[The episode begins with a firepit igniting itself as a blue flame appeared from it and quenching itself. The Head Coven witches walk down the steps and walk to the fire pit. Emperor Belos sits in his throne in front of the Door to the Human Realm. The Golden Guard and Kikimora stand beside him.]
"Hey, Hunter, if this episode's gonna be tough on you, you can sit next to me," Camila suggested. "I'll help you if you need it."
"Oh," Hunter said, taken aback by Camila's actions. It was truly cunning of her to seek to lure one of her daughter's enemies into a more vulnerable position so she could kill him by, for example, snapping his neck in one quick movement, if he was shown to be a threat in the episode. Which, indeed, he would be. And to dress it under the guise of concern? True genius.
"Sure, why not?" Hunter responded finally, and sat down next to her. If he was going to die at her hands, at least he'd make it easy on himself. No point in drawing it out.
Kikimora: The Day of Unity approaches, where we'll celebrate the purification of magic under the coven system, just as the Titan intended. As heads of the nine covens, we celebrate your efforts to complete this plan.
"Oh, look, there's Raine!" Luz said, pointing to them on the side. "Gee, they look pretty sinister like that, don't they? Good thing we know otherwise."
"Uh…do we know otherwise?" Camila asked.
Luz nodded firmly. "Trust me. They're on our side. I've got written proof from Eda, actually, if you need it."
"Not necessary, Luz. I trust you."
For this, you have earned a glimpse of the reward that awaits.
Emperor Belos: Step forward.
[The head witches take their badges and place them into the holes at the pit. The badges light up and swirl into the fire as the fire erupts. The Head Coven witches' eyes glowed, as the fire shows the Titan's eyes glowing as the sky spins by very fast until a bright flash happens. The Titan's head appeared in the Human Realm during a solar eclipse.]
Camila inhaled sharply. So it was an invasion they were planning. Well, that wouldn't have ended well for anyone in the Demon Realm. She shuddered to think of the horror the innocent people of Bonesborough would have had endure at the hands of the American government. People like Luz's friends would have ended up in internment camps most likely…and she could think of so many worse case scenarios than that.
[The vision fades to the Head witches, their eyes still glowing.]
Emperor Belos: The larger your covens grow, the more power we have to unite our realms, where the worthy shall inherit a utopia free of wild magic.
"I can't believe I was dumb enough to fall for this," Hunter said, his head in his hands.
"Hey, Hunter, don't feel too bad," Camila said. "You didn't know any better."
[Emperor Belos grunts in pain and clutches his chest. The Golden Guard helps Belos up from his throne. Kikimora attempts to follow, but the Golden Guard stops her.]
Golden Guard: No. Stay here. I can handle this alone.
"I may not have liked Kikimora, but I wasn't about to leave her with him when he was in one of his moods," Hunter said. He'd seen people get torn apart when Belos was like that.
[Kikimora glares at the Golden Guard as they leave. When they are alone, Emperor Belos transforms into some kind of sludge monster.]
"What in God's name is that thing?!" Camila shouted.
"Not in God's name!" Luz snarled. "Nothing he did was ever in God's name!"
Luz was ambivalent, mostly, towards religion herself. With so many people thinking she was sinful for her sexuality, the whole thing left a sour taste in her mouth. Certainly the Demon Realm's mere existence proved that the Bible was, at best, incomplete in giving an understanding of the multiverse. And the parts in the Bible about witchcraft being evil were sure as heck bullshit.
But Manny had been religious. He'd gone to church regularly. And it made Luz nauseated to think that Belos and Manny could ever have even thought they were worshipping the same deity. To Manny, religion was a tool one could use to strengthen oneself and others. It wasn't something he saw as something that should be used to tear other people down or destroy them.
[He then proceeds to punch the wall repeatedly, until he slowly backs away, and puts his mask back on.]
"You…you got used to this, didn't you, cariño?" Camila said, her voice filled with horror.
"Oh, sure," Hunter said. He was unsure why she was so horrified. "Actually, pretty sure him doing this was one of my first memories. I think I was four. Maybe. I mean, who even knows anymore…" Camila swore under her breath.
[The Golden Guard hands him a staff. He quickly breaks it and absorbs the green essence through his eyes which turn green before changing back to blue.]
Hunter flinched. "I'm sorry," he said to Flapjack. "I mean…I wasn't then. But I am now. I really, really thought I was doing the right thing. I really thought I was helping him…"
You're helping you now, and that's what matters, Flapjack responded. Hunter, I don't blame you for anything. You were what Belos made you…and now you're what you've made yourself.
"Yeah, well, don't sell yourself short with that one, buddy," Hunter said, ruffling Flapjack's feathers a fit.
"Uh, Hunter, dear, I'm not trying to say you're crazy or anything, but…Flapjack can talk to you?" Camila asked tentatively.
"Most palismen can only communicate by projecting emotions," Amity explained, "but some people, especially those who are really attuned to wild magic, can actually communicate with their palismen with actual words." Camila nodded in understanding.
Emperor Belos: [Sighs.] I need more. [Reaches out.]
Golden Guard: That was the last from our reserves. The palistrom wood has been overharvested.
"Not quite the be all and end all of it, though," Amity said, petting Ghost with a smirk.
Luz looked at her own palisman egg with a forlorn expression. "I'm sure it'll hatch one of these days, Luz," Vee said.
"But what if it doesn't? What if I destroyed its life before it could even start?"
"Then we'll cross that bridge when it comes to it," Camila said firmly. "But, Luz, I did have an idea. I have an ultrasound machine in my office for biopsies. Maybe I could use it on your egg to get a better idea of what's going on in there."
Luz gave a huge grin. "Really?! Oh my gosh, mami, yes! Yes, please!"
"We'll go in tomorrow then, okay, mija?" Luz nodded frantically.
[Emperor Belos turns away.]
Golden Guard: Uncle, let me help!
"Uncle," Camila said, her voice almost inaudible. "That…that monster was your uncle?" she said in a much louder, harsher tone.
Hunter flinched. "No…yes…sort of? I'm not like him! I don't – I'm not!"
Camila forced herself to calm down. She had to remember that as much as Hunter projected an aura of unflappability and professionalism, he was still an abused child and thus it was easier than normal to make him afraid of her. "Sweetie, I'm not angry at you," she said. "It's him I'm angry at. He was your family and he treated you like a disposable pawn!"
