A door with an eye opened up and the owl went through, with Luz close behind.
"Stop adorably hopping away, you..." Luz stopped as she saw where she was.
Boscha was close behind her.
"Luz!" Boscha said, grabbing her sister by the arm, "What the hell!?"
Luz just pulled her arm away and picked up some of the junk in the tent they were in.
"Woah, I thought I had a lot of weird stuff." Luz picked up a baby doll with its head attached to clothes hanger and lizard limbs, "But this... this is impressive."
Boscha huffed, upset by some of Luz's stuff.
"I'm not allowed to have a puppy, but you get to have a God damn python." Boscha said.
"Hey, you also have a python." Luz said, "They're siblings, remember?"
"Finally, you're back!"
Luz ducked when she heard the mysterious voice, while Boscha assumed a defensive stance. Once they realized that nobody else was in the tent with them, they slowly crept towards the entrance and opened it slightly. They peeked through to see a strange, pale-looking old lady with a staff manning some kind of flea market stand.
"Now, let's see what we've got here."
The owl that stole Luz's book hopped atop the staff and turned to wood, much to the Nocedas' surprise. Meanwhile, the old lady sifted through the bag of the owl's spoils, tossing aside a smartphone, lavish diamond ring and what appeared to be the holy grail.
"Garbage... garbage... garbage... ahh, now THIS..." She pulled out a pair of eye-dropping glasses and put them on. "...this will make me rich!"
Luz and Boscha looked at each other in confusion. The old lady then pulled out the very book stolen from them.
"And this... eh, this'll make good kindling." She held the book over a burning candle, much to Luz's mortification.
Boscha, on the other hand, ran right out of the tent and tackled the lady to the ground, destroying the stand in the process.
"Don't you dare destroy this book!" Boscha yelled as she took her sister's property back.
The old lady struggled as she was pinned down.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"Shut up, you old bag!" Boscha sprinted back to the tent and took Luz by the arm. "Time to go!"
The two tried to make it back to the portal, but it slammed shut. They both looked at the tent flap and saw the woman standing there, key in hand.
"You aren't going anywhere." She said.
Boscha put Luz behind her and raised her fists, ready for a fight.
"Don't worry, Luz, I won't let anyone hurt... Luz? Luz where'd you go?"
Boscha saw that Luz, who was standing behind her no more than half a second ago, was gone.
'Seriously?' Boscha thought.
She turned around, just in time to see a bright flash. Outside of the tent, Luz was running until she ended up making it to a cliff and being forced to stop. There she saw the world. Buildings that look straight out of a medieval painting, some of which were being held up by ARMS. In the sky, a dragon flew in the sky, before being pulled down and getting eaten by one of the houses. The people were also different, some of them looked like... monsters. Thankfully a small fairy flew towards her.
"Oh, hello little fairy, are you going to tell me this is all some kind of magical dream?" Luz asked.
"Give me your skin!" The fairy said, teeth sharp and exposed.
Luz swatted it.
"Where am I? Did I die? Am I in the bad place?"
A hand touched her shoulder and she went stiff.
"You wish."
Luz was tossed onto a stool in front of the wood pile that used to be a stand.
"W-w-where's my sister?" Luz asked.
The woman picked up something and tossed it to Luz. Luz caught it and saw that it was a ball... a light pink ball with an eye. The eye blinked and Luz screamed again, before realizing what she was looking at.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SISTER!?" Luz demanded, holding out the Boscha Ball.
"Hey, she wanted a fight, and I didn't feel like beating a child's ass." The woman said, "I'll fix her... AFTER you fix my stand!"
"She was just standing up for me. Can't you just fix her first?" Luz gave the woman the biggest puppy dog eyes she could muster. "Besides, four hands work faster than two."
The old lady's imposing facade gradually wore down with each blink of Luz's eyes. "Ugh... whatever."
She spun her finger in a circle in the same way Boscha did. As the circle glowed, Boscha instantly reverted to her old self, but crash landed on Luz as a result. As they got back up, Luz breathed a sigh of relief, but her sister was fuming from her humiliation.
"¡PUTA MADRE! ¡Te patearé tu viejo y huesudo trasero por todos lados y MMMRRRFFFFGGGHHH!" Luz covered Boscha's mouth before it could get them in further trouble.
"What'd she say?" The old lady asked.
Luz had to think fast.
"She... said "Thank you for your lenience, oh wise and venerable maiden.""
"Uh-huh." Said lady was quite skeptical as she strode up to them. "I may not understand your weird human language, but I do know a thing or two about context and tone, so watch it with the human shenanigans."
Luz was given pause.
"That's kind of a weird thing for another human to say."
"Oh, dear child..." The old lady removed the kerchief she was wearing, revealing a pair of pointed ears. "...I'm not like you."
The sisters were dumbstruck by what they were seeing.
"I'm Eda the Owl Lady, the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles!" The woman boasted.
"A witch...?" Luz glanced at Boscha.
The ears, the magic circles, the otherworldly appearance. All the questions about her sister that burned in the back of her mind were suddenly answered.
Eda was undaunted in her proclamation. "I am feared, respected-!"
"BUSTED!"
Onlookers dispersed as a burly individual wearing a plague mask approached, stomping on the remaining wares in the process. Eda deflated at the sight of him. "Oh, for the love of Titan..."
The giant pulled out a wanted poster with the woman's likeness drawn on it. "Eda the Owl Lady! You are wanted for m-!"
"Yeah, yeah, "misuse of magic and demonic misdemeanors." Why don't you and that line go get a room?" The Owl Lady was seriously not having any of this. "I've got enough shit to deal with as it is!"
"Hey, my job isn't exactly easy, either." The supposed official mewled. "Just come along quietly, or I'll have to drag your ass to the conformatorium."
"Whoa, witch criminal!" Luz was enthralled with the drama unfolding. At least until the masked man grabbed her by the arm.
"And you're coming with me for fraternizing with a known criminal!"
Boscha watched as Luz struggled to free herself. Her temper was past the boiling point before even coming to this strange place, so seeing her sister assaulted by this behemoth caused her fury to skyrocket.
