Boiling Gems (The Owl House x Steven Universe)

Summary: A night to remember for ages

Eda watched as her son strutted his way in one of her old dresses. "Hmm … it's not as constricting as the last one … but does it scream 'me'?" To think she had reached this moment in her life…now she knew what Gwendolyn felt when she kept fussing over her during her Grom night.

"Lucci, as your mother, I say that there's nothing in this world you don't look good in, but as a fashion critic, I say this one shows off the hips just a little too much." The Owl Lady criticized honestly. "And don't go for the leggings, they are not doing you any favors."

"Yeah I figured as much." They winced, looking through the closet. "Alright … maybe I should go with something a little more broad … at this rate we're gonna have to actually ask for advice at the thrift store instead of just robbing it."

"Who says we can't do both?" Eda snickered.

"Meh, never feel good robbing the helpful. The stupid and cruel, absolutely." A thief with a heart of gold, she's never felt prouder. "What did you wear during your Grom? Maybe that'll help me narrow things down."

"The same thing I'm wearing this year." She showed off her brown suit with a red undershirt and orange bowtie. "Only imagine more frills and white." Eda had a night and day theme going on with Raine when they went together.

"Nice..ooh, that actually gives me an idea." Lucci dove into the closest and shut it behind him. After a few seconds of rumbling, the boy popped back out, this time wearing a pink tuxedo with feathers right behind him, along with a matching top hat. "I think this one speaks to my flamboyant theatricality."

"Now we're talking." She grinned, excited to see what would come out of this. "You iron out the wrinkles, I'll go check on our grom queen in the meantime."

"Oh yeah … you think she'll pull it off?"

Eda thought about it, and gave it a fifty fifty. "I took on Grom with a little pushing, but that was mostly because I didn't grasp the concept of fear back then, other than the risk of expulsion." She smirked. "I showed that beast what far. If she can tame a Crystal Devil, I would be horrified by whatever Grometheus tries to transform for Luz."

"Ahhhhh! Human souls trapped in the bodies of cats! It's so unnatural!" Said girl screamed from outside. The two of them ran to the window, to see the human girl quote on quote 'training' for the monster, which was them being showed illusion's from the Older Blight kids as the little Blight bitch (she STILL would never would forgive her for the memory incident), watched from the side.

"Of course that all depends on whether or not Luz takes this seriously." Eda groaned. The girl was talented and had a knack for getting out of trouble, but that wouldn't mean much if she didn't fully understand what she was afraid of.

"Not to interrupt this 'training', but are we certain that these two.." Lucci walked outside, pointing to the older Blights. "..Are the best people to help Luz…you know…because they're the opposite of helpful."

"Of course we're the perfect people to teach her curly top." The older Blight girl smiled. "Illusionists bring out the best in scaring others."

"Plus we're well versed in other people's fears." The Blight boy grinned. "Worst fear on three. One, two, three...."

"Being alone/stuck with Ed forever." There was an awkward silence at their admissions. 

"You know." Lucci had a smirk. "I think this is the first time I genuinely enjoyed one of your conversations."

"Believe me, this is the best we could do on short notice, and I wouldn't have asked them for help if it wasn't dire." The little Blight Bitch sighed, looking at Luz. "Luz, you need to dig deeper. Grom is going to get personal, so you need to get personal yourself."

"I really can't think of anything scarier than a mutant cat monster." Luz nodded. "I mean, there was the Owl Beast … but after that partial transformation I just see a cute widdle creature like Centi here." She petted the Crystal Devil, much to the horror of the Blights.

"...I think round ears is actually the scariest thing we've come across in the entire Isles." The Blight boy began to slowly back away, much to the Owl Lady's internal pleasure.

"Luz!" Eda spoke up. "It doesn't just get physical, it can get psychological. Like letting somebody down, or failing a quest as everyone around you dies."

"..Like getting sucked into angry comment section debates that go on and on forever?" This was getting them nowhere.

"Luz, think something more emotionally scarring, like on the level of what you saw in my head when Amity stopped being my friend." Lucci brought up. "Something that cuts deep into you and sticks no matter how much you want to fix it."

Luz thought about it for a moment, a curious look on her face. "I guess failing to cure Eda is as close to psychological as I can think of at the moment." She could see her son wince at the comment.

"You should go ahead and put on the outfit, sport." She ruffled his head. "Break it in for your date with the mean chick Mama doesn't approve of."

"Aww, little curly top got himself a whittle date? Playing dress up and being a big boy." The older Blight girl teased in spite of the stares getting thrown her way. "I'm hurt you didn't bother to ask me."

"At least I can confirm my date won't stand me up!" The boy shouted, stomping away.

"What did he mean by that?" Luz asked.

"Old prank the two pulled back when we were kids, Lucci's been sore about it ever since." Amity groaned. "Let's just say his trust took a dive even before the birthday party."

"Oh come on, we at least paid for the dinner and flowers." The Blight boy tried to justify something Eda was sure she'd snap his neck for if she knew the context.

"For once I'm not going to ask for more backstory, because I'm on a rush." Luz pounded her head, trying to think really, really hard. "If I really, really had to dig deep down…then I say I'm afraid of people constantly saying my dreams are useless, that I don't know what I'm doing..and…and that the people I admire say I can't do it!"

"Alright, time for a double Illusion then!" The Blight girl shouted, before turning to her. "Permission for a giant Owl Lady, oh powerful witch that can kill us for copyright?"

"Hm…I don't like you, but I do look sexy as a giant…" She mulled it over for a minute. "Fine, but if you ever use it outside of this situation, I'm boiling you in my cauldron and using your melted guts to sweeten up my apple blood."

"Understood, oh powerful criminal witch!" The Bright boy saluted. "Now, face the disappointed face of your mentor, round ears!"

Blue smoke poofed into the area, and seconds later, a giant Eda appeared, taller than the house and looking as fearsome as ever. "Whoa mama, I look good from every angle." If she could kiss it, she would.

