While Camila took a bathroom break, Luz took Amity aside. "So, sweet potato, I know you're really excited about this one because of the kiss…"
Amity was not, in fact, excited. She had been horrendously embarrassed after she kissed Luz on the cheek, not just because of her recklessness in doing so, but because she had also run away like a coward after having done so.
"But I need you to keep it on the downlow until we see it," Luz continued. "It needs to be a surprise!"
"Oh, trust me, no problems there, Luz," Amity said. "Uh…why, though?"
"Well, this episode has a lot of Gus being totally cool and awesome," Luz explained. "But if mami knows about the kiss in advance, she won't be able to concentrate on that! Gus deserves our full appreciation."
Amity smiled at her. "You're such a good friend, Luz."
"All right, I'm back!" Camila said, walking in the room. "Let's get this show on the road!"
Willow frowned. "Where are we going?"
"No, no, it's just an expression, dear. I mean, let's start."
[Open on Gus sitting in the hallways of Hexside, his head buried in his arms. Luz walks up to him.]
Luz: Hey, Gus. You okay?
Gus: I—I messed up bad, Luz. Willow just needed help with this pixie problem, right? So I thought, oh, that I'll lure them away with an illusion. But then...
Luz: That angered the pixies, and they attacked Willow. I heard.
"Oh, Gus, I told you, I didn't blame you for that," Willow said. "It wasn't like you told the pixies to attack me!"
Gus: I moved up two grades. What's the point of being good at this if I can't do anything good with it?
Camila raised an eyebrow, impressed. Since they were in different tracks, she hadn't realized Willow and Gus were in the same grade. She hoped she'd get to see some flashy illusions in this episode.
Luz: It was an honest mistake. Besides, Willow's tough as nails.
Hunter scoffed. Tough as nails. Why was Luz underestimating the captain? Nails get cut all the time. Why, Hunter had cut his that very morning! Sometimes, Hunter thought he was the only person who understood what a phenomenal badass Willow was – including Willow herself.
I'm sure you'll both be feeling better tomorrow.
[Cut to Gus laying on the floor of his bedroom, presumably tomorrow. He groans.]
-THEME SONG-
[Camera shows off Gus's bedroom. His crystal ball caws and beeps. It shows a prerecorded message of King.]
King: [On recording.] I'm not reading this.
Gus: [On recording, offscreen.] Come on, King. Please?
"You may well ask how I managed to persuade the King of Demons himself to record my message," Gus said dramatically. "But you will never learn the answer, for I will never tell."
King: Ugh, fine. [Clears throat.] Is that a six-footed pig or a floating appendage? Why, no! [Gus, wearing a cape, hops on screen.] It's Gus the Illusion Master. Please leave a message.
[The video turns to Willow, her arm in a cast.]
Willow: [On recording.] Hey, Gus. Thanks for sending me all those "Get well soon" illusions but, uh...
[Three tiny illusions of Gus jump onto her shoulders and head.]
Illusion Gus #1: Willow! How are you feeling? Do you have a fever?
Illusion Gus #2: Willow, you want me to sing for you? Mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi...
Illusion Gus #3: Willow, is this helping?
Willow: Can you please take them back?
Gus sighed. He had just wanted to help!
"Aw, it's okay, Gus," Willow said. "I'm just glad I have a friend like you who thinks of me."
[Gus groans. The crystal ball shuts off. Gus rolls onto his stomach and traces a spell circle, summoning his illusion to stand in front of him.]
Illusion Gus #1: Where's Willow?
Illusion Gus #2: Why are we here?
Illusion Gus #3: Did we do bad?
[Gus blows the illusions away.]
Vee felt sad to see those illusions destroyed so cavalierly. It was always a shame when good food got wasted.
[Someone knocks on a door. Cut to Gus opening the front door to find Luz.]
Luz: [Raises fists.] Gustopher! [Finger points.] Gusteban! [Leans on the doorframe.] Augustabeth! Any of those working for you?
"You really need to ask Eda for con artist lessons," Gus said.
"You really, really don't, Luz," Camila said quickly.
Gus: You need my library card to visit Amity, don't you?
Luz: [Laughs self-consciously.] I haven't been doing a good job of hiding that, huh?
"It's not like I was stalking her," Luz said quickly. "I just happened to be checking her out – checking books out! I'm a very well read individual."
[Gus shakes his head.]
Luz: Well, I was also hoping to do a little bit of... research! Come on! [Drags Gus away.]
[Gus screams. Cut to Luz and Gus walking through the streets of Bonesborough.]
Luz: So, Eda's mom told me I'm not the first human to have lived in Bonesborough. If that's true, there might be some info on how they got here in the library!
Gus: Yeah, okay. Looking through old newspapers is about all I'm good for anyway.
"You're good for so much more than that, Gus," Hunter said. "You helped me when no one else would. Without you, I'd be even more of a wreck than I am now."
[The two of them stop walking.]
Luz: Spill it, Gustonimo. Are you okay?
"Luz…the corny nicknames, they weren't helping," Gus admitted.
"Sorry," Luz said. "You should have said something. I'm kind of a dunce about these kinds of things. I have to be told straight out sometimes."
Gus: I—I've just been thinking. What if it's time for me to explore different kinds of magic?
"Looks like you've corrupted him!" Camila said with a grin.
"I did learn from the best, after all," Luz bragged.
Luz: I'm all for trying new things, but what's wrong with illusions?
Gus: Illusions are just so...you know—
"Your illusions happened to save our lives, Gus, remember?" Hunter said. "You should be proud of your magic. At least you have natural magic. Here, I'm as powerless as Luz."
