"Here, Luz," Willow said, handing over a box of tissues. "From what Amity told me, you're definitely gonna need these."

Amity frowned. While she'd screwed up a bit with misunderstanding Luz's text messages, and Hunter's plight was certainly…something, she didn't really anticipate the coming episode to be particularly sad.

"Sure, why not?" Luz said. Privately, she was very worried. Amity hadn't told her that anything particularly tragic had happened at Eclipse Lake. Had her awesome girlfriend been hiding something from her?

[Open in the Emperor's Castle, where Belos has completely rebuilt the portal.]

Camila let out a gasp. How had Belos managed to recreate the portal in so short a time? She tried to tell herself everything was going to be fine. Luz and her friends must have managed to destroy it – that was probably how they managed to get stuck in the Human Realm in the first place. But still, the thought of an invasion from the Demon Realm chilled her to the bones. So many innocent people in the Demon Realm would die when they lost.

He has an Abomaton inject a green substance into the door lock before using a pieced together key to open it. However, the key is instantly vaporized. Nearby, Hunter observes the test when Flapjack flies by and chirps.]

Hunter: [Quietly swats Flapjack.] Shoo!

Hunter's heart was still pounding in his chest watching this, even more than it had before. Flapjack's life had been in mortal danger. It was a good thing Belos was dead now. If Belos ate Flapjack, Hunter had no clue how he'd manage to go on living.

Emperor Belos: Would you like to see how it works, Hunter?

Camila clenched her fists, readying herself to see some hideous figure behind the emperor's mask. What kind of awful sludge monster would she see?

[Hunter gasps and hides Flapjack before approaching.]

Hunter: I didn't mean to hide, Emperor Belos.

[Belos turns around, his maskless face is revealed to have a green scar.]

Camila's mouth dropped open in shock. Belos looked so normal. His vaguely pointy ears and that green rot on his face notwithstanding, if Camila had passed Belos on the street, she wouldn't have given him a second glance. No wonder Hunter had been so loyal to a man who could look so innocent, so grandfatherly looking. This was even worse than him looking like a hideously deformed beast.

Emperor Belos: We found every piece of the door. But without the power of the real key, it refuses to open.

Hunter: [Curious.] Is it true that rain doesn't boil in the Human Realm?

"I can't believe out of all the things he said to me, the one thing that seemed outrageous turned out to be one of the few things that was true," Hunter marveled.

"Human rain is the best," Gus agreed.

Emperor Belos: It is. You know, I've been there before. Did I ever tell you that?

"Oh, been there," Luz muttered. "Like you were some tourist."

[Hunter shakes his head.]

Emperor Belos: The trees there are green. Nights are quiet. I look forward to seeing it again. Were you spying on me just to hear these boring stories?

The calm way Belos was talking chilled Camila to the bone. She was watching a master abuser at work, she realized with horror. This was a man who expertly used kindness and affability as a tool, lulling his victims into a false sense of security. No wonder Hunter was a mess.

Hunter: The operation at the Knee, why did you switch me out with Kikimora?

Emperor Belos: Everyone has a use, Hunter.

Camila made Hunter look her in the eyes. "Hunter, I want you to understand right now that what he told you was wrong. You are more than a tool. You don't need to be useful to me to be part of the family. I just want you to be yourself."

"Right," Hunter said, unable to stop a note of skepticism from entering his voice. Camila's methods may have been far gentler than Belos's, but hadn't she punished Luz by sending her to Reality Check Camp when she didn't conform to the role she was expected to play?

At any rate, it didn't matter. Hunter's time in the Noceda family was coming to a close. Once Camila saw how weak he was, she'd realized she'd made a dreadful mistake in adding him to the family. He was ready to be kicked out of the family, maybe even the house. He wouldn't let it get to him, he vowed. He'd handle the matter with perfect stoicism.

Kikimora has her intricate little plans. The scouts carry out orders. And you, well, the Titan has big plans for you, and it would such a hassle to find a replacement.