"Oh, you have no idea," Hunter muttered.
"You deserved to be treated with love."
"But I helped him –"
Camila put up a hand. "It doesn't matter what you did. You are a child, and children deserve love. End of story." Hunter scoffed, not believing her for a second. As if Camila would ever lower herself to love some grimwalker.
We can make more palismen! Actually, I read about this technique: harnessing wild magic to—
"Yeah, I should have known that one wouldn't go down well," Hunter muttered. No matter how much Belos told him wild magic was evil, he just couldn't stop himself from reading about it. He was drawn to it like a magnet.
[Emperor Belos stares back at him.]
Golden Guard: Uh...sorry.
Emperor Belos: [Places a hand on Golden Guard's shoulder.] Please, be careful. Our family is gone because of wild magic. I can't let the same happen to you.
"That was a threat," Camila said. "Hunter, you understand that, right? He was threatening you."
"Of course he was," Hunter said dismissively. "That's what family does. You screw up, you're threatened with punishment."
"Hunter, he was threatening to kill you!" Camila retorted. She forced herself to take several deep breaths. "Sweetie, that is never right. It is never appropriate to inflict bodily harm or even threaten it on a child. Your uncle is an abuser. I'm sorry I have to be so blunt, cariño, but someone has to be."
Luz nodded in agreement. She'd never had the courage to be that blunt with Hunter. He'd suffered enough. Maybe Camila had to be a little cruel to be kind in the end. Hunter just shifted in his seat and said nothing.
Find me more palismen. I can depend on you, right?
-THEME SONG-
"OH MY GOSH, LUZ!" Amity said, jumping down in her seat. "You changed the theme to show my new hair!"
"Surprise!" Luz said, doing jazz hands.
"Titan, I love you so much."
[Open in Luz's room, where the echo mouse is seen resting in a terrarium. Luz, in pajamas, looks at it.]
Luz: Oh, little echo mouse. You ate the diary that can get me home. Can't you cough up a teeny bit?
King: Just squeeze it out! [Grunts as he squeezes his teddy bear so hard, the head pops off.]
"Yeah…probably not the best idea," Willow said.
Luz: Hmm. Maybe I just need to be patient? [Presses her face on the glass and whispers.] Please tell me your secrets.
Eda: [Enters, wearing a blazer.] Hey, knucklehead. You're gonna be late for school.
Camila hoped no one noticed her cheeks heating up. She could not deny it. Eda looked very attractive in a blazer like that. It wasn't as if it meant anything, of course…right? Nope, Camila was as straight as a line. Totally straight…
[Luz doesn't respond, focused on the echo mouse.]
Eda: Alright. I guess you won't be getting a magic staff with your classmates.
[As soon as she finishes that sentence, Luz zooms out of the room dressed for school and waiting at the front door.]
"How did you do that?" Amity marveled.
"Oh, I'll never tell," said Luz, who had just as little idea of how she accomplished that bizarrely impressive feat as anyone else.
Luz: Come on, Eda. We gotta fly!
Eda: There we go.
[Eda walks out the door. Luz quickly follows after and shuts the door behind them. Switch to Hexside grudgby field, where several students have gathered and a large object rests in front of them. Eda and Principal Bump are also there.]
Luz: Hey, Willow. Shouldn't Amity be here?
Willow: Oh, sorry, Luz. I heard she stayed home today.
"What happened?" Luz asked. She hadn't had the courage to ask Amity back then. "Did your mom ground you cause of your hair? Were you just too embarrassed to face me? Were you making your own palisman?"
"A little of all of the above, actually," Amity said. "Mom had me do this oracle ritual to find out what my palisman's true form would be. It was sort of a vision quest thing."
"So what happened?" Luz asked eagerly. "What'd you see?"
Everyone but Vee and Camila winced. "Oh, Luz, you…you're not supposed to ask that," Gus said delicately. "That's…super rude."
Amity nodded. It was such a taboo that not even Odalia dared to ask her what she had seen. "It's okay. You didn't know. Just don't do it again. Anyway, in the end, I met this little fella!" She petted Ghost.
Luz: Oh. [Chuckles.] That actually makes sense. [Looks down, saddened.]
"I was so excited about seeing you and hopefully asking you out," Luz said. "If I could work up the courage…which I probably couldn't have."
Principal Bump: Good tidings on this momentous day. You're all about to receive your witches' staffs and, more importantly, meet your palisman. This is a crucial step in your magical development. Palismen are lifelong partners. They can be both your good friends and a powerful tool. In my case...
"Oh!" Camila suddenly shouted. "Palisman! Pal talisman! I didn't get that until just now!"
[Bump snaps his fingers and Frewin opens his eyes, jumps off his head and turns into a staff, revealing Bump's body length black hair and the scar on his right eye, his left one closed. The class gasps in awestruck.]
Camila was stunned. She had suspected Bump's palisman was actually a part of his body. She kept on meaning to bring its nature up, actually, but she'd stopped herself each time because she worried it would be considered rude.
Luz: Holy Titan!
Principal Bump: ...Frewin here, helps me see.
Camila was pleased to see the Demon Realm was accepting of accommodations like having a seeing-eye palisman. It gave her hope Luz would be able to find ways to continue to flourish academically there. If she stayed. But if Camila was going to be honest with herself, her letting Luz stay was starting to feel like it was becoming an inevitability.
Eda: [Stepping forward.] Now, traditionally, young witches carve their staffs from the branch of an old palistrom tree.
Principal Bump: But sadly, palistrom trees are becoming more rare. And those that remain are guarded covetously.
Eda: That's why I've teamed up with Bumpipoo...
Principal Bump: Never call me that.
Eda: ...to bring you...
[The Bat Queen flies down and lands on the object.]
Bat Queen: Palisman adoption day!
"Oh, Luz, she did this all for you!" Camila said. "That's so incredible! You're so lucky to have someone who cares about you so much."
"Oh, come on, mom, she did it for everyone," Luz said.
Camila shook her head. As much progress as Luz had made on the social front, she still had difficulty getting the more subtle things. "Luz, do you honestly think she would have done this if you weren't among the students? She doesn't care that much about your friends. Only you. This was all for you, sweetie."
"Yeah, and then I screwed it up with not being able to bond to a palisman!" Luz retorted. Camila sighed. She wished Luz could see herself as Camila saw her: as nothing short of extraordinary.
Luz: They're so cute!
