Once Upon a Dream (Golden Guard x Gender-Neutral Reader)

Lucky is She

Guilt was consuming you from the inside out. It was your idea. You were the one that suggested he go. Now look what you'd done! The news outlets had already brushed over it, and for once you were grateful that the plights of Olde Bonesborough were overlooked. That didn't stop the hurt though.
Luz bounced around the house as her friends watched. You laid on the couch, looking blankly ahead. Sometimes she would prance through your gaze. To think, she had no idea how heavy the gravity of the situation was. How could she? She didn't know him. She wasn't a Phantom. She wasn't the one who let this happen. Despite the jealousy that brewed in you at the sight of her, you still adored her. She was a lucky child, incredibly positive as well, which were things you both admired and envied. You were like that once. Where had those years gone?
"(Y/n)! You wanna come with us?" You surged back into the room from whatever dark corner of your mind you had been in. Had Luz been talking to you? Your eyes locked onto the two other Hexside students. You recalled meeting them the day you dropped Luz off at school. Gus appeared to be buzzing with excitement.
"Oh my gosh, can you?" He grinned. "You could tell us about your cool adventures to the human realm on the way there!"
You narrowed your eyes. "Don't you have Luz to tell you about the human realm?"
"Yeah, but it would be nice to hear it from a witch's perspective!" You couldn't really argue with that. You sat up, still hugging one of the couch pillows.
"What exactly would I be joining you guys in?" Willow stepped forward to answer your question.
"There's a grudgby match at Glandus High, and we're gonna go! I think it would be nice if you came." Aw, Willow seemed like such a polite girl! Getting to know the three of them a little better wouldn't be bad. You weren't sure though. What if Eda needed you? Her curse had been acting up again, and the thought of leaving her with only King and Hooty didn't leave a good taste in your mouth. Not to mention the whole situation going on with the Phantoms... did you even deserve to go? You looked back at the trio. They were all sending puppy stares your way.
"Stop staring at me with them big ole eyes."
Their pupils resized themselves to smaller proportions. It was only slightly unsettling.
"Please (y/n)!" Luz begged. "You haven't left the house since you got back from your 'church thing.' I think you could use some fresh air."
You couldn't bear to look her in the eyes anymore. She was right. It wasn't healthy for you to just lock yourself inside. Maybe this was a punishment though. Yes, yes it had to be! The thought of standing next to the three of them, crowded on either side, screams blaring in your ears, inconveniencing people with your umbrella was not a tempting way to spend your time. You'd be miserable.
You'd be getting exactly what you deserved.
With a sigh, you stood and placed the pillow back on the couch. "Arlight, I'll go. Just let me get dressed."
Luz clapped her hands together. The smile she wore was genuine and contagious. Willow and Guz seemed excited as well! You walked over to the stairs and looked back at the group.
"What's y'all's school colors again?" You realized it wasn't a question you needed to ask, as all three of them were decked with blue and gold Hexide merch. Nevertheless, they answered you in chipper unison. As you climbed the steps, you wondered if you'd have anything of those colors to wear. You knew you had dark blue, as it was a color that didn't really attract attention, but gold? You weren't sure about that. The only gold thing that came to mind was the gold on your mask, and of course, the Golden Guard.
You couldn't really wear Blondie. Maybe wear him out or on your arm, but he was much too formal for feastivities such as these. He did seem quite handsome though. You searched for his features as you entered your bedroom and scrounged through your wardrobe. Handsome hair, handsome eyes, handsome voice, handsome laugh... It was honestly a shame he was with the Emperor's Coven. He didn't seem like a half-bad person! Maybe in another life the two of you could have been friends.
"What the fuck am I thinking?" You questioned as you withdrew an outfit from the wardrobe. Your realization stirred Mortis from his throne, who was quick to scorn you for using profanity when there were children downstairs.
"Mortis, we live in the Owl House, profanity is a good 69% of our fucking vocabulary." The fickle bug swore at you in response. After flipping him off you, swiftly changed into your "school spirit" clothes, all the time scorning your own monstrous brain. You and the Golden Guard? Friends? Sure, you flirted with him all the time, like friends do, and sure, from what you could tell he was attractive, as most friends find each other... and he seemed smart... and strong... and he had that voice, dear gods, that voice! He was just so... so...
No.
It wouldn't work out, whether it was a friendship or whatever else your mind might have been dwindling towards. It just couldn't happen. Your chest felt tight and fragile, like you were in mourning. Mortis swooped onto your shoulder before you dammed yourself from the comfort of your room. Breathe, (y/n). Just... breathe. After you collected yourself, you descended the stairs, where you were met with three starstruck teens gaping at you.
