Chapter 20: Something Ventured, Someone Framed
Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter!
I've been working on other stories, like my *Steven Universe* story and a new *My Hero Academia* story that I'm thinking about posting. I'm not sure yet, but I wanted to post this to get it out of the way. Also, with the upcoming *Lilo & Stitch* live-action movie, I'm really excited for that!
Anyway, I hope you guys like this, so sit back, relax, review, and enjoy!
We found ourselves At the Owl House, Eda was in the kitchen, leisurely sipping her apple blood when she opened the fridge and let out a startled yelp. "Hey! Jake! Stitch! Get your experiment—whatever it is—out of here! It's drinking all the apple blood!" she yelled, stepping back as Experiment 657, Speedy, guzzled directly from a bottle inside the fridge.
Jake and Stitch bolted into the kitchen, both looking sheepish. "Sorry, Eda! We forgot to feed him," Jake admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Plus... Stitch and Speedy were playing hide and seek," he added, shooting Stitch a pointed glare.
"Naga bootifa, Jake!" Stitch protested indignantly, sticking out his tongue as he helped Speedy climb out of the fridge.
"Feed him before he drinks me out of house and home!" Eda grumbled, slamming the fridge door shut. She muttered something about "alien chaos" as she shuffled back to her apple blood, glaring over her shoulder at the trio.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Ben and Rook were seated on the couch, their faces a mix of disbelief and confusion. Luz, Asher, Finn, and King were huddled around Jake's laptop, giggling at something on the screen.
"What... is this?" Ben asked, his brow furrowing as he leaned closer to the laptop.
Luz smirked. "Oh, just a little show we found on Jake's laptop. It's called Ben 10: Omniverse. You're, uh… kind of famous here," she said, clicking play on another clip.
Asher and Finn were doubled over with laughter. "Is this really you, Ben?" Asher asked, his grin widening.
"Seriously, you're even in cartoons!" Finn added, chuckling.
Ben stared at the screen, utterly flabbergasted. "I—what? How does this even exist?!" he exclaimed, looking helplessly at Rook for answers.
Rook, equally perplexed, crossed his arms and tilted his head as he studied the footage. "I… am unsure how to explain this," he said slowly. "But it does seem... surprisingly accurate."
King cackled, pointing at the screen. "Ha! Look at you, Mr. Hero. You're a TV star! I'm starting to like you more, Tennyson."
At that moment, Jake walked into the room, Stitch and Speedy in tow. "What's going on in here?" Jake asked, his eyebrows raised as he noticed everyone gathered around the laptop.
"Oh, just showing Ben and Rook their animated lives," Luz replied nonchalantly, barely containing her laughter as another clip played.
Jake froze for a second, then sighed. "Oh... that. Yeah, we probably should've warned you about that," he muttered.
Ben groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Great. As if dealing with villains isn't enough, now I have to deal with being a cartoon character."
Stitch snorted, pointing at the screen. "Cartoon funny! Ben look silly!" he teased, his toothy grin wide.
Everyone burst into laughter, even Speedy chirped in amusement, his wings fluttering happily. Ben crossed his arms, letting out an exaggerated sigh of defeat, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward in a reluctant smile.
Meanwhile, at Hexside in the Human Appreciation Society, Gus was leading the club while proudly wearing a paper crown on his head. A collection of mislabeled human artifacts was spread out on the table before him.
"Behold, the wonders of the human realm!" Gus announced, holding up a paper clip with theatrical flair. "This little fella is one of their most valued objects. It aids in the compiling of printed wisdom, the scratching of gunk from under your nails, and, my personal favorite, it even mimics the sounds of the human ocean." He flicked the paper clip, producing a faint metallic twang. "Ah! The human realm. So beautiful. It's safe to say the pay‐per‐clorp is a stunning testament to human ingenuity. Any questions?"
Gus looked around the room, only to notice some of the club members—Eileen, Bo, and a unicorn—starting to doze off. However, a boy with brown hair raised his hand.
"Ah! Our newest member: Mattholomule," Gus said, pointing at him.
"Augustus, is this what the president of the Human Appreciation Society thinks passes as 'human artifacts?'" Mattholomule asked with a skeptical tone.
"Yes, in fact! The famous card game Pokémon, which is being played all over this school, is a human artifact," Gus responded confidently, gesturing to the table.
"Pokémon is one thing," Mattholomule countered, "but at my old school, we had real treasures." He dramatically pushed Gus's artifacts aside and presented his own collection: a rock painted to resemble a cell phone, an egg with a skull design, and a shoe crudely crafted from mud, leaves, and twigs.
"So real," one member gasped.
"I wanna touch them," Bo said, eyes wide.
"Go ahead. In my club, we didn't have any dumb rules," Mattholomule said smugly, causing Gus to gasp and glance nervously at his carefully written rule sheet.
"He didn't mean that!" Gus protested, trying to salvage the situation.
But as Gus turned back to the table, he saw everyone eagerly poking and prodding Mattholomule's artifacts. Furious, Gus snatched the items away.
"Hey!" the three of them exclaimed in protest.
"Well, this isn't your club. Thankfully," Gus snapped, glaring at Mattholomule.
"Exactly. Who thinks I should be president?" Mattholomule asked, stirring up chatter among the group.
As the room began to murmur in doubt, Gus inspected the so-called artifacts. His eyes widened in realization.
"These are fakes!" Gus declared, pointing at Mattholomule's items.
"You can't prove that!" Mattholomule stuttered before quickly regaining his composure. "You're just trying to distract these human appreciators because you're afraid of getting kicked out of office. It's your word against mine."
"I don't know what to believe anymore," one member murmured.
"My faith in Gus has been broken," another sighed dramatically.
Desperate, Gus glanced at the chalkboard and spotted a poster featuring Luz, Jake, and Stitch. Inspiration struck.
"What if I brought in an expert?" Gus announced, catching everyone's attention.
"Yeah, right. Who could you possibly find that knows more about humans than any of us?" Mattholomule sneered.
"Real humans!" Gus declared with a triumphant grin. "And one of them is a real-life alien from space—from the human realm!"
The room went silent as everyone stared at him in shock.
"Yeah, uh-huh, and why have you never brought these so-called friends here before?" Mattholomule asked, crossing his arms.
"Well... they're busy. They have jobs. But I'll bring them in tomorrow. They'll prove I'm right!" Gus assured, though his confidence wavered slightly.
