Things Change and Stay the Same

The newcomer; a tanned, red haired figure wearing Anne's shirt and skirt with Olivier's eyes and wearing his cloak overtop, ran around the Owl House, marveling at how they ran and saw everything. They were so immersed in just being there that they tuned everything out.

Hooty was speechless, as was Hop-Pop. Maddie was smiling in a way that reminded Polly of Anne when she saw Sprig and Ivy kissed after the Chick-a-lisk debacle. Polly herself was unsure how to feel; this WAS a world of magic, but the pollywag had thought magic meant blasts, mind control, ringing things to life and occasionally transforming, nothing like thi..Oh wait, there WAS Darcy,…N wait, that was technology..

"Hey, Polly!" King called out, shaking her back to reality holding in a laugh. "Look at Eda!"

The Owl lady, a big, toothy grin on her face, was clasping her hands with joy at what she saw: She wasn't sure what this was, but it just proved her Ollie and his Anne where special.

Speaking of whom, the newcomer suddenly spotted themselves in a mirror.

"Hot dang. I look good!" The newcomer smirked, shooting finger guns at their reflection.

"Yup. That's those two." Hop-Pop sighed, broken out of his shock.

Lilith, who had been shocked and silent the whole time, made her way over to the newcomer and looked over them, unsure what she was looking for.

"T-this is…. Unprecedented! A witch merging with a human?!" Lilith asked, not sure if she could believe this. "T-that shouldn't be…Not like this at lea…This is so inappropriate!"

"Actually, Sasha watched a show all about this back home with her step-sister." The fusion mused. "Dunno what it means in the Boiling Isles, but in Steven Universe, being able to do this was a sign of pure trust, understanding…and love most of all."

Eda made a mental note to give this show a try (while imagining herself and Raine fused) as Sprig walked up to the newcomer; his eyes widened.

"How does it feel Anne? I mean..Olivier…I mean…Olivanne?"

"That has a nice ring to it." The newly christened 'Olivanne' smiled. "And it feels…AMAZING! Though kind of weird at the same time…seeing a lot of…memories? I think? I wasn't there for these though…"

"That's it! Too risky for an unsecure mind share! You two! Return to normal right now!" Lilith ordered.

Olivanne frowned sadly, only for a glow top overtake them. Soon, Anne and Olivier were back, the confused boy being coddled by his aunt.

"Just when I was starting to like you…" Anne grumbled as she made her way over to Eda, fighting back the memories of Sasha's mother limiting the time she could spend with Sasha and little Molly Joe, the only one of Sasha's stepsiblings Anne could safely say she liked 100%...

"Lilith is just concerned, Anne." Hop-Pop tried to calm his adopted granddaughter. All the same, he wasn't oblivious to the Witch's dead fast determination to limit her time with Olivier.

"Yeesh, Lils. You're worse than mom." Eda grumbled, giving Anne a light pat on the shoulder.

"I am just working to make sure Olivier isn't hurt…" Lilith started, only for her nephew to cut her off.

"Hey! I-I'm all better!"

All turned to see Olivier leaping to his feet with an elated look on his face.

"My ribs were still a little sore when we were dancing, but I'm back to a 100%! Heck, I think I feel a little stronger now!"

Lilith's jaw dropped as the others raced to check on Ollie, comically pushing her to the side. Eda quickly did a look over of her son with the same spell Lilith had used for Anne.

"By Titan, I think you're right, kiddo! Its not much, and again, I'm no healing Witch, but by the look of it….looks like you could probably do three more spells without feeling dfizzy at this point."

The time to enjoy such a revelation would have to wait, as before anyone else could say or do anything…

CRASH!

Into the Owl house, through a window, rolled a disheveled blonde boy wearing a golden mask shaped like a beak and holding a staff that looked like a smaller version of Belos'.

"STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!" The Golden Guard commanded, trying to maintain some control of the situation he now found himself in; no one had told him anything about the woods being enchanted to throw out anyone from the Coven except Lilith! And he'd NEEDED to keep his uniform, no one would take him seriously without it!

A thought which was confirmed when his mask fell off revealing his face to the world.

"Oh, ding dang burn it." The prodigy of the Emperor's Coven grumbled.

"Prince Hunter?!" Lilith gasped. "YOU'RE the Golden guard?!"

"PRINCE?!" Anne and the frogs all gasped, Hop-Pop being quick to make Sprig and Polly bow.

"Wait…BELOS HAS A KID?!" Eda and Olivier gasped, each wondering who in the Demon Realm had the misfortune for that.

"Golden guard?" Maddie asked. "That sounds….kind of important and kind of lame."

Hunter twitched at the blue frog's comment but focused.

"Owl Lady Eda Clawthorne! You are under arrest for…?"

"…Not joining a club?" Anne cut in.

