Summary: When you learn a couple things about humanity you'd rather leave in the dark
"A what!?" Lucci shouted in shock, looking himself over. Slimy skin, tail leg, that intense hunger. "I don't … how did …" He turned to Luz. "What do-"
"Don't worry dude, I have it covered." She walked over to the plates, breaking one. "On the count of three, I want you to try your hardest to break out of that body, and I'll take them out."
"Wait, don't do that! Do you see these scars?" He waved to the ones all over his body.
"The same ones Ivan had when they tried to kill us all?" She asked.
"Exactly, they're one of the remaining two left, the ones that were brought back to life." Lucci explained. "Before Ivan died, he told me to look for number five, for Vee. She's the youngest of them and the least likely to be bitter. I swore to him that I would find and protect her."
"You swore the maniac you would protect the likely homicidal family that's currently a danger to the human race?"
"Okay, humans don't have magic. It's why I don't feel inclined to eat you." His stomach growled. "Titan, that kinda does hurt." He needed to ignore the pain for now. "I need to know for sure that this is Vee. If she is the reasonable one, I owe it to her to explain herself."
"What if this isn't Vee? What if this is three, or, what if this is just sort of an elaborate takeover plan of earth?" Luz was being super paranoid about this.
"I highly doubt it's an elaborate takeover if it's an extinct species." He responded. "Also, aren't we supposed to stop your mom from being an alcoholic or something?"
"Too many things are happening all at once." Luz grumbled, heading to the kitchen table. "How are we going to do this now? I can't just go to mom as Connie and say I'm in another dimension. I'll just come off as a cruel asshole saying something like that to her."
"Maybe we can shock her into believing?" Lucci questioned. "I do have shapeshifting powers now." He looked at his hand, which turned into a snake head. "So flexible …"
"Shapeshifting…oh, that's it!" Luz exclaimed. "We get to mom and you shapeshift into me-ah, into my original Luz body, and then have you explain the demon stuff. I'm right here, so if she has any questions, I'll be able to tell you so you can answer flawlessly."
"That just sounds like I'll be living your life." He noted. "Look, I may be one for lying, but if this goes on for more than a day I'm drawing a line." This was a mom desperately missing her kid, he wasn't going to be cruel.
"We'll sort out the details later, for now, we need to get to my house." She pointed out the cave. "Ah..you might wanna change into..more comfortable skin though."
"Sure … let me …" He felt his body warp. "How's that?"
"... You're a puppy." She answered.
"Okay." Another shift. "Now?"
"You're an owl."
"Dang it. Come on, think Lucci shaped, think lucci shaped…" He thought as hard as he could. "How about now?"
"You look like that Steven kid but with cat ears and freckles." He looked up at Luz…who was now taller than him.
"Dang it." He grumbled. "Come on, I'm almost there-"
Grroon
"GAH!" He hit the ground, clutching his stomach. "It hurts …" Lucci could feel tears well from his eyes. "So hungry….so tired and drained….need….magic…"
"Well how are we going to do that?" Luz groaned. "It's not like we're going to find any here. I left earth because of the lack of magic."
"Yeah, I can tell, my nose is super sensitive now. I can sense the lack of bile sacks and palistrum wood." Lucci groaned. "So stale, so dull, what I wouldn't give for…" He sniffed the air. "Wouldn't give…" Something….sweet was around. "Whoa…Luz, I think I smell magic nearby!"
"You do?" She questioned.
"I mean …" He sniffed some more. "She had to survive somehow right?" He began walking to the source. "I just need it … magic." Lucci started making his way to the exit.
"Hey, don't forget about me, you need an actual guide this time!" Luz followed right behind him. "You're not just going as yourself, we're in the bodies of two completely different people. We're probably going to run into someone that knows them, and I'm the one who actually knows how the human realm works."
"Then lead the way … I need that … I need it." Otherwise he'd vanish … just like the others.
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Masha strolled through the familiar boardwalk. "Why is there a fry shop next to a pizza shop? Why not just be one place?" Such a fun little confusing place in the town.
They finally got out of Reality Check Camp. Definitely not as bad as she thought it was, given they could be around crazies just like themselves. Especially that one guy who went in for doing absolutely nothing for a whole month. Admittedly though it felt a little empty, like there was a certain piece missing, like their cabin needed just one more member to feel completely whole. Someone of a more…naive innocence to balance out the scale of crazy.
But enough about that, now it was time to enjoy the innocence of another crazy kid they met before they left. An apparent alien with a spirit mirror. And here he walked now, with a girlfriend to boot, lucky. "How you feeling buddy?" The girl asked, holding him by the shoulder.
"Like I got my stomach pumped out with a vacuum cleaner after being punched in the gut five times." The boy complained. "No wonder the past Basilisks were crazy, this is insane." There was an off chance that this was some sort of larping session, but another huge chance he was being completely sincere. It was charming either way.
