" Eda asked as tons of snacks and items fell out of her cowl.
"But Asher and Finn went here. I don't see them wearing a costume or disguise," Jake said as Stitch was trying to eat all of Eda's snacks.
"Well, partly. But the big whammy is I disobeyed the law and refused to join a coven. If I'm seen, I could go to jail. Again. And I'm not letting my nephews join one either," Eda said, stuffing the items back in.
"Maybe this informative event will inspire you or Asher and Finn to join a coven," Willow suggested, but Eda just yanked her hood over Willow's head.
"Let's just get this over with and find those two," Eda said.
Walking inside, they saw banners for the main ten covens right out of the gate.
"Eegalagoo," Stitch and Jake said in awe.
"Was I even alive before now?" Luz asked.
"Those are the main ten, but there are hundreds of other ones you can join," Gus said as they walked past them.
"There's the Flower Coven, Artist Coven, Big Dog Coven, Small Cat Coven, Tiniest Cat Coven," Willow listed, causing Eda to groan. "And the Grumpy Coven," she whispered.
"What was that?" Eda glared, causing them to yelp.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but you look familiar," a man said, looking at her and then at a wanted poster of her on the wall.
"Uh, no I don't. Distraction spell!" Eda said, throwing a bag of chips to the ground before running off.
Looking down, the man was about to grab them when Eda ran back, yanked his hood over his head, and took the chips back.
Walking by, Jake and Stitch saw the Elemental Track and people doing tons of elemental magic.
"What do you think, Jake? Want to learn elemental magic?" Willow asked.
"What about you, Stitch?" Gus asked.
"I don't know. We already know how to do glyphs," Jake said, pulling out a piece of paper and drawing a magic circle. A small fire came out.
"Stitch wants to learn elemental! Stitch going to learn elemental!" Stitch said, jumping up and down.
"Are you sure, Stitch? Because I don't know if aliens can even do magic. We should ask Jumba," Jake said as he pulled out his communicator from his pocket and called Jumba.
As Jake waited for Jumba to answer, Eda looked around nervously, keeping her hood pulled low.
"Just stick together, everyone," Eda said. "Let's find Asher and Finn and get out of here."
Jake's communicator beeped, and Jumba's face appeared on the screen. "Ah, Jake! What can Jumba do for you today?"
"Hey, Jumba. Stitch wants to learn elemental magic. Do you think it's possible for him to do magic?" Jake asked.
"Hmm... interesting question. 626 is capable of many things, but magic is outside usual scientific experiments. But Jumba can run some tests to see if 626 has potential," Jumba replied.
"Thanks, Jumba. We'll get back to you on that," Jake said, ending the call.
"Great, now we just have to keep an eye out for Asher and Finn," Luz said, scanning the crowd.
As they walked through the covention, they saw various demonstrations and coven recruiters trying to entice young witches to join.
"I still don't see them," Jake said, frustration creeping into his voice.
"Maybe they went to check out one of the other covens," Willow suggested.
Suddenly, a loudspeaker crackled to life, and an announcement echoed through the hall. "Attention, attendees! Our mystery guest will be giving a demonstration in the main hall shortly. Don't miss it!"
"Maybe Asher and Finn are headed there," Gus said.
"Let's check it out," Luz agreed.
They made their way to the main hall, where a large crowd had gathered. On the stage stood a tall figure in a dark cloak, their face hidden in shadows.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the covention!" the figure announced. "I am here to demonstrate the true power of coven magic!"
Eda tensed, pulling her hood lower. "Let's stay at the back. I don't like this."
As the figure began their demonstration, showing off impressive spells and magical feats, Jake and Stitch kept scanning the crowd for any sign of Asher and Finn.
"Do you see them?" Luz whispered.
"No, not yet," Jake replied, growing more anxious.
Just then, the figure on stage called for volunteers from the audience. "Anyone brave enough to test their skills against me?"
Before Jake could react, he saw Asher and Finn stepping forward, ready to take on the challenge.
"There they are!" Jake exclaimed.
"Perfect. Now let's get them and get out of here," Eda said, starting to push her way through the crowd toward the stage.
"Wait, let's see what happens," Luz said, curious about the demonstration.
The cloaked figure smiled. "Ah, brave souls. Let us see what you are capable of."
Asher and Finn took their positions, and the duel began. Magic spells flew through the air, and the crowd watched in awe.
Jake, Stitch, Luz, Eda, Willow, and Gus stood at the edge, ready to jump in if needed.
After that, Principal Bump walked up on the stage and took the microphone.
"Hello, Bonesborough! Students ask me all the time, Principal Bump, what's the height of magical achievement?" Bump said.
"Is it this?" one student asked, making a spell circle that caused his head to grow big and fall on top of the audience member next to him, crushing them.
"Wow. I failed you as a principal," Bump said. "It's being selected to join the best of the best. And there are none better than the jewel of the coven system and the enforcers of His will, the Emperor's Coven." Bump said as three Emperor's Coven members in masks appeared on stage.
"Whoa," Luz said in awe.