"... What?"
"You said a swear word!" Remarked Gus. Willow and Luz glanced at him before looking back at you. Willow took a small step forward.
"That may be what Gus is shocked about, but Luz and I-"
"Your whole floaty thing is going on again!" Luz interrupted the dark haired girl.
You hadn't noticed before, but now it seemed super obvious. Your hair and clothes were fluttering like some dramatic wind was sweeping through the entire house. There was also the indescribable scent of burning light wafting through the halls. You raised a hand to the back of your neck. It was scorching to the touch. You could feel the magic ink etched into your skin. Your finger subconsciously traced over the markings. The feelings of a life that wasn't yours washed over you. Despite the heat radiating from you, you shuttered. Luz blinked at you.
"Have you been taking your meds?" She tried to furrow her brows to make herself look angry, but you weren't fooled. You yoinked a pair of sunglasses from thin air and placed them on your nose.
"Yes, I have." You put a hand over your heart as you spoke. "That doesn't mean I don't get riled up and end up floaty. Those meds don't negate all the symptoms, ya know."
"If you're having problems then maybe you should stay home." Luz's eyes flashed upstairs for a brief moment. Eda. She had an episode with her curse today as well, though her curse and your curse couldn't really be compared.
"Luz, I understand you're worried about us, but Eda and I have two totally different things going on. My curse is much more manageable than hers. I got nothing to worry about!" A gasp churned the air.
"You're cursed?! What happened?" Gus popped out in front of you. His eyes were wide and filled with an emotion you'd seen a million times before. A mix between curiosity, confusion, and sympathy.
"Gus!" Willow grabbed him by his shoulder and pulled him back. If she was trying to be discreet with her correction of his behavior, then she wasn't doing a great job. You and Luz could both hear her hushed whispers even with their backs turned. "You can't just ask people how they got cursed! That's incredibly personal!"
The boy looked over his shoulder at you. His face had "embarrassed" and "ashamed" stamped all over it in deep crimson. Exclamation points hid in his eyes. As much as you wanted to laugh at how mortified he was at his own actions, you didn't. Most people who asked you that didn't give a damn if it was personal or not! You weren't going to make the one person who did regret it. He and Willow faced you once again.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't think that through!" Gus clasped his hands together with wobbly eyes. You frowned and put a hand on his shoulder. Poor boy was just a kid who didn't know any better!
"I forgive you, little man, but Willow is right. That's a super personal question! My story is nothing too invasive so I'm fine answering, but that might not be the scenario for others, remember that." You grabbed your umbrella, put on your cloak, and headed for the door. The Hexside student's followed, Gus more ecstatically than the other two. He was anxious to hear your story.
The boy stood with you under the shade while Willow and Luz talked directions. He was staring at your umbrella with a sense of wonder that made it seem like he was about to explode. His absolute surfeit of emotions reminded you of your first encounters with objects from the human realm. The only difference was that you were utterly terrified of them before you realized how useful they were. The umbrella seemed to be the exception. You'd had it for as long as you could remember, but that wasn't saying much as you didn't know all that you'd forgotten.
What have we forgotten? Your inner self asked. A blurry tree, taller than all the rest, stuck out like a sore thumb in your brain. Then there came the wildflowers, then rushing into Eda's arms, and then being here. That was the deepest your recollection flowed. You couldn't remember the exact circumstances that led you to live with Eda, but you did know that memory made you feel the way withered roses smelled.
Gus tugging on your sleeve pulled you out of it. Your eyes blinked harshly, then casted down on the boy.
"It's time to go!" His little smile widened. You tried to muster one back before throwing Mortis off your shoulder. Gus gasped and flung himself forward to catch the bug, only for you to nab him by his collar. He seemed like he was about to snap at you before he realized that Mortis was in staff form and floating a few feet off the ground. He looked back up at you and chuckled sheepishly.
"Is that you guys' usual routine?"
"Yup, that is, if Mortis is actually awake." You increased volume as you spoke to make sure the tiny creature could hear. Immediately, your staff reversed and rammed you right in the shin. After hopping around on one leg for a few seconds you flipped off Mortis. Obviously not to his face, but you did! You hopped onto the staff, expecting Luz, Willow, and Gus to pile on, which only confused you as you watched Luz and Willow jump onto a different staff. Were they already old enough to carve palismen? To think, you had been their age when you got Mortis. You gave the bug a gentle scratch atop his head.
