Author's Note:

Hi been awhile on this site. Believe it or not, I'm also the writer of the account MmaskofTragedy. I've got stories to resume when the time comes that school is no more, so be prepared for it, I guess.

I'm in a collaboration with my friend, LazyWhiteRaven on this one. Not only because we like the show so much, but because it's one of our bonding times at midnight so there's that.

One thing I would like to clarify though, before anyone would proclaim otherwise…

The OCs are not in any romantic relationship. Thank you very much. One of the OC's is genderfluid but mainly uses 'They/Them' pronouns.

If you want to venture with us on a journey, thank you for your time reading this. Hope you enjoy it. Onward the journey we go.


The forest is silent, except for the short rustles of the leaves and the swift chirps of the insects close to the ground. A small winged creature with blue skin floats leisurely, holding flower petals as its unhurried demeanor flittered on to the dried grass. All was good on the Boiling Isles, it thought….

"Shit! Raven, run!" a female voice bellowed, full of desperation and undiluted fear.

"Wait, why are we running?!" a male one asked.

"JUST DO IT!"

… Well, until it is bat away by a body slamming on its path.


Why did she come here again?

To this horrendous party music grating on her ears.

To the boisterous laughter of a huge crowd.

And to this…. costume party she didn't know who hosted.

It's just been two years since Jade saw her classmates, graduating early and being a hermit doing trades and programming for a living. It's awkward, having to socialize as if they're the best of friends. Some were tacky enough to respect privacy, while others were just point-blank smooching at the corner for some good ol' days. It lacks meaning. Life and… personal entertainment. Jade would rather watch anime than squeeze herself into people's lives. There are some friends she's quite loyal to, but unfortunately, they're part of the popular crowd. Not that she's quite the pariah back then; who would forget the little lady always wearing jackets in summer and sleeping at math classes? It's a new scenery for sure, being one with the crowd once more, with hands pushing and arms trying to embrace her shoulders.

It's tiring, truthfully. But a quick respite needed, did Jade fade away in the background: just like those short school years she experienced. Jade slipped away from the wing, slowly trudging the opposite direction until she found a bathroom.

The booming bass shakes the walls even at the far side of the house, Jade concurs, trying to fix her appearance.

"You look nasty." A chuckle started the conversation, slithering into the silent room as she tensed.

Jade looks behind at the intruder, before pushing the tension away with a snort. She should've closed the door, but alas, there's none.

"Thanks. I feel like it." Came the dry affirmation, chuckling to herself.

"You know that's not what I mean, you dumb dumb." They retort, looking at the room with their arms crossed. "But I can't deny you looked tired after we entered this party. You okay, girl?"

"Can you blame me? Crowd's not my thing, you know that. Don't worry about it." Jade replies, shrugging. She knows she looks ridiculous. Feels ridiculous. And undeniably the epitome of a try hard idiot amongst the narcissistic class of all.

Standing unto the full body mirror, trying to get the obnoxious sleeveless jacket to stay unto her tired shoulders to no avail. Groaning in defeat, she let it, using that feeble time to pull the hair-clamp on her gray-dyed tresses to stand like a flower- blowing the stray hair out of her tired face.

'When was the last time I slept?', she wonders. She squints her eyes at the reddening bags trying to pull her orbs to the floor, the green contacts she's wearing not helping the sclera. It must be the reason some avoided her like plague: it looks as if she's to die of sleep deprivation at any moment. Looking at herself for the last time, wearing that ridiculous sleeveless jacket with a sickening green to pad the insides and a dull gray turtleneck sporting three red lines to the side. Paired up with a gradient black to violet pants with red pant lines and itchy arm warmers, she looks prepared to flee the party without any care in the world.

Now that she thought about it, why isn't she out by now? Who cares, right? After all, the only one that matters is behind her. Raven, the idiot who she stuck to. There's no point being in this house mingling with those who don't matter.

She's more into reading books and staying at home bawling her eyes out to the animated actions. Come to think of it, isn't there a latest episode of the Owl House today? Pulling the wristwatch out of her sleeve, she read the time, mulling.

She has too much time that she can watch the whole 2nd season before the latest episode will be aired.

