Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter Thirteen: Face My Fears

When Booker woke up, he sighed in misery. He looked at Luz's bed and saw she wasn't there. Likely downstairs having breakfast or learning new forms of magic. 

Booker has not been able to sleep well for the past few days, as the nightmares of his family dying were still plaguing his mind. Especially now, after he'd seen the memory photo. Eda has told him time and time again that it wasn't his fault, but Booker's survivor's guilt would tell him that it was, no matter how much he tells himself that he didn't start the fire. 

Sitting up, Booker put on his school uniform and walked down the stairs. As he entered the Owl House's living room, the blonde boy saw King was watching videos on Luz's phone while she was lying on the ground, using a magnifying glass to look at a flower. 

"Any luck?" He asked, pointing to the flower.

"Not yet, but I'm close…." Luz said, drawing a replica of the plant glyph. The plant glyph resembled a flower that was drawn with an upside-down triangle with a line across the bottom, resembling a flowerhead. It was connected to a line heading down to a circle at the bottom, containing a dot in the center. Two other lines stuck out at the top of the ring, resembling leaves.

Booker walked over to the girl and knelt down next to her. Luz took a deep breath and activated it. She gasped in amazement when a flower successfully grew from the paper. 

"Yes!" She cheered. 

"Let me try," Booker said, scooting over and picking up the magnifying glass. He looked at the glyph on the flower. "Got it." 

Crawling away from the Dominican girl, Booker clapped his hands together, and his markings formed the plant glyph. He then slammed his hands on the ground, creating multiple flowers. 

He then looked at Luz with a smirk. "Think we should tell Willow she's got competition?" 

"You think that's impressive? Check this out! Two warriors battling to the death!" King said as he watched a video of two cats meowing on Luz's phone. One prepared to pounce on the other but fell on its back. 

But how was King able to get wifi to see the video? Booker found out when he looked behind and saw his father's portal door. It was opened, allowing the phone to get a wifi signal. "Sooooo, this is how we're using my dad's door now?"

"Just to get wifi for cat videos," Luz said, sitting down on the couch next to King. 

"Senseless violence. Yes, attack! Death is your god!" King declared, bouncing up and down in excitement. 

"I regret teaching you about the Internet," Luz said, rolling her eyes. 

"Hah! What possible regrets could come from the Internet?" King asked, looking at an article he had opened on Luz's photo. "Oh! Did you know that the Earth is actually flat?"

"Okay, no more internet for you." Booker snatched the phone away and tossed it to Luz, who caught it. 

"Yeah," Luz said, just about to turn off her phone. However, before she could, it vibrated. She'd gotten a text from her mom. 

[How's camp today, cariño? <3, Mamá.] 

Luz froze up and gulped in fear. Opening the door to Earth not only allowed her to get Wi-Fi, but it also allowed her mom's text to come through to her phone. It filled Luz with dread and guilt. She never told her about the Demon Realm, fearing the way Camelia would react to the knowledge of another world existing and that her daughter and best friend were in it. 

Struggling to think of a response, she started by typing "I", but then deleted it. Shen tried "I'm", but backtracked. "It" was her next option to start, but Luz quickly deleted it. Luz ended up sending a thumbs-up emoji.

"Good enough." She sighed. 

"Ah, a severed hand! Perfect response." King said as he and Booker looked over her shoulders to see her response. 

Groaning, Luz flopped down on the couch and put a pillow on her face. Muffling her groans. Booker sat down next to her. "Luz, why don't you just tell her about this place," he asked.

"What am I supposed to say, Booky!?" Luz exclaimed, making Booker blush with embarrassment. The Dominican girl then stood up and started pacing around while talking in her normal, cheerful voice. "'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." 

She curled up on the ground with her hands on her head. "Oh, come on, Luz. You're mom's not that cruel," Booker said.

"Nah, she'd be freaked out by our world anyway. So, actually, by keeping the truth from her, you're doing her a favor!" King said, resulting in Booker flicking him on the head. "Nyah!"

"Not helping, you twit." 

"Hm. The angel on my left shoulder is telling me to do the right thing," she said, leaning on Booker's leg for a moment. She then leaned to King. "But the demon on my shoulder makes a good point."

"Always trust a shoulder demon!" King said, taking the phone from Luz and opening MewTube again. 

Suddenly, Hooty opened the door and greeted the two kids with his usual cheery attitude. "Hoot hoot, Booker, Luz! Time to fill up that darling little head of yours with…." Hooty extended his neck and regurgitated a stack of books onto the ground. "Mm-hmm. Delicious knowledge!"

Booker and Luz looked at the owl with disturbed eyes before seeing Gus and Willow peeking from the doorway. Both looked at Hooty uncomfortably. 

"Please hurry!" Gus begged his friends from the human realm, wanting Booker and Luz to hurry up so that they could get away from Hooty.

"The more I look at him, the more uncomfortable I get," Willow added

"Hoot hoot!" Hooty shouted, making Gus and Willow flinch. 

Though Booker found it funny, he didn't want to see his friends suffer too much. "Alright, alright," he said, helping Luz stand up. 

Before leaving, the Dominican girl kissed King's head while the blonde boy patted his bony head. "Don't spend all day watching MewTube, okay?" 

"I forge my own path!" King yelled at the two as they ran out of the house and set off with Gus and Willow to go to school. With the kids gone, he played another video. A fluffy black cat chased its tail in the video, making the little demon snicker. "What a dum-dum."

However, he, too, was distracted by his own tail wagging. He tried to grab it with his hand but flopped on the couch after a second. "Ugh. Who has the energy?"

{Play music: Into the Badlands theme}

As the portal gate opens and the camera zooms in on it, Booker and Luz are seen to be in the sky. They opened their eyes, only to realize they were falling, which caused them to freak out before something zoomed past them and caught them. Booker and Luz opened their eyes, with Luz behind Booker and holding his arm while Booker held onto the staff to stay on. The two kids saw they were saved by Eda, who smirked at the duo as they flew to her house on her Palisman staff.

The door where Hooty was opened up as Luz and Booker stepped outside, with Luz twirling and posing with Eda's staff while Booker drew his Dragon's Bite sword he got recently and did his own pose. But then Eda took her staff back with an amused grin while Luz gave a sheepish smile, and Booker looked somewhat amused, too. King popped up in front of them in a pose.

A Boiling Isle mural was seen briefly as Gus, Willow, and Amity were seen before it burned away to show King commanding an army of stuffed toys, which all fell on him. The scene burned away again, showing Booker standing under a spotlight with grief written on his face as the fire was seen all around him. Silhouettes appear as they take the shape of a man with pointed ears, a human woman, and six children with slightly pointy ears. The fire consumed them.

Now Booker and Luz were on Eda's staff, with Luz riding up front like she was driving and Booker standing behind like he was surfing on a surfboard. They zoom down the Boiling Isles, past many friends and foes alike, until Eda and King join in on the ride... then they hang on for dear life as a massive, monstrous worm-like monster, mouth wide open, lunges at them. Everyone, minus Booker, screamed in horror. The latter looked brave and defiant towards the monster, and he pointed his sword towards it.

Then the scene changes back to the Owl House, where it's nighttime, and stars twinkle in the sky as the four are on the roof and looking up into the sky. Luz opens her hands to reveal a ball of light as Booker's hands glow, and a glyph-like symbol appears on the back of his hands.

He grinned and slammed his hands together, causing light magic to burst from his hands. That's when the title appeared.

The Seventh Son

Chapter Thirteen:

"Face My Fears"

When the group of friends arrived at Hexside, they noticed something rather strange about the place. People were excitedly decorating the hallways of the school, with a spider kindergarten teacher decorating the halls with streamers. The school halls were decked with balloons made from abomination goop and other decorations. And then there were the students, who were all acting all lovey-dovey like it was Valentine's Day.

Stopping in the hall, the hybrid and human looked around in wonder and confusion. "What's going on with everyone? Is someone famous coming?" Booker asked, pointing to the streamers. 

"Oh yeah! I forgot you've never been here for the social event of the season." Willow said. 

Gus stepped in and said with a big smile, "Welcome to your first—"

"Outta the way!" He was interrupted when a pair of masked health workers suddenly rushed past the group of friends. They were rolling a stretcher and making siren noises.

The workers rushed over to Skara and her girlfriend, Bo, and surrounded the Healing Track student. "Come with us immediately! Your disease—it's advancing!" The head paramedic said with urgency as he held a bone saw in his hand. 

"Oh no! Bo!" Skara cried as they helped the brunette onto the stretcher.

"Is there a cure, doc?" Bo asked, sounding scared. 

"Only one…" the worker said grimly. But then his personality did a complete 180 and placed his hands on his cheeks. "Finding the perfect date to Grom!"

"...Uh, what?" Booker asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"If that's the cure…." Bo turned to her girlfriend. "...then, Skara, will you go to Grom with me?" She asked excitedly as she held out a beating heart with "GROM?" written in red ink on it. And this author did not mislead you, reader. The brunette pulled out an actual beating heart from her pocket. 

