Boiling Gems (The Owl House x Steven Universe)

Summary: Gambling, a Clawthorne's greatest weakness

Owlbert rested on the staff as the Owl Lady continued to get told the proper way to sell human junk is. "So this reflection box can make tiny people appear as long as it has these 'batteries' placed in the bottom?" Eda asked the human girl as Luz explained the relics of her entire realm

"Yep. Anything you see with places to insert batteries can do lots of crazy things. Oh, check this out." She gestured to a black disk box. "Just dusk off the record, put it into the small slot here, crank it up, and you get …" 

"Oh lamor, oh lamor…" The small box sang.

"How can people that tiny exist and live in such a flat space?" Lucci stared at the contraption in awe.

"Okay, I'll just explain it now. It's a recording." Luz continued. "You remember how I recorded Eda doing the light spell? It's like that. Except with sounds and voices."

"Seriously? And people do this stuff without magic?" Lucci shook the device. 

"I think the lack of magic just drives up creativity." King thought aloud as he read through the pages of a book. "This stuff is a lot more exciting to read than it is to live."

"Ah, I see that the tales of the Good witch Azura has tantalized your literate interest." The human patted the demon's head.

"Ugh, so flowery." Eda waved off with a scoff. "That book is nothing more than an insult to all witches with any sense of integrity." Owlbert could feel her master almost throw up. "Now stop reading it before it drives away our customers."

"What customer's mom?" Eda's hatchling stated. "We've been standing here alone for the past two hours."

"You have a point …" His partner muttered. "There's a lack of disturbance in the market … the con does not yield today for some inexplicable reason by."

"Hey Luz!" Oh, it seemed the other two children had shown up. "Selling things with the Owl Lady again?" Park asked.

"Kinda, nobody's really here to buy stuff." Luz explained.

"Of course they're not. Today is the one and only, Covetion!" That girl Owlbert never got the name of created a fireworks display.

"Coven Con…barf." Lucci imitated his mother in showing nausea at the subject. "Just a bunch of brainwashed souls celebrating the limited magic they brainwashed themselves to have."

"Right, forgot, wild witches." The Park girl chuckled brokenly before shaking her head. "Don't let their viewpoint steer you away Luz's, it's actually really fun and there's free samples everywhere."

"Oh yeah." Eda's son's eyes widened. "They actually give away power stamps from the Construction Coven today … and those sell for a lot."

"No way, aside from being filled with a bunch of dumb dinguses willing to give up their magic independence, some offense intended.." Eda pointed to the two other girls. "...going to one means running into her , and I don't want that to happen."

"Who's her ?" Luz asked with curious filled eyes. "Tell me tell me."

"Nope, nope, nada, zilch. Absolutely not." Eda continued to deny.

"Then I must break out my ultimate weapon." Luz smirked and she picked up King. "King, read outloud."

"You shall not passeth one step furtherth!' Azura proclaimeth. For the mighty with overwrought them on their journey of great fellowshipeth.."

"Oh titan no, too flowery." Eda coughed violently.

"Come on Mom, you can totally pull through." Lucci believed in his mother, just like all good hatchlings should.

"And onto the mighty step, Azura reachethed out and drew forth her staff of destiny, drawing in the energy of ley lines filledeth with hope and joy…"

"Nope, can't do it." His partner pulled out the key, opening the portal door as they quickly stepped through it. Luz grabbed the tiny demon and chucked them through the door before it closed.

"Wow, you are so evil…I actually feel proud of that." Lucci snickered. "But seriously, is that how the human world thinks witches talk? 

"Nah, that's just human old timey talk." Luz chuckled a bit. "... Witches are a lot more diverse in media …" the girl shivered. "Let's just say I'm glad this world is about 40 percent similar to the positive portrayal of witches."

"And this is why I continue to have no interest in the human world outside of lion lickers." The boy nodded.

"So how long do we have until she …" Park gestured to the closed door. "You know, caves?"

"Three, two, one.." Luz counted down on her fingers as the portal opened again, Eda crawling out like she had just walked through a desert for the last two hours.

"So flowery, so many 'eths' so many talks of friendship and fluff…it's rotting my brain…make it stop!"

"And I can get it to all stop if we can go to the … what was it called again?"

"Covention!" More fireworks from the girl.

"Seriously Skara, if we're ever going to be buddies, then we need to have a talk about your coven enthusiasm." Lucci groaned

"Oh, the fireworks aren't real." She waved off. "Gus wanted to test his hand at being, as the humans call it, a 'hype man'."

"On a scale of one to ten, how accurate am I?" The boy came out from nowhere and pulled out a pencil and paper.

"Ten out of ten, my dude, because I am sold completely!" Luz jumped on the table. "Now onwards, to the Coventi-Ah!" The human lost balance and fell to the floor.