"Hey, dude." Jade called at them. Seeing the dyed strand of their hair into the bisexual colors into the bright fluorescent lights, Jade can't help but huff at their attire, incredulous at her best friend. "Jesus, what are you trying to copy, a rainbow? Anyway, how 'bout we ditch the party. Remember the date today?"

They glared, its intensity lacking. "Bitch, I would rather forget you than forget our cartoon representation."

"So. You in?" Jade asked, poking Raven on their leather clad shoulder, their violet hood spilling off the collar, hand bound with pink gloves and legs worn in blue ripped jeans and combat boots.

She didn't need confirmation. Their grin spoke volumes.


It's a relief to have an escape to do something else. The party was good. The food's enticing and the drinks are abundant, but Raven feels so out of place. Going into one group and the other, they can't find the perfect crowd to be in. Always fleeting and shallow. The only grace they are grateful of is doing these costumes and presenting yourself as is. Some look like valley girls and others take it to a level that Darth Vader would be impressed with.

Their friends mingle about in the heart of the party, and the music bops to their generation so wonderfully. And yet, they feels like they don't belong. Seeing that they found the best situation to immerse themself with, Raven agreed and followed Jadie towards her apartment.

They walked for about a half an hour theorizing like lunatics with wild and frantic movements, stopping by a store to buy some snacks and drinks on the vending machine. With hands filled, Raven fetched the keys at her pant pockets, familiar enough to not look perverse and yet common enough that they just went on Jade's television and opened it for the specific channel. Jade set down the snacks at the low table in front of them, before trying to push her jacket out of her arms.

"Ey, stop that!" Raven reprimands, holding the falling jacket then securing it again on her shoulders. "Humor me. It's not like we can't party with just us two. Let's make the most of our time using these costumes, ay?"

"Really, dude? Over soft pajamas and blankets?"

"Oh come on, just this once?" they pleaded, knowing Jade's not the type to dwell on appearances and clothing.

"Once, they said. It's the fifth time, you goof." Jade grumbled, frowning. Raven chuckles at her defeated acceptance, sitting in front of the television.

They've been friends since 9th grade, seatmates even before Jade went out of her way and graduated early. And for all those years they've been together, she's been with them through thick and thin. Her parents know them, and their parents know her. They could just barge into each other's apartment like siblings and no one will give a damn.

Sparing Jade a glance, Raven knew they're blessed to have a friend like her. Few people could take their enthusiasm and accept what they are. She understands and adapts to their needs, and they're grateful for that.

They have different tastes, and they butt heads pretty often. But the only thing they agreed whole- heartedly and without question, is that they love the Owl House for all its entirety. Well… if they ignore Jade's cynical comments at least.

Jade huffed to their side, sitting as they started pawing at the snacks in silence. It's nice, just being here in this tranquil comfort with one person, rather than the flashing lights of the party. The cold drinks and the fake friends. The musk of different scents and the indecent questions.

"We have four hours before your Pops get you," Jade reminds, popping a can of beer for Raven, while she opens a can of apple juice for herself. "I'm thinking of watching the whole season two."

Raven looks at her analog clock- it's still at early 7 o' clock. "Can't disagree with that." they offered cheers, putting on the show. "Man, it's been ages since we did a movie marathon."

"Hm," she agreed. "Life didn't make it easy."

It sure doesn't.

With school on the way and the damning thesis and group projects, to his karate classes and story to be published before deadline, Raven has forgotten how easy days can't wait for anyone with a single-minded purpose. It's jarring, and lonely. It burns them so fast to even interact with their parents nowadays.

And now, having this tranquil companionship between them and Jade, and the human on a journey at the Boiling Isles creating havoc, Raven feels…. Jealous of the sort.

Of being that optimistic over the course of her journey. Of Luz meeting amazing people and being accepted by them. Or having a romance that can be put into any fanfics. Or of this magical world that tickles Raven's sense of longing for something incredible to happen in their life. Raven would die just to be in it, to be with it and to experience it themselves.

But that's just their life, isn't it. They could only wish and thought. It's bland and repetitive. It's… not as entertaining as the television took it as.

'If only I could be like Luz, just for a day.' They thought, sipping on the can. Raven would have the time of their life; knowing these things that others are not so willing to know about. Maybe even creating their own brand of magic, who knows.

"Wish we had that, huh." Came Raven's somber voice, envy crossing their eyes as Luz accepted the fairy pie on Amity's hands.

