Welcome to my next Owl House fanfiction! This story idea was my first once I got into the series, and it is the first one with a central OC!
I was going to post this yesterday, but the document was long, and Grammerly was testing my patience. Anyway, disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to The Owl House. I only own the story and my OCs. I borrowed one name from Equestria Girls, so credit to those creators. Also, if the description of Brian's room is too long, just look up pictures of Sci-Twi's room from Equestria Girls, and you'll get an idea of what it looks like. Same with his basement lab.
With that, let's begin!
A digital alarm clock went off at 6:45 a.m. in the upstairs bedroom of a country farmhouse. A teenage boy named Brian Ritter shut it off. Brian was a slender Caucasian American with fair skin, freckles, and light blue eyes. His dark hair was medium-length, with long bangs that fell to the right without obscuring his face. While his hair was shaggy on a good day, his bedhead made it worse.
His blue bedroom had brown furniture with purple accents. A twin storage bed by the window featured a matching bedspread and a trunk with a pillow for a dog. A nightstand with an alarm clock and a dresser with a lamp were on either side. Nearby, a tall bookshelf held books alongside a desk with a silver desktop, a violet chair, and another bookshelf. A bay window with books and a telescope was adjacent. Across the room was another bookshelf and an aquarium with Vesper's trophies above. Near the door, a science area included a desk with a cabinet, fridge, drawers, a microscope, a monitor, and various plants. The wall was decorated with a periodic table and experiment samples. By the closet, a measuring stick hung above a shelf of books and another wall-integrated bookshelf. A gold full-body mirror from his sister's boyfriend and a violet bean bag chair filled with books were also present. A floor lamp stood by the bean bag, along with a chandelier above. Glow-in-the-dark stars and a mobile solar system decorated the bed area. His walls displayed family pictures and posters for "Cosmic Frontier" and other shows he liked.
Slipping on thick black glasses, Brian got up and started his morning routine. After making his bed, he went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and made his hair somewhat neater with a hairdryer and a comb. Brian then got changed for school, wearing a blue-gray and teal T-shirt, a dark maroon vest with a gold zipper, dark blue boot-cut jeans, and dark brown boots. After feeding the fish and watering his plants, he gathered all his supplies into a dark violet backpack with indigo pockets.
His shuffling around woke his dog, Spike, who yawned before greeting his human with a bark. Spike was a breed of dog called a Drentse Patrijshond, a type of spaniel hunting dog. He looked less than two years old, although they had had him longer than that. Primarily white with large brown patches, his coat was medium-long but dense. He wore a dark indigo collar with silver spikes and a gold tag.
"Morning, buddy." Brian petted him happily. He yipped again before following the human out the door.
Heading downstairs, Brian greeted an older man in the kitchen. "Hey, Coda!"
"Morning, Brian," Coda replied as he ate his bagel.
Clarion Lovelace, known as Coda, was a man in his late twenties, 6'1" tall and athletic. He had fair skin, short brown hair, and brown eyes. He wore a turquoise shirt under a white jacket, light blue jeans, and black-and-white sneakers with gold accents. Coda also had a black sports watch and a gold necklace with an ice-blue gemstone. He was Brian's older sister, Aura's boyfriend, and had previously babysat Brian when he was little. Now, he was an art teacher at Graveside High, where Brian was a student.
"Ready for school?"
"Always," Brian said, filling Spike's food and water dishes. "Dad already left?"
"He was heading out when I got here," The older man said. Brian's dad, Nicolaus, ran an apple orchard near the house. It wasn't uncommon for him to be gone by the time Brian got up. "Summer vacation starts in a few days," Coda continued as Brian set the bowls down for the dog. "Have any plans?"
"Yes, yes, I do! Big plans! My equipment picked up this odd energy from the old house just outside our property!" Brian replied before pouring himself cereal, not noticing Coda and Spike tense up at mentioning the old house. "If I can collect enough data on these bizarre frequencies, I could extrapolate their waveforms to determine their origins! That would practically guarantee my entrance into the Everton Independent Study Program!"
"I've actually been meaning to talk to you about that," Coda spoke up, looking at Brian with concern. "Are you sure that's what you really want?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Brian asked, still excited about the coming break. "I program that allows me to focus all my attention on my own advanced math and science projects? It's a dream come true!"
"But there aren't any classrooms with other students. You'll be doing everything on your own." Coda stressed.
"That is why it's called an independent study program," Brian replied, not getting the big deal.
Coda sighed before getting up, putting his hands on the teen's shoulders. "Brian, I had to give up some of my high school years, and I missed out on a lot of things. I don't want you to have those same regrets." Brian didn't know the whole story, but Coda had lived with them from the time he was an infant. Some behaviors, such as always locking his bedroom door, suggested to Brian that he ran away from a bad home life and had to drop out of school for a while.
"Is this about what happened two years ago?" Brian asked. When Coda didn't reply right away, he sighed tiredly before stepping back. "I'm fine, Coda. I may never be fully "okay," but I'm fine. I've thought about it and decided I'm ready to try again."
"All I'm saying is being around other people isn't a bad thing," Coda explained, smiling reassuringly at him. "Sometimes, it's how you learn the most about yourself."
"I guess…" Brian replied, still not entirely convinced.
"At least think about it a little longer, okay? You can still do your research if you want, but please be careful. That house is practically condemned."
"Okay…" Brian agreed, managing to smile back.
Coda smiled and nodded, accepting his answer for now. "Now, we need to leave in fifteen minutes. I made our lunches, so you finish breakfast while I wait for you at the car."
Brian watched the older male leave before groaning, unable to hide his frustration. "What is he so nervous about? I'm ready for Everton. Besides, I'm not going to be at Graveside forever." He looked down at Spike when the partridge hound nudged him, whimpering a little. Brian smiled slightly, kneeling to pet him. "You, too?"
Spike gently bit Brian's sleeve and tugged on it like he was saying he didn't want him to go. "I'm fine, Spike, really," Brian hugged his canine friend before ruffling his fur again. "I'm not alone anymore. I have my best canine friend and my best human friend at school. Plus, my family. I've got everything I need. I'm just ready to take the next steps with my life."
Spike barked happily, licking at his human. "Okay, Spike, okay," Brian laughed before gently pushing the dog away. "I need to finish breakfast. We can play after school."
Spike barked again before returning to his bowls. Brian smiled before digging into his food. While eating, he took out his mauve purple cellphone and sent a quick message to his human best friend.
TheAlchemist: Morning! Ready for school?
Luzura: You bet! I'm gonna wow my teacher with my book report! That A is mine!
She topped it off with a cheering emoji before sending Brian a separate text.
Luzura: Ready for summer? (Sunglasses Emoji)
TheAlchemist: Yup! With the project I've got planned, that Everton scholarship is mine!
Luzura: Isn't that the group you tried to get into two years ago?
TheAlchemist: Yeah, but you know what was happening during that time. They've reopened applications, and this time, I'll be ready. I probably won't be around much this summer since I'll be focusing on my research.
Luzura sent a sad emoji with a puppy-dog eyes emoji, causing Brian to chuckle fondly.
TheAlchemist: Don't worry, Luz. The group has an option where I can study from home. We'll still be able to see each other.
Luzura: You'll still go to the conventions with me, right?
TheAlchemist: Duh (Smirk emoji)
Luzura: Yea! (Excited emoji)
Brian smiled before putting his phone down to finish breakfast. "Hopefully, today will be an easy day."
(Timeskip)
A witch with green hair and a staff backflipped onto a cliff, sliding to a stop. She gritted her teeth as she glared up at a large purple snake.
"Foolish child! I could swallow you whole!" The giant creature hissed at her.
"Do not underestimate me, Gildersnake, for I am the Good Witch Azura," She gestured to herself. "Warrior of peace!" She posed as the wind blew through her hair before kneeling and holding her staff like a bazooka. "Now eat this, sucka!" She fired the staff, hitting the snake.
"No! My only weakness: dying!" It cried out, collapsing to the ground with a thud.
"And that's the end," Luz Noceda, a Dominican-American girl with dark brown hair in a pixie cut, finished reenacting the scene and an actual live snake. She smiled at her mother, Camila Noceda, and the principal, Principal Hal.
"The end of what?" Camila asked in confusion.
"My book report." The snake hissed and bit the doll. Brian, sitting a couple of inches away from her, flinched slightly. "I think I knocked it out of the park."
The principal sighed. "Your book report is why you're in here, " he said, gesturing to his office door. Through the window, two students ran by outside, screaming as snakes bit their heads.
"Oh. That's where the backup snakes were." Luz commented casually.
