There is an ominous mood in the Emperor's Castle. Loud footsteps can be heard on the expansive corridors. The Emperor's Coven are preparing a petrification ceremony for some unlucky wild witch. She is accused of committing a heinous crime - she combined two spells to save her cat from being devoured by a fire-breathing dragon. And for that, she must suffer the ultimate consequence. She has been crying and blowing her nose all morning.
Next to her cell are Catra and Amity Blight. They've been accused of breaking into the castle and conspiring against the Emperor. Amity hasn't stopped fidgeting and crying ever since they got apprehended. She is not a criminal. She has never even been sent to detention. She is a good girl. She is the top student in her class. She has been aspiring to join the Emperor's Coven for as long as she can remember. But now, here she is, arrested like a common criminal, confined in a cage. She is pacing left and right.
"Would you keep it down?" Catra, on the other hand, seems surprisingly relaxed.
"How can you be so calm at a time like this?" Amity asks. "We're going to be executed!"
"Relax," Catra seems unbothered, "I've been in situations like this dozens of times. Sometimes, on the other side. So, I know all the tricks. We'll get out of here soon," Catra reassures.
A few minutes later, three people approach their cage. "Lilith?" Amity recognizes one of them. "What are you doing here? I thought you rebelled against the Emperor and got kicked out of his coven."
Lilith declines to respond. Instead, she motions the other enforcers accompanying her to put Catra and Amity on leashes and take them to the Emperor's chamber, the throne room. Despite Lilith's best efforts to avoid her questions, Amity is relentless. So, Lilith gives in and explains, "My sister needed help finding a space crystal. I knew I could find one here but I couldn't get to the room it was kept until I pledged my allegiance to the Emperor. He made me seal an everlasting oath to serve him."
"Oh!" Amity gasps. She understands the gravity of an everlasting oath.
"Eda can never know about this," Lilith threatens. "I did this for her. I just couldn't let my sister down again. I hope the crystal was worth it."
"You mean the crystal we lost?" asks Catra.
"You what?" Lilith raises her voice in anger and disappointment. "You lost the crystal after I sold my soul to get it? Oh! You deserve what's coming your way!"
"Please let us go," begs Amity. "We have never committed any-"
"Like I said, I only serve to enforce the Emperor's will now. So, move it!" At that point, Lilith stops engaging with them. She quietly guides them into the Emperor's chamber. She stands by the door.
Emperor Belos is seated on the throne facing the other direction. There's a tiny, weird-looking creature sitting on a bannister. It's the emperor's assistant, Kikimora. "Kneel before the mighty Emperor Belos," orders Kikimora. Amity complies.
"No offense, whatever you are," Catra addresses Kikimora, "but I'm not taking orders from a tiny, insignificant rodent demon like you." Kikimora growls. Catra purrs. They have a stand-off for about a minute. "Look, Emperor guy," Catra attempts to plead her case, "This is all a misunderstanding. We're on your side."
"We are?" a confused Amity asks softly.
"Yes, we are! Just follow my lead," Catra shushes her. She turns back to face the Emperor. "For all you know we could be useful to you!"
"I have heard quite enough!" Emperor Belos shouts with a thunder in his voice before making a dramatic turn to face them. Amity screeches and clings on to Catra's tail. "Who are you that you dare break into my Castle? The Titan is displeased with your actions and for that, you must die through the most atrocious-"
"Before you kill us, hear me out," Catra interrupts, which infuriates the Emperor. He signals the guards to take them out, but Catra persists. "We know about the portal you're building. And my friend, Entrapta is a genius. She can-"
"Did you say Entrapta?" Belos is intrigued, ordering the guards to let Catra speak. It turns out that Entrapta found her way to where the portal is being built. Unable to resist science, she started showing them what to do. Within a few minutes, she was in charge of the portal. "She has been quite resourceful. And thanks to her, we are closer than ever before to completing the portal." He then pauses and asks Catra, "But why do I need you two miscreants?"
Catra stands up in confidence and says, "Because I have led armies to victory. Under my leadership, the Horde brought an entire planet to its knees. So, trust me, you're going to need me on your side. You know, if you want to win."
The emperor is impressed. He then turns to Amity who mumbles her name in fear. He recognizes the name, "Ms. Blight, I presume. I have to say, I am quite disappointed in you. Lilith spoke so highly of you. It's a shame, really, that I have to kill such a promising young witch."
