Boiling Gems (The Owl House x Steven Universe)

Summary: How much prep time does it take to kill a main protagonist?.

Steve walked through the streets, an awkward rhythm permeating the air. "So … you read any books?" He asked the abomatron. It didn't respond in the slightest. "I miss when we had more people." With the emperor being so dead set on killing Lucci and even giving that human a bounty, more and more scouts were becoming unavailable … especially considering the increasing mortality rate. 

It was a miracle Steve survived as long as he had. Between the deadly missions, the Clawthornes becoming more bloodthirsty, and Kikimora leading them into danger, he wondered how he made it this far. What was he even doing by this point? He was more likely to become cannon fodder or a casualty than an actual guard for anything. Was the day of unity actually worth any of this? Was paradise really just a few weeks away, or were they working towards a false promise, or a disappointing dream?

Not like he had the ability to do anything about it. If they didn't let Severine quit, they sure as heck wouldn't let Steve quit just because he didn't like the job anymore. The only way out of this job was to suffer a full body cast with multiple concussions, and Steve wasn't exactly built to survive a wrecking ball to the face. Maybe life would've been better if he'd just chosen the baker's coven instead. Who didn't like pastries? Everyone loved pastries, and you didn't have to fight any demons or criminals for them.

He turned to the abomatron. "Steve wonders what you would dream about if you had ambitions …" Steve muttered. "Maybe the corpses you're made out of had dreams…dreams that were cut short due to death, now forever lost in the sludgy abyss that makes up your body. Dreams that are forever unattainable."

The abomatron continued to stare ahead. "Yeah, it's depressing to think about." Steve groaned. "I'd wouldn't say anything either if I were you." Life was just more and more depressing lately. Was there anything nice on the horizon?

BOOM

BOOOM

BOOOOOM

"...Huh, the kid's were right. Ask for trouble, and you get it immediately." Not exactly what he wanted to deal with at the moment, but it was better than standing alone with his thoughts. "Wait, I didn't even ask for it, I just thought of it in my head … does the universe know my deepest insecurities?" Was the world out to get him? Was the titan just a cruel god waiting to expose him to the worst the world had to offer

BOOM

BOOOOOOOM

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.

"What is even causing that?" Steve asked, looking around. "It sounds like its getting closer, but I don't see any explosions."

The abomatron perked up, moving in a direction …

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!

Before being crushed under a giant foot. "..Okay, that's not that surprising. These things get destroyed all the time…but the execution of it is stranger than usual." He looked up at the source of said foot.

A massive metal insect the size of a castle, with six strong legs stepping through houses, and multiple spiky things surrounding the body. "...Hm…I clearly don't stand a chance here….agh, titan damn it, I can't just do nothing." He began twirling his fingers to shoot a fireball at it…

Ping

Which bounced right off … and caused multiple of those strange things to turn and point at him … as they began glowing ominously. "..Let's call it a draw?"

Massive pink lasers shot from it, scorching the ground and splitting apart anything that was in its way, and they all were trying to converge on him! "BADDAYBADDAYBADDAY!" He shouted, running as fast as his body could take him. "WHY COULDN'T IT BE THE CLAWTHORNES!?"

The massive…thing…turned its head, firing off more lasers as it cleared its path, walking towards the forest. "I'm coming for you, Rose! There ain't no hiding from this Bismuth now!"

"Wait …" Why did that sound so familiar?

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

Ebber found himself gathered with the other Coven heads once more…minus Heattie and Vitimir. The former was still missing and the latter was comatose, presumably from one of their own experiments. "Grr." He was having such a nice day, with a cup of sap and lovely weather, beautiful bird calls. Giant thing tears up the landscape ruined all that. Explain now.

"We're not quite sure what we're looking at here." Raine said as they gathered around the crystal ball, showing off the monstrosity making its way through the town. "The most we've been able to gather is that the majority of its structure repeals magic, so there's a decent amount of titan vessel and bone made within it."

"It can't be bone. That stuff takes too long to carve, we'd have noticed a giant hand going missing." Mason added their expertise. "Although it's definitely sturdy and magic proof … maybe they laced it with an extra batch of witches wool inside the metal?"