"Ahhhhh!" Skara squealed as she threw her books away and jumped onto the stretcher. Hugging her girlfriend as tight as she could. "Yes! Yes! Of course, I'll go to Grom with you!"

She made out with Bo, and the onlooking students and teachers cheered for the couple. Luz gasped and started smiling with a big grin on her face. On the other hand, Booker didn't really care as much as she did. He's never been to a dance before. 

"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," she said, striking a sexy pose with her hand behind her head and the other on her hip. Booker blushed and smiled lovingly at her as she did this. "But here, I can be your Grom Queen!"

However, Willow and Gus grimaced. "That's, uh, not something people usually sign up for."

"Really? You dance around with someone special and are given a crown for being the prettiest," Booker said indifferently. "Who wouldn't want that—" 

He was interrupted when Amity entered from behind. She was looking down at the stack of books and the note she was carrying. Meaning she wasn't looking up and unknowingly bumped into the boy. Causing her to drop everything on the ground and knock the Seventh Son on the floor. 

"Watch it, nitwit!" Amity snapped at him until she saw it was her friend. "Oh. Hi, Booker…" 

"Sup, Ams?" Booker smiled at her. 

"Hi, Amity!" Luz waved happily at the girl-haired girl. 

"H-Hi, Luz….and co." Amity nodded to Willow and Gus. "Sorry about that." She stood up and quickly started gathering her belongings. 

"It's fine. Let me help you." Booker said, helping Amity pick up her book. That's when he noticed the little pink note that she had dropped. "Here's your note back."

The moment the word note left Booker's mouth, Amity snatched it away as quickly as she could in one swift motion. Booker looked at her in surprise while Luz jumped to his side. "Man, you got some quick grabbers." She giggled and did her grabby hands. 

"It's just—It's... private." Amity sighed. 

The conversation was cut when the P.A. speakers screeched on. Alerting everyone as they looked at it. "Attention Hexside students. This is your principal speaking." Principal Bump said over the intercom, which was a purple monster mouth with sharp teeth and the speaker for its throat.

"Oh, man, this is it!" Gus said nervously. 

"What? What's going on?" Booker asked, looking at him with suspicion. 

"He's announcing who'll be this year's Grom royalty," Willow explained.

Luz raised an eyebrow. "But…isn't supposed to be announced—" She was interrupted by Amity shushing her. The Blight girl looked at the intercom with a concerned expression. 

"This year, I have the privilege to bestow our highest Grom honor to… Booker Bridges! Our Grom King!"

Everyone in the hall gasped before turning to Booker, who was surprised to have been picked as Grom King. Having just started school not too long ago, the young man didn't expect to have been selected. "Wha…really? Cool!"

"Whoo! Booker, get it, king!" Luz yelled, pointing to Booker before holding her hand up for a high-five, which he excitedly gave. "Oh yeah!"

Booker laughed and looked around, only to be confused by the looks that everyone was giving him. Some were wincing, some were wiping sweat from their heads, and others looked at him with pity, fear, and anxiety. 

"What's with them?" Booker asked, turning back to his witch friends. That's when he saw them all looking at him with extreme worry. 

"Booker, do you even know what that really means?" Willow asked, looking at him with a frightened expression. 

The hybrid and Luz glanced at one another in confusion before glancing back at the others. "It means people like him, and he'll get a cute little crown and dance with the Grom Queen, right?" Luz asked, secretly imagining herself dancing with Booker like in those Disney movies. 

"Oh my Titan, you really don't know," Gus said, wide-eyed. 

"Really? Where've you been for the last few chapters?" Booker asked sarcastically, breaking the fourth wall.

At the same time, Amity looked like she was about to have a panic attack. Booker being Grom King was horrible. Would he even be able to handle it? The thought of it made her grip her books tightly as if she would tear them apart from the fear and worry she felt for the blonde boy. 

"Okay, can someone tell me what the hell's going on?" Booker asked before Amity grabbed his wrist.

"It's…best if I show you." She said, holding her books and note in the other hand. The mint-haired witch pulled Booker's arm as she led him to the gym. 

However, Booker then felt someone grab his other arm and walk alongside him. He looked to see that it was Luz who was clinging to him. 

"I'm going with you," she said. 

"Um, okay. The more, the merrier," Booker said, following Amity with Luz. 

When the three friends walked into the gym, they saw students setting up decorations while Principal Bump oversaw. The Snaggleback that had broken into the Owl House was there too. Only he was hanging from the ceiling by a rope and spinning. Diamonds were embedded in his shell, making him like a disco ball.

"Very good. Lower the streamers, fill the punch bowl, and—how's my disco ball?" The principal asked the little demon. 

Snaggleback said, "Nauseous."

"Great. Just keep it up for 36 more hours." Principal Bump said before walking towards the exit, leaving the poor demon hanging there. 

"Ah. My first school dance experience on the Boiling Isles." Luz said, letting go of Booker's arm and doing a little twirl. 

"You're really excited about something that people are afraid of," Booker said as Amity released Booker's hand. 

"Heck yeah, I am! I can't wait to get overdressed, take awkward photos, push all the buttons—wait, what?" Luz saw a red button on a black-and-red pedestal with insect legs on the bottom. "Well, hello~. Don't mind if I do."

She cheekily went over to push the button when Booker stopped her. "Wait! Luz, think for a moment," he said with caution. "When has pushing buttons ever worked out for us?" 

Luz thought about it for a minute. There was that one time….

And then the other time…

And then that really awful time…

Oh, and that really bad time…

"Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad." Luz pushed the button. "Click."

When she did, the gym floor began to rumble before splitting open to reveal an underground arena with pearly white columns and chains hanging from the walls. The only way down was a ramp leading into the dark area. 

"Whoa!" Booker and Luz said together as they and Amity looked down into the arena. That's when two walls come up from the floor on either side of the three students. On them were several weapons displayed, including swords, shields, a club, mace, a scythe, an ax, a flail, and a gold knuckleduster. 

"Good God," Booker said in shock. "If this is a theme you guys have for prom night, then I don't want to know what you do for graduations." 

Luz looked at the weapons and thought for a moment. "Medieval torture seems like a strange theme for Prom, but hey—" 

"They're not for decoration," Amity said grimly, grabbing a sword from the right wall. "This arena's where you'll make your debut as Grom King, Booker." 

"Right. Why don't you seem happy for Booker?" Luz asked.

"Because this isn't just some dance party." Amity pointed to the blade down into the arena. 

"Oh come on, what could it…." Booker trailed off when he saw what Amity was pointing at. His eyes widened in terror as a strange black goop rose from the stone floor, rumbling and growling. As quickly as it appeared, whatever it was disappeared back into the ground. 

"What the hell was that?!" He yelled, backing away from the opening and pointing at the floor, where the black goop rose from. 

"That's Grom. Short for Grometheus, the Fear-Bringer. It's a monster that lives under the school." Amity said. To help them understand, the witch cast a spell that showed Booker and Luz a tapestry telling the story of Grom. Showing a student fighting the monster as its shape shifts. "Every year, it tries to break out, and a student has to defeat it before it invades the town. Ever the optimist, Bump holds a party and calls it a tradition."

As the tapestry faded, Booker looked at Amity with a confused look. Not seeming to be afraid of going down and killing the monster. "So all I have to do is beat this thing up," he asked, wondering why everyone was so afraid of the beast. Especially considering they were all very powerful in their own ways. Some more than others, like Willow. "Seems easy enough. Why are people afraid of it?"

"Because the worst thing about Grom is that he can read minds and shape-shift into your worst fear," Amity said, watching as the severity of the situation he's been placed in dawned on both Booker and Luz's faces. "Don't you see, Booker? If you don't stop Grom tonight, it'll go out into the Isles, shapeshifting into everyone's nightmares, and lay waste to everything."

Booker shook his head. "Shit."

"Honestly, I'm surprised I wasn't picked," Amity said, trying to lighten the mood.

"How come?" Luz asked. 

"Well, I am the top student in this school. But, my fears are…." Amity gazed at her reflection in the sword. "...embarrassing. But, since you're a Seventh Born, I guess that's why Bump picked you," said the mint-haired witch as she placed the sword back on the weapons wall. 

"Yeah," Booker said. "Lucky me." 

"Come on, Booker!" Luz nudged him. "I'm sure you'll be fine. You don't have any phobias that I know of….other than fire," she said before quickly changing the subject. "But that's not really something to be afraid of."

Booker sighed. "I'm not scared of fire, Luz. That's just…something else I'm dealing with." He averted his eyes, having not told his best friend about his inner turmoil. He then gave both Luz and Amity smiles. "Girls, listen, whatever Grom throws at me, I won't let it stop me. And I'll make sure Grom's never coming back up again." 

Luz and Amity looked at their friend, amazed at the determination blazing in his eyes. Both couldn't help but shiver and admire his strength. The Seventh Son was indeed a fantastic person, unlike anyone that the human and witch had ever met. 

