Not too far from where Olivier and Anne were, Amity Blight was wandering the forest beyond Clawthorne Manor.
She had her arms crossed as she walked at a steady pace, Her focus on the rainbow of light beams shining at a distance.
Amity knew that Olivier was where the lights were... with Anne.
Part of her felt she was trying to get there as well... While another part of her was trying to keep her distance from that area.
Amity honestly had no idea what she was even doing out here anymore...
Eventually Amity found herself at a clearing in the woods.
She paused as she gazed out at the rounded area barely shielded by trees.
Amity then began to breathe heavily... feeling an odd anxiety start to overtake her.
The forest clearing suddenly became quite terrifying as she saw 'phantoms' flash in and out.
and Voices... that began to echo in her mind.
(("what a lovely looking knife...")) spoke a female voice.
(("GIVE IT BACK!, THAT'S MY GRANDFATHER'S!")) spoke a voice that Amity knew was Olivier's.
(("don't worry, ROUND EARS. Just hold still... and *I'LL* help you fit in with us better."))
(("no...No! NO, STOP! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"))
Tears formed in Amity's eyes as the gruesome images of 'that night' flashed in her mind.
(("Amity, HELP ME! ...please."))
Amity turned away, clutching her chest where her heart was. It was taking all her willpower to repress the urge to cry.
What good would tears do? they won't change what happened that night. But how Amity wished she could go back,
and do just that. She would give ANYTHING for a chance to go back, and do things differently.
"Amity..." Amity looked, and saw Willow looking at her from afar. "what are you doing out here?"
Amity exhaled sharply. "to be completely honest... I don't even know."
Willow frowned in disappointment. "you're following Olivier, aren't you?"
Amity didn't answer... which was all the answer that Willow needed.
"why can't you let this go, Amity?" spoke Willow.
"I can't help it, Willow." said Amity, finally.
"every time I close my eyes, I see his face... and the look he gave me when I-
It haunts me to no end, Willow. I just... I have to do SOMETHING to make amends."
Willow just stared at Amity, her expression unreadable.
"you went three years without ever thinking about him, OR me." spoke Willow.
"Why does this bother you so much NOW... and not back then?"
Amity looked at Willow, almost surprised at her childhood friend's coldness.
"Because I've changed!, I realize what I did was wrong."
"So you didn't think it was wrong back then?" continued Willow, her voice still devoid of emotion.
"don't take this the wrong way, Amity... But that is total Taurshit. You were many things,
but ignorant was not one of them. you HAD to know that what you did back then was wrong."
Amity looked at Willow... and then exhaled as she looked down.
"I... I didn't want to do those things." spoke Amity. "Yes I knew what I did was wrong, but I thought I had no choice."
Amity breathed out again, unable to look Willow in the face.
"I was... ambitious. I had a life goal, one that I knew I would have to work for.
And my parents told me that in order to succeed, I would have to make certain... sacrifices."
This made Willow tense up a little.
"I know it sounds like I am just making excuses-" continued Amity.
"Yeah, it does." said Willow.
"But what I am TRYING to say is that at the time... I thought it was the only way to achieve my goal."
Willow frowned, and then briefly removed her glasses to rub her eyes.
"did "achieving your goal" require you to bully me with Boscha, and her friends?" spoke Willow, as she put her glasses back on.
"breaking off our friendship was one thing... I might've understood if you never spoke to me again.
But when Boscha kept on bullying me like she always did... you joined her in the bullying.
And THAT hurt me more than anything Boscha could ever do to me.
to see my best friend, who had defended me from her... to now join HER side against me."
Amity stared at Willow, feeling a lump in her throat.
Willow continued to look at Amity, her eyes now disturbing cold as ice.
"Your parents might've made you break our friendship, Amity... but you CHOSE to be my tormentor." continued Willow.
"You could've just ignored me, acted like I didn't exist in your world... and I would've been okay with that.
But you CHOSE to be like Boscha, which didn't help with your dream of joining the Emperor's Coven in the slightest."
Amity looked at Willow again, stunned. "w-willow, I-"
"just like you chose... to throw Olivier off the cliff that COULD HAVE KILLED HIM!" continued Willow, slowly getting angry.