"Sure you will, Augustus. Sure you will," Mattholomule mocked, smirking as Gus nervously adjusted his paper crown.
Later that day at the Owl House, Jake paced around his room, deep in thought about how to hide the Owl Stone. The artifact sat on his desk, its faint glow casting shifting patterns across the walls. Jake muttered to himself, sketching ideas on a scrap of parchment.
Meanwhile, Stitch was perched on Jake's laptop, chatting with Jumba through a glitchy video call. Jumba's voice crackled through the speakers, his tone both amused and exasperated.
"626, if you hide ze stone in obvious place, Eli is asking for trouble!" Jumba advised, wagging a finger at the screen.
"Eet's not obvious! Stitch genius!" Stitch shot back, his ears twitching as he gestured toward Jake, who was still pacing.
"Just... don't blow anything up, okay?" Jake said distractedly, glancing at Stitch before returning to his brainstorming.
Downstairs, the lively chatter of a Pokémon card game filled the air. Luz was sitting cross-legged on the floor, enthusiastically explaining the rules to King, Eda, and Finn, Asher, Ben, and Rook.
"Alright, King," Luz said, holding up a card. "This is your starter Pokémon. You can't just throw it like a frisbee!"
King, clutching the card in his tiny hands, grinned mischievously. "But it's more fun that way!"
Eda leaned back in her chair, studying her cards with a sly smile. "So, let me get this straight. If I play this card, I can destroy everyone else's Pokémon?" she asked, pointing at a Trainer card with dramatic artwork.
Finn chuckled nervously. "Uh, not exactly... That's not how Trainer cards work."
Asher sighed, leaning in to help Eda. "Here, let me explain it again."
Ben and Rook watched the chaos unfold from the couch, amused.
"You know, this is more intense than an actual battle," Ben joked, shuffling his deck.
"Indeed," Rook said, his expression as stoic as ever. "But it appears to be a battle of wit and patience."
Jake eventually wandered downstairs, carrying the Owl Stone wrapped in a cloth. Stitch followed, carrying the laptop under one arm. Luz glanced up from her spot on the floor and waved.
"Jake! Stitch! Done plotting how to hide your treasure?" she teased.
Jake sighed, setting the wrapped stone on the table. "Not yet. Jumba's ideas were… questionable at best. But we're working on it."
Stitch chirped proudly. "Hiding spot perfect! No one find it!"
Ben leaned over, curious. "What's the plan?"
Jake hesitated. "Uh… still a work in progress. But it's gotta be somewhere safe, where no one would think to look."
"Like King's snack stash?" Eda suggested with a smirk.
"Hey! My snacks are sacred!" King protested, folding his tiny arms.
As the group debated potential hiding spots, the energy in the room shifted from casual to collaborative. Jake felt a flicker of hope that, with everyone's help, they might actually figure out the perfect way to keep the Owl Stone safe.
They heard a knock at the door.
"I got it," Eda said, opening it to reveal Gus.
"Luz, Jake, Stitch—I need your help," Gus said urgently.
As the three of them and King were helping Eda unload boxes Gus explained everything.
"Gus, I'd love to go to school with you, but I don't know how I can. Principal Bump banned me from Hexside," Luz said, pointing to her wanted poster.
"And I'm pretty sure he's still mad at me for blasting a huge hole in the place," Jake added.
"And Stitch messed up the cafeteria," Stitch said, balancing five boxes with one hand and three paws behind his back.
"Show-off," Finn and Asher muttered in unison.
"I'd like to help, but, uh, Rook and I are still learning ourselves," Ben admitted.
"But nothing! Bump did you a favor. There's nothing for you at that dweebus factory," Eda interjected, turning to Gus. "No offense."
"It's okay. I come from a long line of dweebuses," Gus replied with a smile.
"Well, I would love to go someday. It's gotta be better than unpacking boxes in the Eda Coven," Luz said, causing Finn and Asher to chuckle in the background.
"Oh, you think you're clever, huh?" Eda glared at them.
"Ooh, fight, fight, fight!" King chimed in excitedly.
"Can it, King! First off, it's the 'Bad Kid Coven,' and second, I guess you don't want in on the T-shirt order, huh?" Eda said, holding up a picture of herself on a T-shirt.
"I don't care about T-shirts, Eda! I want to learn magic, and they teach that at Hexside!" Luz said, standing up.
"I'd really like to go too and learn some magic," Ben added. "You know, just in case my Omnitrix times out."
"Stitch wants to learn magic! Stitch wants to learn magic!" Stitch said, jumping up and down.
"We do too, Auntie," Asher said.
"Yeah, like different types of magic besides lightning and wind," Finn added.
"You guys too? What about you, Rook?" Eda asked.
"I'm good; I've got my Proto-Tool," Rook said with a shrug. "But I still want to help, maybe by making potions or assisting with something else."
"Traitors!" Eda shouted, pointing at all of them. "I don't want to hear another word about Hexside unless it's 'Hexside is on fire, and let's grab front-row seats!'" With that, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
"Aw, look what you did. I'm gonna go rub it in," King said, following her.
"Sorry, Gus," Jake said apologetically.
"Uh, L-Luz, about the ban—I, uh, used my H.A.S. presidential authority to pull some strings. You've been given a full pardon," Gus announced, surprising everyone.
"You mean—?" Luz gasped.
"The ban is lifted!" Gus grinned.
"Wow, Gus, you're the man," Jake said with a smile.
"Quite impressive," Rook added.
"So does that mean you four will come to school tomorrow?" Gus asked eagerly.
"Of course I'll be there tomorrow! Gus, this will be great!" Luz said excitedly. "I get to see the school and save the president."
"I'm not a big fan of school, but this magic school could be interesting," Ben said with a smile.
"Great! I'll see you all tomorrow," Gus said as he walked out the door.
"Akatoo-kee!" Stitch said excitedly.
"See ya, man," Jake nodded as Gus closed the door behind him.
"Yes! You did it, Gus! You're the best!" Gus sang, doing a little celebratory dance.
"Sweet moves, little dude," Hooty said, startling him.
"I always forget you're there," Gus said.
"I forget I'm here too. Boop," Hooty replied.
"This is gonna work out after all," Gus said with a smile.
The next day at Hexside, Gus was talking to Willow.
"This isn't going to work out at all," Willow said, worried.
"I feel like I took care of any potential problems," Gus said confidently.
"You lied to our best friend and told her you got the ban lifted. That seems like a pretty big potential problem to me," Willow said.
