Eda, Luz and Strix took King to the park. Not a pet park, that would be too demeaning. Instead they took him to a children's slayground. It's like a playground, but with death traps.

Sitting on a bench with Eda and Strix, Luz asked nervously, almost biting her nails, "What if he gets hurt? What if the kids are mean to him?" She gasped, "My parental instincts are freaking out, man."

"He's fine. Look at him," Eda pointed to King who was trying to climb up the slide.

"It does look like he's having fun. Aw. I wonder what cute little game he's playing."

"Stand back, cretins," said King as he climbed to the top of the slide. "Yes! Yes! This is a throne worthy of a tyrant." He pointed to the other little witchlings at the slayground and commanded, "Bow to me you snotty underlings. Bow!"

Two of them said, "Okay!" One of them bent backwards while the other did a handstand and made a silly face.

Strix said, "He's so cute when he's playing pretend."

"THE KING DOES NOT PRETEND!" King shouted.

Then, a toddler with snot coming down his nose approached King and said, "This isn't for standing, it's for sliding. You try." He pushed King down the slide and he ran to Eda, having a tantrum like a child. "EDAAAA! That monster took my throne!"

"You mean the baby?" she said humorously.

"No, the usurper. I want you to go over there and blow him up. Kaboom!"

The kid, who was now riding on a rocking horse said, "Kaboom!"

"Yeah, I'm not using Owlbert to blow up a five‐year‐old," Eda said as she unscrewed the little owl from her staff. "He's got better things to do. Like this..." She scratched under his beak, making him hoot happily.

"Aw, what a sweetie," Luz cooed. "How did you get him?"

"Get? I made Owlbert from the branch of an ancient tree," Eda said as Owlbert hopped into her hand then onto her shoulder. "Oh, he's my palisman and we're bonded for life. I'd annihilate anyone who'd hurt him."

"Fine. Don't help," said King angrily. "Revenge will taste all the sweeter if they fall by my hand alone."

Then suddenly, the snot-nosed kid walked up to him and pushed him. "Tag, you're it," he said, laughing.

"Oh, man. Here we go," Strix said with a laugh. "King's squeak of rage."

King grunted, stamped his feet, then let out a long, high-pitched squeal that sounded like a teapot steaming. Eda burst out laughing. "He is like a little teakettle."

Luz then noticed something odd about Owlbert as he scratched himself. It looked like he had holes on the bottom of his feet. "Hey, what's that?"

"That's his interlock. So he only fits under my staff. Every palisman has one." Suddenly, Eda froze up and her staff slid out of her hand and she fell onto her side.

"Mom?" Strix asked, concerned. "Mom, what's wrong?"

"Eda, this isn't funny," said Luz. "Eda!"

"Mom! Wake up!" Suddenly, he felt an incredible pain in his back and he let out a scream, "It hurts! It feels like my spine is tearing in half!"

"Strix!" Luz ran to his side only to be pushed away. She watched in horror as a pair of silver wings burst out from his shirt. He sat on all fours, panting heavily and sweating like a dog. "I need...the Mask..."

Luz shook Eda's shoulders. "Eda! Eda! Wake up!" Eda snapped her eyes open and shot up with a yell. Luz held her shoulder and asked, "Are you all right?"

It was only then did Eda notice Strix's wings. "Oh, no! It's the curse! We have to go home, now!" She picked up her son and carried him out of the park. Luz called out to King, "King we have to go!"

"Five more minutes, please!" King was about to push the kid off the slide.

"KING!"

"Ah, man." King said to the kid, "This isn't over."

"Okay, let's play again real soon."

The kid tried to give King a hug, but he backed away from him. "No, no. Keep those sticky hands away! Oh, no! He's touching me!"

Eda laid her son down on the couch and gently poured elixir down his throat, but the wings did not shrink back. "He's not changing back," said Luz, worried.

"I can see that!"

"Look, if you just give the Mask to me, then-"

"You're not putting it on, Strix! Besides, even the Mask can only do so much! Whoo-" Eda suddenly went woozy and she plopped down on the couch next to Strix. "Curse this curse."

"I'll go get your elixir," said Luz.

"Don't worry about it. I'll get it myself in a bit."

"Do you need me to stay home and take care of you? I could fit King in a little doctor's outfit!"

King, who was busy drawing plans for revenge, looked up. "Eh?"

"No one wants to see that," said Eda.

"I do," whispered Luz.

