Eda: Beans!
Camila jumped in her seat. Talk about a jump scare!
[Luz jolts up, cries out and falls backwards.]
Luz scowled. She'd been having a wonderful dream about asking Amity to be her girlfriend and then the two of them showing up the bullies at Luz's school, who were all jealous that Luz had an amazing girlfriend and they didn't.
Eda: We ran out of apple blood. [Kicks the fridge door close and turns around.] Still no luck?
Luz: [Gets up.] None. And I was up all night. I read every tome, book, notepad, and tea leaf. [Shows Eda a cup, with the tea leaf forming into a shrugging person.] But nothing explains how to make a portal to the Human Realm.
"Oh, Luz," Camila said, shaking her head in dismay. "I appreciate you're so committed to getting back to me, but you really need to take better care of yourself."
"But I didn't know about Vee!" Luz protested. "Every second I was gone was a second you might think I was dead!"
Eda: I wish I could help ya, kid. My door was already pretty old when I found it.
Luz: How long did you have it?
Eda: Well...
"Eda came across the door as a teenager, not too long after she got cursed," Luz explained, recalling the story Eda had told her not too long after the episode's events. "Her mom wanted to cut the curse out of her, and she just ran away in a blind panic. She found the door, fooled around in the Human Realm for a while, robbed Fort Knox, and then eventually returned."
"Sorry, what was that last one?"
"She eventually returned?"
Camila opened her mouth and then just sighed. "Never mind. Continue."
[From somewhere, Lilith starts screaming. Both Eda and Luz gasp. They run to the living room, just in time to see Lilith beginning to turn into her beast form.]
Lilith: Help... me.
Camila smirked a little. Lilith was certainly getting a taste of her own medicine, wasn't she?
[Eda rushes over and takes out a bottle of elixir from beneath a pillow on the couch. She then runs towards Lilith.]
Eda: Calm down, just calm down. [Feeds Lilith the elixir.] The curse acts stronger when you're stressed.
[Lilith's feathers disappear.]
Lilith: [Pants.] That was... horrible. How have you managed all these years?
"Now she asks," Camila muttered.
Eda: Well, it's been hard. [Helps Lilith up.] But since we split the curse, at least the elixirs are working again.
Lilith: That's a relief.
[Lilith notices her left hand gone. She makes a terrified noise while Luz cries out in shock.]
"Oh, for crying out loud!" Camila shouted. "Again with the severed limbs!"
Eda: [Bends down to pick up Lilith's hand.] Oh, yeah, sorry. Side effect of the curse. It's actually fun once in a while. [Sets the hand back in place.] Now don't worry. I've stashed elixirs all over the house. [Reveals hidden elixirs under the couch seat, behind a flower pot and pulls one out of Luz's hood.]
"I didn't even feel her put it in there," Luz marveled. "Eda's slight of hand game is legendary!"
Whenever you start feeling feathery, just help yourself to one of these bad boys.
Luz: [Claps her hands.] Ooh!
Lilith: [Regretfully.] I had no idea this is what I did to you. I am so, so sorry.
Camila nodded in approval. At least Lilith was apologizing for something. It was a step in the right direction. Now if only she'd apologize for trying to murder Luz…
Eda: Eh, at least I got company now. [Hands Lilith a bottle of elixir.] And you got me if you need anything.
"I must say, Eda is remarkably forgiving," Camila noted. "It seems out of character for her."
"Well…I think she'd dreamed of having her sister back for so long, she was willing to forgive her if that was what it took," Luz explained. "The two of them really love each other. They always have. It's just Lilith's idea of what was best for Eda was…skewed."
[Eda pats on Lilith's shoulder and walks out. Lilith then lies down on the couch, and notices a few bottle of elixirs taped to the ceiling.]
Lilith: [Smiles.] Hmm.
[Scene cuts to Eda and Luz outside the Owl House. Luz walks up to Eda.]
Eda: As I was saying, I've had the portal door for years. But I originally just found it in the dirt. Never figured out who made it or where it came from. I just kept it to myself.
Presumably, Belos himself had made the portal door if his journals were accurate in that regard (and given that he was known to lie in them, there was no guarantee). But that just raised further questions. How had he lost the door? Perhaps it had been stolen by one of the Golden Guards before Hunter?
Luz: Why wouldn't you tell anyone?
Eda: [Raises eyebrow.] Why? Suddenly curious about my past?
Luz: [Serious expression.] Always. Always curious.
"Backstories are the best," Luz gushed. "Oh, speaking of backstories, Eda gave me these memories of her first encounter with her ex Raine! We should totally watch them later! It was a really rollicking tale!"
"After the one in the emperor's mind," Hunter decided. Camila stared at him in horror. Luz was going to go into Belos's mind?! She could only imagine what unimaginable horrors she would have to face there. "We'll all need a breather after that one."
Eda: Well, I may have been using it to hide from someone.
Luz: Hide from who?
Gwendolyn: [From a distance.] Probably me!
[A sudden strong gust of wind starts blowing, forcing Eda and Luz to shut their eyes and shield their faces. Scene cuts to a bird flying and a tornado coming towards them.]
"I'll say this about her, she definitely knows how to make a dramatic entrance," Luz conceded.
Luz: [Surprised.] Magic bird tornado?