"Put down a tarp, I'M GONNA PUKE!" the Snaggleback yelled. The three students quickly rushed out. 

"We're home!" Luz sang her announcement. After a long day of classes, filled with students wishing him luck or describing how they'd visit his funeral if he died, Booker and Luz returned to the Owl House and walked up to the open doors to Eda's room.

"You have a great singing voice," complemented Booker, smiling at her as Luz blushed. 

The two of them heard a poking noise coming from the room and Eda crying out in pain. "Ow!"

"Aunt Eda?" Booker asked as the two best friends walked into the room. 

"Careful with those pins," Eda told King, scrunching her face. The Owl Lady was in a brown tuxedo. King was standing on a stack of books, wearing a green apron.

"Why am I doing this? I don't even wear clothes!" King yelled back at her. 

"Hey, sweet duds, Owl Lady! What's the haps?" Luz asked as he sat on Eda's nest.

"Got a hot date tonight?" Booker asked, walking over with his arms crossed. "Gone steal from him too?" 

"Heh, not tonight, kid," said Eda while smirking, flipping her hair back with a smirk. "I'm chaperoning Grom tonight. So I have to look sharp."

"And Gus asked me to co-emcee the fight!" King said, holding up a poster of him and Gus, standing back-to-back in sunglasses, Gus holding a microphone. "We're going to turn this blood-bath into a fun-bath!"

"Ooh! Have they announced the victim yet?" Eda asked with her hands on her hips, eager to know. 

Booker glanced at Luz, then back at Eda. 

"You're looking at him," he said.

Eda and King looked at Booker for a moment, silent. The moment stayed like that until the little demon dropped the poster. Letting it float gently to the ground. Then they burst out laughing, believing it was a joke. Seeing them laugh confused the two kids, but all they could do was watch as the witch laughed hysterically with her little pet.

"A great joke, Booker! But seriously, who's fighting Grom?" King asked as he stopped laughing. 

"Me, King," Booker said, pointing to himself. "I'm fighting Grom."

"Wait, you are!? Are you nuts?!" King suddenly yelled in a panic. 

"I didn't even know I was gonna be selected!" Booker argued back. "Or what Grom even was until today!" 

"That just makes it worse! Eda, talk him out of this!" King grabbed Eda's tux and shook her before she pushed him off. 

"Listen, kid. You're tough and very powerful, but Grom is a little above your pay grade." Eda said, crossing her arms. "You're a human. You're... fragile."

"Excuse me?" Booker asked with a glare as he walked up to her. Not liking that Eda was looking down on him and underestimating him. "In case you had forgotten, I'm half-human. And the Seventh Son."

"Don't get too cocky, kid. Grom will use your fears against you in ways you can't imagine. And need I remind you of your…past traumas?" Eda asked, knowing Grom would use Booker's trauma and fears against him to get out. It had only been a few days since Booker saw the memory photo, and the Owl Lady could only imagine what the monster would turn into to exploit those fears. 

Booker paused for a moment before continuing. "Y-Yeah, well, if Grom wants to use that against me, then it's welcome to try. But I'm putting that fucker in the ground! I ain't scared of him or anything!" He said with confidence. 

"Uh, Booker, there's a horrifying spider in your hair," Luz said, nervously pointing at the back of his head. 

"Nope. I'm not as fragile as you think, girls. And I can't be so easily fooled, either," Booker said to his best friend. He turned around, revealing there was, in fact, a horrifying spider in his hair. And for some reason, he didn't feel it. 

The three of them watched as Booker slammed the door and left. "Uh, maybe you were too hard on him," Luz said, looking at Eda with a frown. "He's saved you from multiple monsters, remember?" 

"Facing Grom means facing your worst fear, Luz. And I don't think Booker knows what that means yet." Eda said, glaring at herself in the mirror. She paused for a moment. "Do you think I could pull off red eyeshadow?"

"Girl, you can pull off anything! Up top!" King said, holding up his hand. They high-fived together while Luz rolled her eyes with a smile. "We're style geniuses!"

Booker groaned as he woke up in his and Luz's room again. He sighed and stared up at the ceiling. The Seventh Son had another nightmare, causing him to wake up earlier in the morning. Going back to sleep, he, fortunately, had no other dreams and slept peacefully. 

Sitting up, he rubbed his face. Not noticing that Luz was still in the room with him. She was trying to rummage through a chest of clothes on her side of the room as quietly as she could, holding a black tuxedo in one hand and an otter suit. 

"Another bad dream?" She asked, startling Booker and making him look at her in surprise. "You looked like you were last night." 

"You…You knew?" Booker asked, a little nervous. 

"Well, it's hard to ignore when you sleep next to me. Which I'm…not complaining about." Luz said, looking away with a blush on her smiling face. But then her embarrassment turned back to concern. "Booker, is there something going on?"

Booker sighed as he got up. "I'm fine, Luz. I'm… I've just been having trouble sleeping." He said, not wanting her to know about what he saw in the photo and his terrible theory surrounding the death of his family. 

Luz didn't believe him and was about to press further with her questions. However, when she opened her mouth to talk, her phone buzzed. Pulling it out of her shorts pockets, the Dominican girl saw it was another text from her mom.

["Mira! Visiting our fav after-school snack spot!"] 

Then, there was a selfie of Camila holding a sandwich outside a store called Chimichurri Sandwiches! 

["Miss you BEBE! XO."]

Sadly, Luz replied with a yummy face emoji as she frowned at her phone. 

"Seems like you're having some trouble yourself," said Booker as he walked over. 

"I'm just…responding to her," Luz said, lowering her phone on her lap. 

"You still don't feel like telling her, do you?" Booker asked, sitting down next to her. 

Luz sighed. "I really miss her, Booker. But I can't leave here yet. I've made so many friends here and learned so much about magic and…about myself, she said, pulling her knees to her chest and holding them. 

"I know what you mean," Booker said, looking at his hand. He then wrapped his arms around Luz's neck and hugged her. "But I'm still here for you, Luzzy." 

Blushing, Luz pushed him away with a giggle. "I told you not to call me that!" She laughed as Booker hugged her again, nuzzling her face. "Stop it! Hahaha!"

"Oh, come on! You love doing this to me!" Booker laughed with her as they messed with one another. After a minute, they stopped and turned their heads to one another, smiling with bright blushes on their faces. Not noticing that their faces were drawing closer to one another. 

However, the tender moment was interrupted when Hooty entered and smooshed his face against Booker's. "Hey, you two! You have a guest!" he said, wrapping himself around the two of them. "And she's beautiful."

"Hooty, if you don't let us go, I'm killing your head off." Booker held up his hand and summoned Dragon's Bite to it. 

Hooty quickly retreated out the window, making Booker and Luz twirl around and fall on the floor. They got back up when their door opened, revealing their beautiful friend, Amity.

Amity entered through the door, picking feathers out of her hair with a sour look. "If that bird-tube thing ever talks to me again, I will destroy it," she said snarkily.

"Amity!" Luz quickly ran over to her and hugged her. Making the mint-haired girl blush until the Dominican girl pulled away. "What brings you around this neck of the woods?" 

"I'm here to help train Booker," Amity told her, turning to look at the Seventh Son. 

"Oh! Then you can help us figure out what he should wear for Grom!" Luz ran over and picked up the outfits she initially pulled out. First, she holds up a black tux that would have made Booker look like a Tuxedo Mask. "This one says, 'witch with a dark side.'" She then held up the otter suit, putting on a matching smile. "But this one says, 'I'm an otter... with a dark side.'"

Booker thought about it with his finger tapping on his chin. "I do like otters…."

"Booker, you need to take this seriously. If you can't defeat Grom, everyone on the island will have to live out their worst nightmare." Amity said with the utmost urgency to her crush. "We need you, Booker. I need you to stop that from happening."

Once again, the moment was ruined when Hooty entered the scene. "You wanna hear my worst nightmare?" He asked, pressing his face right up against Amity. Amity scrunched up her face.

The next thing anyone knew, Amity began attacking the house demon as his body writhed around. He screamed out hoots as Booker and Luz desperately tried to get her to stop.

"Grom will transform into your darkest fears," Amity said. After the two friends got her to stop trying to kill Hooty, Amity brought Booker and Luz outside in front of the Owl House. She paced in front of them with her arms behind her back. Behind her, Hooty was now wearing an eyepatch and bandages.

Stopping her pacing, she turned and pointed at the group in front of her. "What do you fear most?" 

The group in front of her consisted of Booker, Luz, Amity's siblings Edric and Emira, Roswell, Felix, and Jason. The Bridges cousins came over after Edric invited them to help Booker out with his coming fight with the nightmare monster.

Booker took a moment to think it over while the others answered the question. "Wanna say our greatest fears?" Edric suggested to Emira. "On three. One, two... 

