"What's good Cloak bo…HOLY MOTHER OF OLMS! What in the names of my ancestors happened to you?!" Andrias asked. He'd decided to give his assassin a call, maybe see if he'd gotten the Cythina Coven book he'd asked for
So you could imagine the puppet king's surprise when he wasw greeted with the image of a slashed robot with mangled legs that barely supported him enough to stand,
"Clawthorne." Cloakbot groaned.
"….Must have gone to the Boiling Isles first." Andrias noted; delighting in seeing his master tense at tha….before he remembered they were possessing poor Marcy.
"…That one is on us." The being noted. "We assumed wherever they went was Earth in all the frenzy; Maddie's spell bag must've jumbled Marcy's gem shifting. Still, that they can go back and fourth? Interesting….."
"Judging by your appearance I take it the hunt for Anne and Olivier…?"
"Working..on it."
Normally, such a response would've had the king try and FORCE Cloakbot to kill Anne and Olivier by activating the bomb in his chest. But considering the damage he'd sustained along with the fact the targets could move between worlds, Andrias decided to let Cloakbot have this one
"How about the other tasks?"
"Book secured."
"Wait, that's book three?!" Andrias's brow furrowed. "YOU RUSTY BUCKET, I NEED BOOK TWO!"
"Book two out of stock."
"Olms have mercy….Next you'll be telling me Potato chips and those cupcakes we wanted…!"
"Chips in many varieties." Cloakbot pointed out, sending Andrias an image of many, MANY kinds of flavors and differening sizes.
"Whoa." The King of Amphibia mused,
"Oh boy, deciding which is going be a day onto itself…" his master mused. "What about the…?"
"Cupcakes acquired."
Andrias' master's mouth salivated as they quickly opened a small portal and snatched the boxes, hurriedly ripping one open and devoring a cupcake.
"We cannot tell you…how DELIGHTFUL it is to have a body again."
"Wait, have you not been eating, milord?" Andrias asked. "We sent Cloakbot out…a month and a half ago!"
Seeing as his master was to enthralled with the cupcakes to answer him, Andrias decided to close the small portal and return to his assassin.
"Well, until we figure out how they're moving between worlds, just keeping repairing yourself and be on the lookout."
"Understood."
"Okay, cool!." Andrias beamed, giving a peace sign. "Andrias out!"
AMPHIBIA
"So." Olivier asked once they all got back at the Owl House, having sat the four on the couch. "Whose idea was this?"
Luz, Anne, Sprig and Maddie looked around anxiously, either down at their feet or around.
"I'm not mad." Olivier started, then paused. "…Actually, yes, I am beyond mad. Livid even. But! Right now? I just want to know."
Another hush fell over the group.
"….It was me!" Sprig said. "I wanted an adventure and…"
"No. No, it wasn't you, Sprig." Olivier said, cutting the frog boy off.
Maddie opened her mouth to speak….
"Maddie, don't lie."
"Is it a lie if I wanted to make the triclops suffer?" The blue frog girl smiled, getting a smirk from Olivier.
"Dude, you stuck with at the library BECAUSE you'd kill her if you saw her." Anne reminded Maddie, before stepping forward. "Ollie, I'm sorry, it…"
"It was me!" Luz cut in, stepping forward. "We were heading back to the Owl House and we didn't even think of going there, but then we saw Amity picking on Willow and I just wanted…"
Olivier's form tensed and the area started trembling and quaking as a dark hue overtook his eyes…before he realized the rest of what Luz had seen saying: getting involved to help Willow?
Olivier could safely say that he loved how kind Luz was. Yes, she was a little naïve, but…Titan, she was so much like he had been and she cared for him and Eda so much; their adventures together had been fun! And, as she continued narrating what they'd gotten up to, it seemed like she had had fun too; seeing the tracks, memorizing the Hexicmal system and seeing
No. No, no. He needed to be firm, Olivier told himself. This was for the best.
"I believe I made my feelings about Hexside very clear." The half witch boy said, recalling what he and Anne had shared that night with her, Willow and the others…and then, for some reason; it all came back:
All the memoires, All at once. The good and bad times. From that first day, to the cleaning of his locker before he and Eda left those uptight nitwits a 'going away prize….' Olivier's stern face shifted to one of worry and fear, despite everything he'd survived in Amphibia and earth, Despite how far he'd come.
(Play 'More than Anything' from Hazbin Hotel)
"Luz! You don't understand! Hexside doesn't care!" Olivier snapped. "They didn't for me! They won't for you!"
"You don't know that!" Luz cut in, desperately to get her friend to see where she was coming from that she ignored Anne, Maddie and Sprig's desperate looks and pleading to stop!
"I DO!" the halfling snapped, his magic briefly overtaking his form again, but he composed himself an sighed.
"You didn't know that when…."