"Hey!"
[On the street below, Animal Control tries and fails to subdue a Slitherbeast.]
Slitherbeast: [Growls, looks forward.]
Braxas: Yay! Huh?
Vee squirmed a little. A part of her thought it would serve Wrath right to lose his son to a rampaging slitherbeast, while a much stronger part of her detested herself for thinking that way. That was probably how Number One had thought, and look where that led her.
[The Slitherbeast charges towards Braxas only for two boys wearing uniforms from a different school to jump in front of him. The dark-skinned witch conjures up a slick of abomination goo that causes the Slitherbeast to slip, then the demon boy creates a net of vines that launches it back. After it lands, a girl leaps over it and uses construction magic to trap the Slitherbeast in stone.]
Girl: Good work guys!
Something about this girl gave Camila a bad feeling. She reminded her a lot of Christina, her college rival who had tricked her into attending that party dressed in full costume. All smiles on the outside while secretly plotting your doom on the inside.
Dark-skinned Witch: Yeah!
Demon: Alright!
[Gus gasps.]
Warden Wrath: [Picks up Braxas.] Son, are you okay?
Vee clenched her fists. What was wrong with this man to show his son love, then go to work and torture innocent children like Vee?
Braxas: Yes, Daddy. Thank you, mysterious heroes!
Girl: Stay safe out there!
Gus: Wow! Just wow! Plants. Abomination. Construction. You guys took down that Slitherbeast like it was nothing.
Girl: Nah, it wasn't that easy.
Daek-skinned Witch: Yeah, looked like you had a real hard time out there.
Gus: You're Glandus students, right? I go to Hexside. Name's Gus.
"Glandus," the Hexolios all snarled simultaneously.
Girl: Nice to meet ya. [Gestures to the demon boy.] This is Angmar. [Then the dark-skinned witch.] Gavin.
Gavin: Hey!
Girl: And I'm—
Mattholomule: Bria! [Panting, running on screen.] I would've helped, but like, there was this other baby in danger. You probably couldn't see.
Camila rolled her eyes. This guy again. How lovely. Hopefully, no one would end up getting tortured like they did the last time he had shown up.
Gus: Mattholomule?
Mattholomule: Augustus? Back off, twerp! This operation is Glandus kids only.
Bria: Hey, Matty, it's all cool. Did you get the map?
Mattholomule: Yes! And I only had to endue 35 noogies from my older brother.
"His older brother is a coven scout named Steve," Gus explained. "He defected from the coven after the raid on Hexside."
"Yeah, Steve's cool," Luz said. "He's a friend of Lilith's."
"He always treated me just like another one of the scouts, even back before I was the leader of the Emperor's Coven," Hunter recalled. "He was probably the closest thing I had to a friend back then."
Bria: Nice work!
Gus: Well, uh, I can see you guys are busy, so-
Bria: Wait. Have you ever heard of the Galdorstones?
Hunter gave a high pitched, nervous laugh at recalling one of the ingredients used to make him. Everyone but Gus stared at him in confusion. Hunter narrowed his eyes at Gus. Something was off there.
Gavin: They're powerful relics. Many witches and demons have sought them.
Angmar: But they've all returned empty-handed, haunted by its guardian. Until us!
Bria: We heard some coven scouts talking about them, but it'll be rough going. You said you are a Hexside student, right? We could use the extra strength.
Gus: That sounds awesome, but I can't. I promised a friend I'd help her with something today.
[On cue, Luz turns visible between everyone, surprising them.]
"I really know how to make a dramatic entrance, don't I?" Luz bragged.
All: Whoa!
Luz: [Pants.] Gus, you ran away so fast, but I didn't wanna interrupt so... I think you should go.
Mattholomule: Well, he can't. Gus is just an illusionist. He'll only hold us back.
"Don't listen to him," Hunter said. "You're so much more than 'just' an illusionist. You're one of the strongest illusionists in the world!"
"And one of the best friends in the world," Willow added.
Gus wiped away a tear from his eyes. "You guys are the best."
Luz: Hah! Shows what you know. Gus here is a regular super witch.
Gus: Luz! [Drags her to the side.] I see what you're doing and it's really sweet, but I don't actually know any spells besides illusions.
Luz: No problem. [Hands him some spell glyphs.] Come on, man. You know I'm all about proving jerks wrong.
Gus looked over at Camila, who had always been quick to look down on instances of cheating, nervously. He wasn't quite as desperate for her approval as her daughters, Amity, or Hunter, but it still meant a lot to him.
"Actually, I don't really see a problem here," Camila admitted. "I mean, not inherently. The real world is different from an academic environment. Glyph magic is just as legitimate a form of magic as your inherent magic, in my opinion."
"Huh. Didn't see that coming."
Gus: Alright. I'm in. Where do we find these Galdorstones?
Bria: We're journeying to the Looking Glass Ruins in the Forearm Forest!
"Please don't tell me the trees are all forearms," Camila begged them.
"No, though that would be so cool!" Luz said.
Mattholomule: What's wrong, Augustus? Scared?
Bria: We all are. Who knows what awaits us out there? But we all got each other's back, right?
Gus scoffed. He really shouldn't have fallen for Bria's deceptions. But he wasn't too angry at himself. She was a really good liar and thus far, there'd been no warning signs. And he'd done the right thing in the end, right?
Gus: Yeah, um—Yeah. Yeah, alright, let's go!