"You don't understand! The members were going mad. They were bloodthirsty! They were... touching objects! I had no choice!" Gus exclaimed.
"Really? What about all the wanted posters around school?" Willow asked.
"What wanted posters?" Gus replied, opening his bag to reveal he had taken them all. "I also got these for the four of them to keep them undercover," he added, pulling out cowls.
"Wait—four?" Willow asked, confused.
"Hey, guys!" Luz greeted as she walked over with Jake, Stitch, and Ben.
"A third human?" Willow gasped.
"Willow, we'd like to officially introduce you to Ben Tennyson," Jake said with a grin.
"What's up? I've heard a lot about you," Ben said warmly.
"Nice to meet you! Anyone who's a friend of Jake, Stitch, and Luz is a friend of mine," Willow said, smiling and shaking his hand.
"So... what's with those?" Jake asked, pointing to the cowls.
"Oh, uh... behold your new cowls!" Gus yelped, hurriedly placing them on their heads.
"Wow, new smells like old," Luz joked as Jake and Ben adjusted their cowls. Stitch struggled as his head was too big.
"Are these really necessary?" Jake asked.
"Yep! Gotta hide your ears. We need to keep you under wraps until the big reveal," Gus chuckled.
"Oh, I get it! Gus wants us to really blow them away. Don't worry, you bring the razzle, and we'll bring the dazzle," Luz said, tossing out handfuls of confetti.
"Do you always carry confetti on you?" Willow asked, bewildered.
"More often than you think," Jake chuckled as they pulled their hoods over their heads.
Suddenly, they heard Gus' alarm demon scream.
"That's my alarm! Uh, we better get going. See you after school, Willow," Gus said hurriedly.
"It was nice meeting you," Ben said as they followed Gus inside.
"Bye, friend! Be safe and make good choices," Luz called out.
"Bye-bye!" Stitch said, hugging Willow before running after them.
"Oh, Gus. I hope you know what you're doing," Willow sighed.
Meanwhile, outside the gates of Hexside, in the training yard under the shade of a large tree, Marina was practicing her water magic. Streams of water swirled gracefully around her hands, twisting and flowing as she concentrated on perfecting her control.
Willow approached after her conversation with Gus, observing Marina's work with a smile.
"Your water magic is looking great," Willow said as she got closer.
Marina turned, startled for a moment before the water spiraled harmlessly back into the air. "Oh, Willow! Thanks. I've been trying to focus on creating stronger currents without losing control, but it's harder than it looks."
Willow nodded knowingly. "I get that. When I first started with plant magic, I kept growing vines that would tangle me up instead of helping. It takes practice, but you'll get there."
Marina laughed softly. "It's comforting to know even you had struggles. By the way, do you have time for a little sparring? Your plants versus my water—could be fun!"
Willow hesitated, glancing back toward Hexside. "I'd love to, but something's come up. Gus brought Luz, Jake, Stitch, and some new guy named Ben into Hexside, and it feels... off."
Marina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "New guy? Who's Ben?"
"Another human," Willow explained. "Jake introduced him. He seems nice enough, but Gus... well, he's acting nervous, and I think he lied to get them in, especially since Luz is technically still banned."
Marina frowned, crossing her arms. "That sounds like it could go south pretty quickly. Hexside's not exactly known for being flexible with rules, especially for humans."
"Exactly," Willow said with a sigh. "I'm worried Gus is in over his head, and if this goes wrong, it won't just affect him—it'll be trouble for all of them."
Marina gave her a reassuring smile. "Well, if things do go sideways, you know you can count on me. Just say the word, and I'll be there to help. Besides, I'd love to meet Ben."
Willow chuckled lightly. "Thanks, Marina. I might take you up on that offer. But for now, I'd better get back and make sure nothing is already falling apart."
"Good luck, Willow!" Marina called as Willow walked away.
Turning back to her practice, Marina whispered to herself, "Sounds like today's going to get interesting." She flicked her wrist, and the water streams began swirling again, forming intricate patterns in the air as the faint hum of magic filled the training yard.
Meanwhile, outside the Owl House, Eda leaned casually against the doorframe, looking thoroughly annoyed. She had turned to the least likely source for advice.
"So the kids want to go to Hexside, and I am stumped," Eda grumbled.
Perched on a nearby post was a small magical imp barely taller than King. Dressed in a dark blue suit with an oversized top hat perched on his head, the imp was none other than Nazonazo, though he preferred to be called "Naz."
"I say let them go," Naz said, his tone nonchalant as he spun his cane lazily.
Eda frowned. "And why should I listen to you, huh? You're not exactly the poster child for responsibility."
"True," Naz admitted, tipping his hat. "But think about it. Letting them go saves you a heap of trouble. You get some peace and quiet around here while they're off doing 'educational' stuff. Everybody wins."
Eda crossed her arms, unconvinced. "You think it's that simple? Hexside and I have history, Naz. If Bump catches wind of this, I'll be dealing with a lot more than 'peace and quiet.'"
Naz shrugged and smirked. "That's why you've got to think ahead, Eda. Play the long game. Let them go, and if things get messy, you swoop in all heroic-like. The kids think you're awesome, and Bump gets reminded why you're the wild card nobody messes with."
Eda rolled her eyes. "That's the most roundabout way of saying 'wing it' I've ever heard."
Naz hopped down from the post, twirling his cane like a baton. "Call it what you like, but I've got to say, I like those kids. They've got spunk. Especially the little blue furball. What's his name? Stash?"
"Stitch," Eda corrected, though she couldn't help smirking a little.
"Yeah, him," Naz continued. "He's got the right attitude for Hexside—if they don't expel him after day one, that is."
Eda sighed and rubbed her temples. "Fine. I'll let them go, but if they so much as breathe wrong and it comes back to bite me, I'm dragging you into this mess, Naz."
Naz gave a mock bow. "Oh, Eda, you wound me! You know I thrive in chaos. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Eda smirked, turning back toward the door. "Good. Because I have a feeling chaos is exactly what's about to happen."
As she walked back inside, Naz watched her go, a mischievous glint in his eye. "This is going to be fun," he muttered before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
On Gus' tour, they stopped at the school's Grudgby court, which had two basketball hoops on opposite ends.
"This is where we play the sport," Gus said, just as Skara ran in with the ball. Suddenly, a griffin swooped down, grabbed her, and lifted her into the air.
"I hate this game!" she screamed as the griffin dropped her into the hoop.
