"I'm back!" Camila said, walking into the house with bags of groceries. Vee, wonderful child that she was, instantly leapt into action and helped her put the food away. Much to Camila's surprise, everyone was waiting in the living room, not in the basement. "Do I want to know what happened?"

"Giraffes," Amity said curtly, a note of horror in her voice.

"I'm gonna take that as a no," Camila decided. She reached into her purse. "I have a special surprise for you, Gus!" She pulled out a pair of miniature American flags, like the ones he'd been waving in the last episode. "Ta-da! These are the flags of the United States of America, my country!"

Gus let out a gasp and grabbed the flags. "Magnificent. I will call you Sir Jeremiah van Leyden and Duchess Patricia R. Trout Jr.," he decided. "Thank you so much, Camila."

Hunter raised a hand. "I thought your country's flag has that white cross and red and blue squares."

"No, no, that's the flag of the Dominican Republic," Camila explained. "That's the country where my family comes from. Well, did you have a fun time while I was gone? No one got into any trouble, I hope?"

"Nah!" Luz said. "I showed Amity Archive of Our Own! It went pretty well…once I applied the proper filters, that is." Amity's ears turned bright red.

"I started reading the encyclopedia," Gus said proudly. "Did you know the first human to walk on the moon was named Neil Armstrong?"

Hunter laughed. "Humans on the moon! Good one, Gus! But I liked the one where they had gills better."

Camila looked over at Luz. "So are you ready now?"

"I'm not sure I'll ever be ready," Luz admitted. "But let's get this over with." They all returned to the basement and Luz began the episode.

[From inside the Owl House: Eda, who is wearing a yellow scarf, watches Hooty fighting the guards through her binoculars.]

"Lilith did a sneak attack to try to capture Eda," Luz explained. "The emperor was putting a lot of pressure on her. Having her free and powerful, providing an alternative to the coven system, was a threat to his plans."

"And what were those plans?" Camila asked.

Everyone shuddered. "No spoilers," Luz said eventually.

Eda: Hooty! Ah, you're a thorn in my side [Takes a cup of tea as a coven guard is slammed into the window.] but you always dig your way into my heart.

Camila scowled. Hooty had been so hateable. Despising his very existence was one of the highlights of her day. Now he was kicking ass to protect Luz and she couldn't entirely hate him anymore. Most vexing.

[Luz is intrigued by what's brewing in Eda's cauldron.]

Luz: Ooh, magic 'sghetti. [Tries to touch it.]

"Hey, I can't help myself sometimes!" Luz said. "I mean, wouldn't you do the same?" Everyone shook their heads.

"Believe it or not, we don't have the self-preservation skills of a werelemming," Hunter said.

Eda: Hey! [Magically slaps Luz's hand with the spoon.] That 'sghetti is Witch's Wool. It repels powerful spells. [Holds up some of the wool.] Every witch worth their salt has a cloak made from this stuff.

Luz: [Stares at the wool adoringly.] I'm worth salt... I want cloak!

"You are worth so much more than salt to me," Camila said with a fond grin.

[Luz tries to grab the cauldron but Eda pulls it away from her.]

Eda: Easy, kid! With the Emperor's goons at my doorstep, I need this for protection. They have really stepped up their attacks lately.

Luz: [Stares at her intensely.] I think I finally understand why the Emperor wants you so badly. [Jokingly.] He's got the hots for you, doesn't he?

Everyone grimaced at that horrifying mental image.

Luz was inadvertently closer to the truth than she suspected, Gus mused privately. He had seen a lot of Belos's memories during that final battle, and he knew more about him than anyone else in the room, even Hunter. Belos was likely so angry at her because his brother had had the hots for her ancestor.

Eda: [Finger guns.] Uh, but no. Emperor Belos wants to control all wild magic through his coven system. He ordered my capture years ago because I refuse to fall in line.

"Wasn't this all said already?" Camila pointed out.

Luz nodded. It was strange. Were this a cartoon, it would have been said because certain information that hadn't been mentioned in many episodes needed to be reiterated because it would be pertinent in this one. Since this obviously wasn't a cartoon, she had no idea why Eda chose to say that at this point.

Luz: And he won't stop until he's got you... [Droops head.]

Eda: Awww, don't sound so worried. I'm a master escape artist. The only thing that can slow me down is my curse, and that hasn't bothered me for weeks! [Feathers pop out from Eda's arms.] Uh oh...

Luz winced. This episode was going to suck so much. Everyone was going to blame her for what happened to Eda! How would she withstand it?

[Eda transforms into the Owl Beast as Luz gasps in horror.]

Luz: King!

King: Weh? [Peeks into the room.] AH!

Luz: Get the elixir! Now!

[The Owl Beast raises its head. Eda is now holding Luz's face as Luz holds an empty bottle of elixir to Eda's mouth.]

Eda: [Muffled.] Oh. [Lets Luz's face go and takes bottle out of mouth.] Whew! Oh, thanks for this! [Stands, knocking over about a dozen other empty bottles.] And those...

"I hadn't been that scared since my dad…uh, since he got sick," Luz admitted. "I mean, I was used to being in danger, of course, by that point."

"Which, again, is not good, Luz," Camila reminded her.

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Luz said in the most dismissive tone ever. "And, yeah, okay, people I cared about had been put in danger too. But this was…" She struggled to find the right words. "It felt just like when dad got sick," she admitted. "Like Eda's curse was a cancer just like my dad's."