Gus couldn't remember why he was blushing. Was it because he was embarrassed about the possibility of failing? Was it because he was excited to show off his supposed skills? Was it because of the weather? Or was it because Bria was pretty? He was reasonably sure it wasn't that last one…but what if he was wrong? What if he was just projecting an identity onto himself that didn't belong to him?
"Breathe, Gus," Luz said with a gentle smile. "It's okay." She knew what was going on in his head. The road to figuring out one's identity was rocky. "Being ace is a spectrum, you know."
"I just wanna keep watching," Gus grumbled, annoyed his friend had so easily guessed his issues.
All: Woo!
Mattholomule: [Sarcastically.] Woo.
[Cut to the Bonesborough Library. Luz is at a desk with a crystal ball.]
Hexside Student: [Laughs.] Did you check out the other volume?
[Luz types "human" into the crystal ball's search bar. She finds an article about Eda using paddleballs that were mistaken for weapons.]
Luz: "Mystery vendor floods market with dangerous human goods." Oh, Eda.
"Those aren't weapons," Camila said. "They're actually a game. For once, she was in the right."
"Well, anything can be a weapon if you hit someone hard enough with it!" Luz said perkily.
"Human resident donates personal diary to library."
Camila sat up straight in the seat. "That article, did it just say Philip Wittebane?"
Everyone stared at her. "You…know that name?" Luz said slowly. "How do you know that name?!"
"A better question is, how do you not know that name?" Camila retorted. "He was one of the town founders back in the 1600s. There's a statue of him and his brother Caleb in the town square. You must have passed it hundreds of times, Luz." Curse her distaste for history.
Hunter turned to face Camila so quickly it made his neck hurt. "Did you just say his brother Caleb?!" Camila nodded slowly, not understanding why Hunter was so upset. Hunter looked over at Flapjack. "YOU KNEW! You knew the whole time, didn't you?! Why didn't you tell me?"
You weren't ready, Flapjack told him. You weren't the first Golden Guard I bonded to. The last time I told one of them, he confronted the emperor and got killed. You had nowhere to go. You were safer in ignorance.
Hunter just scowled at him. "Maybe that was so beforehand, but after I learned the truth, you had no excuse! I deserve to know these things!"
You are right, Hunter, Flapjack said contritely. Can you forgive this silly bird?
"I…well, I guess so," Hunter muttered. He didn't want to stay angry at his palisman. Who else knew him as well?
[Gasps.] Yes! This must be it!
[Cut to the Kid's Corner. Luz peeks in, watching Amity, her hair down, talk to one of the baby class kids, who is holding her hairband captive.]
"Aw, man," Luz said. "I missed a heroic opportunity to rescue Amity's hairband and make myself look cool…"
Amity said nothing. It was far more likely she would have been annoyed at Luz for interfering in a situation she had completely under control.
Amity: Come on. Give it back.
Baby Class Kid: No!
Amity: [Sighs.] If you give me back my hairband, I'll read you whatever book you want tomorrow.
Baby Class Kid: [Gasps, hands the hairband back.] Finally! I can learn how to summon the dark lord!
Camila looked over at Amity, who shook her head firmly. "Trust me, Camila, you do not want to know."
[Amity stands and ties her hair up. Luz looks at her in complete adoration, unaware of the Blight twins behind her.]
Amity scowled. Those troublemakers just had to ruin everything, didn't they?
Edric and Emira: Hey, Luz.
Luz: Oh! [Chuckles.] Hey, Ed. Hey, Em. Picking up Amity?
Emira: Nah, looks like you got that covered. [She hops off Edric's back.]
"Oh, man! Picking her up! I get it now!" Luz said.
Edric: I'm looking for skincare tips. I have a date tonight.
Emira: Yeah, he needs all the help he can get, after he accidentally texted a poem to their mom.
"Jerbo uses he/they pronouns," Amity explained. "From what I've heard the date went pretty well. Jerbo's mom must have really liked the poem." She grinned diabolically. She was so going to use this as blackmail against Edric later.
Edric: Please don't tell people that.
Amity: [Walking up to them.] Are they bothering you again?
Luz: Oh! [Steadily blushing.] No, I just came here to see you, and, uh, here you are. [Chuckles.]
Camila gave a fond smile at her daughter. It was such a nice change of pace to see Luz deal with a normal teenage issue like a crush – especially when she knew for a fact said crush would eventually be reciprocated!
[Amity is also blushing, and neither of them can look at the other.]
"Aw, look at you two gay disasters," Vee said.
"Hey! I happen to be a bi disaster, thank you so very much!"
Vee stuck out her tongue at Luz. "Still a disaster."
"Really, Vee? How's Masha been doing?" Vee blushed incandescently.
['Edric and Emira gasps, put two and two together and share a smile.]
Emira: Edric, your face, it's exploding with horrific pustules!
Edric: Oh, no. [Genuinely worried.] Wait. Is it really?
Amity rolled her eyes. As smart as her brother could be when it came to academics, he was really a true idiot sometimes in a wide variety of other categories. It was one of the things she liked the most about him.
Emira: We have to fix it before your date or you'll get dumped!
Edric: What? I will?
"Learn to take a hint, dude," Hunter said.
Emira: [Annoyed.] Come on, Ed.
[Emira drags him away.]
"At least it wasn't as bad as when he was pining after you, Hunter," Amity commented.
Hunter glared at her. "Don't joke about things like that, Blight."
"I'm serious!" Amity said. "Okay, I admit it, I'm exaggerating. But he really had a small crush on you. A celebrity crush, you know. On the Golden Guard. He wasn't the only one. You were quite the symbol."