"Look, I know how to take care of myself. I've had this curse longer than you've been alive."

"So, how'd you get it?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?!"

"I asked her that question many times," Strix said. "She said the same thing to me."

"And I'll tell Luz the same thing I tell you," said Eda. "Somebody gave it to me. I don't know who and I don't care because I'm fine, all right? Anyway, don't you have plans with Tweedledum and Twerpledee?"

"Well, Willow, Gus, and I are going to the Grudgby game between Hexside and Glandus High," said Luz.

"Since when are you into sports?" Eda asked as she screwed Owlbert back onto the staff.

"Since I found a little something called 'Hexside Pride'." Luz pumped her fist into the air. "To think that Glandus, whoever they are, would dare face us. But if you need me to stay..."

"Gross. Sympathy. Go! Go have fun at sport."

Luz let out a cheer. "Hooray! Hooray for sport! Hugs and kisses, King." She smooched King's skull. "Mwah! Don't spend all night plotting revenge," she sang.

"That drooly‐faced heathen will know my wrath," he sang back.

"I'm coming with you," Strix said, but Eda pushed him down. "Oh, no! You're not going out. Not like this," she tugged on his left wing.

"Mom!" Eda slammed her staff down, making the whole house shake. "Uh...I mean..." Strix let out a groan and sat back down on the couch, grumbling. "Enjoy the fun, Luz."

Luz gave him a hug. "I'll give you some merchandise, how about that?"

"Sure, whatever."

Luz left, but not before giving Strix another hug. "I'm going to bed," Eda said. "And you better not think about taking off behind my back. I've asked Selwyn to guard this place." Strix looked out the window to see the dragon's eye looking in through the window.

Luz walked to Hexside, thinking of a good cheer for her school's team. "Hexside is gonna wreck your side. Huh, no. Hexside is the best side in the west side." Her thoughts were interrupted when she let out a yelp after she saw the bus. Only, it wasn't a bus like in the human world. It was a winged viking ship with a living dragon's head. "Ah, friends!" Luz exclaimed, running up to Willow and Gus, the former of whom wore a yellow and blue hat with the school's name on it while the latter wore a yellow and blue sports jacket.

The three kids let out a roar in support for Hexside.

"Happy game day, fellow, uh..." Luz paused. "Are we Hexidians? Hexies?" She gasped. "Hexoleos?"

"Actually, most people call us winners," Willow said with an aggressive tone.

"Grudgby games are the best," said Gus. "The players go through these action‐packed trials. And the audience gets to wave flags. Look, I practiced." He did a little dance while waving two blue flags.

Luz looked down at her blue and white shirt. "Is it weird that I'm not wearing anything Hexside?"

Willow said, "Um, it's weirder that you're wearing Glandus colors."

A giant student passed by, pressing Luz down as he said, "Get ready to be creamed, Glandus nerd!"

Luz shot back up and shouted at him, "Hey! I'm a Hexside nerd. Gotta change out of this shirt. Where can I get a Hexside one?"

"I know. There's a lost‐and‐found box in the cafeteria," said Gus.

"Ah! The lost‐and‐found. Where mouthguards go to retire."

Luz went to cafeteria and found the lost-and-found chest. She opened it and found a Hexside cap. "Yes!"

She came back outside, wearing a Hexside cheerleader outfit and drink hat and carrying blue and yellow pompoms. "Goooo, Hexside!" She jumped up into the air and did a split. She was sure she heard something pop. "Well, I never did that before," she groaned as she got up. It was then she realized everyone was gone except Willow and GUs. "Uh, where is everyone?"

She got her answer when she saw the bus boat flying away. "Hexside rules!" the giant student holding onto it shouted.

"Oh, no! Come back! Why didn't you guys board the bus?"

"We weren't going to leave you behind," said Willow.

"I was."

"Gus," Willow said through gritted teeth, nudging his shoulder.

"Can we walk to Glandus?" Luz asked.

"We'd never make it in time," said Gus, shaking his head. "Glandus is... all the way out in the middle of the island."

"Ugh. Typical Glandus."

"And my parents are working, otherwise I'd see if they could give us a ride on their staff," said Willow.

A lightbulb went off in Luz's head. "A staff... because staffs fly. Of course! I can get us a staff!"

"You can?" asked Gus.

"Yes, come on!" Luz took Willow by the hand and they ran toward the Owl House. Gus followed behind, dancing with his flags.