"Being alone forever!/Being stuck with you forever." Edric and Emira said at the same time. But when the brother heard her, he looked surprised and sad as the sister looked away like it was nothing. 

"Monkeys," Jason said.

"What?" Luz asked, looking at him with confusion.

"Monkeys, okay? I'm afraid of monkeys," Jason said, crossing his arms and looking away with an embarrassed frown.

Felix, trying to act cool as usual, placed his arm on his cousin's shoulder and leaned on him. "Eh, don't sweat it, cuz. It's not like Roswell's fear of professional figure skaters."

Roswell blushed with embarrassment as Edric laughed a bit. "You really have a thing against figure skaters?"

"It's not a thing, okay?! I just don't trust the way they spin!" Roswell yelled at him, making Edric laugh even more. The gay teenager blushed before glaring at Felix. "Oh, and you want to talk about fears? What about your fear of that hairy mailman, Felix?" 

"I'm telling you, there's something wrong with that guy!" Felix yelled. Believing the mailman was a werewolf. 

"Guys!" Amity shouted, getting everyone's attention. "Focus!"

"Right. In preparation, I've made a list!" Luz said, pulling a list from her pocket and holding it out to Amity. 

"You made a list of my fears?" Booker asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe I know you more than you think I do," Luz said with a smug smirk. "Plus, I know you're too proud to make one."

Amity took the paper and read it over. Most of the things on the list were rather strange and seemed like things that would bother people. Overall, the Blight girl wasn't impressed. But when Edric, Emira, and Felix read it, they chuckled. Finding it weird that Booker would be creeped out by this stuff.

"Uh, Luz, what did you put on that list?" Booker asked as she and the others backed away from him. Nonetheless, the three illusionists each draw a spell circle to create each item on the list. 

A massive version of Luz's phone appeared next to Booker, flapping its bat wings. The screen showed a man with the next Andy John on it. "AAH! Conspiracy theorists!" He yelled, punching the phone. 

A piece of paper puffed in front of him, and Booker caught it and read it. "No! Bad fanfics!" He yelled, crumpling up the paper and throwing it towards Luz. 

She caught it and read about the fanfic. "Hey! You said you liked my stories!" Luz yelled angrily at him. 

"I lied! I'm sorry!" Booker cried. 

"Why do you hate my fanfics?!"

"The grammar mistakes, poor plot and character development at times, contradictory cliches that don't make sense for the characters, and you sometimes throw yourself in there out of the blue." Booker listed off, not realizing how meta he was being. 

"...yeah I gotta work on character development."

The last thing on the list appeared to be a poorly made claymation character that resembled Gumby. "AAH! Claymation!" Booker yelled, cutting its head off with Dragon's Bite. 

Jason raised an eyebrow; "You're terrified of animated clay but not of Abominations?" 

"Abominations are not made of clay, meaning they're not made of NIGHTMARES!!"

Amity, however, was not impressed. "Not good enough!" She said, walking up to Booker as the illusions vanished. The hybrid looked at her wide-eyed as Amity got in his face. "I know you're brave, Booker, but that bravery has to come from fear. I know you don't want us to be worried about you, but we need to go deeper."

Booker stood there for a moment, trying to think of what would definitely freak him out. What would it be that would make his knees shake if Grom found out? There was only one option for Booker, and it was one that he wouldn't like. But he had to face it if he wanted to save the Boiling Isles. 

"Okay…I want you all to stand back. I'm…I'm going to use a fire spell, and I'm going to make it as big as I can."

Luz and Amity gasped when they heard that. "Booker, are you sure?" Luz asked, walking up to him.

"Yeah…Amity's right. Besides, I've wanted to do this for a long time." Booker said, backing up from the two girls to give himself some room. 

Taking in a deep breath, Booker visualized the fire spell in his mind. Allowing it to form on his hands. Then, he clapped his hands together. 

In her bedroom, Eda looked at herself in the mirror as she put on a yellow bowtie. Seeing that she was still hot and sexy looking, even for her age, she smirked and gave herself the bedroom eyes. "Me-ow. Still got it." 

A sudden blast of hot air shattered the giant eyeball window of the house. This startled the witch, who looked through the splintered glass. Seeing a massive pillar of fire in front of the house, she quickly rushed out of the room. 

Eda ran out of the house's front door and onto the front yard, Staff in hand. Emira and Edric looked impressed, the Bridges cousins looked amazed, and Luz and Amity looked nervous. 

"Okay, I'm here! What's going…." Eda stopped mid-sentence and gasped at the sight in front of her. 

Booker shot a massive pillar of fire into the sky. The blonde boy was holding his arms in the air, struggling to keep the fire up and not freak out. He kept his eyes shut as he gritted his teeth, trying to keep his mind focused on the fire and nothing else. 

"Dang, kid," Eda said, chuckling with an impressed expression. But then she realized what Booker was doing. "Wait a sec. You're training to be Grom King!"

"I…have…to!" Booker said, struggling to speak as he tried breathing deeply. Feeling his body burning up in his sweater. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked up at the fire. But that was when his mind had images of his birthday flash before him. "Nope, not yet! Can't look at it!" 

"That's it. I'm going to Bump, and I'm having him pick someone else!" Eda said, about to get on her staff to fly off. However, she was stopped by Luz grabbing onto Owlbert.

"Eda, don't! Let Booker do this!" Luz pleaded with her master. 

"You think training will help him against Grom?" Eda asked, gesturing to Booker as he continued trying to control his fire. "Luz, you and Booker always go overboard, and I end up bailing you out. Now, what's the fun of watching a kid get eaten by a monster if it's my kid?"

"That's not gonna happen!" Booker yelled over the raging inferno he was holding above his head. Sick and tired of hearing Eda doubt his abilities because of his fears. "I'll beat Grom and conquer my fears! My power doesn't CONTROL ME!" 

Opening his glaring eyes, Booker took a deep breath and pulled the column of fire he had created down towards his hands. Everyone watched in amazement as he compressed the fire down into a large ball that he held above his head. Then, like a Spirit Bomb from Dragon Ball Z, the Seventh Son yelled as he threw it over the cliff and across the sea. Letting it hit the water before the compressed flames were released, creating a massive fiery explosion. 

Panting, Booker looked at the powerful spell he'd just cast with wide eyes. Amazed by his own power. Everyone else looked at him with eyes as wide as plates and their jaws hanging down. 

"WOOOO! That was amazing!" Luz cheered as she rushed over and hugged Booker. His cousins quickly ran over and cheered for him after witnessing him overcome his fear.

But Eda still looked at her nephew with worry. 

At that moment, Amity walked up to Booker, prompting the boys and Luz to stop so she could speak to him. "Wow, I've got to admit, Booker, that was…incredible!" She said with a big smile. 

"Oh. Thanks, Ams," said the Seventh Son with a sheepish smile. He rubbed the back of his head, prompting Roswell to give him a playful nudge.

"You know when I first met you and Luz, I honestly thought you were a bunch of dumb idiots that would have amounted to nothing and were just some jerks, but you've really proven me wrong."

"Uhhhh, cool. Thanks, dude." Booker glanced at Luz, feeling like this wasn't going the way they expected. 

"Sure, you're still really young with your whole life ahead of you, and you're about to be put in a situation where your life would be cut short. But you've shown that no matter the challenge, you've always managed to find a way to come out on top. And that's something extraordinary."

"What's going on with you?" Roswell asked, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at her. 

"Me? Nothing." Amity said, trying to play innocent. 

"No, you're acting really weird," Jason said.

"I just want you all to know how much I appreciate you," Amity told Booker. "....That's it." 

But Booker finally caught on and yelled, "YOU THINK I'M GONNA FUCKING DIE!"

"No, I don't!" Amity quickly denied it. 

"No, you do, you definitely do! You're getting all sentimental and shit!" Booker yelled, pointing at her. 

"Nooooo, Booker. Come on. You'll be fine! I've got total faith in you. You're one of the best witches I ever knew." Amity said with a nervous smile. 

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT PAST TENSE BULLSHIT?!" 

Amity finally gave up. "Okay, look, you are by no means ready for Grom, but we're literally out of time. So get dressed and get ready for the fight."

"...That was the worst motivational speech ever," Roswell said. "Of all time. But we'll take it!"

"We'll take it!" Luz said. 

"Arms so tired," said the Snaggleback in exhaustion as he kept himself up. Down below, the decorated Hexside gym was bustling with students dressed to impress on this night to remember. Rockabilly-style music is playing in the background by a band of living instruments. Couples were awkwardly dancing on the dance floor, with Jason dancing with Viney and Felix dancing with Selene, who had to teach the boy how to dance with her. Willow was using her magic to don corsages onto some guests. 

Emira sat alone on the bleachers, trying not to be jealous as she watched her brother dance with Roswell. Just like everyone else, both of them were very nervous. However, it was clear to Emira that her brother genuinely liked the secret revolutionary witch. Roswell tried to hide it, but he, too, found himself attracted to the Blight boy. However, in fear of being outed by Edric to the Emperor's Coven or dragging him into the dangerous life that he led, the son of the Crow Wizard remained conflicted about pursuing a relationship with Ed. 