"Gus! You coming?" Luz called. You turned around. Gus was just standing on the stoep awkwardly. He tilted his head at the girls.
"No offense, but do you know how to drive one of those?" He pointed to Luz's staff as he spoke. You hadn't thought of that. Did she know how to drive one of those? From what you knew, Hexside didn't have a driver's ed. course. Luz smiled with smug confidence, her wrist flicking. (💅)
"Pfff! Of course! I live with the Owl Lady! There's nothing she can't do, and since I'm her pupil, there's nothing I can't do!" Luz bragged.
"You live with me too." You pointed out. Luz's expression blanked.
"Well yeah, but... you're not as infamous as Eda." You raised a brow. She really hadn't snooped around your room! While scoffing you patted the extra space on your staff. Gus promptly plopped himself into the seat, his legs kicking as they hung in the air. You handed him the umbrella and paid the price as he squealed quite loud.
"Luz, I'm not trying to be pissy," You placed a contemptuous fist on your hip. "But you really don't know as much about me as you think you do."
You kicked off the ground, guiding Mortis in the direction Willow had pointed.
"What was that about?" You glanced at Gus over your shoulder. He was still holding the umbrella above you. A good lad, he was, but you didn't fully trust him with it. You snapped your fingers, and the umbrella snapped in place. It was tethered to the staff by some hardly visible means and the wind refused to meet it on its path.
"It was nothing, just the truth." You admitted. The two of you bobbed over the crown of a tall pine.
"But you seemed-"
"You still curious about my curse?" Hopefully he'd take the bait and get off this conversation. He moused out a shocked breath, then cleared his throat. "Of course! But you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to!"
He put special emphasis on the last part. You grinned. He was learning.
"It's fine, Gus. Like I said, it's nothing super personal." You cleared your mind, then regathered all the relevant information. "My curse basically doesn't allow me to be out in the sunlight or experience intense emotion without floating away. How those two are intertwined? I don't know, but I do know I wasn't actually 'cursed' cursed. I was born that way. It's called a 'generational curse.' You know what a generational curse is?"
"No."
"It's exactly what it sounds like. A curse that goes from one generation, to the next. From what I Eda's told me, either one or both of my parents had a curse that they passed down to me."
"Ohhhh. So you inherited Eda's curse?"
You blinked and looked over your shoulder.
"Gus, do you think Eda's my mother?"
"She's not?!"
For a few seconds you just stared at him. How could a boy his age be intelligent enough to go to high school, and not realize that the biology wasn't biologying? You gathered your breath. "No."
"Wait, then why do you live with her?" Gus's face squished.
"Wow!" Luz and Willow glided up next to you guys. "I've never seen (y/n) warm up to anyone so fast!"
You rolled your eyes. "Luz, have you ever seen me meet anyone else besides these two?"
"You met me!"
"I don't think that counts." The gentle flap of wings blew a thought into your head. "Speaking of meeting people, who's your little palisman?"
Luz furrowed her brows at you.
"What do you mean? You know him! You've known him longer than I have!"
Confused, you looked to the totem atop the staff and nearly fell off your own. You were clinging upside down to Mortis for dear life, but couldn't care less. Even from this angle, you knew what you saw. Dear Titan, she didn't! She, in fact, did. There, plain as day, was Owlbert. Your life flashed before your eyes as you watched him flap along.
"YOU FUCKING STOLE OWLBERT????" Gus was trying to help you back onto the staff while you were screaming.
"I didn't steal him, I'm borrowing him!"
"EDA IS GONNA KILL US! FIRST SHE'S GONNA TEAR YOU APART FOR STEALING HIM, THEN SHE'LL MAIM ME FOR LETTING YOU!" You pulled yourself back onto the staff. The sky seemed to darken as you flew further away from the salvation of home. Luz's face twisted into a shallow frown. Her eyes spat flames as they beamed into yours.
"What's been with you recently? You've been all doom and gloom all week, and when I try to be nice to you, you start acting like a jerk!" Her words stung like a papercut to the eye. Your jaw clenched til it was sore.
"I'm not trying to be a jerk! I'm trying to keep you from getting in trouble!" You tightened your grip around your staff.
"Is that what your little 'you don't know me' line was about down there?"
"It wasn't meant to be mean, it was the truth! And this isn't about me right now, it's about Owlbert!" You swooped around a tree as you scorned. Without a doubt, Willow and Gus were feeling super awkward right now.
"He's not just Eda's Palisman, he's a real living thing! You can't just take him on a flight because you feel like it! Did you even ask Eda?" You continued. Luz's shoulders raised in a tense fit.