Camila felt tears forming in her eyes. Her poor baby had gone through so much. Had Eda succumbed to her curse here? Was that why Luz was so upset? Was she in mourning again?

[Eda's scarf falls off, revealing that her gem is still half black.]

Luz: Hey, your gem! It's still dark!

Eda: Uh... [Pulls her scarf back on to cover her gem.] No, it's not! You're nuts!

"Ladies and gentlemen, the best con artist in the Boiling Isles," Gus said with a sarcastic slow clap.

Luz: [Points finger.] The curse has been getting worse and you've been hiding it!

Eda: Ugh... you're right. It's taking more elixir to turn me back and more magic to keep the curse from rearing its feathery head.

Luz: What happens if you use your magic up? Do you... do you die?

Eda: No! Jeez, you're morbid. I just kinda sorta, turn into the Owl Beast... forever. Ahhh, it's a fate much worse than death if you think about it. [Laughs sarcastically.]

Camila's eyes widened in horror. She had thought the curse would kill Eda eventually. But to be turned into an immortal, animalistic monster for the rest of eternity…that was beyond anything she could think of. What sort of twisted individual could have cursed Eda? Was it the emperor? Was this why Luz despised him so much?

Luz: No! No, I-I can't let that happen! I'll do something about it. I'll find a cure and then—

Luz let out a sob. It was just like when Manny got sick. She'd poured through medical textbooks in the vain hope she'd found something the doctors missed, begged God to save him, even tried to summon Satan to sell her soul in exchange for curing him (to no avail, naturally), and everything she did was for naught. Manny's cancer was incurable and it killed him. The only saving grace was that there was no hereditary risk for her…but some days when things were particularly dark for her, Luz wondered if that was a good thing.

Eda: [Puts her hand on Luz's shoulder.] Hey, don't worry. I just have to limit my magic use a little. [Makes Luz grin.] Ah! There's the Luz I know!

[Luz sadly pouts with puppy eyes at Eda.]

Eda: Ugh. Go on. Do the parallel arm thing...

[Luz immediately beams and hugs Eda.]

"You really love her, don't you?" Camila said softly. Luz nodded without a single instant of hesitation. "And she's…she's your mother now, isn't she?"

"Yes. I mean no! I mean…" Luz certainly didn't want Camila to think she had been replaced, because she hadn't been. Luz loved Eda and Camila equally now.

Camila put up a hand. "Sorry, that came out wrong. I mean, she's also your mother now, isn't she?"

Luz nodded. "I love her. And I love you. I just…I really want you two to get along and be happy with each other."

"I'm going to do my best to try," Camila vowed.

King: [Also hugs Eda.] King demands huggies too!

Eda: Okay! [Walks in a strained manner with Luz wrapped around her and King on her leg.] It's... time... for... school!

[Cut to the kitchen door, which Eda drops Luz out of.]

Eda: Have a good day!

Luz: Get rest! Drink lots of water! Stay out of the sun! Lift with your knees, not your—

"You're such a good daughter, Luz," Camila said. Luz's grin was like the sun coming out after a rainy day.

[Eda slams the door. Cut to Luz walking to school, talking to herself.]

Luz: Poor Eda. Enemies everywhere, even her own body. I wish I could help her.

[A distant scream grabs Luz's attention. She peeks through bushes to see Hooty, wrapped around beaten up guards, serving them tea. One of the guards is feebly trying to escape.]

Camila shuddered. She could not imagine a worse fate.

Hunter recalled the guards talking about the horror they had experienced. He had dismissed the accounts – surely no creature could be that horrible, even a house demon sheltering a wild witch – but it would appear that once more, one of his assumptions had been wrong.

Hooty: [To guards.] The roughhousing was fun, but I like this part of our playdates even better!

[Luz stands and shudders, then runs to school. Cut to Hexside, where Principal Bump and various students are lined up for a flying ship. Luz walks up to Willow and Gus.]

Gus: Luz, you ready for the field trip of a lifetime to the one, the only, Emperor's Castle!

"No!" Luz said. "I was not ready! I was not ready at all!"

Luz: Right. I was actually gonna stay behind. I don't like the way they treat Eda.

Gus: [Shoving a book in Luz's face.] But you're gonna miss out on all the cool stuff!

"Cool stuff," Gus scoffed. "Yeah, so cool. More like evil stuff!"

Luz: Like what?

Willow: Like ancient relics! Look, it's the Plant Coven's Green Thumb Gauntlet! It can grow whatever you imagine.

"I'm honestly not sure whether any of this stuff was even real or if it was just random junk the emperor kept to make himself look more powerful," Willow said.

[The book shows a picture of regular trees captioned "BEFORE." The camera pans to the "AFTER" section, where the tree tops now act as heads, they all have arms and abs, and one is holding an owl's nest.]

Luz: Mmm...

Gus: And the Oracle Sphere! [Book shows a white sphere with a two-headed snake on it.] It shows you which path will help you become your best self!

Amity scoffed. "Please. If oracle magic could do that, Mom wouldn't have turned out to be such a lich."

[Camera pans to the Healing Hat.]

Luz: [Reading.] "The Healing Hat. Made from the magic of the Savage Ages. It is said to cure the deadliest diseases... and heal any curse"?