"HEY! Get your damn hands. Off. My. SISTER!"
At Camila's insistence, Boscha had been enrolled in a Karate class ever since her abduction, just in case Jacob Hopkins ignored common sense and tried to take her again. The girl was thrilled to have a way to properly channel her aggression, especially when it came to sparring. Even the instructors were afraid of her. Naturally, Boscha used her skills to defend Luz more than herself, and being stranded in a strange world wasn't going to change that. A fact that the masked man painfully discovered as she buried her fist in his solar plexus. With a whimper, he let go of Luz and collapsed to the ground.
"Jeez, get me in deeper trouble in the law, why don'tcha?" Eda complained, but was secretly impressed. "Also, I wanted to clobber that bastard!"
Boscha glared at Eda.
"How about you help us, seeing as you are about to get us arrested just for being near you!" Boscha said.
Under her head band, Boscha's third eye twitched with rage. She was not happy with anything that had happened in the last few hours. From Tracey messing with Luz, getting suspended, ending up in this crazy world, being turned into a ball for a few minutes, and now the threat of getting arrested for being near this woman.
"Fine." Eda said, making a spell circle and making all her stuff float and pack itself up, and attach itself to her staff, "Follow me humans!"
Eda started running, with Luz and Boscha close behind.
"This is crazy, if we die here, mami is going to kill us!" Luz said.
"I'm going to kill someone, I didn't even have a choice in being near her, I couldn't move! And now we're being chased by cops!" Boscha said.
"Don't worry, humans like you are more important to me alive than dead." Eda said.
"Wait, I don't like the sound of-Woah!"
Eda grabbed them by the hands and used her staff to take flight.
"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH-oooooooooohhh." The masked man tried to give chase, but the shooting pain in his stomach suggested he stay crumpled on the ground. "Oooowwww... Anybody... little help?"
The wind howled throughout the empty alley.
"Typical."
"WHOOOOOO! LUZ, YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!"
Despite Boscha's insistence, Luz kept her eyes shut tight. She learned her lesson that fateful day at the Gravesfield amusement park when they rode the Tower Drop of Doom. She would not be fooled again.
"HEY LOOK, IT'S AZURA!"
"Where?!"She just got fooled again.
"Welcome to the Boiling Isles!"
Eda gestured to the world around them. After Luz opened her eyes, she was greeted with a breathtaking view. The strange foliage, the inexplicably curved mountains that looked like they were made of bone, the unusual creatures inhabiting the landscape. Luz even spotted a griffin flying close to them. To her further excitement, the mythical beast opened its beak and regurgitated a bunch of spiders.
"I KNEW IT!"
"You have got to be shitting me." Boscha hoped that Luz forgot the bet they made that one time in art class.
"Yep." Eda was enjoying the sisters' naivete. "Just about every monster from human legend was a result of bits of our world leaking into yours. Vampires, werewolves, giraffes..."
"Giraffes?!" The other two inquired.
Eda shuddered. "Oh yeah, we banished those guys ages ago. Buncha freaks."
"Heh, you sound like Boscha whenever we go to the zoo." Luz remarked.
Boscha also shuddered.
"I told you something was up with those creepy-ass monsters! They always stared at me with this burning hatred in their eyes."
They landed on the ground and Eda got off the staff... well, with the exception of her hand.
"Ew!" Boscha said.
"Cool!" Luz said.
"Okay, Humans, follow me." Eda said.
The three walked up to a strange house with a stone tower behind it. Judging by the cracks and missing plaster, time had not been kind to this dwelling. Still, the gorgeous stained glass windows were a nice touch, especially the one on the top floor that resembled a giant eye. The front door even had a quaint little ornament that almost looked ali-
"PASSWORD, PLEA-BLAARRRGGHLLLLBRRR!"
Without warning, the ornament surged from the door. Boscha wasted no time punching this wretched bird tube in the face.
"Boscha!" Luz was surprised more at her sister's actions than she was at the cursed door monster.
"Where the hell do you get off trying to destroy my property?" Eda was most upset.
Boscha turned to them with a panicked expression.
"What?! That thing scared the shit out of me!"
Eda was about to scold her, but immediately thought better of it.
"Eh, fair enough. Open up, Hooty.
"Ow! Hoot!" Hooty said, "A sorry would be nice!"
"Well tough shit." Boscha said, cracking her knuckles.
"Hey, enough." Eda said, "I will turn you into a ball again if you don't settle down. I'll sell you this time."
"Don't do that!" Luz said, getting in front of Boscha.
"If you want to join her, then I could turn you into a novelty lamp." Eda said.
"Can we just focus on what you want from us so we can get home?" Boscha asked, annoyed.
Eda guided the two into her home.
"Boy, you must be fun at parties. Now, then, welcome to... THE OWL HOUSE!"
With a flourish of her hand, candles scattered about all lit up, illuminating a room filled with exotic furniture, various tchotchkes, and a giant poster similar to the one the masked man was holding back in the strange town looming over the whole room. Boscha and Luz could only stare dumbfoundedly at the bizarre display surrounding them. Eda set aside her staff and stretched.
"Yup, be it ever so run down, there's no place like home. Oh, and shut the door, wouldja, Hooty?"
"We need to negotiate some adequate hazard pay. Ouch! Shit! Hoot!" Hooty reluctantly complied.
"He'll be fine."
"So, this is your actual home?" Luz was still enthralled with her surroundings. "Do you live here by yourself?"
Eda was ready to answer, but not before the house began to shake. "Actually, I do have a roommate."
"WHO DARES DISTURB I, THE KING OF DEMONS?!"
Heavy footsteps were heard and even felt descending the stairs. A large shadow peered from a nearby doorway. Whatever Luz and Boscha expected to come out of the opening, it definitely wasn't a small, fluffy, dog-like creature with a bone-plated cranium, soaking towel and rubber duckies. The Noceda sisters' eyes widened at the sight of the self-proclaimed demon king, and before he knew it...
"AY, QUE LINDO!"
...the two had tackled him in a group hug, stroking his fur and making infantile noises as they nuzzled him.
"WEH! Eda, help! These gangly monsters have me surrounded!"