"Hey Steven, what's up?" Masha greeted as they walked by. "You never told me you had a girlfriend."
" What?!" The two of them freaked out at the same time.
"I'm not-"
"We're not-"
"I would never-"
"Like seriously, who would even believe-"
"Oh, was I misreading the arm around the shoulder thing then?" They asked, backtracking a bit.
"Oh, I guess that does look a little weird without context, but now, I'm just…helping him get around." The girl explained. "He overdosed on one too many Lion Lickers, and now they're coming back for revenge."
"Lion Lickers?" They questioned. "Didn't you say those were the food from the underworld while Cookie Cats were the clearly superior treat?"
"Why does everyone keep hating them?" He mumbled something They couldn't quite hear before clearing his throat. "I-ah…was trying to become a food critic and experiment with different flavors and textures. Really get to explore what truly makes each food unique?"
"So you just ate everything and nothing agreed with each other." Masha snorted.
"Pretty much. Have you ever seen this guy cook? He dumps everything into a pot and hopes for the best." The girl laughed. "Last time created a mushroom cloud that flooded the house."
"Oh that is pretty hilarious." They held out their hand. "I'm Masha. I would have introduced myself sooner but between the ocean disappearing and Reality Check Camp, it got way too complicated."
"I see, I'm Lu-Connie-The what now did what?" The girl backtracked.
"Yeah, surprised you didn't say anything to her Steven, you're the one that told me how Lapis tried to make a tower into space to reach her alien homeworld." Masha would've loved to see it in action, get some one on one time with the water witch themselves.
"I …" The boy trailed off, before shaking his head. "I didn't want to get too many people involved in the mess, you know, trying to…stop everyone from dying all at once is really hard."
"Hey, the water's still here, so I say everything worked out for the best." Though it would've been neat to try to survive a post apocalyptic desert planet. "So, you need help carrying this guy home? I can lend a shoulder if you two want."
"No, I'm actually … heading that direction." Steven pointed.
"To the Gravesfield historical society?" Masha asked, looking in that direction. "Are you sure you want to head there? I mean, they give out these really cool looking cards, but the guy running it is a bit of a nut." She pulled out the deck she got.
"I'm sure-are those hexus holdem cards?" Steven questioned.
"No, they're tarot cards. They tell the future." Masha explained. "A while ago, this old owl looking lady dumped a bunch as a trade off when 'snails' wouldn't work."
"Right, I keep forgetting how often Eda came here." Connie muttered.
"Actually I think they said her name was Maryln. Apparently she's banned from most of the stores around here. Set half of them on fire or something." They explained. "Sounds like a cool chick in my opinion."
"The best." Connie grinned. "So … are those cards magic?"
"Why, you want a reading for 'Mrs Universe'?" Masha smirked.
"Mrs. Universe?" Connie raised an eyebrow. "Wait, isn't mr. universe that sad old guy that runs the car was.
"Yeah. That I don't blame you for not talking about Steven." Masha patted the boy on the back. "I'd want to repress everything too if my dad was a pathetic bum."
".... Yeah." He muttered. "I … would rather not talk about him." Ooh, maybe they shouldn't have worded it like that.
Time for a topic change. "So, future reading, or are we all heading to the historical society?"
The two of them looked at each other, whispering to each other in secret. Heh, the two of them certainly acted like a couple. "A quick reading wouldn't hurt I guess." Steven nodded.
"Alrighty." She laid down the cards, pulling three out as she started flipping. "You committed a terrible sin, the ghost still haunts you to this day." The second. "Your current self is wracked with indecision and confusion, unknown how to follow through to what you wish." And the third. "Soon you will be wracked with an impossible loss that will destroy your very soul."
The three of them stared at the cards, before Masha clicked their tongue. "Dang it, these things are fake." No way did this match Steven at all.
"Yeah, yeah totally. How ridiculous, so silly, hey I think I should get going now, byeeeee!" The kid began to make a run for it, only to fall on his face. "Ow."
"You forgot you need a hand." Masha picked him up. "Come on, let's walk you there."
"No, I think I got this covered, we're in kind of a hurry." Connie grabbed the boy by the arm.l
"You sure you don't want to make this a three man mission? In case you run into a corrupted gem or crazy mystical artifact?" Masha asked.
"Where was all this magic stuff when I was-I'm sure." Connie nodded. "Bye Masha, great meeting you, see you later!"
Masha walked the two of them walk away. "... Totally a couple."
========================================================================
Jacob stamped yet another notice. This week had been nothing but paperwork and paperwork. And endless mundane repetition that almost seemed to go on for eternity. He didn't need to be reminded that he was past his rent. Once he got his account verified and got the monetization, he could have a second source of income to pay for all his demon hunting gear. "Rhonaldo, how are we doing on the tours?"