Forming an Oracle memory sphere, Olivier remembered how excited he was to start studying at Hexside alongside Willow and Amity; meeting Nagare, Karma, Edgar, Fraost and Apollo. He'd help them with carving their Palisman, tell stories of his mom's adventures….
"I tried this all before. My dreams were too hard to defend…"
He was denied the chance to study multiple tracks, giving detentions when he mixed, annoyed and vexed by the Banshees and several teachers for his out of the box thinking. Constantly being compared to his mother and aunt (rarely in good ways) and given detention when he tried things differently, lest his condition act up.
And then came the image that made Anne, Luz and Maddie rush to him; him on the ground as Boscha stood over him, Dell's knife in her hand.
"And in the end? I won't lose it all again…"
The image of a smirking Boscha and Amity appeared behind the half-witch boy, before they turned their attention to Maddie, Anne and Luz, along withy Andrias about to stab Marcy.
"Now you're the only things worth fighting for!"
Fear overtook Olivier's eyes and the Half-witch boy quickly pulled the three aside. Sprig was quick to follow; he knew he might not be able to do much, but anything would help, right?
"More than anything!" Olivier sang, more to drown out the memories out of his head. "More than anything; I'll shelter and adore you more than anything….!"
Anne and Maddie let Ollie hug them
"Ollie, I know…" Anne tried to start, but her boyfriend, seeming to near hysterics, cut her off.
"I just…! I can't.. I WON'T let anyone else get hurt by them like…! Like I was. Like Marcy…"
Maddie kept hugging him as Anne took his hands into her own, breathing so that he'd calm down. During all of this and despite it all, Luz took a deep breath and began to sing a retort.
"When I was young, I didn't really belong at all…"
The Sphere Olivier had created suddenly, shifted; illusions within beginning to shape into new memories: 5 year old Luz trying to make friends with a dead snake skin at the park, or offering to start up a book club for Azura; only to be met with screams, running away and jeers.
"I always felt so small…But I heard these stories and I was enthralled."
She remembered her father reading fairy tales, Cythina Coven and doodling/dressing up with her as they played out adventures.
"The tales about their lofty dreams, I listened breathlessly; Imagining it could be me…!"
Then came the worst parts of the memory; Camilla collecting her so that Manny could go into surgery. What neither Noceda woman knew was that that would be the last time they saw him alive.
"So in the end, it's the view I had of you; That showed me dreams can be worth fighting for…."
Olivier, calmed down, broke the embrace of Anne and Maddie. Seeing all those memories (and not caring/wondering how it was possible right now)? Suddenly it all made sense….and it worried him: Luz, as he and Anne had feared, was Marcy all over again.
But then Olivier remembered how he had taken chances in Amphibia; his and Maddie's first meeting, staying with the Plantars, his fights with Barry and the others, training under Grunge….. And unlike the trio and he had been there? Luz had someone who knew and could reel her in when she got in over her head.
So, despite it all; he fears, his trauma and his anger? Olivier would listen. It was the least he could do.
"More than anything; More than anything…!" Luz sang, a hopeful smile on her face. "I need to meet my people more than anything."
Message received. Loud and clear.
(A/N: Cut the song…for now)
A smile finally overtook Olivier's face as the sphere finally disapatted, him and Luz looking at each other with warming smiles.
"Awwww…." Anne, Willow and Maddie all cooed. Gus sniffled.
The two wards of the Owl Lady turned to realize that, yes, Willow and Gus were there.
"H-how long have you…?"
"Since you started singing." Willow admitted, wiping a tear.
"That…was beautiful." Sprig said, Gus nodding in agreement.
"Encore! Encore!" Hop-Pop begged. "I know it was sad, but I NEED an encore! Or reprise later, just let me be there to hear it."
"I feel like there was more, but its being saved for a more emotional, triumphant moment." Polly noted.
Chuckling weakly, Olivier and Luz scratched the back of their heads before looking to Eda. The witch just sighed, but smiled.
"…Okay." Olivier said, turning to Luz. "You…no."
He looked over to Anne and Maddie, the latter of whom was wiping Sprig's tears.
"We all can and will go to Hexside. Just…stick together?" Olivier asked, surprised but accepting when Luz rushed to hug him.
"Thank you! Gracias, gracias!" She smiled, melting into the hug Olivier gave before…"Oh whoops! Sorry, Anne."
Anne just waved it off.
"Is cool. Big, big, BIIIIIG moment for you two. So, Eda? Got any spare uniforms?"
"Um, yeah…about that?" Gus started, as he pulled out two scrolls from behind him. "You're both…kind of…sort of…"
He opened them, revealing one had a picture of Luz waving happily covered in Abomination goop. The other had Amne brandishing a spear and looking dishevelled and like she hadn't slept in days.
"Banned."
"THOSE'RE MY KIDS!" Eda beamed.