"That's not even going into it's little lightshow." Terra brought up, viewing the landscapes that were completely singed and covered in soot and ash. "Whatever's powering those fireworks has an impressive level of heat."

"Vitimir would get a kick out of it." Adrian noted. "Do we have an ETA on when he'll wake up?"

"Not soon enough." Darius sighed. "I suppose we'll have to infiltrate this thing from the inside."

"I'll lead a team." The Golden Guard offered. "I can get us in and survey the situation before relaying it to you guys."

"The Golden Boy offering to scout." Terra scoffed. "Osran, could you tell us anything about it?"

He stared into their eyes, before looking at the group itself. "... It's pilot is the Rainbow Devil."

There was a moment of silence. "I'm out." Mason began to walk away. The man was always one to run away from that particular threat.

"And just where do you think you're going?" The air increased in pressure as Belosentered the room. "Do I need to replace you as Coven Head, Mason? Because if you're afraid of the Rainbow Devil…. then you don't know the meaning of fear."

The man wisely chose to sit back down after that particular threat. "Just because we're afraid it doesn't mean we're not outclassed." One of the few people actually willing to be upfront with the emperor, Adrian, spoke. "She's been around for over a hundred years and nobody's managed to do anything about it. From Coven Heads, to even the last Golden Guard." Ebber could see Darius flinch at that. "And now they've saved up all this for a massive assault."

"Which begs the question … why isn't she heading to the castle?" The current Golden Guard asked. "She's as anti-Belos as they come, it's what cost the previous guard his life."

"Because although she is an enemy of the isles, there is another enemy we happen to share." Belos pointed to the ball. "Look at where she's going. Take a guess as to where she's heading."

"The forest." Raine said. "But there's nothing of note outhere, just the Owl House…" The moment they finished, the Bard Head froze. "She's going after the Clawthornes."

"To be more specific, she is heading towards the Manticore Menace." Belos continued. "This presents an opportunity to eliminate both threats at once. Let her continue her rampage and reach the Owl House."

"Grr." Let the beasts fight each other. A smart plan … if one of those two beasts wasn't important to their plans. Ebberwolf actually suggested bringing in the Rainbow Devil at one point, but Darrius was highly against the action. 

"Won't there be more casualties by letting her continue her path?" Darius asked.

"For the great good of the Isles, sacrifices must be made." Belos responded. "That is the titan's will."

"Understood Lord Belos." The Golden Guard bowed.

"Oh, and one more thing …" He turned to the child. "This is your final chance."

That threw the boy for a loop. "Final chance, sir?"

"The Manticore's Crystal, or the Rainbow Devil's Crystal … bring at least one of them to me, or I will look for a new Golden Guard."

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

Eda managed to do something she hadn't done in a long…long time. Sit down on the couch with her family as she drank a large cup of appleblood. "This … this right here is life." She sighed in content.

"A veg day works wonders for the brain." Luz agreed, resting on her head on her lap. "And no words that will jinx us."

"Just a single day where nothing pops up." Lucci snuggled next to her, his head on her shoulder. "We've dealt with most of the minor drama. We're both doing well with our girlfriends.."

"School grades are decent to good…" Luz continued. "Along with our skills getting stronger …"

"And mysteries getting solved … hey, so the whole universe hates us thing only when we say those phrases, or does talking about it also trigger it?" King questioned, resting on her head. "The thoughts that come to mind when my body is so relaxed."

"Don't think about it, King. For once the whole house is calm." Eda pointed out. "Even Lily's managed to take a chill pill."

She gazed over to her sister, who snored as she rested on Hooty. "Sorry Lucci, your snuggle record is broken." The house spoke bluntly.

"Eh, let her keep it. The lady hasn't relaxed in nearly thirty years." Lucci waved off. "The only thing that would make today the best day ever would be a nice Lion Licker, the greatest treat to ever come out of the human world."

"Only in your dreams Lucci, only in your dreams." Luz laughed. "Mmm … I should have definitely downloaded more stuff on my phone, we could have upgraded to a movie day."