Luz remembered the resentment she felt upon seeing the hat. All the time she'd spent trying in vain to find a cure for Manny's cancer, and the portal door that could lead her to one had been literally blocks away from her house, yet by the time she found it, it was far too late.

Willow: Yeah! You can't miss this!

Principal Bump: All aboard students!

[Willow and Gus head for the ship, dropping the book. Luz looks at it.]

Luz: Mmm. [Picks up book.] You've done so much for me, Eda. Now I'm gonna do something for you.

Luz looked at the floor, deeply ashamed. If she'd just left things alone, Eda never would have lost her magic! It was all her fault…yet again.

[Cut to the flying ship headed for the Emperor's Castle. Students on board are cheering.]

Principal Bump: No roughhousing! Do not make me turn this carriage around!

Camila grinned. It would seem kids – and the principals responsible for disciplining them – were the same the multiverse over.

[Cut to Luz's notebook. She has drawn the Healing Hat and written: "HEALING HAT HEIST 1. Sneak into castle! 2. Steal healing hat 3. Lift curse".]

Luz looked over at Camila, expecting judgment. But there was none to be found in her eyes.

"Sweetie, I understand," Camila said in a tender voice. "If you were dying, and the only cure to be found was kept in the White House, I'd already be on my way to DC. I would not, however, write my heist plans on paper where anyone could see it."

"White…House?" Amity asked Vee.

"Where the president lives," Vee explained. "He's like the emperor of this country, but he only rules for four years, and then the people elect another one. Or the same one once if they choose. Well, technically, they elect electors, who –"

Camila raised a finger sharply. "¡Oye! No talking politics."

Willow: Hey, Luz!

Luz: Ah! [Hides notepad.] Um, what was that, Willow?

Willow: I was just saying we were getting close to the castle. [She and Luz look over the side of the ship.] Emperor Belos built it as a symbol of unity. Before he came to power, folks were doing magic all wrong. He taught us that the only way to respect what the Titan gave us is through joining covens.

Willow wanted to reach out and strangle her past self for merrily regurgitating the disgusting propaganda of the Emperor's Coven. At that point, she had no reason to doubt it, though, even after getting to know Eda a little. As good a person as Eda fundamentally was, her disorganized, dishonest ways weren't exactly a good selling point for the superiority of the wild witch life.

[Luz looks doubtful.]

Willow: It's a shame Amity couldn't make it. She would love this trip.

"This, by the way, is what I was doing," Amity added. "Thanks for that, Boscha."

[Cut to Amity's bedroom. She's lying in bed with her feet propped up on a pillow, her right one still in a cast. She looks at a poster on her wall of Lilith posing with a sword, the words "Join the Emperor's Coven TODAY!" written under her.]

Amity: Shut up.

[Cut back to the ship.]

Luz: So, Willow... would you say this Belos guy is like, powerful?

Luz grimaced. Belos was so powerful and she had been so dumb for thinking she could ever take him on. The first time had gotten the portal destroyed; the second time had nearly turned her to stone!

Willow: [Chuckles.] No offense to Eda, but the Emperor is the most skilled witch that's ever lived. He can even talk to the Titan.

"That's a filthy lie!" Luz screamed. "The only one around here who talks to the Titan on a regular basis is me!"

Camila whirled around and looked at her sharply. "¿Perdóneme?"

Luz gave a nervous laugh. "I promise there's a perfectly rational explanation for that comment! That doesn't make me look like a crazy person!"

"There actually is, Camila," Amity assured her.

"Okay…I'm gonna reserve judgment then."

[The ship lands in front of the castle. Towering doors open.]

Principal Bump: Now, the Emperor's assistant will be your tour guide. Please don't make me regret taking you here.

"Too late!" Luz chirped.

[Kikimora stands on a platform as a bridge extends to the ship.]

Class: Whoa! Look at that! [Gasps.] It's massive!

[The bridge retreats, bringing the students closer to Kikimora.]

Kikimora: Children of Hexside, Emperor Belos welcomes you to his castle. We're honored by visits from students. You'll soon be a part of the coven, some lucky few may even find their home here, in the mighty Emperor's Coven!

"Not that it mattered which coven you were in at the end," Gus muttered.

Class: She looked at me! Wow, some!

Kikimora: You... are the future of the Isles! My job is to teach you its past.

[They enter the castle. Guards flank either side of a hallway, saluting, as others walk on overpasses. The walls are covered in tapestries, murals, and statues.]

Class: Ooh. Whoa!

Kikimora: Today, the Isles are a place of peace and prosperity. But that wasn't always the case. [Gestures to a mural of witches dancing around a fire.] Up until 50 years ago, witches and demons practiced wild magic during what we called the Savage Ages.

"If Belos was around for centuries, then why did he only succeed in taking the Isles fifty years ago?" Amity wondered.

"Belos had all these really weird ideas," Gus explained, recalling what he'd learned from Belos's memories. "Like that homophobia thing Luz mentioned. But there was more to it than that. He thought women were inferior, that their only role was to be a wife and a mother. He thought they shouldn't work, shouldn't have any say in their lives, you name it, he thought it."

Willow couldn't help but laugh. "That's ridiculous! Wow, humans used to believe in some wacky things, didn't they, Luz?"

"They sure did," Luz said nervously. She really wasn't looking forward to bursting everyone's bubble about how awful humans could be.

"Anyway, it wasn't until he dropped all that stuff that his plans really started to take off," Gus finished.

