Boiling Gems (The Owl House x Steven Universe)

Summary:

Such a strange strange situation indeed.

Lilith groaned as she looked over the objects. "Why do humans throw away human valuables?" She asked, staring at a golden chalice. "If I brought this to earth I could sell it for a fortune and get food from there." Not like it was a good idea to just toss it away.

"Maybe humans are just too dumb to realize they have something good right in front of them?" Vishu asked as she put on a diamond ring that was also thrown in the pile. "Also, is it weird for me to wear jewelry when I already have a big blue gem in my chest?"

"I think it would be weirder if it was mismatched." Emp stated. She found him one day on a strange island while running away … interestingly enough, when she stated he was a tiny Emperor, or Emp for short, the child instantly latched onto it. "I don't think you can pull off yellow with your usual color scheme Vis. Blue and gold, yes, Blue and Yellow, something about those colors just don't mix for some reason."

"I guess you got a point … what about pink?" She asked, pulling out a rose quartz based necklace.

"Ugh, somehow I think that's worse." Emp gag. "What's wrong with sticking with Blue? That's what you usually do."

"Exactly. It's what people expect me to do. Every week I hear the same joke at least twice. 'Why are you so blue?', and they're right! Why do I have to be blue all the time? Why can't I mix up my fashion and clothing scheme?"

"You know, besides color, you could add a theme to your design." Lilith suggested. "Such as clouds, water, the moon."

"Hm, that is a fair point….though if I go with clouds and water, I'll never lose the 'rainy day Vis' nickname." Her adopted daughter sighed.

"I prefer 'sunny smile Vis'. It suits you." Her adopted son patted the girl on the back. "Besides, you never listen to those jerks at school anyway, why start now?"

"I think the teenage angst is getting to me." She shrugged. "So when's Mike coming with the next batch?"

"It should be any minute.." Lilith said, her palisman coming in. "Ah, just in time, so what did you.." He dropped his load…and saw one of the most ridiculous things she's ever seen. "..Is that a backpack…in the shape of a sandwich."

"Cool, giant food!" Emp hopped onto it and took a bit…only to promptly let go. "Blggh, that's the blandest sandwich I've ever tasted."

"I think it's plush." Vis picked it up, looking it over. "Who would make this?"

"Bring back the cheeseburger, fiend!" A voice came up from behind them, and out came a dark skinned…HUMAN child, huffing and panting. "A…AGH…I thought….a magic space door….would've been easier to travel through…" He huffed.

Lilith stared at the child, before looking back at her Palisman. "Micheal, how many times have I had to tell you to close the door every time you use it?"

"Scraw." A little hard to do when being chased.

She sighed. "Child, I'm sorry for this trouble. Allow me to escort you back to your realm."

The boy took back the backpack and noted. "Oooh, so it was a magic space door. I thought I was half imagining that for a second." He looked around. "So am I on a different planet?"

"Different planet, different universe, different plane of existence, yes, yes, and most definitely yes!" Vishu popped right in front of him and shook his hand wildly. "Wow, I've never seen a human up close before! Mom always talks about them, but I've never seen one face to face! Heh, round ears." She rubbed them. "So smooth and non pointy."

"And … you have elf ears." He noted.

"Is it true what they say about humans being delicious?" Emp asked, reaching for their legs.

"From the way you're looking at me, I hope not." The boy backed away in fear.

"Stand down, Emp. We're not eating the human." She growled. "Pardon the disrespect. Demon's dine on flesh regularly. It makes them develop bad habits."

"Demons … am I in hell!?" He shouted.

"No … but this admittedly is a close second." Lilith sighed.

"Don't listen to Mama, the Boiling Isles is an amazing place to live!" Vishu reassured. "Nice to meet you! I'm Vishu Clawthorn, and that's mommy, the notorious Raven Lady!"

"… Why is she called the Raven Lady?" He asked.

"Our top theories are the murder and her love for shiny objects." Emp explained. "Basically she's top crook around here."

"I don't steal because I like it, I still because it's necessary. I don't want either of you developing these habits once you're older!" She exclaimed.

"But beating up people who deserve it is fun." Her daughter pouted.

"...So is everyone here this crazy?" The boy asked.

"From my experience…yes." Lilith sighed. "Let's just get you back home."

"Halt, Raven Lady! You're under arrest." Oh no….not HIM AGAIN!

