Author's Note: Here is an original chapter of the Owl Sanctum. This is meant to be more heartfelt and less action-packed than most chapters, so sorry if it's a little short.

Anyway, I have an announcement to make. As some of you may know, the release date for the Owl House series finale was recently released, and it's less than a month away. On April 8, it all ends. As for this fanfic, I have made it my goal to finish the season 1 events before then. I made a decision to ensure of that. Right now, besides this chapter, I have three left: 2 to follow the last 2 episodes of season one followed by an original chapter to close it off. In order to make it before the series finale, I'm choosing to focus entirely on updating this story and nothing else. Whenever I get finished with a chapter, I will upload it straight to this website as soon as I can, whether or not it is the weekend. Once I am done, I will take a break from this story to focus on some of my other stories. That's my plan.

Here's to my best of luck. Enjoy the chapter. Any and all comments are welcome.

"Attention, Hexside students." Principal Bump announced over the intercom. "As you know, tomorrow is our annual field trip to the Emperor's Castle. Attendance is voluntary, but highly encouraged by the Emperor's Coven. If anyone has any questions about our field trip, please see me in between classes. Have a good day."

After the announcement, Clea met up with Luz and Stephen in the hallway. Willow and Gus joined too.

"So how's Amity?" Luz asked.

"Well, her leg is broken, but it's not too serious." Clea said. "She just needs to stay in bed with that healing mark on her cast for the week. Shame though. She would love to go on that field trip."

"And what about you?" Luz asked. "You doing okay?"

Clea sighed. "Not really. I mean, I thought Boscha betrayed me. She thought I betrayed her. But the truth is, somebody turned us against each other, and the most likely suspect is the man who's been raising me since I was a baby."

"Have you talked to him about it?" Willow asked.

"No. I haven't seen him since he left on his voyage." Clea said. "But he should be back home tonight. Then, I'll talk to him."

"Better be careful." Gus said. "If he catches onto you, who knows what could happen?"

"Look, I'm not one-hundred percent certain he tried to ruin my life," Clea said, "But I know Mordo wouldn't want to hurt me. I just… I don't know. Stephen, what do you think?" Stephen didn't answer. He was just leaning on the lockers hanging his head down slightly. "Stephen?"

"Hmm. What?" Stephen asked picking his head up.

"Are you okay?" Clea asked.

"Oh. Yeah, I'm all right." Stephen said. "Sorry. My head's just elsewhere today."

"But it's clearly on your shoulders." Gus said.

"I don't think that's what he meant." Willow said.

"What's up, Stephen?" Luz asked.

Stephen sighed. "Actually, could all of you meet me at the Owl Sanctum after school? Ask Wong too. I'd like him there too."

"Why? What's wrong?" Willow asked.

"Nothing really." Stephen said. "I just need to do something today, and I'd really prefer if you all came with me. Okay?"

"Uh, sure." Clea said slightly worried.

After the school day had ended, Stephen headed straight to the Owl Sanctum. He sat in the living room for minutes until the room was filled by his closest friends. Eda and King were already there and Luz was right behind Stephen. In only a manner of minutes, more people joined in. Clea and Wong came side by side as did Willow and Gus.

Once he was satisfied, Stephen sighed and turned to everyone. "Thank you for coming, everyone. It means a lot to me to have you here."

"Kid, I already live here." Eda said.

"Me too. What's the deal?" King asked.

"It's just… I need to do something and I'd like you all to join me." Stephen said. "Eda, would you mind opening a portal to Earth?"

Eda raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Huh? Sure, I guess. But why?"

"This thing I have to do, it's back at Gravesfield." Stephen said.

"Well, I can make time for a trip to the human realm." Wong said.

"Never been myself, but it must be nice." Willow said.

"Luz," Clea whispered, "What's up with your brother?"

"I dunno." Luz whispered back. "I haven't seen him act this weird in…" That's when Luz gasped silently and her eyes widened. She then frowned. "Oh. Is it today already, Stephen?"