"Um," Amity stares blankly into space, unsure what to offer.
"How about she brings you Luz the Human?" Lilith proposes. "They go to the same school. It shouldn't be that hard."
"I can't capture Luz," Amity cries. "She's my-"
"Nemesis," Catra completes the sentence to save Amity. "They're nemeses, so Luz will see it coming. Which is why Amity will lure Luz by capturing her friends, Willow and Gus."
"I will?" Amity doesn't know where Catra is going with this. She's starting to wonder if she can really trust Catra. Catra gives her a look to remind her that this is the only way to stay alive. So she faces the Emperor and confirms, "I will!"
"Then it is settled," Emperor Belos rises from his seat. "You will bring me Luz's friends by sundown, or forfeit your life!" Amity starts shaking in fear, but the Emperor doesn't care. He orders Lilith to drive Catra and Amity to kidnap Willow and Gus.
On their way to Hexside school, Amity is angry at Catra for agreeing to work for the Emperor so easily, "Are we really doing this?" she wonders. Catra explains that she knows how people like Belos think. Resisting would have made it worse. She is only doing this to buy them some time as they wait for Adora, Luz and their friends to come rescue them.
"Phew!" Amity sighs in relief, "For a second back there I was worried you had really turned evil. I heard the stories." Catra purrs. Amity then continues, "This better work because I can't afford to lose Luz as my-"
"Your girlfriend?" Catra finishes Amity's sentence. "Don't worry, this will all be over soon and you will be smooching in no time."
"You think so?" Amity asks with a smile, before realizing what she just admitted, "Wait, Luz is not my girlfriend," she denies but Catra gives her the look. "Was I that obvious?"
"Dude, you were practically drooling all over her. I think it's cute."
Amity feels embarrassed but somehow pleased at the same time, "It's just a stupid crush. It's like she doesn't even know I exist. What if she doesn't even like me back?"
"Trust me, she likes you. Anyone can tell. Why don't you just make the first move and tell her how you feel?"
"Did you tell Adora when you realized you had feelings for her?"
"Oh please," Catra regrets. "Adora and I bottled up our feelings and expressed them by beating each other senselessly for years. Oh good times," she chuckles.
Catra and Amity spend the rest of their trip bonding over their hopeless romantic misadventures. They arrive at Hexside right before the lunch hour. They go to hide in the bathroom but are shocked to find Boscha in there, skipping class. She is writing "Skara is a Biich" on the tattlewall with a pink marker. The handwriting, the color used and the horrible spelling look a lot similar to the one from last week that said, "Amity is a Laysbian."
"Whatcha doin'?" Amity sneaks up on her.
"Aah!" Boscha jumps, "Geez, Amity! You scared me!" Realizing that she's been busted trashing her best friend on the tattle wall, Boscha begs, "Please, you can't tell anyone about this!"
"I won't," Amity says with an evil smile, "...for a price." As a Blight, Amity has learned never to pass up a blackmail opportunity.
Boscha agrees to the terms of Amity's blackmail. She goes to Gus and Willow's classes and lies to their respective teachers that Principal Bump wants to see them. On their way to the Principal's office, Willow and Gus are suddenly ambushed and blinded with brown sacks being thrown over their heads. To avoid having to answer uncomfortable questions, Amity and Catra agree to only communicate in whispers so that Gus and Willow have no clue who the kidnappers are.
"We're being kidnapped!" Gus shouts as Catra and Amity drag them into the vehicle on the street where Lilith is waiting.
"Somebody help!" Willow screams for help but no one seems to hear or care. Oh well.
Meanwhile, Adora and Luz are at the Knee Island looking for the space crystal. Eda believes they could find one there because the island is filled with natural magic. While the girls are turning over the icy rocks looking for the crystal, Swift Wind is scavenging for food. He comes across something that looks like a huge snow-covered rock and starts licking it, but he inadvertently awakens a Slitherbeast. After seeing how scary the beast is, Swift Wind gets scared and flies away, leaving the beast to chase after Luz and Adora.
"Fear not! Luzura will save you!" Luz shouts, putting her fist up and letting her cape blow in the wind like a superhero.
"Who?" Adora is confused.
"Me. I am Luzura!" she brags. "The most powerful witch on... whoop-!" She trips and falls.