"Eda, great news," King called out as he went into the Owl Lady's room. "I thought of the perfect way to get revenge on that usurper." All his plan said was, "Fire?" "Now, don't be put off by the complicated premise. I'll break it down for you in small pieces. Huh?" He wasn't talking to Eda the Owl Lady, but Eda the Owl Beast! The creature snarled at him and stalked toward him. King screamed and fell backwards. "Owl Beast! Stay back!" Suddenly, she stopped. "Did you just listen to me?"

He decided to test this out. "Uh, come here. Sit." The Owl Beast obeyed. King noticed that her right eye wasn't black yet. "Oh, this is an interesting development. Eda is only partially transformed which means she's totally suggestible." A wicked idea formed in his mind and he chuckled evilly. "Yes. Yes! I think this will do nicely. Forget fire. I've got a greater force to unleash. You! You're going to help me regain my throne. I mean, if that's okay with you. Right?" The Owl Beast made a low grumbling sound. "I'll take that weird grumble as a yes. I'm just gonna grab a little bottle of elixir in case you go rogue on me." He took a bottle of elixir from the bedside table and put it in a bag. "Now, to destiny's battlefield: the playground!"

"Ahem!" King turned around to see Strix standing in the doorway, looking very ticked. "Mom is NOT your pet!"

"But I... wenk!" Strix grabbed him by the tail and slammed him against the door. "You are NOT to use her for your petty revenge plans!"

"But that usurper stole my throne!"

"It was just a kid at a playground slide!" He slammed King again and prodded his snout. "Listen here, you little mongrel! If I find out you got Mom in trouble because of your antics, I will hang, draw and quarter you and feed what's left of you to Selwyn! Do you understand?!"

"Y-Yes!"

"Good!" The Owl Beast made a low rumble. "Oh, Mom," he said softly. He gave her a hug. The Owl Beast wrapped her wings around him as he hummed her a lullaby. When he was finished, he escorted her back to the nest and helped her sleep. "Good night, Mom." He turned to leave the room, but not before he gave King a warning glare.

When he was alone, King smirked and held up his hand. "Fingers crossed," he said.

"King, are you home?" he heard Luz call out. He ran out the door and closed it behind him just before Eda showed up. "Is Eda up," she asked.

"Who? Oh. That Eda," King chuckled nervously. "No, no. She is out like a light."

"Oh, no. I wanted to ask if I could borrow her staff but I know she needs her rest."

King saw this as a way to get Luz out of the picture and he handed her Eda's staff which was leaning against the door. "Oh, I'm sure it's fine. It's fine. Just take it."

"I can't. Not without Eda's permission."

The Owl Beast let out a screech.

"Well, there's your permission. Off you go," King said.

"I really owe Gus and Willow one. And it's just for the afternoon. I'm sure Eda wouldn't mind."

"Not our generous, kindhearted Eda. Big heart on her."

Luz thought on it, then said, "I'll be back soon."

When King was sure Luz was gone, he said to himself, "Close call."

"What?" Apparently, she wasn't gone that long.

"Nothing!"

"Oh, okay."

When King was sure Luz was gone for sure, he whispered, "Close call." He entered Eda's bedroom and found the Owl Beast awake. "And now revenge. Right, Owl Eda?" The Owl Beast took a bite out of a chair. "I'm feeling confident about this plan."

"To Glandus High," Luz exclaimed as she exited the Owl House, accidentally hitting Owlbert on the wall in the process. "Oh! Sorry, Owlbert. It's okay. We're just on our way to help some friends."

"Ahem." Luz turned to see Strix. "I can't believe you were planning on stealing Owlbert and taking him on a joy ride!" Luz looked down in shame. "Without me!"

"Huh?"

"Mom's never going to let me out of the house now, but with her out like a light, I can go with you?"

"But what about your curse?" Luz realized then that Strix's wings were gone. "Where are..." Strix smirked. "Oh, no! You put on the Mask?!"

"Did you forget that the sealing spell breaks every time Mom becomes the Owl Beast," Strix said. "Besides, Mom won't suspect a thing as long as I don't wear it in front of her this time."

"But what about Selwyn?"

"Oh, I gave her an offer far greater than Mom's." A roar was heard off in the distance. "Yep. Give her fifty manticore steaks and she'll do anything you want."

When Willow and Gus arrived, Strix took the staff from Luz. "Better let me handle this, I'm more experienced with Owlbert even if I can't do magic."