Willow, Gus, and Hunter reached out and cuddled the palismen who were being shown on the screen, who were only too happy to lean into the affection they were receiving.
Eda: Thanks for the favor, BQ. Here's your whistle back.
Bat Queen: Save it for another time. This was my pleasure. What a wonderful idea.
"Oh, so she still owes us a favor," Luz said. "I wonder how she feels about going up against child gods."
[One of the palismen, a red cardinal, escapes the shelter, but Bump picks them up and puts them back.]
"You were…were you trying to find me?" Hunter asked Flapjack hopefully. Flapjack nodded.
Principal Bump: Nope! You're staying right here.
Luz: Aw. Little rascal!
Bat Queen: These little ones have not had homes in many years. They want to feel a connection. Kneel and state your deepest wish, and your like-minded partner will find you.
Luz looked away. Even though she had gone through worse, this was still one of the most embarrassing moments she'd experienced in the Demon Realm: Screwing up something that even her hated bully could do, and in front of everyone.
Boscha: [Rolls eyes.] Ugh. I want my own palisman, not some trashy hand-me-down.
Willow: Your loss! [Shoves Boscha as she runs up to the nest.] I want to be strong and wise to protect everyone I love. And if anyone gets in my way, they'll feel the sting of defeat.
"I love you so much, Clover," Willow said and cuddled her like she was a soft teddy bear instead of a terrifying looking giant bee. Camila forced herself to smile.
Bat Queen: Tender yet tenacious. Clover gives her support.
[Clover, a bee palisman, flies out of the shelter and over to Willow. She chitters.]
Willow: Oh! [Clover transforms into a staff.] Oh, my gosh! I'm gonna take such good care of you.
Gus: Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Boscha: [Pushes Willow.] Outta my way! I want to play professional grudgby!
Bat Queen: [Chuckles.] A competitive spirit. Maya will be thrilled.
[Maya, a crab palisman, hops up to Boscha and becomes her staff.]
"Even Boscha got a palisman who liked her," Luz muttered.
Boscha: [Blushing.] Okay. This is pretty cool.
"Say what you like about Boscha, but she does treat her palisman nicely," Willow conceded. "The two of them are pretty inseparable."
Viney: I want to open my own veterinary clinic for mythical pets.
"If they are mythical then…don't they not exist?" Camila said, confused. Still, she was pleased to see one of Luz's friends, albeit not a close one, wanted to be a veterinarian. Maybe she could quiz Viney on what demonic veterinary practices were like.
[A manticore palisman rises and becomes her staff.]
Viney: [Gasps, chuckles.] All right!
Gus: Dad wants me to become a master illusionist, but that's easy. So instead, I'll become an ambassador to the Human Realm and re-establish contact with the giraffes!
"And just how do you intend to do that when you can't even watch a documentary on them without screaming and running?" Hunter asked.
"Hey, you ran too!" Gus shot back. "It's just a matter of practice. Desensitization. I'll figure it out. You wait and see."
[A blue chameleon palisman climbs up to Gus and becomes his staff.]
"Emmeline Bailey Marcostimo!" Gus called out, and the chameleon preened in response. "You're the best and I love you."
Pufferfish Guy: I just want to make it to graduation.
[Pufferfish Guy then sees a sloth palisman hanging on his arm, which turns into his staff.]
Pufferfish Guy: [Gasps, then chuckles.] Yes!
The Class: [Murmurs.] Oh wow!
[Everyone watches Luz as she takes her turn.]
Luz: I want to be a witch!
Luz cringed. She'd really been something of an idiot back then, hadn't she?
[None of the palismen approach her.] Uh... probably just takes a little longer 'cause I'm a human, right?
Bat Queen: Palismen bond through emotion. I do not sense any conviction from you.
"I've never been convicted of anything!" Luz bragged. "Not once."
"Yeah, that's only because the empire doesn't do trials," Hunter retorted. "Also, that's not what she means."
"Duh, Hunter. It's called a sense of humor. You might wanna try it one of these days."
Luz: That's impossible. I'm Luz, I'm chock full of conviction!
Principal Bump: Perhaps specificity would help. There are many kinds of witches. What do you hope to accomplish with your magic?
Luz: Oh, uh... get home to my mom?
Gus: Would you still train to be a witch in the Human Realm?
"Sorry, Luz," Gus said. "I shouldn't have put you on the spot like that."
"No…it's okay. It was a lesson I needed to learn."
Boscha: Can you even do magic there?
"When Boscha's making sense, you know you've screwed up," Luz lamented.
Luz: Huh, I guess I never thought that far ahead.
Eda: You okay, Luz?
[Cut to the Owl House at nighttime. Luz is pacing around her room.]
"You know, Luz, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself," Camila said. "Not everyone knows what they want their future to look like when they're fourteen. Especially with all these new and overwhelming options in front of you."
"But everyone else knew!"
"Everyone else grew up in a culture where they knew they'd have to answer those questions to gain a palisman," Camila retorted. "You shouldn't feel bad about not being like them, any more than an apple should feel bad about not being an orange."
"Still…"
Camila gave her a gentle smile. "Lucecita, when I was your age, I…never mind, scratch that. When I first started college, I wanted to be a lawyer. Then I made a friend who was in veterinary school, and I just fell in love with the practice. Our lives rarely turn out the way we think they will, and that's not always a bad thing. When your palisman hatches –"
"If," Luz muttered.
"When your palisman hatches, I am sure you will use them to accomplish great things, no matter what those things may be," Camila went on as if there had been no interruption. "Because you are a great person."
Luz: I stayed here because I wanted to learn magic, right? I wanted to be a witch like Eda and Azura. But what does that even mean? And I read stories like this. The main character always has to return home, and what? Did I expect to be a witch back in Connecticut?
Hunter raised his hand. "What is a Connecticut? I thought you lived in Gravesfield."
"Connecticut is a state, a subdivision of the United States," Camila explained. "We have different laws in different states for some things, but not others."
"Sounds unnecessarily complicated to me," Hunter said.
Camila opened her mouth to defend her country, but then closed it very firmly. The last thing she wanted to do was talk politics right now.
[Groans.] Mmm. Yeah, I wouldn't want to be my palisman either.
"Oh, Luz," Amity said and squeezed her hand.
[Soon after, Flapjack hops out of Luz's bag.]
"Flapjack, you traitor!" Hunter shouted. "Were you planning on being her palisman?!"
