Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Amity had known when her mother called her into her office, it couldn’t have been anything good. Her nerves were already a jumble, her anxiety grew only worse when she heard her worst fears realized.

“Look at you, you’re such a disappointment. I can’t believe you’re associating with… her. The human. Now there’s a disappointment for you. She can’t even do magic, well not real magic anyways. You’re better off without her.” her mother said sternly, Amity glued in her seat from fear. She was practically petrified, too afraid to move.

Then bravery and rebellion overtook her in a rare moment of courage.

“She’s my friend, mom!”

“Oh, is that all? Well, you’re a Blight, and your friends are not your friends. You need to stop associating with the riff-raff, Amity dear. It’s unsightly and honestly what would our clients think?” her mother said.

Amity’s fist clenched a little, her knuckles turning white.

“It’s always about your clients, why would they care if I’m friends with Willow? O-Or Luz?”

“She’s a human who can’t even do proper magic, and yet she thinks she can be a witch. But being friends with her isn’t really what you want is it?” her mother asked, a lump in Amity’s throat as she realized. “I’ve been hearing a different story from your dear siblings...”

Amity cursed the twins silently, wishing they’d kept their mouths shut. All the same...

“Luz may not be like us, but she works hard! I think you understand that, right mom?”

“Be silent, and let me speak. And don't call me that, evidently I’ve failed to raise you right if your standard for ‘hard work’ is that wild child. She’s dangerous, destructive. You’re clearly too easily impressed.” her mother snorted.

“Dangerous? Dangerous!?! But Mo-”

“What did I say? Be silent. Now I’ll give you one last chance to curb your rebelliousness, make the right decision and stay on the proper path for this family,” her mother said, the warning clear. “Halt your friendship with Willow and the human and you will stay in this family. If not, well, your choice is made and so is mine.”

Amity didn’t even hesitate to answer, Willow was her friend and she’d abandoned her once already. She won’t turn her back on her again. It was barely even a choice, really.

“No, I turned my back on Willow once and I don’t care what you think of me, mother but-”

“Very well then. It seems you’ve made your decision, so I shall make myself clear,” she declared, in a tone that could only be described as cold, deadly venom. "I will no longer acknowledge you as my daughter, and you no longer have to see me as your mother. I don’t know where I went wrong with you, but you’re clearly not a Blight! NOW GET OUT!”

As the words left her mouth, thunder boomed loudly in the distance as ugly clouds stilled on the horizon of Blight Manor. The sound of boiling rain crashing atop the roof of Blight Manor was now evident, and by the sound of it, it was not a pretty drizzle. However, Amity’s mind failed to notice this. For her, time seemed to freeze over for a second as her expression turned into one of shock.

“... oh.” she said, quietly, as the words slowly started registering in her head. The reality of what had just unfolded had not quite sunk in.

“You’re dismissed. For the last time,” her mother announced, glaring down at her before waving her thin, cold hands impatiently towards her. “Now go on, shoo, I want nothing more to do with you.”

As Amity walked off, Odalia said to herself in a mutter: “Perhaps I’ll have my husband try again with one of his new batch of abominations, at least they’re obedient.”

Her words did not go unnoticed by her now former daughter, as she left with silent tears streaking down her pale face.

-----

“Titan damn it, that was one hell of a nightmare,” the witch muttered to herself, coming down from her bedroom. “Talk about vibrant... Okay, just a quick sip of tea and back to bed with you! You’ve got a long day tomorrow, the marketplace opens up bright and early!”

Eda loved the rain, in spite of how dangerous it was. It was beautiful in a barren way, destroying all it touched. It was morbid how equal all were to it. Even the mightiest beasts could succumb to the burning acid.

When her magic had been at its height, she would sometimes cast a spell on herself and went for walks in the rain. Sadly, the curse had been catching up to her over the years and that sort of thing was a rare luxury nowadays.

She paused, twitching a little.

“Hmmm… After a nightmare like that, tea might just not cut it. A dip into the apple blood maybe?” Eda thought aloud before quickly reconsidering. “Nah, probably not a good idea. After all, I don’t want to have a hangover while running my stall.”

Thunder cracked and lightning flashed outside, and Eda chuckled as she took a brief look outside. That was one hell of a storm out there, and talk about being lucky to be inside. “Oh, if I were a few years younger I’d be out there braving that weather.”

Something snapped outside, and then came a shriek. It could have been a wild beast, and for a moment or two, the witch was content to think it was just that. Eda was halfway into her first sip before her curiosity got the better of her.

“Wait a moment…” her eyes narrowed and she pulled open the curtains, swearing she must have been seeing things wrong. “Hooty, do my eyes deceive me or is someone out there? I thought I was the only one crazy enough to go for a walk in this weather.”

She tightened her robe around herself, the moon beginning to filter through the clouds. 

There was no answer from her house demon and Eda sighed. With a kick to the door, she barked: “HOOTY! Wake up! There’s someone out there!”

The owl creature woke up with a start, shouting: “Well excuuuuuuuuse me, princess, but some of us are trying to sleep, hoot! I was just having a nice dream about hunting worms!”

Eda scowled. “I’ll feed you your damn worms in the morning, just go find out who it is first, will ya? I think we’ve got a visitor, and I swear if it turns out to be one of Belos’ cronies I will not be a happy witch.”

“Jeez, fine, I’ll go have a look around, but those worms better be from your special stash! You owe me big time for this, Eda,” Hooty muttered before going to have a looksee. “...Well, good news bad news, hoot!”

“It’s always bad news, people should just call it news at this point,” Eda said in a dry tone, way too tired for this. “Alright, lay it on me. Who do I need to kill?”

“Like I said, good news bad news,” Hooty repeated. “The good news is, it’s not anyone you should be worried about. The bad news is, it’s someone Luz should be worried about, hoot...…”

“Enough said, Hooty,” Eda said, tapping her foot impatiently. “Bring them inside, I’ll deal with them in the morning. Nobody should be out there in this weather, not even if they’re as crazy as I am.”

There came a yelp, and the door flew open before someone tumbled inside covered by abomination goo. Presumably to protect themselves from the storm. Despite this, Eda could immediately tell who it was as soon as she saw her partially-covered face.

“Wait a moment, aren’t you…” Eda said, eyes widening a little as the goo began to melt away. “You’re that Blight kid, the one who messed up the Park kid’s brain!”

Okay, truth be told, this wasn’t the only thing Eda remembered her for. She’d grown used to hearing her young ward both rant and gush about the kid in equal measure. It was pretty obvious Luz was enamored with the girl. Maybe it would grow into something more? Ha, wouldn’t that put a fire bee in Odalia’s bonnet?

But Eda had never been good with names, so sue her. Her focus right now should be on her youngest kid, anyway. “Okay, so what are you doing out this late at night? Aside from getting goo all over my nice floor?” she asked, her expression a weird mix of annoyed and concerned.

Amity’s clothes had been burned slightly, parts of her skin blotchy due to the boiling rain as well. She looked hesitant to even be here, even as she was covered in bruises and leaves. Obviously from running through the thick, crowded forest en route to her house.

She was trembling in fright, one hand gripping tightly onto a wall for balance as if she might faint from exhaustion and fright any moment now.

“My floor, too!” Hooty suddenly exclaimed.

“Shut up, Hooty,” Eda said without hesitation, while she helped the green-haired girl up and onto the couch. “Really kid, you’re going to give your mother a heart attack when I tell her. Mind, seeing Odalia keel over wouldn’t be so bad, would it? Might throw a celebration!”

She’d been so caught up in her grievances that she missed the little sob coming from the Blight, and only heard another once she stopped speaking.

“Oh… well, there’s no need to cry about it, honestly I don’t see why you care for your mother so much. Terrible parent, terrible pers… Oh.”

Amity was full-on crying now.

“Odalia, tell me you didn’t kick your youngest out into this weather,” Eda asked, as if the woman was standing next to her and would answer. She sighed, and sat down next to Amity. “Well, I suppose your tears are evidence enough. What’d you do? Break a lamp? Good grief, you think your mother can’t get any worse and then she draws a new line for herself and steps right on over it.”

“She’s not my…” Amity mumbled through another sob, her body still trembling a bit in fear. Then she said: “Well, we’re currently at odds. That’s all. I just needed some place to s-stay for the night.”

“Oh,” Eda sighed softly as she ran through the few healing spells she knew. “It’s like that, is it? Well, consider this kid. Your mother may not know it, but she probably did you a favor. Trust me, growing up under Odalia’s thumb is not conducive to anyone’s growth. Even Lily could do a better job, and that’s saying a lot, coming from me.”

“...I suppose…” Amity mumbled. “It’s just, I thought… I’m supposed to be a Blight, right? The best of the best when it comes to witches.”

“Well, I’m not sure that’s entirely true. I mean, look at me. I’m the Boiling Isles’ most powerful resident, it’s proudest denizen and I don’t carry your name.” Eda said, unable to resist the urge to brag, hoping to at least get a smile from the girl.

She failed, only getting a scowl in turn and a sad little sigh. “That’s the thing, isn’t it? I’m not a Blight, not anymore anyways. Mom disowned me, and-”

Another little sob forced itself out of her throat.

“...okay, uh, wow, that’s honestly worse than I thought it’d be. I thought your mother just kicked you out of the house for a few days,” Eda confessed. “I stand by what I said then, your mother not mother finds new lines to cross in bad parenting every damn day.”

“How… how do you know my…” Amity started, clearly still wanting to say ‘mother’ but obviously hesitant about it.

Another sad sigh turning into a little chuckle. “Never mind. Honestly, I thought if anyone was going to get kicked out of this family it wouldn’t be me. It would have been Emira or Edric. Wow, puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? Suddenly they’re the better Blights.”

“Now that’s simply not true isn’t it? I don’t know a lot of Blights and I certainly don’t know your siblings but honestly from what I’ve seen?” Eda said, rushing to comfort her. “You’ve been the shining light of your year, I mean, have you heard my student gushing about you? Clearly, Odalia doesn't know what she just lost.”

Amity blushed slightly from the praise, and Eda smirked. Got her to stop crying, that’s a relief, she thought to herself.

“I suppose I should get you up into bed, Titan knows you’ve had such a long night so in the morning we’ll work out what to do from here.” Eda said, picking the young girl up in her arms. “Upsy-daisy!”

Eda briefly frowned when Amity wasn’t looking. How much pressure could you put onto a kid to make them this unhealthy? She weighed far less than a regular witch, by an unsettling margin. 

“Poor child. She doesn't deserve such abusive parents. And if she’s here now, does that mean I have to look after her? I doubt Luz would let her leave after she hears about this...” the Owl Lady thought to herself. “But… all the same, what am I thinking? I’m on the run, I can barely keep Luz as it is! Let alone another kid!”

As she walked up the steps, Eda’s thoughts continued racing.

“Who else does she have right now? I certainly can’t just hand this little one back to her mother. Honestly, calling Odalia that is probably being a bit generous,” she continued to think. “I suppose Lily could take her, but I just don’t feel right about handing any kid off to Belos’ right-hand stooge.”

It hurt to think of her younger sister like that, but clearly she hadn’t in her to rebel like she did. And that, Eda thought, was why she was apparently the smart one in this family. She could smell the crap that Belos was spewing, something her sister apparently failed to do.

“Damn it,” she muttered quietly, looking down at Amity. “You’ve really put me into a bind, huh kid?”

Amity wasn’t really listening, she’d already collapsed in her arms and was fast asleep. Not that Eda could blame her, she’d had such a long day. Well, it looks like she was definitely spending the night on the couch now.

“Looks like I’ll be having to pay the Construction Coven under the table soon. Now I really do need to scrounge up some spare change,” Eda said, placing the little witchlet gently in her bed for the time being. “Heh, looks like Luz is in for a surprise. I wonder how long you’ll last under her care? Ah, to be a teenager again and be all messy with hormones!”

Indeed, Luz had brought up that Amity had started to act weirdly around her, more often than usual with glowing cheeks and flustered expressions. Eda, smirking to herself, had recognized what was going on immediately.

Making her way back down, Eda finally finished her tea as she curled up on the couch. And to think she’d started off tonight with her only worry being how early she’d have to wake up tomorrow.

Once again, the Blight name was coming back to cause her trouble. That name was like curses and chickens, it always came home to roost.

“I suppose I’m going to have to get in touch with Lily sometime soon as well. This is her student after all,” Eda thought, not really looking forward to that before yawning. “Great, this is just great. I didn’t sign up to be a mother of two and yet here I am. Because it looks like this is how things are going to go.”

And yet… a part of her didn’t mind the thought as much as she hated thinking about it. Ugh, she needed to get some sleep right now . Maybe it’d be easier to think about come the morning sun.

-----

Amity moaned as she woke, finding herself in a… wait, was this a nest? Rubbing her eyes that were still raw from crying, she mumbled: “...wow, when I heard Eda was The Owl Lady I didn’t think she’d take things this far…”

Slowly dragging her exhausted, aching body out of the… nest, she flinched a little from the bright sunlight shining directly at her eyes. The storm clouds from last night had finally cleared, signaling the start of a brand new day.

A new chapter in her life, even.

She was a Blight no more.

Wow, I guess it didn’t really settle in till I thought about it some more, huh? I’m… I’m not a Blight anymore, Amity mused, her shoulders slumping. I guess that means I can’t redeem the family name now.

From the eyes of the citizens of the Boiling Isles, the Blight name used to stand pridefully out of the bunch, the front page of a company famed for their quality products and revolutionary technology. But now it was instead recognized for its cold and cruel business maneuvers. Shady deals. False marketing and financial corruption. Recently, Amity had come to realize the illegal operations of their family business, and she had hoped to change all of that when she eventually succeeded her... mom and had full control over Blight Industries.

She walked to a nearby window, and took one long look out over the bay. She knew, in town, witches were starting to emerge from their homes, completely unaware of last night’s dramatics.

...do they know? Do they even care? Nope, definitely not, Amity thought with a little shrug. My family’s never been the most popular name, after all.

The girl felt the cool morning wind brush across her face, and felt it rush through her hair. Her green hair. Should I keep it green? Maintain some semblance of family pride? Hold onto the illusion of who I am? As… if I’m not a Blight, who am I?

Turning away from the window, Amity clutched her pendant. She still had that, huh? For a moment, she briefly considered contacting her m… Odalia. Start begging and pleading to be taken back.

“No, that won’t work. She’s made her position quite clear. My position, too,” Amity said to herself before thinking of her siblings. “I never even got the chance to say goodbye… Not like they’d care about me anyways. Wonder what’s gonna happen to them now?”

Speaking of, what would happen to her now? Where would she go? Would Eda take her in? Or was this just a one-night-only type of thing?

No, get it together. She’s not that cruel. I hope.

The door and the stairs beyond it called out to her, she had to face the music soon right? Luz was down there, and… oh Titan. She would know. Eda would have told her already, about how she found her crying at the front doorstep.

“Luz… she wouldn’t judge, right? S-she’s not like that!”

One foot in front of the other. Take it one step at a time.

“It’s not just Luz I’m going to have to face, it’s all of Hexside. Oh good grief, I’m so not up for that.”

Deep breaths, Amity, deep breaths. You’re going to be fine. Hopefully.

She walked down the stairs, the floorboard creaking as if harbinging impending doom. Nervously peeking around the corner, she saw Luz looking half-awake themselves.

“....ugh, remind me never to sleep on the couch again, okay kiddo?” Eda moaned from nearby. “I think I did something to my back! If I have to sleep on the floor like King, I will.”

“You have a nest, you know.”

“So she doesn’t know,” Amity thought with a gasp. She quickly realized she’d actually said that aloud, and she let out a little squeak before quickly hiding behind the corner as Luz looked her way.

“Did you hear that?” she asked.

“You can come out from behind there kid, you’re going to have to rip your toes off sooner or later,” Eda said, without even looking in her direction.

“Wait, Eda? Is there something I’m missing? Do we have a guest? Wait, is that why you were sleeping on the couch?”

“Yeah, that’s one way to put it,” Eda said. “Now come on out, you know neither of us is going to bite. Well, King might but that’s just him and he’s not awake yet so you should be fine!”

Amity sucked in a breath, before crossing over the threshold.

“A-Amity…?” Luz breathed in shock, eyes wide in concern and hugging Amity tightly, almost as if on instinct.

“Are you okay? You look like a mess, were you crying?” Suddenly, she gasped. “Was it Boscha? Did she do something to you? Was it because you broke off your friendship with her? Do I need to unleash King onto her?” 

“N-no, it’s not Boscha, don’t worry Luz. Even if she tried, she wouldn’t be able to hurt me, and I’m not scared of her at all,” Amity said as she sputtered a little. “I-in fact, Rathmore wouldn’t dare touch me! Nobody touches a Blight.”

At least, a former Blight.

“Well, good to see she’s keeping her dignity about the whole thing,” Eda said to herself, but her statement went completely unheard. 

“Well, if she did, I’d be happy to return the favor,” Luz said, putting up their dukes as Amity couldn’t help but giggle. “What? I’m serious!”

“Sad to say, I’m not sure this is something you can help with, at least in that sense kiddo. I’d love to see you try though, it’s a very sweet thought all the same,” Eda said, looking over as she stirred something in a pot to serve as breakfast.. (“One of these days I’ll work out that spell to make this cook itself…” She added silently to herself.)

Amity chuckled. She took a deep breath. “Something happened last night, Luz. I’m… well, I guess Eda’s right. I can’t beat around the bush now, can I? I’m… I’m no longer a member of the Blight family.”

What came next was a few tense moments of silence. The silence would soon be broken, however, when Luz finally found her voice again.

“SHE DID WHAT!?!” she screamed furiously, causing nearby birds to flee in terror. Some curious onlookers even swore afterwards they saw the Owl House hop.

Luz paced back and forth on the tattered floor, their feet probably digging a hole in the floor in their fury. Her fists were clenched tightly, shaking in rage. “B-But family’s everything! How could she do that? My mami would rather drop dead than even consider disowning a family member!”

“Yeah, well, my family works differently compared to yours,” Amity said. “If you’re a disappointment, you’re out. Simple as that.”

“That’s… That’s cruel!” Luz said, hugging the other girl tightly as Amity flushed red to her face. 

So… Warm… Amity couldn’t help but think to herself, but she quickly regained her composure before Luz noticed.

“Truth be told, As much as I care about them, I... honestly always thought it would be Edric and Emira who got kicked out of the family, not me. I’ve always been the perfect child, never making a single mistake, never disobeying orders, just so… mom would be pleased. I just wanted to be friends with you and with Willow again, and… I guess that was too much for mom to take.” Amity lamented, feeling the tears welling up in her eyes yet again.

“Oh yeah, Edric and Emira. I remember those two. Oh, those two rascals are rebels after my own heart,” Eda said, wiping a tear. “Kids today, I’ve never been so proud.”

“No,” Luz suddenly said, making Amity look up. “No, she’s not your mom, Amity. She doesn’t deserve to be your mother, let alone anyone’s to begin with! Seriously, who disowns their children for choosing their own friends?!”

If anything, it’s probably me who doesn’t deserve you, Amity thought. “Thanks, Luz…” the witch whispered softly, slowly leaning into the hug.

“Maybe we should go around to your mom’s house, chuck eggs at it. Oooooh, I’ve got an idea, maybe we should borrow Owlbert. Divebomb it from above!” they said, dancing on their feet excitedly as she turned to Eda. “Can we, Eda? Can we?”

And just like that, Amity was giggling again, just imagining the look of rage on her mother’s face. She quickly suppressed the smile, though.

“It wouldn’t solve anything,” she said to the Latina. “My mother won’t reverse her decision.”

“I know, I know, but it’s what she deserves! Ese pequeño ... ¡algunas personas! I wonder how easy it is for your mother to look herself in the eye every morning,” Luz said, practically snarling. “She’s so cruel!”

“Yes, we’ve established that. But my mother is a businesswoman, she’d do anything to get ahead,” Amity said. “She’s always trying to capture the eye of Emperor Belos, I honestly think she loves him more than my dad.”

“Oh, so you can tell a…” Luz started, before noticing her friend’s tone. “That was a joke right?”

“Honestly, I don’t think it was,” Eda weighed in. “Given everything I’ve heard about the Blights, it wouldn’t surprise me at all. That whole family, with a few rare exceptions, is a mess. Especially Odalia. She possesses a heart as black as coal.”

Luz quickly noticed Amity’s crestfallen expression, and hissed out: “Eda!”

“Oh, sorry kid,” Eda said, though she really didn’t sound all that remorseful. “I guess that is your family I’m speaking of, isn’t it?”

“No no, it’s fine,” Amity said though her tone indicated it was anything but. “I’ve slowly gotten used to people hating my family. It’s not like we do anything to discourage it right?”

“I’m sorry, I know they meant a lot to you.”

I know they’re trying to help me, but… Titan, this is so overwhelming. Nobody’s ever helped me this much before, not without a reason anyway.

And yet a voice in the back of head, sounding suspiciously like Luz was saying: ‘and wanting to help someone isn’t reason enough?’

“Maybe…” Amity said, shoving open the door. “Excuse me, I need to go take a walk. Clear my head a bit.”

“Amity, wait!” the Latina shouted, giving chase through the woods. 

Oh Amity… they said to themselves following up a nearby hill. There she saw Amity, fists clenched as they grabbed the hems of her shirt, shivering in a mixture of fear and the sudden feeling of coldness. It wasn’t until Luz slowly approached her from behind when Amity suddenly spoke up.

“I’m sorry for imposing, honestly I’m still kinda amazed my first instinct was to run to you two,” Amity said. “Like, I… I didn’t run to Boscha or Skara or any of my other friends from Hexside.”

A gentle breeze was now ruffling Luz’s hair. The Latina deadpanned: “Not sure they’re your friends anymore, Am.”

Amity forced down the blush at the nickname. Not the time, Amity.

“I suppose maybe you’re right, they wouldn’t want to deal with my drama anyways. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they drop me like hot garbage now anyways.”

“See? Like I said, they’re not friends then.”

“Honestly, mom…” Amity sighed. “Well, she and dad made me become friends with Skara and Boscha and well… you saw that in Willow’s memories.”

“Well, my family’s not exactly rich but I know a thing or two about false friends,” Luz admitted. “You and Gus and Willow, you three are the first real friends I’ve actually had in a long time. Nobody wanted to be friends with the school weirdo, excepto por las mierdas y las risitas, basically.”

Amity laid a gentle hand on Luz’s, grasping it tightly. “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I think you’re a wonderful person. Tenacious, even. I meant what I said back then. Humans have no magical ability. But I doubt that'll stop you. It hasn’t yet.”

Now Luz was blushing. “T-Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.”

“I never asked, how did you end up on the Boiling Isles anyway?”

“Would you believe I just stumbled upon it?” Luz said, with Amity giving her a look. “What? It’s true. I swear I’m not lying! It was just luck really.”

“You’re really something else, only you would just ‘stumble’ on the Boiling Isles,” Amity said, giggling as she shook her head.

“Not on, into, really. There was this door, actually, and when I went through it, bam! I found myself stuck in this not-so-PG magical realm,” Luz confessed. “Honestly, I’m probably going to have to go back home sometime and I’m not really sure if I want to. This whole time I’ve been here, I’ve had more fun than I have in a long time. I’m not… I just fit in here.”

“You didn’t fit in back at your old home?” Amity said. “It’s honestly hard to imagine, you have a way of drawing people to you.”

Luz smiled, the Latina flushing a little even as Amity continued. “You could be friends with everyone on the Isles if you honestly put your mind to it. Honestly, I’m surprised you aren’t already.”

“Like I said, class weirdo. Nobody really wanted to be seen with me,” Luz said. “Mami sent me off to camp to reform me. I’ll admit I was a bit of a troublemaker, and that always caused her too much stress. But I wanted to stand out, y’know?”

“You’re doing just fine,” Amity said, resting her head on Luz’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

“So do you, at the Owl House I mean,” Luz said. “You don’t have to go back to your mom… as hesitantly as I call her that. You can stay here, with me and Eda and King…”

“T-Thanks. A part of me wants to, you know. I didn’t come running to you without reason. Your house. Whatever it is, it's not… It’s not cold like the family manor,” Amity said, her head now resting on her friend’s shoulder. “It’s cramped and it’s chaotic but it feels like a home. Your house feels like a home.”

“Yeah…”

“Eda… I don’t think she’s what people think she is. I’ve seen the wanted posters and I’ve seen her a few times but I’ve mostly heard about her through you. She’s so kind, and she can be a bit crusty but she took me in without a second thought,” Amity began to ramble. “She could have left me out there, in the rain, but she didn’t.”

“Eda’s not like that, even if she didn’t like you she wouldn’t have left you out there to boil.U nless you were working for the Emperor’s Coven, I guess,” Luz said. “But it’s just not her. ”

“I still feel like I’m imposing though. Bringing all of my issues square to your doorstep. My whole family drama,” Amity confessed. “It’s like one of those soap operas I heard you mention to Gus. Like something out of a terrible TV plot, not-”

“Hey, it doesn’t matter,” Luz smiled, Amity’s head still resting comfortably on her shoulder. “Even if your family is a bit of a mess, I’d still want to be your friend. I’d still want to help you.”

The Boiling Isles tended to chew up and spit out good souls, or bury them underneath a mountain of cynicism.

“You’re way too nice to be someone from the Boiling Isles, based on my experience. It’s always been a case of looking out for yourself all around here,” Amity said. “At least… that’s how I see it.”

“Well, you know that’s a lie,” Luz was swift to point out. “There’s Willow, for example. I’m sure if I hadn’t stumbled along, she would have taken you in.”

“If you hadn’t stumbled along, we wouldn’t even be friends again. I was happy Luz, don’t you understand? Happy being the Queen Bee. Being a bitch,” Amity said. “Because I simply didn’t know what else I had to be.”

“I’m sure you would have found something,” Luz gripped her hand tightly.

“Maybe.”

And for a few moments, they just sat there silently, enjoying each other’s presence and comfort. They would’ve stayed there for much longer had Eda not interrupted them.

“Awww, well as cute as this and as much as I’d love to save this for the family scrapbook,” Eda’s voice came from behind. She was miming holding a camera. “We need to get going. My human realm stuff isn’t going to sell itself! Go grab some breakfast before King eats it all. We’ve got a lot to do today!”

“Race you!” Luz said to Amity, dashing off to the front door. 

“Hey, I’m still up for the dive-bombing, hoot! You just have to ask,” Hooty said as she passed by. “This means war!”

“No fair, you didn’t even give me a chance to catch up! Huff, are you sure you’re not in track and field?” Amity called. She wasn’t sure where she was heading in her life, but right now at least, she felt like she could safely say it was somewhere. A cynical part of her even saw opportunity, learning from the Owl Lady herself. 

“This is only a temporary thing, I won’t be staying here forever. I’ll make you proud of me again mom. Then you’ll take me back.”

Chapter Text

“YOU DID WHAT?” Emira shouted, barely able to believe her ears.

“She was your daughter, our little sister! And you just tossed her out into the cold, like that! Into the boiling rain! What if she’s lying somewhere out there, a charred husk? D-Do you even care?” her twin whispered, horrified.

“Don’t be surprised brother dear, we’ve always known our ‘mother’ was a special kind of bitch. This simply confirms it,” Emira hissed out in a venomous tone.

“Now see he-” Odalia tried to say.

“You don’t get to speak to us, not after what you pulled. Now if you excuse us, we’re going to go find Mittens. And you’d better hope there’s at least a body for us to bring back,” Edric said, and if looks could kill...

As their mother retreated, Emira sighed.

“...I can’t believe… no actually I can believe it,” she said, her voice cold.

“Yeeeeaaaah, our mother has always been cold but this? This is beyond cold. This is evil. I’m not surprised she simps for Belos, they’re about as equally heartless.” Edric all but growled.

“Can we even call her our mother, Edric?”

A pause for thought.

“I’m… I’m not sure we can Emira. Not now. Perhaps we should…”

Emira snapped her fingers. “Make a statement? Start making scenes? You may be right, after all it may only be a matter of time before we ourselves are on the chopping block!”

“Only a matter of time indeed… Come on sis, let’s see if we can find Mittens.”

The unspoken ‘and hopefully alive’ reverberated throughout the room.

-----

People were whispering and pointing at her, Amity knew she could feel their stares drilling into her back. Already, word had made its way through Bonesbourough. 

People said she loved attention, and that was true to an extent. She loved the admiration. Right now though, she felt like she was a sideshow attraction. Something to be gawked at, maybe pitied.

And Amity Blight hated being pitied.

“Never doubt the grapevine…” the green-haired witch uttered to herself as she made her way into the marketplace. “Bet my mother leaked it to one of her associates, who couldn’t just resist the gossip.”

Luz held her hand tightly, and Amity smiled gratefully. “Hey, it’s okay, you got this. You don’t need to worry about those idiots. Back home, we have a saying. La mona aunque se vista de seda, mona se queda right?”

“Er… I’m sure that means something eloquent and classy but remember Luz, it might as well be Demonic to me.”

Eda, in the end, had decided that keeping the two at the stall was a waste of time. That they’d probably wander off anyways.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get around to teaching you more of my language someday,” Luz chirped before holding up a finger as if to spout sage wisdom. “But really, all I was saying was as long as a monkey dresses in silk, it’s still a monkey. Mami loves that one.”

Amity giggled. “Okay, yeah, that’s a good one.”

“Those people aren’t worth your time, Am,” Luz said. “I doubt they’ll care about any of this for long, and move onto the next Big Thing to rattle Bonesborough. Just you watch!”

“Yeah…” Amity said, blushing and trying to look away from Luz’s held hand and not wanting to meet her eyes. 

Finally forcing the redness down, the witchlet looked back at her.

“Thanks, for… all this. You trying to help me through this, I mean,” Amity said. “You and Eda… you’re too kind, I know it seems like a lot and I-I must have so much baggage. I’m probably a burden right?”

“Naw, no. Pshaw! You’re a friend and it’s my duty as your friend to help my friend through this troubling time,” Luz said, the Latina still chipper. “That’s what friends do!”

“Friends… right,” Amity mumbled trying to hide how dejected she sounded. “Thanks.”

So that’s really all that I am to them? Friends? I-I mean I know I’m not anything spectacular, and with the benefit of hindsight I’m not entirely surprised my mother disowned me. I’m not exactly spectacular as a Blight so… No no, stop this Amity. You’re spiraling. Keep ahold of yourself, you at least still need to have your dignity. A Blight is nothing without it, keep your head held high. Luz can’t see you being weak, you can’t disappoint her like you did your family.

Did her father have a hand in this? Did he even know what her mother had pulled? Did he even care? Or was his only concern, like ever, his abominations?

I took the abomination track to impress you father, so you could at least notice me. But as always, the only thing in front of you is your experiments. Well, I suppose I do have you to thank for my work ethic, but… 

Could you at least pull your head out of your lab long enough to realize I’ve always been right here father?

Amity suddenly remembered what her mother had said, that she might be getting father to ‘try again’ with her. Create a brand new daughter from scratch and give it the elixir of life. She fought the urge to cry again. So an experiment was worth more to her than her own flesh and blood?

Her fist clenched. I’ll make you notice me, mother. Then you’ll see. You have a perfectly fine daughter just waiting to prove herself. I know you don’t know it right now, but I’m still worth something to you.

“Amity, hey Amity, you still there?” Luz was waving a hand in front of her face, the Latina looking concerned.

Amity smiled weakly. “Sorry, it’s just everything’s starting to catch up with me now. I honestly don’t know where to go from here, truth be told. I’m frightened and honestly a part of me just wants to curl into a ball and cry…”

“Hey, you got this okay?” Luz held up a finger. “Like you’re a strong girl. Nothing gets you down for long, right?”

“W-Why are you holding up your pinky finger? Is… is this some human thing I’m supposed to be aware of?”

“It’s a pinky promise, see, you wrap your pinky finger around mine like this,” Luz said, showing her by wrapping their own around Amity’s. “Now you must pinky promise me to never give up on yourself.”

“Ugh, do I really have to? It sounds just so childish,” Amity grumbled but saw the look Luz was giving her. It was like a kicked puppy. She sighed, knowing she could never ignore that expression. 

“Alright, fine, here we go. I pinky promise to never try thinking about giving up on myself,” Amity said with a resigned smile. “There, fine. Are you happy?”

“That’s perfect!” Luz said, doing a little victory dance and excitedly clapping her hands.

Then they heard voices, coming from further up in the marketplace. Amity gasped as she realized who it was.

“Amity? AMITY? Are you there?” Edric was calling, and asking random people: “Hello, sorry excuse me but have you seen any sign of my sister? Anything? Even…”

He swallowed. “Even her body?”

Oh Titan, they think I’m dead! Amity held a hand to her mouth in shock. Well, I suppose it’s not really that unreasonable of an assumption to make. If I hadn’t run to the Owl House and if Eda hadn’t seen me…

Oh… oh, wow, it was only now just hitting her how reckless and stupid she’d been. Racing through that entire storm. Even when she was covered by her abomination she’d nearly been burned to a crisp.

That idea was so crazy, it’s something Luz would do! Amity thought, before pausing quickly to register what she said in her mind. Wow, I guess it’s true. Friends do become more alike the more time they spend together. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet.

“Oh my… Edric, look over there! IT’S AMITY!” Emira was shouting, and soon both of her older siblings were rushing to greet her.

“Amity! W-When we heard what mom did…” Edric was hugging her tightly. “Oh, thank the Titan you’re alright!”

“We thought you were dead!” Emira chimed in, joining in on the hug. “That bitch of a mother-”

“-decided to do this-”

“-so we decided if someone in this family had to care about you-

“-it might as well should be us right-”

“-us right? And dad of course is still-”

“-Locked up in his lab, honestly we’re-”

“-not sure if he even knows if you’re gone, of course that’s the way he is-”

“-so we’ve learned to expect it from him-”

“-even if it still drives us up the wall. -”

“-Our family is such a wreck-”

“-and honestly?”

“-we’re not sure if we want to be a part of it anymore.” They finished at the same time.

Amity’s eyes shot wide open. “No, wait, you two don’t have to-”

Emira gave her a serious look, far more serious than any expression Amity had ever seen on her normally impish face. It was kinda scary actually, and seemed to promise pain and suffering for her mother. “Oh, but that’s the thing, we want to. If mom’s willing to kick you out just because you decide to choose your own friends, then-”

“-Why the hell should we even stick around?” Edric finished. “After all, where you go, we go. We sure aren’t letting you face the world alone, Mittens!”

“T-Thanks…” Amity said, shakily. “Thanks you two.”

There came a sob, and all three siblings looked to see Luz wiping her eyes with an arm. “Sorry, sorry, don’t mind me. It’s just… I haven’t seen something so heartwarming before! You three are such good siblings! ¡Increíble! I wish I had older siblings like you!”

“Well,” Edric said with that impish smile returning with Emira soon to follow. “If you hurried up and made it official with our sister than maybe-”

“We could be your older siblings right?” Emira said.

Amity’s blush had returned in full force, making shoving her Emira away in panic. “Emira, Edric! We’re only 14!”

“Oh but love is in the air-”

“-and hormones are running wild so-”

“-I doubt you’ll be able to keep your feelings contained for much longer! Why Luz-”

Here Emira knelt down to Luz’s level. 

“-you should see Mittens when she really gets going. She loooooooves you, like-”

“-she can barely contain herself around you. Oh look look, she’s blushing again! Emira, do you-”

“-see that? Yes I do! Ooooh, it’s so cute!”

She was pinching Amity’s cheeks, and tugging at her scarlet-tinted face.

“Yep, our sister is cute as a button! It’s confirmed!” Edric added. “Now really Mittens, you should get to it! You can’t let this cutie slip away from you! The Isles just got blessed with her after all, so it’s not like you’re the only one after her!”

“...I wish I’d died in the rainstorm, so I could be spared this humiliation,” Amity muttered. “Can you two just stop? People can see you!”

“And they can see you, sister dear. Look, you’re blushing up a storm!” Emira said. “Your face is bright red, just like a tomato!”

“Oh, I think she looks more like a passionfruit if you asked me,” Edric put in.

“Well she is certainly passionate about Luz!” Emira said, grinning without an ounce of shame.

Amity growled.

“You can’t deny your feelings forever, you two,” Edric said. “But we’ll leave it be for now, we’ve got to talk to a certain Owl Lady anyways. I mean, I assume she’s around here.”

“Yeah, she’s this way!” Luz said, gesturing towards the direction of the Owl House. “You know, I’m not sure if Eda’s going to be thrilled with you two dropping by. She doesn’t like surprises.”

“Oh, but she’s going to love this one!” Edric said. “We’re fellow agents of chaos, and honestly someone around here has to be the responsible one and keep an eye on our dear sister!”

“You two? Responsible? Please!” Amity scoffed.

“Bold of you to assume Eda isn’t responsible!” Luz memed.

“I know she’ll love us, after all we all share the same goal. Outside of keeping Mittens safe that is,” Emira said. “We shake up the system, challenge authority!”

“OH, is that so?” came a voice, and all four turned to see one of Belos’ guards behind them. “If that’s how you see it, it’s off to the Conformatorium with you!”

“...oh boy. Well, before you cart us off, I’ve got something I need to say,” Luz said, before the guard leaned in. “And that’s… ¡Métetelo por el culo! Let’s bolt!”

They kicked him square in the groin as the guard screamed in pain and shouted for backup.

“You had to go ahead and piss him off didn’t you?” Edric said, though he hardly sounded disapproving. “There’s that fire, I knew our sister liked you for a reason! Mittens really needs someone to help loosen her up!

“I mean, clearly we as her older sibs have failed so it’s up to you!” Emira added poking her in the chest.

“Eh, I do what I can!” the Latina said in reply, as guards rounded a corner. “Now these guys… And their boss especially. En realidad, creen que son la última cocaína del desierto. We should show them who they’re dealing with.”

She quickly pulled out slips of paper and slammed them on the ground. There was a bright flash, and the guard stumbled backwards into a stall.

Another glyph, and the foursome were propelled forwards by the ice erupting beneath their feet. They screamed as they were hurled into the air, desperately holding onto each other for dear life. Another glyph, and the chaotic quartet were sliding back to earth on a ramp of ice.

“Get them!” the first guard shouted, running up panting and sweating as he dragged his clearly overweight body with him.. “...a dietary plan, that’s what I need!”

“Shh, watch this,” Edric said, holding up a finger. His sister was drawing a spell in midair and soon the guards were chasing after their doppelgangers. “We’ll be long gone by the time they realize! Thankfully Belos never seems to hire the actually intelligent denizens.”

“Oh, Emperor Belos knows who to hire…” another guard said, seemingly popping up from behind them. “I saw your little stunt! Guys, they’re over here!”

And now all the guards were looking at them.

“And now we’re running again!” Luz said, grabbing Amity by the hand and bolting. Amity drew a spell circle, unable to believe she was even helping these three idiots. “Okay, maybe we shouldn’t underestimate these guys and their intelligence?”

The guards behind her found themselves with a serious case of hotfoot.

“Oh, but I beg to differ,” Edric said, knocking a barrel over and one guard fell on it, causing them to tumble down the hill they were on. He was soon rolling under the barrel, glued to it like an egg to hot pavement.

Edric and Emira hid behind lampposts, before there came a shout. More guards chased after them. All four of them were zigzagging around the marketplace with guards in hot pursuit.

“Hey, you guys know plague doctor masks are no longer the height of fashion, right?” Luz exclaimed, as she cast a light glyph point-blank in front of the guards, blinding them. “Like, really guys, I know you’re supposed to be evil and all but could you be at least good looking evil?”

Amity suppressed a giggle, Luz tugging her along as two guards ran face-first into each other before falling backwards with thuds. 

“Yikes, that was…” Edric grinned. “Well, pleasure working with you sis. Who knew you had the beginnings of a little mischief-maker like us?”

“Please don’t compare me to you two,” Amity deadpanned. “This was just a one-time thing, you hear? I just didn’t want to see Luz captured.

“Ooooooooh~!” her siblings chorused.

“As if they could ever capture me,” Luz bragged.

“...alright, what’s going on around here? I heard yelling and screaming and the sounds of chaos and I couldn’t help but wonder, which of my housemates is causing trouble today?” Eda asked as she walked up. “Now I know it can’t be King as he’s on unusually good behavior today, which just makes me worry so that leaves…”

She glared menacingly at Luz, but both of them knew it wasn’t genuine at all. Meanwhile, the head guard finally caught up from behind them, but immediately stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he saw the Owl Lady. As much as he wanted to capture her right there and then, he knew he was in no condition to face the strongest witch on the Boiling Isles. Well, if you didn’t count his boss.

“We’ll… we’ll get you all next time!” he said, weakly shaking his fist and sounding exhausted from all the running. “And you too, Owl Lady! And your little demon dog too!”

“Oh, I’m flattered. Honestly, I really am. I love having so many men after me,” Eda deadpanned. “You know, Luz, you don’t need to toy with them. They’re already pathetic enough, no need to rub it in.”

“It just sort of… uh, happened?” Luz laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head.

“Aww well, I’m just sorry I missed the show. And the older Blight siblings as well, today's shaping up to be full of surprises!” Eda said with a laugh before gesturing to follow her. “Well, don’t dawdle. I have to watch my stall, you’d be surprised how many people have a severe case of the grabby hands syndrome around here!”

-----

“I honestly suspected you two would show up sooner or later, honestly I don’t know how any of you came from that wretched woman,” Eda said, all the while peddling her wares. “Mind, I can’t blame any of you for not wanting to be like her. She gives witches like us a bad name! People like her used to be burned at the stake!”

“Yes, well, mother dear-”

“-has always made it her personal life goal to-”

“-Make everyone else around her miserable-”

“-Because if she can’t be happy, why should anyone else be-”

“-right? In any event-”

“-it’s such an honor to meet you. You’ve been-”

“-thumbing your nose at Belos for longer than-”

“-we’ve been alive!”

Eda leaned over to Amity, whispering: “Are they always like this? Please tell me it’s something you get used to, because I’m not sure how long I’d last when they come to live with us.”

“Live… live with us? You mean, you want them around?” Amity asked.

“Well yeah, they’re adorable little gremlins and it’s better than sending them away to live with Lily,” Eda shrugged. “I like to encourage creativity and chaos. Who do you think I am? Belos? Let’s be honest, I can’t find two better embodiments of it than your siblings.”

Emira and Edric’s eyes sparkled.

“I know, I know, I’m awesome like that. But please don’t ask me for my autograph,” Eda said to them. “You two, well I should honestly be asking for your autographs. Keeping Little Minty-fresh here…”

Eda ruffled the little witch’s hair, Amity fussing to try and get her hand away. 

“From turning out like that old hag Odalia,” Eda said. “I’m surprised she isn’t running the Conformatorium, really, she’s the most controlling woman I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting!”

“You sound like you know her,” Edric remarked.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Amity said. “You still haven’t explained why you two are so familiar with each other.”

“Please, I’m sure dear Odalia wishes she never knew me at all. We went to Hexside together, made our lives hellish for each other” Eda explained. “But look at me now, I’m wild and I’m free to do whatever I want, while that stuck-up bitch is still trying to suck up to Belos. Wonder who got the last laugh. Ha!”

“...wow, I never realized,” Edric said. “Mom, well she’s never talked about you.”

“Like I said, trying to forget. I guess some people can’t handle how much of a badass I am,” Eda said, clicking her tongue and miming finger guns. “But yeah, you two are always welcome at the Owl House. It’s where all the unwanted things end up.”

Here, she gave an almost motherly look to Amity.

“You… you sound almost like…” Edric started.

“If you’re going to call me a mother, stop right there,” Eda shot a look at him while waving a hand. “I’m hardly parental material really. Look, I’m flattered and all but…”

Both twins shared a look before Emira spoke.

“You may say that right now, but you’ve shown more love to us than our mother -if you can even call her that now- ever showed to us in years.”

“You talk like Odalia isn’t your mother anymore, and am I right to assume you two disowned her just as she disowned your sister?” Eda surmised before laughing and slapping her knee. “Wow! That’s what we call a screw-up! Not your decision, but oh man… Did this blow up in Odalia’s face or what?”

She wiped a stray tear from her eye with a finger.

“She tosses one family member to the wind, and she loses two more in the bargain,” Eda said. “Talk about one hell of a mistake!”

“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling so chipper about this,” Amity said. “Meanwhile, my mothe-”

“No no no,” Eda interjected. “First off,don’t get to call her that, not after what she did. Call her Odalia, or call her a bitch. Either works, and honestly, does it really make a difference?” Eda said. “But you have got to stop thinking of her as your mother.”

“Sorry, I suppose respecting her comes easier to me than it does for you,” Amity said, bitterly. “It’s just… I’m a mess of emotions right now. Like in two days my whole life has been thrown upside down.”

“And that’s fine, I can’t blame you for being a bit of a hot mess,” Eda said as she closed up shop, counting her coins for the day. “Suddenly your cushy little life is no more and now you’re thrown in with the fun kids! The Bad Girl Coven! Honestly, between you and me, you should consider this an upgrade!”

“...oh Titan, I just remembered,” Amity whispered, looking positively horror-struck.

“What? What is it?” Luz asked, suddenly looking very concerned.

“I’m not sure I can even get into a coven anymore, I’m… I’m not a Blight. Well, I still am in spirit but not in name,” Amity said, beginning to panic. “The only reason people were eying me for the Abomination Coven was because of who my name was.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. I forgot about that,” Eda said honestly. Amity got the feeling she didn’t mean for it to sound terribly insensitive, and yet it still did. “Damn girl, you had it made.”

“Eda!” Luz hissed.

“I KNOW!” Amity said, sounding like she was about to cry. “Without my name, I’m nothing… If I’m not a Blight… who am I?”

“You’re a part of the cool kids now, that’s who!” Eda chirped. “Besides, between you and me, you’re not missing out on much. Darius would never allow some prodigy to outclass him, that egotistical maniac.”

“I suppose…” Amity murmured. “It’s just, I had it all worked out, the Emperor’s Coven was supposed to be my future! I was supposed to rise up through the ranks, have the Emperor recognize my talents and make me Coven Head!”

Eda laughed, long and hard. Again, she wiped a tear from her eye. “Well then you should consider your mother disowning you to be a blessing in disguise! You’ve seen the kind of men Belos employs, could you really see yourself working with that pack of losers?”

“Well, no, not really…”  Amity said, subconsciously rubbing an arm with her hand.

“And then there’s… well, then there’s Lily, you’d be working with her. Reporting directly to the Emperor himself. Is that any way for you, no anyone to live? A bright young thing such as yourself would be squandered in that hellhole.”

“So what then, should I just be an outcast like you?” Amity asked snarkily.

“Mhmmm, basically. Look at me, I didn't bother choosing a coven and I’m as happy as can be!” Eda said.

Suddenly, something inside Amity snapped when she heard that.

Is this what I think it is? she thought. Is she implying what I think she is? I can’t believe her! She’s just trying to manipulate me into being like her! She’s no better than her sister!

“That’s just it though, I don’t want to be you!” Amity said before her eyes narrowed. “Is that all I am to you? Someone to turn into your little clone? Well, tough luck, I’m not having it!”

“Amity!” Both Eda and one of the twins shouted as the little witch ran off.

“...I’ll go after her,” Luz said, turning back to look at their mentor. “I get what you’re trying to do, but… phrasing!”

With that, she went off to find her friend. Luz’s thoughts raced. She knew Eda wasn’t trying to be insensitive or indeed trying to manipulate Amity but all the same…

Eda wasn’t the best at this, Luz could tell. She was still working all of this out. She was new at caring for others. There were bound to be some teething troubles right?

Still, she worried for Amity. The Emperors’ guards were still swarming the marketplace and who knew what they’d do if they caught her?

“Amity? Look, I just want to talk, I’m sorry about Eda!” Luz called. “She didn’t mean it like that, and you know it!”

For the first time, Luz felt she was actually seeing her best friend. Like not as the heiress of the Blight fortune, but as a scared 14-year-old girl.

She heard sniffles in the distance, and followed them, breaking into a sprint over the still muddy ground. That’s when she found Amity hiding behind a tent. She was curled up, crying with her hair no longer in its signature top-knot and falling over her face.

“A-Amity?” Luz whispered in shock, having never seen the girl looking so vulnerable. So lost and so scared.

“G-Go away!”

“Hey, shhh… it’s just me,” Luz said, wrapping an arm around the now startled girl. “You know Eda didn’t mean it like that. She’s just trying to cheer you up in her own way.”

“I’m an angle to her. That’s it. She only sees me as part of her latest scheme. She wants a weapon to use against Belos and against m-my mother…” Amity continued to cry, not even looking up at them. “Is that all I am to her? A pawn in some game?”

“No, you know it isn’t like that,” Luz said. “She doesn’t see you as a pawn in any game. I’ve spent weeks with her, and I’m sure she didn’t mean to come off as manipulative.”

“I suppose…” Amity mused. “It’s just… it’s taking a bit to get used to. She’s such a change from… well, you know. I just want some stability, no tricks and no games.”

“Hey, things will settle down soon right? You don’t have to worry too much. Sure,  the last two days for you have been pretty rough but the way I figure, everything’s gonna even out soon.”

“I suppose…” Amity said, having stopped crying. “...This is so humiliating, I never wanted you to see me like this. I’m supposed to be so super confident, right? Like I’m supposed to be strong, someone for everyone else to aspire to. And yet I can’t even keep it together for two damn days!”

“Hey, shh,” Luz said, cuddling her closer. “Nobody would fault you for crying., You don’t have to be perfect. Not anymore.”

“Not… not anymore, yeah you’re right. Promise you won’t tell though?” Amity asked shakily.

“Promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly and stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“Eh?” 

“...sorry, just something I heard in a show I watched once.”

-----

“Where is she? Where is my daughter? Odalia!” Alador asked frantically.

“Amity’s not here. I banished her after she blatantly refused to disassociate herself with those weaklings she’s been spending time with.” his wife said as she waved him off.

“Odalia, do you have any idea what you did-”

“I’m only looking out for my family, that’s all. One of us has to be the responsible one around here, run the business. And Amity was simply failing as an employee. Not that you’d know, considering you’re always cooped up here in your lab.” Odalia said snidely.

After a few moments of silence, Alador with his eyes flashing with rage, shakily whispered: “...get out.”

“What?”

“I said get out. I need some time to think about this… Just go. ” Alador said, slamming his hands on his desk in frustration.

“Fine, but hurry up if you will. I don’t have all day and we have another showcase to prepare for tonight.” Odalia said impatiently.

The door shut behind her and Alador took a long, deep sigh, his eyes drifting to a family photo on his desk. Everyone looked so happy then, but it, like everything else in this house, was apparently a lie.

There were smiles on their faces, but upon further inspection, you can see the invisible cracks behind those forced grins. The necessity of being portrayed as a normal, healthy family.

In retrospect, the truth was clearly not what it seemed to be. And now, unlike that day when nobody walked off the studio set, Amity had left them, possibly forever. And for what? 

“I didn’t notice, did I?” Alador pondered. “It was squaring me straight in the face and I simply didn’t notice it. Now my youngest prodigy is gone, and whatever glorious accomplishments she commits in the future will never be under our name.”

He raised his hands out of the goo, and laid back in his chair, simply staring aimlessly at the photo. “...how much did I really even know about her?”

He took a deep breath before picking himself up out of the chair. He wasn’t sure how, but he had to fix this.

He could fix anything. To him, people were just broken fragments waiting to be repaired and optimized, and now, he must fix the abominable mess that made its way past his rose-tinted lenses.

“I have to do this. For the glory and the name of Blight Industries.”

“I’m an inventor, I should have spotted the problem and worked to correct it. Now the experiment may be damaged beyond repair,” Alador said before quickly correcting himself, his head in his hands. “...I really need to get my head out of the clouds, stop thinking of things as problems to solve. Damn it all.”

Chapter Text

The Owl House. Amity had heard all of the stories, of course.

Her parents had always warned her away from it, and everywhere she went, she heard rumors of people going missing nearby there, some even telling stories of how they were almost eaten alive by a vile, fiendish owl beast. Hence, she’d obligated her parents’ wishes, and made sure she always stood miles away from the strange-looking house near the sea.

Looking back at the first time Luz dragged her forcefully to the Owl House when she destroyed Willow’s memories, she remembered being concerned for her and Luz’s behalf, but honestly? Right now, she thought nothing could be further from the truth.

A few days later, here she was, no longer afraid of the Owl House or its inhabitants at all.

It was chaotic and warm and oh, she was daring to hope again, wasn’t she? Here, she had a home.

She was no longer concerned that Eda was manipulating her for her own ends. Even if she did try, Amity thought she’d eventually grow tired and sickened doing that.

Tired of her. Everyone did, eventually.

Her parents being the prime example. Then there were her siblings, though they’ve changed since then. Lilith.

“Hey, breathe,” said the last voice she expected to hear. “You’re spiraling again. I don’t know what’s going through that head of yours right now, but tell those nasty thoughts to buzz off okay?”

King?

The weird little demon was trying to comfort her? Oh… Oh, she had been about to break down again, hadn’t she?

“Yeah, uh, Luz wanted me to keep an eye on you when she wasn’t around. Said something about how you had self-destructive tendencies,” King said, having hopped up on the table in front of her. “And I refuse to let my future subject get lost in her own head like that.”

Amity let out a little growl. So what was she to him? Just an object of pity? Picking King up by the scruff of his neck, he let out a little yelp as she looked him dead in the eye. In an angered, and yet somewhat embarrassed voice she said: “Now listen here, I am not your subject. I am not yours to command. I refuse to let anyone boss me around ever again.”

“Weh?” King asked. “Who says I’m bossing you around? Titan, you’re grumpier than Eda!”

Amity sighed, and relented, dropping King on his butt. “I’m sorry, it’s… it’s just been a week, and I’m so used to looking out for myself, that’s all.”

“Well, That’s the thing! Here at the Owl House, nobody has to look out for themselves. We’re weirdos and loners, so we gotta stick together, right?” King shrugged, the little demon sounding honestly earnest in his proclamation.

“So how does a demon king wind up with the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles?” Amity honestly had to ask.

“Former demon king,” King was swift to correct. “And honestly, I don’t know. Maybe I’m just naturally drawn to power like that? Only the best subjects serve me!”

“So where’s your crown, then?” Amity asked, befuddled.

“Well, I don’t know, but I can tell you where it’s not, Cupcake Smasher,” King said. “Yeah, Eda found a little paper crown in the Conforitorium and for a moment I thought I'd regained ULTIMATE POWER, but… well!”

“You didn’t, did you?”

“Nah, it was a cheap fake! A knock-off of the real deal!” King growled. “That Warden conned us both! Lured us in with false promises of regaining my power! I shall never forgive him for such a slight!”

He shook his tiny fist in the air and Amity couldn’t help thinking about how cute he was when he was angry.

“Careful not to go mad with power~!” she teased.

“Of course I’m going to go mad with power!” King said. “Have you ever had power and not gone mad with it? What other kind of power is there?”

“I’m sure,” Amity said, in a droll tone before sighing. “And… for what it’s worth, I’m sorry that you haven’t gotten your crown back.”