Hunter couldn't help but laugh. If only he'd known how literal Belos was being! He was now grateful Luz had tricked him into thinking the Selkidomus was dead. Surely if Belos had had the necessary scales to create a new grimwalker, Hunter's days would have been numbered.

So, right now, you can be useful by staying safe in the castle.

[Belos escorts Hunter out of the room.]

Hunter: If this is punishment for failing my last mission, I swear I can do better.

Emperor Belos: Goodnight, Hunter. [Closes door.]

[Unsatisfied, Hunter turns and runs off.]

"Oh, he is the worst!" Camila said, her blood boiling with fury. "If only I could travel back in time and smack that guy right on his stupid old man face with la chancla!"

Luz laughed caustically. Time travel hadn't exactly done her any good, had it?

-THEME SONG-

[Amity is walking down a hall of the Owl House holding a clipboard.]

Amity: Hooty, what's your status?

Hooty: [Breaks through a window.]

Camila scowled. As appreciative as she was to Hooty for helping get Luz and Amity together, she was not happy he broke through a window so close to Amity's face. She could have gotten hurt from the broken glass!

The perimeter's secured. Nothing's getting past me.

Amity: Good. [Walks off.] Clean up that mess.

Hooty: Ma'am.

"Look at you, taking charge," Luz said with a grin. She had only hazy memories from her time sick with the common mold and it warmed her heart to see Amity was so dedicated to taking care of her.

[Hooty sweeps the broken window pieces away with his neck.]

[In the kitchen Willow, accompanied by Clover, places bags down on the table.]

Amity: Willow, have you gathered the supplies?

Willow: [Salutes.] Yes, we are ready to attack this on all fronts.

Amity: [Gives a thumbs up.] Excellent.

[A white cat comes up to her, leaving a dead spider at her feet.]

"She is so cute," Luz said. "I remember the first time I pet you, Ghost." Ghost rubbed against Luz's leg and let out a demure meow.

"You let Luz pet her?" Gus asked with surprise.

"Is that a taboo?" Camila asked.

"No, but it's a big sign of trust," Willow said. "You have to be very close to someone, platonically or romantically, to be given permission to touch their palisman."

Amity: Aw, Ghost. Did you help too? [Gives Ghost a chin scratch.] Who's a good palisman? Great, now all we need is—

[Gus and King enter, Emmiline on Gus' shoulder. Gus is holding CDs while King has a speaker, a disc hanging off his intact horn.]

Gus: Rain? Beach waves?

King: Something called "lo-fi beats to study and relax to"? We've got it all.

Gus: Eda was rummaging through her basement, and gave us some soothing human noises.

Amity: That's great. Wait. Eda's still here? [Enters the living room.] Eda, you're supposed to be helping Hooty build our defenses. Huh?

[Eda's busy clenching with an intense look on her face, until she lets out a scream.]

"Oh my," Camila muttered, fanning herself a little inconspicuously. Or so she thought. Unbeknownst to her, Luz was watching with a knowing grin.

"You don't happen to have a thing for Eda, do you, mom?" Luz teased.

"Uh…" Camila said, shocked to be put on the spot like that. "I…I don't know what you're talking about. I don't…I'm not…"

Luz put up her hands quickly. "Never mind, my mistake." She could tell when someone was in the middle of a reevaluation of one's sexuality – she'd been through that herself, after all – and she didn't want to make things any more difficult for Camila. She'd put the teasing on the back burner until Camila got her act together.

Eda: Whoo! Ah, don't mind me. I'm just learning how to turn into Harpy Eda on command. According to these human workouts, you just gotta scream a lot until you force your inner beast out.

"Hmm," Willow said. "Maybe I should try that."

Hunter nodded emphatically. "Yes! That sounds like a really, really good idea."

[Eda starts grunting and screaming again, while an unnerved Amity picks up a VHS box titled Dragon Claw Z and looks it over.]

Amity: This looks ancient.

"Wow, way to make me feel old, Amity," Camila joked.

"Sorry!"

