I woke up to see the spare bedroom in Eda's house. This is all real! I really had to use the bathroom, so I walked in the door to see Hooty. "Hiya, Petey." Hooty greeted as I screamed and kicked him by accident. "Not again, hoot!" "Sorry, Hooty." I apologized. Although it was kinda weird to hear Hooty call me Petey, a nickname only my mom called me.
After I finished getting dressed in the bathroom, I went to the bedroom where I was staying with Luz, who was dressed in an old robe. "What is that?" I asked. "My new uniform fit for an apprentice." Luz replied, bringing me downstairs to wait for Eda. When she came down, she was still in her pajamas. "Good morning, Eda the Owl Lady!" Luz greeted. "We are ready for our first day of witch apprenticeship." "Ugh, who are you again?" She asked with a yawn. Luz gasped. "It's Peter and Luz." I explained. "Remember us? We all freed the oppressed and defeated the evil warden together, yesterday?" "Kid, lay off the details." Eda said. "I haven't even had my cup of apple blood yet." "You mean apple juice?" I asked. "No." She replied, sitting down, drinking her beverage. Luz was still pretty excited about the fact that we were spending time with a witch. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited too, but I'm not acting like I'm meeting some famous author. "Teach us some spells!" Luz begged. "When do we each get a magic staff? Were we supposed to bring our own runes? Do you have a dangerous magical quest for us?!" "Whoa, slow down, kid." Eda explains. "Being a witch doesn't happen overnight, also, you're wrapped in a bathrobe and wearing the dirtiest traffic cone I've ever seen." I took the thing off of Luz's head and blowed away the dust, which did reveal a traffic cone. King began to laugh. "But a magic staff, you really want one?" Eda asked. "More than anything." Luz replied. "Sure, I guess." I added. "Magic staff, come to me!" Eda exclaimed as her staff flies into her hand, but not before it bumps her in the head. "It's early, now, witches are awarded their staffs from school, with me as your teacher, you'll both be taking a different approach, you'll have to work for it. I run a few businesses, on weekends, I offer rare human treasures that Owlbert drags over from your side of the realm, but most days, I sell only the finest homemade elixirs and potions." I picked up one of the bottles. "Snake oil?" I asked. "No one wants an un-oiled snake, follow me." Eda replied, taking us outside. "Today, you'll both be delivering packages and selling potions to that town over there, Bonesborough, you'll have to be careful, I have rivals everywhere who'd love to take my business down and the two of you along with it, you wanted a dangerous magical quest? Kiddos, you've got one." "We won't let you down, Miss Eda." Luz said, accidentally dropping the sack of potions on the ground. "I'm sure." Eda groaned. "Remember, never befriend a man in sandals, and always measure twice, cut once, good luck." Eda slammed the door on us, but we both overheard her telling King that he had to come with us. "Be back by nightfall or risk mortal peril." Eda said, slamming the door again. "Have a nice trip." Hooty added. "Ugh, let's get this over with." King groaned.
Walking into Bonesborough, we saw some creatures walking around town. "Whoa." I whispered. Luz began looking around her surroundings to see the creatures. "Hey, it's rude to stare!" King exclaimed. "I've only seen places like this in my dreams, it's incredible." Luz explains. "And Peter and I are the only humans here?" "Haven't seen any others." King replied. "Do you think there's a reason for that?" I asked. "What if we, Peter Yenkins and Luz Noceda, average teens, actually had a predetermined path of greatness?" "Just like Azura!" Luz gasped. "Yeah, did Azura's path to greatness involve her delivering boil cream?" King asked. "Today, we're delivering packages, but tomorrow we'll be earning the respect of everyone on the Boiling Isles with our magical prowess." I said, determined. "Ha, good luck, the Boiling Isles is nothing but a cesspool of despair." King explains. "More like cesspool of delight." Luz corrected, grabbing me and running off to sell some stuff.