"These guys must be a really big deal," Jake said, looking at them with interest while Stitch tried to sneak around, but Jake quickly grabbed him.
"No, Stitch, you can't go up there," Jake said.
"Luz." Looking over, they saw the Emperor's Coven had indeed signed Gus's forehead.
"Feast your eyes on this elite force, each member handpicked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic," Bump said as one member created fire, another created water, and the last created lightning. The three spells launched into the air before creating fireworks.
"When does that elite force get here?" Eda mocked.
"Members of the Emperor's Coven have access to all, yes, all forms of magic. Ooh. Aah," Bump said.
"Ooh. Aah," the audience mimicked him.
"But only the best can ascend these ranks. Some day that could be one of you!" Bump said, pointing at Amity in the stands, causing her to squeal.
"Huh?" Jake said, recognizing her as Stitch let out a growl.
"Ika patooka," Stitch muttered under his breath.
As the three members left the stage, Bump stepped up again.
"And now, I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest. You know her, you love her! Lilith!" Bump declared.
"Huh?" Eda stopped laughing.
From above, a blue raven flew in and landed on stage before revealing an adult woman with ivory skin, pointy ears, and indigo hair. This was Lilith Clawthorne.
"You know her?" Jake asked, noticing the change in Eda's mood.
"You could say that," Eda said, looking down at Asher and Finn, who were getting angry just seeing her.
"Mysterious past," Luz gasped.
"What's wrong with them?" Jake asked.
"Thank you, all. It wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings," Lilith said.
"Like me?" the big-headed student said with stars in his eyes.
"Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will. So be more! The Emperor's Coven awaits you!" Lilith declared, waving her hand and creating balls of blue light, causing Eda to glare at her.
A few minutes later, the four of them were walking out.
"Eda, where are you going?" Jake asked as Stitch was trying to stop her.
"I'm gonna head home, then I'm going to grab my nephews and wash the con funk off my skin," Eda said.
"But we haven't even taken the quiz to determine our coven type!" Luz said, holding up a magazine which Eda blasted a hole through.
"Never mind then, come on Stitch," Jake said as they walked away, only to bump into Amity.
"Hey, watch where you're go—oh, it's you. The other human and his blue dog thing and Willow's abomination thing," Amity glared.
"Hey, Amity. So, funny story. Not an abomination. Sorry for the confusion last week. I-I'm Luz. The human," Luz corrected, holding out her hand.
"Ugh, put that away. You two got me in trouble with Principal Bump, and I never get in trouble," Amity said.
"You were all fine and dandy letting him cut up Luz," Jake said as Stitch growled at her.
"Meega, nala kweesta," Stitch said, causing Jake to cover his mouth.
"Sorry about him," Jake said, still a little annoyed.
"Whatever. You three shouldn't even be here. This Covention is for witches and wizards only," Amity said.
"Me and Stitch are training to be wizards, and Luz is trying to be a witch. And Stitch is not a thing, so back the hell off," Jake said, pointing at her, disliking her more and more.
"And I'm learning how to be a witch too. I'm receiving magic lessons from a powerful witch and a ferocious demon," Luz said, when Amity looked past them.
"Is that your ferocious demon there?" Amity asked.
Looking over, they saw King covered in Covention hats, scarves, and t-shirts while holding a cupcake.
"Cupcakes in my tummy-tum make the King say yummy-yum!" King smiled.
"So you'll join the Baker's Coven?" a baker asked as King ate the cupcake.
"Hmm, nope," King said, taking another one and running off. "Hey guys, check out all these offerings," King said before tripping over his scarf and dropping his cupcake.
"King, you okay?" Jake asked as Stitch helped him up.
"You make wearing scarves look so cool and easy," King said before looking at his cupcake when Amity stepped on it, causing King to gasp.
"Oops. That was an accident," Amity smirked, causing Jake to stand up, and Stitch's antennae started to pop out.
"What the hell? What's your problem?" Jake asked.
"You're my problem. You two and your pets give real witches and wizards a bad name," Amity said.
"We are not pets!" King said, scratching his face with his foot like a dog as Stitch licked inside his nose.
"He's a very good boy and the King of Demons!" Luz said, hugging him. "It's one thing to say I can't be a witch—"
"Because you can't," Amity interrupted.
"But it's another thing to bully my ohana," Jake said, getting angry.
"Well, what are you gonna do about it? You don't know any magic," Amity smirked.
"No, but I do," Jake said, stepping forward as he summoned his starlight blade.
"Yes! Just like The Good Witch Azura said when facing down her rival Hecate at the Bog of Immediate Regret: Jake challenges you to a Witch's Duel!" Luz declared, shocking everyone.
"And you're on board with this?" Amity asked.
"Hell yeah, because ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. So if you mess with them, you have to mess with me too," Jake said, pointing his starlight blade at her, causing Amity to smile and walk up to Jake.
"I accept. Let's state the terms for this duel," Amity said.
The crowd around them began to murmur with excitement as Amity and Jake squared off.
"Fine, let's set the terms," Amity said. "No magic outside of your given abilities, no interference from friends, and the winner is determined when the opponent is unable to continue or concedes."