"Not very well. I had them hooked on going into the early settlements; but they completely lost interest when I exclaimed how the town was founded by the Martians as an early start of their hollow earth plan." The student explained.
Jacob sighed. "This is why I say keep the truth for the account, not the tour. Not everyone that comes here is invested in our work." No matter how much the world should believe.
"I know , I know, but the truth can't just be confined to one source. It needs to break out and shoved right into everyone's face!"
"And it will, as soon as we have solid evidence." He spoke clearly. "How's it going on tracking down that Steven kid?"
"Not good … you know Mr Universe?"
"There isn't anyone that doesn't around town." Such a sad man, no purpose and life and constantly drinking.
"We'll he had a falling out with his son, and now the surrogate mothers are kinda … 'on edge' about his safety and all that approaches him." His pupil chuckled hesitantly. "I actually lost my pinkie finger on one of their defense grids. The blue one doesn't hold back at all."
"Seriously, I make fifteen calls to the fbi about an alien invasion right on the beachfront, and I get put in the mental ward for a week." Jacob grumbled. Sometimes it felt like he was the only one that cares about protecting humanity. "There's got the some kind of angle we can tackle here."
"Well it's not like they'll just walk through the front door." Rhonaldo deadpanned.
"You know, they were actually pretty okay for a human all things considered." They turned to the doors and saw the boy himself enter with a girl with glasses. "Creepy Oracle voice aside."
"I get yah, dude. Feels like blue fire should've shot from the ground as she was saying that stuff."
"… Well it's not like a new computer console will roll through the front door." Rhondaldo waited a moment. "Damn it, they never work when I really want them to."
"Set up everything in the back, I'll stall." He whispered. "Welcome back Connie, what can I do for you and your friend?"
"Hey…you…" The girl looked at him like she's never seen him and cleared her throat. "I was told that you gave a deck of cards to one of my friends, and I was wondering if you happened to have some around, or anything else that seems weird and just a tad bit supernatural?"
"Cards … oh right, from that crazy Marlyn woman who set fire to half the place." He pointed to a 'wanted' bounty on the wall.
"Is that a self made poster…in crayon?" The universe kid scoffed.
"Printer ink isn't cheap, you know." Jacob grumbled. "Follow me, I can show you around."
The two kids began following him, whispering as Jacob listened in. "How's that nose working?"
"There's definitely magic here, I just can't pinpoint it." The universe kid pointed out. "Some of the stuff here has been touched by it at some point, but it's long faded."
"Oh, are you kids interested in the town's old artifacts?" Jacob asked. "Most don't pay attention to it, but in the early days of the town, they're have been many sightings of witches for centuries."
"There have?" Connie asked.
"Most people don't believe it, but just look at the two town founders. Philip and Caleb Witterbane." He pointed to a picture. "It's said that they disappeared from this world after encountering a witch."
"Really?" The boy looked closer at it, sharing a look with Connie. "Must've pissed her off or something."
"Maybe, or maybe she was a maniacal schemer that just wanted to have fun messing with the lives of two innocent people, who's to say what happens in the mind of a witch." Jacob responded as he led them to the back. "That's why we had the witch burning of the sixteen hundreds, where any witch we found was brutally stabbed as we burned their corpse, so they may never haunt us again."
"... Luz is the only good human on this planet." The child muttered.
"Heh, shameful history aside, are we getting close…" Connie asked.
"They couldn't get them all though. A pink golem constantly got in the way, shelling them as they fled back to wherever hellspot they came from." Jacob opened the back room door and let them in. "Which is why Gravesfield is always getting visited by demons."
"It's wha-" Connie asked, before a steel cage fell down on the two of them. "What the heck!?"
"I know the truth, Steven Universe." He glared at the boy. "That you are a shapeshifting demon." He could see the child tense. "Sent by the martian witches to steal our teeth to power your time machine!"
"....You are an idiot." The boy groaned.
"An idiot who caught you." He reiterated. "Rhonaldo, help me move them back, I'm going to get the tools set up."
"On it…eh, sorry Steven, just trying to get the truth out there, you know?"
"Shouldn't you be back at the fry shop pushing your vlog everyone?" Connie raised her eyebrow.
"Actually this is my master in truth searching. We're running a joint vlog account now." The student stated. "And we'll show the whole world the true face of Steven Universe."
"There's …" The boy coughed. "There's nothing to …" His stomach growled. "Ohhh I can't keep this up." His body horrifically mutated into a scaled creature.
"Snake person!" Rhonaldo shouted. "I finally found one!"
"Oh stop acting like you know anything, he needs help!" Connie shouted.
"Oh we'll help all right." Jacob pulled out a blade. "We'll help humanity by exposing the truth, showing off the insides and their weaknesses to the world."
"Wait, you want to dissect him?" Rhonaldo asked. "I thought this is where we interrogate and get the answers while talking."
