While Camila went to go to McDonalds, Luz cornered Willow and Amity. "Hey, listen, the next one is about when we went into Willow's mind," she said gently. "We don't have to…she doesn't have to know."

Willow shook her head. "Luz, you agreed to show her everything."

"Okay, but she still doesn't have to see it," Luz pointed out, looking at Amity. "I can just tell her. I know how tough it might be on you both. She'll understand."

"You're so nice, Luz," Amity said with a smile. She leaned in and kissed Luz. She'd missed so much being able to show affection to her while Luz insisted they hide their relationship. "But I want her to see it."

"What? Why?"

Amity struggled to come up with a reason that Luz would accept. One of the reasons was because she did not want to set a precedent for Luz avoiding showing Camila things. As much as it might hurt to show Camila some of her adventures – to show everyone those things – the pain not showing them would cause would be worse in the long run. But there was a second reason. One Amity could barely admit to herself, much less aloud.

"I want her to understand," Amity said eventually.

Luz didn't seem to understand what she was getting at, but Willow did. "It's gonna be fine, Luz," she promised. "If it's too upsetting for either of us, we'll let you know, okay?"

"Well…okay."

After a wonderful lunch – everyone absolutely loved the bacon cheeseburgers and especially the French fries, though the Coca-Cola tasted absolutely disgusting to the Demon Realm residents – they resumed their watching.

"This one starts with me," Amity said, and downloaded her memories onto the mirror.

[Open on a hallway in Hexside, where Boscha is magically changing her nails and Amity is reading.]

Boscha: [Sporting tentacles.] Too wiggly. [Changes to miniature flames.] Too obvious. [Stops on talons.] Now we're talkin'! I think today is a talons day—rawr!

"Oh, you have got to show me how to have my nails have tentacles!" Luz said.

"Amity, do not do that if we're going to be in public," Camila warned her.

Skara: Hey, girls! Time to bug out at my birthday party!

[Skara holds up an invite which unrolls in the shape of a red butterfly. Its wings read "SKARA'S 15th".]

Hunter wondered if he'd receive an invite to Skara's sixteenth birthday party. Or if she would still even be alive to have one. He hoped so. Titan, how he hoped so.

Skara: Invite only, but you witches are my VIPs!

Amity: Are these made of real insect wings?

Skara: My dad spared no expense! You only turn 15 once!

Boscha: You only turn every age once, Skara.

"I mean…she's not wrong, technically," Vee pointed out. Everyone glared at her.

Luz: Prepare thyself to do battle like a human! Thumb war!

[Sure enough, Luz is engaging in a thumb war with Willow; both have drawn faces on their thumbs.]

Willow: [Laughs.] It's funny 'cause it's stupid!

"Thumb wars are the second most honorable form of combat in the Human Realm," Luz informed them with solemnity in her voice. "The most honorable form of combat is shipping wars." Camila arched an eyebrow at that. Maybe the Good Witch Azura fandom was more sedate than average when it came to shipping, because she'd hardly classify the shippers in the Cosmic Frontier fandom as honorable.

Boscha: It's so weird that a human goes here now. Too bad she's already burned her social life at the stake. Any friend of Willow's is an automatic dork.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" Hunter and Camila both shouted simultaneously.

"Aw, look at you, defending my honor, Hunter," Luz said.

Hunter coughed. "Yes. That is what I was doing." He was, in fact, defending Willow's honor, but it was probably best to keep his deep appreciation for her – and the strange feelings he got in his stomach whenever he thought of her these days – on the downlow.

[The invite starts molting.] Ugh! Skara! Why did you give me an invite that was molting? Gross! Give me another one.

"Total loser," Luz said. "She wouldn't last five minutes in the Human Realm."

"I don't know, Luz," Camila said glumly. "People like Boscha tend to do very well here, much to my dismay."

Luz laughed. "She's got three eyes, remember? Everyone would laugh at her!" The idea of Boscha getting a taste of her own bullying medicine brought a smile to her face.

[Boscha throws the invite on the floor. Two younger kids see it.]

Kid #1: [Gasps.] An invitation to Skara's party! I want it!

Kid #2: I want it!

Kid #1: It's mine!

Kid #2: No, it's mine!

[The two kids start fighting.]

Camila leaned forward, concerned, and then breathed a sigh of relief as a teacher approached. Finally, someone would start instilling some discipline in these kids.

Teacher #1: Oh. Kid fight!

Teacher #2: Kid fight?

Detention Teacher: Kid fight!

"WHAT?!" Camila shouted. "How dare they encourage such behavior? I have to say, Luz, this is another black mark in Hexside's record for me."

Luz gave a nervous laugh. She really wasn't going to be happy when she learned about Grom, was she? And that was before she would learn what Grom turned into…

-THEME SONG-

[Cut to Luz and Willow at Luz's locker.]

Luz: Oh my gosh, Willow, I'm so excited for photo class! I can't believe you can make pictures of your actual memories! [Opens locker.] I'mma see me some baby Willow!

Willow: I'll admit, I was adorable.

"I bet you were," Hunter mused. Willow giggled and immediately cursed herself. She sounded like some lovesick schoolgirl! Or worse, Amity!

[Luz tries to take a book out of her locker, but it bites down on it.]

Luz: Don't eat that. [Pulls at the book.] Whoa! [Falls.]

[Her locker eats the book and hisses.]

Luz: Hiss! [Stands.]

"You tell that locker," Camila said. Try to eat Luz's school supplies, would it? Well, no sentient locker was a match for the chancla!

Boscha: [Laughing.] I can't believe she'd even hang out with her! It's just embarrassing. [With her fingers like glasses.] "Oh, look at me! I'm going on a date with my ferns!"