But who was going to dance with her? Just like Amity, she was the hottest girl in her grade. So why wasn't anyone asking her to dance? Emira looked around, thinking someone was going to walk up to her and ask her to dance.

But when she looked behind herself, Emira caught sight of a particular person. A person she found to be unique and had piqued her interest. 

Sitting a few rolls up the bleacher was a handsome mauve-skinned bat-witch boy around Emira's age. He had shaggy, pale gray hair, freckles, and round silver eyes. As a bat-witch, the young man had traits similar to a bat, with large, almost bat-like ears with insides that were a darker version of his skin, a crooked nose, and tiny black bat wings poking out of his back. Another noticeable feature was a scar with two stitches over his left eye. 

The boy was dressed nicely, just like everyone else at the party, but he was sitting away from the crowd, working on fixing a tiny toy mouse. He was so focused on the toy that he didn't notice someone walking up to him.

"Hello, Warrick." Warrick looked up from his work when he heard her beautiful voice and saw the older Blight sister standing before him. Smiling at him with that gorgeous smile of hers while leaning over with her hands behind her back. Happy to see her again, the bat boy smiled and flapped his tiny wings. 

"Hello, Emira," he said in a rough voice. 

But while everyone was happily dancing and having a good time, Eda was waiting nervously to the side. She looked at her watch, which had King in its arms. King then approached her. "Why so twitchy, witchy? I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen you this nervous before."

"Well, of course, I'm worried! I'm going to have to save Booker from a nightmare monster! Ugh, so much for Mama's fun night out." Eda complained. 

The lights dimmed, and Gus got on stage with the microphone. "Ladies, gentlemen, and assorted demons!" He said, wearing a gray tuxedo with a white shirt and a blue bow tie. The younger witch stood in the spotlight, speaking into the microphone as everyone looked at him. "It's almost time for our main Grom event. Please, please, take a seat, and be aware that the first three rows are designated splash zones." 

He pointed over to one of the guests, who was sitting in the first row, wearing a raincoat and opening an umbrella. 

The students cheer while Eda and King sit towards the back of the bleachers. "Wow, Gus is really good at this. They're hanging on his every word!" King said, watching as Gus encouraged the crowd to applaud.

"I see we've got Principal Bump in the house! Now, sir, I hope you won't throw us in detention because, uh, we're going to raise the roof." Gus told the crowd as the spotlight went onto Principal Bump, who was sitting in the bleachers. He made a raising-the-roof motion with his hands and smiled nervously as the students cheered.

"Whoo, I, uh, hope my material's up to snuff." King nervously said, pulling out his cards. However, he dropped the cards and fell back into a sitting position. Sitting on a whoopie cushion that was randomly placed there. "What do you think will go better with the youths, close-up magic or impressions?"

Eda grabbed King by the collar and held him up. "Oh, King. Teenagers are brutal. They'll boo anyone, and that kind of public humiliation can stick with you for life." She warned her pet demon, making King scream in fear.

Booker stood outside the school, wearing a blue leisure suit, yellow shirt, and dress shoes. Waiting for Luz to catch up, he tried fixing his tie, trying not to be nervous. The Isles were counting on him to stop Grom, and he didn't want to fail them. Talk about no pressure. 

"You ready, Booker?" asked Luz's voice from behind him. Booker turned around and was amazed by the dress she was wearing. 

With her hair calmed back, Luz wore what could be described as a mishmash of clothes. She wore a black tailcoat with purple accents over a white dress shirt. Around her waist, she wore a pink tutu, purple leggings, and brown boots. 

Booker smiled and said, "You…You look wonderful." 

Luz blushed hard and looked away with a sheepish smile. "Thanks. You look handsome. N-Not that you didn't before!" She quickly said, making Booker blush, too. "Sooooooo, you ready?"

That was his Luz, always thinking about others. Booker took a deep breath and said, "Let's do this."

Together, they entered the school and made their way toward the gym. 

At the same time, Amity stepped out of the gym's entrance and looked around. Hoping to see Booker before he went off to battle. As she waited, she looked down at her note from this morning. Gently smoothing it out with her thumb. 

"Booker and Luz, will you go to Grom with me?" -Amity. 

To say that the two friends had changed her life would be an understatement. Booker and Luz had significantly impacted the people around them in less than two months and generally improved their lives. Amity was one of those people. She wasn't proud of the person she used to be, but Booker and Luz helped change her into a better person. The same person who used to be friends with Willow. The girl that would read to kids and was loved by them. They make her want to be a better woman. Someone that they would be proud to fall in love with. 

Obviously, Amity had started to develop a crush on not just Booker but Luz too. Polyamorous relationships were not an uncommon thing on the Boiling Isles. Yet, she didn't know if it was the same thing in the human world. Would Amity regret the idea of asking them? Did they even feel the same way she felt? Amity knew that Booker and Luz liked each other the same way, yet wouldn't admit it. Would it be okay if she asked to join in their relationship? 

"Hey, Ams!" Booker said as he and Luz walked up to her. "You look beautiful." 

Amity blushed at the compliment and approached the two of them, pocketing the note as she examined their outfits. "Thanks. You look handsome," she said before looking at Luz. "Uh, you look nice. Strange, but... nice. So, are you ready?"

Booker looked away before glancing at her. "Honestly…I'm still really nervous. You girls know I'm dealing with many problems, and now everyone is looking to me to beat this thing." 

Luz placed her hand on Booker's shoulder. "We know, and we're here for you. The moment you start having trouble, we'll jump in."

"She's right," Amity said, taking Booker's hands into her own. "Honestly, despite what I said earlier, I'm kind of amazed by how fearless you are most of the time. You've done things I could never do."

"Wow, that's like the nicest thing you've ever said to me," Booker said with a smirk. 

"You goin' soft on us, Blight?" Luz asked, crossing her arms and looking at the pretty girl with a raised eyebrow. 

Amity laughed and smirked back at them. "In your dreams." The three of them laughed together before they heard Gus through the microphone in the gym. 

"Now, introducing our Grom King," Gus said as Principal Bump joined him on stage. "You know him; you love him; you've seen him kick butt. Booker, the hybrid!"

The students cheered as the spotlight went on Booker as he walked through the doorway. 

Booker turned to look at Luz and Amity. "Wish me luck," he said, drawing Dragon's Bite from his back and walking forward. 

Amity and Luz, both nervous, quietly said together, "Good luck." The two of them looked at one another. 

Back on the stage, the pedestal with the red button skitters up to Gus. Gus pressed the button. Everyone standing on the dance floor gasped as the floor opened to reveal the Grom arena. Skara and Bo were about to lean in for a kiss when they heard the floor opening. They then rip off their formal clothing to reveal their Grom jerseys.

"Yes, Booker!" Skara screamed with colossal intensity. Bo just laughed and swung her dress over her head in the air. 

The weapon racks rose on either side of Booker. However, already having his weapon in hand, he walked past them. Standing at the top of the ramp, Booker looked at his sword and concentrated. The markings of its glow with his magic flowing into the blade. Smirking at it, he held it in both hands and ventured into the arena. 

Walking across the arena, Booker looked around cautiously, knowing Grom could be anywhere. That's when he heard something behind him. Turning around, the Seventh Son saw slowly forming behind him. 

"Alright, you slimy little bitch. Let's rock!" Booker said, ready to fight the monster. 

Grom splits into several forms and turns into poorly made claymation monsters. They look like they want to be made by Ray Harryhausen but miss the mark by miles. 

"You fucking knockoff made me miss out on an outstanding movie genre!" Booker yelled before charging at the monsters. He swung his sword at them in a broad arch, shooting shards of ice at the beast and impaling them. Making them dissolve back into their black goo forms. 

The crowd of students cheered for him as Gus and Bump watched from the stage. "And there he goes, folks! Using that characteristic power of his to keep Grom at bay! And now, to hand things over to my co-emcee: King!" Gus said as King hopped up on the stage. 

Walking over to Gus and taking the mic from him, King faced the crowd. "Hel-LO, Hexside! So…" He dropped his cards when he pulled them out again. To make matters worse, the microphone feedback screeched. Feeling very nervous, King tugged at his collar. "Oh, oh gosh. Um... whoo. Wow, these lights are warm. Observe! Booker is um... he's down there, all right." 

"FOR GOD'S SAKE, LUZ, LEARN GRAMMAR!" 

"Bite me!" Luz yelled back. 

"And, uh, yes, he is! There he goes! Folks, he's battling the thing, and uh…." King started sweating while choking up. This caused the crowd to begin booing at him. 

"Bring back the funny kid!" One of the kids said. 

"You will clap for me! Please?" King begged. Hoping that something would happen to turn the booing into claps. But nothing came. When he wasn't getting what he wanted, he threw down the microphone and ran offstage, wailing.

"King!" Gus followed after him.

