Amity sighed. Once more, another "episode" filled with things that made her look positively awful. What a terrible impression she was making on her girlfriend's mother. At least she didn't put her in actual danger this time, "merely" trying to take away her most heartfelt dream instead. Well, there was nothing to be done but grin and bear it. On the bright side, it was probably uphill from here. Right? It had to be.
[Open on Eda's Human Collectibles stand. She is dusting the table, looking bored, while Luz is reading the first Azura book to King. Cut to the pages of the book, showing Azura facing off against Hecate.]
Luz: Emboldened by the dishonor Hecate had shown, Azura lifted her staff to the cotton-candy skies and shouted, "I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!" And look! I drew a flip book. [Flips between two pages.] Pew, pew, pew!
"I still can't understand how you can read that nonsense," Hunter complained.
"I will have you know that the Good Witch Azura is the pinnacle of literature!" Luz shouted. "People just can't understand what real art is, that's all!" She looked down at the floor. "And…my dad got me into the series."
Hunter coughed. "Sorry."
"Hey, it's okay!" Luz said with a strained smile. "We can all agree to disagree, right?"
King: Show me the picture. [Peeking over the top of the book.]
Luz: What?
King: Show me the picture! [Luz does.] Hah! I can draw better than that. You know, they once called me the King of Artists.
Luz: Wait. I thought you were the King of Demons. Are you just making this up now?
King: Doesn't matter. What's important is that my followers would leave me offerings in fear of me!
Luz: Well, I can offer you more of this tantalizing book.
Eda: Ugh! Please stop reading that. Its flowery language is an insult to witches and driving away all of our serious customers!
"I was never offended by the flowery language," Amity pointed out. "I always thought it was rather charming, harkening back to a halcyon era."
Luz: Um, Eda? [Zoom out to the empty street.] What customers? There aren't even any other stands around. What's going on?
Eda: This is a bad omen. There must be something horrible happening today.
Gus: Luz! [Him and Willow run up to the stand.] Something amazing is happening today!
"I still can't get over how short I was," Gus lamented. "I look like such a wimp in comparison!"
Luz: Gus, Willow! Hey!
Willow: [Holds up a flier.] It's the annual Covention! Student witches get to see all the types of covens before they're placed in one. There's even a mystery guest this year!
Luz: A job fair for witches! Eda, can we go?
Camila felt a surge of pride that Luz was taking her future in the Isles so seriously. Certainly she had taken it more seriously than she'd ever taken her future on Earth. But then again, had Luz ever truly thought she'd have a future? One where she'd be happy, fulfilled? Herself? Or had Camila, among others, just killed that future with the death of a thousand cuts?
Eda: Absolutely not.
[Luz groans and drops to the ground.]
Eda: I never joined a coven for a reason. Sure it's like a fun club for witches, but you're also giving up your magical independence to be part of a crooked system.
"Eda was right," Willow said with a vitriol that shocked Camila. "We should have seen it! Why didn't people question this? Why did it have to fall to us? The adults were supposed to save us! But in the end, it was us! We were the ones who fought against Belos! They should have…they should have done something…" Willow was in tears by the end of the monologue, clutching against Gus like he was all that was giving her life.
"It's going to be okay," Gus said softly, even though he wasn't anywhere close to sure of that.
Willow: Mmm. [Drops the flier.]
Eda: Eh, but, you know, no judgment. In any case, I haven't been to one since we were girls.
Luz: "We"?
Eda: I—the—I mean—
Luz: [Pops back up.] Who's "we"? You have a mysterious past! Now we gotta go!
Eda: No.
Luz: Okay. Then you leave me no choice.
King: [Grabs the book.] "You shall not shan't doeth no more harm," Azura callethed out... [Continues reading.]
Camila could speak from personal experience that hearing the flowery language of the Good Witch Azura series could drive one close to madness. Give her a good, solid adventure novel any day. Still, she'd never admit that in her daughter's earshot.
Eda: So flowery, so awful.
[Eda walks away, opening the Portal Door and stepping through it.]
King: "Hecate could only screech, screech as did she, for the screeching did worseneth."
"To be honest, the really flowery language is just in the first book," Luz admitted. "Featherwhyle toned it down a lot in book two."
[Luz tosses King through the portal as it closes. It opens a second later, Eda coming back through with King sitting on her head.]
Eda: Stop it! Stop it! I will literally do anything to stop this!
Camila smirked. The shoe was on the other foot. She remembered very well when Luz had offered absolutely anything to become a witch. Now Luz had her own pressure point. It was fairly satisfying after seeing several "episodes" of Eda not following through sufficiently on her part of the deal.
[Cut to a long building, a sign in front of it reading "COVENTION TODAY alchemists anonymous tomorrow". Cut to the front of the building, where Luz is bouncing on her feet and Willow is clapping. Eda groans into her hand.]
-THEME SONG-
Eda: [Grunting as she struggles to pull her hood on, King hanging off of it.] Gotta keep a low profile.