"I find this very difficult to believe," Hunter said. "I'm nobody special. Even back then, I was just a guy in a mask."
"A very ripped guy in a mask," Willow pointed out. "I don't think that sounds all that crazy. You're a neat guy, Hunter. It makes sense someone might have a crush on you." She suddenly blushed almost as much as Amity's blushing earlier and then looked away quickly.
[Luz looks at Amity.]
Luz: I was actually wondering if you could help me find this book? [Hands her a notebook.] Hundreds of years ago, there was a human named Philip Wittebane living in Bonesborough. And he donated his diary to this library.
Amity: And this might tell you how to travel between realms, right?
Luz: Yes! My mom probably thinks I'm missing right now. I have to get back to her as soon as possible.
"Thank you, Luz," Camila said quietly. "I know I've probably said it before. But I really appreciate all the effort you put into returning. And then…when I repaid it by thinking you chose to abandon me…"
"It's just a misunderstanding. We're good now, right, mom?"
"I hope so. I certainly hope so."
Amity: Well, something this old would be kept in... the Forbidden Stacks.
[Cut to the two of them standing in front of towering doors reading "The Forbidden Stacks." An echo mouse runs past the girls and under the door.]
"Ugh, mice are the worst," Vee complained. "Always running around, eating all the good cheese, canceling good TV shows before their time."
"Tell me about it," Luz complained. "Milo Murphy's Law deserved a third season, damn it!"
Luz: Ah!
Amity: Only Malphas, the master librarian, is allowed in here.
Luz: No te preocupes. Todo va a salir bien.
"That means don't worry, it'll all work out in the end," Luz translated.
Like my mom always said. [Chuckles, looks away.] I'm sure I can find another way.
Amity: Hey, wait. I never said I wasn't gonna help. My staff card should be able to open those doors. But once we're inside, you have to listen to everything I say. If we're caught, I could lose my job.
Camila knew she should be chastising Amity for going against the rules, but she was just too caught up in the fact Amity was putting so much at risk to help Luz. To help her too, by extension. It was so wonderfully romantic and sweet. She hoped they'd get together soon…it was transparently obvious by this point they liked each other.
Luz: [Grabs Amity's hand in both of hers.] You won't lose your job. I promise.
[They both look at their hands and blush. Luz immediately retracts her hands as Amity turns around.]
"Oh, would you two just kiss already!" Hunter shouted. Luz and Amity blushed almost as much as their past counterparts had.
Amity: Well, let's not waste any time.
[She uses her card to open the door and sharing looks of determination, they head in as the doors close behind them. Cut to a forest, where the Glandus kids and Gus are walking.]
Bria: This will be a breeze once we get the Galdorstones.
Gus: What can the Galdorstones actually do?
Mattholomule: If you're holding one, every spell you cast gets a big power boost!
Camila had a bad feeling about this. If her best guess was right, these kids were going to try to sell these Galdorstones to the Emperor's Coven, and they would just make Belos even more powerful if he got his hands on them!
Angmar: I can grow an entire forest, and make my own butterfly sanctuary!
Gavin: I can create the biggest Abomination ever! [Bitterly.] I bet Dad will pay attention to that.
"Oof," Amity said. "Word, dude. I get that." What Amity wouldn't have done in her time to get Alador to pay more attention to her. But she quickly learned that his work would always and eternally come first, no matter what grades she got, no matter how much her teachers liked her. It was never, never enough.
Gus: Whoa.
Mattholomule: Sorry. Doesn't do squat for illusions. Can't enhance what's not actually there.
"What do you know?" Camila said dismissively. "You're just a poser who stirs up trouble for kicks! Don't listen to them, Gus. They don't know what they're talking about."
Gus: Pfft. I know that.
Bria: Hold up, guys. We've come to our first challenge.
[Their path is blocked by thick brambles.]
Mattholomule: Show us what you got, Augustus. What did the human call you? "A super witch"? [Chuckles.]
"With or without glyphs, Gus is a really super witch!" Willow pronounced. Gus grinned. He was so lucky to have such good friends as he had.
Bria: [Gasps.] That's a great idea! Go on, Gus. I know you can do it.
Gus: [Pulls a glyph out from under his collar; groans.] Which one is this? [Draws spell circle.] Fireball!
[It is indeed a fire glyph. A massive fireball clears their path.]
"It sure would have been awkward if you got that wrong," Hunter said.
Bria: Wow, Gus!
All: Woo-hoo!
Bria: I knew it was a good idea to bring you!
Mattholomule: I don't know what's going on, but I've got my eyes on you.
[Cut to the library.]
Luz: How much further do we have to go?
Amity: Actually, we're here.
Camila could see why these stacks were forbidden. None of this looked safe in the slightest. While ordinarily she was not a fan of knowledge being kept from people, she could understand the safety concerns that had led to this area being sealed off.
Luz: Whoa. Let's get lookin'.
"Always with the rushing into danger," Camila said, but her voice was fond. This was just how Luz was. It wasn't going to change. And at least she had the sensible Amity at her side to dissuade her from any particularly wacky plans.
Amity: [Gasps, pulls Luz down.] Wait.
[Malphas enters from a doorway. Luz and Amity realize how close they are to each other and roll away, blushing.]
"This is just painful to watch," Hunter complained.
Luz: So, we'll be super sneaky and quiet. Got it.
Amity: Malphas is actually the one who gave me my job and my own study room. He's usually nice, but if we're caught, he'd feed us to the book worms.