Back in the arena, Booker was fighting the illusion of the online conspiracy theorist. "You may think that you're informing the public about the dangers of the government, but all you're doing is projecting your insecurities onto others and causing division in the country!" 

He roared and fired a blast of flame at the illusion. Burning it and making Grom scream in agony. As the illusion disappeared, the students cheered for the Seventh Son. Eda crossed her arms and looked at Booker with a smile. Perhaps she was wrong to have doubted him. 

"Booker has lasted surprisingly long. But what form will Grom take next?" Bump said as he pulled out his own microphone, eager to see what would happen next. 

"Is that really the best you can do, Grom!? Come one! I'm right here!" Booker shouted as he looked around for Grom, twirling his sword. That's when he heard something behind him, making him turn around to see the monster's new form. 

While still looking like it was made of black goo, the illusion took the form of Eda's curse form. It had glowing eyes and growled as it crept toward Booker. In the stands, Luz and some kids looked at Eda, who groaned and hid in her hair. 

"Okay, that's scary. But I've faced Eda before and beaten her monster form, and I can do it again!" Booker said, narrowing his eyes at the monster. He concentrated a light spell into the blade of Dragon's Bite, making the sword glow a bright light. 

Grom tried to shield its eyes from the light and reached out to Booker's head. But the Seventh Son quickly stepped out of the way of the monster's arm and cut it off with one slash. Grom retracted its arm and reformed it before lunging at Booker. The Seventh Son jumped back before the monster could land on him. 

Everyone watched as Booker continued to avoid being killed by the monster as it attacked him with slashes with its claws. He then stabbed the sword into the floor and concentrated earth magic into it. 

Grom tried to attack again but never got the chance. Shooting out of the ground at it was a pillar of earth as sharp as a razor blade. It cleaved the illusion of Eda's monster form by the waist. Making the top half fall and splat on the ground. 

The students once again cheered for Booker as he approached the deformed goo. "Oh yeah! Don't mess with this Seventh Son," he said, ready to swing his sword into Grom like a golf club. "Four!"

But suddenly, the weakened monster reached out with a black tendril and touched Booker's head, making his eyes glow. Grom's eyes reformed and glowed as well. All the monster's body pieces gathered together and condensed back in on itself. There was a bright light, making Booker shield his eyes. When he opened his eyes again to see what form Grom took, the Seventh Son was confused. 

Standing before him was a small boy, around seven years old. The only thing that stood out to Booker was a party cone on the top of his head. 

A hush fell over the crowd as they didn't expect the Fear Bringer to assume such a weak form. Why would someone as powerful as Booker be afraid of this little boy?

"Wha…What the heck?" Booker asked, unsure how what he saw was supposed to scare him. "Who are you supposed to be?"

"Really? You don't remember? Allow me to remind you of what we did." The boy then held up his hands and clapped them. 

All of a sudden, the arena was engulfed in a raging inferno. The intensity of the powerful flames knocked back students standing near the opening. Everyone started getting worried, especially those closest to the Seventh Son. 

"BOOKER!" Eda, Luz, and Amity screamed. 

Down in the arena, Booker's body froze as the fire and the illusion surrounded him. He was too scared even to move as he realized that he was staring at his younger self with wide, horror-filled eyes. The exact age he was when his family died. 

"Now, do you remember?" The illusion asked, forming into present-day Booker, wearing the same clothes as the real him wore now. "That was when you first awakened your powers and murdered our family!" 

Up in the stands, Luz gasped when she heard this. "What?" 

"Kid, don't believe a thing that comes out of Grom's mouth," Eda said, looking down at the arena with an expression of anxiety. 

Booker took a step back, sweating profusely. "No…No! That's not what happened! I didn't kill them! I loved them!" He yelled at the illusion in anger. 

"Is that what Eda told you?" Grom-Booker asked as another illusion appeared. This one was of Eda, who stood near the raging fire. "Was she there when it happened? She only told you that because she doesn't know either." 

"I couldn't have. I wasn't in control!" Booker yelled back. 

"And are you really any better than you were back then?" Grom asked, looking up at the ceiling. Listening to students groaning in pain after being thrown on their backs. "Do you not hear their pain?" 

Hearing another illusion forming behind him, Booker turned around. His eyes widened at the sight of a vision of his parents and brothers in the fire. 

"Our family died because of you," Grom-Booker said as the vision faded into the fire. 

Booker turned back around, only to see more illusions having formed. These took the form of Luz, Amity, King, Eda, Willow, Gus, the last members of his family, the friends he made in the Detention Track, and Bump. They stood around Booker and Grom, just inches away from the flaming wall surrounding them. 

"Whose to say that everyone wouldn't die because of you," Grom-Booker asked. 

"No…"

"YOU'LL DESTROY EVERYTHING!" Grom-Booker shouted at Booker. The magic lines when he lost control appeared, covering the illusion's body. "EVERYONE IS BURNING!" 

That's when Grom-Booker and everyone were caught on fire. Booker was forced to watch as his friends and family started melting like clay candles, much to the horror of everyone watching. 

"NO!"

"YOU ARE A CURSE, BOOKER BRIDGES!" Grom-Booker transformed into a giant and terrifying-looking flaming head that glared at the Seventh Son with fire in his empty black eyes. " YOU BRING DEATH TO EVERYONE!"

"NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Booker cried out in an agonizing yell as he dropped Dragon's Bite and fell to his knees. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he grabbed his head. Staring at the nightmare before him, unable to cope with the horror in front of him. 

Everyone watching couldn't describe the horror, dread, and fear they felt for the poor blonde boy. They had all heard about Grom bringing their worst fears to life, but this was beyond anything they could have imagined. 

Seeing its chance, Grom's eyes started glowing. The monster morphed into a massive, monstrous form. The fire disappeared, and the beast lunged at Booker. 

Booker didn't have time to react before Grom was already upon him. Opening its massive jaw, it shot out black tendrils and entangled Booker before pulling the Seventh Son. Booker tried to escape but was helpless when the monster's jaws closed down on him. Taking him inside its body. 

Everyone stared down at the arena in horror. Unable to believe what they'd just seen. Luz and Amity were the most torn up. Both had tears rolling down their faces. They had just seen their boy crush being eaten by the same monster they were so confident he would defeat. The school chose Booker to beat Grom and take down the monster, hopefully once and for all. However, everyone was now frightened and backed away from the arena's opening. 

For the first time in school history, a student failed to stop Grom, and the door was still open. 

Sweating nervously, Bump simply said into the microphone, "Oh dear."

Grom let out a loud roar of victory. After decades of being trapped under the floor of Hexside, one of its champions finally failed. Seeing the path to freedom opened and without a child to try and kill, the monster seized the opportunity. It ran up the ramp, making the kids in its way run for it as it reached the top. No one was in its path as it ran out of the gym and down the school's hallways. Busting out the main doors and into the wild. 

"Grom has escaped!" Principal Bump shouted in wide-eyed terror. Everyone in the gym started to panic. 

"BOOKER!" Luz cried with tears rolling down her face. She was about to run down the stands when Eda stopped her. 

"Get on!" Eda said, already on her staff. "Booker may still be alive inside that monster, but we had to stop it!" 

Hearing of the possibility of Booker being alive, Luz quickly wiped her tears away and got on the staff. With an urgency she'd never felt in a long time, Eda kicked Owlbert into high gear and rocketed towards one of the windows. The Owl Lady formed a shield before smashing through the glass, protecting herself and Luz. Then they sped off after Grom. 

However, inside the gym, as the principal tried to calm everyone down, someone else heard what Eda said. And while Gus may have been convincing King to try to face his fears and tell jokes to calm everyone down, Amity wasn't just going to sit around and listen to the demon. 

Looking down at the arena, she saw Dragon's Bite, which was still where Booker had dropped it. 

The trees zoomed past below the flying staff. The monster was running as fast as a speeding car through the woods. Eda and Luz stared down at it as they kept up with Grom. 

"We have to get Booker out of there! He could be suffocating!" Luz exclaimed, wanting to save her best friend's life. 

"Not as much as everyone's gonna be if we don't stop Grom from reaching the ocean!" Eda said over the rushing winds. 

"What?" Luz asked. 

"Grom was trapped underground because it needed water to grow! If it reaches the ocean, it'll grow into a giant monster. Large enough to overrun the isles!" Eda explained the severity of the situation. 

Luz looked ahead and saw Grom's destination. It was heading for a cliff that dropped off into the ocean. Now she knew how significantly bad things were about to get, especially if Grom jumped off that cliff. 

"I'll stop it!" She declared. 

"No, I will!" Eda told her. "You're not ready for this."

"Booker is inside of that monster! I have to save him! Please, Eda!" The Owl Lady looked back to see just how desperate Luz was. However, in her eyes, she saw the determination Luz had to save Booker. 

"You really do like my nephew, huh?" Eda asked with a smirk, making Luz blush brightly. "Alright, but I'm stepping in the moment things get bad." 