“Weh?” King asked in surprise. “What’s this? Could you actually be apologizing, Cupcake Smasher?”

“Yeah, I’m trying to be a better person. For Luz’s sake, or maybe for my family’s because someone has to represent it properly,” Amity said with an acknowledging nod. “Because Edric and Emira are idiots, my dad’s always stuck in his workshop and my ‘mother’ is… well obviously you know what she’s like.”

“Wow, and I thought our family was wild,” King said. “That’s rough buddy.”

“Not sure I’m anyone’s buddy…” Amity said sadly, with a shake of the head. Especially not King’s, not after… not after the Covention.

She had to do this, she had to own up. What she did back then was wrong and he deserved an apology. “And King? I’m sorry I smashed your cupcake. That was cruel of me and I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Finally! You apologize for that!” King said, hugging her tightly with his little arms wrapped around the green-haired girl’s waist. 

This… this isn’t so bad, is it? He’s not completely annoying, Amity thought to herself, as she gradually settled into the hug.

“Well, I’m a big enough girl to admit when I’m wrong,” Amity said, wondering how true that really was and rubbing her arm subconsciously.

“Soooooooooooooo, hoot, are you a big enough girl to admit you’re wrong in thinking I’m great?” 

Speaking of completely annoying demons, Amity thought, as her eyes widened as the bird tube suddenly zoomed in close towards her. Uncomfortably so, in fact.

“Hooty, I’m warning you, get away from me or I’ll rip your eyes out,” Amity growled, understandably freaked. Honestly, she wanted to like him, she really did; but there were days he tested her patience.

She’d promised Luz to never murder him though. Though it was getting increasingly difficult.

 “I don’t care if you are the house and the house is you, get away from me!”

“But hoot, I’m such a nice guy! You’ll be staying here foreeeeeeever right?” Hooty asked, casually ignoring Amity’s warning, as she forcefully tried shoving the treacherous bird tube away from her, all the while holding back these intrusive murderous thoughts like Titan how can something be as annoying as the twins-  

“So you’ll have to get used to meeeeee, hoot!”

“Swell,” Amity said, not even trying to disguise her sarcasm. “I’m already over the moon thinking about it.”

“Eh, Hooty, maybe we should settle her in gently? Not throw her into the deep end of the pool?” King asked, trying to defuse the situation before it escalated any further. “A-After all, you do tend to be overwhelming at times!”

“But hoot, I’m amazing, hoot. Everrrrrrrrybody loves me!” the house demon cried, coiling around both King and Amity in a twisted parody of a snuggle.

Obviously, this clearly wasn’t the case, as evidenced by Amity’s near-murderous facial expression and the twitch of an eye. King just looked terrified, letting out a squeaky little yelp.

“Get… get off me you dumb bird tube!” Amity nearly shrieked, trying to pry herself away.

“Might as well give up there, Mittens,” Emira said in passing as she walked in. “The bird’s a cuddlebug and well given how cute you are… Honestly, you need a few more hugs in your life eh sis?”

“N-Not from him!” Amity stammered with a flush.

“Oh, but this is such a picture-perfect moment!” Emira replied, with a flutter of her eyelashes. “My baby sister and her newfound family!”

Amity could only sigh in resignation. This was her life now wasn’t it?

Eventually, she did manage to forcefully pry herself out of the bird tube’s grip and shuddered. That was waaaaay closer than she’d ever want to be to that thing in her lifetime.

And yet, in a very odd and weird way, it wasn’t so terrible? At least, by comparison. Not like there wasn’t much to compare it to anyways, she never remembered mom showing any degree of physical affection, not even to her own husband, for Titan’s sake!

As for her dad’s hugs? Well, calling them hugs would be generous, to put it simply. In Amity’s mind, He’d basically just put his arms on her shoulders and there was always a feeling he was only doing it because that was what a parent was ‘supposed’ to do, 

Honestly, she’d even pull away from Emira and Edric if they tried hugging her. Luz had been the first person in a long time she’d ever accepted a real hug from.

And she wanted more of them, yes, totally! Okay, so maybe Hooty was a step too far but Amity was pretty sure he honestly wanted (maybe) to try and help her. He was just trying to be friendly, even if he was totally creepy about it. No, scratch that. He was definitely being totally creepy about it.

Amity found herself wandering back up to her borrowed room, the glowing rays of mid-day sun shining through an open door and a window. She felt awkward just borrowing Eda’s room until the house was expanded.

It felt like she was being a freeloader. She couldn’t help it, despite Luz’s constant attempts to help Amity think otherwise.

Not how you ever expected your life to go, right? Amity asked herself, throwing open the window to revel in the breeze and resting her arms on the windowsill. You were hoping to be head of the family, CEO of the business when your mom retired. And now you’ll be lucky if that ever happens.

“Thinking again, Mittens?” her older brother asked her, wandering in. He and his twin slept in the basement, temporarily reconverted to be habitable. All of the cursed objects had been destroyed, hopefully!

Apparently, Luz and Eda had referred to it as waging war. Amity had caught a ‘scene’ with Luz dressed in full armor letting out a battle cry, a fake plastic sword raised high attacking something shouting: “I’ll save you Eda!”

“Yeah, about... stuff, I suppose,” Amity said vaguely, her back turned as she waved her hand. 

“Stuff’s always nice,” Edric said. “I’m thinking about how glad I’ll be when I can move out of the basement, I swear there’s bugs in my sleeping bag and that painting of Eda’s mother is always staring at me!”

“It’s a painting, they tend to do that,” Amity deadpanned.

“No, I swear it’s constantly following me around the room. That woman’s glare is intense, y’know?” Edric said. “Oh well, at least I know where Eda gets it!”

Admittedly, Amity was somewhat curious about the woman who raised Eda and her sister. Apparently she was in the Beast Keeping Coven, but she was traveling around the isles for some reason? Honestly, she must have been quite the mother, if she could keep those two in line.

“I’m sorry you’re not getting to live your dreams Mittens,” Edric said.

“Don’t feel bad, Ed. I’m pretty sure following those dreams would only lead me to disappointment,” Amity admitted.

“So, why not make new ones, then?” Edric asked. “That’s what I’d do, anyways. Like, why not start your own company? You could show up mom! Show her what you can really do.”

Amity blinked. 

“I’m… I’m sorry, did you just say something smart? Who are you and what have you done with my brother?” she teased, poking him in the chest.

“I can be smart!”

“Nope, I’m checking to make sure you’re not being impersonated,” Amity said, her tone still light. “If you’re a basilisk of some sort I’m having Hooty toss you into the sea.”

“I can prove it to you,” Edric said. “I know where you keep your Otabin plushie, I swore never to tell Emira so she wouldn’t tease you!”

She loved Edric for buying that for her when she was younger, calling it ‘her secret’. It was one of the few parts of her childhood she’d been allowed to hold onto, even if only in secret.

“Anyways, why are you so intent on making mom notice you again?” Edric asked. “she thinks you’re worthless as a witch. It’s not like her opinion matters, anyway.  Everyone in this house knows different.”

Because if she admitted trying to get her mother back was futile, she might fall apart. Amity thought to herself, knowingly.

“Like I said, be your own witch, not your mother’s clone,” her brother said. “You’re not bound by mom’s control now, you get to choose your own path now, and that’s definitely something worth thinking about, right?”

Something worth thinking about, indeed, Amity thought to herself.

Her brother was right, loathe as she was to admit it. But then what? Having her whole worldview challenged was difficult.

A part of her was honestly wondering what her mother was doing right about now. Going on with her life, she supposed.

Going on as if everything was normal. Amity wondered if her plot to get a replacement daughter of abomination goo would even succeed. Well, her father had always managed miracles with his magic.

He was a special kind of talented, something her mom had always expected her to live up to. Something that she had sacrificed her entire childhood for just to fall slightly short of the mark. Something that was now deemed pointless, and had been from the moment she stepped out of Blight Manor. Gone. Wasted. Irredeemable.

Titan, she had so many issues, she knew that she could make any therapist a very rich witch.

And yet, here in this house, everyone was probably just as insane as her. Luz, Eda, even King and Hooty, they actually wanted to help her through it.

That was… a change. People actually bothered to listen to her, like really listen to what she has to say. Unlike at home, none of them would just didn’t brush her off or nod their heads like they were only pretending to care. At the Owl House, no one would grow tired of her presence.

Here, she had realized, she didn’t have to be Amity Blight, teacher’s pet. Here, she could simply be Amity. That was something she was still getting used to. She knew she’d probably backtrack again and slip up, and that she had a mountain to climb if she wanted her mental state to improve.

But she had to try, she couldn’t just give up, curl into a ball and cry. After all, she was a Blight, and she was definitely better than that.

And she knew that even when she couldn’t take it anymore, there would be people willing to help her back up on her feet. Thinking about that, Amity felt she could not be any more grateful to be here.

-----

Ever since Amity started staying at the Owl House, Luz knew she had to help Amity settle in the best however she could. They introduced her to Hooty and King (though that did not go well as she’d hoped), helped move her belongings to Eda’s room where she stayed for the past few days, and constantly checked in on her to make sure she was doing okay. She wanted to make sure Amity felt safe here, letting her know there was a familiar presence just inches away from her. 

Right now, Luz was out with Eda hoping to finally get the house approved for expansion. Something the older witch was all too happy to do.

“Oh, I’ll be so glad to have Baby Blight out of my room soon. Momma misses her nest,” Eda said, adjusting her back with a cracking sound that made her young charge wince a little. 

“Owwwwwww, sleeping on the floor is doing wonders for my back!” She added sarcastically.

“…I could let her sleep in my room, if you want?” Luz stuttered a bit. “I-I mean, it’ll take time for the construction coven to even expand the house.”

(“Anyone would do anything for the right amount of money, even the main covens wouldn’t say no to a huge paycheck,” Eda had once told her when she first suggested expanding the house. Sure, they’d have to peddle a bit more junk and pickpocket some more, but Luz knew they could scrounge up the snails.)

“Awwwww, do you want to use the little witching to use as your own personal teddy bear?” Eda said teasingly. “Do you want to hug all of her nightmares away?”

“W-Well, I dunno, Amity does need more comforting and I’ve been told I’m very good at that,” Luz said. “At least, if you ask King.”

“Admit it kiddo, you just want to cuddle up to her for snugsies,” Eda said, throwing back her head in a cackling laugh. “Not that I think Baby Blight will mind!”

“Eda....” Luz said in a whine. “She’s had a rough week, and I wanna help make it all better. This is all perfectly innocent! I mean, don’t best friends cuddle all the time?”

“Yeah, sure they do, kiddo, and no, I’m not going to let you sneak her off into your room,” Eda said. “Seriously, no tricks. You need to understand that she needs her own privacy sometimes, you’ve been pestering her for the past week and I’m sure that even though she appreciates it, it won't be long until she starts finding it overbearing. You wanna sleep with her? Sure, but until she’s ready she’ll be under my supervision, so you’re gonna have to bear it for a while longer, understand?”

Luz laughed nervously. No, she was totally not planning on ways to do it when Eda was out like a light, no sir!

In reality, Luz knew Eda was right, she should be giving Amity more space to herself, but honestly? Amity needed all the hugs she could get! Especially considering the cruelty and abuse she had endured for all these years from those excuses for parents!

Ooooooooh, if I ever meet her the Blights I’m going to have words for them. They just tossed their daughter out into the burning rain! Like who does that?

Luz, of course, didn’t realize how long she’d have to wait.

“Ooof!” the Latina let out a grunt, not having realized where she was going and too lost in their own thoughts. “Sorry… ma’am.”

Her voice trailed off and she took a close look at who she bumped into. The woman loomed over her, dressed sharp as a razor with a familiar shade of green hair and an intimidating glare. It took Luz all of about an instant to realize who this was.

“Who put this child here?” Odaila Blight asked. “And please, remove her from my sight. She’s ruining my day just having to look at her.”

“Yeah, well same for you, lady,” Luz said, deciding to turn on the snark. “Trust me, if we want to talk about ruined days…”

“Oh, you’re the Human. Wonderful,” Odaila said, taking a look at her ears. “How fascinating to see you with a wild witch, thinking you can do magic.”

“Luz, back away, it’s not worth it,” Eda said warningly, a hand gripped tightly around her staff. “Just walk away, let it go.”

Obviously Luz wasn’t really listening.

“Wouldja like to speak to my manager about that, Karen? How about I show you just how much magic I can do then?” they said, reaching for a piece of paper in one of their pockets. “I know I can do magic. Just ask any of the guards, or for that matter, your daughter.”

“It’s hardly a fair comparison. Beating any of them are hardly accomplishments worth bragging about,” Odaila said. “They are all failures.”

“Your daughter is not a failure,” Luz hissed, seething in rage. “It’s funny, how everyone but you can see it.”

“Oh, so we’re really doing this, are we?” Eda sighed, looking ready to step in if she needed to. 

“So what if Amity didn’t live up to your expectations?” Luz snapped, the argument having already started to draw a bit of a crowd. Luz knew that footage of this was probably already starting to make its way onto Penstagram, but at this point she couldn’t care less.

“She’s living up to everyone else’s, isn’t she?” the Latina went on to challenge.

“Yes, but the expectations I have-”

“Screw your expectations,” Luz snapped. “Amity’s one of the finest witches I’ve ever seen! She doesn’t need to fulfill anyone’s expectations but her own!”

“And what do you know about expectations? Magic, even? You’re a human witch, an anachronism if I ever heard one! Look, an oxymoron!”

“Oooooh, look, a moron!” Luz said in a mocking version of Odaila’s tone with their hands on their hips. “I honestly feel you explaining what I can’t do is ridiculous. Considering you know so little about magic yourself, bitch!”

There was a low ‘oooooh’ from the crowd. 

Now honestly, Luz knew she should feel terrified of Odaila and the power she wielded. Luz didn’t feel terrified at all, in fact she was filled with a furious rage. This puta was insulting her best friend! And she had saved her best insults for occasions like these.

“Honestly, I feel like lecturing you on how well your daughter does is like explaining math to a traffic cone. Utterly futile and frankly impossible,” Luz went on. “You’re a rhetorical pizza cutter, all edge and no point.”

There came a sharp laugh from somewhere behind her, she thought it was probably Eda.

“Why you-” Odaila said, starting to draw a spell circle, realizing the crowd was starting to turn against her.

“Seriously, you’re such an anoying mentsh. Honestly, if you find someone else who shares your views on your daughter, mazel tov and I hope you both stick together,” Luz said, still on a bit of a roll. “Because I gotta ask, did you fall out of the stupid tree and hit your head on the way down? Or are you just being willfully moronic, because it’s gotta be one of the two, right?”

“We were just trying to teach our daughter a valuable lesson in business, that’s all. And if an employee fails to be productive, don’t keep them on,” Odaila said evenly, a particularly nasty spell ready to be cast. “It's as simple as that.”

Eda realized she had to step in and cried: “Spicy toss!” and lobbed a fireball that just narrowly missed Odaila’s head, causing her to cancel the spell in panic.

“Oh, so that’s all you see your daughter as?” Eda said, trying to keep the rage out of her voice. She was clearly failing, but it was a nice try. “Well, hot damn, I thought that tentacled fool Adegast was dumb but I’m beginning to think my apprentice was right. You really did take a tumble from the stupid tree. Good to see you haven’t changed since Hexside, Odaila!”

“I see you haven’t changed either,” Odaila said, still trying to keep her voice even. “You’re still frolicking about with no regard for the law, Clawthorne. You’re a disgrace to proper witchcraft, and you’re even keeping a human around as a pet!”

“And?” Eda raised an eyebrow.

“And it’s disgusting, she’s probably draining your magic just so she can cast a simple spell!” Odaila fired back.

“Oh please, that old wives tale? Serious scholars disproved that as nonsense ages ago! And let me ask you this,” Eda said. “If you thought humans suck out magic, why’d you send your youngest to live with one?”

Odaila was struck silent, and now Eda was the one on a roll.

“This ‘worthless human’, as you’d call her, has probably got some of the best magical potential in ages that I’ve ever seen and I’m honored for her to be my apprentice,” Eda bragged, Luz flushing red. “And honestly, I’d be just as happy to take your daughter on as one as well. Because clearly you don’t want her!”

“Good, you can have her!” Odaila scowled. “Any daughter of mine who associates with a human isn’t one I’d like to have in my family. I’m not ashamed of disowning her, bad children must be taught lessons when they misbehave.”

“Well, guess she’s in mine then!” Eda crowed triumphantly. “Suck it, Odaila! And by your own horribly flawed logic I guess I should be disciplining you. You haven’t changed one jot, still bitch-whining whenever you don’t get your way.”

“Oh yes, you’re such an inspiration to witch kind everywhere,” Odaila said. “You act like a child, which is such a shame when you consider your sister’s reputation. Imagine just being in the Emperor's Coven and having to bear the shame of being related to you.”

“Imagine just having to bear the shame of a sister being in the Emperor’s Coven,” Eda snarked. “Mind, if we’re talking about embarrassments to witch kind, look at you. Sucking off the Emperor's dick.”

“Excuse you? ” Odaila hissed out, seeing red. “I am loyal only to my husband!”

“Yes, I’m sure he's having such a fun time. Honestly, I can’t imagine him being all that interested in sex, considering how apathetic he is to everything else in life,” Eda said. “Then again, I can’t imagine him being interested in sex with you really.”

The insinuation was obvious.

“You dare imply my husband’s having sex with your sister?” Odaila screeched, Luz slapping a hand to her mouth in shock. Or maybe it was to suppress her laughter, Eda couldn’t honestly tell.

“Well, I didn’t say anything about my sister!” Eda said. “That’s on you, really. You brought the suggestion up!”

Odaila fumed, realizing Eda had played her.

“Well, insulting you has lost its entertainment value, so let’s get to the serious bits,” Eda said, her voice hardening and her eyes filled with an ice-cold glare. “Keep away from my new ward, and for that matter keep away from the twins as well. They clearly ran away from you for a reason.”

“Ah, so they’re with you now, too,” Odaila surmised calmly, though her eyes showed otherwise. They flickered briefly with surprise. “Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. They’ve always been wild and rebellious and have always been clearly intent on racking up as many detentions as you did.”

“I’m flattered, honestly,” Eda said with a sneer. “Those two are after my own heart. You should really be more proud of your kids, because they’re proving their family isn’t all scum of the earth. I don’t know where their goodness came from, because clearly none of it came from you.”

“I thought you said insulting me lost its entertainment value, and yet you’re still doing it,” Odaila muttered, clearly having lost her bark from earlier.

“Hey, I’m only speaking the truth. You’re actually digging yourself a deeper hole here, Odalia, because look at how many people are recording this on their scrolls,” Eda said, gesturing to the crowd. “Look at you, helping air your family’s dirty laundry. Not very Blight of you, is it? Then again, you’ve clearly been a blight on your children and their development.”

Several members of the audience groaned at the pun.

Odaila let out an angry hiss like a snake before turning on her heel and marching off.

“I wish I could say I regret any of that, but I don’t,” Eda said as the crowd dispersed. “Still, I’m not sure Baby Blight will be proud of airing all of that dirty laundry like that. She might be embarrassed, honestly. I guess I got caught up in the heat of the moment.”

“I’m sure she’ll understand,” Luz assured.

“Still, YOU though! You rose to the occasion!” Eda praised. “Like an old-fashioned knight in shining armor! And they say chivalry is dead!”

Luz laughed nervously, running a hand through their hair. “Heh, yeah, it’s like I saw red as soon as my eyes met hers. I couldn’t let her walk away without letting her know how I felt about any of that!”

“That was a dressing down for the ages!” Eda grinned. “I’ve taught you well, I doubt Odaila will be showing her face in public for ages!”

Luz nodded.

“Anyways, we came out here for a reason,” Eda went on. “Hopefully, this will put that bitch’s words out of my mind. I stand by what I said, all of it. She’s such an embarrassment to witch kind.”

And when they arrived back at the Owl House and told her about what happened, Amity wasn’t as angry as either of them expected her to be. Instead, she pulled Luz into a tight hug without even thinking about it.

“Thank you thank you thank you!” Amity whispered in a gasp. “I saw all of that streamed live and just wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mom so mad!”

“Yeah, I saw her and something in me took over. I remembered how she’d treated you and I had to speak up,” Luz said. “My only regret is I didn’t have my Mami’s La Chancla to throw at her!”

“Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to face her like you did,” Amity said. “I... I hate feeling all vulnerable like this, but I simply can’t think of chewing out my mom like you did. I have so much to say to her.”

“One day, Am,” Luz said, gripping her hand tightly. “One day.”

“Yeah, one day…” Amity whispered, and smiled..

Luz returned that smile, if it meant fighting the world just to see her best friend smile again, then that was what she would do.

Amity deserved all of that and more, Luz said to herself, not even noticing how her heart skipped a beat or two at the thought. 

All of that and more, she repeated. For now, this would have to do. 

Chapter Text

Amity gazed up at the doors of Hexside. Never before had they looked quite so intimidating. The gothic building at this moment looked like it was judging her, practically daring her to go inside.

She took a deep breath, placing one foot in front of the other. I can do this, I can face the idiots inside. Just take it one step at a time, keep my head held high like I always have. A Blight should never show weakness.

Don’t show emotion, don’t react and she’d be fine.

A Selkidomus smells blood in the water, and so do my classmates. One moment of weakness, and I’ll be swarmed.

Thinking back, she remembered Eda’s words from this morning. 

-----

“You know, you really don’t have to do this kid. You can stay here for a few days, take your time to get your shit together. No one will blame or judge you after what you’ve been through.”

“No, I’m doing this. I have to go back to Hexside eventually, and while my parents may think they can control my life, I refuse to bow to their whims. I won’t let them win,” Amity had replied.

“Alright, I suppose there’s no stopping you, is there? But remember, if things get too overwhelming, go find Luz and she’ll get you straight home.”

-----

Luz had offered to accompany her, but Amity had refused. To her, this was something she had to do on her own. She needed to show everyone else that she could rely on herself to stay strong. Feeling nervous, Amity shook her head and took a deep breath as she climbed the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the next. As she was about to reach the top, however, she suddenly felt something shuffling around irritatingly in her bag. 

I have a bad feeling about this, she thought to herself, as she unslung her bag and zipped it open. From the bag, a certain pint-sized demon emerged, his sudden appearance making Amity yelp in surprise.

“KING!” the greenette shouted in rage, shaking a little at the indignity of her sudden predicament. She was mostly surprised by King’s appearance, but part of her was fuming. Did the Owl Lady really think she was so weak, to the extent of sneaking a puny pet in her bag to look after her?

“Did Eda send you to keep an eye on me?” Amity asked accusingly. King shook his head in response.

“What? I thought every little girl wanted their own personal demon bodyguard? You’re lucky I decided to lower myself to the level of you commoners. But as you’re my personal subject, I must attend to your needs.”

That almost got a chuckle out of Amity, but she stopped herself immediately. She couldn’t help but smile a little at King’s antics, though.

“Actually, Eda doesn’t even know I’m here. She probably knows by now I suppose, but I came here because I wanted to rule- ahem, educate the children and teach them everything I know about demons,” King said, hopping up onto her shoulder. “Anyways, if those little snots want to give you any trouble, I’ll give them one. Wham, POW! Right in the kisser!”

Okay, now she was giggling.

“Yes, I’m sure you’re very threatening,” Amity deadpanned. “I’m shaking in terror right this very moment.”

“As you should! All will bow before my overwhelming power!” King said. “When I get my crown back, all of you will become my slaves!”

“Well,” Amity said with a smile, patting him on the head. “I’ll make sure to treat His Royal Highness with all of the respect he deserves.”

“Thank you! Finally, someone who treats me with the respect I deserve!” King nodded. “I don’t get it. What about me keeps people from treating me and my power with any sort of awe? What, is it my breath?”

“I’ll buy you some mints, okay?” Amity said.

“And a new cupcake! You still owe me, destroyer!” King whined. “You snuffed it out in the prime of its life!”

“Weren’t you going to eat it yourself?” Amity questioned, raising an eyebrow at him.

“And it would have been soooo good,” King said, Amity shaking her head as she strode up the steps and pushed the doors open with a creaking sound. As if on cue, everyone turned to look at her. Soon enough, whispers erupted among her fellow peers, no doubt spreading gossip about the events that had unfolded over the past week. Amity was almost certain now that the very public fight between Luz and Odalia had been seen by everyone in Hexside. It was as if the Emperor himself had announced the news, at this point.

Once again, she didn’t feel admired at all. She felt like a sideshow attraction, a circus troupe that people would ridicule and mock. She knew she shouldn’t care, but it was hard not to feel intimidated by the piercing gazes of everyone around her. For a moment, she wondered if she’d made a mistake not accepting Luz’s offer.

Whispers followed her as she walked, King watching every student with a careful eye. 

“If any of you posers try to harass my friend today, I’ll make sure you regret it! You’ll be the first to go into my deepest darkest dungeon when I get my castle back! You’ll scream, beg for mercy!” He declared to the silent crowd. That silence would soon be broken, however, by a familiar but obnoxious voice.

“So, Amity Blight is no longer a Blight! So, did Little Miss Perfect finally fall off her throne?”

Amity suppressed a sigh. Standing before her was Boscha Rathmore, the last person who she wanted to deal with today. Yep, it seemed her usual luck was holding up.

“I heard your parents finally got tired of you running around with that half-a-witch and her human friend. I warned you, Amity No-Name!” Boscha taunted. “I told you that Luz-er was bad news from the very beginning! You should have heeded my words and you didn’t. And look at where that got you.”

“Hey, what’d I just say? I said for you to BACK OFF, kid!” King snapped. “Back it up, okay? Trust me, you don’t want to see me unleash my full power!”

“Let it go, King. Rathmore is hardly worth straining yourself for,” Amity said. “Save your power for someone actually worthy of it.”

“Yes, please, save your power,” Boscha said mockingly.

“She dares question my authority? Alright, that’s it, I’ll annihilate this lowly cretin! I don’t need someone like her in my kingdom!” King said, Amity trying to hold him back as the little demon frailed his arms and legs around like a whirlwind. “Go on, let me at her! I have to show my doubters their place!”

“Oooooh, look, Amity No-Name needs her pet to protect her!” Boscha mocked, as other curious witches gathered to see what the commotion was. “Guess all of her power disappeared with her family name! How pathetic!”

“Just try me, Rathmore, I’ll show you just how much power I’ve still got,” Amity warned. “Honestly, you’re the pathetic one. Even at my worst, your best still stands in my shadow.”

A few low ‘oooooohs’ echoed from the rest of the school. Amity held her head high as she grabbed her books.

“Now I’d get going if I were you, I’d hate to be late for class. Surely a prissy suck-up like you wouldn’t want tardiness listed on your record?”

Amity began to walk away; Rathmore wasn’t worth her time at all. She had other things to do, anyways.

Boscha growled, all three of her eyes narrowed in anger, as she turned around towards Amity’s back. “Just you watch yourself, without a name you’re nothing.”

“I’m still better than you,” Amity said, waving her off, she really didn’t have the time for this today.

“I’ve heard you’ve been hanging out with the Owl Lady, is that right? Her and her Luz-er crew.”

Amity’s eye twitched, she knew she should just leave it be. She probably could, slights against herself were one thing, she’d heard enough from her family already; but bringing Luz into this was a whole different story.

“Yeah, why? Jealous I'm hanging out with people this awesome?” Amity drawled, barely sparing a look back at her.

“No, just some friendly advice. You really should ditch those Luz-ers and hang out with me again. Especially if you want your mother to recognize you as her own child again. Or, you could simply get yourself arrested for associating with the most wanted witch on the Boiling Isles, your choice.”

“I could, but I won’t. Unlike you, I value my friends.” Amity responded in a firm tone. 

There was a pause, as Boscha’s eyes raised for a brief second in surprise, but she quickly slipped back into form before anyone noticed..

“I guess it’s true what they say, those who suck end up sucking together,” Boscha spat, her voice beginning to fade into the crowd. “You’ve gone soft, Blight. Oops! Forgot you go by Blight no more. Ta-ta then, Luz-er~” Boscha sang as she walked away, laughing proudly at what she’d said.

Amity sighed, it seemed some things never changed. Rathmore, as ever, delighted in trying to kick people while they were down. Watching Boscha walk away, she let her hardened mask fall into pieces and the icy coolness of her eyes faded away in an instant. Suddenly she felt like a little girl again. Why was Rathmore even able to get to her like this? She was barely worth listening to half the time.

So why was she so unsettled? Why couldn’t she get these negative thoughts out of her head? Why was she so pathetically weak? These dizzying thoughts spiralled in her head, distracting Amity from the increasingly faint sound of footsteps as someone approached her from behind.

“Amity!” came a sudden voice, and she found herself pulled into a tight hug. “Oh by the Titan’s knee, I can’t believe your parents did that! Are you okay?”

“Hey, Willow…” Amity said, with a hint of shame in her voice. Her earlier confidence had faded entirely, laid low before her friend. Her earlier confidence had faded entirely, laid low before her friend. She was already exhausted and it wasn’t even the first period yet. “You sure you want to be seen with me? I-I mean you’ve got your reputation to think about. I was thrown from my family in disgrace.”

“So what? Why would your reputation matter to me? If being a nobody was all it took to scare me away, you should really consider some new friends,” Willow said reassuringly. “Who do you think I am? Boscha?”

“B-But… You’ve got your future to think about! No coven wants to even be near a nameless witch!” Amity said. “You should just drop me like a hot stone.”

“Now what did I say?” Willow asked sternly. “You drove me away once and I refuse to let it happen again. I’ll gladly put my future on hold for a bit if it means supporting a friend in her hour of need.”

Great, she was feeling a bit teary again.

“Seriously, your parents? They’re the absolute worst,” Willow went on. “I think they’re jealous, really.”

“My parents? Jealous of me?” Amity said. “I’m not sure what there is to be jealous about.”

“Now, that’s enough of you putting yourself down,” Willow said, her voice stern again before it softened. “Look at you, you’re friends with probably some of the most talented witches on the Boiling Isles. You know the Owl Lady, and unlike your parents are actually respected in spite of your name. Not because of it. Compared to you, your parents probably don’t know how alone in a crowd they are.”

Amity sniffled a little. “T-Thanks.”

“See, now this girl actually knows how to treat others with respect!” King spoke up suddenly. “She’s actually worthy of being my future subject.”

“Awwwww, you’re so cuuuute,” Willow cooed, manifesting a little flower crown around the demon’s head before teasingly asking: “Is he your familiar?”

Amity knew very well that Willow knew who King was, and that she was just trying to mess with him.

“I am nobody’s familiar, I am ruler of all that I see! Bow down to me plebians and-” he was abruptly cut off as Willow began scratching his fur causing his tail to thump up and down in delight. “....oooooh, keep that up, it feels so good! I am appointing you as my official comforter, slave!”

“So cuuuuuuuuuteee!” Willow squeed.

“I AM NOT CUTE!”

“The angrier you are, the cuter you become!” 

Seeing Willow playing with King made Amity realize just how much she missed her presence. Why had she ditched her? She rubbed an arm subconsciously as she thought about the events of that fateful day. Oh right.

I was so weak, I should have stood my ground and made a different choice. But I didn’t. I was a coward. A weak excuse for a witch. I… really need to apologize. Make things up with her, before it’s too late.

“W-Willow, I-I need to say something, ” Amity said, swallowing nervously. Willow glanced upwards to face her childhood friend. “I know I don’t say it often enough, but I’m glad you’re my friend. I shouldn’t have dumped you like that. I don’t know why you even took me back, after everything I did to torment you over the years. I thought you’d hate me for that, and honestly?. I felt like I’d trampled on all of the flowers we’d grown together.”

“Amity…” Willow started.

“N-No, let me finish, okay?” Amity urged. “I need to say this. I should have said this before, but I thought it might make things too awkward between us. That it’d make you too uncomfortable. You’re too nice of a girl to even think of standing by me. You should find a new friend.”

“Oh, Amity…” Willow said, hugging her. “You didn’t have much choice, your hands were tied. I… I will admit I was angry with you for years, and a part of me still is.”

Amity hung her head in shame.

“But… you’re making strides to be a better person,” Willow said. “And a better witch. It’s good to have you back… friend.”

“You too…” Amity said, linking their fingers together briefly. “Friend.”

“Ewww, mushy stuff,” King said. “I feel like a third wheel here.”

Willow shushed him as Amity pulled away.

“But that still doesn’t mean I’m good enough of a person. At least, to my parents. Why else would they disown me?”

“Well, your parents are cold and cruel with nary a heart,” Willow said, adjusting her glasses. “I think we have already established this.”

“So why do I feel like I’m the one who did something wrong?” Amity wondered aloud, conflicted. “It’s been over a week, and yet I still feel like I’m the one who needs to apologize. I… I want to beg for them to take me back, give me a second chance. I… I want to be a Blight again.”

“Amity, if you want my advice,” King suggested. “Let go of your parents. You’re a weirdo now, and weirdos like us, well, we don’t take any lip from nobody. So what if your parents are a bit on the terrible side? You shouldn’t feel like you should owe them anything, they cast you out without a thought. Ask yourself, if that’s the kind of witches your mom and dad are, are they really still worth idolizing?”

Amity blinked, not having expected something so, well, deep from the little demon.

“I know, I know, I’m awesome like that. Don’t expect the next bit of advice to come for free though. Eda’s terrible with money, so I gotta pick up the slack somehow right?” King mused. “I will have you pay tribute to me!”

“King, no offense, but you’re talking like you speak from experience?”

“I guess I am?” King replied. “I really don’t know how I lost my crown, sometimes I wonder if it was taken from me by my own kingdom. That they didn’t think me a worthy ruler. When Eda took me in, I guess I found somewhere that I belonged again. Like she says, lost things end up being found at her house.”

“I suppose you’re giving me a none-too-subtle hint aren’t you?” Amity said. “I still just don’t know, like Eda’s been nothing but kind to me but I still feel as if I’m intruding. You and Luz and her, you’ve all got a good thing going. I don’t want to mess it up… Like I did my relationship with my-”

“Parents?” Willow added. “What did King say? You’re not the one at fault here, they are. They cast you out, and for no reason! Are they really worth looking at as examples?”

“N-No, I guess not,” Amity said before confessing: “As I said, a part of me still wants to win them back. Prove to them that I am a Blight , not a burden.”

“Then do so,” King put in. “Just do it in your own way, make them crawl back to you begging and pleading for you to come back. But when they do, just say no, laugh in their faces, and make them feel all the remorse and the regret they deserve!”

“You’re kinda cute, but you’re also kinda scary,” Willow laughed nervously. “You know that right?”

“I take pride in it,” King said. “A ruler must know how to instill fear! I know, I know it’s a terrifying notion. Be the subject of songs and oh, all those psalms!”

“Yeah, but you’re so cute!”

“Did you hear a word of what I just said? I am NOT… oh never mind, I guess I am a little bit,” King muttered. “Just don’t let it get out okay?”

“I won’t say a word, buddy,” Amity said, and for the first time in a while everything felt just a little bit more alright. “Now… oh crap, we really should be getting to class. I aim for my As to be as straight as my hair, that sounds pretty straightforward right? No cutting corners, if I’m aiming for the top I will get there. I may not have the name, but I am still a Blight.”

“That’s the spirit!” Willow clapped her hands. “There she is!”

“Straight As, straight hair, straightforward,” King said, leaning over to whisper in Willow’s ear. “But trust me, nothing about her is straight.”

“K-King!” Amity stammered, trying so hard to hide her blush as she made her way to class.

-----

“Wow, what’s up with Boscha? Saw her walking by and ooooooh, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so mad,” Luz said, sliding up next to her roommate. “Which is saying something and oh hey King!”

“Boo-boo buddy!” the little demon said, sniffing Luz’s food before a hand gently swatted him away. “Oh man, I knew teenagers were little snots but sweet onions you didn’t tell me how bad that one was.”

“Ah, let me guess… you had something to do with why Rathmore is in such a mood?”

“Pfffftt hahahaha oh I wish! Luz, you should have seen your girlfriend because-” here he ran from Amity’s hand laughing. “-she really hasn’t lost any of it! Sent the little brat packing with her tail between her legs!”

Luz gnawed into her thickleberry sandwich before sending Amity an admiring look. One that didn’t make her heart skip a beat, no sir! “Oh, did she now?”

“Yep! She’s got a sharper tongue than some demons!” King said, people giving him a few weird looks for even being in the school but nobody did much else. His skull rattled as he laughed. “Like, hahahahaha, oh man! So tiny, but so fierce!”

“Please, Rathmore doesn’t scare me. She doesn’t have any power over me. Simple as that,” Amity said, barely looking up from her book. “She’s all bark, no bite.”

“I dunno, I wouldn’t be surprised if she comes after you later looking for payback,” Willow mused. “I’d keep an eye out if I was you.”

“If you want, I can create an illusion of you to keep her occupied. You can duck out of classes for the day while the heat goes down,” Gus offered, only to receive a truly withering look in return.

“Shouldn’t have said that…” Luz said.

“Girl does love her grades… That’s about one of the only straight things about her,” King agreed. “If you know what’s good for you Goop, I’d advise you not to suggest that again.”

“It’s Gus,” Luz corrected him.

“Gus, Goop, whatever,” King said. “I’ll name the kid whatever I want.”

“And risk getting detention for skiving off? No thank you,” Amity was lecturing. “I’ll have even more eyes on me now, I’ll be expected to make up for not having the power of my family name behind me.”

“Oh… Me da cólera! Like… Me saca de onda. I don’t get it, what’s in a name?” Luz said. “Like, it shouldn’t matter if you have a family name or not Am, you’re still you right?”

“Oh Luz…” Willow sighed. “You may not see a problem with it and I love you for that, but names are important in Witch society. Especially amongst older families. They carry respect and power. Amity, as a Blight, was expected to adhere to society’s expectations. Her family was one of the first who came to Bonesborough. They’ve been a part of our society since the very beginning.”

“And now they’re not,” Luz said, taking another nibble of their sandwich. “It’s not just Amity, Emira and Edric left too. I mean, like aren’t they free to make their own choices now?”

“Luz has it! This girl gets it. Personally, I see it as a blessing,” King shrugged. “Amity here isn’t entitled to living up to her family standard anymore. She’s not chained down by that sort of thing now.”

“Luz…” Gus started.

“No, I’ll explain it, Gus. Let me,” Amity said. “This is something I have to say.”

“Luz…” Amity sighed. She’d set her book down, and was rubbing her forehead. “You just don’t get it, you don’t get why this is so important to me. The Blight name opened doors for me, and now those doors are closed to me. I have to work even harder to get a chance to-”

“Join one of the covens and become one of Belos’ cronies?” Luz finished for her. 

“Exactly what I was thinking!” King added.

“To carve out a life for myself!” Amity nearly screamed. “God, my older siblings are such idiots. I love them and get what they were doing but this isn’t a time to stand on principle. So many things are closed to them now and honestly with how much they goof off-”

“Eda’s got a powerful family name too, doesn’t she?” Gus put in. “Isn’t her sister in the Emperor’s personal coven?”

Everyone else was staring at him. 

“What? I was just thinking that it had to be said. Or… you’re not a Clawthorne yet are you?” Gus said in slow dawning realization. “Whoops, sorry.”

Amity started to open her mouth before pausing. She… hadn’t thought about it yet honestly. She was living with Eda and the old witch had certainly expressed interest in adopting her but… “I never really thought about it. I… simply don’t know if I’m a Clawthorne or not.”

“Hey, hey, you don’t have to rush this okay?” Luz said, placing their hand on top of hers. “It’s only been three days, you don’t have to decide instantly.”

“I…thanks.”

“I’ll tell you what she does have to decide instantly though,” Boscha’s voice practically growled as she walked up. “No-Name here really needs to work out where she stands. With the loser club, or with someone who can actually get her into a powerful coven. I’m pretty sure the Abomination Coven won’t take someone who hangs out with Half a Witch Willow and a disgusting human.”

“I said I didn’t want to be seen with you Rathmore,” Amity said. “I’m quite happy where I am, so no I don’t think I’ll be associating with you ever again. We were only put together because of our families. And because I’m no longer a Blight, well guess what. One benefit is I don’t have to spend any time around you. Now leave, you’re ruining the view.”

Boscha let out a low growl. “Fine, let me put it another way. You don’t join me, and I’ll make sure that your new friends never know a moment of peace and quiet for the rest of their time here.”

Amity stood up. “Leave them out of this.”

“Throw me at her, greenie,” King said. “Let her face my power!”

“You don’t need to fight for me King, it’s sweet of you to offer but I can handle Rathmore,” Amity said kindly, before turning back to look at the triclops with her gaze as cold as ice. “Fine, what will it take for you to back off? Me doing your homework for the rest of the month?”

“Grudgby. I was always pretty mad when you gave it up, and honestly I’m going to enjoy kicking your ass. I want to see just how badly you’ve slipped.”

“Game on then, and bold of you to assume I’ve lost any of my edge,” Amity said calmly. “It’s a deal then, and if I win you will never bother my friends again Rathmore. And if I lose, you get to spend time with me whenever you want.”

“No Amity, you don’t have to-”

“If I don’t Luz, she’s right. You’ll never know a moment’s peace and truth be told?” Amity said with an almost vicious grin. “I’m honestly looking forwards to shutting her up.”

“Well then,” Boscha said. “After school, meet me on the field. I look forward to seeing whoever you bring. I’m going to enjoy reducing them to a bloody smear before your very eyes.”

“Oh dear, you really shouldn’t have done that…” Willow sighed as she watched the triclops walk off laughing. “I’m joining you, don’t bother arguing with me about this. I’m tired of taking her crap and you need the help anyways.”

“Willow…” Amity said softly, touched. “You don’t have to…”

“That girl tore us apart once, I want to get even,” Willow said. “Friends don’t leave friends behind…”

“Yeah…” Amity said, a rush of guilt filling her. “You’re right, and thanks.”

Then the adrenaline and sheer rage passed and as lunch ended, it slowly settled in for Amity what she’d signed herself up for.

I swore never to take to the field again, and yet… here I go.

“Hey Ams, you alright?” Luz asked. “You… you look terrified.”

It was true, she was shaking and anyone who looked at her could see she was about to fall over. Using a hand to steady herself, Amity used a wall for balance.

“You can read me like I’m an open book, huh?” Amity admitted. “The last time I took to the Grudgby field, I got my teammates hurt. What if it’s Willow this time? I said yes to Rathmore’s challenge, without even thinking.”

“To keep her from bullying me, Gus and Willow. You knew it was the right thing,” Luz said. They placed a hand on her shoulder for comfort. “You won’t mess up this time, I know you Amity. You never make the same mistake twice.”

“Yeah but-”

“No buts,” Luz said, the Latina’s gaze firm. “Now you’re going to go out there, and kick some ass right?”

“Right…”

“Say it with more confidence! You are Amity Blight. Nothing gets in your way!” Luz said, and Amity held back a laugh. At least someone still had faith in her.

“Right. Rathmore…” Amity said, trying to fight a vicious grin. “She won’t know what hit her.”

-----

The entire game flew by with sheer lightning speed, Luz barely keeping track of what was going on. Willow spiked a ball into an opposing goal, before using her vines to boost Amity up and over Boscha.

“Damn you!” the triclops girl said, tossing a flaming ball at the green-thumbed girl.

A purple mass dived in front of Willow, taking the brunt of the blast. Amity’s abomination, who served as player number 3.

“I don’t even see why you care for that Half a Witch, you abandoned her once,” Boscha said as Amity dived to the left to avoid a spike trap. “And you’ll abandon her again. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and honestly, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll dump Willow. You don’t even have a name, Amity. Why destroy your social life even further?”

“Because unlike you, I care about my friends. Yeah, it’s true, I’ve been a terrible person and Willow really shouldn’t even be anywhere near me because of that,” Amity said racing to the next goal. “But because I screwed up so badly in the past, I aim to make it right. I aim to be a friend she can actually be proud of.”

“Awwww, you’re such a sweet girl,” Boscha said, summoning another ball. “And you’re an even better TARGET! You’re wide open!”

Amity’s eyes widened, realizing too late and Luz let out a scream of fear from the stands as the witch went flying backwards. When the smoke cleared, Amity was struggling to stand. But she was still standing nonetheless.

“You know, I used to be like you, Rathmore, obsessed with status, challenging my competition. But I grew up. When will you?” she asked. “As it is, the only one around here who even looks to be half a witch is you. You’re only half as great as she is. And you know what else you are? A loser. Literally.”

She opened her hand, clutching…

“...wait, is that a rusty beetle?” Luz blinked. “I thought you were building up to something great, like you pointing at the scoreboard to reveal an awesome totally crushing victory. And… you just opened your hand?”

“That’s the Rusty Smidge, that means they win by default!” Gus gushed. “Boscha was so obsessed with beating Willow to a pulp she must never have noticed.”

“...Well what’s the point of that then? Good grief! That totally invalidates all of the players' efforts then! Why is that even a thing? Who even thought that was a good idea? Why is it a thing?” Luz began to rant. “If catching that thing is so important, why do anything else? There’s no reason to watch any of the other players! That’s such a stupid rule!”

“Amity still won though,” Guz wasn’t remiss to point out.

“Oh… I guess she did. OH! She did!” Luz said, rushing over to her. “You did it, you won! HA! Take that Boscha!”

The triclops only growled, and shouted something that Luz couldn’t quite understand but was pretty sure wasn’t kind at all.

Luz then looked over Amity and winced. “Oooooh, you’re not in great shape at all Am. I gotta get you to the doctor’s office. Scoop!”

“W-Who’s Amity?” the witch babbled, scooped up into Luz’s arms. “...But yeah, I guess I am. Owwwwww, I forgot how hard that girl could throw a ball. I think my leg…. Oh Titan, owwwww…”

“Well then, your carriage awaits,” Luz said. “Don’t worry, no more weak nerd arms for me!”

And if Amity had wrapped her arms around Luz and was clutching her tightly, well who could blame her?

That next day, she found herself in Principal Bump’s office. Honestly, she was amazed she hadn’t been called there sooner.

“I heard about what your parents did, and I just want to say, if anyone ever gives you any trouble… well, you don’t even have to hesitate to come to me,” said the older witch. “Are you sure you’re going to be alright, young miss Blight?”

“B-But I’m not a Blight… Not anymore.”

“Only in the eyes of your parents,” Bump said with a smile. “Hexside will always know one of its own.”

“I guess… thanks. And no, I think I’ll be just fine…” Amity said, feeling confident. Although she was in for a shock when she hobbled outside. One of her legs was bound in bandages, and she walked with crutches.

“Hey Amity…” 

“Skara?” Amity blinked. “But I thought… you know, if Rathmore sees you…”

“I don’t care if she does,” Skara said gently. “I guess you were wondering why Boscha didn’t have me as her backup yesterday. Truth be told, this whole rivalry has gotten old. Honestly, you’ve never looked happier and I’ve come to realize… I guess if spending time with Willow and Luz and Goop-”

“Gus.”

“If spending time with them makes you happy, who am I to judge? I heard what you said to Boscha, and you’re right. The only one who’s half a witch is her and honestly spending time around her makes me feel like half a witch as well. Plus any friend who is willing to do that to another friend isn’t really a friend at all,” Skara admitted looking at Amity’s bandaged leg, before bowing. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I either caused you or was party to causing. I’ve brought shame to my family.”

Amity just hugged her. “Hey, it’s okay, what’s important is you’ve realized you’ve done wrong and… you know, my table at lunch could always use someone new. It’s not like I don’t have a spot or two free.”

“I… I think I’d like that. Walk you to class?”

“You’re on!”

Mind, Amity wasn’t the only one thrown for a loop. There came a knock on the Owl House door, and…

“Alright alright I’m coming and will you shut up Hooty? You’ll scare away our guest and…” here Eda opened the door and let out a gasp. “Rainstorm?”

Chapter Text

“Uuuuuuugh, homework looks like it’s going to be a pain,” Luz muttered to herself as they flipped through their assignments. “Like… magical theory? This doesn’t sound awesome at all. I thought magic school was all creating powerful potions, bottling death! Seeing into the future or healing grave wounds before they really are giving you a grave! Not… not this!”

“I dunno, I think I like the challenge,” Amity admitted, a bit slower due to her crutches but mostly managing to keep up. “A true witch should know everything about the very magic they study.”

“Teacher’s pet,” Luz stuck out her tongue at her childishly. “You need to live a little!”

“Oh, like you? Go on crazy adventures with the wildest witch in the Boiling Isles and face near-death every week? No thank you,” Amity said with a shake of the head. “Braving Rathmore on the battlefield is about as courageous as I wanted to get this week.”

“You did a good thing, Am,” Luz said, apparently missing the way their best friend’s face lit up red. “I saw you talking with Skara earlier, I guess you two patched things up? Wow, I bet Boscha really loves that.”

“I don’t really care what she thinks,” Amity sniffed, turning her nose up somewhat snobbishly. “I’m so over her.”

“Up five girl!” Luz said, Amity quickly returning the gesture. “That’s the spirit! I’m… I’m really glad you got away from Boscha though. I… even back then I saw how sad you looked, just being near her. I-In your pictures on Penstagram, I mean. Those smiles of yours never quite reached your eyes.”

Amity flushed again, before quickly forcing it down. Her little light -eep!- was so observant. Guess that’s what she should have expected from the Owl Lady’s child. “Me and Rathmore were never friends. Just two people who were expected to associate together because of our families. One benefit to no longer being a Blight, I don’t have to spend time around her. I guess I owe my parents a thank you right?”

There came a little broken laugh, and Luz quickly wrapped an arm around her. “Hey, it’s okay… Tu madre es una perra. You should have been free to make your own choices.”

“I’m not going to fall apart on you,” Amity said. “I hate it. I hate you thinking that I am. I hate looking weak.”

“Hey, I didn’t say you were going to do any of that, and nor do I think you look weak,” Luz said. “Honestly, I think you’re the strongest girl I know.”

“S-Strongest?” Amity stammered a little, unable to stop herself.

“Yeah, you’re going through so much right now. Honestly, you’re handling this a lot better than I would. If… if Mami disowned me, I’m not sure I’d be able to pull myself out of bed in the morning.”

“If your mami disowned you, you’d have another mother who wouldn’t hesitate to adopt you,” Amity said kindly. “Eda would come rushing to your side, and probably beat your mother up in the process.”

“You… do you really think she cares that much?”

“Oh, yeah, sure she does! Please, basically everyone on the Boiling Isles can see it. Both of the twins swore you were her blood kid.”

Now Luz was blushing. “...wow… I… Just wow. Oh look, we’re here! ¡Bien, ahora no esperaba ver eso! Look!”

She was pointing, and Amity’s eyes widened a little as she saw the state of the once small house. Already more and more bricks were starting to go up around wooden frames. The twins had been staying in a hotel in town while construction commenced and it looked like they wouldn’t have to for much longer.

“Daaaaaaamn, the Construction Coven works fast!” Luz whistled in appreciation.

“I hope Eda collaborated with Hooty on this, the Manor had a house demon and… well, if you don’t make them happy with any additions to their home they tend to…” here Amity paused to search for the right word. “Well, rebel I suppose would be the right word. Mom tried to add a pool, and well the demon wasn’t having it. Punted anyone who’d try to dig it down the hill.”

Luz winced. “Yikes… yeah, that’s uh… Let’s hope Hooty doesn’t do that huh?”

As they walked up, they also noticed something else.

“Woah, who’s that?” Luz asked, the Latina looking a bit confused before a smile reached her lips. “Though, whoever it is, they seem to really like Eda. Oooooh, solían usar hasta la fecha? ¿Debo enviarlos? Huh, huh?”

She elbowed a wide-eyed Amity in the shoulder. “Wait, I think that’s.. Yeah, it is! That’s the head of the Bard Coven! Rayne Whispers!”

“Actually, kids, it’s Raine,” Eda corrected, overhearing them. “We were just catching up, that’s all.”

Luz smirked a little seeing the red on their faces and said to herself: “Yep, totally shipping them. There’s a backstory here, and I am so interested! Ooooh, secret relationships maybe?”

“I thought you hated the coven systems?”

“Hate the system, not the person,” Eda said. “Besides Rainstorm here isn’t caught up in all of that dogma. Belos may fancy himself a good ruler, but in reality he’s just a halfway decent dictator. Emphasis on the dic-”

“Eda, really. Not around the children,” Raine said, sounding a bit beleaguered.

“What? It’s nothing they haven’t heard or said themselves,” Eda shrugged. “Hell, you remember high school. Cussing is basically a rite of passage for teenagers really.”

“I apologize for her,” Raine said to Amity. “She’s a bit… much. But yes, Emperor Belos isn’t a particularly good person, and… oh, I suppose I shouldn’t be talking about this in public where someone could overhear us.”

“You shouldn’t be near a wanted criminal, I’m pretty sure any and all crimes go from here,” Eda pointed out with a laugh. “Seriously though Raine, I’m glad you came. Congrats on making it and becoming head of the Bard Coven by the way. There should be more decent people in positions like that.”

“Oh, well, it was nothing really,” Raine said, incredibly quiet and polite with a shy little blush seemingly constantly on their face. They sighed. “Sadly, decent people are few and far between with Belos. Most of them wind up getting chewed up and spit out before they can make any real headway. It’s quite honestly bad luck that I’m head, really…”

“Bad luck nothing, you really shouldn’t knock your mad skillz!” Eda continued to chortle.

“...did she seriously just say mad skillz?” Amity said to herself in disbelief.

“Um… yes… well… Oh, okay, it’s a bit hot out here isn’t it? Whew, the Boiling Isles is really living up to its nickname, isn’t it?” Raine said. “We should get inside!”

“You don’t need to change the subject Raine, honestly your skills are nothing to scoff at,” Eda said as they all filed inside. “Why I remember when we used to play together! You were always one step ahead of me. Music is your passion Rainstorm, you shouldn’t doubt yourself.”

“Eeeeeeeee,” Luz squealed and whispered to Amity: “Did you hear that? They used to play together in duets! Duets, like a couple. OMG!”

“Ewwwww, if you two are going to start kissing,” King said from atop his perch on the stairs. “Do it where I don’t have to see it. Mushy stuff, yuck!”

“Three kids huh?” Raine said, before seeing the looks on everyone’s faces. “...oh, was I mistaken? It’s just the way these two rushed home to greet you, I thought they were… and you already told me about King.”

“No, it’s basically the truth. They’re all basically my kids,” Eda admitted, Amity glowing a little once she recovered from her shock. “I know I know, I said I’d always make a terrible mother but these youngins’ are like parasites. They find a way inside and latch themselves to your heart.”

She ruffled Luz’s hair and pinched Amity’s cheek. 

“Ah yes, I truly am cursed with such terrible luck,” Eda said, though it was obvious she meant none of it. “All of these little rascals practically broke down my door coming in search of how awesome I was. Sometimes I really regret being the biggest baddest witch on the Isles!”

“Careful Eda, your ego is showing,” Luz teased as both Raine and Amity giggled.