The giant illusion of her glared down on top of them, staring directly at least with massive disappointment, a look that would shake the very souls of all that glared into her eye. "You're inadequate."

"... You have something that's a little more …" Luz waved around her hands. "Eloquent yet sarcastic?" And these two were supposed to be seniors?

"Oh, you want the big guns?" The older Blight Girl raised an eyebrow. "Okay, your funeral."

" You miserable worthless pile of blood and bones! I should've eaten you when I had the chance!" The giant yelled at her. " You're not cut out for this world, human! You'd die if it wasn't for me looking after you're useless hide! Give up or I'll make you wish you were never born!" Sheesh, Eda wasn't that critical….was she?

Luz winced, but stood her ground. "I'm not afraid!" … She was gonna die real quick. Eda would probably need to store a battle booster or two just in case. "I'm going to stay in this world until I become a real witch, and nothing or no one is ever, EVER going to tell me otherwise!"

The Blight twins looked at each other, before shrugging and dissipating the illusion. "You faced the biggest fear you told us about. Either you'll win, or it'll bring out something super repressed."

"I think I'll be good for now. Grom has nothing on me!" Luz shouted with that optimistic naivety Eda's come to find so endearing.

"Luz, I don't think you're ready in the slightest, but we're literally out of time. Grom is in two hours." The little Blight Bitch sighed, placing a hand on the human girl's shoulder. "Thanks again for doing this, I don't know how I could thank…"

"Pfft, don't worry about it, this is just what friends do for each other." Luz stopped the girl. "If you really wanna replay me, help me figure out what to wear to Grom. I'm thinking something sportsy … like a honey badger. Or battle armor."

"Heh, Honey Badger, you humans come up with the strangest words by mashing two unrelated things together." Eda snickered. "That's almost as funny as fireflies, Sea lions, and Whale sharks."

Luz raised an eyebrow. "This coming from Snorses and Firebees?"

" … Touche."

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Lucci walked down to the living room, sliding in with his new threads. "Tell me, am I gonna rock Grom to its core, or to its soul?" He should've started out with his favorite color to begin with. Now he'd match perfectly with Boscha.

"I tell you yes, except I know coming from you, that means I need to take it literally." King noted as he adjusted a bowtie. "Just do me a favor and don't play any music until after I'm down with my Grom announcer duties. I need the audience to be alive before you kill them."

"Sure sure, I'll save it for the grand finale." He waved off. "So, you feeling up to the task?"

"Of course I am! I am the King of Demons, all will love my voice and demands for praise!"

Lucci stared at the little guy for a moment. "Maybe try to pander just a tiny bit, since they haven't sworn loyalty yet."

"Really?" King asked. "I thought young moldable minds would crave something a little more intellectually stimulating."

"Oh no, teen brains are basically mush still. Large groups will more often than not settle for the lowest common denominator." Lucci explained. "They can be ruthless, but they are also super gullible. Just mention the enemy sports team sucking and you'll buy yourself half an hour."

"And once again, you've proven your loyalty and why you're my third in command." King saluted him and tightened his bow. "So you actually managed to score a date? How ya feeling, big guy?"

"To be honest, super ecstatic and just a little bit terrified at the same time." Lucci responded. "I mean, this is every moment I ever dreamed up, but I never really dreamed past this point. Or more accurately, details … how do I date without screwing it up?"

"Romance isn't exactly my cup of expertise, can't you ask someone else?" King asked.

"Luz is getting dressed, and the only option left is Hooty." They both turned to the door demon.

"I'm an expert love advisor! I tell Eda all my best secrets, but she doesn't listen to me! That's why I keep mailing her ex's her home address!" Hooty screamed.

Lucci loved the lovable lug, but this was the one area where he felt Hooty could never….EVER give him sound advice on. "So yeah, I could really use something, anything really."

King rubbed his forehead. "Honestly Lucci, I don't get what you see in this chick. Sure she's ruthless and domineering, the perfect traits for a witch, but she's also a witch spelled with a B."

"Why does everyone always try to jump on and only point out her worst qualities?" Even Luz with her 'be friends with everyone' mentality didn't seem to like her.

"Because she has no good ones?"

"For your information she has plenty of great qualities." Lucci defended. "She works hard towards her goals. She never backs down when challenged. And she's the most honest person I know."

"Said honesty telling people how much they suck." King rolled his eyes.

"Exactly, she's never once lied to me on how she feels. Do you know how rare it is for me to meet someone who's never lied to me before?" Luz, Amity, Willow, The Blight Twins, even his own Mom. Lying was just a natural part of living, but there was just something about Boscha's brutal honesty that Lucci couldn't help but find attractive.

Hooty just smiled. "What a lovely little owlet you got yourself Lucci!" See, he understood.

"I will never understand you mortals and your love lives." Kind groaned. "So why has Luz's awful fandoms grabbed me so?!"

"That is a mystery that everyone, teenager and young adult, has been asking themselves since the early 2000s." They turned around to see Luz walking down the stairs, in a dress suit wearing a pink skirt with her hair combed back, along with a few wristband spikes on her arms. "Amity said armor would just slow me down while I'm trying to run for my life, so I went for style. How do I look?"

"Like you're ready to survive the apocalypse in style, or life wouldn't be worth living." Lucci grinned, putting on a pose. "What about me?"

"Like you're about to put on a one man Broadway musical and sing across the universe." Luz smirked right back with a finger gun pose. "Let's face it, when it comes to fashion, we stand on top of the world, unrivaled and undefeated."

"It's a shame, the world isn't ready for our majestic style." Lucci sighed dramatically.

"And people called our generation drama queens." Mom came in with a snort, adjusting her tie. "Alright, five minutes. Bathroom breaks now, because I am NOT stopping on the way there."

"Don't worry, I think I've gotten myself covered." Lucci nodded. "So Luz, think you're ready to take this beast on? Because I'll punch Grom back into the dirt if you want me to, just putting it out there."

