[Open on a Slayground in the middle of Bonesborough. Several baby-track Hexside students are there. A sign at the front gate reads "THE SLAYGROUND funded by the Bonesborough department of parks & wreck". Cut to a sign above a bench that reads "ALL BLOODTHIRSTY MONSTERS MUST BE LEASHED". Eda and Luz are sitting on a bench under the sign.]
Luz: [Visibly nervous.] What if he gets hurt? What if the kids are mean to him? [Gasps.] My parental instincts are freaking out, man.
Camila looked fondly over at Luz. She knew it was a joke, but Camila had a hunch she would make a good mother when the time came, especially with Amity around to keep her more rambunctious instincts in check. She was certainly hoping for lots of grandchildren! Though, of course, if Luz didn't want to have kids, that was a decision Camila would entirely respect.
Eda: He's fine. Look at him.
[Cut to King trying to climb the slide.]
Luz: It does look like he's having fun.
[King grunts.]
Luz: Aw. I wonder what cute little game he's playing.
King: Stand back, cretins. [Grunting as he reaches the top.] Yes! Yes! This is a throne worthy of a tyrant. Bow to me you snotty underlings. Bow!
Kids: [Share a look.] Okay.
"Honestly, this is probably the most normal thing he's done so far," Camila commented. Kids grandstanded all the time. It was perfectly normal.
[One does a handstand while the other does a backbend.]
King: Yes, appease your master.
Usurper: This isn't for standing, it's for sliding. You try. [Shoves him.]
Vee frowned. "Does that voice sound really familiar, or is it just me?"
Luz thought about it for a while. "Now that you think about it, it kind of sounds like Katya." Camila looked confused. "The prisoner who wrote fanfic," she clarified.
Vee could see the resemblance, but that wasn't it. Man, this was going to bug her all day.
King: Whoa, whoa! [Screams, grunts.] Eda! [Runs to his friends, clings to Luz's leg.] That monster took my throne.
Eda: You mean the baby?
King: No, the usurper. I want you to go over there and blow him up. Kaboom!
"Don't worry, mom. Eda would never hurt a child."
"No, just hold her hostage," Camila said bitterly.
"Mom!"
"I'm sorry, Luz! I'm trying to warm up to her. I really am."
Usurper: [Riding a spring rider.] Kaboom!
Eda: [Unscrews Owlbert from her staff.] Yeah, I'm not using Owlbert to blow up a five-year-old.
[Owlbert hoots.]
Eda: He's got better things to do. Like this... [Pets him.]
As if sensing imminent affection, the palismen nestled closer to their symbionts, who all could read a room and proceeded to pet them. Luz sighed. She wished her palisman could hatch already. Sometimes, she swore she could almost sense them, a very faint presence on the very edge of her perception.
[Owlbert warbles.]
Luz: Aw, what a sweetie. How did you get him?
Eda: Get? I made Owlbert from the branch of an ancient tree.
"Is that how you made your palismen?" Camila asked them.
Amity nodded, but the other witches shook their heads. "Palistrom wood is really rare," Willow explained. Hunter looked at the floor guiltily. "We adopted our palismen."
"Our family has a cache of palisman wood since we're really rich," Amity said. "I would have offered some to Willow and Gus, but I was…going through some stuff and it didn't occur to me until it was too late."
"Well, don't take it the wrong way, Amity, but I'm glad you didn't," Gus said. "I can't imagine what my life would be like without Emmeline Bailey Marcostimo."
Owlbert: [Hops onto Eda's hand, hoots.]
Eda: Oh, he's my palisman and we're bonded for life. [Owlbert hops to her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek.] I'd annihilate anyone who'd hurt him.
Luz gave a nervous laugh.
King: Fine. Don't help. Revenge will taste all the sweeter if they fall by my hand alone. [Laughs.]
Usurper: [Shoves King over.] Tag, you're it! [Laughs and runs off.]
"Such a cute little child," Camila mused. Though she did wish someone would clean that booger off his face.
Eda: Oh, man. Here we go. King's squeak of rage.
King: [Stands.] Nyeh... nyeh... [Squeals while wriggling and punching on the air, pauses, then continues squealing as he charges after his rival.]
"Wow, that kid was lucky King hadn't unlocked his actual squeak of rage by that point," Luz commented.