"No need to worry, cariño; I was only teasing."

Eda: [Takes the VHS box.] What? No. It's only [Surprised.] 30 years old? I remember seeing this in theaters.

Camila had seen the movie in theaters too as a teenager. Assuming the portal had always outputted to Gravesfield – and given the fact that Philip Wittebane had built it, that was a reasonable assumption – they had probably seen it in the very same movie theater. How much differently would Camila's life had gone if they had run into each other, she wondered? Not that she wished that would have happened. If she'd met Eda back then, she'd have no doubt run off to the Demon Realm with her, knowing her fifteen year old self, and Luz would never have been born.

Amity: Yes, you're old. Who cares? We have a crisis on our hands.

"Well, that seems like an eminently sensible way to get your future mother-in-law's approval," Hunter snarked.

Amity let out a squeak. Oh, Titan! She had never thought of it that way! But she calmed down a second later. Eda probably respected her for roasting her like than she would have for obsequious fawning.

Eda: Chill, bossy boots. Everything's fine.

[Cut to Luz's room. Amity pushes the door open for her and Eda.]

Amity: [Gestures.] Does this seem fine to you?

[Luz is lying on the floor, still dressed for bed, wearing socks on her hands with a towel on her forehead and completely delirious.]

Camila let out a gasp. Her little girl had been sick! And she not only couldn't help her, but she hadn't even known she needed help in the first place. All because she'd been stupid enough not to realize something when "Luz" misspelled her name on the letters from camp!

"Hey, mom, it's okay," Luz assured her. "It was just a minor sickness. No more dangerous than a flu."

"People die from the flu!" Camila retorted.

"Really, Camila, it was fine," Willow said. "She recovered very well, and she was right as grain!"

Camila tilted her head. "Don't you mean right as rain?"

"Rain kills people," Willow pointed out. "Why would I mean that? Whereas grain keeps them fed."

[A small, humanoid abomination is holding a box of tissues next to her.]

"I'm so lucky to have an awesome girlfriend to look after me," Luz said and pecked Amity on the cheek.

Luz: Whoa. It's like I have snakes for arms.

Luz sighed. She looked like such a weird dork in front of the people who loved her.

"We all do weird stuff when we have the common mold, Luz," Gus assured her. "It's like a rite of passage for a witch. No one holds it against you."

Eda: [Calm.] Please, she just has the Common Mold. It's harmless.

Amity: But she's a human. We have no idea how it'll affect her!

Luz: [Sits up, pulls out the portal key.] If I ate the portal key, would I return to the Human Realm?

"NO!" Camila shouted. Luz gave a nervous laugh.

[Luz attempts to eat the key but the abomination snatches it and gives it to Amity.]

Luz breathed a sigh of relief. That had been a close one.

Luz: [Reaches out.] Huh?

Amity: [Puts the key around her neck.] I am not giving this back until you're better, okay?

[Luz pouts and whines before pulling out a game device and texts on it. Amity takes out her own device, the symbols reading "U R PRETTY" from the side.]

Amity tilted her head as she deciphered the message. Then she gave a huge smile as her cheeks turned red. "Oh my gosh, Luz, you're so sweet!" And to think, she'd actually thought these messages were warnings. She had been so dumb.

[She lowers it and sees Luz beaming.]

Amity: [Not understanding it.] Oh, uh... [Chuckles.] you got it!

[Amity closes the door while Luz makes a confused expression.]

No wonder she had been so confused, Amity reflected. That was not the way someone reacted to being told they were pretty.

[Everyone has gathered outside her room.]

Willow: Got to admit, Amity, seeing you around more often is different.

Amity: I know. But I was taught to see every situation as an opportunity. And today, I'll show Luz that I am an awesome girlfriend.

"You sure did," Luz said with another kiss, this time on Amity's lips.

King: Feels like just a few months ago, you almost got her dissected by your crazy principal.

Gus: That was a few months ago.

"Ah, time flies fast when you're having fun," Luz mused.

