Line #36 Fanfic/TwosACrowd


1	Luz Noceda is a spirited, energetic girl with a vibrant imagination and a cheerful attitude. Through her adventures on the Boiling Isles, she’s really come into her own as she strives to become a witch, make new friends, and follow her dreams so that she can live her best life. There’s been difficulties of course, but one can’t deny that she’s done very well for herself in this strange, sometimes scary new world where she can truly be herself.
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3	Luz Noceda is a quiet, somewhat withdrawn girl who nevertheless has a good heart and an earnest desire to improve herself. Her start at the Reality Check Summer Camp was unfortunately rather rough, but despite the bullying and lack of friends, she’s still managed to adapt very well, earning the adoration of camp counselors and finding happiness in change while still holding on to what makes her herself.
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5	But... wait. That doesn’t make sense. Luz could only choose one of those paths. Surely only one of them could possibly be the truth.
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7	...Right?
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9	Two's a Crowd is a ''WesternAnimation/{{TheOwlHouse}} '' fanfic by [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/TheCrusaderKing/pseuds/TheCrusaderKing TheCrusaderKing]], where Luz goes to Reality Check Summer Camp, but something is [[NotHimself amiss with her]].
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11	The [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/TheCrusaderKing/pseuds/TheCrusaderKing author]] is of '' WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}} '' fanfic [[Fanfic/ConfessionsAmphibia Confessions]] fame.
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13	The fic can be read on Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/31423094/chapters/77716595 here]].
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15	On 12/31/23 the author, [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/TheCrusaderKing/pseuds/TheCrusaderKing TheCrusaderKing]], posted that the fic is canceled do to losing interest in ''WesternAnimation/{{TheOwlHouse}} '' as a show and no longer wanting to write for the fandom.
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17	!! Due to the nature of this fanfic’s mystery, spoilers have been unmarked, read at your own discretion.
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19	!!This fanfic provides examples of:
20	* AdultsAreUseless: Averted. All the adults, from the camp counselors to Eda, are very competent.
21	* AmnesiacHero: Downplayed. ‘Luz’/Lus has trouble recalling pre-camp memories and doesn’t remember how she got to camp. This is explained as ‘Luz’/Lus was [[ReallyWasBornYesterday created the day camp started]] (and so doesn’t have any natural memories before camp) while her pre-camp memories where magically downloaded into her from brain scans of the original Luz by Eda.
22	* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: Chapter 7 abruptly shifts the focus away from Reality Check Summer Camp to the residents of the Owl House. Lampshaded by the chapter title “And Now Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming”.
23	* BlankSlate: When ‘Luz’/Lus first shows up at Reality Check Summer Camp she is in this state much to the confusion of [[NotHimself the camp counselors]] and [[DrivingQuestion the audience]]. Played for Horror in chapter 4 when ‘Luz’/Lus abruptly returns to this state until the end of the chapter. It’s explained in chapter 5 that this is her natural state of mind when under the artifacts control.
24	* BornAsAnAdult: ‘Luz’/Lus was created [[ReallyWasBornYesterday the day camp started]] to be the same age as the original Luz.
25	* BothSidesHaveAPoint: During the original Luz and ‘Luz’/Lus argument in chapter 9 the POV shifts between the two of them and from their respective perspectives they both have valid points even if ‘Luz’/Lus ultimately has the moral high ground. From the original Luz’s perspective ‘Luz’/Lus is coming out of nowhere saying they have a right to ‘their’ life so it’s understandable that the original Luz would be defensive of the clone trying to live any part of her life. While from ‘Luz’/Lus perspective she is just trying to find a compromise that will let her live, has no intention of taking over the original’s life and the original Luz is being a bit of a hypocrite by making a fuss over it.
26	* BreatherEpisode: After the [[TomatoInTheMirror dramatic events]] of chapter 5, chapter 6 has things calm down a bit before things pick back up at the end.
27	* CallForward:
28	** In chapter 10 the original Luz remarks that she can’t hate her clone because she can’t imagine hating herself, [[Recap/TheOwlHouseS2E1SeparateTides not yet]] [[Recap/TheOwlHouseS3E1ThanksToThem at least]].
29	** In chapter 10 the original Luz and ‘Luz’/Lus remark how they always wanted a sibling/someone who intimately ‘gets them’, sounds a lot like Luz’s deepest desire in [[Recap/TheOwlHouseS3E2ForTheFuture For The Future]] “to be understood”.
30	* CaptureAndReplicate: Averted. What ‘Luz’/Lus thinks happened to the original Luz. Unfortunately for ‘Luz’/Lus the truth is [[CloningGambit much less malicious]].
31	* CatFight: Once the argument the original Luz and ‘Luz’/Lus have in chapter 9 reaches a critical high they quickly start physically fighting each other. The narrative quickly points out that due to them being evenly matched 14-year-olds with no fighting experience it quickly devolves into an aggressive wrestling match.
32	* CloneAngst: Once ‘Luz’/Lus discovers her nature as a clone she falls into this hard.