"Oh, calm down, King, these two are the key to getting your crown back." Eda said.
"Oh... hooray!"
Boscha glared at Eda.
"So extortion's the name of the game, huh? Trap us in this dimension and force us to do your dirty work in exchange for us going home?"
"Sure, if that helps." Eda didn't feel like arguing. "Anyway, you should know that King here was once a mighty demonic ruler. A powerful being of near-titanic proportion. That is, until one day, the insidious Warden Wrath managed to steal his crown of ultimate power, leaving him as the shriveled drain clog you now see before you."
"HEY!" King didn't care much for that last remark.
Luz simply nuzzled him harder.
"Aw, but you're the cutest widdle dwain clog ever. Yes you is!"
"Grrrr! This would be demeaning if it didn't feel so nice." King growled.
"And so..." Eda continued. "... Wrath hid the crown deep in the heart of his stronghold: The Conformatorium! Legend states that only a human can breach the threshold of his chamber of contraband. And that's where the two of you come in! Break into the conformatorium with us and help get King his crown back, and I'll reopen the door to the Human Realm for you. Sound good?"
"A magical quest!?" Luz's eyes sparkled at the notion.
"Or a suicide mission." Boscha huffed. "The hell with this, we'll just find a nicer witch or demon to open a door or whatever for us."
Her words were met with a mocking laugh topped off with a snort from Eda.
"Yeah, good luck with that. Sorry, kids, but when it comes to portals to the Human Realm, I'm the only game in town...by which, of course, I mean the entire Boiling Isles, in case that wasn't clear."
Boscha growled.
'I know it's wrong to hit an old woman... but I might have found the exception.'
Boscha cracked her knuckles, and would've hit Eda so hard it would've made her head spin, if it wasn't for Luz stopping her.
"We'll help." Luz said, grabbing Boscha's arm.
Boscha gave her a look that said, 'Are you fucking crazy!?'.
"What!?"
"Boscha, it's the ONLY way home." Luz said, trying to reason with her, "Come on, we help someone with this, and we go home, simple."
"And besides, your king commands it!" King said.
King struck the mightiest pose his tiny body would allow in hopes of getting his new subjects to genuflect to him. And though Boscha did relent, it wasn't so much out of reverence as it was her crippling weakness to all things cute.
"Okay, fine."
"Great!" Eda said, picking up both of them, "Let's get this done!"
"Can you put me down!?" Boscha demanded.
"I can turn you into a ball again and the other one can carry you if you want." Eda said, making Boscha growl.
"Uh, where are we going?" Luz asked.
"Somewhere super fun!"
Boscha and Luz's faces dropped as they looked at the "Super Fun" place.
"It's a prison." Boscha said, "You want us to break into a fucking prison!?"
Luz was oddly excited.
"Will we need disguises? I've been saving this for just such an occasion!" She pulled the hood of her shirt over her head, revealing cat ears sewn on it. "Meow-meow!"
"It's hideous!" King remarked.
Eda seemed amused.
"Oh, you'll fit right in."
Boscha watched the exchange in silent awe. She couldn't remember the last time anybody outside of their family put up with Luz's antics for so long. To think that this chaotic place would be where her little sister could find some semblance of acceptance.
"All right, I'll create a distraction, then you three sneak into the warden's room." Eda created a magic platform to hoist them up to the top of an adjacent tower. Once by the closest window, Luz jumped through, landing flat on her face.
"Ha ha! Cats don't do that." King chortled as Boscha carried him through the window, the platform disintegrating shortly after.
"No! Bad puppy. You be nice."
Boscha had watched literally hundreds of MewTube videos on pet training in anticipation of owning her own dog someday, and damned if she was going to let that go to waste. She helped Luz to her feet and the three began their search. In all the excitement, Luz hadn't a chance to ask her big sister an important question.
"Hey, Boscha?"
"Hmm?"
"Did you happen to notice how that Eda lady was able to do magic?"
"I was turned into a ball by her magic. Believe me, I noticed."
"No, but I mean how? She spun her finger in a circle."
"Okay, so?"
"That's how you shot that fireball back then."
Boscha was stunned. She thought she remembered that incident well, but how she conjured the fireball all those years ago never even occurred to her. She only remembered being so angry at the kids who were picking on Luz that day, she shut her eyes, wishing she could make them leave her alone. When she had opened them, she saw her finger pointing at a smoldering patch of grass. She never noticed her arm making such a motion. How could she even know to spin her finger? Was it some kind of reflex? Instinct? She spun her finger in a circle to see what would happen, and was shocked to see a faint glow trailing behind it.
"I... I don't get it... how...?! What does this mean?"
"You're MAGIC!" Luz cheered. "This is incredible! I am SO jealous!"
"Nyeh! Keep it down, you two!" King chided, despite speaking so loud himself.
Boscha turned back to Luz.
"Even if I am magic, it doesn't matter." Boscha said, "I spent my entire life in the human realm, I have a human family, as far as I'm concerned, I'm basically human."
"But this could explain so much!" Luz said, "Maybe we can find your birth family!"
Boscha went rigid. She had always thought that her birth parents just didn't want her, but knowing that there was a dimensional barrier in the way… she shook that thought out of her head.
"No, I don't want to find them." Boscha said, moving deeper into the prison.
"Why not?" Luz asked.
"It doesn't matter."
Luz couldn't leave it alone. "Are you worried they won't remember you? Or that they might not be ali-"
"LUZ!" Boscha snapped. "My brain is spiraling as is. I can't be thinking about any hypothetical birth parents right now, so drop it. Please."
"O-okay. Sorry." Luz's sad expression dealt a severe blow to Boscha's conscience.
"Hey, go easy on the cat lady, will ya? She was just curious."
"Why don't you just mind your own... wait."
The sisters and King looked around for the origin of the mysterious voice. They happened upon a cell that housed a strange woman with ears like Eda's, black hair and fangs. She had been a literal captive audience for their argument.
"Oh my God, is she a vampire?!" Luz asked, "Think she'll turn me if I ask?"
Boscha just grabbed Luz's arm and pulled her away from the cell.