Stephen shared his sister's frown. "Well, not today, but it's better today."

"What's up with today?" Gus asked.

"You'll see." Stephen said.

"All right, but you're paying for expenses." Eda said as she pulled out her portal door and opened it.

Everyone entered through the portal door and ended up in the same old house that Stephen and Luz went through at the beginning of their adventure together. The weather outside was cloudy with no sunlight, but it didn't look like any rain was going to pour.

"So this is the human realm, huh?" Clea asked.

"Well, this isn't exactly Gravesfield on a good day, but it's something." Stephen said. "Now, listen, everyone. Luz and I are going to keep our hoods on, but you all need to cover your ears."

"Why?" Gus asked.

"Because humans with pointy ears ain't normal here." Eda explained.

"And someone carry King." Stephen said. "If anyone asks, he's a plush toy."

"What did you call me?!" King asked angrily.

"I'll handle it." Wong said scooping up King in his arms. The little demon sighed.

"In the past, I was a tyrant." King said.

"Well, now, you're a silent plush toy." Wong said.

After leaving the house, Stephen and Luz lead the gang across town. They had to look back at them to make sure there were no curious stragglers. They cut through the town square with the statue of two brothers stood and continued down the street. In only a matter of time, they had reached their destination.

"Gravesfield Cemetery?" Wong asked reading the sign at the front of the gate. "Stephen, what are we doing here?"

"You'll see." Stephen said heading on inside the field.

Everyone followed walking past the grave stones. In only a matter of minutes, Luz and Stephen stopped mourning over a single grave. Everyone looked at the grave in front of them and let out silent gasps of shock. They understood why Stephen wanted to be here the very second they saw the name on the grave stone.

"Beverly Strange"

"Oh, Stephen, I'm so sorry." Clea said sympathetically.

"Thanks, Clea." Stephen said.

"Why today? Why now?" Wong asked.

"Tomorrow is the five-year anniversary of the crash." Stephen said. "Every year, I didn't want to do much. I just always came here to pay my respects. Then, I head to my room for the rest of the night."

"Why didn't you wait until tomorrow to do this?" Eda asked.

"Well, as you know, Luz' mom, Camilla, thinks we're out of town for camp." Stephen said. "I thought that if we waited until tomorrow, we'd risk running into her if she decided to come in my stead." He gave a short and soft chuckle. "It's funny. Before all this started, I never would have wanted to keep all this a secret."

"Every year, my mama and I offered to do something for Stephen to help cheer him up." Luz said. "We offered pizza. We asked if he wanted to watch a movie with us. We even asked to go with him and pay our respects with him together. But every year, Stephen said no."

"I always thought this was something I had to do alone." Stephen said. "But now, things are different. Now, I didn't want to be here alone anymore. That's why I asked you guys to be here with me. If there's anyone I wanted to do this with, it'd be with the people who changed my life. You all helped me see things in a way I never would have seen things before I came to your world. I've learned things about myself that I never thought possible. So…" He held his arm out at the space next to him. "Come. Say hi to my mom."

Everyone smiled and joined in. They all surrounded the grave while Stephen stepped up.

"Hey, Mom." Stephen greeted. "These are my friends. You already know Luz. I'd also like you to meet Clea, Wong, Eda, King, Gus, and Willow. There's also this girl named Amity, but she got injured and couldn't make it. Sorry. Yes, I know. They're not human. But I think you'd like them. They're much like me… in a way. But above all, they make me better." Stephen began to choke up. "I wish you were here, Mom. I'm sure you'd love them. I…"

Stephen was interrupted by a hug from Luz. After that, everyone else joined in. Stephen smiled still fighting back the tears in his eyes and hugged back. Nothing made him happier than these people comforting him.