"But how can I learn how to use it if I don't have experience?"

Strix sighed. "Fine."

Luz squealed with joy as she took it. "Who's ready to board Air Luz?" Everyone hopped on.

Willow gave the staff a light pat. "Feel that power‐to‐weight ratio."

"Boys, prepare to fly," Gus said, holding his flags up.

"Next stop, Glandus High! Let's go," cheered out Luz as the staff lifted them up. "Step on it, Owlbert." She gave Owlbert a light slap and the staff zoomed forward, way too fast for comfort. They looped over the forest before crashing down into the trees, knocking everyone off. Owlbert fell down headfirst and there was a loud CRACK! He felt his head with his wing and felt a chip in his head.

Luz got up and rubbed her temple. "Ugh," she groaned. "Is everyone okay?" It was then she and her friends saw Owlbert. The little owl made a frightened hoot before unscrewing himself from the staff and flying away.

Strix's heart raced. "Wait! No! Owlbert! Come back!" He turned to glare at Luz. "Give me that!" He snatched the staff out of her hands and ran after Owlbert. "Wait! Owlbert! Owlbert!"

Luz and the others chased after him until they all came to a stop at a very dark and foreboding grove of trees. "Man, humans can run fast," Gus panted. "Must be their dorsal fins."

"He went in there," said Strix. "Come on!"

Willow grabbed his hand and said, "We have to be careful. It's really easy to get lost in this part of the forest."

Strix removed himself from her grasp and said, "Willow, this is my mother's palisman we're talking about. If she finds out I let Luz take Owlbert, she'll kill me! Literally!"

The group entered the grove and it was getting darker the deeper they went in. There was a loud crunching sound every time they took a step. "Wow. I keep stepping on a lot of crunchy twigs."

"Those are bones, Willow," said Luz.

"Not if I never look down."

Suddenly, something flew over their heads, making them yelp. "This isn't any kind of forest I'm used to," Luz said, pushing some moss out of her way.

"That's because this isn't a forest," Willow said with fear as three bats with human heads crawled toward them. "It's a nest!"

Luz recognized them immediately. "Hey, I remember you. You're Bat Queen's babies."

The bat babies screeched and Strix stuck a finger in his ear and winced. "Yep. It's them alright."

Gus suddenly began to back off in fear. "Wait. The Bat Queen?"

"I think I'd rather take my chances with Eda," said Willow.

Luz spoke to the babies. "Uh, we're looking for a little owl and‐‐ There he is." But Owlbert didn't seem very excited to so Luz. In fact, he seemed afraid. "Owlbert, thank goodness you're okay. Come here, buddy. Time to go home."

Suddenly, a giant bat with a woman's head flew down and landed between Owlbert and Luz. "Hello, small human," the Bat Queen said.

At the playground, the children got the fright of their lives at the sight of King riding the Owl Beast like a horse, wearing cardboard armor and carrying a red flag with his face on it. "Ahem!" he coughed loudly. "Listen carefully. You all have two choices. Grovel or‐‐" The Owl Beast finished his sentence with a growl. "Good enough." The Owl Beast lunged forward, chasing away the children while King shouted, "Run! Despair!" The kid who pushed him down the slide was hyperventilating. "You're time has ended! Mine begins!" The kid ran away crying.

"Not so tough now, you spongy hatchlings. I will eat you," King shouted as the Owl Beast lowered her head, allowing him to hop off. He climbed up the slide and planted his flag as he declared, "All who stood in my way are gone. I declare myself despotic ruler of this land. Nothing can stop the almighty‐‐" Suddenly, the jungle gym shook. King looked down to see the Owl Beast eating the slide.

King shouted at her, "Hey. Whoa, whoa! No eating the throne." The Owl Beast looked at the slide again and drooled. King said softly, "Noooo!" She ignored him and took another bite out of the slide. "Stop that!" he shouted.

The Bat Queen made a low hiss at Luz, Strix and their friends. Strix casually waved to her and said, "Hi, Queenie."

"Strix!" Willow exclaimed. "Do you know who that is?! It's the-"

"Bat Queen. I know," said Luz. "We kinda babysat her kids once. Don't worry. I got this." She approached the giant bat and said, "Hiya, BQ. My, your hair is looking greasy. And your kids! They're as hideous as ever."

"You know, that could have gone worse," said Gus.