"Nah, I've got it." She grinned. "I've faced my fears, got myself three glyphs, and just in case." She grabbed the Pink Sword. "Clashes with my outfit and I still wobble, but if it cleaves fire and stone like butter, then I doubt Gromethedust will stand a chance."

"Word play, just one of the reasons why you've become my friend." Lucci smiled. It was great to not hate almost everybody he's ever come across. It relieved so much mental stress he didn't know he had. "Who knows, maybe after you spill Grom's guts all over the floor, the guys and gals will be piling to get a dance in with the hero of the night."

Luz snorted. "Please, as if someone wants to date the human." … What? "Now come on, Grom time!" She shouted, running out of the door.

"... The fear bringer's gonna eat her alive, isn't it?" King asked.

"Nah." Mom shook her head. "... It eats fear. After that it just leaves you a vegetable."

"So we're totally going to bail her out at some point before then, right?" Lucci asked.

"Duh, of course. Watching a kid get tortured is no fun when it's one of my kid's."

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Mattholomule dusted his suit off(honestly, maybe he should have pulled it out of the attic and cleaned it BEFORE the day of Grom), as he waited for his date … his DATE! Hexide was the best, ever, of all time.

He glanced over at all the other guys and gals that arrived early as they waited on their Grom partners to show. "Oh man, oh man, oh man, I can't believe I'm actually here, I can't tell if this is a dream or reality anymore." A big sweaty guy with a round head and spikes nervously shook as he stood in place. "What if I imagined her, what if I've been hallucinating and talking outloud to the air and making myself look like an idiot?"

"Dude, I saw you ask her out." One of those multitrack kids from the detention track responded.. "It wasn't a hallucination."

"What if you're a hallucination and-" The girl merely whistled, as a griffon whacked the kid upside the head. "I wished the pain in the back of my head was imagined.

"Bro, you just need to chill." A bat kid calmly said as he was slumping on the bleachers with probably the most relaxed expression he's ever seen. "You made it this far riding on the waves of life, enjoy where the tide takes you while the water's still calm."

"Easy to say when you're the school druggy." A pink haired girl rolled her eyes.

"What's a druggy?"

"... I don't know if I'm more or less concerned about him." The detention girl with the hook in her ear, Viney, Matholomew thought it was, noted as she turned to him. "Huh, didn't think you'd manage to score a date with all the detentions you get."

"What can I say, you snooze, you lose on the potential of Mattholomew." He smirked, leaning against the railing, only to slip and hit the ground. "Stuck the landing."

"Yeah, you're as graceful as a wrecking ball." The pink girl rolled her eyes.

"Well you could be worse off." Another kid from detention, Jerebo, he thought, pointed out. "You could be one of the dateless."

"And what's wrong with that?" The glasses girl, Willow, asked in a sweet voice that set off every self preservation instinct inside of Mattholomew to run for his life.

"Nothing, nothing. Riding solo is all good." The bat kid said, somehow still calm in the face of the silent terror about to be unleashed. "Just a little weird to be alone on a night mostly meant for couples."

"I prefer being around friends anyway." The previous H.A.S president, Gus, waved his hand. "Having fun, drinking punch, shenanigans … also I think I might be a bit too young for something as intense as a date on Grom." Almost forgot the guy he once thought of as an obstacle was younger than him.

"Bark?" The dog kid he still had no idea how to translate for called out.

Willow looked up. "They're on their way … oh, I see them now." They all turned to a flying group that came down. "Hey Luz, Lucci, I see you both managed to retain a look of fashion."

"Wasn't easy, we passed two painbows on the way over here, but we made it in peace." The Lucci kid hopped off the staff and shook his head free of the leaves in his head.

"A double painbow … so majestic, yet so terrifying." The human noded. "And yet another fear conquered by your GROM QUEEN!" She raised a pink sword high. "Give me a shout Hexside!"

"GROM QUEEN!" He didn't know why she would volunteer, but Mattholomew wasn't complaining as long as it wasn't himself, so he cheered with the rest of the students.

"Go Grometheus!" … They all turned to the bat kid. "Everyone loves an underdog."

"Yeah, because the immortal fear bringer that'll terrorize everyone in the Boiling Isles if it isn't stopped once a year clearly needs the support." Willow rolled her eyes, turning back to the two newcomers. "I take it you two are as single as me and Gus tonight?"

"Nope, by pure luck I managed to score my dream date!" Lucci jumped in the air and stayed suspended mid drop. "Just waiting for them to show up now!"

"They'll be here in a minute." Mattholomew turned to see Celene coming in with a lovely red dress. "Amity's riding with the Banshees for an old promise they did or something." She explained while hooking an arm around him. "Like what you see?"

"I'd pull away, but the gravity of your eyes is too strong to ignore." He smirked.

"...What the titan am I watching?" Gus looked about as baffled as Steve was when Matt told his older brother about his date.

"Was there a gas leak or something at your Grom, because this is the second weirdest date I've seen all day." Luz questioned the old woman she rode with.

"Nah, all I did was spike the punch with some fire juice." The woman admitted. "Okay kids, I'm a chaperone. Do as you please, but corrupt my kids and I will reek almighty vengeance beyond mortal comprehension."

"We live by every word of Lord Calamity, and thus, we shall obey." Viney answered as she, Jerbo, and the dog bowed like they were in front of the emperor or something.

"Didn't remember starting a cult before I left school…but now that I have.." The older woman gave an evil smirk.

"No cons, no scheme, and no scams tonight please." The human begged the chaperone.

"Where's your sense of adventure? It's Grom! The moment we all let loose cause we could die at any moment." Eda chuckled as she patted the girl's head.

"You say that like you have no confidence in me."

Before they were forced to answer that statement, there was the sound of a hand dragon, drawing the attention of everyone as a caravan was drawn to the front of the school. Once it landed, the door was kicked open, as out came Boscha of the Banshees, cracking her neck and strutting out with a grin. "Yes yes, go ahead and get your gawking out, it's earned."