"Any fern should be honored to go on a date with Willow!" Hunter shouted, and cringed. "I mean…that's not what I meant! I meant you can probably go out with anyone you wanted! Because you're so pretty! Except Boscha, because can you imagine? And – and I'm just gonna stop talking now."

Willow patted Hunter on the shoulder. "Thanks."

[Skara laughs as she, Boscha, and Amity pass Luz and Willow. Willow wilts.]

Hunter shook his head in dismay. This was beyond just standing idly by. "Are you sure she doesn't act like this anymore?" he asked Willow.

"Yes, I'm sure, Hunter," Willow promised. "She gave me a very nice apology. You won't be seeing it, because it happened between these adventures, but I promise, it was sincere and she's a much better person now." She turned to face Amity. "Just like you."

"Thank you, Willow," Amity said softly.

Luz: That could be anyone!

Skara: Solid Willow impression, Boscha! Amity, weren't you friends with Willow?

"Like I said, she apologized," Willow said hurriedly to Hunter. The last thing she wanted was for him to teach her a lesson. It would affect their team cohesion and lose Hunter one of his few friends.

[The three of them stop walking. Amity side-eyes Skara.]

Amity: I'm a Blight. We only associate with a select few. Keep annoying me though, I'm happy to select fewer. [Walks off.]

"It was a bluff," Amity admitted. "I knew the consequences of not hanging out with Skara anymore…" And soon everyone else in the room would too.

Skara: Oh, I coulda sworn that you guys hung out.

[Skara and Boscha follow Amity. Willow sighs. Cut to a darkroom-like classroom with students sitting in front of undeveloped photos.]

Luz: Alright, memory melon, let's pick another juicy one!

Willow: Be careful with my brain!

[Luz pulls a photo out of Willow's ear with a pair of tweezers.]

"That didn't hurt, did it?" Camila worried.

"Nah! I didn't feel a thing."

Luz: Ooo, who says brain surgery is hard?

"Luz, so help me God, if you decide to just go around doing brain surgery on people…" Camila warned her. Luz gulped and canceled a few of her more out there plans.

[Willow rubs her ear as Luz puts the empty photo on a wire.]

Photo Teacher: As your work, note that some prints have greater clarity than others. These are moments that invoke strong emotional response.

Luz: All the colors of the brainbow.

[Luz goes to touch the photo. A big blue hand that has "HALT" on it stops her.]

Photo Teacher: But, if you damage the prints, you'll damage the memories themselves! Be extremely careful. [Walks away.]

Luz: Whoa. Photo class is intense.

[One photo develops, showing Willow on a chair, blushing a bit, with a band-aid on her cheek, and with wavy and poofy hair.]

Luz: Oh my gosh, Willow, you had an awkward hair phase, too? I knew we were meant to be friends.

[She holds up a picture day photo of her as a child with her hair done up in three awkward braids, each sporting two bows. There are also stickers in her hair.]

"Oh, wow, Luz, you were such a cute kid!" Amity said.

"Perhaps when we have some more time on our hands, I can bring out some of the old photo albums," Camila suggested with a diabolical grin. It was every mother's responsibility to embarrass their daughter in front of their love interest, and if Luz didn't at least have a crush on Amity, Camila would eat her hat.

"Oh, can we, Luz?" Amity asked with her most adorable expression. "Can we, can we, can we?!"

Luz sighed. "As if I could ever say no to that face."

Luz: Ooo, there's more!

[The rest of the photos develop: Willow being pushed on a swing by her dads, Willow feeding as spider demon, Willow and her dads at what looks like a winter holiday

"So I apologize if this question is intrusive, Willow, and you certainly don't have to answer if you don't want to, but were you adopted?" Camila asked.

"No," Willow said with a smile. "My dads are my birth dads."

Camila nodded slowly. "So…two men or…two women could have a child together?" As horrendously awkward as the question was, she absolutely had to know. If Luz could get Amity pregnant or vice versa, it was imperative Camila figure out how that was possible, so it could be avoided at all costs.

"Well, in my case, Papa was assigned female at birth," Willow said, shifting uncomfortably. Camila groaned softly. That'd teach her to assume! "But, yes, there are certain rituals that two men or women could use to have a kid. Or three people of any gender. Sometimes four, though the ritual starts to get riskier when you use it for four people. Five is just too dangerous; those babies rarely survive to term."

"But it can't happen by accident," Camila pressed. Willow shook her head. Camila breathed a sigh of relief.

and Amity hugging Willow at a birthday party. Luz gasps.]

Willow: Ugh. [Turns away.]

Luz: Hey, I know you and Amity have a history. Wouldn't you feel better talking about it?

Willow: No, I'd rather do this. [Flips photo around.] That's my motto, after all! "Out of sight, out of mind."

"Sounds good to me!" Luz said with a thumbs up.

Willow sighed and shook her head. "No, Luz. I was wrong. You said that. Talking about your problems can hurt, but keeping them inside where they fester can hurt more."

"Yeah, but…but what if it hurts a lot?" Luz whispered.

Willow looked her in the eyes. "Then your friends will help relieve the pain."

[The bell screams and rings. Students begin leaving.]

Luz: If you won't tell me what she did, I'll never be able to cook up a scheme to make you friends again.

"Oh, no, not the patented Luz schemes," Camila said, half in jest and half deadly seriously.

Willow: Luz, I get it, but I don't want you to do that. No schemes, no plots, no ruses, none! Okay? Now, let's get to lunch! [Leaves.]

Luz: [Looks at the photos.] She never did mention anything about... shenanigans.

"Well, I certainly will next time around," Willow said grumpily.

[Luz turns the photo back around. She follows Willow out of the classroom as Boscha and Amity come from the opposite direction.]

Luz: Wait up!