Eda: [Laughs.] He is like a little teakettle. [Snorts.]
[Owlbert scratches at his face.]
Luz: Hey, what's that? [Points to Owlbert's foot, which seems to have a hole.]
[Eda faints. Luz and Owlbert look over Eda.]
"What happened?" Camila asked, very concerned. In her experience, people didn't just randomly faint unless something was very wrong. Granted, that was in humans, but something was probably very wrong nonetheless. It usually was in the Demon Realm, she'd been finding.
Luz: Eda! Eda! Wake up!
[Eda's eyes open. She is now laying down on the bench.]
Luz: Are you all right? [Helps Eda up.]
Eda: [Shudders.] What? Oh, no. The curse. Hey, we have to get home. Now! [Picks up her staff and leaves.]
"The curse was getting worse?" Camila asked Luz, who nodded.
Luz: King we have to go!
King: [Atop the jungle gym, facing Usurper.] Five more minutes, please!
Luz: King!
King: Ah, man. This isn't over.
Usurper: Okay, let's play again real soon. [Hugs King.]
King: No, no. Keep those sticky hands away! Oh, no! He's touching me! [Screams.]
-THEME SONG-
[Cut to the Owl House, where Eda tosses her staff to the couch. She yawns and flops face first onto the couch.]
Luz: I'll go get your elixir.
Eda: [Muffled.] Don't worry about it. I'll get it myself in a bit.
Luz: Do you need me to stay home and take care of you? [Gasps.] I could put King in a little doctor's outfit.
"Why would you do that?" Hunter wondered.
"If you have to ask, Hunter, you'll never understand," Luz responded haughtily.
[Everyone looks at King, who looks up from a stack of paper.]
King: Meh?
Eda: No one wants to see that.
Everyone but Luz nodded in agreement, even Amity.
Luz: I do.
Eda: Look, I know how to take care of myself. I've had this curse longer than you've been alive.
Luz: So, how'd you get it?
Eda: [Grunts.] I don't know.
Luz: You don't know?
Eda: Somebody gave it to me. I don't know who and I don't care because I'm fine, all right? Anyway, don't you have plans with Tweedledum and Twerpledee?
Luz: Well, Willow, Gus, and I are going to the grudgby game between Hexside and Glandus High.
"Still can't believe we missed that game," Gus complained. "Apparently, it was the best game they'd had in years!"
Luz scoffed. "We had a fun adventure. Besides, did you really want to spend hours cheering on Boscha?"
"I never thought of it that way," Gus admitted. "Boscha's the captain of the grudgby team," he explained to Camila.
Camila nodded. Internally, she was wondering if this Glandus school might work as an alternative if she deemed Hexside to still be unsuitable. And, of course, if she let Luz return. But despite the mortal danger, she was starting to think it might be a when, not an if. Not that she was going to say anything yet – she didn't want to give them an excuse to stop telling the story. And she still needed the full story before she made any decisions, no matter which way she was leaning.
Eda: [Screws Owlbert back onto the staff.] Since when are you into sports?
Luz: Since I found a little something called "Hexside Pride." [Grunts.] To think that Glandus, whoever they are, would dare face us. But if you need me to stay...
"I was never a fan of sports or had what they call team spirit back home," Luz said. "It's like, you want me to like the school? Maybe give less homework! Or do something about bullying! Or sack some of the awful teachers! Or honor my accommodations without Mami having to make a fuss every single time! Or redecorate the lunchroom, because man that place is stuck in the 80s. Or –"
"I think we get the point, Luz," Camila said. Luz's rant had filled her with a squirming guilt over all she'd endured there. But it wasn't as if she was made of money. They couldn't afford a private school – certainly not after who knows how long having to support six children now. And no matter what happened, she'd have twice as many children to raise than before.
Eda: Gross. Sympathy. Go! Go have fun at sport.
Luz: Hooray! Hooray for sport! Hugs and kisses, King. [Kisses his skull.] Mwah! [Sing-songy.] Don't spend all night plotting revenge.
"It's important to keep your revenge fantasies limited to no more than two hours per night," Luz said sagely.
King: [Sing-songy.] That drooly-faced heathen will know my wrath.
[Cut to Hexside, where students are lined up to get on a dragon bus. Luz is running toward it but not paying attention.]
