The Owl House: Son of Edalyn (Owlphibia AU)

As morning rose over the Boiling Isles, Edalyn Clawthorne walked alone in the enchanted woods.

It was a path she had walked for so long, she could travel it blind without any problem.

a path she had frequently visited, before stopping when a certain human arrived to distract her.

When Eda finally reached her destination, she stopped.

gazing at a lone Olive Tree that was decorated like a 'Frostmas' Tree.

Eda smiled as she knelt down, gently gliding her hand over the hollow opening at the base of the trunk.

She closed her eyes, and thought back to that night so long ago.

That night...she found that abandoned halfling baby nestled within this very tree.

Eda would replay that memory over, and over...Wishing she could relive it forever.

In her life, she had made many, MANY bad decisions, but taking in Olivier was NOT among them.

Eda almost didn't even care that Olivier wasn't her real son.

In fact, since she had adopted King, her maternal love for Olivier only grew.

It was nearly Four Months since Olivier's disappearance...and those months had been nigh unbearable.

She managed to some relief from Luz's failed teleportation spell,

when she met the human girl' Anne Boonchuy in Amphibia...and learned of her son's fate.

She hated how she never got to see him...but it was comforting to know that he was still alive.

And Eda now held onto the hope that if she couldn't bring him back, then Olivier would find his own way back.

He was her son, afterall. she taught him everything he knew.

Eda now hoped that all she had taught him was enough.

Just then, Eda heard a noise. She quickly turned and saw a hooded figure standing a few feet from her.

Eda quickly summoned Owlbert, and spun her staff rapidly before taking a fighting stance.

"whoever you are...I suggest you leave before I knock your-"

"Calm down, Witchlet...It's me." spoke a tender, yet aged voice.

The Stranger then pulled back their hood, Revealing a bearded man with a mane of silver hair not unlike Eda's.

Eda dropped her staff. "dad?"

Owlbert became flesh, and flew over to the elder Clawthorne.

Dell Clawthorne smiled as he opened his palm for the tiny Owl.

"I had a feeling you might be here." spoke Dell, as he approached.

Eda frowned...but then noticed a basket in her father's hand.

She then watched as the aged man approached the Olive Tree, and placed the basket down.

"did...YOU decorate the tree?" asked Eda.

"I have tended to it, yes...though I am not the only one." spoke Dell.

"Your mother and I often come here together. And we have seen others here as well."

As Dell began to take some items out of the basket, Eda exhaled and knelt down with him. "let me help you."

Dell smiled. "that is very much appreciated, Witchlet."

As the two placed some items down, Dell then paused as he held a wood carving knife.

Eda looked at her father...and somehow knew exactly what he was thinking about.

"It wasn't your fault, dad." said Edam finally.

"Hmm?"

"What happened to Olivier...that night. It wasn't your fault."

Dell exhaled sharply. "I know...but I still feel responsible.

It wouldn't be the first time I unknowingly did something that caused irreparable damage."

"THAT wasn't your fault, either." said Eda.

"Nor was it yours, Witchlet."

Eda paused at this, unable to say another word.

As Dell finally placed the knife down, he spoke once again. "I hear I have another grandson."

Eda looked at her father. "yeah...King. I adopted him.

He...He helps me deal with Olivier's absense. though...I still miss him."

Dell then smiled. "Have I ever told you how I met Olivier?"

Eda stared at her father. "I have been wondering that for awhile."

"Well...it all started about Three years ago-

[The Owl House, Three Years Ago...]

It was Mid-Day at the Owl House, and Eda was busy sweeping up the floor with a broom.

She had nearly gotten the den spotless, when she heard a loud, whooping noise.

"LOOK OUT, BELOOOOWW!" exclaimed a child's voice.

Eda looked to see her Ten year old son, Olivier.

Suddenly leap out from nowhere, and bound from the sofa and onto the floor.

"TA-DAAA!" exclaimed the young boy. "PERFECT TEN!"

Eda breathed out sharply. "good grief, son. Did you mix my Bitter Bean Blood with your Ghoul Aid, again!?"

"In my defense, mom: THAT was mostly your fault." said Olivier.

Eda grumbled. "I hate it when you get 'wise' with me."

Olivier smiled, and then hugged his mother's leg. "I love you, Mama."

Eda cracked a smile. "and I love you too, sweetflea...now what do you want?"

"What makes you think I want something, Mama?" said Olivier.

"Because the whole 'Puppy Eyed, I-Love-You' schtick won't work on me." said Eda.

"I perfected that when I was your age, so I will ask again: What do you want?"

Olivier sighed. "fine. I was wondering if I could go outside today."

Eda crossed her arms, and stared down at the young boy. "Sorry, Olivier. but you can't.

I need a full day to work on a potion to improve upon my concealment spell.

Otherwise, Belos' little Glee Club will be able to find us easier."

Olivier scowled. "I asked if *I* could go outside, Mom. Not both of us."

Eda eyed Olivier again with more intensity.

"PLEASE, Mom?...I am really good at staying hidden." continued Olivier.

"I won't even go into Town, I just want to explore the woods is all."

"I don't know...these woodlands can be dangerous."

"I'm not a little boy anymore, Mom!" protested Olivier. "I'm a whole decade old!, I know how to take care of myself."

Eda chortled. "oh, I'm sure you ca-"

Suddenly, Eda froze mid-sentence. she then began to sniff the air loudly.

Confused, Olivier also sniffed...but the boy didn't smell anything strange.

"mom?"

Eda looked out a window...and grimaced. "oh no...not today."

"Mama, is everything alri-?" Eda suddenly snatched Olivier, and ran out of the Owl House. "MOM!?, WHAT ARE YOU-?!