"Uh, why am I here?" Brian asked nervously, glancing at his father and trying not to flinch under his stern gaze. Being a farmer and the former Chief of Police for the Gravesfield P.D., Nicolaus was built like a brick house. He was a muscular middle-aged man with brown eyes and short, receding dark brown hair. He wore a red flannel shirt with rolled-up sleeves, blue work jeans, and brown work boots.
"You're here because Luz credited you for assisting her with this."
"What?!" Brian gasped, looking at his friend in betrayal.
"What? Remember last week when I asked you what kind of snakes weren't poisonous?"
"I thought you were asking questions about your biology homework!"
"And what were you going to do with this?" Camila asked her daughter, concerned, holding up several firecrackers tied together.
"That was for the Act Three closer." The girl admitted, her shoulders sagging while Brian went pale when he saw it.
"Which I was told Brian also assisted on," Principal Hal added.
"You told me those were for the Fourth of July!" Brian looked at her accusingly.
"Would you have helped me with it if you knew what it was for?" Luz replied bluntly.
Brian pinched the bridge of his nose under his glasses. Luz may have been his best friend, but he was driven up the wall by her inability to think things through. "Luz, I love you, and I know you wanted to do something different, but the first rule of firework safety is don't shoot them off inside!" He stressed, trying to get Luz to understand.
Luz was about to say something but stopped when she considered Brian's words. She blushed with embarrassment when she realized he was right. "Ohhh, heh, heh," she chuckled sheepishly. I didn't think of that…" Brian slapped his forehead, wondering what he was going to do with her.
Nicolaus sighed heavily, causing Brian to suppress a flinch. "Brian–"
"Kids," Camila interrupted him, bending down to the kids. "We love your creativity and ingenuity, but it's gotten out of hand. Do you remember why you were sent to the principal's office the last three times?"
(First Time)
Luz was auditioning for a part in the school play Romeo and Juliet. Dressed in a bright green princess dress and hat, she recited Juliet's lines from the death scene.
"O happy dagger, give me death!"
She pretended to stab herself with a spork, dropping to her knees. Luz then ripped open the top of her dress, causing several sausage links to fall out. Everyone else on stage screamed and ran away as Luz fell to the ground, pretending to be dead.
That same day, Vesper was helping with prop-making and stage construction. When the other kids had difficulty moving one of the backdrops, he used a small droid he had built to help get it in place. However, the stage piece was too heavy for the robot to handle. It broke under the weight, causing the set piece to fall over and become damaged.
"Must have miscalculated the weight tolerance…." Vesper muttered to himself, smiling sheepishly when everyone else glared at him.
(Second Time)
Luz used taxidermied animal parts in art class to make a baby griffin. She was sewing a pigeon's head onto a squirrel's body attached to a platform. "Now for the final anatomically correct touch," Luz declared before opening the model's beak. "Spider breath." Many spiders came crawling out, crawling over her and the table. Luz was utterly unfazed, but her classmates didn't take too kindly to it. People screamed in terror, throwing objects everywhere in fright.
Meanwhile, in his chemistry class, Brian worked on a powder that could change fire color. Wearing safety goggles and a lab coat, Brian carefully sprinkled the dust over the open flame of his Bunsen burner, watching with glee as it changed from orange to purple. "Success!" he cheered quietly. However, the powder caused some smoke, setting off the fire alarms. Brian jumped in shock as his classmates screamed, and then he was suddenly doused with water from the sprinklers, extinguishing the flames.
(Third Time)
For reasons Vesper would never understand, Luz tried out for the cheer squad. Wearing an orange and white uniform and a gray T-shirt, she watched a blonde girl with a pink hair stripe execute a successful backflip, eliciting applause from every other student.
"You think that's an impressive trick?" Luz scoffed, tossing her pom-poms to the side before turning away. "Take a look at this." She turned around to reveal that she had flipped her eyelids inside out. "Bleep, bloop, bleep!"
Unfortunately, she did not get the reaction she had hoped for. Everyone else screamed and ran, and at least one person gagged.
Meanwhile, with encouragement from Coda and Gloria, Brian tried to join one of the sports teams. He randomly picked a team, and it was basketball. Just as Brian was about to take a shot, one of the cheerleaders bumped into him, causing him to miss. The ball bounced off the back of the hoop and hit the coach in the head hard enough to knock him out. Brian stared wide-eyed as some of the other players went to check on the man.
"Oops…"
(Present Day)
"Why does that one even count? It was an accident!" Brian argued.
"We all love that you two express yourselves," Camila continued, though the principal's glare suggested otherwise. "But if you can't learn to separate fantasy from reality, you may need to spend the summer here." She pulled a pamphlet out of her purse, holding it out.
It read, "Reality Check Summer Camp." On the front, a red-headed kid was crammed in a box under the words, "Think INSIDE The Box." Brian turned to his father with a wide-eyed, 'You can't be serious!' look. However, the older man hardened his stern expression, signaling that this wasn't up for discussion. The teen bit his lip and turned away from his father, catching Luz's attention as she reluctantly took the brochure.
"Don't worry, Mom, Mr. Ritter. We won't let you down," Luz said, standing up triumphantly. "No more weirdness!"
But just as those words left her mouth, the snake in Luz's hand suddenly jumped out and bit the principal. He fell to the ground with a yell while the snake hissed. Everyone stared for a second before Luz nervously looked at her mom. "That doesn't count, right?"
(Sometime Later)
Unfortunately, it did count. It was now the day Brian would leave with Luz for summer camp. The teen was doing some last-minute packing, stuffing things into a brown messenger bag customized with star pins, a couple of different anime buttons, and a Cosmic Frontier keychain.
His movements were stiff as he worked, holding in barely contained frustration. Of all the ways he saw his summer going, this was not it! He doesn't even know whom he's the angriest with.
Luz for getting him into this mess?
Mrs. Noceda for suggesting the camp in the first place?
His father for making him go?!
At that last thought, Brian growled, slamming his hands on the mattress next to his bag. Spike, who had been lounging on his pillow, flinched with a whimper from the sound. He had never seen his human this upset before.
Hearing the sound, Brian snapped out of his temper. Sighing tiredly, he moved to sit on the bed, putting his head in his hands. "I'm sorry, Spike…." He murmured an apology, head still bowed. "Why can't they accept me for who I am…?"
Spike whined again before hopping off the pillow. He padded over to Brian, resting his head on the human's knee to be comforting.
"How's the packing going?" A female voice asked from the doorway. Brian turned to look at Aura leaning against the door frame with Coda poking his head in from the other side. Brian and his older sister had a ten-year age gap, with Aura being 5'7", athletic-looking, and fair-skinned. She had long light brown hair and blue eyes like his own. She was a member of the Gravesfeild Police Department and was the youngest in its history to be made sergeant. She was dressed in her uniform but had a different shift today.
Brian sighed, leaning back on his bed. "It's done. I'm just… venting."
"Guess it's safe to say there's not going to be a father-son trip anytime soon." Coda joked, trying to lighten the mood. However, everyone else did not appreciate his comment, glaring at him in return. Even the dog is giving him a look. "Yeah, sorry, not the best time for jokes…" Coda apologized sheepishly.
Brian groaned as he flopped back on his bed. "I really don't wanna do this."
"Not excited to learn how to balance a checkbook or appreciate public radio?" Aura cracked, trying her luck.
"I already know how to balance a checkbook," Brian grumbled before going to his science corner to check his things. "I had to help Coda learn how. Also, radio? In the era of streaming and podcasts?"
The young adults looked at each other, unsure what to say. While both worried about Brian's asocial behavior, they didn't think this camp was a good idea. Coda had privately said that he was offended by the camp's premise. "Look, I know this isn't how you imagined spending your summer," Aura tried, walking over to him. "But maybe this could be a good thing…."
"Not you, too…." Brian muttered, knowing where this conversation was going.
"Hear me out," She insisted before continuing. "Just… give the camp a chance. Maybe you'll meet some kids who hate the place as much as you do, and you can bond over that."
"Why are you both so insistent that I make more friends? I have you guys, I have Spike, and I have Luz. Isn't that enough?" Brian questioned before sighing as he finished covering his microscope. "Besides, no one wants to be friends with the boy genius…"
"Well…" Brian was startled when Coda touched his shoulder, causing him to look at the older man's sympathetic smile. "Maybe you just haven't found people who appreciate your genius. And you may find those people at camp."
"But only if you try," Aura added. "Can you at least give it a chance? Even if you don't like it?"
Brian looked at them before glancing at the ground, thinking over their words. Sighing again, he nodded. "Okay… I'll try, but I make no promises."