"Wow, so even the obstacles can score," Jake said as they all applauded.
"Cool, I can see so many of my aliens playing this game," Ben added.
"Stitch wants to play right now!" Stitch exclaimed, about to run off.
Noticing a guard nearby, Gus quickly decided to move the tour along.
Leading them down the hall, Luz peeked through a window and spotted a room filled with plants.
"Ooh, what's in there?" Luz asked.
"The Plant Homeroom," Gus explained.
Ben leaned closer, peering inside. "I've never seen plants like that before."
They noticed Willow inside the room.
"Hey, Willow!" Luz called out.
Willow turned and waved to her three friends, but when Gus waved, she shook her head disapprovingly.
The next classroom Gus showed them was filled with mirrors.
"And this is where I spend most of my time—the Illusion Track Homeroom," Gus said, gesturing proudly.
Inside, they saw Emira and Edric impressing the teacher with their magic, while another student accidentally made her face disappear.
"Wait, if you're here, who's that?" Luz asked, pointing to another Gus inside the classroom.
"That's one of my illusions. It takes notes for me when I'm not around," Gus said.
The illusion held up a piece of paper that read: I'm not paying attention.
"Looks like you might not get very good notes," ben said, cringing slightly.
"He doesn't always do what he's told," Gus muttered, glaring at the illusion.
"Wow, Gus, you're really good," Luz said, impressed.
"Yeah, I moved up a couple of grades," Gus replied with a proud smile.
"Hey, where are Jake and Stitch?" Ben asked, looking around.
They spotted the two peering through the window of the Elemental Track Homeroom.
Inside, the teacher was explaining:
"Now, class, elements are the most flexible type of magic on the Boiling Isles. If you can figure out the right connections, your element can extend to another. For example, Earth magic is strong, but when crushed, it becomes sand. Through refinement, it can become metal, and for the truly skilled, it can become lava. By finding ways other elements—or even other types of magic—connect with your element, the possibilities become endless."
"Endless possibilities? Could I become an Avatar if I learned this?" Jake asked, fascinated.
"Bootifa!" Stitch exclaimed, trying to mimic Jake's enthusiasm.
Suddenly, Gus's time demon alarm screamed, snapping their attention back.
"Time for the H.A.S. meeting," Gus said.
As the group walked away, Gus turned to his illusion and mimed a decapitation gesture. The illusion immediately started paying attention.
At the H.A.S. meeting, all the members eagerly awaited Gus's arrival.
"Human Appreciation Society, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce to you..." Gus announced as Luz, Jake, Stitch, and Ben walked in. With a dramatic flourish, they flipped back their cowls, revealing their human and alien features. "Luz, Jake, Ben—the humans—and Stitch, the alien!"
"Such showmanship," one student commented, impressed.
"They're horrifying," another student muttered nervously.
"Luz, Jake, Stitch, and Ben, would you four mind inspecting these items?" Gus asked, motioning to a table covered with artifacts.
"Yeah, dude," Jake nodded enthusiastically.
"Allow me to determine if they are truly of my realm's origin," Luz said, reaching for an object.
"Stop! Don't make another move!" Mattholomule suddenly yelled, swatting the objects off the table. Everyone stared at him in shock.
"I... have something to say," Mattholomule began hesitantly. "I'm new here at Hexside. Making friends has been hard, so I lied. They're all fakes. I thought if I was important enough, people would like me. But I've caused enough drama."
Looking at Jake and Luz for reassurance, Gus gave a small nod, understanding what needed to be done.
"I'll go now," Mattholomule said dejectedly.
"Hey, everyone makes mistakes," Ben said kindly.
"It's okay. You're only human. Well, you know what I mean," Luz added with a warm smile.
"Trust us—we know a thing or two about not fitting in," Jake said, smiling encouragingly.
"Muquad. Okie-taka," Stitch said supportively in his unique way.
"Mattholomule, you aren't alone. You have a place here in the H.A.S.," Gus said confidently.
The other members approached Mattholomule, offering comfort and support.
"Thanks, guys. I knew you'd understand," Mattholomule said, smiling gratefully.
Down the hallway, Eda was groaning in agony.
"I don't wanna do this!" Eda whines.
"There's the whiny rebel teen I remember. You'll need this to clean up all the hexed graffiti you left us." Bump said handing Eda a mop and gesturing to the graffiti on the lockers. "Good Luck."
As Eda tried to mop it off the graffiti moved everywhere before forming the words MOTHER NOOOO!
Groaning Eda knew this was going to take forever. "Where's that Marina girl with her fancy water magic when I need her?"
Back in the clubroom, all the students were saying goodbye to Jake, Stitch, Ben, and Luz, grateful for how much fun they had brought to the club.
"Hey, Augustus, Luz, Jake, Stitch, Ben—thank you for being so forgiving," Mattholomule said sincerely.
"Yeah, man," Jake said with a smile.
"Ih!" Stitch agreed, wagging his ears.
"Hey, no problem," Ben replied with a grin.
"We've all been the new kid before. Right, Jake?" Luz asked.
"Don't worry—it gets better," Jake said with an encouraging nod.
"Well, I just have one thing to say…" Mattholomule began when suddenly, the door swung open, revealing three guards.
"There they are! These are the intruders!" Mattholomule exclaimed, holding up Luz's wanted poster.
"What?!" Ben shouted.
"Trouble," Jake said .
"Crabba snabba!" Stitch said, puffing out his chest.
"No, it's fine. The ban's been lifted. Tell 'em, Gus," Luz said, but before anyone could react, the guards grabbed Luz, Jake, and Stitch with magical hooks.
"Gus, what's going on?!" Jake shouted as he struggled against the restraints.
"Tell them!" Luz yelled as they were yanked out of the room and dragged down the hall.
"Ben!" Jake gasped, reaching out as he was pulled away.
"Oh, who's the liar now, Augustus?" Mattholomule mocked, crossing his arms.
"And you still let us come here? What the hell, man?!" Ben glared at Gus, shocked and furious.
"I'm sorry," Gus said, looking ashamed and lowering his head.
Down the hall, Willow was tending to her plants, lost in thought.
"Maybe I've been too hard on Gus. I mean, what trouble could they get into?" Willow said to herself.
Suddenly, she heard a commotion.
"Help!" Luz and Jake screamed as they were dragged past the door. Stitch was thrashing and snarling, attempting to fight off the guards with his claws and teeth.