“Damn right I have a bit of an ego,” Eda said. “And don’t you forget it. So how was school? Minty-fresh, is your leg healing alright? Damn it kid, you nearly gave me a heart attack when I heard you had to be taken to the Healing Coven. Challenging that three-eyed brat to a game of Grudgby! You’re a girl after my own heart, yeah yeah you don’t have to try and impress me.”

Raine snorted. “Again, you always said you would be a bad mom but here you are sounding just like one. It’s almost like you were kidding yourself after all of these years.”

“Yes, well, life throws a few curveballs your way,” Eda admitted. “Sometimes you end up surprising even yourself.”

“Okay, so wait, you’re showing off my little sister,” Edric said as he and his twin walked in, both pinching their little sistet’s cheek. “And yet we don’t even warrant an introduction?”

“-well, isn’t that-”

“-simply insulting?-”

“-after all, we are both-”

“-quite respectable individuals in our-”

“-own right-”

“-don’t you think sister dear?”

“Oh yes, we follow in the footsteps of chaos and of Lord Calamity themselves-”

“-and we worship them for all the headaches they-”

“-must have caused Principal Bump!”

Raine blinked at the terrible twosome, and then turned back to Eda. “...A-Are they talking about you? I think that was your nickname back at Hexside, but honestly it’s been so long I think I’ve forgotten…”

Eda burst out laughing, wiping a tear from her eye. “I knew I was going to leave behind a legacy, inspire future troublemakers! I shouldn’t be surprised at all that it ended up being you two!”

“Oh Titan… now their egos will get even bigger…” Amity muttered to herself.

Both twins' eyes grew comically large. “YOU? That was you?”

“The one and only!” Eda bragged proudly. “Oh man, those were the days… Bump hated me, he was glad to see me go. Honestly, secretly though, I think the old guy was happy to have me around. I livened things up for him!”

“The many detentions he gave you said otherwise,” Raine deadpanned. “I can never recall a moment where he was ‘happy’ for you turning his school upside down.”

“Eh,” here Eda waved them off. “He was smiling on the inside. Emira, Edric, meet Raine. They just happened to drop by and well I just wanted to catch up on old times, that’s all.”

“Are you sure having a Coven Head around here is such a good idea?” Emira asked, with Edric understandably concerned.

“Yeah, it might be inviting trouble to our doorstep,” Edric said. “N-Not that I want to sound rude or anything, not to your old friend. I mean, I don’t want to doubt them or anything but-”

“I don’t hold any love for the Emperor, believe me. Even if I am head of the Bard Coven, I’d never rat Eda out,” Raine said kindly, sincerely. 

“See? What’d I tell you, Rainstorm here is as good as gold,” Eda said before her eyebrows raised at the sight of the twins. “Now care to tell me why your hair is… well, it looks like a Rainbow Serpent threw up all over it.”

“Well, see, that’s the thing. Mom always wanted our hair to match, that’s why she had Mittens dye her hair green,” Edric said. “I wanted to go ahead and piss her off, then my sister decided it would be fun too and honestly I don’t think either of us could decide on which color we wanted so-”

“-we may have gone ahead and said ‘screw it’ and just used all of them?” Emira admitted. “It… really seemed like a good idea at the time…”

Here she laughed nervously. 

“Well, look at it this way, sister dear, we’re the talk of the town again!” Edric put in. “So, bright side?”

“Well, as much as I’d love to say I’d be able to help you return your hair to its natural state, I’m not sure there’s a potion in the world that can reverse any of that,” Eda said after a few moments of thought. “Honestly I think you’re going to have to wait until it goes back to normal on its own.”

“Oh well… lesson learned I guess?”

“Now see if it sticks,” Eda reminded gently.

“We could always shave your heads,” Amity deadpanned. “Then it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Not my beautiful hair!” Edric panicked.

“From where I’m sitting?” Amity raised an eyebrow. “It looks like a mess.”

“Now now, settle down kids,” Eda said. “Nobody’s shaving off anyone’s hair. Unless we’re talking about Odalia’s hair, then it’s another matter.”

“This new you…” Raine said. “It’s different, it’s weird, but it’s a good kind of different and weird. Seeing you sound so domestic.”

Luz went scarlet, realizing what Raine was implying.

“Please, don’t use that word,” Eda said half-heartedly. “These kids… Well, someone has to raise them right. That bitch of a Blight clearly failed them at every turn.”

There she went again, Amity thought to herself. Talking about how she was raising her now. Did… was that really what she wanted? 

Maybe.

In this past week, she’d felt more warmth from Eda than she had for 14 years with her mother. Maybe there was a new person she should start thinking about impressing...

Luz was gripping her hand tightly, apparently of one mind. They whispered: “Hey, you don’t have to decide yet…”

Amity flushed again, hoping they didn’t notice her gripping her clothes tightly. She was holding onto the brim of her shirt, clutching it tightly. 

“Just… stop it Amity,” the girl told herself, her left foot starting to tap nervously. “It’s completely unbecoming.”

“Honestly, how one woman can be such an embarrassment as a witch, it simply boggles the mind,” Eda went on. “She’s so heartless, I bet she eats babies and kicks puppies.”

“Eh?” King looked up, his voice coming out as a yelp.

“Truth be told, I’m not surprised she turned out so bad. She was always ratting me out back at Hexside. I would have gotten away with most of my pranks had Odalia always not been there.”

“Oooooh, Raine, can you show us a bit of how your magic works? I’ve never seen bard magic in action before and I just wanna see from the best!” Luz requested, practically bouncing in her seat.

“Oh, yes, well I don’t know…” Raine said, somewhat nervous.

“Now don’t you kids bother Raine, they really don’t have a lot of time before old Goldie-face notices they’re missing,” Eda said. “And besides, don’t you two have homework to do?”

“Oh right, Magical Theory. Ewwww,” Luz said with a groan. “I think I’d actually tried to forget about that. Pushed it to the back of my mind.”

“Ooooooh, yeah, that. My sympathie…” Raine trailed off before apparently hitting on an idea by the expression on their face. “Actually, you know I think I can stick around for a bit longer. I don’t have to report in for a few more days and honestly I haven’t spent enough time around Eda in a while so…”

“N-No, you really should get going. It’s not safe for you here,” Eda said. “If people saw you near me… You could lose your position, Raine! After you worked so hard for it!”

Luz knew in reality she was actually thinking of her curse, and just thinking up another excuse. Oh god, she remembered that Amity didn’t know.

“So when are you… I mean, Amity deserves to know doesn’t she? She’s living here with you now.”

“I know, I know, kid. It’s just… Well, I haven’t worked out exactly how to break it to her yet. “Hey kid, your new guardian has been cursed and I could rip you to shreds if I don’t drink my special elixir!” It’s just not something you bring up in casual conversation!”

“You’re going to have to tell her eventually, though. Unless… I suppose I could do it?”

“No, this is something I have to do myself. I just have to work up the courage, find the proper time to do it. You don’t worry about it, okay?”

“If you say so…”

That had been two days ago. Amity had been living with them nearly a week now, and she still didn’t know Eda’s deepest darkest secret. Apparently, neither did Raine for that matter. 

Well, she supposed it wasn’t exactly something that her mentor was particularly interested in ever bringing up. “¡Dios mío! I swear, if I ever find out whoever cursed Eda, they’re going to be in for a world of hurt!”

“If I do, I’ll deal with it then,” Raine said to their friend. “I’m not really all that worried. Don’t give me that look Eda, Belos doesn’t care what I get up to in my spare time. For all he knows, I’m just another witch making my way in the world.”

“Alright… I suppose…” Eda finally relented.

“So, in that case, pack your bags. We’re all going on a bit of an adventure. If you’re Eda’s kids, then I know neither of you prefer to stick your noses in books for too long, so-”

“Actually…” Amity tried to argue.

“Yay, road trip with Eda’s friend!” Luz cheered. “So where are we going?”

“There’s this place not too far from here that’s rife with magic, and should give you a good place to understand it’s origins,” Raine said, beginning to gather their things. “I can’t think of any better place to learn than where ancient witches walked.”

“Well, now I am interested. I’ve always been interested in the history of magic, and I find it quite fascinating,” Amity admitted. “Now I’ve never liked the wilderness but I suppose I’ll just have to manage.”

“ADVENTURE!” Luz called, throwing her hands up in the air. “C’mon Amity, that’s basically what this is! Adventure!”

“As long as we don’t have to defy death like usual,” Amity said. “I am quite tired of that for one week thank you.”

“Well, I can’t say it isn’t dangerous but between Eda and I, you should be fairly safe. Just stick to the path and don’t wander off…” Raine noticed Eda’s look. “What? What is it, what’d I say?”

“Oh nothing, it’s just well you clearly haven’t met Luz yet. Just warning you ahead of time,” she said with a wistful smile.

-----

An eerie purple light filtered through the trees, the air thick and heavy with pure old magic, and all of it completely wild. The air flowed, dancing like playful fairies as it rushed through the trees. 

Deeper inside the forest, strange voices seemed to whisper and call out to Luz. Begging her to come closer, just for a second. But the girl wasn’t fooled, not even for a moment. There was danger amongst the beauty, they knew.

Songs from deeper in the oaken forest lulled the ignorant to sleep, Raine said in a warning. And kept the wise wide awake. Ancient voices called out from deeper inside the wood, twinkling lights in the distance.

“Look closer, come play!” they seemed to say and the wise would avoid responding. 

“Now, I’m not saying I want to build a summer home here or anything, but the trees are actually quite lovely,” Eda remarked. 

“Yeah, they’re gorgeous!” Luz said in agreement. “Oooooh, I just can’t wait to try climbing them!”

“Ha, forget climbing them! Why would you even want to do that?” Eda asked. “No no, what I’m talking about is the wood. Palismen wood! Back in the olden days, before Belos was even in the womb, witches made great treks out here. Braving danger just for that one piece of wood.”

“Wow…” Amity whispered, writing all of this down.

“Oh, but of course, nowadays there are special gardens grown for that sort of thing. No risking life and limb and booooo to that,” Eda said. “You kids today, you have everything handed to you on a silver platter. This was where real magic happened!”

“Why do I get the feeling that you went out to one of these forests instead of going to a garden?” Luz questioned.

“Ha! Me going to get Owlbert’s wood from a garden, what a laugh. I hate going along with the rest of the crowd and I knew if I was going to get anywhere in life I had to stand out from the rest of the crowd!” Eda bragged in triumph.

“Yes, you wanted to prove that you had what it takes to get into the Emperor's Coven, you wanted to say to Belos that-” Raine began.

“Yeah yeah, that was when I was young and foolish,” Eda waved them off.

“You?” Amity looked at her in shock, about the most anti-authoritan woman she’d ever met. “You wanted to work alongside-”

“Yes, well like I said that was when I was young and foolish,” Eda grumbled in memory. “Life happens and our needs change. I saw what a piece of crap Belos was and honestly lost interest in that dream.”

“Oh…”

“Shame Lily hasn’t quite worked it out yet, but well that girl always didn’t know what was good for her,” Eda said bitterly. “If an authority figure said to jump, she’d just ask how high.”

“That’s uh… well, that’s quite a history you two have there…” Amity laughed nervously.

“Ah well, bah! Grousing about the past won’t change it!” Eda remarked with a flippant little shrug. “Now stick close to the path witchlets, don’t wander too far!”

“Trust me…” Amity nodded. “I have no desire to find myself neck-deep in trouble! Are you sure this is safe?”

“Oh, well if you wanted safe you would have stayed at home with your books,” Eda said. “This is the Boiling Isles kiddo, remember?”

“This looks like a good place to set up camp,” Raine finally said after a few minutes of walking. They sat down on a fallen log, and pulled out a lute. “...all of this magic in the air, it inspires oneself to just create. That’s why I joined the Bard Coven in the first place, music… it has healing power you know. It has the ability to take people out of themselves if only for a few moments.”

“Wow…” Luz whispered, watching Raine begin to play. Their eyes had been sparkling with a passion she knew all too well. 

“Right, well, while you three bask in your surroundings, I’m going to have a look around. Make sure there’s nothing out here that won’t catch us by surprise alright?” Eda said while waving her staff. Tent poles slammed themselves into the ground, while fabric tied itself on the poles. “If I see even one thing I don’t like out there, we’re leaving okay?”

All three nodded and when Eda was gone, Luz seized her chance. She just had to know! It had been nagging at her all day.

“Soooooooo…” Luz said with a mischievous look in her eyes Amity knew all too well. She’d seen it in the twins right before they pulled a particularly naughty prank or two. 

“And… here we go,” Amity said to herself with a groan.

“You and Eda huh?” Luz said, making Raine pluck an odd off-key note. “Come on, don’t be shy. Deets! I have to know! Did you two really, well, you know. Date?”

“I really don’t think…” Raine began to stammer with their voice going a bit high-pitched. They squeaked: “I really don’t think that’s an appropriate question!”

“Oh please, don’t be shy. There’s obviously some history there,” Luz said. “I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. There’s still some passion there, my mami says the same thing about the characters on her telenovelas!”

“Pretty sure that and this aren’t the same thing Luz,” Amity sighed, resigning herself to her fate. She, carelessly, found herself gripping her clothes tightly again. A nervous habit, something she knew she had to break.

One hand briefly rubbed her skin, no she had to stop. She, if asked, could pass it off as skin itching from a bug bite. This wasn’t something normal people did.

“Yes, well, I suppose denying it won’t help matters much will it?” Raine sighed playing a particularly wistful tune on their lute. “Yes, me and Eda used to date. Sadly, we… drifted apart. I don’t know where I went wrong, but I… maybe it was me. I’m not sure.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Amity put in, basically sucked into that awful thing known as shipping. She totally blamed Luz. “But well, Eda, she is pretty flighty at times. Maybe it wasn’t you, maybe she just wasn’t ready for that level of intimacy. Can we drop it please?”

“I suppose that could have been it…” Raine sighed sadly, plucking a few notes on their strings.

“No, that’s not it. I know exactly why Eda didn’t… oh Eda, you should have told them. I’m sure Raine would have understood. Maybe their magic could help you somehow?” Luz thought to themselves.

“Maybe you can try again?” she prodded. “Eda’s older now, wiser even. Maybe this time she’d be ready?”

“Please, don’t make me hope. I’ve accepted the fact that me and Eda are only destined to be just that, friends. It is what it is,” Raine sighed before looking up a flash of concern rushing across their face. “Speaking of… Eda, she should have been back by now. I wonder what’s keeping her up?”

“Maybe she got lost?” Amity guessed, rubbing her hand again and forcing that urge down. It wasn’t normal, it wasn’t! “All of these trees look the same to me.”

“No, Eda… she’s always had a great sense of direction. Something else is going on. I should really go off and look for her,” Raine said to themself. “I don’t like this.”

“Oh no, I’ve seen basically every horror movie in the book! That’s how it always starts, splitting up the party always ends disastrously!” Luz put in. “Maaaaaybe we should wait a bit, she’ll be back soon right?”

An eerie screech cut through the forest, and Luz’s eyes widened. Oh no, she should have noticed. Eda’s gem, it hadn’t been completely gold today. 

“Oh no… We need to get out of here, and find…” Luz scrambled for a nearby bag searching through it. “Come on, where is it… tell me it’s in here, she had to have brought it!”

“Brought it? Brought what? What was that sound?” Amity clutched Luz tightly. “C’mon Luz, quit messing around, what’s going on? You’re starting to scare me here.”

Another screech, closer this time. Luz dared to look behind her, and she saw a dark mass darting through the undergrowth. “Oh no, we need to run. Back to the Owl House!”

“Why…” Raine asked before switching out their lute for a violin. “Get behind me kids, now!”

Then, a massive feathered form burst through the bushes.

“WHAT IS THAT?” Amity yelled as Luz dragged her out of danger by the arm. 

“I’ve… I’ve never seen a beast like that!” Raine added. “It… it looks like, but no it couldn’t be.”

Luz quickly drew something on a piece of paper and tossed a ball of light off in the beast’s direction. “That should distract it, now come on we have to get back to the House!”

“Luz, you have to explain to me what’s going on,” Raine said. “You know this beast don’t you?”

Realization rushed across Amity’s face as it hit her.

“I don’t have time to explain how or why, but that’s-” Luz started before Amity finished for her.

“That’s Eda isn’t it?” the witch said, looking a bit ill. “Somehow… I don’t know how, but it is, isn’t it?”

“Yeah…” Luz said as they continued to run deeper, deeper still into the forest. “She wanted to tell you herself, but welp looks like the surprise is out. So, uh, surprise?”

“Split up, it can only follow one of us,” Raine’s eyes hardened. “Get clear, girls!”

And so they ran, faster than they ever thought possible from someone they once called a friend. Amity was panting and sweating, thanking the Titan that a few years of grudgby did not have her cursed with weak and skinny nerd legs.

Flashes of magic came from behind, along with another angry screech. Thinking fast, she pulled Luz into a hollow log.

“Alright, explain,” she whispered furiously to her friend. “How is that Eda? And when were you going to tell me?”

“I… like I said, I was hoping Eda would tell you herself, when it came down to it… I was willing and honestly if she didn’t tell you soon I would have,” Luz whispered back. “A long time ago, she was cursed and if she overexerts herself or gets stressed too much she-”

“Turns into that thing,” Amity said, nodding in slow realization. She’d only got a quick glimpse of the creature but it’d be haunting her dreams for years to come she suspected. “...alright, I’m calling my therapist if we get out of this. He’s about to become a very rich man. Not sure I can unsee that thing honestly…”

“Shhh, do you hear that?” Luz said, putting a finger to her lips. She whispered: “Something’s outside!”

There was the gentle fall of claws against dirt. No, that wasn’t right. Talons. Eda was out there.

“Oh Titan oh Titan oh Titan…” Amity whispered, unable to control her panicking. Luz meanwhile dared to sneak a peek through a hole.

There she saw the Owlbeast plodding around, seemingly sniffing the air in hopes of catching their scent.

It stopped in its tracks for a moment and then started to turn away and Luz thought they were safe. And then the log was ripped open, the beast screeching at them.

“Eda, please!” Amity said, rushing to protect herself with her arms. “Go on Luz, run! Get out of here!”

“No, I’m not leaving-” Luz started with tears in her eyes in acceptance of their fate. But it was not to be.

A wave of magic ripped through the air and knocked the owl beast backwards, with Raine standing atop a boulder clutching their violin. Another violent strum and they flourished their bow like a conductor would their baton as another wave knocked the owl beast head over heels.

Another floriousing movement brought a massive tree limb crashing down atop the beast.

Raine was strumming their violin softly now, singing a little tune as roots restrained the beast.

“Has it always been hard for you?

Are you scared of the truth?

Is the wrong way just right for you?

'Cause I'm losing my mind sitting here watching you cry…”

They continued to sing as the owl beast struggled and thrashed, healing waves of music washing over it.

“Don't let the music die

We're playing songs from different times

I'll let you say goodbye on another day but not today

On another day but not today…”

Little by little, the owl beast shifted size becoming smaller before it shifted back to the one contained within…

“Eda…” Luz whispered in shock, Raine rushing to their love with a worried look on their face...

Chapter Text

“Soooooo, you’re cursed,” Amity said, now back at the Owl House. “So, uh, were you planning on breaking this to us anytime soon or… Or were we supposed to just find out on our own?”

“Look, I’m not thrilled you had to find out at all. Honestly, I wanted to keep it under wraps for a little while longer,” Eda confessed. “Look, it’s hardly a point of pride. The damn thing’s eating away at me, making me a little weaker every day. Soon I doubt I’ll be able to control it at all.”

Amity gasped.

“Bah, you don’t need to worry about me eh Minty-fresh? Nobody likes having a curse, but if you take-”

“The right steps it’s manageable?” Amity finished for her, still looking incredibly worried. “You said it yourself, Miss Clawthorne. Soon you won’t be able to control it and-”

“Maybe I’m wrong, wouldn’t be the first time,” Eda shrugged. “Honestly, just don’t think about it, okay kiddo? It’s out of your hands and really no sense worrying about something you won’t be able to change.”

“But-”

“What’d I just say?” Eda said sternly, before downing her potion with a little shudder and a gasp of disgust. “You’ll turn your hair gray if you stress out about it enough. Trust me on this Minty-fresh, you don’t want this. I may be able to rock the look, but what about you?”

Here she sighed.

“Look, I get you’re worried and you have every right to be. But I’ve lived with this curse for years now and honestly, it’s a part of me now. I’m owning it now,” Eda said. “It’s me. Make no mistake, I still want to find the person who did this to me and beat them to a pulp but I’ve learned to live with it.”

“Okay…” Amity finally relented, although dropping it entirely was out of the question.

What was she supposed to say, or think? The most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles, her current guardian at that, had a curse. One that turned her into a monstrous owlbeast.

Talk about a surprise.

“Did… did you know?” she had to ask, looking towards Raine with a concerned expression. “No, you didn’t. I can see it all over your face. That look of shock when you saw her… there’s no faking that.”

“Eda pushed me away once,” Raine admitted, shakily. “At the time, I thought she was ashamed of me or that I wasn’t enough for her. Now… Now I see why she did. She was trying to protect me. Nobody wants a witch with a curse as a partner.”

“I’m sorry,” Amity said, for what else could she say?

“It is what it is, though… I refuse to give up on her. Eda pushed me away, for so many years she’s been alone trying to fight this thing,” Raine said, their voice turning steely. “Not anymore. I won’t let her suffer through this. Not alone.”

If she were to suddenly be cursed, Amity wondered, would Luz do the same? Would she stand by her side no matter what?

“I know Eda’s stubborn and she’ll put her foot down, but-” Raine paused to take a breath. “I-I love her. I’ve never said it aloud until now but I love her. I refuse to see her cry. I’ll find a way to help her, no matter what it takes. Failing that, I’ll just be there for her.”

“Wow…” Amity gasped, in spite of herself. They were so devoted.

She had a lot to think about.

Indeed, she found herself wandering outside and still lost in thought. It was a nice night out, the stars twinkling in the clear skies above.

In spite of the day’s events, it seemed all was peaceful. It was a bit of a cruel irony, despite everything going on, the world just seemed to keep turning on like usual.

“Sooooooooooo, what a day, huh?” Luz said, with them taking a seat beside her. “I’m sorry, me and Eda should have told you earlier.”

“It’s… it’s fine,” Amity stammered. “I totally understand why you didn’t.”

“But that’s just it, it’s not fine. It’s not fine at all,” Luz said, pressing their fingers together awkwardly. “You had a right to know.”

“It wasn’t your secret to tell, though,” Amity said. “Eda… she would have told me in her own time right?”

Luz shrugged. “All the same… I’m sorry you had to find out like you did. I’m sorry you and Raine had to find out like this…”

“Yeah, Raine… Titan, I can’t imagine what they’re going through. Everything they thought they knew about Eda, it’s been turned upside down,” Amity said, cuddling up to Luz for comfort. She needed her best friend right now. Gripping their arm tightly, she said: “You heard them right? About how they’ll stay with Eda until their curse takes her over completely right?”

“I did, and oooooooh it was so romantic,” Luz nearly squeed. “It’s like something out of a fairy tale! And they say that sort of thing doesn’t exist here!”

Amity took a breath, gathering her courage. “Luz, this is hard to ask and maybe it sounds a little bit dumb, but if… if I was ever to be cursed would you-”

“You don’t even have to ask. Of course I’d stay with you. You’re my best friend, you wouldn’t have to suffer alone,” Luz said, seemingly missing the sad look Amity sported at this. “Me, Willow and Gus and even King? We’d never leave your side.”

“T-Thanks,” Amity stammered. “That’s… well, that’s a huge weight off my chest. Nobody, well nobody’s ever said anything like that to me before.”

“Not even…” Luz trailed off, the unspoken name on her lips. “Not even, well you know who I’m talking about.”

“No, not even her. Lilith, she well I don’t think she saw me as anything other than a way to the top. Just another thing to flaunt her status with,” Amity admitted bitterly. “Training a Blight, well it would be just another thing to hold over her sister wouldn’t it?”

“I’m sure she’s got good points…?” Luz said, obviously searching.

“I doubt it. And before you say it’s because she’s Eda’s sister, the two are like night and day,” Amity said, still bitter. “They’re nothing alike.”

“I’m sure that-”

“No, just stop Luz, please. I know you’re trying to make me feel better,” Amity said, with a weary sad smile. “I appreciate it but please let me explain.”

“Okay…”

“I didn’t question a damn thing under Lilith. I thought she was so… so perfect. I never even realized I was just a pawn in her own sick little twisted game,” Amity scowled. “Something to flaunt to her sister, to say ‘look how much better I am than you’ really.”

“Maybe, but maybe she actually liked having you as a student?” Luz said, obviously theorizing. 

“Maybe… maybe not. I like you Luz, you always want to see the best in people,” Amity squeezed her hand, before laying back and looking up at the stars. “It’s just… oh, how do I put it?”

“In your own time,” Luz said gently, not forcing the matter. Something Amity greatly appreciated.

She’s so patient…

Trying not to look too lovesick, she finally said: “Lilith… She did talk to me about her sister. In her own way, I guess she did care for her. But the woman also felt she was always better than her. That wild magic was something we shouldn’t trust.”

“Yeah, that pretty much tracks with her from what I’ve seen,” Luz said, at least admitting that.

“A part of me still wants to believe her, a part of me still does even. But… but I’ve seen you,” Amity said. “How you use it. You’re different and surprising and so very good at it. I-I want to be wi- I want to be like you.”

She almost slipped up, she almost said those faithful words. The ones that would have ruined their relationship forever.

“My magic, okay yeah I progressed my studies with her, but what did it cost?” Amity had to ask. “Honestly? If I had known about Eda and you and how you two do magic, maybe… Maybe I wouldn’t have been so quick to jump at the chance to study under Lilith.”

“...oh…” Luz said in a small voice, because what else could she say?

A gentle breeze blew through the trees, and Amity shivered. “Come on, we should probably get back inside.”

“Honestly? I think if I’d met Lilith before I met Eda, I would have studied under her as well,” Luz said before that damnable heart-melting smile was back on her face again. “Who knows, maybe we could have been study buddies!”

“I… I think I would have liked that,” Amity said, returning it. “I probably would have hated you at first, thought you a threat to my power and Titan I hate admitting that. But in time, maybe-”

“Maybe what?” Luz prodded gently.

“No, it’s nothing. Sorry, I’m rambling. It doesn’t matter anyways, things didn’t unfold that way,” Amity said. “You ended up with Eda and I ended up with her sister. We can’t change the past, only move forwards to a brighter future.”

“You really could see me as Lilith’s student?” Luz asked.

“Yeah, you’re about as driven as me and well Lilith only accepted the best. And well, she would have had something else to hold over her sister,” Amity said. “I know, I know it’s cynical to think she would have seen you as nothing more than a pawn. Bragging rights really. But-”

“That was your experience with her, and I’m sorry you didn’t get the teacher you wanted,” Luz said.

“That’s just it isn’t it? That’s the thing,” Amity replied. “Lilith was exactly the sort of teacher I wanted. I didn’t think to question if she had some ulterior motive for taking me in or anything else. I just wanted to be the best. Like I wanted to be the best witch in the land and then maybe-”

“-your parents would accept you?” Luz said kindly, grasping her hand gently and looking sad. “I really wish you had a better mom and dad…”

“Yeah, well get in line. I hated the twins for a while, you know. My parents, well they used them against me. It was always ‘look at how good your siblings are’ and all that crap!” Amity said, in a foul tone. “I was such an idiot…”

Luz grasped her hand a little harder, as if they were afraid she’d slip from their grasp. 

“It was probably my father’s idea. He likes experiments, no matter on who or what. If he didn’t get results immediately, well he could wait,” Amity said, her voice still bitter and wishing she could punch her father in his smug face. “My mother always preferred direct immediate results. That’s how I know it was him.”

“God, they suck,” Luz said. “I’m so getting Hooty to help me eggbomb their fucking manor.”

“Well, anyways, the twins and I figured out their game eventually. That’s how you met us at the Knee, refusing to play our parents’ game. We’ve taken ourselves off the board,” Amity said. “I guess I finally took my rebellion too far though…”

“Oh, not this again,” Luz pinched her nose. “We’ve been through this Am. It wasn’t your fault, everything your parents did well it was on them. They cast you out, they treated you like shit. You did nothing to deserve it.”

“T-Thanks Luz, sometimes I get a little lost in my own head. Think the worst of myself,” Amity admitted. “I should probably see a therapist about that one day, make him a very rich man.”

“Well, when you do,” Luz said, as they walked in the warm comfort of Eda’s cottage. “I’ll be with you, right by your side.”

“Hey, Luz, do you like-” Amity wanted to ask so badly, and she’d finally worked up the courage to do so. “Like, do you really like me that way? A-As someone you’ll stay with for t-the rest of your time here I mean?”

Damn it, she’d messed it up. She meant to say for the rest of her life!

“Yeah, of course,” Luz said, hugging her. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. You make me feel so happy Am. I want to be a better witch because of you, you’re an inspiration.”

Me? I’m really her inspiration? Damn, well what am I supposed to say to that?

Luz suddenly swore aloud. “Oh… Oh joder. ¡Lo olvidé totalmente! Damn, I got so caught up in everything else it totally slipped my mind.”

She was rushing towards the kitchen, and digging something out from the cabinets. A small little bottle, and she was unscrewing the top and downing something in it. Little white tablets.

“Oh, yeah, sorry I really should have taken these earlier…” they flushed.

Amity could see the word on the bottle, though she doubted she could pronounce it. It was unfamiliar. Guanfacine?

“Ah, it’s uh… I have this thing, ADHD? It kinda maybe sorta helps me manage it? Gosh, this is so embarrassing,” Luz said frantically. “I know mami says it’s nothing to be ashamed of, but-”

“I don’t care,” Amity said, hugging her from behind. “It’s what makes you, well you.”

“Oh,” Luz said. “I… well, I guess you don’t have the terms for this kinda thing here? Is being neuro-divergent even a thing here? Like I’m not sure you all would understand and I think sometimes maybe I should mask but-”

“No, you don’t have to hide yourself for anyone,” Amity said swiftly and well aware of the bitter irony.

Then why do I keep doing that myself? Why can’t I… it’s my mother talking, I know it. So why do I keep on listening?

-----

Luz was honestly surprised when she woke up that next morning, hearing music coming from up above her room.

Wrapping a robe around themselves, they walked out onto the balcony and climbed up to the roof. There was Raine, gently strumming their lute to greet the morning sun.

“Raine?” she asked, still not fully awake. “You’re up early…”

“I couldn’t sleep,” they admitted, looking incredibly tired. “Just nerves I guess.”

“You’re still thinking about Eda, aren’t you?” Luz said in a knowing voice, their tone awash with sympathy. The Latina sat down next to them, listening to the witch’s gentle tunes. “Yeah, I get what you mean. Sometimes, I… I have nightmares thinking about what the curse might do to them and- Gosh, look at me I’m rambling.”

“It’s okay,” Raine said. “I know Eda says she’s got this well in hand but I know she doesn’t and she’s just lying to save face. We have to find a cure and soon. I’m already working on a few ideas on how to hold the curse back but we need to find out who cursed her and her to reverse it.”

“Her?” Luz said, having picked up on the pronouns they’d used.

“I have… a theory,” Raine admitted. “I just hope I’m wrong. If I’m not… oh, it’s going to break Eda’s heart.”

And then, it hit Luz and she let out a gasp of realization. “You think it’s her sister don’t you?”

“Lilith’s always been jealous of her little sister, and while I don’t want to think she’d take it that far…” Raine stopped to calm themselves, looking a bit furious. “It all fits. She’s the only one I know with the natural talent and…”

“And?” Luz pressed, all the while thinking it was way too early in the morning for this. 

“They were once competing to be in the Emperor’s Coven, I don’t know if Eda mentioned this as it’s not a point of pride for her but-” they paused to see Luz nodding. “Well I think Lilith was jealous, knowing that she’d never make it into the Coven over her sister.”

“But do you really think she’d have gone that far?” Luz whispered in horror.

“I don’t know,” Raine said before admitting: “And I don’t think I want to.”

“S-Should we tell Eda? She, well she has a right to know doesn’t she?” Luz asked.

“I want to tell her, but it’s incredibly awkward. ‘Hey Eda, I think I know who cursed you. Gosh, who? Well, I’m sorry but it’s your sister so surprise?’ and well you can imagine how that’d go,” Raine said sarcastically. “The denial and then the rage. I know it’s for her own good and she should know but I’m just worried about what she’ll do next.”

“Rock and a hard place…” Luz said, nodding along.

“Anyways, let me worry about it. You’re too young to be mixed up in all of this, and you should be living, not worrying so much,” Raine advised, their music forgotten. Their tones were kind and gentle, stirring faint memories in Luz.

They barely remembered their father, only learning from their mami that they’d died in Afghanistan when they were only three. Their mami still kept their papa’s Purple Heart.

“You’re a teenager, you should be worried about school and about crushes,” Raine went on, ruffling her hair with a hand. “I’m truly sorry you had to get mixed up in the Clawthorne family drama.”

“I’ll still be with Eda, every step of the way. She’s like a mentor to me and…” Luz said, before with a shaky voice she said: “Like a second mom.”

It was the first time, they realized, they’d ever worked up the courage to say that aloud.

Oh gosh, was Eda replacing their mami? No, no she wasn’t, the Latina quickly told herself. She was just filling in right?

“All the same, you’re probably right,” Luz said. “It’s just I feel guilty trying to think about other things, Eda needs me!”

“She needs all of us,” Raine said. “But… the way I see it, if you let your fears consume you and you put all of your effort into studying Eda’s curse, well then the rest of your life will pass you by.”

Luz looked confused.

“I know you’re crushing on the Blight girl, maybe you haven’t worked it out for yourself just yet but you too are incredibly close,” Raine said. “You remind me of how Eda and I used to be. Don’t let her slip away, like I did with Eda. You might not be so lucky to get a second chance.”

And at this, Luz realized, she had a lot to think about.

Because Amity was her best friend, she was so driven. She threw herself into magic and it honestly inspired Luz to do better at her studies. To be better. 

It was kinda scary actually. And yet… despite all of this, there lurked a heart of gold underneath that fierce passionate exterior. That fierce passion that made Luz want to be a better witch.

At first, it had been Eda who had been her inspiration. Now though? Now maybe it was someone else.

Oh gosh, her heart. Was it beating just a little bit faster now? Her eyes widened a little.

“Oh,” Luz whispered softly, Raine giving them a knowing smile. “Oh.”

-----

“Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh, what was I thinking?” Amity whispered frantically to herself as she made her way down to breakfast. “I all but confessed to Luz! My Luz! Oh Titan, I’m calling her mine now?”

Oh Titan, if Luz ever heard her, well their friendship would be OVER! Like, she’d never want to see her again and oh Titan if she ever heard any of this things would be incredibly awkward.

Like she’d have to move to another island and change her name levels of awkwardness. Too late she noticed she was flapping her hands slightly and quickly stopped herself before anyone noticed.

Completely undignified.

Too late she realized she sounded exactly like her mother then and there.

“Having a gay crisis, little sis?” Emira asked as she walked down the stairs, still dressed in sleep pants and a t-shirt reading: ‘Thing 1’ on it. It might have been something Eda had found, given the cartoony character that hardly looked like something the Isles would create. Too cutesy for one.

With a little wink and a giggle, Emira said: “Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us!”

Oh, it was way too early in the morning to deal with any of this, Amity had decided.

“...oh, can’t this wait till I’ve at least woken up a little?”

“Oh, so you had a nice sleep~?” Emira teased. “No thoughts of cute little human witches in training keeping you up~?”

“Emira!” Amity hissed out, with her face going a bright red in an embarrassed fury. She scowled and ground her teeth which was something her older sister knew all too well, complete with an: “Oh, I almost passed out!”

“Well, you’re going to have to tell her eventually,” Emira went on. “We’re all waiting, on the edge of our seats for you to fess up. Or maybe for Luz to fess up first, we’re not picky. Someone’s going to have to confess to someone, break the ice.”

“I… Look, I want to, it’s just I don’t want to make it weird okay?” Amity said, running a hand through her hair. “Luz, she’s so good to me and I don’t want to ruin it.”

“R-Ruin it?” her older sister snorted. “Good grief, you really are blind. This isn’t a joke okay, but that girl, they have it baaaaaaaad for you. Like I keep on telling you, that girl is simping.”

“Please don’t joke.”

“I said I wasn’t joking. Look, you’re the person who Luz is closest to. Like you are sharing your private thoughts together. Hell, you’ve got an Azura Book Club together,” Emira went on. “I don’t understand it, and those books make me want to throw up, but there you go. Look, the point is, maybe you should take a chance. Be brave, for once in your life.”

“I am brave!” Amity argued, clutching her Otabin plushie tightly to her chest. Something that before, she knew, she couldn’t dare bring out in fear of her mother seeing. Blights had no time for such childish things after all.

“Mhmmm, maybe. But you should really prove it. Like you need to shoot your shot, before someone else scoops up the girl before you. Cause, I dunno, Willow is pretty close to Luz as well…” Emira trailed off, the implication obvious.

“I refuse to let Willow beat me to Luz’s heart!”

“Oh, is that so?” King cackled from atop the stairs, having been apparently listening in the whole time. “Well, I’ll be rooting for you! Just don’t break their heart otherwise I’ll break you! I’ll use my full demonic powers on you and oh-ho-ho trust me you don’t want to see that!”

Amity, in spite of herself, eeped. No, she really didn’t.

That being said…

“YOU WERE LISTENING IN!?!” she thundered, fury overtaking her. “I don’t care how powerful you are, I’m going to destroy you!”

“Weh?” King yelped, seeing the furious witchlet march up the stairs towards him and decided maybe he should make a tactical retreat. “This… this isn’t me being a coward, I just suddenly remembered I have things to do!”

Maybe going to Hexside and focusing on schoolwork would keep her mind off her cute human friend.

Spoiler, it didn’t.

Because oh wow watching Luz try to succeed at every track in the school just made her face flush harder. In another time, she might have been furious at someone daring to try and outdo her.

But now she just felt inspired. To do better. To be a better witch.

“She’s really something, isn’t she?” Skara said, tuning up her violin for her next class. “Like I saw her in classes today, and she… well, I didn’t recognize any of the tunes but apparently she’s very good at these songs from something she calls anime?”

Indeed, Skara found herself singing a tune from one of these anime. Obviously, Amity understood very little of it though the tune sounded nice at least.

Maybe Amity’s soul lifted a little as she imagined the light of her life singing that. “Well, I don’t understand any of the lyrics but they sound nice right?”

“Yeah, they do…” Amity admitted. “You think I should ask Luz to Grom?”

“Is that a rhetorical question?” Skara said, knowing she was being watched by the whole school for even associating with a No-Name but not really caring. 

“It’s just, well Emira she said I should before someone else takes their shot. Do… do you really think that’s possible? That someone else has a crush on Luz?”

“She’s pretty popular amongst the tracks, so maybe?” Skara guessed. “Like, honestly, that girl could probably win over anyone on the Isles. She’s so peppy really. Honestly, give her enough time and she could probably win over Belos.”

“That’s scary and I hate how much you’re probably right,” Amity said. “On both counts. Yeah, you and Emira are probably right. No, I know you’re right and yet every time I even think of asking out Luz my stomach seizes up or the words come out wrong and gaaaaaaagh.”

Skara patted her on the shoulder.

“I’m supposed to be Little Miss Perfect at everything. Straight hair, straight As, and just straight forwards. So why can’t I be straight with Luz?”

Skara snorted. “Probably because you never were.”

Amity glared at her before sighing. “Yeah, you’ve got me there. It’s just my heart flutters and yet I don’t dare utter a word. Because, before, well a Blight being seen with a human would have ruined things for me.”

She paused, before smiling.

“Then again, it’s a good thing I’m not a Blight anymore… isn’t it?”

Chapter Text

Amity walked into the living room to hear a small cheer of victory, seeing her crush -still pajama-clad- doing a small victory dance. “YES! Check it out, King: my glyph skills are blossoming!”

A little vine was coming up from what was apparently a new glyph, flowers sprouting from it. Willow would have been almost proud. Amity rolled her eyes at the pun. Really Luz?

King sat nearby, uninterested with his eyes on Luz’s ‘scroll’. “You think that's impressive? Check this out! Two warriors battling to the death!”

Amity honestly doubted that’s what Luz would ever let him watch, and was proven correct when they leaned over.

“Ah. I see we're getting enough Wi-Fi through the portal for cat videos,” the Latina chuckled, sitting down next to him and scooping the little demon into her lap.

“Senseless violence. Yes, attack! DEATH IS YOUR GOD!” King roared.

“Okay, that’s enough for you,” Raine said, taking the device from his hands without even looking as they passed by. “I think you’ve seen enough for right now, you’re going mad with power again.”

They’d settled into the idea of being the Owl House’s other parental figure surprisingly well, and honestly a part of Amity hoped that they would admit their increasingly obvious feelings for Eda.

Yes, she was totally shipping them. It was like something out of a romance novel, two long lost star-crossed lovers reunited once more.

“I regret teaching him about the internet,” was Luz’s only thought on the matter as she looked at King. “What terrible manner of beast have I unleashed upon the world?”

The little demon laughed. “Hah! What possible regrets could come from the internet?” he asked before looking straight at Raine. “Oh! Did you know that the Earth is actually flat?”

“N-No, I didn’t but thank you for teaching me.”

“It’s not,” Luz swiftly corrected. “And right, never have this kid meet Tiny Nose, or have Tiny Nose meet the internet. I shudder to imagine what kind of flame wars would erupt.”

“Oh, is that like whenever Eda exchanges ‘spicy tosses’ with someone?” Raine asked.

Luz appeared to consider the matter before saying: “Er… something like that yeah.”

The device shook in Raine’s hands, and they handed it back to Luz who took a look and swallowed at something.

“Er… right, oh, yeah I’m going to have to tell Mami someday,” Luz said as she hastily typed something. “But yeah, not today. Like what am I supposed to say? "Hey mom, not at camp actually! I'm in the demon realm learning to be a witch! Also, did you know that demons and magic are real?" She. Will. End me.”

Luz took a deep breath after her rapid babbling, looking for anyone for guidance.

“I’ve always found that honesty is the best policy,” Raine said gently.

Amity flinched, thinking of a lovingly written note hidden away in her desk that she’d been considering taking to school and giving her crush. Oh, it would at least salvage the day if everything else went bad.

She rubbed her arm, knowing her luck she knew exactly how today was going to turn out. There would be a battle to the death today, just not one on the internet.

So why couldn’t she work up the courage to be honest? She needed courage today. One less thing for that beast to use against her.

Her fist clenched, why did this have to be so hard?

“Nah, she'd be freaked out by our world anyway,” King suggested leaping up onto Luz’s shoulder. “So actually, by keeping the truth from her, you're doing her a favor!”

Raine didn’t look pleased by his ‘helpfulness’ really.

“I suppose, but I think Raine’s right. As much as I’d like to say the demon on my shoulder has a good point…” Luz mused to themselves as they walked off to go change. “I think Mami will have to learn eventually. Just… just not today. Tomorrow maybe.”

“Grom night Raine!” Eda said, chipper as she walked in. “Ooooooh, I remember ours… There was a lot of fun that night.”

“Grom?” Luz said from another room, letting out a little gasp. “You guys have a version of prom on the Boiling Isles? I was kicked out of my last school dance for dressing like an otter, but here, I can be your Grom queen!”

Amity flinched again, imagining her Luz facing that beast.

“That’s… not something most people sign up for, Luz. We do things here a little differently,” she said quickly.

“Yeah, here it’s a whole event. There’s going to be blood, there’s going to be guts, probably even a bit of death!” Eda said, probably way more excited than she really needed to be. “Inner demons exposed!”

“Oooooohkay,” Luz blinked, confused as she walked in and dressed in her school robes.

“Every year, the school hosts this thing, it’s a whole thing really because underneath the school lurks a beast that takes the shape of your worst fear,” Raine kindly explained. “Defeat the beast, and it never ravages the town.”

“Cool,” Luz said, Amity not really wanting to agree because a part of her just knew that it’d be her facing the beast. “It’s like a WWE match, but with fear demons. Metal!”

Amity sighed to herself, they always had such a… unique perspective on everything here. If you say so Luz.

Before she could raise her objection to the matter and before anything else could happen Hooty popped in and swung the door open. “Hoot hoot, housemates! Time to fill up that darling little head of yours with…” here he threw up her and Amity’s books. “Delicious knowledge!”

“Please hurry!” Gus said as he peeked inside.

“The more I look at him, the more uncomfortable I get,” Willow said quietly, looking about as green as some of her plants.

Amity wasn’t too far behind, even staying at the house this long she still hadn’t gotten used to him. But had she not been so hasty to get out of the door and think about her studies -not about what possibly lay ahead- she might have overheard something life-changing.

“Hoot hoot,” Hooty said to Luz, spitting up a wrinkled-up note and wiggling his eyebrows. “I found this in Amity’s desk, and ooooooh I think it has your name on it!”

“Hooty, don’t go peeking around in other people’s things,” Raine sighed, half-heartedly. “Just… please.”

“Maybe it’s for the better that he did this time, eh?” Eda asked, waggling her eyebrows. “Go on Luz, it’s obviously for you, so go on. Read it.”

“Maybe later,” Luz said. “Bump lets me get away with a lot, but I think even he has his limits and I refuse to test them by being late for class.”

-----

Luz’s heart raced, as she felt around for the note in her pocket. Did she even have a right to look at it? Okay, sure it was addressed to her but in the end it was obviously private. Amity herself had been hoping to give to her, as in person.

Should she just attempt to sneak it back to her? Before the girl ever even noticed?

Or should she…

“Hey Luz!” 

The friendly voice pulled her from her thoughts, Edric’s chipper tones greeting the air as he strode up to her. Emira raced to catch up to her twin.

“Listen, I’m… no, we’re worried about Amity. She’s probably going to be announced as Grom Queen this year,” Edric said, concerned. “I don’t know for certain that she is, but given her luck as of late…”

“Oh…” Luz trailed off before her eyes widened in realization. “OH Oh… Oh fuck, yeah that’s not good.”

She wasn’t a genius, but she didn’t have to be to realize Amity facing the monster after the week she’d have would not be good. 

“You’re… you’re thinking it might overwhelm her,” Luz said. “That she won’t be able to stop it, and that, well… I think I can guess what she’ll probably see. Your mother, her mother, the uber-Karen.”

“What’s a Karen? No, wait, never mind!” Edric dismissed that thought before nodding. “Well, it’s not exactly a stretch to assume that, well…”

“So, what, do I take her place if she’s announced to be Grom Queen or something?” Luz asked, just throwing the suggestion out there.

“You know, that’s not a bad idea!” Edric agreed.

“Edric!” Emira hissed out, obviously not of the same mind. She looked back at Luz. “I’m sorry, it’s not that we don’t have faith in you, but do you really know what facing your fears means? Like, do you really know what you’re afraid of?”

Luz paused, not really unable to come up with an answer. Damn! She had her there.

“...Jerks on the internet who want to debate?” they finally answered, somewhat weakly.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’m sorry Luz, honestly this is a really bad situation all around isn’t it?” Emira agreed, bitterly. “Look, just…”

She sighed.

“Just be there for Mittens when you can, however you can, okay?” Emira finally said after a moment or two of thought. “You’re good for her.”

“G-Good for her?” Luz stuttered. “B-But I’m just me.”

Edric leaned up against a wall and chuckled.

“Exactly,” said he. “Really Luz, you’re not giving yourself nearly enough credit. Amity likes you, I haven’t seen her smile this much in a while.”

Amity’s smile was really pretty… No, no! Don’t get distracted! 

“She’s had a week, and you know what’s kept her going huh? Do you?” Emira questioned, leaning down to look Luz in the eye and poking her in the chest. “Take a guess cutie, because it’s you.”

“M-Me?” Luz stammered out, the red returning.

“Yeah, it’s you. She came to the Owl House because she knew it’s where you lived, not because of Eda but because she knew it’s where you lived,” Emira explained. “Oh, she never says it in so many words, but it’s because she knows where you live. You are her rock.”

Edric nodded. “Honestly, we’ve failed Mittens way too many times in the past and well as much as either of us would like to say we’re the reason she’s smiling so much nowadays? Well, we can’t.”

Oh…

Luz knew what they were implying. Could she dare to believe it? Could she dare to believe that Amity liked her like that?

There was a note. It could have been a confession, it could have been something like that.

But Luz knew that they had been given notes before, always in lead-ups to pranks. That whenever someone confessed to wanting to have them around it never had been serious.

Luz wanted people to notice her, she knew. So she acted out, hoping that people would see that she was fun and funny and just another one of the girls.

But nobody noticed. It had all fed into this ugly vicious cycle of nobody noticing her so she kept on acting out and so people ignored her. Just hoping that maybe she’d go away.

She fought back a sob, she knew Amity would never prank her like that. That she’d never ever be that cruel.

And yet that paranoid little part of her was wondering, well what if she could?

Oh… Oh, maybe that was what she was afraid of. Maybe that’s what Grom would show her if she ever were to face it. Luz had a very ugly sneaking suspicion of what her worst fear was.

And yet Raine’s words were coming back to mind, even now. That maybe she should give things a chance, before Amity slipped away from her forever.

Her hands went to the note in her pocket, shakily bringing it out.

“Oooooooh, what’s this?” Edric asked, leaning in for a look before his twin tugged him away.

Luz opened the note and her eyes widened. While it was no love note, it was close enough. It was shakily written, by an understandably nervous hand. It was short, simple but concise.

“Luz Noceda, will you be my date to Grom?”

Yes, yes YES! She would!

Wiping teary eyes, Luz smiled. “You didn’t even have to ask Amity…”

The happiness was short-lived though.

“Attention Hexside students. This is your principal speaking,” Bump’s voice crackled through loudspeakers.

“Oh, here we go…” Edric murmured, not really wanting to hear this.

Luz knew Amity was probably wanting to run and hide now, and a part of her wanted to race to the witch’s side and tell her that whatever happened they’d face it together. Fear demon or no fear demon.

“This year, I have the privilege to bestow our highest Grom honor to... Amity Blight!”

Oh boy. Well, time to test those words.

“Our Grom queen!”

Luz was right to be worried honestly.

Even now, poor Amity’s heart raced, she knew what was ahead of her. Grometheus, the Fear-Bringer. As much as Bump loved to dress things up and call it a tradition and the highest honor, what it really meant was probably traumatizing some poor kid for life.

Heh, wonder if her ex-parents knew or cared?

They’d probably read about it in the papers tomorrow, assuming Bonesbourogh was still in one piece and not ruled by a demon.

It was all luck of the draw, she knew. That Bump hadn’t specifically picked her out of all the witches in the school. Some luck though.

“Amity,” Willow said as she walked up, the stout little witch adjusting her glasses. “For what it’s worth-”

“Spare me your sympathies, it’s not like it’s going to change anything,” Amity said evenly. “I’m going to face Grom no matter what you say.”

“Can’t you go to Bump, and ask if you can opt out?” Skara asked.

“Aahahahahahaha,” Amity laughed long and hard before realizing she wasn’t joking. “Oh, you’re serious. No, this is tradition and if I don’t face Grom myself, some other poor sap is going to have to take my place.”

Some other poor sap who probably wasn’t up for it. Hell, it could have been Luz and that would be something Amity would never accept. Luz being put in danger just because she didn’t have the courage to face her own fears.

“It would probably be Luz, wouldn’t it?” Amity asked. “She’d have to face Grom if I can’t. I can’t risk her being put in harm’s way just because I’m a coward.”

“It’s… nobody would blame you if you opted out,” Willow suggested.

“And someone else would have to face the beast, and they may not be ready. I am Amity Blight, the top student in this school and I have to do this,” Amity said. “Plus, there’s something else…”

“Your family pride?” Willow guessed.

“Exactly. I may not be a Blight in name anymore, but I am still one in spirit,” Amity said. “There are still certain things to be expected of me.”

Willow stood in front of her, eyes narrowed and looking furious.

“You can’t let your parents rule your life anymore, especially when they’re not even your parents anymore,” Willow said, placing a firm hand on Amity’s shoulder. “What will it take to get that through to you?”

“This isn’t about what my parents think, not anymore,” Amity said, pulling herself out of her old friend’s grip. “This is about the Blights who came before. I refuse to let my parents have the last say on if I’m a Blight or not. I will not shame my family, my ancestors.”

“Well, it’s an improvement at least,” Willow muttered, before shaking her head and then saying: “But what about your new family? Eda and Raine and Luz and King?”

“What about… where are you going with this?” Amity questioned.

“They’re just as much of your family as the Blights are,” Willow said. “Just something to think about.”

Amity knew she was right, but admitting that was easier said than done. The entire Owl House… It had been nothing but kind and patient with her.

It had taken her in when she was at her lowest and helped build her back up. She probably could call herself a member of Eda’s little clan if she wanted to.

Well then, that settled things didn’t it?

“Then I’ll be fighting for them as well,” Amity decided. “If Grom breaks free, it won’t just stop at the town. It’ll head for the Owl House next and I don’t want anyone else to suffer because of me. Least of all them. I have to defeat it.”

Willow nodded. “Well, we’ll be here to help you in any way we can. Do… I have to ask, and sorry if this is too personal but do you know what your worst fear is?”

Amity didn’t really have to think about it for too long, and already she was imagining the shape the beast would take. What it would morph into.

“Yes,” she said simply. “I know exactly who I’ll be facing.”

Her choice of words was missed by no one.

“Who… You… Oh Amity…” Willow whispered. Amity was glad she didn’t see the tear that was rolling down her face.

Her heart raced, thinking of how many people she’d disappointed in her life. Odaila hated her and said she’d try again with a new daughter. Because obviously, she wasn’t up to snuff.

That her tool to continue the Blight legacy into the modern day was obviously faulty. Of course, it didn’t just stop there, did it?

Lilith had tossed her aside, even used her in a plot to upstage her sister.

That’s all she’d ever been, a pawn in someone’s game.

Even now, Amity worried if she’d disappoint Luz somehow. That the image the Latina probably had of her in her mind would never be a reality.

Luz had shined a light into her life, and brought her out of the darkness. The Latina had kept her on the right path.

If she hadn’t shown up, Amity knew she would still be suffering in silence. She’d probably still be on the fast track to the Emperor’s Coven, becoming the tool of a tyrant. Yet another pawn on yet another witch’s chessboard.

Well, it was time to take herself off of those boards, and live her life her own way, Amity knew.

All she had to do was face a fear demon. Easy!

----

“Eda, I… I have to ask, will you be my date to Grom?”

Oh, that brought back memories. That single sentence stirred up more than she’d ever like to admit.

They’d been more than friends once, and then she’d foolishly pushed her rainstorm away. All because of this damn curse. Yet another thing it had taken from her.

Well, now Raine knew the reason and refused to run away even if common sense told them they should.

Eda knew she now had a second chance, against all odds the Titan had given her a second chance with life and with love.

Love. That was a funny word she’d never imagined even saying aloud. And yet she knew it was the word she was searching for.