"Metaphorically!" Amity said quickly. "He'd metaphorically feed us to them!"
Luz: I know here that probably means unholy, blood-sucking snake monster, but in the Human Realm, that's just a cute name for nerds.
Amity: [Still blushing.] Huh. The human world sounds odd.
"You don't know the half of it!" Gus gushed. "Did you know that humans have a whole continent that's covered in snow and ice? It's so cold humans haven't even settled it other than some minor scientific research stations."
"Your human facts are getting more and more implausible," Hunter said. "Seriously, you expect us to believe any of this?"
Luz: Maybe it would be less odd if I showed you around someday. But, uh, let's turn back. I don't wanna push you.
Amity: We're getting that diary. [Drags Luz deeper into the library.]
"Looks like someone was getting excited about spending some time in the human realm with your 'just friend,'" Luz teased Amity. "Purely platonically of course?"
"Oh, sure," Amity said in an equally teasing tone. "I totally wanted to be just platonic besties with you! Dressing up and traveling together as besties do!"
Luz: Wooh!
[Cut back to the forest.]
Mattholomule: According to the map, we should be getting close. [Screams as a snake drags him by the ankles into a tree.]
Gus: Don't worry, Matty. I got ya. [Uses plant glyph.]
Mattholomule: Hey! Only Bria can call me— [Screams, face plants on the ground.]
[Gavin and Angmar pick Mattholomule up by the arms and drag him off.]
Gavin: Come on, dude.
Angmar: I'm not surprised he couldn't handle Glandus.
Gus: What did they mean by "couldn't handle Glandus"?
Bria: Things work differently at Glandus. Weak students are pushed around by the strong.
Camila sighed. So much for her hopes Glandus might be more suitable for Luz. True, that description described…well, pretty much every school in existence in a way, but it was probably a million times worse at Glandus. Luz would be mincemeat.
But if I had a Galdorstone, I might be able to change things for the better.
Angmar: Hey! Over here!
Bria: [Gasps.] Okay, Angmar, you're on lookout duty. Angmar!
Angmar: Hmm?
Bria: I said you're on lookout duty. And if I catch you playing with anymore bugs, I'll make you eat them! Okay?
"Well, you're certainly not going to change things for the better by treating people like that," Camila said.
[Angmar whimpers.]
Bria: I believe in you!
Mattholomule: I can't believe we found it.
Bria: [Gasps; uses magic to get a Galdorstone and cracks a statue in the process.] Oh. Whoops. Well, we did it everyone. The power of the Galdorstones is ours! [Squeals.] I can't believe it. The legends were true! Woo-hoo!
Camila found it very difficult to believe it was going to be that simple. Most likely, some horrid monster would emerge to defend the Galdorstones against thieves.
[As Bria, Gavin, and Mattholomule go around stealing the Galdorstones, Gus moves aside the plants covering the bases of the statues.]
Gus: Huh. "The Phantom Bringer." "Aleth the Vision Creator"? "Khari the Mirage Maker." But these titles are for— [Gasps.] Oh no. Stop! These aren't ruins. This is an illusionist graveyard.
Camila gasped. Oh, this was even worse! And she still hadn't ruled out the possibility of a horrible monster attacking everyone on top of that.
Mattholomule: [Drops the Galdorstone he's holding.] Ew!
Bria: [Giggles.] Aw, Gus, you're saying that as if it's a bad thing.
Camila shook her head in disapproval. She'd been right about this girl. Not all that surprising. These days, Camila could sense a mean girl a mile away, no matter how much they tried to cloak themselves in a façade of respectability. She'd been burned too many times for it to be otherwise.
Gus: What? Of course it is. These stones were theirs. We shouldn't take them.
Bria: Even if these witches were alive, what would illusionists use Galdorstones for? High-def party tricks?
"You're really not all that smart, are you?" Hunter said. "Not only are you mocking the most talented illusionist witch in the Isles, but you're really stupid to think illusionists would go to the trouble of getting their hands on a valuable artifact that they couldn't even use."
"You're so nice, Hunter," Gus said.
Hunter frowned. Nice? What had been nice about what he said? He was merely stating objective facts.
Come on, Gus. Don't you wanna power up those cool spells of yours?
"Be careful what you wish for, Bria," Willow said with a smirk. "You just might get it."
Gus: No. This isn't right. I won't let you steal these.
Bria: I don't think you know what you're saying, Gus.
Angmar: [Runs in.] It's real! The guardian is real! And it's coming this way!
[All scream. The guardian roars.]
Camila just sighed. She'd totally called it.
Angmar: I heard it has the power to control weather.
Gavin: And summon ghosts.
Bria: Well, I wonder if it can handle a little fire.
"I think it's gonna take more than a little fire to take down that guy!" Vee said, chewing on her nails nervously. How was Gus going to get his way out of this one?
[She shoves Gus into the open. He reaches for a glyph, and then pats himself down.]
Gus: I'm all out of glyphs! [Gasps.]
[Cut to the library, where Luz and Amity are pulling books off of shelves in hopes to find Philip's diary. An echo mouse squeaks.]
Amity: Hmm?
[Luz gasps and pulls out Philip's diary. She squeals.]
Both: [Giggles.] Shh, shh, shh.
[Luz opens the diary. An echo mouse is sitting in the pages, having eaten nearly all of them.]
"And you know what the worst thing about the stupid mouse is?" Luz complained. "They think oh, they can just toss in the tiniest bit of LGBT representation and hail it as a major triumph! Stop half-assing it, Disney!"
