Summary: Just some carnival fun
Eda looked down at the little man holding out some doom dogs. "Look, Ribbles." The kids had an unexpected day off from a sudden pixie infestation, and Eda suddenly at the moment had an invitation for a carnival. There were too many good things happening at once, so of course the Owl Lady smelled a scam going on.
"Tibbles."
"Weren't you in the conformitorium?" She asked, not bothering to care for his name.
"Just like you, I managed to squirm my way to freedom away from the Rainbow Devil..after your house destroyed my business I might add."
Eda nodded. "Fair point. Counterpoint, that makes us square, and we both go our separate ways while ignoring each other." She responded. "Or I bring the most horrible agony that lies beyond imagination."
"Why Eda, I would never dream of getting revenge under the ruse of a fun time." The little runt gave that syrupy and completely insincere tone of voice that Eda's seen one too many times in her entire life. "On a completely different and totally unrelated note, why don't you take a sip of this totally innocent looking and not at all mysterious bottle of normal water?"
"Uh huh." Eda glared, grabbing the bottle and tossing it over to Lucci. "Analysis?"
"Hmm." Her son drank the entire thing. "20 percent arsenic, thirty percent poison berry, 40 percent manticore venom, oooh, and just a smidge of fire bee honey."
She hummed, turning to Luz as she prepared to unleash an unstoppable force of nature. "He plagiarized the Azura books, take your vengeance."
Luz stared blankly at the little pig demon as she slowly took out her glyphs. "As a fan of Azura, I do my best to practice her lessons of forgiveness and friendship….but I will NEVER stand for this absolute blight of blasphemy that you have stained upon this land!"
She and the children watched as she violently desecrated the man with ice and light. "Wow." King noted. "She gets closer to being a true Boiling Isles resident every day."
"That or seeing Orchid twice has traumatized her to the core and slowly infects how she acts with every passing moment, either or is possible." The illusion kid, Goops or something, said as the rest of the kids watch from the side.
"Guys, come on." The Park girl rolled her eyes. "Me and Lucci fusing isn't that scary. If anything it's a bit empowering for my self confidence."
"And it makes me hate Willow all the less when we're actually able to agree and unite against something, so don't look a gift horse in the mouth." It was so weird seeing her son being this casual with the garden nerd again.
"Don't remind me, I'm still not sure what I saw that night, and I don't want to figure it out." Eda grumbled. Fourteen years and she still didn't have a full grip on Lucci's powers. "So are we heading out of here or what? The whole invite was a shame."
"Carnival!" King cheered with Lucci, childish glee on their faces.
She sighed. "Kids, you should be old enough by now to realize circuses and carnivals are a con man's convention paradise. Dibbles over there.." She pointed to the area where they were starting to smell roasted ham. "Just proved that."
"Actually we're in that middle age where we're all aware that it's a con, but excited enough to surrender to the con." The Goops kid explained. "I mean, it doesn't matter if it's ten snails to go on that." He pointed to a ride moving so fast she could swear someone's teeth were being launched out.
"So what if most of the food here is unhealthy and most likely filled to the brim with worms?" Park pointed to a mutton stand serving clubs of clearly rotting meat. "It's all about getting scammed and getting sick with your friends to create a wonderful and unforgettable experience."
Eda hummed. "You do make a fair point … alright." She reached into her purse, handing some coins to Lucci. "Thirty snails, one snack each and I want change after it's said and done."
"Yes mam." The boy smiled as he pocketed them.
"You're not coming with us Eda?" Luz asked as she dusted off some ice from her latest beatdown.
"Nope, I'm gonna be selling some human merchandise, like your shedded skin." A lot of people were willing to eat that.
Luz raised an eyebrow. "Humans don't shed their skin."
"Then what the heck is this?" She pulled out the strange patterned object that could only have been shedded leg skin.
"...Have you been going through my underwear drawer for your business?" The human girl glared at her with bafflement. "Woman…I know you're a criminal, but have some boundaries."
"Boundaries are for the weak." She chuckled.
"Seriously Luz, you've gotta start locking stuff up." King deadpanned. "I've lost three hats and seven cupcakes to this lady, and that's not even going into what happened with the Cheeseburger Backpack, ain't that right Lucci?"