"That's all we're asking for." Aura smiled, pulling Brian into a hug.
Coda ruffled Brian's hair, kissing him on the temple. "Ya ready to go? You were gonna meet Luz at the bus stop and go together."
"Can I have a few more minutes?" Brian requested as they let go of him. "I want to make sure all my equipment's off downstairs."
"Okay," Aura nodded. "But don't take too long."
"Alright," Brian agreed before grabbing his bag and heading for the door. "Come on, Spike!" Spike barked, tail wagging as he followed his human, knowing he had perked up again.
Brian headed to the basement and flipped on the lights, unveiling a small homemade science lab. Two desks and an extra table held the equipment. One desk featured a desktop computer, a microscope, and a few beakers, while the other had a laptop, a mouse, a desk lamp, and a stack of books. The extra table supported various monitors measuring wavelengths. A corkboard on the wall displayed additional data, pictures, and red strings connecting related pieces.
Brian went around the room, double-checking saved data and shutting down the equipment. As he approached the work table with the laptop, he was startled by a beeping noise from a device he had assembled to track the bizarre energy from the abandoned house in the woods. The item was a handheld invention with a wavelength screen and various knobs to adjust the frequency it tracked. Near the top were two antennas reacting to the energies the device was registering.
Picking it up, Brian turned some dials to pinpoint the readings better. "I've never seen numbers like these before…." The counter spat out a paper strip with the readings recorded on it. Tearing it off, Brian tacked it up on his board, connecting another string.
"No doubt about it, Spike," Brian declared, adjusting his glasses. "There's something strange going on with that house."
"Brian."
The teen genius was startled into nearly dropping his invention when his father opened the door to the basement. "Dad!" he gasped, setting the device down and quickly shutting off his laptop.
"What are you doing down here?" Nicolaus asked, coming down the stairs.
"Just… shutting things off." Brian sighed, disappointment setting in again. Just when he got an interesting reading for his research… "I'm going to get my bag…" he muttered, walking past his father without sparing a glance. Spike followed his human, discreetly giving Nicolaus a dog-like glare for upsetting his human friend again.
Nicolaus sighed as his son left the basement. He knew Brian was unhappy about this, but it was for his own good. "Brian…" he called, following the teen. "Wait!" Brian stopped in the hallway but didn't turn around.
"I know you don't want to go to camp, but please try to understand. I'm glad you take your studies seriously, but throwing yourself into them isn't good for you."
Brian didn't respond but crossed his arms to signal that he disagreed with his father. Nicolaus sighed, knowing his youngest was going to be stubborn. "Look, Brian. Camp is a chance to… branch out and find… new interests. And meet new people…."
Instead of placating Brian, however, his dad's words brought a wave of long-buried anger and frustration to the surface. Before he could squash it down, a bitter chuckle came out of his mouth. "Stop sugarcoating it…" he muttered.
"What?" His dad responded, surprised by his son's reaction.
Brian whirled around, glaring at his father as he spat out. "Just say it! Just say you don't like me hanging out with Luz and want me to be someone else!"
"I never said that–!"
"You didn't have to! It was written all over your face!"
"Brian–"
"Everyone always says to be yourself, but everyone gets mad at me when I do!"
"Brian!" Nicolaus snapped, cutting his son off as he calmed down before continuing sternly. "Brian, your obsession with science is getting out of hand! Last week, your experiment blew out the power in the neighborhood! You're lucky you weren't arrested! And how many times have Luz's stunts gotten you in trouble?! This last one could've gotten you both expelled!"
Brian didn't say anything, but his clenched fists showed his anger. "What I'm saying is that maybe it's time to find some new interests."
Brian bit his lip as hot tears gathered in his eyes. Unable to hold it in, he finally shouted what he had held in for some time. "Well, sorry, I'm nothing but an embarrassment to you!" he cried, taking Nicolaus by surprise. "Sorry, I'm not the son you want me to be! Sorry, I'm too much like Mom!" The teen panted after his outburst, tears falling freely as he glared at his father.
Nicolaus stared back at him in stunned silence, unsure how to react. Brian had never raised his voice before or snapped at anyone, as far as the older man could remember. Shock and guilt were warring in him as he tried to figure out how to diffuse the situation. However, Brian didn't give him a chance. Unable to take it anymore, he spun around and ran for the door, Spike on his heels. "Brian!" Nicolaus called, but Brian didn't stop.
He burst out the front entrance, tearing around the side of the house and through their apple orchard. Even with his vision blurred by tears, Brian knew the path by heart. After running down the forest path, Brian stopped to catch his breath when he saw Luz's house. Wiping away the tears, he walked around the house and saw Luz standing disappointedly in front of the bus stop. Brian walked over and stood next to her, Spike right beside him.
"Hey…" He said hoarsely, getting her attention.
"Hey…" Luz responded before noticing how upset he looked. "Hey, what's wrong?" Before he could answer, her mother walked out of the house.
"Oh! Oh, my baby!" She gave Luz a hug, which was not returned. Brian didn't even look at her when Camila turned to him. "Hola, Brian!"
"Hi…" Brian muttered, walking to stand on the other side of Luz pointedly. It wasn't hard for Camila to guess what was wrong.
"I know this isn't how either imagined your vacation going, but don't worry. Summer camp is only going to be for three months. You'll be so busy balancing checkbooks and learning to… appreciate public radio, the time will fly by!"
"I'm positive even normal teens find that stuff boring," Brian muttered, causing Camila to frown.
"And I don't like any of that stuff," Luz pointed out. "I like editing anime clips to music and—and reading fantasy books with convoluted backstories." She took out a book from her favorite series, The Good Witch Azura.
"Mija, your fantasy world is holding you back," Camila told her. "Do you have any friends besides Brian? Real ones, not imagined or drawn or reptilian?" Luz dropped her book, disappointed but knowing her mother had a point. "Summer camp is a chance to make some friends, but you have to try." She slowly walked past her to the trash bin. "Can you do that?"
"Yes, Mom." Luz sadly placed the book in the trash. Brian watched her sympathetically over his shoulder.
Aura's cruiser pulled up, and the young sergeant stepped out. "Good, I beat the bus," She said, walking over to her brother with his bag. "Hey… you ran out of the house without this…"
Brian silently took it and put it over his shoulder. "Thanks, sis…"
Aura patted her brother's shoulder before looking at Camila and silently asking if she still thought this was a good idea. The veterinarian glanced away, feeling guilty, and started to see that something was wrong.
"Brian–" Before she could say anything, the radio in her car went off, signaling it was time to report for duty. "I gotta go," She said, hugging her brother. "Have fun." Aura got in her squad car and drove away.
Seconds later, Camila's phone vibrated in her purse. "Oh. I gotta go to work." She kissed Luz's forehead. "Your bus is coming soon. Text me when you get there. Cuídate mucho, mi hija. ¡Qué te vaya bien!" She walked away from the teens.
"Bye, Mom."
When her mom was gone, Luz turned to Brian. "I'm sorry," she said. "This is all my fault."
"It's not all your fault," Brian replied. "I did my fair share of stunts, too."
"I still don't get why that mess at the basketball tryouts was part of it."
"I'm pretty sure the coach just doesn't like me," Brian said, chuckling faintly.
Luz giggled slightly back before sighing sadly. "Well, this is gonna be a lousy summer."
"Yeah," Brian agreed, already feeling miserable. "So much for getting into Everton…" The two friends fell silent, mourning their lost summer.
"Well," Luz said after a moment, giving her friend a small, optimistic smile. "At least we have each other."
Brian looked at her before returning her smile. "Yeah. Misery enjoys company." They laughed, causing Spike to perk up again.
"Let me just grab my–!" Luz started to say before gasping suddenly. Before Brian could ask what was wrong, she started rummaging through the trash can, realizing her book was gone. "Where is it? Where is it?"
They heard an owl hoot and saw a little brown owl holding a sack in its beak with Luz's Azura bag sticking out.
"What the…?" Brian blinked, confused as to what they were seeing. The owl then turned and started flying away.
"Tiny trash thief!" Luz yelled before chasing after him, alarming Brian.
"Luz, wait!" He chased after the girl, his dog right behind him. They pursued the owl into the woods, following an old forest path that had been there for years. The teens and dog stopped when they saw the owl hopping toward a decrepit, abandoned house—the same one Brian had planned to observe that summer. An ominous wind blew past as they stared at the structure, making the summer day feel colder. Spike growled lowly beside the teens, not liking the look of the place.
Luz and Brian looked just as nervous about the site as Spike was. Before they could reconsider this plan, Luz growled, steeling her nerves before she continued after the owl again. "Luz, wait!" Brian called out, running after the girl.