Luz: [Grunts as she tries to shove Eda's hair in the cowl.] Is this cowl really necessary?
Eda: Do you think all my wanted posters are for petty theft? [Numerous small objects fall out of her hair.] Partly.
Camila shook her head in disapproval. While she could understand entirely Eda's rebellion against the system, she still disapproved of the other crimes she committed, like stealing things. She really hoped Luz wasn't going to be following in her shoes.
[Scoops the things back into her cowl.] But the big whammy is I disobeyed the law and refused to join a coven. If I'm seen, I could go to jail. Again.
"When did she go to jail before?" Willow wondered. Luz shrugged. She didn't know.
Willow: [Approaching with one of Eda's wanted posters.] Maybe this informative event will inspire you to join a coven.
Willow flinched violently, a sickened look on her face. Camila didn't understand it. True, she had a hunch Eda was in the right about the coven system being just a way to control people. But the sheer contempt, disgust, and horror everyone had for the coven system indicated to her that there was something else going on here. Something that she was missing.
"I can't believe I said that to her," Willow whispered. "Can you imagine what would have happened if she'd listened to me?"
Luz scoffed. "No offense, Willow, but if decades of Lilith badgering her didn't change Eda's mind, I highly doubt you could have."
"I know, but…" Willow looked down at the floor. "I can't believe how blindly I followed the system until you showed me the truth, Luz…"
"You didn't know any better," Luz said. "No one did. Only Belos knew the truth."
[Eda traces a spell that pulls Willow's cowl over her face.]
Eda: Let's just get this over with.
[They enter the building.]
Luz: Whoa. Was I even alive before now?
"Look, honestly, even though I know what was behind the system, I still do not regret going to the Covention," Luz admitted. "It was just so cool to see all of the awesome things magic was capable of."
[Several booths are set up inside, each with a sign for one coven or another. From the ceiling hangs nine large colorful banners. Two student witches fly by on broomsticks.]
Gus: Those are the main nine covens, but there are hundreds of other ones you can join.
Willow: [As they're all walking.] There's Flower Coven, Artist Coven, Big Dog Coven, Small Cat Coven, Tiniest Cat Coven—
"Those are the minor covens," Hunter clarified. "The nine major covens are abominations, illusion, oracle, plant, construction, bard, beast keeping, healing, and potions."
"So I know you probably don't belong to a coven, Luz, but which area did you specialize in for your magic?" Camila asked.
"I studied them all!" Luz said with a smile. "But my grades were best in potions, bard, and beast keeping." That made sense. Luz was always extremely artistic, had an affinity for animals like Camila, and did well in chemistry class.
[Eda groans.]
Willow: Also the Grumpy Coven.
"It's a shame the Grumpy Coven isn't a thing, because Hunter here could totally lead it!" Gus joked. Hunter scoffed, but noticeably did not deny it either.
Eda: What was that?
[Willow yips as the kids and King all run. Eda rejoins them.]
Luz: [Stops and points.] Ooh, what's that?
Willow: That's the Construction Coven.
"So you're part of the…the Abominations Coven, Amity, yes?" Camila said uncertainly.
Amity shook her head. "No, thank goodness. But I studied abominations exclusively, yes." She drew herself up proudly. "And I am very, very good at them. In fact…" She cast a spell and an vaguely humanoid abomination arrived. "Abomination, bring us more popcorn." The abomination left the basement. Camila looked impressed. Amity barely restrained herself from shouting in glee. She'd impressed her girlfriend's mother!
"I studied illusions and Willow here, as you knew, studied plants," Gus explained.
"What kinds of magic can you do, Hunter?" Camila asked turning towards him.
Hunter flushed with embarrassment. "I don't have a bile sac. I can't do magic. I'm not a real witch."
"Of course you are, Hunter," Willow said, no doubt whatsoever in her voice. "Don't let anyone tell you any differently." Hunter tried to smile, but it just made him look constipated.
[Cut to a bearded witch in a hard hat and Tinella Nosa standing next to a pallet of wood and a pallet of bricks. The witch grabs both pallets from the bottom and tosses them in the air. The materials fall down to perfectly construct a small house.]
Willow: One of the main nine. They use power glyphs to increase their strength.
Camila scratched her head. "I thought you said these glyphs you used were a magic previously unknown to witches, Luz."
That was a really good point Luz had never considered. "I guess they're just using the same name for a different thing?" she suggested.
[The witch removes his hard hat to pull of a power glyph from a stack atop his head. He peels the adhesive off the back of one and puts it on Tinella Nosa's nose. Her pupils constrict.]
Tinella Nosa: [Screams and picks up the witch, throwing him in the air.] Ha-a-a! I'm the destroyer of worlds! [Grabs the Construction Coven sign and tosses it.]
Man #2: Hey, that's the opposite of construction!
"Ah, Tinella," Luz said. "Never change."
[Two witches run in to stop Tinella Nosa as she grabs a giant hammer. Cut back to Luz.]
Luz: Yowza-wowza!
[A light blue double of Luz ducks out from behind her.]