"Too soon, King, it's still too soon." Her son looked off to the side with a sad expression. "May it forever rest in peace."
"It did help during the egg incident." The Park girl noted, giving Lucci a small pat on the back.
"I'm just going to be hearing about this all day, aren't I?" Luz asked the despondent.
"If you keep focusing more on the backstory and less on having fun, then yes." Goops pointed out. "Now let's have fun and make life choices we'll be paying the price for the next morning!"
"Eternal regrets!" King shouted as he waddled off. Lucci's healing spit was going to be working overtime tomorrow just for the food poisoning.
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"This food is terrible, I love it!" King shouted in glee as he took another bite into his deep fried fairy heads. "You sure you don't want anything Luz?"
"If it gives you all problems, my stomach would probably pop if I ate it." The girl explained frankly. "That's why I brought my own cookie cat." Lucci gave a hiss. "I still don't see how the guy with a sweet tooth hates it."
"Too many conflicting flavors all at once. Vanilla, Strawberry, and double the chocolate? It overloads my tastebuds." Lucci looked like he was going to gag, before biting into his own Lion Licker. "I'll stick with quality ice-scream, thank you very much."
"You do realize that where I'm from, Lion Lickers are knock off Cookie Cats, and not only that, considered pretty bitter tasting?" Luz looked at the boy skeptically.
"My other favorite human treat is coffee jelly, so it might just be me." Lucci shrugged.
"A bitter jelly for an emo child." Willow joked.
"Okay, why does everyone find that funny? I am the furthest thing from being emo." Lucci growled.
"And that's exactly why it's funny." King chuckled. "Oh, we should do a group photo!" He pointed to a bunch of holes on cardboard. "I call the King role, where I reign supreme!"
"I don't think you're tall enough." Gus looked from behind the wall.
"Herisay! My power will give me the height I need!" King began jumping, only being barely able to reach the hole. "Just…give me a second…okay, how about the rest of you get in place, and when he takes the picture, I'll jump into position at the perfect time."
"Sure thing." Luz walked up to her spot as the rest of the gang picked holes.
"Say … Moldy Cheese!" The camera shouted.
"Moldy che-Ahh!" King tripped at the last second, missing his shot.
"Oooh, did a gang of models just came to the carnival, because we look good." Gus showed off the picture to everyone, and with his small size, King wasn't able to catch a glimpse.
"Hey, hey, I wanna see, I wanna see..ooof!" King found himself getting squeezed out when he tried to take a look.
"Oh, the line's closing down on the goulercoster!" Willow shouted. "Come on, let's run!"
"Wait." King went to follow, but when they got there he saw the size limit. "Ah … curse you safety laws!"
"Oh, we can try something else." Lucci tried to suggest.
"Yeah, something we can all try-" Luz was caught off.
"Come on, Luz, you have to try it with us! The experience is unforgettable!" Willow insisted. "I threw up my first time, and I spewed it all over Boscha. Ah..such wonderful memories."
"For some of us." Lucci rolled his eyes, looking down. "Um … you guys go on ahead, I'll make sure no one mistakes King for a stuffed demon."
"That's going to be pretty hard, the little guy's so small and fluffy even a baby could pick him up." Gus just added salt to the wound as the rest of the kids walked in.
"You guys sure, I can still stay.." Luz lingered.
"No, no, go ahead, enjoy your friends…your taller, not short friends with non stubby legs." King turned around as he heard Luz enter the line. "Damn it, I thought I got over being smaller than everyone else, why do I hate it again!?"
"I got over being pink once, until I learned it just makes me recognizable." Lucci was silent for a moment. "Wanna talk about it?" He asked the same question Eda and him asked all the time.
"It's just….I hate not being noticed, or being scooted off to the side all the time, or being easily squeezed out of every important decision just because I'm smaller." King groaned. "Luz pays attention to me, but the moment the other two get involved, I'm practically invisible."
"I've been there King, believe me." Lucci sighed with a sadness he only saw the kid have privately in the corner of his room when he thought no one was watching. "Being ignored by friends … it's absolutely the worst." He looked up at the coaster. "And here I thought Willow got over that."
The two of them watched the ride go by, managing to see Luz get green in the face as everyone else cheered. "I remember when you stopped being friends with anybody…did it really hurt that much to stop trying?"