Both teens ran inside the house, neither aware of the front door slamming shut behind them nor of the bright light filling the entire interior, seen through the windows and holes in the roof. Spike yelped at the sights and sounds, whimpering when he didn't see his human or friend return.
(A few seconds later)
A mysterious, ornate door with an eye decoration unfolded in three parts before opening. The owl hopped through with a hoot, still holding the sack. Luz followed a few seconds later, and Brian was right behind her.
"Stop adorably hopping away, you–Huh?" Luz started saying before she realized her surroundings changed, slowing to a stop. Brian stopped and bent over to catch his breath behind her as they looked around, noticing they weren't in the house anymore. Coming out the other side of the door, the teens found themselves in a tent full of old odds and ends.
"Whoa. I thought I had a lot of weird stuff," Luz commented before picking up a creepy-looking doll on a hanger. "But this? This is impressive."
"Forget that. How did we get here?" Brian wondered how they had gone from a house to a tent.
"Finally, you're back!" a woman said suddenly. Luz and Brian gasped, dropping to the ground. They peeked back up, glancing at each other before walking forward. "Now, let's see what we've got here," the woman said as Luz moved the tent flap aside. Outside stood a pale woman with long gray hair facing away from them. She wore a red dress and a green polka-dot bandana, carrying a long brown pole almost the same height as hers.
The little owl hooted before landing on top of the pole. She twisted it around, becoming a wooden fixture atop the staff. The friends gasped once again, surprised by what they had just seen. They continued to watch as the woman started going through the bag her owl had brought back. After a minute, the strange woman pulled a smartphone from the sack. "Garbage…" She tossed it aside before looking again, finding a diamond ring. "Garbage…" She threw that away and rummaged through the items again. This time, she found a golden, shining chalice, for some reason, but that also didn't impress her as she tossed it aside. "Garbage…"
Suddenly, the woman gasped in delight when something in the bag caught her eye. "Now this…" She pulled out a pair of joke glasses with eyes on springs and put them on. "This will make me rich." Brian wore a 'huh?' look as they watched her. How did she think gag glasses were gonna make her rich?
"And this…" She pulled Luz's book out of the bag, causing the teens to gape silently. "Oh, this will make good kindling." She moved the book over a candle to burn it, prompting Luz to gasp in horror. Before Brian could stop her, she was running out of the tent.
"Luz!"
"Excuse me! Sorry! That's mine! Thank you!" She said, snatching her book from the woman, surprising her.
She ran into the tent with Brian and headed toward the door. However, before they could go through, the door folded up, turned into a case and disappeared. The woman stood behind them, holding a key with the same eye decoration as the door. "You two aren't going anywhere," the woman said menacingly as she removed the glasses.
"Wha–ah!" Luz yelped in fear, shoving her Azura book into her messenger bag as Brian quickly ushered her under the back of the tent.
"Come on!"
They began to run but suddenly skidded to a halt just inches from a cliff. Gazing in terrified awe, they realized they were no longer in Connecticut—or even on Earth. Before them lay a bizarre, old-fashioned town adorned with Gothic architecture; some buildings resembled teeth and clawed arms, with one even grabbing a flying dragon-like creature out of the air. Below, the city bustled with inhabitants engaged in their daily routines, but there was an unsettling twist: none appeared human. A cloaked figure clutched an ice cream cone that seemed to attempt to munch on a nearby passerby while the legs of what looked like a giant chicken strolled by. Meanwhile, a centipede-like creature opened its jaw, allowing a winged being to emerge; they shared a quick kiss before parting ways.
"Oh, no, no, no, no!" Luz freaked out, Brian staring in horrified shock as they backed away from the cliff. "What's going on?" Suddenly, a fairy-like creature approached Luz, causing her to jump back with a shriek, startling Brian. "Oh, hello, little fairy," she smiled nervously. "Are you going to tell me this is all a fantastical dream?"
"Give me your skin!" it yelled suddenly, showing rows of sharp teeth in its mouth. The friends screamed in fright as Luz slapped the fairy to the ground.
"Where are we? Did we die?" Luz went into a panic rant. "Are we in a bad place?"
"Boy, do I hope you're wrong!" Brian clutched his head in fright. Suddenly, they felt a hand on their shoulders, causing them to freeze.
"You wish," the woman from before answered.
She dragged them back to her tent, plopping them on stools out front. "I'm so sorry! I just wanted my book! If you're gonna eat my skin, just make it quick! Just do it now!" Luz yelled frantically as she closed her eyes, offering her elbow. Brian hugged her protectively, eyes closed for the pain.
"Eat you? Why would I eat…" Eda questioned before adopting a pleasant tone. "A potential customer?" Confused by the change in demeanor, the friends opened their eyes and realized this woman was running some kind of stand. Her wares included "human collectibles," whatever that meant, and there were all sorts of items for sale. "Can I offer you a human foot filled with holes?" She began showing what she had for sale, holding up a green Croc, then set it aside and grabbed a stick of men's deodorant. "A bar of green human candy? Oh, oh! How about this black shadow box that reflects only sadness?" She pulled out an old portable TV and held it up to the teens. They looked at the middle-aged woman before they started laughing, Brian letting go of Luz.
"That's not all it can do," Luz mentioned as she and Brian stood up.
"May I?" the male teen said, taking the TV. Looking at the table, Brian grabbed two batteries from a dish labeled "Human candy! (?)." He put them in the battery tray and pressed the power button. Once he did, a jazzercise video started playing, with loud music filling the air. "There we go. Good as new."
The music from the video began grabbing the attention of different customers and vendors in the surrounding marketplace. They had never heard noises like that before, so they were all very curious. "Huh?"
"What's that?"
"The sound—It's so alluring." Several monsters were now crowded around the TV for a better look.
"I'll pay forty snails for the screaming box," one monster offered, holding up some green bills.
"I'll give you a hundred!" another offered, doing the same.
"Can I eat the tiny person inside?" a different creature asked.
Soon enough, they had a small auction on their hands, and the whole crowd started bidding. The teenagers looked at the group in confusion while the lady was stunned. "What did you say your names were?" She looked at Luz and Brian with an impressed smirk, and the teens smiled back.
"I'm Luz," Luz introduced herself. "Luz Noceda."
"And my name's Brian," Brian added, adjusting his glasses. "Brian Ritter."
"Well, Luz, Brian, that was pretty clever," she praised as she took money from the monsters. "For a couple of humans."
The teens each raised an eyebrow at the comment. "That's kind of a weird thing for another human to say," Luz voiced for both of them.
"Oh, dear child," the woman said before pulling off her bandana, revealing pointed ears. "I'm not like you two." The teens stared in surprise as the woman got up on the table. "I'm Eda the Owl Lady, the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles!"
"A witch?" Luz questioned softly.
"Boiling Isles?" Brian murmured in confusion.
"I am respected, feared–"
"Busted!" a male voice interrupted, smashing the TV with his fist.
"Run! It's a guard!" a monster cried.
After that, all the demons ran away screaming. Brian and Luz fell to the ground as a big, hulking man stood before the table, looking at Eda. "Eda the Owl Lady," he spoke as she hopped off the table, holding up a wanted poster of her and a small dog-like creature with a skull, horns, and a red collar. "You are wanted for misuse of magic and demonic misdemeanors!"
"Whoa! Witch criminal!" Luz said as they peered over the edge of the table.
"Just our luck!" Vesper groaned quietly.
"You are hereby ordered to come with me to the Conformatorium," the man continued, grabbing Eda's arm.
"Would you guys quit following me around?" Eda complained as she pulled herself free. "I haven't done squat."
"And you're coming too..."
"Aah!" the teens yelped as they were grabbed by their vest and hood, respectively.
"… for fraternizing with a criminal!"
"Wh–What?! That's not cool!" Luz complained, hugging her legs again.
"Oh, come on!" Brian added, trying to break free from his grip.
"Oh, all right, all right, you win," Eda surrendered before reaching under the table. "Just let me get my stuff." She grabbed her staff, swinging it at the guard. She hit him in the face, causing him to drop the teens as he fell to the ground with a grunt. Eda then spun her staff and tapped the bottom on the table, causing a spark of light.
Luz and Brian picked themselves up off the ground, and Luz grabbed her book. Looking back at Eda, they stared in awe as her stuff floated in midair, surrounded by a yellow aura. "How…?" Brian's eyes widened, unable to believe what he saw.
"Whoops. Can't forget this," Eda said, pulling the key out of her hair. She pressed the eye to summon the portal door to her. She then closed her hand into a fist, wrapping the tablecloth around all her things. Finally, she stuck her staff through the bundle and started running. "Follow me, humans!"