[The tornado stops, and Gwendolyn lands in front of them. The bird lands back on her staff, turning into a palisman.]
Gwendolyn: Hello, little witchlet. [Vanishes her staff, then runs forward with open arms.] Come here.
Eda: Gwendolyn. [Stops Gwendolyn from coming closer by pressing her hand on her head.]
Gwendolyn: Oof. Are we still on that? I'm your mother. Call me "Mom".
Camila was shocked for a few seconds. Despite intellectually knowing Eda was not as old as she looked, her mind was still stuck on the concept of her being considerably older than Camila, despite Luz telling her that they were actually roughly the same age. A part of her had expected Gwendolyn to be dead by this point.
Luz and Lilith: [Shocked.] Mom?!
Gwendolyn: It is so good to see you again. [Squeezes Eda's face with both hands.] How are you feeling? Are you eating well? I heard all about the Petrification Ceremony. Trust me, I have a lot of strong words for that Belos.
"She totally backed it up too," Luz recalled. "She got a bunch of birds to crap all over the palace. I mean, kind of a small gesture when all is said and done, but he must have been pissed!"
Lilith: [Jumps onto Eda's back and stands in front of her.] Mother! Mother, you know, I was there too.
Ah. Camila was starting to understand a little bit more just why Lilith had eagerly latched onto the first authority figure to pay her the slightest amount of attention. If there was one thing Camila hated, it was parents who played favorites. She vowed she would never do that between Luz and Vee.
Gwendolyn: Oh, hello to you too, sweet flea. [Touches Lilith's hair.] Still dyeing your hair, I see. Well, it's very sleek. Now give me a moment with Edalyn, dear. It's important.
[Lilith looks surprised, then becomes sad and backs off.]
Gwendolyn: That's right! Today, I am about to complete a 30-year mission.
Eda: [Annoyed expression.] Oh, no.
Gwendolyn: Your mother has finally succeeded.
Eda: [Pinches her eyebrows.] Here it comes.
Gwendolyn: Today, I shall be curing [Spins her staff and jabs it on the ground.] your curse!
Eda: [Digs ear.] No, thanks.
Luz and Lilith: What?!
Eda: I said, "No, thanks." I got my elixir system. I'm good.
Gwendolyn: But... But who knows what they put in those nasty concoctions?
Camila scowled. She was beginning to see what Luz was thinking of when she called Gwendolyn an antivaxxer. It was the same rhetoric, a belief that whatever ridiculous and dangerous remedies were more "natural" because they weren't made by a big corporation. Sure, it sucked that megacorporations were making out like a bandit in the selling of medicines that decency demanded should be free or at least a lot cheaper, but that didn't mean they didn't work.
Eda: Actually, I do. And... [Grabs Gwendolyn's staff.] would you look at the time? [Makes Gwendolyn sit on her staff.] I got a lot to do today. So sad to see you go. Okay, bye!
[Eda slaps on Gwendolyn's staff and sends her flying away. She then dusts off her hands.]
Eda: Moms. Am I right?
Luz shook her head frantically. "Nope! She's totally wrong! I know you're nothing like Gwendolyn." Was Luz right? Camila wasn't so sure. Had she not sent Luz to a camp to "fix" her behavior? Were they just the same in the end?
[Luz and Lilith look at Eda with a completely shocked expression on their faces.]
Lilith: [Frustrated.] I haven't seen Mother in forever! And she was handing you a cure on a silver platter!
Luz: I'd kill to see my mom right now, and you just launch yours into the sky?!
Eda: Oh, listen, she comes around every year, toting a new cure for my curse. [Starts walking into the house.] But they never work, so I am done getting my hopes up.
Lilith: [Disbelief.] Mother visits Edalyn... regularly? [Follows Eda into the house.]
Camila sighed. With a relationship like that, no wonder Lilith was so desperate to have Belos cure the curse. She not only saw it as the only way to regain her relationship with her sister, but also to regain her mother's affection.
[Luz looks to her left. Gwendolyn lands, then walks away with sad expression. Luz makes a pitiful sound.]
Luz: [From a distance.] Mrs. Clawthorne?
[Gwendolyn turns around.]
Luz: Wait! [Runs up to Gwendolyn.] I'm Luz. Eda's apprentice. I think what you're doing is so sweet. Eda can just be so... Eda sometimes.
"I really thought she knew what she was talking about," Luz muttered. "Also, I was a little starstruck. I mean, Eda's mom! Just think of all the backstories she could tell!"
Gwendolyn: Call me Gwen, dear. But please don't blame Edalyn. It was the curse that created the rift between us.
Not too long after Manny died, Camila had fallen in with a bad crowd of parents. She'd joined a support group for single parents of children with disabilities. She'd just been so desperate for support. Luz was acting out even more than usual and she felt overwhelmed. It had taken her a long time – too long – to realize these parents were bad news. They hated the disabilities their children had and, in many cases, perforce their children themselves. Of course, there was a profound difference between ADHD and turning into an animalistic beast on a regular basis. Obviously. But still, the echoes between Gwen's behavior and those parents made her uncomfortable.
Luz: I understand. Right now, there's an actual rift between me and my mom in the Human Realm.