Illusion Luz: Yowza-wowza!
"Two Luzes," Amity muttered, her cheeks turning an incandescent red color. Vee made a mental note not to change into Luz's form around Amity anytime soon. It would be awkward for all involved.
Luz: Yowza-wha-a-a?
[Her illusion double walks over to two Illusion track witches. It waves at her and disappears.]
Gus: [Runs over to the other witches.] Ah! You've been taken in by the allure of the Illusionist Coven. We like to magic with a hint... [Disappears in a cloud of smoke, reappears a few feet to the right.] ...of showmanship.
[He bows as the other two appear next to him.]
Camila applauded. A very impressive showing! Gus repeated the bow he had given in the "episode."
Luz: Wow! Acceptance? Comradery? A sense of belonging? Covens sound incredible!
"They sound incredible, but they're nothing of the kind," Luz snarled.
"Luz, exactly what is the deal with these covens?" Camila asked. "Why do all of you hate them so much? I don't understand."
"You will," Luz muttered darkly. "I can't tell you. I can't…it's bad enough I'll have to see it again. You'll find out when I did, no earlier. I wish I didn't know. But I do, and I'll have to live with that knowledge forever." Camila, for the life of her, just could not imagine what about the covens provoked such a strong reaction from the very strong-stomached Luz.
Eda, why haven't you ever joined one?
"Cause she's smart, that's why," Gus muttered.
Eda: Watch closely, Luz.
[Another illusion track witch is now standing with one of the other ones.]
Eda: When you join a coven, all your other magic is sealed away.
[A seal in the shape of a mirror appears on the witch's wrist, light blue lines running from it up his arms and face. He pales slightly as the lines fade.]
Gus shuddered, remembering how his own magic was almost sealed away.
"Is that what upsets you all so much?" Camila asked.
"I wish it was, Mrs. Noceda," Amity said. "I truly wish that was it."
Eda: From now on, that kid will only be able to make illusions. Since I never joined a coven, I can do every kind of magic. [Creates a fireball in one hand and a ball of water in the other, then makes both disappear.] That's why I'm the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles.
[She walks away. Willow, Luz, and Gus hurry after her, amazed. Cut to the doorway flanked with guards.]
Luz: That panel looks popular.
Gus: [Gasps.] It's the Emperor's Coven! Do you think they'll sign my forehead?
Gus put his head in his hands and moaned. "So dumb…"
"That was the coven you were in, Hunter?" Camila asked. Hunter nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He had been at the Covention before this one. He'd lured people into covens. He'd thought he was doing the right thing. He was so, so wrong.
Willow: Only one way to find out!
[Willow and Gus run inside. Luz starts to follow them, but stops when she realizes Eda hasn't moved.]
Luz: Aren't you coming, Eda?
Eda: No way. Of all the covens, they're the worst. I'll wait out here.
Luz: I get it, Eda. Covens: bad. Individualism: good. But I'm still figuring this world out, so I'm going to go in there and make up my own mind, okay? [She walks in.]
[Cut to a large stadium with a chattering audience. Eda sits down next to Luz.]
Eda: All right, let's see this mess.
[The lights dim. Principal Bump rises from the floor with spirals of green magic, a spotlight illuminating him. The audience applauds and cheers as he summons a mic.]
Principal Bump: Hello, Bonesborough! Students ask me all the time, "Principal Bump, what's the height of magical achievement?"
Mattholomule: Is it this? [Increases the size of his head greatly, crushes the student next to him.]
Gus could feel tears welling up in his eyes. He had no idea what happened to Matt. He could have died, for all Gus knew. The two of them were just starting to be friends. And now Gus may never see him again.
Principal Bump: Wow. I failed you as a principal. [Grabs the mic, with some feedback.] It's being selected to join the best of the best. And there are none better than the jewel of the coven system [Three witches appear.] and the enforcers of his will, the Emperor's Coven.
Luz: Whoa. [Looks to the side and waves.]
Willow and Gus: Luz! [Pointing to Gus's forehead, which has been signed.]
Gus cringed.
Principal Bump: Feast your eyes on this elite force, each member handpicked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic.
"Controlled magic," Luz spat and then actually spat on the ground. "Such bull –"
"LUZ!" Camila snapped.
[Each coven guard traces a white spell circle above their head. One produces a jet of flame, another water, and the third lightning. The three elements come together in a firework that turns to confetti, which Luz grabs.]
Eda: [To the demon next to her.] When does that "elite force" get here? [Laughs.]
[The demon moves away. The coven guards are now holding the same elements in balls between their hands.]
Principal Bump: Members of the Emperor's Coven have access to all—yes, all forms of magic. Ooh. Aah.
Of course they were able to wield all types of magic, Camila thought contemptuously. These types were always huge fans of the rules as long as they were working to their advantage. When it didn't, they were conveniently ignored. And that appeared to be no different in other dimensions.
Audience: Ooh. Aah.
Principal Bump: But... only the best can ascend these ranks. Some day that could be one of you!