Boscha: [To Amity.] I can't believe I made him cry. Like, he's the teacher.

"How the hell has this girl not been expelled?" Camila asked.

"Her moms are on the PCA too," Gus explained. "They're really close with Amity's mom."

[As they pass photo class, Amity stops.]

Amity: Hm?

[She looks at Willow's memory photos, specifically the birthday party one.]

Amity: Oh no.

Boscha: Why do you look like you've seen a ghost? Is there a ghost in photo class? Are they cute?!

"Ghosts are…are real?" Camila said, trying to keep the hope out of her voice.

"They're…sort of facsimiles of the original person," Luz explained carefully. "It's…some pretty esoteric oracle magic. And…and they need magic, mom. There's no…there's no magic in the Human Realm."

Camila sighed. "Yes. Yes, of course." Why had she even gotten her hopes up for a second? She'd never see him again. Not even as a ghost.

[Amity tries to block Boscha's view with her hand.]

Amity: Yep, just a super cute ghost. But they're all mine! [Slams door.]

Boscha: Ask if they have any friends!

Hunter sniffed. "She must have been really desperate for a partner. Not that I'm surprised. Who'd want to date someone with such a toxic personality?"

Amity: [Takes down the photo.] Willow, [Sighs.] I'm sorry. But I have to do this.

[Amity summons a small flame and burns her face off the photo.]

"WHAT?!" Hunter shouted, standing up. "How could you? Those are her memories! How dare you? Is nothing sacred to you? You couldn't have just hid them somewhere? You had to burn them!"

"I'm sorry!" Amity said with a flinch. "Okay! I have said I am sorry over and over again. I made mistakes! And every single day I regret it. Over and over again! The thoughts run in a loop in my mind! You can't possibly know what it's like!"

Hunter sat back down, looking tired all of a sudden. "Don't be so sure."

[She blows on the embers to put it out, puts the photo back, and start to leave. The photo reignites. Amity stops at the door.]

Amity: Huh? [Turns around.] Oh, no. No, no, no, no! [Approaches the photo.] Um, uh... [She blows on the flame. It spreads to the other photos.] Oh, come on!

"And this is why we don't set pieces of people's brains on fire!" Gus shouted. He was still pissed off at having his friend's mind messed with like that.

[Cut to the cafeteria. Gus is looking at a corkboard titled "WHO TO INTERVIEW".]

Luz: Hey there, detective. Are you solving a crime or about to commit one?

Gus: Sadly, this is one problem crime can't solve.

"Incorrect," Luz said. "There is no problem that crime can't solve."

"Vee, don't listen to her when she says things like that," Camila instructed her other, hopefully more responsible daughter. Vee nodded.

My interview for journalism class is due tomorrow! I'm supposed to choose someone "interesting, accomplished, and noteworthy." People aren't meant to be all those things! Curse your need for perfection, Gus!

"Why didn't you think about interviewing Luz?" Amity wondered. "She's interesting! She's accomplished! She's noteworthy! She's the first human witch, the first multitrack student. She saved the school."

"I guess I didn't think of it," Gus admitted. "Sorry, Luz." Luz waved a hand in dismissal.

Luz: Okay buddy, okay. [Gives Gus apple blood.] So, Willow—whoa. Are you okay?

Willow: [Sweating.] When did it get so hot?

[Willow drinks water and exhales steam. She pours herself another cup, then just douses herself with the pitcher, releasing more steam. Gus sips at his apple blood, looking confused, while Luz looks concerned. Steam comes out of Willow's ears as she cleans her glasses. When she puts them back on, her pupils dilate until her eyes are completely black.]

"I have to admit, I don't remember any of this," Willow said. "Probably a good thing."

Willow: Uhh, hi! I'm Willow! Remind me of your names?

Gus: This is serious journalism, Willow. Clowning around will get you nowhere.

Willow: I'm—I'm serious! Who—who are you?

Gus: I'll admit, this amnesia spin has piqued my interest.

Luz: Gus, it really seems like she's forgotten us, like her memory is— [Gasps.] Like her memory is gone!

Amity put her head in her hands. This was not going to be a remotely fun episode for her. She was praying the payoff at the end would be good.

[Cut to photo class as Gus and Luz run in, Willow walking drunkenly behind them.]

Gus: Hexside Free Press! What's going on here?

[Luz gasps. Amity is desperately trying to blow out the flames. She notices the others.]

Amity: ...Hi

Luz: You destroyed Willow's memories?!

Amity: I-I saved as many as I could!

"That makes it so much better," Hunter snarked.

[She holds up the picture of Willow's awkward hair phase, another one behind it. An ember burns both of them to ash. Amity and Luz watch the ashes fall.]

Amity: Ugh! Why would they make memories so flammable?

"Well, memories are quite elastic, at least in humans," Camila mused. "It would make sense they would therefore be easy to destroy."

Willow: [Giggles, wiggling her fingers.] Have I always had this crazy thing? [Slaps her face gently.] Blap, blap! [Walks to Amity and Luz and puts her arms around their shoulders.] Eeee, heee, heee, I can tell we're gonna be good friends! [Falls.]

"Remind me not to let you near the hard apple blood," Gus said. "If this is what you're like without memories…"

"Hey, even without your memories, you have great taste," Luz pointed out.

[Cut to the Owl House.]

Amity: [Looking around.] So, this is the Owl House.

Luz: Yup.

"Where we fry up owls!" Luz said with a grin.

Amity: And you... sleep here?

Luz: When the night critters allow me to.

Camila frowned. Was Luz not getting enough sleep?

Eda: So, you set Willow's memories on fire and erased everything. Even minor damage can have huge effects!

[Willow walks into the couch where King is sleeping.]

Willow: Ahh, a chair for sitting!