"You-know-what, you're-right. I-think-you-ARE-old-enough-to-take-care-of-yourself.

So, why-don't-you-get-going-on-your-little-hiking-trip, and-don't-come-back-until...LATER."

Eda was speaking so rapidly, that Olivier was barely able to understand her. "huh?"

Eda didn't answer. She summoned her magic staff, and after whispering something

to the still wooden Owlbert, promptly dropped her staff that floated parallel above the ground.

Before he could get a word in edgewise, Eda picked up Olivier,

and dropped him upon her still hovering magic staff.

With a slap of her thigh, the staff sped off like a rocket with Olivier riding it.

Eda sighed, almost regretting what she just did.

BUT if she was right about today, then she knew it had to be done.

And, sure enough. Eda saw a strange cyclone headed towards the Owl House.

Eda didn't say anything. Not when she knew EXACTLY what this was.

She had seen it once every year...for the past THIRTY years.

The cyclone faced Eda, and eventually dematerialized.

Revealing an elderly woman with hair just as silver/grey as Eda's.

She had a cheery smile, and carried a staff with a Shepard's crook,

with a wooden sculture of a very large Hawk upon it.

"HI, EDALYN!" exclaimed the old woman.

Eda rolled her eyes. "hello...MOM."

("WAIT!, Wait-wait...")

("Pardon?")

[The Present]

"How did you know about all that!?" exclaimed Eda. "You weren't there."

"oh, Olivier told me about it once." answered Dell.

"oh...I see. Carry On, then."

[The Past]

Olivier held on for dear life as his mother's staff sped through the forest,

weaving around the many trees so not to cash into any of them.

After what felt like forever, the staff finally stopped...flinging Olivier into the air.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHH!" screamed Olivier, hurtling through the air.

The boy finally crashed into the base of a large tree.

He tried to get up...only for a falling piece of fruit to fall on his head.

"OW." said Olivier.

Owlbert detached from Eda's staff, and flew over to Olivier.

The tiny Owl landed upon the boy's head, and leaned down to look at him.

"okay...What the heck was THAT all about!?" exclaimed Olivier.

"Why is it that EVERY TIME the wind changes, Mom wants me out of the house!?"

*Hoo.* chirped Owlbert.

"Not that I'm complaining...I did want out of the house today." continued Olivier.

"But sometimes mom can act So WEIRD, and she won't tell me why."

*hoo.* chirped Owlbert, again.

"Do YOU know what's up with mom, Owlbert?" asked Olivier, as he stood up.

*Hoo-HOO.* answered Owlbert.

Olivier frowned. "right. of course you would say that."

Owlbert hopped onto Olivier's shoulder as the boy walked over, and picked him his mother's discarded staff.

Olivier looked at Owlbert, before then magically shortening the length of the staff.

Owlbert then flew onto the top of the staff, and reverted back to his wooden sculpture form.

With Magic Staff at hand, Olivier proceeded to hike down the woodlands of the Boiling Isles.

He had a specific location in mind to reach, He just needed to get his bearings first.

Looking up at the many trees surrounding him, Olivier managed to find one that was really tall.

"That should be high enough."

Olivier grasped the tree branches, and began to scale up the tree.

He managed to climb up halfway when one of the branches started to break.

"uh-oh."

(*CRACK!*)

"OH, CRAP!" exclaimed Olivier, as he began to plummet down.

But the boy was spared a hard fall when Owlbert quickly flew up,

and snagged Olivier by the hood of his well buttoned cowl.

"(whew!) Thanks, Owlbert. you saved me."

Owlbert made a pleasant expression as he carried Olivier up to the top of the tree.

The Owl then set Olivier down upon a larger, more sturdier branch and perched himself onto his head.

"Woooow...what a view." said Olivier. "I never realized how BIG these woods are."

Olivier took a moment to gaze at the vast landscape that was the Boiling Isles.

Nothing but trees that covered the colossal bones of the Titan like a leafy blanket.

He could just barely make out the city of Bonesborough at a distance.

...as well as the Emperor's Palace, where his Aunt Lilith was.

"Looks like I have a long hike ahead of me." spoke Olivier. "better get mov-"

Just then, something flew into Olivier's face, nearly causing him to fall. "WHAT TH-!?"

Olivier looked, and saw a yellow bird fluttering in front of him.

"oh...hello." spoke Olivier. "and, where did you come from?"

The yellow bird chirped, apparently speaking with Owlbert.

The two avians then had a short conversation...which Olivier was just barely able to understand.

"wait...Do you know this bird, Owlbert?" asked Olivier.

Owlbert chirped in a way that Olivier knew meant *Yes.*

The Owl then hopped off of Olivier, and fluttered next to the yellow bird.

Both birds looked at Olivier, worrisome expressions on their faces.

"do you...have something to show me?" asked Olivier.

The Yellow Bird chirped, and then perched onto the staff that Olivier was holding.

It turned to wood, and made the magic staff float parallel before the boy.

"Oh!, so you are a Palisman!" exclaimed Olivier. "and...you want me to go with you?"

Owlbert chirped at Olivier.

"I'm not sure about accepting rides from strange palismans..." spoke Olivier.

"But if YOU trust this guy, Owlbert. then I suppose I can do the same."

Reluctantly, Olivier jumped onto the magic staff, and got into a riding position.

The Yellow Bird Palisman then shot out at an incredible, yet steady speed.

...taking the ten year old witch boy for quite the flight of his life.

"WHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAA-HOOOOOOOOOO!" exclaimed Olivier, loudly.

[End of Part Ten]