"They're called Covens and yes, human! By allowing her magic to be wild and untamed, she defies the will of the Titan and runs the risk of destroying innocent lives, should she be unable to control it!" Hunter snapped before he collected himself and turned his attention to Anne. "However, if you and the Clawthorne boy come in her stead and tell me how you performed that…fusion spell…I can ignore her and this visit from Lady Lilith for a little while longer."

Hunter had managed to hear that this 'Fusion' had healed Olivier from his injuries fighting Hattie: It may not be as effective, but he was leaving no stone unturned; this could be just the thing to help heal his uncle! Anything would be worth that, even if it wasn't the whole thing!

Plus, it would be nice to talk with someone his own age that didn't growl and hiss.

Elswhere on the isles, Eber sneezed, starling his prey.

"Um…yeah, we…we're not too sure HOW we did that. Sorry…" Anne responded sheepishly. Olivier followed in suit.

Hunter groaned. So much for that….

"Well, in that case…"

He then fired a blast of red magic at Eda, who nonchalantly dodged and summoned Owlbert.

"You really want to do this, kiddo?" Eda smirked. "I won't hold back just because you're a kid…"

"Neither does uncle." Hunter said, his eyes going to the scar on his cheek.

And with that single line, fear, dread and disgust towards Belos filled everyone else, even Lilith couldn;'t come up with a reason for the boy's scar.

"Besides, while your capture is willed by the Titan…. you're not the reason I came." Hunter said, his staff suddenly glowing.

"Whoa!" Polly gasped as the music box, which she had been sitting on, suddenly began levitating towards Hunter. The Pollywog slipped and fell to the ground, Sprig barely catching his sister.

No one noticed that the gems on the box seemed to be glowing ever so slightly…..

"Hey! We need that!" Sprig called out, but Hunter didn't listen. Nor did he really have time to, as Anne drew her sword and swung at him. Hunter dodged effortlessly, a bored look on his face.

"Sporty at best. The Scouts have gotten soft if someone like you could give them troub…"

Hunter then saw that the glow around the Music box had changed from his red to a mix of yellow and a purpleish black. Olivier's eyes glowed as his 'True' magic willed the box back towards his mother and aunt. Hunter then kicked Anne aside and doubled on his own staff's efforts.

The staff in Hunter's magic seemed to be getting weaker with more..and the gem in his staff was unloosening.

Olivier then shocked Hunter by cancelling his magic and leaping towards him and the box. The wto boys grabbed the object of their fight before they crashed through a window and outside.

"Olivier/Ollie!" Everyone else called out as they raced outside.

"Will people PLEASE stop crashing through my windows?! Hoot! Hoot!" Hooty snapped, only to be ignored.

The two boys collected their bearing and saw the music box had tumbled dangerously close to the woods. They raced to their feet, each determined to reach it before the other.

"That box is the key to getting the Plantars and Maddie home!" Olivier snapped.

"That box belongs to the emperor!" Hunter snapped back.

They then leapt for the box, Hunter's staff glowing again as a familiar caw filled the air. Suddenly, Fleetwing appeared in Olivier's hand and the youngest Clawthrone backhanded Hunter away, standing between him and the box.

Not to be deterred, Hunter leapt upward and willed his staff for maximum output, ready to bring it down on his foe. Olivier's face hardened and, not willing to risk his Palisman against this odd but powerful magic, he willed Fleetwing back to flesh as his dark and light magic returned, covering his fists.

The three different types of magic then met…only, whoil,e they did create shockwaves, their owners didn't touch.

AOH

Unknown to the two boys, the witches, frogs and Anne, someone else was watching: Someone who had been following Hunter ever since they spotted him without his mask for a few seconds back in the woods:

A red cardinal missing an eye and who was no reliving a horrid memory.

A few centuries ago

"Caleb!"

"P-Phillip? Phillip!"

Sobbing filled the air as the two embraced.

"You're all grown up! H-how long has it…? How did you even find me?"

"It doesn't matter, Caleb. All that matters is that you're here and unscathed."

"Well, I had help…Oh, here they come now!"

"Calby, you forgot your paint AND lunch! I swear, you'd lose your head if it wasn't attached!"

"I'm sorry Evey…"

"…Titan, I can't stay mad at you. Annoyed, yeah. But…you're so cute when you marvel at every little…Oh, who's…?"

"YOU!"

"Oh, hey there Philly! Long time no see! Still high strung, eh?"

"My name is Phillip! And stay away from my brother you….! You….! You…?"

"Oh, you see! Nice huh?"

SMOOCH!

"…C…C….Caleb?"

"….Well, we would've wanted to keep this a surprise for a bit longer….Oh what the heck; Congratulations Phillip! You're going to be an uncle!"

"Oof!"

"Evey! Everything…?"