[Luz screams. Amity and Eda burst into her room.]

Amity and Eda: Luz!

Luz: M-Mouse. Uh. Philip diary entry.

[The echo mouse has indeed begun a projection. Luz has a notepad and pencil ready.]

Philip: After five years, I have finally found it. A power source so potent it can pierce through realms. Titan's Blood. There are old tales of lakes reflecting green trees and blue skies. The Titan's vein runs through the land. And many believe that these wild portals are created when a little of its blood leaks into the water. That is how I came here.

"Do you think we can find another one of these portals?" Camila wondered. "Maybe the same one Philip came to the Isles in?"

"I…uh, I wouldn't bet the farm on it," Luz mumbled.

So that is the first place I shall look. I will journey back to Eclipse Lake.

[The projection finishes. The echo mouse squeaks and scurries off as Luz seems to be drawing a picture of Eclipse Lake.]

Luz: I have to go to Eclipse Lake! [Runs towards the door. She screams.]

"You are not going anywhere in that condition, mija!" Camila said sternly.

[Luz attempts to jump out the door, forcing Amity to duck while Willow and Gus back away, but Eda catches her by the waist mid-jump.]

Willow: [Pushes her friend back in.] Luz, no. You are not well.

Gus: [In the room.] She is shockingly strong.

"Willow and I have been working out together," Luz explained. "Say, Hunter, maybe you want to join in one of these days?" She gave a diabolical grin, knowing precisely what that mental image would do to Hunter.

Hunter, his ears so warm he was worried for a second they might explode, just nodded wordlessly.

[They tie her up in her sleeping bag and toss her on the floor. Luz grunts.]

Eda: [Looking down at Luz.] All right, Luz. Me and King will get your Titan blood if you just calm down.

King: [Jumps on Eda's shoulder.] Yes! Perfect chance to take our new powers for a test drive.

Luz: You guys are the best. [Hands over her drawing to Eda, who starts to leave.]

Amity: [Raises her hand.] I volunteer as well. [Follows.] As Luz's girlfriend, I must—

Amity laughed nervously. In retrospect, she was overdoing it a bit. But she was just so excited to be Luz's girlfriend! It had been the best thing to ever happen to her, and she was so nervous about screwing up somehow.

Eda: I get it, boots. Just grab a coat. Willow, Goops, watch over Luz. She thinks she has snakes for arms.

"She does that on purpose," Gus accused.

Luz: Whoa. [Gasps, then hisses at them, causing Gus to flinch.]

"I didn't want her to bite me!" Gus protested.

[Cut to the Knee, where several scouts and Abomatons are shown mining. Kikimora is standing on an Abomaton's shoulder.]

"We're seeing this why?" Camila asked.

"I was spying on them," Hunter explained.

Kikimora: [Shouting.] Dig faster, scouts.

Guard Captain: Kikimora, these tunnels are unstable. Maybe we should slow down.

Kikimora: [Groans.] Not now, Captain. This could be my last chance to show Belos what I can do. And I just know that brat, Golden Guard, will try to spoil it.

"I'm a brat?!" Hunter shouted. "I'm not the one putting my own troops in danger just for the sake of possibly gaining Belos's favor!"

Hey, Steve. Jump over that chasm before I throw you in it.

[Kikimora's mount walks forward.]

Guard Captain: [Sighs, shakes her head.] She's getting so paranoid.

[Nearby, Hunter, wearing a coven scout uniform, hides behind a tree. Flapjack is flying near his head.]

Hunter: [Spots the palisman, gasps.] Why do you keep following me?

[Flapjack chirps.]

Hunter let out a gasp. Flapjack had said "because I love you."

"You really mean it, buddy?" Hunter said. "Even back then? Even after I led so many of your fellow palismen to their deaths?"

Yes! I always loved you, Hunter. Even before I knew you, we were destined to be together. I'm so glad I found you. I'm so glad you're free now.

Hunter: I don't speak palisman. Here's the plan. I slip in with this disguise. I find the Titan blood before Kiki. I give it to Belos. Boom! I'm useful again.