"How exactly do you know all this?" Hunter wondered.

"Let's move on now!" Gus said quickly. Hunter narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

[Leads the students away.] Witches had access to corrupt knowledge, and that dishonored the Titan.

"Feh, the Titan loves corrupt knowledge," Luz said with the wave of her hand.

[Luz stops at a grate.]

Kikimora: That was, until our great Emperor ascended to the throne, and taught witches how to use magic properly. [Gestures to a mural of Belos holding up a beam of light, witches below celebrating his power.]

Camila felt sick to her stomach. These people had really bought into this monster's cult hook, line, and sinker, didn't they? Would people have given a damn if they learned part of Belos's "greatness" involved torturing innocent children? Or would they have just dismissed it as a necessary step towards "eliminating wild magic?" Camila rather suspected the latter.

Our next stop is the Emperor's personal collection of relics.

Willow: Oh! Luz, you'll like this. It's where—huh?

Luz: [Struggling to open vent, notices Willow and Gus looking at her.] Heh... Uh, love me a properly ventilated castle!

[Luz follows the rest of the group. Cut to a door opening.]

Kikimora: The Relic Room. These items are reminders of our great Emperor's overwhelming power. [Passes the Oracle Sphere.] From the curious and mighty.

Gus: Oooh.

Kikimora: [Passes the Green Thumb Gauntlet.] To the very handy.

Willow: Oh, I could grow such beautiful things with that.

"Don't sell yourself short," Hunter said. "You're beautiful without it. Uh, the things you create! I mean the things you create!" He breathed a sigh of relief. Nailed it.

Kikimora: [Passes by the Healing Hat.] And even, the most valuable.

[Luz stares at the Hat as Willow is admiring the Gauntlet.]

Kikimora: Come along, children.

[Willow goes to catch up. Luz starts walking towards the Healing Hat, but Gus runs up and drags her along.]

"See, this is why you loop your friends into your heist plans in advance," Gus explained. Luz nodded. She would not make that mistake again.

Gus: Let's go, Luz!

[Cut to a hallway.]

Kikimora: Here at the Emperor's Coven, we require members with sophistication, elegance, and grace.

"Then who let you in?" Hunter asked.

"BURN!" Gus shouted and gave Hunter a high five.

[A door slams open. Lilith is standing there, leaves in her disheveled hair. She spits out feathers and vanishes her staff, then enters. Luz gasps and ducks around a corner.]

Kikimora: Ah! Make way for Miss Lilith Clawthorne, students.

Class: Oh, my gosh. The head of the coven! Wow!

Kikimora: Yes, and if I'm not mistaken, she's on her way to see the Emperor himself. Let's all wish her luck!

Class: Good luck, Miss Lilith!

Lilith: [Blushes, inhales.] Thank you, students. Good luck with puberty.

Gus shuddered at the reminder. His puberty had been much worse than normal, striking him in a concentrated manner over the course of a very, very dreadful night, which was highly unusual but not unheard of.

Kikimora: This way, children.

[Most of the class follows Kikimora down the hall as Lilith enters a door. Luz looks after Lilith.]

Luz: Hmm.

[Cut to Lilith walking through the halls, Luz tailing her out of sight. The closer to the Emperor's room they get, the more pipes are visible snaking around the walls. Luz is nearly caught, but ducks behind a corner before Lilith turns around. When she continues on, Luz peeks. Lilith stops at a massive door to clean herself up before entering. Luz runs up and watches through the keyhole. Inside is a massive throne room. A beating green heart, far larger than would belong in any current living creature, is hooked up to pipes above the golden throne, which is flanked with flaming braziers.

"That thing was just a prop," Luz said contemptuously. "He pretended it was the heart of the Titan, that it was telling him what to do. But the only thing making Belos do what he did was himself."

Various guards are standing around the room, one with a mask resembling an owl standing directly behind the throne.]

Hunter took a deep breath. Willow, realizing what was going on in his mind, squeezed his hand. "It's okay," she whispered. "She'll understand."

"Are you okay, sweetie?" Camila noted, noticing how stressed Hunter looked.

"That's me," Hunter admitted. "I'm the one in that mask. I…I thought I was in the right…"

Camila gave him a gentle smile. "Hey, it's okay, Hunter. You didn't know any better. You were indoctrinated since birth. The important thing is you're here now. You changed. And I trust you."

Hunter was pleased to hear that…but he couldn't help but worry, even now, that her trust had been misplaced.

[Belos himself is sitting on the throne, his head in his hand. Lilith approaches the throne and kneels.]

Lilith: I am at your service, Emperor Belos.

[Emperor Belos breathes heavily. A guard brings a palisman on a tray.]

Camila had a very bad feeling about this.

Emperor Belos: Just a moment, Lilith.

[Emperor Belos takes the palisman.]

"SHIELD YOUR PALISMEN'S EYES NOW!" Hunter shouted. Everyone, startled, quickly shielded the eyes.

[He sinks his finger guards into the palisman's neck, dragging a line and breaking its head off.]

Camila let out a horror filled scream. "Oh my god," she breathed. "Those things were sentient…he just killed one of them in front of you…"

"It gets so much worse," Hunter said grimly.

[Glowing green goop falls out of the palisman, which Emperor Belos pours into the eye holes of his mask.]

"Dios mío," Camila said. "What a monster." Who was more monstrous, Hunter wondered? The person who killed the palismen because he needed to survive? Or the person who decided his uncle's life was more important than those of palismen?