"Shame, there's never anything good on the crystal ball." Eda yawned. "Well, maybe there is, but I lost the remote two days ago and I refuse to change it by hand."

"Sugar … Owlbert … would you mind?" Lucci asked.

"Hssssh." Her son's palisman responded as it wrapped her body around the tiny owl, looking just as comfortable and content as them.

"That snake likes to go around, doesn't it?" Eda laughed.

"From what I gathered, yeah." Luz spoke. "Loves to cuddle witches, demons, whatever King is … still hates humans though."

"I don't hate ya." King yawned from her hair. "Your hair smells like ten bags of teeth rotting sugar covered in honey. If I were a lesser demon, I'd eat you on the spot."

"Aww, thanks." Luz smiled, before frowning a little. "I just wish Centi was out here to enjoy this."

"It sucks, but it can't be helped." Eda ruffled her hair. "Until we can figure out how to make her sane again."

"Your curse and their curse, cuttie's curse, if I run into another curse, it will be too soon." Lucci groaned. "Too bad it's not like we can give her mom's elixir." 

"It's just about as potent as Lucci's spit, so if that doesn't work then nothing will." She responded. "But just let your troubles melt for today, kiddos. We are focused on vegging out and relaxing …"

THUD

"... Hooty, if you can't deal with this, I will dock so much from your pay."

"You don't pay me at all."

"Exactly, you'll start to pay rent." She didn't know how that would be possible, but she'd find a way. Maybe she could sell one or two of his organs. Not like he used his brain at all.

"Boo, the enemy of all things fun." The bird demon sighed as he closed the door. "Hoot, Hoot, who's ready to party with Hooty!?" 

"So we're not even gonna see who it is?" Luz asked.

"Nah, it's a veg day, and Hooty can't ever loose." Lucci waved off. "Lets just rest to the sounds of his violent fun."

"Oooh, pretty lights, are you setting up firework-aaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"Hooty!" Lucci shouted as he immediately got up. "What's wrong bud-!"

Boom

The ground shook.

Whoooosh.

A sudden increase of air pressure was felt.

"What's going on!?" Lilith woke up, having been thrown the wall.

"GAAAHH!" Hooty screamed in agony as the gravity shifted, tumbling and rolling as the house was sent flying.

"Lucci Bubble Now!" Eda ordered as everyone swaddled together, her son immediately placing their pink ball of protection around themselves.

CRUSH

They watched as a giant metal wall … obliterated half of their house. "The house…the house.." King whimpered.

" Hooty/Hoostifer!" Lucci and Lily shouted at the same time. "We have to hurry before his guts leak out!"

The house finally stopped rolling, a damaged Hooty moving his head inside. "You guys need to run, now! The spider's going to bite us!"

"What spider!?" Eda took a look outside … to see a giant metallic … fortress with legs. It had a design she could quite place, but gave a sense of familiarity. And by bite … Hooty ment the multiple mortars aimed at them with enough magic energy to pop Lucci's bubble. "LUCCI! BIG SHIELD NOW!" She channeled the Owl Beast.

"Not exactly waiting for it to kill me!" Lucci shouted as he created the biggest shield he could.

Eda stood right behind the shield, pressing her arms into it, trying to force as much power as her Harpy form could muster.

FWOOOOSSH

Before their world was nothing but light behind a shield. Eda's limbs began to ache from the strain as she was pushed back. "Come on … hold out …"

"So hot..so hot…" Lucci growled as his hands were burning red.

"I got you, big guy!" Luz covered him in ice glyphs. "Just keep standing a little while longer!"

The light finally died down … revealing their forest was nothing but scorched ashes, the land having been dug up from the blast. The Owl House … shattered and burned beyond belief. Eda turned her head to a picture frame, of everyone laughing … cracked …

"Aaaaaaaaagggghhhhhhhhhhhh!" Both she and the beast cried out in frustration and anger. " What the hell are you!?"

"Someone who's not going give you a single second to catch your breath, that's who, Eda."  A voice shouted from above, before a figure jumped down. "One who's finally done preparing for what needs to be done."