Not seeing any other options, the teens scrambled after Eda. "This is crazy. If I die here, my mom's gonna kill me!" Luz stressed.
"Normally, I'd point out your lapse in logic, but now is not the time!" Brian said, just as freaked out as she was.
"Ha! I won't let 'em hurt you," Eda reassured her. "Humans like you two are much more valuable to me alive than dead."
"Wait. What's that supposed to–" Luz questioned before Eda looped her arms around hers, Brian quickly grabbing his friend's arm.
"Whoo-hoo!" she whooped, jumping as she pulled the teens onto her staff before taking off into the sky just as the guard came around the corner.
"You won't get away with this, Owl Lady!" He shook his fist at her before looking at his hands. "Yeah, all right. You did. You got away with it. She got away with it, everybody!" After his outburst, the guard walked away in defeat. "Typical."
(Somewhere in the sky)
The teens had their eyes shut tight in fear as they flew over the Isles, Luz clutching her book close while Brian clung to her, tears flying from both their eyes. "You can open your eyes now, humans," Eda said after a few minutes. Luz and Brian opened their eyes, trying to get their bearings. The girl looked down and saw the ground whizzing by several feet below them. Startled by the height, Luz yelled in fright, causing Brian to jolt and let go of her as she nearly fell off the staff.
"Luz!" Brian cried as she hung upside down like a koala.
"Flying staffs, crazy monsters, you're a witch! What is this place?" she questioned as Eda picked her up and righted her.
"This is the Boiling Isles," Eda explained as they soared, various winged creatures flying behind them as she talked. "Every myth you humans have is caused by a little of our world leaking into yours."
"Every myth?" Brian looked over his shoulder. "Like centaurs, the kraken–"
"When I say every myth, I mean every myth," Eda responded. A griffin resembling the one Luz made at school flew up next to them and screeched.
"A griffin!" Luz gasped, smiling despite herself. The griffin then vomited a load of spiders. "I knew it!" she cried, pointing at it.
"That still makes no sense!" Brian stated, staring at the griffin, stunned.
"Yep. Griffins, vampires, giraffes…" Eda counted off on her fingers.
"Giraffes?" Luz questioned.
"Oh, yeah. We banished those guys," Eda explained as she dove down to land the staff in the woods. "Bunch of freaks."
When she hopped off the staff, she didn't see that one of her hands had stayed behind. The friends noticed, however, just in time to see it move on its own. "Aaah!" they screamed, jumping off the staff.
"Oops," Eda took her hand and screwed it back on. "That happens sometimes."
"Okay, Brian, time to wake up," the brunette boy said as he got up, slapping his hands to his face. "Ow!"
"Well, I've had enough adventure for today," Luz said, standing up. "This is clearly not the PG fantasy world I always dreamed about. So, can you help us get back home?"
Eda leveled her staff in front of Luz, startling her before lifting it again. "Only if you help me first."
"With what?" Brian questioned.
The witch simply chuckled before walking away, her bag following her. "Ah, now, come along, humans."
"Whoa!" Luz whispered in awe.
An owl with an uncanny human face cackled from on top of a tower before swooping down in front of an odd cottage with a large window that looked like an eye. Eda led Luz and Brian out of the forest and to the front door.
"Aren't you worried about those guards finding us?" Luz asked, looking over her shoulder.
"Yeah, this place isn't exactly inconspicuous," Brian added skeptically.
"Don't worry. My house has a state-of-the-art defense system," Eda replied proudly. Suddenly, the owl carving on the door started speaking.
"Hoot-hoot! Password, please!" it said before Eda poked it in the eyes. "Aah!"
"We got no time for this, Hooty. Let us in," Eda said, unamused, while the teens looked between them.
"All right, all right! Geez! You never want to have any fun! Ow! Hoot!" Hooty grumbled. He opened his mouth wide enough to cover the door completely. Eda, Brian, and Luz stepped through (Brian looked slightly disgusted) while Eda's bag stayed outside. Hooty then closed his mouth with a burp.
"Welcome to," Eda snapped her fingers, "the Owl House…" Suddenly, magic filled the room as candles burst into flame. A fire ignited in the fireplace, a cauldron began to stir on its own, and a broom began sweeping the floor. Above them, a glowing image of some kind of owl beast emitted a deafening screech. Luz and Brian observed everything in stunned silence. "… where I hide away from the pressures of modern life. Also, the cops. Mm, also ex-boyfriends," Eda added, chuckling slightly as the teens looked around.
"This place is beautiful," Luz commented, setting her book on the coffee table before turning to Eda. "Do you live here all alone?"
Suddenly, thudding footsteps started shaking the house, and debris fell from the ceiling. "Actually, I have a roommate," Eda responded, crossing her arms.
Luz and Brian braced themselves as the thudding continued, and a shadow appeared near the doorway. "Who dares intrude upon I," A deep voice bellowed before turning into a softer, normal one. "The king of demons?" Then, the dog-like creature from Eda's wanted poster entered the room, still wet from bathing. He had a duck and heart towel around his waist and head, squeaking a rubber ducky in his paw. Luz gasped in delight, eyes shining at how adorable he was.
"¡Ay, qué lindo!" she cried, running forward to scoop him up in a hug, knocking away his towels and ducky.
"Saw that coming," Vesper muttered, although he was smiling in agreement.
"Eda, he's so cute!" Luz gushed as she cuddled him like a plush toy. "Who's a widdle guy? Who's a widdle guy? Is it you? Is it you?"
"No! I don't know who your little guy is!" the creature cried, trying to break out of Luz's grip. "Eda, who is this monster?"
"Oh, this is Luz, the human. And her friend, Brian," Eda explained, dragging Luz away from King before putting her down. "They're here to help us with our little… situation."
"Oh! Hooray!" he cheered.
"Wait, wait, wait. I don't like the sound of this 'situation,'" Luz interrupted.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Brian asked suspiciously.
"Just… let me explain." She twirled her hands and drew a circle in the air. The inside of the ring darkened, and images began showing like a storybook as Eda started narrating. "King was once a mighty king of demons until his Crown of Power was stolen, and he became… this."
"You mean this little bundle of joy?" Luz asked, hugging King again.
"When did you pick him up again?" Brian asked.
"The crown is being held by the evil Warden Wrath and locked away behind a magical force field that only a human can break through," Eda narrated as the images faded. "A human like you two. If you help us retrieve his crown, we'll send you back to your realm. So, whaddya say? Plus…" She picked up King by his face and shook him gently. "Who could say no to this cute face?"
"No! Please don't encourage her!" King cried, squirming until Eda dropped him. "Nyeh!"
"I mean, we're kinda your only way home," Eda added offhand.
"Touche," Brian deadpanned.
"So, we don't really have a choice in this, do we?" Luz looked visibly nervous.
"Nope," Eda confirmed before picking the teens up and tossing them over her shoulder as she headed for the door. "Now, we've got no time to lose."
"Soon, Mr. Ducky, we shall drink the fear of those who mocked us." King picked up his bath toy before following Eda.
"Where are we going?" Luz asked.
"Somewhere super fun," Eda replied, staff in hand.
(A few minutes later)
Thunder and lightning clapped as they stood outside a creepy-looking prison with spikes on the walls. "The Conformatorium, a place for those considered unsuitable for society," Eda explained as the teens cringed, King riding on Luz's head for some reason. Stepping back, Luz noticed another copy of Eda's wanted poster on the wall they hid behind.
"Whoa," She murmured, taking it down for a closer look. "These guys really have the hots for you."
"That's a lot of zeroes," Brian noted, looking at the reward.
"Yep," Eda winked at them. "But we were never caught because we're too slippery."
"Try to catch me when I'm covered in grease. I'm a squirmy little fella." King declared before falling off Luz's head. "Aah!"
"Okay," Brian sighed. "As much as I don't like this, what's the plan?"
"You, Luz, and I will sneak up to the top of the tower, where they're holding my crown," King explained, pointing to the prison.
"And I'm gonna make sure the warden's distracted," Eda added, stepping back a few feet.
Luz gasped in excitement. "Will we need disguises?!"
"Uh…" Eda glanced away awkwardly, not sure how to answer her.
"I've been waiting to use this!" The girl pulled up the hood of her shirt, flicking two cat ears upright. "Meow, meow!"
"It's hideous," King commented bluntly.
"Oh, you'll fit right in," Eda said happily. Brian smacked his forehead for what felt like the tenth time that week.