Luz: Hexside's gonna wreck your side. [Stops walking.] Huh, no. [Keeps walking.] Hexside is the best side in the west side. [Yelps.]
"In my defense, I got better at freestyling after I started taking bard classes," Luz said.
"Yes, she went from utterly atrocious to marginally bearable," Hunter snarked.
[The dragon bus roars and bites at Luz.]
Luz: [Shudders.] Ah! Friends.
Willow and Luz: Whoo-hoo!
Gus: Game day roar!
Luz: Happy game day, fellow, uh... Are we Hexidians? Hexies? [Gasps.] Hexoleos?
"We are, in fact, Hexolios," Amity confirmed.
Willow: Actually, most people call us... winners.
"I really didn't know what we were called," Willow admitted.
Gus: Grudgby games are the best. The players go through these action-packed trials. And the audience gets to wave flags. Look, I practiced.
"Flags are awesome!" Gus gushed. "Did you know the study of flags is called vexillology?"
[He pulls out two flags, turns in a circle as he waves them and hums.]
Luz: [Looks at her hoodie.] Is it weird that I'm not wearing anything Hexside?
Willow: Um, it's weirder that you're wearing Glandus colors. [Points to a sign behind Luz. Sure enough, her hoodie's colors are the same as Glandus High's.]
Giant Boy: Get ready to be creamed, Glandus nerd.
Luz: Hey! I'm a Hexside nerd. Gotta change out of this shirt. Where can I get a Hexside one?
Gus: I know. There's a lost and found box in the cafeteria.
Luz: Ah! The lost and found. Where mouthguards go to retire.
Gus opened his mouth, but Camila beat him to the punch. "Mouthguards are coverings worn over teeth, used to protect them from teeth grinding."
"Aw, that's more boring than my theory," Gus complained.
[Cut to the lost and found, a giant chest. Luz opens it and pulls out a hat.]
Luz: Yes!
[Cut to the front doors of Hexside, which Luz exits in full Hexside apparel waving pom-poms.]
Luz: Goooo, Hexside! [Does a split and winces as a crack is heard.] Well, I never did that before. Uh, where is everyone?
"Can you believe those morons rejected me from the fearleading squad?" Luz complained. "I can be scary! I even did they eyelid trick! They thought it was cute! The nerve!"
Amity privately thanked her lucky stars Luz got rejected for fearleading. The thought of Luz in a fearleading outfit made her heart beat so fast she was worried she'd end up with cardiac problems.
[The dragon bus is flying away.]
Giant Boy: Hexside rules!
Luz: Oh, no! Come back! Why didn't you guys board the bus?
Willow: We weren't going to leave you behind.
"I have the best friends ever," Luz said, wiping a tear from her eye.
Gus: I was.
"Despite their occasional lapses," Luz added.
Willow: Gus! [Elbows him.]
Luz: Can we walk to Glandus?
Gus: We'd never make it in time. Glandus is... [Rolls his flags, points with them.] all the way out in the middle of the island.
"Oh, dear," Camila said. "I have a feeling I know where this is going."
Luz: [Scoffs.] Typical Glandus.
Willow: And my parents are working, otherwise I'd see if they could give us a ride on their staff.
"My dad was working too," Gus said. "He's a news reporter, very well respected." And that respect caused them to eat up the propaganda his dad gave them. Not that his dad knew it was all a pack of lies, but still, Gus was having a bit of a hard time dealing with his dad's role in helping prop up the Belos regime. Something he'd have to deal with later, he supposed.
Luz: A staff... because staffs fly. Of course. I can get us a staff.
Gus: You can?
Luz: Yes, come on.
[Luz grabs Willow's hand and runs. Gus leaps after them.]
Luz: Is Eda up?
King: [Closes doors.] Who? Oh. [Chuckles.] That Eda. No, no. She is out like a light.
"Apparently, Eda had transformed into the Owl Beast and King used her to frighten his enemies on the slayground while I was off on my own adventure," Luz explained. King had been in so much trouble for that, which was good news for Luz, because Eda was a lot more upset with him than she was with her.
[Eda growls.]
King: [Chuckles.] Oh, man. Can she snore.
"Her snores are so loud," Luz complained.
Luz: Oh, no. I wanted to ask if I could borrow her staff but I know she needs her rest.