[Willow flops face front onto the couch, does a handstand while trying to sit, and then flops upside down.]

Willow shuddered. As silly as she was acting, she didn't find it remotely funny. She could have been left permanently brain damaged, completely unaware of just how much she'd lost, for the rest of her life. Just think of how her dads would have reacted! They'd be devastated!

Eda: Yep, her brain's burned up real good. Damage like that can change everything about a person. Willow may never be the same.

It was a good thing they'd fixed things. Even with all the fixes, though, there were a few minor differences. Some foods tasted differently afterwards. She could never bear the taste of eldergodberries, for example, after getting her brain healed, when before they'd been her favorite fruit.

[Willow finally gets the sitting position right.]

Willow: I got it! [Looks at King.] Ooh, a furry fruit! [Picks King up.] I'm gonna peel it!

King: What? [Tries to escape as she begins.] What is happening?!

Eda: Nap time.

[Eda casts a spell, putting Willow to sleep.]

King: Sleep spell...

[King yawns and goes to sleep.]

Eda: I didn't cast it on you.

King: [Yawns.] Yeah, who cares?

"King is a pragmatist at heart," Luz said.

Luz: Is there anything we can do?

Eda: There is one way, but it's terribly dangerous and partially illegal. [Pause.] So you're in the right place! I'll send you into her mind to fix the damage.

"Oh," Camila said. She wasn't sure how she should feel about this. On the one hand, it sounded extremely cool! Definitely the sort of thing she loved on Cosmic Frontier. On the other hand it sounded terribly invasive. This was her daughter's best friend's mind they were going to be looking at. At least it wasn't Luz's.

"Don't worry, mom," Luz assured her, immediately guessing what she was thinking. "We talked this over, and we're all cool with it."

"Oh, good."

Luz: Be still my fantasy loving heart, I have always wanted to do this! Thank you, Boiling Isles.

"I wonder what my mind is like," Luz mused. Hunter shuddered. Luz stuck out her tongue at him.

Eda: It won't be easy. You have a lot to fix in there, 'cause it's a mess! Yep, whoever did this to Willow showed unbelievable disregard for her safety, downright despicable.

Amity sunk into her cushion seat like she wanted it to swallow her. Unfortunately, human sofas didn't do that, unlike in the Isles.

[Amity looks away, guilty.]

Eda: [To Amity.] Oh, right, it was you. [To Luz.] Anyways, Luz, who's going inside with you?

Hooty: [Opens door.] Maybe I can help! I'm pretty good at getting stuck inside people's heads!

"Oh, no," Camila said. She wasn't sure she could take a whole episode of Hooty making ridiculous comments inside Willow's mind. And having Hooty enter one's mind sounded like one of those fates worse than death Luz mentioned. Camila would certainly kill hordes of people herself to keep Hooty out of her own mind.

Eda: This is someone's brain, not a night club!

Camila breathed a sigh of relief.

[Spins a spell circle, the door closes.] Two max.

[Luz looks at Gus, who is pacing in front of his corkboard.]

Gus: I'm running out of time. Ugh. I'm in total free fall! [Looks at a pile of books.] Must I turn to forbidden sources?

"Raising the dead?" Camila asked, trying to keep a note of hope from entering her voice.

"Nope!" Luz said. "Even I'm not reckless enough to venture into necromancy."

Hunter nodded. "Such magic comes at a terrible cost. A cost no one should ever pay."

[The books growl.] Aah! [Falls.]

"I was just so worried about disappointing my dad," Gus admitted. "I joined the club because I thought he'd be proud of me if I followed in his footsteps. Don't get me wrong. He's a great father. He loves me so much. But his job keeps him super busy and he can be…distant sometimes."

Luz: Gus... has a lot on his plate. Amity, you have to go with me.

Amity: Willow might not want me in there.

Luz: You set everything in there on fire! You have to help.

"I have to say, I kind of would have preferred Gus," Willow admitted. "But it all worked out in the end!"

[Amity looks at Luz and thinks for a second.]

Amity: [Sighs.] Okay, I'll do what I can.

[Luz holds her hand out to Amity. She hesitantly takes it.]

Eda: Alright! Bold choice, taking the girl who caused the mess. [Draws a spell circle around them and summons a bell.]

Luz: [Takes bell.] Whoa.

Eda: When you're done, ring that and I'll cast you back—Oh, and keep an eye out for her "Inner Willow." She's the gatekeeper of emotions and memory. She might help ya.

"I wonder what the inner Luz looks like," Luz said.

"Otter," Camila said, at the same time Amity said, "Definitely an otter."

[Eda lifts her hand. The spell circle around Luz and Amity produces a light that encases them.]

Eda: Now, here we go!

Luz and Amity: Ah!

[Luz and Amity disappear into the yellow light of the spell. Eda directs it to Willow, still fast asleep. Cut to a black void inside Willow's mind, where Luz and Amity land.]

Luz: Ah! [Almost falls.]

[Light appears and bursts forward. Luz and Amity shield their eyes. When the light dims, they're standing in a forest, each tree growing around a dark picture frame. Luz and Amity look around and start walking.]

Despite the discomfort this rather voyeuristic look inside a child's mind was bringing her, Camila was unwillingly fascinated by the complexities of Willow's mind landscape. She could not help but wonder what her own might look like. It would probably resemble the starship Undertaking, setting of Cosmic Frontier: The Original Series.

Amity: Where's her Inner Willow? Do you really think it'll help?

Luz: I don't know. We'll just have to start fixing stuff on our own! Hmm, now let's see...

[Luz blows dust off a frame and coughs. It's a picture of a fort on a beach. Luz touches it with her hand, which goes through the picture.]

Luz: [Poking it more times.] Hey, I found something magical. I'mma put my face in it! [Laughs as she enters the picture.]