"Hey Lilily, I think your boyfriend wants another date!" Emp laughed.

"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" She shouted.

"I understand I came off strong before, but if we could just sit down for a conversation befor-"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!" She sent forth icicle after icicle. "I! AM! NOT! INTERESTED! IN! A!! RELATIONSHIP!!!" She froze half the city, panting in exhaustion as she could feel the curse kicking in.

"....So I'm just going to head back now…" The human began to back away, before fireballs began being hurled at them. 

"Scout down, full force on the Raven Lady and her accomplices, do not hold back, I repeat, do not hold back.

"I don't have the time to deal with this. Hop on!" She got on her staff and grabbed the kids, flying away. Hopefully she'll be able to deescalate the situation soon enough.

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

Skara cracked her neck as she walked forward. In front of her, on the other end, stood the human that gave her such a headache. She did her best to stay in her own lane at school. She wasn't involved with the mean girl's of Flyer Derby, and she didn't associate with the lonely squad of Vishu and Boscha. She focused on her own grades, perfecting her skills in bard magic and did her damn best to not fail the potions and healing tracks.

Then the human showed up as a 'backup singer' and helped Boscha cheat on her grade … that alone was a move for vengeance. If you're going to be in a class, do your own work! That would've been bad enough, but then the butter ball had the gall to think he had a chance of being an actual witch! She wasn't going to have him ruin her life anymore. Which led to this move, at King Con, the annual celebration of King Neminem, who made over a hundred advancements to witch culture and magical science, always seeking to improve the way of life for the people.

And now here they were, where the human just kept shouting Skara wasn't as good as she thought, which was baseless considering she put more effort than anyone else did into her work. Well, if he felt like putting on a show, then she would completely destroy him in front of everyone, and prove just how much better she was.

"Lily." Her mentor spoke with a glare.

"Edalyn." The Raven Lady returned it in full.

"Wait, you two know each other?" The human asked the Raven Lady, who seemed to be his mentor.

"It's…complicated." She growled.

"They're sisters!" That weird fuzzy thing that sometimes hung around Vishu shouted from the crowd.

"EMP!" The raven lady yelled.

"You gambled your safety, we say what we want!" Vishu shouted out. "Don't worry Steven, I'm sure we'll be able to piece you back together once Skara's done!"

"NOT HELPING VIS!"

"Looks like even your friends don't have much faith in you. Take the sign and quit while you're ahead." Skara snorted. "You'll still lose everything, but it'll be less embarrassing for you."

"No…I made this mess, and I'm going to follow through." He sighed. "Let's get this over with."

"Very well." Eda coughed. "Ladies and gentleman, let the Lyrical Duel begin!" The audience cheered as the Owl Lady handed her a mic.

"Wait, is this a rap off?" The human questioned.

"Yes, what else would it be?" The Raven Lady questioned as she handed him a mic.

"You kept saying Duel, I assumed it would be magic vs magic!"

"That's stupid. You'd lose automatically from your lack of magic." Skara brought up. "I'm going to prove I'm the better bard, and that I've EARNED my skill!" She grinned as she brought the mic closer. "Let me break it down for you, I am a triple threat. Healing and potions and Bard as a main, that ain't something you should forget. I've got myself a magic touch that leaves everyone craving for more, I'm like a tall glass of water so remind me, what good are humans for?"

The audience winced as she continued. "I'm here making straight As and I'm forced to waste my talents on this middle school drop out, any threat I say is just gonna end up a straight up knock out. Lyrics are my friend, I've grown up with them all my life, a surgeon with her knife, powered through strife. Everyone knows that I am ideal, and the only thing you are is my pet griffon's meal!" Skara looked at him with a smirk.

"So this is really how we're doing it, huh…fine." The human cracked his neck. "Lilith, hold my backpack."

"Steven, are you sure you're confident enough?"

"I've been raised on music…this is the kind of battle I was made for." He smirked, before looking at her and dropping his beat. " You're breaking me down and insulting to my face. Calling me useless and dumb, that I'm just a big disgrace. So high and mighty, you think you can't fall, if that's how we're playing, then fine I'm ball. Let's start with your tune, so generic and bland! With lines so boring I'd rather chop off my hand. Along with my eyes, my ears, my nose and mouth. Get away little birdie, get lost and fly south!"

"Get her Steven!" Vis shouted out.