"That should be a sign of good things to come!" King cheered semi-sarcastically.

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Eda tightened her hood as she walked into the hideous place that was even less fun than school, the convention. "Check it out Luz, the nine main covens witches choose from." The Park girl gestured to some banners. "Plant, Abomination, Oracle, Potions, Healing, Construction, Bard, Beast-keeping, and Illusions."

"Was I even alive before now?" The poor human girl was being duped far too easily by the surface of this crooked system.

"I hope so, be weird to live with a talking corpse the entire time." Luckily her son was not one to be taken away by the flashy and barf inducing displays of propaganda.

"And even if none of them tickle your fancy, we have plenty of other choices." The boy, Dus or something, gestured to multiple stands. "The baking coven, the midnight coven, the giant cat coven, the tiny cat coven."

"They have an entire coven exclusively for tiny cats?" Lucci asked. "That's a very limited use of beast keeping magic."

"Have you ever petted a cat so small it can fit in your hand?" That bard girl asked with sparkly eyes. "The little meows they give are like a soothing melody played by angels in your mind."

"Covens are awesome." Alright, she needed to stop the kid's enthusiasm here and now.

"Luz, Covens are the worst." She rolled her eyes. "Do you think I got my bounty because I steal?"

"I thought it was the mix of theft, arson, cannibalism, the occasional unmentionable incident, public indecency, and loitering in a non loiter zone." She gave a stink eye to King. He was already on thin ice with the portal door, and the reading of flowery death.

"That's only part of it. The main reason is because I refuse to join a coven."

"Well maybe this event will inspire you to finally join one?" The park girl asked naively.

"No, look at that." She pointed to someone from the illusion stand getting a sigil. "Once you're hit with a coven sigil, that's it. You're only allowed to use that one magic for the rest of your life, even after you die." The worst fate of all.

"And when you're not bound to a coven, you can do anything like me." Lucci pulled out some tiny bubbles. "Super strength from construction, animal bonding from the beast coven, music from the bard coven, plant-"

"Okay, no." The Park girl cut off. "Ever since 'the incident', we all know Plant Magic is not your thing."

"We agreed to never talk about 'the incident' again." Eda shivered. So many collapsed buildings and death pits. She'd be more proud of the chaos if she wasn't almost eaten back then.

"Is anyone going to tell me about this incident?" Luz asked with an annoyed look.

"Never in your lifetime, buddy." Lucci shivered as well. "Full warning, whatever you do, don't look at anyone with a healing sigil in the eye. They're ruthless and know how to hold a grudge." Lucci shuddered.

"They are?" Dus asked. "But they seemed so nice and friendly back at school."

"The Clawthorne family has a habit of ticking them off." The Park girl explained.

"You know what, this can totally be a new experience." Luz wrapped all the children in a group hug. "Fixing any broken relationships and making us all friends, or buddies, whatever terms we prefer, I don't judge.

"Hahaha, oh Luz, your sense of humor is why we get along so well." Lucci snorted. "I'm gonna go snag free merch with King under the assumption that people think we're gonna join their covens."

"It's the most legal way to steal from people!" King laughed as her two boys ran off. Oh, it reminded her so much of the good old days, where she didn't have to worry about feathers growing in her ears while snagging a purse.

"Luz, the effort's appreciated, but it's best not to poke the fire-bee hive with this." The Park girl sighed. "This is the most amicable we've been in years, better to leave it how it is."

"What happened?" The bard girl asked. "He hasn't even given me anything close to friend or buddy, and we've been hanging out for years now."

"It's…complicated and way too annoying. Best thing to do is never think about whatever problems happened in the past. After all, out of sight, out of mind." 

"That's the smartest thing anyone in this entire dumvention has said all day." Eda immediately agreed with the plant girl. "Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna be hiding from the Emperor's Coven all day."

"You know, we get chased around by them all the time." Luz noted. "What kind of magic do they do?"

"Every." The Dus kid explained with childlike glee. "They're the smartest and strongest of all the witches on the Isles! They're the only ones allowed to keep all their magic."

"Yeah, except you still have to get branded with a sigil, and you'll have to obey the whims of 'his mighty majesty' Emperor Belos." Eda almost puked at the thought.

"Oh, come on, the bards are about to play some choir!" The bard girl grabbed the other kids, dragging them away before Eda was forced to answer any more questions.

Alright … now how to have fun at a convention …What was she going to steal without drawing the attention of the Emperor's Coven, and more importantly her sister.

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"This place rules." Gus smiled. "So many illusions, so many high level magic spells, so many tiny cats." He spoke with glee as he petted the creature.

"I don't know how you have cats in the boiling isles, and I don't care. Isn't that right my adorable little companion?" Luz agreed.

"Meeeow." They tiny cat lifted up a paw as it sat firmly on the human's hand.