Maybe…but I found a better choice soon enough!
"You're lucky I can't stay mad at you."
Luz: It's you! Did you come here for me?
[Flapjack hops around Luz's room.]
Luz: No. Of course not. Come on, little dude. I'll take you back to your nest.
[Luz grabs her cape and runs out. Cut to Hexside grudgby field. Luz stops in front of the palismen shelter, and touches the force shield covering it.]
Luz: How are we supposed to get through this?
[Flapjack presses against the force field, causing it to disappear.]
"Very convenient," Camila commented.
Luz: Ooh, palismen powers. Neat!
[Luz opens the door to let Flapjack in, waking all the other palismen inside.]
Luz: Aw. [Closes the door.] All right. I'm not leaving here until I figure out what my future is, and one of you becomes my palismen! What if... I use my powers to become a popular magician back in the Human Realm? No, I'm horrible at card tricks. What if... [Picks up Flapjack.] I stay on the Boiling Isles, and become a rugged bounty hunter?
"Didn't you already try that?" Gus pointed out.
Nah, I'm too lovable.
"And don't you forget it," Amity said.
Oh! If I go back...
[Time passes. All the palismen are sleeping, and Luz laying is down with them. She yawns.]
Luz: [Sleepily.] What if... I open a magic pet shop, but it's password protected. The password is, "You're a little angel."
"You're…not the most coherent of individuals when you're sleepy, are you?" Hunter said.
[Flapjack chirps back.]
"What did he say?" Luz asked.
"He said 'don't quit your day job,'" Hunter replied honestly. Luz scowled at him.
[Suddenly, the palismen shelter is lifted off the ground by something. Luz opens the door.]
Luz: Hey, we're a little busy in... here?
[Luz sees that they are no longer on ground and gasps. She looks up to see that an airship is carrying them. Cut to closeup of her shocked reaction. Cut to black.]
"Hey, in my defense, how was I supposed to know you were in there?" Hunter said.
Luz: [To the palismen.] I think we're being kidnapped!
[All the palismen start whimpering and shivering in fear.]
"I'm so sorry I scared you, Flapjack," Hunter said. "I promise, as long as I'm around, I won't let anyone or anything harm you."
Luz: Don't worry. I'll figure this out.
[Luz uses a plant glyph to climb onto the airship, and sees the Golden Guard steering. He's whistling the main theme.]
"OH MY GOD, THAT'S WHERE I HEARD THAT FROM!" Luz screamed so loud that Hunter jumped. "I've had that tune stuck in my head for days! Where did you hear it?"
Hunter shrugged. He genuinely had no idea. He didn't remember where he'd heard it and didn't even remember ever having whistled it until now.
Luz: Ugh, him again.
"Welp, this is gonna suck," Hunter muttered.
[Luz sneaks up behind the Golden Guard, and slaps a fire glyph on his back.]
Luz: Hi-yah!
Golden Guard: Huh? [Screams as he rockets off of the airship.]
"So violent," Amity said. "I like it!"
Willow glared at her and then squeezed Hunter's hand. "She didn't mean it."
"Yeah, uh, yeah, of course," Hunter rambled, his cheeks heating up. Willow was holding his hand!
Luz: He'll be fine.
"In my defense, he was fine!" Luz said.
"Yes, but you didn't know that when you tried to kill me!" Hunter snapped.
Luz just shrugged. She hadn't meant to kill him, just incapacitate him. She'd underestimated the power of the glyph – not a mistake she made a second time.
Okay, how do I land this thing? Huh.
Golden Guard: Oh, you just pull that cord above your head.
"I don't mean to brag, but I happen to be a master of strategy, stealth, and finesse," Hunter bragged.
Luz: Thank y—eh?!
[The Golden Guard has returned and is lying on the dashboard.]
Willow suddenly found herself a bit short for breath, as she wondered what it would be like if Hunter was in that position in his regular clothes, just for her.
Golden Guard: Hi.
[The Golden Guard fires a spell to tie Luz up with ropes, which knocks her off her feet.]
Luz: Wha—Hey!
Golden Guard: Good to see you too, human.
Luz: Why are you stealing palismen, Golden Guard?
"Technically, by my remit as leader of the Emperor's Coven…" Hunter began and trailed off. There he was again, acting as if the coven system was just, like he had any authority but the disgusting lies Belos had ensnared everyone with. It was just so hard to adjust from being the second most powerful figure in the empire to a powerless nobody!
Golden Guard: Frankly, [Teleports over to Luz.] You should be more concerned about yourself. For the crime of rocketing me off my own ship, you'll be locked in the dingiest cell in the Conformatorium, for the rest of your sad little life.
"Sorry, Mrs. Noceda," Hunter said with a flinch. "I really…I'm sure I wouldn't have…I was just so upset! She did try to kill me!"
"Well…" Camila said and trailed off as she saw the panicked look on his face. "We all overreact a little from time to time, Hunter. I'd be pretty upset too if someone did that to me."
Luz: [Scoffs.] Whatever. I broke out of there like, twice.
Golden Guard: Then we'll just zap you to dust and throw you into the sea. That better?
"I wouldn't have done that either!" Hunter said, meaning it completely. Even back then, the idea of killing a child in cold blood was repugnant to him. Not that he would have hesitated to try to kill Luz in battle, though.
"I believe you," Camila assured him.
[Luz pouts and grumbles in response.]
Golden Guard: Good.
[The Golden Guard returns to steering the airship. Luz looks at the deck, which has scuff marks. Getting an idea, she starts drawing a glyph with her foot.]
Luz: Say, how did you get back on the ship so fast?
Golden Guard: Staff.
Luz: Cool.
[Luz activates the ice glyph, and it sends the Golden Guard's staff flying off the airship.]
Luz clapped her hands. "All hail Hunter, master of strategy!"
"Shut up."
Golden Guard: No!
[Luz chuckles, giving off a smug expression.]
Golden Guard: [Chuckles.] Human, it'll take more than that to thwart my mission.
"Really, would it have killed the bad guys to start using my name?" Luz complained.
"Well, Luz, you won't need to worry about that anymore for me at least," Hunter said quietly.
[Suddenly, a hand dragon lands on the airship and roars.]
"Oh my gosh, that's a dragon!" Camila said, her eyes wide with awe. "With…lots of hands. But still a dragon! Totally awesome!"
Luz: What is that?