"King said it was fine!"
"I can assure you, if Eda had any say in that decision, it would not have been fine!"
"OH, SO YOU KNOW EDA BETTER THAN I DO?!"
"YES! I'VE LIVED WITH HER FOR TWELVE DAMN YEARS!"
"WELL YOU CAN SHOVE THOSE YEARS RIGHT UP YOUR-
"LUZ WATCH OUT!" Willow interrupted your argument and pointed ahead. Unfortunately, Luz didn't react in time.
Their shrill screams filled the air as Luz nicked the top of a tree! The girls went spiraling into the forest below, clinging onto each other as they disappeared into the leaves. You and Gus cried their names loud enough to shake the birds from the trees. You braked so hard that Mortis was nearly vertical in the air! Like a bullet from a gun, you shot down into the branches.
The needles and limbs scratched like kisses from a cat against your clothes and skin. Gus had his face buried in your back and the flags in his trembling hands crossed around your torso. You almost couldn't breathe! Hopefully though, he wasn't getting hurt. Hopefully the girls weren't hurt. Hopefully you all could just brush over this, go to the game, and have a grand old time! As you caught sight of Willow and Luz, you thought that maybe hope was on your side!
You accelerated past the branches, reaching the girls at a record speed. You were nearly matching their decent rate, maybe just a half second behind.
I'm not letting another person get hurt because of me! Your nose scrunched as you made up your mind. In a mighty fit of protective instincts you slammed into the side of their staff! It sent the two plowing towards the trees, Luz sticking in the branches while Willow gracefully fell backwards. You were about to swoop after her, but then you caught a glimpse of her finger casting a green circle. Smart move Willow! Now that the girls were safe, it was you and Gus's turn.
The trees sent a cloud foliage after the two of you as you burst from the canopy! Your heart pounded like soldiers marching into battle as the ground quickly approached. Mortis was heading straight into a nosedive! Most witches would be freaking the fuck out right now, but you were an expert in crashing! You pulled up on your staff, flipping the arrangement with your tail end now dragging in the dirt. You knew what was gonna happen next, and you knew Gus wouldn't know how to handle it.
With one hand you held on so tight the wood stung your palm, and with the other you threw Gus into the safety of a bush. Then, you went for Mortis. The staff beneath you poofed away as you cradled your palisman to your chest.  This is always the worst part. The inner you stated rather calmly. You tucked your body into itself and slammed your eyes tight enough they would give the Emperor's vault a run for its money! The world felt like it was moving in slow-motion. You could feel the grass blades starting to poke against your cloak, the overall presence of the earth drawing nearer. You took in as deep of breath as you could muster and thought;
This is gonna hurt.
Everything sped up all at once. The soil, stones, twigs, and pine needles all mocked you viciously. Their stings and stabs and jolts and juts bruised your body and ego as you went tumbling along. Your body skipped along the earth like a rock across water. Every second or two, you'd bounced back into the air before slamming into the ground again. The only mercy you received was when you stopped, but even then it was painful as you had slammed into a tree gut-first. You wanted to swear, to scream, to let all of fucking hell break loose, but all you could bring yourself to do was whimper a measly "ow."
Your arms were shaking as you brought your hands away from your chest. Mortis was curled in your palms, a bit shaken from the crash, but otherwise unharmed. When you tried to ask him if he was okay, the words refused to fall. Instead, you tried sending him a strong thought. You knew he had received it when he gave you a sweet hum and unfurled his antennae. Last time you pulled a stunt like this, you had the privilege of landing on an old sofa. It wasn't much better, but at least it was sorta soft! To think, that was the night you met Blondie.
That was the night I suggested Blue be the one to go. The memory poisoned the playful image of fighting the Golden Guard in the alley. It already felt like so long ago...
Your daydreaming was cut short by the rushing sound of footsteps thumping in your torn ear.
"(Y/n)!...oh my g...ou okay?! (Y/n)?!" Even if you couldn't see her, you knew it was Luz running towards you, calling your name. Her words sounded so warped, like she was talking underwater. You wanted to answer, but it was too much. Mortis fluttered out of your hands and towards the direction of the noise. More drums were added to the symphony. Willow and Gus. They were on their way too. You could hear the sound of someone skidding onto the grass and soon after followed a concerned hand on your arm. Luz's face popped into view as she hunched over your weak frame.