After a few hours of no sales, we stopped at a food cart to get something for King. "I know I've had enough delight for one day." King said. "I thought Peter and I being the only humans in a magical world would make us both special." Luz sighed. "But apparently, it just makes everyone want to scream at us or eat us." I added, getting a creature to stop chewing on my elbow. "At this point, Azura had already been sent on an enchanted quest." "Right?" Luz asked, sarcastically. "Where's our quest-granting wizard?" "Sorry to break it to you, guys, but no one here is that well-dressed." King apologizes. "This has been a rough day." I sighed. "Let's just deliver this last package and go home." "Maybe this world isn't what I thought it..." Luz trailed off by the sight of a castle and gasped. "Oh my god!" I gasped. We walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. "Big houses always belong to big whack jobs." King complained. "Let's kick the package inside and get out of here." "Hello?" Luz asked, running inside. King and I ran inside after her. "We're delivering a package from Miss Eda the Owl Lady." The lights dramatically came on as a wizard stepped out of the shadows. "Today just got good." I gasped silently. "Magical wizard." Luz mumbled. "A weird old man in jim-jams." King said. "Somewhere in between." I added. "I was in my Oscillarium, reading the stars." The wizard explains. "And who might you be, with eyes of curiosity?" Luz and I were speechless. "Young ones, dareth, I say, I sense something unique about you two." He said, making a table and chairs appear. "Please, won't you join me for tea?" "Okay!" Luz exclaimed. "Oh, I'm fine." I replied, standing next to King, who grabbed Luz's hand. "Let's scram, wizards are just old people with glitter in their pockets." King warned. "Yeah, I'm with King on this one, there's something about him that isn't right." I added. "But the stars on his robe are sparkling, and there's a baby fox in his beard." Luz explains. "Plus, I see scones on the table." "Where?!" King and I beamed in excitement. "We'd love to join you for tea." Luz replied. "Not me." I said. "SHOW ME THE SCONES!" "Do you sell potions, sir wizard?" Luz asked, noticing vials of potions nearby. "Please, call me Adegast, and yes, I run a small business." The wizard introduced. "You should run a business of more scones into my mouth." King said. "I'm surprised to see you here, it was my understanding that Eda delivered the packages herself." Adegast said. "Well, we're kinda, sorta, both her apprentices." I explained. "Oh, and how are you finding that experience so far?" He asked. "Can I be honest, Mr Adegast?" Luz sighed. "When both of us decided to stay in this magical world, we both thought we were meant for something special, but, Eda thinks we're meant for chores." "One of the summer camps I was sent to was mostly child labor." I said. "But, what she's trying to say is that we're afraid if we came to the wrong place." "Hmm, I have a quest..." Adegast said. "A quest?!" Luz exclaimed. "You didn't let me finish. I have a question. Would you like to go on a quest?" He asked. "Yes!" She replied. Adegast pulled a scroll out of his beard. "I might have just the thing." He explains. "The prophecy speaks of a young human boy and girl who will claim the Celestial Staff and free this world from an ancient evil. Perhaps thou hath cometh here for a reason. "Perhaps we hath." We mumbled. "Should you believe yourself worthy to attempt this quest..." "So worthy." Luz replied. "Sure, I guess." I added. "You need to know the road is dark and perilous, and only the Chosen Ones can pull the staff from its post." "Neat story, anyway, your food is gone and we are, too." King scoffed. "Yes, we have to go." I said. "And pack for this enchanted quest, I'm in!" Luz added. "Wonderful." Adegast cheered as we left.