"Yeah…" Lucci sighed. "When Amity rejected us from her birthday party, I thought at least Me and Willow would have each other's back. She was closer to Amity than she was me, but I thought what we had was unbreakable…but she just shut me out, saying it was pointless for me to stick around when I'd just leave.."
King didn't think anything he could say would fix that, simply holding on to Lucci's leg as the ride came to a stop. "We don't leave each other?" He asked.
"Never. We're family." The boy agreed. "... And I'm sorry about the potions and Boscha thing …"
"Just don't flirt around me and we'll call it even." King really didn't need romance in his life. An immortal demon lord couldn't be tied down with a ball and chain. "So how's about we go to all the rigged games they have around here and scam the scammers out of all their prizes? My army could use some more cannon fodder after Cenit melted the traitors."
"First off, I will totally snag an army from all the rigged games. Second, when did you get so friendly with Centi?" Lucci asked incredulously.
"When she proved her loyalty for my army, and became my most powerful asset to world domination!" Also whenever he snoozed on her, he just felt really peaceful, like a warm rock caressing him.
"I can accept that, just don't expect me to get friendly with her. I want an animal companion, but a crystal devil is where I draw the line."
"Fair enough, now onward, my loyal compatriot! Onward, to battle!"
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Luz held up the plushy with a grin. "So many cute things." It helped calm her stomach down too, considering the many flops it was put through.
"Alright, so we ate food, rode rides, and took down the formidable four carnies." She was kinda surprised about how crazy those guys were. Even for a circus, she didn't expect THAT much insanity. "What is there to do left?" Lucci asked.
"Oh, we can do a tent event, like a haunted hallway." Gus suggested. "Illusionists, Oracles, and Abomination students get together to make some wild stuff."
"Pfft, once you've seen the inside of a Griffon's stomach, nothing manages to be that scary." Lucci rolled his eyes. "Oooh, we can find out where they're keeping the depository and plan a heist to steal all the snails."
"Really?" Willow asked. "After you stole that much already?" She pointed to the giant bubble of plushies. "You don't have a lot of room to put stuff away as it is."
"Is it really stealing when the carnies are rigging the games?" King asked, swimming out from the top of his fluff pile. "There's a point about not having enough room though. If we're stealing anything again, we have to go light."
Luz looked around, lets see … mirrors were okay, history was bleh, conning con was a bit too on the nose … "Oh, that one seems interesting." She pointed to a sign that said 'Vitimir's Collection of Creation'.
"Vitimir?!" Gus's eye's lit up with excitement. "As in the Coven Head of Potions!? He's here today with his own event?!"
"Coven Head?" Luz asked. "Is that supposed to mean something?"
"Let me figure out how to put it into words." Lucci muttered. "You know how mom's powerful because she can use any kind of magic?" She nodded. "Imagine someone so skilled at a single magic that it makes her look weak by comparison."
"Eda…weak?" Luz's eyes lit up in surprise. "I didn't even know those two words went in the same sentence."
"When it's Lucci bringing up his mom, you know it's serious." Willow added in. "There's nine main tracks we study at school because there's nine main covens. The Coven Heads are incharge of those main nine because they're the most skilled and knowledgeable in those magics. They work closely and answer to the Emperor himself along with the Emperor's Coven."
"Hexide even has a couple of graduates that became Coven Heads. Notably Terra Snapdragon of the Plant Coven and Darius of the Abomination Coven." Gus further explained.
"That sounds so awesome." Her eyes began to sparkly as she could feel excitement build.
"Yeah, I'd calm down on that." Lucci added in. "Coven Heads aren't the nicest of people. Terra Snapdragon alone is probably worse than Orchid when it comes to tearing apart her enemies."
"You're only saying that because you're still afraid of Hettie Cutburn." Willow countered.
"You'd be too if the entire Healing Coven swore blood boiling vengeance on your entire family." Lucci shuddered. "She alone is the reason why I found out I'm immune to poison."
"Yikes." Luz winced. "... So are we going in or are we disguising ourselves first …" She figured they were getting involved one way or another.
"Don't worry dudes, the Gus man has us covered." With a snap of a finger, Gus magicked up a couple of cloaks for them to hide themselves behind. "Now we can enter without drawing attention to ourselves."