"You're so funny," Adora chuckles and grabs Luz's hand to help her escape. They run to hide together behind a rock. "I'm sure we've lost the beast," Adora says after a while. Luz motions her to stay put but she gets up anyway, "See? Nothing to worry about!" She says just before the Slitherbeast grabs her from behind, "Aaaaaah!"
"Adora nooo!" Luz squeals. She remains optimistic because she has defeated a Slitherbeast before. However, Luz struggles to balance between running to save Adora and drawing a spell circle. She's too nervous and worried to concentrate.
Little does she know that Adora doesn't need saving, "For the honor of Grayskull!" Adora transforms into She-Ra, freeing herself from the Slitherbeast. She thrusts her sword into the ground, unleashing her power. The energy scatters everything within a hundred feet radius, throwing the Slitherbeast into the nearby ocean.
"That was...wow!" Luz manages. She's speechless, looking at what She-Ra did to the ground. It's like it was hit by a cyclone. This is her first time seeing She-Ra in action. The fangirl in her has been awakened. She spends the next one hour talking about that moment and asking Adora everything about She-Ra.
Adora and Luz's search for the space crystal is cut short when a dangerous snowstorm starts blowing. With Swift Wind gone, they have no safe way to get back to the Owl House before the storm strikes. Luz suggests sheltering in the Blights' family cabin until the storm passes.
The Blight cabin is freezing. Adora and Luz are shivering and rubbing their shoulders and feet to generate warmth. After a while, Luz gets an idea, "Maybe, I can use a spell to light a fire... I just need to learn the spell first," her confidence drops.
"Yay," Adora says sarcastically, "I'm so glad we're not totally hopeless." She watches as Luz lies on the ground, clamoring to listen to the island. Adora doesn't think it will work but finds Luz's optimism to be quite admirable. To her surprise, Luz actually channels the island's magic and learns a fire spell. She ignites the camp firewood in the fireplace. Adora is impressed, "You're really resourceful, Luz the Human!"
Luz is jovial to hear her new idol praise her like that. As they warm up, Luz starts asking Adora more questions about She-Ra and Catra. "How does it feel to turn your mortal nemesis into your best friend?"
"It's magical," replies Adora. "Wait, did you say 'best friend'? You know Catra and I are a couple, right?"
"A couple of besties!"
"Huh?" Adora doesn't know what to make of Luz's response. Is Luz so clueless?
"I'm just messing with you," Luz laughs as she gets up to add more firewood into the fire. "I know she's your girlfriend. So, how did you know she was the one?"
"It's hard to explain," says Adora. "Catra and I just have this special bond. It has always been there even when we were growing up. We're soulmates. Just like you and Amity."
"Amity?" Luz asks as if she's shocked. "Ah!" she screams as she trips on a firewood and falls on her face. She quickly gets up, wipes her face and then leans in, looking directly at Adora, "Amity? Amity and I are just friends. Wait, do you think she likes me like that?"
"You're kidding, right? That girl has her crush on you written all over her face. Haven't you noticed how weird she acts around you? And how she gets all nervous and starts bubbling?"
Luz scratches her chin," "Uh, I thought that was just Amity being Amity."
"Nope, it's a crush. She's crazy over you. You didn't hear this from me but last night, she was saying your name in her sleep."
"Really? But she's so pretty and amazing and such a powerful witch. Why would she even want me, a mere human?"
"Because you're amazing, silly," Adora says. "And Amity can see that. Now go get your girl!" She then pauses and thinks for a second, "unless you don't feel the same way."
"I've never really thought about it. We've had some really intense, almost romantic moments, but I didn't think it could actually happen. So, you think Amity really like likes me?"
"Yesss, but if you don't believe me, there's only one way to find out," Adora encourages Luz to ask Amity out the next time they meet. They spend the next two hours talking about Amity and Catra.
By the time the storm clears, it's too late to continue the search. Adora uses her connection to Swift Wind to ask him to come back for them. They fly back to the Owl House, hoping that one of the other teams had better luck.
Back at the Owl House, Adora and Luz find Glimmer banging at the bathroom door. They hear something growling in Eda's bedroom. Luz suspects that Eda has turned into the Owl Beast. They want to go check on her but they are interrupted by Glimmer.
"Do you wanna make a baby?" Glimmer asks Adora seductively.
