NOVEL WEB Chapter 22: A BitterSweet Reunion
After what felt like an hour of walking, Eda breathed out softly
upon finding a part of the forest that finally looked familiar to her.
"Keep up, Kids. We're nearly there!" spoke Eda.
"We are?" inquired Luz.
"Where exactly ARE we?" asked Amity. "I've never been in this part of the deep woods."
Eda smirked at this. "not surprised there, Blight."
Eda marched forward...stopping once she reached the remains of an ancient gate.
The silver haired witch exhaled sharply, old memories that she tried to repress
for so long suddenly flooding back into her mind all at once.
"Eda, what is it?" asked King, concerned.
"ye-yeah, Eda...you look a little sad." commented Luz.
Eda looked at Luz and the others in her troupe, and then breathed out.
"It's nothing, kid...I just haven't been back here in a long, LONG time."
Luz stared at her mentor. "is...there a reason for that?"
"just follow me, and I'll show you." said Eda, as she walked pass the gate.
Amity and Willow walked to Luz, and the three teens paused for a moment before following Eda.
It wasn't long until they found themselves walking down a well kept trail,
with trees at both sides leaning forward, their branches almost shaping a covered bridge.
Willow took note of this, and marveled at the trees.
(Someone apparently kept this place well maintained.)
Eventually, the group reached a courtyard where a large building lay ahead of them.
Both Luz and Willow marveled upon seeing a mansion made entirely out of wood,
with the most beautiful stained glass windows that they ever did see.
What got Amity's attention was the large letter 'C' over the hidden mansion,
and how the windows had artistic imagry of various bird species (most likely Palismans.)
"What IS this place!?" spoke Luz.
Eda was silent...and then spoke: "Clawthorne Manor...my childhood home."
Everyone (even King) stare dumbfounded. "C-Clawthorne...MANOR!?"
"You mean...You come from a wealthy family?!" spoke Amity, astonished.
"well, We're not as 'Filthy Rich' as YOUR family, Blight..." retorted Eda, icily.
"and I'm surprised you don't know this already, Being Lily's Apprentice, and all."
"n-no...she never mentioned this at all." answered Amity.
Eda rolled her eyes at this. "why am I not surprised?"
"But, if you are rich, then why are you-"
"I have my reasons..." said Eda. "now drop it."
Amity quieted down, not wishing to upset Eda.
"wait..." spoke Luz. "If this was your childhood home, then..."
"Yeah, this is where my Mom lives. and...my dad." said Eda, her tone softer.
"Ollie was very close to Dad, so if he was to go anywhere other than the Owl House...it's HERE."
"Aww...that is sweet." cooed Luz. "He went to see his Grandparents."
Just then, the Group saw the main doors of the Mansion open and someone step out.
Amity and Willow stared at a woman who kinda looked like Eda herself,
only somehow looking much older with a more grandmotherly facial expression...
...and some VERY muscular arms for some odd reason.
"GWEN!" exclaimed Luz, happily.
Gwendolyn Clawthorne looked, and smiled as Luz ran up to her.
The old witch knelt down, and embraced the Afro-Latina girl...TIGHTLY.
"Luz...So good to see you, child."
Luz smiled as she managed to pull away from the elder witch's bear hug.
"So, this is where Eda grew up, huh?!"
"Indeed it is." spoke Gwendolyn. "Glad that you could visit."
Eda sighed as she finally approached her mother. "hey...mom."
Gwendolyn looked at Eda, and gave a soft smile. "Welcome back home, Witchlet...I have been expecting you."
Eda raised an eyebrow. "you...have?"
Gwendolyn nodded. "You are here...looking for Olivier."
Eda approached her mother. "Is he here?"
"yes." answered Gwendolyn, bluntly. "he is sleeping in your old room...poor dear was exhausted."
Eda lost her breath, feeling as if a weight as heavy as a mountain had finally been lifted off her shoulders.