"What about Sprig and me?" Maddie asked.
"Yeah, we're 'exchange students' too." Sprig noted.
"You just answered the question." Olivier said. "Plus, you LOOK like you could be from the Sunken isles, so Bump probably sees you as 'more important.'"
He then looked to Luz and opened his mouth to speak.
"Its okay." The Domincan girl cut him off. "Hexside may be cool, but…we got out own teacher."
Eda's eyes widened as she heard that. A strange feeling came over her; pride, yes…but also happiness. A sort of happiness she'd felt when Olivier called her 'mama' or told her how much he loved her.
But she had an image to maintain, so she smirked and snatched the posters.
"That's right, brats! Luz, Maddie, Ollie and Anne are my students, ya here me!" She declared,m Gus just giggling at her declaration before she softened. "Aww, baby's first wanted poster."
She messed with Luz and Olivier's hair
"Looks like I tauight you both something good after all."
"Wait a sec…" Anne noted, snatching her 'Banned' poster; indeed, it was what she thought. "This is from Amphibia! How did…? How could…? Oh, never mind."
She sighed ine exasperation grabbing Oliver and dragging him into the Owl House.
"Uh, Anne? Annie, where are we..?" Olivier started.
"MAMA NEEDS CUDDLES AND SMOOCHES!" Anne cut him off, leaving no room for argument and missing her boyfriend's shocked blush and then the impish grin that took over his face:
"YES, MA'AM!"
The door of the house closed suddenly, with Luz blushing and uttering 'dios mio' as she fanned herself, Eda smirking and….
"…Lucky human." Willow pouted.
"…Wait…" Sprig realized. "Did..does she…?"
Maddie shrugged, but Eda just cackled.
"Oh, my little boy is a heartbreaker." The Owl Lady smiled.
"…Ewww." Gus, Polly and Sprig grimaced. Maddie rolled her eyes in annoyance at that.
"Dang it boys! Ain't nothing wrong with that…." Hop-Pop said, then opening the door of the Owl House to shout. "NOTHING MORE THAN KISSIN, YOU TWO!"
A bolt of magic, probably from an annoyed Oliiver, sent him reeling back.
"I'm okay…!"
"Well, to be fair? That's kind of what ya get." Luz noted, then giving Willow a sneaky look. "So…Ollie, huh?"
"Well, I mean…Have you seen him?" the Plant prodigy tried to defend herself. "Sweet, smart, usually takes no scat…"
"And the Clawthrone mane! Never forget the hair." Eda smirked, whipping her own in pride. "And his eyes too."
"…I have so many mixed feelings about this." Maddie said
"Welcome to the club." King said.
OWLPHIBIA
The Clawthorne Coven sighed as they sat in Principal Bump's office; they knew they were talking to a brick wall at this point
"And you were behaving so well." Bump mused. "Yes, Edgar has had to save Mr. Dation several times, but otherwise you've finally become model students…sort of. And I know magic brawls can happen…but to destroy the Trophy case? And then, to have the audacity t to blame a dead boy who was your friend. I have not been this ashamed since Boscha…."
"Funny you say that yet you did jack." Edgar grumbled.
"And by the by? Ollie IS alive." Ben growled.
"Just recovering from trauma that's both as bad and worse yet better than this place." Nagare explained.
"…If I didn't know what you meant by that, my brain would be hurting." Karma whined.
"Sir, could you just skip[ this talk, give us Detention and wrap it up?" Apollo asked. "I know I'm missing practices for this. But we do start today at our jobs and if we have to be late.…"
"Start?" Bump asked. "You boys know you're not allowed after school jobs, all your needs are met at the Orphan Asylum."
"Dispensation for Hettie's poor management as of late." Fraost explained. "Besides, Miss Clawthorne is our boss, so you'll need to let her know."
Bump groaned, but before he could say anything, the boys all shared a look; if they were going to suffer because of their prinicipal's inability to stand up for himself and make exceptions (unless you were incredibly talented, like Willow had just proven) they'd might as well have some fun:
"Okay, fine, give us detention and make us starve." Ben shrugged, smirking at Bump's confused but relieved smile. "Just know..."
"YOU WILL BE EXPLAINING TO EDA JUST WHY WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DELIVER HER NEWEST PRODUCT, HER FAST FOOD, WHATEVER IT IS...!" Karma roared.
"Probably setting her up for a long overdue rampage in doing so, by the by…." Edgar added.
"BUT WE ARE GOING!" Nagare said as they boys stood up and turned around dramatically.
"In a huff." Froast added as they walked to the Detention Beast.
"Oh no need for any of that, boys."
They all turned to see a bemused Lilith, smirking at the dramtics; they must've heard about this from Olivier; Edalyn had pulled a similar act with Faust when she first got Terra's backing. A pity Bump, a much more reasonable and likeable demon, was about to go through with her, what his predecessor had done to the Golden Guard at the time.