Luz sighed. There wasn't just a literal rift between them, but a metaphorical one as well. She should have told Camila about the Isles before the portal was destroyed. If she'd done that, things would have turned out better for everyone. But once more, she let fear rule her.
Gwendolyn: Human Realm? Hmm. [Gasps.] My dear, I may know how to fix both our rifts.
Luz: [Excited.] Really?
Gwendolyn: I've heard some information that may assist you on your quest. Help me cure Eda's curse and that information is yours.
Luz: [Exhilarated.] Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Where do we start?
Gwendolyn: We'll be consulting someone... [Grabs her necklace, the rune on it starts flashing.] very special.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Gus muttered.
[Scene cuts to Luz and Gwendolyn walking someplace.]
Luz: So we're gonna meet a curse expert? This is so rad.
Gwendolyn: Yes, after years of dealing with the Healing Coven, I finally found someone who promised me a cure. [Stops.] Ah! Here we are.
[Gwendolyn and Luz are standing in front of a stone door. Gwendolyn walks up to it and displays her necklace. The door flashes, then opens up, revealing a cave. Gwendolyn and Luz walks into the cave. Inside, an old witch with four hands is sitting on an altar. A gremlin with boils on his eyelids kneels in front of him.]
"Laying it on a little thick, isn't he?" Amity said. Obviously, the "cure" hadn't worked. Though maybe it was how Eda had become the Harpy Beast? But the balance of probability suggested this witch was a fraud.
Gremlin: Please, they're so itchy.
[The old witch waves his hand, casting a spell circle. A circle of purple light surrounds the gremlin and lifts him up. The light then flashes, and after that, the gremlin is healed. Gwendolyn and Luz gasps at the sight of that, with Gwendolyn looking happy and Luz looking shocked. The gremlin is then put down on the ground.]
"He's probably just a part of the con, Gwen," Luz snarled, shocked at how angry her voice sounded. "How dumb do you have to be to fall for that?"
Gremlin: Boils, they're... they're gone! Thank you, Wortlop. Thank you. [Runs away, crying happily.]
Gwendolyn: That's Master Wortlop. He's a traveling curse expert who's perfected next-level healing magic.
[Master Wortlop gestures for Gwendolyn to come over.]
Gwendolyn: Ooh.
[Gwendolyn pushes Luz aside and passes her staff to her. She walks up to Wortlop and kneels in front of him.]
Master Wortlop: Gwendolyn, my pupil. Your aura is shining bright.
Amity scoffed. Auras were just a myth. She knew enough about oracle magic from Odalia's interminable lectures to know that much.
Gwendolyn: It took many months, but I was able to gather the sacred items you requested. [Takes out an egg.] The copper egg from the Snowy Rib Cage, [Takes out a dagger.] the silver dagger from the Swampy Toes, and [Takes out a chalice.] the golden chalice from the desert of Palm Stings.
Master Wortlop: You're a dedicated mother, aren't you?
Camila let out a hiss. If her instincts were correct, this Wortlop character was just some charlatan taking advantage of a mother's desperation. No better than the quacks in the Human Realm who claimed their awful concoctions could cure autism.
[Master Wortlop summons a tome out of thin air.]
Master Wortlop: Inside this tome is the healing ability you seek. [Passes it over to Gwendolyn.] But keep it away from the eyes of non-believers, for many will be blinded by the power it holds.
"Very convenient that," Willow said, rolling her eyes.
[Gwendolyn looks at the tome in awe.]
Gwendolyn: I understand. [Stands up and bows to Master Wortlop.] I am in your debt, Master Wortlop.
"You weren't suspicious of all this?" Hunter asked. "I know you can be naïve at times, but this is really suspicious to me, and I got suckered by the emperor my whole life!"
"Hey, I'm still new to your world!" Luz protested. "I don't know how things are done. Gwen seemed to know what she was talking about. I figured the mother of a con artist wasn't gonna get suckered by one herself."
[Gwendolyn turns around and walks away with Luz. Luz stops, looks at Master Wortlop admiringly, then runs off to catch up with Gwendolyn. Scene changes to outside the Owl House. Gwendolyn drives a sign into the ground while Luz writes "APPLE BLOOD" and draws an arrow pointing away from the house.
Vee laughed. Luz sure knew Eda's deepest weaknesses!
Luz follows Gwendolyn deeper into the forest. Scene cuts to the forest. Luz ties up a rope and wipes off sweat from her forehead.]
Gwendolyn: Nice work, Luz. [Her palisman drops her on a stone.] With Wortlop's tome and your ability to lure Eda out of the house, we'll be curing that curse in no time.
"I just wanted to help," Luz said in a weak, quiet voice. "I thought it would work! I thought I could do something good for Eda, since I keep on screwing things up!"
"You are doing something good for her," Camila said firmly. "You're giving her your love."
Luz: Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's always down for more apple blood. So, [Stands up.] that Wortlop guy was really something. You're his pupil?
Gwendolyn: [Looks up from her tome.] Oh, yes. But first, I had to prove that I was worthy of his secrets. So I spent the last year on a bunch of dangerous quests. And [Flashes her bicep muscles.] I didn't even get that many scars.
Luz: [Amazed.] Cool. Also, dang, girl, [Compares her bicep to Gwendolyn's.] your bicep game is ridiculous.