"Let Stitch go!" he roared, managing to knock one guard back before another used a binding spell to pin him to the ground. Despite his struggle, Stitch was swiftly recaptured, growling in frustration.
"Huh?" Willow turned to see Luz, Jake, and Stitch being dragged away, Stitch snarling defiantly even as the guards tightened their hold on him.
"We don't even learn here!" Luz yelled.
"Where are you taking us?" Jake demanded.
"Detention," one of the guards replied coldly.
"Oh, that's not so bad," Luz said, trying to stay positive.
But as they were led to a massive door, their optimism faded. The door had three enormous, unblinking eyes and a gaping mouth lined with razor-sharp teeth.
"Oh, come on!" Jake groaned, throwing his head back in disbelief.
Meanwhile, It was Potion Class when Willow kicked open the door, startling Marina who was busy sorting through some mail on her desk.
Bang!
"Willow? What's going on?" Marina asked, looking up, surprised by the loud entrance.
"Marina, we need to talk!" Willow panted, rushing into the room. "There's a mess at Hexside! Luz, Jake, Stitch,—they've been taken by the guards!"
Marina blinked, not quite understanding. "Wait, what? Taken? What do you mean?"
"They're being dragged to detention!" Willow exclaimed. "And Gus—Gus was supposed to help, but he let us down! He agreed to it, and now... they're in trouble!"
Marina's expression shifted to one of shock. She stood up, her hands instinctively balling into fists. "But why would Gus do that? He was on our side!"
"I don't know," Willow said, her voice growing frantic. "He said everything was fine, that the ban was lifted, but then guards showed up out of nowhere and took them. And Gus... Gus just let it happen!"
Marina shook her head, disbelief still written across her face. "This doesn't make sense. Gus wouldn't—" she trailed off, her mind racing. She glanced around the room as if searching for answers. "We have to do something. We can't just let them be dragged off to who knows where."
Willow nodded, her frustration evident. "But what can we do? They're already gone, and we don't even know where they're taking them."
Marina's face hardened with determination. "We'll find out. We won't let them get away with this."
Willow's eyes brightened with hope. "You think we can make it in time?"
"We will," Marina said firmly, walking toward the door. "Let's go save them."
Willow followed her, looking relieved. "Thanks, Marina. I knew I could count on you."
"No problem," Marina replied with a small smile. "Let's get our friends back."
Back in the clubroom, Gus was glaring down at Mattholomule.
"I can't believe you all fell for that. Like I'd actually apologize," Mattholomule mocked, smirking.
"What did you do?" Gus demanded, his glare intensifying.
"Ah, boo-hoo. 'I'm the new kid. I want friends.' Ha! No. I want power. And I want drama. And right now, I've got one of those," Mattholomule sneered. "So, what are you gonna do, Mr. President?"
Before Mattholomule could react, Ben grabbed him by the cowl and slammed him against the wall.
"You forget I was here?" Ben glared, his voice cold. "You turned my friends in when they were nice to you. Well, guess what? Payback time."
"Uh, I'm not scared of you. You're just a human. What can you do?" Mattholomule mocked, though his voice now held a nervous edge.
"Uh-oh," Gus said, hiding behind a desk, knowing things were about to escalate.
Ben's expression hardened. "I'll show you what I can do." He activated the Omnitrix, pressing the button. The dial popped up, and he twisted it before slamming his hand down on the device. A swirl of alien energy appeared around him, followed by a flash of green light that enveloped him.
As the green flash of light surrounded Ben, his body began to change, his form shifting rapidly. First, his muscles bulged as his skin took on an orange hue, transforming into a strong, bipedal tiger. His chest and stomach became white, contrasting sharply with his vibrant orange fur. Black stripes spread across his shoulders, head, legs, and upper body, and his green eyes glowed fiercely with intensity. From each of his wrists, a large black claw extended, gleaming dangerously. The rest of his body, now muscular and powerful, seemed to radiate strength. The Omnitrix symbol on his chest remained in place, glowing as his transformation completed.
The light faded, and standing in front of Mattholomule was a fierce, bipedal tiger-like creature, built like a powerhouse.
"RAAAATH!" the alien roared, his voice deep and gruff.
As Rath, the powerful orange and white tiger-like alien, stood towering over Mattholomule, his claws gleamed in the light. His green eyes locked onto the boy, filled with an intimidating fierceness.
"YOU'RE GONNA REGRET MESSING WITH MY FRIENDS," Rath growled, his voice rumbling with raw power.
Mattholomule took a step back, clearly intimidated by the alien's size and strength. His bravado faltered slightly as he looked up at Rath, now towering over him.
"You... you're just a freaky... alien," Mattholomule stammered, trying to keep his composure. "What are you gonna do, huh? Just beat me up?"
Rath grinned menacingly, his sharp claws flexing with anticipation.
"OH, I'LL DO MORE THAN THAT," Rath growled, cracking his knuckles. "YOU MESS WITH MY FRIENDS, YOU MESS WITH ME!"
Gus peeked out from behind the desk, watching the confrontation unfold. "Ben, you really know how to make an entrance," he said with a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, well, Mattholomule's gonna learn the hard way that messing with us isn't a good idea," Ben as Rath said, his voice full of confidence.
Mattholomule took another step back, finally realizing he was outmatched. "W-what do you want, huh? I'm sorry, okay? I just... I just wanted to fit in!"
Rath narrowed his eyes but gave a small nod, his claws retracting slightly. "I CAN ACCEPT AN APOLOGY... BUT NEXT TIME YOU THINK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, REMEMBER WHO'S WATCHING."
Ben's transformation began to reverse as the Omnitrix glowed brightly once again, and Rath's form shrank and shifted back into Ben. The green flash of light surrounded him, and when it dissipated, Ben was back to his human self, looking just as determined.
"Don't look at him, look at me. No one can help you," Ben hissed, picking Mattholomule up. "Now where are Luz, Jake, and Stitch?"
"Th-They're in detention!" Mattholomule said in fear.
"Well then, we're going," Gus said, getting up.
"How?" Mattholomule asked, when Gus yanked the fire alarm, causing them all to get soaked.
Soon the three of them were being yanked down the hall by a school guard.
"But I didn't pull the alarm! It was Augustus! And this human boy l beat me up! Are you even listening to me? I demand justice!" Mattholomule screamed.
"Oh, shut up," Ben said as Willow and Marina peeked out and saw them before the three of them were thrown in.
"Wait! Get me outta here! Open up!" Mattholomule yelled, banging on the door.