The Bat Queen growled. Luz chuckled nervously. "So... Owlbert ran away and I need to get him back. I'm just gonna grab him and we'll be on our way."

The Bat Queen suddenly blocked her with her left foot and said, "To be careless with a staff, it's very serious. I protect him."

"Yeah, thanks for that," said Strix. "But Owlbert belongs to my mother, you know, Eda. You owe her one, remember?"

"You are carless, little owlet! Giving your mother's staff to an irresponsible human who hurts, frightens..."

"Huh?"

"He told me all!" The Bat Queen's and Owlbert's eyes glowed for a brief moment. Were they communicating somehow?

Luz made a look of hurt and disappointment as she said softly to the little owl, "Owlbert, I never meant to hurt you. Please trust me."

"Owlbert." Strix bent on his knees and said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have given you to Luz. I knew she wasn't ready but I still gave you to her. I... We're sorry. Come home, please."

In response, Owlbert flew up to the Bat Queen head and their eyes glowed again. "Trust must be earned..." The Bat Queen jumped onto a stump surrounded by a treasure hoard. "...through TRIALS!" Three jets of flames burst out from the ground.

"Trials?" Gus asked excitedly.

"Luz, Strix, the Bat Queen is well‐known for her impossible trials," said Willow. "I've never heard of anyone winning against her."

"But we have to get Owlbert back, said Luz. "Strix and I accept your challenge!"

"And we'll be right there with you," said Willow.

"Let the flags raise you up," said Gus.

In response, the Bat Queen clenched her fist and the moss bound Willow and Gus. "No helpsies! Now, let the trials begin! Milk the spider demon!"

The spider demon looked like a giant tarantula with an udder. "Doesn't look that hard," said Strix. He was proven wrong when the spider jumped away from here. "Stupid spider. Come back here, you swine!" He jumped onto the spider's back and rode it like a bull until he tired it out, tied its legs together and proceeded to milk it. When he was finished, he held up a bucket of spider milk and said, "Who wants a latte?" before collapsing from exhaustion.

The first flame went out.

The second task was, "Remove bee's nest!"

Luz sat on Strix's shoulders as she reached for the bee's nest with the staff, only to get a surprise when the nest turned into a giant bee. Startled, she fell off his shoulders and the two kids made a break for it with the bee chasing them.

Meanwhile, Gus was trying to free himself from the moss using his flags. "Come on. Almost got it." With a snap, the moss broke from his body. "I am free, Bat Queen! You will rue the day you tried to trap‐‐" The Bat Queen wrapped more moss around him, this time leaving him dangling from a tree. "Ah!"

Well, Luz and Strix eventually got rid of the bee's nest along with the bee because the second flame was out.

The third task was, "Give babies a bath!"

Easier said than done. The babies bit, clawed, scratched and screamed at Luz and Strix as they struggled to bathe them. It was like trying to bathe a pack of wolves. "Grr, how did Mom bathe you when she was babysitting you," Strix growled at them.

"Go, Luz! Go, Strix," Willow cheered.

"Luz, we're here if you need us," Gus called out.

"Yeah, cut us free! We can get Eda!"

"No, I was selfish," Luz grunted as she and Strix scrubbed the babies with a brush. "I goaded Strix into giving me the staff, and I hurt Owlbert. We need to do this alone so he knows we care about him!" And she dumped the tub of water onto the babies. They were now sparkly and clean and their cheeks were rosy red.

"Aw, now that's what I call baby smooth," Strix said.

The babies shook themselves dry and screeched. Luz and Strix screamed as they were attacked. "Get them off me," Strix yelled. "One of them's biting my arm!"

Back at the playground, the Owl Beast had finished devouring the swing set and was still not obeying King's commands. "No, no! Bad Eda! You are my beast and I control you." She continued to ignore him and resumed eating. "Hey!" He gave her a kick, and finally got her to pay attention to him. Only, now he wished he hadn't, as she gave him an angry growl. He whimpered and backed off. "What was I thinking? I'm such a fool. I'm such a..." Then he remembered the elixir. "...genius!"

King tossed the bottle into the Owl Beast's mouth and she swallowed it whole before burping up the cap. "Great. Now, change back to Eda." But the Owl Beast didn't turn back into Eda and growled at him. "Anytime now. Just magically transform." The beast snarled at him. "Oh, nuts." He tried to run only to get tangled in the playground's climbing net.