Matt had to stay strong as he was reminded exactly why he tried to ask the school's top athlete out in spite of how futile it was for him, or anyone else to try. He had a date now, one that actually paid attention to him for some inexplicable reason. Boscha was just too out of reach for anyone at this school. Absolutely nobody here had a chance with the three eyed beau- 

"Hey Boscha! You look amazing…though that's probably easy compared to being the top Grudgby star." The Lucci kid walked up to the girl like he had a chance. Any minute now the kid was going to get kicked in the balls and laughed at.

"Obviously." She looked him over. "Glad to see you can actually clean up. Now keep up or get left in my dust." The girl rolled her eyes as she dragged the curly haired boy into the school, a dopey grin on the guy's face as he was.

"... " He glanced at Celene. "Did you see this coming?"

"I saw this exact thing over a month ago in a vision, and I still can't believe my own eye." She responded with a dazed sounding voice of her own.

"...Lucci….got a date….with Boscha?" Willow looked like she was about to fall over. "The end times have come, the world will soon be nothing but despair and misery from here on out, we're all doomed, for the signs of the apocalypse have shown themselves."

"Seriously guys, I can take on Grometheus!" The round eared girl ignored the cries of despair.

"Yo, Belfry!" Skara, another out of league girl, rushed over to the boy. "You ready to cuddle as we cheer on Grometheus to terrorize all of the boiling isles!?"

"I brought the flags." Said bat boy grinned. "Hope you can sing a cheerful anthem without a chorus."

"Seriously, why do you want everyone to suffer their worst fears?" Gus asked.

"It's times like this that we're reminded why Boscha tolerates her." A healing track student, Cat, rolled her eyes as she walked over to the spikey headed student. "Ready babe?"

"Yes! I mean, yeah. I mean you're super pretty! I mean-!" The boy was dragged away, even as he stuttered.

A plant track student he couldn't recall the name of also walked out, wearing a suit and making her way to the pink girl with a nervous blush. "Hope I look good compared to everyone else."

"Babe, you outshine everyone here." The pink girl winked as she took the girl's hand, the two of them going inside.

The last one to step out was Amity Blight, another star far beyond everyone else. "Hey Amity, you made it!" The human waved. "Check out my threads!" They twirled around. "Grom Queen is rockin it!"

The Blight blushed all over the face and chuckled. "It's…nice. Strange but nice. Hope you're ready."

"Ready as I'll ever be!" The human jumped ontop of the stairs. "Wish me luck everyone!"

"Good luck!" She'd need it.

"Honestly, I don't know how much I could send. Used up all mine to take you to Grom." He told the Moon Girl.

"Same. It's a huge risk just being here."

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King took a deep breath, wiggling out all the fear. This was it, his moment to the world. Show off, make them a part of your army, get lots of praise and treats in return. Right now it was mostly just festivities, kids hanging out, chatting, dancing to the strange music called 'hip bop'. Lucci actually managed to dance with his date without getting an exploding potion thrown at his face, even though King felt like it was bound to happen sometime during the night.

Willow, Gus, and Luz were chatting it up, likely trying to figure out what type of chaos to brew up that wasn't quite on Eda's scale of mayhem, but still something crazy nonetheless. Also offering words of encouragement, probably. He wasn't confident in Luz's ability to fight this thing, but King was confident in her ability to run to live another day, and that was just okay in King's book.

Eda herself mostly resigned to standing in the corner of the room, offering up human junk here and there whenever the principal wasn't looking. She also constantly turned her eye onto Lucci when the boy wasn't looking, sending death threats to the three eyed menace through the strange silent language of women.

And everyone else … Meh, he didn't care for them. He turned to the clock to see how long until Grometheus formed.. Oooh, looks like his time is almost up. Alright, ignore the fear, and most of all, pander. "Ladies and Gentledemons, turn your attention to the stage, for I, your King of Demons, am proud to greet you for the latest summoning, and in most cases, massacre that is sure to be the most exciting and eventful Grom of all time!"

The crowd began moving off to the side as the floor opened up, revealing a hidden room below where a slimy and inky substance was trying to slip out of the floor. "You know him, you loathe him, and a few of you weird freaks out there in the crowd love him, it's the fearbringer himself, Grometheus! Here to bring your nightmares to life guaranteed or your money back."

"Go Grometheus!" Everyone turned to Skara and some bat kid waving flags.

"I'm sure those weirdos are more than happy to be in the splash zone. The rest of you normal people on the other hand better watch out though, because tonight's going to be more of a slaughter than the Banshee's on the Grudgby field against Glandus."

"Yeah, Glandus sucks!" A kid shouted.

"Hexide forever!"

"Go sports team!" Huh, Lucci was right. Pandering was the path to gaining followers.

"Now, catering to our epic battle, is our main man, Gus! Bringing in a couple of illusions to help us watch the show even if it gets way too wild to be near!" He pointed to the illusion kid, who projected a screen showing various angles from outside and inside the school.

"I got coverage within a fifty mile radius! I'll be showcasing the wonderful carnage in full Scare Definition!" Gus summoned a black inky abyss, which covered the entire crowd before dissipating.

"It's no Adrian, but let's be real, none of us are snobby enough to afford him." The crowd laughed once more, at least the majority. Go for pandering! "Now, let's be real and give it up for the real star of the show. The only living being both stupid and brave enough to volenter to be Grom Queen! Some of you like her, most want to eat her, but you've definitely at least heard of her! Give it up for the only human living on the Boiling Isles...LUZ NOCEDA!"

The crowd cheered as Luz jumped through the door, her sword held up high as she struck a pose from one of her Azura covers. "Hexide shall know no fear tonight, for I, Luz the brave and daring, shall defeat Grom or die trying!" She announced, before falling forward from the weight of the sword. "I'm okay!"