"Luz's life, her tomato chick or the fairy pie?" Jade asked, non-committedly. Raven groaned at their deadpan expression, smacking her on the head.

"Ow- what now!?"

"I just have an urge to bat you on the head."

"What are you a feline!? I'm asking a perfectly fine question!" Jade defended, chucking the empty can at Raven. They panicked, catching it in the air to prevent any damage to their face. "You tell me many things! How the hell would I know what the hay are you talking about? Is it Luz's life, her chick or the pie? 'Cause if it's me I'm wishing none of that."

"Wait, none!?" Raven stammered, looking at her bewilderedly, pointing their fingers at the running episode. "Even Amity? The baby girlfriend of the fandom?"

Jade looks at Raven like they are not right on the head, slowly being aggravated by their disbelief. "Dude, I might love the show but can you imagine being in Luz's shoes? She has a lunatic Emperor on her tail! And I am not going to wreck a cute relationship for my selfish gain! And lastly, I damn don't want to eat anything twitching! Are you telling me you want all of that?"

With this Raven hesitated. Did they? What did they really wish for?

Raven sighed, turning the can this and that. "I mean… I wished to… experience all of that, you know. Have fun, get a partner… go to a magical world of our own… and even eat that pie if I have to. I just… want to be happy like Luz…. Don't you want that too?"

"Sure." Raven looked at her suspiciously. It came out so quickly out of her mouth Raven doubted her for a bit.

"Sure?" they repeated.

"Uh-huh."

"Jadie…"

"… Might be fun to be somewhere crazier, I guess." Jade didn't respond for a long time after that, munching on one of her marshmallows. "Dangerous too. It's like we're going into a living nightmare, if that's the case. Hypothetically speaking, we will not survive long if we're at the Boiling Isles."

"Me? Absolutely. With power glyphs like Luz? Could be. But you? You'll survive longer than I do."

"Me?"

"Yup."

"Lies."

"Says the girl who always locks her door after she goes into a room. Who looks for another exit entering an establishment. Who sits with her back on the wall. Who sniffs anything she might consume as if someone's going to poison her with any consumable goods that went to her mouth. Who asks if the object she was interested in can kill someone. Admit it Jadie, you're paranoid and that's a good thing out there." Raven elaborated, chuckling when they saw Jadie open up another snack, taking a whiff after looking at the label, before she passed it unto them. "My points stand."

"Why do I feel like you said that I'm a distrustful human being without saying I'm a distrustful human being?" she huffed as Raven laughed out loud.

"Bitch, you kinda are."

"Rude…"

Having the time of their lives, they were almost done for the night when the latest episode was released on time. Raven were ecstatic, bouncing on their toes as Jade tried to keep them still, muttering about a dog's tail wagging and whatnot. However, when the show ends, Raven couldn't help but be flabbergasted, and unnervingly provoked.

"Wait, that's it!? What's next? What happened to Luz explaining all the things she saw?!" Raven yelled, pulling their hair.

"It's part of the montage, don't worry about it." Jade consoled as best as her bland voice could, yawning as she cleared the bags surrounding them, readying to clean it. Raven hissed at them, almost vehemently.

"Why are you so calm about it!? It's one huge episode!"

"I theorized early on that Belos is Philip, remember? The grimwalker theories pretty much tone down the revelation to me a little." she sighed as Raven moaned in distress, glaring at the end frame of the show in disbelief, almost wanting to pull the screen of its support to express their frustration.

"God, I hate it so much! If I am there, I would've done anything to help them in the end!" they ranted, standing up as they walked round and round the living room of Jade's apartment.

"And how, pray tell, are you going to do that?" stepping on their path, Jade crossed her arms, almost sleeping on her feet. Not only does the stomping foot bother her, but she doesn't want Raven to burn a mark on her new carpet.

"Moral support, for one! Punch Belos, second… And then- and then-!"

"Raven." With her not-amusing expression and her 'are-you-freaking-serious' nonplussed voice, did Raven shut up and replay what they said. Right. Stupid reason.

"B-but- UGH!" Raven can't shake the feeling that something is coiling within them, wanting to lash out. They need to keep it together, lest it ignites Jade's ire as well. "I fucking need a drink. Do you still have one?"