Before the Owl Beast could eat him, an alarm made her stop. They both turned to see animal control pull up in front of the playground's gates. It wasn't just any animal control, it was the demon hunters who chased after Luz and her friends after bringing the Owl House to life.

A female demon hunter groaned in annoyance. "Ugh, this is so embarrassing."

The leader said, "Hey, hey. This job is all we have right now. So, I wanna see happy faces. Okay? Let's roll out." The female demon hunter stuck her tongue at him.

"Ah, animal control," yelped King.

The leader took a look at the Owl Beast as she growled at them. "Matches the description the parents called in. Bag it."

"No, no!" King shouted as the Owl Beast stalked toward the demon hunters. "No, no, no!"

Before she could attack the demon hunters, they cast a spell circle that trapped her in a magic net. Then the leader subdued her and tossed her into their wagon. "Eda!" King struggled to free himself, only to get his foot stuck. "Awesome. Fantastic," he said sarcastically.

By the time Luz and Strix finally calmed the bat babies down, they were covered in cuts and bruises. Meanwhile, Gus managed to free himself again. "Yes, I am free again." And then was wrapped up in moss again. This time, upside down. He let out a muffled scream of frustration.

Luz wiped the sweat off her and said, "Okay, Bat Queen. That's the last one. We've done all your chores. And we've proved our dedication to Owlbert." She said to the little palisman, "I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you, Owlbert. I promise to be more careful."

"And I promise I'll never be so irresponsible with you again," said Strix. "Will you come back home with us?"

Owlbert nodded and flew into Strix's hand. Suddenly, the Bat Queen clenched her foot and moss wrapped around Owlbert. "What are you doing?!" Strix demanded. "We've done your trials!"

"No! More trails! Last trial! You must face me!"

"WHAT?!" Luz and Strix exclaimed.

The Bat Queen took the air and flew at them with a yell. She landed onto the ground, sending the two kids onto the ground. "You will never get him back!"

"Luz! Strix! Get us out! We can help!" Luz and Strix freed Willow and Gus from the moss when Willow shouted, "Look out!" The bat babies screeched and flew at them.

"I'll hold 'em off with my flags." Gus waved his flags like a bull fighter's cape, making the bat babies attack him and Willow instead. "No! That was a bad plan."

Strix and Luz ran out of the grove with the Bat Queen chasing after them. She lunged at Luz who blocked her claws with the staff. "I won't let you imprison Owlbert," she shouted, striking her in the face.

"That goes for me too, Luzer," Strix said, putting on the Mask.

The Bat Queen stared for a moment before growling with anger. "You still wear that accursed Mask? You are not worthy of palisman! Not worthy of any magic!" She dropped Luz and flew at him. Strix casually pulled a harpoon gun out of his pocket and fired at her. The harpoon pierced through her and pinned her to the ground. As she struggled to remove it from her chest, Strix saw something familiar on her feet.

"Are those...palisman interlocks?" he asked. He yanked the harpoon out of her chest and the hole instantly healed. "You're a palisman? You used to be on a staff?!"

The Bat Queen gasped.

Meanwhile, King managed to free himself and land on his head. He sat up and shook his head. "Your pride has destroyed you." The snot-nosed kid from before was back with a smile of triumph on his face. "The throne belongs to me now."

"Over my dead body," snapped King before he heard the Owl Beast screech from inside the animal control wagon. "Eda!"

"Yes, leave and forfeit your reign."

"Well, then, forfeit I shall. I'm coming for you, Eda!" King left the playground and found the animal control van, stopped at a railroad crossing. He hopped onto the van and squeezed through the barred window. "You in there, Eda?" The Owl Beast, still stick in the net, snarled at him and tried to bite him. He jumped out of the way before he apologized, "Eda, I'm sorry. I used you for your strength 'cause I felt weak. I'm your friend. If only there were some way to remind you who I am." She tried to bite him again. Then King remembered, "Wait a sec. Eda loves my rage squeal. Like this..." He huffed, puffed and let out a squeal that sounded like a chipmunk on helium.

The Owl Beast heard him and started laughing in Eda's voice, "So tiny, so angry!" She suddenly hiccuped and she transformed back into Eda and the net disappeared. "Eda, you're back!" King ran up to her and gave her a hug.

"What happened?"

"Okay, so I went to your room and you were the beast. And then‐‐ And then I woke up here one second before you did."

Eda obviously did not buy it. "Uh‐huh. I'll deal with you later. But for now, you wanna bounce?"