"And when you chose... to do nothing when poor Ollie lay bleeding in the woods after what Boscha did to him.
You didn't tell anyone, not even Miss Lilith. You just watched what Boscha did... and walked away after it was over."
Willow then glared at Amity, tears in her eyes.
"Olivier would've DIED THAT NIGHT IF I HADN'T FOUND HIM!"shouted Willow,
her rage making the surrounding trees sprout thorns... But she forced herself to calm down.
"When I found him lying there... with pools of blood near his head. I damn near had a panic attack.
At first, I thought it was just a horrible nightmare. but when I didn't wake up,
I realized it was real... and it was like my whole world was falling part before my eyes.
I had already lost one friend... and I couldn't bear to lose another.
But, I ended up losing you both anyway. And I ended up all alone... for Three Years."
Amity swallowed hard as she looked at Willow, feeling shame and regret eating way at her once again.
"i'm sorry..." said Amity. "I am so, so sorry Willow... I never should've done those things. To you... and, to Olivier."
Willow frowned and turned away.
"you know... I never blamed Ollie for leaving Hexside after he recovered." spoke Willow.
"It hurt when he left, but I understood why he did... Truthfully, part of me wanted to leave too.
And looking back... sometimes I wish I had followed Olivier's example and left Hexside.
But I guess I stayed because I was... HOPING. Hoping for the day when everything could go back to the way it was.
That You would realize you were wrong and take me back... and Ollie would be back to his old self again.
but... that day NEVER came. And I realize now that things can never be as they were before.
Those days when it was the three of us... "Olivamilow, The Three Hexeteers..." they are over."
Willow then let out a deep sigh as she dropped down to the grassy floor.
Amity carefully approached, and sat down beside her.
"I know I said that I forgave you... but I still feel angry, and don't trust you fully." spoke Willow.
"The pain I have felt since the day you turned on me might've numbed... but it's still there.
And I fear that it will ALWAYS be there. Like a thorn bush in a garden of roses."
"fair." said Amity. "I wouldn't trust someone like me either."
"Then you must understand why Olivier feels the way he does." continued Willow.
"We both lost our trust in you, Amity... But it's harder for him to let go of his anger.
You only broke my heart that day, but you broke not only his heart... but his Spirit as well.
If our positions had been reversed... Had gone through what HE had.
I am afraid that Olivier would be the one talking to you right now, instead of me."
Amity paused as she imagined herself in an alternate reality where Willow had been the one
assaulted by Boscha, and was the one full of rage instead of Olivier. It was an image that the witch found quite frightening.
"I just want to make things right." spoke Amity, staring off. "I'm responsible, It's MY mess. I just want to fix things."
"then you need to give him more time, Amity." spoke Willow.
"Forgiveness has to be Earned, not given. and it can't happen in one night.
There are some hurts... that take longer to heal, no matter how much you try to mend them."
Amity paused as she took in Willow's words.
"alright. I'll try to be more patient with him, and not rush this."
Willow smiled at Amity, and then gently fist bumped her shoulder.
Just then, the ambient sounds of the forest suddenly became silent.
Willow and Amity then stood up quickly, both alarmed at the sudden silence.
"what-, What's going on?" spoke Amity. "Why is it so quiet?!"
Willow drew a green spell circle over her eyes, making them glow green.
She then focused as she tried to feel the plants and trees near her.
She then gasped as she sensed 'something' in the woods...
they were MANY somethings... somethings that WERE NOT NATURAL.
"We need to leave this place... NOW." said Willow, her eyes returning to normal.
Amity looked into the darkness... and gasped as seeing red lights suddenly gleaming in the dark.
Then another red light appeared. then another... and then another... AND THEN EVEN MORE.
Both Amity and Willow stepped backward, slowly... And then a shrill screech was heard.
Amity and Willow quickly turned an ran, not even bothering to look back.
The mystery creatures then spread out and gave chase. Moving like living shadows.
Willow and Amity held their hands tight as they ran, both whipping their heads in all directions to see where they were going.
In doing so, they spied silhouettes of their pursuers. Whose forms were unlike anything they had scene.
They looked like they hand limbs shaped like blades with heads that were a large, glowing eye.
Of course, they couldn't be sure as the creatures were moving too fast.