"Deal," Jake agreed, his grip tightening on his starlight blade.
"But Jake, you've never dueled before!" Luz whispered urgently.
"Don't worry, Luz," Jake replied. "I've got this."
"One, if Jake wins, you have to apologize to King for squashing his cupcake," Luz demanded, pointing at Amity.
"Good night, sweet child," King said, picking up the scraps of the cupcake.
"And two, you can no longer mock those beneath you and must accept that Luz, Stitch, and I can be witches and wizards too," Jake added.
"Fine, but if I win, not only must you stop learning magic, you three have to go back to the human realm and never return to this place," Amity pointed out, causing Jake, Stitch, and Luz to gasp.
"What?" Jake said.
"What's the matter? Scared?" Amity smirked.
"Do it, Jake! For my honor!" King exclaimed.
"Yeah, Jake, heegata no feebee," Stitch added.
"You've beaten bullies before, like Gantu. You can beat this one," Luz said.
"Okay, I'll do it," Jake agreed.
"Let's shake on it," Jake said, when Amity made a spell circle around his hand and shook his hand.
"The everlasting oath is sealed," Amity declared.
"Okay," Jake said.
"Meet back inside the theater in one hour. Let's see what kind of wizard you are, human," Amity said, walking away.
"I can do this, right?" Jake asked.
"Oh yeah," Luz nodded.
"Stitch believes in Jake," Stitch said.
"No way," King shook his head.
"At least Stitch and Luz believe in me," Jake thought to himself.
Down another hall, Eda was trying to find the way out when Lilith, who was signing autographs, spotted her.
"Sister?" Lilith said, causing Eda to turn around. "It's been so long since I've seen you last. What are you wearing? You look like some sort of trash collector. Oh, right. You are," Lilith said, walking over.
"Oh, Lily. I just had to see the leader of the Emperor's Coven in action," Eda said before looking at Lilith's fans. "You know, when we were kids, Lilith was so excited to see the Emperor's Coven, she peed a little."
Hearing this, the kids started to laugh while Lilith turned red, embarrassed.
"Tha-That's all for today," Lilith said, shooing the kids away before turning to Eda. "You shouldn't even be here. You're a wanted criminal. Unless...I don't believe it. You're here to join the Emperor's Coven!" Lilith gasped, causing Eda to burst into laughter.
"In your dreams," Eda said.
"You think being covenless makes you so much smarter than everyone else. But while you run from the law like a degenerate, I'm mentoring the next generation of powerful witch students into the world," Lilith boasted.
"Well, I have my own students too. And I bet they can wipe the floor with any of your prissy little blue bloods," Eda said.
"Is that a challenge?" Lilith asked.
"You bet it is," Eda said as Finn and Asher walked over.
"Hey, Mom, been a while," Finn said, glaring at her.
"Yeah, I hope you're enjoying being at the Emperor's Coven without checking on your kids or anything," Asher added.
"Finn, Asher, it's been so long. How's your father?" Lilith asked.
"Same old, same old. What are you trying to bet with Aunt Eda for?" Finn said, as Asher looked at Lilith with anger.
"Listen, I'm sorry," Lilith said, her voice softening. "I had to do what I did for the Emperor's Coven. It was so much pressure."
"You left us at his doorstep," Asher said, his voice trembling with anger. "You told us you'd come back, but you never did." Asher's body started to glow with electricity, the tension visibly affecting him.
"Asher, calm down," Finn said, placing a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder.
Lilith sighed, guilt and regret evident on her face. "I never wanted to hurt you. I thought I was doing what was best for all of us."
"It didn't feel like it," Asher muttered, though the glow around him began to fade.
Eda stepped in, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "Alright, enough of this. We have a duel to prepare for. Let's focus on showing them what we can do."
Finn nodded, looking at his brother. "We can talk about this later, Asher.
Asher took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly. "Okay.
Just then, Jake, Stitch, and Luz ran in.
"Eda, we need your help. Jake challenged Amity to a witches' duel!" Luz said breathlessly.
Lilith noticed Jake and felt a strange sense of recognition. "No... it can't be. I know I've seen him before," she thought to herself.
"Lilith, meet Jake Evans and his alien dog, Stitch. Jake's here to beat your student," Eda smirked.
"H-H-Hi," " Stitch said, causing Lilith to force a smile.
"Anyway, he's just a human. He doesn't have any magic," Lilith said dismissively.
"Yes, he does. Show her, Jake," Eda prompted, smirking confidently.
Jake sighed but stepped forward. "Astral Convergence magic: Aurora Daggers," he said, summoning daggers that emitted the mesmerizing light of the aurora.
"Impossible," Lilith whispered, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Jake stood tall, his daggers glowing brightly. "I may be human, but I can still use magic. And I won't back down from this duel."
Luz and Stitch nodded in agreement, standing by Jake's side. "We're with him all the way," Luz declared.
Lilith composed herself, her expression turning serious. "Very well. Let's see how you fare against Amity, then. But be warned, the Emperor's Coven doesn't take kindly to outsiders wielding such power."