"Love the enthusiasm! At this rate, we'll be seeing our nightmares before the first minute." King got the crowd distracted by making them laugh. It may have sounded mean, but better everyone be in a good mood rather than murmuring. "Alright, alright, enough joshin around. Lower the gates of doom!"

The floor opened up, showing a darkened basement for Luz to enter. "Have at thee, Fear Bringer!" She shouted out, running headfirst into the basement. Gus messed with his illusions, showing off the inside for their view.

"Right now, The Grom Queen searches out for her prey, as Grometheus reaches out his own." King narrated. "Nothing but the darkness to-no wait, she uses a light glyph to shine the way!"

"Pfft, I'm no baby, I'm never afraid of the dark!" Luz shouted confidently, sending those light balls into the air and getting a good look at Grom's face. "You ain't going to scare me with your ugly mug, so come at me with everything you got!"

"That's my human!" Eda shouted out in support, grabbing a cup of punch and pouring something out of a flask she clearly didn't want anyone else to see.

The dark inky blob's body seemed to boil and bubble all over, shifting, shrinking, and growling randomly until it transformed into a cat with a man face. "Help…us…get us out…Luz…"

"I'll help you, by putting you out of your misery!" Luz shouted back, swinging her sword and just barely grazing the creature.

"Hrsss." The Grom growled out, moving back.

"It seems that the mighty sword can even cut through Grometheus! If only it wasn't so heavy, it'd solve all our problems!" Someday Luz will be able to chop off the heads of all his enemies! With an invincible sword and an indestructible shield at King's beck and call, NOTHING would be able to stand his way.

Grom boiled and bubbled again, this time turning into a giant version of Luz's magic rectangle, with a screen scrolling down. "Boo, your opinion sucks. Here's my lengthy two hour article on why you're garbage."

"Wow, maybe Luz's sense of fear is irrelevant." He could hear Lucci comment.

"Weird girl has weird fears, you're surprised by that?" That three eyed menace rolled her eyes.

"You don't come from a place of intellectual honesty, so I have no reason to give you attention!" Luz slashed through the giant screen, cracking it to pieces before it dissolved again.

"She's on fire folks, and for once, not literally!" King kept going as Grom began to reshape himself.

"Yeah, that's right! I'm on top of the world! Now just bring out the giant Eda and we can get back to having a fun time!" Grom began giving off a soft blue glow as it kept warping around, swirling, becoming smaller and smaller until … It became … "The portal door?" Luz's confused voice spoke for the situation well. "Do you really think I'm scared of that?"

The door opened, as an older human woman with a blue outfit and glasses walked out. "Luz?"

"… Fuck. " The girl said with wide eyes, her sword clattering to the ground. "Mom, this isn't what it looks like."

"Luz, this isn't the camp, what is this place?" The image of Luz's mom walked in, looking scared and confused. "It's so dirty and scary…and IS THAT A SWORD!" The image pointed with accusation. "Are you playing with weapons!? I thought I told you a million times not to play with knives!"

"Mom, just give me a chance to explain!" Luz backed away, almost tripping as she walked up the ramp.

"Luz, have you been lying to me all this time!?" The image transferred, the pupils on the woman begin bright and white as the torso became a giant spider creature with eyeballs scattered all over it.

"I wasn't ready!" Luz shouted, running to the stairs. "I wasn't ready to fight Grom at all!"

" Come back here and look your mother in the eyes!"

"Which ones? There's like a million of them." King commented as the human was chased out of the room, laughing. "Well folks, it looks like this show's taking off better than Glandus's chances at beating you guys at Grudgby, am I right?"

"I hope those assholes burn in hell!" One student cheered.

"That's the spirit folks! Now let's check outside to our field screen, and see how this bloodbath Funbath will end."

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"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Luz screamed as she made her way through the forest. "I don't want this! I don't want to be the Grom Queen!" Facing her fears and fighting her inner insecurities was one thing, but talking to her mother face to face was a WHOLE other matter she didn't want to get into. She was starting to see what everyone ment by 'psychological terror' now.

"Luz, come back and face your mother!" Grom-Mom kept chasing her until she reached a cliff. " Why do you keep running, Mija? Don't you love me anymore?"

"No, no, stop talking, stop talking!" She closed her eyes, wanting this horrible nightmare to be over. "You're not real! You're not really my mom!"

" How could you say that Luz, you're breaking my heart!"  The creature grew twice in size and twice as sharp and drippy. She could obviously tell that physically, it wasn't her mom … but DAMN if it wasn't a spot on impersonation.

"Go away, go away, please for the love of titan go away!" She covered her eyes and ears. "I'm not ready! I'm not a witch and I'm not ready!"

"Don't let the monster get you down, Luz, it's been buried underground for the past year, I don't put much stock into its judge of character. SPICY TOSS!" The blissfully sarcastic voice of Eda could be heard as she threw a fireball at the monster. "Now stay away from my human, you mishapend excuse for a monster!"

"Eda, I'm sorry! I didn't take your warnings seriously, again! I wasn't ready for Grom, I wasn't ready at all!" How many times was she going to learn this lesson?! What kind of idiot was she!?

"Don't worry, I've tangled with the beast before." The woman grinned as she pulled out Owlbert. "Come on, gonna throw another mortality questioning choice at me, owl beast attack, or maybe try something new with some family issues!" She shouted, throwing some wooden spikes out.

The monster boiled all over, shrinking down, until it became…Lucci's grandpa…..oh shit. "Interesting that you bring up family, seeing as how you're always trying to get rid of it."

"D-Dad?" Eda actually froze, before shaking her head. "No, I'm not falling for this. I stayed away from you for a good reason."

" I don't remember shame and guilt being good reasons, then again, you ran away before I could teach you."

"You know what I did." She glared. "You know damn well why I stayed away!" Eda fired off some ice this time, freezing the fear bringer.

The monstrosity slowly shifted itself, until it slowly turned into a shadowy version of Lucci, trapped within the ice. "Mom, why do you keep hurting me? I did everything you ever taught me to do!"