Willow's eyes glowed green as she willed her Nature Magic to make the trees behind her
move and try to slow down the mysterious pursuers, but it didn't appear to do anything.
Amity also tried to slow the creatures down, But she was freaking out so much
that she could only manage to materialize a whip of Abomination Goo that kept missing it's target.
The two girls began to panic as they heard the creatures start to catch up to them.
THEN, they saw something gleaming at a distance ahead of them.
It glowed brighter, and brighter... And was revealed to be a golden light speeding towards them.
(("AHH!/GAAH!"))screamed the two girls in unison, momentarily blinded by a flash of light.
[Earlier]
[MUSIC: Sonic Frontiers: Kronos Island, 2nd Mvt.]
Anne Boonchuy clung onto Olivier as he sprinted down a path through the woods.
She smiled as she watched the trees rush past her and the wind blow against her face.
It wasn't long until the end of the forest came, and Olivier shot out into a grassy meadow.
The pair saw a rainbow of lights shining from the ground and into the sky at a distance,
which Anne gasped at, finding the sight the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
well... NEARLY the most beautiful (Ollie was obviously still here XD)
"Hold on tight, Annie!" spoke Olivier.
Annie did as Olivier said, and held tighter onto the Witch Boy. He then began to move in a streak of golden light across the grassy meadow.
Anne inhaled deeply, taking in the forested scent, the breezy wind and the warmth of Olivier's body as they sped across the grassy plains.
It was almost like being back in Amphibia. Just Her, Olivier and the natural world. All her problems seemed miles away and all she felt was contentment.
(maybe this was the 'inner peace' that the elders of the Thai Temple back home always spoke about.
She never quite got the spiritual aspect of her culture... But she was starting to now.)
In no time, Olivier reached a cluster of the fallen star shards. He slowed down, but still sprinted over to them like a gust of wind.
Anne opened up the bag Olivier had given her and gathered the rainbow colored crystal fragments.
She could feel each one she collected was brimming with energy that her Calamity Powers reacted to.
Even the smallest fragment felt like a tiny bolt of lightning.
After Ten Minutes, Anne's bag was full and Olivier slowed down and came to a stop.
Still holding Anne, he stood idle and looked at the remaining Star shards along with Anne.
"wow... there's still so many of them." spoke Anne.
"Yeah, its not possible to gather all of them before they disappear." explained Olivier.
"You better tie up the bag tight. If they're sealed, they won't disappear come morning."
Anne tied her bag tightly, while Olivier finally set the Thai Girl down.
Anne then walked up and picked up a random Star Shard off the ground and looked at it.
"I am feeling such a jolt from just this tiny fragment!" spoke Anne.
"I know." said Olivier, as he proceeded to fill his own bag with the fragments.
"The magic they contain is the next best thing to Titan Blood, which is VERY rare these days."
Anne looked at Olivier in confusion. "Titan... BLOOD? Is that like a figure of speech, like how you always called Apple Juice "Apple Blood?"
"no." replied Olivier, bluntly. "I really do mean the blood of a Titan."
"ick."said Anne, feeling squeamish.
"If it makes you feel any better, actual Titan Blood isn't colored Red like human blood." said Olivier.
"That does a little." said Anne.
"In any case, you likely won't see any time soon." continued Olivier.
"Emperor Belos has the sole claim on the Titan Blood mines on the Boiling Isles, and from what I hear
the "well is drying up." Fortunately, he doesn't know anything about the Starfall Shards. Only mom does."
"so your mom's cornered the market on a natural resource!?"
"sort of... Starfall Events happen at random with no way to predict where or when it happens.
Even if Belos DID know about, he couldn't possably find a way to harvest them for himself.
Even Oracle Magic wouldn't help, since fortune seers can only look into possibilities.
And it is difficult to predict things that have a 'One Billion-to-One' guaranteed odds."
Anne raised her eyebrows. "Guess we got lucky tonight."
Olivier chuckled. "You have no idea, Annie. I haven't even seen any Fells yet."
Before Anne could ask a follow-up question, a shrill scream was heard.
(("AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"))
Anne and Olivier looked back the way they came... and heard another scream echo.
(("AAAAAAAAAAARRGGHHHHHH!"))