Eda grinned, clearly enjoying the tension. "Oh, this is going to be interesting."
Finn and Asher exchanged glances, their earlier confrontation with Lilith temporarily forgotten. They were eager to see how Jake would handle himself in the duel.
As they prepared to head to the duel arena, Lilith's mind raced. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something significant about Jake. This duel was shaping up to be far more than just a simple test of skill.
In the theater, Eda and Jake stood on one side with Luz, Stitch, Finn, and Asher behind them, while Lilith and Amity stood across from them.
"Beloved citizens, the Emperor's Coven proudly presents an impromptu demonstration of the sort of witch we seek every year. Introducing Amity Blight," Lilith announced as the crowd cheered.
"Go Amity!" a fan shouted.
"Versus Jake Evans," Lilith continued, causing the crowd to mutter.
"Is he a human?" one person asked.
"What's with his ears? He doesn't look like a witch or a wizard," another person said.
"He's not, Amity," a fan jeered, only to be silenced as a plasma blast hit them in the head, causing them to fall.
"Stitch," Jake said as Stitch quickly hid the plasma blaster behind his back, whistling innocently.
"Alright, I know your Astral Convergence magic is strong, but you see that mound?" Eda pointed to a mound in the dirt. "If you find yourself backed into a corner, get Amity to step on that and my magic trap will go off," Eda said.
"But that's cheating," Luz protested.
"Nobody will know. To all eyes up there, it'll look like you're performing magic. Just trust me," Eda insisted.
"I'm not sure if I want to win like this," Jake said.
"Yeah, Aunt Eda, I don't think Jake should win like that. I think he can beat her on his own," Finn said.
"Yeah, he's strong. He already knows how to do a fire spell. Let him do it by himself; he can do this. I believe in him," Asher added.
"Stitch believe in Jake. He will kick that Ika patooka butt," Stitch said.
"Thanks, Stitch," Jake said, patting him on the head.
"Then go out there and use your own skills," Eda said as the bell rang.
"Well, wish me luck," Jake said.
"Good luck," Luz said worriedly as he stepped out to face Amity.
"Get ready, human, because once this is over, I won't have to see you or your stupid ohana ever again," Amity taunted.
"We'll see," Jake replied, taking a fighting stance.
"Abomination, rise!" Amity commanded, and a massive abomination appeared, at least three times bigger than the one from earlier.
"Whoa," Jake gasped.
"Show me what you've got, human!" Amity said.
"You want it, you got it. Astral Convergence magic: Starlight Blade and Nebula Shield!" Jake said as his Starlight Blade and Nebula Shield appeared in both of his hands.
The duel began with a flurry of spells. Amity directed her abomination to attack, its massive fists slamming into the ground where Jake had just been standing. Jake moved swiftly, his blade slicing through the air, sending waves of starlight at the abomination. The creature staggered but did not fall.
Amity retaliated by making her abomination form several smaller ones from its body, sending them rushing toward Jake. Jake deflected them with his Nebula Shield, which emitted bursts of cosmic light with each hit. He countered with a stream of astral energy, forcing Amity to summon more abominations.
"Is that all you've got?" Amity taunted, sending her abominations to surround Jake.
Jake rolled out of the way, slicing through several abominations with his blade. The creatures roared but continued their assault. Jake summoned a circle of glyphs, causing the ground beneath the abominations to erupt in flames. They staggered again, parts of them melting away.
"You've got more fight in you than I thought," Amity admitted, casting a spell to reinforce her abominations.
Jake deflected the reinforced abominations with his shield, then sent a wave of starlight energy at Amity. She blocked it but was pushed back by the force.
"You're pretty good, for a human," Amity said, clearly impressed despite herself.
"Thanks, but I'm just getting started," Jake replied.
He summoned a storm of astral energy, launching it at Amity and her abominations. Amity's barriers cracked under the pressure, and the abominations finally collapsed, unable to withstand the onslaught.
"Not bad, but let's see how you handle this," Amity said, merging the remaining abominations into one colossal abomination.
Jake took a deep breath, summoning all his remaining strength. "Astral Convergence: Stellar Strike!" he shouted, his blade glowing brighter as he charged at the colossal abomination.
The two forces clashed fiercely, their roars echoing through the theater. Finally, Jake's Stellar Strike overpowered the abomination, dissipating it in a burst of light. Amity fell to her knees, defeated.
Jake approached her, offering a hand. "Good fight," he said.
Amity hesitated, then took his hand, standing up. "Yeah, it was. You earned my respect, human," she said.
The crowd erupted in applause, and even Lilith couldn't help but be impressed. Eda, Luz, Stitch, Finn, and Asher cheered loudly, proud of Jake's victory.
"You did it, Jake!" Luz said, hugging him.
"Stitch knew you could do it!" Stitch said, wagging his tail.
Jake smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He had proven himself not just to Amity, but to everyone watching.
Amity dusted herself off, looking at Jake with newfound respect. "You really surprised me, Jake. I didn't think a human could wield magic like that."
