The Owl House: Son of Edalyn (Owlphibia AU)

Anne and the Frogs gazed in awe as Olivier led them down a dirt path

that had rows of trees positioned almost like a long tunnel.

Hop Pop silently noted how well kept these trees were.

which convinced the old frog that they were approaching someone's homestead.

a gust of wind then blew a variety of colored leaves across the trail.

which coupled with the warm ray of sunlight, gave this region a comforting atmosphere.

Almost as if they had walked right into a painting in an Art Museum.

The group then approached a fancy gate, which was generally useless as the stone barrier

that the gate was part of was so ancient, that there was practically no barrier at all.

(Which vaguely reminded Anne of her favorite reading spot back at the Plantar Farm,

which itself was an old stone barrier that couldn't keep anything out anymore.)

Anne was about to say something to Olivier...when the Witch Boy stared to run past the empty gate.

"OLLIE!, WAIT!" called Anne, who chased after him.

"ANNE!, WAIT UP!" called Sprig, who gave chase.

As Maddie and Polly also ran ahead, Hop Pop groaned in aggravation. "criminetly..."

After a short sprint, Olivier finally came to a stop in a courtyard.

Allowing Anne, Sprig, Maddie, Polly (and eventually Hop Pop) to catch up.

"ollie...OLLIE, what are you-" Anne then froze as she,

(and everyone else) stared at what Olivier was looking at.

Before them was an old fashioned mansion constructed entirely out of wood.

It was adorned with stained glass windows that depicted illustrations of various birds.

The center top of the Manor bore a large carving with a styled letter 'C',

which the Plantars figured was a family crest, not unlike the 'P' of the Plantar Farm.

"Ollie...what is this place?" asked Anne.

"Clawthorne Manor." answered Olivier, bluntly.

Anne looked stunned. "C-Clawthorne...MANOR!? But I thought your Mom lived in an Owl House!"

"She does...This is the home of my Grandparents." explained Olivier.

"Oh."

"Woooow...It's even bigger than Mayor Toadstool's place!" marveled Sprig.

"COOOOL..." marveled Maddie. "I didn't know witches could have Mansions!"

"They must be RICH!" remarked Hop Pop.

"well...they're not as wealthy as the Blights are." began Olivier (and edge in his voice.)

"But they certainly are never short on Snails and Slugs either."

Before Anne could inquire the meaning of those off terms that Olivier spoke,

a long shadow then cast over the group and against the front of the mansion.

Everything quickly turned...and saw a figure standing a foot away from them.

Anne and he Frogs all stared at an elderly looking woman with unusually muscular arms,

and holding what looked like a shepherd's staff with a large eagle, or hawk perched atop it.

the elderly woman slowly approached. Eventually dropping her staff to the ground.

"oh-olivier?" spoke the woman, almost in disbelief.

Olivier froze, feeling like his heart was in his throat.

"h-hi, grandma..." said Olivier, meekly.

Everyone jumped as Gwendolyn Clawthorne suddenly rushed at an incredible speed,

and trapped Olivier in a TIGHT hug with no intention on releasing him.

"-ACK!"

"you're back!...you finally came home!" spoke Gwendolyn, tears in her eyes.

Anne couldn't help but smile at this scene.

It almost reminded her of the movies she'd watch with her mother on the Hallmark Channel.

"I'm ss-sorry grandma. I didn't mean to disappear." said Olivier, awkwardly.

"I tried to return home, I really did...but it took me longer than I thought it would.

Gwendolyn finally released her grandson. "all that matters is that you are HOME now."

It was then that Gwendolyn noticed the dark skinned girl standing near Olivier.

Anne then froze, feeling very nervous as her boyfriend's grandmother approached her.

"and who might you be, dear?..." spoke Gwendolyn. "and why do you have leaves and twigs in your hair?"

Olivier immediately ran up to his girlfriend.

"This is Anne Boonchuy, Grandma. She is a human...But, she can do magic."

Gwendolyn widened her eyes at this. "She CAN!?"

"ye-yeah..." spoke Anne, managing to produce a cyan blue flame from her palm.

"but I'm...really new to this, and still learning to control it."

Gwendolyn approached, and examined the blue energy before it snuffed out.

"Fascinating. I've never seen magic manifest from a full blooded HUMAN before.