"Don't worry, Glasses, I've got something for you, too." Getting to work, Eda tapped the butt of her staff against the ground, creating a round glowing platform underneath everyone, startling them. Some of the light surrounded Brian, giving him a black hooded cloak over his clothes. "Hang on tight," she said, stepping away from the circle.
"Whoa!" the human gasped as the platform rose. They floated over the prison walls and up to a window in the tower. The moment it stopped, it disappeared suddenly. Yelping, Brian quickly grabbed onto the edge of the window sill. Luz hugged him around his shoulders while King clung to her feet.
Meanwhile, down below, Eda activated her staff. She tossed it and casually sat on it as it took off. "Meet you guys at the top of the tower." The teens observed her departure as King heaved himself up with a grunt and crawled through the window. With similar grunts, the friends summoned all their strength to pull themselves up and in, landing flat on their faces.
"Ha-ha! Cats don't do that," King mocked them.
Brian glanced at him, tapping his fingers against the floor while his other hand was on his cheek. "Let's just get this over with."
Luz sat up and gasped as she looked up. Brian, following her gaze, opened his mouth in astonishment. The three stared in awe at the many prison cells ahead, edging closer to the brink. Each cell housed shadowy creatures of different forms, their eyes flickering with a ghostly glow in the faint light.
"Hey, cat lady, brooding guy." They turned around to look at a female prisoner behind them. "How'd you get out of your cells?"
"Oh, no, no, no. I'm not a cat," Luz corrected, pulling down her hood. "But now that I think about it, you do look brooding and mysterious!" She gasped at her friend, who rolled his eyes as he removed his hood. "Also, we're not criminals."
"Not yet, you're not," King said with a smile.
"Neither are we," the female prisoner rebuffed, annoyed. "The stupid warden likes to lock people up who don't fit in."
"Really?" Brian's eyes widened at this information.
"Yeah, like I write fanfics of food falling in love." She pulled out a fanfiction book and opened it to show them a couple of pages illustrating an onion and a carrot acting like lovers. "I like food, I like love… Just let me write about it."
"I'm here because I like eating my own eyes." A blue male prisoner with multiple eyes and empty eye-sockets joined in. As he said this, he plucked an eye out of his head, swallowing it. The eye then floated back into place.
Brian brought a hand to his mouth to keep from throwing up. "Please don't do that in front of me again."
"Brian's got a weak stomach," Luz explained, cupping a hand to her mouth as if she were whispering.
"Oh, sorry." The prisoner apologized as the male human regained control of his nausea.
"We are agents of fwee expwession! They will never siwence us!" A tiny female prisoner who looked like a head with a big nose, arms, and legs yelled in a squeaky voice with a lisp.
"Yeah, she's really big into conspiracy theories," the first prisoner jerked her thumb at her, rolling her eyes.
"The world is a simulation! We are but playthings for a higher being!"
Brian stared at her before glancing at the witch. "You have my sympathy."
"Brian!" Luz gave him a look, knowing where this was going.
"I'm sorry, but it's not a glitch in the matrix!" her friend continued to argue. "The bird looks frozen in the air because you're passing under it! It's called an optical illusion!"
"Well, you must be a lot of fun at parties," the witch prisoner quipped with a smirk.
"But back to the point," Brian digressed, returning to the issue. "Even if I disagree, these aren't crimes. They're not valid reasons to lock someone up."
"Brian's right. None of you actually did anything wrong," Luz said as she paced the floor. Her eyes widened slightly before pulling out Eda's wanted poster. "You're all just a bunch of weirdos."
"Like us," Brian concluded, feeling bad for these people.
Suddenly, thudding footsteps got their attention as the room shook.
"What is that?" Brian asked slowly in fear.
"It's Warden Wrath! Hide!" the first prisoner warned them. Luz yelped in fright, dropping the poster as the friends looked around for an escape. Spotting an open cell, they ran inside, with Luz pulling the door down as they entered.
The footsteps continued until the door to the outside was pushed open. Standing in the doorway was a tall man wearing a medieval doctor's mask. "I can hear you," Warden Wrath growled at them. Luz whimpered, cuddling King between her and Brian as the man stomped closer. "Just what are you fools whispering about?" He looked down and saw Eda's wanted poster that Luz had dropped. "Ah, the Owl Lady." He picked up the poster and crumpled it, turning his fist into a hammer and slamming it into the door of the trio's cell. "I'll get my hands on her soon enough."
Warden Wrath looked into the cell, where Luz, Brian, and King were huddled in the corner. "Fight against the oppwessor! We will wesist! We will conquer!" The conspiracy theorist cried out, catching the warden's attention as he approached her cell. "We will never be afwaid of you, you old cweep!"
Wrath said nothing as he pulled the lever and opened her cell door, the little demon staring in surprise as the bars went up. "Hooway! I'm fwee!" she cheered before she was suddenly grabbed by the warden, his fist fitting around her entire body as she squeaked in fear.
He held her up and pointed at the other two prisoners beside her. "Let this be a lesson to all of you. There's no place in society for you if you can't fit in." He tightened his grip, causing the prisoner to squeak again. The trio watched fearfully as Warden Wrath stomped away, crushing the crumpled-up wanted poster on his way out. Once the door slammed shut after he was gone, Luz opened the cell, and she, Brian, and King ran to the fanfiction writer.
"Don't worry. We can get you out," Luz assured her, but she couldn't lift it when she tried to pull on the lever. "No! My weak nerd arms! Come on, Brian, I need your help!"
"I know, I know!" Brian said, looking over the lever. "Let me just get the right angle for leverage…"
"Just get out of here while you still can, kids. Enjoy freedom for us," the fanfiction writer said solemnly, head down as she walked deeper into her cell.
The teens stared at her for a moment before reluctantly walking away. It hurt that there was nothing they could do to help.
They headed down a corridor, with King walking behind them, when Eda flew in beside them. "Hey, I just checked," she said, hopping off her staff, causing them to pause. "The warden is distracted, tormenting some tiny creature. He won't be coming around here anytime soon."
The teens said nothing as they continued walking, Eda watching them go in confusion. They soon reached a towering door that read "CONTRABAND." "My crown! It's close! I can sense its power!" King cried happily as he ran toward the door. He jumped on the doorknob, which was as big as he was, fiddling with it to get inside.
"Aw, he gets so cute when he's thirsty for power." Eda smiled.
"This system stinks," Brian grumbled, anger leaking into his sad expression.
"It's not fair that they're all in here. They just want to be themselves," Luz said, turning to Eda. "Why does everyone think that being a weirdo is so bad?"
Eda didn't have time to think of an answer when they heard King grunt. They turned just in time to see the doorknob thrown to the ground by their feet with a clink. King then pushed open the door, cackling as he ran through. "Come on," Eda let out a small sigh before they followed King inside. "Before he hurts himself."
They heard a zap inside the room before King cried, "Ow!"
"Too late," Brian muttered.
The inside of the room was empty except for a giant glowing pillar in the center. That was most likely the force field Eda had mentioned earlier. King rubbed his skull before charging at the pillar headfirst. However, brute force did nothing, and he only succeeded in launching himself backward, to his annoyance. Eda bent down next to him with a smile. "We have humans, remember?"
"Oh, yeah."
Luz and Brian took deep breaths before nodding to each other. Walking up to the pillar, they each reached out a hand as they prepared to pass through. But just as Brian's fingertips made contact with the light, a sudden zap coursed through his body. With a pained yelp, he stumbled backward so quickly that he fell to the ground, almost as if he had been thrown.
"Brian!" Luz cried as she and the others rushed to his side.
"Easy, kid, easy." Eda eased him to his knees as he clutched his zapped hand, hissing through his teeth. She turned to Luz and said, "You go ahead, Luz. I'll watch him."
"But–"
"Look, we've already been in here too long. If we hang around much longer, we're gonna get caught. We may need to bounce as soon as you find the crown," Eda explained before smiling reassuringly. "Don't worry. He's in good hands."
Luz looked one last at Brian before nodding to the Owl Lady. Turning back to the barrier, she stepped forward and easily passed through. Inside were piles of what could only be described as junk: everything from books to skulls to a dead fish in a tank. Atop the central one was a glowing crown.
Luz got a closer look. "Wait a second. Is that a…"
Back outside, Eda helped Brian to his feet, but his legs were shaky from the experience, so she kept a grip on him. Brian let go of her hand to inspect the damage, relieved to see no blood. However, he noticed his fingertips were slightly red, like a minor burn.
"What… What happened?" He questioned, looking at the witch in confusion.
Eda wasn't quite sure what had happened herself. She thought Brian was human, so why did the barrier zap him? Plus, the shock intensity increased depending on the strength of the person's magic. This kind of injury would've been for an upperclassman school witch.