[His eyes, unseen before, flash a glowing green.]

Emperor Belos: Ah, that's better.

[Luz gasps and pulls away from the door, covering her mouth. She whimpers and runs off.]

"And here's the rest of the meeting," Hunter said, downloading memories onto the mirror.

Emperor Belos: How's the hunt for the Owl Lady? I heard you attempted a raid this morning.

Lilith: Yes, but we were—

Emperor Belos: Unsuccessful? That was obvious enough. It's been over a month since you promised to bring me the Owl Lady. Well, where is she?

Lilith: If I just had more time, I—

Emperor Belos: I'm getting bored of your excuses, Lilith. Don't worry, I'll give you the time you need. Bring the Owl Lady to me by twilight. She'll join the Emperor's Coven and in return, I'll heal her little curse. But, if you fail... [Nails dig into his throne, heart above the throne beats faster.] you will be stripped of your rank and banished from my coven. You do know what happens to covenless witches, don't you?

Gus let out a sharp laugh. Trust Belos to do something as sneaky as making Lilith's one chance for salvation look like a fate worse than death.

[Lilith looks over at the same mural the students saw in the hall. Screams overlay the scene; the witches depicted aren't celebrating his power, they're begging for mercy. Lilith stands.]

Lilith: I—I understand. I will not fail.

[Lilith turns and leaves. Cut to the Emperor's Castle. Luz peeks out of a curtain to look through a window, watching the class leave.]

Luz: Please don't notice I'm gone, please don't notice I'm—boarding the bus?

Camila did a double take. Was there yet another basilisk on the loose?

[Sure enough, Luz is on the bridge. She turns around and sticks out her tongue at the real Luz.]

Luz: Huh?

[Willow taps Luz's shoulder.]

Luz: Wah!

[Luz turns around to see Willow and Gus, Gus spinning three spell circles.]

Oh, of course, it was just an illusion. Camila really should have considered that.

Luz: Oh! Guys. I, uh...

Willow: [Pulls out Luz's notepad.] You were planning on taking the Healing Hat, weren't you?

"Luz, hadn't you watched any heist movies?" Camila wondered. "I'd really think you'd have a better plan lined up."

"No, those are so boring," Luz said. "I tried to watch Leverage because everyone was raving about the OT3." Amity mouthed OT3 at Vee, who shrugged. "But I kept falling asleep!"

Luz: [Sighs.] You got me. But you don't understand. Eda has this curse and it's zapping away her magic, and—

Willow: Luz, no matter what, you can't steal this hat.

Gus: [Steps in front of Willow.] But, you can borrow it!

"I fail to see the difference," Amity said. She was still steamed about missing out on all this.

Willow: Hey! I wanted to say that! We learned about Eda's curse from your notes. We're totally gonna help you.

"I have the best friends in any world," Luz said with a wide smile.

Luz: [Almost crying.] Thanks, guys. I know exactly what we gotta do. It's time for a heist!

[Montage: Willow, Luz, and Gus sneak through the halls when they see a guard coming down the stairs. They duck behind a small bush, which Willow grows into the shape of a unicorn. The guard stops, nudges its horn, and continues on. The three run off; Another guard is standing in a hallway. The three notice them and come out of a door stacked together awkwardly under one uniform. Luz, at the front, waves, high-fives the guard, and fingerguns as they retreat. The guard is very confused; Luz looks at the vent from earlier. She draws out a fire glyph and melts the vent; they reach yet another hallway, where Gus illusions up a double of Kikimora to send a guard off. Once the guard leaves, the illusion Kikimora does the worm. Gus laughs, oblivious to Luz and Willow's confused looks.]

"I have a really weird sense of humor," Gus admitted.

[Finally, the three enter the Relic Room.]

Luz: Healing Hat. Mmm! You're Eda's last hope. [Grabs hat, which glows.] I-I can feel it! I can feel the magic flowing!

"It was an amazing feeling," Luz admitted. "What a shame it didn't last."

Gus: Me too! [Holding Oracle Sphere.] Finally, I'm about to become my best self!

"Gus, I'm wondering why exactly you were so drawn to the oracle relic," Camila said. "You are an illusionist, after all."

"I always wanted to take the oracle track," Gus said. "To follow in my dad's footsteps. But I suck at it. Oracle magic is something you have to have natural talent to be good at, and I didn't have any."

"It's not hereditary?" Camila asked.

Gus shrugged. "It can be, but not always. My mom was in the potions coven. To the best of my knowledge, I'm the first illusionist in my family."

[Gus holds the Sphere up, and a purple-tinted double of him appears.]

Gus Copy: You're always your best self.

"You sure are, Gus," Luz said with a thumbs up. She was almost entirely certain the Sphere had no real power and just regurgitated platitudes, but that wasn't the same thing as saying it was wrong.

[Gus tears up and starts crying. Camera pans to Willow wearing the Green Thumb Gauntlet. She grows a large wooden arm, which flexes and then sinks back into the Gauntlet.]

"Awesome!" Hunter said with a huge grin.

Willow: Whoa! I just wanted to try it out. [Returns Gauntlet; chuckles.]

Luz: Now we can cure Eda and get this hat back before anyone knows it's gone. [Laughs.]

[The scene distorts and pulses.]

Luz, Gus, and Willow simultaneously shuddered.

Emperor Belos: I will know.