"Lucci, no, I didn't mean, I…" Eda stumbled on her back. "I wasn't trying to hurt you!"

"But that's all you've been doing to me for the past ten years. You lied about school, you lied about friends, even know you keep lying to me. I don't even know if I'm really yours!" The Lucci looked at her in fear and disappointment.

"Lucci, no you are…"

"Stop living this lie, Eda." The monster responded, giving her a cold expression. "I…Hate…Yo-"

"Hey!" The real Lucci shouted out, jumping on the creature and stomping it hard enough to leave a crater. "Leave my Mom alone !" Note to self, never piss that boy off.

The grom bubbled and shifted, shrinking down to a statue … a very familiar one. "Why … why …" The fake Eda voiced with a frozen mouth.

"Mom …" The boy froze. "Mom, I should have blocked it. I should have saved you."

The statue cracked, feathers beginning to form as the Grom growled, shifting into the Owl Beast. "I can't be changed back … because of you …"

"Lucci, don't listen to it! My curse is not your fault, it'll never be your fault!" Eda shouted, her legs getting wobbly as she stood up.

This wasn't right … she should … she should … Luz should be the only one afraid."Hey Grom!" She threw an iceball at it. "Remember who your original target was!"

"Yeah, me!" Jumping out in front of her, Amity stood her ground. "I was nominated to be Grom Queen, I'm the one you should be after!"

The Grom looked at the two of them, as if it was sizing up it's next meal … before running at Amity. "No, let me deal with it!" She was already at fault enough.

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

Amity was voted queen, she needed to stand her ground. It was her responsibility, Luz had already put herself through enough for tonight. She pulled out an Abomination, trapping the Grom in place. "No. You're amazing for going this far for me..but I shouldn't have asked you to fight my battles."

The Grom stared at her silently, eyes glowing blue faintly, before it slipped out of the prison, reforming itself into a smaller, humanoid shape … one wearing a suit outline she was VERY aware of. "Oh my Titan." She could hear Lucci mutter … great, now HE knew, just what she needed.

The Grometheus walked up and reached into her pocket, pulling out her note … and tearing it and her dreams to shreds. "Why would I ever go out with someone as twisted and pathetic as you?" Yep … there it was. The crashing darkness in her soul. Been a while since she felt that, especially so intensely.

"… That's it?" Luz asked with a tone of confusion. "I thought you'd be scared of your mother, or a deep rooted fear of vegetables … That's your biggest fear?"

"Yep …" Amity sighed. "You wanna laugh?"

"A little." Luz admitted with a grin. "You're amazing Amity, why would anyone reject you?"

"You saw the memories, you'd know why." Amity groaned, but smiled at the girl's naivety.

"That was an old you. The new you would totally stand up for us if it came to it." No she wouldn't … she couldn't.

"Seeing how we're all here afraid instead of dancing, I think that answers that."

"I'm sure if you'd ask her, she'd totally say yes." Luz smiled.

"… she?" Did she know!? Was this permission to go in for the kiss?!

"I mean sure, it may be awkward since you saw her memories, and it created this weird context of your lives and stuff, but it would still be nice if you were in the open about it. Better than bottling it up."

….Amity fell for the cutest idiot in the human realm, didn't she? "Eh, I'll think about it …" She held out her hand. "Would you like to dance with me in her place?"

"Why lady Amity, it would be my honor." Luz accepted her hand, Amity doing everything she could to hold in the Butterflies and the squealing.

"Raaaaaagggggghhhh! You still suck !" The monster roared into the night.

"We should probably deal with the fight before we dance though." Amity laughed.

Luz gave her a smirk that made her heart beat, taking both her hands and forming a waltz position. "Who says we can't do both?"

"You can do both!?" Lucci shouted out, having his bubble formed as Grom was stomping it into the ground.

"Sure you can. Just watch." Luz took the lead, putting her in a swing position as they dodged Grom's tentacles. The girl dipped her down, placing an ice glyph on the ground as they froze over one of Grom's legs. "Just like that."

"Mind if I take the lead?" Amity smiled, before putting Luz into a dip and sliding her under another tentacle, twirling the two of them around as she formed an abomination pillar beneath them, towering themselves over the creature.

"There you go, now you're getting into the swing of it." The girl smiled as she twirled Amity around, placing a few more glyphs onto the creatures as vines began to grow, locking it in place.

"What can I say, I learned from the best." Smiling, Amity created an abomination she shot right at Grom's mouth, Luz placing a glyph on its head as it was fired into the monster's stomach.

Grom bulged and boiled again, struggling to contain its form and shape before it exploded from the inside out, a giant tree with pink petals blooming into the ground in the monster's place. "We did it …" Luz broke into a bright grin. "WE BEAT GROMETHEUS, THE FEAR BRINGER!"

"Another year of everyone burying their fears!" Lucci shouted out. "That was quite the show. You two clearly perform well together." He sent Amity a knowing wink

"I know right?" Luz smiled obliviously. "Amity just combos well, and Glyph magic works with everything."

"Yeah … go on ahead and celebrate the win, I'm gonna catch up with Lucci before we loose him to Boscha again." Amity laughed hesitantly.

"Trust me, this has my full attention." Lucci smirked as Luz left. "So…you and her, huh?"

"Not a word Lucci." She glared.

"Don't worry, I'm not a snitch. I know when to keep things personal." Lucci waved off. "Luz just has that effect on people I guess. Brings out the best qualities in us." He smiled. "How else could we have become friends again without her?"

"Yep …" She smiled, watching her go. "How else could the Boiling Isles change so much in just under two months." The world just felt more bright and magical with Luz in her life. "I just hope I don't screw this up."

"I really doubt you can. She said earlier that she doesn't think Witches would be interested in dating a human." Lucci snickered.

"Oh titan, I really did fall for the cute dense moron, didn't I?"