Camila grinned. That sentence seemed to perfectly encapsulate not only Luz's time in the Isles but Luz in general.

Amity: Luz? Luz!

Luz: [Sticks her head out the picture.] I think I found the memories. Let's go! [Drags Amity in.]

Amity: Aah!

[Luz and Amity fall through the opposite side of the picture, landing face first.]

Luz: Woo!

Amity: Ah!

Luz: [Sits up.] And welcome to Willow's beautiful... memory?

[The memory is in grayscale and burning. They're at a grassy beach with a dock and sign that reads "LAKE LACUNA".]

Amity: Lake Lacuna! This is where Willow and I took swimming lessons!

"I thought the water boiled," Camila recalled.

"There are a few places where the water is safe to swim in," Amity explained.

Camila was still bewildered, though. While she understood how it was possible now, she still did not understand the point of getting swimming lessons in a place where most of the water boiled.

The ash must be from the fires. [Gasps.] Our fort! In the dunes!

[They run up to the fort. Amity starts taking things off of it.]

Amity: One time Willow wanted to play hooky from our swim lessons, so we built this! [Shoves a plank in Luz's hands.]

Luz: Forts, hooky, Willow. Can words get any cuter?

"Otter," Amity said. "Azura." She looked Luz straight in the face. "Luz."

Luz could feel her face burning. "Amity!" She had to at least keep their relationship from Camila for one more episode. But when Amity looked at her like that, it was so hard to recall why.

Amity: We knew the swim teacher would be on the prowl, but Willow said she'd protect us with an illusion spell. [Looks at the fort in pride.]

Luz: Wha? It's like dog house for angels!

Amity: Wait, something is missing.

[Amity looks down. She swipes sand off a small flag reading "A+W". She smiles at it fondly before putting it in a small flowerpot tied to the top of the fort.]

"You were really good friends," Gus said, still surprised by the concept. The two of them even now were so different.

"Before everything got screwed up," Amity said bitterly.

Amity: There.

[The memory's color returns. Amity and Luz appear back outside the memory picture in Willow's mind.]

Amity: [Looks around.] We're back!

Luz: I think fixing the fort fixed the memory!

[The memory starts playing in color, showing a young Amity and Willow laughing and entering the fort.]

Young Amity: Ugh! The seagulls are back again!

Young Willow: Don't worry, I'll get rid of them!

[Young Willow casts a spell. Instead of getting rid of the seagulls, she gets rid of the fort. The seagulls attack them as the fort reappears. She and Young Amity yell.]

Young Amity: Willow!

Young Willow: I'm sorry, I thought I was getting better!

[The swim teacher spots Amity and Willow and drags them back to class.]

Amity: Willow was a... late bloomer.

"That was just because my dads dissuaded me from working with plants," Willow speculated. "They were really scared of Snapdragon."

Luz: I know, but now she's more like a great bloomer! This place is like theater showing her most important moments! Now, let's fix some more! [Runs up to the birthday party picture.] The photo that started it all! Let's do it next.

[Amity visibly panics. Luz starts to climb into the picture.]

Amity: Wait! Uhh. You want important moments? [Gestures to the awkward hair day picture.] This one might be about a crush! [Smiles nervously.]

"What was even your plan here?" Hunter wondered. "You knew you couldn't stall Luz forever."

"Well, it is Luz," Gus reminded him.

"I stand corrected –" "HEY!" " – but you knew you shouldn't have stalled Luz forever. Not if you wanted to fix Willow."

Amity sighed. "I don't know what I was thinking. I was just desperate. I didn't want her to find out the truth…she'd never speak to me again…"

"Like that was worse than all the other things you'd done so far?" Hunter said.

"Hey, lay off her!" Luz snapped. "She did the right thing in the end."

Luz: Hmm, don't mind if I do! [Laughs.]

[They both climb in. A pink firey foot steps on the ground. Cut back to the Owl House, where Willow is still sleeping. Gus is pacing in front of her.]

Gus: No one can give me the interview I need, except... myself! [Creates illusion double.]

Gus's Illusion: I'd rather die than expose my secrets!

Gus: [Rolls up sleeves.] Then die, you shall!

Everyone stared at him. "What?" Gus asked innocently.

[Gus and his illusion strike fighting poses.]

Eda: Ahem. If you need an interview, look no further. Interesting? I'm a bad girl living in a secret fortress.

"Interviewing her was probably not a good idea," Vee pointed out. "They dragged Luz off to the Conformatorium for associating with her. Imagine what they'd do to you if they found you gave her an outlet for her treasonous views!"

"Oh, wow. I didn't think about that." Gus had really dodged an arrow there, now that he thought about it. He could have paid a serious price, and so could his dad.

Hooty: [Crashes through the window.] I'm the secret!

Eda: Shh! [Floats.] Noteworthy? [Gestures to wanted poster.] I'm public enemy number one. Accomplished? I'm the greatest witch who ever lived!

[The mural on the ceiling glows as Eda poses dramatically. Gus turns to his illusion.]

Gus: What do you think?

King: I think not! [Bursts through Illusion Gus's chest.]

"Don't ever do that," Gus advised Camila. "It's a huge faux pas."

Gus: Ah!

King: If you're handing out attention, I deserve it. Nyeh!

[King jumps to the floor. Gus's illusion disappears in a puff of blue. The real Gus looks at King and Eda.]

Gus: I will choose one of you, but which one? If you want to get picked, you'll have to impress me.

[King and Eda glare at each other. Cut to Willow's mind. Montage of Luz and Amity fixing Willow's memories: Willow and her dads playing on the swings. Willow and Amity reading 13+ romance novels only to run from the librarian.]

"I really didn't understand what the big deal was with that stuff," Amity said. "I guess I do now." Luz blushed.