"Fine, but I'm only going in to get some inspiration for potions. For once, I can't risk blowing something up, being trapped in school and all that." Lucci grumbled.
"Hurray, morally questionable success." Willow muttered as they walked in.
Inside was … well, quite frankly, not what they were expecting. Just random junk all over, with hissing noises and strange humming being heard all around them. "... Is this it?" Luz asked. "I was expecting something impressive."
"Is it not to your liking?"
"GAH!" They all jumped, turning to what appeared to be a man with diamond red eyes, with sickly gray skin covered by a cloak, white strands of hair leaking out from under a pilgrim hat. His mouth was covered by cloth, and looking down she could see bird feet on his legs.
"Welcome to my humble display." The man bowed. "I am Vitimir, your guide this evening through the intellectual pursuit of knowledge."
"And I am…very freaked out right now." King summed up what they were all thinking as the group tried to retake their breaths.
"Fear not, there is nothing in this tent I would bring that is not contained and secured so as to not harm those filled with curiosity." The man assured them. "Side note, if something has yellow tape, do not touch it. I am not in need to file another report on why a couple of witch skeletons showed up out of nowhere."
"Surprisingly enough, I hear that alot." Lucci looked around. "So you're the potions guy? Why collect creatures? That sounds more in line with beast keeping."
"I am a man of research. Potions simply had the most flexibility when studying other things." Vitimir admitted. "Chemical formulas, Nature's phenomenon, Crystal devils, there is nothing I do not wish to understand and explore."
"Crystal Devils?" Luz asked curiously. "I've never seen anyone else besides me that said that without screaming in terror."
"Ah, curious, yes?" The man seemed to smile under his mask. "Follow me." The man began walking, and with nothing else to do, followed. They reached a collection of cages with … a giant crab thing, an eyeless dog, and some spiky creature. All of which had crystals embedded somewhere on their body. "These are the Crystal Devils currently in my possession."
"These are all Crystal Devils?" Gus asked, looking afraid as one got close to the edge of their cage. "They look so different from each other though."
"Yes … quite the curious creatures." He admitted. "They all have a strange phenomenon of appearances. It all seems to depend on the type of crystal. I once got a report from Emberwolf about two quartzes looking identical for everything except their color." The man walked up, unafraid as the grab one tried to reach out and pinch him. "Fascinating entities, these rocks with souls … Do you want to know my biggest breakthrough with them?"
"Um … what would that be?" Willow asked as she took in a gulp of air.
"They feed … on light." The man cackled a bit as he turned a dial on a nearby wall and turned off the lamps above their cages. "They have no natural cravings like most creatures, neither do they have the stomachs or digestive system to process physical sustenance, but I found during a particular excursion into the woods at night that they're less active and energetic despite never needing to sleep."
"So they just … get sleepy?" Lucci asked.
"Oh, it's more than that." The man pulled out a strange looking flashlight. "This is a special creation that absorbs light rather than emits it." He clicked it on, as a black beam appeared. "When used on anything?" He shoved the darkness in his own hand. "Nothing … but look what happens when I do this." He aimed the beam right at the crab.
"SCREEE!" It screamed, as the body began to look like it was glitching and dissipating.
"Their bodies are made of light, magnified by their crystals and intensified into actual constructs." Vitimir explained, much to their horror as it looked like he was essentially torturing the creature. "There's no organic matter whatsoever in any part of their makeup, just silicone and photons."
"So there's just…nothing there?" Willow asked, disturbed the rest of them by the screams of pain from the poor animal.
"Nothing except the crystals embedded in their bodies. For lack of a better word, these creatures seem to retract themselves into it when their form breaks. Almost like an illusion that you can physically touch." Vitimir looked absolutely manic and mad looking at the Crystal Devils. "It's taken me years to fully understand just how much these monstrosities feel anything with bodies like that, from warmth to pain. I've had to get very…creative on that last one."
"You … seem very invested." Lucci added on, clearly unnerved by the wording on 'creative'.
"Of course." The man instantly switched tunes to something more casual. "Everyone else is just scared of them, that just means there's an infinite amount to study. Although I would like to study something new every now and then when I hit a roadblock. Like that human I hear that's been running around."