"Like a little baby's first breath into the new world, it's so precious!" Skara squealed.

"I have to say Skara…for someone that hangs around Boscha and Amity alot, you're a lot less…how do I put this…a lot less…" Willow struggled to word it.

"Super alpha Mean girl B-word?" Luz suggested.

"I don't know what you mean by the B-word, but I'm going to assume it's insulting and say yes." Willow agreed.

"I like to listen to the good music going off in every soul, no matter how deep it goes." She smiled. "Sure, at first it may have been our parents pushing us together. But I like to think all our playing together has given us true harmony …"

"Yeah, the harmony of an angry mob, no offense." Gus said

"Hey, mobs can be fun." The bard girl offered. "Oh, like a flash mob."

"Where you all dance and sing in the middle of the street for no explicable reason?" Luz asked.

"Nah, only Lucci does that." Sounded like the kid could use some special effects if he wanted to put on a show. "This is where you just blind everyone with flashes of light so you can see the painbow in your brain." Skara explained. "Boscha doesn't like it though, she has a really sensitive retina."

"Gus, write that down. I need you to remember that for a rainy day." Willow whispered to him quietly. The girl had a bit of a vindictive streak when no one was watching. As her closest friend, Gus was all the more willing to provide support.

"So … I know I saw a bit of it in school, but is it really like that?" Luz asked. "You have to choose one of these … forever?"

"Yep. The coven system has been in effect for the last fifty years when Emperor Belos finally took control and eliminated the plague of Wild Witches destroying the Isles." Gus followed through on his side character motif and provided exposition. 

"Fifty years-how old is that guy?" Luz asked with wide eyes.

"Some say he's an immortal being, carrying the titan's will in his physical form." Gus said dramatically with a bit of a mist effect. "He created the nine main covens to purify our magic and make it safe to use."

"Eda's perfectly okay though, isn't she?" Luz pointed out.

"Isn't she reported to have multiple body parts pop off at random times?" Skara asked.

"She always said that's what happens when you get old." Willow replied. "And Lucci's head and arms stretch out, so maybe it's just a family thing only they can do." 

"Maybe it's a-" Luz stopped talking, having bumped into someone. "Oh, sorry about that."

"Watch where you're-" The familiar face paused. "Oh … the abomination thing…" The Blight girl looked at the rest of the group. "Still trying to lie your way to success, Willow? And here I thought Lucci was the con man."

"What are you doing here Amity?" Said girl rolled her eyes. "I thought fun things like convention were beneath you?"

"My mentor showed up here and wanted me to attend the Emperor's Coven display." The green haired bully stated all business like. "You know, because I actually have a future unlike you, a cheater, a subpar illusionist.."

"Hey, what did I do?" Gus was pretty sure this was the first time they've even seen each other face to face, let alone talk.

"...and whatever that thing is." 

"I am a human." The round eared girl responded, holding out her hand. "Luz Noceda."

"I don't touch what's beneath me." Amity coldly stated.

"Aww come on guys." Skara jumped onto Amity, glomping her. "Like Luz said earlier, we just need to get along."

"I don't know what the titan you're trying to pull by roping Skara into whatever madness you have going on.."

"I'm just trying to have fun…."

"But you're giving all witches a bad name just by showing up here." Amity completely ignored Skara. "The Covention is meant for witches only."

"Hey, I am a witch in training." Luz argued. "Not all of us can get to the best instantly."

"See, right there, you're still mocking every hard working witch that actually EARNED their right to be here!" Amity got a little red in the face. "We're not just barging into other people's lives and making a mess! I got sent to the principal's office because of you, and I NEVER get sent to the office!"

"You ever think it was because you tried to kill someone instead of the whole 'being our fault'?" Luz questioned.

"Nah, Murder's allowed at Hexside, it just causes deduction points if it's against a fellow student." Gus casually explained, earning glares from everyone. "Sorry, not my time to speak, I see that now."

"Whatever. I've wasted enough time sharing the same breath as you. I suggest you leave before you embarrass yourself with your delusions of grandeur."

"Hey, I'll have you know I'm training with the strongest witch on the Boiling Isles!"

"Most powerful-ah, right. You hang out with Lucci, which means you're referring to the Owl Lady, aka, the criminal that sells garbage on the streets. Should've figured that out from the smell alone." Amity mocked. "Want some actual useful advice? Ditch them while you can before they drag you any lower than you already are."

"Is that your excuse for why you did it?" Willow glared.

"I don't see why you're asking, you did the same thing."

"Alright, if there is one thing I can't stand, it's cryptic talk." Luz growled. "If you wanna accuse me of being a bad witch then … then … I challenge you, Amity … last name?"

"Blight, a name that actually has meaning around here." The bully crossed her arms.