"Yes, please!"

She blasted a hole in the wall and jumped out. This attracted the attention of the demon hunters and their leader growled, "Where did it go?" He saw Eda and called to her, "Hey, lady. H‐Have you seen a monster that kinda looks like you?" Idiot, Eda thought as she left "Lady!"

Strix's discovery made Luz confront the Bat Queen. "You were once a palisman, weren't you?"

The Bat Queen turned away in shame. "Yes, I was once part of a grand staff," she sounded like she was on the verge of crying. "A staff made for a giant! But I was broken, discarded!"

Strix carefully asked, "Is that why you're so overprotective of Owlbert?"

"I protect ALL!" The Bat Queen's eyes glowed and Luz gasped. They were surrounded by multiple pairs of eyes shining at them from the trees. Eyes belonging to thousands of palismans, all abandoned by their owners. "I made home in forest. I'm here to take the lost. The forgotten."

"I understand," said Luz. "But Owlbert is not forgotten. He has someone at home who loves him very much."

The Bat Queen turned to leave. "He will not go back with you."

Strix got angry and tore the Mask off before shouting, "That's not YOUR decision to make, Queenie!"

"I won't let him!" The Bat Queen prepared to strike him when suddenly, Owlbert blocked her path, stopping her. "You..." Their eyes glowed as they communicated with each other. The Bat Queen said, understanding, "You care for them." Owlbert nodded and hooted before he flew to Luz and rubbed his cheek against hers. Then he flew up to Strix before settling down in his hair. The Bat Queen sighed, accepting defeat. "Very well. Go. And take your friends."

Willow and Gus, still being bitten by the bat babies, ran to Luz and Strix. With a whistle, the Bat Queen called them off. Gus shuddered and said, "I don't think I'll ever be clean again."

Owlbert flew over to the staff and handed it to Strix who in turn handed it to Luz. They smiled at each other. Then Strix asked, "Queenie, whatever happened to your original owner?"

The Bat Queen said sadly, "It has been thousands of years. I've forgotten."

"If you ever want to search for the truth, we'll help you," said Luz.

The Bat Queen nodded. "Thank you." She turned and flew back to her nest with her babies in tow. Willow said to Luz and Strix before pulling them both into a group hug, "I can't believe you took on the Bat Queen!"

"And we're not dead," exclaimed Gus happily.

Still, Luz felt a little guilt. "Thank you for helping us get Owlbert back. I'm sorry we missed the game."

"Are you kidding? That was better than any grudgby match. There were action‐packed trials. I got to do my flag wave, and I'm slightly traumatized. Hooray!"

Luz chuckled as she gestured to the little owl resting on Strix's head, "Let's get this little guy home."

When she and Strix returned to the Owl House, Luz applied the bandage to Owlbert's cracked head. "And now you're a part of the boo‐boo buddy club." Owlbert hooted happily.

Strix smiled. "Looks good on you."

"Owlbert?" Luz and Strix froze as Eda came in. "Why are you off the staff?" The little owl flew up to Eda's shoulder and warbled. "Luz took you to get ice cream? Aw... That's a horrible lie." The kids' quickly anticipated the lecture from the Owl Lady, but instead, she just said drowsily, "Well, lucky for you both I don't care right now. I'm going to take a nap."

As she walked upstairs, King said, "I'll, uh, be at the playground."

Strix narrowed his eyes. "I know that look. King, what did you do you little mongrel!"

"Ah, ah," Luz said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let's not get riled up today, alright? We've both had a long day."

Strix exhaled. "You're lucky, King," he muttered as he sat back down on the couch.

Owlbert flew up to Luz and nuzzled her. "We'll keep this one to ourselves, shall we?" Owlbert hooted in response.

When Eda made it to her nest, she suddenly coughed up the bottle of elixir King tossed down her stomach. She realized, afraid now, "The elixir... It isn't working on the curse anymore. This is bad." Then suddenly, she doubled over and vomited something else. "When did I swallow a swing?"

Back at her grove, the Bat Queen was corralling her rambunctious offspring. "Babies to bed." The babies flew up to their branch. "And now it's time to have book before sleeping." The Bat Queen vomited up "A Pox on a Fox" and gave it to her children, but not to read. To feed. "Yes, consume. Grow wise. Avoid paper cuts." After their book dinner, she wrapped her wings around them and they all fell asleep, hanging upside down from the branch.