It was the only word that fit what she had with Raine back then.

Two awkward teenagers in a whirlwind romance for the ages and she’d ruined it with her own fears. Well, maybe she should try again.

If Raine would let her.

Maybe it was too much to hope for, maybe the curse had done too much damage. Maybe it had rotten away any chance she had to fully repair what they once had. It certainly did that to everything else.

No healing spell in existence could ever fully repair the damage.

Fear gripped at her heart like a vice, dare she take the plunge?

And she jumped.

“Yeah, it should bring back a few memories right?” Eda finally said. “Oh, I remember our first Grom. It was a scream!”

Puns to ward away the encroaching dread, the fear that she’d somehow screw this all up again.

NO! She would make sure this time Raine stayed, she wouldn’t let the curse control her ever again. That damn owl had taken enough from her.

No more. No more!

“‘Y-Yeah it was. I think I was the one doing the screaming,” Raine said. “You think it’ll be one of our kids who’s chosen as the King or Queen this year?”

Their kids? Well, damn, she supposed they really were by this point.

Luz had found some way to weave her little human heart into her home, making herself a constant presence. Her name apparently meant ‘light’ in her weird human language.

Well, that made a certain amount of sense, given that Eda knew she’d been in a dark place before Luz had arrived.

Just living day to day, wasting her magic away and letting her potential wither away and hoping for a quick and easy death. 

Now though?

Now though, she had something to live for.

Several things actually. Each of her kids, and she’d never asked for any one of them but each of them had found a way to shackle themselves to her heart.

Amity, the sad but constantly seeking approval misfit. Edric and Emira, the terrible twosome who worshipped her every step.

And now Raine as well. Looking them in the eyes, Eda thought of a better time and knew that if she fought for it, she could get all of that back. And more.

In another time and place, yeah she might have still been running. But not anymore.

Oh look at me going all sappy, I guess these damn kids really do a number on you.

“Probably,” Eda finally answered. “It’ll probably be Boots. Grom… well, I hope she’s ready. It won’t take an Oracle to see what she’ll be facing. Look, I like seeing kids get squashed and smashed but not when they’re my kids.”

“Mine too,” Raine said, gripping her hand lightly. It was like they were still afraid she’d slip away from them. “I… I want to help, even if I know we can’t interfere. This is something she has to face herself.”

“Well, maybe not by herself,” Eda said. “Heh, if I know Luz, that little snot will find a way to make sure that Boots won’t be facing things alone. We’ll just have to cheer them on.”

“You don’t seem worried,” Raine observed.

“Hell yeah I’m worried, I’m worried about all of our kids but I can’t exactly just hamper their development can I?” Eda said. “These kids… fuck, these kids have already managed to surprise me with how resilient they are. They’re all going to be just fine.”

“I… I think you’re right,” Raine said. “So, in which case, do you want to see where they’ll go together?”

The implication was far from subtle.

“Mhmmmm, this curse has taken enough from me and I refuse to let it take anymore. I’m sorry for leaving you, not telling you anything when you had a right to the truth,” Eda said, cupping their face. “Never again. I will never lie to you again.”

Fear used to keep her from doing anything. The future, well she wasn’t a member of the Oracle Coven. She couldn’t see it.

But she knew it had to have a few good things in store for her.

Amity hoped her future was bright as well, especially now that her father was in front of her. She didn’t know where he’d come from, but she had a guess why he’d come.

“I’m sorry, I should have stopped your mother. You’re not a failure, Amity. You’re a powerful witch in your own right, your mother is a fool for not seeing that,” Alador said, though his tone suggested he really wasn’t interested in her.

At least not as a daughter.

Just another person wanting her on their damn chessboard.

“Well, I’m sorry but Odalia isn’t my mother,” Amity said, not even hesitating. “And you aren’t my father. You want to see just how powerful I am? Well, just watch and you’ll see for yourself tonight.”

“I will be.”

“That’s not a request, I want you to see just how powerful I am,” Amity said, her glare venomous and her tone absolutely poisonous. “Not just here, but in whatever else I do with my life. I refuse to be anyone’s pawn. See if you can make an abomination that can be like that huh?”

Chapter Text

The time was approaching fast. For in only about an hour or two she’d be descending down those steps to face the beast below. And the ones within.

Amity stared at the deep void stretching out in front of her, knowing what lurked down in the yawning darkness below. 

On either side of her, weapons to face the monster. She would be like a knight slaying a dragon, she imagined Luz saying to her.

Like a real hero of old, someone out of the pages of an Azura novel. That thought gave Amity little comfort honestly. Her knees almost gave way at the thought of it all.

The heroes in the books were always so confident, facing their demons with a steely-eyed grin and a quick quip at the ready.

Amity quickly closed the pit back up with the press of a button, she knew even now Grom could feel her fear. Honestly, she didn’t want to give it any more ammo than she really needed to.

The school thought this was some grand event, like a spectator sport. This wasn’t like the Banshees facing their rival teams! 

She felt a pair of arms snake around from behind, holding her tight. A familiar breath on the back of her neck and a head resting on her shoulder.

“L-Luz?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” there was a slight stammer in her voice but as always the Latina was warm and comforting. Her soothing tones were always welcome in Amity’s world. “Soooooooooo… Grom’s down there huh?”

“Everyone says I can face him,” Amity said. “I-I wish I could believe them, I know what it’ll turn into. Who it’ll turn out. My mother, I’m going to have to face her again.”

“She’s a slimy puta , just insult her to her face. View the whole thing as catharsis for how she’s treated you over the years right?” Luz said, her head still resting on Amity’s shoulder.

“Y-Yeah, that seems right, and I love how you’re so casual about this,” Amity said, once again subconsciously gripping her arm. She shouldn’t do it, she knew she shouldn’t. It was unsightly and Luz could see.

“How… How unafraid for me you are,” Amity went on. “Like you know I’ll beat this thing, that I’ll triumph.”

“Because I know you will, you’re Amity fucking Blight, no matter what anyone else says, amIrite?” Luz said, one of her hands moving down to grip Amity’s own and squeezing tightly. 

“I… Thanks.”

“You mother… I think I genuinely hate her, I don’t think I’d ever say that about anyone,” Luz confessed. “But I am about her. She did so much damage to you…”

“She’s not my mother anymore Luz,” Amity said, not even hesitating.

“But all the same! You need all of the positive affirmations you can get!” Luz agreed. “You are a witch, probably one of the best I’ve ever seen. You’re like a character out of a novel.”

Amity couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her on what Luz had to say next.

“You’re like Azura to me.”

Oh… Oh. That was what she really thought she was to her? Oh… oh Titan. Temporarily rendered speechless, Amity’s heart beat just that little bit faster and for a moment she thought she might faint from all the blood rushing to her head.

“Oh Luz…” Amity finally whispered and wrenched herself from Luz’s grip; she turned back to face the Latina. “I… I’m glad you think I’m like some epic hero out of a fairy tale, but I’m really not. I’m just me.”

“And you being you is all that matters,” Luz said. “That’s the girl I’m proud to call my best friend. I… I got your note, you know.”

Her… her note? Amity gasped. OhTitanohTitanohTitan she knows, she probably knows what I really feel for her and oh this going to be so awkward and she’ll never want to associate with me again and-

Luz cut off her panicking with a quick kiss to the cheek, a simple act but utterly reassuring. “And of course, I’m saying yes. I’d be proud to go to Grom with you.”

Luz was holding both of her hands now. They were smiling, not knowing just how much they were making ‘poor’ Amity’s little heart flutter up a storm right about now.

“And if you need me to be, I’ll be right there for you by your side when you face Grom,” Luz assured. “That’s what I’m here for right? Azura had her partner, and you have yours.”

Luz probably didn’t remember it, but Azura had eventually married her partner.

“Together forever right? Witches joined at the hip.”

And infuriatingly, Luz was still smiling.

Amity couldn’t help herself, and flung herself at Luz with a little sob clutching them tightly. Luz was holding her tightly, even as Amity continued to cry, with her body shaking with sobs.

Luz felt oddly happy that the girl had let herself be this vulnerable around her. Even as she held Amity, she was smiling. Her best friend had been bottling all of this up for so long and she’d never had a chance to even think about any of this.

And now Luz, a little stupid slightly weird, hyperactive her had made all of this happen. Just by standing by her side whenever she needed it most.

Obviously she had her suspicions of course, about everything. That Amity hadn't been saying everything, that she was holding back more than she was willing to let on.

About masking and passing off as neurotypical even if she was ashamed of it all. Luz knew that feeling all too well, and when Amity felt comfortable enough to drop the mask, they’d happily see her do it.

Finally, all tears were spent and Amity looked up at them. “Thank you.”

Luz wasn’t sure what she was being thanked for, the compliments or standing by her or just being a shoulder to cry on. But whatever.

“You’re welcome Am. Come on though, we’d better get dressed. Can’t face a fear demon without looking our best right?”

-----

Back at the Owl House, Luz sorted through her closet. She was currently holding up something she’d borrowed from Eda’s hand-me-downs, something the witch had said never went out of style.

“Which should I wear to Grom? Hmmm Ams? Need your feedback here,” Luz said, as they held up the dress. Amity sat nearby on the bed. “This one says, ‘witch with a dark side.’ and I kinda think it’s cool. Plus, it’s stylish.”

“Yeah, but it’s not really you is it?” Amity said with a shrug before getting up and pulling out an otter suit. “Now this… this on the other hand? It’s totally you. It says ‘otter with a dark side’ and wait, weren't you kicked out of that Prom thing wearing this?”

“Eh, nobody understands my genius!” Luz said with a little dismissive wave. “The rest of the fashion world just has to catch up, that’s all!”

Amity giggled.

Luz meanwhile found herself with an eye on her phone, it shaking as her mami texted her. “Mira! Visiting our fav after school snack spot!”

She smiled a little at seeing her mother outside that sandwich shop they liked so much. 

“Miss you BEBE! XO!”

She had a right to know, Luz knew. So why couldn’t she just tell her? She looked back towards Amity, who she suddenly remembered had her own fears to face.

‘Look at me, worrying about my Mami and what she’d think about all of this in the future when AMITY needs my help here and now.’ Luz chastised themselves.

“Take this, it may help you on your quest,” Luz said, reaching into her closet to pull out an old baseball bat. She’d tried out for her school’s team with it, and failed.

Now though, it was covered in glyphs and served an entirely new purpose. 

To their delight, Amity took it and slowly began to study it and realize what she was being handed.

“For emergencies. I may not have my staff yet, or a Palismen but I improvise,” Luz said, giving their best winning grin. “I… I thought it might help you.”

Amity hugged her. “Thank you, it means everything coming from you. I’ve… I’ve never had gifts like this, not often anyways. Ones from the heart anyways.”

“I couldn’t let you face Grom without some of the odds in your favor! Every glyph I’ve discovered so far, ice, plants and of course light!” Luz beamed.

“Light, fitting. It’s the first glyph you ever discovered, right?” Amity asked, and Luz confirmed it with a nod, gently pulling Luz into sitting down next to her on the bed.  “And… It’s your name. You’re Luz, shining your light into the darkness. Brightening up my life.”

It was incredibly cheesy, Amity knew, but maybe she liked it that way.

She studied the glyphs, a paranoid part of her thinking maybe that maybe there just weren’t enough littering the baseball bat.

And so she drew a few more, studying and copying as she etched them into the wood. And then she got to thinking.

‘Luz should have discovered more by now, right? I know she’s slow at learning new spells, but…’ Amity thought before something occurred to her. ‘Maybe she’s so slow at discovering new glyphs to augment her magic because there’s only 3-4 of them. But that would mean…’

It was a crazy thought, probably not even worth considering.

“What? What is it?” Luz asked urgently, seeing the expression on her face. “I know that face, that’s your ‘deep in thought’ face!”

“Luz, and this is probably going to sound a bit crazy but maybe the reason you’re not discovering that many glyphs is because maybe there simply aren’t that many to begin with?” Amity theorized, getting up and pacing back and forth in rapid thought.

Luz listened intently, hanging on her every word.

“This is a wild thought, and I probably don’t have any way to prove it, but I am thinking these glyphs when combined in different ways might -and this is only a might so don’t get your hopes up- be the backbone of all wild magic as we know it!” Amity exclaimed, excited and flapping her hands a bit.

Something she apparently hadn’t even noticed.

“I… I dunno Ams, I want to believe it, but Eda, she’s the expert on Wild Magic isn’t she?” Luz asked carefully, not wanting to think badly of her mentor.

She wasn’t perfect but… She had to be the world’s biggest expert on magic that Luz knew, which granted was a fairly small reference pool.

“She didn’t know about glyphs either, did she?” Amity pointed out, and Luz hung her head. Amity tilted her chin back upward with two fingers so the Latina could look her in the eyes. “Hey, I’m not saying Eda’s not a great mentor okay? I’m just saying she may not know everything.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Luz said. “Hey Ams, thanks. You’re the best.”

“No, you are,” Amity said, their lips tantalizingly close. “Without you, I might not have half of the courage to face this thing. Eda, well, she didn’t help me here. You did.”

And speaking of Eda, she chose that exact moment to barge in dressed in actually a fairly nice brown tux. She held up a yellow bow-tie. “Hey kids, what do you think? Yellow bow tie or no? Flapper or slapper?”

“Girl, you can make anything work! Hey, sweet duds, owl lady! What's the haps?” Luz asked.

“Me and Raine are chaperoning tonight, and honestly you kids should get dressed too. Considering if you’re going to be all sweet on each other, you might as well do it at the dance,” Eda said with a knowing wink, and both girls flushed. “Goodness knows, might be your last chance before one of you gets eaten alive by a fear demon!”

“Eda!” Luz hissed.

“Aw, I kid. I know you’re both ready to handle it, and don’t think I don’t know you’re both going to try to face it together,” Eda said. “There’s no real splitting you two apart. Oh, you two remind me of Raine and I back in the day. Inseparable!”

Though her gaze actually was drifting to a picture of her and Lilith on the nightstand, not that Luz chose to comment on it.

“Well, come along you little terrors! We are going to rule this school!”

And honestly, Luz felt a lot more confident now that Eda thought that they could do it. A few precious moments before the main event.

And as she twirled with Amity on the dance floor, she felt like she was ready for anything. Rockabilly music played in the background, Gus and King setting up for their color commentary.

And Luz’s eyes found themselves wandering to Raine and Eda, who looked like nothing in the world could tear them apart. For once, they thought, Eda looked totally at peace.

Indeed, a content and loving smile was on her face as she slow-danced with Raine.

“This… this is nice,” Raine said as they glided across the dance floor. “Putting aside what’s about to happen, this… we should have done this a long time ago.”

“I was an idiot Rainstorm, I thought by pushing you away I’d be keeping you safe,” Eda replied, gently pressing her forehead to theirs. “I… I should have known better, like I should have put more faith in you.”

“No time for regrets now, what’s done is done,” Raine said. “We’ve made our choices, we can’t go back in time to fix them.”

“Tell me, why did you come crawling back? I thought you never wanted to see me again, our break up…” Eda said. “It was messy and ugly and I broke your heart.”

“I came back because I knew you’d need me. I’d heard about Luz and I knew the Emperor would be hunting her. Eda, I don’t know his plans, but I’m tired of being a tool for a tyrant,” Raine confessed. “The more I thought about it, the more I realized I wasn’t happy with where my life was going.”

“Happy? Why wouldn’t you be happy? You’re the head of the Bard Coven,” Eda exclaimed as they continued to dance. “You’d have everything you’d ever want, respect and adoring fans and acknowledgment. Why wouldn’t you be happy with any of that?”

“Because I’d still be alone, because even if I’m the head of the coven it wouldn’t mean anything if you weren’t there,” Raine said and Eda gasped as she realized. “That’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted.

“Oh Rainstorm…” Eda said, her eyes admittedly watery. “I guess… Well, I’ve had plenty of relationships over the years, everyone wants a piece of this ass. But that’s all they were, flings. None of them were ever fulfilling. And I think I know why.”

“Yeah, me too,” Raine said, pressing their forehead back to hers. But before they could close the gap, the music stopped and the floor opened. The time had come, and the chanting had begun.

Amity could hear it, it wasn’t for her though. “GROM! GROM! GROM!”

How reassuring.

With careful nervous steps, she and Luz descended into the depths, with one hand grasped tightly in Luz’s and the other gripping her improvised weapon.

“I'm not sure if it's nerves or if I accidentally drank some milk, but something's making my stomach squirm,” Luz admitted.

“Honestly, I'm kind of amazed with how fearless you’ve been. You've done things I could never do.”

“Ha, you going soft on me Blight?” Luz teased punching Amity in the arm. “You need to give yourself more credit though! You’re just as brave as I am.”

“I wish, you don’t seem to fear anything.”

“Y-Yeah, that’s me!” Luz stammered. “I’m the bravest girl around!”

That statement would be tested soon enough.

Something moved in the shadows, slithering just out of view and Amity kept a watchful eye on it. An inky blackness coiled around her, forming a shape.

“I read a book once, it wasn't as good as Azura and the author a total transphobe but it had a fear creature like this,” Luz said, swinging a frail covered in glyph paper. “Couldn’t handle two people at once, ended up turning into half a slug. Not even remotely scary, right?”

Amity knew what she was thinking.

“You’re thinking Grom won’t be able to decide between the two of us at once?” she said. “Worth a shot!”

Evidently not because then the demon chose a form and a fear and soon the basilisk from a few weeks before rose up in front of Amity hissing loudly.

“ Yare yare … Guess we’ll just have to send this thing back into re-extinction then!” Luz said, letting out a most unusual war cry: “For the Honor of Grayskull!”

Now Amity had never heard of this ‘Grayskull’ but clearly it gave Luz strength as one good whack sent the beast flying backwards and partially encased in ice.

The beast broke free, and shifted form becoming what looked like cats but with human faces.

“Luz, help me. I'm a man. Make me human again!”

“Ewww, weird, but not scary,” Luz said, sending the cats flying as ice erupted from beneath their paws. She could hear her fellow students roar in approval above her. “That's the best you got BITCH? Bring it on!”

“Maybe we shouldn’t be encouraging him?” Amity suggested as once again the beast chose the best form to attack her.

It was rising up from behind Amity as a cloud of dark smoke, shifting into a massive version of Odaila.

“Look at you, you’re useless useless useless!” Odaila chastised. “You need a human to help you out!”

Amity flinched a little before her eyes narrowed and she stood her ground. “Luz is my best friend Odaila. You don’t get to decide who I hang around with, not anymore! Here’s a gift from Mo-Eda and me to you! Spicy toss!”

With that, she lobbed a fireball right through her mother and the dark cloud dissipated before reforming around Luz.

Into a phone with wings, and on the screen a guy in a white hat.

“M’lady,” it said. “Care to trade politics?”

“You're not coming from a place of intellectual honesty, so debating you would be pointless!” Luz cried not even bothering with a spell and just straight up smashing the screen with a punch.

“And there she goes, folks!” Gus shouted from above. “Using that characteristic human magic to keep Grom at bay! And now, to hand things over to my co-emcee: King!”

Luz blocked out the color commentary as she saw the smoke shift into yet another familiar form.

“Oh, look at you, apprentice,” Lilith said with a dark mocking little laugh. “How far you’ve fallen. You could have been a part of the might and the majesty of the Emperor's Coven, instead you decided to hang out with my sister. You really missed an opportunity.”

Amity took a few nervous steps back, and Grom sensing a bit of weakness closed in.

“It’s just as well I suppose, everything you try to be you fail at. A good friend, well you did a wonderful job at that,” Lilith continued to lecture. “I’m sure Willow’s so proud, she’s really reaping the rewards of your friendship right now isn’t she?”

“It’s not real, don’t listen to her!” Luz called.

“I made a mistake, and it was my parents who made that decision for me. Never again,” Amity said. These were all thoughts she’d had, she knew but she refused to let them control her.

“Oh yes, your parents. They know the truth, about how you’re worthless as a witch. They gave you to me just because they were desperate. I was their last resort,” the fake Lilith said, advancing on her. “That they hoped I could turn you into something they could actually be proud of. You disappointed them, and you disappointed me.”

“Right back at you…” Amity said, though her voice was obviously not quite as confident as her words. “You disappointed me as well, you cheated and I hate cheating. I’m a Blight, I associate with few and you have only yourself to blame for me associating with even fewer.”

“There’s still so much we have to talk about though,” Lilith said. “All of us.”

She split apart into three clones, one taking Luz’s form and the other Eda’s.

“Look at you kiddo, you think you can be a witch? You think you can be the right person for my daughter?” the fake Eda asked. “How do I know you won’t just go running back to Lilith when times get tough?”

“There’s other witches around you know, not just you,” the fake Luz said, old insecurities bubbling up inside her target. “I dunno, Willow looks pretty cute and she was my first friend here. What do you think? From girl to girl?”

Luz’s eyes widened. ‘Oh Amity…’

But Lilith wasn’t done. “You’re hiding yourself away from the world, Apprentice. Where’s all those little hand flaps and those little gestures you do? Do you hate yourself that much? It’s so unsightly, honestly you’re probably better off without them. Suppress them, nobody wants to see them anyways.”

Luz had finally had enough. And she let out a shout of: “GET AWAY FROM HER!” before charging and swinging her frail.

“Luz, don’t!” Amity said, having dropped her bat in fear. 

“You’re not Eda!” Luz said, retrieving the bat and swinging it across ‘Eda’s’ face. The fake witch rolled backwards in a ball of vines, before smoke began to leak from the tangled mess of green.

“Luz and Amity have lasted surprisingly long. But what form will Grom take next?” Bump asked from above.

The smoke shifted into a door, a very sickeningly familiar door to Luz. And then it opened.

“Mija?” her mother asked, stepping out.

“Oh no…” Luz whispered in a small voice, as in the background Amity realized just what Luz’s greatest fear was.

‘Oh Luz, it looks like we all have our inner demons to worry about. I was so selfish, I didn’t even think about what you might be afraid of!’

“Luz, what is this terrible place? Espérate un momento, this isn't camp. Have you been here all these weeks?” Camila begged before letting out a little gasp. “And is that a weapon?”

Luz dropped the bat, hurriedly saying: “I can explain mami!”

Camilla was now towering over Luz, and all of Hexside was getting a first-hand look at just what the human was afraid of. Raine and Eda took a few steps back and exchanged a look.

“Did you know?” Raine asked.

“No, but… I suspected,” Eda admitted. “I just hoped I was wrong. Be ready Rainstorm, I promised the kids I’d let them handle this alone but we may have to step in soon.”

“Mija, have you been lying to me?” Camila said in a low tone, holding a slipper in one hand.

Finally, Luz’s confidence vanished, and she ran like hell with her ‘mother’ giving chase.

“Well, it looks like our show just, uh, took off!” King stammered slightly, not really sure if he should be commenting on this now. “Uh, took off just like your local sports team would take off when they're about to make a goal?”

“Yeah, that's right, so let's follow them and see what happens next,” King said, before leaping atop Eda’s shoulder as they ran after Luz. “Suddenly this whole thing just got a lot less entertaining didn’t it Eda? Like I didn’t want to see my boo-boo buddy scared!”

“Come on Minty Fresh!” Eda called out to Amity, before whistling for Owlbert.

And Luz just kept running, deeper and deeper into the forest with Camila close behind.

She knew it wasn’t her mother, she knew it couldn’t have been. And yet she still wouldn’t dare and look back.

Mami would be like this! She’d be terrified and furious that her daughter had been lying to her and keeping this whole thing a secret and never even making it to camp! 

She was a bad daughter, Luz knew it. She should have said something sooner. How did she know this wasn’t her mother? How did she know that Grom didn’t just summon her somehow from home?

That had to be it… right?

No no, she had to think rationally. Not even Grom had that much power, this was just a fake. And yet it sounded so much like her mami, and it even spoke the words Luz knew that she’d say...

“Why can't you face me, Luz? Why can't you face your own mother?” her ‘mom’ called from somewhere behind.

Sobbing, Luz shouted: “You’re not really my mother!”

“How can you say that, cariño?! You're breaking my heart!” the fake Camila shouted.

Luz found herself at the edge of a cliff, nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. She’d tripped and fallen, landing right on her butt.

And Grom was getting closer, her ‘mother’s’ eyes flashing an unearthly ethereal white.

“I’m sorry mami, I shouldn’t have lied to you,” Luz whispered. “I’ll come back to you, I’ll be good. I’ll learn about mortgages and I won’t be weird I promise!”

“All I ever wanted was for you to be normal cariño,” the fake Camila said, her infamous La Chancla in hand and raised high. “You’ve made life so hard for me, I had to send you away. And instead, where do I find you?”

“I’m sorry, I should have told the truth sooner,” Luz said. “I… I just wanted to feel like I belonged!”

“But that’s the thing cariño,” the fake Camila said, shifting form to someone else that Luz sadly knew way too well. “Here in my school, you never belonged.”

Luz’s eyes widened, seeing her tormentor standing over her. Clara, well at first she’d thought she was a nice enough girl.

Someone who’d happily be friends with them. Sadly reality smacked them right in the face and Clara turned out to be no better than the rest of Luz’s bullies.

They didn’t understand, not really. And goodness, it wasn’t like Luz could tell her mami. God knew she wanted to. But her mami was so overwhelmed with her daughter’s love of anime and fanfiction -not to mention fanfiction based on anime- sometimes Luz wondered if she really understood them at all.

“Oh Luz, all you had to do was be normal, fit in,” Clara sighed, shaking her head. Luz was crawling backwards, just trying to get away. “Instead, you just regaled us with your wild theories about how magic exists and how you were so cool for believing it existed. That one day, you’d be showing us all how wrong we all were.”

Yeah, well Luz had known even back then that maybe just maybe all of those fantasy authors had to have been onto something right? Several thousand books couldn’t possibly have been wrong!

“Well, look at you. So you’re right, big deal,” Clara said, the blonde doing jazz hands. She was dressed in her usual cheerleader attire, how Luz remembered her best. Or worst, depending on your perspective. “Whoopee. But you had to run away from your own kind just to prove it.”

“I wasn’t running!” Luz shouted. “I didn’t even mean to end up here!”

“But that’s just it isn’t it?” the fake Clara asked, circling her like a lion before a kill. She knelt down, looking Luz in the eye. “I don’t think you’re complaining about being here are you? Finally, Luz Noceda has somewhere she belongs and she’s not intent on giving it up!”

“Yeah… But…” Luz stammered.

“Your mami? Please, how much does she really care about you?” Clara asked. “She shuffled you off to a camp as soon as it was convenient!”

“Yeah, but only because I was acting out. I’m not surprised she was concerned about me,” Luz replied. “Like I was constantly pulling pranks and freaking people out, I don’t blame my mami for being concerned if I’d fit in normal society!”

“Well, I doubt you would, given you ran off as soon as it suited you,” Clara said. “You really didn’t hesitate at all did you?”

“It was an accident, I didn’t even mean to end up here!”

Again Grom’s form shifted, to Amity.

“And you stayed, because I’m such a charity case right?” the fake Amity said, but Grom had finally gone too far.

“No, you don’t get to be her,” Luz said. “Anyone but never her. I don’t think Amity’s a charity case, not my Amity. She’s just a broken girl coming from a crappy home life and she needs all the help she can get. So go back to Clara or my mami but you don’t deserve to wear her face! To have her shape!”

‘Amity’ chuckled. “Fine then.”

With that, she split apart and the two globs of shadow and darkness reformed into Clara and Camila.

“Oh Mija, all I wanted was to be proud of you,” said the fake version of her mami. “Instead, you’re breaking my heart. You ran from me, you ran from your friends!”

“Oh she doesn’t have friends,” Clara added. “Didn’t she tell you? Of course she didn’t. Why would she? It’s not like you’re ever there for her.”

“But I try and I try to be there, but all she does is distance herself from me,” ‘Camila’ said, shaking her head and taking out a hanky. “Oh, she’s going to just make her poor mother cry.”

“Yes, she’s hardly the darling daughter you think she is,” Clara said. “If she really cared about you, she wouldn’t have run from you the first chance she got!”

“No, that’s not true!” Luz pleaded. “I’m begging you, just listen to me!”

“I wish I could Mija,” ‘Camila’ shook her head as ‘Clara’ melted back into her in truly disturbing fashion, Grom absorbing her through her skin. “But you’ve made it so hard, and now you’re just going to have to listen to me!”

Before Grom/Camila could say anything else, someone else had something to say. “Spicy toss!”

The beast lurched backwards as Eda flew in on the back of her staff like an avenging angel with more fireballs in hand.

“Get away from my human, you misshapen excuse for a monster!” Eda called as Amity leaped off the back of the staff and clocked the beast across the head. There was a bright flash, and it staggered back, blinded.

Amity dropped the bat, and ran over to Luz helping her up.

“I’m sorry, I guess we both have things we’re afraid of…” Amity apologized.

Luz chuckled. “I guess I’m not as fearless as I look, am I?”

“We all have things we’re afraid of,” Amity admitted. “I guess we’ve both gotten good looks at each other’s fears tonight. Who’s was the blond?”

“That was Clara, the head cheerleader back at school,” Luz explained. “Well, my old human school. She was… she wasn’t a nice person.”

“Yeah, well neither was I and maybe someday if you see her again maybe you'll get through to her,” Amity said. “You do have a way with people.”

“Not as much as I’d like,” Luz whispered. “My mami was right, I’m such a disappointment.”

“Luz, I don’t know who that thing is but it’s not your mother,” Amity said. “Your real mother, from everything you’ve told me about her? She loves you, she’d accept you no matter where you are. Who you are.”

“But the words that thing’s speaking, it… they make sense, my mami’s ashamed of my weirdness.”

And at this, Amity actually laughed. “I’m sorry, but she can’t be. It’s what makes you, well you. I know the real Camila, well she’d be proud of you. She knows you’re weird and how that’s a part of you.”

“Y-Yeah, you’re right,” Luz agreed with a smile. “That’s not my mother, and thanks for reminding me of that.”

Amity returned the smile. “You’re a fine witch, and honestly I wish she could see you right about now.”

“Yeah, and if she was here, my mami would want me to kick this fake’s ass. Hell, she’d probably join me, just because of how bad of a copy this is!” Luz said, that old fire returning. “She’d be insulted really!”

“That’s my girl,” Amity said, gripping their hand tightly. “Let’s see if we can face our fears together then, huh?”

“Well then,” Luz said, holding up her spell cards and unfurling them like a fan. “May I have this dance?”

“You shall!” Amity said, taking her hand. They spun and they twirled with the moon shining brightly behind them.

Amity cast a spell underneath her feet, and they rose up on top of a giant abomination. Amity dipped Luz, who slapped a glyph onto the purple and lavender goo.

Both girls leaped off the creature, which jumped into Grom’s mouth. The beast was right now half Lilith and half Camila. It roared, even as green light began to glow inside the monster’s belly.

Luz caught Amity, spinning her around several times as they landed and blooming vines erupted from Grom and it exploded into inky goo as the two girls finished.

They were greeted with roaring applause from the rest of their class, a new tree standing where Grom once stood.

“And there you have it, folks. A happy ending for this year's Grom. Let's give a big hand to our Grom queens, Luz and Amity!” King proclaimed, as twin tiaras manifested atop the girls.

The students paraded the Queens back to the school, like they were at a rock concert or something.

“They love me!” King cackled, also riding the wave. “Yes! This is how I deserve to be treated! Faster slaves! Pick up the pace servants!”

Amity and Luz shared a giggle.

-----

Back at the Owl House, the whole family piled in, all cheering the two Queens.

“You really showed him, eh Mittens?” Edric praised.

“Yeah, what bro said. You did good! Like that is how a witch does her work!” Emira agreed. “Watch out, I think there’s a new prodigy in town! Demons beware!”

“I’m proud of you, facing Grom isn’t an easy task for anyone,” Raine said, ruffling Amity’s hair and then Luz’s. “Both of you should feel very proud of yourselves tonight.”

“WHOOOO! Watch out for this human!” Eda crowed, shooting twin finger guns towards her apprentice. “Oh, you did good, kid. And you too Baby Blight, damn you really have a flair for the dramatics! You’re like a mini-me, kid!”

“Yeah, not sure how I feel about that one…” Amity said, running a hand through her hair. “Still can’t believe I froze up like that though, if I hadn’t…”

“If you hadn’t, I never would have been able to face my worst fear. Grom hit us both pretty hard,” Luz said. “Nobody would blame you for being afraid, it just knew how to push both of our buttons that’s all.”

“Yeah, it did,” Amity said, her hands beginning to shake. “I can’t believe I actually did it, like we actually pulled it off.”

She was pacing back and forth, happily flapping her hands in excitement and not really caring who saw. Her tiara had fallen by the wayside, retrieved by King.

“NOW I AM KING AND QUEEN! Best of both things!” the little demon shouted.

“That was… oh, okay yeah I think I need to sit down,” Amity said after a few minutes of pacing and excited little hand flapping. She took a deep calming breath and said: “Feeling a bit overwhelmed actually.”

Luz scooped her best friend into her lap, ignoring the conflicting feelings. Could she even call Amity her best friend after tonight? What were they, exactly? 

As Amity snuggled into her, Luz smiled softly. She’d love to find out. 

“See, you’re feeling better already,” they said, Amity gripping her shirt tightly and letting out a cute little yawn. “Oh yeah, let’s get you to bed okay? I can’t blame you, it’s been a long day.”

“Yeah…” Amity mumbled. “I’m so tired and I feel like I just want to sleep for a week now.”

Luz smiled, nah she couldn’t blame her for that. Typing a quick text to her mother, she mentally ended it with: Te extraño también, Mami. One day, I'll tell you all about this. About her.

Then, scooping the greenette up in her arms, Luz said: “Then let me carry you away, I’m your personal carriage!”

“Oh, this…” Amity stammered. “This is nice.”

“You can sleep in my bed tonight, after the day you’ve just had you deserve the lap of luxury. All Grom Queens need their beauty sleep,” Luz said, taking her up the creaky old stairs.

“What about you?” Amity asked. “You’re a Grom Queen as well. And it’s your bed!”

“Not tonight,” Luz said. “Tonight it’s your bed. Come on, let me take you across the threshold huh?”

Amity flushed a bright red even as Luz set her down. “T-Thanks, you’re… you’re too good to me Luz, you’re like my personal knight in shining armor.”

“Well you are a Princess!” Luz winked.

“And they say chivalry is dead,” Amity smiled even as Luz headed for the door. “No, go on… stay. I want you to be with me tonight. You had a hell of a night as well.”

Amity waved her head in a spell circle, changing both of their clothes into pajamas with their formal wear ending up in a corner.

Nervously, Luz climbed into bed next to her knowing arguing with Amity was pointless. They felt arms snaking themselves around them from behind, feeling a warm body nestling itself up against them.

Amity’s hands were still gripping their shirt tightly, like it was if she let go, Luz would slip away from her.

“Soooooo…” Amity whispered as she shut off the lights.

“I thought you were going to sleep?”

“I am I am, it’s just… well, I’ve still got a lot on my mind,” Amity said, clutching her friend tightly. “Grom, well he gave me a lot to think about.”

“You know none of that he was saying was true right? It was just trying to get to you,” Luz said comfortingly, gently grasping Amity’s arm. “All of that, it was nonsense.”

Amity chuckled before letting out a sigh. “But I’ve thought about all of it at one time or another, so it’s not all nonsense. All of those things, they were pulled from my head. Grom read my thoughts, don’t you understand? Mine.”

“Yeah, I do…” Luz said, moving her hand down to grasp one of Amity’s. “Grom, I want to say I hate him for what he did to us but I just don’t know. I don’t know what his motives were. Was it sadism? Was it really?”

“Mhmmm,” Amity said, her breath brushing up against Luz’s ears. “I think… Maybe he was trying to help us. Help us work through our fears. Like I didn’t want to face some of mine and then Grom was throwing us into the deep end of the pool. Making us swim.”

“Wish he’d done it more gently,” Luz murmured, Amity gripping her tighter in comfort. “I love my mami, and… and I know none of what he said was true but-”

“It still felt so real…” Amity finished, nuzzling into her. “Hey, shh, it’s okay. I’m here for you, just like you’ve been so many times for me.”

“He changed into you,” Luz said, and at this Amity let out a gasp. “I… I didn’t expect it, but he did. I won’t tell you what he said as you, none of it’s worth listening to. He wasn’t you though, I never believed he was for a minute.”

Amity snuggled them tighter, and at this, Luz flipped around so Amity could look them in the eyes.

“I’m glad,” Amity said, with Luz brushing a strand of hair out of the girl’s face before pulling away the headband letting all of the witch’s green locks fly free. “I’m sorry if I’ve been a burden…”

Luz decided against mentioning that’s what the fake Amity said. “No, you’ve never been that. You’re my best friend Am, you just need help that’s all. I’m going to be here for you, as long as you need.”

Here she pulled Amity closer, letting her head rest against Luz’s chest. The girl was gripping Luz tight, using her like a pillow as they cuddled. 

Luz just wrapped their arms around Amity, keeping her close and kissing her forehead. Amity didn’t seem to notice, she didn’t stir and just kept holding Luz tight.

“Thanks… I was a fool for not seeing you for who you were sooner,” Amity said, nuzzling into her. “You’re a foolish, irresponsible, dumb as hell human who refuses to give up when they should and I… I lo-like that about you. You’re the light of my life. My Luz. My Luz.”

Luz suppressed a gasp, not missing what her best friend had almost said. What she was saying.

“I could say the same for you,” Luz said, running their fingers through Amity’s hair. “You’re powerful, inspiring and you give me a reason to be a better witch. You’re so driven and I… I just want to do better by being around you Am. I… goodness, I can’t imagine my life without you in it now.”

Amity said nothing, just continuing to hold onto Luz tightly. The girl for her part swore even in the darkness that was her room, she was blushing brightly under moonlight. 

“I’m glad to be here for you, and I’ll continue being here for you for as long as you need,” Luz said, watching the slow rise and fall of her friend’s shoulders. Feeling Amity’s breath on her, soft and content. “I’m your loyal knight, and if you’ll have me I’ll be your Grom Queen for the rest of-”

She heard a gentle snore come from the girl and smiled.

“...oh,” Luz chuckled. “Good night, Am. I hope the sandman blesses you with sweet dreams. Goodness knows you need them. I love you too.”

Chapter Text

Amity had never considered herself much of a morning person, not until recently anyways. Even as the afternoon light began to bathe the room in a warm, almost golden glow, she barely stirred.

Of course, she’d never had much reason to be a morning person. Mornings meant the twins and their pranks, them trying to screw with her and put her in a bad mood early in the day. Mornings meant her parents waking her up, telling her to get ready for school or to practice her abominations studies.

Mornings had never meant anything good in her family.

So Amity had learned to train herself to wake up early, to face the inevitable. But lately… she’d felt herself slipping, sleeping later and later in the day. Like all of the exhaustion that had accompanied her life was finally starting to catch up with her.

She barely stirred as Luz removed her arms, previously wrapped around her and cuddling her tight as if she had been the world’s largest plush toy.

Luz gave a soft smile, running a hand through their girlfriend’s green locks, watching the slow rise and fall of Amity’s chest. The girl must have been trapped in a gentle dream, from the tender smile on her face.

“...I wouldn’t mind waking up to see this every day…” Luz whispered, not daring to wake Amity. She hadn’t even realized what she’d said until the words were actually out of her mouth. “...oh gosh, did I just say…? Well, I suppose I did, didn't I? I practically proposed to her last night.”

They were dating, she knew that much. 

“Practically proposed to her and I’m barely 14…” they said to themselves, still running a hand through Amity’s hair. “Well, if my Bat Mitzvah is right, I’m a grown woman now.”

They laughed softly.

“...don’t really feel like one though,” Luz said, finding herself sitting on the windowsill. “Not even sure I’m a girl. Don’t always feel like it.”

They smiled at Amity. 

“Dios mío... Not sure what I did to deserve you Am,” she said, walking over to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. “Still not even sure how to go about this, you’re my first girlfriend and already I’ve basically proposed to you. Como... guau. I’m… I’m not rushing anything am I?”

Maybe someone else would have the answers, they thought, looking out the window before whispering a quick prayer under their breath.

They didn’t do this as often as they should have, Luz would admit, their faith being mostly lapsed. Every now and again, they remembered. But without their mami to remind them, they rarely slipped back into tradition.

Maybe Amity coming into their lives had been some sort of sign, a gift from the Lord.

“I am thankful before You, living and enduring King, for you have mercifully restored my soul within me. Great is Your faithfulness,” Luz said, hoping He was listening. “May I renew my soul with faith in You, Source of all Healing. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who renews daily the work of creation.”

With a smile, she walked back to Amity and gently shook her.

“Morning sleepyhead,” she said. “I didn’t think you were the time to laze about all afternoon, I thought you were on time for everything. Even getting up in the morning. Maybe I should ask Eda to find an alarm clock for you hmmm?”

Amity let out a groan, gripping the pillow before muttering: “...five more minutes Em…”

Luz let out a soft ‘awwww’ and tried not to squee. That was so adorable!

“But if you don’t wake, you’re not going to see my beautiful face…”

Amity let out a low moan and rolled over onto her back, rubbing her eyes as she stirred in the sunlight.

Her head still a daze, her vision began to return and in the soft sunlight it was like Luz glowed like an angel from the heavens.

“...you look amazing…” Amity whispered, still barely awake and hadn’t realized what she’d said only until after she’d said it. Letting out a small squeak of shock, her eyes widened almost comically. “...N-Not that you don’t always look amazing and oh my gosh I didn’t mean to imply you ever look ugly but I… I suppose I should just shut up now right?”

Luz giggled, kissing the already blushing red girl’s forehead.

“There she is, that’s my girl,” she said. “You looked like you were sleeping so peacefully, I was pretty hesitant to even wake you actually.”

“It… yeah it was a long night and everything just caught up to me y’know,” Amity babbled a little. “I was exhausted and you were cuddling me to sleep in your arms and I just… drifted off.”

Luz flushed. “I… yeah, I guess I thought you were so cud… well I guess I thought you needed them.”

“I gathered,” Amity said, beginning to pull herself out of bed. “Well, I suppose I can’t put things off any longer, I have to face the day don’t I?”

“Well, if the Princess wants to stay locked in her tower for a few more hours, I’m not sure anyone would blame her…” Luz said, rather enjoying how red her girlfriend’s face got. Damn, she was pretty smooth wasn’t she? “Anyways, I need to wash up, I’ll be down in a bit. I’ve got things to take care of first.”

“Just don’t hog the bathroom for too long okay?” Amity asked. “If I’m apparently a princess, I need to look my best!”

“But…” Luz said, still feeling incredibly smooth. “I think you already look like royalty!”

“Oh you!” Amity said, gently swatting at her. “Off with you!”

Luz smirked a little, before heading into the bathroom and shutting the door. Amity heard the soft spray of the sink and as she was gathering some day clothes, heard something else as well.

It wasn’t in any language she’d heard before, a gentle recitation. It certainly wasn’t in that Spanish language she’d heard Luz speak in so often. No, this was something different, this was something else.

She knew she probably shouldn’t have been listening in, but it was so beautiful in a way. She couldn’t help herself.

“I… oh, Amity,” Luz said, eyes widening in surprise after returning. The bathroom door opened with a gentle creaking noise. “I’m… sorry, I guess I was taking my sweet time about it, wasn’t I? Well, anyways, the bathroom’s free.”

“No, no it’s fine. I just… Well, I heard you speaking in a second language, not Spanish but something else. I couldn’t help myself,” Amity confessed, clutching her usual attire to her chest. “It was beautiful. I couldn’t help but listen in.”

“Oh, that?” Luz said. “That’s a traditional Jewish prayer towards God. He likes it when we do that, I… I admit I don’t do it as much as I should, I’m sorta lapsed in my faith. Eh-heh-heh-heh.”

She laughed nervously, looking decidedly embarrassed.

“God?”

“You know, creator of everything? Our minds, bodies, and souls?” Luz asked, Amity still looking confused. “Oh, well I suppose you wouldn’t have Him here? Maybe you do, you just don’t pray to Him?”

“No,” Amity admitted. “We don’t have anything like this ‘God’ here. Everything of ours came from the Titan.”

“Oh, well I won’t force it on you, I’m not like certain Christian bible-thumpers,” Luz said, her voice briefly turning disgusted. “It’s just something I do okay? Something I believe in.”

“I understand, and I’ll support you all the way,” Amity said with a reassuring smile.

“I don’t even know if I’ll make these prayers a regular thing, it’s been really hard to get back into the swing of things,” Luz admitted. “Everything else has been going by so fast, hell I don’t even know if He would approve of me doing magic. Like serious witchcraft.”

“Well, if he made you,” Amity paused to think. “I’m sure he’d also support you in whatever you do.”

Luz smiled tenderly and Amity’s heart fluttered a little. How she’d love to see that smile for the rest of her life. “Thanks, Am.”

“Anytime.”

The two walked downstairs, Luz working on tying Amity’s hair back into its usual top-knotted ponytail. Amity just chuckled and let her hair fall.

“The ponytail was a symbol of my status, something my parents wanted out of me. Expected out of me,” she explained. “I’m thinking I want to try new things lately.”

Luz let out a hum of understanding, before gripping her hand tightly. “Of course, Am.”

Amity smiled, before briefly gently resting her head on their shoulder. “I… I…”

She couldn’t get the words out.

“I know,” Luz said, remembering the words of one of her favorite movie characters. “I heard everything you mumbled to me last night.”

Amity went scarlet.

“And like I said last night, I’ll be the loyal knight to my princess,” Luz said, Amity flushing even redder if possible. “And if you’ll have me, your queen as well.”

“O-Of course!” Amity said, surprising even herself with her courage before repeating in a softer tone: “Of course…”

Already, interesting and enticing smells were coming from below, Edric’s voice audible.

“Hey, mind if I lend a hand?” he offered. “I don’t know if I’m any good at this, but I want to learn.”

“Sure kiddo, sure,” Eda said.

“Thanks, it’s just… My parents never taught me how to cook or anything. Said that wasn’t the job of a Blight’s child, that the butlers should handle it,” Edric’s voice said in reply. “They said the only thing that I ever needed to worry about was practicing my spells. That some things were beneath me.”

“Trust me kiddo,” Eda said. “You can do anything you want with your life, even cooking. Hell, open up a restaurant, put your parents on the permanently denied entry list. This is your life, not theirs to control.”

“T-Thanks,” Edric said gratefully.

Luz was already rushing towards Eda into a hug, and for a brief moment, Amity wondered if Eda knew about Luz’s faith. Probably, she supposed. Probably didn’t really care either.

“Woah, okay kid, I know you’re cuddly but be careful. The last thing I want to do is drop something hot on your precious little head. I know Boots thinks you’re on fire but I don’t think she wants to see you on fire!” Eda said before laughing a little at her own joke.

“Ah, about that. Amity and I are dating now!” 

“Congrats kid!” Eda laughed. “Just remember, three-inch rule! I want to see that door open at least three inches when you two are sharing a bedroom together! Don’t think I didn’t catch you sneaking some late-night snugsies last night!”

“Hey Em, did you hear that?” Edric called. “I think I just won the bet! Ha, pay up!”

Amity let out a hiss like a cat. “YOU TWO WERE BETTING ON ME!?!”

Edric just laughed.

“I… ooooh, if I wasn’t still only half-awake there’d be consequences!” Amity sighed, not even bothering to draw a spell circle. “Consequences I say.”

“Morning kid, did you sleep well?” Raine said as they passed by, ruffling her hair and going over to Eda to kiss her cheek. Which, Amity now noticed, was wearing an apron which said: ‘please kiss the cook!’ 

Amity nodded, taking the whole scene in as Eda gently shoved the older witch away giggling a little. This whole thing was incredibly domestic. Warm, and full of love. It was everything her manor hadn’t been.

It had been a house, but it had never been a home.

“Texting someone?” Amity leaned over to Luz, unable to keep the soft smile off her face. “...actually how do you do that, I thought your phone needed something other than magic to work?”

“Eda made it so I just have to make a blood sacrifice to a little demon inside every week,” Luz explained. “And yeah, I’m texting one of my internet friends over in Brighton. That’s in Kansas, by the way.”

Amity just nodded, not knowing what Kansas was or where it even was.

“Just wanted to tell them how everything was going and yep, there’s the ‘sweet baby corn!’ I don’t understand that phrase but I’ve been friends with her for a while now. We both like Azura and-”

“And should I be worried?” Amity teased, sitting down next to her.

“Nah, I only have eyes for you. Heck, what’d you think I was doing? I was totally bragging about you to Molly!” Luz said, before suddenly rubbing her cheek against her girlfriend’s.

“W-Wha are you doing?” Amity stammered, unsure of how redder she could get today.

“Acting like an otter,” Luz said. “They’re supposed to be really super-affectionate. Did you know they sleep cuddled up together in the water?”

“Well then, do you want to know how my favorite animal shows affection?” Amity asked, surprising even herself with how flirty her smile became before she licked Luz. Like a cat.

Luz was giggling, saying: “Stop, Am!” as they fell to the couch giggling.

“Ewwwww, all of this mushiness is going to make me sick,” Eda said, miming a gag. “Breakfast is ready by the way! Come get it before King eats it all!”

“I saw how you acted around Raine,” Amity teased. “Admit it, you like mushy.”

Teasing her landlord, again it was yet another new experience for her.

Amity knew that wasn’t the right word for their relationship, she knew it very well. But admitting what Eda truly was to her… it scared her. She’d caught herself slipping, finding it easier and easier to let the Word out of her mouth.

But admitting it… it’d change everything forever. It’d be the last piece of her old life she’d leave behind. 

And Amity wasn’t sure she was ready for that.

“Yeah yeah, keep dreaming kid,” Eda said, though there was clearly no heart in the denial. Indeed, as she tossed another longing look towards Raine’s way, it was clear to everyone where her heart lied.

“It’s warm,” Emira said over breakfast, still wrapped in a bathrobe. It wasn’t a school day, so it wasn’t like she had to get dressed really quickly or anything. As she ate her food, Amity knew she wasn’t talking about her breakfast.

“Yeah…” Amity admitted. “It is…”

-----

Emira remembered the moment all had been said to Eda, like a cauldron knocked over and the potion inside spilling out all over the floor.

“The only good thing about this entire situation,” she said to Eda, looking out into the dark night. “Is that Amity will never have to see the doors of Blight Manor ever again, not if I have anything to say about it.”

The way she said ‘Blight Manor’, the sheer disgust in her tone, it was obvious that she didn’t think of it as her home either.

“It’s still hard to believe… That after everything Amity’s done with her life, she never could win Odaila’s approval,” Emira went on. It slightly amazed her how easily she was able to drop the word ‘mom’ from her vocabulary. “That just spending time with a human, with Willow was all the excuse Odaila needed.”

“Ah, yes, well,” Eda said. “Odaila’s a lot like Belos, she loves to control everything around her. And anything she can’t control… she stamps out. Breaks their spirits.”

“She nearly broke Mittens’,” Emira said. “...Fuck, I’m still not sure if she’s succeeded.”

Edric shakily took a sip of his hot drink, the beverage sparkling purple.

“I don’t think she did. Not completely anyways. I’ve seen the sparkles in her eyes when she’s around Luz,” the other twin said. “They’re faint, duller than normal, but they’re there. Amity, well… try as Odaila likes, that’s one thing she could never take away from our sister.”

“Yeah…” Emira said with a nod.

“You two kids can stay here as long as you like, just until everything settles down and you find a place for yourselves,” Eda said. “My door will always be open to you.”

“We’re not your responsibility…” Emira tried to protest.

“Damn right you are,” Eda said. “I don’t care how old you think you are. You’re still way too young to shoulder everything alone. I imagine you, with how shit your parents are, had to basically parent Amity yourselves. That’s not a burden that teenagers should be given. You should be kissing your latest hot date, skipping school and playing pranks.”

She sighed.

“If I had the ability to travel back in time, adopt you all from Odaila and Alador, then I would. If time travel wasn’t forbidden, if all of the old spell books hadn’t been destroyed long ago, then I would gladly use them. Just to give all three of you proper childhoods.”

She laughed.

“I’ve never been known to be the motherly sort, and yet it seems I don’t have a choice in the matter. I’m adopting owlets right and left lately, giving them a proper nest.”

“I don’t think we want to leave anytime soon, we’re certainly not going back to the manor. That house… it’s never been a home. It’s just bricks and mortar and sure it’s got bedrooms and bathrooms but it’s never been a home,” Edric said sadly. “It’s never been.”

He took another shaky sip of his drink before continuing.

“Emira and I… we found that book Amity likes so much, we’ve read it so often. Otabin, the little mouse who only wants friends,” here he laughed bitterly. “Suddenly, it’s only now we understand why Amity treasures that book so much.”

“Well, if I have my way,” Eda began to say. “And I will, then Minty-Fresh can have all the books she could need. And some she doesn’t. She can build a nest out of them if she wants!”

The image of their sister, covered head to toe in books, brought the first laugh in a while. Yeah, Emira mused to herself, she got the feeling that everything might be okay.

-----

That was then, and this was now of course. Eda had more than lived up to her promise, providing a home to all three of the siblings.

“Hmmm, what do you think?” Amity asked, holding up a mirror. Her green was beginning to give way to more brown, her hair’s natural earthy tones beginning to return. Little by little, she’d found herself less and less interested in keeping it green. “You think I should try and dye my hair lavender?”

“I think you can dye it any color you want,” Luz said, always supportive. She smirked, and let out a little laugh. “Heh, maybe you can try a new color every month. Maybe this month, lavender, maybe the next a bright banana yellow! I’d like to see you with scarlet hair actually.”

“Like Hecate?”

Luz blushed. “I plead the Fifth.”

“Luz, can you come in here for a minute?” Eda called. “There’s something Raine and I want to talk to you about.”

She sounded serious, gravely so in fact.

“I’m coming!” Luz called, concern flashing in her eyes before she put on a brave face and walked over to her adopted parents.

She noticed the looks exchanged between them and swallowed nervously. A part of her had a feeling of what this was about. Everyone had seen what form Grom had taken last night. What forms. Of course, they were concerned, who wouldn’t have been? 

“Well, might as well rip this bandage off the skin,” Eda said. “There’s really no way to dance around this, is there Rainstorm?”

Raine shook their head. “No, there isn’t. We… well, we saw what form Grom took,” the older witch said, their tone gentle and parental. Guiding. “Is… is there anything you want to tell us about?”

“In your own time,” Eda said. “There’s no rush.”

“Mom’s not abusive,” Luz said almost immediately, perhaps too quickly to be believable. She knew what it looked like, how quickly she jumped to her mami’s defense. “Grom just… exaggerated everything. You know how it works, it gets inside your head. Shows you what scares you most.”

“And the form it took was your mother,” Raine said. “So you understand why we’re concerned.”

“Look kid, as much as I pretend not to care, I’ve noticed a fair bit since you first came here,” Eda said, gently patting the couch and inviting Luz over. “The things you haven’t mentioned. You were a little too eager to come to the Isles, and learn magic.”