"So what if you're smart, so what if you're rich, with your personality, we rather jump in a ditch! Don't be shocked, you're supposed to be top student! You're mean, insecure, pretty, but not prudent!"

"Wait wha-" She was flustered for a second.

" You're a dime a dozen, just one of a million girls, who's a bully because they make everyone hurl! You shout out insults, never giving anyone a chance to speak, but that's because you know you've already peaked!"

She growled, putting the mic back to her lips. "So the little boy here isn't gonna go down easy and make it a slaughter? Fine then, a challenge is great, it makes my skills go even broader." She began circling him like a Selkidomas. "You talk about your morals and brains and personality and keep on repeating. But you're just saying all this because you were never caught cheating."

Skara created a small rise. "Tell me then, have you been like this back in your world? A social outcast that made everyone hurl? Everyone here only likes you cause you're weird and strange, from the boring and mundane lives they live, what a nice change. I don't skimp for everything I gain, memorizing potions and equations, and every organ in the body. A hard working girl, that is what I embody."

Skara stared down at him, daring the human to make a move.

" Stealing my lines, looks like the pot met the kettle. I get it, you're hard working, but I'm not going to settle. I was helping my friend to not look like a fool, which led to you chasing us all over the school. I admit you have skill, there's no denying that fact, but that means I'll try even harder to get to the top of the stack. Living on the isles means I have to run for my life, but if I'm able to play from my heart, then I'll gladly endure that strife."

They pulled out a paper. "So I'm not a witch so I can't make those fancy glowing circles. I'm already learning things and moving ahead of you turtles." He tapped on it…and showed off a flower that he handed over to her. " Move at your own pace, and I'll move at mine. Let's wait to see who ends up in the front of the line."

She paused. He went from insulting her to complimenting her at almost a drop of the snail. Skara had no idea how to process that. The number of nice things people did for her could be counted on one hand. "He totally won!" Vis shouted. "In your face Edlasta!"

"Ugh, just agree to stay out of my way and forget this ever, ever happened." Skara groaned as she held out her hand to undo the spell.

"Sure thing. Not like I'm allowed at school anyway." The boy grinned as he held his hand out. "You did have some fancy lyrics, but that's nothing to my musical mastery."

"Please, you are a talented amateur at best." Skara smirked, shaking his hand. "You need decades before you catch up to me. If this was a battle of instruments, you would've been creamed instantly."

"Not when I bring in my ukulele." He stated as she undid the forever oath.

"Gazuntite."

"Oh come on, my student totally won!" She turned to see Eda and Lilith arguing. "That means I won the bet."

"No, it was clearly my pupil that defeated yours!" The raven lady shouted. "He deescalated the situation amicably and he did it within the parameters of the competition!"

"Wow, they're so petty." The human noted.

"Yeah, you'd think they'd be more mature about these things." Maybe it was just a sibling thing.

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

Willow looked down at the human. "So, do you concede yet?" She asked, glancing at his broken body. Ever since they came along her life has been nothing but an endless stream of chaos, one thing after the other. First that three eyed freak got into potions when he helped her cheat, meaning that she was was stuck with her for an entire class, than rainy day Vis started getting to Cocky because she had to save his worthless butt on numerous occasions, and then his stupid music distracted her during the last flyer derby game…causing her to lose.

So in the fair name of retaliation, she spent the entire week making sure the bastard was humiliated to the point of crawling back to whatever hole they came from … until they had the bright idea to challenge HER to a flyer derby game. A minute in and he was already destroyed beyond belief.

"No…just…catching my breath." He weakly spoke, tumbling to his feet. "It's just like riding a bike…after a few hundred crashes I'll get the hang of it."

"Remind me how you'll do that without scoring a single point?" She looked over at the flags, seeing their barren tree compared to the three flags they took from his.

"Heh…I was counting on plucky optimism to help me out here…I think I might've watched too many 90s sports movies." He admitted. The human grumbled. 

"So you know you're completely screwed, right?" She asked, raising her vine. "I'm far ahead in the lead, and the second you get back on, I'm going to unleash everything I have within me to utterly obliterate you. You're going to die . Why are you so stubborn about this."

"Because … who in their right mind would want to die?" He asked, glaring into her eyes. "I admit, I got myself into this mess, and I have no idea what I'm doing. But that just means I have to go at it harder. I said that I was going to challenge you to flyer derby, and by titan that's what i'm going to do, no matter how hard i suck at it. The fact I'm here at all is enough for me to call it a good day."