[He points directly at Amity, who brightens and squeals. Eda laughs.]
"You know, that was the first moment I saw the real you," Luz said to Amity. "Not the mean girl your mom trained you to be. But the real, wonderful Amity Blight, who is just as much of a nerd as I am at the end of the day. Who was passionate about magic for its own sake, not just as a tool of power."
Amity blushed. That was so nice of Luz. In the moment, she remembered being horrendously embarrassed about her behavior, having comported herself in an undignified manner in front of the Emperor's Coven. It was really nice to have something that for once, was better in hindsight than worse.
Luz: Hmm?
[The three guards grab their capes and disappear in flashes of white light.]
Principal Bump: And now, I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest. You know her, you love her! Lilith!
[Audience gasps.]
Eda: [Stops laughing.] Huh?
[A bright flash of light near the ceiling turns into a blue raven sitting on a branch. It flies off the branch to the stage, landing to reveal Lilith. It disappears with a screech as she lifts her arms and sends her mask flying. The audience applauds and cheers, while Eda is looking at her speechless. Luz notices.]
Luz: You know her?
Eda: You could say that.
Luz: [Gasps.] Mysterious past!
Camila had figured it out, though. The moment she saw Lilith, she realized the undeniable truth about the relationship between the two women. The resemblance between them was uncanny. Given the age difference between them, there was no doubt in Camila's mind that Lilith was none other than Eda's daughter. Lilith's choice to betray her mother's ideals must have caused Eda to retreat into the woods and become the con artist she was today.
Lilith: Thank you, all. [Magically sends her cape and mask back into Principal Bump.] It wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings.
"Ugh, I forgot how annoying she could be in Emperor's Coven head mode," Luz said.
Mattholomule: Like me?
Gus rolled his eyes, a fond expression on his face.
Lilith: Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will. So be more! The Emperor's Coven awaits you!
[She spins, creating the raven illusion again. It spreads its wings before bursting into balls of light. Lilith poses with her arms out, smirking, while Eda glares at her. Cut to outside of the auditorium as Eda and Luz leave.]
Luz: Eda! Where are you going?
Eda: I'm gonna head home and wash the con funk off my skin.
Luz: But we haven't even taken the quiz to determine our coven type!
"I ended up getting the Beast Keeping Coven," Luz informed them. This came as no surprise to Camila, who still remembered Luz's enthusiasm at finding the shed skin of a snake. Wait, if snakes shed their skin, did that mean basilisks did it too? She was going to have to ask Vee.
[She pulls out a thick magazine out of her pocket, flipped to a quiz named "What Coven Are You In?", and holds it above her head. Eda doesn't even look as she casts a laser beam through it and walks away. Luz pulls the magazine down to read it, walking without looking.]
Luz: Ooh, a punky potionist.
[She runs into Amity, and they both grunt.]
Amity let out a laugh that sounded somewhat hysterical even to her own ears. This was not going to be fun.
Amity: Watch where you—Oh, it's you. Willow's... abomination thing.
Luz: Uh... Hey, Amity. So, funny story. Not an abomination. Sorry for the confusion last week. I-I'm Luz. The human. Hi!
"Smooth," Hunter mocked.
[She offers her hand, but Amity smacks it away.]
"Sorry," Amity said with a weak smile.
"Aw, Am, don't worry. I've already forgiven you for everything! You've changed so much since then."
Amity: Ugh. Put that away. You're the one that got me in trouble with Principal Bump and I never get in trouble. [Walks away.]
"Maybe that has something to do with the fact your parents are on the PCA," Gus pointed out, unable to keep the note of resentment out of his voice. As much as he'd tried to entirely forgive Amity, years of resentment over her bullying his best friend would not disappear overnight.
"PCA?" Camila wondered.
"Parent Creature Association."
"Of course."
Luz: [Follows her.] Well, to be fair, you were okay with him trying to dissect me, so—
Amity: [Stops and turns around.] You can't be here! This Covention is for witches only.
Luz: Well, I'm learning how to be a witch. I'm receiving magic lessons from a powerful witch and a ferocious demon.
Amity: [Looks over Luz's shoulder.] Is that your ferocious demon there?
[Luz turns around to see King, decked out in merch, walking towards them. Two bakers are walking behind him.]
King: Cupcakes in my tummy-tum makes the King say yummy-yum!
Baker: So you'll join the Bakers Coven?
King: [Eats a cupcake in one bite.] Hmm... Nope! [Steals a cupcake off the other baker's tray and runs.] Oh, hey, Luz! Look at all those offerings— [Trips on his scarf.] Wah!
"The minor covens are really just guilds or unions," Hunter explained. "You could be in both a minor and major coven – indeed, it was usually mandatory to be in a major coven if you were in a minor one. In the case of the Bakers Coven, most members belonged to the Potions Coven."
[Luz goes to help him up. They both reach out for his dropped cupcake, failing to reach it before Amity steps on it. King gasps.]
Amity could not help but cringe. "I'm so sorry," she said, holding her head in her hands. "I can't…I've been wishing for months now I could take it back."