“I love fantasy novels! Of course I’m eager to learn magic!” Luz stammered, which she knew probably wasn’t helping her case.

“Eager enough to leave your entire world, everything you know behind?” Eda said, arching an eyebrow. “Look kid, I’m worried. You’re, and I can’t believe it took me so long to admit this, like the daughter I never knew I wanted.”

“But-” Luz tried to say.

“Just let Eda finish speaking, please,” Raine interjected. “Just hear her out and then you can say your piece.”

“I… I just want to know if anyone’s hurting you at home, if there’s a reason why you came running towards the Isles. Towards me,” Eda said. “I mean, look, I’m flattered alright, but I’m also very concerned. Nobody normally runs out on the only home they’ve ever known, leaves their own dimension behind.”

“I didn’t want to, I mean. Like I want to see my mami again,” Luz said, sitting down between the two older witches. “I’m thinking like, maybe this could be summer school? Like I can spend my summers and maybe weekends with you, and the rest of the year with my mami? I didn’t want to leave her, and… I want to get back to her someday. It’s just…”

“Just what?” Raine pressed gently.

Luz swallowed. She didn’t want to talk about this.

But this was Raine and Eda.

She could trust Raine, she could trust Eda.

If anyone could understand… maybe it was them.

“I… Well, of course mami doesn’t understand. She tries, but she doesn’t understand me. I love her, but there are some things she just doesn’t ‘get’ about me,” Luz said, sounding like she was about to cry. “My school life’s hell, like maybe sure I never made it easier on myself but you saw Clara. Or well, the Thing-Wearing-Her-Skin. I’m not exactly the school idol.”

Luz fought back a sob.

“It’s not just Clara, everyone… They hate me, Eda. T-They all think I’m some kind of fucking freak. Maybe it’s partially my fault, hell maybe it’s all my fault but I never want to go back there!”

A tear rolled down their cheek.

“Hexside… It’s the first real place I’ve ever felt like I’ve belonged,” Luz said, another tear soon to follow. Years of exhaustion were finally beginning to catch up with her. In her mind, she could hear the names tossed her way when they thought she wasn’t within earshot. The insults thrown. “Please don’t make me leave…”

She sounded so… broken, and a fire raged inside Eda. For a moment, her eyes transformed into that of the Beast’s. Her nails briefly sharpened, wanting to tear anyone who’d hurt her charge apart.

“And you won’t have to. Even if your old principal wants to drag you back kicking and screaming, we won’t let them have you,” Raine said, their voice reassuring but growing firmer. “You’re one of the Isles’ children now. One of mine.”

Luz let themselves cry, their head between their knees as they sobbed softly. Raine was gently stroking their child’s back, pulling them into their lap as they cried into the witch’s shirt.

A look passed between the two witches, Raine briefly looking back down at the still sobbing Luz.

“Relax kiddo, as Rainestorm said, you’ll never have to go back there. Not if either of us have anything to say about it,” Eda soothed. “I… I want to apologize, I wanted to think the worst about your mom.”

She swallowed.

“Really, I did. It’d make things a hell of a lot easier, I could just steal you away from her like I do everything else, keep you in my nest. In my arms,” Eda said. “But… Well, this is a lot more complicated, isn’t it? Titan kiddo, you’re so strong and you don’t even know it. Suffering in silence, all the while presenting your best fake smile to the world.”

She sighed.

“I wish your real mom was here,” Eda admitted, looking out the window. Perhaps hoping to see the realm beyond. “It’d make things a lot easier, there’s things I want to discuss with her. Things she needs to know. But… I can only talk with you about so much, in the end I’m still no replacement for the real thing am I?”

“You tried your best…” Luz croaked out through her cries. “A-And you’re still more than I ever asked for. More than I…”

The unsaid ‘more than I deserve’ reverberated through the room.

“Oh Luz…” Raine said, their voice still as soothing as a songbird’s. “You deserve the world, and probably more. I don’t know the names of who hurt you so, but I promise they won’t ever do so again my little owlet.”

That was when the dam broke, and Luz let out a wail and started sobbing violently into their chest. Her little fists shakily gripped their shirt as she continued to cry.

Finally, after so long, she felt safe.

“It’s okay…” Eda soothed, the couple holding Luz close. “Let it out… that’s it girl…”

Frankly, she was amazed that Minty-Fresh hadn’t heard any of this and hadn’t come rushing in ready to protect her Light.

Finally, after a few moments of well-spent tears, all sobs ceased. Luz looked up, feeling Raine’s damp shirt and looking ashamed.

“I ruined it…” she whispered, embarrassed.

“No, it’s okay, I needed to get a new one anyways. This one’s several years old, and several seasons out of fashion,” they said, trying to make Luz laugh. 

They succeeded, as evidenced from the little wet laugh that escaped her.

“I… I really should tell mami, shouldn’t I? Maldita sea, soy una hija tan horrible. R-Right?”

“I don’t know whatever it was you just said right now, but I doubt it’s true,” Eda reassured. “You’re only doing the best you’re can, fuck you’re a teenager. You’re not supposed to have all of the answers. Hell, I’m well over twice your age and I still don’t know everything as much as I try to say otherwise.”

“I… I really should tell her everything though, she needs to know,” Luz said weakly. “It’s just… she’s got so much else on her plate and I don’t want to be the source of yet another worry for her. I’m protecting her, can’t you see? She doesn’t need more stress in her life, especially not because of me.”

It sounded like an excuse, and Luz knew it.

“I don’t think your mother would see it that way,” Raine said. “If she truly loves you, and I’m sure she does, she’d be happy to help you. It’s a parent’s job to raise their child, to protect them from the whole world if need be.”

“I’m… I’m sure mami would be well-prepared to do that,” Luz said with a wet snort. “With La Chancla in hand, she could take on the world. Or at least my old school.”

“You know you can’t just finish your studies entirely at Hexside right?” Eda said. “While I would never even think of making you return to that place -”

She spat out the word with as much disgust as she could muster.

“-there’s only so much that magic school can teach you,” Eda said before chuckling. “...wow, look at me. I really have become a mom if I’m advocating for you to go to school. Anyways, you need to learn human things, like this chemistry I’ve seen you keep notes on your phone. That’s like potions right?”

“Yeah, basically…” Luz said.

“Is… Is everything alright?” Amity nervously peeked her head in, the door creaking open. “I heard… I heard someone crying, and I thought…”

Her eyes widened at the tear stains on Luz’s cheeks.

“Who?” Amity practically snarled, looking scarier than Luz had ever seen her. She looked perhaps even more furious than she’d looked on Luz’s first day of Hexside. Which, perhaps needless to say, was something Luz never thought that they'd ever see.

“Who did this to you?” Amity asked. “Who made you cry?”

“Nobody important,” Eda said. “Nobody you’ll ever have to worry about kid. Go help Luz get cleaned up, okay? I think she needs you right now more than she needs me.”

Amity nodded, before helping Luz up and hugging her close. Never letting her leave her sight. They’d get through this, like they faced everything else together.

As witches… and now as girlfriends.

-----

Of course, Luz being Luz, it wasn’t long before she seemingly bounced right back. Which still didn’t explain the purple smoke bursting from her room, Hooty coughing from it, and then Luz descending the stairs dressed in a purple coat and hat.

“I am the terror that flaps in the night! I am the wrong number which wakes you up at 3 am, the special news bulletin that interrupts your favorite show. I am… Darkwing Luz!” the young witch proclaimed, throwing open her cloak.

“...okkkaaaaaaaaaay?”

“Blame re-runs of Disney Channel, so many reruns,” Luz said grabbing her by the hand. “Now don’t you want to help me drop paint bombs on your parents’ house or not?”

And in spite of the ridiculousness of the current situation, or perhaps because of it, Amity found herself grinning ear to ear.

Classic Luz.

“Don’t you want to swoop out of the shadows, get dangerous Princess?” Luz egged her on.

“...well…” Amity said, pretending to consider otherwise. Luz grinned just as widely as her girlfriend.

“Pranking our ex-parents?” the Twins chimed in. “...well, we should make it a family event then!”

Which was how they found themselves dive-bombing the manor. Luz looked at her girlfriend, grinning conspiratorially.

Amity just laughed in spite of herself, before saying: “Bombs away!”

And as the paint went splat! on the roof, she could swear she could hear Odaila screaming in rage.

Chapter Text

“Goooooood morning Bonesborough!” 

Amity felt a smile slip onto her face as she heard the call come from the room above, her girlfriend(!) sounding wonderfully chipper.

It was that voice, that endless source of joy that made her get up in the morning. It made the struggles of the previous day worth it. When she woke up, she was greeted by the light of her life, working her magic. Suddenly the previous stresses of the week seemed so far away, and a new day dawned for her. 

Amity was in love. She loved this girl.

She didn’t entirely understand her at the best of times, but she loved this girl.

Her mother would have probably thought her foolish, and maybe she was. Maybe wanting to spend the rest of her life with Luz were only the dreams of a child. A moment of foolish whimsy and folly.

But maybe… But maybe for once in her life she was allowed to be foolish. Love had waltzed in, bringing with it a new chance. A turnabout for her.

Like the sun, Luz shone like a star and suddenly the dark void that had surrounded her burned away. 

Before Luz came into her life like a human hurricane, a tornado to sweep her off her feet, Amity had honestly seen no real future for herself. Not any particularly bright futures anyways.

She’d just go through the motions, probably join the Abominations Coven or maybe even the Emperor’s own but none of it would have ever really been called living. Not really. Amity knew she would have probably been one of the most successful witches of her time. 

But that’s where it would have stopped. She’d be powerful and successful but there would have been nobody to share that success with. Nobody meaningful anyways. Willow would have kept hating her, the Twins would probably be in and out of jail and she’d be married off to someone chosen by her parents.

They’d be nice enough, Amity supposed. Tending to her every need with all the money in the world. But that’s all their relationship would have been. Nice. Nothing too extravagant or anything like that. Just nice.

Just nice.

They wouldn’t greet her with a hug or a kiss, they probably wouldn’t even sleep in the same bed as her. They wouldn’t cook for her, or talk about their day with her, or tell a silly joke to pick her up on a cloudy day.

Amity would have been smiling, but not really. Not in the way that most people smiled, where light reached their eyes with laugh lines on their face. It would have been just a smile. Something to uphold the illusion that everything was okay.

Amity knew she would like to think that maybe one day, a couple of years down the line she might have rebelled against her parents eventually. Half-heartedly, but still a rebellion. 

But she’d eventually stop trying, and just succumb to their whims. It was a depressing thought, but she knew how true it was. 

She hated to sound like her whole life was focused on Luz and what she’d done for her. But the truth of the matter was, Luz had given her a certain courage to take control of her life.

The girl, at least on the surface, never seemed to be afraid of anything. They’d inspired her. That seemingly endless fountain of courage sprung forth like a wellspring from Luz’s heart.

Amity felt her own heart skip a few beats remembering how they’d stood up to her mother, in public where everyone could see them. Shining like the brightest of stars as they said exactly what they thought of her.

Amity felt embarrassed, pathetic for not being inspired to say any of that herself. Titan knew she’d thought it, but had never quite worked up the nerve to say it aloud.

Maybe she didn’t have to now, but every so often Amity allowed herself the -somewhat childish- fantasy of walking, no gliding through the iron gates of Blight Manor. Just allowing herself to unload everything she’d ever thought about her mother, with the rest of her family too stunned to speak.

It, again, was a rather childish and spiteful fantasy and her mother was probably best left forgotten. But all the same, Amity allowed herself a bit of excited hand-flapping and a smile at the thought.

She chuckled as she pulled on her clothes for the day, going to brush her teeth. She did wonder what her birth mother thought of the manor’s new coat of paint. Maybe she’d had a heart attack and died.

Yes, it was incredibly wrong to think about the idea, and be smiling at it, but as far as Amity could work out, her birth mother hadn’t had the right to call herself loving for a long time.

She kept that smile as she looked at herself in the mirror, and chuckled. No need to pull her hair into a ponytail today, it had always felt too restrictive. A reflection of the rest of her life.

For now, she was free.

With a spring in her step, she walked out into the hall and allowed herself to start humming a little. It was a tune she’d heard her(!) Luz singing once. It wasn’t like one of those prayers she did now, no it was something else.

“...Hokori no michi wo yuku mono ni taiyou no michibiki wo. Yabou no hate wo mezasu mono ni ikenie wo…” she sang to herself, not even sure what it was from aside from something Luz had been babbling about, one of their ahh-ni-may. Whatever those were.

“Oooooooooh, are those your dulcet tones I hear?” Luz asked, wrapping their arms around her from behind. Their head was resting on her shoulder, a contented smile on Amity’s face. “I didn’t even know you could sing!”

“I… yeah, it was something my parents drilled into me. Something else they wanted me to present to the world. They wanted me to not just be a natural with abominations, but a natural singer as well,” Amity said. “It… weirdly isn’t something I hated doing? It’s one of the few things I don’t hate my parents for.”

“They’re not your parents, they’re just your sperm donors,” Luz said rather matter-of-factly, sounding actually rather like Eda in that moment. Like parent, like child Amity supposed. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Heh, thanks.”

“All the same,” Luz said with a purr, pretending to swoon. “You sound rather like a siren, enrapturing me in your spell!”

“Don’t be so dramatic, I hardly even knew what it was I was singing,” Amity said in a deadpan tone. “The language, the song. It was all so bizarre.”

Luz giggled, apparently laughing at some joke only she knew the answer to. “Well, you’re right about that. It certainly is very bizarre!”

Amity rolled her eyes, no real annoyance behind it. Some days, she’d never understand her girlfriend.

“Did you get your, uh, prayers in?” she asked, still working on figuring all of this out.

“Yeah, I did, though I’m not sure how much of my faith I can actually follow while I’m here,” Luz admitted, with a blush and sheepishly shuffling her feet. “I’m pretty sure the Isles doesn’t have anything particularly kosher on offer.”

“Well, I’m sure your God understands what you’re going through, right? That you have to work with what you have. I’m pretty sure They don’t really care as long as you keep to the spirit of things,” Amity reassured with a soothing squeeze of Luz’s hand. “Right?”

“I dunno, He got pretty testy depending on who you ask and what scriptures you consult,” Luz said. “Incredibly strict. Turned people to salt, inflicted plagues and the like.

Amity winced. “Yikes. Though why do you use masculine pronouns with Them? I mean, they’re a, sorry not a god but the God, right? They can use any pronouns that They want, right?”

“Well, I mean when you put it that way… I suppose the ruler of all creation can use whatever pronouns They want…” Luz considered. “I mean, hell, Good Omens, funny as it is, had a woman voicing God and gender-neutral pronouns for both angels and demons.”

“See, inclusivity for the holy!” Amity said with a smirk as they walked downstairs. “Why is it only humans who can’t conform to the gender binary? If your god made everyone in their image, then that means that they’re probably not stuck to any specific gender either. It takes both a man and a woman to make a child after all! Why can’t your god be both at once?”

“Both?” Luz said before smiling. “Yeah, both is good.”

She giggled.

“See what I did there? Referenced a classic meme?” Luz said, her girlfriend just looking confused. “...right, I suppose you wouldn’t know. Right, I need to show you that sometime.”

“Maybe in the human world?” Amity pressed, with another agenda on her mind. “I’d love to see it sometime.”

“I… maybe,” Luz frowned. “I’m… I’m really not looking forward to going back there any time soon. I don’t know how much of my conversation with Eda and Raine you heard, but things were…”

They sighed.

“Things were bad for me back there.”

Amity squeezed their hand again.

“You’re gonna have to face your demons sometime, you know. You helped me face mine,” she said with a reassuring look. “And honestly, if I have to help you face yours, I’ll gladly do it. You gave me courage when I thought I’d never have any, and I’ll help you regain yours.”

“Y-Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” Luz said with a sigh. “It’s just… here, I’m accepted by everyone. Everyone that matters anyways. Here I’m loved.”

“And you’re loved back home, by your mami and by your god.”

“Sometimes I question the latter, but I suppose…” Luz said before with a weary sigh they said: “If anything else, I have to go back home to keep kosher right?”

That look right there on Luz’s face? It reminded Amity far too much of the ones she used to see in the mirror every morning. It made Luz look far older than she had any right to be, weary and exhausted from life.

“Oh Luz…” Amity thought. “It looks like I wasn’t the only one who needed saving…”

Amity squeezed their hand tighter. She didn’t know who had hurt the light of her life, but she was looking forwards to her fist to meeting their face.

That blonde girl, the one who Grom had taken the form of. Was it her? Was it her who’d hurt her light?

That old fire began to stir deep within her, something she’d tried to bury. To snuff out. That hatred and scorn for anyone she’d considered beneath her, for anyone who dared wrong her.

Amity had considered that attitude a thing of the past, but looking at Luz right now? Realizing that she was hurting deep inside, well some of that old fire threatened to turn into an inferno.

Yes, she’d like to meet this Clara girl. Tell her that Luz was worth the world and more and that she’d made a grave mistake by hurting her. That by wronging Luz, she was also wronging a very powerful witch.

Amity forced the feeling down. No, it wasn’t worth it. Clara simply wasn’t worth getting worked up over. She was like how she used to be, a pathetic witch who got off by putting others down.

No, the best thing for Luz was for her girlfriend to put her in the past. Amity figured it wasn’t worth dealing with her, the best thing she could do was help Luz move forwards. Help them look to the future, and not stay stuck in the past.

“Heh, isn’t that ironic? Look at me, saying this. I’ve had my only goal for so long to be just spitting in the face of my birth mother. I’ve wanted to tell her to just watch my wildest dreams come true, not one of them involving you. But here I am deciding the best thing for my girlfriend is to put Clara in the past,” the witchlet thought. “I’m such a little hypocrite.”

“Amity?” Luz waved a hand in front of her face. “You alright? Eda’s waiting on us, breakfast is getting cold and you look like you’ve got your head stuck in the clouds.”

“Yeah, sorry,” Amity said, flushing red. “I was just thinking, that’s all.”

“On what?”

“The future,” she said. “That’s all.”

“Oooooooh, deep. Yours or mine?” Luz pressed.

“Both,” Amity said with a smirk. “Both is good.”

“I’ve taught you well, young grasshopper,” Luz said in a sage tone, punching her in the arm with another giggle. “Now come on, breakfast awaits!”

Like yesterday and like every morning before that, wonderful smells greeted Amity as she strode down into the dining room. They hafted from the kitchen, along with the sound of humming.

Humming, Amity realized with amusement, that carried a similar tune to the song she’d caught herself singing earlier. It seemed that she wasn’t the only fan of Luz’s weird cartoons in this house. Her ahh-ni-may or whatever.

The witchlet chuckled, and Eda said she wasn’t domestic. The self-proclaimed Most Powerful Witch on The Boiling Isles had apparently all too easily settled into the role of a mother.

“My mother?” Amity wondered. “I mean… it’s getting harder and harder to argue against the idea. She’s been more of a mom than my birth mother ever has been. It’s just… oh dear, do I really want to cross that bridge?”

She knew it was stupid, that it was only a defense mechanism. The paranoid part of her wanted to shut herself away just in case, just in case she was stabbed in the back again. The logical part of Amity knew that Eda would never hurt her, not intentionally anyway.

So why…

“Why do I keep listening to that part of me? It’s clearly just spiraling, trying to rationalize my own paranoia is just futile. Eda is Eda. Come on me! Don’t be such a paranoid wreck, just let her in. Just call her… Just call her your mother and be done with it!”

The last time though… Well, the last time she’d let anyone get close to her was with Lilith. And well, she knew how that had turned out.

Amity had thought she could trust her, and the moment she let her guard down, the woman started using her for her own ends. Just another tool against her sister.

That’s all she’d ever been, someone else’s tool for power and status on the Isles. She refused to let that happen ever again.

And yet, Amity thought as she let her eyes drift to the kitchen, she’d found it harder and harder to rationalize her paranoia in this specific instance.

“Amity? You alright?” Luz gently prodded. “You look like you’re lost in thought again. Watchu thinkin’ about, hmmm?”

“Just things.”

“Just things?” Luz said, confused and blinking. “Well, when you’re not thinking about ‘just things’, think about breakfast huh? If you don’t, I’m going to swallow as many pancakes as I can stuff down my throat!”

“Oh no you don’t,” Amity said, racing after her with a laugh. “Not if I get to them first!”

Yeah, everything was going to be alright. Today was shaping up to be a very good day.

-----

Today was shaping up to be a terrible day, Lilith mused to herself. Her heart pounded, and she forced herself to calm down.

Taking a calming draught, the witch glided across the marble floors of Belos’ keep, her cloak masking the nervous footsteps of her feet. She swallowed and felt the calming effect of the draught soothe her restless heart.

The witch considered several possibilities for her summons. One, Belos just needed a monthly report. It was about that time, wasn’t it? 

Two, he wanted her to personally hunt down another wild witch. Or maybe a specific one, there had been so far only one who had eluded capture. With a heavy heart, Lilith closed her eyes. 

“Eda, just give in. Join the Emperor’s Coven, I’m sure that Lord Belos with all of his power and his grace could heal your afflictions. Your curse… My curse. I gave it to you, so it’s only right that I help take it away.”

Of course, so far, Eda had managed to evade capture and that left one final sobering option. That Belos had called her here for the ultimate punishment. The hunt would go to his favorite, that damned Golden Guard.

And he would be nowhere near as merciful as she had.

Bargaining with Belos was useless, Lilith knew. He only allowed someone so many chances, and she, it seemed, had run out. 

Taking another sip of the draught, she sighed. Well, it would be best to face her approaching death with the dignity and grace of a Coven head.

The doors to the throne room creaked open, beckoning her to her approaching fate. Belos wasn’t one for sentiments, if he were a pettier more vindictive witch he might have displayed his conquests on either side of the room.

To surround visitors, to remind them of what just would happen if they even stepped a toe out of line. 

But that simply wasn’t the Emperor’s way, he smashed the petrified and went on with it. Lilith had to suppress a flinch, knowing that was what would happen to her.

Would anyone -Eda- remember her? Would anyone -Eda- even care in the end? 

Probably not. Her father had died long ago, and her mother… Well, her mother only really cared for one member of the family. 

Lilith let out a bitter laugh, maybe that was all this was in the end. Just a mad gambit to seek her mother’s approval. “Look at me mom, look at how powerful I’ve become. Look at who I serve, the Emperor himself. Isn’t that grand? I’m what you always wanted out of a daughter. Powerful… unstoppable. And completely in hell.”

Titan above. It sounded like the whims of a child.

Of course, if she was correct, her entire time spent with the Emperor’s Coven had been the desperate dream of a child. 

Hell, she’d even gotten here in a childish fit of temper!

Maybe she deserved to be petrified.

“Your grace,” she said, bowing low. She tried not to let her terror show, it was best to face this with a sense of poise. She would not die terrified, not if she could help it.

RISE.

Belos’ voice echoed out from behind his mask, expressionless and unfeeling. His voice commanded power and authority, and yet at the same time was so oppressing.

It took all of Lilith’s strength to rise off the floor and look him in the eye, the air in the room thick and heavy with tension. Sometimes, she wondered, was he even a witch like the rest of the Isles?

Or was he something… more? A being from another realm, an ethereal being carrying out the will of the Titan. Maybe he really was.

He seemed to think so, at any rate.

Not that any of that mattered at the moment really.

YOUR HUNT FOR YOUR SISTER IS STILL ONGOING, IS IT NOT?

“Y-Yes, it is. And I’m sorry I’ve failed you your grace, and I understand I’ve run out of chances so-”


YOU WANT ME TO GET ON WITH IT? Belos said, raising a hand. YES, YOU ARE CORRECT WHEN YOU SAY YOU’RE OUT OF CHANCES.

Electricity crackled and Lilith screamed as lightning rushed up her body, the arcs an angry violent red. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of agony, the pain ceased. Lilith dropped to the floor, her cloak smoking and exhaustion running across Lilith’s face.

CONSIDER THAT A TASTE OF WHAT IS TO COME IF YOU FAIL. THE PRICE IF YOU FAIL… WELL LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY. DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING. JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.

The implied threat was obvious. If she failed, her entire family suffered for it. The Golden Guard stood on the side of Belos’ throne, equally as emotionless.

Lilith, for a moment, wondered what he was thinking. Probably relishing the chance to take her place, she suspected. And enjoying watching her suffer.

The Emperor's power was near godlike, she hadn’t even seen him draw a spell circle. Nobody could stop him.

Nobody should even try.

They just had to fall in line, and await their judgment from him. It was all as the Titan willed it.

NOW GO, AND DON’T DISAPPOINT.

Lilith wondered what that meant, if capturing Eda would be Belos’ idea of disappointment. 

DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE OUTCOME, CLAWTHORNE. IT IS ALL AS THE TITAN WILLS IT.

“Edalyn Clawthorne will be ours. It’s all as the Titan wills it…” Lilith repeated, her voice barely above a whisper and she shut her eyes in sorrow. “I’m sorry… sister.”

She walked out of the room, trying not to glance at the being behind her. 

It would be so easy, she knew, to just run away and never look back. But there was no running, not anymore.

She was in too deep now, Belos had her right where he wanted her. That bastard had her basically in a ball and chains.

And he held the key to her freedom. No, that wasn’t right. Eda held the key. All she had to do was give up, just let herself be taken in.

The Coven sure as hell wasn’t a paradise, but it was far better than what awaited her if she kept on resisting.

She’d do anything for her little sister, she’d made a mistake once and had damned her to a life constantly on the run. It was her mess, and she’d been cleaning up after herself for years.

“That’s all I want, Edalyn. For us to be a family again. I… I’ve made mistakes, yes, but they’re all because I wanted what’s best for us.”

And yet there was that nagging voice in the back of her mind, questioning if cursing her baby sister had really been the best for anyone.

“You don’t even know, do you? I bet even now you still love me, despite all I’ve done. It would ruin you if you knew the truth,” Lilith said to herself with a deep shuddering sigh. “And that’s why I can never tell you.”

Yes, it was better for everyone involved if Eda never knew the truth. If she ever found out… it would break her heart. Lilith’s fist clenched tightly around her staff. She had to bring her in.

She had to. Eda wouldn’t be happy about it, but she would be safe.

…wouldn’t she? Lilith’s body still ached from Belos’ power. No… surely he wouldn’t… that was just to emphasize his point. He wouldn’t do it to Eda. …would he?

No, she couldn’t have any more second thoughts about this. This had to be done, for everyone’s sake. Maybe when this was all over, when Eda’s curse had been lifted, maybe then she could tell her.

But for now… There was work to be done.

“You seem focused,” said a voice, rapid footsteps accompanying her own. “You’re such a good older sister.”

The Golden Guard.

“Why do you care?”

“I really don’t,” the Golden Guard said. “Your squabbles are meaningless. It’s-”

“All as the Titan wills it, yes I know,” Lilith deadpanned.

“I just have to ask, and don’t worry, this isn’t an especially deep question,” the Guard went on. “Are you doing this for your sister… or for yourself?”

“It’s for both of us,” Lilith said after a long silence. “I just don’t want her to be running anymore. I want us to be together. As a family.”

“Then…” the Guard said, and Lilith could see him smirking under his mask. “Why did you curse her in the first place?”

-----

With a sigh, Alador slumped in his chair, his eyes drifting towards the abomination vat. Inside, the purple goo bubbled but otherwise rested lifelessly. An eye peered out at him, blinking slowly.

Lately, it seemed not even making new creations could interest him. It brought him little joy to meld the goo to his desires, and so he left it alone. It was like a soup, left out for someone else.

“Alador!” his wife called, smashing into the room like a powerful gale. “You haven’t worked out how to bring Amity back to us, have you?”

Alador barely spared the effort to glance up at her. “I thought you didn’t want to see her in this house ever again?”

“Yes, well I’ve realized my mistake,” Odaila said. “She may be a fool, and she may sympathize with… that human-”

She spat out the word with barely disguised disgust.

“-but she is still a Blight by blood. So that means she would have inherited our natural talent for abominations. I’d be a fool if I let such a valuable resource go to waste.”

“She wants nothing to do with us,” Alador said, unable to stop the snark from creeping into his voice. “You saw to that yourself.”

“Yes, well, a woman can own up to her mistakes.”

Alador’s tone hardened, filled with a rare show of emotion. His voice was laced with not quite fury, but something beyond his usual apathy. “And yet it was you who cast her out? Tell me, would you call that a mistake? Would you call Emira and Edric abandoning us a mistake?”

He let out a sigh.

“No, what you’ve done has gone beyond a simple ‘mistake’. You fucked up, dear. Now we’re reaping the… Well, I’m not sure the term ‘reward’ is what we’re reaping. We will just have to live with it.”

He nodded.

“Yes, we will just have to live with it. We’ll be watching her wildest dreams come true, and not a single one of them will be involving you .” Alador accused.

“But they might involve you,” Odaila smirked. “She’s your daughter as well, remember?”

Something faint, not quite love stirred in the back of Alador’s mind. He remembered holding her as a newborn, she seemed so happy then.

“The human’s adoptive mother, that Owl Lady. She’s cursed right? And so far, nobody’s been able to cure her.”

“And you assume I can?”

“Well, not you specifically,” Odaila said. “But I hear Belos has a special hat in his trophy collection, one that can cure any illness. Pass it along to the human, and if it works… Amity will remember it was you who told her about it. She’ll be forever grateful.”

Alador, for the first time in a while, felt inspiration strike him. Yes, perhaps this would do. Yes, this seemed like a plan he could pull off. Yes, this would do.

This would do.

-----

Unaware of the storm clouds beginning to rumble in the distance, Amity and her love tumbled together into the grass laughing.

“I love you,” Amity whispered to her light. “I love you. I haven’t told you it often enough, hell I haven’t told you at all, but I love you. You’re the light of my life, and I love you.”

Luz snuggled into her side, letting Amity wrap an arm around her. “I… yeah, I think I love you too. Maybe I’m a fool, maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about, but I…”

“I think we can be fools together then,” Amity said. “We’re both fools in love. I’m not sure when I realized it myself, maybe it was at Grom. Yes, I know it was at Grom. When you took my place… that’s when I knew. You were like a knight in shining armor, someone out of a fairy tale.”

“Awwwwwww…” Luz said, nuzzling her like an otter.

“There are so few fairy tales on the Isles, and even fewer with happy endings,” Amity said, the two atop a hill with the roofs of Bonesbourough rising in the distance. “I think… maybe our tale will be one of those few.”

“It does sound like a good story to tell our k-kids one day,” Luz said with a stammer, could they even have kids? Wait, why was she even thinking about it right now? They were much too young!

“Two star-crossed lovers, reaching between the veil between the realms to grasp one another,” Amity said, trying to ignore the rising heat in her face. “It is like a fairy tale. I… It’s just I never would have imagined it would have happened to me. Sometimes I think this is still all just a dream. That when I wake up, I’ll be back in my bed at Blight Manor and nothing would have changed.”

Then she felt a sharp pain in her side.

“Ow!” Amity said, rubbing the sore spot. “What was that for?”

“You said you thought it was a dream, so I thought I’d pinch you and maybe you’d wake up,” Luz said with a mischievous grin.

“You’re way too much like Eda sometimes, now c’mere you…” Amity said before she lunged, going on the attack. “You can’t get away!”

“Ahahahahaha, stop, please have mercy!” Luz said as Amity tickled her relentlessly. “I give in, I give in!”

“Yeah, I think you’ve learned your lesson, you little imp,” Amity said, snuggling into her. Running a hand down Luz’s face, she smiled tenderly.

“You have a nice smile, it’s a shame more people don’t get to see it more often, huh mi amor? The only smile most people used to see from you, it wasn’t even that. It was just an ugly smirk. And sometimes, just sometimes… well, it’s weary, exhausted. A sad little expression. I think I’m the only one who’s ever seen the real you.”

“Well, most people don’t give me much reason to smile at them,” Amity said. “You’re the first. You light up my life and for that I thank you.”

With that, she closed the gap between them. For now, there was peace and serenity. Tomorrow, they’d face the gathering storm. Together.

Chapter Text

Emira awoke to the smell of smoke, sniffing the air and found herself peering out the window to see her brother having started a fire.

She saw him tossing old clothes in, the smoke beginning to slowly rise higher and higher into the sky

“Edric?” she asked, with a little yawn and rubbing her eyes tiredly, still trapped between that state in-between being asleep and awake. “Wha… What are you doing?”

Wrapping a robe around herself, her hair barely brushed, the teenage witch made her way downstairs and outside. 

“It’s way too early in the morning for any of this,”

“It’s 12:00, it’s noon,” Edric said. “You sleep in late these days, sister dear.”

Emira looked up, to see the sun starting to slowly rise higher into the sky. Rubbing her eyes, she murmured: “...so it is, heh.”

“Anyways,” Edric said as he tossed another shirt into the roaring flame. “I’m not sure any of these clothes are me anymore. A lot of them were picked out by…”

“Odaila and Alador,” Emira said, and maybe a few weeks ago she might have been shocked at how easy it was to call them by their first names instead of mom and dad. But that was before… “Yeah, I think I understand.”

“There’s just too many memories attached to them,” Edric went on. “None of them good. Heh, most kids, you’d think they would cherish their old clothes. Maybe one would be attached to their first kiss, or their first ride on the Roller Ghoster. Most of my clothes though… They’re reminders.”

“Reminders of… well, we can’t call it home anymore,” Emira said, drawing a spell circle and summoning a pepper-up potion from the kitchen. Tossing a glance up at the Owl House, she smiled. “It hasn’t been our home in a while now, has it?”

“Assuming it’s ever been,” Edric replied. “A home is where you’re loved by your parents. Ours… I think they only saw us as disappointments.”

“Not that we did much to encourage otherwise,” Emira said with a snort. “We’re such little bastards, we refused to conform to our family’s desires.”

“To a certain extent, anyways…” Edric said with a sad little sigh. “We still both took the illusions track, I don’t know why. Maybe it was one last foolish hope to see a smile on mom’s face. Was her specialty after all.”

“No, we took it because we liked it,” Emira pointed out.

“You liked it, it’s your passion,” Edric said. “Now don’t get me wrong, I like illusions but not in the same way you do. That’s your passion, not mine. I just want to do something that I love.”

“But you’re good at it!” Emira said, the fire still crackling in the background.

“Yeah, I’m good at it, but it’s not something that when I get up in the morning I say: “Gee, I want to practice my illusions!”. That’s you, not me. I guess…” Edric started. “I guess the only reason I took it was because I didn’t want to lose you.”

“L-Lose me?”

“Yeah, our family’s already so unbelievably screwed up I guess I didn’t want to lose the one person I knew I could always count on,” Edric said. “And that’s you sis. Amity wanted nothing to do with me, and our parents barely paid attention to us even on the best of days.”

“Oh Ed…” Emira said, hugging her twin tight. “Alright, so what do you want to do?”

“Please don’t laugh,” Edric said. “I want to be a beast-keeper.”

Emira giggled, with her twin glaring at her.

“You said you wouldn’t laugh!”

“I’m not laughing at you, I swear! At least not in that way,” Emira said, still giggling. “It’s just, it’s so you. I remember when you were younger, you were always bonding with some small animal you’d found in the garden and you cried whenever you found a bird with a broken wing. You’d make a great vet.”

“And I’d get the chance to have every bird within a hundred miles poop in the manor’s yard,” Edric said with a conniving smile. “Maybe have one divebomb Odaila, you know ready aim, fire?”

“You’re a shitty person,” Emira said with a snort.

“And our birth mother deserves to be covered in shit. So what?” Edric said, not far from laughing himself.

“Anyways…” Emira said, looking back at the crackling fire. “I guess we’re going shopping later. What do you think, should we drop by that one thrift store owned by the Swag Coven? Still can’t believe that’s a thing by the way.”

“The one, coincidentally, that Viney girl works at as a cashier?” Edric said with a smirk.

“That’s just a coincidence,” Emira said, her face flushing red. 

“Mhmmm,” Edric said, clearly not believing her. “I’m sorry if I seem like I’m drifting away from you, I’m really trying not to.”

“No, you’re not, bro,” Emira said with a reassuring smile, putting her arm around him. “You’re just finally starting to grow up.”

Inside, life progressed as normal but if you peered deeper you could see the older members of the house were on edge. Storm clouds were beginning to gather.

“You need to tell her, Eda!” Raine said, their voice barely rising over a hushed whisper. “She has a right to know!”

“I don’t want to scare the kid, Rainstorm,” Eda said, brewing something in her cauldron. “You know how the kid gets, they’d freak out! Look, Luz, she’ll put everything else on hold until she finds a cure for me and well… we both know that’s not possible.”

Raine sighed. “I suppose this is it, isn’t it,” they asked, reaching out to touch Eda’s rapidly darkening gem. “I knew dating you would come with a limited timespan, before…”

“Aw shucks, Rainstorm. You make it sound like I’m dying! Nah, you’ll be getting an owl beast for a wife, isn’t that what anyone’s always wanted?” Eda said, a classic sarcastic quip to help mask the gravity of the situation.

“The family needs to know, it’s not just Luz. It’s Emira and Edric and…” Raine stopped themselves, unable to bring themselves to even say it.

“Amity. Oh boy, poor Minty-fresh. And that’s another reason why I don’t want to say anything,” Eda said, the cauldron bubbling beside her as she stirred. “You’ve seen her, for the first time in her life she’s actually happy for once. And you want me to take that away from her, by telling her that her mom’s about to turn into the Owlbeast for good?”

Eda’s gaze drifted outside, where Amity was using her abominations goo as makeshift shields, deflecting lobbed fireballs created from Luz’s glyph paper. She gracefully danced around the front lawn, smiling and laughing.

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t have the heart to do that,” Eda said, her hand drifting down to her embedded gem. “Let her think, just for right now, everything’s going to be just fine.”

“So she’s going to find out when you turn into the Owlbeast, and when she starts pouring potions down your throat to no avail, she’s going to find out then and there?” Raine said, raising an eyebrow in disapproval. “What a pleasant surprise that must be.”

Eda sighed. “I know you’re right, I know you are. It’s just… it’s a really hard subject to bring up. I’ve tried to do it before, with you and certainly at times with the kids. It’s just…”

Raine squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Every time, words fail you?”

They swallowed, they knew how that felt. It was growing harder and harder to work up the nerve to tell their love about just who they thought had cursed her. If they did… they knew it might break her heart.

“Every damn time,” Eda confirmed with a nod. “I’m an owl, I’m supposed to be wise, I’m supposed to know everything. And yet… I don’t know what to do here.”

Unaware of the rapidly darkening skies, Luz and Amity found themselves dragged into town by the Twins. Saying that they needed critique on their new attire.

“Hey, you alright?” Amity asked, stroking Luz’s arm. “You seem like you’ve been on edge for a while now. Like you’re super tense.”

“You see right through me huh?” Luz said. “You really are a good girlfriend, aren’t you?”

“I aim to be the best,” Amity said with a bright smile that rapidly faded. “And as the best girlfriend in all of the Boiling Isles, I have to know what’s bothering you. Maybe I can help.”

“Okay, it’s like this. It’s Eda, I think she’s been like lying to me on how bad her curse is getting. She says she’s alright, but I can see it in her eyes. She’s worried, like I’ve seen that look in my mami’s eyes whenever someone brings their dog or cat into the vet and things don’t look good for them,” Luz said. “And you notice nowadays she covers up her gem. I think… I think it’s a lot worse than she’s letting on.”

Amity’s breath caught in her throat, well she supposed she couldn’t really deny any of that. Eda had been acting pretty squirrelly lately. And Raine… the sad look in their eyes lately… It said a lot more than words ever could.

“I guess… I guess after this we’re hitting the Forbidden Stacks of the library,” Amity said with a little nervous stammer. “Oh gosh, my boss isn’t going to be happy about that but there’s got to be something, anything back there on how to help Eda. I mean, surely she’s not the first witch this has ever happened to… right?”

She sounded so desperate to believe that.

“There’s nothing that can help the Owl Lady now,” said a familiar voice, her father stepping out of the shadows. “At least… nothing either you or your human girlfriend -congratulations by the way- could think up.”

“What do you want?” Amity’s eyes narrowed.

“I bet you’re overjoyed that Eda’s curse is getting worse, aren’t you?” Luz growled. “Just because so when it takes over her completely, Amity will have no choice but to come back to you.”

She tightened her grip on her girlfriend, squeezing her arm.

“Well, that’s not happening. Not if I have anything to say about it. I don’t know where Amity would go if and only if Eda’s curse takes over, but she certainly won’t go back to you. So back off, or you’re talking to the glyph witch,” Luz said. “I mean, Eda’s got her faults, sure, but at least she tries to be a good parent and doesn’t resemble a vandalized pineapple.”

“And Eda won’t be with you for much longer unless you take my advice.”

“Oh yes, sure, I’m taking advice from a zombie. Because you look like you’re lacking a brain,” Luz said. “Neither me or Amity want anything to do with you.”

“All the same, there’s a hat in Belos’ personal trophy room. A healing hat, it’s said it can cure any illness,” Alador said, smirking. “Any illness. Just think about it.”

“I’m thinking about it, and I’m thinking you’re lying,” Luz said.

“Actually… he’s not. I’ve heard about it too,” Amity admitted before her gaze hardened again as she looked up at her father. “But I know exactly what this is, you just want me to be grateful towards you for suddenly dropping this bombshell on us. This potential cure. Well, newsflash, I already knew about it and newsflash, it’s locked up tight in the Emperor’s personal castle. Or did that fact slip your mind?”

“Well, you’re a Blight and your girlfriend is apparently very intelligent as well. I’m sure you could devise a solution to that problem,” Alador said. “Just something to think about.”

“I am thinking about it,” Amity said. “And I’m also thinking it’s impossible.”

“Nothing’s impossible for a Blight, if you remember.”

“Yes, well I’m not a Blight anymore,” Amity said as her final dig. “Your wife made sure of that!”

“So she did…” Alador said tiredly as he walked back into the shadows. “So she did…”

Amity scowled, the nerve of that man. He only now decides to take an interest in her problems? It’s like suddenly years of standing by while her mother verbally abused her suddenly weren’t supposed to matter. Like she was supposed to just suddenly forget about all of it.

“Amity…” Luz said with a frown. “Is it true? Can the hat heal anything? Any illness?”

“In theory,” Amity said. “Yes.”

“And you didn’t tell me about it?” Luz asked, looking betrayed. Her voice turned furious. “I… Eda’s like my second mom, I had a right to know!”

Amity placed both hands on her shoulders, though Luz pulled away. “It’s like I said, the Healing Hat is locked away in the Emperor’s personal trophy room. Getting it is impossible! No, there’s got to be another way. An easier way…”

“But what if there isn’t?” Luz asked. “We’ve got to at least try…”

“And you’ll be arrested if you do!” Amity said, her voice beginning to sound like a desperate plea. “Don’t you see, that’s what my father wants! For you to be arrested, and out of the way. So I can suddenly come running back to my parents’ ‘loving’ arms!”

“I’m right about this, I know I am,” Luz said. “That hat, even if it’s locked up tight, is our best chance at healing Eda.”

She laughed bitterly.

“Hell, it might be our only chance…”

And then Amity looked her in the eye.

“Okay, so you say you’re right and maybe you are but…” Amity whispered in a hollow tone. “What if you’re wrong…?”

-----

“I’m sorry Luz…” Amity said to herself, that next day. “But I can’t let you throw your life away. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you as the first human witch. Me? I’m still not sure what my future is…”

She said this to herself even as she walked inside the imperial palace, tall foreboding walls on every side making her feel very small indeed.

“Where’s Luz?” Skara asked, trying not to look intimidated by the sight of it all. “Shouldn’t she be here? Like this is the Emperor’s palace, you don’t just get that many chances at all to even see this place!”

“She said she couldn’t come, she said something about a religious observance she has to follow. Something called Shabbat, I think it was?” Amity said. “I didn’t argue with her, it’s not my right to force her to go against her religion.”

Okay, that wasn’t a total lie. Luz did say today was Shabbat for her, but Amity had slipped her a sleeping potion meaning even if it hadn’t been, she would have completely missed her chance to go anyways.

Amity’s fists clenched. “‘I’m sorry Luz, I know you mean well but I have to do this for you. I’m your girlfriend, and I have to help you out. Even if what you want to do is incredibly foolish to the extreme. Defying the Emperor like this? I’m sorry… no, I can’t let you put yourself in danger.”

A part of her admittedly felt flattered that Luz was quite willing to break tradition just to help Eda. But…

“I love Eda too. It’s not just you who would be broken up if she transformed into the owl beast permanently. I have to help her too. It’s a long shot, I know, but I guess you’re right. This may be our only chance to save Eda.”

They entered the trophy room, and Amity’s eyes widened upon seeing the Hat. It looked old, beaten and battered and would probably fall apart the minute she removed it from its case. But even from here, she could feel the raw magic coming off it.

It had been said that the hat had been worn by one of the very first healers, created to cure any ill.

Any ill. Amity wondered if it was all true, or just myth and legend. It would be just like Belos, if you believed Eda, to keep such an item locked away to tempt wild witches into coming after it.

And here she was, falling into his trap. Not for the first time, Amity wondered if what she was doing was really the smartest way of going about it. There had to be other ways she could cure Eda right?

Maybe some books in the forbidden stacks at the library knew something she didn’t! 

Oh well, she couldn’t back out now. 

“Oh well, it’s her loss I suppose,” Skara said. “This is living magical history! Look, over there!”

She was pointing to another artifact, a massive gauntlet too large for anyone to use. 

“It’s the Green Thumb Gauntlet! Oh, if Willow were here…” Skara said, and oh right Willow was laid up in bed with the common mold wasn’t she? One less person to convince her to back out from doing something stupid, Amity supposed.

“Mmmmm…” Amity hummed, trying to be polite and pay attention. Her thoughts raced, and her heart pounded. 

In walked a tiny little demon, only a little bigger than King but radiating magical power and wearing the robes of the Emperor’s Coven. Once upon a time, Amity remembered, she dreamed of wearing those herself.

And that was before she woke up to the harsh reality that was life. Before Lilith had… No, she couldn’t think of her. Not now. 

"Children of Hexside, Emperor Belos welcomes you to his castle. We're honored by visits from students. You'll soon be a part of the coven, some lucky few may even find their home here, in the mighty Emperor's Coven!” the demon, Kikimora if Amity remembered right said. “You... are the future of the Isles! My job is to teach you its past.”

As they walked, they passed by a mural of wild witches dancing around a fire.

“Today, the Isles are a place of peace and prosperity. But that wasn't always the case,” Kikimora said, and Amity just knew if she hadn’t met Eda, she wouldn’t have been able to spot the obvious propaganda. “Up until 50 years ago, witches and demons practiced wild magic during what we called the Savage Ages. Witches had access to corrupt knowledge, and that dishonored the Titan.”

Kikimora continued blathering on, Amity not really listening. She caught something about sophistication, elegance, and grace but hadn’t really paid attention to the context. Instead, she’d broken away from the group and headed back towards the relics room.

“Oh well… here goes…” Amity mused, thankful for the illusion magic that her sister had taught her. For all Kikimora knew, she was still back with the group.

She couldn’t steal the hat, but she could definitely borrow it. Ah, loopholes. Another thing to thank Eda for teaching her about.

“And what do you think you’re doing?” said a voice from behind her, chilling the witchlet to the bone. “I have to ask, did you really think you would get away with it? I thought I would have taught my student better than this.”

“Lilith.”

“You,” Amity said, not even bothering to turn to look at her.

“Yes me,” Lilith said. “Shall we dispense with the childish insults and the ridiculous pettiness? Go on, turn around to face me. Look me in the eye, Amity. You’re my student, it’s only polite.”

Amity snorted. “I wasn’t aware I was still your student. I thought after Eda humiliated you, you tossed me aside. Or am I remembering wrong? Because what I remember was this. I was just a tool, a means to an end. I can see why my parents asked you to teach me. You’re a lot alike.”

“Whatever you may think of me, justified or not-”

“Oh I’d say it’s plenty justified,” Amity spat.

“Whatever you may think of me, justified or not,” Lilith continued on. “I must ask, did you really think you could get away with stealing-”

“Not stealing, only borrowing.”

“Please don’t interrupt, it’s not polite for a witch of your status. But then, I suppose you have been hanging around my sister, haven’t you?” Lilith sighed.

“Well, she’s certainly treated me like more of a person than you have,” Amity said, finally turning to look back at her. “I’ve flourished under her care. One more thing she’s done better compared to you.”

She rather enjoyed the flinch Lilith gave, and the brief look of fury that crossed over her face. 

“Be that as it may, you’re still nowhere near as good with illusions as you think you are. I’m proud that you’re far more powerful than you were, but your magic still has a long way to go,” Lilith said. “Belos would notice you ‘borrowed’ the Healer’s Hat before you were even out the door. I mean, I assume that’s what your plan, poorly thought out as it was, is. Replace the Healer’s Hat with an illusion and assume nobody would notice until later.”

“So what? I assume you’re going to tell my parents?” Amity said with a snarky grin.

“Ah yes, your parents. I can’t say I approve of them disowning you, though it doesn’t surprise me. Odaila’s always been a particularly petty woman,” Lilith said with a sigh. “She always assumed everything revolved around her, and that includes her family.”

Amity laughed bitterly. “Family? No, a family loves and cares for you. Calling what I had a family is just a bad joke.”

“All the same, as much as I pity you, I can’t let you take the Hat,” Lilith said, drawing a spell circle and golden chains manifested rushing towards her. “I’m proud you’ve flourished as a witch under Eda’s teachings, but she’s taught you a little too well I think. You don’t have any respect for authority, just like her!”

“Well, you’re partially to blame really,” Amity said, abomination goo slicing through the magical chains before Lilith could even blink. “So if I’ve got a certain disdain for authority, just look in the mirror for the reason why.”

“Do you really think you can duel me child?” LIlith asked. “You don’t even have your staff yet. I’m so far beyond you right now, that challenging me would simply be a waste of perfectly good magic.”

“Oh, do you use power glyphs on yourself?” Amity said, raising her hand as a wave of abomination goo rose up to absorb more magical chains. “Because that does seem to be your favorite tactic!”

“No, I earned my position as the coven head fair and square,” Lilith said, conjuring up a flock of ravens. “Eda didn’t want it, which is a shame. If she had just taken the position as she should have, neither of us would be in this mess!”

“Should have? You sound like you wanted her to flounder under the Emperor’s care. For him to suffocate her with how he thinks magic should be performed,” Amity said, ducking behind another case as the ravens flew overhead. Drawing another spell circle, she prepped her next attack. “That’s simply not how she rolls and you know it! Magic can’t be contained-”

“You sound just like her!” Lilith said, looking around the room. “Impudent brat!”

“Ah, and there it is. There’s really what you think of me,” Amity said. “Well, allow the student to become the teacher. Magic isn’t something you contain, instead you just let it FREE!”

A purple version of Hooty rushed out of the shadows, nailing Lilith square in the jaw and sending her flying up against a wall with spider web-style cracks rupturing out from where she’d hit.

Lilith rubbed her bruised and bleeding jaw, sighing. “Very well, as your teacher, I suppose I’m entitled to one last lesson.”

She slammed her staff into the ground, a wave of magic knocking Amity to the floor before two chains wrapped around her stomach pinning her. 

“I didn’t want to do any of this, I’m sorry dear child,” Lilith said, sounding genuinely apologetic. “I didn’t want to do what I did back then to Eda either, but you like her left me no choice.”

“You…” Amity gasped in realization and let out a snarl. “You cursed Eda! How could you, your own sister!”

“I did what I had to do… no, that’s not right, she forced me into it. If she had just gone along and joined this coven with me, then maybe none of this would have happened,” Lilith said, making the chains lift Amity up. She stoked the teenager’s face soothingly. “I’m sorry, for what it’s worth.”

“Sure you are.”

“Believe me if you want, but trust me, this is mercy compared to what Belos would have done.”

Lilith's illusion dropped, her body covered in burn scars.

“Believe me…” she said, pained.

Then another voice, and Lilith turned to see Skara standing in the doorway looking shocked and horrified. “Amity! I saw you sneak off and… Lady Lilith?”

Lilith tossed her staff to Skara. “Take this to my sister. Give her a message from me. She’ll know what it is.”

She snapped her fingers and the staff took off, Skara on its back.

At the Owl House, Luz had just walked in to see just how badly Eda’s curse had really progressed. The woman had spouted feathers and her gem was nearly black as night.

“Eda!” she whispered, horrified as Raine held one of the last of the potions in their hand. “Your curse… You’re d-dying aren’t you?”

“No! Jeez, you're morbid. I just kinda sorta, turn into the owl beast... forever. Ahhh, it's a fate much worse than death if you think about it,” Eda said with a barking, sarcastic little laugh. “Don’t worry about it kid, it was going to happen to me eventually. I’m just glad I got to meet you and the kids before then, that’s all.”

“N-No…” she whispered. 

“I’m sorry kiddo…” Eda said, trying not to cry. Then came a knock at the door…

Chapter Text

“A-And just like that, Lady Lilith…” Skara stammered, a pillow hugged close to her chest in fright. “S-She sent me away, said to deliver a message to you. I don’t even know what the message was, she just said that you’d know what it meant!”

“Well believe me… Message received,” Eda said, a low growl rumbling up from the back of her throat. It sounded animalistic, Luz realized with a start. Sickeningly like that of the Owl Beast’s.

“Damn it Lily, this time you’ve gone too far,” she went on, moving to grab her staff. Her normally shining eyes were thick and clouded over with rage. “Now you can attack me all you like, try and get me into your stupid Coven, but when you go after my kids to make a point…”

She didn’t even hesitate to refer to Amity as one of her kids, Luz realized. 

“Now see, you’re just trying to make me mad,” Eda said. “Remove one of my chicks from the nest to try and get to me.”

“Exactly, don’t you see?” Raine said, up with a start. “That’s what she wants! That’s what she’s trying to do, get to you through Amity.”

“Well, it’s working…” Eda said, hairs standing on end like feathers. 

“Exactly.”

“What are you saying, Rainstorm?” Eda asked, a dangerous edge to her voice. “Are you saying I should leave my baby girl in the hands of that she-devil?”

“No, I’m saying you’re taking too many risks,” Raine said, eyes wide with fear. They put their hands on their love’s shoulders. “Your gem… it’s almost black as coal. If you use up any more of your magic…”

“I turn into the Owl Beast,” Eda said numbly, unable to meet their eyes. “I’m aware. But damn it, I just can’t sit around and do nothing. This is my kid we’re talking about, and I feel useless!”

“She’s my kid too now,” Raine said, their voice barely more than a mumble. “I can go get her.”

“And ruin your promising career as a bard? Make yourself an enemy of Belos? I don’t think so!” Eda said. “I’m a nobody, at least by comparison so don’t you start.”

She sighed.

“I’m an outcast, a wild witch. I’m not going to be in danger of having my whole life ruined,” Eda said, shaking her head. “...No, I did that to myself long ago. Sometimes I think…”

“Sometimes you think what?”