"Luz, we have more important things to do than talk about criminals biting you."
"Criminal? Please, I never broke any laws." The woman said.
Luz turned back towards the prisoner. "Soooo, what're you in for?"
"Tch! Wrath and his lackeys always round people up for the most arbitrary, bullshit reasons. Basically, anything they don't deem as 'NoRmAl'." The lady was most aggressive with her air quotes. "Take me, for instance! They busted me for writing fanfictions about food falling in love. I like food, I like love... just let me write about it!"
"Yeah, you and Luz are definitely cut from the same cloth." Boscha remarked.
Luz nodded in agreement.
"My school banned me from the writing club because somebody snooped around and found my more... R-rated musings."
"Luz, you posted them on Ao3. They weren't exactly hidden." Boscha noted.
"Respect, cat lady." The woman shared a fistbump with Luz.
"Ummm..." An ogre-like being with multiple eyes in the next cell over caught everyone's attention. "I'm here... because I like to eat my own eyes." He plucked an eye from his skull and ate it, illustrating his point.
"Then there's this character." The woman pointed to a diminutive albino creature with a big nose in a different cell. "Her thing is spouting conspiracy theories."
"OUR WOWLD IS COWWAPSING! THE GIANT WODENT WILL BETWAY US ALL!" The tiny nose was easily agitated.
Boscha raised an eyebrow.
"Okay then." Boscha said, never liking those kind of people, they reminded her of Jacob.
"The world is a simulation! We are but playthings for a higher being!"
Boscha rolled her eyes, Luz however was starting to get angry with this system.
"But... none of those are actual crimes!" Luz said, "You're all just weirdos... just like me."
Luz looked down, Boscha noticed this and punched Luz in the shoulder.
"Ow!"
"Stop thinking like that, Luz, yeah you're a weirdo, but you're also the coolest person I will ever know." Boscha said.
"But that's just it!" Luz lamented. "Everybody I've ever met calls me 'weirdo' like it's a bad thing. Like it's some sickness that needs to be cured or quarantined."
Boscha felt a sudden pang of guilt. "Luz, I didn't mean for what I said to sound like th-"
"I know you didn't..." Luz cut her off. "...and I really do appreciate it, but I hate the negative connotations that come with being weird or different. I don't know why this place has laws against it, and I don't care. None of these people belong here!"
Luz marched over to the woman's cell and tried to pull up the lever that she inferred would unlock it, but it refused to budge. "No!" She cried. "My weak nerd arms!"
Boscha walked up to her. "Here, let me help." She pulled on the lever, having significantly less trouble moving it. Before she could open the cell, however, heavy footsteps shook the building around them.
"It's Wrath!" The woman yelled. "You two gotta hide!"
The two grabbed King and went into an unoccupied cell. Boscha slammed the gate down and put Luz behind her. She didn't care what happens to her, as long as Luz is safe. The door slammed open and a person with a witch doctor mask stood there.
"What are you freaks talking about?"
The woman scoffed. "Nothing that basic bitches like you and your stooges would understand, Wrath."
The masked giant marched up to her cell and slammed his fist against the gate. "Don't get smart with me, Katya! You're already on thin enough ice with your multiple aggravated manuscription charges!"
"THE PWOWETAWIAT WILL NOT SUFFER TYWANNY! THE WEVOWUTION IS NIGH! YOU CAN NEVER CAGE OUR SPIWIT!"
The tiny nose's rant was cut short when her cell gate opened up.
"Hey, I'm fwee!"
The giant hand of Wrath engulfed her puny body. Boscha tensed up at the sight, keeping her guard of Luz up. Wrath held up the poor small creature for all to see. "Let this serve as a reminder to all of you. This is what happens when you don't fit in." He then took his leave.
When he was gone, Boscha raised the cage. She didn't like this, she wanted to get Luz out of here.
"That old bag!" Boscha fumed. "I knew this was some kind of setup! She's probably looting the place while we're dealing with that monster!"
Luz peeked around to make sure wrath was gone before replying. "Well... if that were the case, she wouldn't send King with us, would she?"
"WOULD SHE?!" King wasn't helping.
"That does it, we're outta here!" Boscha was more than ready to leave.
Luz looked anxiously at the cells. "What about these guys? We can't leave them here."
"And what about my crown?" King bawled. "My unfathomable demonic power..."
"Your sister's got the right idea, cat lady." Katya sighed. "Don't throw your lives away for our sake, just... enjoy freedom for us."
Boscha began to walk away, Luz on the other hand, had other plans. She grabbed Boscha by the arm and pulled her back.
"No, we're going to finish this." Luz said.
"Luz, I-"
"Hey, good news, you two!" Eda suddenly showed up. "Turns out the Warden's already busy torturing some anthropomorphic nose, so our way is clear! Let's go!"
The quartet made their way through the dungeon, though Boscha only tagged along for Luz's sake. They came up to a giant door labeled "contraband." King struggled with the giant doorknob that wouldn't turn. For the sake of brevity, Boscha went to help him.
"Yes, human minion, turn with all your might!" King instructed. "The crown lies beyond this door! I can sense its unholy energy!"
Eda watched on in amusement. "Aw, he gets so cute when he's thirsty for power."
Luz, on the other hand, looked back towards the cells. "It's not fair that they're here. They just want to be themselves. Why does everyone think that being weird is something to be punished?"
Before Eda could answer, Boscha had accidentally broken off the doorknob, causing her and King to topple to the ground. King saw that the door was slightly opened, so he had no complaints. After he wedged his way through, everyone else followed. Inside, they saw that the large room was empty, save for a giant pillar of light in the center. King ran full speed toward it, only to bounce off of it. Boscha immediately ran up and began coddling the hurt demon.
"Aww, is you okays, puppers?" She cooed as she kissed his forehead. "You gots to be careful not to get incinerated! Yes you does!"
Eda shuddered at the display. "Seriously, King, we have humans for that, remember?"
"Oh, yeah."