"Probably." The boy shurgged. "Now if you excuse me, I have to return to probably the only date I'll ever have with Boscha."

"Don't be like that Lucci, there's plenty of eels in the river, one's that aren't complete jerks, that probably like you." She was honestly surprised Skara and him weren't a thing.

"Yes, but there's only one with three eyes, a dazzling smirk, and a hand that can crush a skull into powder." He answered with a dopey grin as he ran off.

"... I can't tell if Willow had a point in the mindscape or not." 

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

Boscha groaned as she tapped her foot. Ever since the dumbass human ran out, her date ran after, and now she was at Grom, alone, like a tool. She was going to stab him when they walked back in. Boscha was the biggest and baddest girl, and his date, so SHE should be getting his full attention.

Boscha looked around at all the couples, dancing a cheering that the dumb blob monster was dead. She got a good look at all her so-called friends, dancing with their dates while she was left alone. "So stupid." She grumbled, ignoring the dumb feelings in her gut right now.

Why did this bother her so much? She accepted being hated a long time ago, didn't she? It absolutely didn't sting to be alone. It didn't bother her that no one she asked was willing to go out with her. It just meant that they weren't worth it. It was like Mama said, she got Mom to like her by constantly making her cry through social execution, then making it seem like they were the only living thing that cared about her. That was how romance worked, right?

That piece of trash though…Lucci never cried when she made fun of him. He never seemed offended by anything she said in general. Willow a ton of times throughout the years and the half of witch hated her guts, Amity once or twice before she joined their social circle, even Skara a couple of times before Boscha learned to tolerate her.

Maybe she wasn't working on the 'making it care' bit … chains had to exist somehow. Gah, stop thinking about it Boscha, this was beneath you! You came with a date, you won the bet, just … go home, alright? You and the Banshees never said anything about leaving together.

Boscha would just walk home…alone…like a friendless loser. No one in this stinking school would notice her gone with that human taking the spotlight anyways. "Bocsha!" And she did not jump when the boy returned from behind her. "Sorry I was late, I stopped by for some ghoul juice. Would have gotten apple blood, but with my Mom watching, that was impossible."

He was still … he actually came back. "Whatever, that doesn't excuse you for just ditching me out of the blue like that."

"Right, should have let you know I was chasing after Grom." He nodded, before his eyes widened. "Did you … see me on the display?" He asked, looking at the bleachers as if they were somehow more interesting than her.

"Yeah, I did." He was so freaking strong and fearsome that it legitimately made her back shiver in a lot of weird ways. "You didn't look like as big of an idiot as I thought you would, though I would've smacked that ugly things head off if it was me."

"Yeah, you probably would've. I don't think there's a single thing your afraid of." The boy chuckled. "Grom would probably disappear into nothing if he went face to face with you." There he was, worshiping her like she was meant to be.

Boscha looked at the room. "... I still can't believe that new piece of trash got himself a date." She muttered. "And with the Moon Girl at that." Even if Boscha didn't believe a word they said, they've gotten a name for themselves.

"Honestly, I don't know how the Oracle tracks don't see half the things at this school coming." Lucci snickered. "I broke in here twice and no one saw it coming, makes you wonder if they're even worth keeping around."

Boscha, despite herself, found herself snickering. "They're like professionally paid liars…actually I'm surprised you're not doing any oracle magic if that's the case."

"I mean, who wants spoilers? All day I've been so caught off guard it's been nothing but rioting laughter or jaw dropping wonder … although I could have gone without Grometheus in my head." They shivered. "Besides, if I'm going to do something great, it'll be because I chose to do it, on my own merits, not because of some rando with a sparkly ball." 

She hummed, taking a sip of the ghoul juice. "Well, I guess tonight wasn't … terrible." Lucci was…decent conversation, she didn't lose the bet, and she could've done way… way worse.

"Oh really?" The boy grinned. "I know how to make it exceptionally less terrible."

Boscha raised an eyebrow. "And how would you go about that?"

"A dance you'll never forget." He reached out for her hand. "Yeah, yeah." Lucci sang softly.

"Seriously, your singin-oof." She felt herself being practically carried to the stage.

"Music time!" Skara shouted, turning to her date. "Sorry babe, duty calls!" She pecked that bat kid on the face and joined them on the stage, summoning an array of instruments. "Hey, yeah!"

"Go on Skara, sing a melody for our loss tonight!"

"Gus, we need special effects, get up on stage man!" Lucci called out

"I'm a little spent from you guys running all around, but I can do something small!" The illusion child shouted, fog forming around them. 

"This is either going to be really cool or really painful." She could hear Amity as she danced with that human.

"Were you expecting anything less than that tonight?" The human responded with a smirk as Boscha swore she saw the Blight blush. Gross, she thought Amity had better standards than that.

"I got myself a notion." Lucci spoke up, keeping his gaze on her eyes as he smiled. "And one I know that you'll understand."

"We set the world in motion." Skara slid on a table, her fingertips lighting up with magic. " By reaching out for each other's hand."

"Maybe we'll discover.." Lucci managed to give her a little spin as a keyboard floated up to him. " What we should have known all along….yeah." She felt the barriers of intimacy practically break and shatter to the ground as their faces were all but touching from how close they were. 

"One way or another…." Skara sang along again as she beated on some drums.

"Together's where we both belong...!" The two bard magic users sang as the room was suddenly shot with a pink pulse that sent everyone back and the decorations on the ceiling flying everywhere.

"OH TITAN! THE BARD MAGIC IS KICKING IN!" The little tyke that hung around the Clawthornes shouted. "EVERYONE RUN FOR BOLTED COVER!"

"If we listen to each other's heart …!" Lucci continued to spin her around, either oblivious to the screams or he didn't care … both equally caused something to race in her chest.

"Don't let go!" The human screamed as they grabbed onto Amity's arm.

"(Oh yeah) …" Some copies of the Illusion kid called out.