"Thanks, Amity. You're pretty strong yourself," Jake replied, smiling.
Luz, Stitch, Finn, and Asher rushed to congratulate Jake. "You were amazing out there!" Luz exclaimed.
"Yeah, you really showed her," Finn added.
"Stitch knew Jake would win," Stitch said proudly.
Eda walked up, a smirk on her face. "Not bad, kid. You did great."
Before they could celebrate further, a strange humming noise filled the theater. A circle of light appeared in the air above the stage, swirling with energy.
"What's that?" Luz asked, eyes wide.
The circle expanded, and a small experiment pod with the number 756 appeared, suspended in midair. Water began to pour out of the pod, and within moments, it bubbled and exploded, revealing a new experiment.
The creature that emerged was about the size of Stitch, with a sleek, aquatic appearance. It had bright blue skin, webbed feet, and fins along its back. Its eyes glowed with an intense light, and it seemed ready for action.
"Experiment 756," Jake muttered. "I didn't expect to see another experiment here."
The creature hissed, then lunged at Jake and his friends, clearly agitated. Stitch immediately jumped in front, growling protectively.
"Stitch, be careful!" Luz warned.
The experiment shot a stream of water at them, but Jake raised his Nebula Shield just in time to deflect it. The water splashed harmlessly off the shield, and Jake countered with a burst of starlight.
The creature dodged nimbly, then responded by creating a powerful wave that swept across the stage. Luz and the others were knocked back, struggling to keep their footing.
"We need to stop it before it causes any more damage," Eda said, preparing a spell.
"Right," Jake agreed. He glanced at Stitch. "Ready to team up?"
"Stitch ready," Stitch said, nodding.
Jake and Stitch moved in unison. Stitch leapt at the experiment, his claws extended, while Jake used his Astral Convergence magic to create a barrier around the creature, trapping it in place. The experiment thrashed and hissed, trying to break free.
But the experiment broke through the barrier, sending a wave of water splashing everyone around.
"Okay, that hurt," Jake said, getting back up, until his communicator buzzed. It was Jumba.
"What's up, Jumba? I'm kind of busy right now," Jake said, grimacing as he dodged another powerful jet of water from the experiment.
"Remember when you asked me if 626 could do magic and I said alien biology couldn't do it?" Jumba's voice crackled through Jake's communicator.
"Yeah, you said Stitch can't do magic. Now you're saying he can?" Jake asked, using his Aurora Shield to deflect another wave of water.
"Well, I've been analyzing 626's energy signature," Jumba explained. "It turns out that while he can't perform traditional magic, he has a unique form of energy manipulation that can interact with magical forces. It's not exactly magic, but it's close."
"Seriously? So, what does that mean for us now?" Jake asked, fending off another torrent of water with his Starlight Blade.
"It means 6262 might be able to amplify or stabilize magical energy in ways we hadn't considered," Jumba said. "If you can find a way to harness that energy, it could be a game-changer in your fight."
"Got it. Thanks, Jumba," Jake said, cutting off the call and turning his attention back to the battle.
Jake faced the experiment, which was still thrashing wildly. Its sleek, aquatic form darted around with incredible agility. He saw an opening and shouted, "Stitch, we need to combine our efforts! Use your energy manipulation to boost my shield!"
Stitch, glowing with determination, nodded and leapt into action. He focused his energy, which began to merge with Jake's Aurora Shield. The shield started to pulse with an intensified glow, amplifying its protective and offensive capabilities.
Jake glanced at his new spell. "Time to test out my Galactic Whip!" He conjured the spell, a dark, swirling whip of energy that could wrap around enemies with the gravity of a black hole.
"Finn, Asher, I need thunder and wind magic now to distract the experiment," Jake said, charging towards the creature.
"Right! Wind Magic: Rasengan!" Finn yelled as a big ball of wind energy surrounded the palm of his hand.
"Thunder Magic: Chidori!" Asher yelled as black electricity enveloped his arm, and he ran towards Experiment 756, with Finn right behind him, his Rasengan crackling with power.
Luz pulled out her plasma blaster and quickly drew a small light glyph on the trigger of it. "Ready to assist!" she called out, aiming at the experiment.
The experiment hissed, sending another powerful wave of water towards the group. Jake's Aurora Shield absorbed most of the impact, but the force pushed him back. He swung his Galactic Whip, which wrapped around the experiment, pulling it towards him with intense gravitational force.
Finn and Asher flanked the creature. "Now!" Jake shouted.
Finn thrust his Rasengan into the experiment's side, creating a powerful vortex of wind that disoriented it. Simultaneously, Asher struck with his Chidori, the black electricity coursing through the creature and causing it to convulse.
Luz fired her plasma blaster, enhanced by the light glyph, at the experiment's weak points, causing small explosions of energy on impact.
The experiment roared, thrashing in an attempt to break free. Stitch jumped in, using his enhanced energy manipulation to stabilize the magical forces around Jake's Aurora Shield and Galactic Whip. The shield glowed brighter, and the whip tightened its grip.