Luz was already at the pillar. Taking a deep breath, she slowly put her hand against it, and to her amazement, she managed to push through the surface. As she walked through, Boscha ran to catch up, only to be stopped with a shock by the pillar. Undaunted, she slammed her fist repeatedly against the construct until her hands started to crack and bleed. Panic had set in when she looked at her trembling hands. She realized her sister was right all along. She wasn't human. She was magic, not unlike Eda.
She was a witch.
She fell to her knees, oblivious to the junk tumbling out from the pillar. Eventually, Luz re-emerged, holding a Burger Queen crown and looking quite disappointed. King, however, was elated. He greedily snagged the crown and placed it on his head.
"Yes! YES! I can feel my powers returning!" He cackled maniacally before his attention was drawn to a ragged stuffed rabbit. "YOU, THERE! Nightmare critter! I shall call you Francois and you shall be a minion in my army of darkness! AHAHAHAAAA!"
"That crown doesn't give him any powers, does it?" Luz glared at Eda.
"Uhh, no." Eda felt somewhat embarrassed. "Ah, look at us, Luz. King and I don't have much in this world, just each other. So if that dumb crown is important to him, it's important to me. And besides, us weirdos have to-"
Before Eda could finish, her face was met with a pink and bloodied fist, knocking her to the ground. As she looked up, she was met with a furious Boscha.
"You!"
"Boscha, what's gotten into you?!" Luz exclaimed. Her sister wasn't listening, though. Her ire was laser focused on Eda.
"IT WAS YOU!"
Eda was massaging the side of her face, somewhat in a daze. "Ugghh... you're right, it was me you sucker-punched for no reason!"
"You want a reason?!" Boscha removed her headband and moved her hair, revealing her third eye and pointed ears. "You're the bitch that stranded me in the Human Realm a decade ago!"
"Wha...? You're a-! Wait, why do you think I did it?" Eda's head was reeling from the revelation as well as the punch.
""Only game in town," remember?" Bosha then rolled down her sock, revealing the ring like scar she received she got from the snare on that fateful day. "You did this to me. You took me from my original home. You trapped me in a different world with no means of protection! YOU ALMOST GOT ME KILLED!"
Luz gasped. "Eda, you didn't!"
"Of course I didn't!" Eda got to her feet. "I've never even met you! Your dumb ass probably just stumbled through the portal when I wasn't looking! Look, we can sort this shit out later. Right now, we need to haul ass out of here before the Warden finds us and loses his head!"
"Too late."
An axe blade slammed into Eda's neck, cutting her head clean off, which made the sisters hold each other and scream. Eda's head landed with the thud on the ground.
"... Ow! Seriously, you didn't think to catch me!?" Eda asked, annoyed.
The two screamed louder at the TALKING severed head.
"E-E-Eda..." Luz nervously reached out to her. "...are you okay?"
"Peachy." Eda deadpanned. "But seriously, I'll live. This just happens when you get older."
Boscha shuddered.
"Oh, shit! Does that mean MY body will fall apart like that?"
"Coooooool."
"Luz! I'm freaking out enough here as it is!" Boscha yelled.
In all the chaos, nobody noticed Wrath walking up to them, as well as the two guards entering the room. The four intruders noticed that the blade the warden was wielding wasn't in his hand, but rather was his hand, which returned to its normal state.
"Finally, I have you cornered, Eda the Owl Lady." Wrath snatched the crown from King's head, "My guards could never get you, but I knew if I took your pet's toy, you'd come running."
He then coldly crushed the crown in his hand.
"No!" King said, "My Power!"
Boscha was mad, how dare they hurt this adorable little guy!
"What do you want with me?!" Eda demanded as Boscha picked up her severed head. "I've never actually broke any of your stupid laws... in front of you!"
"I want you..."
Wrath strode menacingly up to Eda. His intimidating, bulky frame towered over the four intruders who seemed to cower in his shadow. The expressionless mask peered down at them, glinting in the moonlight seeping through the open door. It felt as if death itself was about to descend upon them...
"...to go out with me!"
At least until he got down on one knee and pulled out a bouquet of flowers.
"What?" Luz and Boscha responded in disgust while Wrath shot a thumbs up to the guards voicing their support.
"You've always eluded our capture." The warden wooed. "You've always been the one who got away. I found that alluring."
"I hate everything you're saying right now." Luz couldn't withhold her revulsion.
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!" Wrath dispelled the flowers as well as his gentle disposition as he grabbed Luz and held her above the ground. He then proceeded to turn his attention back to Eda.
"So how about it, Owl La-D'OWW!"
Boscha wasn't interested in whatever proposal Wrath had to make and flung Eda's head, striking him in his own temple. She then slowly marched to him, chuckling softly. "So, Warden... Wrap, was it?"
"It's Wra-"
"Don't care." Boscha stretched her neck, making a sickening cracking noise. "See, I have had a HELL of a day. My sister was attacked by a total bitch at school, which I really don't care for. I protect her, yet I'M the one who's punished. This hag you have the hots for? She had some owl steal our shit and trap us in this "Demon Realm," turned me into a goddamn BALL! Then shanghaied us into doing her dirty work just so we could go home. THEN... ohohoho... then I had to face the realization that everything I thought I knew about myself was a fucking lie... that this old crank got me stuck in the Human Realm when I was FOUR! And to top it all off, you decide to attack my sister." It was then that she drew a magic circle point blank at Wrath's torso. "And when people attack my sister, shit tends to happen!"
With all her anger, Boscha shot a stream of fire right at the warden, who started to scream in a high pitch and tried to smother the flames with her free hand. He had to drop Luz, who fell into Boscha's waiting arms.
"Stop, drop and roll, Boss!" One of the guards yelled.
"We're leaving." Boscha said, "Let's go!"
"But... what about the people that are wrongfully-"
"Luz, we can free them on the way out!" Boscha said, leaving NO room for discussion.
Luz halted again.
"Waitasec, Eda!"
"I'm good to go..." Eda managed to reattach her head to her body. "...no thanks to her."
Boscha chuckled.
"Well, at least the trip wasn't a total waste."
"CAN WE GO ALREADY?!" King screamed.
"Yeah, let's go." Eda said, before making a spell circle and hitting Boscha with a spell.