"Thank you. I challenge you, Amity Blight, to a witches duel!" The entire convention stopped in its tracks, staring in awe and horror, as one mom even dropped a kid she was picking up.

Amity, for her part, merely looked mildly surprised, before narrowing her eyes. "Your terms?"

"If I win, you apologize for insulting my friends and you have to announce to the whole Covention that humans CAN be witches, and stop being cryptic with whatever backstory you have with Willow and Lucci!"

"Fine." The Blight nodded. "And if I win, then you have to give up witchcraft, forever." The crowd gasped.

"Luz, don't do this." Willow tried to stop her from making a very dumb decision.

"Sounds good to me! Let's shake on it!" Luz sealed her fate and extended her hand, allowing Amity to grab it.

"Good, the everlasting oath is set." A magic circle formed around the two and made their hands glow, setting the magical contract in place.

"Oh, magic oath." Luz smiled. "This is gonna be aweso-..." She stopped talking, noticing their horrified looks. "Everlasting…as in forever?"

"Even after you die." Amity nodded. "But as someone who claims to be witch superior to the top student at Hexside, you already knew that, right?" She walked away with a smug elitist grin on her face.

"Top student …" Luz paled. "Ah…she's exaggerating, right?"

"She's been training with the head of the Emperor's coven since she was four." Willow slapped her forehead.

"Not to mention the worst grade she ever got was a B plus before." Skara noted with a weak chuckle. "But no worries…Lucci's mom taught you some special magic spells to match her, right?"

"I…I only know one…and it's a light spell."

"Oooh, you've got the bases for illusion spells!" Gus cheered, and got glares on him again. "Still not the right time to talk." Dang it Gus, you need to be better than this!

========================================================================

Lilith walked down the stalls, looking at the multiple covens setting up shop. "No trouble so far …" She doubted someone would actually cause a riot at the convention, but one could never be too careful. Especially when her pupil was going to make a show.

Yes, after so many years of training, this was her moment to shine. Taking to the stage on her path to becoming a member of the Emperor's coven. Lilith couldn't believe this started out just as a way to one up Edalyn, and have a backup to help round up Lucifer if he ever caused too much trouble.

Imprinting her values, her methods, and her knowledge on someone younger and impressionable, it was nice. She didn't have any interest in taking on a partner, but shaping a youth was a very rewarding experience she wouldn't mind repeating again in the future. 

Lilith was taken out of her daydream as she bumped into someone. "My apologies, I was caught off guard."

"No problem, I was busy counting … loot …" She stared at Edalyn's blank face. "Oh you have got to be kidding me."

"The feeling is mutual." Lilith didn't know to count this as karma or good fortune given the circumstances. "Edalyn, you'd never come if your life was staked on it, there's way too many Emperor's Coven scouts here…unless." She knew it was unlikely, but the small sliver of hope that still existed in her heart couldn't help but reer itself. "You're here to finally join the Emperor's Co-"

"Don't even think about it." Her sister cut her off. "I'm here because my kids dragged me against my will." … Kids?

"So you didn't stop at kidnapping just one." She sighed. "I never thought you could fall so far." Maybe petrification was the right call to make.

"I am soo sick of hearing-One, Lucci isn't kidnapped!" Lilith was only forty percent convinced Eda was telling the truth. If Edalyn really did have a natural born child, she'd hate to ponder what that meant for the curse. Titan help them if it was hereditary. "And two, I'm mentoring the other one on how to be a witch after she just fell on my lap."

"Mentorship … how humorous." Lilith grinned. "I actually brought my own pupil for the Emperor's Coven display."

"That's right, the Blight Brat. I'm sure you did an amazing job teaching her how to be all uppity and snooty about life when you don't have a giant stick up your-"

"Language, Edalyn! Is that how you talk around your own child?" That poor, traumatized, mostly likely kidnapped child

"I censor it." They scoffed. "When they curse someone out, it'll be at the right time."

… Well she already crossed a line once … why not take advantage of the gambling addiction her sister had. "Then care to put your snails where your mouth is?"

"Oooh, is that a wager I'm smelling? Miss Prim and Proper Lilly wants to make a gamble at this fine convention?" Hook, Line, and Sinker. Eda never changed, and it would be her downfall.

"For the rest of the week, no Coven Scout will come after you … however, in return, you aren't allowed to ask me for the wager." Lilith explained as she made a poster vanish.

"Hmm, so even If i win, it's hardly any skin off your bones…sneaky, I love it." Eda smirked.

"Your pupil against mine, a showdown of witches." Lilith explained. "When my pupil wins, not only will you join the Emperor's coven, not only will you enroll young Lucifer into Hexside, but you will FINALLY tell me where you stole him from!"

"Come on, is it that hard to believe he can be my kid?" Her sister defied.

"It's hard to believe you moved that fast with anyone." Lilith raised an eyebrow. 