"What's that!?"spoke Anne, alarmed.
Olivier felt what hair that was on his skin started to raise. "that sounded like Willow... and-"
Quickly realizing what was happening, Anne quickly grabbed Olivier from behind,
who then raced back into the forest, trailing golden light behind him like a bolt of lightning.
[NOW]
As Amity and Willow opened their eyes... They saw none other than Anne Boonchuy,
Brandishing a sword before the now downed creatures that lay on the ground.
The pair then realized they were somehow suspended in the air.
And upon looking up, they both blushed redder that tomatoes upon realizing
that Olivier was holding them up like sacks of potatoes in each of his arms.
"I think I got em!"exclaimed Anne, joyfully.
"Not even gonna ask where you got that sword from." spoke Olivier (STILL holding up Willow & Amity.)
Anne blushed sheepishly as she looked at Olivier. "I, uhh... I was looking at it back in the Manor, and forgot to put it down."
Anne then froze upon seeing the sight of Olivier holding Amity and Willow in his arms.
"what?"
Anne didn't answer... she just held up her phone and snapped a photo
with the speed and reflex that would make an old western sharpshooter jealous.
"ANNE!"
"Sorry, babe. But I'm keeping that forever." said Anne, making an 'adorkable' face.
Olivier proceeded to release Amity and Willow, feeling just as embarrassed as they were.
Once the moment passed, the group walked over to the remains of the creatures.
"what... ARE these thing?" asked Anne.
"Mom called them "Starfells", or just "Fells." began Olivier.
"They're artificial lifeforms that come in many different forms, not unlike Abominations.
They only appear during the Starfall Event, and feed on the Starlight Crystals as they are drawn to them."
"They remind me of standard EXP Fodder in one of Marcy's JRPG's." commented Anne.
Both Amity, and Willow looked at Anne in confusion.
"EXP?" inquired Willow.
"What's a JRPG?" asked Amity.
Before an answer could be given, bright red lights began to shine in the darkness again.
"oh no, not MORE of them!" exclaimed Amity.
Olivier scowled as he reached into his bag, and grabbed a handful of Star Shards.
He then absorbed their energy (reducing the shards to dust), and felt his own magic surge up.
Olivier's mismatched eyes then glowed in their respected color as he raised his hands up.
Gold and Blue orbs pulsed from his hands as he cast a powerful spell around himself, and the three girls.
Amity and Willow stared with their mouths gaped open, having never seen Olivier perform magic quite like this before
(and they felt a little scared, worried that such a powerful spell would be too much for him.)
But before they could protest, a blinding light burst from Olivier's body.
The girls felt weightless for a moment, before their vision returned and they found themselves back at Clawthorne Manor.
"Whoa! did we... DID WE JUST TELEPORT!?" exclaimed Willow, astonished.
Amity was in complete shock, unable to speak. The magic she felt from it was almost on the same level as a Coven Head.
And true, Olivier had used an external source of magic as a 'power boost', But the fact he could even perform a spell that advanced with his condition-
"...nghhhhh."Olivier dropped to his knee, trying in vain to keep standing.
Anne instantly ran over to her boyfriend, knowing full well what was wrong. But Olivier soon collapsed, falling unconscious right on the spot.
"OLIVIER!"Willow ran over, and instantly performed a healing spell on the boy.
Amity just remained frozen. staring at a familiar sight, but from a different perspective.
She lost count how many times she had seen this: Olivier nearly draining all his energy,
with just his two girl friends there to give him aid (only now, Anne was in Amity's place.)
Amity finally approached. "is he... okay?"
Anne cast a mild glare at Amity, but quickly returned her attention to Olivier.
"He'll be fine. he's just... VERY fatigued." spoke Willow. "He's gone too long without any rest. He should be okay once he wakes up."
Indeed, Olivier made soft snoring noises. Indicating he was fast asleep.
Anne smiled and gave the red haired boy a loving kiss on his head. "sweet dreams, ollie."
Willow then proceeded to lift Olivier up, carrying him delicately. "We probably should get to the sleeping part of this sleepover." said Willow.
"yeah... (*loud yawn*) I could use some shut-eye myself." said Anne.
Amity was silent as she looked at Olivier as he slept in Willow's arms.