"Bump. I know you're busy, but…we need to change things." Lilith said, leaving no room for argument before she shot the boys a smile. "You lot are free to go. Save me one at the opening, please."
The Clawthorne Coven hurriedly scampered off as their principal gulped, wishing he was dealing with Eda.
"Let's start with my nephew, who is indeed and very much alive…And your lack of displinary action towards that three eyed brat…"
OWLPHIBIA
A few hours later, at her old stand, now refurbished with decorations of toppings and the human world, Eda Clawthrone, the Owl Lady herself, stood in a suit and used a Bard spell to broadcast a message:
"Welcome, ladies, gentle-demons, warlocks, imps and all other assorted residents…TO CLAW's ZA!"
Demons and witches flocked to see her new product; a round disc of cheese, bread, sauces and various toppings. Anne and Maddie handed out samples while Sprig and Olivier worked behind the stall with golems, producing more and more. Luz handed out flyers and soon, business was booming even better than when Eda had sold human world junk:
Poor Hop-Pop was nearly overwhelmed by the orders, but luckily, the Clawthorne Coven was there on their Palismen to help out and deliver. And by the third hour, they'd already made double their usual allowances in tips.
Of course, some drama was bound to come; while the guards quickly abandoned chasing Eda when she offered them pizza, Kikimora had come by, to inspect it in the Emperor's place.
"The Empereor will be impressed with the variety at least." The demon mused. "But why is there no other fruit on this, like pineapple?"
Anne suddenly rushed and slammed Kikimora into a wall, getting the attention of all.,
"Don't you DARE talk about Pineapple on pizza." The Thai girl glared. "EVER."
"…Its basically heresy on earth." Eda whispered through her teeth to the delegate; her love of Anne going up even further.
"R-ridculous!" Kikimora said. "Regardless, make one!"
And with those words? Kikimora and Belos proved, in the eyes of a few at least, that they were pure evil indeed. The pizza was made…and everyone shot a loogie or two into it out of spite, neither Belos or Kikimora ever realizing.
Then there was the moment when the three 'Queens' of Hexside; Boscha, Amity and Skara, came to check out the scene, two golems appeared to prevent the first two from joining Skara and her family, who had set up a makeshift picnic.
"Another lesson we learnt from earth; 'We reserve the right to refuse service.'" Eda smirked as she pointed to a sign that said just that before glaring. "You know what you did."
Amity at least had the sense to look ashamed, but Boscha seemed to need to think what Eda was talking about. Lilith then shared a pie with Amity, Boscha scampering away when the Head Witch glared at her.
Anne and Luz were on a break with Olivier and King when that affair happened, and Luz spied Anne looking at the whole thing in nostalgia:
"Reminds me of Market day at the Thai Temple." The Thai girl mused, thanking out her phone and showing some pictures. "…Say, why don't we all go to the next one? Its in a week."
Luz's eyes beamed at that, as did King, who shot Olivier a look.
"Run it by mom." Was all the half witch said, and the little monster ran to find and beg Eda to let him go.
"Gotta say girl, you handle this whole thing well." Luz smiled. "I just handed out fliers and asked questions and…."
"Yeah, no worries." Anne assured her friend. "It takes time. I lucked out with mom and dad's resteraunt. I've had to hustle my entire life being an Asian American. I've just always had to be very proactive…."
She then shot Olivier a loving look.
"But I feel like you help me chill out, Ollie." She said as she snuck in to cuddle with him. "And, not to toot my own horn, but I think I help bring out that fire in you."
There was no denial on that end. And yes, Sprig helped Anne 'chill out' too, but it was different with Olivier. Plus, Sprig himself had pointed that out to Anne after the first Newtopia trip came to an end, so she felt like she owed this to her best friend.
"When I met you, there was so much more of me that I hadn't figured out. You made me such a bigger person and I was like, "Oh my god. I didn't realize that there were so many things I didn't know about myself."
Olivier's eyes filled with tears as he heard that. As did Luz's.
'I will guard these two's love with my very life!' She swore as she saw them nuzzle closer.
"I love you so much." Olivier smiled.
"I love you too." Anne cooed as she gave him a light kiss.
Sprig and Eda, who had left Hooty in charge while they took a break, cooed at the scene as well…Before the clawthrone Coven, back from delivering, spied the scene and smiled warmly before they began to shoo mother, frog boy and apprentice away so that the two love-birds could have some privacy.
"AVERT YOUR EYES!" Karma roared
"SHOW SOME RESPECT!" Ben demanded.
Luz just smiled at the whole thing as Ben revealed he'd whipped up something of a salad and bread for her
"You got to be getting hungry, right?"
Luz accepted the meal and enjoyed the rest of her break.
All in all? Eda's new business was a rousing success.