They groaned. "This seems like a lopsided bet." Eda deadpanned.

"Well I could just point the multiple coven scouts inside of the building right at you." Lilith let out a small vindictive smile. "Your move, dear sister."

"....Fine. My pupil is going to mop the floor with yours."

"EDDDDDDAAAAAAAA!" A dark skinned child with round ears came running towards her wayward sister. "I just challenged Amity to a duel, and I'm pretty sure she's going to mop the floor with me!"

"Look at that, it seems they've already met." Lilith bowed. "You have an hour to prepare. I'd bring a pen for the paperwork." 

"Yeah, you can save it right up your-"

"Language!" The human girl shouted.

"Seems this one has a little more common sense than you." Lilith smirked. "Let's see just how good of a teacher you really are…hopefully better than your attempt as a mother."

She made sure to duck out of the way of the incoming fireball. "You just crossed a line Lilly, I will bring upon you vengeance! VENGEANCE I SAY!" Edalyn grabbed the human girl and stormed in the other direction. "Come on kid, blood's about to splatter!"

"Who's blood?"

"Anyone's guess!" Knowing Edalyn, her sister was about to plan something underhanded. So Lilith would plan ahead of time to, and make sure she'd win…by ANY means necessary.

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"Why do they have so many pens?" Lucci asked as he looked through their stolen loot. "I felt that the covens would have more variety in their writing utilities. Like quills, or scrolls."

"Hey Lucci, question?" He turned to King, wearing a shirt, glasses, and a cap. "Is there such a thing as too fabulous? Cause I think I just crossed the line!" Such an adorable sight.

"King, you've become a god of fashion. Both a god and a demon, the world's not ready to handle such an amazing sight all at once." With how everything's been going lately, it was nice to have one and one time again with his little bro..or was it big bro, the age regression thing was confusing to understand.

"Heck yeah! My enemies will fall before me!" The little guy squealed, tripping over his scarf. "Weh!"

"Maybe lighten the load just a tad." He helped the guy up.

"Nah, that's why I got tote bags." King handed him one before jumping in. "Now I can look amazing and ride in style. Onward my noble steed, onward to more offering of my greatness!"

"Alright alright." Lucci laughed as he took a bite of the cupcakes they got. "Lets find out our next destination."

"Lucci!" Oh, here it was now.

"Hey Mom." He waved at the woman running to him. "What's up?"

"Do you remember what I always used to say about taking on gambles?"

"Make sure who you bet against is dumber than yourself?" One of the very first lessons mom ever taught him.

"Yeah, I had a bit of a lapse in judgment and it might end with me in the emperor's coven and you at Hexide."

"... Alright." He nodded slowly. "What was … the gamble?" Hopefully they could edge it out if it was close enough.

"I have to beat Amity Blight in a witches duel." Luz muttered.

"....You're kidding right?" Lucci's brain felt like it stopped working for a second. "You're talking about Amity, the girl who knows abominations inside and out? I'm not all that confident in a head on fight." For multiple reasons, personal or otherwise, one of which being how she turned his bubble against him so easily.

"And I may have … made an everlasting oath to never do magic again if I lose." The girl chuckled.

"Wait, you did what?" Mom asked, her head slipping off for just a single second from the sudden jerk of the neck.

"I just thought we were shaking hands, but she did this glowly hand thingy and it felt really warm and weird and they said I'd never do magic again even after I died and she's about to kill me all the way dead!" Luz pulled up her hoodie and fell to the ground.

Lucci sighed. "How did you two manage to drag us into two horrifying bets that will likely destroy this family at its core, within the span of ten minutes?" He asked. "I know Mom has a horrible gambling addiction, but I expected better from you Luz."

"I got caught in the moment! It was exactly like how Azura challenged her rival to defend her friend's honor!"

Lucci sighed. "Alright, we can work with this … what were the rules of the duel?" Loopholes were little life hacks that reality gave you every now and again.

"We … never set any up?" Luz asked with confusion.

"Then anything goes." He grinned.

"Exactly. So lets start with what magic you know." Mom stated.

Luz shifted her clothes for a moment before taking out her notepad and hitting one of the glyphs, forming a ball of light. "That's literally all I know."

"Light spell, the most that can do is a major flash attack to blind them, but I don't think you'll have enough time to draw before Amity runs you over." Lucci grumbled. "Then lets move on to weapons."

"Hey, didn't you give her a magic sword?" King asked.

"Magic sword…oh, you mean this thing?" Mom shifted through her hair before pulling it out. "I was just going to sell this at the night market when I had the time." 

"Alrighty, magic sword Luz!" She grabbed the blade, going off balance for a second as it went clean through the floor. "... Very sharp."