"You're missing the point. This child wouldn't tell us anything vital even if we tortured them for weeks on end. And they're already infiltrating, we need a way to take out the threat as soon as it arrives." Jacob stated. "We're saving the world Ronaldo."
"Pfft, sounds like the words of a narcissist." Steven glared.
"I suggest you get some sleep, it'll probably be the last one you take." He flipped a switch he carried on him.
Zaaaaaaaazp.
"GAAAH!" The two children shouted.
"Wait, the girl's human!" Rhonaldo shouted.
"Brainwashed. We'll fix her later."
========================================================================
Vee didn't know what happened, all she knew was that she woke up to a cage, being electrified. It was happening all over again, she was caught, and now she was doomed to die. It was over, it was all over, hope was gone. She was never supposed to be happy.
"Ugh, my head.." Oh no … she was sharing a cage with Connie. Great, before she was doomed, she'd have the greatest thing in her life, see her real form and hate her for the last few hours of her life. "What's going … AAHH!" Connie screamed, backing away as she should.
" Wow, someone's super judgemental." Off to the side, a mirror was next to their cage, where Luz and Lu…the real Steven were.
"I, what, how did … LUZ, WHAT DID YOU DO!?" Connie shouted. "Where's Steven?!"
" They're right next to you, Connie." Luz said calmly. "Look, I don't know how the possession thing happened…"
"Would you stop lying to me!?" She shouted. "I know that's not-"
"I was the traitor, sent by the hundred eyed man." Vee said calmly, looking down to avoid the gaze of disappointment. "I grew among your fellowship, laughed with you, ate with you. What you see is but a shell of who I am."
"... Steven?" Connie asked with trepidation.
"My real name is Vee … SteVeen." She chuckled. "I was raised as Number five. I was born as a basilisk, captive in the Boiling Isles, studying for my ability to absorb magic as I was forced to kill creatures to survive …" Vee stopped for a moment. "We broke out, a … father figure of mine passed while doing so. Then we scattered, I don't know what happened to the others, but I hope Two, Three, and Four are alright."
" They aren't." The real Steven looked away. "I don't know about three … but Twicepta and Ivan … they couldn't let go of their hatred for witches … they tried to kill my friends … and…"
"Ah …" Vee was quiet for a moment, knowing what he was getting at. "I … I don't like witches … but I don't want them dead, I just want to stay away from the genocidal sadists … so when a witch walked through a door, complaining about bringing a bejeweled baby home … I saw an opportunity."
" Bringing a baby home?" Luz looked intrigued.
"A human baby from earth, a baby that was half, as you know them, crystal devil." She turned to the mirror, looking Steven in the eyes. "I stole your life. You're the real Steven Universe."
The boy was quiet, looking like he didn't know how to take it. " I definitely prefer Lucifer Clawthorne."
"Wait, Lucifer, like the devil?" Connie blinked.
"I already brought up the point. Although Lucifer Universe has a nice ring to it." Luz noted.
"Yeah, no." The boy shook his head. "You wanna be Steven Universe? Do it, I'm much happier with this life, with my own family." Oh that poor naive child, what fresh hell did Vee push on him?
"Doesn't matter what I want, I'm stuck here, in another cage, and likely to die in a cage." This was the perfect hell for her to land in. "I can try arguing for Connie, it's the least I can do after lying to her and all the other lives I ruined."
"What?" There was the accusation.
"I know you hate me, I've done nothing but lie to you all this time." Vee stated. "This is the only way I can make sure you're safe, I need to, I-" A hand grabbed her head, moving her to face the crying girl. Likely to rant on Vee like they deserved-and then they kissed.
Their lips connected, flesh touching flesh as their heat transmitted, and Vee felt her entire body flush. "Whoa, didn't expect to see that today." Steven-Lucci mumbled.
This was happening, this was … Connie pulled away, also flushed. "Why would my soul ever hate another for laughing with tears of truth?"
She didn't hate her … Connie didn't hate her … Vee felt the tears flow. "I'm sorry … I'm sorry I couldn't be honest …"
"You're honest with me now." She laughed. "And there's nothing fake about the fun we had together, or the feelings I have for you, Vee, Steven, whatever you go by."
"This is the most precious thing I have ever seen." Luz's voice whispered.
A small nudge in her head suddenly popped up, realizing that there was one more detail she needed to share. "This is going to be awkward since we already kissed…but you should know…I'm a…Girl."
There was a moment of silence. "Ah …" Connie began to blush. "I um … didn't see …"
"Basilisks are gender fluid, because we shapeshift." Vee explained.
" Probably a good thing King isn't here, this would make him lose his mind." Lucci-Steven commented.
"Absolutely." Luz nodded. "Let's get you out of here."
"Right." Vee nodded. "I can beg for the Coven to release Connie if I play my cards right."
" Uh, your still in the human world, your just being held by the museum curator and Rholnaldo." Luz answered.