[The dragon proceeds to rip the airship's balloon, causing Luz and the Golden Guard to fall from the sky.]
"Okay, that's definitely less awesome than I thought," Camila conceded.
[Luz and the Golden Guard both scream as the airship crashes. Cut to black. Cut to a shot of Luz regaining consciousness after the crash. Flapjack chirps as he pecks at the ropes tied around her.]
Luz: Huh? Little rascal?
[The ropes around Luz break, freeing her.]
Luz: Oh, thank you.
Flapjack chirped. "He says you're welcome," Hunter translated.
[Groans.] My head!
[Luz finds the Golden Guard's staff, and grasps it in her hands. She hears him groaning, and sees his unconscious body nearby.]
Guard Captain: Kikimora, ma'am.
[Luz turns the other way when she overhears speaking.]
Guard Captain: We found the palismen. They seem rattled but unharmed.
[Luz peeks out behind a rock, watching Kikimora and the Guard Captain talk. Kikimora is holding the Golden Guard's helmet behind her back.]
Kikimora: Very good, Captain. Return to the city and prepare them for travel.
Guard Captain: Is it true, ma'am? Is the Golden Guard really...
Kikimora: [Holds up the Golden Guard's helmet.] This is all that remains.
"She's not very good at her job, is she?" Camila mused. "By the way, what was her job?"
"Officially, she was the imperial chamberlain," Hunter said. "But in practice, she was just another one of Belos's disgusting sycophants. An errand girl."
[The Guard Captain gasps.]
Kikimora: Such a horrible accident. [Shakes head.] Probably caused by the incompetent pilot.
Guard Captain: I'll... alert the castle. Scouts! To Latissa!
[The Guard Captain and the Coven scouts leave the scene. Once alone, Kikimora blows on a whistle, summoning the same dragon that caused the ship to crash.]
"Oh, she is gonna get hers when I get back," Willow muttered.
Kikimora: [Pets her dragon.] Excellent work, my pet.
[Luz gasps.]
Kikimora: [Holds up the Golden Guard's helmet for her dragon.] Now, find the rest of him and have yourself a nice little snack.
"You mean she told that guy he was dead without even confirming it?" Amity said. "Some bad guy she was."
[Her dragon devours the Golden Guard's mask.]
"Good thing those were a neonate a dozen," Hunter said in the most deadpan voice he had imaginable to him. Luz and Gus both winced.
Kikimora: I'll call for you soon.
[Kikimora leaves. Luz and Flapjack look back at the Golden Guard. Flapjack chirps.]
"He said…aw, really, Flapjack?" Hunter said. "He said I'm a good boy and you should help me. You were looking out for me even then, weren't you, buddy?" Flapjack nodded.
Luz: Don't worry. I won't leave him.
[Flapjack hops onto Luz's shoulder. They walk over to the unmasked Golden Guard. Cut to a closeup of his unmasked face.]
Luz: This is the Golden Guard?
[Cut to a shot of Luz looking down at him.]
Luz: It looks like he could be a student at Hexside.
Hunter scoffed. As if Hexside was a worthy school for him to attend, what with how they blithely tolerated Willow getting bullied.
[Luz slowly leans near the Golden Guard
Amity stiffened. As the girlfriend of a human, she'd deemed it to be necessary to immerse herself in human culture, and thus had bought all manner of human books from Eda, blowing through her allowance at an alarming rate. She'd thus read stories where a human would wake up another human from a coma or unconscious state by kissing them! If that was what Luz was going to do to Hunter, she'd just die.
then slaps him in the face.]
Amity breathed a sigh of relief. Crisis averted.
"Was that really necessary?" Willow complained.
Luz: Wake up!
Golden Guard: [Jumps awake; yells.] Wha—you!
Luz: Shh! [Puts hand over the Golden Guard's mouth to silence him.] Listen. You are a bad person, and I do not like you.
"You're not a bad person anymore, Hunter," Luz assured him. "And I kind of like you now too. You're a good friend."
"Thanks, Luz," Hunter said. It was really a lot more than he deserved.
But Kikimora is trying to kill you and unfortunately, I'm too nice to let that happen!
[Luz removes her hand from his mouth in disgust, revealing that it is covered in slobber.]
Amity giggled. If there was any doubt in her head Hunter possibly posed a romantic threat to her, this completely obliterated it. She'd lost count of the number of times Edric had pulled the same thing on her. "Classic sibling behavior."
"Siblings?" Hunter said with a start. The idea sounded…bizarre. And not unappealing. In truth, however, it wasn't so much the idea of Luz being his sister that he liked as much as the idea of Camila being his mother. But that was just a pipe dream. He shouldn't even waste a single second of his life envisioning it…yet he still couldn't stop himself.
"Hey, being my sibling isn't such a bad gig, Hunter!" Luz said. "Ask Vee!"
"Yes, please be Luz's brother, Hunter," Vee said. "Then you can take the top bunk and I don't have to listen to her snoring."
Luz gasped. "Perfidy! Betrayed by my own sister!" She pretended to faint. Everyone ignored her, used to her melodrama.
Luz: Ugh, are you licking my hand?! [Puts her saliva covered hand in his face.] I'm trying to help you!
Golden Guard: Why should I believe you? [Puts hand in Luz's face.]
Luz: Because... [Grunts.]
[They stop fighting when they hear Kikimora's dragon return. Her dragon spots the Golden Guard's cloak and devours it as Luz and the Golden Guard sneak away from the scene. The duo walk to the town of Latissa, the Golden Guard taking the lead.]
Luz: Whew, man, Kikimora must hate you. Whoa! I haven't been outside Bonesborough that much, Latissa is so cool! Wait! Where are you going? Hey man, I just saved your life, the least you could do is tell me your name.
[The Golden Guard huffs at her, and goes over to Police Precinct 206.]
"In my defense, you are very annoying," Hunter said.
[Luz gasps. The Golden Guard approaches scouts.]
Golden Guard: Scouts! Direct me to your communications room. I need to contact the castle immediately.
[The Golden Guard slides down his glove, showing the scouts his Emperor's Coven sigil.]
Coven Scout #1: Cute. I didn't know kids your age were still into temporary tattoos.
Hunter did a face palm. That was the problem with having a leader of the coven who always wore a mask: no one could confirm what he looked like. That was, of course, the point. People might get suspicious if they realized each Golden Guard looked exactly the same.