"I have a feeling we're not talking about actual mice anymore," Amity said.
Luz: [Gasps.] You little rat! ["Rat" echoes.] Oh, no.
Malphas: Amity?
[Cut to the steps of the library, the girls standing before Malphas who isn't as intimidating as he appeared.]
Malphas: I'm just like super disappointed in you.
Camila couldn't help herself at bursting into giggles at the contrast between Malphas's previously intimidating countenance and his laid back tone and nature now. Amity glared at her, not understanding what was so funny about her getting chewed out by someone who she had not only trusted, but who had placed his hard earned trust in her in turn.
"Sorry, dear," Camila said. "It's just…the contrast…I should shut up now."
Like, I can't even process these feelings right now. Gosh, it's so hard for me to say this, but like, you're fired.
Camila thanked her lucky stars she had enough emotional control to cease her giggling, because the contrast between the chill way Malphas had said that and the actual content of his statement involuntarily tickled her funny bone.
[Amity tenses as Malphas magically takes her employee ID. The doors close heavily. Luz and Amity stare at them.]
Luz: Amity, I am so—
Amity: Not right now, Luz. [Tearing up.] Everything's changed since you came here. Being around you, it makes me do stupid things and I wish it didn't. [Gasps.]
"I…I shouldn't have said that," Amity said. "I was just so confused, and so upset about losing my job and I…"
"No," Luz said. "You were right. I shouldn't have asked you to break the rules for me. I got you in trouble. Again."
"But you made things right. That's what matters, Luz."
Luz looked at everyone who was trapped in the Human Realm because of her. "Some things aren't nearly so easy to fix."
Luz: [Also tearing up, nearly crying.] It's okay. I, uh— [Sniffles.] I do stupid things around you too, Amity.
Amity: [Gasps.] I think I need to go home. [Leaves.]
Luz: [Cries, takes breath and slicks hair back.] Nada funcionará a menos que lo haga funcionar.
"That means nothing will work unless you make it work," Luz translated. "It was one of my dad's favorite sayings." Manny had believed, very firmly, that in life, you made your own luck. If you made a mistake, you fix it. You didn't blame others unless they were truly to blame, no matter how tempting it may be. You took responsibility for your actions.
[She squares her shoulders and walks back into the library. Cut to the Looking Glass Ruins. The guardian roars.]
Gus: [Being knocked over.] Whoa—!
[The guardian roars.]
Gus: Uh, It'll just be an illusion, but maybe I can scare him away.
[The illusion guardian roars and then poofs.]
Keeper: Oh-ho! I am the keeper of the Looking Glass Graveyard, and it has been a very long time since I've had a visitor! And to think it'd be another illusionist! Hehehehehe, though I don't remember them being so small.
"Oh, come on!" Gus said. "And right after I went through witch puberty!"
[Gus gives him a face.]
Keeper: Don't give me that face, an illusionist has always kept watch over the Galdorstones. We gain no powers from them, so we're the least likely to use them for evil. Probably.
Gus: Well, we gotta get out of here. Now.
Bria: So, the big bad guardian is just another useless illusionist. Hehehe, today just keeps getting better.
[Cut to black. Resumes on the Keeper and Gus making various noises while being trapped by an abomination and some vines.]
Bria: [Getting some Galdorstones.] Got it! Whoops.
Angmar and Gavin: Oh!
Mattholomule: [Picking up a Galderstone.] Huh. Hey!
Bria: You're playing by Glandus rules, Matty. You can have anything you want if you're strong enough to take it.
"Well, Christina - er, Bria, there's just one problem with that philosophy," Camila said. "No matter how strong you are, there'll always be someone stronger than you. But if you work with people instead of using them, you'll be strong enough to take on anything."
[Bria, Gavin and Angmar all laugh.]
Mattholomule: [To Gus.] Hey. I—I didn't know she was gonna do this.
"He was telling the truth," Gus said. "We talked a lot after this. I guess we're kind of friends now. I just wish I knew if he was okay."
"You'll see him again, Gus," Camila promised. "I'll do whatever I can to make sure of it."
Bria: [Offscreen.] Matty, we need you to hold our stuff!
Mattholomule: This is exactly how it was at Glandus. Always Bria's stooge.
Gus: Better a stooge than a clown. Bria was right, illusions are nothing but high-def party tricks.
Mattholomule: Yeah, I used to think that too. [He makes a saw of rock to cut the vines trapping Gus and The Keeper.] But then I met some dork who used his powers to save me from a man-eating detention pit. All I'm saying is, if a dumb illusion can save a jerk like me, maybe it's not as useless as you think.
"Man, you're truly out of it if Matt is making more sense than you," Hunter pointed out.
Gus: Thanks, Mattholomule. It's time to teach those jerks a lesson!
Keeper: I agree. I'll call the hounds.
Mattholomule: [Slightly unsettled.] Whoa.
Gus: With all due respect, sir, I'd like to try something a little more... creative.
Camila leaned forward. She was looking forward to seeing some incredibly cool illusions. Everyone had been hyping up Gus as exceptionally powerful. She wanted to see it in the flesh. Well, so to speak.
Angmar: Intercepted!
[A statue crumbles due to Angmar throwing himself straight at it. Bria, Gavin, and Angmar continue laughing.]
Angmar: [Notices a pink butterfly-looking creature.] Huh?
Bria: Maybe we can sell the small ones to the Emperor's Coven, and keep the rest for ourselves!
"Yeah, like that's gonna work out," Hunter said. If Bria had done that, the deal would have gone up the ladder to Hunter and he'd have seen through her lies in two seconds flat, he was sure of it.