"Hold it steady!" Jake shouted, sweat pouring down his face from the effort. "Everyone, now's the time!"
Eda, observing from a distance, nodded in approval. "Good job, everyone. Keep it up! We need to ensure it's completely restrained before we can move it."
Luz and the others continued to channel their magic into the containment spell. The field expanded, creating a reinforced cage around the experiment. The creature's struggles grew weaker as the spell tightened.
With one final effort, Jake swung his Galactic Whip with all his strength, securing the creature in place. The experiment let out a final frustrated screech before falling still, trapped within the magical barrier.
"We've got it contained!" Jake said, panting heavily but relieved. "Let's make sure it stays that way."
Eda approached, her expression one of respect. "You did great, Jake. And Stitch, that energy manipulation was impressive."
Luz looked at Stitch with newfound admiration. "I didn't realize he had that kind of power."
"Yeah, neither did I," Jake admitted, giving Stitch a proud pat. "Looks like we've got a lot more to work with than we thought."
Stitch, still glowing with pride, "Stitch happy!"
Jake and Stitch walked over to the experiment that was still trapped in the barrier.
"Why did Eli send you this time?" Jake muttered to himself.
Suddenly, a swarm of dark Owls appeared, landing in front of the stadium with a big crash. As the smoke cleared, Jake and Stitch saw Eli and Vault. Vault, an experiment who was secretly on There side, had to pretend to be a mole and now had to make it look convincing by confronting his cousin, Stitch.
Eli smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Well, well, well. Looks like you've caught one of my little pets. Impressive, but ultimately futile."
Jake tightened his grip on his Starlight Blade, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want, Eli?"
Vault stepped forward, his expression conflicted. "Eli, this isn't right. We shouldn't be doing this."
Eli shot Vault a dangerous look. "Silence, Vault. You're either with me or against me."
Jake glanced at Vault, sensing the experiment's hesitation. "Vault, you don't have to do this. You can help us instead."
Vault looked between Eli and Jake, clearly torn. "I... I don't want to hurt anyone."
Eli growled, his patience wearing thin. "Vault, I gave you an order. Fight, or else."
Vault, despite his reluctance, charged at Jake and Stitch, his movements stiff and pained. Jake quickly deflected Vault's attack with his Aurora Shield, understanding that Vault had no choice but to follow Eli's commands.
"Stitch, we need to be careful. Vault doesn't want to do this," Jake said, blocking another blow from Vault.
"Stitch understand," Stitch replied, readying himself for the next attack.
Eli laughed darkly. "You think you can stop me, little blue monster? Let's see what you've got."
Jake stepped forward, his eyes locked on Eli. "We're not afraid of you, Eli. You're going down."
Jake turned to Luz, Eda, Finn, and Asher. "Stay back! This fight is ours."
The battle began in earnest. Eli unleashed a wave of dark energy, but Jake deflected it with his Aurora Shield. Vault, despite his reluctance, continued to attack under Eli's control, his strikes powerful but hesitant.
Vault focused his electric powers, sending bolts of lightning towards Stitch. Stitch dodged with incredible speed, darting around the stadium to avoid the deadly blasts. Each lightning bolt struck the ground with a powerful crack, leaving scorch marks in their wake.
Stitch countered with a barrage of plasma blasts, but Vault absorbed the energy, converting it into more electricity. The two experiments circled each other, their attacks growing more intense with each passing second.
Vault unleashed a torrent of lightning, forcing Stitch to leap and roll to avoid being hit. Stitch, using his agility, closed the distance and tackled Vault, the two of them grappling on the ground. Vault managed to electrify his body, sending a shock through Stitch, but Stitch gritted his teeth and held on.
With a burst of strength, Stitch threw Vault into the air and launched a powerful plasma blast. Vault, twisting mid-air, redirected the plasma blast with a bolt of lightning, sending it back towards Stitch. Stitch barely dodged, the blast exploding behind him.
The crowd watched in awe as the two experiments continued their fierce battle, each attack countered by an even stronger one. Stitch, realizing he needed to change tactics, used his energy manipulation to create a shield, deflecting Vault's lightning attacks back at him.
Vault, seeing an opportunity, charged at Stitch with lightning speed. Stitch met him head-on, their powers clashing in a dazzling display of light and energy. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered from the force of their blows.
While Stitch and Vault fought, Eli turned his attention to Jake. "Time for round two, Jake. This time, I won't go easy on you."
Jake nodded, his grip tightening on his Starlight Blade. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Eli summoned dark owls, their eyes glowing with malevolence. They swooped down towards Jake, but he was ready. With a swift motion, he swung his Starlight Blade, cutting through the dark energy and dispersing the owls.
Eli snarled, sending a wave of dark energy towards Jake. Jake raised his Aurora Shield, deflecting the attack and charging forward. He swung his blade, but Eli dodged, countering with a blast of dark magic that sent Jake skidding backward.
Jake quickly recovered, casting his Galactic Whip. The whip, infused with the gravity of a black hole, wrapped around Eli, pulling him closer. Eli struggled, his dark energy clashing with the powerful magic of the whip.