Vee shared a look with Connie. "… You got us caught by Jacob?"
"The most notable nut job in the town behind Rhonaldo?" Connie finished with a glare.
"Um … Yes?"
"… Steven, I know you tell me to make friends with people, but please tell me this is the upper limit."
"I've been gone for three months, sue me for forgetting about little details!"
"Hey no problem." Vee waved off. "If it's just two humans, I can get us out with no problem." She just needed a little finger work and-
Growwwewl
"Gah!" She held her stomach. "I had enough magic to last the day, why do I feel so drained?"
" Let's just say how crystal devils shape shift and how basilisks do it are fundamentally different."
"Then … that's it. Even if I can break the lock I'm not going to be able to run." Vee lamented.
"Don't be so quick to doubt, I have an idea." Lucci snickered.
"As long as Luz didn't come up with it, I'm in." Connie nodded.
"Hey, I'm not the most wanted criminal on the boiling isles for nothing."
"You're a criminal!? The two of them shouted. How much did Vee ruin his life?!
" Yes, and it's that experience that'll get you both out of here, so sit tight!"
========================================================================
Rhonaldo continued setting up the feed. "So … the kids." He continued, unable to shake the unease. "Are we sure interrogation is off the table?"
"They've lied to the world for years, why would they tell two guys off the street the truth?" His mentor questioned. "If there's even a one percent chance that they won't be honest, we must take absolutely no risks and rip it apart to shreds!"
"That's….a little extreme, isn't it?" Sure, the fact that the Steven he's known the entire time was a snake person was a shock, but he was more into investing rather than the…,less than clean aspects of truth seeking.
"Rhonaldo, their end plan is to end humanity. You and I have known that for years. Don't let the mask fool you."
"Plan to end human-where the heck are you getting these ideas!?" The girl next to Ste-the creature exclaimed.
"You may be surprised, but we've put it all together." Jacob pulled out their board. "It all started when I saw the eyeball on the dollar bill, and it changed my life."
"Oh my god, he's a conspiracy theorist." The girl grumbled. "She is not a danger to humanity!"
"Is it, or is it not, related to the ocean disappearing!?" They asked.
"She's the reason why we even got it back!"
"So you admit that it's in league with forces powerful enough to steal 70 percent of the planet!" Jacob did have a point.
"You may believe in whatever crazed theories you want, but you can't deny this right here is a good person!" She shouted.
"You are confused, but we will help." His mentor pulled out a blade. "After the work is done, and we expose witches, demons, and rock golems to the world!"
"Rholnaldo, you can't seriously be thinking about going through with this, with himif all people. You'll be arrested for holding me here against my will, ignoring everything about Steven."
"He won't be arrested for doing what's right." Jacob said seriously. "Now start the camera."
Rhonaldo took the time to digest those words. Arrested!? He was prepared to be chased down and scorned for his beliefs, but regardless of whatever Steven was, Connie was a human being they had in a cage. That didn't look good no matter how you looked at it. "O-okay, let me just adjust the the lens-"
"Hey idiot, stop being a moron and help the kids." An image popped up in front of the screen and glared at him.
"Gah!" He shouted, jumping back from the image. Was this thing hijacked, or perhaps … "A ghost?!"
"We're not ghosts, we're teenagers stuck in between realms." A second figure that looked like the missing Noceda girl told them.
"That makes even less sense!" He retorted. "If you were between universes the laws of physics would break down and your atoms should be exploding from things like a lack of gravity."
"… Rholnaldo, are you okay?" Jacob questioned.
"Yeah, just fine, give me a second to…polish the screen." He exited the room; and proceeded to freak out. "Okay; what's going on!?"
"Don't overthink it, fry head. Just think of us as your conscious." The boy that looked like Steven's non monster form spoke. " We're here to haunt you until you finally get a clue."
"My conscience … but we should be on the same page here, I'm doing the right thing and exposing the truth!"
"You're going to cut up a child and say that's the right thing?" The dark skinned girl questioned.
"But … but he could hurt others." Rhonaldo held onto his head. "They …"
" Dude, have you ever thought that the reason why demons and humans fight is over stupid crap like this? That they can be people with lives, with families, but them people like you just assume they're evil and cut them up?" The boy brought up.
"If you were a human in a realm full of demons, wouldn't you be scared? Wouldn't you want to hide and just live as quiet a life as possible?" The girl continued.
He stared at the creature, which gazed at his master with such … hopeless eyes. "They're…they're not dangerous, are they?"
"No, and if you were smart, you'd know what needs to be done." The boy responded. "Besides, think of it this way, by saving them, you'd be bridging the gap between man and demon and bring the two worlds closer. You'll be a hero."
"Bridging the gap …" Between realms, conscious … this was the truth!
"Okay, is the screen polished?" Jacob asked. "Because we really should-" He ran up and hit the man in the face. "What the-?"