She increased her speed and flew past Grom. Once Eda reached the cliff, Luz jumped off. Landing on the ground, she rolled before coming to a stop just before she went over the cliff. "Well, I'm not doing that again," she said with a smile.

Grom's roar brought her back to the situation at hand, and Luz quickly stood back up. The monster busted out of the treeline and stopped when it saw the Dominican human. 

Luz quickly pulled out her glyphs and prepared for battle. "Alright, Gromarama, you ready for a beat down, human-style?!" 

With a battle cry, Luz rushed at Grom, and the monster charged at her, too. Luz was about to attack with a fire spell. However, just as she was about to unleash a torrent of flames on the monster, Grom formed another tendril and reached out ahead of itself. 

Like Booker, when Grom touched Luz's head, the eyes of both the human and the monster glowed. Retracting the tendril away from her, Grom's body started to reform. With Booker's body still inside, the Fear Bringer changed into Camila Noceda. 

 Camila looked at her daughter, who looked at her in shock. "Mija?"

"M-Mom!?" Luz exclaimed, backing away as Camila approached her. "What are you doing here?

Over by the trees, Eda saw the exchange and immediately started to worry. "Oh no."

Camila, looking concerned and confused, looked around at their surroundings. "Luz, what is this terrible place? Espérate un momento, this isn't camp. Have you been here all these weeks?" She asked, looking at her daughter with a look of suspicion. "Where's Booker? Weren't you supposed to keep him safe?" 

 "I—I can explain!" Luz said, believing that she was talking to her real mother. 

Seeing the situation fall back into its hands, the illusion of Camila morphed back into Grom's actual form. It towered over Luz as the fake mother glared at her daughter. "Mija, have you been lying to me?!" 

"N-NO!" Luz cried out, backing away from Grom. She grabbed her head and shook it while shutting her eyes tight. "T-This isn't real!"

"Why would you lie to me?! What have I done to make you keep secrets from me, Mija?!" Grom said through Camila's voice. 

"You're not really my mom!" Luz yelled, turning away.

"How can you say that, cariño?! You're breaking my heart!" The monster raised its claw to strike down on Luz. 

Before it could, it was hit in the back by a fireball from Eda. "Alright, that's it! I'm not letting you take away my human, you misshapen excuse for a monster!" She said in a fury, just about to cast another spell.

However, just before the Owl Lady could, Amity shouted as she jumped out from the trees with Dragon's Bite in hand. The sword felt heavy in her hands, forcing her to hold it with both as she rushed towards the battle. 

Amity quickly put herself between Luz and Grom and stood in a fighting stance with the Bridges' family sword. "Stay away from her!"

Grom growled and reached out an inky arm towards Amity, grabbing her body and lifting the witch high above the ground. Amity tried to free her arm to cut the arm with the sword, but Grom's arm was out of reach for her to use the anti-magic blade. 

"I'm sorry, Booker," Amity said, looking at the barely visible silhouette of the Seventh Son's body floating around in Grom's body. Her voice carried the immense regret she felt for not being able to save him, and she started to tear up. 

Grom's eyes glowed blue, reading Amity's mind as her eyes glowed too.

"Amity! No, your fear!" Luz yelled. 

Grom grew, becoming more blob-like as it rose into the air. Its body bubbled and boiled. With staff clenched in her hands, Eda watched as Grom transformed again until it finally shrunk.

Booker's body was pulled out of Grom's body and held in the monster's arm. Its goo wrapped all around Booker's body, arms, legs, and hands to control his movement while the Seventh Son remained unconscious. 

"Booker!" Luz yelled at her hybrid friend. However, things only became stranger when Grom's main body placed Amity and Booker down on their feet and morphed into a humanoid body. "Who is that?"

Amity's eyes stopped glowing, allowing her to see Booker's body and the humanoid blob as it held her shoulder. 

"Booker," She said softly. 

However, before she could do anything to wake him up, Grom reached into Amity's pocket and took the pink note out of it. The humanoid looked up at Amity while forcing Booker's head to do the same. 

Then, it ripped the note in half, letting it fall to the ground. Amity closed her eyes, embarrassed while clutching her dress. Unable to take the sight of what was supposed to be Luz taking Booker's hand and walking away. Grom reformed around the Seventh Son again, trapping him back inside its body. 

Amity picked up one-half of the note from the ground and held it to her heart. Curious about the other half of the letter, Luz walked over and picked up the other. She unfurled it and read it. 

"Will you go to Grom with me?" -Amity.

Gasping at what it said, she looked up at Amity. "You were afraid of getting rejected," said Luz, but was still confused by why Grom would use Booker's body. Sure, it still wanted to keep him for his power, obviously. But one thing that didn't make sense to Luz was the beast showing the Seventh Son's face. What was the reason for letting her see his face?

But that's when Luz came to a revelation and looked at Amity with wide eyes. 

"You have a crush on Booker, don't you," she asked. 

Amity looked away from Luz, her face turning bright red with embarrassment. "Y-Yeah…"

"Amity…why didn't you say anything?" Luz asked. 

Taking a deep breath, she turned to Luz. "Because of you, Luz. I know that he has feelings for you."

The Dominican girl was silent for a moment before she started laughing. "What?! No," she said, waving her off.

Amity raised her eyebrow. "Really," she said. "He does."

"Oh, stop!" Luz said, still trying to deny what was so obvious. "He's my best friend. He doesn't have…" 

The more she looked at Amity's knowing look, the moment more Luz started to realize she was telling the truth. And the more she thought about it, the more Luz realized just how blind she'd been to the truth. 

"Booker…likes like me?" 

Amity smirked at her. "Finally seeing?"

"Oh my God, I can't be that dense," she said, grabbing her head. Becoming what she'd always feared being: a shonen protagonist.

And yet, she always has been, Amity thought. "You really didn't know about his feelings for you?" 

"I guess…" Luz twiddled her fingers as she started explaining, "I've always liked Booker. He's just such an amazing guy with a heart of gold, even if he is rough around the edges," she said. "But…"

"But what?"

"I've been feeling…different around him. At first, I saw him as a great friend, but…ever since coming here, I've seen a side of him I've never seen. He's blossomed in this world, and being around him makes me so happy. He inspires me to become a better witch," she said, as a smile of admiration and love formed on her face the more she thought about the Seventh Son. "I… guess that's why I've been starting to fall for him too."

Amity stared at Luz wide-eyed, amazed by the Dominican girl's confession. "Feel better now," she asked.

"Oh yeah, that felt so much better," Luz said.

The beautiful mint-haired witch talked next and smiled a little. "I admit that I wasn't the best witch to Booker—or you, but that didn't stop him from wanting to be my friend. As time went on, and as we continued hanging out, I realized just how much of a remarkable guy he really is. He helped me remember the person I used to be and made me feel things I've never felt for any other guy."

Lost in their own little world, Luz and Amity stood together by the cliff, thinking about their mutual feelings for the Seventh Son. 

"Huh, and here I am, thinking about his crush on you," the Dominican girl admitted. This made Amity look at her in surprise. "I've got an idea! What if the two of us take Booker to Grom together?"

She held out her hand for Amity to take. Surprised again, Amity felt her smile grow. Even though Luz didn't know about her crush on her, Amity still felt this was the human's way of accepting her feelings for her. "Really?" She asked, reaching out to Luz's hand. 

"That's what friends do," Luz said with a beaming smile. 

Amity shared the smile until she looked sternly at Grom as the monster growled. Having waited long enough, it rose and towered above them, roaring menacingly from its massive jaws.

"Well, then, let's teach this bastard what happens when it takes our date!" Amity declared, determined to rescue both their crush. Turning to Luz, she stabbed Dragon's Bite into the ground and held her hand out to the human girl. "May I have this dance?"

Looking at Amity's hand with wide eyes, the other girl grinned at her. Luz took her hand, and both the human girl and the witch girl pulled themselves close to one another. Their faces were inches from one another, with a hand clasping the other's while their second hand was placed on their waist. The moon shone brightly behind them as they were ready to dance. 

And dance they did. Both girls started dancing with each other, with Luz spinning Amity around as she lifted her by her waist. When she came back down, Amity spun around and cast a spell with her feet. Forming a giant abomination below them, which rose up from the ground with both girls on it. Fanning out her plant glyph cards while giving her partner a seductive look in her eyes. Pulling her back towards her, Amity dipped Luz, and she slapped a glyph onto the abomination. They jumped off, and the abomination launched itself toward Grom. 

The monster roared and charged at the abomination and ate it when it flew into its mouth. However, a green light started moving within it. 

Luz landed and caught Amity, spinning her around several times before putting her on her feet. As they finished and held hands, striking a pose and looking at each other, Grom's chest was ripped open by vines that pushed Booker out of its body. Making the monster roar in agony. Booker hit the ground and rolled a bit toward the girls. Seeing their crush out of the monster, they let go of each other's hands and ran towards him. 

"Booker!" Luz and Amity cried out as both girls knelt beside him. 