Coven Scout #2: Yeah, show us your badge number.
Golden Guard: I am your superior, and I can prove it! [Turns to Luz.] Staff.
Luz: Hmm?
[Luz hides the staff behind her back.]
"You shouldn't have licked my hand, Hunter," Luz said, completely unrepentant.
"Well, you shouldn't have tried to kill me!" Hunter shot back. Luz made a face at him.
Coven Scout #2: Isn't it a little late for you kids to be outside?
Coven Scout #1: Yeah, go home before we call your parents.
[The two coven scouts walk away. The Golden Guard glares angrily at Luz, and starts to chase her. Luz runs through townspeople.]
Luz: Uh, excuse me. Sorry.
[A cat yowls and hisses at them. The Golden Guard shoves it out of the way, making it fall down.]
Amity pulled Ghost tighter towards her. Hunter's heart sank. No one trusted him with their palismen, even now. Maybe he deserved it.
[Luz pushes down a garbage can, and the Golden Guard jumps over it. She leaps over a ledge, and falls on a set of stairs, spilling eyeballs out of one the monster's baskets.]
Camila let out a shriek. The Boiling Isles denizens just rolled their eyes. What was with humans and their aversion to eyeballs? It wasn't like they didn't have two of them on their faces!
Luz: Sorry.
[Shortly after, the Golden Guard lands on his feet, and continues chasing her. Luz turns and runs down an alleyway. She stops and quickly begins to draw an ice glyph in the dirt. The Golden Guard arrives and runs towards her. She activates the ice glyph.]
Luz: Ice glyph!
"Calling your attacks is a time honored tradition in anime," Luz said wisely.
"What's anime?" Gus asked.
Luz opened her mouth to say something. "Oh, please don't, Luz," Camila begged her. "We could be here all day!"
[Luz launches herself onto the top of a building. She looks over the edge to see the Golden Guard standing, not doing anything.]
Luz: Come on, Golden Guard. Don't you know any, like, levitation spells?
[The Golden Guard glares at Luz, then looks away.]
Luz: [Points at his staff.] Are you powerless without this?
"You don't have to rub it in," Hunter muttered.
"Hey…I'm sorry," Luz said. "I know what it's like to be powerless. Not sorry about taking the staff, though. You did threaten to throw me in the Boiling Sea."
[The Golden Guard walks away. He then leaps onto different objects to get on top of the building. He then dodges Luz's energy beam attacks from his staff.]
Luz: Back up, or—or else!
Golden Guard: Or else what? [Walks towards Luz.] Gonna blast me to bits? [Chuckles.] Nah, you're too nice for that. Fly away? Uh-uh, you know you can't do that either. 'Cause then you'll be leaving behind your precious palismen. You don't tend to think things through, do you, human?
Luz lowered her head in shame. Hunter grabbed her chin gently and made her meet his eyes. "Hey. I don't think things through either a lot. If I did, I'd have seen through my uncle – Belos's lies a lot earlier."
"But…but everyone was right about me. I just go through life without a plan, just pretending that I know what I'm doing…"
"So does everyone," Hunter said firmly. "So what if you don't know what you want to do with your life? I knew what I wanted to do with my life, and look where that got me. I guarantee you, wherever your path leads you, your palisman will be by your side."
Luz gave a brilliant smile. "Thanks, bro."
"Uh, yeah. Uh, you're welcome…sis?" He flinched, but Luz just nodded encouragingly at him. "Yeah. Sis."
[Luz bites her lip. Kikimora's dragon lands at Police Precinct 206.]
Golden Guard: So Kikimora was after my catch.
Luz: Seems like neither of us want her to win right now. So, let's work together to take back those palismen.
Golden Guard: Then what? You think I'll just let you walk away with them?
Luz: Maybe you won't have a choice! [Spins the Golden Guard's staff around.] I'm more formidable than you think. [Almost drops it over the edge, but catches it.]
"I was sure I could persuade you to let me take them," Luz said. "Maybe I was naïve."
"Maybe you weren't," Hunter retorted. "You probably would have succeeded if Kikimora hadn't interrupted you."
Golden Guard: I doubt that, but fine. A truce till then.
Luz: [Extends her hand.] Truce!
[When the Golden Guard reaches to shake it, she takes her hand away.]
Luz: Too slow. [Runs off, chuckling.]
"Just like Edric," Amity said with a fond chuckle.
[Cut to a shot of the Golden Guard's displeased reaction.]
Golden Guard: [Grunts.] Let's just get this over with...
[Cut to black. Return to the Golden Guard as he sneaks down to ground level to steal something in a bag. He climbs back up the building and sees Luz drawing two connected glyphs.]
Golden Guard: Huh, I've never seen magic like this. What will it do?
Luz: Well, we don't want to spook Kikimora's steed, because it might drop the nest and hurt the palismen! So, using these fire and ice spells, I can command the glyphs to produce a thick mist!
"Oh, that is very creative, Luz," Camila said. Luz beamed.
Golden Guard: And the sleeping nettles?
Luz: They're essential! Combined with the magic mist, it'll create—
Golden Guard: A sleep-inducing smoke, forcing Kikimora to land.
"Eda's really taught you a lot, hasn't she?" Camila said.
"I came up with the idea on my own."
Camila shook her head. "But it was Eda who taught you how to think outside the box. To look for more creative solutions. And I tried to get you to fit inside the box…"
"Oh, mom," Luz said. "Remember when you gave me those drawing lessons?" Camila nodded. She'd become quite the adept artist over years of making Cosmic Frontier fan art. "Well, you were the one who taught me how to draw perfect circles! So you could just as easily say this was thanks to you! Actually, without that skill, I'd be dead many times over! You saved my life!"
"I'm not sure I'd go quite that far, Luz," Camila said. "But thank you."
[Luz looks at him surprised.]
Golden Guard: Oh, um, I—I-I read a similar spell in Bones to Earth—
"Nerd," Luz said in a stage whisper with a faux cough.
"Guilty as charged," Hunter admitted, and leaned back in his seat, surprisingly comfortable with the idea.
Luz: —A Study of Wild Magic! Eda once pickpocketed the guy who wrote it.
"Years ago!" Luz quickly said. "Long before I showed up!"
Golden Guard: I've never seen glyphs before, but, it seems very similar to the elemental magic practiced in the Savage Ages.
Willow gave a fond grin. She loved it when Hunter did infodumps. The sheer passion in his voice was just unbeatable.