"I wonder how he did that," Luz said. "Maybe some advanced oracle magic?" She looked over at Hunter, who shrugged. It wasn't as if Belos had told him everything. Indeed, as he'd very painfully learned, it was more like he hadn't told him anything.

[The scene returns to normal. Everyone is looking at the ceiling. Luz and Willow back up nervously.]

Luz: We need to go. Now.

[Barricades drop in front of the doors, locking them in. Luz and Gus gasp. Doors to the relic room get locked, barricading Luz, Willow, and Gus inside.]

Camila let out a gasp. Luz moved closer to her and squeezed her hand.

Willow: Stand back!

[Willow grabs the Green Thumb Gauntlet and grows a massive buff tree. It extends its arms at one of the barricades. Cut to the Relic Room, where the barricade now has a hole in it. Luz coughs. Willow's tree shrinks to nothing.]

"Nice work, Willow!" Hunter said. Willow grinned.

Luz: Come on, let's go! [Gasps.]

[Luz stops at Lilith's pointed staff. Using her palisman, Lilith pushes down the hood of Luz's cowl.]

"So if Belos eats palismen, then why hasn't he eaten hers yet?" Camila wondered.

"He's saving hers for last," Luz said, her voice dark and grim.

Lilith had thought she was a key operator in the empire, Luz knew, but in actuality, Belos was keeping her close to make her suffer. To get revenge on her and all the Clawthornes by dangling the cure to Eda's curse and then ripping it away at the most painful moment. All because Lilith had punched him one time. If that wasn't petty, she didn't know what was.

Lilith: Why, if it isn't Eda's human pet. How perfect.

"Yeah, really impressive, you against a couple of kids," Camila spat. "Oh, if I got my hands on you…"

[Luz backs up as Lilith advances on her.]

Lilith: Aren't I lucky to find you here.

Luz: Stay away! If you touch us, Eda will come after you so fast—

Lilith: [Teleports in front of Luz.] That's the plan.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Luz shouted at herself. Everyone eyed her with sympathy, but no one knew what to say to make her feel better, not even Amity.

Willow: Run, Luz!

[Willow raises the Green Thumb Gauntlet and grows a wooden arm to grab Lilith's staff. Luz runs. Lilith uses her staff to fling Willow toward the door.]

Gus: Wrong move, Lilith. It's two against one, and you don't stand a chance against—

"Yeah, in retrospect, I was kind of dumb to think I could win that fight," Gus admitted. "I mean, illusion magic…isn't really the best in a one on one fight."

[Lilith poofs Gus's copy, and throws him across the room with Willow.]

Lilith: Now, that doesn't belong to you. [Magically grabs Healing Hat.]

Luz: No!

[Luz tries to free the Hat from Lilith's magic. Lilith closes her fist, and the magic rips the hat in half. It disappears.]

Luz: No! I needed that to heal your sister!

Lilith: Huh. [Grabs Luz.]

Camila let out a shout and shook her fist at the screen.

These decrepit relics are useless. If you wanna see your friend again, deliver this to Edalyn.

[Lilith throws her staff to Willow and Gus. The staff flies them away.]

Willow: Luz!

[Luz looks nervously at Lilith. Lilith smirks. Cut to the Owl House, where the shadow of Willow and Gus on Lilith's staff passes the window. They knock on the front door, which Eda opens. Her face falls when she sees it's not Luz.]

Willow: Eda, we have some bad news...

[Behind them, Lilith's staff is floating and glowing blue. Eda glares at it.]

[Cut to the bridge to the Emperor's Castle.]

Lilith: Come on, Edalyn. You would be late when I need you most.

[Lilith looks to the top of the castle, where Emperor Belos is watching.]

"This was all just a game to him," Gus snarled. "We were all just pawns to him!"

[Yellow light flashes, and Eda appears. Lilith smirks. Eda throws Lilith's staff, which leaves a crater in the castle wall.]

Lilith: Sister! I see that you got my invitation to a Witch's Duel!

[Bolts of electricity fly at Lilith, though none hit her. Eda flies at her, taunting. Lilith blocks one hit with a summoned shield. She summons her staff and fires a bolt at Eda.]

Eda: Where is she? [Flies at Lilith.]

"I should have stayed home," Luz whispered. "I should have gone to camp! I should have done so many things! But instead…"

Lilith: Easy now.

[Eda stops.]

Lilith: The human is safe.

[Lilith taps her staff to the ground. A blue bubble flies out of the castle, with Luz inside of it.]

Luz recalled feeling absolutely helpless. She'd never felt like that before. Even facing the dangers of the Isles, she'd had her magic. But in that bubble, she was completely helpless. Unable to stop Lilith from hurting Eda. Unable to do anything but watch. Just like when Manny had passed away.

Luz: Eda!

Lilith: [Walks in front of Luz.] You can have her back, provided you do as I say. Renounce your wild ways and join the Emperor's Coven. He can help heal your curse!

Amity's heart sank. Hearing Lilith get suckered so deeply by the emperor that she was just leaving reason by the wayside reminded her so much of how Odalia had acted during that final confrontation. It was the same self-righteousness, the same inability to consider any fact that didn't conform to their twisted worldview. It wasn't due to magic. It was just Belos's expert skill at turning other people into a dark, twisted version of themselves. Into making them more like himself.

Eda: Don't believe everything that bonehead tells you. He doesn't want to heal me, he wants to control me!