"So…why did you do that?" Vee wondered.
"The truth is…I was jealous of you, Luz," Amity admitted, verbalizing something that she'd never even consciously admitted to herself until this point. "You got to do what you want, you got to be friends with Willow, you were happy. All things I was denied thanks to my 'loving' mother. So I just…lashed out. And again, I'm sorry."
"I'm sure King will forgive you," Luz said, not really actually sure. King was known to hold a grudge. Then again, there were better than even odds he'd simply forgotten the incident. He was known to do that too. "Why don't you bake him an even better cupcake when you get back?"
"That's not a bad idea."
Amity: Oops. That was an accident.
Luz: Why are you being so mean, Amity?
Amity: Because you and your pet are giving witches in training a bad name.
King: [While scratching his face with his hind leg.] I'm not a pet!
Luz: [Hugs him.] He's a very good boy and the King of Demons! I'll tell you what, Amity. [Stands.] It's one thing to say I can't be a witch—
Amity: 'Cause you can't.
Luz: ...but it's another thing to bully my friends. Just like The Good Witch Azura said when facing down her rival Hecate at the Bog of Immediate Regret... I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!
Camila sighed heavily. "Luz, I may be wrong, but didn't Azura lose the her duel at the Bog of Immediate Regret."
"It was a Pyrrhic victory for Hecate," Luz protested. "She won, but she didn't win with honor, and she lost respect from her clan."
[Everyone gasps. Amity takes several steps forward into Luz's face.]
Amity: I accept. Let's set the terms for this duel, shall we?
Luz: One, if I win, you apologize to King for squashing his cupcake.
King: [Picking up the ruined cupcake.] Goodnight, sweet child.
Luz: And two, you admit that humans can be witches too.
Amity: Fine by me. But when I win, not only do you have to tell the whole covention you're not a witch, you have to stop training forever.
King: Do it, Luz! For my honor!
Luz: Fine. Let's shake on it.
[Luz holds out her hand. Amity draws a spell circle around it before shaking.]
Amity: The everlasting oath is sealed.
"You made her take an Everlasting Oath?!" Hunter said, sounding completely appalled. "That's just barbaric! There's a reason people don't do that anymore. It abrogates people's will. Luz physically would have been unable to train to be a witch ever again."
"Well, I'd seen my mom do it a lot, so…" Amity groaned. "Oh, right."
[Amity pulls her hand back and the spell circle fades.]
Luz: That's probably fine.
Amity: Meet back inside the theater in one hour. [Walks away.] Let's see what kind of witch you are.
Luz: King, I-I can win this, right?
King: [Eating his cupcake.] Mmm? Oh, yeah. No.
[Luz whimpers.]
Luz: [Pops up between Eda and Lilith] Eda, I need your help! I accidentally challenged Amity to a witch's duel, and I think she's going to kill me all the way dead! [Slumps to the ground.]
Lilith: Mmm, it seems your student has met my strongest protégé. [Kneels down.] And look at those ears! [Luz covers them, blushing.] Is she human? [Chuckles and stands.] Where did you even find one of these? Okay, Edalyn.
Camila clenched her fists. No daughter should ever call her mother by her first name, no matter how bad things had deteriorated. And she knew for a fact that was the same in the Demon Realm, because neither Gus nor Willow had called their parents by their first name since their arrival. Amity did refer to her mother by her first name, but by the sounds of it Mrs. Blight really had it coming, so that was probably an exception. And Hunter…huh. Hunter hadn't mentioned a single adult he'd left behind in the Demon Realm. Did he have any family? Something to ask him later.
[Lilith traces a spell circle. Around the building, Eda's wanted posters burn.]
Lilith: For one day, you won't have to hide from the law, because I want to see how good a teacher you really are. [Walks away.]
Eda: Come on, kid. Time to prepare for bloodshed.
Luz: But... whose blood?
Eda: Anyone's guess! [Chuckles.]
[Luz smiles nervously. Cut to a hallway, where Eda puts a sweatband on.]
Eda: All right, Luz. Let's start your training. Now, I'm coming at you with a blast of fire. What do you do?
[Luz pulls her hood up and leans off of the box she was sitting on, landing on the floor in fetal position.]
Eda: Oh, that's right. I haven't taught you many spells, huh?
[Luz shakes her head.]
Camila couldn't help but be a little satisfied at the thought of Eda's lax commitment to teaching coming back to haunt her by making her look bad in front of her daughter, but it was quickly overwhelmed by fear of what would happen to Luz in the duel.
Eda: Boy, I hope you didn't make an everlasting oath to stop learning magic or anything. You'd be toast.
"Was I truly that predictable?" Luz lamented. Everyone nodded.
Luz: [Sits up.] I-Is there a glowy hand thing that happens, or, uh—
Amity: Abomination. Rise.
[Lilith and Amity are standing nearby. An abomination that comes up to Amity's shoulders rises from her spell circle on the ground with a groan. It twists its head off and throws it, hitting a bakers coven witch in the face. Tinella Nosa grabs his hand, chucks him, and then screams.]