Angmar, start collecting! ...Angmar?
[Angmar is off following the butterfly.]
Bria: Hey! Get back here!
Butterfly: Tehehehe, wink. [Continues giggling as it flies off into the fog.]
Angmar: [Following it.] Wait—come back! What species are you?
Bria: Ugh, whatever. I never really liked him anyway. Looks like you're my second in command, Gav—
"Wow, you're just a terrible leader, aren't you?" Willow said. "No wonder you're at the bottom of the heap at Glandus."
Gavin: D-Dad?
[A clone of Gavin with a big mustache appears from the fog.]
"Gavin's Dad": Gavin, I just want you to know that I'm proud of you. Now, how about we go get some ice cream, son?
Gavin: Huh! That sounds great, Pops! Wait, when did you grow a mustache?
Gus gave a nervous laugh. Once more, his propensity for artistic flourishes almost doomed him.
"Gavin's Dad": Hey! Don't blow this chance.
[Gavin and his "dad" walk off into the fog together.]
Bria: Come out, illusionist! I'm not dumb enough to fall for these tricks.
[The world around her turns black, a shadowy figure in the shape of Gus runs across the screen.]
"Oh, very impressive!" Camila said while clapping.
Gus grinned. "You ain't seen nothing yet!"
Bria: Rghhaah! [Makes a pillar from the ground, breaking the illusion.] That's right. Who's strong now!? I never needed those losers anyway. [Picks up the bag of Galdorstones.] Oof—More for me.
[The graveyard's statues turn to face her. Their eyes and mouths are bleeding, there's a statue around her size dragging itself to her from the ground.]
"Whoa," Willow said. If she hadn't known otherwise, she'd have sworn these illusions were real! "You're so good at this, Gus!"
Bria: Haha, cute. [Draws spell circle, which does nothing.] Huh? [Tries again.] Why isn't my magic working?!
[She yelps as her hands seem to turn to stone and break off. The statue on the ground is getting closer and closer as she backs away.]
"And this is why you don't mess with the Guster," Gus said and dabbed. Everyone but Luz, Vee, and Camila stared at him in bewilderment.
Bria: [Panicking.] What's going on? No, no. This is all just an illusion. Hahah, it can't actually hurt me. It can't even touch me!
[It touches her. She gasps. The statue looks at her, its face matching her own. Blood pours from the statue's eyes.]
"How did you do that, Gus?" Hunter said in awe. Gus just smirked in reponse.
Bria: Aah! Cursed! This place is cursed! [Runs off, screaming.]
[The illusion that was set over the entire graveyard ends, revealing a slightly tired looking Gus where the moving statue was.]
"Incredible," Hunter said. "You could have really done well in –" He flinched. "Never mind. I…you did a good job, man. That's all." Gus patted him on the shoulder.
Gus: Man, that took a lot of concentration.
[The illusions disappears, revealing several rock pillars Bria had conjured. Mattholomule and the Keeper come out of hiding.]
Keeper: Laying an illusion over the whole graveyard to make it seem like the stones weren't working, very clever. Keeping honing your powers of observation, child, and there's no limit to what you'll be able to do.
Gus: There are some limits. I wish I could repair all the damage they did.
Mattholomule: Um... maybe I can help?
[A bird chirps, standing on a statue. They've been repaired, though not nearly to their former glory.]
"That was nice of him," Camila said. "Maybe he has changed." A part of her was still annoyed for getting Luz thrown in the detention pit, but honestly, that had been Gus's fault for luring her in under false pretenses in the first place. Plus, most of her ire was reserved at Bump for having one in the first place.
Keeper: Thank you for defending the Looking Glass Graveyard, witchlings. Perhaps it's time I hid this place for good.
Gus: But—there's so much history here!
Mattholomule: What if we came over on the weekend to help build your defenses?
Keeper: I would like that very much. You're both welcome to come whenever you please. [He makes finger guns and leaves.]
Mattholomule: He is definitely a ghost.
"He was definitely not a ghost," Gus assured everyone.
Gus: So, does that mean we're like... friends now?
Mattholomule: I... don't know.
"We kind of are," Gus said fondly. He missed Matt a lot more than he thought he would.
[They both start leaving the graveyard.]
Mattholomule: [Playfully shoves Gus.] Squirt. Hehehe.
Gus: [Playfully shoves back.] Jerk. Hehahaha.
[Fade to Amity's room, where Edric is admiring himself in the mirror while Emira brushes Amity's hair.]
Amity: Ever since Luz came here, things have just gotten confusing. I'm thinking things I've never thought before. I'm feeling things I never used to feel!
"Ugh, I was a mess back then," Amity complained. "I used to have my whole life planned out for me. You showed me I could have a better one, Luz, but that didn't mean the prospect wasn't terrifying. A part of me wanted to choose the certain but unhappy future ahead of me instead of the uncertain but happy future you offered."
"Well, I for one am glad you made the right choice, batata," Luz said and kissed her.
Emira: Is that so bad? You weren't happy before—Ed, don't pick, You'll make it worse.
Edric: Too late.
"Some people," Amity said melodramatically, "are beyond help."
[Amity sighs.]
Emira: Hey, your roots are growing out. Do you wanna dye your hair again?
"My mother made me dye my hair," Amity said softly. "It was the birthday after I abandoned Willow. She wanted us to look alike. A matching set. Precious trophies. She didn't like the fact I looked so much like Dad."