Once we got back to The Owl House, Luz began packing for this quest. "So, Peter, King, what kind of Chosen One should I be?" Luz asked. "I don't know, but that toy sword looks like something that came out of She-ra." I commented. "Huh, what?" King yawned. "Should I be full of optimism and goodness, like The Good Witch Azura? Or should I be like a bad girl Chosen One with black nail polish and a mysteriously withdrawn attitude?" Luz asked. "Oh, you guys talking about bad girls?" Eda asked, joining the conversation. "Wait, what's going on?" "Eda, tell Luz and Peter how dumb wizards are." King said. "Ugh, wizards are the worst. Never trust a man in casual drapery." Eda explains. "Why?" "Your wizard client told them, they were the chosen ones!" King laughed. "Wait, Luz and Peter?" Eda also started laughing. "He even gave them a map!" King added. "Let me see this map." Eda said as I gave it to her. "You didn't think this was real, did you?" "I have mixed feelings about it." I replied. "What?" Luz asked. "This map is bunk." Eda explains. "There's no lake with a Celestial Staff on The Boiling Isles, I would've stolen it ages ago." Luz frowned as I put my arm around her in order to cheer her up. "Ah, don't worry, couple more months here and you won't look like such a mark." Eda said. "Can I have some time alone?" Luz asked with a sigh. Eda and King left us in the room alone. "Hey, Luz, you're one of the coolest people I've ever met." I complimented. "I hate to see you like this." "Maybe they were right." Luz sighed. Suddenly, the map had some more information on the quest. "The path will only appear to the worthy." I read. "Luz, are you seeing this?" "Yeah." Luz replied. "That must be why Eda couldn't see it, but are we both really worthy?" "Only one way to find out, Luz." I replied. "We'll never know unless we try."
After we escaped through the window, Luz and I reached the Bonesborough city limits. "This is it, Peter, our first mythical quest!" Luz exclaimed. We slid down a hill as the forest we went through was surrounded by fog or something. "Okay, so, we got the scroll, our youthful optimism, got the She-ra sword." I said. "You know, I wonder if I made the right choice by coming here." Luz frowned. "I believe we both did." I smiled. Luz gasped as we arrived in a town full of kittens. A witch dude came out from a fountain. "I see, so, you're the chosen ones?" He asked. "The Celestial Staff should've picked me, Nevareth Bladestrife, teen prince of Angstmore." "Yes, yes I did make the right choice." Luz replied.
As we continued our journey through the forest, Nevareth began telling a tragic backstory about his life. "Nevareth, your vengeful backstory is so compelling, and I'm loving your animal sidekick." Luz compliments. "Show off." I whispered so none of them could hear me. "After my village was consumed, my heart has known nothing but vengeance." He continued. "Nevareth." Luz gasped. "Lady Luz, do you think love can bloom on the battlefield?" Nevareth asked. "This quest is questing in all the right ways." Luz giggled to me. As we crossed a bridge, a creature popped out in front of us, startling all of us. "Hum-di-diddle." The creature said. "To pass the bridge, you must..." "Lemme guess, you want us to solve a riddle?" I interrupted. "Hit us, little man!" Luz exclaimed. "Your quest shall stop if you fail this game." The creature explains. "So tell me, dear travelers, what is my name?" I then noticed a name tag on the side of his shirt. "Uh, Chris?" I asked, very confused. "That's it." He replied. "You may cross the bridge, and please take this, chosen ones, it shall help you on your journey." Chris handed a ring to Luz. "This is amazing, thank you." Luz thanked. "Do you need a cape, Luz?" Nevareth asked. "Nah, I think I'm good." Luz declined. "You can use my shirt." He said, taking off his shirt, showing a six pack. "Yes, I need a cape!" Luz exclaimed. "Show off." I mumbled again. "Three cheers for the chosen ones!" Nevareth announced as everyone cheered.
A fairy princess invited us to a feast, well, invited Luz. I was basically a plus one. "Thank you for inviting us to your feast, princess, all your food was so tiny and cute." Luz thanked as she made a bracelet for her. "Thank you, you've all been so kind and thoughtful, I hope this quest never ends!" "Your quest will soon come to an end, for the staff you seek is around the bend." Chris narrated. "You're ruining her moment, Chris." I scoffed. "Thank you, Peter." Luz smiled. "Go on, Chosen Ones, the Celestial Staff is yours." Nevareth said. "You've earned it." I just realized that something was off. This wasn't much of a quest at all. And how am I a chosen one if I've barely done shit? What if this was a trap?