"Not going to do us much good against living mud, especially if you're just going to keep falling over." Mom noted, trying to think of something. "Okay, you two practice mock fighting to make it at least look convincing while I sneak into the stadium and prepare traps ahead of time."

"What? But isn't that cheating?" Luz asked.

"Luz, buddy, Amity is rich. She's cheating at life." Lucci stated simply. "Haven't you dealt with rich girls in your life before?" That had to be a universal sign of crappiness within the multiverse.

Luz paused. "You make a fair point, but go light on the traps please?"

"So you're saying you don't want the enchanted buzz saws and acid spitting cats?"

"Mom." Lucci rolled his eyes. "We're trying to beat Amity, not kill children. So ditch the buzz saws and double up on the acid cats." They needed to be practical, not plan a massacre.

"Lucci, how is that any better!?" Luz shouted.

"You need something to melt the Abomination down to size." King supported his thinking.

"I don't know guys. Even if I win, I'll lose in my heart." Luz pouted.

"That's the spirit. Now I'm off to spring those traps. Be ready in the next forty minutes!" Mom ran off to get to work.

"Ugh, maybe if I learn how to use this bad girl, I can at least attempt to get one good swing in before the cheating starts." Luz lifted up the sword again, making her arms wobbled. "Ahhh! Curse you weak nerd arms, you have doomed me yet again!" She shouted as she felt to the ground.

"So King, you have any bright ideas to add?" Lucci questioned.

"Can we set Luz on fire?" King questioned.

"Humans aren't fireproof!" Luz shouted.

"Then all I can offer is this cupcake of regrets." His little bro offered up the half eaten dessert he had in his hands. "I licked off all the frosting already, but it has enough sugar to distract you from your horrible mistakes."

"Horrible indeed." Luz weakly accepted the cupcake as she laid on the ground. "Lucci, you know Amity from your brooding backstory, right?"

"Yes, much to my chagrin." He answered, deciding to let up just a little given how his buddy was about to be drowned in living mud soon.

"Is there anything…ANYTHING at all you can tell me that'll help me survive more than two minutes against her?"

Lucci thought about it for a moment. "You can make her lose control for a second by bringing up a heaping ton of parent issues."

"Psychological attacks…have I really fallen this low? Low enough to use psychology?" Luz sighed.

"If it keeps the skin on your back, I'd say it's worth it." He'd prepare a bubble ahead of time just in case.

========================================================================

Luz nervously walked into the ring, watching as Amity gazed upon her with disappointment. "You're bringing in a weapon? And here I thought your claims of being a witch ment you could cast a spell or two."

"No one said I can't use one, and it's a magic sword…I think..." Luz really, REALLY hoped it was, otherwise the cramp in her arm from lugging it around was so not worth it.

"I see you've brought a human as your apprentice Edalyn." The lady with dark blue hair from earlier spoke up.

"Species doesn't matter, action does Lilly." Eda smirked. "And I'll have you know she's the toughest human you'd ever find around." She'd be way more flattered if it wasn't for the lingering curiosity poking at her head.

"Wait, do you two know each other?" Luz asked.

"Doesn't surprise me my dear sister hasn't bothered to mention me." The other woman, Lilly, rolled her eyes. "Then again, talking about family isn't exactly her strongest suit."

"Your sister?!" Luz shouted. That meant she was a super powerful witch on par with Eda.

"Also my teacher." Amity admitted. Oh, as if the girl she was fighting wasn't talented enough.

"Don't let those jerks get in your head Luz! Fear doesn't exist as long as you whack it upside the face first!" Lucci cheered from the stands of the audience, sitting right next to the rest of their friends.

"RIP HER TO SHREDS!" ….Well nice to see Willow was getting into the spirit of things.

"Right, no fear …" She gazed at her opponent, raising the blade forward.

"Okay kid, I set about a dozen traps underground." Eda whispered. "Whatever you do, don't step on the bumps."

"Bumps?" She asked, looking at the group full of mini-hilltops. That didn't seem safe, especially since Luz was more than likely to step on one of them herself.

"They've got a lot of surprises in them. Good luck kido." Her teacher patted her on the back, before moving back.

"Both combatants are set." Lilith, Eda's SISTER (seriously, why did this awesome backstory have to come at the WORST TIME!) , raised her arm. "Let the witches duel …" And swung it down. "Begin!"

"I'll start with something small for the human wearing handicap." Amity made a circle … before launching a human sized fireball straight at her. "What?!"

"HOW THE TITAN IS THAT SMALL!?" Gus shouted, using his illusions to spell out 'RUN AWAY'. "Get out of there Luz! RUN FOR IT!"

Well she'd love to, if it wasn't for the small hills making it hard to get a straight path, along with the super heavy blade. Wincing, she raised it up as a meger shield, watching death approach her head on … it was a nice life while she had it.