"You're really good with abominations, Amity," Luz said in an effort to cheer her up. "I don't think I could even defeat you now. Well, not now obviously, because I can't do magic on Earth, but if I was in the Demon Realm…well, you know what I mean."
"I do. Thanks."
Eda: Ooh, boy.
Luz: I can't believe I'm gonna have to stop learning magic!
Eda: Listen to me, Luz. We are not gonna let those snobs win that easy! We are not gonna let them win at all. I've got an idea.
[Her sweatband rips as her hair wins its fight against it. Cut back to the theater. Lilith and Amity are standing on the dais, while Eda and Luz are standing opposite them.]
Lilith: Beloved citizens, the Emperor's Coven proudly presents an impromptu demonstration of the sort of witch we seek every year. Introducing Amity Blight.
A part of Amity still preened at the praise, even as the majority of her was ashamed at being praised for being a good contender to be part of such an evil system.
[Crowd cheers.]
Fan: Woo, Amity!
Lilith: Versus...
[Eda steps out of the way and proudly presents a very nervous Luz.]
Lilith: ...some human girl.
Luz scowled. "She knew my name! She should have used it."
[Applause stops.]
Student #3: A human?
Student #4: Humans can't do magic!
Student #5: She's not Amity.
[Willow and Gus share a nervous look.]
"I was so scared seeing you in that arena," Willow said. "No offense, Luz, but I really thought Amity would end up wiping the floor with you!"
Luz: Eda? [Grabs Eda's arms.] What am I going to do?
Eda: Calm down. [Frees herself and points.] You see those mounds? Get Amity to land on one of those and she'll set off my magic traps.
Luz: That's cheating!
"That didn't seem to matter to you two episodes ago," Camila pointed out.
"Gee, maybe I learned my lesson?" Luz responded, shocked at how caustic her voice sounded.
There was silence for a few seconds. "Fair," Camila muttered.
Eda: Nobody will know. To all eyes up there it'll look like you're performing magic. Just trust me.
Luz: But I will know in my heart! Even if I win now, I lose.
Eda: That's the spirit!
[A bell rings and screams. Luz, still nervous, and Amity, confident, approach each other as the audience cheers. Amity cracks her knuckles. Luz waves.]
Amity: [Tracing out a large spell circle.] Abomination. Rise.
[An abomination that towers over the two girls groans as it rises out of the spell circle. Luz whimpers.]
Amity: [Gasps.] Whoa. Show me what you got, human!
Luz: I'm not good under pressure! [Runs.]
"I've gotten much better under pressure since then," Luz bragged. Camila was not exactly impressed – Luz should not have been under such pressure in the first place, after all.
[The abomination groans. It twists its head off and throws it at Luz.]
Luz: [Panting.] Whoa!
[Its head just misses. Luz is backed against the wall by the advancing abomination, its head regrown. She sinks to the ground in fear, whimpering, and grows nervous when she realizes she's right in front of one of Eda's mounds. She braces as the abomination steps on it. The abomination looks down as a towering jet of fire erupts from the mound.]
Amity: How did you do that?
Luz: I, uh— [She does jazz hands.] Magic?
"Amity is really good with abominations, mom," Luz bragged. "It's not a coincidence that Willow and I could only get the better of her by cheating."
King: Things that are free People are giving offerings to me! [Reaches Willow and Gus.] I love offerings! What did I miss?
Willow: Luz is in a witch's duel!
Gus: Yeah! And she can win it all! Yeah-yeah!
King: Weh?
[The steaming abomination steps onto another mound, this one producing a current of air strong enough to launch it and Amity into the air. She screams. The abomination grunts as it lands on its back. Amity lands, kneeling.]
Amity: I-I saw you that time! You didn't use your hands! What are you getting at?
Luz: Not dying!
[The abomination sits up with a groan, then stomps toward Luz again. Luz screams and runs. Cut to the stands, where King is carefully making his way down the rows.]
King: This I gotta see!
Student #5: [Waving a foam finger.] Go Amity!
King: Hey! You root for Luz or nobody!
Luz grinned at the show of loyalty from her little brother. God, she missed him so much.
[He tries to run at the student, but gets caught on his scarf again and falls. Cut back to Luz running from the abomination, which sets off an explosion as it steps on a mound. Cut back to King falling down, his "offerings" falling off as he goes. Cut back to Amity advancing on Luz.]
Amity: How are you doing that?
Luz: [Sees the mound.] No, Amity, don't step any closer!
Amity: Why, Luz? What happens if I step closer?
[King screams as he falls flat on his back, directly on the mound. Spikes burst from the ground, forcing Luz and Amity back several steps.]
"Dios mío," Camila muttered. What was Eda thinking? She could have killed Amity! Was besting Lilith that important? Had she gotten so caught up in their rivalry that she'd lost sight of why they'd fought in the first place?
King: Mmm? I'm okay!
Luz: [To Eda.] Spikes?