[Amity waving for Willow to join her on the "Roller Ghoster."]

Young Willow: [Screams.] I don't feel so good!

Luz: We don't need to see how this one ends... [Turns the memory around.]

Amity: Yeah, Willow threw up a lot that day. That's when you knew she was havin' fun.

Luz: Ew... I mean, aw!

[Amity looks downcast.]

Luz: Hey, you okay?

Amity: Yeah, I just... I can't believe I almost erased all of this. I really messed things up.

Luz: Don't worry. We've gotten really good at fixing memories! I won't rest until we've got this all sorted out. Repeat after me: "We can fix this together!" Come on!

"We can fix this together," Amity whispered at Luz. Somehow, Luz wasn't so sure.

Amity: [Smiles.] We can fix this together. [Blushes.]

Luz: Heck yeah we can! I know some of these memories must be painful for you, but, what happened to you guys? And why are you trying to hide it?

Amity: I just...

[Amity notices a pink fire monster stepping out from behind a tree.]

Amity: [Gasps, points.] What's that?

[Luz turns to see nothing.]

Luz: Look, if you don't wanna talk about it, just say so. [Walks off.]

"Sorry I doubted you, Amity," Luz said.

"Nah, I'd have done the same thing in your shoes."

Amity: No, I actually saw something! At least I... I think I did.

Luz: If you need me, I shall be fixing this memory of a ball pit.

Amity: Wait, that's not—

Luz: [Enters, immediately ducks back out with an egg on her head.] It's eggs! It's full of eggs! Why is this memory full of eggs?!

Amity: Yeah, that one's hard to explain.

"You could even say it's eggceptionally hard to explain!" Luz said. "Hey-o!"

[Cut to the Owl House. King is looking at himself in a hand mirror.]

Eda: Just give up, King, 'cause I got this.

King: You got nothing. No one could turn down an interview with someone this pretty!

[The lights flick off.]

King: [Drops mirror.] Weh?

Eda: Hm?

Gus: [Summons a ball of light.] If you want this interview, you're gonna have to start answering some tough questions.

"Love the drama, Gus!" Luz said with a round of applause.

[To King.] Where were you born?

King: Weh?

Gus: [To Eda.] What'd you eat for breakfast this morning?

Eda: Wha?

Gus: [To King.] What's your greatest strength?

King: My decisiveness. W-Wa-Wait, I changed my mind!

Gus: This will be the single greatest interview of all time. So if you want it, you'll have to dazzle me! [Turns one ball of light into dozens.]

Eda: The kid scares me.

Gus beamed with pride. To think, he was such a good illusionist that he terrified the most feared witch in the Boiling Isles!

[Cut to Willow's mind. Luz is pulling an egg shell off her head.]

Amity: We're getting pretty good at fixing these.

"We were eggtraordinarily good at fixing them!" Luz said, and held her hand up for a high five. No one moved a muscle to give her one.

Luz: [Inhales.] Phew! [Tosses egg.] Yeah. And there's only one last memory to fix! The one you're suspiciously avoiding.

Amity: Me? Avoid? No. But let's skip it! Where's Eda's bell?

[Amity runs at Luz. Luz stops her with one hand on Amity's face.]

Luz: Amity, you gotta stop being weird. We have to fix all of them. Unless... there's something in there you don't want me to see.

[Amity crosses her arms defensively.]

Luz: Look, I'm not here to judge, I'm just here to help Willow.

Amity: Help? All you're doing is prying into your friends lives!

"I was doing the right thing!" Luz protested. "I mean, sure, I was curious…but who wouldn't be?"

[Luz looks ashamed. Smoke drifts in.]

Amity: Well, did you ever think maybe it's none of your business? [Sniffs.] Is something... burning?

[Luz and Amity gasp. They turn to see pink flames destroying the memories they had just fixed.]

Luz: Look!

[The pink monster reappears and runs toward the two, causing them to scream.]

"Of course it couldn't have been that easy," Camila muttered.

Amity: Hide, hide, hide!

[Amity drags Luz behind the egg memory tree. The pink monster jumps into the photo. Luz and Amity look at the photo as it reignites.]

Luz: Oh no! That thing is burning up all the memories!

"It's an egg –"

"NO," Hunter said, pointing an accusatory finger at her.

Amity: Please call Eda, I don't wanna be here when it comes out!

[Luz grabs the bell and rings it. Cut to the Owl House, where Eda is ringing several bells, with even more on the coffee table in front of her. She finishes.]

"I'm so sorry, guys," Gus said. "I didn't even think about how the performance would prevent us from hearing your bells."

Eda: How's that for interesting? There's levels to me, kid, levels I say!

Gus: Yes, that was nice.

King: No it wasn't! If you want noise, I'll give you noise!

[King slides on the table, sending the bells flying. He slams a spoon against a metal sheet. Gus smiles and writes on his notepad. Cut back into Willow's mind.]

Amity: [Ringing the bell with every word.] Why won't she answer?

Luz: Yeah... she's not super reliable.

[The flames behind them grow.]

Luz: Run!

Amity: Ah!

[Luz and Amity run as the monster emerges. It enters several more photos.]

Amity: Why is it destroying all the photos?

Luz: I don't know. [Looks at the swing photo.] That one hasn't been burned, [Looks at the holiday photo.] or that one! [Looks at the library photo, gasps.] Amity, that thing isn't after any photo. It's after you!

[The monster turns and locks eyes with Amity.]

Amity: What?

[The monster growls, burns brighter, and runs towards them.]

Luz: Run! I have an idea! [Shoves Amity to the beach photo.]

Amity: We can't go in there, I'm in there!

Luz: Just trust me!