Shink

Luz stared at the singed embers of hair in her preferable vision. The sword blade was glowing from the heat, but otherwise looked untouched. "Did …" She gazed at Amity, who looked completely baffled. "Did you just cut fire in half?"

"I…i….." She looked at her blade. It was the only explanation...the sword was magic…THE SWORD WAS MAGIC. "HAHAHA! Heck yeah I did! I'm a fire slayer!"

"Take that, you stupid coven people, that human is my buddy!" Lucci cheered as everyone looked astonished. So much encouragement from a guy with so many reservations. "I gave her that sword!"

"I sleep on her lap!" King was still the best adorable little peach she'd ever known.

"So, what's your next move?" Luz asked, putting the sword on her shoulder … as she nearly lost balance. "Still heavy." Needed to work on that for later.

The green haired girl groweld, making a purple circle. "Abomination, Rise." Purple goop shot from the ground, forming into a giant creature like the one she saw from school, but big enough that Luz only reached its kneecaps.

"Whoa, that's big…way bigger than she's ever shown in class before." Willow noted as everyone in the audience looked up at the giant mud man that reached the freaking ceiling! 

"Yeah, that's weird. You'd think she'd use it when we broke into the school given how she hates us." Lucci noted as the abomination raised a fist at her, trying to stomp her into a pancake!

"You broke into Hexide!?" Lilith shouted.

"Not the time!" Luz moved to the side as the Abomination hit a bump … followed by the giant muck creature exploding! 

"What the-How did you do that!?" Amity accused her as the mud man stumbled back.

"...Magic?" She weakly offered before sending Eda a 'what the' face, who only responded back with a smile and a thumbs up. Amity gave a scream, as she made multiple projectiles to shoot at her, now running straight at Luz. "Nope nope nope!" She did a mix of dodging and cutting as the woman tried to turn her into swiss cheese.

"I never knew Amity was so versatile. I only ever see her use abominations." Skara said as Luz barely ducked under the attacks.

Luz watched as Amity approached, about to hit one of the bumps. "STOP!" She called out. She was with Lucci on not wanting the girl outright dead.

The green haired girl stopped, glaring at her. "Why should I stop?" They asked. "What happens if I keep going forward?" Amity spoke cold, going forward with taking her step.

"LOOK OUT!" Lucci jumped from the audience from the stage and created a shield over the mound, knocking Amity away as it went off.

KAAAAAABBBBBBOOOOOOSH.

The shield was shot upward and blasted through the roof, where it kept going, and going , and going, and probably still kept going. "Landmines Edalyn?" Lilith asked. "Next thing your going to tell me is that you had Lucifer put a bubble under the girl's shirt."

"Jokes on you, I did that of my own free will!" The boy in question shouted-wait what!? Luz looked under her collar, confirming the pink object in question on her chest. She didn't know whether to be flattered or disturbed.

"Lucci, what have I told you about getting accused of a crime!?" Eda shouted.

"Always have someone else to blame ready." The boy replied. "... It was that girl with the one eyeball."

"Lucifer…that was weak…especially for you." Eda's sister shook her head disapointedly before it turned into a smirk. "Though given how that automatically counts as a forfeit, I believe both Hexside and the Emperor's coven will fix both bad habits.

"Actually …" Luz rubbed her arms. "Lucci is banned from Hexside."

"How surprising." Lilith groaned sarcastically. "But I didn't become head of the Emperor's Coven without gaining influence here and there. That's what actual success get you in life, dear sister, more than just the hobble you dwell in every day." Eda growled but didn't say a word.

Luz felt like her whole life was crashing down. Her magic family was about to be forced to do things they didn't want and she was going to stop learning magic.

"I can't believe this!" Amity shouted. "All that talk and you're all nothing but a bunch of cheaters." They pointed at them.

"Amity, wait, the traps weren't my idea-"

"Why would I ever listen to anything that comes out of someone that lives in the Owl House!? Nothing good ever comes out from there, nothing!" Amity turned around to stomp out of the colosseum.

"Wait a second." Eda walked forward, moving to Amity's neck. "Well I'll be." She pulled off a small square object. "A Construction Coven patch… you have been getting sneaky, haven't you, sis?"

The gasp from the audience was echoed all throughout the crowd. "I only did it because I knew you going to cheat first!

"Oh, it seems that oh deer 'mrs perfect' isn't living up to her own expectations." Lucci laughed. "How does it feel to …" He paused, starting at the betrayed look on her face.

"You …" Amity stared at Lilith. "You cheated?" The girl asked quietly.

"I..I only wanted to make sure you had a chance.." Lilith tried to pacify the girl.

"So none of my hard work mattered!?" Amity shouted as she pointed accusedly. "After all those years of teaching me to work no matter what!? No matter how much we did together, everything we've talked about!?"