I mean...Unless you are HALF human like my grandson is, then maybe so-"

"oh, no. Both my parents are normal humans." explained Anne.

"I got this from a magic gemstone. One of three that was part of a Magic Music Box."

"And it didn't destroy your body?!" exclaimed Gwendolyn, astonished.

"Remarkable...Usually when humans are empowered by powerful magic, it overwhelms them.

You must have a strong spirit for you to harness such power without hurting yourself."

Anne blushed, unsure what to think of such praise.

Anne had never considered herself 'special' in any way,

with even some of her teachers back home regarding her as 'below average.'

But could it be true? did she really possess some 'inner strength'

that made her worthy of this fantastic power that now surged through her body?

Deep down, Anne hoped it was true.

Olivier then looked at his grandmother. "There is one other thing: she's...she's my-, my uhhhh..."

Olivier struggled to get the words out, feeling just as nervous as Anne was.

Anne took note of this, and mustered the courage to give Olivier a quick kiss on his cheek.

"I'm his girlfriend." said Anne, with all the confidence that she could muster.

Gwendolyn stared for a moment...but then a smile slowly creeped on her winkled face.

"oh no-"

Gwendolyn suddenly grabbed both Olivier and Anne, pulling them into a tight bear hug.

"Welcome to the Clawthorne Family, Miss Boonchuy!" exclaimed Gwendolyn.

Anne winced, feeling her bones crack in the embrace of her future 'Granny-in-Law.'

(yet despite this, she felt happy that Olivier's grandmother accepted her so easily.)

"G-Grandma..." groaned Olivier. "c-could you let us go, please?"

"just one more minute, dear...one more minute." said Gwendolyn.

Olivier sighed. "okay...I guess it's only fair."

Just then, the doors of the manor opened and someone walked out.

"What is going on out here, Gwendolyn?...Do we have guests?"

Olivier froze upon hear the sound of that voice.

Gwendolyn chose this moment to release Anne and Olivier.

Who both looked upon an elderly man that now stood in the courtyard.

From Anne's perspective, the man looked like a cross between Santa Claus and Gandalf

with his remarkably long bear that was white as snow with some braids in it.

The man had some scars, but had the kindest, Warmest face that Anne ever did see.

"ollie...is that-"

Olivier swallowed hard, completely frozen still. "y-yes. that is...my grandfather, Dell Clawthorne."

Dell slowly approached, gripping a wooden staff with a yellow bird topper.

Anne stood back a little as the old man approached Olivier, his eyes unblinking.

"oh-olivier?..." spoke Dell, finally.

Olivier scratched the back of his head, staring off awkwardly. "yes, grandpa...it's me."

Dell dropped his staff that instantly transformed into a yellow bird

that flew over to Anne, and perched right on top her bushy head as if it were a nest*

(*to which Anne just smiled, finding the moment adorable.)

"you're here..." Dell fell to his knees, and embraced the boy. "YOU'RE HERE."

As Olivier and Dell both embraced each other, tears flowing freely down their faces.

Anne couldn't help but feel emotional herself as she watched this scene.

She immediately started to think about her parents,

and how she longed to share a moment like this with them.

Part of her was upset that she still wasn't back home yet.

but those feelings were overshadowed by how happy she was for her boyfriend.

At least *HE* got to reunite with his family...and that was good enough for her.

"I always knew you would find your way home, mah' boy..." spoke Dell Clawthorne.

"yeah...I'm sorry it took me so long, Grandfather." spoke Olivier, wiping his tears away.

"I tried to get back home as quickly as I could, but...some things happened, and-"

"All the matters is that you are here." said Dell.

It was then that Dell (and, Gwendolyn as well) took notice of the numerous other new faces.

"oh...and who are these fine folks?" spoke Dell.

"Olivier, Dear...were you at the Sunken Isles recently?" inquired Gwendolyn.

Anne was about to speak, when Hop Pop actually stepped up.

"Hi, I'm Hopediah Plantar. And these are my Grandkids: Sprig and Polly."

Sprig and Polly both waved.

"The other one is named Maddie, but she isn't mine."

"I'm with HIM!" said Maddie, pointing to Olivier. "I'm a witch in training, and Olivier is my mentor!"

Gwendolyn smiled gleefully, and clapped her hands.