Unable to follow their thought process, Jade could only sigh as she slowly trudged at the fridge, inspecting its content before calling out to her ranting friend. "There's two actually."

"Good. You're drinking with me." Like a lightning bolt, Raven went behind her, snatched the cans and opened it in record succession. Jade recoiled, smelling the alcohol all over her friend and to the fresh opened can. Raven must be a little drunk than she realized.

"I don't drink, dude…" she snapped, pushing the offered can away. Her hands were flimsy, almost sluggish with fatigue. Raven beat her to it, almost spilling the contents on her front before she stabilized it. "Raven, I mean it. I'll chuck this at you, don't make me do it."

"I need a buddy to drink with right now, just a small sip and I'll let you be, alright?" they offered softly, seeing her disgusted expression. "Please? For me? Besides, drinking before sleeping might cause you a good night's rest. Well, Pops told me that?"

"Is that a question or a statement?" arching her brow, Raven nodded at her apprehensiveness.

"Statement. Totally a statement, hehe." They gulped guiltily, knowing if Jade's awake enough she'll see how shallow they can lie.

"... Is it really?" once again, she asked. Better safe than sorry.

"Yup, just small sips though. If you can't really stomach emptying it, just stop."

Seeing as she's slowly conceding with that limitation, she raised the can to her lips. "If I do shit in the morning, I'm blaming you."

Raven grins, the coil within slowly receding. "Don't worry, you'll not regret it."


Jade regrets it.

Land and earth, heaven to hell- she'll vow Raven will pay.

Why on earth is she convinced so easily?

What were Raven thinking, giving her that drink as if she can handle even 8 percent of alcohol in it?

Is it fatigue? Or is it just Raven's stupid energy and eagerness trying to sap her remaining strength last night?

'Wait, is it last night? What time is it? Raven better locked my goddamn door.' Jade thought to herself, groaning. Not knowing what wakes her and trying to make sense of her surroundings with eyes closed, Jade tries tapping onto the surface she's sleeping on. The hard surface on her back didn't do her spine and neck justice as is her cheek scratching onto the surface. Finding not only dirt but hard chunks cracking beneath her fingers at her pant legs, Jade cursed as she tried to move with her pounding headache, already knowing her mood for the day would be so much worse.

Fudge. Jade knows better to clean before she goes to bed. Is she in bed? No, Jade's body wouldn't betray her like this if that's the case. Maybe she slept once again sitting up unto the low table. Been there many times with projects on the way.

Now, Jade knows her living room must be a mess. How long ago did she vacuume her carpet? According to the dust and chunks on her hands it must be forever, and more. It's not like she has time to sit and eat there when she has a freaking kitchen to eat at.

"This sucks…" she growled, pulling herself up and rubbing her eyes with the other hand. When she came to, Jade almost thought she's dreaming vividly again. Because not only is she not in her apartment.

She's nowhere familiar enough for her brain to process her exact location.

"Violet sky….?" Glancing above, she can't help but feel so wronged seeing a pastel violet at the atmosphere, shade with a gradual orange on the horizon as if the sun is peaking for the day. She then gazed further, growing frantic as she observed where she was sitting. A very… pebbled ground. The only problem is that it's bones, not stones. And the trees are grotesque to look at, almost with eyes and daunting. The land is a little barren, save for the towering structure like bones in the distance, the trees and the rock formation now and then. Or the howling wind with a grotesque thud of a beating something. Or the shaking of the earth as if something is stampeding-

'Wait, stampeding?' her thoughts halt when she hears voices, coming closer and closer to the direction that she's at.

"I think it was there! I saw the light down there!"

"Guards, don't dally! Someone must have gone closer than we thought. Kikimora will not hear the end of it if someone unannounced enters the emperor's castle again!"

"Roger!"

'Guards? Kikimora? Emperor's- shit!' Jade's instinct went wild, urging her to move fast. Quickly but quietly, Jade crawled at the nearby rock formation, reminding herself not to crawl higher than the cover, barely hiding her foot on the nearby tree before the footstep stops at her previous location, as if searching for her.

"Well?!"

"The- there's nothing here, sir. But I'm sure I saw it here!"

"Search the area then!"

"U-understood!"