Her son, who had been missing for MONTHS (and even presumed dead by many)
really HAD returned home, and was even in her old childhood room no less!
She wanted nothing more than to rush into the house, and embrace her little boy again...
BUT, the fact that he was asleep meant she had to wait just a little bit longer for that.
Eda wasn't the only one feeling breathless.
Both Amity and Willow here frozen like statues, in shock at the Elder Clawthorne's confirmation
that their childhood friend, who even THEY believed had died, was still alive and was right inside this house.
Neither of them knew what to do, or how to react (none Moreso than Amity Blight,
who still wasn't sure what to say to the boy that she hurt so long ago.)
"And, he isn't alone..." continued Gwendolyn. "He has brought Friends."
This got Luz' attention.
"These "friends" wouldn't happen to be a human girl like me, and a family of Frog People?"
Gwendolyn stared at Luz. "How did you guess that?"
Luz' began to undergo what could only be described as a 'Joygasm.'
"OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH, ANNE IS HERE!" exclaimed Luz.
Amity's pointed ears perked up at this. "Anne?, who is ANNE?"
"a Human like ME!" explained Luz.
"I met her when Me and Eda accidently transported ourselves to a Realm called "Amphibia"
after a failed attempt at recreating a portal back to my own world.
We were only able to stay there for a short while before being sent back to the Demon Realm,
BUT in that brief moment, we became the best of friends...(exclaiming) AND SHE'S HERE NOW!, WOO-HOO!"
"Yes, she is such a nice girl." spoke Gwendolyn. "She is also asleep in Lilith's old bed with Olivier."
Eda's face turned red at this. "whut?"
with a click, and a creak. Gwendolyn Clawthorne opens a door,
and Eda steps into the small room with King, Luz, Willow and Amity close behind.
The first thing they are greeted with is LOUD snoring coming from one of the beds,
where a dark skinned girl with long, skinny limbs and hair like a bush was sleeping.
Luz rushed over, and immediately recognized her fellow human and smiled.
"Yep, that's here: Anne Boonchuy." said Luz, smiling like a gremlin.
"Dang, girl! I know we wanted to have a sleepover, but you've gotten a bit ahead of yourself."
Anne (of course) didn't respond, and continued to sleep like a log.
Eda chortled at this...and then looked over to the other bed in the room.
The figure was covered in a blanket, but the messy auburn hair was unmistakable.
With everyone close behind her, Eda slowly approached...and gently pulled back the covers.
As the sleeping teen's face came into view, fresh tears formed in Eda's face.
She gently reached out her hand, itself shaking as much as her legs were.
(("please don't be an illusion...PLEASE be real."))
Eda touched Olivier's face...and felt the warmth of his flesh.
She nearly cried in that moment, realizing he was really here...this wasn't a dream.
Her son...HAD RETURNED.
"olivier...my boy." spoke Eda, her voice weak. "my sweet...baby boy."
No one dared say a word as Eda examined Olivier.
The Owl Witch ran her fingers through his hair, picking out some leaves and twigs.
she then noted that his long sideburn bangs that covered his scars were now shorter,
which revealed his amputated earnubs for anyone to see (which only made her feel anger.)
Olivier was also still wearing his old Hexside Uniform (which was originally Eda's when she was a student)
But it was in tatters, with patches of dirt and plant stains that looked as if he had been living in the wild.
(and he most likely HAD been.)
"you are my sunshine...my little sunshine." sung Eda, softly (not caring who was watching her.)
"you make me Happy...when skies are grey. you'll never know, dear. how much I love you."
Eda paused, her eye growing glossy. "please don't take...my sunshine...away."
Olivier began to breathe more softly, his body more at rest.
Eda then continued to stroke his hair, lost in her own world now.
"The other night dear, as I lay sleeping. I dreamed I held you in my arms..." continued Eda.
"When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken. So I bowed my head and I cried.
You are my sunshine, my precious sunshine. you make me happy, and full of glee.