The figure was about twenty feet tall. A white and metallic skin glistened from them, with a dark, rainbow like glow emanating from small spots underneath the connected spots. The claws were strangely designed, almost like they were pieces of a puzzle rather than something naturally grown or made for battle. Eyes stared at them, with a head tilt of a mouthless helmet, dreadlocks steaming from the back.

"So you're a fan of heavy metal, aren't you?" Eda snarked as her kids stood behind her. Luz got her sword out, Lucci grabbed sugar, and King prepared to let out a shout. Lilith stayed next to Hooty, who looked like they were knocking on death's door for a change. "You always have to go the extra mile, don't you Bismuth?"

"What can I say? Whenever your involved, it's worth it." The bounty hunter chuckled. "Besides, you got a new look last time we met. Why can't I get my own?"

"You look like a try hard steampunk robot from the seventeenth hundreds." Luz growled.

"I came to this work around the 1600s earth time, so guess that fits." Bizy shrugged. "Now, I'm making this real simple. I'm going to shatter Rose. And for anyone between me and them? I am not going to be responsible for any bruises, broken bones, busted organs …" They clenched their fist, as a strange dark mist seemed to come out of the hand, following a hum of moving parts. "Or lost souls."

"So your little scavenger hunt across the isles, the gem items that kept popping up, this is why you've been collecting it for?" Lucci narrowed his eyes.

"Actually those were mostly for the Castle Stomper." They pointed to the fortress. "That's gonna go toe to toe against the Coven System itself … This armor actually only incorporates the Spirit Scroll. Everything else is a bit more … native ." You could hear the vindication in that last word. "I'm calling it the Titan Crusher."

" So that's how it is, you think you're strong enough to knock down a god?" 

"Wouldn't be the first time I've had to fight one … and some part of me knows deep down it won't be the last." 

"Then let's see if the titan crusher can hold up against a sword!" Luz yelled as she put a fire glyph on her sword and swung at the woman.

Chink

The sword … bounced. "What?" Luz asked in horror.

"Honey, I made that blade. There's only two things it can't cut through." The Rainbow Devil answered, rearing back their fist. "And one of those things happens to be Titan's Bone." The back of the Elbow began to glow.

"Not this time, you rainbow coated bitch!" Lucci raised his shield and got Luz out of the way.

Kabooooon

And was sent flying into a tree, faster than anyone could see. "Tell me Human."Bismuth asked. "Have humans invented rocket propulsions?" More of the armor began to glow, mostly centered to the back. "Because I'm weaponzing it."

Eda got in the way, claws raised forward. "Don't you think I'm letting you-"

BAM

And was rammed with enough force-

CRAAAA

That even the Owl Beast was crying in pain.

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

Lucci was never one to shy away from admitting how outclassed he was in a fight. He was still a long ways away from fighting Belos head on, and fighting the golden guard and the coven heads had been a major lesson in jujitsu about taking on big threats by himself.

So what was the lesson to learn in a situation where he fought with his family, and they all could get pwnd in one shot? Lucci jumped in the air-only for the Rainbow Devil to move at blazing speeds, flying in a zigzag motion as they proceed to hit Lucci from behind. She was focused on him and him alone. Luz was trying to cast spells, but they just bounced off. And her concept of 'shoving Mom off' involved hitting her with enough force to send her through trees.

Even with healing his bones felt bruised. "How does it feel to be on the losing side of a war for once, Pink?"

"Wouldn't know, never lost one before." Lucci dashed away with his pink state, hoping to hit her from behind; only for him to be knocked into the ground. "And you can keep up with Pink state, because why not?"

"I made this thing to compete with Belos. You really think it wouldn't be able to keep up with something as slow as teleportation?" She asked, those arms glowing again as she hit him repeatedly. "This is the day you die for your sins, I'm not taking chances at some trick you can pull out of your ass."

"One devil trying to damn another, there's some kind of poetic irony there." Lucci laughed as he put Sugar into shot pot mode, firing off spikey bubbles like they were cannonballs.

"Probably so."  They responded as said bubbles were treated like spitballs. "Especially considering you're the one that sent me here to begin with!" They sent forth another punch, sending Lucci through another couple of trees.