Everyone looked over at Amity to see how she'd react. Amity rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on! She's like eighty. And Eda's mom. Get a grip."
[Someone steps on a stick and causes leaves to rustle.]
Gwendolyn: [Gasps.] Our signs must've worked. [Runs away together with Luz.]
Eda: [Follows the signs into the woods.] Oh, baby, time to stock up on Mama's night juice.
"I find it to be rather concerning she fell for that so easily," Camila said. "If the Emperor's Coven knew it was that easy to lure her into a trap, you could all be in a lot of trouble." Hunter had to agree. Belos would have been overjoyed to find such an easily exploitable weakness in one of his greatest enemies.
[Gwendolyn and Luz overlook Eda from a tree branch high up.]
Gwendolyn: According to Wortlop's tome, we start by lowering the beast's defenses with special crystals. And they're supposed to be quite calming.
Eda: Whoa!
[Eda narrowly avoids a falling crystal, spins her staff to shatter the rest, then narrowly avoids another falling crystal.]
"So very calming," Hunter snarked.
Eda: [Stares at the ground oddly.] Knife season came early this year.
"Trust me, you do not want to know," Luz said before Camila could say a word. "Anyway, you don't need to worry about that. Knife season isn't for, like, another two months."
[A large shadow looms over Eda. Eda looks up, screams and jumps back, narrowly avoid a large crystal. She lies on the ground, looking shocked. A bunch of feathers pops out of her.]
Luz: [Gasps.] She's stressed.
[Luz takes out an elixir from her pouch. She is about to throw it to Eda, but Gwendolyn grabs her hand and stops her.]
Gwendolyn: Oh, no, no, no. The texts say those feathers mean we're driving the beast out.
"You're making it worse!" Luz snarled at her. "Just stop! Okay?! You think you're doing the right thing, but you aren't!"
Luz: Oh. [Stares down at the elixir with a worried expression.]
Gwendolyn: [Puts her hand on the elixir.] Don't worry. After today, Eda will never have to drink those nasty little things again.
"They do taste really disgusting," Luz conceded. "Like sour grapefruit juice."
Luz: [Smiles.] All right. What do we do next?
Gwendolyn: Next, we're gonna put that beast [Releases a puff of smoke from her bag, which forms a cloud with a face.] on ice.
[The cloud spouts out ice from its mouth.]
Eda: [Climbs up a cliff.] This... better be... the oldest, strongest, stinkiest apple blood [Looks up.] ever.
[Eda sees a sign which says "IT REALLY IS ¡THAT GOOD!" and screams in frustration.
"I know her almost as well as she knows herself," Luz bragged. "Probably better than her mom does, ironically."
She then begrudgingly keeps on walking, but accidentally slips on some gooey substance.]
Eda: Ah! [Balances herself, looks down at her shoes and groans.] I just stole these.
[Eda keeps on walking, but accidentally steps into a trap covered with leaves, which sends her flying upwards, screaming. Gwendolyn looks at this with a serious expression while Luz is shocked at the sight of this.]
Gwendolyn: It seems like the curse isn't my daughter's only problem.
As uncomfortable as Gwen made her feel, it was hard for Camila to argue with that logic. She wasn't entirely sure apple blood strictly qualified as an alcoholic beverage, but it was relatively comparable, and this was definitely addict behavior Eda was displaying. Not a mark in the metaphorical list of checkmarks to make Camila comfortable with her looking after Luz, to be sure.
[Eda screams and lands on a bush. Her Owl Staff flies to her.]
Eda: [Reaches out to her staff.] Help Mama up.
Luz: Gwen, [Turns to Gwendolyn.] we tried freezing the curse out, we tried sweating the curse out, we even tried [Shrugs.] flying snakes for some reason.
[Down below, Eda is running away from two flying snakes, screaming as Luz and Gwendolyn watch on.]
"And that didn't make you realize something was wrong?!" Luz screamed at her past self. "Why do you have to be such a mark, Luz, huh?" Amity squeezed her hand.
Luz: I don't think this stuff is working. Did Wortlop ever say where he learned this stuff? [Looks to Gwendolyn.]
Gwendolyn: [To a crow phone.] Yes, I'm sending it right away. [Hangs up call, crow caws and flies up.]
Luz: [Squints.] What did you just do?
Gwendolyn: It turns out [Slips some gems into a pouch.] the ancient tome is only the first [Hands over the pouch to the crow.] of a series. So, I'm trading in a few paltry family heirlooms to get the rest. [Flips open the book to read.]
"Of course she is," Camila muttered. "This whole episode is starting to sound like a waste of time. I bet she doesn't even have any info on how to get to the Human Realm!"
Luz: [Dubious.] Let me see that book. [Walks towards Gwendolyn.]
Gwendolyn: [Stops Luz.] Halt. Only people who have scaled Wortlop's [Displays her necklace.] "Pyramid of Study" can touch the tome.
Camila laughed. The whole thing was literally a pyramid scheme!
[Luz grabs the tome off Gwendolyn's hands using vines from a plant glyph.]
"Well, that should have convinced you that something was wrong," Hunter pointed out.
Gwendolyn: Hey!
Luz: [Flips open book.] What is this? Jar of bees for existential dread?