Feeling this fragile was a rare phenomenon. It felt like you could blow away with a stiff breeze, yet at the same time, all your limbs felt like they were carved out of stone. That strange tv-static type of pain bubbled beneath your skin like it could burst out at any second. It painted stars on your eyelids and stole the breath from your lungs. Sometimes the sounds you heard would be like a whisper from ten feet away, other times it blared like fog horn in your ear until it ached. When you saw them at first, you weren't sure you could trust your own eyes. Nevertheless, you tried to show them what you were seeing.
"Owl... Mor..." You managed to rasp out.
"... Owl House?" Was all you were able to catch. You shook your head ever-so subtly. One weak finger (that you were pretty sure was yours) lifted to point in the direction you were looking, in only slightly and shaking. "Owl... bert... Owl, bert... Mortis..."
Luz's brow tightened and she finally looked in the direction you were pointing. Her jaw fell open and screamed into the forest. You read her lips, as your ears had gone out once again, and the words that fell upon them were the names of the palismen you loved so dearly. So you weren't just seeing things, good to know. Luz looked back down at you.
"I... you here!" Your mind tried to fill in her blanks. "I can't just leave you here!" You shook your head and raised your finger once again to point in the direction the palismen had fled.
"I'll still be here..." You slurred out. "Go."
Luz's eyes ripped between you and the forest ahead multiple times.
"Go!" Your shout was frail as tissue paper, yet still commanding. She looked back at you, her irises shiny with stress and concern. Swiftly, she squeezed your hand in her own and took to the trees. Willow followed after, yelling some sort of warning. Gus bounced around you and kneeled.
"We'll... promise... okay?" You blinked confusedly at him. He sat there, waiting for a response.
"I literally only heard three of those words." You whispered. Before you could try and say anything else, he was dashing away after the girls.
Welp. There you were. Injured, alone, and tired in the middle of the woods. The part of the woods you didn't know. The part of the woods notorious for dangerous creature sightings. Lovely.
Your eyes felt drowsier than ever. Whenever you closed them, it took so much to open them again. Sometimes you'd close them and something about the scene around you would change. The leaves would be a few feet away from where they last were, the birds that were just there would be gone, the shadows would have moved ever so slightly. You were dozing off.
Stay awake, (y/n), you can't sleep just yet. Tiny brain Jenner told you. But sleep helps the body heal. Your own internal voice argued.
That's true, but you don't know how hurt you are. If you go to sleep, you might not wake up again.
How are we supposed to get better if we don't rest?
You will rest, just not here, not now.
Why not?
The risk isn't worth the reward.
I wish we had thought of that before we chose Blue.
Don't think about that right now, right now you need to stay focused on being awake.
M҉a҉y҉b҉e҉ w҉e҉ d҉o҉n҉'t҉ d҉e҉s҉e҉r҉v҉e҉ t҉o҉ b҉e҉ a҉w҉a҉k҉e҉
Hey! Stay focused! If you go to sleep then...
Your conscience paused, searching for something that would keep you on. As you waited, you noticed the blurry silhouettes of multiple things approaching. You couldn't bring yourself to care. You were going to pass out and probably never wake up. You were going to die alone in the forest. Eda was going to have to bury her child. King would have to suffer Eda's cooking forever. Luz was going to think you died mad at her.
Were you mad at her? You were angry and spiteful, yes, but was it because of her? No! Part of you wanted to blame her for the crash, but you knew better. You knew the risks of going down to save the girls, you knew you might not make it out, but you did it anyway! It wasn't Luz's fault. If anything, you were more to blame for the crash. You distracted her! If you died now, she'd carry the blame and guilt on her shoulders for forever!
If you go to sleep and never wake up, you'll never be able to apologize to Luz!
The creatures crept closer, each passing blink drawing them nearer.
No more Eda, King, or Luz. No more Ed or Em.
The things were only a few meters away. Your eyes felt heavier. Desperately, you tried to fight off the void.
No more Phantoms! No more Ruby!
They were only five feet away now. Your vision was fogging with fatigue. A waggle of the finger might keep you going, but your body was too weak.
No more Blue!
Two and a half feet. You were seeing through a splinter's width. Try shouting, or at least whispering. Your voice had abandoned you.
No more Golden Guard!
One foot. You were nearly gone. You could hardly move, couldn't fight back or anything. Every muscle, bone, tissue, fiber of your being was trying to redeem itself. No avail.
What happens if we don't sleep and we go anyway?
Your eyes were closed. You could feel the frigid breath of whatever lurked beside you skipping across your skin.
Then... T̴h̴e̴n̴ ¥๏µ'я€ g҉o҉n҉e҉.