Luz: Really?
Golden Guard: Actually, not many people know this, but... [Stops.] No. No, no, no, no. This stuff is restricted for a reason. You should forget about it before you're hurt.
Luz: Uh huh... Other than Lilith, I've never spoken to someone inside the Emperor's Coven. What made you want to join?
Golden Guard: [Sighs, leans against the wall.] You were right before. I'm a powerless witch. A lot of my ancestors were.
Hunter scoffed. Yet another lie. Was anything Belos said true?
"I wonder if they're powerless because they're descended from the Wittebanes," Camila mused. She was not blind to the fact Hunter looked strikingly similar to the statue of Caleb. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she failed to notice Luz shudder.
I never thought I'd have a future in a world like this. But then, Belos found me and gave me a staff with artificial magic. He said the Titan had big plans for me.
I say the Titan has big plans for you and he does what he's told, Hunter remembered Belos saying. He'd been blind for so long. And if he hadn't heard it straight from the source, straight from Belos's mind, he'd still be blind! Or dead, more likely.
Luz: At least you have your future figured out now.
Golden Guard: At least you can figure out your own.
[Flapjack hops toward him and pecks his leg.]
Golden Guard: Hey! Stop, get away from me!
"I'm glad you didn't listen," Hunter said. Flapjack flew onto Hunter's shoulder and nestled against his neck.
Luz: He's just being friendly.
Golden Guard: I don't care! These things are made from wild magic. It's dangerous.
Luz: And does he look dangerous to you?
"Feh, the only thing he's dangerous to is himself when he eats too much candy," Hunter said. "And, no, I'm not feeding you any more! No matter how adorable you make yourself look! I'm putting my foot down!" Privately, Hunter knew this would probably only last a very short amount of time before he gave in. He was very weak when it came to resisting Flapjack's begging.
[Kikimora's dragon flies into the air.]
Luz: Masks on.
[Luz and the Golden Guard both put on their masks.]
Luz: Once they're surrounded by the smoke, we'll need to stay close to see where they land.
[The Golden Guard nods. Luz offers the staff back to the Golden Guard.]
Golden Guard: [Hesitates.] Are you sure?
Luz: Just take it!
"Thanks for trusting me, Luz," Hunter said. "But…why?"
"I…guess I saw in you something like what I saw in Amity." Amity's head turned sharply in her direction. "Not like that, Amity! I mean, I saw a good person in you, Hunter. I knew your uncle was trying to turn you into something you weren't, just like Amity's mom. And I was right."
[Kikimora's dragon flies overhead. Luz activates the connected glyphs. After, she gets on the Golden Guard's staff, to go after the dragon. Kikimora and her dragon both get sleepy.]
Golden Guard: I think it's working.
[Luz activates a light glyph to lead Kikimora in their direction.]
Kikimora: Stop!
[Kikimora's dragon crashes onto the ground and falls asleep. Kikimora herself is thrown off the saddle and lands on the ground. Luz and the Golden Guard land.]
Luz: The palismen!
[Luz runs toward the palismen to check on them.]
Luz: Hello, babies. Aw, you guys must be so cold and scared. Here, [Takes off her cape.] make sure you share.
"I think Clover's trying to thank you, Luz," Willow said.
"Emmeline Bailey Marcostimo too!" Gus added.
Now, stay in here, okay? We'll get you home safe and—
[The Golden Guard points his staff at Luz.]
"Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal, Hunter!" Luz said, shaking her fist in the air melodramatically.
Luz: [Nervous chuckle.] Right, I didn't think this through. Again.
[Luz shuts the palismen shelter's door and stands, staring at the Golden Guard, upset.]
Luz: So you're really gonna do this? You're just gonna hand all these innocent little guys over to Belos? I know what he does with them. I thought you might've been a good guy. But I guess that was just wishful thinking. You're not my friend. You're just the Golden Guard.
"Maybe I am," Hunter muttered.
Luz shook her head firmly. "No. You saved Flapjack. You didn't hand him over. You changed."
[After a moment, the Golden Guard shows signs of wavering before taking his mask off.]
Golden Guard: My name is Hunter.
"I think I would have let you get away with them," Hunter admitted. "I never liked it when he ate the palismen. But it was the only way to keep him alive. I could let innocents die or my only family…and I made the wrong choice."
"Oh, Hunter," Camila said. "You never should have been forced to make it in the first place."
[Luz gasps. At that moment, Hunter's hit by an energy bolt fired by a drowsy Kikimora.]
Kikimora: I can't tell who's there, but I know I've got you! [Keeps shooting magic at them.]
[Hunter defends Luz from another energy bolt. He and Kikimora fight. Her whistle falls off her neck during the fight. Luz picks up the whistle, and Kikimora attempts to fire at her again, but Hunter shoves her back.]
Kikimora: This is treason against a Coven official!
Hunter cackled. "You're the one committing treason, Kikimora! Man, what a hypocrite. I do not miss her."
[Hunter pats out the tiny flame in his forelock.]
Kikimora: I will have your head!
[Kikimora continues firing magic at Hunter, who keeps deflecting her attacks. In the background, Luz run over to Kikimora's dragon and gets on them.]
Luz: Hey... [Chuckles.] ...good thingy. The Boiling Isles will never stop surprising me.
[Luz blows the whistle, waking the dragon. It flies into the night sky. Hunter deflects another attacked from Kikimora, which knocks her unconscious. Hunter looks up at Luz and the dragon. Luz looks back before turning around, disappointment on her face.]
[Cut to the Owl House, where Luz collapses onto her sleeping bag and looks at a framed photo of her with her mom.]
Luz: [Sighs.] Everyone got one except me, huh? Maybe I wasn't meant to be here. [She turns her head only to turn it back when light shines from her window finding...] Eda!
"Why were they trying to sneak into the room when they could have just walked in through the door?" Camila wondered.
"Because it's more dramatic that way," Luz said with a long suffering sigh. As much as she loved Camila, there were certain things she would never understand.
[Eda is perched on her windowsill sporting a massive proud smile on her face.]
Eda: I'd thought I'd find you here.
King: [Climbs in.] We could've used the door!
"Yet another philistine," Luz said, shaking her head in dismay.
Luz: What did you get into?
[Eda tosses a small log to her.]
Luz: [Confused.] Whew. Uh, how... thoughtful?
