"AHHHHH!, NOOOOO!" Olivier Clawthorne shot up, his hair and face drenched in sweat.
The boy panted, and then looked around. Momentarily finding himself somewhere unfamiliar.
But after a brief moment, he remembered he wasn't in the Owl House on the Boiling Isles...
...but at the Boonchuy Home on Earth, sleeping on their couch in the family room.
The half-witch sighed as he flopped back down, his body still shaking from the vivid dream he had.
"oliver?!" spoke a hushed voice.
Olivier looked to see Anne tip-toe towards him (dressed in her usual sleepwear of a T-shirt and boxers.)
"I heard you scream...are you okay?"
Olivier sighed. "I just...had a bad dream is all."
Anne turned on a light, and quickly dimmed it. "do you...need me to keep you company?"
Olivier breathed out as he scoot in the couch. "maybe...I'm really not sure."
Anne sat down beside Olivier, and gently touched his cheek.
Olivier looked at the girl...who looked at him with her soft, brown eyes.
"it's okay...I'm here." said Anne, her tone soothing.
Olivier finally embraced Anne, hugging her tightly. He breathed heavily as Anne returned the embrace.
"there, there...just let it out." spoke Anne (sounding almost like a mother.)
Olivier exhaled as he finally parted from Anne. "I...I feel a little better now."
"All the same, I think I'll go fix you something to eat." spoke Anne, as she stood up.
"You don't have to do that." said Olivier.
"I know...I just want to."
Anne walked towards the kitchen, and turned on the light.
Olivier stayed still, listening as Anne clattered with the kitchen wares.
After a minute or so...Anne return holding a large plate of what looked like cake.
"Care for some leftover birthday cake?" spoke Anne.
Olivier stared at the plate. "is this-"
"No, it isn't the original cake I was suppose to have on my birthday six months ago." explained Anne.
"Apparently mom had...(*Anne Frowns*) been making replacement cakes to cope with my disappearance."
"oh...I see."
Olivier finally took a fork and scooped up a piece of the birthday cake.
Anne did the same, and the pair then took a bite each.
"Hmm. this is good." said Olivier.
"oh, yeah. That is what I missed most in Amphibia: Mom's cooking." said Anne.
Olivier frowned, remembering his innocent days as a child when his mother cooked for him.
Which led to other happier memories that he often wondered was only in his imagination.
His old life was so ideal...so almost like a fairy tale.
a huge contrast to the life he knew NOW, where everything was a struggle.
But, perhaps that was just life in general once you leave childhood behind at Thirteen.
Being a teenager was hard, and wouldn't get any easier once you grow into an Adult six years later.
"so...you wanna talk now?" asked Anne.
Olivier sighed softly. "it doesn't matter...not like what I saw in my dream will happen now."
"what do you mean?" inquired Anne. "What did you see in your dream?"
Olivier looked away, unable to look at Anne. "ways everything could've gone wrong...ways we could've failed."
Anne laid the plate of cake aside and scooted closer to Olivier. "we didn't, though."
"we COULD have...quite easily." repeated Olivier. "and just because we are back in your world, your home.
it doesn't mean we are safe from danger. Things could still go wrong...and I am afraid of what might happen."
Anne looked at Olivier. "I've never seen you this scared before..."
Olivier looked at Anne. "I don't fear for myself...but I am afraid of losing those I care for the most."
Anne looked into Olivier's eyes. "you're talking about ME, aren't you..."
Olivier blushed bright red, averting his gaze.
"there was a time...that my mother was the most important person in my life." began Olivier.
"She still is, and I hope she is okay...but yes: YOU are also important in my life...and I dread losing you."
Anne wanted to assure Olivier, tell him that he wouldn't lose her.
but she knew that mere words just wouldn't do, and Olivier was in no mood to hear them.
Instead, she just put her arms around her boyfriend and embraced him tight.
Olivier grasped Anne's arm...closing his eyes as he listened to his girlfriend's heart beat.
He could sense the energies of the Calamity Gem within Anne...the Power of HEART.
It seemed to mingle with his own magic that tethered them at a metaphysical level.
"i love you." spoke Olivier.
"I love you more." said Anne.
"AHEM."
At that moment, the pair shot their eyes wide opened and looked over their shoulders.
They saw Oum Boonchuy in a nightgown leaning against a wall, her arms crossed and giving a 'look.'
"M-MOM!" exclaimed Anne (who released Olivier, nervously.)
"You two should be in bed." said Anne's mother, sternly.
"We wer-I MEAN, *I* was!" stuttered Anne (unable to say words right.) "but...Oliver had a bad dream, an-"
"It's okay." spoke Oum, as she approached. "I heard most of it."
Both Olivier and Anne blushed at this. "you...D-DID!?"
Mrs. Boonchuy leaned down, and looked at Olivier with soft eyes.
After a minute, the Thai woman breathed out and stood back up again.
"ten minutes." said Oum. "You two can stay up for ten more minutes. No Debate."
"thanks, mom." sais Anne.
Oum smiled like the mother she was and gave Anne a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Khụ̄n, khụ̄n, sweetheart." spoke Mrs. Boonchuy. "P̄hm rạk khuṇ."