"A…human….?" King squeaked as they all began to slowly back away. "You mean those strange things exist?"
"I know, so baffling? How can something so unevolved, basic, so unextraordinary, and so unremarkable possibly exist?" Well that wasn't a blow to her pride or anything. "Its sheer mundane nature is incredible. It could be the baseline to witches and demons … of course, I'd have to find them first." The man lamented. "But enough about my needs, let's talk about yours. Anything else you were looking to observe?"
"Uh, as enlightening and very informative as this entire experience has been, I think it's best for us to make our leave now." Gus began walking backwards faster, not noticing that he was backing into one of the cages, beyond the line with yellow tape. "It's such an honor and privilege to have listened to a mind as great as your own, but we shall get going and-"
"ARRGGHHH!" The crystal devil right behind him jumped, startling the younger witch as he fell backwards.
"AHHHH!" Gus shrieked, the cloak fading the moment he touched the ground…making the rest of their disguises poof away.
Vitimir blinked owlishly as he slowly appraised them. "... Round ears …" He said, looking at her, then turning to King. "Bipedal with a bonelike growth on their head …"
"Don't you even think about it, creepshow! You're not touching anybody while I'm around!" Lucci created his shield and forced the man back.
"What a curious form of magic…casting a shield spell without magic circles … I haven't seen anything quite like it." They muttered in fascination. "A mutation perhaps?" They began to poke at the shield, feeling it up in a disturbing manner.
"You know, with this being a magical world, I really, really thought I'd avoid running into a mad scientist!" Luz shouted out in fear, making her way to the nearest exit.
The man tossed a potion over the shield, as it landed in front of her … with Vitimir now blocking the exit. "Quite the curious bunch of kids." She could see a creepy grin under the mask. "Let us begin the experiment."
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Vitimir regretted packing light today. Sure he could whip up potions in seconds, but it was better to be prepared than to fight three unknowns without it. "So, you can't use magic, and therefore must have a body accumulated to it." He muttered as he stuck the girl's shoes to the ground. "It'll mean I should probably use the basic tools instead of the high end material."
"Hey, some of us here are a lot stronger than her, no offense Luz." The little glasses girl walked up and began raising her arms as a rumbling could be heard from the ground.
"Ahh, you have a preference for plant magic, I see." He watched as a carnivorous looking plant was grown out of the ground. "So many weeds to clear out." He unmasked himself, and let out his breath.
AEEEGGGGHHH
The plant shriveled up and died within a matter of seconds. "I thought you did potions!" The woman shouted.
"I do. I'm constantly experimenting, and the best experiments I perform are on myself." He answered. "For example, with a bit of gumweed, a hint of explosive berries, and a dash of marker fruit stirred for two hours, you obtain this as a result." He raised his hand and let it stretch out to grab the small creature, dragging it next to the human. "People constantly assume Potions are a weaker form of magic because they require constantly gathering ingredients, patience, and maintenance, but with a little dedication, potions are capable of performing practically anything."
"Well isn't that interesting as a career choice." The mutant child created a bubble, and threw it with a surprising amount of force. Vitimir idly watched as it carved a section of his stomach out. "... You were supposed to dodge."
"Not to worry." He reassured the soon to be test subject, watching it heal. "I took a couple regeneration potions in case some hooligans tried to steal equipment." It's nowhere near Cuttie's level, but he doubted anyone could reach that in a lifetime.
"You've made a grave error today, feeble potion man, you've incurred the wrath of the King of Demons! WEH!" The tiny hairy child shouted as he dove at his legs, pounding him ineffectively with those tiny paws of his. "Within a couple of hours, you shall be at my mercy!"
"A human and two unknown creatures … the titan blesses me this day." Truly, to study so many things at once, how incredible. "Now let's get started with the first incision." He pulled out a scalpel reaching down to the tiny one's stomach.
"Leave him alone, you sick demented sociopath!" The human pulled out a piece of paper with an image on it and shoved it into the ground, where it lit up, and…ice began to grow and form beneath his feet.