"Luz!" Gus called out.
"Jake! Stitch!" Ben called out.
"Over here." Looking ahead, they saw Luz and Jake hiding behind some rocks as Stitch tried his best to fight them off.
"Gus, you said the ban was lifted," Luz said.
"What happened?" Jake asked.
"Well, I..." Before Gus could finish, the floor opened up below them, revealing a monster with big teeth, huge eyes, tendrils, and tons of students trapped in blue pods, causing them all to scream in horror.
In the cafeteria, Eda walked in, covered in purple slime and carrying a huge sack, which she dropped at Bump's feet.
"There. The girls' changing room is ghost-free," Eda said.
"Are you ready to give up? You've barely scratched the surface," Bump smirked, causing Eda to growl as she noticed Bo and Skara practicing nearby.
"No, like this." Bo summoned a ball of fire, which then transformed into a snowball.
"Oh." Skara mimicked the action and managed to create a snowball too. "Wow," she said, smiling as they hugged. "Friendship is the real magic."
"They're just as bad as Luz, Jake, Stitch, and even Ben. They'd love it here. My nephews would, too," Eda said with a smile before turning to Bump. "Alright, what's next, Bumpikins?"
Smirking, Bump pulled out a plunger.
"Oh man, I wish I had some help," Eda groaned, taking the plunger.
"Wish granted," said a familiar voice.
Turning around, Eda saw Naz walking in.
"What are you doing here, Naz?" Eda asked.
Naz smirked, crossing his arms as he approached. "What does it look like? I'm here to help you clean up this mess."
Eda raised an eyebrow, twirling the plunger in her hand. "Help? You? Since when do you volunteer for manual labor, Naz?"
Naz shrugged casually. "Since you looked like you were about to keel over from exhaustion. Besides, I owe you one for not ratting me out when I... borrowed your staff."
"You mean stole my staff," Eda corrected with a smirk.
Naz chuckled. "Borrowed, stole—same difference. Let's not split hairs." He gestured at the purple slime covering Eda. "But seriously, what happened to you? Did you wrestle a slime monster?"
Eda groaned. "Don't even joke. I'm already one slime splatter away from quitting." She turned back to Bump. "Alright, Principal Prankster, what's the next ridiculous task on this punishment tour?"
Bump tapped his chin thoughtfully, then smirked. "The cafeteria grease trap needs cleaning. That should keep you both occupied for a while."
Eda groaned dramatically, throwing her head back. "Ugh, you're enjoying this way too much."
Bump smiled innocently. "Me? Never." He handed her a mop and a bucket with a flourish.
Naz grabbed the mop with a grin. "No big deal. Let's show him how it's done, Eda."
As they walked toward the kitchen, Naz leaned over and whispered, "By the way, did you see what Bo and Skara were up to earlier?"
Eda rolled her eyes. "If it's more mushy 'friendship is magic' nonsense, I don't want to know."
"Not exactly," Naz said, snickering. "They managed to freeze half the training room trying to perfect their snowball spells. It's a complete ice rink in there."
Eda stopped mid-step, narrowing her eyes. "Great. Guess I'll be cleaning that up too."
Naz grinned, giving her a playful nudge. "Look on the bright side: at least you've got company."
Eda smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can sit down with a mug of apple blood and pretend this day never happened."
Naz twirled the mop like a sword. "Lead the way, boss."
As they stepped into the kitchen, the faint sound of chaos from the cafeteria behind them faded. Eda sighed, bracing herself for whatever horrors the grease trap had in store.
Back in detention, everyone backed up against the wall in horror.
"What kind of sick, twisted place is this?!" Ben panicked.
"How is this detention?!" Jake added, equally panicked.
"This is a death sentence!" Luz exclaimed.
"I don't know! I've never been in detention before!" Gus admitted, his voice trembling.
"Welcome to my world. Believe it or not, at my old school, I was in detention plenty of times," Mattholomule bragged, but his smug grin only earned him deadpan stares from everyone.
"Oh, we believe it," Jake said, glaring.
"Yeah, you're kind of a jerk," Luz agreed, glaring as well.
"Ika patootie," Stitch said with a mischievous grin.
"Well, down here in detention, this jerk is king. So if you wanna get out, you better do exactly what I say. But first, before anything else, we gotta—" Mattholomule's sentence was cut short as a blue tendril shot out and yanked him into a pod below.
"Yeah, saw that coming," Ben said, deadpanning.
"Gus, why would you lie to us about the ban?" Luz asked, crossing her arms.
"I was afraid. I acted stupid," Gus admitted, his head hanging low.
"Yeah, you did," Jake agreed, as Gus and Ben slowly moved closer to the group.
"Being younger than everyone is hard. You're overlooked, ignored. But at the H.A.S., I mattered. I could make sure no one would ever get left behind. I didn't want to lose that. I'm sorry," Gus said, his voice heavy with regret.
"I get it, but next time, tell us the truth," Luz said with a kind smile.
"Seriously, we're friends. You don't need to lie to us," Jake added.
"Totally," Ben agreed.
"Achi-baba," Stitch added with a chuckle.
Gus smiled, but the moment was cut short as several snakes slithered up from the hole.
"Let me make it up to all of you. I've got a plan," Gus said confidently.
Stitch popped out two extra arms and began punching the snakes away while Luz, Ben, and Jake kicked at the others.
"We're listening!" Luz said.
"Where do we start?" Jake asked.
"By leaving no one behind," Gus declared, grabbing all of them and leaping into the hole.
They landed at the bottom, finding Mattholomule trapped in his pod.
"I went from scaring this loser to saving his life," Ben said, helping Gus get him down.
"You scared him?" Luz asked, raising an eyebrow as she and Jake looked at Ben.
"Easily. No one messes with my friends," Ben said with a grin.
"You rock," Jake said, smiling.
"You will be a good student," a robotic voice said from the pod.
"I will be a good student," Mattholomule repeated in a trance-like state.
Bending down, Luz bit the pod in an attempt to free him. "You know, it didn't taste as bad as I thought it would."
"Why don't we just break him out with magic?" Jake suggested.
"Oh, I'll use magic," Gus said, pulling out a paperclip and unrolling it. "Human magic."
Stabbing the paperclip into the pod, Gus managed to cut it open, allowing Luz and Ben to lift Mattholomule out.
"Am I a good student?" Mattholomule groaned weakly.
"No," Ben said almost immediately.