"Thanks again, womb donor." He grumbled. "How about you go off and kill Belos and I stay out of your way for the next thousand years or so? We can pick up where we left off then."

"And let you doom another planet!?" They shouted, rocketing forward. "NOT AFTER BEING A TRAITOR TO THE CRYSTAL GEMS YOU DON'T!!" They stomped him into the ground.

"Ah, lady, if you have noticed, you set fire to half the isles already." He ground, coughing up blood. "I'm not the one dooming anyone, you damn hypocrite."

" You do not get to use those words ON ME!" Another hit to the face. " You twisted every hope, all the faith we had in you! There is no line of morality to be crossed, you damn upper crust!"

"SHUT UP CRAZY!" King shouted. "WHE!!" He shot forth a sonic blast, which actually got her off balance for a moment.

"Sound waves …" They clicked their hands together a couple of times, before the Castle Stomper began moving, this time in an upright position … and blaring a noise.

"Aaaaaaggggghhhh!!!! Why!?" King fell to the ground as the sound was directed at him. "That…that sound..!"

"Yep, wailing stone. Would you believe that they're meant to be communication devices like crows? After those bardies messed with it, I saw how useful it was as a weapon. Proves anything can be deadly if you have the right imagination."

"'Right' isn't exactly a word I'd describe toward you." He attempted to send a bubbled fist towards her, only for his arms to get pulled down by something wrapped around them. "What the … right, construction." He growled.

"I always had a knack for building." They held him down with chains, their right arm raised as the claws merged into … a drill? "I once invented something called the Breaking point. Focused a high density tip with massive compression power, capable of theoretically shattering Diamonds themselves." She responded as he tried to struggle in his binds, the drill arm glowing brighter and brighter. "This time, I've got myself a titan bone tip coupled with a bit of broken horn from that broken skull. Combine it with the energy of the Spirit Scroll compressing itself over and over …"

"Blah, blah, blah, you like talking just as much as Belos about your evil plans." Lucci rolled his eyes. "I swear your both just in love with the sound of your own voice."

"Kind of am, but honestly? I'm just waiting for it to charge." They responded, aiming their weapon down-

KABOOM

The ground under Lucci collapsed, a massive crater forming as cracks along the ground grew. The sheer force of air caused trees to be torn to shreds, their scraps flying in the wind … and something fundamentally wrong.

Crack

"AA GHAHA HD SHSAA AA!" It was worse than the darkness curse. So, so much worse. " W HA t ju hpapend?"

"Lucci! Your gem!" Luz called out to him.

"Only a crack …" They raised their arm up once more. "Looks like a Diamond really does need more force than a single hit can give." The glow began building once more.

"You will… not lay another finger..on my nephew!" Aunt Lilly charged ahead, her voice getting echoey as feather grew over her body, morphing into an blurr of blue and gray as Lilith slammed into the rainbow devil from behind, managing to knock her down just a little.

" Li-li-Lilly!" Mom called out, still trying to recover from her own attack. " You-you still with us!?

"TAKE LUCIFER AND FLEE BEFORE-" Lilith was cut off by the Rainbow Devil grabbing her skull.

"And here I thought Eda was the only broad with guts out of the two of you."The Rainbow Devil spoke, visibly squeezing as a small cracking sound was heard. "Congrats on growing a spine." Before slamming them into the ground, followed by stomping hard enough to ruin the landscape further.

"Lulu!" Hooty called out from his broken door, blood leaking from the side. "You're..you're going to pay for that!"

" Oh, and what are your going to do about it, worm boy?"

"Give you a face full of acid and melt your face off!" Hooty shouted, as he began hacking, and hacking. "Aaah-Haaaack!" Hooty spat out…a bubble..a bubble that had a green gemstone inside it..a bubble that-

Pop

The gem immediately began to form, and the form was big and ferocious. "KRKRKR!" Centi roared into the air, spitting its acid wildly across the area.

"CENTI!" Luz shouted.

""You think that scares me? The armor has titan bone; it took me years just to mine it, a little acid isn't going to-" The green substance fell on the suit…and began to melt it. "What the … the heck kind of gem are you!?"