Eli managed to break free, sending a shockwave of dark energy that knocked Jake off his feet. Jake rolled and sprang back up, using his Starlight Blade to send a beam of light towards Eli. Eli countered with a dark shield, the two forces colliding in a brilliant explosion of light and dark.
The two combatants traded blows, each strike creating shockwaves that shook the stadium. Jake used his magic to enhance his speed, darting around Eli and landing several quick strikes. Eli, however, was relentless, using his dark magic to block and counter every move.
Jake, seeing an opening, cast a spell that created a burst of starlight, blinding Eli momentarily. He followed up with a powerful strike from his Starlight Blade, but Eli recovered just in time to deflect it.
The battle raged on, both fighters pushing their limits. Jake used his Galactic Whip to ensnare Eli again, but Eli, drawing on his dark power, shattered the whip and unleashed a devastating attack that sent Jake crashing into the ground.
Jake struggled to his feet, panting. "This ends now, Eli."
Eli smirked. "I couldn't agree more."
With one final effort, Jake summoned all his magic, creating a massive energy blast with his Starlight Blade. Eli, gathering his dark power, prepared to counter. The two forces collided, creating a blinding explosion that illuminated the entire stadium.
When the light faded, Eli was on his knees, defeated. Jake stood tall, his Starlight Blade glowing with victory.
Vault, seeing Eli's defeat, stopped fighting. He looked at Stitch, guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Stitch. I didn't have a choice."
Stitch nodded, understanding. "Stitch forgive."
Jake walked over to Eli, his expression stern. "It's over, Eli. You've lost."
Eli glared up at Jake, but his power was spent. He knew he was beaten.
"It's over, Eli. Give me back all the Elemental experiments," Jake demanded, pointing his Starlight Blade at Eli's neck.
Eli smirked. "Oh, I'm not done at all." He cackled before dropping an experiment pod labeled 703.
The pod began to crack and break until a massive explosion sent Jake and Stitch flying backward, blinding everyone in the stadium with a flash of light. When the light cleared, standing in the middle of the stadium was Experiment 703: a creature with light gray skin adorned with swirling patterns and large, wing-like ears.
"Since you like naming experiments so much, let me introduce you to Gust," Eli sneered. "He can generate powerful windstorms." Eli glanced at Gust, giving him a nod.
Gust activated his powers, creating a whirlwind that surrounded Eli and Vault. The powerful winds forced Jake and Stitch to shield their eyes as Eli and Vault made a quick getaway.
"After them!" Jake shouted, struggling against the gale-force winds. He turned to Eda, Luz, Finn, Asher, and Amity. "We can't let them escape!"
"On it!" Luz said, trying to find a clear path through the chaos.
Eda summoned a spell to counter the wind, but it was too strong. "This windstorm is too powerful! We need to neutralize Gust first!"
Finn and Asher combined their powers, hoping to pierce through the barrier. "Wind Magic: Rasengan!" Finn shouted, launching a spinning ball of wind at Gust.
"Thunder Magic: Chidori!" Asher yelled, directing a lightning-charged strike at the experiment.
The combined attack momentarily disrupted the windstorm, giving Stitch an opening. He leapt forward, claws outstretched, aiming to subdue Gust. However, Gust quickly recovered and sent a powerful gust of wind that knocked Stitch back.
Jake, determined, used his Black Hole Whip to wrap around Gust. "You're not getting away that easily!" he yelled, pulling Gust towards him. Gust struggled against the pull, sending sharp gusts of wind to break free, but Jake held firm.
"Stitch, now!" Jake shouted.
Stitch, with a burst of energy, charged at Gust. "Plasma Blast!" he cried, launching a concentrated burst of energy at the experiment. The blast hit Gust, causing him to stagger.
Eli, seeing his experiment in trouble, sent a dark wave towards Jake. "You're a thorn in my side, Jake!"
Jake deflected the dark energy with his Aurora Shield, then retaliated with his Starlight Blade, sending a beam of light towards Eli. "I won't let you win!"
Eli dodged the beam, but the distraction allowed Jake to tighten his grip on Gust with the Black Hole Whip. Stitch seized the moment and tackled Gust, pinning him to the ground.
Eli, realizing he was outmatched, glared at Jake. "This isn't over. I'll be back." With a final dark spell, Eli created a smokescreen and vanished, leaving Gust behind.
The windstorm died down, and the stadium fell silent. Jake and Stitch secured Gust, ensuring he couldn't cause any more trouble.
"You did it," Luz said, running up to Jake. "You stopped him."
"For now," Jake replied, still catching his breath. "But Eli will be back. We need to be ready."
Eda placed a hand on Jake's shoulder. "You did great, kid. We'll be ready for him next time."
Amity and Lilith, still in shock, approached. "That was incredible," Amity said. "I didn't know humans could be so powerful."
"Thanks," Jake said, sheathing his Starlight Blade. "But we all need to stick together. Eli won't stop until he gets what he wants."
outside, Amity was looking at Jake with a mixture of admiration and frustration.