“Sometimes I think I should have gone along with it all,” Eda said. “I should have joined the Emperor's Coven, none of this would have happened. Who knows, Belos might have been able to cure me, who knows.”

“Oh Eda…” Raine said tenderly, eyes soft and misty.

“Uh, Amity’s going to be alright… isn’t she?” Skara spoke up again, the two having honestly forgotten she was even there. “Like… Like Lilith’s just playing around isn’t she? She’s going to let her go… right?”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t worry. Boots is just a pawn in Lilith’s chess game, she just wants to get to me. The Queen!” Eda said, no trace of her normal pride and arrogance to be found. “That’s who she wants.”

“I’m not going to let you sacrifice yourself though!” Raine said, nearly screaming it out. “You’re going to-”

“Turn into the owl beast forever? Yeah, I’m aware that’s a possibility, but it’d be a small price to pay for Amity’s freedom. Lilith’s gone too far this time, and I’m going to make sure if I go down, I’m going to go down swinging. I’m going to make sure Lilith knows that she’s always going to be second rate, second best!”

Luz, for their part, had vanished. They were hiding behind a wall, crying, their whole body shaking with sobs and knowing at this point there wasn’t going to be any way to stop Eda.

“Mom…” she thought to herself. “Please… Please don’t.”

“Besides… I know you Rainstorm. You’re not going to give up on me that easily eh? I know you too well,” Eda said. “You’re going to make sure that one day, I come back from this. That you won’t have an owl beast for a girlfriend forever.”

“That’s just it… I’m not sure I can…” Raine said. “Everyone’s tried, your mother included. Nobody’s been able to cure you yet!”

“Exactly, yet. I’ve grown to live with my curse, at least that’s what I tell myself at night, but it’s always nagged at me,” Eda said. “Maybe I’m a fool for hoping differently, but ever since Luz came into my life, since Boots? Since you’ve returned even? Maybe I’ve started to think differently. Maybe I’ve started to think like a fool.”

She snorted.

“Maybe I’m a fool in love,” she said. “Because love does funny things to this old girl. Makes her think that life isn’t so shit.”

“I guess I can’t stop you can I?” Raine admitted. “I guess the only thing I can do is back you up and make sure that Lilith gets the message.”

“What? No, Raine, you need to-”

“No, no Coven leadership is worth this. I’ve only been doing this just to subvert Belos from the inside, so far I haven’t had much luck with that,” Raine said. “Maybe it’s time I rebel more openly.”

“Why Rainstorm, I didn’t know you had it in you!”

“I blame you,” Raine said with a soft smile, cupping her face. “I blame you wholeheartedly. It was you who inspired me.”

“Funny,” Eda said gently, kissing them. “Usually it’s been the other way around.”

Pressing her forehead to theirs, she smiled.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The two shared a longing look, the evening sun filtering in through the windows turning a dark room bright orange. It was almost impossible to tear their eyes away from each other, and when they did it was with equally somber expressions.

Raine tried to force a smile, but given the current situation it was hard to do so. A soft swear under their breath.

“Well…” they said. “This past month and a half… for what it’s worth, it’s been the best time of my life. A thing, I suppose, isn’t beautiful because it lasts.”

Eda smiled sadly, tucking something away in her hair. 

“No… Nothing good ever lasts forever. But I think that’s what makes life worth living, not the ending of a story but the little moments in-between. The things before the final page.”

“It won’t be the final page though, I’ll make sure of it,” Raine said. “Everyone in this house will.”

“Oh Raine… I’m supposed to be the confident one. I guess we’ve both rubbed off on each other a little.”

Eda suddenly felt something barrel into her, hugging her tightly.

“Eddddddaaaaaa!” Luz said, sounding like they were about to break down crying again.

“It’s okay kiddo, I promise after this no more risks for a while. Don’t worry, you’ll get to have a magic teacher yet! It’s going to take more than my sister to bring this old hag down,” Eda said confidently, though it didn’t quite meet her eyes. “I promise, I’ll live to see you graduate from Hexside, I promise you that I’ll be able to see you become a proper witch in your own right.”

“You… You promise?” Luz asked, sounding smaller than she actually was. She sounded like a kid again.

“I promise and… honestly you know something?” Eda said, throwing something off the coat rack at Luz. Their eyes widened as a cloak wrapped around them, fastening itself. “I think I already have.”

“Are you sure-”

“-that you’re-

“-ready-”

“-for this?”

The twins stood in front of her. 

“After all-”

“-we both know what you’re going to do-”

“-so we just want to know-”

“If I’m ready?” Eda asked. “Well, I wish I could say yes. I wish I could say I’ve been ready for a while, I’ve known this day could come any time now but it’s still… I’m afraid, okay?”

She hugged them close.

“If I don’t make it back, it’s not going to be just Raine’s job. You’re going to have to look after your sisters. You’re going to have to help support this family as well.”

Emira was crying, her twin not far behind. “But we just got a new mom, I don’t want… I don’t want you to leave so soon!”

“You’re growing up, you two don’t need me. You’re ready to leave the nest on your own, I’ve just been helping you get to that point,” Eda said. “That’s all.”

“But what if-”

“But what-ifs, no second-guessing yourselves,” Eda said, wagging a finger and putting another to Edric’s lips “Up-bup-bup-bup-bup! I’ve been watching you grow ever since you came to the Owl House. I’m proud of you two kiddos, you’re going to make great successors to Lord Calamity’s reign of terror.”

“T-Thanks…” Emira sniffled, before King leaped over her shoulders and hugged Eda tight.

“Edddddddaaaaa!” he whined. “Don’t go!”

“I’m sorry kiddo, but I have to do this. One of my hatchlings is in danger, and my sister dear needs to learn not to rouse momma owl! This bird has some talons!” Eda said. “You okay with that… Mr. Wiggles?”

King snorted. “One last dig huh? One last time? You’re never going to let that go are you?”

“Nope. I’m gonna make sure you never forget that little screw-up!” Eda said with a wistful smile. “Now when I’m gone, no… if I’m gone, because I will try and come back, but if I go, don’t raise too big of an army okay?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t. At least not for anything but the common good. I… I think I want to overthrow Belos now as well, he and his covens are trying to take you away from me!” King said before his voice turned sadder. “They may have taken you away from me.”

He nuzzled her, his claws still clutching her tight. For a moment, he didn’t sound anything like the supposed King of Demons. He sounded like a little kid begging his mom not to go into that sweet goodnight.

“So if they do… I’m going to take my revenge. I’m going to take my rightful throne and…” he sniffled. “I’m going to rule the Isles right.”

“That’s a good boy,” Eda said, prying him off and setting him down. “That’s a good little tyrant.”

“Didn’t you hear?” King asked. “No tyranny. It’s not what you would want.”

Eda’s eyes were a little misty. “Oh… Oh. There’s something you need to know. I… no, I’ll tell you when I get back.”

“When?” King asked, not daring to hope.

“ When I get back,” Eda repeated. “So just keep Hooty from burning down-”

The door swung open and the bird demon wrapped himself around Eda bawling his eyes out.

“Of course…” she smiled, stroking his fur. “You may be horrifying but I’d miss you too.”

She’d miss all of them, she realized with a sad smile. Every last one.

-----

SO THIS IS YOUR PLAN?


Amity tried not to shudder.

I APPROVE.

“Thank you, Milord,” Lilith said, bowing low. Amity tried not to stare at her scars, or stare for too long at the witch who had given them. “You’re too kind.”

THE OWL LADY WILL COME, LIKE A FLY TO A SPIDER’S WEB. AND LIKE A FLY, SHE WILL BE CAUGHT. Belos rumbled, his voice like a thunderstorm. YOU HAVE REDEEMED YOURSELF.

“T-Thank you Milord!”


NOW GO, YOUR DESTINY AWAITS. ALL IS AS THE TITAN WILLS IT.

“Yes, all… all is as the Titan wills it,” Lilith said, snapping her fingers and willing Amity’s bubble to follow.

“Is it worth it?” Amity asked with an almost sympathetic look once they were out of earshot. “Is serving Belos really worth it?”

“Yes, and you could be his servant too. You could still be, Belos isn’t unkind. He allows redemption. He takes in the tired and the weary, the broken and the downtrodden,” Lilith said and with a horrifying start Amity realized how indoctrinated she sounded.

“I think I’ll pass,” Amity said, glancing at Lilith’s once-beautiful unbroken alabaster skin. “If he’s really as kind as you say, then maybe he won’t give me any of those horrible scars.”

Lilith faltered. “V-Very well then. It’s your choice.”

Amity smirked before she let it fade. Shit. She was really in trouble now wasn’t she?

-----

The thing Eda remembered the most about walking up to Belos’ keep was how quiet things were. Did she have any final doubts, any last traitorous thoughts about what she was about to do?

Not really.

The thing that scared her though was how easily it came to her, how easily she slipped into accepting how she was going to fight her sister.

Maybe their relationship had fractured that much, to the point where reparations were impossible by this point.

Once, she thought with a sigh, once they’d been close. Maybe she should have tried hard.

“Oh well, that was then and this is now. You kidnapped my kid Lily, all to get to me. It’s working, I admit, but you forced my hand,” Eda mused. “I wish it didn’t have to be like this but it seems unlikely that our relationship can ever be repaired by this point. I suppose we only have ourselves to blame really.”

An ill wind blew, gray clouds gathering above the castle as a distant thunder rumbled. At the other end of the draw bridge stood her sister.

“Alright, you got me out of the house. There’s better ways to get my attention sister dear,” Eda said. “You could write me a letter, send me a singing telegram. Instead…”

She gripped her staff.

“Instead you kidnap my kid, my kid!” Eda snarled, her fangs bared.

“She won’t be your kid for much longer,” Lilith said, sounding sympathetic. “Your gem-”

“Yeah yeah I know what it looks like, and honestly whatever happens next is your fault,” Eda said, privately enjoying the way her sister flinched. “So I hope you’re happy with it.”

Behind her, Amity floated in a blue bubble. A pawn in their game. “You can have her back, provided you do as I say. Renounce your wild ways and join the Emperor's Coven. He can help heal your curse!” Lilith pleaded.

“Same old story, same old song and dance. Same old shit,” Eda said. “You’re like a broken record Lily. It’s all as the Titan wills it right? Don't believe everything that bonehead tells you. He doesn't want to heal me, he wants to control me!”

The air crackled with magic. “Then you leave me little choice. If you won’t come of your own free will… Then I’ll take you in by force,” Lilith said, gripping her staff so hard it was amazing it didn’t break.

Spinning it, lightning flashed in the skies above, angry and red.

“You've always looked down on me because I'm wild,” Eda said with that old wily smirk returning. “Fortunately, that just made me work harder than you. Smarter!” 

The eyes on Eda’s staff lit with golden light, energy filling the enchanted wood. Before Lilith could brace for impact, Eda moved in a flash of lightning, coming right up to her sister’s face and smacking her with the butt of her staff.

“Tell me sister, are you happy? Happy with any of it?” Eda said, eyes still glowing with magic. “Because if everything is as the Titan wills it, surely everything going the way it’s gone must have a point to it all right?”

“Belos sees all, he knows all!” Lilith shouted, summoning violent crimson lightning to her hand, catching it and pulling it from the sky.

“And he also gave you those scars. Look at yourself Lily, look at what’s happened! I guess you’re as ugly on the outside as you are on the outside! Wake up!”

Eda darted between lightning bolts, spinning her staff in such a way to catch them and throw them back at her sister.

A wall of earth raised itself, the lightning smashing through and it was all Amity could do to watch from her bubble and hope this fight stayed contained. One stray bolt and… she looked down and swallowed.

One stray bolt and she’d be tumbling into the pit below. All the same, she couldn’t help but watch in awe, this was how true witches fought. This was who she could be if she worked at it.

Assuming she ever got the chance.

“I did wake up little sister,” Lilith said. “I woke up to the truth! Magic is wild, chaotic, destructive by nature. It needs to be controlled!”

“Yeah yeah, that’s the same spiel Belos is always spouting. I’m amazed you’re not wearing a mask just like him by this point,” Eda said. “You’re basically him in miniature now.”

Lilith sneered at her sister, her facade of control slipping. Eda always knew how to pull her right back to adolescence. One barb from her brought back every insecurity and drive to get some of the spotlight her older sister naturally drew. Slamming the butt of her staff to the ground, magic surged through the earth. Pillars of rock raced upwards, seeking out Eda.

Eda waved her hand, ice racing towards the rock to meet it head-on. Luz, hiding behind a tree just beyond the drawbridge flinched.

She debated getting involved, rushing out to help. No. Eda didn’t need to worry about her getting in the way, she had enough problems as it was right now.

All the same… Luz noticed the gem getting darker and darker with each spell used, how even as clones of Hooty ripped through the air out of a wormhole, how it became black as night.

Lilith waved her hand and Amity’s bubble shot forwards with Eda’s spell falling apart the moment she noticed it.

“Coward,” Eda spat, eyes wide at Amity, her daughter pounding on the bubble. “She was once your student and now she’s just a shield to you? I thought I knew you, Lily.”

Eda couldn’t look her in the eye.

“Now you’re just like the rest of Belos’ flunkies, so unbelievably self-serving and-” Eda said. “Honestly I’m going to enjoy the moment you finally realize the truth about the Coven system. The moment Belos stabs you in the back. You’re just a pawn to him in the end.”

Eda took out a violin and began playing it, Lilith blinking a little in confusion but the very stone beneath them began to rot. Lilith felt her magic weakening and saw her hands start to rot away as well. Immediately, she flung the bubble away only for a Hooty clone to punch her right in the face.

The bubble slammed against the earth, and shattered as Amity fell into Luz’s arms.

“Ams…” Luz said, their girlfriend giving a weak smile as she gently pressed her forehead to Luz’s own.

“I love you…” she whispered, with Luz smiling in turn.

“I know.”

Meanwhile…

“I guess there’s hope for you yet, I didn’t think you’d let Amity rot away.”

“You’re crazy,” Lilith said, picking herself up off the drawbridge. “What if-”

“What if you hadn’t thrown the bubble far away? What if Amity had begun to rot? I knew you wouldn’t let that happen. No, she’s still a useful piece to you, and this battle is about us. Not her,” Eda said. “You, me and-”

“And who?” Lilith asked, eyes wide.

An arc of magic cut that thought off, slashing through the air as a furious-looking Raine stepped into view. They looked angrier than Lilith had ever seen them.

“Raine?” Lilith said, quickly recovering from her shock. “You need to think about this, you’re throwing your future away.”

“What future? A lifetime as Belos’ slave?” Raine asked, their eyes glaring furiously at Lilith from behind their now shining glasses. “That’s no future at all, and… Oh, I guess I thought I knew you Lily. I thought you were supposed to be smarter than this, you were always top of the class in Hexside. I guess book smarts don’t equate to common sense.”

Lilith didn’t respond, knowing between the two any further argument would be wasted breath. Spinning her staff in a whirl of motion, spears of ice encircled her. In quick succession, the spears flew, aimed for the violins of Raine and Eda. Bard magic was tricky, but useless without a musical medium.

Twin arcs of magic rushed through the air towards Lilith, who drew a spell circle and the air in front of her shimmered, swallowing up the spell.

A glowing blue ball of magical fire in her hand, she lobbed it at the two, the duel now like an intricate dance between practiced performers.

Eda slammed her hand into the drawbridge stone, and from behind her the very earth began to rise up into a golem, grasping hands reaching out for Lilith. Eyes glowed with angry light, Eda’s fury given form.

Lilith dodged the clumsy golem, moving in lightning as Eda had earlier. Tapping her staff against the ground, ice rose up into a golem of her own. Taking the form of one of the Emperor’s Coven, she had it tackle Eda’s golem.

Trees snapped like twigs and were sent flying like toothpicks as the massive golems crashed to the earth, and Lilith’s eyes widened as she noticed something nobody else had yet.

Eda was slowing down, and her arms were beginning to be covered in feathers.

A brief part of her debated warning her, a brief part of her which still remembered their previous relationship and a brief part of her who still loved Eda as a sister.

“My my, Edalyn, looks like that curse is really getting the better of you. We’ve barely slung a few spells and you’re already looking tired,” Lilith said, Raine’s eyes widening in fear as they finally noticed. Lilith’s voice became pleading. “...Please, stop this.”

“Nah, this? This is nothing,” Eda said, with a cocky grin obviously to hide the fear. “I just need a Healer’s Hat, that’s all. Got one to spare? I mean, you claim to care about my wellbeing and if you care so much, you’d just gladly let me have it.”

That brief part of her which still had a heart, that brief part of her which hadn’t been crushed by the Emperor soon remembered the rage and indignation she felt at Eda always showing her up.

“Maybe you are stronger than me, but that made me work smarter! I became smart, crafty!”

Lilith drew several spell circles, all enlarging themselves and all having hands of magic erupt from them to capture the two wayward witches.

“A lapdog for a tyrant!” Eda snapped, a wave of bard magic and a wall of sound from the duo smashing through the manifestations.

“You always thought you were better than me, that I could never beat you in anything,” Lilith said, and then the fateful moment as her anger finally got the better of her. “If that’s true… Then why were you so easy to curse?”

Luz gasped, clapping a hand to her mouth. She knew from Raine that Lilith had always been the likely suspect but hearing it from her own mouth…

“You…” Eda whispered, eyes widened in shock and her voice sounding so lost in that moment. Then a shriek of rage, like a harpy of old. “YOU! You did this, you ruined my whole life!”

Multiple clones of Hooty, the many heads striking like a hydra as they battered away at Lilith’s rapidly generated shield like a million punches.

It probably would have succeeded, had Eda not felt the curse creeping back up her body, racing through her blood. She heard the shriek of an owl, and fell to the ground clutching her chest as her staff clattered to the floor.

“Eda!” both Luz and Raine shouted, Luz racing up even as coven guards teleported in from all around.

“Get back kids! Go!” Eda shouted. “Run!”

“Eda!” Luz shouted in fear.

“Now… now listen, I’m going away and this time I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to come back,” Eda coughed. “I suppose I deserve it, for being so reckless. I don’t really have any regrets though, some thought I wasted my magic and for a time… Maybe I did. But then you kids, and Raine… you all came along and suddenly I had a reason to be a witch again. So thanks for that…”

“Eda…” Raine said, eyes glimmering with tears.

“Raine, you gotta go, like right now,” Eda said, visibly straining as she tried to force back the transformation. “You gotta… You gotta protect the kids!”

And then she could hold it back no longer, transforming. Even as Raine grabbed their kids and ran, Amity couldn’t help herself as a scream escaped from past her throat.

“MOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!”

Chapter Text

“Luz, do you hear yourself?” Emira gaped. “Like do you even hear what you’re planning?”

“I know it’s crazy, but Eda… she was captured because she wanted to save Amity,” Luz said, determined. “Hell, if Amity hadn’t gone in my place, Eda would have been captured trying to probably try and save me!”

“But the Conformitorium? Do you even hear yourself?” Emira asked, stunned. “That place has so many guards, they’d stop you before you got anywhere even close to Eda!”

“They’d stop her alone maybe, but not all of us,” Edric said, sitting up. “I-I agree with Luz, we have to do something. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself afterward if I stayed here doing nothing and Eda was petrified when I could have done something to help.”

“...you really are reckless, aren’t you little brother?”

“I’m your twin!”

“I was born a few seconds before you,” Emira said, making an L over her forehead with her fingers. “So as your older sister it’s my responsibility to keep you from doing anything stupid. At least, keep you from doing anything stupid by yourself.”

“B-But,” King stammered. “You’ll be going up against the Emperor! He’s the most powerful witch alive! A-And Eda! She’s in her Owl Beast form! How will she even begin to recognize you?”

“I don’t know, but I have to try.”

“And if she faces the Emperor,” Amity walked up, hair dyed lavender and a pouch of abomination goo on her waist. “Then she’s certainly not doing it alone. She’s going to have her awesome girlfriend with her.”

“Amity…” Luz whispered.

“No, don’t even try to argue with me about this Luz. I’m going,” Amity said with a firm look, her voice never wavering through her eyes were a bit watery. “Eda got captured because of me, I’m going to help you break her out.”

“Who said I was going to argue with you?” Luz linking hands with her, and kissing her. “Thanks, Am…”

Then Raine walked in. “I couldn’t help but overhear…”

“Oh shit…” Emira muttered to herself. “Busted.”

“And well,” they said. “As your Nobi, I can’t say I should approve but as Eda’s partner well… That’s a different story. Just… be careful okay?”

“Us, reckless? Us? Since when have we ever done anything-” Emira started.

“-that has ever been anything but safe and sensible?” Edric grinned.

Amity gave a flat, deadpan stare. “Do you want me to organize the list chronologically or alphabetically?”

Emira grinned with the sparks of rebellion, ruffling her younger sister’s hair. “Relax, don’t worry sis. We’ll get you to Eda, we’ll get you inside okay? Just leave it to us! Lord Calamity herself thinks we’re worthy of following in her footsteps right? Well it’s time to prove it!”

Which was how Luz and Amity found themselves in their current predicament, gazing up at the walls of the Conformitorium. They rose higher and higher, thick heavy stone walls offering no mercy and no escape.

There came an inhuman screech from somewhere inside, deep within. Luz tried to fight back the tears.

“Eda…” she whispered, feeling Amity grip her hand.

“Don’t worry, we’ll find her. We’ll save her.”

Luz nodded before laughing weakly. “Something tells me I’m going to need more than firecrackers and a spunky teenage girl’s spirit to break out this time.”

“Good thing you’ve got more than that this time around,” Amity said with a smile.

“You mean I’ve got you?”

Amity chuckled. “Flatterer. But no, that’s not what I meant. The first time, you were just a human in way over her head. This time, you’re a witch.”

And, Amity thought to herself as she looked up the walls, they might need a bit of that spunky teenage girl spirit as well.

-----

Lilith gasped as she heard the words.

DO I NEED TO REPEAT MYSELF CLAWTHORNE? VERY WELL THEN, THIS TIME FOR BREVITY’S SAKE. I SAID I WILL NOT BE HEALING HER.

“But…” Lilith whispered, horrified and betrayed. She couldn’t look her ruler or her sister in the eyes, closing her own and fighting back the tears. What had she done?

“...you promised me…” 

DON’T BE SO NAIVE LILITH, THIS IS ALL THE TITAN’S WILL. ALL AS HE COMMANDS IT. ALL WILD WITCHES MUST BE DEALT WITH BEFORE THE DAY OF UNITY. YOU UNDERSTAND, DON’T YOU?

Lilith still couldn’t look him in the eyes. “...yes, I understand.”

-----

“DRAGON!” Luz heard Emira’s scream and the roar of a great beast. She saw massive blue wings rise up from over the treeline and then the rest of the creature, people screaming and the guards shouting orders to one another.

And then suddenly the way, formerly shut, was now open as the guards raced to try and stop the ‘rampaging’ beast.

“Good work Em!” Amity said with a laugh. “I’ll never give you any shit for your illusion magic or for your pranks ever again.”

“Awesome!” Luz grinned, eyes sparkling as they sneaked inside. “Like did you see that? The dragon went ‘WHOOSH!’ and the guards were like ‘ooooh, aaaaah! Scream in terror’ and the flames were like ‘whoomp!’ So awesome.”

“I know, it’s-” Amity said, grinning a little before the smile faded as they passed Belos’ personal garden, statues on every side. No, not statues, she realized feeling like she was about to be sick.

Wild witches.

And then… she saw It. A new plinth, with Eda’s name on it. Literally on it.

“...oh Titan…” Amity let out a sob. “Please no. Please don’t tell me they’re getting a new statue today…”

“Am…” Luz whispered as they tugged at her sleeve. “Is that… Are they…”

“Petrification, it’s the ultimate punishment for wild witches. I’ve always heard the stories from my parents, about how if Em and Ed never shaped up, that’s what would happen to them. I never wanted to believe them but-”

“...Oh God, that’s what they’re going to do to Eda… To Raine too if they catch them,” Luz whispered in horrified realization, suddenly feeling very small and on the verge of a panic attack. “We can’t… We can’t let them.”

Then she remembered Eda taking the portal key with her.

“...oh.”

“Oh?” Amity asked, not sure if she really wanted to know.

“That’s why she took it. Come on, we’ve got to hurry.”

“R-Right,” Amity nodded. “There's not gonna be a new statue going up today. Right, Luz? Luz?” 

Luz’s gaze hardened, a certain kind of fire blazing in her eyes. “Not if we have anything to say about it.”

Inside, they were soon joined by Emira and Edric.

“Our greatest prank yet!” the two high-fived. “Oh man, the only way it could have been better-”

“-was if it had been a real dragon! There would be-” Edric went on.

“-some of the Covens’ guards for lunch!” Emira said.

“Hey, do you think I can get a pet dragon one day? Like if I proceed to join the Beast Keeping coven?” Edric asked, eyes sparkling.

“Now now little brother, don’t get ahead of yourself. Maybe you should start with something smaller, like a Slitherbeast!” Emira said with a teasing smirk.

Amity stared. “...wait, what’s this about my brother wanting to join the Beast Keeping coven?”

“Keep up sister dear,” Edric said with a grin as they rounded a corner… “You’re so behind on the times.”

…and into a squad of coven guards.

“Intruders!” one of them shouted. “Alert the Warden!”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Luz said, pulling out some glyph paper and slamming it to the earth. Vines erupted from within, wrapping around several of the guards, pinning them to the walls.

“...my girlfriend is awesome,” Amity whispered, starstruck. “Awesome.”

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Luz said with a flirty wink, their girlfriend nearly fainting then and there. “I’ve got plenty of glyphs I’ve been waiting to try out.”

“Well, it looks like you’re going to get your chance,” Edric said as more guards rounded a corner.

“No, we can’t waste time with them, not when Eda’s life is at stake,” Luz shook her head, drawing another glyph before a tsunami of ice erupted from out of the paper encasing the squad. 

More guards, only for Amity to draw a spell circle. Long tendrils of shadow reached towards the guards, each bearing a familiar face.

“Demon owl!” they shouted, traumatized as the hallway was filled with ‘HOOT’ sounds. “Run for it! He’ll smack us around again!”

“We need to find the Warden, he’ll know where she is,” Luz said, trying not to laugh. Damn, Hooty did a number on them.

“Oh trust me… you won’t have to look very far,” said a voice, Luz pulling her siblings to the ground as massive axes swung just above where their heads had been. “The human, coming back to my arms. Trust me, ever since you escaped from my grasp, humiliated me in front of my love, I’ve had a special cell waiting for you. I think you’ll like it!”

Luz just crumpled up another piece of glyph paper and lobbed it at the Warden letting it burst into flame. 

The mountain of a man staggered backward, his robes aflame before he tore them off, exposing a chiseled chest with muscles atop muscles.

“Ewwwww, a flasher!” Emira winced in disgust as the Warden charged at them, hands shifting into spikey spears. “Sorry, I’m not into guys. Have a spicy toss though for your troubles!”

She formed a fireball in her hands, tossing it along with Luz creating one of her own, the duo blasting the Warden into a cell marked ‘Luz the human’.

“You know, you’re right. I think I like it after all,” Luz said, and even as the Warden tried to get up, they slammed him into the ceiling with an ice pillar. Even as it melted, Luz wrapped him in vines.

With a furious look on her face, she marched towards the Warden, looking him dead in the eye and asking him one simple question.

“Where’s Eda?” Luz practically snarled, her tone saying ‘if you lie to me, if you fuck me over you won’t like it’.

“The dungeons!” the Warden wheezed out, the vines squeezing him tight.

“Thank you kindly,” Luz said before they frowned. “Just one thing though. I’m not just a human. I’m a human who happens to be a witch!”

With that, they slammed the cell door tight on the Warden.

“Also, I hope you’re happy. Your ‘love’ is going to be petrified because of your Emperor’s laws,” they said, their cloak swaying behind them as they walked off with a little wave. “Just something to think about.”

“Oooooh, right in the gut,” Edric said, beginning to draw a spell circle with one finger and the other giving a thumbs up. “Nice one sis! Now all I have to do is draw an illusion of us going one way to distract any remaining guards and…”

“They’ll see right through it,” said a third voice, familiar but unwelcome. “You’ll either be captured or killed before you get anywhere near my sister.”

“You!” Luz snarled, leaping at Lilith. “You. You hurt Eda. You helped put her in chains. She’s going to be petrified because of you! But before that happens, I will take you down!”

“I just want to talk-”

“Talk to the glyph bitch!” Luz shouted, not really caring for excuses.

More plant glyphs but Lilith, obviously, was so far beyond Luz all it took was a simple swing of her staff to dispel them.

Spectral tendrils caught Luz in mid-air, and abomination goo oozed out from a pouch on Lilith’s waist around the Clawthorne siblings’ legs, quickly hardening.

“Do you really think you’re going to be able to fight Belos as you are? Because that’s what you’re signing yourself up for. You will have to fight Belos to take Eda back, and as all of you are, if you fight him, without help, you will be killed.”

“So is that it? That’s what you’re offering? To help?” Luz scoffed.

“Do you think I’m any fan of Belos at the moment? Look at me, look at what he did to me,” Lilith said, gesturing to her scars. “Plus… he lied to me. The only reason I captured my sister for him was because I thought he would heal her. Cure her curse.”

“Do you actually expect us to believe that? That you were that stupid?” Edric scoffed.

“Unfortunately, so I was…” Lilith said, looking ashamed.

“You have a terrible record of noticing how terrible people are,” Emira said. “Amity was your student, if you really cared about her like you’ve always claimed to, you would have noticed her suffering.”

“Exactly,” Amity hissed. “You always said that whatever I needed to become the finest witch in the Boiling Isles, you’d provide. It wasn’t power I needed, it was just someone who fucking cared. Eda noticed, and you didn’t.”

“Another in my long list of failures,” Lilith hung her head, recalling the ooze and lowering and releasing Luz. “More shame I’ve brought to my family name. So please… let me do this one thing, let me try and make up for this failure at least. Do something I should have done a long time ago, and support Eda.”

“Right… You just want to get back in Belos’ good graces, and deliver us to him,” Amity scoffed.

“Think child, do you really think he cares about any of you? You’re, as far as he knows, no threat to him. What grace would I regain if I delivered you, any of you to him? There’s nothing in it for me. Not anymore,” Lilith said, actually bowing.

Luz groaned before they made up their mind. “Finnnnnnnneeeee.”

“You can’t be serious,” Edric stared. “She’s the reason why we’re even here!”

“I know, I don’t like it either, but she’s right. There are still so many guards in this place and I don’t think we could sneak past them all before we got captured,” Luz said. “We need her…”

She had to force the words out, looking utterly disgusted with herself.

“We need her help.”

“Excellent, glad you’ve come around to my way of thinking,” Lilith said.

“Yeah yeah, just try not to sound so freakin’ smug about it okay?” Luz grumbled even as Lilith drew a spell circle.

“There, this should hide you from the guards. You’ll simply just… fade into the background, they’ll notice you but they won’t notice you if you know what I mean,” Lilith explained. “Their eyes will simply be looking elsewhere. It should be easy to get to my sister, but the hard part will of course be getting away with her. I’ll try and draw some more attention away from you, but best wishes all the same.”

Amity snorted. “Anything you have to offer us, we’ll just pass on.”

“You do realize…” Lilith said. “If you do this, if you succeed, you’ll be a Blight no more.”

Amity smiled weakly. “I haven’t been one in a long time. Nor do I even want to be. I’m a Clawthorne now, auntie.”

It was a tense ten to fifteen minutes for the foursome as they wandered through the halls, going deeper and deeper inside the prison, Luz feeling like they were descending into hell. And from a certain point of view… they probably were.

Finally reaching a door, Luz froze the lock, shattered it and pushed it open. Beyond that… Eda.

“We’ll keep an eye out for guards,” Emira said, Edric nodding. “Go on and free Eda.”

“Eda/Mom!” both Luz and Amity shouted, hugging the Owl Beast tight with her eyes widening in surprise.

“Hey kids…” Eda said softly, licking both of their faces, her tongue like sandpaper before her eyes widened as she realized who she was speaking to and where she was speaking with them from. “Minty-fresh? Luz? Oh no, oh no no no no no wh- what are you doing here? You need to leave, right now. Like you need to run.”

“No, we’re not going anywhere,” Luz said, running a hand through her mentor’s feathers while another hand pressed a fire glyph to the beast’s chain. “At least… not without you mamá. Not without you.”

“No, no, you need to run, as fast and as far away from here as you can. You can’t help me, your magic isn’t strong enough for this!” Eda said, close to panicking and her voice nearly a shriek. Her feathers stood on end.

“It should be. You trained us, remember?” Amity said, casting a fire spell of her own on the chain and watching it heat up. “You helped us, and now we’re going to help you.”

“Heh, you crazy kids. I’m almost proud of you, if you weren’t being so stupid and reckless.” Eda said, disapproving. “But as I told you, your magic isn't strong enough for this. You need to leave! Now. Go! Run! The guards will be here soon.”

“But, but I can't! It's my fault you needed to save me,” Amity stammered. “It's my fault you got captured. It’s my fault you’re like this…”

She hung her head in shame, her hair falling over her face to hide the tears. Luz didn’t look that far from tears themselves.

“Now, none of that okay? No more crying. You’re a strong girl. Both of you are. The only reason I’m in this position is because I chose to be. I knew the consequences, understand? I knew the risks. Now listen to me, I’m in here because of my own actions. I went against Belos's law, and for a while I was able to get away with it. But…” Eda sighed. “Well, without magic, everyone’s time has to run out someday. Even mine.”

“But… But if you stay here, you’re going to be turned into one of those statues outside. You’re going to be a part of Belos’ own version of Persephone’s Garden. I can’t let that happen to you!” Luz exclaimed. “Ir zet nisht Eda? ikh vil dir helfn, mir viln dir helfn. So please… Let us!”

“There’s nothing you can do kids, not anymore. You’re going to have to find your own way of life, without me. No… that’s suicide,” Eda said, digging around in her mane and fishing out the portal key. “I took this, knowing I was probably up to being petrified. I took this, hoping if I was, it’d be turned to stone along with me. Belos wants this key, and I don’t know why but it can’t be for anything good. Take it, run away from here. Destroy it!”

Her voice was begging, the once-proud woman reduced to a plea.

“Run!” Eda said.

“No, we’re getting you out of here.”

“Then you leave me no choice,” Eda said, turning the key with a talon and there was a BONG! sound as a door opened in midair. Beyond that… 

Luz’s eyes widened, she recognized that street. Just a few steps away was her home. Except…

Was it really her home anymore? After a summer here in the Boiling Isles, she’d realized something.

They hadn’t ever really felt like they’d belonged in the human realm, and it wasn’t like that many people were waiting for them back home. With Amity, with magic, they’d finally felt like they’d belonged somewhere.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Go on, go!” Eda said. “Run!”

“No, I’m not running anymore,” Luz said. “I’m a witch, and you trained me and I’m going to stay right here with you. Belos wants to take you away from me… he’s going to have to go through me first.”

“Damnit, Luz!” Eda said, looking pleadingly at Amity and laughing. “Come on Minty-fresh, talk some sense into her.”

“You know as well as I that once Luz gets going, once they set their mind on something nothing is going to stop them. And honestly… I agree,” Amity said, holding Luz’s hand tightly. “I’m not giving you up without a fight.”

“Oh… you kids…” Eda said, with another laugh. “You and your stubborn pride. I guess you really are my students, aren’t you? No, you’re not just my students, you’re my kids. Like mother, like daughters.”

YES, IT REALLY IS AN UNCANNY RESEMBLANCE ISN’T IT?

The hairs on the back of Luz’s neck stood on end, as the air was thick and heavy with magic. Belo’s aura was nearly crushing in power, intrusive and dangerous. It felt wrong, unnatural. Too controlled.

Suddenly Luz knew why Eda was so terrified.

“You’re not taking her!” 

But Azura had never backed down from any challenge, and neither would she.

IT’S SUCH A HEARTWARMING REUNION ISN’T IT? BUT YOUR MOTHER WAS RIGHT KIDS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RUN WHILE YOU STILL HAD THE CHANCE!

He held up Emira and Edric, struggling in a magical aura.

“Emira… Edric… let them go!” Amity shouted.

ALL IS AS THE TITAN WILLS IT. YOU CONTINUE TO REBEL, AGAINST THE GRACE AND AMNESTY I HAVE GIVEN YOU, Belos rumbled, sounding truly furious. I DON’T BLAME YOU, IT LOOKS LIKE TYRANNY TO SOME. BUT ALL IS-

“Yeah yeah, all is as the Titan wills it, we get it. But we’re not going anywhere. Not without our mom,” Luz said. “We’re family and us weirdos have to stick together.”

THEN YOU WILL DIE TOGETHER.

The air crackled and jagged red bolts of lightning rushed towards the two, only for vines to erupt absorbing them. As they exploded and plant matter flew everywhere, Amity leaped out, abomination goo forming a spiked fist.

Belos was there and then he wasn’t, teleporting in a red violent flash. He was behind her, grasping her by the neck.

YOU’RE A BLIGHT CORRECT? SUCH A PROUD, LOYAL FAMILY. I WONDER HOW YOUR PARENTS FEEL ABOUT SUCH A STAIN ON THEIR LEGACY.

“I’m not a Blight, not anymore,” Amity said, with a fierce grin of audacity to hide the terror. And then she kicked Belos right in the stomach. “I’m a CLAWTHORNE!”

As Belos dropped her, roaring in pain, Eda could only watch, eyes wide in terror. A fireball flew from Luz, only for Belos to redirect it in mid-air and it flew back towards the girl.

Luz rolled to the left, slamming another sheet of glyph paper into the earth, ice erupting and then shattering beneath Belos as lightning bolts flew everywhere. Including one shattering the portal door and including another racing towards Eda…

-----

Eda found herself in a familiar scene. Was this death? Was this a form of punishment, forcing her to relieve her greatest failures? 

“Edalyn, come downstairs please!” her mom called, and she found herself drawn to a familiar scene.

Pleading, begging for history not to repeat itself.

“Mother, do you like my napkin folding?” Lilith asked, always in a hurry to please.

“That’s nice, sweet flea. Edalyn, help us set up, won’t you?”

She knew how this ended, she knew how it always ended. She’d seen it before, and it never changed…

No matter how much she wanted it to.

“Hey Pumpkin! Here to see me off? I know! Maybe we should celebrate with me leavin’ in style?”

Eda felt herself changing, slashing outwards and then twin shrieks as blood splashed to the floor.

“Dell! Lillith, call the Healing Coven. Now!” her mother said, Eda feeling the terrified expression boring into her. It was always the same, every time she lived this moment. Her mother had always been terrified of her.

Her family was terrified of her.

And now she knew why.

She whirled on Lilith, and then the scene changed. A sunset on a hill. Eda’s eyes widened. She knew this moment. No no no no, not this. Anything but this.

“You’re lying again. It’s like I don’t even know you. So, I’ve made a decision,” Raine said, and then the fateful words that changed her life forever. “I’m joining the Bard Coven, and… I think we should see other people. I’m sorry, Eda. It’s over.”

She should have said something, anything. She was such a coward, she should have had the courage to make Raine stay with her. And then for years, she’d lost them. Eda found herself throwing back her head and screaming, before she found herself sobbing on the beach slamming a fist into the sand.

When she looked up, vision still blurry with tears, she saw the Owl Beast and rage took over.

“It was always you! It was all your fault! STOP. RUINING. MY. LIFE!”

And as she reached for the beast, she found herself crashing into the sand and seeing life through the beast’s eyes.

Someone dressed in stars and moons hunting it down, someone capturing it inside a scroll. And then rage gave way to what weirdly felt like pity.

She found herself cradling the beast, now no larger than your average house cat.

“Hey, shhh…” Eda soothed, in a tone she’d used to chase away a thousand nightmares. “It’s okay. They’re not going to hurt you anymore.”

She laughed.

“I guess you’ve had as rough of a life as I have. I guess I’ve never had a chance to see you as anything more than a monster, and yet… here I am, far too late to change the past. To save my kids.”

She looked out to the sea, the sun setting on her life.

“If I had a chance… I’d go back and save them. If we had a chance, we probably could. We’re stuck together and… we should have realized it a long time ago. And yet here we are, killed by our own stupidity. We should have stopped fighting one another… and accepted each other for who we are. So, what do you say, here and now after our lives ended, can we at least be friends now?”

The Owl Creature gave a gentle little chirp, and then a friendly little hoot before Eda felt her magic surge.

-----

Abomination goo reforged itself into Hootys, each pile-driving into Belos before exploding into goop, and reforming as Luz tossed a fire glyph inside the rapidly reforming abomination.

Amity waved her hand and the abomination of all things now embraced Belos in a bone-crushing hug. Then, the girl snapped her fingers and inside fire flared up before dust and smoke filled the room.

Both young witches heard something shatter, with what looked like two pieces of gold porcelain clattering to the floor. Belos’ mask, Luz realized with a start. They’d actually shattered it.

But the man himself was still standing, clutching a hand over his face and an eerie blue glow shone from behind skin.

Had enough?


Belos asked, stepping out from shadow, his voice no longer quite as unearthly. But the sheer anger in it still chilled both witches to the bone. He looked directly at Luz.


What's wrong, human? I thought you wanted to fight.

Luz grit her teeth so hard that one may have cracked.

I thought you wanted to play, I simply obliged you. I thought you were fighting on behalf of your family, and now you look like you want to run away. I thought you were both witches.

He chuckled.

I guess I was wrong.

He was probably smiling from behind his clenched hand.

You probably think we want to invade the human realm, but the Titan's will is not so boarish. You'll understand soon. Tick-tock, human. The Owl Lady doesn't have much time left.

Then a most unexpected reply.

“Oh no, I think my clock just started ticking again.”

The cage shattered, and two powerful wings extended. Belos barely had time to work out what had even happened before something rushed past him.

Luz and Amity found themselves gripped tightly in Eda’s hands, looking up at half-owl, half-woman.

“Woah, what happened to you? Because like damn girl, you make this work!”

Amity gave her girlfriend a look.

“A-And I’m sure you can make this work as well!” Luz quickly corrected herself. Then they heard a roar from behind, and a jagged bolt of red lightning rushed past.

Then it didn’t.

Lilith was standing, tall and proud, staff in hand as a shield of pure magic allowed Belos’ lightning to scatter harmlessly against it.

“What’s wrong Edalyn? Surprised to see me? I couldn’t let my own sister be petrified, nor could I let Belos kill my nieces and nephews,” she said, and behind her, both Emira and Edric gave little waves. “All is as the Titan wills it, remember? And right now, I think the Titan’s will is you getting the hell out of here! All of you, run!”

“Where to?” Edric asked, terrified. And then a wall smashed in, coven guards sent flying by a roar.

From behind the rubble, there was Raine playing a calming tune to keep a dragon made entirely out of hands under control. 

“Rainstorm…” Eda’s eyes softened. “You came back… even after all I’ve done to you.”

“Of course I did,” they said. “I always come back. Eda… what happened to you?”

“Oh, this? I think I’ve just had what the humans call a glow-up,” Eda chuckled. “Hop on kids, any of you ever rode a dragon before?”

“No, but I think I want to!” Edric shouted as he climbed onto the dragon’s back. “Awesome!”

Belos roared in rage, an explosion threatening to engulf all of them.

“RUN!” Lilith shouted before fire consumed her.

“Lily…” Eda whispered, stunned as she tried to fight back tears. As she and Raine flew away from the castle, her mind raced.

Why? Why did she do that? Why did she do any of it?

Trying to fight back the tears, she closed her eyes in Lilith’s memory. She supposed she’d never know now, would she?

“Come on gang…” Eda whispered as they flew off into the setting sun. “Let’s go home.”

Home… yeah, that sounded about right. To home it was. And to home they’d stay.

Her nest was calling. Her chicks needed her. They’d made her proud tonight. And, Eda thought with a weary smile, she knew they’d keep on doing her proud. She’d raised them and they’d turned out pretty okay after all.

Motherhood. Maybe she was made for it after all.

Chapter Text

Sleep didn’t come easy that night, every time Eda closed her eyes she could still see Lilith’s face.

Her sister was standing, tall and proud, staff in hand as a shield of pure magic allowed Belos’ lightning to scatter harmlessly against it.

“What’s wrong Edalyn? Surprised to see me? I couldn’t let my own sister be petrified, nor could I let Belos kill my nieces and nephews,” she said. “All is as the Titan wills it, remember? And right now, I think the Titan’s will is you getting the hell out of here! All of you, run!”

Belos roared in rage, an explosion threatening to engulf all of them.

“RUN!” Lilith shouted before fire consumed her. Eda could now see her holding back the flames with one hand, the other pushing her away with a gentle shove of magic.

Then, a roar of flame and then the rest was silence.

Eda found herself wandering downstairs, tears gently rolling down the side of her face. She tried not to laugh bitterly, so that was the Titan’s will huh? To take her only sister away from her?

Eda tried to summon a cup of apple blood to her hand and waited. And waited. And waited before realizing it would never come.

Oh right, on top of everything else she was officially magicless. The most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles, no longer. The curse, as it had long threatened to do, had consumed it all. She was but a simple shadow of her former self. Another laugh threatened to burble up. A witch without magic, now there was an oxymoron for you.

In her mind, she could hear the Owl Creature trill in sympathy, almost as if it was offering its apologies. A few days ago, she would have dismissed that idea. Called it ridiculous, frankly.

And yet… here she was, in a strange sort of truce with the bea… with the creature. An odd form of peace and understanding between the two now existed between them. Another gentle hoot cut through the silence of the darkened room.

“I know… you should have seen her at her best,” Eda said, probably looking a bit crazy, seemingly speaking to nobody in particular. “Lily… she’d always been the better witch in a way. She’d always known what she wanted out of life. It took me years to find that for myself, that sort of inner peace.”

Another gentle hoot.

“I’m sorry she used you as a weapon against me, I don’t even know why. How messed up is that? I can’t even ask her why we’re stuck together like this,” Eda said, looking out the window and imagining her sister’s face looking back as a gentle rain fell. Raindrops hissed against the shield outside, and a gentle thunder rumbled, almost as if the Isles itself was mourning the loss of a great witch.

Storms always seemed to herald a great change in her life, Eda mused. She’d met Boots in a storm, and now she was starting a life without her sister.

This time she did laugh. It would have been so easy to just pick up a pen, write to Lily and reconnect with her. Hindsight was 20/20 right? Wasn’t that the human phrase? Now… well, now she’d never have the chance.

“Oh Lily… you sad silly fool,” Eda said to herself. “We’re both fools, old and too set in our ways to really change for the better. Not until it’s too late to do anything about it. We’re both fools…”

Arms gently, furtively snuck around her from behind, a head resting on her shoulder.

“Hey, Rainstorm. Couldn’t sleep either huh?”

“No… Not really. I… I just keep seeing her.”

“You too huh?”

“Every time I try to close my eyes,” Raine admitted, their voice barely a whisper in the storm. Again, thunder rumbled. “I… I reached for you, and that’s when I realized…”

“I’m sorry,” Eda said. “I needed to come down here, clear my head.”

“By that I assume you mean get a drop of the hard stuff? Dive into the apple blood?” Raine asked. “I can’t say I honestly blame you. I’m tempted to join you. I nearly lost you today.”

“In a way you did. I… I tried to summon the stuff to my hand, and then I remembered. The curse… or whatever it is to me now, it finally ate away my magic. I guess I overdid it huh?”

Eda’s voice took on a rare tone of despondency. 

“Are you still sure you want this old cursed magicless witch?”

Raine’s tone was fond, they were probably smiling. For whatever reason, Eda wasn’t sure. But their words still rang true. “I’d rather have you than over half of the Isles.”

Eda laughed again, this time in a more gentle fashion. “Titan, we really are just a couple of old saps aren’t we?”

“I’m serious, Titan I’d fight half of the Isles just to get back to you,” Raine said, walking around to gently kiss her on the lips. “I’d even fight Belos just to get back to you.”

Eda had to fight back a snarl. Belos. He was responsible for this, he was why her sister was dead.

“Hey, shhh… We’ll make sure he pays for this,” Raine said, gently pressing their forehead to Eda’s own, recognizing where her thoughts were heading. “We’ll make sure Lily’s death isn’t in vain. We’ll take down Belos… just for her. Every action we take against him, it’ll be in her memory.”

“And we’ll make sure every blow hurts him. We’ll make sure they hurt,” Eda said, closing her eyes in memory. For a brief moment, she could see it, the fire burning away her sister’s skin. “This rebellion will be in her memory now.”

“I guess there’s no more hiding behind masks now, no more plausible deniability, right? Belos saw me. All of the Isles probably saw me rescuing you.”

“And you looked awesome doing it,” Eda said.

“I did, didn’t I?” Raine said with a soft laugh. “But… my original plan was to hit Belos from the shadows, strike from behind a mask. Form some sort of group of my own, and now… Well, I suppose we should be expecting visitors any day now. The Emperor’s Coven, they know where we live. Where I live.”

“If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking, striking out on your own just because you don’t want to put me in danger…” Eda’s voice rose, a hint of the Owl Creature in her growl. “Then you listen here buster, wherever you go, I go. We’re tied together at the hip by this point, and I’m not letting you go on some damn foolhardy suicide mission just to protect me. I may not have magic, but I’m still a witch.”

“I wasn’t going to do anything of the kind. I’m not worried about the Coven, it’ll take some time for them to re-organize anyways. Their current head is dead, ashes in the wind. I was going to hand in my resignation anyways, ever since I fell in love with you all over again,” Raine said, a soft look on their face, Eda looking touched. “I guess I just did it a bit more violently than I planned, that’s all.”

Eda chuckled, looking outside, where the dragon she’d seen Raine ride in on slept under a golden bubble. She frowned, she supposed they’d have to buy a stable for it now. That being said… Her lips curled into a smile.

“You know you looked awfully heroic riding in like that. I thought you were above such dramatics,” Eda chuckled.

“I’m a bard, we always have a flair for the theatrical,” Raine said. “I just wish I’d showed up in time to save…”

They swallowed, tears shining behind their glasses.

“I miss her too. I remember back at Hexside, we were always a trio. Now a part of me just feels like it’s missing. Like a piece of myself is gone, never to be filled again,” Raine confessed. “I… I’d seen her as the Coven Head, multiple times. But I never got the courage to talk to her, it had always felt wrong to me. To act like everything was alright while our ideals rapidly diverged.”

Eda squeezed their hands, looking away, back into the rainy night.

“You know what the worst part is? The worst part is now I’ll never know why. Why she did what she did,” Eda said, their voice barely anything above a whisper. “And now I’ll never get a chance to ask her. I suppose it doesn’t really matter now does it?”

“I always suspected,” Raine said, flushing as Eda turned back to look at them. “I’d always suspected that it was her who cursed you. I never wanted to be right.”

“I… I assume you also had a suspicion as to why?”

“Jealousy was always what I thought it was, I suppose I’ll never know now either huh?” Raine said, the two watching the rain splatter and hiss on the shield. “It wasn’t just you who lost a sister tonight… I lost one as well.”

“As I said, we’ll make sure every blow we strike against Belos from now on, well we’ll make sure they hurt. We’ll make sure Belos knows the same sort of pain we’re feeling now. Every blow will be for Lily,” Eda said, sounding close to crying again. “Every blow.”

Another tear rolled down her cheek from a mismatched eye.

“I know nothing can bring her back now, but I’m going to make sure damn well that Belos’ plans, whatever they are… they won’t ever come to fruition,” she continued. “That I can look him in the eye one day, and say to him, ‘you took my sister away from me. So I took everything else away from you.’ Yeah, that’s what I want to say.”

Raine squeezed her hand tightly.

“I know… I know, revenge? It’s the most worthless of causes,” Eda shook her head. “But that’s not what this is, not in my mind. It’s Lily’s requiem. Stoking the fire she lit inside me. At first, I didn’t have much reason to fight Belos beyond him being an oppressive tyrant and a dictator. Now though? Now it’s personal. Now he’s taken my only sister from me.”

More tears splashed to the ground, as Raine gently led her to the couch.

“I… I just want my sister back,” Eda’s lip quivered. “That’s all I want. Is that so wrong?”

Her voice became a wail, her emotions released as she sobbed into Raine’s shoulder. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled as the events of the day finally caught up to her. Eda’s body shook, Raine holding her tight as she cried.

The woman, years of pain and exhaustion finally threatening to drag her back into shadow, continued to cry long and hard. Hated by all, pursued by all, all because of a curse her sister gave her in a fit of jealousy. And now her sister, her only sister was dead, killed by the same tyrant she’d gleefully embraced with open arms.

Eda continued to cry, her body shaking, Raine stroking her in an attempt to comfort her. They clutched her tight, even as feathers began sprouting up all over her body. Eda’s form shifted, massive wings spreading open and wrapping around Raine as lightning lit up the room. 

Eda’s claws dug into Raine’s shoulder, and their back, drawing a bit of blood as the woman continued to cry. The witch fought back the pain, whispering soft words of comfort.

“I’m here.”

“I’ll never leave you.”

“I’ll always be by your side.”

“I love you.”

“I love you Eda.”

“I promise you that I’ll never leave you.”

Finally, all tears were spent and Eda looked at her partner with red, runny eyes as her wings retracted and she returned to normal.

“Promise? Y-You’re promising me? L-Lily, she promised me that once too.”

“And,” Raine said with another gentle press to Eda’s forehead. “I intend on keeping that promise.”

Sobs turned to snores, exhaustion catching up to her and soon Eda was fast asleep. And Raine, as sleep took them, smiled. They fully intended on keeping that promise. They’d always planned on it.

-----

“Magnified and sanctified is the great name of God throughout the world, which was created according to Divine will. May the rule of peace be established speedily in our time, unto us and unto the entire household of Israel. And let us say: Amen,” Luz said in Lilith’s memory, thinking of the witch who’d given her life to help them all escape.

They remembered how they’d first met her, a petty spiteful woman willing to cheat to win and then they remembered the woman kidnapping Amity. But then they remembered something else.

“RUN!”

And then the flame.

“May God’s great name be praised throughout all eternity. Glorified and celebrated, lauded and praised, acclaimed and honored, extolled and exalted ever be the name of thy Holy One, far beyond all song and psalm, beyond all hymns of glory which mortals can offer. And let us say: Amen,” Luz said, her girlfriend squeezing her hand.

Maybe in the end, a woman who’d given her life for her sister and her family deserved at least this much.

“May there be abundant peace from heaven, with life’s goodness for us and for all thy people Israel. And let us say: Amen,” Luz finished. “May the One who brings peace to the universe bring peace to us and to all the people Israel. And let us say: Amen.”

“Are you really sure she deserves any of that?” Edric asked, in front of them a stone with Lilith's name carved on it. It was no pine box with a bit of dirt atop it, but it would do, Luz had thought.

“She saved all of our lives,” Luz said to him. “I think that she’s plenty deserving.”

“Yeah…” Edric said before looking at his sister. “Hey Am… Hey Mittens… You alright?”

She turned back to look at him, Emira elbowing him in the gut.

“Right… sorry, stupid question…”

Amity walked up to the makeshift gravestone, running her hand down it.