"So, so curious." He stated as for the brief second he lost his balance, the tiny child was able to go free. "Magic created from a tiny piece of paper." He grabbed the girl by the arms and pulled her in close. "You drew it like this, correct?" He questioned, tapping the symbol as it produced ice. "It came from the circle itself …"
"Luz, stop powering up our enemies!" The mutated child yelled, forming a disk with several razors and blades on the tips as he threw it at his arms, dismembering both of Vitimir's hands. "Since you regenerate, I hope you don't mind I cut you down to size a little!"
"Only if you're willing to compensate." He pulled out a vial and tossed it over, enveloping the child as it broke. "A paralysis potion."
"Really need a spell proof bubble." The boy complained as he hit the ground. "Gus, I know you don't know many spells, but you could stand to throw a rock at him or something instead of just standing around!"
"I am doing something!" The dark skinned witch was in a corner, pressing against the wall of controls. "I'm pressing every button I can until something happens." The Coven Head would just let him do so. There was a specific combination the buttons needed to be pressed in order to make something happen. It greatly helped avoid accidents when an experiment made him and others fly into the panel.
"Now, let's get on with it." He stuck the human and tiny creature to the ground, moving the mutant over as he decided to start with them. "A small incision on the …" He froze as he lifted the shirt, looking at the boy's stomach. "Did … did you somehow imbed a rock into your stomach?" Vitimir asked. "It looks like the sort of thing you'd see on a Crystal … Devil …" He paused. "Forming light into an object, casting without circles …"
"You're forgetting about me!" The plant witch shouted as she made vines grow from outside the tent, grabbing him by the arms and legs, lifting him off of the air. "Now let me and my friends out of here before I tear you limb for limb and ground you into fertilizer!"
"A strong little sprout you air. Terra would be pleased if she ever had the chance to meet with you." Knocking over his hat, Vitimir let it fall to the ground as a notable cracking sound could be heard, and tentacles shout out of it, grabbing the girl and slamming her into the floor. "That is, of course, if I decide to let you live past today."
"You're sick, you know that!?" The human called out from her binds. "Torturing animals and disecting children? There needs to be boundaries, you sicko!"
"Boundaries are for the weak." Vitimir rolled his eyes. "The only limits I follow are the impossibilities of physics and the serious orders from the emperor." The minor ones were more of a … guideline. "Now it's time for me to see if-"
Clink
Viitimir looked up … to see every cage of every creature he had collected was released. "Success!" The child near his buttons shouted. "And they say button mashing is mindless! Well take that, Everyone!"
"You…you IMBECILE!" Vitirmir yelled at the brat with all the creatures rushing in. "That cage was protecting yourselves as well!" He rolled out of a way as an Electropede attempted to grip his neck.
"Well, thing is that from the little I know about Beast Keeping is that wild animals don't like being caged, and they really, REALLY hate it when they have to look at the face of some sick sadist staring at them in twisted glee nearly twenty four seven as they get tortured." The possible half-Crystal Devil child grind cocklily as the two free witches began picking them up. "So as we run out of here for our lives and leave you for dead, you're going to become their lunch for the next…givin how scrawny you are…two seconds."
"Oh this isn't over." Vitimir threatened as the creatures began to converge on him. "I will study your secrets children, mark my words!!"
"Yeah, yeah, Creepshow, save it for the revenge fantasies you'll never get to write." The human was plucked up from her trap by the plant girl and carried over the shoulder. "Dang Willow, you're really, really buff."
"Thanks, but it's more like you're really light….kind of like holding up a twig."
"I know right?" The mutant-crystal devil responded as the other child picked him up. "You could use her as a bat and only the screaming would give it away."
"Can you guys be agreeable any time you're not ribbing someone else, or have you forgotten that we need to get out of here?!" The young witch boy shouted.
"I can't move, I can do nothing but talk."
"Fair point." The boy relented as they ran out his tent. So many curiosities get away … and he'd hunt for them right after he put these current ones back in their place.
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Lucci was carried out, Willow and Gus catching their breath as explosions sounded out from the tent. "Wait … where's King!?" He shouted.
"Freedoooom!" He heard the little guy shout as the tent came crashing down on itself. "Go forth my freakish brethren, go forth and roam free!" King was standing up while riding on top of the dog looking crystal devil, as about half of the other creatures inside followed behind and began roaming around the carnival of their own violation, the screaming of families and carnies alike being heard all over.