He looked so peaceful now... It was enough to almost make her forget the recent drama tonight.
She then managed to smile as a happier memory came back to her.
Amity then looked to Anne Boonchuy, and spoke: "anne..."
Anne looked to Amity "yeah?"
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused. both tonight, and... years ago." began Amity.
"I was so desperate to fix what I had done, that I ended up ruining Yours and Luz' special night.
I should've dropped it, and gave Olivier his space. but... I guess I really am still a selfish person."
Anne's hard expression softened a little. "it's okay. there will be other nights, other sleepovers.
And you'll have other chances to earn back Ollie's trust. Even I didn't win him over in one night."
Amity paused as she looked at Olivier in Willow's arms again.
"for what it's worth... I'm grateful to you for all you've done for him." spoke Amity, to Anne.
"Same." said Willow. "If any good came from these past months, it was you."
Anne blushed at the compliments. The group then walked back into Clawthorne Manor, and locked the door behind them.
Back in the Study/Observatory, Luz was pacing around nervously
while Sprig and Maddie watched her (Polly, meanwhile was already sleeping.)
"You alright, Luz?" spoke Maddie.
"no. First Anne disappears, then Amity... NOW Willow has gone missing, too!"
"I'm sure they'll turn up." said Maddie, trying to stay positive.
"But what if they're in troub-ERK!" Maddie grabbed Sprig's tongue, and yanked it.
*not. helping...* growled Maddie, who released Sprig's tongue like a whiplash.
It was at this moment, that the subjects of Luz' worries showed up.
"Hey, guys!" spoke Anne.
"Anne!, Amit-, HOLY SHITAKE, WHAT HAPPENED TO OLIVIER!?" exclaimed Luz, alarmed.
Sprig and Maddie hopped over (with Maddie showing concern over Olivier.)
"What the frog happened to him!?"exclaimed Maddie.
"we... ran into some trouble outside." explained Willow, as she laid Olivier down on a sleeping bag.
"You guys went OUTSIDE!?" spoke Luz, puzzled and surprised.
"yeah... Ollie needed some air, and we saw the most AMAZING thing in the sky!" began Anne.
"Hundreds of Starlight Crystals fell down, and me and Ollie collected some."
Anne then opened her bag, and showed Luz the many rainbow colored crystal shards.
"Oooooo..." reacted Luz, her own eyes shining.
"Ollie said they are BRIMMING with magical energy..." continued Anne.
"BUT, they also attracted these bizarre creatures that aren't even natural in THIS world!
They cornered Willow and Amity, but me and Ollie caught up with them and *I* managed to cut them all down!"
"AWESOME!" exclaimed Luz, excited. "wish I'd been there!"
"It's better you weren't." said Amity.
Luz's demeaner then changed. "Sooo... is everything cool now?"
There was an uneasy tension between Anne, Amity and Willow.
"we're... not quite 'there' yet, Luz." spoke Anne. "but we're... getting there."
Luz tilted her head. "what does that mean?"
Amity breathed out sharply. "It means I can't fix everything I've done with a simple apology...
I've done... Terrible things. And me being sorry for what I've done just isn't enough.
Redemption is long road, not a crosswalk. And it will be a long time before earn back the trust of everyone that I hurt."
Luz looked at Amity. She then smiled, approached the girl and grasped her hands.
"the thing about long roads... It all starts when you take the first step." began Luz.
"I know this road won't be a smooth one, But I feel you're taking your first step in the right direction."
Amity blushed and smiled at the same time. "hopefully this time I won't stray from it again."
"don't worry... We'll make sure you stay on track." said Luz, a warm expression on her face.
Amity smiled. but then looked over at where Olivier was. She then walked over and knelt down beside the boy.
her second best friend in the whole realm.
Willow then knelt down at the opposite side of him. Both looking down at him.
Amity gently brushed Olivier's shaggy hair, and then gently touched one of his scars.
"this is where I should've been... when *it* happened." spoke Amity.
Willow resisted the urge to say: ("never should've happened to begin with",)
Knowing that Amity had enough on her guilty conscious and needed some sympathy.
"you're here NOW." said Willow. "that's what really matters."