"A deal is a deal. I won the match, so it looks like we're going to be here for a long time. Also, you owe King, Luz, and Stitch an apology," Jake said with a smirk.
Amity sighed, clearly not thrilled but knowing she had to keep her word. She walked over to King first. "I'm sorry for stepping on your cupcake, King."
King crossed his arms but nodded. "Apology accepted, I suppose."
Next, Amity turned to Luz. "I'm sorry for telling you that you can't be a witch."
Luz smiled. "Thanks, Amity. I knew you had it in you."
Finally, Amity faced Stitch. "And I'm sorry, Stitch, for calling you a pet and underestimating you."
Stitch wagged his tail and gave a friendly growl. "Stitch forgives."
Jake nodded approvingly. "Good. Now that that's settled, we need to focus on finding the remaining experiments and stopping Eli."
Amity looked at Jake, a newfound respect in her eyes. "You're right. I'll help however I can."
Amity made a spell circle and pulled her hand through. "The oath is unbound."
In a backstage room, Lilith was thinking to herself. "Ugh, you make it so hard to want to help you, Edalyn. And can't you see I was trying to do what's best for my kids, but I can't even do that right. Asher, Finn, I wish that you two could understand." Lilith groaned when a small demon creature with what appeared to be a turquoise hand instead of hair appeared. This was Kikimora.
"Lilith, I see you let the Owl Lady and her two nephews get the best of your temper. Just remember what Emperor Belos has promised you," Kikimora reminded.
"I will capture them, ma'am," Lilith nodded.
"Very good," Kikimora said, hanging up.
"Your days are numbered, Edalyn. And Asher and Finn, I'm sorry," Lilith declared.
As Lilith stood there, lost in her thoughts, a sudden memory sparked in her mind. Jake's face and his powers reminded her of someone she once knew. She hurried over to a small table and grabbed a picture frame, opening it to reveal a small, old photograph inside.
The photograph showed a group of young witches and wizards in training. Among them was a young boy who bore a striking resemblance to Jake. Lilith's eyes widened as she realized who Jake reminded her of.
"This can't be... It's him," Lilith whispered to herself, her hands trembling as she held the picture. "How could I not see it before?"
She remembered the boy in the picture, a powerful young wizard who had disappeared years ago under mysterious circumstances. His name was Orion, and he had been one of the most promising students in their coven.
Lilith's mind raced as she connected the dots. "Jake must be related to Orion somehow. But how? And why is he here now?"
Determined to uncover the truth, Lilith tucked the picture back into the frame and set it on the table. She needed answers, and she knew the first step was finding out more about Jake and his connection to Orion.
Lilith quickly made her way out of the backstage room, her resolve strengthened. She was going to get to the bottom of this, no matter what it took. As she exited, her thoughts were consumed with the possibilities and the questions that now swirled in her mind.
Meanwhile, deep in the mountains of the Boiling Isles, Eli stood in a dimly lit cavern, surrounded by cages containing experiment pods. The air was thick with frustration and the musty scent of damp earth. Eli leaned against a wall, his face shadowed with irritation.
"I can't believe I was beaten by Jake, that kid with the so-called magic from the Owl stone," Eli muttered to himself, glaring at the cages. "I was supposed to get the Owl Stone, but somehow it slipped through my fingers. And Jake... he still has his magical powers."
Vault, who was standing nearby and appeared uneasy, spoke up. "Eli, this isn't working. If you want to obtain the Owl Stone and control the dark force, we need to rethink our approach. We can't keep failing like this."
Eli's eyes narrowed as he turned his gaze toward Vault. "You were supposed to help me retrieve the Owl Stone. Instead, you seemed more concerned with playing it safe. I saw the fight—you were holding back against Stitch. You knew how crucial this was!"
Vault's electric aura flickered as he tried to justify himself. "I was trying to avoid unnecessary risks. We were outnumbered, and the fight was getting chaotic. I didn't want to jeopardize our mission or expose ourselves further."
Eli clenched his fists, his frustration palpable. "This is about more than just a fight, Vault. It's about seizing the power we need to reshape everything. The Owl Stone and the magic it contains are essential for bringing back the dark force. We need them to control it and make our vision a reality."
Vault looked down, conflicted but determined. "I understand that, Eli. But if we keep pushing too hard, we'll only end up exposing ourselves or failing again. We need a better strategy, one that doesn't rely solely on brute force."
Eli's expression hardened as he shifted his focus to the cages holding the experiment pods. "Fine. We'll regroup and reassess our strategy. But know this: I expect results. The power we seek will be ours, and nothing will stand in our way."
He continued, "We still have these experiments to work with. They might hold the key to our next move. But remember, Vault, failure is not an option. We need to be more cunning and relentless. The Owl Stone is the key to controlling the dark force we seek, and we need to acquire it quickly."
Vault nodded, a steely resolve in his eyes. "Understood. I'll do whatever it takes to help us achieve our goals."
With that, Eli's determination solidified. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but he was resolute. The Owl Stone would be theirs, and with it, the power to control the dark force and reshape everything according to their plans.