"No worries. I think Elijah wants to say hi to Uncle Phillip."

"Elijah?"

"That was the name for a boy, right?"

"Well, yeah but…you're sure?"

"Hey, who's the one keeping him in her belly? Mama intuition."

"Ha! If you say so….Phillip, are you okay? I-I know this is probably a shock to you and…"

"I took too long…."

"Phillip?"

SHINK!

"P-Phillip, what're you doing…?"

"Your soul can still be saved, dear brother. Just let me deal with the succubi…"

"Succubi?! Listen Philly, I am no…!"

"Denial befits one such as you…"

"Evelyn, run."

"Wait, what? What's going…?"

"Evelyn. Now!"

"DIE, WI..CALEB?!"

"Phillip, please! I know this is hard to believe, but everything the villagers taught us was wrong! The witches mean us no harm!"

"A trick! A ruse! They stole you away!"

"Phillip for the love of God and all that is sacred, but the knife away and listen to me!"

"It is through God that I must do this! You'll thank me…!"

CRASH!

SCORCH!

BLAZE!

"No! The palistrom!"

HISS!

"Phillip, please! We need to save the….!"

"Caleb!"

"Ah, so she returns to the flames so delay herself! But it will be for naught!"

WOOSH!

DRIZZLE!

SIZZLE!

"Urgh! …Sorry sweetie. Mommy needed to save Daddy…"

"And for that one act of kindness, I pray God forgives you.."

"Wait, no! The baby's your neph…"

"That creature has no place in here or anywhere! And neither do you…"

"EVELYN!"

SHUNK!

"CALEB!"

THUD!

"Caleb! Caleb, Caleb sweetie? Speak to me! Stay with me!"

"What have I…..?"

"Caleb? CALEB?!...No. Oh Titan…No, please…Not my Caleb…."

"What have I…What have THEY done?!"

"How could you?! He's your brother!"

"This is YOUR fault, you wretched witch! You and the abomination you forced him to father!"

"Hey, what's going on over here?"

SHUFFLE!

STEPS

"Where are you going?! Come back! HELP! MURDERER!"

"Evelyn, what…? CALEB?!"

"YOU ALL DID THIS! YOU KILLED MY BROTHER! MAY THE FLAMES AND WRATH OF GOD!"

"Evelyn, wait! The baby!"

ZAP!

"Aargh!"

"I CURSE YOU, PHILLIP WHITTIBANE! FOR THE KILLING OF YOUR KIN AND THE LOVE OF MY LIFE IN YOUR BLIND HATRED AND STUPIDITY; YOU SHALL NEVER AGAIN SEE YOUR WORLD AS YOU KNOW IT! FOR AS LONG AS ONE WITCH AND DEMON ON THESE ISLES DRAWS BREATH AND THOUGHT, YOU SHALL NEVER KNOW PEACE OR EVEN DEATH! ONLY WHEN YOU REALIZE WHERE YOU ERRED WILL YOU EVER BE ABLE TO LEAVE!AAAAH!"

"The baby's coming!"

Present day

The Cardinal then flew over to the Owl House, only for his worry to subside once he got a better view of the situation: Yes, the little Caleb and….what was his name again…..where fighting, but there was no desire for bloodshed between them.

Titan, throughout the whole fight, both boys were smirking!

"Oh, this IS some Anime stuff right here!" Anne and Eda half groaned, and half beamed together.

"….What?" Lilith asked.

"As a fellow conqueror, I can see it; Ollie and this Guard are now destined to be eternal rivals; foils on the opposite sides of conflict, each growing and learning as the other does…!"

"…Well, at least he's not Grunge." Maddie mused.

"…I still don't get it." Sprig shrugged.

"I'll explain later." Hop-Pop assured him.

The Cardinal then flew onto Hunter's head, distracting him and ending the clash between him and Olivier. The two boys fell backwards.

"Wait…Ray?" Eda, Lilith and Oliver asked the newly appearing Palisman, mistaking it for Dell's…until they saw the missing eye. "Not Ray."

The Palisman then landed onto Hunter's shoulder, gently nuzzling him. Before Hunter could react with, in his mind, appropriate fear and worry for Wild Magic, something truly unexpected happened:

A mechanical tendril burst from the music box and bore it's way through Hunter's staff, puilling back and forcing half of a red gem into the empty spot, the softest of music playing as this happened. A bit of color returned to the box as this happened.

For a full minute, no one moved or spoke a word.

Not willing to miss this chance, the Cardinal shifted into staff form and laid on Hunter's lap. Shocked out by this, a fearful Hunter moved to toss it aside, only for Lilith to stop him.

"Prince Hunter! I know you've probably heard horrible things of magic, but….Well, considering...THAT…?"

"Uncle will just shatter and take it's essence!" Hunter noted.

