When day came, everyone on the Boiling Isles was watching the BBN-HXN news channel, where Perry Porter was reporting on a rather interesting topic.
"Several hours ago, at 1:00 A.M. at a private event at Blight Industries, Eda the Owl Lady, former Blight child Amity, and that deranged cat belonging to the Owl Lady were captured by Alador and Odalia Blight of the Emperor's Coven and brought into the custody of Emperor Belos", Perry said, "they are currently incarcerated at the Conformatorium, where just this morning, the Golden Guard announced what would become of them."
The scene changed to footage of Hunter, in his Golden Guard uniform, speaking to a crowd of news reporters.
"Emperor Belos has declared that, as a penalty for their crimes, these three criminals will be publicly petrified tonight", Hunter said.
The reporters began asking Hunter questions all at once, but he put up his arms and silenced them.
"However, there is one way that they can be spared of such a fate", Hunter said, "if the human Luz Noceda willingly turns herself in to Emperor Belos before sundown, he will allow her friends to go free."
The report changed back to Perry.
"So as you can see, folks, there will be another public petrification on the Boiling Isles following the failed petrification of Eda the Owl Lady", Perry said, "several questions come to mind: will this be like that last one, does the Emperor really intend to go through with this, and most of all, what will the human do?"
Everyone watched as Perry Porter made that announcement, including Lilith, who was feeling terrible about how she had betrayed her family, and at the Park residence, Willow, who was to be homeschooled by her fathers following her expulsion from Hexside, was watching the report on her phone, and was shocked to see it.
"This is awful", Willow said, "it seems like Emperor Belos will do anything to get his hands on Luz."
Willow sat down at her desk and began thinking to herself about the sitiation, when a tiny illusion of Gus appeared in front of her.
"Hey, Willow", the Gus illusion said, "get outside so we can go see Luz."
The illusion disappeared, and Willow walked over to Clover, who was sleeping in the palisman bed she had got her.
"Clover, wake up", Willow said.
Clover woke up and looked up at her master, who was holding her staff.
"We need to go, quickly", Willow said.
Clover flew onto Willow's staff, and after screwing her into place, Willow snuck out of her room and crept downstairs, when she was stopped by someone.
"And where are you going", a voice asked.
Willow turned around and saw one of her dads standing before her.
"Well", Willow said, "I was just..."
"Is something wrong", Willow's other dad asked.
Willow tried to come up with an excuse, but she couldn't think of anything.
"Okay, fine", Willow said, "I'm meeting up with Gus so we can check on Luz and see what she's going to do about the public petrification."
"Is everything okay or not", Willow's other dad asked, "Willow's not trying to sneak out, is she?"
"Uh, no, Gilbert", Mr. Park said, "everything's fine."
"Alright, then", Gilbert said, "if everything's alright."
Mr. Park looked down at Willow and smiled, and his daughter hugged him.
"Don't worry Willow", Mr. Park said, "I know you probably need to be there for Luz after what happened."
"Thanks, Dad", Willow said.
Willow went out the back door and found Gus waiting for her with his staff.
"There you are", Gus said, "we need to to get to the Owl House now."
"You got it, Gus", Willow said.
The two young witches got on their staffs and flew away to the Owl House, and they landed near it.
"Here we are", Gus said.
"Come on", Willow said, "let's get inside and check on Luz."
Willow and Gus hurried towards the house, but they stopped in their tracks when they heard a familiar voice.
"Hello", the voice said.
"Crap", Willow said.
The voice belonged to none other than Hooty.
"I forgot about him", Willow said.
"Willow and Gus, it's you", Hooty said.
"Hi, Hooty", Willow said.
"Is Luz here", Gus asked.
"Yes, she is", Hooty said, "but unfortunately, she's not doing very well."
Hooty's voice had a sad tone to it, which Willow and Gus took as a signal that the situation was serious.
"She came back at sunrise and didn't say a word", Hooty said, "it looked like she had been crying for a long time."
"I see", Willow said.
"Can we come in", Gus asked, "we'd like to talk to her."
"I don't know", Hooty said, "I'm not sure if she..."
Hooty was interrupted when the door he was part of opened, and Luz walked outside.
"Luz", Willow said, "it's you."
"Hey Willow, hey Gus", Luz said.
"Are you okay", Gus said.
"Sure", Luz said, "as okay as I can be when I find out that Belos is going to petrify all my friends unless I hand myself over to him."
"You heard about that", Willow asked.
"Yes", Luz said, "I saw it on the news."
"So what are you gonna do about it", Gus asked.
"Simple", Luz said, "I'll turn myself in."
Willow and Gus could hardly believe their ears.
"What", Willow and Gus asked.