"a Clawthorne Apprentice ALREADY!?" exclaimed the elderly witch. "Congratulations, Olivier!

I always knew those BRATS that always bullied you were wrong about you, sweetie."

Both Olivier and Maddie blushed at these statements.

"Okay, I think I need to clarify some things..." spoke Olivier.

"First, these aren't "Frog Demons", and they aren't from the Sunken Isles.

They are just normal, humanoid frog people from a realm called Amphibia."

"Ee-Yup." said Hop Pop. "Anne and Oliver got stranded in my world some months ago."

Dell looked to the Thai Girl. "Anne?"

"She is our grandson's girlfriend, honey." explained Gwendolyn to her husband.

"She is a full blooded human, yet possesses powerful magic of her own."

Dell's old eyes widened at this. "Really?!, That's Remarkable!

Anne turned redder than a beet at this, but held Olivier's arm regardless.

Dell just smiled as he looked upon his grandson, and his apparent sweetheart.

"I had many sleepless nights worrying about you, Olivier..." began Dell.

"but I am happy to see that you well, and opened your heart to someone special."

Olivier looked down sheepishly. "yeah...a lot has happened since you last saw me, Grandfather.

I've been through a great deal while marooned in the Frog Realm,

and it is safe to say I'm not the same person that I was before."

Olivier then looked at both Anne and Maddie. "and I owe much of that to these two."

Anne and Maddie smiled, and both hugged the witch boy.

"AHEM. Anyway..." spoke up Hop Pop.

"To make a long story short, Your grandson ended up in our world about Three-in-a-half months ago,

and much like Anne from six months ago, I sorta looked about him until he could get back home."

Once the orange frog was done speaking, Dell approached and knelt down to him.

The elderly man then shook Hop Pop's hand in a manner that was as comical, as it was wholesome.

"thank you for looking after my boy for me, Mister Plantar." said Dell.

Just then, a falcon flew over the group and shifted into a wooden staff that Olivier caught.

"Olivier!" exclaimed Gwendolyn. "Is that YOUR Palisman!?"

Olivier blushed awkwardly. "ye-yeah...His name is Fleetwing,

and I carved him from a Palistrom Tree that I planted while in Amphibia."

Dell beamed with pride upon hearing this.

"I, uhh...I think maybe we should continue this discussion INSIDE." spoke Olivier.

"We're kinda being hunted down by the Emperor's Coven after making a mess of the Conformitorium."

Gwendolyn exhaled at this. "You really are your mother's child..."

Dell tapped the end of his staff, which made the Manor Doors open on their own.

"Inside everyone...Quickly."

Anne and the Frogs didn't need to be told twice, and charged straight for the open doors,

while Gwendolyn walked Olivier in after them, slamming the doors shut tight once they were all inside.

Once inside Clawthorne Manor, Anne's jaw dropped as she gazed at the lobby.

Everything looked to be carved out of wood, with a grand staircase

that seemingly rivaled the one that the R.M.S. Titanic once had.

"whoa..." spoke Sprig. "This place really is bigger than Toadstool's Mansion."

"This is so Ten Times better than anything he had!" spoke Anne, still in awe.

"Come to the Parlor, everyone..." spoke Gwendolyn. "We can talk more there."

[Later]

In a medium sized room, the group were all gathered around a burning fireplace,

sitting on cushioned chairs and long couches that felt like someone out of a Christmas Greeting Card.

Anne was snuggling up against Olivier, enjoying the warm, peaceful moment

while Hop Pop was taking it easy on a chair (feeling almost like he was back home on his farm.)

Meanwhile, Sprig, Polly and Maddie were already sleeping on the floor.

"MY, that is quite a tale, Olivier..." spoke Gwendolyn, as she sipped some tea.

"yeah..." spoke Olivier, feeling weary.

"I wish I could say that it's over, but King Andrias STILL has the Calamity Box.

And with it, he can travel to other realms and invade them...Including THIS one."

"Well, look at the bright side: He hasn't yet, so you have some time to rest." mused Dell.

"Indeed...You look exhausted, dear. As does your sweetheart there."

Anne blushed, but found she was too tired to retort to Olivier's grandmother.

"I do feel a little sleepy..." spoke Anne, who let out a loud yawn.