Every part of Willow just wanted to bury this kid into the ground. "Fine then, your loss." She threw the spiky vine straight at him, intent on impaling their skull.

Shing

"Seriously, how hopeless are you when no one is watching?"

"Don't blame him, Skar, he's just exploring at his own pace." 

Willow growled, glancing at the two interlopers. The first one being Rainy Day herself, the second being- "Hey Skara, hey Vis!" Amity called out from behind her. 

"Seriously Amity, you are far too nice for this." Skara shook her head.

"What the hell are you doing here Skar, I thought you were done with everything flyer derby?" Willow demanded.

"I decided to mix it up." She growled, aiming her lute. "Steven, you okay?"

"Yeah…just got to realign the cracks in my ribs…and walk off the concussion." The human coughed. "…And fix the collapsed lung."

"What gave you the bright idea to play one on one against Willow to begin with?" The bard glared.

"You're the ones who kept saying not to pick a fight. I thought you didn't want to get involved." The human spoke as he wobbly stood up.

"I said you specifically shouldn't pick a fight." Skara rolled her eyes. "Alright Willow, you had your fun, now beat it. You're not killing Steven today."

"No, I'm killing him, right now. I literally don't have a better time than now." Willow aimed her vine.

"How about never?" Rainy day asked. "Or I'll have to kick your ass to next week and make you regret walking."

"Oh, you wanna talk smack right now? Fine, I happen to hate you more than I hate him. So you and me, one on one magic duel." She demanded. "Accept, or I'm growing a tree in his stomach and watching his head explode."

"Fine then." The girl cracked her neck. "You want the first move, or should I show you why you're one of the weakest people I know?"

"What part …about me… is weak!?" She stomped the ground, using her construction magic to hurl boulders covered in ice spikes at the freak

Shink

"Everything." A blue scythe cut apart the boulders, as the girl blazed forward and swung at her. "I've never seen a witch as wasteful and arrogant as you. Lording your own strength above everyone just to feel better about yourself, talk about insecure."

"Like you're one to talk! If it wasn't for your crybaby powers, you'd have nothing at this school! You're only good at Oracle magic, just one type of magic! You can't get anywhere in this world on one type of magic!" She sent her piranha plant to bite her stupid head off.

Slash

And she proceeded to slice it in half, having that scythe near inches to her face. "It doesn't matter when all your multiple magics are weak!!" A blue wave of energy shot itself from the girl, enveloping the field in rage and frustration. "You're not even worth half the effort I'm using…you're barely half a witch, Willow."

That name…that stupid, stupid name. "I'm not..I'm not.." she attempted to clear her eyes, not wanting her pain to be visible to those idiots. "I'm not …."

"ENOUGH!" An abomination wall came between them. "I'm sick of this! Let's just end the fighting already!" Amity shouted out. "You three, stop antagonizing Willow! And Willow! Stop threatening to kill them! We all have better things to do than fight a pointless blood feud." She reached forward and grabbed her arm. "Alright?" The purple girl asked in a demanding tone.

Willow looked in her eyes at her friend..the only friend she had after all this time. "Fine. This was getting boring anyways." She turned to leave. Best to go before she risked losing the only good person in her life.

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

There was little Ameir could complain about his position as the silver scout. He was greatly cared for by his uncle and mentor; respected by his peers, and had a decent dental plan to boot. He wasn't lacking for anything.

Although if you had to ask him..there was one thing he would ask for…or rather…someone. "And once more, you have been defeated by the mighty daughter of the Raven Lady." The girl grinned as she placed a boot on his chest. "It makes sense, you do have an inferior teacher, and I have awesome blue powers, so that definitely points in my favor."

To some, the boasting might have been annoying, but to Ameir…there was something infectiously endearing about it. The way she was fearlessly happy about any situation, whether mundane or life threatening. "Yeah…you are quite skilled." He smirked, before focusing on his palisman, and teleporting off the ground. "So I've had to learn a few tricks to keep up."

"Oooh, that is a fun one." She blocked his attack with her tall weapon. "Too bad I saw it coming." An oracle that could change the future. An almost unheard of feat beyond even the greatest of their Coven Heads. "But don't worry, that little technique is yours and yours alone, you unique little soul."