"We'll find we're never too far apart…!" Lucci jumped them both high in the air, where they stayed suspended in as a piece of the dance door floated below them, surrounded in a pink glow as they floated above everyone.

" And maybe love is the reason why…!" Skara blew a kiss to her bat date

"For the first time ever we're seeing it eye to eye." The two of them sang as people kept screaming louder and louder.

"Everyone, with me!" Half a witch made some sort of plant for everyone to climb on.

"If a wall should come between us …" Skara continued as the walls of the dance floor began to crack. "Too high to climb, too hard to break through." The floor opens up, creating little mountain like structures in the middle of the room that sent kids into the sky.

"I know that love will lead us." Lucci turned to her, letting out a smile as he looked her in the eyes. "And find a way to bring me to you." The boy landed on a floating table, dragging her along as the floor rested overhead.

"WHY DID I SIGN UP FOR THIS!?" The spiky shelled creature that was their Grom ball shouted out.

"So don't be in a hurry, Think before you count us out….!" Skara fiercely tapped on a keytar, pressing so hard that fire began spitting out of it. You don't have to worry….I won't ever let you down….!"

"(Nothing's gonna stop us now)." The illusion kid sang, before some table knocked them across the room.

"If we listen to each other's heart, We'll find we're never too far apart...!" Lucci continued to hold onto her, swinging her vertically as she felt the world isles and sky spin around her.

(Oh yeah) 

"…and maybe love is the reason why….!" What did love feel like anyway? Any love that didn't involve her parents at least? Did it make some feel giddy and dizzy like she did now?

(Oh yeah) 

"….for the first time ever we're seeing it eye to eye!" This boy just kept staring at her with a bright and dazzling smile like she was the whole world to him.

"Yes, we are.." "(eye to eye, we're seeing it)!" 

Boscha could see glimpses of some of the teachers trying to lead the students to an underground bunker. Boscha didn't partially care if they were there or not. They were nothing compared to the thrill she was feeling right now.

"Seeing it eye to eye (love is why we're seeing it)." Skara continued to play her instrument as wildly as possible, even if she was spinning so fast she was becoming a blur. "(Eye to eye) seeing it eye to eye (eye to eye)!"

"(We're seeing it) yeah, seeing it eye to eye"

She was certain painbows and gornadoes had nothing on this level of power and calamity this boy had inside of him.

"(Love is why we're seeing it) I think we're.."

"Seeing it eye to eye (eye to eye, eye to eye)"

He could cause chaos and destruction on an unprecedented level, destroying all who opposed him….and it was all because he wanted to give her… her of all people a good time.

"(We're seeing it) yeah, eye to eye"

And for the first time, she somehow felt fine being weaker and afraid….because she couldn't imagine this amazing, living deady-bear of boy ever hurting her.

"If you're ever lonely, stop!" They suddenly stood in the air itself as lighting shot across the room. " You don't have to be!"

"LUZ!" Amity shouted as the human was sent flying with the wind.

"I live with this, save yourself!"

"After all, it's only, A beat away from you to me." They slid across the air itself, twirling as a gorenado along the breeze. " Take a look inside and see…..yeah!"

Skara was hanging upside down on the ceiling, somehow running as she grabbed a guitar and went all in. "This is for you, Belfy and Grometheus!"

"I love you too babe!" The bat kid shouted as they were sent flying out of the window.

"If we listen to each other's heart! We'll find we're never too far apart!" She somehow found Lucci's presence significantly less annoying…she now found it…slightly more than tolerable. "And maybe love is the reason why … for the first time ever we're seeing it …"

"Eye to eye." She voiced out with him before even realizing it.

"Whoa (for the first time), for the first time…" Skara and the illusions kept singing in the background, but even now Boscha was starting to forget about them. She now only felt her own presence and Lucci's.

"(Eye to eye) for the first time ever, eye to eye (seeing it)." She loved having it this way…she wanted to keep it this way.

"Seeing it, baby (seeing it eye to eye, for the first time ever), yeah." He continued on, once more twirling her around.

"Yeah, for the first time (we're eye to eye), first time!"

"(Yeah) yeah, baby, (seeing it eye to eye)"

"That's my boy!" The old owl lady shouted as she drank out of a flask, giving a thumbs up as fire began shooting out of the ground. "Bring down the house, son!"

"We're seeing it (for the first time ever) eye to eye (eye to eye)!"

"Yeah (we're seeing it), come on, baby (seeing it eye to eye)!" He and Skara sang.

"Eye to eye (eye to eye), eye to eye, eye to eye!" She and Lucci sang.

"Yeah (seeing it eye to eye), for the first time ever, eye to eye …" Boscha finished, staring into his eyes

She felt herself flush as she and Lucci gently landed on the fallen body of a probably dead student. "Whoa…" She said breathlessly, not quite sure how to describe her experience…other than exhilarating.

"Best night of my life …" The boy smiled brightly. "How'd you love the song everybody!?"

" Ugggfffffgh ." A massive collective groan of pain was heard as students and teachers alike were scattered all over the floor or thrown into the walls.

"... I think this is a new record." Lucci smiled, looking down at a bolted table the fuzzy thing he hung around hid under.

"Music…is….dangerous…" The little thing shivered. "Next year….preform outside….five hundred miles away from the nearest living thing."

"Pffft, don't listen to him, Lucci. Not your fault everyone else is too weak to appreciate your music." Boscha nudged the boy in the arm.

"You liked my …" The boy looked almost wobbly. "I promise my next masterpiece will be dedicated to you, and sung so loud it can be heard all across the Isles."

"Oh, count me in, double the magic!" Skara shouted from the wall. "... Wait, how am I still hanging-" She fell to the ground instantly.

"Best…Grom…ever…" The human said in a daze as she fell on top of Amity, who's entire face turned blood red as she layed on the floor. "Do you think we can be Grom Queens next year?"

"Yeah..yeah...maybe." Ew. Seriously Blight, get some standards.