Olivier exhaled. "yeah...ever since we first left Wartwood for Newtopia,

everything just went downhill in a hurry with little time for us to breathe."

Anne felt her eyes getting heavy as she stared at the flickering flames of the fireplace.

"I think I have a place for you to catch some shut-eye." spoke Gwendolyn.

"that is, IF you two don't mind having to sharing a room."

"We shared a room once before, so it shouldn't be a problem." spoke Olivier.

"...hmph." responded Anne (too tired to form words.)

"Well, walk with me to your room then." spoke Gwendolyn, as she got up.

Olivier tried to get up himself, but found Anne still leaning on him. "annie?"

"ngh...ss-sorry, ollie. I...I'm so tired." spoke Anne, sleepily.

Olivier looked at his girlfriend with soft eyes. "It's okay...I understand."

Olivier then grasped Anne by her back and legs

and proceeded to carry her bridal style as he got up off the couch.

Anne looked up at him...and smiled, before giving him a soft kiss on the cheek.

"...my hero." muttered Anne, groggily.

Olivier blushed as he carried Anne, and followed his grandmother.

Once gone, Hop Pop exhaled as he relaxed in his chair.

The old frog then looked to Dell Clawthorne, and spoke: "Sooo...you ever play Flipwart?

"Can't say I ever have..." answered Dell. "How do you play?"

a Door opened, and Olivier and Anne looked into a room with two beds on each end.

The room sported some pre-teen stuff that looked untouched for YEARS.

One half giving 'rebellious' vibes, while the other looked more 'brainy.'

"This was Edalyn and Lilith's rooms when they were both your age." spoke Gwendolyn.

"I haven't changed anything here since they...left. It isn't much, but-"

"It's perfect." said Olivier.

Olivier walked over to the bed that had clearly once been his mother's,

and gently laid Anne down upon it (even pulling up the covered over her.)

"AHH, yeah...this is awesome." spoke Anne, feeling satisfied.

"Been so long since I slept in a REAL bed...I almost forgot how it feels."

Olivier smiled, and gave Anne a kiss on her forehead. "sweet dreams, my lotus blossom."

Anne smiled at Olivier. "flatterer..."

Anne yawned once more, and then finally shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Olivier took a moment to stare at the girl...almost in disbelief that she was here with him.

He gently reached out, and stroked her frizzy hair (while also removing a stray leaf in it.)

"She's a keeper." spoke Gwendolyn.

Olivier looked to see his Grandmother hovering near him.

"I am so happy that you found yourself someone special, starlight." began Gwendolyn.

"after that..."unpleasantness" that befell you, I worried I might never see you smile again."

Olivier looked down at Anne Boonchuy once more...and smiled weakly.

"yes...Annie somehow found her way into my cold, hardened heart.

She reminded me of the person I used to be, and helped me learn to love again."

Olivier then tucked Anne into bed, Almost acting like an attentive parent.

"Sometimes I wonder if this is all a dream, and any minute I'll wake up...and she'll be gone.

I...I'm not sure I can handle living in a world where Anne Boonchuy doesn't exist."

"I can assure you that this is all real, and not a dream." said Gwendolyn.

Olivier exhaled sharply. "what am I gonna do about...EVERYTHING?!"

"Shhh...That is a concern for another day." spoke Gwendolyn, softly.

"You need to follow your girlfriend's example...and SLEEP.

Perhaps after a good, long rest, an answer will come to you much easier."

Olivier yawned briefly. "perhaps you are right..."

Olivier took one more look at the Thai girl who he loved with all his heart.

He then leaned down, and gave her a soft, tender kiss on her cheek.

"have sweet dreams, annie." spoke Olivier, softly. "I promise to keep you safe while in my world."

Olivier finally left Anne, and walked over to the other bed in the room.

The Witch Boy dropped down upon the mattress, not even bothering to cover up.

Gwendolyn Clawthorne smiled as she tucked Olivier in for him.

Resting his head upon the pillow, and covering him up with the blanket.

She affectionately brushed his hair, and smiled warmly.

"rest well, my grandchild...you are Home, and SAFE now." said Gwendolyn, as she left the room.

Olivier breathed out as he rested his head on the soft pillow.

He kept his gaze upon Anne across the room as he finally drifted off to sleep.

[End of Part Twenty-One]