Before she could even think of anything to say, they saw Luz step out of the force field. "Did you find it?" Eda asked, pulling away from Brian.
"I found something…," Luz replied, looking incredibly frustrated. In her hands was a paper crown with "Burger Queen" written on it. The kind of crown a kid would get with a fast food kids' meal.
"My crown!" King jumped for joy before taking the crown from Luz and placing it on his head. "Yes. Yes! I can feel my powers returning! You there, nightmare critter." He pointed to a stuffed rabbit with one button eye falling out of a box before picking it up. "I shall call you Francois, and you shall be a minion in my army of darkness. Ha-ha!"
"That crown doesn't give him any powers, does it?" Luz said, gesturing to King.
"Uh, no," Eda answered, getting glares from the teens. "Oh, look at us, kids. King and I don't have much in this world. We only have each other. So if that dumb crown is important to him, it's important to me. And besides, us weirdos have to stick together, you know?"
Luz and Brian looked at each other before blushing with bashful grins. "Yeah, we know," Brian said softly.
"Well, we owe you one. Now, let's get out of here before the warden finds us and loses his head." Eda said, not noticing the figure coming up behind her.
"Too late." Warden Wrath loomed over her. He held up his hand as it turned into a blade. With an easy swing, he decapitated Eda. Luz caught her head, causing the teens to scream in horror, thinking Eda was dead. Her tongue was sticking out like a bad fake corpse when suddenly, she blinked and started talking like she was okay.
"Ow! Oh, I hate it when that happens."
The teens screamed again, louder and longer this time. "Eda! Are you okay?" Luz asked with panicked eyes.
"Yeah. This just happens when you get older," Eda replied.
"Does it?" Luz looked at her wide-eyed.
"Please be joking!" Brian squeaked, equally horrified.
"Finally," the warden spoke as his hand changed back into a hand with two guards behind him. "I have you cornered, Eda the Owl Lady." He then stepped forward, taking King's crown.
"Weh?" King gasped.
"My guards could never get you," Warden Wrath walked closer to Luz, Vesper, and Eda as King followed him. The little demon raised his arms, jumping up and down as he unsuccessfully tried to reach his crown. "But I knew if I took your pet's toy, you'd come running." Then, he cruelly crumpled the crown with his fist.
"No! My power!" King cried, falling to his knees.
"What do you want with me?" Eda demanded as the teens glared at him. "I've never actually broken any of your stupid laws… in front of you."
"Not helping your case!" Brian whispered.
"I want you…" He began before suddenly pulling out a bouquet and dropping down on one knee. "to go out with me."
"Wha…?" Eda replied, taken off guard.
"What?" Luz questioned as well, disgusted.
"To what now?" Brian asked, equally creeped out.
"Go, boss!" one of the guards called out, the other giving him two thumbs up.
The warden gave them a thumbs-up before focusing back on Eda. "You've always eluded our capture. You've always been the one who got away. I found that alluring."
"I hate everything you're saying right now," Luz commented.
"Ditto," Brian added.
"You stay out of this!" Warden Wrath snapped, tossing the bouquet over his shoulder. He then turned his now free hand into tentacles and grabbed the teens, forcing Luz to drop Eda's head as the warden held them above the ground. "So how about it, Owl Lady?" Wrath asked, picking up her head by the hair. "The most powerful witch of the Boiling Isles and the feared Warden Wrath. We'd be the strongest power couple ever. I mean, it's– it's not like you can say no right now."
Eda looked up at the two friends, who struggled to free themselves from the warden's grasp. She then looked to King, who was picked up by one of the guards and struggled for freedom. "All right, Warden," Eda sighed in defeat. "You win. I'd just like to say something first. Come closer." He did as she asked, bringing his head closer to her face. "No. Just come a little bit closer. Just…" He pulled her in closer until she was at eye level with him. "Yeah, that's good." Once she was close enough, she blew a raspberry right in his face. Warden Wrath yelled in surprise, dropping the teens, who also cried in shock. He wiped Eda's spit off his mask as the witch laughed.
"Impudent wench! Don't you know how many germs are in your mouth? Blegh!"
"Get over it," she retorted. "You had your guards stalk me, and then you cut off my head. I am not going out with you."
"If you don't accept, then I have no choice but to des–Oh!" His threat was cut short by Luz sneaking up behind him and hitting him in the head with Eda's staff, causing him to fall to the ground with a loud crash.
"Nice!" Eda chuckled, slightly impressed. The other two guards stepped next to her head, causing her to glare up at them. Suddenly, her body, which had been moving on its own the whole time, walked up behind them and dragged their hoods over their eyes.
"Okay, we're going now!" Luz said, grabbing Eda's head with Brian behind her. Eda's body freed King from the guard's grip before Brian grabbed her by the waist to lead her away. The owl unfurled its wings with a hoot as they mounted the staff. "Expecto… flying? Magicus… escapicus!" Luz said nervously as she tried to get the stick to fly.
"Okay, how do we fly this thing?!" Brian asked in a panic. Warden Wrath grunted as he got up, Eda narrowing her eyes at him before looking at the staff.
"Gun it, magic stick!"
The staff took off, the friends yelping as they raced out the door moments before the warden clamored to his feet. "Owl Lady," he growled. "I won't let you get away again!" His arms transformed into bundles of tentacles, which he then used to chase after the staff.
The duo screamed as they made a steep turn around the corner, flying towards the prison cell area with Warden Wrath in hot pursuit. Luz zeroed in on the levers to the cell doors and got an idea.
"Eda, Brian, lend me a hand!" She called, holding up her own. Eda and Brian placed their hands against the back of Luz's. As they flew past, they flipped the switches and opened the cells of the three prisoners the friends and King had talked to earlier. All of them looked excited as their cell doors went up.
The teens yelled as the heist group burst through an outer door of the Conformatorium, smashing two guards against the wall. The warden followed, front-flipping off a pillar. As they hit open air, the staff plummeted with the team. Wrath extended a tentacle, hitting the staff's back and launching Eda, Luz, Brian, and King off. They rolled upon hitting the ground while Warden Wrath landed in front, his hand transforming again into a blade.
"Ow, my bones!" King cried as Eda reattached her head.
"Luz, Brian…" The witch reached into her hair and pulled out the key to the portal door. "Go back to the human world." She handed Luz the key before running at Warden Wrath.
"What about you guys?" Luz asked as she put the key in her bag.
"Yeah, we can't just leave you here!" Brian agreed, worried for them.
"If you think this guy is bad, you shoulda seen her last boyfriend!" King said as he stood up and ran to join Eda.
"Not my boyfriend," Eda grumbled, avoiding Wrath's bladed hands. He grabbed King and jumped out of the way of another strike. "Go! Go!" She urged the teens as she ran back over to them, placing them on her staff.
"But–But we–!"
Before Luz could get any protests out, Eda slapped the bottom of the staff, sending it into the air. The teens screamed as they flew uncontrollably into the sky. Warden Wrath removed his mask, revealing a face that was primarily mouth. He opened his jaws and breathed a stream of fire at the Owl Lady. Eda expertly drew two spell circles, one to catch the fire and another that launched it right back at the warden. Wrath slammed back into the wall of the Conformatorium, kicking up a cloud of dust from the impact.
"Seriously, how do you fly this thing?!" Brian cried.
"I don't know!" Luz whimpered as the two tried not to fall off the staff. Keeping firm grips on the staff, they somehow managed to stop it from flying. They looked back down as they hovered to see what was happening in the fight. Wrath stood up, brandishing his blade hands and running at Eda again. Once he was gone, Luz and Brian saw the three prisoners peek out of the hole he left in the wall, looking hesitant. Confused, the friends looked at each other before Luz flew them down to talk to them.
"Why are you guys just standing there?" Luz asked when they landed. "This is your chance to escape!"
"The warden will catch us. He always does." The multiple-eyed prisoner looked down sadly.
"We belong here." The fanfiction writer added.
"Self-doubt is a pwison you can never escape fwom." The conspiracy theorist said, now sporting a black eye.
"So, you have a different way of doing things, a different way of seeing things. That might make you "weird," but it also makes you awesome. Don't you see?" Luz told them.
"Why are you helping us?" The witch couldn't help but ask.
"We know what it's like to be ridiculed for being different," Brian answered with a determined fire in his eyes. "Just because people don't understand you or disagree with you doesn't give them the right to lock you up and make you feel bad about yourself!"
"Plus, us weirdos have to stick together," Luz added, pulling up her hood as she and Vesper mounted the staff, hovering in the air. "And nobody should be punished for who they are."
"Yeah!" The three prisoners cheered, feeling emboldened by their encouraging words.