 Badump

"You-your flattery won't make me go easy on you!" He exclaimed, doing his best to zip behind her, only to counter it.

"Can we at least be friends? Mom is picky about this stuff, but you seem nice enough to not be another Steve." She asked, before snorting. "Oh wait, I know a different, less creepy Steve, and two of him might actually be a little fun."

"Could we stop talking about Steve? I'm pretty sure he's never a decent conversation topic." The man was just the worst.

"He is when we're talking about beating him to a pulp." ..fair point. "So you spend a lot of time with my aunt. What's she like? From what mom told me about their childhood, she was the rebellious one."

"Really? Eda's a little lax about the rules from time to time, but I would never describe her as rebellious." Ameir paused to think about it. "I mean, sometimes she puts a bit of poison berry in Abomination General Alador's tea, but that's about it."

"Pfft; I can imagine the diarrhea that follows must suck." It wasn't pleasant for anyone. "Man, I can't imagine why she'd be in a group as strict as the King's Army."

"There's plenty of benefits. Time off, vacations, great salary, the annual potluck, the list goes on really." He said.

"Sounds nice … too bad my mom's a criminal. No way we can join." She gave a cheeky smile. "Good luck catching us though."

"You're going to regret that, I will catch you eventually!" He shouted, using his staff to summon the plants as extra limbs to nab her.

She spun around like a top, slicing through them. "Woho, this is fun!"

"Won't think it's fun when you slip." He used construction magic to move a rock in the way, causing her to fall onto the ground as he tackled her. "Gotcha!" He smirked, looking down at her … beautiful face.

"Vis, we gotta go!" He turned to see a chubby boy run out. "We don't know how long Lilith can …" He paused, staring at their position. "Vis is way too innocent for that, bastard!" He shouted, pulling out a glyph, hurling a giant meteor of fire right at his head.

"Wait, no, I wasn't trying to-AGGGGGGGH!" It wasn't easy being in love with a criminal…not easy at all.

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

Steven continued running from the absolutely terrifying nightmare of his dreams. "Stew-ball, how could you run away from us like that!?" He couldn't even tell how conscious this thing was to be considered a sadist. "After all I've done to give you a good life, you just threw it away!"

"I wasn't trying to run away, I just…I needed to grab my bag, and a bunch of things popped up." Emp got kidnapped, he was the only one who could slip into the cell.

"You had the option to come back, but you didn't!" Mom's voice shouted out. "Did we hurt you!? Did you think we didn't love you to the point you had to run away from us!?"

"No, I never…I just…I just wanted to be happy for a little while longer…" He fell to his knees. He didn't hate his family…but..but his dad never supported his musical hobbies, and it just..just became disheartening."

"We wanted that to, but you decided to stay an entire world away from us? How could you betray us like that!? Lie to us every single day!" Dad shouted. "How could you-"

"Can it wise guy!" Vis slammed her scythe into him.

"Vis, you need to get out of here!" Steven shouted.

"I'm not going to let you suffer this alone, Steven!" Vis shouted. "I'm staying by your side no matter what!"

"That's sweet, but I'm telling you to go away because you have the power to shoot your emotions out next to a thing that eats them!" He explained. "If it scans you the situation will be ten times worse than it already is!"

"...I think your impulsiveness is rubbing off on me." Vis sweated as Grom's attention was now turning to her. "Back, Back, Back I say!"

"Guy's, stop it! I'm the one it's supposed to face!" Skara popped out in front of him, shooting out her lute and firing a note at the monster. "Sorry Steven, I shouldn't have let you take my place…again, you really have a habit of putting yourself in danger when no one asks."

"What can I say, I like the concept of being a human shield." He joked back. "Are you sure you're up for it though?"

"Compared to what you just went through…my fears are dumb." She sighed, firing at Grom again. "Hey tall, dark and slimy! You want fear to feast, then try mine!"

It stuck to her, silent for a moment, before shifting into a smaller and more unknowable form. "No way …" Vis muttered for some reason.

The thing walked up to Skara, reaching into her pocket, and tearing up a piece of paper, silently glaring at her. "Oh…rejection." He summarized. "Was that who you were going to ask out tonight?"

"I wrote this whole song that I wanted to play for them…but I couldn't muster the strength to do it." She sighed. "Pathetic, isn't it?"

