Owl house AU where Evelyn and Caleb never became friends is so . Tragic because the Boiling Isles is a better place. On the other hand, Eda, Lilith, and Hunter are never born. Luz never goes to the Isles and maybe she finds her community out there like Masha and other humans are cool but. Yeah. On Caleb’s end he was probably miserable and probably died as a teen bc he didn’t have Evelyn (like she genuinely was his lifeline I think, emotionally and also like actually bc of her magic and him being an orphan, who also may have been queer and neurodivergent, Hunter is bi and neurodivergent I wouldn’t be. Surprised and that definitely didn’t help his mental health in a time period when they would. Kill u for that. with no support network like he made it far but he could only maintain that so long). Also King’s fate is super unknown and he might’ve just. Grown up alone. And Collector would never be freed without King and King has no reason to seek them out bc King had no idea they existed.
So much. Hinges on that fact that those two choose to be friends (and eventually partners) like that’s an inciting incident. Those two lil stupid bird walkers had to be friends or it’s just, it doesn’t happen.
SORRY i don't have an AO3 account yet but once I do I'll migrate it there instead. This is my first fic ever so I hope it's okay!!
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Isabel’s hand shot up out from under a coral blanket to slam the off button on her alarm clock. She yawned and sat up, stretching her arms over her head. Another day of being an ace unicorn rider! She smirked as she spotted Layla, who was spread out on her bed, surrounded by open books, her reading light still dimly lit on her headboard. Looks like Layla had fallen asleep while reading again, unsurprisingly. Layla’s trusty notebook seemed to have some new notes frantically scribbled on the pages, the words denting the paper from too much pencil pressure.
Isabel shuffled her way down the hall to the dorm bathroom, still sleepy-eyed but trying her best to wake up. Once in the bathroom, she splashed water on her face, dried it with a face towel then studied her reflection. Her blonde hair was tumbling out around her face, not yet in her signature ponytail, and she was wearing a jersey tank top and an old pair of basketball shorts as her PJs.
“I am strong” she mumbled to herself. “I am confident, and I’m a winner! I trust in my abilities and I always come out on top!” She flexed her biceps and smiled at herself in the mirror. One of her favorite parts of the day was doing the affirmations her coach taught her and feeling like the day ahead was full of exciting possibilities. Just as she finished up and went to grab her toothbrush, she heard the dorm bathroom door swing open. She perked up, knowing it was Valentina, her favorite rival. Her and Valentina were the only Sapphires to regularly wake up that early, Isabel for her training, and Valentina for her lengthy beauty routine and prep for the day’s classes. Some mornings, Isabel could even goad Valentina into doing some laps of the unicorn track with her, provided Val was feeling especially competitive that day.
“Morning Val!” Isabel chirped, grabbing her tube of toothpaste. But instead of hearing Val’s usual grumpy morning groan, Isabel heard only silence and then a sniffle. “You got a cold or something?” Isabel playfully joked.
Isabel turned around to face Val, then her smile dropped. Valentina looked… Puffier than usual, especially around her eyes, not yet lined with her signature eyeliner. Val’s hair, usually pulled neatly back in a silky night scrunchie, looked frazzled and out of place. Her nose was red and slightly damp. Valentina’s satin button-up pajama set was clinging in patches to her body, as if she had been sweating. The two made eye contact, and Val quickly glanced away, trying to hide her face.
“Everything okay, Valentina?” Isabel asked, stepping towards her. Now that Isabel was closer, she could see tear stains on Val’s cheeks. “Oh no, were you crying? Aww, Sparky…” Valentina sighed, her eyes beginning to water again. She finally allowed herself to return Isabel’s gaze, who was peering at her, worry furrowing her brow, green eyes wide with concern.
“I had a nightmare about Lazul,” Val admitted in hushed tones, her voice tight and strained. “I heard so many stories about what he did to grandmama when I was younger, and now that I’ve seen him…” Her voice quivered. “I keep dreaming he’ll do to me what he did to her, or worse…” She rubbed her eye, in a gesture that was protecting it as much as wiping away her tears.
Isabel was stunned. Valentina, always so fierce and fiery, seemed to be too sleepy and shaken to put up her usual walls. It was disturbingly unlike her- Isabel had the fleeting thought that she didn’t know Furi’s were even capable of crying. She had no idea that seeing Lazul had affected Val so deeply, especially since they had already defeated him. Seeing the always-thorny Valentina so vulnerable put a pit in Isabel’s stomach, and she couldn’t help but feel protective of her. Isabel swallowed and steeled herself, gently placing her hand on Valentina’s upper arm.
“Val, you are the best unicorn rider around, besides me,” Isabel announced. “You are strong and powerful, and if anyone around here was tough enough to defeat him again, it would be you!” Valentina quietly let out an amused huff and gave Isabel a grateful half-smile through her tears.
“Besides,” Isabel continued, “You’ve got me here to protect you, too.” Isabel threw her arms around Val’s shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug. Valentina inhaled sharply, surprised and embarrassed to be so close to Isabel. She could feel her cheeks turning red. Valentina went to pull herself away, but Isabel was still holding on tightly. Val never got many hugs from her family, so the feeling was uncomfortable and part of her wanted it to stop, but it was also so comforting that she couldn’t help but enjoy it. Val’s breath caught in her chest, still tight from crying, and she finally melted into Isabel’s embrace. Valentina shyly leaned into the hug, letting out a few more stifled sobs. Isabel patted her back, stroking her hair gently. They held the embrace for what felt like forever, Isabel occasionally telling her it was okay, until Valentina’s shuddering breaths returned to normal.
Isabel finally pulled back, hands on both of Valentina’s upper arms. Isabel couldn’t help but notice Valentina’s cheeks were rosy, and Valentina couldn’t help but notice the intensity with which Isabel’s sparkling eyes were studying her face. “Feeling better, dude?” Isabel playfully asked. Valentina’s eyes creased with a shy smile.
“Ugh,” Valentina suddenly wrinkled her nose. “Your breath stinks, Isabel!”
Isabel chuckled, wrinkling her nose back. “So does yours, Sparky!”
The two laughed, breaking apart. “Up for a race around the track before breakfast?” Isabel asked excitedly, squeezing toothpaste onto her toothbrush.
“As if you could beat me!” Valentina teased, words slightly slurred through a mouth full of toothpaste foam. They finished brushing their teeth, and just as Isabel turned away to head towards the showers, Valentina grabbed her wrist.
“Hmm?” Isabel lifted a brow, tilting her head towards Val.
“I-I, uh…” Valentina blinked quickly, pulling her hand back. “Thank you, Isabel,” she said, glancing down at the floor before meeting Isabel’s gaze again.
“All good, dude,” Isabel cheerfully replied. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind a blushing Valentina’s ear and then set back off towards the showers. “You can make it up to me today by LOSING at the track!”
“Oh, please!” Valentina called after her, barely able to contain her grin. Despite her awful nightmare, when Valentina glanced at her reflection in the mirror, it was the happiest she had seen herself look in a long time.
thinking abt how dragon fae eggs require love in order to hatch and the leading fan theory that they require love to even conceive in the first place and i ufkcing im