“I… I suppose I have a few things to say myself,” she said, her voice thick and heavy with emotion. “Damn it… this isn’t easy to say but I… I don’t know if I love or I hate you. Damn it, you had to go ahead and die on me before I could make up my mind!”

Luz took her hand, squeezing it. Amity, swallowing, worked up the nerve to continue.

“You saved us… you gave your life for us a-and the worst part is I still can’t call you my mentor, my master even after all that! Because! Because… Because I still remember everything you did to me. You used me as a pawn in your chess match with your sister, like my life didn’t matter! Because all I wanted was someone to look up to. All this little girl wanted was someone, anyone to fucking care for her when she wasn’t recieving any help, any love at home.”

“Oh Mittens…” Emira whispered, fighting back tears.

“Was that too much to ask? WAS IT?” Amity asked, shouting it to the heavens. Dabbing at her eyes, she continued. “I… And yet I still can’t hate you, not completely. Because at the very end… you did decide to finally care. You sacrificed yourself for me, for my mom… For your sister. You died so we could live. And I guess… maybe that’s enough for right now.”

Luz squeezed her hand tighter.

“Hey… you good?”

“For right now?” Amity asked, before nodding weakly. “For right now, yes. For right now.”

-----

To Eda, for the next few days felt like she was going through the motions. She would wake up, get a few chores done, kiss her partner, and then fall asleep. For as long as she’d known, Lily had been by her side.

Ever since birth, her older sister had been by her side. Caring for her, helping her get back up after every fall.

“RUN!” 

Eda still heard that voice in her head, her sister helping her up one last time.

And so she kept moving forwards. It’s what Lilith would have wanted her to do with her life, to just live.

But she was living differently now. No longer could she feel the magic in the air, tickling her under the skin. She felt cut off from the world.

Was this what Luz felt like, every day of every hour?

Damn, that was a way to really humble a gal when she thought about it.

And… Well, it wasn’t like she was totally cut off from the magic of the Isles. There were still things that didn’t require spell circles to perform. Just because she was no longer the most powerful witch on the Isles, it didn’t mean she wasn’t still a witch.

And for the first time, it didn’t feel she had to watch her step or the curse would get her. She didn’t feel the Owl Be… sorry, the Owl Creature’s eyes constantly on her. She now saw through its eyes, and felt in a way connected with it. 

Not all changes were bad, and maybe from the ashes, she could rise again.

For now, Eda thought, looking at the bubbling cauldron beneath her, this was the best she could do. It would have to be enough. 

She looked at Amity and Luz playing outside, the two tumbling down a grassy knoll giggling. It would have to be enough, for the sake of these kids she’d promised to protect. They were her little owlets, and although Belos had suffered a defeat, he was still in power. The tyrant still sat on his throne.

Waiting for her next slip-up.

He was probably watching the House now, waiting to see what she would do next. He’d probably already found Lily’s replacement. 

“Maybe we should get the kids inside…” she murmured to Raine. “I don’t like it, it’s too quiet. His guards… they have to be out there, just hiding inside the forest. Waiting behind the trees.”

“If Belos was going to attack us, he would have done it by now. He’s been in power for a little over 50 years now, we’ve seen what he’s like,” Raine said gently. “If revenge was something he fancied, he would have shown that by now.”

“Maybe he just hasn’t been given enough of a reason yet,” Eda said.

“No, I don’t think he’s going to make any moves. To him, I’m simply expendable, I can be easily replaced with the next bard in line and as for the rest of us… Well, to be frank, he doesn’t see children and a magicless witch as a threat.”

“Well, gee, thanks for being honest,” Eda said in a perfect deadpan before her shoulders slumped. “But you’re right. We’re not really anyone he’s concerned about. I mean, he should be concerned about us, but he’s simply not.”

Her eyes drifted to her love’s Coven tattoo.

“That being said…” 

“Oh, the tattoo? I’m not worried. It’s been getting fainter every day now, if there was an enchantment on it, it would have activated by now,” Raine said. “As I said, Belos isn’t that petty to do anything with me. He’s just going to replace me with the next bard in line.”

Eda squeezed their hand.

“I hope you’re right, Rainstorm…” she said. “I pray to the Titan that you’re right…”

-----

Amity knew she should have felt threatened by the extra amount of guards in the city, following her escape from the Conformitorum. Instead, all she could do was smirk a little to herself.

After surviving a fight with the Emperor himself, they didn’t even come close to scaring her anymore.

Instead, all she did was set up Eda’s stall with a nearly serene smile on her face. When one of the guards passed her by, she asked: “Is there anything you want? Any authentic goods from the human world?”

“Why yes, there’s-”

“Come on Steve,” the guard’s partner said, dragging him off. Amity just kept smiling, though it didn’t last for much longer.

“You’ve really grown up,” Alador said, walking up. “I’m proud of you.”

“You’re… You’re proud of me? That’s all I have to hear from you? That’s really all you have to say?” Amity asked, gritting her teeth. “That’s really it? No sympathies for losing my mentor, for nearly dying via the Emperor's magic? Nothing like that? No? I suppose not, you’ve only really been bothered to care whenever I do something that reflects on the family.”

“That’s not true, you’re really growing up and coming into your own,” Alador said. “I just wanted you to know that I acknowledge-”

“Hahahaha, you’re acknowledging that? I’m surprised you’re not acknowledging that I, a Blight, openly rebelled against the Emperor himself! Me, Em and Ed broke in and out of the Conformitorum, taking a wanted criminal with us. How does that reflect on the family, huh?”

“Your mother’s furious.”

“She hasn’t been my mother in a long time. Eda’s my mother, Raine is my Zaza and you and Odaila are not my parents,” Amity said. “Now can I sell you something or can you just go?”

Amity swore she was imagining it, but for a brief moment, what looked like actual hurt flashed across Alador’s face.

“I… see, well anyways I suppose I should go. I’ve wasted enough time, and I have to be holding up the line. I’m still proud of you though, you’re becoming a fine businesswoman in your own right,” Alador said, placing a snail in her already full bag. “For your troubles, for your time. And honestly, you haven’t just become a fine businesswoman daughter of mine. You’ve just become a fine woman in general.”

“Thanks,” Amity said, sarcastically. “Now as you said, you’re holding up the line. Do you mind?”

-----

“Well, I suppose there’s a few things I have to say myself,” Eda said, looking down at cold stone. “I know my kids have already said what they’ve wanted to you, but I need to say a few things as well.”

This was it, she knew. The last things she’d ever say to her big sister. The very last.

“I won’t pretend that everything is alright between us, that everything has been settled just because you sacrificed yourself for me. There’s… There’s plenty I’ve got to say, that I should have said a long time ago,” Eda said, her voice choking a little. “Because trust me, there’s plenty.”

She sighed.

“I still don’t understand why you did what you did, and I suppose I never will now. But… Maybe I’m not meant to. Maybe I’m only meant to guess, to speculate. Maybe there were some things you were meant to keep to yourself,” Eda said. “And that’s fine I suppose, I’m not entitled to know everything about my big sister. There are some secrets you’re supposed to keep to yourself, to the grave.”

Eda snorted.

“Look at me, talking to you when I didn’t even have a body to bury. How messed up is that right? I’m just talking to a random boulder we found in the forest, that we thought ‘welp this will suffice’ and used as a makeshift headstone. There’s nothing even beneath it, just dirt. We couldn’t even find your staff or your palismen. I suppose they were burned away in the blaze, you and your palismen ended up together in death.”

Eda knelt next to the stone.

“But all the same… I still want to know, y’know? I loved you Lily, hell I fucking idolized you! You were my big sister, I looked up to you. And suddenly like that… you turned me into a monster. And I don’t even know why. Well, I can definitely speculate at least. Was it because I intimidated you? Because I would never fall in line like you always did?” she asked. “Was that it?”

Another laugh.

“You know what I wanted to say to you during our last duel? Do you? I wanted to say ‘But then how pathetic are you, that you can't best me at my worst?’ and sure maybe it would have been mean, spiteful even but that’s just how things have always been between us. At least how that’s how I’ve felt they’ve been. I know deep down they were once better but for the life of me I can never remember when…” Eda said. “I suppose that’s the passage of time for you, right?”

She sighed again.

“I suppose you’d be happy to know that every blow we strike against Belos from now on, it’s for you. See, I don’t hate you enough to completely forget about you after your death. I know maybe I’m giving you too much credit, but I guess in a way I still idolize my big sister. I still love you Lily, I think you have a right to know that.”

She was sitting next to the stone now, looking up at the stars.

“Are you up there Lily? Looking down upon me as always?” Eda asked. “I guess I’ll never be able to escape always looking up to you.”

She snorted.

“You know what the funny thing is? I forgive you, do you hear that Lils? I forgive you, for Titan only knows what but I forgive you. Maybe Belos backed you into a corner, maybe he forced you to curse me. Oh, look at me and my ego, thinking I alone could ever be a threat to Belos' safety and security.”

Eda’s smile faded.

“Look at me Lils, I keep waking up and feeling so used up. I’m in my fifties now, and I’m still fighting. I’m still fighting for a better world, for those kids of mine,” she said. “Because I believe it can be better. Because I have to believe… otherwise what’s the point of it all? The universe is kind, uncaring. I know it is. Maybe if I took the universe and ground it down to the finest powder, in the finest of sieves I wouldn’t find a single iota of mercy. But-”

She smiled again.

“But I still believe there are such things, that justice, duty, that sort of stuff, still exists. Maybe I’m lying to myself, maybe it doesn’t and maybe I have to believe the little lies. Because if I do, because if I believe in things that are simply not true, simply non-existent otherwise, then maybe they can become huh?”

Another laugh.

“Oh look at me,” Eda said, turning back to the stone. “I’m getting all introspective on you huh? I guess without my magic, I’ve changed. Become more thoughtful on the state of things.”

Her smile still kept itself glued to her face.

“Luz said a prayer for you, the kid believed you deserved that much at least. Maybe you do. I hope you heard it. Now I don’t really believe in any higher powers, because I’ve been around awhile and seen how uncaring the world really is. If one does exist, well then he’s got a hell of a lot of explaining to do. But the kid believes, the kid believes somewhere beyond the stars, that you’re happy. That you’re at peace. I hope you are.”

The smile was replaced by a look of sheer grit.

“Meanwhile, down here, I’m going to keep fighting. I have to. For a better world. One where nobody else will have to lose their big sister. This is for you Lily.”

And then she returned to her home, to Raine’s welcoming arms.

“Do you think she heard me?” Eda asked, almost desperately.

“I don’t…” Raine started, unsure before correcting themselves at the look on her face. “I know she did.”

“I’m tired, Raine. I know I don’t exactly look it, but I’m tired. I’m tired of Belos and his reign. Of losing the people I care about to him.”

“Then that’s why we fight,” Raine said. “So nobody else has to lose anyone they care about to him. I dream of a day when we can wake up, when our children can wake up to never worrying about Belos. To a day when their children will never know his name. That’s what I dream of.”

Eda gave them a tender look. “And you really think that day will come?”

“I know it will,” Raine said. “We may not live to see it, Lily hasn’t lived to see it, but I know someday it will come. It’s all we can do, it’s our duty, to raise our kids to the best of our abilities. So that they can surpass us. That’s what children are supposed to do right? To be better than the ones that came before?”

“Well,” Eda said, that tender look still on her face. “I’d say we’re doing a pretty good job so far right?”

And Raine leaned in. “Mhmmmm…”

And then they kissed her as they shut off the lights.

Upstairs, two children listened to their conversation.

“Awwwwww…” Luz cooed to themselves. “They’re so tender and sweet!”

“I feel like we’re intruding,” Amity said, raising her head from the floorboards. “That this is a conversation reserved for them and them alone. I feel like we should leave.”

“Perhaps.”

“I saw my father today. He thinks he’s proud of me.”

“Is he?”

“As I said, he thinks he’s proud of me. I could care less about what he thinks. I only care about the Twins, Eda, my Zaza and you, my batata. That’s all.”

“Oooooh, you’re learning Spanish? Well then, my sweet potato, I care for you too,” Luz said, kissing her.

Amity flushed red, running a hand through her hair in embarrassment. “K-King helped. He found a cookbook.”

“Awww, are you saying I’m delicious?” Luz said with a smirk.

“What do you think I’m saying?” Amity said, leaning in before…

“KISSING ALERT!” Hooty shouted, his head zooming in through a nearby window.

“DAMNIT HOOTY! I’ll murder you! Come here!”

“OWWWWWWWW!”

Chapter Text

Amity, for the first time in a couple of weeks, found herself waking up early. Sleep was difficult these days, it had always been difficult. A lifetime of habits to unlearn, including getting up early at a ‘respectful’ time for abomination studies.

Once again, it was no fault of her own but something her parents had forced upon her. She considered herself lucky that she actually liked learning abomination magic. Maybe the thought of someday surpassing Alador, becoming a better witch than he, spurred her on.

Amity smiled. She hadn’t called Alador her father in a long time. Not since… She thought of her Zaza’s gentle voice, their soft laugh and how they never needled her on, but only quietly encouraged her.

They did everything right, they did what Alador had always failed to do. To him, his youngest was but another experiment, and if successful he could pat himself on the back and say her success was his as well.

Amity felt a bit ill thinking about that.

Oh well, the sun was up and her Mama and her Zaza would be up soon as well. Might as well get started on breakfast. A token of appreciation for raising her so well, and one less thing for them to do.

She liked working with her hands, Amity knew. Using them. Even now she flapped them excitedly at the thought of making something for her parents. Making things had always been comforting to her, it was good honest work. Something that Odaila knew very little about.

“Hmmmm, let’s see here…” Amity said as she reached up into the cupboards, her pointed ears twitching as the wood creaked and then they twitched again as something else caught their attention.

A gentle song, the notes perhaps a bit off-key filtered through a cracked window, pushed open by the breeze. And the singer was very familiar to Amity by this point. 

“Once I was seven years old, my mama told me

Go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely

Once I was seven years old…”

One hand drawing a spell circle to start preparing ingredients, another hand pushed open the front door.

Luz was on the front porch, sitting in a ‘borrowed’ chair Eda had said would bring character to the house. Though in reality, Amity knew her mother was thinking about sitting next to Raine, sipping apple blood as they grew older together watching the sunset.

Amity loved that about her mother, how she was so confident that Belos would fall eventually. How they’d all live happily ever after and their lives would go on in a world without danger. That one day, there would be no risk of any of them being captured and/or petrified.

Things like that gave Amity hope for a better tomorrow.

Perhaps a better tomorrow with her girlfriend, maybe even wife. She could see Luz’s resolve weakening, day by day the desire to live in the human world dissolving. Yes she had her mami back there, and yes she could visit, but here was her real home.

Here they were loved by a family that seemed to grow larger every day. Here Luz had a mother and a Nobi and two older siblings. Not to mention an awesome girlfriend, all who loved them very much.

Luz held a beat-up guitar in her hands, clearly older than she was by at least a decade. It had seen better days, and obviously was out of tune. Not that it really stopped her.

“Once I was 11 years old, my daddy told me

Go get yourself a wife or you'll be lonely

Once I was 11 years old…” 

“Well I’m not sure I’m your wife,” Amity said, walking up with a warm smile. Not yet , she told herself. “But I’m pretty sure you followed both your daddy and your mami’s instructions.”

“I-I suppose I did…” Luz stammered. “Y-You heard all of that?”

“I heard the voice of an angel,” Amity said, sitting down on the chair next to her and resting her hair on Luz’s shoulder. Pink hair brushed up under Luz’s chin.

“I-I’m an angel now huh?” Luz said with a purr. “I thought I was only just your batata hmm hermosa? Isn’t that right?”

“I-I think this is equally appropriate,” Amity said, face as pink as her hair and hands shaking in excitement. “I-I didn’t know you played guitar, are you trying to impress your Nobi?”

“I think I’ve got a long way to go before I get even anywhere near their skill level,” Luz confessed, setting the guitar aside. “T-This is just a hobby. Nobody else was up, and the weather is nice this early in the morning so I thought…”

“You’re right, it is early. The sun’s barely up. Why aren’t you in bed batata hmmm?” Amity asked, rather enjoying the way Luz’s smile turned blissful at the nickname. 

“I… I had a rough time sleeping, I’m still not over…” Luz said, Amity squeezing their hand. “Well I guess you know.”

“You too huh? I-I suppose it’s only fair. We’re teenagers, we just saw someone die in front of us. I’d be amazed and a little concerned actually if either of us were completely a-okay with any of that,” Amity said. “I know I’m not.”

“It’s weird, right? I barely knew Lilith, and what I did see of her was never positive. I know she loved her sister though…”

“Hell of a way to show her affection though… cursing her,” Amity said. “Hell of a way.”

“It’s not the first time there’s even been a loss in my family,” Luz confessed. “You know why I never talk about my papi right?”

Amity shook her head.

“W-Well I never knew him, apart from a few things mami’s said about him whenever I got the courage to ask. He went off to war, to this country called Afghanistan and he just…” Luz said, looking like they were about to cry. “Never came back.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be, like I said I barely knew him,” Luz said. “I know it nearly broke mami though, and then she just wandered into a church one day. They took her in, embraced her as if she was one of their own. She found faith, she found God.”

They were thumbing this little star attached to a chained necklace, another reminder to Amity that there was so little about her girlfriend’s faith she actually knew about. Another thing for her to research, Amity thought to herself with a barely suppressed grin.

“I like to think Lilith’s up there somewhere,” Luz said, looking upwards. “At peace. I don’t know. Maybe she’s in the Bad Place, but I like to think she’s at peace. I don’t even know if Heaven or Hell exist, nobody does but oh goodness I’m rambling aren’t I?”

“It’s okay. You’re just being yourself, I won’t judge you for that. Here we’re all free to be ourselves,” Amity said, squeezing their hand again. “We’re not… well here we’re not suppressed.”

She flapped her hands giddily to emphasize her point.

“Mhmmm,” Luz said, kissing her cheek. “Do… Do you think anyone else would have taken you in, had Eda not come along? I’m sorry if this seems like a dumb question o-or intrusive or anything like that. I’m just curious, I-I have to know…”

Amity chuckled. “Don’t worry, you’re not being intrusive and it’s not a dumb question. I’ve wondered about that myself, and honestly I think there might have been one person…”

Luz looked at her curiously. “Oh?”

And so Amity explained, and started off with how it had taken place a few years ago, before Luz had even stepped one foot onto the Boiling Isles…

The Covention, a younger Amity thought with a giddy smile as she stepped into a world of color. Hanging from every side, a banner with a different color. A different advertisement. Join the Construction Coven! Join the Potions Coven! Join the Oracle Coven!

Or maybe even join the prestigious Emperor’s Coven(!!!)

It was all Amity could do to keep her hands from flapping, and suppress her unhealthy stims. She had to be perfect, and do nothing unseemingly. Nothing that would reflect badly on her parents. She was a Blight, she had a certain standard to set. The rest of the rabble would look at her in awe and try so desperately to keep up with her.

She passed by a mirror, carried by two Oracle Coven members, and for a moment sighed and let the mask drop. Willow should be here. Willow should be right by her side. And for a moment, Amity swore she imagined the girl, a few years older with her inside the reflection.

But it was only just that. Her imagination. Bringing Willow with her to anything now was only the fanciful whimsy of a child. Blights had to associate themselves with better people than those who were only half-a-witch.

Here she was, the youngest of the Blights and clearly the best of her siblings. It wasn’t like Emira or Edric would be representing the family in any meaningful fashion.

Coven guards passed her by, and at the far end of the hall, golden wings and a sword. The symbol of authority and the tamed wilderness. It was like the eye of the Emperor himself was upon them.

Amity stood up a little straighter.

She knew she shouldn’t wander, that she should stick by her parents but the golden banners just seemed to call out to her. The promise of glory could be hers. Wouldn’t that impress her mother? If she was a part of the Emperor's personal guard? 

“Calm yourself Amity,” the ten-year-old told herself. “You’re being silly, ambitious maybe but ultimately very silly. It’s not like Belos would accept a witching like yourself into his coven. Not yet at least. You have to prove yourself, make him notice you.”

She caught herself, she’d nearly said ‘make them notice you’ to herself. No, it wasn’t her parents’ attention she wanted. They’d made it clear they only saw her as a potential success story. Belos was who she wanted to acknowledge her.

Amity Blight, member of the Emperor’s Coven. Now that had a nice ring to it, didn’t it?

“Capturing Wild Witches, bringing order and security to the Isles? Now doesn’t that sound like a perfectly suitable position for a Blight?”

So caught up in her thoughts was she, that Amity realized too late she’d wandered too far. She looked left, and then she looked right. She didn’t recognize any part of the hall. She didn’t know where her parents were!

Maybe it was personal embarrassment, maybe it was instinct realizing the cry of a child would attract someone’s attention. Either way, she found herself tucked behind two stalls sobbing her heart out.

Her body shaking, tears streaming down her face, she heard someone saying: “Excuse me, whose child is this? Isn’t someone going to attend to this witchlet? Don’t tell me I have to do it, ewww children are so gross and her snot will absolutely ruin my robes!”

She barely heard a sigh through her sobs.

“Very well then, clearly none of you are cut out to be parents. Honestly, witchlings are precious and should be attended to at first cry,” Amity heard, and briefly looked up to see the head of the Abominations Coven, Darius Grimsbane. “I’m sorry child, are you hurt? Did you skin your knee? Please don’t-”

Amity latched onto him, still clearly distressed and managing a choked out ‘Lost!’.

“-stain my robes with your tears. Where are your parents? Clearly they’re horrible at their jobs if I have to come find you,” Darius scoffed. Were she a bit older, Amity would probably agree. “You’re Alador’s kid aren’t you? That hack, he can barely create Abominations so I’m not surprised he can’t watch his kid.”

Darius scooped her up, running a hand through her hair.

“I’m honestly surprised, and a bit disgusted that your parents managed to… create another kid,” he said, shuddering a bit in revulsion at the thought. “And clearly they don’t have the heart to care for their little sprog either. As I said, witchlets are precious and must be cared for, and clearly, your parents missed that particular memo. Alador in particular must be wrapped up in always trying to surpass me!”

He snorted, and Amity snorted a little in spite of herself.

“As if that would ever happen! After all, I am the best,” Darius said, allowing Amity to play with his hair a little, the goop free-flowing. “Alador can try to slam me with his hardest stuff, but his double whammy isn’t up to snuff. I'll set the record straight, he’s simply out of date! He’s only second-rate!”

Amity giggled.

“You though… Maybe you’ll be someone different. I swear, if Miss Lilith wasn’t interested in being your teacher, maybe…”

Amity’s eyes widened. “Miss Lilith?”

“Ooops! I guess I spoiled the surprise! But I think you’re going to be a great witch one day, it’s just a shame your parents don’t see that for themselves! Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be giving the orders instead of them!”

Darius continued laughing all the way back. In the present, Amity gave a fond smile.

“Imagine, one of the Coven Heads giving more of a crap about me than my own father. Well, not that he deserves that title at any rate,” Amity said. “I don’t think Alador even noticed I was gone, y’know like a father should!”

Luz was hugging her.

“It’s okay batata , really it is. It’s in the past and… well enough about Alador. He’s barely worth mentioning after all.”

Luz snorted. “This is true.”

“I-I and maybe I only imagined it and maybe this sounds sappy, but I saw something else in the mirror. I didn’t think anything of it at the time,” Amity said, remembering a joyful laugh. “But I saw a girl who looked like you. Maybe it was you. It was an Oracle Coven mirror so maybe-”

“Maybe the future is here,” Luz said, kissing her. “Your ‘parents’ are pieces of shit, your talent was totally wasted with them. Darius was right, they didn’t see your potential for what it truly was. Though I posit a different theory, they did and they were scared . They wanted to break you, if they couldn’t mold you.”

“Yeah…” Amity trailed off, sadly.

“But you said it yourself, the past is the past,” Luz smiled. “Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.”

“Oooooh, sounds wise. Did you think it up yourself?”

“Nope, from the wisdom of a great teacher of mine. Master Oogway!”

“He does sound wise…”

Amity was honestly thankful for Eda’s shout. The less she had to think about her past, the better.

“Luz, Boots? Where are you? Are you coming? Breakfast is ready, now get in here before King eats it all!” Eda said. "First come, first serve!”

The old witch cackled a little as the two arrived.

“Were you two getting in a few kisses as the sun rose? Did I disturb you, pull you away from anything important?”

“Eda…” Raine chided gently as the two blushed. The enby witch smiled at their daughter. “I see someone who wanted to get started before us. Shame really, breakfast should be a family affair.”

Their tone held no malice, only amusement and gentle chiding. In their hands, a book titled Blood like Magic.

“I… It’s not like that. I wanted to prepare breakfast for you both, that’s all,” Amity said, running a hand through her hair. “I-I just got distracted, that’s all.”

“I’m sure you did!” Eda snorted as Raine smiled appreciatively and Amity flapped her hands excitedly as she sat herself down at the table. This was all she’d ever wanted in life… and it was all hers. Yes indeed, today was a gift.

-----

The day continued on, the hours passing by slowly but blissfully.

“Let it go, let it go

Can't hold it back anymore

Let it go, let it go

Turn away and slam the door

I don't care what they're going to say!”

Amity and Luz sat curled up in front of the couch, Luz’s phone screen projected on a wall via magic. In front of them, Princess Elsa danced around as tall walls of ice rose up around her and reshaped themselves into an impossibly beautiful castle. Frozen fractals spun in the air and solidified as she found herself truly free.

This song… Amity smiled. The emotions felt so familiar. For a moment, she imagined herself in the Queen’s place, dancing around and then inviting Luz inside to dance with her. She, like Elsa, felt liberated from the chains everyone had placed upon her.

Luz had apparently noticed, snuggled up to her and smiling as well as they heard their girlfriend sing along.

“And she claims I’m the one with the voice of an angel!”

Blue and purple danced around the room, illuminating it as power overflowed onscreen. Nearby, several books -YA romance novels from the look of them- were knocked off a nearby table as Luz and Amity danced and swayed to the song.

“It's time to see what I can do

To test the limits and break through

No right, no wrong, no rules for me

I'm free!”

Luz dipped Amity, and for a moment they were back at Grom locked in a moment of bliss and a partnership growing stronger. Like Elsa, nothing could hold them back anymore with fears and doubts cast aside.

Even if a storm did rage on outside, they felt like nothing would ever worry them again. Even as Belos’ grew in power, his plans beginning to be set in motion, they felt in this moment everything would be right and okay.

Tomorrow they’d have to face the real world, but for now Luz and Amity only worried about the other. They only focused on the other. The power of love might have been the strongest magic of all.

(The author sorely apologies for this cheesiness. It’s the old Pony fan in me.)

“Awwwwww,” Raine said, their voice a coo as they stepped in. “You remind me of how Eda and I used to be. Well, still are I suppose.”

Immediately, Luz pulled away from Amity, her face tomato-red and shut off her phone. Her girlfriend, for her part, was giggling.

“I… I suppose I interrupted something,” Raine admitted. “It wasn’t my intention to embarrass either of you. It’s just I wanted to come and tell you something. I know we’ve had a rough going of it recently and I… well I thought maybe we should all take a break?”

“Take a break?” Luz asked, confused.

“Yes, take a break. Belos won’t take over the Isles today, he probably won’t take it over tomorrow. I was just thinking, a day out should do us all some good. Our lives have been pretty stressful lately so well-”

“I think that sounds like a great idea,” Amity said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a chance to relax, you’re right Zaza. I… Yes, I think would like that very much. So what did you have in mind?”

“Eda suggested committing high treason and busting everyone out of the Conformitorium but that sounds like all work and no play,” Raine said with a snort. “Nor do I want to deal with Warden Wraith and his stalkerish tendencies. So I suggested a picnic under the stars.”

“Ooooooh!” Luz said, bouncing in place.

“That does sound honestly very romantic,” Amity said, looking at her girlfriend and flapping her hands a little in anticipation. “And honestly, I’m feeling a bit cooped up inside the house. It’s been a few days since I’ve been outside.”

“Yes, apologies. We just wanted to make sure Belos wasn’t watching us. It’s safe now, if he was going to have his guards move in and capture us, well try and capture us anyways, he would have done it by now,” Raine said. “We were only taking precautions, out of paranoia. Perhaps unjustifiably, perhaps overly.”

“No, I think you did the right thing,” Amity said, hugging her parent. “You did what you thought was best, to protect us.”

“To protect my kids,” Raine said before smiling again. “My kids… That’s not something I thought I’d ever say. And yet here I am…”

They looked at who they’d raised, and felt their heart swell in pride. Perhaps they’d done alright.

-----

The moon rose over the hills, blue skies having turned a bright orange and beginning to burn a deep red. Red at night, a sailor’s delight, Raine mused to themselves. For the past few days, the weather had been stormy but now the skies were finally beginning to clear.

It was a nice night, they thought to themselves, resting up against their love and holding her hand.

For once, all seemed to be right in the world. They’d faced the storm and weathered it, coming out stronger for it.

“You’ve got that face again, Rainstorm. That face, the lost in thought one,” Eda said. “Aren’t you supposed to be focusing on me, dear?”

“A-Apologies,” Raine said, leaning in for a kiss. “You’re right, I am thinking too much.”

A mandolin was set off to the side, the first twinklings of stars above them. Soft lips brushed against their own.

An open picnic basket, with a soft blanket underneath the two. And their kids, just a little further down the hill talking amongst themselves. It was paradise.

“Hey give it back!” Edric shouted, trying to pry King away from his liver sandwich. “That’s mine!”

“Well, then come and get it. Hey aren’t you supposed to be learning beast keeping? Can’t you try and tame me?” King taunted, hopping up and down atop the green-haired boy’s head. Laughing mockingly, he said: “You’re off to a bad start!”

Emira pried the sandwich out of the grubby young demon’s paws. “Yes, he is but forgive him. He’s always been a slow learner.”

“Yes, I have be - HEY!” 

King snickered even as Emira tossed him a bit of her sandwich. “Go long!”

“Are you sure you’re the King of Demons? You’re more like the old reliable family hound,” Emira said. “Just with mad delusions of power.”

“Weh?” King said as he looked up, gnawing at his piece rather like a dog on a bone actually. “Excuse you? They’re not just delusions! I have power and one day, you all bow before me! Except you Luz, I still need your sleep cocoon.”

“Awwww, thanks.”

“Please don’t annoy the King of Demons,” Amity deadpanned. “I’m sure it’s bad for your health in the long run.”

“See? She gets it! She gets it! Just because she understands me, she’ll be spared from my wraith!” King proclaimed.

“Oooooh, yes, I’m so scared,” Emira said with a yawn. “I’m so scared of a tyrant I can pick up, like scoop up and put in my backpack.”

“Excuse you? I’ve seen Luz’s weird ahh-ni-may, I’ve seen the villains and their many forms! How do you even know this,” King asked, gesturing to himself. “Is even my final form? Oooooh, just you wait, when I get my crown back you will all cower before me!”

“Yes, well, until then…” Emira said in deadpan, rubbing King’s belly. “You’re just everyone’s cutesy-wootsy little brother with mad delusions of power.”

“You both insult and compliment me in the same sentence,” King said, looking like he was desperately trying not to enjoy the rubs. “Make up your mind sis!”

“See?” Raine said from further up the hill. “Why stay in the Bard Coven when I have all of this? If this isn’t perfection, I’m not sure what is.”

“Awwwww Rainstorm. You’re so sweet I think I can feel my remaining teeth beginning to rot,” Eda said. “Spare an old woman from that.”

“You’re not old, you’re not even fifty yet,” Raine said gently kissing her as Eda let out a soft moan, Raine running their hands through her hair. “And you don’t even look it.”

“Not to you anyways,” Eda said. “Flatterer.”

“I only speak the truth. You’ve got the admiration of all of Bonesbourough, but you are mine! Look close, but don’t touch, because this witch is mine,” Raine said, kissing them again.

“Heh. Jealous much? Don’t worry, I won’t leave you. Not this time, and especially… not on this hill,” Eda realized. “I just remembered… the last time we were here…”

“That was then,” Raine soothed. “This is now. We were different people then. Young and foolish. I’m still kicking myself for letting you shoulder all of that alone. You were my sole regret, the one who got away.”

“Now if that were true, I wouldn’t be in your arms right now. I didn’t get away,” Eda said, gently pressing her forehead to her partner’s own. “Not for long anyways.”

“Not for long? We were apart for decades. All because-”

“All because we were different people then, you said it yourself. We made mistakes,” Eda said. “We live and learn from them. That’s part of life.”

“So it is,” Raine said with a nod, acknowledging their point as laughter caught their ear. Ears twitching, they looked to see Luz and Amity tumbling down the hill giggling to themselves.

“Dork,” Amity said, gently kissing her. “My dork. Could have warned me.”

“The surprise was the best part!” Luz said.

“And now my clothes are covered in grass stains,” Amity said. “Oh if Darius were here, he’d probably be disgusted with how I look. He’d say that-”

“A Blight must look her best,” said a voice. Amity looked up in shock, blushing.

“C-Coven Head Darius!” she stammered, brushing herself off. Up the hill, Eda and Raine sat up in worry, ready to take action if need be.

“But you’re not a Blight anymore are you?” the man asked with a surprisingly warm smile. “As I said all those years ago, your talents were wasted with your… parents.”

For a moment, it seemed he was going to choose another word but elected to keep up appearances.

“If you’re here to try and talk Amity into coming back or here to arrest her…” Luz snarled protectively.

“I’m here to do neither of them. Just because my Emperor believes in order and conformity, doesn’t mean I have to. At least 100% of the time. You’re not talking to me as a Coven Head right now.”

“So who are we talking to you as?” Amity asked, she and Luz narrowing their eyes.

“A proud witch,” Darius said, and both now noticed he wasn't in his robes. “I heard how you managed to tear through some of our finest men like a woodsman would through trees.”

“Those were your finest men?” Amity deadpanned. “Clearly standards have dropped.”

“Or the next generation is getting more powerful. If I were Lilith, rest her soul, I’d probably try and convince you to join her Coven. Well, I suppose it’s that brat’s Coven now, but all the same. But I’m not Lilith.”

“No, you actually care about me,” Amity said. “I still remember that day.”

“So do I, and while I don’t entirely approve of you or Raine going against Belos, there’s little I can do to stop you. At least while I’m not on duty,” Darius said. “Maybe next time I’ll get to see how much you’ve grown, how much stronger you are than that pretentious hack Alador.”

“No love lost between you two huh?” Luz snorted, the whole situation was just entirely ridiculous. A Coven Head, actually complimenting her awesome girlfriend on taking down guards. This was her life now huh? Wild.

“That assumes we ever liked one another to begin with,” Darius said, before looking up the hill at Raine and Eda. “And I’ve clearly overstayed my welcome, not that your parents-”

He said this with an almost approving smile, Amity swearing she imagined it.

“-ever had to worry to begin with. Have a nice evening.”

And with that, he took his leave.

“What the hell was that?” Eda exclaimed in disbelief. “Isn’t it his job to arrest us?”

“That was… uh, yeah, that was weird. Clearly, I’m missing the full story,” Raine said. “Oh well, I suppose we shouldn’t look a gift nightmare in the mouth?”

“More like a slitherbeast, if you want to make a proper comparison…” Eda grumbled. “But-”

“-back to what we were doing?” Raine smiled, picking up their mandolin and beginning to strum.

“And what were we doing, hmmm Rainstorm?” Eda said with a purr.

“Enjoying life,” Raine replied before they began to sing, remembering a tape recording that had washed up on the beach one day.

“Never was the kind to think about dressing in white

Wasn't waiting on a princess to come riding into my life…”

Amity heard a little ‘awww’ and looked to her left, her girlfriend’s eyes shining in delight. Sparkling even as she watched her Nobi serenade her mom.

“I didn't know there was a hole

Something missing in my soul

'Til you filled it up with your love, yeah…”

Amity just lay down on the grass and listened. Her life had changed a lot lately. Maybe not in ways she’d ever expected but she let a tender smile slip over her face all the same. Maybe not in ways that were bad.

Gently grasping her girlfriend’s hand, she let Luz snuggle up to her under the soft moonlight. Her life hadn’t turned out quite the way she’d expected but maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing?

And yet all the same she couldn’t quite ignore that pit in her stomach. It was like there was something she still needed to do before she’d feel fully content in her new life.

Maybe it was just something she’d had for dinner that didn’t quite agree with her. Maybe it was that. Eda’s cooking was always hit or miss.

Maybe it was that, yeah. It had to be that. Couldn’t possibly be anything else.

“And now I'm holdin' what I never knew I always wanted

I couldn't see; I was blind 'til my eyes were opened…”

Chapter Text

“Welcome, valued investors, to our annual Blight Industries private sale!”

Darius rolled his eyes at the woman’s theatrics, she thought she was hyping her products up but really all she was doing was stoking her own ego. This whole charade was entirely unnecessary, it was better to admit that sales were down and they really needed the money. Well, maybe they didn’t need the money now, given they had three less mouths to feed.

“If you're interested in reliable home security, we're here to help,” Odaila went on before lowering her voice to a whisper. “And, if you've got an enemy or two... Well, who are we to judge?”

Darius didn’t even know why he was here, it’d be the same presentation as last time. The same desperate yearning to catch up to him. That’s really all this was, just a cry for attention. For Alador to hope he was catching up to him.

He fought back a yawn. Alador couldn’t even create a child who obeyed him properly, what hope did he have in creating the perfect abomination for the masses?

This almost pathological need of his to catch up to his coven head was simply embarrassing to watch. Covering an abomination in armor that would probably shatter at first spell. It screamed of desperation and it screamed of a desire to be taken seriously. 

No… no that wasn’t it, was it?

“...It will pour your tea! Help you keep up with the latest trends! And best of all…” Odaila tried to say, Darius barely listening.

Best of all, he thought, it would distract everyone from the fact that none of her children wanted anything to do with her. And well, given how old she was, Darius doubted he’d be hearing news of a fourth Blight child any time soon.

He sympathized with Alador in that respect at least, having to commit to such a hot and dirty and simply disgusting act to create a child. And he did it not once, but twice. And even then he’d failed to create the perfect child three times. All three of the siblings had left the nest and showed no real signs of ever wanting to come back.

Darius chuckled. Not that anyone would ever want to return to such a horrid place, with such embarrassments as witches for parents. Children were precious, and he failed to understand why anyone would treat them otherwise.

He looked up at Odaila, well he supposed he understood in this case. Odaila was an Oracle Coven member, she probably saw the future. Her future, being outshone by all three children, the newest Clawthornes being greater Blights than she’d ever be. She probably decided to break them before that ever happened.

But in actuality, had only hastened that future, and perhaps even brought it into being. The irony.

He let out a yawn, he’d seen enough. It was time to take his leave, nothing interesting to report as usual.

Odaila watched him leave the crowd and let out a snarl of frustration, going unheard over the chatter of the crowd.

“If Amity were here, she could have helped sell the Abomaton,” she said to her husband afterwards. “Instead she’s probably frolicking, and fornicating even with that human. The shame of it. She’s worthless as a Blight, I’m glad we got rid of her.”

“And yet you said it yourself, if she were here she could have helped move our product,” Alador said, stroking his beard. He sighed, not sounding at all pleased at what he was about to say. “Let’s go get her back then.”

-----

“Light in the darkness, a glittering bridge of ice, the mightiest tree in the forest! You can make all these, and more, with glyph magic!” the Witch from Another World said. “Welcome to day 3 of Luz's Magic Boot Camp!”

Eda chuckled wryly, back to school. Who knew?

“Oh drat, I was hoping for more of an ice blast situation…” she said to herself, ashes of glyph paper at her feet. “Oh well, this is like re-learning how to walk, except on only one leg and with no prosthetics. Never said it would be easy.”

Luz gave her a kind smile. “I know you're impatient to get your powers back, but try to master the basics before you start experimenting.”

Raine chuckled from inside the kitchen, washing dishes without magic. Eda wondered, were they doing it so they didn’t overshadow Eda? So they didn’t make her feel jealous? That was ridiculous really, just because she didn’t have her own magic, it didn’t mean Raine had to hamper themselves for her sake, her feelings! 

“Eda,” they said. “If you want to be back to your old self, your previous strength, you have to use glyphs perfectly! And we can only do that through ‘memorization’, ‘repetition’ and ‘following the rules’.”

The two witches looked at one another and then burst out laughing.

“I’m only kidding, you’re perfectly able to go ahead with ‘experimentation’, 'innovation’ and ‘laughing at tools!’ You didn’t get where you are by following the rules!”

Eda smiled at their phrasing. Not where she was, they said where she is.

“I remember Amity saying there was a possibility that all glyphs form the basics of magic as we know it,” Raine went on. “Now I’m not saying you should rush ahead carelessly, but it’s something to keep in mind.”

“Toot toot! The Hexside train is a-coming! Chugga-chugga!” Hooty called from nearby, their voice breaking the peacefulness of the moment.

“Well, this train is leaving and while I’m gone, don’t wreck the house too much okay?” Luz said, hugging Eda. “I’ll be back in a few hours, I love you okay mom?”

“Love you too kiddo,” Eda said with another wry smile, the words sounding so right coming out of her mouth.

Before, it might have scared her how easily she took to it all, like a void duck to water. How easily she accepted settling down and becoming domestic. Raising five kids. Now though… well, at the risk of sounding cheesy, she couldn’t imagine her life without them.

They’d become better witches than she ever was, that much she knew for sure in a changing always uncertain world. Motherly pride built up in her chest, that warm feeling easily accepted instead of spurned like before.

Her little owlets. They’d do her proud. She’d never asked for a family, but they had apparently all needed her. Eda the Owl Lady, her nest now filled.

She liked that thought.

-----

Luz felt their hand squeezed as she walked up the school steps, taking a deep breath. “Okay, first day back after the petrification ceremony. Just be chill.”

She admitted it, she was terrified of what the rest of the school thought of her. A part of her wanted to turn and run. Such open defiance against the Emperor… she’d become an icon of rebellion.

Honestly, a part of them was amazed they hadn’t been expelled from school yet. All eyes were on them as they stepped over that threshold, into the front hall.

“It’s okay,” Amity whispered soothingly in their ear. “I doubt anybody even really knows what happened. Just one foot in front of the other, just act like everything is normal.”

“That’s probably better advice than what Eda would give me, she’d probably tell me to punch the first kid I see to establish dominance,” Luz said before chuckling wryly. “Hell, I think she has told me that once.”

“Amity!” someone called, Skara pulling her into a hug. “You’re okay! I mean, I knew you were okay, I’d heard it from my dad but when I came to check on you at your mom’s place that strange bird-door thing said they weren’t accepting visitors at this time and-”

“It’s okay, and breathe Skara,” Amity said. “I’m fine. Everyone’s fine.”

“I heard about Lilith,” Skara said sympathetically. “I… Are you sure you’re alright? I mean I know she used you as bait for Eda but she was still-”

“No, she was never my teacher. At least never a good one,” Amity said. “I’m fine alright? I just want to get back to school, and actually keep going as if nothing’s happened. I just want a normal day alright?”

“That’s fine, but seriously, you two defied the-”

“Yes, I know what we did,” Amity said, trying to keep her tone even and trying to keep it from rising into a warning. “I know who we defied. Please, can we just get to class? You know, after everything that's happened, I'm just happy to return to some sense of normalcy.”

“Alright but in celebration of your return, I've brought you a homemade fairy pie,” Skara said. “Don’t tell Boscha! The ingredients are fresh, very fresh. You could say it’s like they were just caught yesterday!”

“Oh wow that sounds so-” Luz started before she noticed Amity’s expression and winced. Oh well it couldn’t be that bad could it? “-good right?”

Another day in the Boiling Isles, another strange thing to eat. They wondered if fairy pie was even kosher. Oh well, at least nothing too exciting looked like it was going to happen today.

There came a shout over the PA system: “You can't just barge in here!”

A cough from someone unseen and then a sigh from Bump.

“...very well then, I suppose you can. Amity, Emira and Edric Clawthorne, along with Luz Noceda report to my office please.”

Luz felt like she was going to sink through the floor as she listened to Odaila’s tirade, Amity looking like she was about to explode.

“The abomination situation, the destruction of detention, the rampage of Grom. A basilisk was here, Hieronymus! A basilisk! We here at the Parent Creature Situation have been watching every failure of yours Hieronymus,” Odaila said, arms crossed. “And we’ve also seen who’s been involved in every one of those incidents.”

She was looking directly at Luz, who tugged at her collar and swallowed nervously.

Alador was curiously reaching for Frewin’s tail, only for his hand to be swatted away by his wife with a glare.

“These are but a few of the incidents that have endangered Hexside students, including our children, and that girl has been at the center of them every time! You’d be better off without her! I’ve seen the future Hieronymus, she’ll only put our children in more danger.”

Luz felt brave, very brave and honestly quite fed up with the woman. She wished she had her mami’s slipper with her. “Excuse me? Did you get your crystal ball out of a crackerjack box? Did your ass suddenly move up to your face? Because you’re certainly talking out of it!”

“And we haven’t been your children in quite a while, you saw to that yourself,” Edric said. “In fact, I seem to remember-”

“That you-” Emira joined in.

“Kicked our baby sister out of the house-”

“-yourself. What did you say to her? Because we overheard-”

“-and we seem to remember it being something like: “I will no longer acknowledge you as my daughter, and you no longer have to see me as your mother.” Isn’t that what you said right before-”

“-You screamed at her to get out?” Emira asked, raising an eyebrow.

“A fit of temper, I let it rule me and I apologize.”

“Oh so only now you’re apologizing?” Amity asked. “You’re only now apologizing after weeks of silence? And you’re only apologizing for this one thing? Is that it? How about apologizing for treating me like crap for years? How about apologizing for making me feel like I’d never catch up to you, that I’d never measure up as a witch?”

No tears in her eyes, only rage. Luz had never looked prouder of their awesome girlfriend.

“Yes, well, you can’t expect me to do everything at once, Mittens,” Odaila said and suddenly Luz realized why she’d hated that name. “Look at you, look at all of you. Your hair, is that lavender? And Edric, you need a shave and Emira that acne of yours is unsightly! You don’t look like Blights!”

“That’s because we’re not,” Emira said with pride. “We’re Clawthornes!”

“And you still came from my loins, so like it or not you’re-”

“Blights by birth yes, but not in spirit. Can’t say I blame them, knowing you. Oh my god, you’re such a Karen. You’re even head of the local PTA. I said it before and I’ll say it again now, you’re such an anoying mentsh. Okay boomer, you’ve said your piece. Now leave,” Luz said. “My siblings said they don’t want you in their life. Like oh my god, like can you use that space between your ears for something other than a hat rack? What, do you believe Bluetooth detects vaccines as well?”

“You’re a bad influence on my children,” Alador said, speaking for the first time, and Luz had sworn he looked almost amused by her insults. “So the PCA has decided you should be executed.”

Luz gasped and turned to Amity in alarm. “They can’t do that! …can they do that?”

“No, but they can-”

Odaila coughed.

“Sorry, expelled.”

“-do that.” Amity said with a sigh and a sympathetic smile.

“Now, I was going to let the rest of you off with a warning, telling you not to associate with that girl, but clearly you’re too far gone. I don’t even recognize any of you,” Odaila said, turning back to her children. “So, until you learn your lesson and return to being proper Blights, you’re expelled as well.”

Edric let out a growl and turned to his Principal. “Surely you can’t… Surely you’re not going to listen to this woman!”

“Sadly, I have no choice in the matter. It’s out of my hands now,” Bump said, though not without a sympathetic expression. “I’m sorry. Luz, Emira, Edric, Amity, effective immediately you are no longer students of Hexside.”

“Damn it, if I had my mami’s slipper I’d use it on you!” Luz hissed before whirling on Odaila. “I see how it is with you. Oh, so my child grows apart from me? Oh, so she wants to spend time with other witches her own age? Oh, so she wants to be someone different? Oh well, clearly it’s never my fault! It’s the school’s! It’s her friends! You’re such a Karen!”

“MY NAME IS ODAILA!”

“No, your name is Bitch, because that’s literally your only personality trait!” Luz snapped. “You’re a bitch and you ruin everything you touch! I don’t know who’s worse, you or Belos! And Belos is a serial killing, magic-forbidding, megalomaniacal tyrant!”

“You don’t even know what you’re saying, child!” Odaila hissed at her. “Belos is a far greater witch than you’ll ever be. You’re only a child lost in a fantasy, deluding herself into thinking that she’ll ever amount to anything. I don’t know why that Clawthorne woman or why Whispers go along with it, or how you dragged my children, my children into thinking the same as you but the charade ends here!”

“So what, by expelling your children along with me, you think you’ll push us apart?”

“Just because they’re no longer students of Hexside,” Odaila said with a smirk as Coven guards pulled Luz out of the room. “It doesn’t mean another school won’t take them. Glandus perhaps? While I don’t like sending them to our rival school, the farther away they are from you, the better.”

“Oh yeah? And what about their choice in the matter? You disowned them anyways, it’s not like you have any power over them!” Luz asked, Odaila following with a dark chuckle.

“Nonsense, that woman only thought she filed the paperwork, and anyways, even if she did, new papers can be forged. You don’t understand this, because how could you,” Odaila went on, sounding truly deranged. “But when you have money, anything is possible. All doors are open to you.”

Luz just kicked her in the shin.

“You damn brat!” Odaila seethed before taking a deep breath to calm herself. “I understand, you’re having your only friends in the world taken from you. It’s not like anyone else would associate with you, it’s only natural to be upset. You’ll understand soon enough. Not everything in the world revolves around you.”

Luz stared in disbelief, did she even hear the words coming out of her mouth? Then again, it wasn’t like Karens were ever known for being rational.

“I’m truly sorry, I am.”

“No, you’re not.”

“No, I suppose I’m not. But it’s all for the better, you distract my children and you put thoughts in their heads. Blights are Blights, they know their place in society.”

“You don’t get it do you, neither Amity or the twins are Blights anymore. They’re Clawthornes! And don’t think you can stop me, I’ll get back into Hexside or die trying!”

“Yes, well, when you’re inevitably resurrected as a zombie,” Odaila chuckled again, handing Luz her business card. “Well, you know where to find us.”

With that, Luz found themselves tossed on Hexside’s front lawn and on their ass.

“Sorry kid,” one of the guards said. “Odaila isn’t known for being easily reasoned with.”

“Come on Steve!” his partner shouted. “Don’t waste your time talking with wild witches. We’ve got tyranny to enforce!”

Luz looked up at the doors of Hexside, now seemingly forever closed to them and gritted their teeth.

“So that’s how it is huh?”

She found herself trudging back to the Owl House, not even bothering to say hello to Hooty or put her bookbag down. She pulled out her phone and looked at a picture of her Mami.

Oh well, it wasn’t like this was the first time she’d been kicked out of school. A tear dripped onto the screen as Luz rested up against the wall, hoping not to be found. “I’m sorry Mami, I thought I could make it here as well. But even amongst witches, I’m still causing my school trouble. I’m so sorry.”

-----

Raine hummed to themselves as they went about their day before one of their ears twitched. They heard something else, besides the humming and immediately ceased singing. They recognized that sound, but they hadn’t heard it from anyone in this house since…

They slowly crept around a corner and pulled their sobbing daughter into their arms. Wait, weren’t they supposed to be in school right about now?

A dark possibility crept into their minds. They’d heard things of course, heard names they at one time wondered if they should be nervous about. At first, they thought it was normal teenage rivalry but now they did wonder.

Boscha was a common name that seemed to pop up, both of their youngest daughters agreeing she was not a very nice person. Raine refrained from calling her the nickname they’d bestowed upon the triclops.

Now though, they wondered if they shouldn’t have refrained. Luz was a strong young witch, but not invincible. Even her armor could be cracked with enough wear and tear. Whoever came up with that phrase about sticks and stones obviously didn’t know what they were talking about.

Raine knew all too well that saying was nonsense.

“Did Boscha…?” Raine asked their daughter gently, running a soothing hand through her hair. “What did she say?”

Luz shook her head in a soft little ‘no’. Denial perhaps? No, she seemed sincere and through her sobs, Raine caught a few words, one of which made their eyebrows raise in alarm. Odaila. Now what had that woman done?

They caught another word. Expulsion.

Damn it all.

Humming a soft soothing tune, they let Luz continue to cry. The teenager had such a long day and it seemed the blame lay solely at one witch’s feet.

Damn it all.

When Luz was finally done crying, they explained in full with Raine’s eyes widening in shock and then narrowing in rage.

Of course that woman would use Luz as a way to get to Amity, use her as a pawn in some twisted game.

And Hieronymus! Well, they couldn’t say they were surprised or even disappointed. Odaila had always wielded far too much power over the school, and had probably disguised her intentions with ‘it all being for the children’s sake’ of course. Not all villains openly twirled their mustaches after all. Those who clothed themselves in good deeds weren’t always as easy to spot.

“So what d-do I-I-I do?” Luz asked.

“You will do nothing, let me and Eda sort this out. You’ve already done enough, you’re supposed to be a teenager and enjoying life. Not sorting out the adults’ problems,” Raine said gently. “Odaila may think she has the ball in her court, but in reality she’s the one deluding herself. If she expelled our kids, well fine. We’ll homeschool you.”

“But what about-”

“Amity and the twins being transferred to Glandus?” Raine said before shaking their head. “Odaila doesn’t have the power to do that. Not even she has that kind of power. She’s simply posturing. Flexing, I suppose you’d say.”

“But she said-”

“She said she’d forge papers. No principal worth their salt would accept that kind of thing, Glandus High may be many things but it’s not stupid. I doubt Odaila even has the skill to forge even halfway acceptable papers. At any rate,” Raine said with a weary smile. “Everyone on the Isles knows she disowned her daughter, thanks to you actually.”

Luz chuckled weakly, oh yeah they had chewed out Odaila in front of everyone with scrolls out.

“Some things can never be taken back. I suspect Odaila had used the old family magic without even intending to. She’ll be in for a nasty shock if any of her kids ever even tried to use the Blight name again.”

“So we just go on as if I haven’t been-”

“No, we’ll fight this. Homeschooling will be a last resort, Eda may not have liked Hexside but she knows that all four of you need a good education,” Raine said, running a hand through Luz’s hair again with their voice still soft and soothing. “She doesn’t want any of you to be like her, at least not completely. She wants you to be even better.”

Luz whispered a ‘thanks’ before the peacefulness of the moment was shattered. In the kitchen, both of them could hear yelling, a calamity of voices fighting over one another.

They found all three of the former Blights fighting to explain what had happened.

“Odaila, she-”

“-just like that!”

“I can’t believe her! No, I can, but-”

“-she expelled-”

“Has anyone seen Luz?”

Just as she said this, Amity turned and her eyes widened as she saw the red around Luz’s eyes. She rushed up, quickly pulling them into a tight hug.

“So let me get this straight!” Eda shouted, holding up a hand to silence the calamity. “Odaila did something and someone’s been expelled?”

“A-All four of us, actually,” Edric stammered.

Raine quickly confirmed his story with a nod.