King: [Grabs Eda's staff and gives it to Luz.] Oh, I'm sure it's fine. It's fine. Just take it.
Luz: I can't. Not without Eda's permission.
[Eda screams.]
King: Well, there's your permission. Off you go.
"See!" Luz said, hoping she sounded convincing. "I thought I had permission! So the whole thing was a wacky misunderstanding. That's my story and I'm sticking to it." She looked over at Camila, who was not looking impressed, and gave a nervous laugh.
Luz: I really owe Gus and Willow one. And it's just for the afternoon. I'm sure Eda wouldn't mind.
King: Not our generous, kindhearted Eda. Big heart on her.
[They stare at each other for a second.]
Luz: [Starts to leave.] I'll be back soon.
King: Close call.
"Okay, I'll admit it, I was just being willingly blind," Luz conceded. "But come on, who wouldn't do the same thing in my shoes?" Everyone raised their hand, except for Amity, who would gladly steal Odalia's palisman if it meant making Luz happy.
Luz: [Stops leaving.] What?
King: Nothing.
Luz: Oh, okay. [Leaves for real.]
[Cut to the front of the Owl House as Luz opens the door.]
Luz: To Glandus High.
[She gestures with the staff, hitting Owlbert against the house. Owlbert hoots.]
"It was an accident!" Luz said frantically. "I didn't mean it!"
Luz: Oh! Sorry, Owlbert. It's okay. We're just on our way to help some friends.
Willow and Gus: Ooh!
Luz: Who's ready to board Air Luz?
[They all board the staff.]
Willow: Feel that power-to-weight ratio.
"No one's more powerful than you, Flapjack," Hunter said, cradling his palisman possessively.
Gus: [To his flags.] Boys, prepare to fly.
Luz: Next stop, Glandus High. Let's go.
[The staff rises in the air.]
Luz: Step on it, Owlbert.
[She slaps the staff. Owlbert squawks, rushes forward.]
"In my defense, I don't think I really understood he was sentient at this point," Luz admitted. She picked up her egg and put in in her lap. "I swear, I'll treat you so much better. I love you already." Luz thought she could have sensed a faint pulse of emotion from the egg, but it could have just been wishful thinking.
All: Whoa! Whoa!
[The staff does a loop-de-loop, then runs into several trees. The trio grunts and screams. They hit a tree head on. Willow and Gus fall directly into a bush. Luz gets caught on a branch, then falls out of her Hexside sweater. She grunts. Owlbert falls directly on top of his head. He looks at his now cracked head and hoots.]
"Not…my finest hour," Luz conceded.
Luz: [Groans, stands.] Is everyone okay? Huh?
[Owlbert hoots, twists himself off the staff, then flies off.]
Luz: Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no! Owlbert, come back!
[Cut to Luz, Willow, and Gus running through the forest.]
Luz: Owlbert!
[Owlbert hoots as he flies into a foreboding cave. The trio stop running, panting.]
Gus: Man, humans can run. Must be their dorsal fins.
"We don't have dorsal fins, Gus," Camila said with a sigh.
"To the best of my knowledge, aside from not having a bile sac and the ears, there's not many anatomical differences between witches and humans," Luz admitted. "Though I'm not an expert, of course."
Luz: He went through those trees. Come on. [Starts running.]
Willow: [Stops Luz.] We have to be careful. It's really easy to get lost in this part of the forest.
"I was once lost in the forest for days," Willow reminisced. "I ended up in the land of the fae, and I almost never returned home! Good thing I happened to have some cold iron on me. My dads believe chance favors the well prepared mind."
Luz: This is Eda's palisman, Willow. She'll kill me if we don't get it back. Let's go.
[Cut to the inside of the cave. Bats screech as they enter. Bones crunch under their feet.]
Willow: Wow. I keep stepping on a lot of crunchy twigs.
Luz: Those are bones, Willow.
"They. Were. Crunchy. Twigs," Willow snarled at her.
"I'm honestly surprised you're so bothered," Camila admitted. "I thought people in the Demon Realm were more at home with gross body stuff."
"Bones just creep me out," Willow explained. "I even avoided the last carnival that was in town because they had a skeleton crew. Turns out it was just a metaphor."
Willow: [Looks up.] Not if I never look down.
[A shadow passes them. They yelp, and step closer together.]