"I think it's nice." He grinned. "If you want, you can sing to me instead."

"Wha-what?"

"It's not like I have a date anyway. I could do it with a friend." He smiled. "Heck, let's play it together."

"Yeah, a friend ." Vis snickered. What was her deal?

"O–Okay, but…It's a little cheesy." Skara blushed as they got their instruments out. "I..I don't write love ballets all that often…or at all, it's just…everything I've been feeling."

"The more feeling, the better. You're talking to the guy that sings pretty much anything and everything on the fly." He laughed.

"Yeah…you do." She smirked, before strumming. " I thought I would be a solo, always playing all alone, and at first I thought that was fine." The air began to glow as she followed along with her beat, harmonizing. "But then you dropped in front of me, far beyond the boiling sea, and I thought you were mine."

Never to skip out on a performance, Steven hummed to her melody, trying his best to enhance the tone without knowing the song himself. "I thought I was all alone, life never throwing me a bone, all that I would know is pain." He looked at her, smiling wildly as the rocks and trees around them began to whirl like a tornado, or gornado. " But then I looked into your eyes, more lovely than all the skies, and to live without them would be a shame."

Grom swung out a fist to attack….a fist that was instantly repelled by the harmonic gornado swirling all around them. " I want to be in your world, count on me as your girl, always side by side." Skara kept going. " We can run, sing or play, just as long as we're here all day, to that I will abide."

Grom attempted to get on top of them, only to burn at every single time it attempted to get close to them. " It's a comfort that you're near, with you I never fear, I feel like I've met my match." Steven continued as grom seemed to start shrinking. 

"With all the stars up above, I hope what I feel is true love, I know there's no better catch." Skara let out a single happy tear as their harmonic gornado was sent directly at Grom, now closing in and encasing the sludge monster. "And with this lovely song, one not too terribly long, I hope that you can see. I like you so very much, my heart flutters at your touch…so please go to grom with me."

They gently floated back down, landing on the creature as they squashed it with their boots. A blush rested on Skara's face as she looked away. Steven chuckled. "See, what kinda guy wouldn't say no to a song like that?" He laughed. "You're an amazing person Skara, anyone would be lucky to have a date with you."

The girl blushed even harder somehow. "So….you….want to be lucky and get back to the dance?" She held out her hand.

"Sure thing." He grinned, taking it. "Vis, you coming?"

"Just a moment man." She said, holding her stomach as she shook. "I just … thought of an old joke and … need to laugh."

"Sometimes I think you don't take things seriously enough…and that's coming from me." Steven said. "Think about that for a minute."

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

Aquamarine smiled brightly. "I have done it, my Diamond. I have finally entrapped all generals, all great powers, all forms of magical wisdom and energy. All for your great and glorious reign, Blue Diamond." She bowed with the salute.

"...What the heck are you talking about?" Her diamond asked as she looked around. "You destroyed almost all of Bonesburrow, almost killed Ameir, and captured the top users of magic…just to impress me?" She asked.

"Of course." She smiled. "After all, I've taken everything valuable on this planet and removed all threats without the assistance of any other gem. Now we can colonize it without worry." While being stuck in this wretched and disgusting realm was horrible, it was not without uses. Gaining magic and capabilities, illusions to help her manipulations … and finally, her Diamond walked the lands! 

"Colonize…what…what are you talking about.."

"Oh dear, perhaps this realm has done much more damage to your core than I initially feared, given your lowered stature." Aquamarine examined her Diamond's precious gem. "Well, there doesn't seem to be any cracks, but then again, that 'Oracle magic' is tricky, might have some unintentional side effects. You do seem to be proficient in it, as I expected no less from My diamond."

"Okay, first you make fun of my height, then you insult my magic." She spoke with a twitchy eye. "You really are giving me mixed signals on if you want to worship or ruin me."

"Ruin, perish the thought, My Diamond. I would never think of doing something so horrible to someone as grand as you." She humbly bowed. "I just wish for you to be at your full potential. If the other Diamond's saw you like this…it wouldn't be pretty."

"Other…Diamond's?" Her Diamond asked. "There's other Diamond's?"

"Of course. White Diamond and Yellow Diamond." She bowed. "Together you all could crush any and all enemies without mercy, as we lesser gems followed your orders and removed all organic life and expanded our Empire through the universe."

"Why…WHY WOULD I EVER WANT THAT!?" She exclaimed.