Hearing their voices, Booker groaned and opened his eyes. Seeing both of them looking down at him, he smiled. "Hey, girls."

Luz and Amity sighed in relief and helped Booker sit up. "You had us scared for a moment," Amity said, smiling as Booker groaned and rubbed his head. 

With a sad sigh, Booker looked down in shame. "I'm…I'm sorry you had to see that. What Grom showed you all." 

"Booker, stop," Luz said, placing a hand on his cheek and turning his head towards her. "I don't believe a single thing that Grom said. I don't believe for a moment you're a curse."

"Me too," Amity said, placing her hand on Booker's thigh. He looked at her, and the green-haired witch smiled. "We both know that you'd never do anything to hurt us. Please, don't destroy yourself thinking you are."

"I don't want you girls to get hurt," Booker said, shaking his head. 

"Then you'll have to protect us, just like we'll have to protect you," Luz said, with Amity nodding in agreement. 

Booker looked at the two beautiful girls and their beautiful smiles. Making it clear to him that they didn't think less of him for what his fears were and for failing to stop Grom. Denying the claims Grom made and showing him that they would stand with him through anything. Hearing their words made his love for both girls grow, and his determination to master his power grew along with it. 

Standing on his feet, Booker turned towards Dragon's Bite and held out his hand. On command, the sword flew into his grasp. 

"Then let's finish this. Together, girls." Booker said with a smile as they stood up with him. Expressing the same determination as their Grom King. 

The monster started to reform again. 

Booker pointed Dragon's Bite at Grom and charged it with his magic. Amity came to his left side and stood close to him. With her shoulder pressed against his, the green-haired witch placed her right hand on his left hand. Then Amity drew a magic circle around the blade with her left hand. Luz did the same on Booker's right side. Standing close to him with their shoulders touching, she placed her left hand on his right. Then she put a plant glyph on Dragon's Bite. 

Grom growled at the kids and charged. 

Booker unleashed a large beam of energy from his sword at Grom. The largest beam was golden yellow, while the two smaller beams that spiraled around it were purple and green. Representing the combined powers as they slammed into Grom head-on. Creating a massive explosion of blinding lights as tendrils of wood were briefly seen shooting up.

When the light faded, Grom was no more. In its place was a massive tree with pink and purple leaves with glowing gold lines shining from the trunk and branches. Nothing was left of the Fear Bringer. 

Grom was finally dead. 

Lowering Dragon's Bite, Booker, Luz, and Amity smiled at the tree they had made together. The girls looked up as a gold tiara with a purple flower jewel appeared on both their heads. As for the Seventh Son, a golden coronet with a purple flower jewel at the top was placed on his head. 

The three young adults smiled brightly at each other, having never felt as happy as they did at that moment. 

"So…as Grom King, will you take your Grom Queens to the dance?" Luz asked, smiling teasingly at Booker, making the boy blush. 

Rubbing the back of his head, Booker said, "I-I guess. Only if my Queens will join me." 

He was then surprised when both girls took his hands and interlaced their fingers with his. Luz and Amity looked at Booker lovingly. 

"We'd love to," Amity said softly. 

But the moment was interrupted by King running to the side of the three kids. With a microphone, he said, "And there you have it, folks. A happy ending for this year's Grom. Let's give a big hand to our Grom King, Booker, and his Queens: Luz and Amity!" Booker laughed sheepishly while Luz flashed a toothy smile, and Amity blushed awkwardly.

Having arrived after the three of them defeated Grom, the students popped out of the bushes and ran toward them, cheering for the Seventh Son and his Grom Queens for beating Grom once and for all. They picked up the three of them and paraded them toward the school. Booker laughed as Luz put a hand on Amity's shoulder. Standing away from the kids, Eda smiled at Booker and the girls while clapping for them. 

Next to her, Gus ran over to King and gave him two thumbs up. "You did it, buddy!"

"Of course I did it! I'm the King of Demons, and I've never had stage fright in my life!" He yelled into the microphone. The parading students grabbed King and passed him up to Booker, who held him over his head. "They love me!"

Booker, Luz, and Amity laughed and smiled at each other warmly. The reign of the nightmare monster was finally over, and the Seventh Son had saved the Boiling Isles. 

And so the party continued into the night until Bump finally announced the end of it. It was a night to remember for Booker. He laughed and hung out with all his friends, cousins, and their dates. Having the time of his life with everyone. When it was time for the Grom King to dance with his queens, he took Luz and Amity together, and the three of them danced together. 

After the dance, they all took their photos together. First, Emira and Warrick did, with the green-haired witch kissing her date on the cheek. Making him blush brightly. 

Then Edric and Roswell got in front of the camera, with the Blight boy leaning his head close to Roswell's embarrassed face, secretly giving him bunny ears with his fingers.

Skara and Bo pushed the two of them out of the way. The black girl posed like she was running for a sports team, and her girlfriend tried her best with a smile. 

Jason and Viney were up next, and both of them were shocked when their pets pushed them into each other. Making their lips connect for their very first kiss. 

Felix held Selena close to him, kissing her head as she smiled. 

At first, Booker, Luz, and Amity just wanted something simple. Booker was placed in the middle, with Luz and Amity on his right and left. However, the moment the picture was taken, Willow and Gus photo-boomed it. 

It was a magical night that any form of magic in this world couldn't replicate.

When the residents of the Owl House returned home, Eda rushed in with her fists pumping. "Whoo! Watch out for this kid, bitches! The Seventh Born is here! Oh, you did good, kid." She cheered, pointing to Booker as he entered the house with Luz and King. 

Booker took off his coronet and tossed it on the table. "Thanks, but... I'm gonna go to bed." He said, looking down. 

Everyone looked at him in confusion. Seeing his chance, King climbed onto the table, picked up the coronet, and placed it on his head. "There can only be one king! And his name is King!"

Entering his room, Booker stripped off his tux and threw it to the side. With a sigh, he opened the window and sat on the windowsill, looking out at sea. Booker reached into his pocket and pulled out the memory photo Eda pulled from his mind. He stared at it and the fire that he cast that night. Wondering how things could have been different if he'd just faced his fears. 

"That's the memory?" Booker looked behind to see Luz standing at the doorway. She still had her tiara on but looked at him sadly and worriedly. 

"Yeah," he said, hopping out the window and sitting on the house's roof. Luz followed him, and they sat together and looked at the photo. 

"Aw, you were so cute," Luz said, rubbing her finger on 7-year-old Booker as if she wanted to tickle him. 

"I still am," he said, whining. Both friends laughed together before stopping. "I…I'm sorry you had to fight my battle, Luz. You and Amity shouldn't have…."

"Booker, I've told this before, and I'll say it again. You'll never be alone. Your battles are our battles," Luz said softly, reaching up and caressing his cheek. "Besides, I didn't do so great either. I couldn't face my mom."

That's when her phone vibrated. Pulling it out of her pocket, she turned it on to find two texts from her mom. 

[How was your day? <3, Mamá!]

[Miss you, Mija:).]

Luz thought for a moment about how to respond. She typed a duck emoji. But then Booker's finger reached over and tapped the backspace. Surprised, the girl looked at him with wide eyes as her crush smiled at her. "I don't know when there'll be another time to face my fears. Don't let this one slide." 

Thinking for a moment, Luz realized that he was right. So, she typed a new message. 

[Miss you too, Mami]. 

She sent the text. Luz sat next to Booker, thinking of what she could write next before continuing to type. The Seventh Son stayed with her and looked back at the sea as the wind howled. Blowing the clouds away to reveal the moon. 

[I won't lie. Today was kinda hard. And I don't always feel like I'm supposed to be here. Booker has it worse than me. He feels like he doesn't belong anywhere. But when things get tough, our friends help us out. I think you'd like them. Te extraño también, Mami. One day, I'll tell you all about this.]

When Camila received her text, she texted back to her daughter.

[Can't wait! P.S. I love receiving your letters!]

Lying in bed, the young girl's mother smiled at her phone, so happy to hear how she and her best friend were doing together. Camila turned it off and placed it on her nightstand. Knowing her daughter was happy and safe, she turned over and fell asleep.

However, something wasn't right in the human realm. And it wasn't what the mother thought it was. Camila was texting her daughter, and Luz was texting her. There was no doubt about it. 

What was wrong was that next to the phone was a pile of papers. The letters Camila mentioned in her last text were handwritten letters that Luz seemingly wrote, with the most recent one being placed on top.

"Hi, Mom! I am having a great time at camp. Today, we learned what mortgages are! I can't wait to get home and see you. Let's do lots of fun mother/daughter activities forever and ever. Love, Your Daughter, LUZ". 

But these weren't written by Luz. 

She never sent letters through the door. Someone else had used her name to send these letters to Camila. Who could it be? No one knows. But if Camila knew that these letters weren't coming from her daughter in the Demon Realm, she would be best off taking caution. It's unknown what the person's intentions are.

Only time will tell.