“Damn it… Well, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, I should have seen that coming. Odaila has never been known to be one to lie down and take her lumps,” Eda groaned. “The bi-”

She quickly corrected herself upon seeing King.

“The woman isn’t exactly known for throwing in the towel. Usually, I’d call being determined someone’s best quality, but not in this case. Kids, go wash up, I’ll fix you an early lunch. Raine and I have some things to discuss.”

With that, Eda hurried them upstairs, with Luz explaining what their Nobi had said to them.

“So our parents,” Emira stressed the words. “Go ahead and take care of the problem for us. I don’t see the problem.”

“I know, it’s just…” Amity sighed. “I’m with Luz, it feels wrong just sitting around and doing nothing.”

“You do realize if you do what I think you’re thinking of doing, Odaila will just keep on moving the goalposts right?”

“Hey, I can handle her. I’m not afraid of her anymore,” Amity said. “I fought Belos.”

“Correction, you barely survived Belos,” Edric said. 

“And Odaila is nowhere near as powerful as he is,” Amity said. “I fail to see the issue.”

“It just seems risky, putting yourself in harm’s way to stick it to Odaila. Let Eda and Raine take care of things.”

“And what if they don’t?” Amity worried. “What if-”

“Hey, don’t worry about what ifs, don’t invite trouble in unless you want to hold open the door for it,” Edric said. “Let our parents argue with Bump, maybe let Eda throw a few punches or hold some blackmail over him. Point is, we’ll be back in school soon. So don’t worry.”

“When did you get so wise?” Emira teased. “Who are you and what have you done with my twin?”

“Maybe I’m a basilisk in disguise!” Edric teased. “Hisssssss!”

“I suppose you’re right…” Amity sighed. “It’s just… I hate sitting around and doing nothing nowadays. I suppose being in this family stoked the fires of rebellion in me. Plus, I really hate Odaila, and I’d really love seeing the smug look wiped off her face. By me if possible.”

“Mhmmm, this is fair,” Edric conceded the point.

“Edric!” Emira said, sternly. “Don’t encourage her!”

“What? I thought that was my job, to tempt my little sister into acting out?”

Amity chuckled as she heard her siblings begin to argue again and found Luz in her bedroom, staring out the window. Wrapping her arms around her, she hugged the human from behind.

“I’m sorry about her, I really am,” Amity whispered. “Eda’s right, we should have seen this coming.”

“You’re not planning on listening to Raine or Eda are you? You’re going to do something about this, aren’t you?” Luz said, knowing her too well.

“Probably,” Amity said. “As I said to the twins, I really hate Odaila, and I’d really love to see the smug look wiped off her face and by me if possible.”

“Join the club. I want to do it too.”

“Ooooh, what benefits do you offer?”

Luz snorted, before resting herself on the windowsill letting the sea breeze brush up against their back, ruffling their hair as it gently blew in the wind. 

“Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out. We’ll work out how to wipe that look off her face, and more importantly, we’ll do it together,” Luz said, gently kissing her girlfriend. “That’s a promise.”

“One of those Pinkie Promise things?” Amity asked.

“Cross my heart, hope to fly-”

“-and stick a cupcake in my eye. Yeah,” Amity smiled, kissing her again before sitting next to Luz. Drawing a spell circle, she summoned her Otabin plushie and squeezed it for comfort.

“It feels like so much has happened in just a few months,” Luz said. “In a weird way, I kinda miss Gravesfield. Sure it was mind-numbingly boring, but nothing ever happened there and in a way I kinda miss that?”

“Yes, well mind-numbingly boring sounds exactly the opposite of you,” Amity pointed out, her head resting on Luz’s shoulder. “And if you’d stayed in Gravesfield, you’d have never met me.”

“This is true,” Luz admitted with a nod. “And… Honestly, I don’t actually want to go back to Gravesfield. I guess you’ve gathered by this point I never really fit in there.”

“Yeah, I-I kinda worked that out. The human world’s clearly pretty crap if it never wanted you in it,” Amity said. “It doesn’t know what it’s missing. Gravesfield lost its light, and it doesn’t deserve you.”

“And yet, I want to go back,” Luz said, Amity looking at them in surprise. “Like I-I get what Eda was saying, I-I have to strike a balance between my two lives. I can’t just live one over the other. Like it or not, the human realm is where I come from and I have to at least live a little over there. There’s things not even Hexside can teach me.”

“I-If you say so…”

“I-I know that it sounds like my Mami talking, and maybe it is. B-But I can’t just abandon my home, I can’t call it quits. That’s running from my problems, I have to face them someday,” Luz said, Amity handing over her plushie for Luz to squeeze for comfort. “That’s part of growing up.”

“Yeah, I suppose it is…” Amity admitted with a nod before saying: “And I guess on some level I’m running from my problems as well. I guess that’s really why I want to face Odaila, I have to face her. I have to or I’ll never be able to live with myself.”

“And I’ll be right there by your side,” Luz said with a warm smile.

“And when you go back to the Human Realm, I’ll be with you as well. Clara… oh, I want to talk to her anyways, she hurt you Luz understand? She hurt you, and I can’t abide that. Damn it, Grom took her form at one point, she clearly hurt you and I refuse to let you face her alone. N-Not that I’m saying you’ll crumble if you-”

“I know what you’re saying and… thanks. Maybe I want to show you off to her or something, but I do want you to be by my side when I inevitably run into her again. I want you to be with me when I face my fears,” Luz said.

“You already did once,” Amity said, soothingly. “You can do it again. You’re the strongest witch I’ve ever known, Luz.”

“Stronger than Azura even?”

“Definitely,” Amity said with a proud smile. “It’s my honor to be your girlfriend, Luz. You and I can’t say this enough, but you are the love of my life. I don’t know what I did to ever deserve you.”

“Easy,” Luz said, returning the smile. “You’re you, that’s all. You deserve me because you’re Amity Clawthorne.”

Amity kissed her softly, flapping her hands a little in excitement before Luz gently took them and moved them up to caress her cheeks.

“And maybe someday,” Amity thought to herself. “I’ll be tacking a Noceda onto that as well.”

Chapter Text

Amity, when the sun went down, climbed out her bedroom window and used her abomination to lower herself down.

“Sneaking out at night, batata? I hope you’re not ditching me for some other girl,” came a voice from above, Luz peering out her window with a knowing expression on her face. Her tone was teasing, flirty. “Because I thought ‘all this’ was just enough for you. I’ve been betrayed!”

“All of that is enough for me,” Amity said with a nervous giggle before frowning. “But no, that’s not it. There’s just something I need to do. That’s all.”

Luz made an ‘mhmmm’ sound, nodding.

“Lemme guess, you suddenly feel the need to go up against that super-Karen alone without telling anyone else and you suddenly feel the need to do it right this very minute?” Luz said, climbing out the window, sliding down on the drainpipe. “Am I right about any of that?”

Their girlfriend hung their head in shame and mumbled something under their breath. Luz had grabbed one of Eda’s old grudgby jackets to protect themselves against the cold.

“Amity!” Luz said, admonishing as she took Amity’s hand and squeezed it. Her other hand caressed the bluenette’s cheek. “You should know by now I’m sure as hell not going to let you do anything by yourself! You know that where you go, I go. You know that don’t you?”

“Yeah…” Amity nodded, ashamed.

“Now,” Luz said, perking back up. “If we’re going to do this, shouldn’t we be going? Before our parents notice we’re gone and all?”

-----

Amity looked up at the manor, twin wrought iron gates standing before her. Memories flooded through her head like a tsunami wave crashing into shore, the gates as tall and imposing as ever.

In her head, she could still hear Odaila screaming at her to get out of the house, about how she would never be a ‘true’ Blight as if all she’d done simply didn’t matter to her. In hindsight, Amity knew, that was probably true. No matter what she did, it’d never be good enough for her.

That in Odaila’s mind, the only real Blight in this family was her and her alone. That only her accomplishments mattered. As if no matter what else anyone else did, that the public would only care for her accomplishments. That no matter how famous her family got, due to others’ actions, it simply wouldn’t matter as she didn’t have anything to do with it.

Amity took a deep breath to calm herself, knowing she was coming close to spiraling. Years of emotional suppression still needed to be worked through. One hand rested on the gate, fear staying her feet.

She knew it was illogical, that she’d become a far more powerful witch than Odaila ever had. That she didn’t have to do this, that she didn’t have anything to prove that she hadn’t already. But… Amity knew that if she didn’t face the woman now, well she probably would never get another chance.

That if courage failed her now, it’d probably fail her again the next time Odaila tried to interfere with her happiness. Besides, she thought feeling the squeeze of Luz’s hand, it wasn’t like she was alone in doing so. 

This wasn’t like before, she wasn’t floating in an open sea without a lifeline to pull her to shore. This time… Well, this time she could find her way back home, to the waiting arms of those who actually cared about her instead of those who only claimed to do so. She could, when all was said and done, find the people who actually took pride in her, who actually wanted to see her succeed.

Odaila never cared for her, Amity reminded herself as she walked through the gates, looking up at the manor she’d called ‘home’ for 13 years. Well, that might have been being generous really. A home was where you were loved.

And there was very little love to go around in this place. The illusion had fallen, the metaphorical man behind the curtains revealed. The entire place was just a facade, desperately trying to present itself as the best of witchkind and what it had to offer. With nobody really daring to peek behind the moldy rotting walls to see the rats scurrying underneath.

“Well… here we are,” Amity said, gesturing to the building. “Blight Manor. Impressed?”

“Mhmmm, not really,” Luz said with a shake of their head. Their eyes drifting to the edge of Bonesbourough, in the direction of home, they said: “I’ve seen better.”

The front door loomed ahead of them. Amity reached for the handles, and turned.

“Allow me,” said an unexpected voice, purple goo doing her job for her. “I think I can guess why you’re here and it’s doubtfully crawling back expecting Odaila to forgive you and take you back.”

Darius looked approving, Luz instinctively standing in front of her girlfriend protectively.

“Why must I explain this to you again?” the man asked tiredly. “I simply have no interest in capturing you unless I’m ordered to. I’m not here to hunt wild witches. I’m only here to see what that hack Alador has cooked up this time. To see maybe if by some miracle of the Titan he’s actually made something worthy of my time.”

“Oh. Still, you have to understand my hesitance…” Luz stammered as Darius yawned to himself.

“I do, and it’s cute of you to think you have any real chance of stopping me if I ever decided to go all out,” he said. “You got lucky escaping from the Emperor the first time.”

“I wouldn’t say we got lucky,” Luz said, looking forlornly at the ground. “We had help…”

“Maybe next time you won’t need any,” Darius said. “But you’d better hope there isn’t a next time. Honestly, I’m impressed by the two of you. Taking the initiative despite your parents surely telling you to do nothing, to sit back and wait and let the adults sort it out. I despise blind obedience, and yes I do understand the irony.”

He pushed the door open.

“Anyways, aren’t you here to confront the slitherbeast in her den?” the coven head asked. “Tell Raine I send my regards when you’re done here okay? I’ve missed them around the castle, they made life around the rest of those stuffy coven heads almost bearable.”

With that, the two teenagers entered the manor.

“It almost feels like I’ve come home,” Amity said, with a wry look. “Almost.”

She knew every wall, every hall as if by heart. But now, unlike then, wandering down them brought her no joy. The facade had given way to what it was really like. It simply no longer felt like where she belonged.

Amity chuckled. “I can’t believe I once thought I’d live here forever, or that I even wanted to live here forever.”

It felt like stepping into a time warp, if only just. Because for everything that had stayed the same, some things had changed. Before, there were pictures of her and the Twins on the wall, all with equally forced smiles. It was a wonder nobody had noticed how unhappy they’d always looked in every photo.

Or maybe people had noticed, and were simply that apathetic. For nobody had tried to help. Well, Amity thought looking back at Luz, almost nobody. 

The pictures had been removed now, almost as if to wipe away the family history. To remove any trace of the children who once wandered these halls. Which, Amity thought with a wry look, was probably the point.

Better to forget about your failures than having pictures of them around to remind you every day. Of course, those were the thoughts of old Amity. The new Amity could only think that this place was what she’d grown beyond.

She didn’t need Odaila, and indeed the only reason she’d come back here was to wipe that damned smirk off her face.

“Amity,” the woman said, walking into the room and forcing a smile onto her face. “What an… unexpected surprise. And you brought the human -” an expression of thinly-veiled disgust. “-as well!”

Luz just stuck out her tongue at her.

“Yes, how childish. A childish gesture from a child, who completely misunderstood my intent.”

“Oh, I think I understood plenty, lady,” Luz said, her lips a thin line and her expression looking remarkably like Eda’s in that moment. “I understand that you, witch, are a bi-”

“Now now, there’s no need to resort to insulting each other,” Odaila said, the irony. “We’re all civilized grown adults here. Luz, was it? Please, this isn't personal. I actually appreciate your tenacity. We're just trying to teach our daughter a valuable lesson in business.”

“Uh-huh,” Amity said skeptically. “Yes, I think I got the picture. I think the point of the lesson was that if you don’t get your way, make sure others don’t either. Class dismissed! Thanks prof! I feel so enlightened.”

“There’s always compromises to be reached in business, deals to be brokered.”

“Is that Eda’s old grugby jacket?” Alador asked, speaking up over his wife as he noticed Luz’s choice of attire. “I haven’t seen that thing in years!”

“It’s not her grugby jacket, it’s her war jacket!” Luz replied. “You know, because I’m here to go to war!”

“Yes, well, it may be a war to you but to us, it’s something entirely different. I see a child desperately trying to change her reality. Thankfully for you,” Odaila said. “I’m feeling generous tonight. Your care for Amity is sweet, adorable really but let's cut to the chase. We have a rather important presentation tonight showing off some new products.”

“And you need guinea pigs,” Amity said, flatly. “Yes, I’m aware of how this works. And I’m going to make sure you’re aware of how much I’ve improved without your ‘help’ understand?”

“Cute, but I’m sure that ego of yours is horribly misplaced. You’ll see what I mean. Now chop-chop,” Odaila said, clapping her hands. “We’ve got a long night ahead of us!”

-----

“Welcome back to Blight Industries!”

The roar of the crowd.

Luz flinched a little, senses overwhelmed and tried to suppress the urge to turn and run. No, no, that wouldn’t do. She could deal with it all later, come apart when all of this was over with.

Too many lights, too many sounds, and she looked to their side to see Amity was going through similar struggles. It was easily readable all over her face, and Luz squeezed her hand. The familiar touch brought a comforting feeling back to her.

Deep breaths, deep breathes. Count to ten… 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10…

“So, Alador,” Luz said with a nervous grin, their earlier confidence vanishing. “What would you say is the specialty of Blight Industries?”

“We make a variety of abomination-based accessories for home security,” Alador said, his expression… well, if it were anyone else, Luz would call it pitying. “But we specialize in weaponry. You might want to duck by the way.”

Luz barely had any time to register what that meant before Amity shoved her to the ground as goo splattered the wall. They flinched, if their girlfriend had been a second slower they’d have probably been pinned to the wall.

“Yes, our sticky launcher can peacefully subdue any foe!” Odaila said, her grin sadistic. “And, if peaceful isn't your thing… Well, we have something for you too!”

She flicked a switch and flames erupted from the weapon’s barrel. In the crowd, Luz briefly spotted Darius, his expression disappointed.

“But wait, there’s more!” Odaila said, closing in. “Now yes I know, we’ve shown off plenty to you before, and you can say we’ve shown all there is to show. That we’ve already pushed the limits for abomination-related home defense! But, no, that’s where you’d be wrong. Because you see… Without any distractions at home…”

Here she looked at Amity. In the crowd, Darius’ disappointment only became more and more obvious.

“We’ve been able to work much faster, come up with new ideas. And by the Titan’s will, we-”

“Yeah yeah, just stop stroking your own ego and cut to the chase!” Luz shouted. “Just get to the part where you unveil your crappy creation already! I thought your husband was supposed to be some sort of super genius! Goop guns? Really, where’s the A-material?”

“Luz…” Amity warned, going unheard. “Don’t egg her on.”

As I said, going unheard. Luz was on a roll. “I thought you were here to show off something cool! Or all you just all talk, no shock? Well, I suppose I am a bit shocked. Shocked that you’re only showing off shit so lame!”

“Very well then,” Odaila said, that sadistic grin back on her face. Like a predator cornering her prey. The floor hissed and steamed, before opening up as something rose up from underneath. “I present to you… My husband has been toiling to bring you… THE ABOMATON 2.0!”

The crowd gasped and a meter showing how many witches had placed orders began to steadily climb.

“It's bigger! It's better! The Abomaton 2.0 is the perfect soldier. It won't rest until its enemy is completely eliminated!”

Luz laughed nervously, suddenly wishing that they’d taken their girlfriend’s advice. Quit while they were ahead. “You’re a big boi aren’t you?”

The Abomaton’s hands shifted into weapons, one a hammer and another an axe. Luz fought back the fear and embraced courage. 

“Just like Warden Wrath…” she realized before pulling the baseball bat from grom, still etched in glyph magic. “How unoriginal. Hey batter batter batter! Swing batter!”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard her, I’m pretty sure everyone else did!” Amity said, backflipping to avoid a swing from Alador’s creation. Luz dived to the left to avoid it’s massive hammer. “How unoriginal! You just copied Warden Wrath’s abilities!”

“I call it paying homage.”

“No, you’re totally copying,” Luz said.

“Yep, totally copying,” Amity said, as the abomaton rushed towards the two girls, wood cracking underneath it’s weight. “By the Titan, Darius was right! You are a hack! You don’t have an original idea in your entire damn body!”

She heard a chuckle as Alador looked infuriated and looked to the crowd to see a certain coven head smiling in approval at the jab.

The abomaton let out a low growl, and picked Luz up by the ankle, only to be smashed across the face with her bat. The massive creature staggered backwards, ice covering its face, its grip loosened.

Luz fell into Amity’s arms, the wooden bat rolling to the side as her girlfriend summoned her staff. Thrusting the purple and white rod forwards, shadows gathered from the ceiling before shaping themselves into familiar sights.

Hootys bombarded the abomaton again and again, its chest armor cracking. Throughout all of this, the orders began to slowly fall.

Luz ran, retrieving her bat and spinning it in hand a full 360 degrees before slamming it hard into the gooey creature. Miniature explosions caked it, blowing off limbs with the purple sludge flying backwards.

“Well that was surprisingly violent!” they said, as the goo began to reform itself. It was recuperated to such an extent Luz wondered if she needed a freakin’ lightsaber to destroy this thing.

“Didn't you hear me?” Odaila asked with an almost maniacal laugh, practically frothing at the mouth. “It won't rest until its enemy is completely eliminated!”

“Dear, this might be enough. I think the crowd gets the point…” Alador said, trying to ward her away going completely overboard.

And he was going completely unheard.

“Oh? You're approaching me? Instead of running away, you're coming right to me?” Luz said, trying to sound far more confident than she actually felt. “That’s fine I guess. I can't beat the shit out of you without you getting closer!”

The creature lurched forwards, raising an arm above its head and shifting it into a scythe, impossibly sharp. Luz scrambled, dragging Amity along with her as the blade ripped through the air thankfully doing little more than damaging their clothes.

Another swing, and Luz dodged to the left while Amity to the right. Luz rolled out of the way of a hammer smash, before going into a moonwalk, and tossing a fireball glyph at the creature. It staggered back, Luz still dancing as the crowd watched in shock.

Humming ‘Thriller’ under her breath, she slammed her shoe into the floor, vines erupting from underneath and sending the teenager flying forwards with bat in hand. It smashed into the beast, vines erupting from within and spouting pink flowers. Sakura blossoms reigned down as the creature reformed, absorbing the plant matter back into itself.

One swing of it’s hand sent Luz skidding along the stage, coughing from the dust in the air. The bat clattered somewhere nearby, rolling out of sight into the darkness and now snapped in two. Luz looked up at the abomaton towering over her, the purple mass moaning in pain.

Amity let out a fierce snarl, spinning her staff and vanishing in a flash of magic, the air blinking with lavender light. She was suddenly behind the abomaton as the crowd roared in approval, leaping forwards as abomination goo formed around her hand into a spiked fist.

She shot forwards, slugging the beast across its cheek as it staggered into a wall, smashing through it. Odaila seethed as Alador frowned and wrote something down on his scroll.

But the abomaton was down, but not out, and sure enough it was picking itself back up. Its opponent stood in place, frozen in terror and eyes widen as the creature’s soulless eyes peered down at her like lamps.

And Luz, seeing all of this, reacted. She sprinted forwards, pulling out her paper and etching something on it. Years of tracing the glyphs in Fullmetal Alchemist all leading up to this moment.

“Get away from my Amity, you malicious misshapen excuse for a monster!” Luz said, slapping a glyph onto the now petrified Amity’s fist.

Confidence returned as literally flying fists pelted the creature like missiles, shattering its armor and still not letting up as they froze the creature solid. It toppled, falling forwards and shattering like glass.

“Well, I think that about says it all, doesn’t it…?” Darius mused to himself, turning to leave as orders fell like falling water. And then he paused, as the crowd gasped and then he turned and he was gasping as well.

The creature, no matter what you did to it, never seemed to die. It always reformed. Always. Even now, it was reshaping itself, reconstituting it’s form. He frowned, hating having to give a compliment to Alador but it seemed he may just have to…

“Amity! Get away from the human!” he heard both Alador and Odaila shout, one in rage and the other in what sounded like actual fear.

The abomaton was raising two axes above its head, ready to bring them down. And Amity? She had thrown herself in front of Luz, hands slowing with magic and eyes narrowed.

“No, you two are going to listen to me for once!” she declared, little baby Blight finally grown up and Darius smiled in pride. 

No, he corrected himself. A Clawthorne was spreading her wings once more, this time for all to see. 

“Luz… The Twins… my friends… Don’t you dare think you can take me from them, rip us apart just because you say we’re not good for one another! Willow and Gus and Skara? They’re nice to each other, they care for one another and they showed me the kind of person I WANT TO BE!”

The abomaton was groaning in what sounded like actual pain, slowly being pulled apart. Luz’s eyes widened in shock, looking at their girlfriend with an expression of utter adoration.

“We’re going back to Hexside, to learn and to grow into the kind of witches we want to be but if not, your precious investors will watch me rip this thing apart bit. By. Bit.”

“Very well…” Odaila sighed, finally relenting, Alador watching with a faint note of pride. “A Blight always keeps her word, a deal is a deal. I’ll get Hieronymus to lift your expulsions.”

“Yes, a Blight always keeps her word,” Amity said, the two shaking hands before a simple gesture was made and the abomaton exploded, goo coating the audience. “It’s a good thing I’m not a Blight though is it?”

She helped Luz up, the crowd finally silenced. Luz was shaking as she clutched onto her.

“I can’t wait for classes tomorrow!” Amity said, close to falling apart herself. Everything had just been al so much for her tonight, and she knew when she got home she’d collapse due to how overwhelmed she was. 

Luz shuddered against her, a bit overwhelmed herself.

“That’s all for tonight, please go home everyone,” Alador said. “We’ll offer full refunds to anyone who placed an order! We’re Blights, we never go back on our words!”

He quickly ushered the two teens out of public eye, perhaps noticing how much attention was on them and noticing what sort of state they were in.

“I apologize, our usual investors can be a bit much,” he said, sympathetically. “I myself don’t like being in public, with that many sights and soun-”

SLAP

Alador rubbed his now stinging cheek, Luz’s hand outstretched and her face red with fury and trying to fight back tears of exhaustion.

“How dare you?” she hissed. “How dare you try to be a good parent after all of this. After everything. You could have stopped her, you know. You should have. You claim to be a parent and yet you do nothing to reign in your wife whenever she goes too far! Are you listening to me? You’ve done nothing to stop your wife and instead you just let her walk all over you!”

“I-I don’t want to ruin the marriage…”

“Bullshit! You’re just a baboso sucio cobarde, understand jackass? You… ooooooh, I’m not sure there are enough words in the dictionary I could insult you with, but those are a start. You sure you even have a brain?” Luz questioned, poking Alador in the chest.  “Are you sure you’re not just a new type of abomination? Because you speak, you shit, you eat but I’m not sure there’s any signs of sentience to be found. Nope, señor cerebro has long since left the building!”

She took a deep breath.

“Now listen, I’m on the verge of a breakdown here so forgive me if my emotions aren’t at their best,” Luz said, snapping her fingers in front of Alador’s face. “Capiche?”

“I’m… aware I haven’t been the best father to Amity,” Alador said, noticing how tightly his daughter, if she could even be called that, was squeezing onto Luz. How closely she was clutching her for comfort.

“You’re aware?” Luz laughed sarcastically. “Oh you’re aware! Redt der geyendiker hoyfn! He’s aware! Oh, because that makes it all better then. I’m going to plotz with how catastrophically unself-aware you seem to be.”

“And you’re right, I should have stepped in sooner. I should have said more to my wife,” Alador seemed to be agreeing. “I’ve done very little to curb her spiteful tendencies, and if anything were to come of this night I am wholly in agreement that it’s partially my fault.”

Luz scowled at him.

“You bet it’s partially your fault…” she muttered.

“But you must understand,” Alador said. “I love Amity, and before you say anything, I could have had the house magic throw you out. I could have done that, but no I wanted to see what you and her were made of. How much she’s grown under the Owl Lady’s guidance.”

“Well geeeeeee, that’s pretty flattering,” Eda said walking in. “I heard there was a commotion, and some chaos. I just had to see it for myself! And what do I find but you trying to sucker my kids back into your good graces!” 

Luz stared at her.

“Oh don’t give me that look kiddo. The Twins eventually blabbed about what the two of you were probably planning. I assume considering you’re alive, Odaila eventually saw sense?” Eda said, Luz giving a small nod. “Well, good, but don’t think either of you are off the hook okay? What’d Raine and I say?”

“That’d you handle it…” Luz mumbled before stammering: “B-But Amity, she… well, I couldn’t just let her go it alone, like I’m a bad mammajamma and-”

“I don’t care what either of you are,” Eda said. “You’re still both in a huge heap of trouble.”

As she summoned her staff, she gestured for the two to climb on.

“As for you Alador…” Eda said, her eyes becoming a deep black with only a tiny glow coming from within, her voice deeper and echoing. One feathered hand shot out pinning him to the wall. The half-harpy growled: “And you’re free to repeat this to your wife, as I want to make sure she gets the same message, and that’s to stay away from my kids!”

Alador understood, a deepening wet stain on his pants. “U-Understood.”

-----

She was safe, she was in a safe space, Amity reminded herself. Her face was a bright red, her breath was picking up. She had to… she had to get of here, somewhere where nobody else could see.

“Hey, wait, I’m not done lecturing you yet!” Eda said, as the girl clawed her way out of her arms and rushed upstairs, her heart racing

Amity threw off her boots and slumped against a corner as she desperately tried to calm herself. No… no, everything was fine. She was in a safe space now, there wasn’t anything-

She barely heard Eda calling for her. The voice was there, in the background but blocked out. She could only just hear her calls of: “Boots? You there kiddo? Kid! Get down here!”

“Eda,” someone, Raine said. “Just… did you see he-”

Their voices were just sounds in the background, Amity rushing to plug her ears. Ghost tried to get her attention, batting at her but was gently shoved away as tears leaked from her eyes.

Oh. There was blood wasn’t there? She’d tripped and fallen, skinning her knees. She barely had registered Ghost licking away the wound, cleaning it.

“Kid?” Eda called, still just a faint whisper in the background. Amity had never heard the door open. She was only vaguely aware of the older woman now sitting next to her.

It was like a dream, everything just a vague haze. The world tuned out all around her. Things happened but only just, her vision a blur. She didn’t even feel Eda scooping her into her lap, and only realized it when she was looking up at the creases on her mother’s face.

“Kid?” Eda asked again, snapping her fingers. “Are you there, kid? You with me? You see my face right?”

Amity was only barely aware of responding with a nod, and clutched onto her mom like she was a life raft in a stormy sea of emotion. She let out a soft whine, just barely a few steps away from a sob.

“Oh kid…” Eda’s voice said, softer now. “Well shit… You’ve had such a long day…”

Amity let out another whimper and burrowed herself into her mother, clutching her sweater tightly.

“Raine!” she barked. “Go check up on the other little munchkin, make sure she’s alright okay? I’ve got this one, she’s spiraling. She’s barely aware I’m here, I think she’s dissociating! Both of them are probably overwhelmed, experiencing sensory overloads!”

Amity flinched from how loud her voice was and her mother quickly whispered an apology.

“Sorry kiddo,” she said before sighing. “Well, shit. You’ve had such a long day. It’s my fault, I should have spared you the lecture until I was sure you were 100% right? Well, silly old me. I’m still not used to this whole motherhood thing, there are a few things I’ve still got to learn.”

As she held her kid, she whispered some more words of comfort.

“I know you wanted to do your best, and I’m sorry if I’m still talking. I’ve just got a few words to say. I’m here for you okay kiddo? You understand this is a safe space to be yourself, alright Boots? Nobody’s gonna judge. Hell, you’re not even the first kid on the spectrum I’ve known.”

Amity gave another little whimper of understanding, before that whimper turned louder and became a cry for help. She gave a little sob, crying against her mother, just tired from it all. Tired from the day, tired of her birth parents, just tired of it all. She gave a cry as if she was still relearning that it was okay to do so. And as she did so, her sobs steadily got louder and louder.

Eda said nothing, and just kept on holding even as tears stained her sweater. She nodded in understanding, no silent judgments as she ran her hands through her daughter’s hair.

She sighed internally, wondering just how much else those two excuses for witchkind had screwed up the kid. She’d already seen plenty of evidence but each time they’d manage to keep on surprising her with how lower they continued to sink.

The worst part for her was she should have seen the signs, hell Raine was on the spectrum and it wasn’t the first time she’d had to deal with someone just being… overloaded from everything. So tired and so exhausted from a day’s events that they just broke down. 

And Amity… well, given what she knew about Odaila and Alador, she probably hadn’t been encouraged to cry it out as often as she should have. To just let it out. She’d probably suffered in silence.

They’d probably considered Amity being different from them as a burden. Pfft, being different should have been embraced! Eda knew she was proud to consider Minty-fresh her kid, and sure she wasn’t a typical kid but well that was only more endearing to her. 

Everyone was allowed to be a little strange in this house, in her mind. Conforming to the norm was scoffed at. Here, everyone was allowed to be who they were, no matter what society said otherwise.

Eda scowled. Society would have been rough on her kid, the longer she tried to hide it. It still wouldn’t be nice to her, because Belos probably didn’t care enough to tell it otherwise. Not that she wanted Minty-fresh to sign up and join a coven anyways. Even if they would have treated her like anyone else, it’d be signing up to a fascist, horrible system of conformity.

“Oh kid,” she finally said. “I imagine your parents said you being just a wee bit different was something to be ashamed of. That they considered you a burden, if they knew. Who am I kidding? Of course they knew.”

She sighed.

“Alador’s autistic, I know he is and Odaila’s always been ashamed of her trophy husband being like that. No correlation to him being a colossal bag of dicks though, don’t mistake him being autistic for him being a jackass. And you…” Eda soothed. “You’re not a burden to anyone here. If anything, you’re probably one of the best witches of your age. You’ve just had to work a bit harder to prove that and honestly, people should applaud you for that, for your grit and determination.”

Amity let out a whimper of acknowledgment, embarrassment staining her cheeks. Either from her mother’s praise or from just breaking down in front of her, Eda couldn’t tell.

“Well, we’ll save the lecture for later. Honestly, I’m not sure you need it anyways, you knew what you did was wrong and anyways, I suppose I have myself to blame. I’m not exactly a great example of obeying authority right?” the older witch laughed. “Hell, a part of me is proud of ya for wiping that smug little smirk right off Odaila’s face. Wish I could have been there to see it, would have brought my camera so I could save it for prosperity’s sake.”

They stayed like that for a while, peace and quiet swallowing them up after a long exhausting day.

Raine and Luz had been doing much the same, though Luz had managed to snap back to their usual self a bit sooner.

“I guess I should have said something, like sent a text to your scroll or something but like Amity was already basically halfway out the door and like I knew I couldn’t let her go alone so I just…” they sighed. “Just went with her.”

“I understand,” Raine said, soothingly not even mad. Disappointed maybe, but not mad. “Eda’s much the same way at times. She’s always been pretty headstrong, really. Once she gets it into her mind that something needs to be done about something, there’s little you can do besides standing aside or just holding on for the ride for practically dear life at times.”

They chuckled.

“I imagine Eda’s eventually going to give the disappointed but not really thing to Amity, save the lecture for later,” Raine said. “Say something like how she wished that she could have seen Odaila’s face turn purple or something like that.”

Luz swallowed. “I imagine you’re not going to do that.”

“No, I’m not. Sometimes it falls on me to be the responsible parent. Eda tries, she really does, but she also wants to be the cool anti-authoritarian mom. I have to be the sensible one when she isn’t,” Raine said. “I’m not pleased with you, with either of you. I said we could handle Odaila, that the adults would sort it out. But you directly disobeyed us.”

“But… Well, I suppose I’ve already explained myself, and no it doesn’t excuse us doing it.”

“No, it doesn’t. You had no idea what you were walking into. I heard from Darius what Odaila pulled. You both could have been killed!” Raine said. “Don’t you understand? I could have lost both of you. You especially, you’re a guest in my home, and while I love you like a daughter imagine what me having to explain to your mami how you died while under my protection.”

Luz’s incredibly guilty expression said it all, a tear leaking from her eye.

“I won’t lecture you any further on this, I think it’s pretty obvious you understand perfectly. It’s just… When I heard from the Twins where you and Amity had gone, I was terrified. Terrified beyond words. I knew Odaila might do something and I didn't know what. I had to hear from Darius, Darius what Odaila had tried to do!”

They fought back a sob of their own.

“I love you so very much my little beat and I-”

“I know,” Luz said, hugging them. “I was stupid and I didn’t think. Neither of us did. We were just so self-absorbed with wiping that damn smirk off that bitch’s face we… We just blazed on ahead without a second thought.”

Raine chuckled. “You really are my Eda’s kiddo aren’t you? You’re so much alike, I can see why she took a shine to you. Some days I look at you dead in the eye and see how she used to be before she was cursed and I swell up in pride knowing that you’re going to go places. But that being said… You have to be careful okay my little beat? The Boiling Isles are a rough place, even for us adults. They’re worse for kids.”

“I… I will be, I promise you Nobi. I promise you.”

“Good, I didn’t want to make you feel ashamed or guilty for you who are, and if I did I apologize. I just wanted you to understand that you have to be careful. I just don’t want to lose you, either of you.”

“Don’t worry,” Luz said with a reassuring smile under starlight. “You won’t. I’ll make sure to come running home every time.”

“I believe you will. I believe you will, my little beat.”

Chapter Text

What passed for summer on the Isles, Luz could feel, was coming to an end. The bitter chill of autumn threatened to blow in, and already the leaves in the trees were starting to change. The days were growing shorter and the nights started to grow longer.

If this were back home in Connecticut, the fireflies would be starting to vanish as the cold drew in, and the grills would be traded in for warm clothes and new school books and binders. The last few breaths of hot air would soon be replaced by gray skies and moments of joy would be replaced by dread for the new school year.

Luz sat in her windowsill, her phone on record and looking out at the surroundings. Off in the distance, Bonesbourough beckoned and the Emperor’s castle loomed tall and threatened to swallow the town in its shadow. Inside, a tyrant watched over them all behind an impassive unfeeling gold mask.

“Well mami, when you sent me off to summer camp I’m not sure what you expected me to be like when I came home. If I’m coming home at all really. I’m still not sure if we’ll ever see each other again, hell I’m not even sure if you’re getting these messages.”

She chuckled.

“But I’m doing fine, I’m becoming the person you expected me to be. I guess I want to apologize, I know I’ve always been a handful to you and… I guess I always took you for granted, always expecting you to be there for me. But now you’re not and sure, I have Eda and Raine but… They’re still not you.

“I know why you sent me off to camp though, I admit it I acted out. I had my reasons of course, but your life is already pretty stressful and I can’t imagine I made it any easier with my wild theories and my fantasies. You were called into Principal Hal’s office at least twice a week, it probably felt like to you. Always dreading a call from school, wondering ‘what has Luz done now?’ and… that’s unfair to you.

“I should have told you everything, about why I acted out. It’s just… I never knew where to begin, how was I supposed to tell you I was bullied for my interests or bullied for liking who I like. Did you know, some girls promised me a date and when I showed up after school expecting someone, anyone to finally accept me as who I am…” she sighed, remembering the painful memories of what was to come. “They laughed in my face. Called me a Luzbien. I’m Bi, but that’s besides the point! I didn’t tell you, I should have but I hid the pain and acted like everything was fine. I just didn’t want to burden you, even when I knew you would have moved the world just for me, just to see me smile. A part of me was afraid even, that I’d be seen as a coward for going to you!”

Another chuckle.

“It was a vicious cycle of do some stupid shit to get noticed, and instead drive everyone away and then do more stupid shit. And get you called to Hal’s office every time. In hindsight, I’m amazed I didn’t break down in front of you, but… I held it in. Eda… she taught me otherwise, that what I was doing was simply unhealthy, that I needed to cry it out every now and then. To just let myself feel.

“Again, I don’t even know if you’re getting these messages. I doubt you are, but… I know you need to know. I’ve put up so many walls between us. It’s time to start knocking them down. Te quiero, Mami. With God’s grace, I’ll hopefully see you soon.”

She could hear footsteps behind her, and the creak of a door swinging open.

“Another message for your mom?” Amity asked before blushing. “Sorry, the door was open and I… I didn’t think you would mind.”

“No, of course I don’t mind. I could never mind your presence, mi princesa. I never mind that!” Luz said, scooching over to allow her girlfriend to sit next to her. Wrapping an arm around her, allowing Amity to lean into her, their legs dangled over the side. “Awwwww, is someone feeling a bit lonely? Are you a little attention-starved? Is that it media naranja?”

“Sorry, did you just…” Amity asked, blinking. “Did you just call me half of an orange?”

“No, you’re right, it doesn’t fit. You’re more like half of my tomato, and mi princesa, mi tesoro mhmmm?” Luz said, her voice almost a step away from being called a purr. “Or maybe, given how red your face is, you’re just the full tomato!”

“You’re lame, dork,” her girlfriend said, her voice far lighter than it had ever been and carrying far less weight and exhaustion than it had when she’d first stepped foot into the Owl House.

“But I’m your dork,” Luz said, booping her on the nose. “Isn’t that right, mis ojos de angel? Isn’t that right?”

Amity snuggled into her side some more, burrowing her head into Luz’s neck with a laugh before saying: “Well gee, I clearly need to catch up because you’re leaving me in the dust with all of these nicknames that you’ve suddenly come up for me, batata because like… wow, what hat did you pull all of these out of?”

Luz grinned. “Trust me, I’ve got plenty more hermosa so don’t you worry gatita though given how cuddly you are… Gatito mimosa suits you best.”

“Well, you’re kind of a cuddler yourself and please let this be right, but I think you’re my nutria de peluche right?”

“Oh ewwww, you dorks are going to rot all of our teeth!” Edric said in passing in a teasing way before calling: “Hey Em, the dweebs are in love again! You may want to avoid this part of the house, it’s a public health hazard!”

Amity just flicked a ball of abomination goo in his direction, and smiled in satisfaction when she heard the sound of a ‘splat!’ from behind her.

“My glasses!” Ed said, his voice coming out as little more than a whine.

“Get down here Ed,” Emira called from downstairs. “Leave the two dorks alone, you’re just jealous of them and how that cute blonde Caleb, was it? That Caleb from the potions track refuses to go out with you!”

Edric grumbled something to himself as he walked downstairs.

“And anyways,” Emira said, wiping off her twin’s glasses with a soft cloth. “If you’re really so concerned about your glasses getting dirty all of the time, you could just ask for some contacts right?”

“No way!” Ed said, going back to check on his still bubbling potion. “Besides, everyone loves my glasses. They say that they make me look intellectual, respectable!”

“Of which you are neither,” Emira said as her twin stirred. “I fail to see what anyone else sees in you brother dear. Maybe I should warn Caleb about what he’s getting into, assuming he ever accepts your offer.”

“Of course he’ll accept it, I’m me! I’m a wild witch-in-training, I’m a bad boy! I’m dangerous!” Edric said, braggingly.

“Mhmmm, maybe you are. Careful with your potion, you don’t want to prove how dangerous you are if you blow up the entire house.”

“Maybe I’ll take you with it,” Edric shot back, neither having any real malice in their smart remarks. It was just a game they played. “Maybe if I do, I’d be able to practice my potions in peace. And anyways, I don’t see why I’m the only one judged by my appearance when Viney’s facing the Rise of Zitgirl! The worst superhero origin story.”

“Har har, she thinks they look cute. She calls them dorky,” Emira said with a pink flush and a serene smile before letting out a snort. “Gee, I wonder what Odaila would think if she found out she raised three gay kids?”

“She’d probably shudder in horror, realizing that her family line isn’t going to be extended. At least not in the traditional way. Hey, maybe she'll keel over and die!” Edric said.

“We can dream, but she’s always been too stubborn to do that,” Eda said, walking into the room. “She’s not the kind of witch to admit defeat easily. Mhmmm, something tells me we haven’t heard the last of her, nice as the thought is.”

“Well good, I want to punch her in the face myself,” Edric said. “I’m honestly sad that Am got to show her up before we did! I mean, sure, it was awesome-” he wilted under his mother’s glare. “-not to mention horribly dangerous but still! She beat us to the punch, sadly not literally.”

“I think she knows the moment of someone’s fist meeting Odaila’s face is reserved for us,” Emira said. “Like a good sister.”

Her words turned softer. “Better than I’ll ever be.”

“Hey, now what’d we say about anything like that?” Raine asked.

“That we quote that stupid hoodie from the human world that mom has? This depression may be chronic, but this ass is iconic?”

“To be fair, it doesn’t lie!” Eda said, sounding like she was near a cackle. “My ass is-”

“-not helping the situation,” Raine said before turning back to their daughter. “We don’t deride ourselves, not in this house. You’ve more than made up for your past behavior Em, you’re the best older sister that Amity could ever ask for. She knows that, Eda knows that, and I know that.”

“Thanks Nini,” Emira said with a smile. “And you’re right, she does know that but that doesn’t mean I won’t be making up for my previous behavior for the rest of my life. That’s my atonement.”

“Uh, should it be bubbling like that?” Raine suddenly asked, looking over at their son’s potion. 

“Nope nope nope, thanks for the warning O’Pa!” Edric’s eyes widened in alarm, quickly putting in another ingredient to stop the bubbling. A bright lime green liquid seeped into orange, pooling around it. “Well, it looks like I won’t be impressing Caleb with these mad skillz anytime soon will I?”

“Now see,” Eda said. “I know you didn’t join the potion track just because you wanted to impress some cute boy. I mean, if you did, that’s just shallow and I know you’re not that. No, I know you joined it because you have some actual mad skillz with it. So what if you mess up every now and again? Making mistakes, getting messy? That’s part of your growth kid!”

The potion let out a puff of smoke, leaving the room coughing as Edric fanned the smoke away with a novelty paper fan he’d found in a trash slug dive once. “You’re right, thanks Mom.”

Eda smiled with how comfortably he slid into that word, how easily he did so. “Well kid, I’m not her so whatever you choose to do with your life I’ll support you. Unless of course you somehow get yourself arrested, then I’ll support you after laughing at you for your failed criminal endeavors.”

“Be gay…” Edric started.

“Do crime!” Eda finished, with a fist bump, and the two doing a motion they’d seen in a movie once. “Ba-la la la~"

“Nerds,” Emira said, with again no malice. “I regret Luz ever having introduced you to her human movies.”

“Oh like you weren’t crying at that film either! You used up an entire tissue box!” Edric said. “If I wasn’t crying myself, I would have snapped a photo and sent it to Viney!”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Emira said eyes narrowed. “If you ever did that, I’d… I’d do the same thing and send the photo to Caleb!”

Eda and Raine shared a look, wife and partner smiling to themselves. “Kids right?”

“Wouldn’t trade them for the world though,” Raine said. “They’re mischievous, troublemaking and they remind me of you Calamity.”

“Yes, well, don’t encourage them too much. I still think my detention record deserves to stand for all time eh?” Eda said with a toothy grin. “It shall be forever displayed in Bump’s office in a place of honor!”

“I’m not so sure Hieronymus sees your many incidents in the same way that you do, Calamity,” Raine said with a smile and a shake of their head. 

“Oh, pfffft, well he’ll come around one day. I livened up his otherwise boring time with me as his student, he’s just far too proud to admit it!” Eda said. “There’s a reason I want our kids to be as troublesome as we were-”

“We were? You mean you were,” Raine was swift to point out.

“Whatever. Point being, the more trouble they cause, the more iconic symbols of rebellion they become,” Eda said. “Reject authority, cause anarchy and help more students become a pain in Belos’ backside! I know those three little snots you’re taken a shine to are interested in a bit of rebellion.”

“The BATTs, yes,” Raine said, looking proud.

“The brats you mean,” Eda replied before looking just as proud. “Ah, it feels so good to light a spark in young minds! Teach them that everything that they know is wrong.”

“If we lived in a different kind of world, I’d almost be worried,” Raine said. “I’d think you were anything but a good role model.”

“That’s right, because I’m not a good one!” Eda said with a wink. “I’m a bad one!”

The laughter carried up, and out of the house and into the cool, crisp air.

-----

“So sister dear, when are you going to put a ring on Mittens’ finger hmmmmm?” Edric asked, sliding up next to his little sister. “I mean, you’re already the light of her life, you might as well make it official right?”

Luz opened their mouth and then closed it, thinking it over. “I… haven’t actually given it a whole lot of thought you know? I mean, I’ve given her a promise ring and all that, but… it’s just with everything else going on I really don’t know what our futures look like together. For all we know, one or more of us may end up in the Conformatorium and petrified before this is all over.”

“And that’s exactly why it needs to be sooner instead of later,” Emira said, sitting on the Latina’s opposite side. Swinging an arm around her, she smiled. “I’m not saying you need to do it right this minute, you’re still both only 14 after all, but-”

“15 in about a month, so yeah,” Luz sighed. “If I don’t get back to mami soon, I’m going to miss my quinceañera. I… I just miss my normal life, as weird as it sounds. I-I mean, don’t get me wrong, the Isles are-”

“Horrible? Grotesque? Macabre? Any and all apply,” Edric said with a wry smile. “Don’t worry, we know, and we’re not offended.”

“If worst comes to worst, I’m sure we can look up how to throw you one on this ‘internet’ thing of yours,” Emira said with a reassuring, soothing expression. “Throw you a quinceañera, Boiling Isles style.”

Luz smiled tearily, her vision blurry. “T-Thanks you two. You’re the best.”

“I know, we are aren’t we?” Edric preened.

Emira’s expression was a tired one. “It’s not just that, we’ve been such awful older siblings to Mittens for years, and… well, it’s all we can do to make up for that. Whether it being helping her or helping her future partner in life.”

“Well, if it helps?” Luz said, hugging her. “You’re already a-okay in my eyes.”

And at this, Emira gave one of the most honest smiles the young witch had ever seen on her. “T-Thanks…” she said, her lip quivering before recomposing herself. “Thanks Luz.”

“You’re welcome and don’t get me wrong, I’m happy you’re willing to throw one for me, it’s just…” Luz sighed. “And I don’t want to sound ungrateful, it’s just…”

“There’s no place like home?” Edric asked knowingly.

“Well yeah, though sometimes I wonder if Gravesfield is my home or this place is, y’know?” Luz pondered to themselves, with a sigh.

“Who says they can’t both be? Even as your heart keeps calling you backwards,” Edric said. “You can still consider this place your home as well. Nobody said you had to be tied down to one particular place all of the time right?”

“That’s one of the wisest things you’ve ever said,” Emira teased. “Again, are we really sure you’re my brother and not someone impersonating him?”

“For all you know I could be~!” Edric sing-songed. “But seriously, I’m more than just a pretty face.”

“You being pretty is still a source of debate,” Emira deadpanned, with a wry look. “But I’m glad you’re growing up. I’d honestly worried at times I’d have to be your minder forever. That’d I’d be stuck with your forever.”

Edric simply stuck out his tongue at her before turning back to Luz.

“Honestly, I think you should spend more time in Gravesfield, cool name by the way, simply because it’s probably safer for you,” he said. “Though I know you won’t listen to me on that.”

“Hell no! I’m a part of this now, and I’m going to see it through to the end!” Luz said declaratively.

“Yeah, I thought as much, but I figured it couldn’t hurt,” Edric shrugged. “You’re absolutely sure about this?”

“Yeah, I am,” Luz said. “It’s not just Amity, it’s you and Emira and Eda and King and Nobi… I can’t just abandon you. I was born in Gravesfield, but I grew up right here understand?”

“Oh I think we do,” Edric said, his twin nodding in approval. “And on behalf of witchkind, we’re all too happy to have you.”

“Thanks, you two. Though…” Luz said, gaining a very specific sort of smile, one that promised mischief. “Considering you two are egging me on about my relationship with Amity, I should egg you on about your own! Honestly bro, if you’re going to impress that crush of yours… you need to shape up. You need to shave! I’m sure Caleb would hate you looking so scruffy!”

“They’re right bro,” Emira said. “It’s really not an attractive look.”

“You’re ganging up on me!” Edric whined. “Can’t I at least wave a white flag?”

-----

The cold chill of early autumn bit into Luz’s skin, heralding the end of summer. She squeezed a gloved hand, and took a deep breath.

She was home.

Gravesfield was one of those places that never seemed to change. She’d been gone since the beginning of summer and yet… it seemed like a day hadn’t passed at all. If the leaves hadn’t begun to change, she would have thought time itself had honestly frozen while she’d been gone.

“So this is Gravesfield,” Luz said, gesturing to her hometown with a nervous grin. “What do you think?”

It had taken a bit, but they’d managed to create a working portal home right under Belos’ nose. The tyrant was simply none the wiser and so for now, a working way to the human world remained unknown to him.

All the same, Luz couldn’t suppress that feeling of unease. For now, at least, sure everything was hunkydory. But it was only a matter of time before Belos probably realized that the human had outsmarted him.

That the human had a way home.

The thought honestly chilled Luz to the bone way more than the cold ever did.

“It’s…” Amity paused, searching for the right word. “It’s nice. It’s honestly pretty dull.”

“Well gee thanks for the glowing endorsement,” Luz said, after choking back a laugh and changing her voice to a perfect deadpan. “Oh, I’m taking my awesome girlfriend to the human world, to my home town and what does she say about it? It’s dull!”

“That’s just it,” Amity said. “Don’t you see mi dulce angel? That’s what I want out of life.”

“Eh?” Luz asked, confused.

“At home, you never know what each day would bring. What new tyrannical law that Belos might impose or whatever con you’d have to think up just to get by, make a few snails,” Amity said with a sigh. “Here though? You live life almost trapped in monotony, I’d guess you’d say. You’d wake up, know what is going to happen today, and you don’t get surprised very often.”

Luz gave a wistful smile. If only that were true, even though America was certainly not the Boiling Isles and it was certainly not under a dictatorship, it had a thing about surprising you and not always in the best of ways.

“Uh Am, I hate to break it to you, but it’s not always like that. America… as much as I’d like to say otherwise, it’s not always the best place to live,” Luz sighed. “You wouldn’t know, you’re white and you look like a good Christian girl to most people. I’m neither of those things.”

“I didn’t say it was perfect, trust me I hold no illusions that Earth is perfect in any regard,” Amity said with a sad expression. “Trust me, I’ve inferred that in some regards, the Boiling Isles are better for you weird as that sounds. I’ve noticed things, you know, about how here you were never afraid to be yourself. About how here you didn’t have to worry about any Clara Heartfields.”

“Mhmmmm…” Luz said with a weak nod of their head. “I guess that’s just it, isn’t it? Why a part of me wasn’t looking forwards to coming home. At least not with you. I didn’t want you to be exposed to the human world’s ugliness, I didn’t want to ruin the illusion for you.”

“Well,” Amity said with a protective little growl, promising pain for anyone who dared hurt her angel. “It’s a good thing you never had to maintain the illusion to begin with. But that’s the thing, I’d never let you go anywhere alone. I’m your girlfriend missy, and you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

“T-Thanks…” Luz said. “So you welcome the monotony huh? I hope you’re ready, because small-town suburbia is b to the o r i n g at times.”

Here their girlfriend grinned. “I consider that a good thing.”

“Well then,” Luz said, gesturing for Amity to follow. “Welcome to Gravesfield, hermosa. Let me show you around, give you the grand tour!”

“Well then,” Amity said, still smiling. “Lead the way, mi caballero. Lead the way.”

Luz wouldn’t lie to themselves, they were nervous about coming home. They still had a lot to tell their mami, assuming she hadn’t gotten any of the voice messages that they’d sent to her. That for months, their only child hadn’t been at summer camp, but almost literally in Hell itself.

She knew that if her mother hadn’t received any of the voice messages, and even if she had, there would still be plenty of explaining to do. But, well… Amity was here. Amity was here, in Gravesfield! She giggled, here was literal living proof that the Boiling Isles weren’t all bad.

They walked with a bit more confidence in their step, not quite so nervous about seeing any of their classmates at high school. Because they were what Luz had grown beyond, probably still worried about their petty problems like who was dating who while Luz? 

She swished her star-covered cape behind her. While her classmates had been off for the summer, dating their summer flings? She’d been a part of literally una revolución off in another dimension. She’d learned, and here she allowed a glowing orb to raise from her palm, magic.

Had it been a few months ago, Luz admitted to themselves, they would have felt vindication that all of their believings in inane fantasies were proven to be reality. But after a few months of the Isles, it almost seemed mundane now. Almost.

Her crescent moon pendant shimmered in the setting sun, glowing bronze in the orange evening light. Clutching it in her palm, she felt her palismen rub up against her leg. 

“And I didn’t even have to wear any ruby slippers to come home!” Luz said, they walked the streets, the pavement beneath them bringing nothing but comforting familiarity. 

“Ruby slippers?” Amity questioned.

“Oh right, that’s another thing I have to catch you up on, it had probably one of the first lesbians on cinema!” Luz said. “We’re both friends of Dorothy, except we didn’t exactly go over the rainbow.”

“Nope, we just walked through a door,” Amity said, her eyes drifting to a house on the far end of the street. She swore gold serpentine eyes peered out of a window like glowing lamps. “And speaking of doors…”

Luz’s eyes grew misty. “Mami…”

“Ready to face her?”

“With you by my side,” Luz said. “I’m ready to face anything.”

One step, and then another as the house slowly grew closer and it was all Luz could to do not break into a run and slam their face against the front door. As they grew closer, Ricky Martin drifted out of an open window and Luz smiled in memory.

Remembering how every morning, their mother danced around the kitchen to the music of bands from her generation, like 4*Town and the like. A younger them danced around as well, begging for pancakes.

Home sweet home.

And as they gripped Amity’s hand with their own, the other raised itself to knock on the door...

The End