I still followed Luz through the forest as she looked for the "staff". Right in front of us was a staff. Another bridge appeared in front of us to allow a walkway to the staff. "I knew this world wasn't all gloom and doom like Eda and King said." Luz gasped. "There is wonder here, and I think we came here for a reason." We came up to the staff. Luz was nervous. "This is it, Luz, moment of truth." I explained. Luz picked up the staff as it was lifted from its resting place. "Yes, we are the chosen ones!" Luz exclaimed. "I always suspected there was a reason nobody understood my wacky antics back at home, now I have concrete proof." All of a sudden, the staff turned to dust and everything around us began either dying or fading away. "I actually thought it was a trap hence the fact I didn't do much and I was still a chosen one." I explained. Luz and I were pretty scared. "Luz and Peter, the humans." Adegast said behind us. "Magical wizard?" Luz asked. "Your hubris has failed you, witch apprentices." He replied as he came closer to reveal a creature controlling him, almost as if he was a puppet. "Classic chosen one biz." I whispered to Luz. "Right, we just have to rescue everybody and defeat the final boss." Luz added. "I AM everybody, you fools, don't you see? I'm no wizard, and you're no chosen ones. I've tricked you!" Adegast said. All of a sudden, Luz and I were tied up with the shirt. "Why are you doing this?" I asked. "Your mentor has been stealing customers from my potions business for years, she must be destroyed." Adegast replied. "Does everybody have a beef with Eda here?" I asked. "Well, yeah." Adegast replied. "And you two lured her right into my trap, all because you wanted to think you were special." "No, jokes on you, because Eda isn't stupid enough to fall for your trap!" Luz shouted. "Adegast." Eda said. "Aw, shit." I groaned. Eda and King landed on the ground. "Eda, I have you now!" Adegast exclaimed as he captured them. "That's right, you have me, now release Luz and Peter!" Eda shouted. "I didn't have to be a part of this!" King cried. "Oh, they can leave, if they want to, but I sense that they want a real fantasy." Adegast said, blowing some fog at us. All around us, we saw Adegast's puppets begging us to stay. I immediately declined. Luz took some time. "It is beautiful here, and you guys think I'm special, but it's not real!" Luz shouted as we were brought back to reality. "We are a witch's apprentices." I said. "And we're gonna earn a magic staff the hard way!" "We believed you, Magic Man, now, feel our wrath!" Luz added, stabbing the wizard puppet, causing it to disappear. I ran to some of the other puppets and kicked them too. "I never liked him anyway." I said after kicking Nevareth. Eda was set free and she cast some spells to help us. "Back off, or the dog gets it!" Adegast shouted. "I am NOT a..." King's mouth was covered to prevent him from speaking. "King, I'm sorry, I should've listened to you and never trusted that wizard, and Peter, I never should've brought you along on this quest. You were right, he isn't mystical or magical, he's just a big, slimy jerk!" Luz shouted. "Peter, now!" I kicked the toy sword as it stabbed Adegast in the head, causing him to drop King and shrank down to a tiny squid. "Well, that's the last time I take an outside referral." Eda said, eating him. "Oh, did you guys want some of that?" "No, I'm just confused." Luz frowned. "Very confused." I added. "Thinking of calling it quits, huh?" Eda asked. "I think I speak for both of us when I say this place is nothing like we imagined." I said as Luz nodded. "Hm, maybe not here, but come with me, I've got something to show you two." Eda explains.
Eda made us put on some blindfolds as we hopped on her staff. "Okay, you can look." Eda said as both of us took off the blindfolds to see this beautiful view of the isles. "The Bones of the Isles. Up close, the Isles can be slimy." "And very stinky." King added. "And gross, but if you look at it from a different perspective..." Eda continued as a shooting star flew by. "It's beautiful." Luz said. "Yeah." King smiled as he fell asleep on my shoulder. "Eda, how did you know that wizard was lying?" I asked. "Look, everyone wants to believe they're chosen, but if we all waited around for a prophecy to make us special, we'd die waiting, and that's why you need to choose yourself." Eda explains. "Does that mean you'll give us each a magic staff of our own?" Luz asked. "Not yet." Eda replied. "But someday."
Just a little author's note. The reason why Peter cussed in the story is because the prequel to the story is him at Camp Campbell. I haven't gotten to any of the prequels yet. -Mal.