Hunter looked over at Clover hopefully. "Bees can cure existential dread?!" he asked. This would have been so helpful for him to know earlier! He had existential dread so often it was practically a hobby.
"I'm afraid not, Hunter," Willow said in a gentle tone.
"Then why do I always feel so much better whenever I'm around you?"
"I can think of a few theories," Gus said with a smirk.
Aromatherapy for broken legs? Bird songs for sufferers of stuffy noses?!
"That last one is actually true," Hunter said. "According to Viney, the song of a phoenix can cure minor ailments such as stuffy noses, even just a recording."
[Turns towards Gwendolyn.] Gwen, you're being scammed! Wortlop is a fake.
Gwendolyn: You really think I'd spend my life savings [Takes back the tome.] on a fake?
Luz: I know you want what's best for Eda, and so do I. [Takes out an elixir from her waist pouch.] But I'm calling this off. [Walks off and kneels down on one leg.]
Gwendolyn: Luz, [Grabs her arm.] I really thought [Takes away the elixir.] we were on the same side. According to Wortlop, poison like this is made by healers and potion makers who simply [Flips open book.] want money.
"You're an idiot!" Luz snarled at her, unable to stop her anger from spiking. "A total moron!"
"These antivaxxers are all the same," Camila lamented. "They start with good intentions and then they get too deep, and by the time they realize what's going on, they just keep going with it, because the alternative is to admit you got suckered."
Gus raised a hand. "What's an antivaxxer?"
"People who are against vaccines," Camila explained. Gus looked befuddled. Right. Of course people in the Demon Realm didn't know what a vaccine is. "A special type of medicine used to prevent particularly horrible diseases such as smallpox or polio. Many people used to die from those diseases before those vaccines were developed."
"That doesn't make any sense," Hunter said. "Why would they do that?"
"Welcome to the Human Realm, Hunter," Camila said wryly. "People do all sorts of dumb things here. Some people don't believe they're "natural" like Gwen. Others believe they are secretly a conspiracy to track everyone on behalf of…whoever they happen to be paranoid about at the moment. Still others believe that they cause disabilities such as autism or ADHD."
Amity rolled her eyes. "Even if that was so, wouldn't it be better to have those disabilities than to be dead?"
"You're preaching to the choir, querida."
Luz: [Angrily.] Are you kidding me?! You just... [Pinches her eyebrows.] Argh, whatever. I'll just get more at the house.
Gwendolyn: I'm afraid that will be a waste of your time.
"She didn't, did she?" Vee asked, her voice filled with horror.
[Her palisman drops a sack filled with elixirs in front of Gwendolyn.]
"She did," Luz confirmed grimly.
Gwendolyn: Hawksley cleared out every bottle hours ago.
"That's her palisman," Luz explained.
Luz: Whoa. [Stands up angrily.] Why would you do that?
Gwendolyn: Because I am a mother who will do anything for her daughter.
How can you speak of your children like that? Camila remembered herself saying to her so-called friends in that support group. They're not broken!
But they are, her former friend responded. And it's our responsibility to fix them. A real mother would do anything for her daughter.
[Gwendolyn tries to throw a bottle of elixir away, but Luz pounces on her and tries to grab the elixir, causing both of them to fall.]
Eda: Ugh. [Throws away a flying snake stuck in her hair.] Woo, this ain't good.
[Behind Eda, both Gwendolyn and Luz scream as they fall from above. They land behind a bush while the elixirs shatters when the bag hits the ground, which grabs Eda's attention. They both grimace in pain, with Gwendolyn rubbing her forehead.]
Eda: Hey!
[Both look up.]
Eda: What is going on here? [Looks at both of them.]
Gwendolyn: Witchlet, [Pats off leaf on her shoulder.] it's okay. [Puts hand on Luz's shoulder.] Luz and I are working to heal you.
Was Camila truly any better, she wondered? She had sent Luz to the camp. A camp that promised to teach her to think inside the box. Was she just like Gwendolyn, obsessed with curing what was wrong with her daughter to the point where it stopped her from seeing Luz herself? She wanted to think otherwise – she'd spent many sleepless hours trying to convince herself otherwise – but she just didn't know anymore. What she did know was that she wouldn't be like that in the future. She'd not make that mistake again.
[Luz stares at Eda with a guilty expression.]
Eda: What? This was all you? [Becomes angry.] You weren't healing me. You nearly killed me!
"It was an accident!" Luz said, cringing. "I didn't mean to do it!"
[As Eda speaks, more feathers start popping out from her body.]
Luz: Eda, please try to stay calm.
Eda: Why? Why should I be calm? I have a right to be upset!
[While speaking, Eda closes her eyes, when she opens it again before finishing the last word, it turns fully black. She transforms into her Owl Beast form in front of Luz and Gwendolyn. Eda in her Owl Beast form is closing in on Gwendolyn and Luz while growling.]
Gwendolyn: Don't worry. According to this, [Casts spell circle to summon tome and look at it.] we just have to... [Hesitates.] Uh...
Luz: Have to what?
Gwendolyn: [Turns around to show Luz the tome.] Buy the next volume...?
"YOU ARE SUCH A DUMBASS!" Luz thundered. "You bargained with your daughter's life and now you're paying the price! We're all paying the price! You should have seen through his lies. And now, because you didn't, so many people have suffered! All because of me!" She flinched. "You. I meant you."