After their trip to the Gravesfield Cemetery, everyone headed back to the old house and returned through the portal to the Demon Realm. Stephen thanked everyone for their time and sent all the guests back out. Clea was the last one to leave, but before she did, she met up with Stephen at the doorway.

"Hey." Clea said softly giving a smile at him.

"Hey." Stephen smiled back. "So are you going to confront Mordo now?"

"I'm going to have to." Clea said. "What about you? Are you going to be okay tomorrow since it's the real anniversary?"

"Probably so." Stephen said.

"Okay. Good luck." Clea said. She hugged Stephen and kissed him on the cheek before leaving.

After lovingly rubbing his cheek, Stephen closed the door coming face to face with Hooty.

"What's up, chum?" Hooty asked.

"Don't worry about it, Hooty." Eda said from the kitchen. "Hey, Stephen, can I talk to you for a minute."

"Sure." Stephen said heading toward the kitchen. "What is it?"

To his surprise, Eda knelt down to look him in the eyes. "I just want you to know that I think highly of you as well as Luz. I don't know anything about your mom other than what you've told me, but I'd say she was one of the coolest gals in the Multiverse to have a kid as talented as you. I can tell you're meant for great things, and I can only hope I'm there taking in some of that light shining from you."

Stephen smiled directly at his guardian. "Thanks, Eda. Good night."

"Good night, kiddo." Eda said watching him head to his room.

Stephen had one last person to talk to him before he could fall asleep. He turned over to come face to face with his foster sister.

"Hey, Stephen," Luz said, "Thanks for letting us in on this. You've really come a long way."

Stephen smiled softly at Luz. "Actually, I should be thanking you, Luz, for going with me."

"Of course. We may not have the same parents, but you're still my brother."

"Yeah. Can't believe it's taken me this long to realize it. I always thought that what happened to Mom was my business and mine alone. That no one else would be involved. But after all that's happened, all the mysteries about myself, and the fact that someone may be responsible for the crash… It just puts everything into question."

"I understand. If it was just me when I lost my dad, I'd probably feel the same way. But I had Mama to mourn with me. It felt good to have someone with you even in the rainiest days."

"I get that now. Thanks. Good night, Luz."

"Good night, Stephen."

Just ten minutes until it was time for bed. Clea had been sitting in the living room anxiously waiting for Baron Mordo to return home. She ran several versions of the talk she wanted to have in her head. She thought she settled on it, but it instantly slipped her mind the moment the door opened and Mordo walked right in.

"I'm home." Mordo let out an exhausted breath. He walked over to the living room and sat in a chair across from Clea. He rubbed his forehead like he was fighting a headache. "Everything went well while I was away?"

"More or less." Clea said nervously. "Actually, Mordo, there's something I need to talk to you about."

"Can it wait, dear? At least for another day." Mordo said. "I just recovered a powerful healing hat for the emperor, and I need to rest."

Clea was about to press on, but her mind instantly raced back to what the baron said. "Wait. Hold on. A powerful what?"

"Hmm? Oh, right. You're training to be a healer. In that case, I suppose you would be invested in this." Mordo said looking deeply into his ward's eyes. "In my travels, I came across an all powerful Healing Hat, a mystical relic from the Savage Ages that was lost to sea. You have no idea what I had to go through to fish it out. It's said to mend any injury, cure the deadliest diseases, and heal any curse."

Clea's mind then raced back to Stephen's broken hands along with the curse that was plaguing Eda the Owl Lady. The potential of the Healing Hat forced a smile on her face.

"Well, I suppose I could do with a conversation." Mordo said. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Uh… You know what? It can wait." Clea said in too good of a mood to confront her guardian. "Well, I better head upstairs to bed. Got a big day tomorrow." She quickly headed to her room leaving Mordo alone.

"You have no idea how right you are." Mordo said leaning on the chair. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the flask with the red jewel as its cork. About 3/5 of it was filled with red liquid. He stared at it with determination. "This is it. No turning back now. Everything changes tomorrow."