Lilith: Then I will take you in by force. [Spins staff.]

Eda: You've always looked down on me because I'm wild, but fortunately, that just made me work harder than you.

Camila raised an eyebrow. For all of Eda's strengths, hardworking wasn't really one she had seen very much so far.

[Eda slams her staff on the ground, summoning a towering owl made of light behind her. She rushes at Lilith, launching her in the air. In the air, Eda appears behind Lilith. Lilith disappears as Eda swings her staff. Lilith reappears behind Eda right as Eda disappears. Eda appears behind Lilith and kicks her, then zaps away to chase her. From the bubble, Luz watches Eda and Lilith zip across the sky, nothing but gold and blue lights weaving and crashing.]

Luz couldn't help but laugh caustically. The old her, before the Isles would have considered this one of the coolest moments of her life, to see a titanic magical battle in person. But when it became reality, all Luz felt was fear that Eda would die.

[Lilith shoots a beam of light at Luz's bubble, sending it flying. Eda lands on the bridge. Luz yells.]

Eda: Luz!

Camila bit her fingernails. There was something much more terrifying about this particular mortal danger than all the others Luz had faced so far. It was probably because Luz was completely helpless and immobilized. But Luz was still alive. She had survived this. Still, Camila kept on staring at Luz, as if trying to convince herself she really had survived. Why had she ever agreed to this in the first place? It was a horrible idea!

[Eda redirects the boards of the bridge to keep Luz from falling off. Lilith drops down, and Eda rolls out of the way to prevent being crushed. Eda summons a Hooty Hydra to wrap Lilith up. Eda spins her staff and sends a giant blast at Lilith. Lilith puts Luz between her and the bolt, which Eda redirects, missing them both.]

Camila couldn't help herself. She let out a loud Spanish swear. "Sorry, Vee," she said a moment later.

"You know I've heard worse, right?" Vee said. It amused her when Camila thought she was innocent and pure as a little child. In reality, she'd been exposed to a vast array of profanity by the guards and seen the worst sentient nature had to offer.

"No, you haven't," Luz said firmly. "You are my precious snek sister and I must protecc you at all costs." She squeezed Vee's cheeks.

Eda: [Panting.] Stop hiding behind Luz, you coward! [Groans.]

Lilith: [Panting.] It's sad to see you slowing down sister. Tell me, is it the curse?

[Eda growls, the sound half Owl Beast. The darkness in her gem grows.]

"Oh, God!" Camila said, her eyes widening in horror.

Luz: Eda! Your gem! [Bangs on the bubble.]

Eda: [Ignores Luz.] Maybe it is the curse. But then how pathetic are you, that you can't best me at my worst?!

[Eda spins her staff and summons a dozen rings of magic, all of which send bolts at Lilith. Eda's Hooty Hydra drags Luz to safety as Lilith summons a shield to protect herself. Luz looks around and notices a pointed rock. She gasps.]

Camila did not like where this was going.

Lilith: Maybe you are stronger than me, but that made me work smarter! I became smart, crafty!

Eda: A lapdog for a tyrant!

[Luz hits her bubble against the rock until the bubble shatters.]

"Run, Luz!" Camila shouted. "You're…not going to run, are you?" Luz shook her head.

Lilith: You always thought you were better than me, that I could never beat you in anything.

Eda: I am better than you!

Lilith: Then why were you so easy to curse?! [Gasps.]

Loud gasps erupted from everyone but Luz. Amity was particularly stunned. There was a time she looked up to Lilith. She had once regarded her as the exemplar of what a witch could possibly be. And now she found out she had actually cursed her sister to a fate worse than death. Even at the time of her greatest animosity with Emira, she could never believe either one of them could do that to the other.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Amity said.

Luz grimaced a little. "Well…it's kinda, sorta…not your business?" She winced. That had come out completely wrong. "I mean, this is Eda's secret. Also, telling you completely slipped my mind, so there's that too." Amity could understand that logic, though she still didn't like it.

[Lilith covers her mouth. Eda looks shocked and betrayed. Luz gasps.]

Lilith: A-And I have the power to remove it, if you would just let me explain.

Camila sniffed contemptuously. She had absolutely no sympathy for Lilith. After using Luz as a human shield, tricking Amity, and trying to brand Luz in Eda's body, Camila had lost any sort of sympathy she could possibly have for her.

[Eda looks away. She shakes in anger. With a yell of fury, she rushes forward and destroys Lilith's shield, flinging Lilith in the wall hard enough to leave a crater.]

Luz: Eda, stop! Your magic!

[The black in Eda's gem is writhing furiously. Eda doesn't seem to care. Lilith smirks. Luz is surrounded by glowing blue and starts floating. Luz gasps.]

Lilith: Human. That orb was for your protection.

[Lilith moves Luz over the edge of the bridge.]

"Don't you dare, you horrible b – uh, w – no…lich!" Camila shouted. "Yes! You horrible lich!"

[The magic drops. So does Luz. She screams.]

Luz looked over at Camila's face. It was serenely, eerily calm. Murderously composed. "I am going to kill her," she said coolly. She was not joking. Luz could sense her sincerity. Camila genuinely wanted to kill Lilith. "I am going to cut her face off, and I am going to use a paring knife, and then I am going to mount her face on my wall as a warning to anyone else who dares lay a hand on my daughter!"

