At the Emperor's Castle, members of the Emperor's Coven were working hard on the construction of Emperor Belos' portal, which had what was left of Eda's door to the human world as its centerpiece, and Steve, a member of the coven, was working on the portal with a hammer, when he accidentally hit his thumb with his hammer.
"Owie", Steve said.
As Steve stuck his thumb in his mouth, Emperor Belos watched over construction of the portal with his assistant, Kikimora, at his side.
"If it wasn't for the human's fire spell not being a true spell, the portal would be completely destroyed, and all would be lost", Belos said, "but now we're behind schedule."
"Have faith, my lord", Kikimora said, "the portal will be completed given the proper amount of time."
"Time is the fire in which we burn, Kiki", Belos said.
At that moment, the spy Belos had sent to keep an eye on the residents of the Owl House walked into the room.
"There you are", Belos said, "what have you to report?"
The spy whispered something to Belos that he was intrigued to hear.
"Very interesting indeed", Belos said, "well done."
"What is it, my lord", Kikimora asked.
"It seems that the daughter of Alador and Odalia Blight has become close to Eda's human apprentice", Belos said.
"What is so significant about that", Kikimora asked.
"You see, Kiki", Belos said, "I believe that the human could very well be the one I've been waiting for."
"What do you mean", Kikimora asked.
"I have very special plans that involve Luz", Belos said, "I will begin to reveal them once she has been brought to me."
"Very well", Kikimora said, "shall I order the Emperor's Coven to capture her and bring her to you?"
"No", Belos said, "I have a much better idea."
At Hexside, Amity was making her way to her locker, when she ran into Luz.
"There you are, Amity", Luz said.
"Oh, Luz", Amity said, "what's up?"
"I just wanted to thank you", Luz said.
"For what", Amity asked.
"Because of what you taught me, I managed to do well in Abominations class", Luz said.
"Really", Amity asked, "that's great!"
"I know", Luz said, "check this out."
Luz dropped an abomination glyph on the ground and tapped it, and an abomination rose up.
"I got my abomination to do all kinds of stuff", Luz said, "abomination, jump."
Luz's abomination jumped in the air.
"Good", Luz said, "abomination, touch the ground."
Luz's abomination bent over and touched the ground.
"And here's something awesome I got it to do", Luz said, "abomination, boogie!"
Luz's abomination suddenly broke into a disco dance, with Luz joining in, much to Amity's amusement.
"You seriously got your abomination to do that", Amity asked.
"It wasn't easy, but yes", Luz said, "the teacher said he'd never seen anything like it."
"I don't think I have either", Amity said.
Amity's locker opened up and she set her book in it, when she noticed something wrong.
"Dang it", Amity said.
Luz was still dancing with her abomination, but she stopped when she noticed what Amity was doing.
"You'd expect better quality from something you got at a Covention", Amity said.
She was sticking a poster for the Emperor's Coven pasted in he locker back into place after it began peeling off.
"Abomination, that's all", Luz said.
Luz tapped on the paper she used to summon her abomination, causing it (the abomination) to disappear, and she walked over to Amity.
"Amity", Luz said.
"Yes, Luz", Amity asked.
"Is that a poster for the Emperor's Coven in your locker", Luz asked.
"Yes", Amity said, "why?"
"Oh, nothing", Luz said, "just that I've got a beef with those guys for capturing Eda."
"But it's over", Amity said, "Eda's safe, and the Titan ordered Belos to allow her to go free."
"Amity, you don't understand", Luz said, "there's more going on with them than meets the eye."
"Maybe", Amity said, "but I've been working hard my whole life to achieve my dream of being a part of the Emperor's Coven, and one day, I want all my hardships and sacrifices to pay off."
"Oh", Luz said, "I see."
Then, the bell screamed.
"Well, I guess I'd better head to class", Luz said.
"Yeah", Amity said, "me too."
The two went off to their respective classes, and Amity let out a solemn sigh.
"It might not matter whether or not she realizes how I feel about her", Amity said, "one day, we may walk away as friends, and when we next meet, we'll be enemies."
At the end of the day, Amity returned to Blight Manor and went up to her room to do her homework, and later that evening, Odalia called her downstairs.
"Amity, dear", Odalia said, "come down here, please."
"Coming, Mom", Amity said.
Amity went downstairs and found Odalia and Alador waiting for her, both wearing Emperor's Coven uniforms.
"What is it", Amity asked.
"Emperor Belos has summoned us to his castle for an important meeting", Alador said.
"And he's requested that we bring you with us", Odalia said.
Amity was very surprised to hear this.
"Emperor Belos wants to see me", Amity asked, "why?"
"He didn't fully explain, but he did say that he has an interesting proposition for you", Odalia said, "I would advise that you come with us to hear what he has to say."
"Well, if the Emperor wants to see me, then who am I to turn him down", Amity asked.
"Wonderful", Odalia said, "come along Amity, we mustn't be late."
Amity rode with Odalia on the latter's staff while Alador rode on his, and they soon arrived at the Emperor's Castle, where Kikimora led them into the throne room.