"Not while I'm around." Lilith assured him. She knew Hunter was right about what the Emperor did with Palisman (least you were head of a Coven like she was), but Lilith came from a family of Palisman carvers and would, if given the chance, delay Belos getting his hands on any. "Besides…I just realized that neither he nor you know why that box would be better in the hands of the Frogs, with your training day and all."

Hunter raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"I'll explain on the way to the castle." Lilith promised as she willed Eric into staff form and motioning himn to get behind her.

The blonde boy looked at the redhead he'd been fighting. For a minute, they said nothing.

"….You're a lot tougher than the rumors say." Hunter finally broke the silence.

"Get warped into another world for months." Olivier countered. "You pick up a thing or three."

"You'd do good in a coven."

"Not interested. Got bigger worries now. Also, be grateful Anne didn't break out HER magic. She'd have CRUSHED you."

Hunter looked over at Anne, who allowed her blue powers to manifest for a second. Hunter felt a sweat.

"And take care of that Palisman." Oliver said. "It needs a good owner and sees something in you."

"…I HAVE often wondered about wild magic, so having a Palisman will be interesting. On that note…Before you take your girlfriend and the others to the human world, consider this: The Spell around the forest has been working so well because you haven't left for too long. If you're gone for a day or two…"

"Boys." Lilith called out. Hunter then nodded and made his way onto Lilith's staff, the Cardinal coming to life and preaching on his shoulder. They then took to the skies, the blonde boy's filled the worries of everyone

"He's lying, right?" Sprig asked Maddie. "About Olivier's spell not working if he leaves?"

"Hard to say." Maddie noted. "The magic here is different than in Amphibia, and Ollie's magic is just as different."

"You kids worry too much." Eda assured everyone. "Even if that's the case, Hooty IS a house demon; he can handle anything the Emperor sends."

"Hoot! Hoot! Darn tootin!" Hooty smiled.

"Still Eda, I reckon it may be better to play it safe…" Hop-Pop said, looking to Olivier, who sighed.

"I was really hoping not to have to do this…." The half witch sighed, preparing a magic circle over some dirt, which began to move upwards, taking a humanoid shape.

This immediately got Eda's attention: Despite the way this spell was going, it was clear that this WASN'T Abomination magic. No, this was smaller but more refined…It felt natural. It was also harder and rigid.

"Golem magic." Maddie sighed.

"Grunge's specialty after Dark magic." Anne recalled. "They can only follow one order but they're crazy strong and durable."

"Basically, nature versions of Andrias' Frobots." Polly realized. "But wait…I don't think Olivier ever made…"

The spell was now complete. Olivier then used Oracle magic to inster a single thought into the golem:

'Maintain the spell.'

The golem then reshaped itself into a copy of Olivier. It then twitched ist finegrs., Then it's eyes opened.

"Yes…." Olivier started as lightning flashed around him. "It's alive! ALIVE! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The golem then swung a fist, sending the boy flying into a tree.

"Ollie!" Anne gasped, rushing to her boyfriend.

"And it hates pop culture references, apparently." King noted.

Olivier pulled himself out of the tree, shrugged off the pain and leapt to his feet.

"I always wanted to say that, so I'm happy!"

The golem walked and then sat in the middle of the Owl House and drew two magic circles before sitting in place.

"There, that should keep the spell in place." Oliveir mused, looking at his mother and Anne knowingly.

"So can we go now?" Anne asked, not believing it despite wanting to.

"Just about." Eda smiled, drawing a large magic circle and sending it to the Frogs.

Hop-Pop now resembled an elderly human with a small hat and a button nose with glasses.

Polly looked adorable as a baby human in a purple onesie with a tuft of orange hair.

Sprig now wore a copy of Anne's school shirt with a jacket and shorts but looked like a 10-year-old human boy.

And finally, Maddie resembled a 10-year-old human girl in a black hoodie with the spots in her hair now streaks.

"So cute!" Olivier cooed despite himself as he hugged Maddie. The girl herself didn't seem to mind…

"Just to avoid making a scene." Eda explained. "Be careful, these illusions will dispel after a hit or two. With that said…"

Shen then pulled out a key and pressed the eye on it, summoning and opening her portal door.

"Hooty, stay out of trouble. Unless Lily comes, then have fun! King!"

The small monster leapt into Eda's hair after handing her a scraf she wrapped over her ears. The witch then gave a bow, and after a deep breath, through the portal they went.

BOILING AMPHIBIA

Meanwhile all the way in California, Cloakbot suddenly jolted to life.

"Energy Signatures found."

It was a great distance away, but the robot wouldn't let a thing like state boarders get in its way after so long!

Leaping upwards and then connecting its claw's to its knees, the robot assassin flew through the air, heading towards a town called Gravesfield…..