"I am taking these kids, and I am leaving!" Rhonaldo shouted, pulling out his limited edition light saber.
"Why!? We could have done wonders, We could have gotten our accounts verified!" Jacob explained as he took out his own light saber.
"Verification is nothing in the face of the truth!" Rhonaldo shouted. "And the truth is, at the current moment, that ghosts from the reverse dimension seek to help enact peace between the alien demons of mars and the humans of earth!"
"Oh my stars, this is the dumbest fight I've ever seen." Connie groaned.
"You forget something, my disciple." The man growled.
"What would that be?" Rhonaldo asked as he charged.
"I have fourteen years of physical growth over you." The man swung, the speed and strength behind the blow pushing him back.
"Oh yeah!? Well I have fifty pounds over you!" Rholdno rolled him over and slammed the man on the ground with himself on Jacob's back.
"Well played, but tricks only get you so far!" The man jumped up. "For I also have experience!" He swung down, pinning Rhonaldo as their weapons flashed.
"Spirits, this is a losing battle, please lend me an edge for the greater goal of peace!" He shouted, being pushed back a tad.
"Supernatural forces will not help you now-!"
" You know, it's people like you that make me lose more and more respect for humanity." The sprits came again … appearing in Jacob's eyeballs. "Ugh, this is even uglier up close ."
"Aaaahhh! You've blinded me!" The man walked backwards.
"So weird, gross, and crazy. Nice thinking Lucci." The girl spirit chuckled. "People always seem to forget how reflective eyes are."
"You've blinded yourself!" Rhonaldo shouted. "From the truth!" He tackled him down, reaching for the keys, and running to the lock. "Why did we invest in key rings?" He asked as he flipped rapidly between the objects.
"My soul is being ravaged! Where's the holy water! Where is it!?" Jacob began running around rapidly and randomly, tripping over everything in the room.
"Even if I wasn't conscious for this, I feel so ashamed we were ever held hostage by them." The creature pouted.
"It's okay, one blemish doesn't ruin a reputation." The girl patted their back, "It takes multiple ones."
He eventually opened the lock, pulling them out. "Okay, you two need to run."
"I may not see, but I won't let you escape!" Jacob shouted, grabbing the sword.
"Yeah, let me show you how it's done." Connie grabbed the plastic light saber, and gave it a mighty swing, disarming Jacob instantly. "And then this!" She proceeded to jab the man hard enough in the throat to knock him unconscious.
"….How the heck did you do that!?" The girl ghost exclaimed.
"I took sword training lessons after I learned how bad Steven's dad was." Connie explained. "Though I guess that makes him Lucifer's dad.."
" And any interest I had about meeting him just went down the drain." The boy ghost groaned. " And please call me Lucci."
"Okay Lucci …" The creature sniffed. "There's magic near here?"
"Yeah, I think he said something about magic cards once-hey, here they are." He tossed the creature the deck. "This probably doesn't make up for the kidnapping, but here you go."
"Hey, it's cool, everyone makes mistakes." The creature lifted one object, probably about to do something mythical and fascinating to witness. "Oma nom nom." Or eat the card whole. "Cookie cats are great, but nothing is as filling as magic."
"You eat magic?" Connie asked.
"Yep … part of the reason my kind is sort of … treated about as bad as Jews." Everyone winced at that.
"The what now?" The male ghost questioned.
"Long story I don't want to get into." The creature sighed. "Thank you for helping me, Luz, Ste-Lucci. I know there's no forgiving me for taking your life but-"
" Vee, I don't care that you took my life-Steven's life, whatever the case, I don't mind. If it gave you a life where you're free to be happy and safe, then by all means keep it."
"You mean it?" The creature questioned.
"I mean it. You managed to con an entire family for a decade. Something I could never do. When we meet in real life, we're going to be best friends."
"Please don't corrupt my friend … boyfriend … girlfriend …" Connie blushed. "I will never hate you Steven, but please understand I'm taking tomorrow to process everything."
" Totally free to do that, but there's still the matter of me telling my mom the truth."Luz stated. "Please, you need to help me convince my mom I'm not an illusion."
"Yeah yeah, we'll talk to Ms Noceda." Rhonaldo winced as the girls looked to him. "What?"
"Well … she sorta … mighta … became drinking buddies with … Mr Universe?"
"….she WHAAAT?!" Everyone except the ghost boy shouted.
" Okay, is this Universe guy really that big of a piece of snorseshit?"
"He wished Steven here was never born because he blames them for their life going to hell." Connie spoke with malice.
"…Should I try haunting him until he goes insane?" The ghost boy asked.
"No, it's fine." The creature waved off. "He's not worth the effort." They shook their head. "We should get going now, I think it's about to rain."
"Rain, huh?" The ghost girl smirked. " That gives me an idea."
"Oh, we should delete the cameras before we go." Connie pointed out.