"Because it's your grand and glorious duty, my diamond. To create perfection across the universe…though given that this is an entirely new plan of existence, we can spread it across multiple universes now." She smiled. "Doesn't it sound amazing? To be rid of these wretched and disgusting organics and have a clean world?"

"No…no…it does not ." Her diamond glowed in a blue aura, surrounding the area in her anger, depression, emptiness, sadness, grief. "Tell me…why should I leave YOU alive if you want to do something so horrible?"

"Horr-horrible?" Aquamarine asked. "But … y-you sent m-me here." She pleaded, trying to stand with the agonizing suffering being embedded into her.

That..that got her diamond to pause, and ease her suffering, thank the stars. "I did….when?"

Aquamarine caught her breath. "Six…six thousand years ago. Do you … not remember?" Maybe the core really was damaged.

The Diamond looked at her own gem, before looking at her own. "There's a lot I need to figure out now. If you really DO listen to me, then stand down…and DON'T try to kill anyone else."

"But … you ordered this." She said. "Looking for a way to revive Pink and remove any obstacles to your arrival …"

"I said stand down." The aura was blasted out again. If anything, her diamond's ruthlessness was still intact…so there wasn't a complete lack of hope.

"Y…yes my Diamond." Aquamarine would choose to follow along….and do everything she could to bring her diamond back to her old self.

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

Caleb gazed at the individuals in his mind. "Let's see … if it isn't Clawthorne, Amier, and the human causing such a ruckus." He noted. "I take it you have some questions?"

"Yeah…I'm just…really confused here." The human boy Steven. "You were so ruthless against the Clawthones, and trying to get the portal…but every memory I've seen is of you being benevolent. There's a picture forming from pieces that don't match."

He sighed. "I truly do love witches. Their fascinating world, their unique culture, their whimsical magic. It's a beauty unmatched by others … Unfortunately, my family didn't share the same views." The man explained. "Witch Hunting was the largest profession at the time after all."

"Witch hunters?" Ameir was shocked. "Our family are witch hunters!?"

"Were, dear nephew. I've broken away from my human life long ago." He clarified. "I fell in love with a witch a long while back. Evelyn Clawthorne, if you can believe the cosmic irony of the situation."

"Clawthorne…so you had the hots for my mama's great, great, something great grandma?" Vishu raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, quite the amazing woman. Fierce, smiling, wild, it was just incredible … unfortunately, she was more interested in my brother than me." He groaned.

"I thought you were the only non witch hunter?" Amier asked.

"I was … apparently the Clawthorne love of being hunted is a family trait." Caleb lamented.

"....I choose not to comment." Vishu blushed.

"My brother, Philip, he hated her, he hated and despised her…and no matter how much I warned Evelyn, she always ran to him, she always chose him over everyone else….and one day…my brother chose to play a game….a sick…. twisted game. He pretended to reciprocate those feelings, courted Evelyn to the point where they were expecting….and he was prepared to drive a knife through her heart…." Caleb's hand's flinched, still remembering how he held her arms. 

"What…What happened?" Steven asked tentatively.

"I couldn't save Evelyn…I couldn't let my brother live…but I saved their child, but only barely." He growled. "From then, I learned my own kind could never coexist with Witches … so I decided to make witches the only existence."

"Only…existence?" Ameir asked.

"Humanity fears what they don't understand…because they refuse to understand. They choose ignorance rather than progress. So, after dealing with the Collector, I made a plan. A way to amplify the magic of witches to the point they'd be unstoppable. With the portal door, we will lay siege to the human realm, and wipeout the scum from existence so that no living creature has to suffer from the parasite that is humanity ever again."

Steven was silent. "Boy, I know this is hard to hear..

Shing

"But it's what needs to be done." He explained, even as the boy shot fireballs and ice through his body.

"You're clearly insane if you think that needs to be done!" He shouted.

"I'm not the bad guy here. What I'm doing is bringing justice to all the poor witches that suffered at the hands of humanity." He stated.

"By slaughtering humanity!?" Steven shouted.

Caleb turned to the child. "Tell me, has it gotten any better since after the Witch Hunts?" He spoke not with an aggressive voice, but a kind one. "Has humanity removed it's prejudices, the racism, the inequality in class." He looked deeply in the boy's eyes. "Have they thrown away weapons that could kill away a man in a single instant? Are you, a boy so full of wonder, a lust for life, and a love of the fantastical, accepted as the norm?"