[Luz shoves Amity in. She checks to see if the monster is following them before jumping in herself. Both land on their faces. Luz stands and drags her finger in the sand, drawing a large circle.]

Luz: Time for a swimming lesson!

[Luz slams the circle. The inside of it turns blue, and the inner lines of the ice glyph appear (though the central vertical line is missing). A pillar of ice begins to grow from the glyph. The monster leaps through the photo and lands on the pillar as it grows, and the monster slides into the lake. Luz and Amity look around the pillar.]

Luz: Woo! Teamwork, baby!

[Luz hugs Amity, causing her to blush.]

Amity cringed, remembering how good Luz felt and how guilty she had felt for enjoying it when they were in danger and she had thought Luz would never be interested in her.

[Amity looks down at Luz's arms, then up at the lake.]

Amity: Luz.

[A shadow is standing in the lake, obscured by fog. The fog clears, revealing Willow, pink flames around her. She looks at Luz and Amity.]

Amity: Are you... the Inner Willow?

"Got to admit, I was expecting more of a dryad type motif," Camila said. "Do you have those in the Isles?"

"We have everything in the Isles," Willow said. "Except giraffes, thank the Titan."

Inner Willow: [Eyes turn completely purple.] I was. Love, sadness, fear. [Her footsteps leave flames in the sand.] I used to be a being made of all emotions. But ever since you set Willow's mind on fire, all I can feel is anger! ["Anger" echoes.]

Hunter covertly wiped away some drool from the corner of his mouth, hoping desperately no one had noticed. Thankfully for him, no one did.

[Her hands ignite in flames. Around them, the memory starts to burn again. A tree is set on fire, then another, and then the fort. The flag burns to ash. Luz and Amity watch the destruction.]

Luz: Please! Stop!

Inner Willow: But Amity wanted this. [Summons the birthday party photo, grabs it with a hand made of fire.] Every moment she touched, I'm going to burn.

Amity: You're just hurting Willow. Why are you doing this?

Inner Willow: [Getting in Amity's face.] Still haven't figured it out yet? Then I'll show you! [Throws Amity into the memory, turns to Luz.] You wanted to know everything, right? Then come take a trip down memory lane.

Luz: You're saying it all creepy, but I like the sound of—whoa!

[Inner Willow grabs Luz by the cowl and tosses her through the memory. Cut to Amity's childhood bedroom. Amity bounces off her bed and lands on her feet. Luz flies through the air and crashes into something. She walks over to Amity while rubbing her head.]

Luz: Where are we?

[Inner Willow floats into the memory. Amity hides behind Luz.]

Inner Willow: You said I was hurting Willow? I was just finishing what you started!

Amity cringed. She had been dreading what was coming since they had started watching Luz's memories, and now it was finally here.

[With a bell toll and a flash of flame, the memory begins playing. The door to Young Amity's room opens, and Young Amity and Young Willow enter.]

Young Amity: You have to get out, Willow, now!

Young Willow: Wait, why?

Young Amity: Because—because—

Young Willow: Is it because I still can't do magic? [Grabs Young Amity's hand.] Amity, I'm—I'm sorry I got us in trouble at the beach, I just—I can't get the spells right.

Young Amity: [Rips her hand away.] Well, yes, that—that is why! Because you're a weakling! You can't do magic so I don't wanna be your friend. Now, go!

Amity wished so fervently she could go back and change that moment. To yell at her younger self to stop being an idiot and not give up on her first friend. But this was a memory. More than that, it was a memory of a memory. She was powerless.

[Inner Willow makes them disappear into dust. Young Amity's scowl disappears to reveal Amity's resigned expression, while Young Willow's tearful face reveals Inner Willow's furious one.]

Inner Willow: Then you let your new friends pick on her for years. All because you thought she was weak. [Floats.] Well, now I can erase all that pain. After all, [Eyes turn black.] out of sight, out of mind.

Luz: Amity!

[A ring of fire circles around Amity's feet.]

Amity: Wait! Please.

[The flames disappear.]

Amity: Before all this started, there—there was something else.

[Something bangs on the door.]

Alador: Amity?

Amity shivered. She had forgotten how stern her father could be. How terrifying it was as a child, even though she knew now he was really nothing more than an extension of her mother.

[The door opens. A light turns on in the darkness behind it, showing Young Amity, her parents' shadows looming over her.]

Camila shuddered. She had a feeling she knew where this was going.

Odalia: What is Willow doing here? She wasn't on the guest list for a reason.

Young Amity: But, she's—she's my best friend!

[Inner Willow is surprised by that.]

Alador: Nonsense, Blights only associate with the strongest of witchlings. You can choose a new friend from one of the suitable companions we invited.

"I'm sorry," Amity muttered. "I'm so, so sorry…"

[A black and white picture of young Boscha and Skara appears next to the Blights, both witchlings looking bored.]

Young Amity: But they're mean! Just because you work with their parents doesn't mean I have to like them!

Odalia: Good children don't squabble, dear. Sever your ties with Willow, and if you don't...

Alador: Then we will.

[Young Amity gasps.]

Odalia: We'll make sure the girl is never admitted into Hexside. Now go, and try not to make a scene.

Camila stood up and sat next to Amity. Amity was trembling. She could not help yourself. "Amity, cariño," she said in the gentlest tone she could think of. "What your parents did, it was wrong." A part of Amity surged with joy. "That was…that was not an appropriate way for a parent to behave. It was cruel. It was abuse! And it was wrong."

Amity wrapped her arms around Camila. "Thank you!" she said, unable to stop herself from bursting into tears and not even trying. "Thank you, thank you, thank you…"

She had wanted to make sure this memory was shared for the reasons she'd mentioned, but there was a deeper reason: she wanted to hear from Camila that what her parents had done was wrong. She wanted to hear from a mother that it was wrong.