Luz: This isn't any kind of forest I'm used to. [Pokes a spiderweb with the staff.]
Willow: That's because this isn't a forest.
[The Bat Queen's kids chirp as they approach the teens.]
Willow: It's a nest.
Luz: Hey, I remember you. You're Bat Queen's babies.
[The bat babies screech.]
Gus: Wait. The Bat Queen? [Backs away.]
Willow: [Also backs away.] I think I'd rather take my chances with Eda.
"You were still scared of Eda?" Camila asked.
"Well, we'd been told she was an evil monster our whole lives," Willow said. "That sort of thing doesn't just go away instantly."
Luz: [Walks towards the bats.] Uh, we're looking for a little owl and... There he is.
[Owlbert is standing a bit behind the bat babies. He warbles, backs into the shadows.]
White hot guilt surged through Luz. One more person who she'd hurt. Not the first. Not the last.
Luz: Owlbert, thank goodness you're okay. Come here, buddy. Time to go home.
[The Bat Queen steps in front of Owlbert and into the light. They all gasp.]
Bat Queen: [Hisses.] Hello, small human.
"Hey, I'm slightly taller than average for my age!" Luz protested.
[The Bat Queen exhales.]
Willow: It's the...
Luz: Bat Queen. I know. We kinda babysat her kids once. Don't worry. I got this. [To Bat Queen.] Hiya, BQ. My, your hair is looking greasy. And your kids [Chuckles.] they're as hideous as ever.
"Man, I've got to work on sweettalking people better," Luz admitted.
"I think you got better at it, Luz," Willow said and then nudged Amity. "Wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh, yeah! Absolutely! Uh, what was the question?"
Gus: You know, that coulda gone worse.
[The Bat Queen growls.]
Luz: [Chuckles.] So... Owlbert ran away and I need to get him back. I'm just gonna grab him and we'll be on our way.
[Bat Queen puts a claw on Luz's chest.]
Camila tried to tell herself this was not anything to get upset over. The Bat Queen was just protecting her territory. But that didn't stop her heart from beating faster.
Luz: Ah!
Bat Queen: To be careless with a staff, it's very serious. I protect him.
Luz: And thank you for that, uh, but he belongs to Eda, the Owl Lady. [Removes Bat Queen's claw.] And you owe her a favor, remember?
Bat Queen: Owl Lady is careless. Her staff left her sight. Taken by human who steals, hurts, frightens...
Luz: Huh?
Bat Queen: He told me all.
[Bat Queen's eyes glow yellow. Owlbert's glow the same color.]
Luz: Owlbert, I never meant to hurt you. [Kneels down.] Please trust me.
"I really meant well, mom," Luz said desperately. "I learned my lesson. Palismen aren't toys. When my palisman hatches, I'm going to treat them like they're my own child. I swear."
"I believe you, Luz."
Meanwhile, Amity's mind was whirling. If Luz was thinking of palismen as like children, did that mean they were both Ghost's mothers?! Or would that only be if they got married? Oh, Titan! Getting married to Luz! Would she wear a tux? A dress? Were there any strange human marriage rituals she would have to learn about?
"Amity!" a voice called out, and she turned her head to look at Camila, who looked worried. "Are you all right, cariño? You were zoning out there!"
"I'm fine!" Amity squeaked.
[Owlbert hoots, then flies onto Bat Queen's head. Both their eyes glow again. Luz stands.]
Bat Queen: Trust must be earned... [Flies to a perch.] ...through trials!
"I mean, honestly, it was nice to have a concrete way to gain someone's trust," Luz admitted. "Most of the time, people are so opaque about social stuff, you know? The Bat Queen was like, do these really dangerous things and I'll be your friend. I like that approach!"
[Fire bursts from the ground with the final word.]
Gus: [Happily, waving flags.] Trials?
Willow: Luz, the Bat Queen is well-known for her impossible trials. I've never heard of anyone winning against her.
"Once more, I was the first," Luz bragged.
Luz: But I have to get Owlbert back. I accept your challenge.
Willow: And we'll be right there with you.
Gus: Let the flags raise you up.
[Bat Queen closes her claw. Webs encase Willow and Gus.]
Gus: Hey!
Willow: What?
Bat Queen: No helpsies. Now, let the trials begin. Milk the spider demon.
