Mama Eda AU

Labyrinth Runners

Notes:

This guy...is seriously the illusion coven head
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text
Past.

classroom, a levitating skeleton illusion with organs inside it can be seen. A young Gus then places a plaque under it, which reads: THE TITAN; MEAT TYRANT; OR; VEGGIE KING. The skeleton is then revealed to be holding a chicken leg on one hand, and celery on the other as a teacher walks by and sees it.]

Illusion teacher: Very nice work. And how is working with your partner?

Young Gus: No prob. We're practically best friends now.

Illusion teacher: Then I think you'll do just fine in this class. [walks off]

Young Gus: [proudly] You've done it again, Augustus. [looks at the skeleton]

[Two students then walk in, both from the illusion track. One of them, the dark-haired boy, is holding two books between his armpits as he listens to his friend speaking.]

Orange-haired student: Yeah, I killed it in fantasy grudgby this weekend.

Dark-haired student: You just.. didn't do the assignment?

Orange-haired student: I got the new prodigy to do it for me. And all I had to do was pretend to be his friend. Hmm?

[Someone sniffles, which is revealed to be Gus, upset that someone only used him to do the assignment. He dispels the illusion, grabs his bag and runs away in tears.]

Orange-haired student: Aw, come on, dude! It was just a joke!

[Gus runs inside a classroom and sits down dejectedly.]

Young Gus: You've done it again, Augustus. Why does this keep happening? [bangs his head accidentally on the desk behind him; a book from above it hits him] Ow! [his eyes turn blue] Oh, no. No, no, not this!

[Illusions of the two students who he encountered earlier escape from behind him and he projects a wide illusion of the forest as the two students approach him]

Orange-haired student illusion: [laughs] Aww, the poor wittle baby got his feewings hurt.

Dark-haired student illusion: Talent can't make up for gullibility. [the two laugh at Gus, making him feel more dejected]

[Just then, they hear another voice, attempting to communicate with Gus.]

Unknown student: Um.. [different voice] Hello there. [makes the abomination wave slowly; it suddenly melts]

[Someone chuckles and reveals themselves from another desk, revealing to be a younger Willow.]

Young Willow: Sorry, I- I was trying to be funny, but, I just ended up being horrifying. I.. thought I was the only one that hid here.

Dark-haired student illusion: Uh, who's that?

Orange-haired student illusion: You might as well just do her homework now. Get it over with.

Young Gus: [covers his head] Go away!

Young Willow: [confused] Are you talking to me?

Young Gus: All of you!

[Willow smiles, purges through the illusion and sits beside Gus.]

Young Willow: Hey. Sometimes I get wrapped up in my own thoughts too. But my dads taught me a little trick to quiet the voices.

[She starts inhaling, her hands counting from 1 to 4, and exhaling as her hands count back to 1. Gus follows the second time, and after, his eyes turn normal again. The illusions start to disappear.]