"...I'd call that terrifying, but after seeing what Vitimir's been doing to them…I can let it slide." Willow spoke up, clearly shaken by the torture they had all seen."
"Still scared of Centi, but I am willing to let her live in our house so long as she never experiences that." Lucci reluctantly spoke.
"Aww, you'll learn to love her eventually, Lucci. You all will!" Luz hung off his shoulders with that dopey smile of hers.
"How long do I have to carry you for?" Gus asked, sweat visible on his face. "You're not light …"
"Oh, just drop me on the ground." Gus immediately did so the moment he finished that sentence. "This isn't the first time I've been hit with paralysis. Give me another five minutes at most, I'll heal the potion out of my system soon enough."
"Don't worry big guy, I got ya." Luz picked him back.
"Wow, so much for weak nerd arms." Lucci deadpanned. "Maybe you can pick up the sword soon."
"I think the constant running around and fighting things twice my size has kept me in shape." Luz snickered. "So, as enjoyably terrifying as today has been, I say we should start making our way home now."
"I think that's gonna be a problem." King said as he walked over to them. "Eda got caught and is paying community service time, and Owlbert is too busy playing carnival games and being cute to help."
They all turned to the Owl playing whack a gole. "Hoot." Truly adorable.
"Crrrrr." Then they turned to the Crystal Devils focusing on said palasmin.
"No…no…no…no!" Lucci fought for every ounce of strength he had inside of him to rush to Owlbert's side. "I may feel sorry for you, but I still don't trust you!" Lucci immediately placed Owlbert in a bubble before the Crystal Devil could jump at them. "Phew, you alright buddy?"
"Hooot."
"No problem, that's what I'm here for." Lucci tapped the top of the bubble….
Szzzt
…and watched it….disappear. "...Ah….Lucci…" Luz waved her hand in front of him. "What just…"
"AHHH! I DISINTEGRATED OWLBERT!" Even ignoring the horrible and unforgivable act he just did of killing family, even being mom's favorite kid wouldn't save him from her wrath. "I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead and I deserve it." He crawled into a ball and just kept his head down
"It's alright, you didn't mean to do it." King walked up and rubbed Lucci, tears in his eyes. "Don't … don't blame yourself man."
"It's not like you've ever disintegrated something before, right?" Luz tried to cheer him up.
"Luz, King, I thank you for your pity and condolence, but this was Mom's palisman, basically her best friend and the closest thing I have to a father figure….let that sink in for you you how completely SCREWED that makes me, not to mention the incredible levels of guilt I'll never be able to recover from." He sank his head further. "Luz, when I die, I just want you to know you've been the brightest and most upbeat thing I've ever had in my life…even when it was stupid I enjoyed seeing it."
"Lucci, no!" King grabbed him. "I don't want you to die!" It was a nice gesture, but futile all the same.
"King, you are my brother, the bonds of mischief we've gotten into in our short time together was wonderful." He hugged the little guy. "You and Hooty were the one thing that kept me from being completely alone when I lost all my friends."
"A little dramatic, don't you think?" Gus spoke up.
"Gus, I've known you the least, but you seemed alright." That was the most he could give on short notice.
"Oh … cool?" The dude shrugged.
"And Willow … " This one was going to be the hardest, as he dug up and unburied so much just to muster up enough courage to say this face to face. "I wish…I wish we were…"
KABOOOOOOOOMMM!
A light of explosion could be seen from the distance, thankfully stopping him from unloading that can of worms. "That feels kind of like Eda." King observed
"But for it to be that powerful, she'd need to have Owl…" He widened his eyes. "Wait…"
He didn't have time to finish as his mom suddenly bursts into the area…riding on top of Owlbert…the alive and not dead Palisman. "Lucci, I don't know when you learned to teleport bubbles, but I've never been happier to not question your spontaneous and random powers."
"YOU CAN TELEPORT!?" Luz shouted.
"I DIDN'T KILL OWLBERT!" Lucci shouted in joy.
"I'll choose to ignore that…as well as why there seems to be a horde of Crystal devils and demons running around." Mom mentioned. "Park, Goops, you want rides?"
"That's not my nam-"
"Do you want to talk back or do you want to get left behind and eaten, because that's what I'm hearing." Mom narrowed her eyes.
"Goops is ready to go mam." An all and all okay carnival experience.