"Lucecita," Camila said in the gentlest tone available. "This anger isn't about Gwen, is it?"
Luz hesitated for a long while, then shook her head. But she refused to say anything more.
[Luz takes a deep breath, then makes an exasperated grunt. Eda roars and takes a step closer towards them. Behind them, King screams and runs out from a bush. He notices Owl Beast Eda and cries out in shock.]
Luz: King?!
King: So Lilith was feeling stressed and, uh, the light glyph didn't really work. So, uh... uh... uh...
[A large shadow flies past them from above. They all look up, some gasp. Lilith in her Raven Beast form turns around and lands in front of them, revealing herself to be much larger than Owl Beast Eda.]
"What did you expect, Gwen?" Camila said. "You just ignored one of your daughters in favor of the other and thought she wouldn't be upset." She turned to face Vee and Luz. "I'd never do that to you. I love you both equally."
"Really?" Vee said. It wasn't that she doubted Camila's sincerity. She just questioned how she could have the same love for a girl that she'd only known for a few months as she had for the daughter she'd given birth to and known for fourteen years.
"Really," Camila said, putting as much passion into her voice as she could. "I don't ever want either of you to feel unloved in my presence. And if you feel I'm doing something wrong, I want you to tell me. I promise I won't get upset."
King: She turned into that thing!
Gwendolyn: [Shocked.] Sweet flea?
[Lilith lets out a loud roar. Eda roars and rushes towards her, with her rushing towards Eda as well. Lilith then snatches Eda and flies off with her, while Luz, King and Gwendolyn look on in total disbelief. Luz picks up the Owl staff and rides atop it, ready to take off.]
Gwendolyn: [Disbelief.] That... was my little sweet flea? That means she's also...
King: Cursed! Yes! Were you not paying any attention to her? [Climbs up the Owl staff and sits behind Luz.]
"If even King knows something is up, then maybe you should listen," Gus pointed out. King was not exactly the most emotionally intelligent individual, after all.
Luz: We have to help them. Will you [Reaches out her hand.] come with me?
Gwendolyn: [Hesitates.] This... This must be part of the process, right?
"She's still clutching to her beliefs?" Amity said in horror. "Come on! You'd think Eda's mom wouldn't be that much of a sucker!"
"Well, we're not all like our moms," Luz said, "And thank goodness for that."
"¿Qué?"
"I mean, Amity isn't like her mom," Luz clarified. Camila relaxed. Right, of course she did. This episode was really unbalancing her if she was leaping to a conclusion like that.
Luz: [Closes her eyes.] I can see you still need a little time. [Opens eyes.] Alright, Owlbert. [Owlbert hoots.] Let's fly!
[Gwendolyn looks at Luz flying away with a hesitant expression while clutching her necklace.]
"Gwen went to Wortlop's lair, caught him in the act, and really gave him what for," Luz explained, recalling what Eda had told her later. "Turns out, he was just three gremlins in a suit."
"So she came to her senses, then?" Camila said. "I guess some people can learn." Like me, a hopeful voice inside her said.
[Later, Lilith growls and pursues Eda again. They continue fighting each other in air and eventually, both crash to the ground. Luz and King fly past on the Owl Staff just in time to see this.]
Luz: [Anxiously.] Gotta think fast. [Notices something ahead.] Whoo! [From a distance.] Morton!
Morton: [Looks up.] Hmm?
[Luz lands in front of Mr. Elixir, almost crashing into Morton, causing him to cry out in surprise.]
Luz: I need every last elixir you have.
[Morton gasps happily.]
Luz: Also, do you accept [Takes out a drawing of Morton from her pocket.] payment in hyper-realistic pencil portraits? [Grins at Morton.]
"I'm gonna guess the answer is no," Amity deadpanned.
[Morton becomes unhappy and closes the panel door in front of Luz.]
"Called it."
Luz: Shoot! I thought I was improving. [Looks down at the drawing sadly.]
Gwendolyn: [From a distance.] Don't worry!
[Luz and King turn around in surprise. Gwendolyn lands in front of them and spins her staff. She is carrying a large bag of snails.]
Gwendolyn: Mama's here. [Shows the bag of snails.]
"She stole that bag from Wortlop!" Luz explained proudly. It turned out Gwen was more like her daughter than Luz had thought.
[Scene cuts back to Eda and Lilith. Eda roars at Lilith. Lilith attempts to bite Eda, but she manages to dodge her and fly away. Eda then lands atop a roof, while Lilith catches up with her and pins her down. Luz, King and Gwendolyn watch them from another roof across the duo.]
Luz: You sure this is gonna work? [Glances over at Gwendolyn.]
King: Yeah, [Squints at Gwendolyn.] are you like, secretly sending us to our deaths?
Gwendolyn: [Sternly.] No, I'm making things right.
"It's not as if people actually tell you when they're secretly sending you to their deaths," Hunter said. He knew that from personal experience, after all.
[Gwendolyn pulls off her necklace, throws it down and steps on it, breaking the necklace into pieces. Luz and King ride onto the Owl Staff and fly away. Eda appears on screen and screeches. Gwendolyn casts a spell circle, summoning some flying boards to her. She approaches Eda and Lilith by stepping onto the boards.]