33	* ClonesArePeopleToo: On a meta level, as ‘Luz’/Lus is the main protagonist the narrative naturally has this perspective. In-universe the camp counselors believe in this while the original Luz and Eda come around to this after clearing up a [[JustAMachine misunderstanding]] on what ‘Luz’/Lus is.
34	* CloningGambit: A deconstruction of a typical heroic application of this trope. The original Luz needed to be at [[TwoTimerDate two places at once, the Owl House and Reality Check Summer Camp]], so Eda, [[LockedOutOfTheLoop without telling Luz]], made a clone of her to fill in for her for the duration of camp. Eda’s plan is then seen played out from the clone’s perspective revealing the consequences of her actions. The clone is created [[BlankSlate without sentience]] which the counselors notice but mistake for a coping mechanism. As the clone is made more like the original and [[HumanityIsInfectious spends time with people]] they develop their own sense of self, [[DuplicateDivergence branching from the original]]. Eda is oblivious to this and continues to treat the clone [[JustAMachine like a tool]] which results in the clone learning [[TomatoInTheMirror what they are]]. Following this revelation, the clone suffers mental anguish [[IdentityBreakdown questioning the nature of their existence]] and realizing [[YourDaysAreNumbered they serve no purpose once summer camp is over]]. Once they encounter Eda again, they [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters fight back]] [[TheDogBitesBack against her influence]], [[CallingTheOldManOut calling out]] what she’s doing as it [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil really is]]. When the original Luz [[StumbledIntoThePlot barges in]] she responds to the situation by thanking Eda (for trying to solve her [[TwoTimerDate summer camp dilemma]]), unknowingly dismissing all the trauma the clone went through. It’s not until the clone gets the original Luz to [[ArmorPiercingResponse see things from their point of view]] does the original empathize and starts seeing them as a person. With the original now on their side, Eda [[HeelRealization is forced to reach the same conclusion]]. Upon arriving back at camp, the clone [[InternalReveal tells the counselors what’s been going on]], rendering Eda’s plan [[AllForNothing moot]] as the original will have to face the consequences of skipping out on camp anyway.
35	* CopiedTheMoralsToo: Zigzagged. Eda intended for ‘Luz’/Lus to have the original’s morals, but her plan fell apart because she copied them too well. ‘Luz’/Lus developed sentience and broke free of the artifact’s control because she was made too much like the original Luz.
36	* DoesNotLikeMagic: Downplayed. While ‘Luz’/Lus doesn’t outright hate magic or those who use it, she associates magic with a lot of [[TomatoInTheMirror negative]] [[TraumaCongaLine experiences]] and thus has little interest in it.
37	* DuplicateDivergence: Due to being at Reality Check Summer Camp with morally responsible guidance over the summer, ‘Luz’/Lus develops an appreciation for normal/mundane life making her a very different person from the magic enthralled original Luz.
38	* ExpendableClone: ‘Luz’/Lus was created with the intention of taking the original Luz’s place for the duration of summer camp, to be [[DeadlyEuphemism ‘dispelled’]] once it was over so the original Luz could go back to her human realm life. As ‘Luz’/Lus is our main protagonist this is very much Played for Horror.
39	* FirstEpisodeTwist: The question behind ‘Luz’s’ strange behavior is answered early in the story at chapter 4, that the ‘Luz’ we’ve been following is a clone of the original meant to temporarily take her place at summer camp. Her nature as a clone is pretty much the focus of the rest of the fic.
40	* {{Foil}}:
41	** The camp counselors are ones to Eda. While they are both older mentor figures to there respected charges, the camp counselors are [[LawfulGood lawful]] and [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure pro-authority]] while Eda is [[ChaoticGood chaotic]] and [[RebelliousSpirit anti-authority]].
42	** ‘Luz’/Lus is one to the original Luz.
43	*** [[TechnicianVersusPerformer ‘Luz’/Lus is technician to the original Luz’s performer when it comes to learning.]]
44	*** ‘Luz’/Lus is [[IJustWantToBeNormal I just want to be normal]] to the original Luz’s [[IJustWantToBeSpecial I just want to be special]].
45	* ForWantOfANail: It’s implied that the divergence from canon happened at the end of [[Recap/TheOwlHouseS1E1ALyingWitchAndAWarden episode 1]] where Eda decided to take Luz’s summer camp predicament more seriously to thank her for her help.
46	%%* GenreSavvy: Once ‘Luz’/Lus discovers her nature as a clone she determines she can’t tell anyone due to it being [[CassandraTruth unbelievable]] and she’s in danger because [[ExpendableClone clones are expendable by nature]].
47	* GrewBeyondTheirProgramming: A biological example. ‘Luz’/Lus was [[BornOfMagic created]] without sentience, magically programmed to follow orders and behave like the original Luz ([[BlankSlate after some fine tuning]]). However, as time passed and Eda kept making her more like the original she developed a bond with the camp counselors who [[LoveImbuesLife treated her like a person, caring about her and encouraging her]]. After some time she [[CuriosityCausesConversion developed sentience]] and her own [[DuplicateDivergence personality]].
