Echo
"Luz, come on! It's time to play Owl House!" The Collector said.
Luz looks around confused. She's in a tree house, trapped in what seems to be a giant wooden maze. As she looks up, she can see the starry night sky all around her.
How did I get here? Doesn't matter, Luz. Focus. I'm obviously in The Collector's game now, so I'll need to be smart. Creative solutions, that's my specialty. I've got this.
"Okay Collector, I'm here. Now what do you want from me?" Luz asked.
Suddenly, Luz floats up above the maze. In an instant, she's face to face with The Collector who's smiling all innocent and childlike.
"I just want to play. Humans are my favorite playmates, they're just so fragile." The Collector said.
"Look, if all you want to do is play, I'll do that. But you need to let everyone else go and that includes King." Luz replied.
"That sounds like a bad trade. Why would I give up my Owl House game and King just to have a human playmate when I can have both?" The Collector asked.
Luz thinks about this for a moment. Her self worth has always been low, but she knows one reason why they should take her. The one thing that makes her unique may be the thing that saves everyone, but ends her.
"You said you like playing with humans, right? Well, I'm that and very creative. I can come up with so many games for us to play. I'll willingly be your life long friend, but only if you let everyone else go. If you don't, I'll never stop fighting you and neither will my friends and family." Luz said.
In all seriousness, Luz puts her hand out to shake on it.
The Collector smiles, taking Luz's hand.
"Alright, you've got yourself a deal. Now wake up and we'll talk for real." The Collector replied.
Luz just stares at The Collector confused. Then, they let go of her hand and she falls. Tears welling up in her eyes as she gets closer to the ground, terrified but accepting her fate.
Suddenly, Luz wakes up in shock, but takes deep breaths to calm herself down. She gets up and sees everyone gathered around making plans, realizing she must have slept through most of the day.
Luz thinks about her dream, it all felt so real and ominous. It's a lot to take in, so she decides to distract herself and joins everyone.
"Luz, you're awake. How are you feeling?" Amity asked.
Luz sits next to Amity. She's still tired, but doesn't want to worry anyone.
"Much better and I'm ready to help. So what's our plan?" Luz asked.
"Well, The Collector likes to take people up to their tree house to play Owl House. So we were thinking of having them take me, Eda, and Raine up there." Lilith said.
Luz thinks about her dream and how she may have a connection with The Collector. Then she thinks about King and how scared he must be. She has no idea what The Collector plans to do with him, but knowing how chaotic and impulsive they are, she's not going to take any chances.
"No, I'll go. The Collector wants a human in their game. I just know it…Plus, I have my glyphs and this way, no one else gets hurt." Luz said.
Everyone immediately objects.
Luz knew this would be the case, but is taken aback by their strong reactions.
"No, Luz. You're not going alone." Eda said.
"How do you know they want a human anyway?" Hunter asked.
Luz freezes up, knowing she was going to have to explain this.
"Well, while I was asleep, I had this dream where I felt like I connected with The Collector. It felt so real…Anyway they want a human playmate and that's why I need to be the one to go." Luz replied.
Amity takes Luz's hand. She can see the fear in her girlfriend's eyes and can't help but feel bad.
"Luz, I know you would do anything to protect the people you love, but you don't have to do this alone. I support your decision, but at least let us help you." Amity said.
Luz looks around at everyone and thinks back to what Eda said on the cliffside, about letting others help her see herself as worthy of being loved.
"Okay, I get it. We're stronger together. Sometimes I need to be reminded of that. Thanks everyone." Luz said.
"Alright, well if Luz is going to go we'll need someone to go with her. Any brave volunteers?" Lilith asked.
"I'll go." Camila replied.
Luz quickly responds with worry.
"Mama, no. You aren't ready and I'm not letting you risk your life. You'll be safer down here." Luz replied.
Camila knows Luz is right, but she can't let her daughter go alone when there's a chance she won't come back.
"Mija, you know I believe in you, but this is too dangerous. Besides, you said this Collector wants humans, right? Well, I'm human too. Maybe, if things go wrong, I can…" Camila replied.
Luz puts her hand up, anger and fear rising inside her as tears fall down her face. She knows what her Mom is going to say, that she'd sacrifice herself to save her. Luz won't let her, and the guilt she's been holding back intensifies, making her think irrationally.
"No. I'm not letting anyone else risk their lives to fix my mistakes. I need to face The Collector alone." Luz said.
Suddenly, Luz uses fire and ice glyphs to create a foggy mist and escapes. She runs out of the hideout as fast as she can while she hears her loved ones calling her name in the distance, but she's not turning back this time.
Once Luz is above ground, she looks up at the tree house in the sky.
"Hey Collector! It's me, Luz the human. I'm down here, ready to play your game. So come and get me!" Luz said.
The Collector appears seemingly out of nowhere and smiles, a friendly yet unsettling grin on their face.
"Yay! You've decided to join the game. We're going to have so much fun!" The Collector said.
The Collector waves their hand and Luz starts floating in the air and towards the tree house. She looks back down one last time, wondering if she's made a mistake.
Then Luz sees everyone down below her, sad and worried as they yell out for her to come back. Seeing all the people she loves, she knows she'll miss them but believes deep down she's made the right choice.
"Goodbye everyone, I love you." Luz said.