Gwendolyn: [Regretfully.] My beautiful daughters, I failed you.
Camila looked at her own daughters, tears in her eyes. They stared back at her, both completely bewildered as to why their mom was so upset.
[Eda turns towards Gwendolyn. She snarls and walks towards her.]
Gwendolyn: Edalyn? You're in there, aren't you?
[Eda growls at Gwendolyn, but she puts her hand on Eda's hair anyway. The camera zooms into Eda's eye.]
Gwendolyn: I should've listened to you. I know now why you pushed me away. I made you think your curse was something to be ashamed of. Whether we want it or not, it's a part of you. And I love every part of you.
"I love every part of you too, Luz," Camila said softly.
"I love you too, mom," Luz said. "Thanks. That means a lot to me."
[She shuts her eyes and puts her forehead into Eda's forehead.]
Gwendolyn: [Regretfully.] I'm so sorry.
"Luz…I know you said you don't hate me for sending you to camp, but…how?" Camila said. "If I'd be in your shoes, I'd be so upset…and then I failed to realize Vee wasn't you…"
"It's really no big deal, mom," Luz said, shifting a little in her seat. It was a big deal. It felt like a huge deal, to be honest, even now. But she didn't want her to get upset.
"Isn't it?" Camila said bitterly. "A mother should know these things."
Vee looked her in the eyes. "Hey, it wasn't all on you, mom. I lied to you. I was so scared you'd kick me out. I knew it was wrong. I knew I was getting your love under false pretenses. But I just wanted it too much to stop. I'm sorry."
Camila sighed. The time between Vee returning from camp and her true identity being exposed had been some of the worst of her life. She'd been torn between being suspicious of Vee because of all the warning signs and trying to deny the evidence was in front of her. She didn't want to be like those parents who hated their children, who thought that their disability had stolen them and replaced them with a changeling. The more the evidence piled up, the more terrified Camila became that she was turning into the kind of person she feared changing into above all else: the kind of mother who saw her child's disability only. Once the initial shock and anger had faded away, once Luz's hologram had disappeared, it had almost been a relief to know she wasn't crazy. That there really was an imposter living with her.
Eda: Mom?
[Gwendolyn opens her eyes to find Eda staring back at her, her eyes already revert back to normal.]
Gwendolyn: Witchlet! [Hugs Eda.]
[Lilith roars and attempts to pounce at Eda, but Eda grabs her wrist and pins her down.]
Gwendolyn: And Lilith... [Kneels down in front of her.] you were always so self-sufficient.
[Gwendolyn caresses Lilith's cheek, calming her down.]
Gwendolyn: [Regretfully.] But I didn't give you the attention you deserved.
"Now she finally figures it out," Camila said, but with no rancor in her voice.
"Well, better late than never, right, mom?" Luz said.
[Upon hearing that, Raven Beast Lilith starts sobbing. Gwendolyn shushes her and embraces her, caressing her head.]
Gwendolyn: [Looks up and shouts.] Now!
[Luz and King flies towards them from above. King jumps down from the staff, pinning Eda and Lilith down by stepping on their ears. Luz pulls out the bottle corks with her teeth, and dumps the elixirs into Eda's and Lilith's mouth. A cloud of air appears and surrounds the duo. The strong airflow forces Gwendolyn to shield her face and blows King backwards. King almost rolls off the roof, but Luz lands just in time to catch him. The cloud expands and flashes brightly, then forms then shape of a bird. Eda and Lilith is pulled upwards. The cloud eventually bursts and gives off a bright flash.]
Luz: [Impressed.] Dang, that is good elixir.
[Gwendolyn walks forward. Eda and Lilith descend from above, right into Gwendolyn's arms. She sits down with them in her arms and stares at Eda lovingly.]
Eda: [Opens her eyes and smiles at Gwendolyn.] About time, Mom.
Lilith: [Sobs.] Mom, I heard you but I couldn't stop myself. I... I couldn't do anything. [Continues sobbing.]
Gwendolyn: [Hugs Lilith.] It's okay. Everything is okay now. [Hugs Eda together.] I'm here for you both.
[Luz smiles gladly at the sight of this, while King comes to a realization.]
King: She was... trying to do her best, huh?
"I was," Camila said. "Uh, she was."
Luz and Vee looked at each other and nodded. Working on an unspoken understanding, they both sat on a side of Camila and put their arms around their mother's shoulder.
"We love you so much, mom," Vee said.
[Gwendolyn hugs her daughters tight and smiles lovingly as Luz and King look at them from aside. Scene changes. It is now nighttime and Luz, King, Eda and Gwendolyn are standing outside the Owl House.]
Gwendolyn: I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused, but I—I just wanted to help. I should've trusted you more.
Eda: Yeah, you [Jokingly punches Gwendolyn.] should've. But, hey, don't be a stranger. Okay, Mom?
Camila grinned. The two of them were getting along so well now. And maybe that meant there was still hope for her and Luz. For now. But what would Luz say if she denied her the chance to return to what was, it could no longer be denied, her true home? Did Camila have to risk her daughter's life in order to keep her relationship with her? It truly felt like there were no good options available to her.