Eda: It's palistrom wood, ya ding-dong!
King: Now you can make your own palismen!
Luz patted her palisman egg, almost subconsciously.
Luz: But—But how? Isn't this super rare?
Eda: Let's just say that the Bonesborough Garden Club—
King: Was robbed! By us!
Camila couldn't stop herself from grinning. Maybe it was wrong of her to condone theft, but she couldn't help it. It was so sweet of Eda and King to put themselves at risk just for her.
[Eda gives Luz a thumbs up.]
Luz: I don't know what to say...
Eda: [Puts hand on Luz's shoulder.] No pressure, but whenever you know what you want, we'll start carving.
Luz: If it's okay, I'd like some time to think. It's hard to picture my future without seeing my mom.
"And now I'm in the same room as her, and I still don't know what it's gonna look like," Luz lamented.
Eda: Eh, there's no rush. Just know that whatever you need from us, we gotcha.
Luz: [Smiles.] Thanks.
[Luz puts the wood in her summer camp bag. Cut to Hunter kneeling in the Emperor's throne room. He's back in uniform but lacks his helmet.]
Emperor Belos: So, you return with nothing. [Stands.] Is this the thanks I get for taking you in?
"You shouldn't have had to thank him for taking you in!" Camila snapped. "Love – especially for a family member – should be unconditional!"
Hunter: Of course not. I want to help. A-A-And if you told me how wild magic did this to you, I might be able to find a—
[Belos aims a sharp spike that barely misses Hunter's ear.]
Camila gasped in horror. That had been on purpose. Belos had tried to kill Hunter, or at the very least didn't care if he died. "Hunter…cariño…that was wrong. That was very wrong. You understand that, right? I would never do that to Luz or Vee."
"I get it!" Hunter shouted. "Okay? You're a great mom! You're so much better than Belos! Did it ever occur to you I don't want to hear you bragging all the time?!"
Camila blinked. "No…Hunter, I'm not trying to brag. I really feel bad about what he's done to you."
"Save it," Hunter hissed. "I've heard it all before. It wasn't persuasive the first time."
Hunter: My apologies. I spoke out of turn. It won't happen again.
Emperor Belos: [Clutches his chest.] These outbursts are painful [His eyes glow blue.] and so is watching you fail.
"That wasn't an outburst," Luz said. "He did that on purpose!"
"No, he didn't," Hunter said. "It was the curse! He couldn't stop himself!"
Luz rolled her eyes. "Hunter, come on! There is no curse. After all this time, I think you should know that. He chose to hurt you…"
"It was an accident."
"Hunter, stop being naïve!" Luz snapped.
"Maybe I'm not naïve, Luz!" Hunter shouted back at her. "Maybe I know that, okay? You took – I lost everything, Luz! My past, my future, my present, it was all ripped away from me! My family, my uncle's love, my role, my power, my destiny, it's all gone now. My Titan, Luz, do I have to lose this too?"
"I…I'm sorry, Hunter, but…"
Camila put up a hand. "We don't have to discuss this now, Luz. Let's just drop it."
I know you can do better, Hunter.
[Outside, Kikimora is approaching the doors to the room when Hunter steps out, causing her to stop.]
Kikimora: [Gasps.] Golden Guard? Y-You're alive! I mean, I heard about the crash in Latissa.
Hunter: Luckily, some travelers picked me up out of the wreckage. So I'm actually doing great. Looks like you had a rough night though. [Walks off.]
Gus gave Hunter a high five.
[Kikimora seethes, but notices Hunter's singed hair: realizing he was her attacker, she glares at him. Cut to Hunter's room. He walks over to his bed and lies down.]
Hunter: I can help, if I just knew a little more...
[Flapjack chirps. Hunter sits up and sees Flapjack at the windowsill.]
Hunter: Palisman! [Clutches Flapjack.]
[Hunter squeezes him, Flapjack chirps.]
Everyone looked at Hunter to translate, but he shook his head. Some things were personal.
[Hunter then lets him go.]
Hunter: Oh! Sorry. [Frowns, pets Flapjack.] You shouldn't be here. It'd be bad if Belos saw you.
[Flapjack turns into a staff, which falls into Hunter's hands.]
Hunter: Oh! I was not expecting that.
[Hunter walks over to the window with his new staff, and gazes longingly.]
"All right, let's move on," Hunter said brusquely.
"I don't think so, Hunter," Camila said. "I think we need to have a talk." Hunter stiffened. Camila regretted her words, but honestly, at this point, she wasn't sure what she, an authority figure and parent, could say that wouldn't provoke some sort of reaction from him.
Hunter stood up and stood at attention. There was really no other phrase for it. "Ma'am?"
"Hunter, I'm not…I'm not trying to make you feel bad when I point out how abusive your uncle was," Camila said, trying her best to keep her voice gentle. "I just feel like you deserve more than what you got."
"What does it matter?" Hunter said stoically. "You can't change the past. And seeing you being a good mother to Luz and Vee…it just makes it hurt more that I…that I never had…that I never will…"
Camila blinked repeatedly. "Hunter…do you want that? Do you want me to be your mother?"
"That's immaterial," Hunter said. "It'll never happen."
"Tell me why you think that."
Hunter sighed. He just hated these elaborate mind games. He really thought he had finished with them when he left the Emperor's Coven. "I don't understand why this isn't transparently obvious. You just met me days ago. I tried to kill your daughter multiple times. And I'm a murderer. I killed in the service of a tyrant and led innocent palismen to their deaths. You're already straining your resources taking care of two children on a permanent basis. There's no logical or reasonable explanation for why you'd add a third to the mix."
Camila's heart was practically breaking in two for the sheer cynicism and hopelessness this poor child was showing. Belos had really done a number on him. "Hunter. Every word you have said is true. But when it comes to love…logic and reason don't really enter the mix. Do you want to be my son? Do you want to be Hunter Noceda?"
Noceda! Noceda! Flapjack chanted, his voice sounding elated. Do it, Hunter!
"Yes…" Hunter said, his voice barely louder than whisper. "I want that. I really, really want that."
"Then that's what you are," Camila said and held out her arms. "Come over here and give your mother a hug, Hunter."
And without a moment's hesitation, Hunter practically leapt into Camila's arms and leaned in desperately into the hug. Tears were flowing down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry…"
"It's okay, mijo," Camila said, wiping away his tears. "Everything's gonna be okay."