"Now, let's get 'em!" Luz yelled, turning the staff around and flying back toward the fight, the prisoners running behind them.
A few feet away, Eda was thrown against the ground, and a second later, King was thrown into her arms. "No more running away, Owl Lady," Warden Wrath loomed over them, his blade hands raised. "Today, I capture you once and for all!" King whimpered, hiding his face in Eda's chest as the witch glared in defiance.
"Go, go, go, go!" Luz called. The prisoners screamed, catching the warden by surprise. They barreled into him, knocking him away from King and Eda as Luz and Brian flew behind them.
"Luz? Brian?" Eda questioned as she stared after them.
"I eat my own eyes!" the multi-eyed creature declared, shoving Wrath back.
"I think the world is a twiangle!" The conspiracy theorist used her tiny body to trip Wrath. Falling to the ground, the fanfiction writer sat on his chest to hold him down.
"And I practice the ancient art of fanfiction!"
The smallest prisoner joined her in holding Warden Wrath down while the eye-eating prisoner grabbed his arms and tied them together. Then, he flipped Wrath onto his stomach. "You two!" he growled as he saw Luz and Brian descend on Eda's staff. "Who do you think you are?"
"Do not underestimate us, Warden Wrath," Luz pointed at him. "For we are Luz, the human…."
"And Brian, the alchemist," Vesper added, standing tall as he tipped his glasses in a glare.
"Warriors of peace." They finished together, pausing to let the wind blow their hair dramatically.
"Now eat this, sucka!" Luz took her firecracker from her book report and tossed it into the air. She leaped up and smacked it with Eda's staff like a baseball bat. The firecracker dropped into Wrath's flaming mouth, exploding and showering the sky with brilliant fireworks. Humiliated, he fled while the fireworks continued to burst in his mouth, and the prisoners erupted in cheers.
"Woo hoo! We won!"
"We are victorious!" The tiny prisoner jumped up and down. Luz stood proudly next to her friend before smirking lightly.
"I hate to be a stickler, but I think we just violated some serious fireworks safety rules."
"Eh, whatever. That guy was a jerk." Brian shrugged nonchalantly, returning her smirk. The duo laughed at their banter as Eda walked closer, placing a hand on their shoulders.
"That was actually one of her better breakups," King commented from his spot on Eda's shoulder.
"Not a breakup," Eda glared at him before looking at the two friends. "Anyway, let's bounce before any more monsters fall in love with me."
The four flew off on the staff, fireworks still going off behind them.
(Back at the Owl House)
"Well," Eda set her staff against the living room couch, facing the teens. "A deal's a deal. Let's get you two home." Snapping her fingers, the key flew out of Luz's bag and into Eda's hand. She pressed the eye, and the portal door unfolded in front of the fireplace.
Luz and Brian approached it before hesitating, the former hugging herself. They turned back to look at Eda and King when the latter looked at the ground, visibly sad. Getting an idea, Luz reached into her bag. "Before we go…" She kneeled in front of him, holding out the head of her Azura doll. "I know it's not the same, but…" she said as she removed Azura's crown, holding it out as a parting gift. "A king shouldn't be without a crown."
King looked at it briefly before accepting the crown and placing it on his head. "This shall suffice." He nodded before pointing to a plant and performing his kingly act: "You there, plant! You are now under my command." Brian chuckled as the little guy walked off.
While that was happening, Eda grabbed the Azura book off the table and handed it to Luz with the Reality Check Summer Camp pamphlet on top of it. "Oh, and don't forget this." Luz took it back as she stood up, walking back toward the portal.
"Luz?" Brian questioned, seeing the sad look on her face.
Luz disregarded Brian while she examined the pamphlet, eventually placing it beneath the Azura book. She lingered at the door, gazing at it for a moment before glancing back down at her book, then up at the mirror above the fireplace. Suddenly, Luz gasped, lifting her book. The cover featured Azura prominently, with an older witch observing a creature resembling a dog or cat in the background. Lowering the book, she revealed the mirror's reflection, which displayed a similar scene: King and Eda mirrored the positions of the creature and the older witch while Luz stood in the foreground between them. The only variation was that Brian was positioned behind her, looking confused as if pondering her thoughts. A spark of realization illuminated Luz's expression as a new idea struck her…
"Okay," She said, turning around to look at her best friend and the Owl House residents. "I know you got your head cut off, and we started some kind of prison riot, but this was the most fun I've ever had."
"Luz?" Brian questioned again as Eda blinked owlishly in surprise.
"We don't fit in at home. You don't fit in here. If we stay, we could not fit in together." Luz suggested, hopefully.
"Luz, you can not be serious," Brian disagreed. "We know nothing about this world. We almost got killed here, and what about our families?"
"Brian, it's always been my dream to be a witch and do weird witchy things! Besides, aren't you the least bit curious about this world?" Luz smiled slightly, knowing Brian.
"… Well, how often does one get to study the intricate laws of another dimension?" Brian responded with a slight smirk. "If I can't get into Everton, I may as well do something productive with my summer."
"Thank you, Brian!" Luz cheered.
"We just have to be home by the time summer camp ends."
Eda reminded them she was still there by chuckling awkwardly. "What's summer camp? What are we walking about here?"
"We wanna stay and become witches. Like you," Luz explained, holding up her book to Eda. "And Azura."
"What?" The Owl Lady laughed incredulously before pushing Luz's book down. "All right, that's crazy. Humans can't become witches."
"Maybe that's because they haven't tried. If you teach us to become witches, we'll do anything you want."
"Within reason," Brian threw in.
"Let 'em stay!" King pulled on Eda's skirt and whispered, "They can make us snacks."
The witch looked down at him briefly before smiling, picking King up. "Well, I could use a hand keeping this goofball out of the cupboards. All right. I'll teach you two how to be witches. But you have to work for me before you learn any spells. Deal?" Eda held out her hand for them to shake. Luz looked at it before grinning and embracing the two. "Gah! What's going on?" Eda asked, uncomfortable.
"Too tight! Too tight!" King complained.
Brian just shook his head with a slight smile—typical Luz.
(Later)
Luz opened the creaking door to a storage room that was mostly filled with junk and smiled. She unrolled her sleeping bag and, now wearing pajamas, threw herself on it before turning over and taking a picture of her and her mom out of her messenger bag. She rubbed her thumb over the glass before placing the frame beside her pillow. Her phone vibrated, and she grabbed it and turned it on to find a text from her mother.
How's summer camp?
Luz's expression fell, and she moved her phone away from her face. She had no idea what to tell her, and she certainly wasn't going to tell her the truth.
King cleared his throat, stepping into the doorway while holding Francois. "Your sleep cocoon looks fluffy." Luz sat up and patted the sleeping bag. King curled up at the bottom below her feet and fell asleep, holding his stuffed animal.
Luz smiled at him before replying to her mom.
I think I'm gonna like it here.
Smiling, she put her phone down, turned to the side, and fell asleep.
At the same time, Brian entered another storage room down the hall from Luz's room. It was a little messy and definitely not up to Brian's organizational standards. He sighed tiredly. "This is gonna take some work…"
Pushing different boxes and trunks along the wall to make space, Brian set up his midnight-blue sleeping bag with a white star pattern along the bottom and a matching pillow. After that, he changed into the pajamas he had brought, a light blue sleep shirt with white trim, dark blue pants with white drawstrings and small star patterns, and white socks. Getting comfortable, Brian pulled out a framed photo of Brian with his dad, Aura, Coda, and Spike. Smiling at them, he set them up next to his sleeping bag.
As Brian stared at it, his mauve purple cellphone vibrated. He turned it on and saw it was a text message from Aura.
I know the answer, but how's camp?
Brian looked at his message pensively. He sat up and looked out the one window in the room, staring at the Demon Realm's night sky in thought. He hoped the camp would just assume they decided not to come. If they contacted their parents, it would be tough to explain where they were.
Even so, when would they get this chance again? A whole new world, teaming with things Luz had only seen in her dreams. While Brian wasn't as into fantasy as she was, the scientist in him wanted to take this world apart and see what it had to hold. If magic was real, this would open a new avenue of study for him.
Looking back at his phone, he smiled a little before texting Aura a reply.
I think I can adapt.
He set his phone down next to the picture before removing his glasses. Curling up in his sleeping bag, he shut his eyes, wondering what the coming summer would hold as the window on the Owl House blinked like an eye.
And with that, there's the first chapter! I know I info-dumped a lot of the story in this chapter, but it was important for setting up Brian's story.
After this, I will start my last Owl House story, "The Owl Family." Once that's done, I'll move on to a different fandom.