[Gwendolyn smiles at Eda.]
Lilith: [Kicks open the door.] Mom! I'm ready! [Carries a bindle on her shoulder.]
Eda: [Squints at Lilith.] Huh?
Lilith: [Walks towards Gwendolyn.] Well, we were talking and I've decided to go home with Mother and make up for lost time. [Smiles at Gwendolyn.]
Camila was pleased to hear that. While she told herself the reason why was because she wanted Gwen and Lilith to regain the relationship they should have had all along, a part of her, despite understanding Lilith better, was still relieved she wasn't going to be living with Luz anymore.
[Luz, Eda, King and Hooty are surprised at this announcement.]
Luz: What?
Eda: Lily?
King: You lived here?
Hooty: What?
Gwendolyn: [Sad expression.] Edalyn, Lilith told me how she gave you the curse. I am [Grabs Lilith's hand.] so, so sorry to [Grabs Eda's hand.] you both, to have this secret weighing you down. [Regretfully.] I wish I knew sooner.
"I guess I should have communicated with you more too, mom," Luz said.
"We both should have – but it's not too late, sweetie. We're gonna make things right, I swear."
Lilith: [To Eda.] There's still a lot to be learned about this curse, but... it'll be nice to spend some time home and reconnect with Dad. [Eda looks away hearing the last part.]
Gwendolyn: We'll be away for a while, but we have plenty of [Takes out a few elixirs from her hair.] elixirs stocked up!
Luz: Someday my hair is gonna be big enough to do that too. [Looks at Gwendolyn admiringly.]
Amity scowled. She liked Luz with short hair. If she had long hair, she'd lose some of her essential Luzosity.
King: [Incredulously.] You actually want that?
Hooty: [Cries, stretches towards Lilith.] No! Lulu, you can't!
Lilith: [Touches Hooty's cheek.] Hootsifer, I have to. But don't worry, we can be penpals. [Turns around and leaves.]
Hooty: [Cries.] But I can't hold a pen!
"He could use one of those enchanted typewriters," Willow suggested.
"Actually, that's exactly what he did," Luz said.
Gwendolyn: [Gratefully.] Luz, if it weren't for you I might still be wrapped up in Wortlop's lies. So here's what I should've told you from the start. [Bends over towards Luz.] You're not the only human to have lived in Bonesborough.
"Don't…" Luz whispered. "Don't listen to her. Don't do it!" But it was hopeless. She was watching the echoes of things that had already happened. The future, the past, it was all set in stone. And Luz was powerless to change it.
[Luz gasps.]
Gwendolyn: There's a rare substance called Titan's blood. It is extremely powerful and sometimes causes leaks between our realms. Plants, animals... And you guys have a lot of garbage, by the way. But humans are rare. My great-grandmother told me about a human who once lived here.
"Evelyn," Gus whispered with a sudden realization.
But one day he just vanished. Rumor has it he left something in the library, and if you can find out more about him...
"It's a good thing she knows someone who works in the library, isn't it, Amity?" Willow said teasingly. "She can kill two birds with one stone there…"
Luz: [Hopefully.] Maybe I could find out how he got here!
Gwendolyn: Exactly. [Winks at Luz.]
[Lilith and Gwendolyn look back and smile, then fly away together on their staffs. Hooty is still crying.]
Eda: Well, I'll be on the couch for the next twenty-four hours. [Yawns and starts walking into the house.] Goodnight.
King: No, wait! I call couch.
Luz: [Puts her hand over her heart and looks up to the sky.] I'll be home soon, Mom.
Camila squeezed Luz's hand.
[A gust of wind blows past Luz.]
Luz: [Looks down sadly.] Camp's probably ended [Looks back up to sky.] by now.
[Scene changes to another shot further away from the Owl House. Luz looks up to the sky with a sad expression while Hooty is still crying in the background.]
Luz: She must be so worried.
"So what were you doing during all this?" Luz wondered. Camila added her own memories to the mirror.
[Scene transitions to Camila sitting on a couch inside the living room, covering her face with her hands while crying.]
"Oh my God, you were missing me!" Luz shouted. "But I thought Vee…"
Camila: [Straightens up, wipes off tears with her finger.] I'm sorry. These animal documentaries [Turns off TV with remote control.] make me such a mess.
Luz laughed, a genuine amused laugh. "Oh, mom. Never change."
"At least you didn't watch the one about giraffes," Gus said with a shudder.
"Luz": Here, Mama.
[A hand offers Camila a tissue box. Scene changes to show another Luz sitting on the couch, but her face is covered in darkness, concealing her facial features.]
Camila: Thank you, Luz. You always know what to do.
"Aw, that's so sweet!" Luz said to Vee. "Look at you, looking after mom like a pro! Thank you so much for that, Vee. It means a lot to me. I'm glad she didn't have to worry."
Amity, Willow, and Gus, meanwhile, shuddered in fear. They knew Vee's intentions were good, but the way the scene and the lighting had been framed made her look quite sinister.
And Hunter watched the screen with envy. Even a basilisk who had never known love like Vee was lucky enough to have a parental figure who loved her now. He wanted that so much. He wanted a parental figure like Camila to say she loved him. Belos never had. But Hunter knew he would never get that. Because he didn't deserve it.