"What?" Adora is baffled as Glimmer comes closer to her with sexy eyes and smacks her butt. She freaks out and calls for Bow who is hiding in the bathroom, "What's going on here?"
Speaking through the bathroom wall, Bow explains what happened:
It all started that morning when Glimmer, Bow and Eda went to look for the space crystal. They decided to take a shortcut and check with Tibbles, the con-artist. Sure he's a con-artist, but sometimes he manages to get his hands on rare magical items. So, it was worthy checking.
"I know just what you need," said Tibbles. "I can give you the crystal. All you have to do is provide me with a two month-supply of human collectibles."
"Wow, that's easier than I thought," Eda agreed and took the blue glowing crystal from Tibbles hands. It was wrapped in a plastic bag.
Upon reaching home, Eda and Glimmer took out the crystal from the plastic bag. It was perfect... until the blue glow turned ominous red and zapped both of them. The dark magic from the crystal turned Eda into the Owl Beast and blocked Glimmer's magic powers. King suggested using the elixir to save Eda but it didn't work. So, Bow locked up the Owl Beast in her bedroom.
When Bow returned back to the living room, he found Glimmer acting weird. "Do you wanna make a baby?" she asked. At first, Bow didn't know what to make of it because they had agreed to wait until marriage. He assumed Glimmer just wanted to make out because they finally had some alone time. So, he kissed her. She kissed back with a hungry passion.
After making out passionately for thirty seven minutes straight, Glimmer pushed Bow to the couch and began to unbutton his shirt. She had more passion than ever before. She made eye contact with Bow and once again asked, "Do you wanna make a baby?" Her eyes were glowing red. This is the moment Bow realized that Glimmer wasn't being herself. The crystal must have done something to her. So, he did what a good boyfriend would do - he ran. Glimmer started chasing after him and has been doing it all day.
And that is why Bow has been hiding in the bathroom for hours.
"Do you wanna make a baby?" Glimmer turns to Luz.
"Umm... How long is this going to last?" Luz freaks out. She runs towards Adora for protection. Adora asks Bow to come out and suggests locking Glimmer in the bathroom instead - something Bow should have thought of hours ago.
Hooty swallows the crystal to throw it outside but it turns him more whiny and needy than usual, "Nobody is leaving this house," he says. "You're all gonna stay here and we'll be friends! Hoot! Hoot!" He invites them for a tea party but when King refuses to comply, Hooty swallows him.
Adora, Luz and Bow sit in the dining room in silence, pondering everything that just went wrong. They are trying to ignore Glimmer and the Owl Beast's banging. They don't know when or if the effects of the evil crystal will wear off. To make matters worse, they still haven't heard from Catra, Amity and Entrapta. As the hours go by, they get more worried that Catra and Amity could be in trouble. They want to go rescue them but evil Hooty has locked the Owl House down. It's getting late anyway.
The next morning, Glimmer and Eda are back to themselves. Hooty seems fine too. He spits King out, covered in demon guts. Glimmer says she doesn't remember anything she did while under the evil crystal spell but the truth is, she's just embarrassed.
"Oh Tibbles," says Eda as she reaches for coffee, "You may have bested me this time."
"Looks like instead of the space crystal, he gave you the 'spaz' crystal," laughs Luz. "Get it?" Nobody seems to appreciate Luz word play, except Adora.
Catra and Amity are still nowhere to be found. The gang starts planning to storm the Emperor's Castle and rescue their friends. Since they need as much help as they could get, Luz calls Gus and Willow for reinforcement but they don't respond. She tries to call other Hexside students to see if they know where Willow and Gus are but no one seems to know. Out of options, Luz calls the last person she'd ever think to call for help...
"Ugh," Boscha rolls her eyes after accepting Luz's video request. She's in the bathroom applying mascara on her three eyes.
"Boschaaaa! Boscha, my man," Luz tries to sound cool but she's horrible at it, "how's it hanging?"
"What do you want, Human?" Boscha is seemingly getting annoyed and impatient.
"You wouldn't happen to have seen Gus and Willow, would you?" Luz reaches for a glass of orange juice.
"Oh those dweebs? They got kidnapped yesterday by Amity and some cat chick-"
"What?" Luz spits out the orange juice in her mouth. "You knew they got kidnapped and you didn't bother to tell anyone?"
"Why do I care?"
"Because-"
"Bye, Loozer," Boscha hangs up.