Luz sighed and picked up the Boscha Ball. Boscha glared at Eda.
"Don't look at me like that, this is punishment for sucker punch." Eda said, "Now let's go."
"Can't take you two anywhere..." Luz groused as everyone mounted the staff.
She looked over her shoulder to see the guards have almost put the warden out and was desperate to get the staff to fly.
"Uhhh... levioso... magicus escapus...?!"
"Move your ass, Owlbert!"
The staff took off at Eda's command and flew towards the cells holding Katya and the others.
"Hold onto your sister, Kid." Eda said, "Because we're going to speedrun this!"
As they passed the cells, Eda flipped the switches. After that, they burst through an outer door high in the center of the Conformatorium, Luz cheering all the while. However, Wrath was right behind them as they all plummeted to the ground. Once he landed, Wrath morphed his arm into a long whip and struck the staff with it, knocking its passengers off with it.
Luz landed on the ground and let go of Boscha, causing her to bounce a little. Luz groaned and crawled over to her.
"Eda really picked a bad time to get even with you." Luz said.
If looks could kill, Luz would have 'Death by Basketball' on her gravestone. Wrath landed in front of Luz and Boscha and looked down at them.
"I've had enough of you." He said, raising his hammer hand.
Luz closed her eyes and hugged Boscha for comfort as he slammed his hand down. Luz waited, and waited... and waited... and wait... when the hell is she supposed to die? Luz looked up and saw Eda, holding back Wrath with her staff.
"Kid, move!" Eda yelled.
"You've broken my heart for the last time, Eda the Owl Lady!"
Wrath retreated a few meters and removed his mask, revealing a face that was mostly a giant maw full of razor sharp teeth. An eerie glow filled his mouth as he breathed a huge stream of fire at the hapless foursome. Eda drew a magic circle to form a small portal to intercept the fire and another to shoot it back, knocking Wrath into the wall. She then drew another circle, turning Boscha back to normal, which in turn caused Luz to buckle under the extra weight.
"¡Bailaré en tus cenizas, miserable bru-!" Boscha had some more choice words for Eda, but Luz cut her off once again.
"Hey, sis, maybe this isn't the time." Luz suggested.
"Here, you two..." Eda reached into her hair and pulled out a key, tossing it to the sisters. "... take that and go back home."
Luz was a little worried. "But what about you?
King scurried up to the old witch. "If you think this is bad, you should've seen her last boyfriend."
"Not my boyfriend!" Eda snarled.
Boscha grabbed Luz's wrist and began to pull her away.
"Come on, Luz, let's go!" Boscha said, trying her best to get out of here... mostly so Eda doesn't turn her into a ball again.
She was surprised when Luz SLAPPED her hand off her.
"No!" Luz said, "We're not leaving her!"
"WHAT?!"
Luz had a look of determination on her face.
"Look, I know you don't like her, and she did kinda blackmail us and nearly burnt my book and used her magic to..." She thought better about bringing up the ball thing with Boscha, "Anyway, I can't just leave her and King like this."
"Well, I can't just leave you to take on that monster by yourself!" Boscha gently took Luz's hand and shot her a smile. "So let's go save the puppy and the old bag together."
"YES! Save the puppy and old bag!"
"... And hope Eda didn't hear us call her that or else WE'll be on sale at her stand." Luz said.
The two ran back to the fight. However, they noticed that the prisoners they let out were peeking out of the hole in the wall left by Wrath's impact. Luz decided to rush over to them.
"What are you guys doing?" She asked them. "This is your chance to escape!"
The multi-eyed ogre started to sulk. "The warden will catch us. He always does."
"We belong here." Katya concurred.
"Self-doubt is a pwison you can never escape fwom." The tiny nose lamented.
When Luz heard their objections, she couldn't believe they could be such defeatists. Were they really just going to accept Wrath's abuse? Why do they have to resignate themselves to a life of misery just for being who they were? For being who she was? It was then that she understood that she was just like them, accepting the bullying she received on a near-daily basis as normal. How could she motivate them to fight against their oppression if she wasn't willing to do the same. Luz hid behind Boscha long enough. She knew what she needed to do.
"None of you deserve this!" She exclaimed. "So you have a different way of doing things, a different way of seeing things. That makes you different, but that's what makes you awesome!"
"Why are you so keen on helping us?" Katya inquired.
"Because I'm a weirdo, too." Luz's words overflowed with passion. "And I've also been mistreated because of it. I've been told it's bad to be different, that I don't belong so often that I started to believe it. That's why I can't stand watching it happen to anyone else. Us weirdos have to stick together... and nobody should be punished for who they are!"
Her words managed to stir something in the prisoners, who cheered and rallied to her side. All of them charged into battle, save Boscha, who was so moved by Luz's actions, she started to weep.
"Esa es mi increíble hermanita." She wiped away her tears and followed the others.
Wrath managed to get the upper hand on Eda in the meantime. His right hand had morphed into a mace, and he was about to crush her and King when he was distracted by the battle cries of Luz and the others.
"I LIKE TO EAT MY OWN EYES!" The ogre body checked Wrath, knocking him away from the Owl Lady.
"I THINK THE WOWLD IS A TWIANGLE!" The tiny nose drew a magic circle of her own, which emitted a powerful bolt of energy that fried the warden where he stood.
Katya lovingly looked upon her musings she had written in her book.
"And I..."
She closed her book.
"...study the ancient art... "
She charged forward.
"...OF FANFICTION!"
With both arms, she swung her book with all her might, smashing Wrath in the face hard enough to dislodge a few teeth. His body landed with a thud, and the trio bound him with his own arms. Eda walked over.
"Is he dead?"
Eda sent a strong kick to his side, making him groan.
"No, hey Eda, think you can magic me up something?"
Luz whispered into Eda's ear, making her smile widely.
"I like the way you think, Kid!" Eda said ruffling Luz's hair.
Wrath began to look up at Luz.
"Who are you?"
"I am Luz, the human, warrior of peace!" Luz said, making Boscha roll her eyes, hearing that line SO many times before.
Luz grabbed the firework that Eda had summoned along with a bat.