"One that your not going to get the chance to attack!" Luz dragged her sword in the ground, and carved a gigantic glyph aimed at the bounty hunter. "Your suit can repel magic, so what happens when it's hit with magic that's meant to keep you suspended in mid air!!?"

Luz stomped on the glyph, which looked like her safety hover, which glowed..before sending Bismuth flying into the air

"Creative, I'll admit that … but I don't think it's big enough for that!" They messed with their hands a few more times as the were sent flying over the trees, before the Castle Stomper once more turned to them, the small spikes around its body glowing.

" We ne To runAwA ay!" Lucci shouted, his head filling with so much pain and confusion, he could barely see straight.

" Fortunately..I was saving this glyph for another heist." Mom pressed one on the ground, as a massive field of fog covered the area. " Anyone still standing, grab who you can and book it!"

Lucci saw King pulling on his arm. "Come on buddy, we need to move."

"I've got ya sis." Mom lifted up Aunt Lily on her back.

"And I get … the heavy one …" Luz groaned as she tried to pull Hooty. "Centi, come on, we need to run!"

"Krkrkrkrkrkrkr." Centi shrunk down a little and rubbed her mane against Luz's face. " Krkrkrkr."

"I missed you too, girl, but we can reunion when we're safe."

"Hor ray for happ Days,soMAnypr etty ciolor coLL iding." It was like nothing was working right in his brain right now.

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

Blue sighed as she overlooked the case. Yet another gem becomes off color, deciding to fuse with someone outside of their own caste. It was pretty clean and shut, but she was hoping there would be enough evidence to warrant a rejuvenation instead of simply shattering them. 

It was just so wasteful. Sure they harvested the shards to create new gemstones, but the presence of era one gems were becoming more and more scarce nowadays. The longer the years went by, the less of Pink's presence seemed to be around as more and more gems were made without her essence. Whole generations of gems went without knowing the kindness of pink and joy that was pink.

"There was no reason for this fusion." Yellow spoke. "No desperate attempts for survival, no force from upper class for amusement, just two gems deciding to fuse … sickening."

"The act was deplorable, but shattering them might've been a touch too far, yellow." Blue sighed. "The quality of their luster will be greatly diminished once we harvest the shards. Their strength and power will be reduced."

"Rejuvenation only works so far. There's too much of the prior off colored personality left lingering. It's why we stopped using it and gave them to the spinels as toys." Yellow reminded her. "And before you suggest bubbling, may I point out that your temple has become so full of bubbled gems that you can barely see the walls. That's not even covering you know what at the zoo."

Blue turned to the side. "I'm just trying to preserve her presence." She defended herself. "There's only so much of her left."

A hand was placed on her shoulder. "I know that, I miss her too Blue. But at some point you have to let go. You can't wallow in the past forever, it'll hold you down." Yellow turned her around. "You need to start pushing against your problems, or things will only get worse. Understood?"

"Is it so wrong to remember the times we were happy?" Blue asked.

"No, but we can be happy again…you just have to accept you can be happy…without Pink in our lives."

Blue processed that for a moment, before sighing. "I can try … but I don't know how it would be-"

Crack

"AAAAHHH!" She clutched her gem, feeling agony. "What … what is …"

"Do you feel that?" Yellow questioned, also looking in pain. "Like something … cracked?"

"That's...that shouldn't be possible.." Blue checked her gem. "My..my gem is still intact."

"Even if there was damage it shouldn't have affected the both of us." Yellow questioned. "What could-"

"AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" A scream rose … one from a voice they hadn't heard from in a very long time.

"White?!" Blue immediately rushed outside, gazing at White's ship, the normally immobile vehicle having moved for the first time in thousands of years, their hold held down..looking like it was in pain. "Yellow, what's happening to us?"

"I..I don't know…I just feel like…like a part of me was attacked…and broken." Yellow gasped.

"Yes…it feel just like..just like when pink was shattered…" Except somehow … very, unnaturally, similar. "What do we do?"

"We scan the area … find the source." Yellow panted. "And then … we destroy it without mercy."