"Shit… keep calm…" Jade murmured to herself, her headache and anger forgotten- replaced by quivering muscles and frozen drops of sweat all over her body. Hearing an approaching mass, she tried hard to fit into the roots of the huge tree. Feeling the root giving in, Jade bit her lip to stop screaming as she fell. Fortunately, it was shallow enough that she fit all of her body until once again, a figure stood at the small entrance.

"Is there something here!? Show yourself!"

"Steve, have you found anything?"

"Nothing! I thought I just heard something!" a mask of white, so familiar and so peculiar, greeted Jade's vision as it tried to look around. Fortunately, the person in a white mask and a white cloak wearing a gray shirt and a black trouser didn't bother to look down at her terrified position, opting to run ahead towards their friends.

Jade waited five minutes, counting in her head. When the silence returned and she knew a long time had passed, did she let herself out of the hole as fast as she could. Hyperventilating. Not knowing what to do.

Looking at her hand, and to the goddamn costume she still wore, Jade could only gasp for breath. Trying to accept the reality, but finding it difficult.

"I must be dreaming…" she hushed, trembling- knowing 'This is not a dream…'. "This is just some sick joke from Raven and I… I… this is not real…"

'It is...' her mind blurted out, letting her feel once more. The scrape on her hands. The taste of blood on her lips. And the fucking sweat drowning her whole. But what's more horrendous than the feeling of pain is how she saw herself.

"This is real…." Jade's mouth quivers, looking at her form, as if an animation… without the wrinkles on her fingers or the imperfections of a human being. "Fuck… what is happening?"

"Jade? JADE! Where are you!?" with a startle, Jade launched herself upright, searching for that familiar voice.

"RAVEN!?" against her survival instinct blaring not to, she yelled back. Running towards the source, trying to put her fear into imaginary boxes, locking it in and throwing it at the darkest corner of her mind. "Raven, I'm here!"

Almost colliding, Jade catches herself before stumbling into Raven grinning in relief. The knot on her heart slowly recedes, knowing that she's not alone. Remembering that she's not insane.

"Jadie, thank god I found you. Waking up not knowing where… and then you not being there with me is just…"

"I get what you mean. I almost pooped my pants…" Jade tried to ease the tension, wanting to forget for a little while. But it wouldn't be so easy, seeing Raven for the first time that day.

"Yea…" Raven laughed, breathing hard as they looked at each other with mixed expressions.

Raven looked so…. Colorful. And the eyes that would be unnatural with the contact lenses are as real as true eyes. As if their dark blue and yellow are theirs since they were born. And the structure of their body. The mold of clothes on their form. Jade gulped the lump on her throat painfully, knowing that she won't be denying it any longer.

They are in a different realm than the one they were born into. New dimension. New looks. As if…

"Jadie, it's the Boiling Isles..." Raven uttered, their eyes gleaming with unfiltered happiness, fist clenching on their sides.

Jade wants to snap, to yell at them and to shake their shoulders and ask if they are serious. "I know..." she said, giving a tight smile. Jade really tried for her friend.

"Jade, IT'S THE BOILING ISLES!" But when Raven yelled with all their might, swinging their arms in the air as if it's the coolest thing in the world- did Jade, with all her thin thread snapped.

"GODDAMNIT RAVEN, I HAVE EYES!" Jade yelled, punching the closest branch she could reach, startling her friend.

"Jade? What's-"

"Stop." She held her bloodied hand, almost grateful that her arm warmers siphoned the blood flowing on her knuckles. She can't be told right now. Jade needs to cool down in order for them to know what the fuck happened and go back home.

This is not just a show now. It's a fucking reality.

It couldn't be truer as she heard that stampede again, almost quicker than the last- zeroing on the source of the shouts.

"I see someo- No! I see two!"

"Arrest them!"

"Shit! Raven, run!" Jade bellowed, full of desperation and undiluted fear, adrenaline spiking up for her flight response to kick in.

"Wait, why are we running?!" Raven asked as they followed her the moment she took off. Jade spared them a glance before ducking down, propelling faster and faster. Can't Raven hear the footsteps following them? Can't they hear the shouts coming closer to their path?

"JUST DO IT!" she urged, running for their lives, slamming into something before she bats it away with her hand.

Seeing a twisted forest and the familiar webs tangling unto the branches, Raven and Jade made eye contact before breaking into speed their introverted bodies have never done before.

Towards the nest they remembered from one of the episodes.