48	* HeroAntagonist: Eda, the original Luz’s heroic mentor, is ‘Luz’/Lus’s abusive creator and the story’s primary antagonist until chapter 10 where she has a [[HeelRealization heel realization]].
49	* HeroicWillpower: ‘Luz’/Lus manages to overcome the artifact’s influence with sheer willpower.
50	* InSpiteOfANail:
51	** The original Luz is still having all her [[TheStationsOfTheCanon adventures in the Boiling Isle’s]] despite Eda’s [[CloningGambit plan]].
52	** ‘Luz’/Lus is sending Camila letters from camp just like Vee did in canon.
53	* InUniverseCatharsis: ‘Luz’/Lus finally tells the camp counselors the truth of her existence in chapter 12. After giving a little evidence to back her story they fully believe her, telling her [[ClonesArePeopleToo she is a person]] and is [[DeclarationOfProtection safe with them]]. This does wonders for the girl’s mental state.
54	* JustAMachine: Eda’s attitude towards ‘Luz’/Lus until chapter 10. Justified as Eda thought she created a non-sentient illusion clone due to mistranslating the artifacts instructions.
55	* MeaningfulRename: Once ‘Luz’ comes to terms with her nature as a clone she decides to distance herself from the original in anyway she can. One of the first things she does is change her name from Luz to Lus.
56	* MorallySuperiorCopy: Zigzagged. Under the tutelage of the [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure camp counselors]], ‘Luz’/Lus can come across as this to the original Luz, under the guidance of the [[AntiHero heroic but immoral]] Eda. However, in chapter 8 & 9 when [[CorneredRattlesnake pushed into a corner, ‘Luz’/Lus is willing to take violent action]] that surprise the original.
57	* MoreInsultingThanIntended: During the argument the original Luz and ‘Luz’/Lus have in chapter 9, they both make points that press each other’s [[TraumaButton buttons]]. ‘Luz’/Lus points out that the original Luz is lying to Camila about being at summer camp which is the original Luz’s biggest fear she had to face the day before during [[Recap/TheOwlHouseS1E16EnchantingGromFright Grom]]. While the original Luz points out that nothing actually belongs to ‘Luz’/Lus and that she technically hasn’t even physically met Camila which reenforces ‘Luz’/Lus biggest fear that her [[ExpendableClone life is worthless]].
58	* MyGodYouAreSerious: The camp counselors react this way when presented with evidence that magic is real and that ‘Luz’/Lus really is a clone.
59	* PsychicLink: Its established early on that ‘Luz’/Lus has recurring dreams of the Boiling Ilse’s, and later that the original Luz has recurring dreams of Reality Check Summer Camp. Once the two meet and [[TouchTelepathy physically touch each other their mental connection grows a lot stronger]] to the point where they can see each other’s memories and [[SharedDream dream share]]. Chapter 11 reveals they can [[{{Telepathy}} talk telepathy to each other]].
60	* ReadTheFreakingManual: Eda neglected to read most of the manual for the cloning artifact due to it being written in an ancient language and the parts she did read she mistranslated some of it, causing the initial misunderstanding (a non-sapient illusion clone) on what ‘Luz’/Lus actually is (a sapient biological clone).
61	* RewatchBonus: ‘Luz’/Lus behavior in the first three chapters makes much more sense when you know she is a clone of the original Luz [[ReallyWasBornYesterday created the day camp started]].
62	* RightForTheWrongReasons: Steven believes ‘Luz’/Lus [[NotHimself strange behavior]] is being caused by an abusive parent. ‘Luz’/Lus is technically being abused by a parental figure but it’s not Camila.
63	* SwitchingPOV: The story mainly shifts the POV between the camp counselors and ‘Luz’/Lus. The story also tends to shift the POV between the parties having a conversation to get everyone’s perspectives.
64	** After chapter 7 we start getting POV’s from the original Luz and Eda.
65	** Chapter 8 makes notable use of this trope as a commentor pointed out that the sheer dichotomy between ‘Luz’/Lus perspective(Played for Horror [[EverythingTryingToKillYou everything is trying to kill you]]) and the original Luz’s perspective([[ButForMeItWasTuesday just another]] wacky misadventure) make the chapter seem like two different genres.
66	* TheBully: Joseph and his posse act as this to everyone at camp.
67	* TomatoInTheMirror: ‘Luz’/Lus suffers a massive one in chapter 5 after discovering she is a clone.
68	* WhamEpisode: Chapter 4; starts off standard and continues to be so until 3/4ths into the chapter where it abruptly undergoes a [[HalfwayPlotSwitch plot switch]] when ‘Luz’/Lus unexpectedly returns to her [[BlankSlate blank slate mind state]]. After a day of that the ending sequence giving us our first glimpse of Eda and the answer to the fics opening [[DrivingQuestion driving question, “what’s going on with Luz?”]].
69	* WhamLine: The last lines of chapter 4 [[TheEndingChangesEverything completely changes the tone of the story]].
70	-->'' She wasn’t the original Luz Noceda.''
71	-->'' She was a clone.''

Context Fanfic / TwosACrowd