[Eda gives her two thumbs up.]
Amity: I knew it! You were cheating!
Luz: Amity—No!
[Lilith touches the top of a shorter spike, making it crumble.]
Lilith: Oh, Eda. I do believe this means you lose!
[Eda groans.]
Luz: It wasn't my idea to cheat. And when I found out, I tried to stop it, but—
Amity: Who could believe anything you say?
[Amity starts to walk away. Camera focuses on a power glyph on the back of her neck, which Eda notices.]
Amity cringed. This was truly one of the worst moments in her life. She'd been tricked into cheating – something she absolutely hated. After seeing the many ways Odalia cheated to get what she wanted, Amity had resolved that she'd achieve her success solely on her own merits, and while she'd wavered on a lot of her ideals, that was the one thing she'd never wavered on. So it was simply devastating to learn Lilith had tricked her betraying the one ideal she'd held onto tightly despite everything. And to add injury to more injury, Lilith had done it because she hadn't had faith in Amity's skills. She'd thought Amity couldn't win against the human apprentice of a wild witch, and while Amity knew now neither of those things made Luz inferior, Lilith thought they did at the time.
Eda: Wait just a sec, Miss Protégé.
[Lilith's eyes widen as Eda goes after her. She lifts Amity's hair.]
Amity: Hey! What are you—
[Eda rips the glyph off. The abomination shrinks until it's about the height of Amity's knee, though it crumbles completely when its head crushes it. Eda holds the glyph up to the audience.]
"I've never been more embarrassed in my life," Amity admitted. Luz quickly hurried over to her couch and held her girlfriend. Camila watched fondly, a smirk on her face as Amity blushed at the unexpected physical contact.
Eda: A power glyph from the Construction Coven.
[Everyone gasps.]
Student #1: [Gasps.] I mean... I knew it.
Willow: [Hushed, to Gus.] She cheated!
Eda: Ah-ha! Yes, yes, yes-yes-yes! You cheated. Perfect, prissy Lilith cheated. Hot dang, I love coventions! La-la-la—
Lilith: I only did that because I knew you would cheat!
Eda: Still cheated! Welcome down to my level!
Amity: [Rubbing the back of her neck.] But... I didn't know!
[She sees Luz approaching and runs off.]
Luz: Amity, wait!
King: Luz! Help me!
[Luz grunts as she frees King, ripping the shirts in the process.]
King: My offerings!
Luz: [Pats King's head.] You'll get more offerings, King. [Runs after Amity.]
King: Hey, wait for me! [Follows her.]
"Say, I always wondered what happened after I left," Luz remarked. "I heard Eda and Lilith had this super cool witch's duel."
"Got you covered, Luz," Gus said, and downloaded his memories into the mirror.
[Eda is dancing. Kind of.]
Lilith: Knock it off. You're making a scene!
Eda: You cheated. Hey, where's the Rhyming Coven? What rhymes with "cheated"?
"While there isn't a Rhyming Coven, the Bard Coven has a subdivision for poets," Hunter lectured. "Personally, I always thought they were maudlin and unoriginal. But I suppose it's a matter of personal opinion."
Lilith: Stop acting like a child!
Eda: You were defeated, don't get heated, get your stank face treated.
Camila had to admit Eda was being pretty immature, almost as if she was the younger of the two.
Lilith: Rhyme one more thing. I dare you!
Eda: Oh, it's okay, I'm done. [Pause.] Because my rhymes are depleted!
Lilith: [Screaming.] That's it!
[Lilith summons her staff and hits Eda with a blast of energy, throwing her through her spikes and into the wall behind the dais. The audience gasps. Willow and Gus gasp. The cloud of Lilith's blue magic clears out. Eda, splayed against the wall, smirks.]
Eda: There she is!
[She summons her own staff and spins it in a circle only for it to fly out of her hand and clatter on the ground. She picks it back up with a roar and sends a burst of energy at Lilith. Lilith grunts and sends one back.]
"Is it wrong of me to think this is actually pretty cool?" Camila wondered.
"Not at all!" Luz said eagerly, her eyes practically glued to the screen. "This is so awesome! I'm really sorry I missed this."
Student #5: Witch's duel!
[Lilith's blue magic and Eda's orange magic are evenly matched. They explode in a white light. Cut to the entrance to the theater, which Luz runs out of and looks around. She sees Amity sulking in a dark corner next to the bathrooms.]
Luz: [Gasps.] Amity... [Walks over.] I'm sorry.
Amity: Ugh, seriously? Just leave me alone.
Luz: I didn't mean to embarrass you.
Amity: That's all you ever do! First at school, and now this!
"I really shouldn't have –"
Luz waved a hand. "No, no, Amity, it's okay. You were kind of right. Both times we ran into each other, I made you look bad by cheating. But then again, you kind of did bring it on yourself a bit by being so mean. So maybe it all balances out?"
"Maybe," Amity said, sounding unconvinced.