Camila let out a shriek. She was very arachnophobic, which is one reason she had been very displeased with the griffin incident.
[A spider with udders approaches Luz, holding a bucket. The spider demons growls. Luz grunts, and looks at at Owlbert. He hoots, and tilts his head.]
Luz: All right. Come here, pal. Let's do this.
[The spider demon runs, squealing.]
Luz: If you run, you'll just make this harder for yourself.
[Cut to one of the flames extinguishing.]
Bat Queen: Remove bees nest.
[Luz climbs a tree, empty staff in hand. A giant buzzing bees nest is sitting in one of the branches. She raises the staff to smack the nest, but it turns into the head of a giant bee that screeches at her. She yelps, and falls out of the tree. Cut to her running past Willow and Gus, screaming, the bee screeching after her.
Gus: Come on. Almost got it. [Frees himself from the webs.] I am free! Bat Queen, you will rue the day you tried to trap—
[She traps him again, this time suspended from the ceiling.]
"Does the word stealth mean nothing to you?" Hunter complained.
"I'm an illusionist! We're the opposite of stealthy!"
Gus: Aaah.
[A second flame goes out.]
Bat Queen: Give babies a bath!
[Cut to Luz scrubbing one baby bat, sitting on another, a third biting her shoulder. They're all covered in suds. Luz grunts. The bat babies screech.]
"Easily one of the most unpleasant things I've ever done," Luz said. "Right up there with cleaning Hooty and eating Brussels sprouts."
Willow: Go, Luz.
Gus: Luz, we're here if you need us.
Willow: Yeah. Cut us free. We can get Eda.
Luz: No, I was selfish, [The bat babies' screeching continues.] and I hurt Owlbert. I need to do this alone so he knows I care about him. [Dumps barrel of water over the baby bats.]
"That's so sweet of you, Luz," Camila said. "But Willow and Gus were right. You really should have gotten Eda."
"Well, she was in Owl Beast form, so it wouldn't have worked anyway even if I'd let them go," Luz reminded her.
[The bat babies are screeching, then turn around to show their hair neat and faces shiny.]
Luz: Aw!
[Bat babies shake their heads; return to normal and screech. Luz screams.]
[Cut back to Bat Queen's nest. The third flame goes out. Gus frees himself from the web again, landing in a handstand.]
Gus: Yes, I am free again. I—
[Webs encase him yet again. He screams, muffled, and waves his legs.]
"It really wasn't my day," Gus lamented.
Luz: Okay, Bat Queen. That's the last one. I've done all your chores. And I've proved my dedication to Owlbert. I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you, Owlbert. I promise to be more careful. Will you come back home with me?
[Owlbert nods and hoots. He flies off of Bat Queen's perch to the ground. Bat Queen raises her claw, and webs encase Owlbert. He squawks.]
"Oh, now she's just gone too far!" Camila said. "If he wants to leave, he can leave!"
Bat Queen: No! More trails. Last trial. You must face... me.
[She expands her wings, a jet of flames going up behind her.]
Luz: What?
[The Bat Queen roars, flies forward. Luz, yelping, runs.]
Bat Queen: You will never get him back!
"She's got issues," Vee said.
Hunter, who considered himself to be at least partially responsible for the Bat Queen's issues with his relentless hunting of palismen, shifted nervously.
[Luz grunts.]
Willow: Luz, get us out. We can help.
[Luz frees Willow. Willow frees Gus.]
Willow: Look out!
[The bat babies screech.]
Gus: I'll hold'em off with my flags.
"Yeah…I don't think that'll work, Gus," Amity said.
[The bat babies, screeching, attack Willow and Gus.]
"Told you."
Gus: No! That was a bad plan.
[Cut to Luz sneaking off. Luz yelps, and the Bat Queen roars. She chases Luz through the forest. Owlbert squawks as he frees a wing from the web. Cut to Luz running.]
Luz: I won't let you imprison Owlbert.
[The Bat Queen roars. Luz grunts and trips. The Bat Queen roars again, Luz gasps and grunts. The Bat Queen flies down to attack Luz. She stops her claws with the staff. She's roaring.]
Luz: [Gasps.] Is that an interlock? [Kicks the staff and Bat Queen away.] Bat Queen, you used to be on a staff, didn't you? You were a Palisman.