"It's the only way to save Amity, Eda, and King", Luz said, "assuming Belos was telling the truth about releasing them."
"But what about his mysterious plans for you", Willow asked.
"Don't worry", Luz said, "I'll just do what I did with the portal."
Willow and Gus noticed a knife in Luz's pocket, and they were able to figure out that she was planning on killing herself.
"So, yeah", Luz said, "this is also goodbye."
"Luz, you can't do this", Willow said.
"What choice do I have", Luz asked, "it's the only way to save my friends and keep Belos from achieving his goals."
"But committing suicide isn't the answer", Gus said.
"He's right", Willow said, "you can't just throw in the towel like this."
"Why not", Luz asked.
"Because you're Luz Noceda", Willow said, "you saved Eda from the Emperor once, and then you saved Amity from him."
"Not to mention all the other crazy stuff you've done", Gus said.
"How can you just call it quits now", Willow asked.
"Because there's nothing I can do about it", Luz said, "sure, I did succeed those times, but I don't think I can get so lucky this time."
"You have to try", Willow said, "you can't give up."
"But I can't just take on the Emperor alone", Luz said.
"You won't be alone", Willow said, "you've got us."
"I do", Luz asked.
"That's right", Willow said.
"As your best friends, we'll do whatever it takes to help you", Gus said, "we thought you would've remembered that when we got ourselves expelled to save you and Amity."
Luz remembered how Willow and Gus let themselves get expelled from Hexside to save her and Amity from being brought to Emperor Belos, and she was able to figure out that they really did mean what they were saying.
"We're with you, Luz", Willow said, "all the way."
"Thanks, you guys", Luz said.
"Don't forget about us", a voice said.
The three friends looked in the direction the voice came from and saw a large crowd of Hexside students in front of them.
"What in the world", Willow asked.
"What are they all doing here", Luz asked.
"I don't know", Willow asked, "did you get them, Gus?"
"It wasn't me", Gus said.
"It was us", the voice said.
Then, out from the crowd, came Skara, Amelia, and Cat, much to Luz's surprise.
"You three", Luz said.
"Surprised", Skara asked, "we kinda figured you might be."
"You three got all these students to come together", Willow asked.
"That's right", Amelia said.
"But what about Boscha", Gus asked, "we thought you were friends with her."
"We thought the same thing too", Skara said, "but after a while, we realized we were wrong."
"A lot of stuff has happened that's made us realize that she's not the kind of witch who's worth being around", Cat said.
"She crossed the line when she told Mr. and Mrs. Blight about Luz and Amity being in Hexside", Amelia said.
"And if that wasn't bad enough, she turned us into her grudgby uniform to keep us from stopping her", Skara said.
"That was you three she was wearing", Willow asked.
"I thought the colors of her gear seemed familiar", Gus said.
Amelia shuddered at the thought of that dreadful experience.
"It was the scariest thing that's ever happened to me", Amelia said.
"Yes it was", Skara said, "but that's beside the point, we want to help you, Luz, all of us."
"You do", Luz asked.
"That's right", Skara said, "we don't know much about Emperor Belos' plans, but we're not going to let him get his hands on you."
"That's right", Cat said, "we're going to help you save your friends and put an end to the Emperor's ambitions once and for all."
"Yes", a voice said, "all of us are."
Luz turned around and saw Principal Bump standing behind her.
"Principal Bump", Luz asked, "you too?"
"Of course", Principal Bump said, "as the principal of Hexside, it is my responsibility to make sure my students stay safe."
"I guess that makes sense", Luz said.
"Besides, I must confess that I've been suspicious of the Emperor for quite a while now", Principal Bump said, "I think it's high time I started taking action."
"Really", Luz asked.
"Of course", Principal Bump said, "like your classmates, I'm here for you."
"Thank you", Luz said, "but are you sure you want to do this?"
She then turned to the other Hexside students.
"That goes for all of you", Luz said, "I'm not sure what's going to happen after this, and there may not be any turning back."
"We're with you, Luz", Willow said.
"To the end of the Demon Realm", Gus said.
"Yeah", the crowd of students cheered.
"Well, alright then", Luz said, "let's do this!"
The crowd cheered, and Luz smiled with pride.
"So", Willow said, "what's our first move?"
"Well, if we want to save Amity and the others, we should try and come up with a good plan to go about it", Luz said.
"Okay", Gus said, "what do we do?"
"I might have an idea", Luz said.
Luz began explaining her idea for a plan to her friends, and from the roof of the Owl House, someone wearing a white hood looked down on the group.
"So, the human's putting together a rebellion against the Emperor, is she", the mysterious individual said, "this might be a good opportunity for me."