As they tried to escape, more snakes slithered toward them, blocking their path.
Ben looked down at his Omnitrix, his expression a mix of regret and frustration as he noticed it had timed out. He clenched his fist.
"I should've saved it," he muttered under his breath, recalling his earlier decision to use it in the classroom.
Jake stepped forward, his gaze resolute. "We've got this," he said, determination shining in his eyes.
"Uh-huh! Ika chubaba!" Stitch growled, popping out four arms with a mischievous grin as he cracked his knuckles.
Jake quickly summoned his Starlight Blade, its radiant glow illuminating the dim cavern. Stitch joined him, his four arms raised and ready.
"Alright, team," Jake said, glancing back at the group. "Stay behind us. We'll clear a path."
Without hesitation, Jake and Stitch charged forward. Jake's blade cut through the air with precision, slicing down the slithering snakes that lunged at him. Stitch, on the other hand, relied on brute force, grabbing and tossing the creatures aside like rag dolls.
Ben watched in awe but couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at him. "I should be helping," he muttered.
"Ben, don't beat yourself up!" Luz said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll handle this together when the time comes. For now, let them do their thing."
Gus nodded. "Jake and Stitch are giving us the opening we need. Let's focus on sticking together and getting out of here!"
As Jake slashed through another wave of snakes, he called back, "Luz, keep everyone moving! Stitch and I will hold them off as long as we can!"
"Got it!" Luz replied, gesturing for the group to follow her down the winding path.
Meanwhile, Stitch grabbed two snakes by the tails and spun them around like a whirlwind before flinging them into a cluster of others. "Haha! Choota!" he laughed, enjoying the chaos.
Jake grinned despite the tense situation. "Nice one, Stitch! Keep it up!"
But as more snakes emerged from the shadows, the sheer number of them began to feel overwhelming.
"We might need a bigger plan!" Jake shouted, glancing back at the others.
Ben's gaze hardened. Even without the Omnitrix, he refused to stand by any longer. "I'll find a way to help," he said to himself, sprinting forward to join Jake and Stitch.
"Ben, wait!" Luz called out, but Ben was already determined to act.
As the three stood together, the tide of snakes closing in, Jake tightened his grip on the Starlight Blade. "Ready for round two?"
"Always!" Stitch replied, growling playfully.
Ben cracked his knuckles. "Let's show these snakes what teamwork really looks like."
As the swarm of snakes grew more aggressive, Ben suddenly doubled over, a green glow emanating from his body.
"Ben!" Jake called out, worry evident in his voice as he instinctively moved toward his friend.
Before anyone could reach him, Ben let out a loud, mighty roar, the sound resonating through the cavern. The roar was eerily similar to the sonic blast of Echo Echo, but this was raw, untamed energy. The force of the roar sent the snakes flying, slamming into walls and scattering them like leaves in a storm.
"Whoa!" Luz exclaimed, shielding her eyes from the brilliance of the green energy.
Ben staggered slightly, the glow around him fading. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "That... wasn't the Omnitrix," he muttered, looking down at his wrist.
"Whatever it was, it saved us," Jake said, patting Ben on the shoulder. "Nice timing!"
"Ben super cool!" Stitch added, flexing his arms.
"Come on!" Luz yelled, snapping everyone back to reality. She gestured toward the tunnel leading back up. "Let's move before those things regroup!"
The group hurried up the winding path, Stitch taking the lead and swatting away any lingering snakes with his multiple arms. Gus and Luz helped Mattholomule climb, while Jake and Ben brought up the rear.
When they reached the top, Gus pointed toward the sealed door. "We're gonna have to bust that thing down if we want to get out of here!"
Jake stepped forward, a confident smirk on his face. "I've got this. Astral Convergence Magic: Meteor Gauntlets!"
Holding out his hands, glowing gloves formed around them, radiating the power of meteors. The energy pulsated as he clenched his fists.
"Whoa, that's new," Ben said, clearly impressed.
"Let's make it count," Jake replied, glancing back at the group. "Stand clear!"
"Charge!" Luz yelled, rallying everyone as they ran toward the door.
Jake sprinted ahead, his Meteor Gauntlets blazing with energy. With a powerful leap, he brought both fists crashing into the door, unleashing a shockwave of fiery impact.
The door shuddered, cracks spreading across its surface before it exploded outward, showering the hallway with debris.
"Now that's how you make an entrance," Jake said, shaking his hands as the gauntlets dissipated.
On the other side of the door, Willow and Marina cautiously approached, exchanging a glance before slowly lifting the crossbar off the door. Just then, Eda, Naz, and Principal Bump walked by.
"We washed off all the graffiti, apologized to Jenkinmeyer for stealing her teeth, and caught all the wild cerebi. We should be good," Eda listed, clearly pleased with herself.
"If you ask me, she could have stood to go without her teeth a little longer. Looking a bit round, if you ask me," Naz chuckled, puffing himself up like a balloon to emphasize his point.
"He's not wrong," Bump agreed with a nod. "Still, it's going to be very exciting to have a real human exchange student here, and I'm especially excited to have Jake join us."
"And you won't tell the Emperor's Coven or the Longclaws about this, right?" Eda asked, her tone growing serious.
"No," Bump reassured her. "Hexside School is safe for you both. I'm the principal, not a stooge. Consider your pupils our pupils."
Suddenly, a loud roar came from the other side of the door.
"Astral Convergence Magic: Meteor Gauntlets!" Jake's voice echoed before the door exploded outward, smoke and debris filling the air.
As the dust settled, Jake, Stitch, Ben, Luz, and Gus emerged, all panting heavily. Stitch quickly retracted two of his extra arms back into his body, trying to look inconspicuous.
"Eda?" Luz said, surprised to see her mentor.
"Marina?" Jake asked, equally shocked.
Eda smirked and gestured toward them. "Guess who got you four into Hexside? Also, Finn and Asher helped too."
"What?! Gaba?!" Jake, Luz, Ben, stitch , and Gus exclaimed in unison, their surprise short-lived as hissing sounds echoed behind them.
The snakes had returned.
Principal Bump narrowed his eyes and snapped his fingers, causing the serpents to vanish. The four students jolted, snapping out of their surprise. "Uh, sorry, Principal Bump. Sir," Jake stammered, scratching the back of his head.
"What did you do this time?" Bump demanded, glaring at the group.
"Ugh, kids," Eda groaned, shaking her head.