Luz: Yeah, but—
Amity: [Stands.] You made me look like a fool in front of the Emperor's Coven. My future! You think it's so easy to be a witch. I have been working my whole life to get to the top! [Advancing on Luz.] You lost! You cheated! Say it! Say you're not a witch!
Luz: [Looks at the ground.] I'm not a witch.
Luz's words then echoed in her mind now. She may have had her glyph magic, but at the end of the day, she was just a human pretending to be something she wasn't…and everyone in the Isles had nearly paid the ultimate price.
[She kneels down, pulling out a notepad and pencil. Amity looks confused as she kneels down with her. Luz slowly draws out the light glyph, then taps it. She gently cups the ball of light produced, smiling at it. She holds it up to Amity.]
Luz: But I'm training hard to be one.
[Amity stares at the light in awe. Cut back to Eda and Lilith's duel, where Lilith is spinning her staff. When Eda's attack stops, she pushes her hand forward, her spell circle turning into a burst of magic. Eda takes a few steps back, spinning and drawing a spell circle on the ground. She lifts her hand, creating a growing pillar of wood that splits Lilith's attack. The pillar bends, its owl face hooting lowly. Lilith stares at it, then teleports away from its approaching beak. Stray magic enters the audience. They scream and flee.]
"I'm not really sure what happened after that," Gus admitted. "But I guess they must have fought to a draw, because I don't think either of them were injured."
"I missed all the fun," Luz sulked.
[Cut back to Luz and Amity.]
Amity: [Turns away.] That's nothing. A child could do a light spell.
[Luz's expression falls. She extinguishes the ball of light and turns away, scooping up her notepad.]
Amity: But... I've never seen it cast like that.
"I think that was the first time I ever had doubts about the coven system," Amity admitted. "If they were wrong about you, what else were they wrong about?"
Luz: It doesn't come naturally to me like it does for you, so I've had to improvise. [Nods to the notepad.]
[Amity sighs. She traces out a spell circle and drags Luz's hand into it. Their hands glow briefly, and the circle disappears.]
Amity: The oath is unbound. [Lets Luz go and stands.]
"Thank you, Amity," Luz said.
"You don't need to thank me for doing the right thing, Luz."
Luz: Did it work? Can I still learn magic?
Amity: Humans have no magical ability. But I doubt that'll stop you.
[Amity leaves. Luz stands, watching her.]
King: Luz! You left me!
Luz: Yeah, sorry. Your legs are just so tiny. Should we get you more offerings?
King: Nah. That stuff just weighed me down. But I have something for you, Luz. And it's the best thing, because it's free, comes from my heart, and I always have more than I need.
Luz: [Gasps.] Is it love?
King: Ugh! No! [Reaches behind him.] Tote bags!
"Tote bags are awesome, but love is better," Luz said. "And King has a lot of that for me too!"
[Puts it on Luz's arm and hops in it as she stands.] And they have so many uses! Away, fair chariot! Away!
[Luz pats his head as Eda arrives.]
Eda: We gotta go.
Luz: How'd you get away from Lilith?
Eda: Let's just say she had a real "snack attack." Hah! [Snorts and heads for the door.] Wait, I got a better one.
Luz: Eda...
[Eda stops and looks back at her.]
Luz: Do you think I'll ever be a true witch?
Eda: What? I don't know. And who's a true witch? These suckers? According to them, that means being in a coven, but I never joined one and I'm better than all of them combined. You gotta be your own witch.
Luz: [Brightens.] My own witch.
"Yeah," Luz said glumly. "I sure became my own witch. For all the good that did everyone."
Eda: Now, let's go before my sister realizes I tied her pointy shoes together.
"Wait, her sister?" Camila said. "I thought Lilith was her daughter!"
Everyone stared at her. "Why would you think that?" Willow asked.
"Well…Lilith is, like, thirty years younger than her, isn't she?"
Amity shook her head. "No, the curse made Eda looked older. She's actually younger than Lilith."
"Oh," Camila said a little sheepishly.
[Lilith screams.]
Eda: And that's our cue! [Leaves.]
Luz: Sister? Now that's a mysterious past payoff!
Eda: Oh, you think that's all the mystery I got? Wait until you hear about my parents.
Luz: What? You've got parents? I need to know more!
King: You very much don't!
Amity looked over at Camila for some indication as to whether she was angry at her. But Camila didn't even seem to care very much. Her attention was focused on Luz. "Sweetie, I really hope you've learned to think things through more since then. Challenging a talented witch to a duel when you only know one spell – and a non-offensive one to boot – was, well, foolish!"
"Um, yes," Luz said, not sounding very confident. "Definitely. Oh, I think things through all the time, don't I, guys?"
"I don't know what's more disturbing – if you thought we'd buy that or if you actually do think that's true," Hunter responded.
Luz was thankfully saved from answering further by the return of Amity's abomination from the kitchen. She looked at the bowl it was carrying in dismay. "She said popcorn!" Luz shouted. "This is candy corn!"
"Sorry," Amity said sheepishly.
"Well, when life gives you candy corn…" Luz said and put a handful of candy in her mouth.