[The Bat Queen gasps.]
Luz: You were once a Palisman, weren't you?
"Didn't you just say that?" Hunter asked, confused. In retrospect, Luz had concede it was an odd thing that she repeated herself. If her life was a cartoon, it would be the sort of thing she'd say to reorient the viewers after a commercial break and/or switching off to the B-plot. But of course her life wasn't a cartoon. The very idea was preposterous.
[Bat Queen looks at her claw with the interlock on it. She turns away from Luz.]
Bat Queen: Yes, I was once part of a grand staff. A staff made for a giant. But I was broken, discarded.
"I wonder if she was the Titan's palisman," Amity speculated. "Maybe when you get back, you should see if she knows King."
Luz: So, that's why you're so protective of Owlbert.
Bat Queen: I protect... all!
[Her eyes glow again. Behind her, dozens of other eyes begin glowing. Luz gasps. Countless broken and scarred palismen of every type are in the trees.]
"Were you there?" Willow asked Clover. Clover nodded. Flapjack and Emmeline Bailey Marcostimo also nodded.
Bat Queen: I made home in forest. I'm here to take the lost. The forgotten.
Luz: I understand. But Owlbert is not forgotten. He has someone at home who loves him very much.
Bat Queen: [Turns and walks away.] He will not go back with you.
Luz: That's not your decision to make.
Bat Queen: [Turns back around.] I won't let him.
"That makes her no better than the people she despises," Camila said.
[Luz gasps, then braces for an attack. Owlbert protects her, and hoots. His eyes glow. A second later, so do Bat Queen's.]
Bat Queen: You...
[Wind howling.]
Bat Queen: You care for her.
Luz smiled at the reminder of that moment. It had been so infrequent when she found people in her life who cared for her. It was always a shock and a joy when she found one more.
[Owlbert nods, hoots. He nuzzles Luz, warbling.]
Bat Queen: Very well. Go. And take your friends.
[Willow and Gus, still being attacked by the bat babies, run in. The Bat Queen Whistles. Her babies, screeching, flies to her.]
Gus: I don't think I'll ever be clean again.
Gus shuddered at the memories.
[Owlbert grabs Eda's staff and brings it to Luz. Gus wipes the bat babies' spit off of him.]
Luz: Bat Queen, do you know what happened to your owner?
Bat Queen: It has been thousands of years. I've forgotten.
Luz: If you ever want to search for the truth, I'll help you.
"Yet another plot hook wasted," Luz complained.
Bat Queen: Thank you. [Flies away.]
Willow: I can't believe you took on the Bat Queen. [Hugs Luz.]
Gus: [Dances.] And we're not dead.
Luz: Thank you for helping me get Owlbert back. I'm sorry we missed the game.
Gus: Are you kidding? That was better than any grudgby match. There were action-packed trials. I got to do my flag wave, and I'm slightly traumatized. Hooray!
Gus winced at the thought of taking trauma so cavalierly now that he understood what it truly meant.
Luz: [Chuckles.] Let's get this little guy home.
[Cut to the Owl House, where Luz is putting a bandage on Owlbert's cracked head.]
Luz: And now you're a part of the boo‐boo buddy club.
"It's a very exclusive club," Luz bragged.
"And if you all know what's good for you, it won't get any bigger!" Camila advised her guests and Vee.
[Owlbert hoots.]
Eda: Owlbert, why are you off the staff?
[Owlbert hoots, flies over to Eda. Warbling.]
Eda: Luz took you to get ice cream? Aw, that's... a horrible lie.
"Can't scam a scammer," Luz said with pride.
[Owlbert hoots. Luz gulps.]
Eda: Well, lucky for you both I don't care right now. I'm going to take a nap. [Walks off.]
King: I'll, uh, be at the playground. [Walks away.]
[Owlbert flies back to Luz's shoulder.]
Luz: [To Owlbert.] We'll keep this one to ourselves, shall we?
[Owlbert warbles, nuzzles Luz's cheek again.]
"Is it just me or did that 'episode' seem completely pointless?" Amity complained.
"Yeah, if the hints about the Bat Queen's identity had paid off, it might not have been in retrospect…but…" Luz shrugged. "At least I learned a valuable lesson." Luz stroked her egg. "I'm gonna love you so much, little buddy. You wait and see."