"To think that any student of yours would be capable of doing anything but creating chaos." Bump turned to Eda, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Eda, take your students and your friends and leave. You are all banned from this campus!"
"What?!" Everyone gasped in unison.
"Ugh, come on, guys. It's not worth it," Eda groaned, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
"Wait!" Gus stepped forward, his voice firm. "Principal Bump, don't blame them. I told Luz , jake and stitch that the ban was lifted. We were fighting over the Human Appreciation Society. I brought them all in because I wanted to win. This is all my fault."
"If that's the case, Augustus, would you be willing to accept their punishment as your own?" Bump asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I would," Gus said, nodding solemnly.
"Dang, dweebus," Eda said, impressed by Gus's bravery.
"Well then." Bump turned to Jake, Luz, Ben, and Stitch. "In light of that—and barring any more trouble—you four shall officially be enrolled in Hexside School next semester."
"Really?" Jake grinned, unable to hide his excitement.
"Hold on, hold on," Eda said, stepping forward and holding up a hand. "I'm only doing this because I have faith in you. I know you're too smart to fall for that One-Witch, One-Coven nonsense. You can learn a lot from the witches here—and maybe even teach the students here a little Bad Witch Coven spirit."
"I didn't hear that," Bump said flatly, walking over to Gus. "As for you, Augustus, I would normally say detention, but that seems to be out of order. So, as of now, I'm removing you from the Human Appreciation Society." He reached down, removing Gus's crown.
"Does that make me president?" Mattholomule groaned from where he lay face-down on the ground.
"Impressive. Still alive. Yes, I suppose it does." Bump tossed the crown onto Mattholomule's head.
"Yes," Mattholomule groaned, a faint smile forming.
"Now, with that accomplished, Eda, we have some paperwork to fill out," Bump said, turning to her.
"Wait! I gotta do more stuff? Ugh! You kids better enjoy this place!" Eda groaned as she followed him.
"You too, Nazonazo," Bump added, making Naz sigh dramatically before floating after them.
"See ya later, kids," Naz called back.
Once the adults were gone, Luz turned to Ben. "Well, Ben, we'd like for you to meet Willow and Marina."
Willow stepped forward with a warm smile. "Another human? Wow, this is amazing!"
Marina nodded. "Nice to meet you, Ben. I've heard a lot about you."
"A pleasure to meet you both," Ben said, smiling.
"Stitch like new friends!" Stitch chimed in, hopping forward and extending his hand to Willow, then Marina. "Shake, shake!"
Willow giggled and shook Stitch's hand. "It's great to meet you too, Stitch!"
"Same here!" Marina added, giving Stitch a friendly smile.
As the group began to relax, Jake glanced at Luz and grinned. "Well, it looks like we're finally official."
Back at the Owl House, everyone gathered in the living room, flipping through an old, battered folder. Eda's permanent record was a treasure trove of chaos, documenting all the trouble she'd caused during her days as a student at Hexside. The list seemed endless: letting ghosts loose in the girls' locker room, raising an army of abominations to start a food fight, hexing the school bells to play pop songs, letting in two giant bug creatures, and feeding the school griffin spicy snacks that caused it to vomit all over the Grudgby field.
"Wow," Luz said, shaking her head in disbelief. "Bump wasn't exaggerating. You were a horrible student."
Ben cringed as he read over another entry. "Seriously, Eda, this is next-level chaos. You got into so much trouble."
Eda leaned back in her chair, completely unbothered. "What can I say? I've always been a free spirit. Rules are more like… suggestions, really."
Jake flipped through the pages, laughing as he pointed to a doodle in the margin. "Hey, look at this! It's a drawing of you riding a griffin while holding a chicken leg. Classy."
Stitch burst into laughter. "Free spirit? Stitch says troublemaker!"
Eda ruffled Jake's hair and smirked at Stitch. "And proud of it."
Later that evening, as the group settled into different parts of the house, Ben found Eda in the kitchen. He approached her, his expression more serious than usual.
"Eda, can I ask you something?" Ben started hesitantly.
Eda raised an eyebrow as she poured herself a cup of steaming apple blood . "Sure, kid. What's on your mind?"
Ben hesitated before explaining, "When we were in detention earlier, something weird happened. My Omnitrix started glowing, but I didn't transform. It felt like I was using alien abilities—like Echo Echo's sonic powers—but it came straight from me. No transformation. Nothing."
Eda set down her cup, intrigued. "That's not normal for you, huh?"
"Not at all," Ben said, shaking his head. "The Omnitrix doesn't work like that. Do you think it's possible that… I might have magic? Is that even a thing for humans here?"
Eda leaned back against the counter, her expression thoughtful. "Humans don't usually have magic, but the Boiling Isles has a way of bending the rules. If your Omnitrix is reacting differently, it might be more than just a tech issue. Magic here has a habit of seeping into things. It's unpredictable."
"So, you're saying it's possible?" Ben asked, his brows furrowed.
"Anything's possible," Eda replied with a shrug. "You're already doing things most witches can't dream of. But if magic's messing with your gear, it could be a blessing… or a curse. Just keep an eye on it, alright?"
Ben nodded slowly, his mind racing. "Thanks, Eda. I'll figure it out."
The next morning, the group gathered in the living room. Eda stood with her hands on her hips, a mischievous glint in her eye as she addressed Finn, Asher, Rook, and the others.
"Alright, I've got some news for you lot," she announced.
Finn perked up. "Good news, I hope?"
Eda smirked. "Depends on how you look at it. Hexside has decided to let you three in next semester."
Finn and Asher exchanged excited looks. "No way!" Asher exclaimed. "We're actually going to Hexside?"
"Told you!" Jake cheered. "They couldn't say no to you guys."
Ben nudged Finn playfully. "Looks like you'll be dealing with all the magical madness up close now."
Rook, however, remained quiet, his expression serious.
"What about you, Rook?" Eda asked.
Rook shook his head. "I've decided Hexside isn't for me. My focus is better suited elsewhere."
Stitch crossed his arms, pouting. "Ohhh, Rook no want fun? Stitch thinks Rook boring."
Rook smirked slightly. "It's not about fun, Stitch. It's about priorities."
Eda shrugged. "Fair enough, kid. Do what works for you. But for the rest of you—try not to blow up the school. That's my job."
The room erupted in laughter as the group began chatting about what classes they might take. Jake proudly showed off his new Owl Stone necklace, and Stitch kept a watchful eye on the artifact, muttering his suspicions under his breath.