Vee grinned. She had the coolest mom in existence.

Eda: Luz!

[Eda draws a shaky spell circle with her staff. Luz stops plummeting a foot above a score of giant spikes.]

"Oh, thank God," Camila said, clutching her chest. Her heart was beating a million miles an hour. It felt like she was running a marathon.

"See! Eda's not so bad!"

"No, she's not," Camila said, ruffling Luz's hair.

[Eda strains to keep Luz up.]

Luz: Eda, stop! You'll run out of magic!

Eda: It's my power, kid. And before you showed up, I spent my whole life wasting it.

Luz couldn't help herself. She tried, but she failed. She started crying. The tears flowed down her cheeks like a waterfall. Amity and Camila grabbed her and held her, but they couldn't stop the tears. They couldn't even slow them down.

[Lilith grins evilly. She summons a giant hand to push Luz closer to the spikes.]

Luz: Eda, no, no, no!

[Eda's gem is almost entirely black. The whites of her eyes begin to be taken over.]

Eda: Alright, kid. Listen to me. I'm going away, and I don't know if I can bounce back this time. Watch over King. Remember to feed Hooty.

"Don't…don't do it, Eda," Luz begged her, heedless to the fact that she was as powerless to save Eda as she was to save Manny. Watching the scene, it was almost like she was back there. About to lose yet another parent.

Luz: Please, no!

Eda: And Luz, thank you for being in my life.

[With a scream, Eda unleashes a powerful burst of magic. Owlbert flies off the staff. Lilith is pushed back, her spell broken. Eda's magic illuminates the Isles. Luz, several feet higher than before, falls. She stops inches away from a spike, and Owlbert picks her up by the hood and flies her back to the bridge, where Eda is laying.]

"Oh, honey, I'm so, so sorry," Camila said. Luz didn't trust herself to speak. She wasn't sure if she even could right now.

Luz: Eda.

[Eda rolls over and screams, her voice overlapping with the Owl Beast's. She slams a hand to the bridge, and the Owl Beast stands. It advances on Luz, who backs away. The Owl Beast tries to pounce, and Luz cowers, but the impact never comes, Lilith binding the Owl Beast and dragging it halfway across the bridge with her staff.]

Lilith: Come along, sister. Now we can let the healing begin.

[Lilith looks up to Belos. He turns away.]

Luz: You monster!

"Truest words you ever spoke," Hunter said quietly.

[Luz jumps on Lilith's back and tries to drag her down. Lilith grabs her by the cowl and throws her.]

Lilith: Leave, human! [Grabs Owlbert.] Edalyn is finally with her family. Her real family.

You're staying where your home is…with your real family, Camila remembered herself saying and cringed violently. Wow, she'd really screwed up there and hadn't even known it.

[Lilith taps her staff on the bridge. Gears turn, pulling the bridge toward the castle.]

Lilith: Go back to your world. This one is ours.

Luz laughed at the dramatic irony. Their world hadn't been theirs for fifty years. People like Lilith had made sure of it.

[Luz stands and tries to chase after them, but can't. The doors to the castle close.]

[Cut to Luz slowly walking back to the Owl House. The sun is rising; she's been walking all night.]

Hooty: [Yawns.] Oh, Luz, there you are!

Luz: Hi, Hooty.

[Luz opens the door to the dark living room. She looks at the side, her eyes widening. She gasps. There are balloons and streamers hung up. Party hats are on the couches, and confetti is on the floor. Her new cape is wrapped in a bow on the table, next to King's cake, the candles of which have long burned out. King bursts out of the cake.]

"They, they made me a party. To give me a witch's wool cape! To celebrate me!" Luz shouted, hatred for herself coloring every word of her voice. "And how did I repay them? By getting Eda into the emperor's clutches!"

"Hey, Luz, you didn't…you couldn't have foreseen that outcome," Amity said.

King: [Gasps.] The cake is me! [Looks around.] Hey, um, where's Eda?

[Luz gasps, and her eyes fill with tears as she falls to the floor. Hooty looks at her in concern. Both him and King approach Luz to comfort her.]

"It's all my fault," Luz said, bursting into tears again. "I'm just as much of a curse as the Owl Beast! Everywhere I go, I make people suffer. I should just…I shouldn't even…"

"Luz?" Amity said softly. Luz looked at her. She didn't trust herself to speak. "Cuddle pile?"

Luz was silent for a few seconds and then nodded. Camila gently lifted Luz onto the floor and everyone joined her in a cuddle pile, including the palismen. Even Hunter didn't hesitate. Luz shook with emotion. "I don't deserve this," she whispered.

"You do, lucecita," Camila said. "You are a good person. What happened in this episode wasn't your fault. You didn't choose to curse Eda! You didn't take yourself hostage! You didn't fight Eda! That was Lilith. No one forced her to do those things. Except maybe the emperor. But the point was, you didn't do any of that."

Luz shook her head. "It is my fault! If I'd just accepted my lot in life, then none of this would have happened."

"And what is your lot in life?" Camila asked.

"To suffer," Luz said with absolute certainty. "I tried to be happy, and everyone paid the price. I'm a freak who doesn't belong anywhere! Not here, not there. Nowhere. And I don't deserve any of this. You'll see. You'll all see."

She extricated herself from the cuddle pile and sat back on the couch, a dull numbness creeping into her chest. "Let's move on. There's plenty more to see, after all. Plenty more reason to hate me."