"Don't worry." Rhonaldo smirked. "I'm pretty sure that problem will take care of itself." The Snake People in the government would never let one of their own go noticed.
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How long had it been since she had a decent night's rest? One week? Two months? Time was becoming a foggier concept to Camila. The days were passing by quickly and slowly all at once.
The fact she was able to keep a job in her condition was a miracle in itself, especially considering how focused she needed to be when on a surgery with tiny animals. Of course she had to take a heaping dose of happy pills to get through the work day…wait, we're those the ones she wasn't supposed to take with alcohol? How many did she take? And why did she feel like she kept forgetting to turn the stove off?
Knock
Camila groaned, forcing herself to stand, using a wall as a station to not fall over. "If that's a telemarketer, I'm punching them in the face." What was the point in talking to people anyways? She was never good with them, and clearly her best trait was driving them away from her.
Only exceptions were Manny, who died because life was a bitch, and Greg, who was just as miserable as her. He definitely had more negative thoughts on his own child, which made Camila uncomfortable, but he was the only one who truly understood the type of hurt she was feeling.
She opened the door, seeing two children standing out in the rain, gazing at her. "I'm … I'm not interested in a fundraiser … I'm sorry about that." She gently told them. Camila felt bad, they had to be desperate for sales if they were in the middle of the rain.
"Oh, Ah, no, Mrs Noceda, I don't know if you remember me, but I'm Connie Mahaswarren, I…knew- know Luz from school."
"Oh …" She sighed. "I can set some tea on or something just … just give me a few minutes to get my thoughts together." She began crawling back in, trying her best to use the walls as support. This hangover was gonna hurt.
"Actually, we have something to tell you, and we have to show you outside…It's going to sound out there, but I assure you mam, it's all real." Connie kept going."
Normally she wouldn't be in the mood to humor these kids … but Connie was probably feeling bad about what happened to Luz … "Fine, fine …" She began crawling out the door, only to fall face first to the ground. "Owwww." It wasn't much compared to the inside, but it still hurt.
" Mom!? Are you okay!?" Oh no, the voices were back.
"Of course … more guilt." She muttered. "What was it you wanted to show me?" Camila asked, ready to end this before the voices began screaming.
"You're not hearing voices." The boy next to Connie said to her. "The images of Luz you saw in the mirror and on glass….those aren't hallucinations."
"How-how did you know I-"
"Becuase Luz told us." Connie took out a flashlight and turned it on. Then there was nothing but the rain, the light … and an ethereal version of her daughter …
"... Mi ha?" She asked gently. "Are … did someone …" Tears began flooding out of her eyes. "What happened to you?"
"Mom!" The image began to grasp onto her..,it was touching her…this was happening.. " Mom, I'm so sorry, I was so dumb and so naive I'd didn't know I wouldn't be able to come back right away and-"
"Luz you're here!" She hugged back, squeezing tightly. "You're here, you're here." Camila cried. "You're here after so long …" This felt too good to be true. "I don't understand, where have you been? No one's been able to find you anywhere! It's like you disappeared from this planet!"
"I…I did." Luz answered, looking at her in the eyes. " That day you left me at the bus stop..I found a doorway..,a doorway that led to another world, a world of magic, demons, and witches."
"A doorway …" Camila trailed off. "You … you were trapped somewhere, where't you?" She asked. "Filled with so much …" Danger, suffering, dread.
" No, I wasn't, I had the doorway, I could've gone back, but I stayed and thought I'd just come back, but so many things happened and my friends were in danger and I had to destroy it.." Her baby began to cry. " I thought I had it all handled, but I don't know what I'm doing half the time anymore! I can't tell right from wrong or left from right…"
"Ssssh, baby, please don't cry." She hugged her daughter tighter. "I'm just beyond thankful I can hear your voice again." Camila reassured her. "You have friends? People capable of protecting you?"
"I wouldn't be able to do any of this without them." Luz nodded. "I have someone I want you to meet actually. He's the best friend I have being in this world."
"Aww, thanks for the reassurance." A boy that looked a lot like that other one smiled as he faded into existence. "Hey there Ms Noceda, a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh … oh you're safe." She hugged her daughter tighter. "It's going to be alright, we'll get you home, and everything will be fine."
"I know, I'm trying everything on my end. I actually made a portal and everything." Luz sighed. "So much has happened, so much I want to tell you, but I'm glad that I chose to come here…"
She…"You…you chose to go there…" Camila heard those words…and it broke her. "So it's true then…you ran away because I made you miserable…..you ran away….because of me…"
"No, no, no mom, than wasn't-!"
"Was I that terrible of a mother to you!?" She exclaimed, a whole floodgate of emotions she's held in for months suddenly being unleashed. "Was I so bad that you had to go to another world just to be happy?!"
"That's not it mom! It was never you, it-" Her baby girl stopped, pulling backwards. "The rope! Lucci, grab the rope! I need a few more minutes, please!"