Amity felt her eyes start to tear up as she stared at Olivier's scars. "i'm sorry... i'm so, so sorry." said Amity, as if speaking to Olivier.
Amity then leaned down, and gave Olivier a gentle hug. "I won't ever look the other way again... I promise."
Willow then joined in the hug, both girls embracing the once third in their friendship trio.
Luz and Anne watched this scene with glossy eyes, both smiling warmly.
"That is SO BEAUTIFUL..." spoke Luz.
"yeah... Friendship is a wonderful thing." said Anne.
"It's like Love, only... Different." added Luz.
"Eh, I think it's the same thing." spoke Anne. "just in a... different form."
Luz smiled. "I think you're right. Family, Friendship or Romance, Love is Love."
Anne smiled as she looked at Luz. The human duo then hugged each other.
"Do you think that... Olivier will ever... you know." inquired Luz, as she parted from Anne.
Anne grimaced as she pondered this. "hard to say... I mean, Ollie DID give Sasha a chance despite knowing what she did
(of course she DID ended up betraying us AGAIN, so I'm not sure how that has affected Ollie...)
Amity seems to be sincere. So I hope that Ollie will eventually grow to trust her again.
I mean... At the very least, his anger for this Boscha person should outweigh whatever he feels towards Amity."
Luz frowned as she looked at Olivier yet again.
"I think I'm starting to figure out what happened..." spoke Luz.
"I can't believe Boscha would go that far. I mean, she often lobbed fireballs at me before,
But I never imagined that she would do something like THAT to anyone.
It feels worse than just being a bully. It feels... Evil."
Anne nodded, a dark look in her eyes. "I could forgive Amity for what she didn't do when she should've...
but I will *NEVER* forgive this Boscha 'bwitch' for what she did to Olivier. It's unforgivable."
Luz trembled. Usually she was open to giving everyone a chance to redeem themselves,
Having found herself able to forgive Lilith, despite how certain she was that she was irredeemable once.
But even the 'Light of Forgiveness' had it's limits... She found hers when she met Emperor Belos.
And while Boscha wasn't QUITE at Belos levels of 'Pure Evil' in her eyes, she came pretty damn close now.
And depending on how remorseful (if at all) Boscha would be once Olivier did return to Hexside,
Luz wasn't sure if she could forgive Boscha for what she did to her surrogate brother either.
Luz then paused as she reviewed that thought in her head.
Olivier... my surrogate brother... my brother.
Boscha... hurt Olivier... Boscha hurt... MY BROTHER.
Luz scowled, feeling whatever light of forgiveness that she had for Boscha being snuffed out like a candle.
"I don't think I could forgive her either." said Luz finally. "If I really did have a brother like Olivier back home...
and a bully at my school did THAT to him... I might've done something that would've gotten be expelled."
Anne smiled. "Same."
Amity and Willow finally released Olivier and laid him down gently.
"If's it's alright with everyone else... I think I'll sleep near Olivier tonight." said Willow.
"It's been so long, and I've missed him so much. I just... I want to be near him."
Anne smiled and waved her hand. "Sure, Low. I totally get it."
Amity looked at Willow. "is it... okay if I-"
"If you're brave enough." said Willow. "Olivier still won't be happy to see you when he wakes up."
Amity frowned. "I know... but I want to at least pretend things are like they used to when we were all together.
All those other sleepovers we used to share at our old clubhouse... Remember?"
Willow couldn't help but smile warmly. "I treasure those memories more than any jewel."
Willow and Amity then laid their sleeping bags down beside Olivier.
They then both laid down, slipping into their respected sleepers.
Anne smiled, and did the same next to Luz (who smiled back at her.)
Sprig then laid down near Anne (who patted him on the head.)
While Maddie sat hear Olivier's head, darting her eye around like a hawk.
"Tomorrow is another day..." said Anne, before turning in.
Strangely, Amity took some comfort in these words.
Tomorrow really was another day... One that held the promise of Hope, and Better Times.
As the clock ticked away, everyone drifted off to sleep one-by-one.
Amity remained the last still awake, her lingering thoughts focused on happier memories.
Her final thought before sleep took her... was of Herself, Willow and Olivier.
And a renewal of her vow... to make things right again.
[End of Part 36]