"Now eat this Sucka!" Luz said, slamming the bat against the firework and into Wrath's mouth.
The fire from Wrath's mouth lit the firework and went off. Everyone cheered as the warden retreated, his mouth spewing explosions of multicolored lights.
"WE AWE VICTOWIOUS!" The tiny-nosed creature proclaimed.
"Gotta say, you did good, sis." Boscha gave Luz a playful punch on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you."
Eda approached the two. "Yeah, that was fun. Now let's get the hell out of here before more monsters fall in love with me."
The three plus King mounted the staff while Katya gave a ride to the other ex-prisoners with her own staff, except hers had a rhinoceros beetle on the end instead of an owl. They all said their goodbyes and flew off into the night.
Back at the Owl House, Eda was dragging her feet inside as she set her staff against the nearest wall. "Well, that was a total disaster, but a deal's a deal." She reached into her hair and pulled out the key once again. With the click of its eye-shaped button, the door to the Human Realm was reopened.
"Finally!" Boscha sighed. "I'm more than ready to go home and pretend this stupid day never happened."
Boscha mostly wanted to go back before she becomes a ball again. Luz on the other hand, didn't know if she wanted to go back.
"Oh, before I forget, here's your book." Eda said, handing Luz the Azura book.
Luz looked at the book and then at the portal.
"Boscha, maybe... maybe we could stay here." Luz said.
"Did you hit your head or something?" Boscha asked, "Because that is the craziest thing I've ever heard you say."
"Boscha-"
"I do NOT want to stay in a place like this." Boscha said.
"I know you-"
"Need I remind you that this woman you seem to idolize, turned me into a ball... twice! Who's to say she won't do it again and sell me next time!?"
"She's not wrong." King interjected whilst cuddling Francois.
"We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here!" Luz was trembling with excitement. "Granted, this isn't exactly the PG fantasy world I always dreamt of, but this is still a land of magic and enchantment. This could be the one chance I have to live my dream!"
"To be an author?" Boscha pondered.
"No, no, my original dream, to be a WITCH!"
Boscha cringed as Eda laughed at the remark.
"What? All right, that's crazy." The Owl Lady refuted. "Humans can't be witches."
Luz was undeterred. "Maybe that's because they haven't tried. If you teach me to become a witch, I'll do anything you want."
"NO NO NONONO." Boscha pulled her sister aside. "Luz, I get what you're going for here, and I know that the "Human Realm" hasn't been the best to you, but you can't just stay with Granny Stranger Danger here. Mom would kill me, then you, then me again for good measure!"
"But this isn't just for me..." Luz pleaded. "... this is for you, too. You can find out more about yourself, where you came from, what became of your original fam-"
"LUZ! I am not going to abandon Mom on the off chance I run into a family that may or may not even want to see me again."
"Aren't you the least bit curious to know who your real parents are?"
Boscha had never been so mad at Luz her whole life after hearing that remark, but refused to let her temper get the best of her. "I already know who my real parents are, they're Camila and Manny Noceda! They rescued me when I was lost in a strange world, took me in despite how different from everyone else I was and made me a part of their family. If I just ditch to stay in magic land, how could I call myself-?"
"BOSCHA VALENTINA NOCEDA!"
"Yeep!"
As soon as she heard her name, Boscha scurried behind Eda and used King to hide her face.
"MOM?!" Luz was just as shocked to hear her mother's voice, but not as much to see her storm right through the portal door
"Luz, where is your sister?" Camila's anger blinded her to her surroundings. "I just got a call from Principal Hal saying she was suspended for fighting, and I..." She looked around, confused. "This place is a lot roomier than I remembered and-! WHO IS THAT?!"
Eda saw that this lady was pointing at her, and then hurriedly fixed up her hair. King groaned as he saw her blushing slightly.
"Mom..." Luz tried to calm Camila down. "This is Eda. And this is gonna sound strange, but we're actually now in a place known as the Boiling Isles."
"¿Quééééééé?" There was a lot to unpack with that information, and hopefully, Camila could get a moment to take this all-
"HELLO!"
"AAAAUUUGGH!"
Hooty's enthusiastic greeting was met with a right hook from Camila, sending him crashing out the window.
"Huh, so that's where the kid got that from." Eda said, before walking up to Camila, "Nice to meet ya, names Eda Clawthorne, kind of saved your kids from being killed."
"More like almost got us killed." Boscha mumbled.
Camila turned her attention to Boscha, and had an angry look.
"And that's my cue to leave, goodbye!" Boscha said, starting to run.
Eda just smirked and for the third time that day, Boscha was turned into a ball and levitated to Camila's hands. Camila was very conflicted, on one hand, she wanted to scold Boscha for getting suspended... again... on the other, her daughter was just turned into a ball in front of her... while unconventional, she started to scold Boscha. She was angry, and judging by the look on Luz's face when she spoke Spanish, Eda had a feeling she didn't want to know what she just said. All she knows, is that Boscha was handed to her.
"Do me a favor miss... Clawthorne, was it?"
"Please, just call me Eda."
"Okay, Eda, do me a favor, and leave her like this the rest of the night, that's her punishment." Camila said, "I want to speak with Luz privately before I decide on what to do next."
"¡Mamá, espera un minuto!" Luz implored her mother. "Boscha's an important part of-!"
Before she could finish, the Boscha Ball began to shake in Eda's arms. With no spell cast, Boscha broke free on her own. Everyone looked on in astonishment as Boscha was breathing heavily before she turned to Eda, who started to sulk.
"Dang. She's already building up resistance."
"WILL. YOU. STOP. DOING THAT?! I didn't even attack you that time!" A small cough from Camila managed to end Boscha's tirade and change her mood entirely. "And I'm... sss-sorry for attacking you those last two times. I was wrong and shall endeavor to be better in the future."
"Whoa." Eda was more than impressed, and a little scared. "That is some serious dark magic at work."
Luz got between her mom and the others.
"See, Mamá? That's what I was talking about. This is where Boscha came from. It explains how you and Dad found her in that old house, how she could summon fire or why we couldn't find her birth family."
