Chapter Text
“WAKE UP, LUZ!”
Luz gasped as she awoke from her slumber, instantly taking in her friends and family surrounding her. She quickly sat up, noticing wetness flowing down her cheeks. She wiped them off and realized they were tears, and that she was still crying. Amity was sitting down next to her, and judging by the way her face was etched with relief, along with everybody else’s, she took it that the mind spell didn’t go to plan as well as they had hoped.
She took a look around her. They were still at their campsite, although the fire that had been burning when the spell had been cast on her had diminished to nothing but ashes. The sky above her had darkened since she last saw it. It shined with stars and constellations she didn't recognize, but of course, she wouldn't recognize them; they were in the Boiling Isles.
Just thinking about that fact sent a thrill through Luz. After so long, she was back . She could finally finish what she had started, and save all those she had thrown into danger. Sure, Belos was still alive, and here, but she and her friends had defeated him multiple times. They could do it again. But The Collector... they’ll go back to that later.
“Oh, you’re ok!” Gus exclaimed, rushing forward to hug her, cutting through her train of thought. “I didn't think I would cast it that strong, you were only supposed to fall asleep for an hour!”
“How long was I asleep for?” She asked.
“Six.” Her mother shakily whispered; she was leaning on her baseball bat for support.
She looked like she hadn't slept a wink; she must’ve been so worried about her. Luz looked around once again. It looked like everybody had been severely worried about her.
The moment they arrived in the Boiling Isles, they knew they needed to find a way to contact everyone. Luckily, Amity still had her scroll, and (more as a prank than anything) she responded to her brother’s text that he had sent in memoriam of her sister. But through the conversation between Amity and Edric they were told that King was nowhere to be found… and most likely dead.
Luz then desperately searched for anything that proved otherwise, and at last found in a forgotten library a recipe for a potion that could strengthen the power of a mind spell, allowing somebody to enter into the mindscape from a much farther distance. There were some differences from a true mind spell, like how they needed to both be asleep for the spell to work, and that the process was much more dangerous and possibly deadly. The group only used it as a last resort, realizing they would not be able to truly come to an actual conclusion otherwise.
“Luz.” Amity had grabbed hold of her shoulder. “Are you alright?”
Luz nodded.
“And... Did you see King?” Gus asked.
Luz smiled. “He’s alive.” A wave of relief washed over the company as Luz stood up. Her legs felt wobbly from being unused for so long; she had to steady herself upon Amity and Willow’s shoulders. “He’s being held by The Collector. I think he’s alright, though.”
Camila rushed forward to hug her daughter. “I'm happy your friend is alright, mija , but next time please don't go so far as to fall into a coma next time.”
Luz laughed and hugged her mamí back, and her friends around her joined in.
He's ok. They're all ok. She thought as she succumbed to the group hug. Everybody was alive. They just needed to save them.
As everybody dispersed, Hunter popped the question that was on everybody’s mind. “So... what’s next?”
“Next?” Gus asked. “What’s next is that we kick Belos’s slimy green—”
“What’s next, ” Luz interrupted. “Is we find the rest of the team.”
Everybody shared knowing glances. Amity turned back to Luz and smiled. “About that...”
“Maybe you should turn around, kid.” A very familiar voice called, a playful tone etched into every word.
Luz spun around so fast she would’ve fallen if Hunter hadn't caught her. She couldn't believe her eyes, no matter how much she wanted to. There, standing in front of her with the biggest smile and tears streaming down her bruised and dust-ridden face, was Edalyn Clawthorne.
Though it had been months since the two of them had seen each other, Luz saw almost no change in her mentor; her hair was big and bushy as always, her eyes were still mismatched, and she still had that little golden fang poking out of her mouth. Although, there was certainly a major change that had taken place during those months away, seeing as how Eda now wore a metallic brace on her right arm.
The Owl Lady wasn't alone either. Coming out behind her (from a humongous vehicle Luz was just now noticing) was the rest of the C.A.T.T.s: Lilith, Darius, Eberwolf, Alador, Emira, Edric, Raine, and a few others Luz realized she didn't know the names of, though she did still recognize them. The only one missing was Steve, but Luz had only a moment to worry about him before she was wrapped in the arms of The Owl Lady.
Luz returned the hug eagerly before breaking the two of them apart, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks once again. “You’re here! How long have you—?”
“What, you thought you could be here for an entire day and we wouldn't find you?” Lilith asked.
“Well, I— Yes!”
“Nah, we've been here for a while now.” Eda brought Luz into her arms once again. “I'm glad you’re okay; those sleeping spells are dangerous, you know.”
Hunter snorted. “Yeah, no kidding.”
The group made their way to the fire now ablaze thanks to Amity’s fire spell. “So, what’s been happening since we left?” Luz asked, eager for new information, eager to fully reenter the world she dearly loved.
“We’ve been... Surviving,” Lilith said.
“There’s been a lot happening since you left,” said Raine.
“We were waiting till you woke up before we started talking.”
“It’s been really annoying.” Willow said.
“Well, start from the beginning. What happened at the Day of Unity?” Luz asked.
“Alright.” Eda said, rubbing her hands together. “Raine and I were there with all the coven heads, following the plan, but we ended up messing that up, so...”
The group continued trading stories for an unknown amount of time. They all were laughing, smiling, having full knowledge of the trials that awaited them, but ignoring them for merely a night, choosing instead to enjoy it with friends. The stars above them shined, and the few inklings of light began to appear by the time everybody was caught up.
“So, we were on our way to the Owl House when we get a call from none other than my dead sister.” Edric says, ruffling Amity’s hair and leaving her looking mildly disgruntled. “So, we took a little detour.”
Luz yawned. “I'm glad you found us.” She said. A fretful question came into her mind: “Have you seen Belos yet?”
Lilith frowned. “No. That's what we were worrying about before you woke up. There's been no sign of him, and if he's been here since you arrived then who knows where he could be?”
Luz’s worries grew worse. Belos was still out there. Out of everything happening, even the Collector, Belos could be the biggest problem they all may face. Years, centuries , of work down the drain thanks to Luz and her friends. There was no doubt that revenge was on his mind. But if it was, where was he?
Camila, seeing her daughter’s concerns, decided to change the subject. “Maybe we should put a pin in that for now.”
Eda nodded. “Your mom’s right. We should get a move on.”
The group dispersed, Luz making her way to her mother. “So...”
Camila, suspecting what this may be about, simply asked: “Yes?”
Luz pointed her thumb over to Eda. “What do you think of Eda?”
“Honestly, mija, ” She said. “She wouldn’t have been my first pick as a guardian of my daughter for five months.”
Luz, slightly disheartened by this answer, still asked, hoping there was one: “But...?”
Camila laughed. “Alright, Luz, she's awesome. Even if I wouldn't have picked her, she probably would be the best person to take care of you.”
Luz pulled her in for a hug. “Thank you. I'm happy you like her.”
Camila happily reciprocated. “Me too.”
The two of them stayed like that for a moment, in a crazy demon world filled with magic witches and phony wizards, stuck in a terrifying situation where none of them may make it out alive. But Luz didn't think about all that just then. She couldn't.
Luz just hugged her mother.