The boy flinched. "Exactly, humanity is so divided they even discriminate against themselves. They're a truly hopeless cause.."

Shing

This time…he felt something sting as Vishu sliced him with that scythe,..burning with a blue aura. "That doesn't give you the right to get on your high snorse and judge a whole species you haven't even seen for four hundred years!"

"This coming from the girl who's heritage involves slaying a species from one side, and slaying another species from the other." He stated, putting himself back together. "You know, it's funny. The woman who's gem you held quite the fascinating glyph. Freezing my age, the blood from leaving my body, the injuries … pure, still." He shot an attack that froze her in place without any ice. "I cannot thank her enough. And I can extend that thanks to you. I truly don't wish to carry out the grievances of a whole species on one person."

"And … what about me?" Ameir asked. "What does that make me?"

He looked down at the child, and gently smiled. "An attempt to make my family see the error of their ways … and out of every Grimwalker, you're the first success."

"..What…"

"You fell in love with a witch….well, a witch/crystal devil, but still far better than Philip ever did."

"You're not going to get away with this, we're going to stop you!" Steven shouted.

"My dear boy…I've already won." He said. "I will not hold you captive. Nothing you can do, from this world or the next can stop the day of peace. Just stay out of the way."

"Guys, we're getting you out of there, hang on tight!"

"You'd better listen." He stated, walking away. "The mind is quite the dangerous thing to wander in."

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

Vishu looked to the sky…looking at all the 'ships' as they were flooding the sky. "Isn't it marvelous, My Diamond." Aquamarine smiled. "I'm glad you finally came to your senses. Homeworld is finally on the Boiling Isles."

"It was the only way to save Steven's home…" Vishu grumbled

"His home?" She asked in confusion. 

"Yeah, earth." She rolled her eyes.

"..." Aquamarine looked away awkwardly. "Sure…if you say so." Why did she feel like that was going to be a problem?

"Vishu! " Her mom flew down to her in her harpy form.

"Mom, we need to run!" She shouted. "We don't know wha-"

A wall exploded, as King Neminem stood in the doorway, blue skin as ice seemed to radiate from his body like a miasma. "What … did you DO!?"

"You were going to destroy my friend's home…I had to do something." She growled. "And I'm not going to let your hypocritical butt lay a single finger on any human as long as I live."

" Everything I've done…was for the sake of Witch kind…and you DAMNED them all…your friends, your family! How could you betray the ones you call fami-"

CRACKLE!

A yellow bolt of lightning obliterated the man where he stood … as the shoulder of the Titan melted all the way down to the Boiling Sea. "...That was anticlimactic." Vishu brought up.

"It's not going to stay like that!" Ameir ran in and pointed up to the yellow hand, once more pointing at a spot and firing, accompanied by the screams of witches. "Everyone, we got to move it, now!"

" To where!?" Mom said.

"There's an underground bunker Eda set up ahead of time for situations like this! We can hide there for a while while we think of a plan!" He exclaimed as he led them there.

"Ameir, I'm sorry! I just got so desperate and I didn't want Steven to lose his family and…!"

"Lets focus on apologies and mistakes when we're NOT going to die within a few seconds of an impact!" Mom screamed, pushing her out of the way as one of the hands blasted near them.

It went like that for a while as they went into the dark abyss. "Stuck in a tunnel….I just hope Steven made it back home safely."

"Oh…I guess you really didn't know." Ameir said as he opened the door.

"Vis!"

"STEVEN!?" She exclaimed as he ran up to her. "You were supposed to go through the portal door! That was the last chance to see your family!"

"I couldn't leave one family while another was going through hell just for my sake." Steven said. "I was in the middle of telling that to mom and dad…and well…" He showed them the room….where two MORE humans were sitting. "Let's just say we're gonna need more beds."

"... So we're all stuck in here with a crazy alien armada destroying the Boiling Isles and everyone on it." Vis deadpanned.

"That's what I told them…that actually made them more determined to come here." Steven laughed brokenly.

"Wait, I thought we were just dealing with witches, there's aliens involved too!?" The bald guy who was presumably Steven's dad shouted.

"Long story." Amier shouted. "... It was nice knowing you all." 

"Not a very good vote of confidence you're giving me here."