I cannot tell you how much I've missed you. but now...you've come home...TO ME."
Willow was the first to approach. Followed by Luz, and Amity last.
They all stared at Olivier's sleeping form. a Variety of questions storming their minds.
"it...really IS him." spoke Willow, amazed. "I can't believe, I-, HE'S ALIVE!"
Amity just stared, unable to speak.
Her eyes grew blank as she thought back to the last time she saw Olivier like this.
Laying on a bed, motionless...with Crimson Red bandages around his head.
Amity grimaced, trying to hold back her own tears. It certainly didn't help none
that she could see Olivier's deep, jagged scars, and amputated ear nubs.
Almost as if the Titan himself was taunting her, throwing right in her face
what she had spent over Three Years trying to NOT think about.
But, alas...a forgotten ill deed doesn't cease to exist.
It happened, whether she wanted to remember it or not.
"Wow...He kinda does look like you, Eda." spoke Luz, as she approached
Eda smiled proudly. "I...never noticed that. But, yeah. he kinda does."
Olivier then moved around a bit, making a sharp breath followed by a grumble in his throat.
"kiddo must be having an intense dream." spoke Eda.
"Same as always." commented King.
Curious, Amity walked closer to where Olivier slept and looked closer at him.
Placing her finger on her chin inquisitively...she then began to draw a ring of blue light in the air.
Amity then extended her hand through the ring, shrouding her hand in a cyan blue aura.
"Amity?" spoke Luz, puzzled. "what are you-"
Amity reached out to Olivier...and placed her glowing finger upon his forehead.
The Witch then gasped, her eyes glowing bright as multiple images flashed in her mind all at once.
In her mind's eye, she saw a lush, GREEN world with mushrooms as big as trees
that glowed the most beautiful colors at night, and monster sized insects.
She then saw a quaint little village populated by 'humanoid frog demons',
a simple farm near a swamp where an old orange frog sat on a rocking chair.
The round door of the farm house opened...and out came a dark skinned human with bushy brown hair.
She waved with a warm smiled, and spoke: (("Hey, Ollie.")) before taking someone's hands.
Amity next saw a different setting with a small, blue frog girl with mop-like hair.
She was mixing potions in a Cauldron, which expelled a bright green smoke from it.
The frog girl looked at whoever was looking down at her with a hopeful smile.
a hand then came down, and patted her on the head.
There was another flash, and Amity saw a scene change to grand seaside palace.
She saw 'lizard-like' creatures wearing nautical armor of some kind,
a dark haired human girl with a warm smile that reminded her of Luz...
...and a colossal lizard creature with a crown that Amity figured was some kind of Emperor.
Yet another flash came, and Amity saw the interior of a dark forest.
She saw a blonde haired human girl who reminded her a little of Boscha,
and a short Toad-creature with a single glowing eye and a scar over the other.
This scene transitioned to a gothic castle...and another toad that resembled the previous one,
only he was in wizard garb, and performing the most advanced magic spells that Amity ever saw.
This red eyed toad smiled and offered his hand, hissing: "TRUST ME..."
Amity then saw a tree...a Palistrom Tree.
and from this tree, came a Falcon...and a Bat.
The last images Amity saw was the Toad Wizard turning into a fearsome monster,
the Giant Lizard Emperor going from friendly, to malicious as he held a music box with three colored gems.
And what looked like a robot army, hundreds of multicolored portals,
and a dark entity with multiple burning eyes looking down upon the Boiling Isles themselves.
...It was then that Amity was knocked back, her connection to Olivier severed.
She shrieked as she fell into Luz' arms, and began to breathe heavily.
"GYAHH!"
"AMITY!, What happened!?" exclaimed Luz.
Before Amity to give any answer...she looked up to see Gold and Sapphire eyes looking straight at her.
Olivier has Awoken...and he DID NOT look happy.
[End of Part Twenty-Two]