"Emperor Belos", Kikimora said, "the Blights have arrived with their youngest."
Belos stood up from his throne and walked over to the Blight parents and their daughter.
"Alador, Odalia, so glad you could make it", Belos said, "and I see you brought Amity."
"Yes, we did", Odalia said.
"We told her that you wanted to make her a proposition", Alador said.
"Indeed I do", Belos said, "but first, I believe some compliments are in order."
"Compliments", Amity asked.
"Of course", Belos said, "I've heard all about you, young Amity, and I must say, I'm quite impressed with your abilities as a witch."
"Y-you are", Amity asked.
"Yes", Belos said, "you're at the top of everything in Hexside, and what you can do with your magic is more impressive than anything I've seen for many years."
"Really", Amity asked.
"Yes", Belos said, "in fact, your magic might be, dare I say, worthy of the Emperor's Coven."
Amity was filled to the brim with joy upon hearing what Belos had just said, and Odalia and Alador were bewildered as well.
"My lord, what are you saying", Odalia asked.
"Here is my proposition", Belos said, "Amity Blight, you shall join the ranks of the Emperor's Coven once you have completed this one task that I have for you."
"What is it", Amity asked, "I'll do anything."
"Bring me Luz Noceda", Belos said.
Amity's mood quickly changed from excited to surprised.
"Luz", Amity asked.
"Yes", Belos said, "the human girl living with the Owl Lady."
"I know who you're referring to", Amity said, "but what do you want her for?"
"I've got big plans that I've spent years putting together", Belos said, "and she has an important role in them."
"What kind of role", Amity asked.
"That's for me to know and you to find out when the time comes", Belos said, "but I'll need her if you ever want to find out."
"What makes me the best choice for the one to carry out this task for you", Amity asked.
"Why, none other than your bond with the human", Belos said.
Amity was shocked to hear that Belos knew about her and Luz being close, and Odalia and Alador were surprised to hear that Amity had been spending time with her.
"Are you implying that our daughter has been interacting with, of all beings, a human", Odalia asked.
"Indeed I am", Belos said, "I've had my best man watch over Luz and the other residents of the Owl House ever since Edalyn Clawthorne escaped her petrification, and he's made quite a few observations."
Odalia and Alador looked down at Amity with angered looks on their faces.
"So you know about our friendship", Amity asked.
"Yes I do", Belos said, "she'd never willingly come to me, so I need someone close to her such as yourself to bring her to me."
"You do", Amity asked.
"Yes", Belos said, "and if you refuse, there will be consequences."
"You mean besides not getting into the Emperor's Coven", Amity asked.
"Oh no, not just for you", Belos said, "I'm also referring to Luz."
Amity was shocked to hear Belos say that.
"I understand that you care about her very much", Belos said, "and it would be a shame if some horrible fate were to befall her."
"W-what do you mean", Amity asked.
Belos reached into his cloak and pulled out a piece of paper.
"Ah yes, the Owl's Curse", Belos said, "the very curse that plagues her mentor."
Amity could hardly believe was Belos was implying.
"You'd be losing more than your chance to achieve your life's dream if you refuse", Belos said, "so what do you say?"
Amity was torn between the choice of handing her crush over to Belos in exchange for membership in the Emperor's Coven, or give up her lifelong dream so that she could be with Luz, only for her (Luz) to potentially get cursed.
"I don't mind waiting for your response", Belos said, "I'll give you 24 hours to make up your mind."
"Yes sir", Amity said.
After being dismissed, Amity and her parents returned to Blight Manor, where the latter two had some stern words for their youngest daughter.
"So it's true", Odalia said, "you have been spending time with the human."
"So what if I have", Amity asked, "why do you two even care?"
"Because the sight of one of our children being in the company of a human would smear this family's reputation", Odalia said.
"As we said before, Blights only associate themselves with the select few", Alador said, "and a being such as a human is well outside the qualifications."
"What's more is that you seem to have chosen her over Boscha and your other friends", Odalia said.
"Boscha was never my friend", Amity said, "you two picked her out for me because her parents are in the Emperor's Coven with you."
"But you spent many years together as friends", Odalia said.
"I know, and I regret every second of it", Amity said, "I was living a lie when I was with Boscha and her friends, but then Luz came along, and after spending some time with her and her friends, I began to feel like for the first time since my friendship with Willow, I had true friends, not just a bunch of jerks you picked out to be my friends because you only cared about status and social standings."
At last, Odalia and Alador lost patience.
"Do you think you're a member of this family", Odalia asked.
"Y-yes", Amity said.
"Then prove it", Odalia said, "accept Emperor Belos' proposal."
"Capture the human, bring her to the Emperor, and take your place among the ranks of the Emperor's Coven", Alador said.
"And if you don't", Odalia said, "you'll be wishing Emperor Belos had petrified you once your father and I are done with you."
"Y-yes ma'am", Amity said.
Amity made her way up to her room, fell back-first onto her bed, and stared at the ceiling, conflicted over the choice she had to make.
"What am I going to do", Amity asked.