" We told mom to pull it in case of emergencies, I think we've reached our time limit already!" The boy seemingly floated, though it hovered on and off the ground. "We need to head out now, I can only lighten the load on my end for so long at the moment!"
No, no, this couldn't be over, this couldn't, she just got her baby back! "Luz, please, no. Please don't go again."
"Mom, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Her daughter cried as Camila did her best to grab hold.
"Promise me you'll come back!" She shouted. "Promise me you'll come back and stay!" She couldn't be broken again. "I'm sorry I pushed you away! I won't do it again, I'll make sure everything will be different!"
"Mom, it wasn't' you-!"
"Promise me, please!" Camila needed to keep holding on, she couldn't lose her again, she could lose her only reason for living.
Luz looked on sadly, whipping tears from her eyes. "Okay….I promise." Her daughter and her friend were pulled away, vanishing from existence….like she wasn't there.
Camila wept as she hit the ground, crying her heart out … her daughter was gone again … she chased her away … a few seconds of hearing nothing but her own tears, the child next to Connie sat beside her. "Do you need company?" He asked her gently.
"Yes…Yes please…" Camila answered. She was soaking wet and dirty, but she didn't care. She didn't want to be alone anymore.
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Luz was yanked back with Lucci, hitting the ground. "No!" She tried to run back ."I need to talk to her, I need to-"
"No way!" Eda grabbed her, pulling her back. "That portal's already unstable."
They watched as the closest thing she's had to contact with her own mother in the last couple of months folded in on itself, slowly vanishing into nothing. "It's gone …"
"Ugh, that was the most surreal experience I ever had." Lucci commented, before getting smacked in the back of the head by Eda. "Ow!"
"That's the least you deserve for scaring me like and jumping ahead into a death door!" The owl lady pinched her son by the ear. "Do you know how worried you made me!? I didn't know if you were alright! You jumped in without telling me and you did it without a safety rope! What if the rope broke from the added weight!?"
"I can float, it was fine." He tried to defend himself.
"I'm pulling out the pipe punishment from Hooty. Your lips won't be able to lie or kiss your girlfriend for a full week mister!"
"Oh come one, that's so extreme!"
"Not as extreme as dying! And trust me, if I didn't love you so much, I'd consider killing you myself!" Eda grabbed the boy by the head and hugged him tightly. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, Lucci! A mama's heart can only take so much."
Yeah … like how she scared her own mother, and broke her heart … and left her as an alcoholic that hangs around with a nihilistic bum bastard … "I'm gonna … head to my room." Luz muttered, getting up and walking to the door.
"You don't wanna celebrate talking to your mom?" King asked.
"I…I don't…I…I can't talk about it now." Luz answered, opening the door and heading inside.
"Luz!" Lucci rushed ahead and tailed her from behind. "Luz, I get not wanting to talk about it, but … you shouldn't just hold all of … that … in."
"I … want to wait a while before breaking the news." She admitted.
"What news?" Lucci asked. "What, that you're mom's worried about you."
Luz turned to him. "You heard what mom said, Lucci. Once I go back home, I can never see you guys again."
"That's…" Lucci looked at her confused. "That's not what she said."
"How else do you interrupt 'come back and never leave'?"
"She didn't say never leave, she said stay." Lucci brought up.
"Why are you being pedantic about this!? I ruined my mom's life! That's the jist of it!" Luz shouted. "I left her behind and lied to her for months, and look at what it did to her! I tried to have my cake and eat it too, but it didn't work. And now she's a broken woman that can barely hold on and she's suffering every day." She pointed at him. "Do you have any idea what that's like!?"
"Yeah, I got an idea." He pointed to the door. "I lived with mom all this time and never knew about her curse. I could've helped her more.,."
"That's different, you didn't know Eda was suffering! You weren't the one hiding the secret!" Luz countered. "I made the conscious decision to stay in the demon realm! I chose to be happy, and that made mom miserable!"
He looked at her. "You shouldn't base her happiness on yours Luz."
"She was going to send me to a camp to make me normal because whenever I was happy everyone else suffered. Tell me why I shouldn't?" She asked him.
"You're your own person Luz, your mom isn't you, you aren't your mom." He said firmly. "Just like how I'm not my mom, or my womb donner, or whoever that bastard that Vee had to deal with is." He turned around. "That's like saying everything would be better if Amity did everything to make HER mom happy."
"Amity's mom never helped anyone." Luz muttered. "She never cared, or tried to make things right, she never suffered with a wild child, or the world forcing problems on her, or losing her husband." She paused, realizing what she just said.
"You….you lost your dad?"
"Goodnight Lucci." She stormed up the stairs.
"But it's barely sunset.."
"I said goodnight." Luz slammed the door closed, and forced her eyes closed as she fell on the bed, trying to fall asleep before she could cry again.