"Oh, honey," Camila said. "I am so sorry those foul people treated you like that. I'm going to guess your home environment may not be precisely…safe…now."

"My dad's better," Amity said, but a part of her was trying to convince herself of that just as much as she was trying to convince Camila. "He's changed."

Camila nodded slowly. Regardless of whether or not Amity was right, it didn't pay to press right now. "All right. But if you ever need a safe place to stay, no matter what, my door is always open, Amity. No matter what. No questions asked."

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Noceda," Amity said.

"You can call me mom if you want," Camila offered.

Amity gave a soft chuckle. Like she'd do that when she was dating Camila's daughter. "How about I call you Camila instead?"

"That works too."

"Well, then, thank you, Camila."

[The door closes. All color in the room fades as flames go out.]

Amity: Willow, you were never too weak to be my friend. I was too weak to be yours. I can't take back what I've done, but I can promise you this. [Grabs Skara's invite out of her pocket.] I won't let Boscha and her gang pick on you ever again! [Tugs on Skara's invite.] I'm not actually gonna rip it because it's a real butterfly, but you get the gesture, right? [Pockets the invite, holds out her hand.]

"I'm so proud of you," Luz said, and wiped away a tear from Amity's eye with her finger.

[Inner Willow turns, tears in her eyes.]

Inner Willow: I do. [Grabs Amity's hand.] I think Willow should keep her memories of you. The good, and the bad.

Amity: [Full of emotion.] Me too.

Luz: Then, if it's okay, Amity and I still have some work to do.

[Inner Willow nods. The three of them put their heads together. A flash of light later, they're back in the main forest of Willow's mind. Luz hands Amity the repaired birthday photo. Amity hangs it in the tree. Young Inner Willow runs behind them, making them turn around. Inner Willow walks out from behind a tree, no longer surrounded by pink flames, holding Young Inner Willow's hand. Amity waves at them. Luz is ugly crying. Young Inner Willow turns to leave and walks face-first into a tree. She giggles and runs off. Inner Willow waves and follows her.]

Luz: So, does this mean you and Willow are buddies again?

Amity: I'm not sure.

"We are now," Willow assured her.

Luz: Well, [Pulls out bell.] why don't we go see? [Rings bell.]

[Cut to the Owl House. Eda and King are panting, posing on the coffee table. Various items litter the floor.]

Eda: So? Who got the gig, kid?

Gus: Well, this has been the hardest choice of my entire life. But with the public interest in mind, the interview goes to... [Dramatic pause.] Hooty!

"Talk about a dark horse candidate!" Luz said.

"What's a horse?" Gus asked.

"It's like a unicorn. Without a horn. And less homicidal."

Gus scratched his head. "Wouldn't that be a nonacorn?"

Eda: Hooty?

King: Hooty?

Hooty: [Opens door.] Hoot?

Gus: Well, your performances got me thinking. What could create such interesting people? Only the Owl House itself.

Hooty: [Gasps; thrilled.] Aaaaah!

Gus: Tell me everything, Mr. Hooty!

"You really had no idea what you were getting yourself into, did you?" Luz said. Gus shook his head, a traumatized look on his face.

Hooty: I've been waiting to hear those words all my life! [Closes door, muffled.] Where to begin? It all started with a hunt. Blood red skies. That's right, I was...

"I'm just gonna not show the rest of that interview for the sake of our sanities," Gus decided.

[Eda summons Luz and Amity from Willow's mind. They land with a puff of yellow smoke, holding hands. The bell disappears from Luz's hand as Amity lets go of her other one.]

Luz: Whoa. What went down here? And where's Gus? What did you do with Gus?

Eda: The kid's fine. He's just dead to us. [Eda and King leave grumpily.]

Luz: [Confused.] Those are very mixed messages.

[Willow wakes up.]

Luz: Willow! Do you know who I am?

Willow: [Sits up.] A friendly scarecrow? [Pause.] Ha! Just messing, I remember everything!

"You troll!" Luz said with a chirpy grin and a wink.

"Excuse me?!" Willow spat at her friend for delivering such a deadly insult. How dare she compare her to a savage, child eating monster?

"Uh, just a little cultural misunderstanding!" Luz said quickly.

Luz: She's back, folks! My girl's back! I'm gonna hug you so hard you'll never forget me again! [Hugs her tightly.]

[Amity turns, looking hurt, and starts to leave. Luz watches her open the door. Amity gives her a shy wave and takes a step out the door.]

Willow: [To Amity.] I remember what you did too.

[Amity stops and looks back.]

Willow: What you did in there. [Points to her head.] I can't say we're friends, but it's... a start.

[Amity waves again, smiling. She leaves and closes the door behind her.]

Willow: [Muffled.] Luz, question: how did Amity happen to see the photo I hid in class?

Luz: [Muffled.] You said nothing about shenanigans...

Hooty: My first word was hoot. My second word was hoot-hoot. My third word—

"Let me guess," Camila deadpanned. "His third word was hoot-hoot-hoot?"

"Actually, it was bloodshed. But good guess!"

Gus: Hooty, you gotta stay on track here, buddy!

[Amity stops walking. She reaches into her pocket and lets the invite unfold. Smiling, she lets it fly off and walks away.]

Hooty: Here's a song I wrote! Bored bored bored, bored bored bored.

Gus: Ah! [Throws notepad and pencil.] I can't take this anymore! [Leaves.]

"I ended up interviewing my dad," Gus admitted. "Cliché, I know, but it worked in the end."

Luz took a deep breath. It was time. She stood up and Amity stood up as well. Amity squeezed her hand tightly and Luz relaxed. Everything was going to be fine with her girlfriend beside her to support her. "Mom, can the three of us talk in private? I have something I need to tell you."