"Well, I certainly won't be that controlling as long as you live under my roof, Amity," Camila promised. "And if your dad gives you any trouble when you get back, I promise, you'll have a home with me if you need it." Hunter tried to ignore the jealousy churning in his stomach when he heard Camila promise that.
[Emira holds up a bottle of green hair dye. Amity grabs a strand of her hair contemplatively. Cut to a short time later. Luz is walking up to the front door of Blight Manor. Amity, with only the top of the back of head showing, revealing her hair to now be lavender, looks at her siblings, Emira holding a pair of scissors.]
"Oh, you look so beautiful, niña," Camila said and Amity gave a wide smile. It was so nice to have an adult, especially a mother such as Camila, actually approve of her appearance.
Amity: So, how's it look?
Edric: Looks like you're about to get in big trouble with Mom. [Emira lightly hits him.] Ow.
Emira: I think it looks great. But, yeah, maybe don't tell her I helped. [Hides the scissors behind her back.]
"I kept it a secret," Amity said. "I said Willow helped. It wasn't like she could get much angrier with her than she already was."
[Knocking comes from the door. Amity opens it. Luz is there with Amity's staff card and looks very disheveled.]
Luz: I'm sorry about everything! I understand if you never wanna see me again. Uh—
[She and the camera fully see Amity's new hair for the first time: it's lavender, she no longer has it tied up and has bangs.]
Luz: It's different.
"So pretty," Luz said, sounding like she was entranced.
Amity: Oh yeah. Mom always liked it green. I thought I could use a change... u-uh, [Takes employee ID.] how'd you get this back? And, what happened?
Luz: [Shakes a vine off her arm.] Well, to convince Malphas to hire you again, I had to go through some trials.
"The hardest one of the trials was when I had to rip that book about summoning the dark lord right out of that little girl's hands," Luz recalled. She shuddered. She'd be remembering the tears of the Great Beast That Is Called Kelsey for the rest of her life.
And categorize some man-eating books—and, tame something called a paper dragon? That guy was not fun. [Notices Edric and Emira.] Oh, hey, guys.
Amity: Hm?
[She turns around. The twins duck around the corner.]
"Those troublemakers," Amity said fondly.
[Amity sighs and goes outside, closing the door behind her.]
Amity: Oh—looks like you made a new friend.
Luz: Agh— [Shakes leg, getting the echo mouse on her leg to scurry off of it.] You're the one who ate the diary! Uaagh! [Jumps after it, catching it but landing on her face.] I hate you.
"And, really, having a single reference to a female's character's girlfriend in passing is not good representation!" Luz complained.
Amity: [Giggles.] Wait, This is an echo mouse. It consumes knowledge through writing and can play back anything it eats. We dealt with them a lot at work. Watch.
[Amity rubs its head a bit. The echo mouse's eyes eyes light up as it projects illustrations onto the front door.]
Philip Wittebane: [Voiceover.] My journey through the Demon Realm is far from over.
But today I humbly donate my journal to the ages. Entry one: May 21st... I think. My name is Philip Wittebane, and I found myself in a world so horrid, yet so fantastic, few minds could have dreamt it. If only those at home could see what I have, and perhaps they shall. For the more I learn about this realm, the more I am certain I can harness its strange powers to return home. Today I begin recording my journey to create a portal back to the Human Realm.
[The projection stops. Luz holds up the echo mouse.]
Luz: Thank you, little mouse. I hope you and I can become good friends.
"Maybe you should stop saying how much you hate him," Willow suggested.
[Luz boops the mouse's nose with her own. The wind gently blows her hair around. Amity stares between Luz and the damaged ID in her hand. She smiles.]
Amity: Don't worry, you always have a way of sneaking into people's hearts.
Luz bounced up and down on her seat in anticipation.
[She kisses Luz on the cheek. Both of them look surprised by what she did.]
Camila was silent for a few seconds and then she let out a high pitched shriek of excitement that was so loud it forced everyone to cover their ears. "OH MY GOSH!" she said. "I had no idea this was coming!"
"We didn't want to take away from Gus's moment in the sun," Luz explained.
"Oh, Dios mío!" Camila said. "Oh, this is so exciting! Is this how the two of you got together?"
Amity shook her head, embarrassed. "I should have had the courage…"
"It all worked out in the end," Luz said dismissively.
Edric: [From an open window with Emira.] Bold move, sister.
"I didn't even notice them there," Amity admitted.
[Luz and Amity make eye contact, both gasping softly. Amity blushes furiously and steps away.]
Amity: Uh—okay—good to see you! Farewell forever. [Walks inside, muttering to herself.] Why did I do that? Why'd I do that? Why did I do that?
"I liked it!" Luz protested. "I wish you'd done it again!"
"Yeah, but…"
"No buts!" Luz said. "God, Amity, that was one of the happiest moments in my life! Not only did I have a crush on the most awesome girl in existence but then I knew she liked me back! It was so amazing!"
[Luz stands there for a second before collapsing to her knees, still facing where Amity once was.]
"I was just in awe," Luz said. "You thought I was worthy of kissing! Me, Luz Noceda! No one's ever come anywhere close to thinking of me that way."
"Well, that's their loss," Amity said, wrapping her hand around Luz's shoulder. "I got the wonderful gem they stupidly passed up, and I'm not ever letting you go."
Luz looked at the floor bashfully. "Wanna learn another Spanish phrase?" Amity nodded eagerly. "Te amo. It means I love you. Like, romantically. I mean, you don't have to say it back…"
Amity kissed Luz without a second of hesitation. "Te amo, Luz."