Anne hugged her mother. "love you too, mom."
Oum smile, happy to have this moment again. she then turned to Olivier, and looked at him for a moment.
She finally patted the boy on his head with affection. "Rātrī s̄wạs̄di̒, Oliver."
"She said: Good Night." said Anne.
"I know." said Olivier. "I...know some words in the Thai language."
Oum raised a brow at this. "you do? How much?
"Thèā thī̀ c̄hạn ca thảdị̂ cāk kār dū p̣hāphyntr̒ ro mæn tik k̄hxng xæ nn̒" spoke Olivier, perfectly.
Oum had a stunned expression on her face. Amazing at hearing a full sentence in Thai from this boy.
"um...could you repeat that, Oliver? I didn't quite catch all of it." spoke Anne.
Oum grimaced. Embarrassed at just how little her own daughter knew of her Thai heritage
that even someone like Oliver was able to pick up on just from watching downloaded movies on a phone.
"nevermind...It isn't important." spoke Mrs. Boonchuy, as she began to walk away.
"Remember: TEN MINUTES, and then: Light's Out."
"Got it, mom." said Anne.
"yes, Mrs. Boonchuy." added Olivier.
Oum smiled, and then finally left. Anne sat down next to Olivier, and then grabbed the TV remote.
"Wanna watch some late night TV?" asked Anne.
"I guess so." answered Olivier.
Anne turned on the television, and proceeded to flip through channels.
Unfortunately there wasn't very much on that interested the two teens.
Anne then decided to take a chance with her favorite music channel.
...and as soon as she flipped to it, a very familiar tune started to play...
*You would not believe your eyes, If ten million fireflies, Lit up the world as I fell asleep.
'Cause they'd fill the open air, And leave teardrops everywhere.
You'd think me rude, But I would just stand and...stare.*
Anne looked at Olivier and smiled. "of all songs, huh?"
Olivier couldn't suppress a smile as not too distant memories came back to him.
Anne then stood up, and faced Olivier. "wanna dance?" said Anne, offering her hand.
*I'd like to make myself believe, That planet Earth turns slowly.
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep...
...Cause everything is never as it seems.*
Olivier smiled...and took Anne's hand. "sure."
*Cause I'd get a thousand hugs, From ten thousand lightning bugs,
As they tried to teach me how to dance.
A foxtrot above my head, A sock hop beneath my bed.
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread (Thread, thread...)
Olivier and Anne clasped their hands, and stood close together as they danced at a steady pace.
they swayed in a circle, their faces inches apart as their eyes locked gazes.
Anne blushed, giggled. Olivier did the same as well.
Whatever problems they had were miles away now...all they felt was bliss.
*I'd like to make myself believe, That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep.
'Cause everything is never as it seems (When I fall asleep)*
Olivier released one of Anne's hands, and they outstretched their still linked arms.
The Witch Boy then pulled Anne towards him, and embraced her in his arms.
Anne crossed her own arms over her chest, accepting the warm embrace.
She looked up at Olivier who smiled as he looked down at her with loving eyes.
...eyes that were both glowing gold, while Anne's eyes were glowing bright blue.
*Leave my door open just a crack (Please take me away from here)
Cause I feel like such an insomniac (Please take me away from here)
Why do I tire of counting sheep? (Please take me away from here)
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep (Ha-ha)
I'd like to make myself believe, That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)*
Anne and Olivier's eyes softened as then leaned their faces closer.
They finally closed their eyes as their lips finally touched.
Unknown to either of them...their bodies were illuminated Blue and Gold respectfully.
Their kiss made them glow brighter, and brighter...until blue and gold became a blinding white.
Like a flash of Lightning, the light quickly subsided. but when it did, Anne and Olivier had disappeared...
...and in their place was a single, lone person.
"what th-?! Wait, that isn't my...HUH!?" spoke a new, confused voice.
The figure turned and looked in a mirror hanging on a wall...and widened their eyes in shock.
The reflection staring back resembled Olivier...only with darker colored skin, and frizzy hair like Anne's.
*I'd like to make myself believe, That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
...Because my dreams are bursting at the seams.*
"AHH!" screamed the figure. "WHO ARE...You?"
The Figure then looked at themselves, awestruck as realization slowly dawned on them.
"wait...did WE just-" The figure looked at their hands...which then glowed with bluish-white energy.
"oh...my...GAWD." spoke the figure, stunned. "We totally Stevonnied!"
In yet another blinding flash, the figure split back into Anne and Olivier
who fell down onto the floor, Both looking understandably rattled and confused.
"what...WAS THAT!?" exclaimed Olivier.
"DUDE!, we like...Totally fused together!" exclaimed Anne, excited.
"We were like Stevonnie, and Garnet, and...VEGITO!"
Olivier looked at Anne like she was nuts. "what...are you talking about?!"
"I wonder what our fusion name should be..." mused Anne (ignoring Olivier for the moment)
"Anniver?", naw that sounds dumb. OH!, I know: "Olivanne."
Olivier sighed softly as he laid flat on the floor.
He felt ready to go back to sleep now.
[End of Part Four]