A Loss of Hope

Prologue- A Forced Goodbye

Ash scattered everywhere throughout the palace. It was thick and dark. Its smell consumed the room, making it hard to breathe. The only light that could be seen, was from the cracks of the portal door, flickering on and off, dying of its power.

Luz was knocked out.

But she did it. She finally defeated Emperor Belos once and for all.

Eda ran into the battlefield frantic, calling out for her human, struggling to see through the thick ash. "LUZ! LUZ WHERE ARE YOU!" Lilith, Willow, Amity, and Gus all coughing, looking for the brave human that just beat the all-powerful Emperor Belos. They all cover their faces, trying to find Luz through all the ash and rubble from the great battle. Tears formed in the owl lady's eyes, as she feared the worst. "LUZ!" She called out again, fighting all urge to burst into tears.

Luz begins to regain consciousness but is unable to move due to exhaustion and pain. Her eyes flutter open but she's unable to focus. Everything is hazy and dark. She sees the fallen emperor next to her and is relieved. She did it. All the human manages to do is roll her head to the side to see the portal back home destabilizing.

Eda comes up with an idea and screams into the darkness of the scene "OWLBERT!!!!!!" The witches wait in silence in the hope for the palisman to appear out of the field of destruction. Then as Eda grows more irritated, her mighty staff glows and blows away all the ash, revealing a hurt but alive human. Eda dashed to her apprentice's side and falls next to her, capturing her in the biggest hug she could ever give. The Owl Lady is followed by everyone and smiles were now taking the place of their worried expressions.

"Kid! I don't know how, but you actually did it!" Eda now had tears of joy rushing down her face.

Luz smiles with the strength she has left "Come on Eda. I'm everyone's fearless champion! No way I was letting that tyrant get what he wants."

Before Eda could answer the portal starts to flicker more. Eda looks at the portal then back at Luz. Eda's tears of joy now become sorrowful ones "Kid... You gotta get up. The portal is breaking down."

Lilith looks at the portal and back at her sister, knowing what needs to be done. Willow and Gus stay silent as well, knowing this might be the last time they will see their only human friend. Amity however doesn't agree "No! There has to be another way!" 

Luz grabs Amity's hand and squeezes it. She turns back to her mentor "She's right. I cant. I'm a freak there. I don't fit in and I never will. Can't I just stay?"

Eda thinks for a moment but is quickly told by Lilith's eyes that she can't. Eda fights all the urges to keep her "Luz you already have a family. You have to go back." Eda stands and picks Luz up and starts to drag her to the portal, parting her from the green-haired witch who has yet to confess her feelings.

"No! Eda please I can tell my mom everything over the phone! Please! You guys are my new family!" Luz is now crying, but too exhausted to fight Eda's grip.

Lilith sadly goes to the portal and opens the door to the human realm. Eda is now full-on sobbing "I'm sorry!" Eda walks through the portal and places Luz on the ground. "I love you, Luz." Eda turns to go back but Luz grabs the witch's foot with what strength she has left.

"Eda please." Luz pleads "I don't belong here!"

Eda bends down and holds Luz's hand "I promise you, kid. I will fix the portal and bring you back. Bad Girl Coven promise." The witch forces a smile through her sobs and lets go of Luz's hand to only walk back through the portal. 

Eda closes the door and runs away from it. Lilith turns to her sister while they and the Hexside students escape the castle "You did the right thing Edalyn." Eda knew she did the right thing, but couldn't help but feel guilty. With their escape, the portal explodes, blowing up half the emperor's castle, leaving it to ruins.

Luz lies there in the human realm, using all of her strength to get up on her two legs. She limps her way up the steps of the decrepit cabin and falls on the rotting deck. She yells to herself to get up. Luz fights her way to the door. With all of the strength she has left, she grabs the door to swing it open, to face an empty cabin. She closes it and opens it over and over, pleading that it will eventually work. After a while of hopeless attempts, Luz falls to the ground and balls her eyes out. "EDA!" The girl cries out, defeated, facing the hard truth that her only friends are now a realm away, and she had no way back.