"This... is where she was born?" Camila's shock soon waned as she noticed her older daughter looking away and holding her arms. Whatever follow-ups to her punishment she had in mind could wait. She walked up to Boscha and put a hand on her shoulder. "¿Boschita, estás bien?"
Boscha began to cry. "I don't know. I always... I mean, I knew we weren't related by blood, but I at least thought I was human, just with some kind of physical disorder. But I just learned that I'm not even from the same reality! I... I don't... I don't even know... I ..."
Camila held her daughter who was breaking down emotionally. "Shhhhh, it's okay, mija. Remember what I told you years ago? I meant it. No matter what you are or where you come from, you will always be my child. You will always be a Noceda."
Watching the exchange made Eda feel somewhat nostalgic in a bittersweet way. "Maybe I can learn something from her, too." She quietly told herself
Eda had an idea.
"So, how about this?" Eda said, "How about these two stay here for this... summer thing that they were talking about? I'll watch them, they can find this girls parents, and I can teach them a bit."
Boscha wiped the snot and tears from her face. "Y-You'd... you'd really do that for us? But why?"
"Well, you guys did help us out..." Eda confessed. "... and you might be right that I was at fault for getting you stuck in the human realm."
"WHAT?!" Camila wasn't ready for that.
Eda winced, but carried on. "I use this portal a lot, and this tyke likely crawled through when I left it open. I never did keep a close enough eye on it. I mean..." She gestured to the humans in the room. "...case in point, right?"
Camila pinched the bridge of her nose. "Okay, this is against my better judgement, but Boscha, I think it would be beneficial for you to stay here for a while."
"Mom?"
"Mija, though you will always be a Noceda, you're still so much more. Nobody's going to force you to stay or even find your birth parents, but you have an opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you can do." Camila brushed her daughter's hair out of her three eyes. "And for a while, at least, you won't have to hide the real you... Uhh, right, Ms. Clawthorne?"
"Oh, totally." Eda assured them. "She's actually pretty average looking by Boiling Isles standards."
Luz let out a cheer. "Yeah! Do it, Boscha! We can be witches and form our own magical girl group!"
"Oooohhhhh, no." Camila put her foot down. "This isn't a game, Luz. This is for the sake of Boscha's self-discovery. I'm not comfortable with you here, especially if she doesn't accept."
Boscha watched as Luz sulked. She may regret it later, but she couldn't bear to leave her sister by herself at school, let alone keep her from living her dream.
"Actually, Mom, I'd feel a lot better about this if Luz could stay here with me. It'd be way less overwhelming and I wouldn't get too homesick."
"Don't worry about it, human dignitary." King crawled up on the end table to get everybody's attention. "As their king, these minions are in my care as well as under my command."
"Okay, the two of you are going home and packing a bag to stay here for the summer." Camila said, trying her best to NOT hug King.
"You mean it!?" Luz asked excitedly.
"I do, now hurry up, before I change my mind."
The sisters rushed back home and went up to their room. They grabbed two bags and began to fill them with clothes.
"This is so awesome!" Luz said, "I'm going to be a witch!"
"Yeah, and if you learn that damn ball spell, I'm going to hurt you." Boscha said.
"Oh, I am SO going to taunt you with that." Luz said, "It is my job as the younger sibling."
Boscha groaned, before walking over to a terrarium on the far side of the wall. She reached in and pulled out Littles, AKA her 2 foot long Ball Python. He had a small white dot in the middle of his forehead, which is why Boscha liked him so much.
"Don't worry, little buddy, I'll be back at the end of summer." Boscha said, kissing his head.
Luz walked over and pulled out a leucistic one, AKA Snowflake.
"Yeah, and I'll be back too." Luz said, cuddling with Snowflake.
They put their snakes back in the tank, gave them food for the day, and washed their hands real quick before they finished packing. The two looked at each other and smiled, before walking back to the portal.
"Ready?"
"Not really... my life is going to change, Luz."
"Hey... like Mami said, no matter what... you're a Noceda."
Boscha smiled and gave Luz a hug, before they walked through the portal. Camila walked over to them and gave them a hug and kiss to the head.
"Sed buenas, chicas. Volveré a verte de vez en cuando." Camila said.
"Vamos a mamá." Boscha and Luz said.
Camila walked through the portal, and before it closed.
"Bye, girls, I love you."
"We love you too, Mom."
"Okay, now that she's gone, let me show you two to your room." Eda said, leading them to a large closet.
"This place is amazing!" Luz said.
"Yeah, what about you, Three eyes?" Eda asked, "What do you think?"
"I'm afraid to answer." Boscha said, "You might turn me into a ball again."
"If it makes you feel better, I can do that to her." Eda said, motioning to Luz.
"I would say no, but she actually might enjoy it." Boscha said, crossing her arms, "So do you think you know my parents?"
"Maybe, but at the same time, I know hundreds of people, a lot with extra eyes, so I may not be the best person to ask." Eda said, "Anyway you two get settled in, I'm heading to my room."
Eda left and Boscha walked over to Luz.
"Hey, move over so I can put my sleeping bag down." Boscha said.
Boscha put her sleeping bag next to Luz's and got in it. Luz was happy that they could have a 3 month long sleepover... despite the fact that they've shared a room for a decade. Whatever, Boscha wasn't going to burst her bubble. Boscha looked at her hand and used her finger to make a spell circle, but didn't complete it.
"Luz... do you see me differently now that I'm... a witch?"
"Only that you're cooler than before." Luz said, giving Boscha a hug, "My big sister just keeps getting cooler and cooler."
Boscha gave a playful scoff.
"Maybe I'll turn you into a snowman, that way you can be cooler too."
Luz laughed, mostly because Boscha wasn't having another existential crisis.
"Goodnight, Boscha."
"Goodnight, Luz."
The two laid down and went to sleep, unsure of what tomorrow would bring... but they would figure it out together.
And now we've reached the end of the Daily Updates, as you can see, this is where the chapters will get longer. There is also the fact that Garth needs some time to get things done in their life and needs to take a break from this for a few weeks. I will be releasing a few stories I have prepared in a few days to keep you occupied until then. Follow, Favorite, and Review for more.