"Look, I understand, but there was a lot on the line here. Luci-"

"That's all I ever was, wasn't I?" She glared at the woman. "A tool to get to him!"

"... Are you sure parental issues were the trauma trigger?" Luz whispered to her buddy.

"Yeah…this is new…I..wow…just..wow.." Lucci was speechless at what was going on.

"Well you know what, have him then!" Amity shouted, ripping off her cloak and storming off. "Just don't make me a middle witch!"

No one moved or said a word. No one wanted to say anything. "Hahah, you cheated!" No one except Eda.

"Sister, don't rub it in." Lilith growled.

"Cheater. Cheater. Snobby one's a cheater." They kept laughing.

"You can't learn to take anything seriously, can you!" Lilith shouted, pulling out a raven tipped staff.

"You cheated when things got heated, and now you all beated! Go get that stank face treated!"

"Rhyme one more word, I dare you!"

"Fine, I'm done…because my rhymes are depleted!"

With an unholy scream, Lilith shot forth bolts of energy that Eda deflected, before the two of them went at it. She didn't know just how petty her mentor could be until now. "... Hey Lucci." Luz started. "I'm gonna go … talk to Amity." She said softly. "Alright?"

"Yeah, you go and do that." Lucci sighed. "I'll just, go and find King so we can leave."

The way the sadness washed over his face spoke volumes to her. "Do you want to.."

"It wouldn't be right if I talked to her now…neither of us are ready for that." He muttered as he began walking away.

========================================================================

Stupid Amity, stupid stupid stupid! She should have known the moment she shot off the first spell. Fire was never her specialty to begin with! And the abomination, she wasn't that skilled. How, why, why did she fall for that hook line and sinker!

"What was it all for, what was it all freaking for!?" She grabbed her hair and pulled on it tightly. She sacrificed so much, every day, every second. No happiness, no fun. That came after she finally succeeded, where she'd be strong enough to do something. But she wasn't strong, she was weak, and she'd stay weak.

Join the emperor's coven; what a joke. Every goal, every success, every achievement had all been for one cruel joke, one where she end up alone and worthless when it was all said and done.

"Hey there." Oh, now she couldn't be alone right.

"What, you come to gloat or something?" Amity asked. "'The great and powerful top student resorts to cheating' or something?"

"No..I mean, I'm in no position to do so. I knew Eda was going to cheat for me and I didn't stop her. At least you weren't aware of it." The human signed as she sat down next to her.

Amity sighed. "You know … I don't think I'd be half as angry if I was fighting Lucci."

"Seriously?" Luz asked. "Even if you hate each other?"

"I … he trained hard for all of his powers." The Blight explained. "He grew with his own skill and power, and that can only come from sacrifice …" She gripped her hand. "But instead everyone tried to rig it all around us … a couple of good for nothing weaklings." Amity sniffed. 

"You don't seem weak to me." The human stated. "Compared to me at least."

"That's not a high bar to reach…your human. You can't do magic." It may have sounded rude, but that was the simple fact.

"Well, not in the way your thinking." They pulled out a paper, drawing a circle, along with some weird lines, before tapping it. The symbol began shifting, folding in on itself as it became a ball of light. "But I'm learning … that's all that any of us can do, right?" The human smiled, the light almost making their face look dazzling.

"That's…" Mind Blowing. Incredible. Amazing. "The most simple magic anyone can use..but it's different.." Sighing, Amity created another magic circle and took the human's hand. "There, the everlasting oath is undone."

"Thanks … probably wouldn't have counted anyway." The human chuckled. "If we both cheated then it's null and void, right?"

Amity thought about it for a second. "I never thought of it like that before..something to think about in the future I guess." Maybe the human wasn't as stupid as she thought. "How'd you do that fire cutting anyways?"

"My friend found this sword in the mane of a pink lion in the human world … so it's probably magic." They gave a smile.

"…Sounds exactly like what Lucci would do." Just like the good old days when she knew what happiness felt like.

"By the way … do you mind telling me whatever cryptic backstory you, him and Willow have?" They asked.

"Don't get carried away." Just because she made Amity feel better didn't mean she was ready to just open her entire heart out to the human. She still got her in trouble whenever they met. "You should probably get going now. My men-my ex teacher should be loosing her cool with the owl lady right about-" Nothing happened. "Hm, could have sworn I timed that ri-"

Boom

A giant owl face came rushing past them. "Luz we need to make a break for it now!!" Eda's voice yelled as something covered in pink made itself known.

"This is why I hate conventions!" Lucci shouted, passing them, only giving her a passive glance when their eyes made contact.

"Well it was nice talking with you Amity. Maybe we can catch up later." The girl waved as she walked away. "Try to see if this sword can cut through lasers!"

The girl seemed so spontaneous and cheerful. Amity wouldn't mind having some of that in her life…but it was far too late for that now.