"Don't," Hunter said before Camila could say a word. "I was screwed up. I get it. Please don't rub it in."

[Hunter is forced to duck when the Abomaton fires a shot that destroys the tree.]

Guard Captain: Ma'am, is everything alright?

Kikimora: [Suspicious.] I just thought I heard an annoying voice.

"And my voice is not annoying!" Hunter shouted. "Your voice is annoying!"

Hunter: [Pants, running off.] Another way in. We'll find another way in.

[Flapjack chirps again. Hunter stops and sees a problem walking nearby.]

Hunter: [Gasps.] The Owl Lady and her dog.

"He's not a dog!" Luz protested.

"He kind of does act like a dog sometimes," Camila said with a smirk.

And is that the youngest Blight?

Amity shivered. It was a good thing Hunter had been on a rogue operation. If he had been there officially, he probably would have told Odalia about her and then she'd be in so much trouble.

[Both witches are dressed for the weather, staffs in hand. Amity has the map and is looking at it as she leads the group.]

King: This place is crawling with tools. What gives?

Eda: Titan blood is the most powerful source of magic on the Isles. I'm not surprised Belos wants it too.

Amity: Well, we can't afford to mess this up. Luz is counting on me.

[Eda and King shoot her a look.]

Amity: I mean us.

Amity sighed. She'd been so insecure back then. It was a good thing she'd learned better since then. She knew now she could make mistakes and Luz would forgive her, just as she'd done the converse.

Hunter: All right, new plan. They can lead us to— [Flapjack grabs his hood and starts pulling him forward.] What? Hey! Hey!

[Hunter falls down the slope, right in front of the small party. The witches raise their staffs.]

Amity: [Gasps.] A coven scout. [Conjures a fire spell.]

Hunter: [Raises his hands.] Uh, yes. I am but a humble scout, and I surrender.

"Yeah, I wouldn't join Hexside's drama class anytime soon if I were you," Gus said.

"No, you totally should!" Willow said. "You can learn how to be a better actor there."

"Yeah, rub it in," Hunter muttered.

King: Well, that was easy.

Eda: [Curious.] Not so fast, King. Don't you recognize that annoying voice?

Hunter: [Slightly hurt.] Why does everyone say that?

"Aw, Hunter, it's okay," Luz said. "We all have our flaws. You have an annoying voice, I have a tendency to make monumentally reckless decisions. Don't tell anyone, but even Amity has a flaw." She leaned in closer to him. "She doesn't like anime," she whispered, her tone denoting that this was, in fact, a monumental crime against civilization itself.

[Hunter attempts to escape.]

Eda: Don't let him get away!

[Amity summons a jar on her waist and uses the Abomination goo within to tie up Hunter.]

"Oh, gosh, Amity, you're just like a water bender!" Luz said, bouncing up and down in her seat.

"What's that?"

"Oh, we're so watching Avatar later," Luz decided. "You're gonna love it!" And now that she thought about it, Katara sounded so similar to Amity…

Hunter: Argh! [Falls down, mask comes off.] Hmph!

[The trio surrounds him.]

Eda: This is none other than Belos' right-hand man.

Amity: [Gasps.] The Golden Guard? He is a lot scrawnier than I imagined.

"Yeah, the way Edric went on about you, I was expecting some male model type," Amity mused.

"Oh, I think Hunter looks just fine as he is," Willow said.

"Uh, you do?" Hunter said and grinned dopily. "Well, thanks!"

[King laughs while Hunter growls. Scene cuts to inside a section of the mine. Eda bursts through a wall with a flip and lands.]

Eda: [Grunting.] Did I do it? Did I go into harpy mode?

"I can't believe she was really a harpy the whole time," Hunter said. "I thought she was crazy!"

King: [Enters through the hole.] No. You just screamed "hoot" and ran headfirst into a wall of ice. Pretty funny actually.

"I can't believe we missed that," Luz sulked.

[As King walks forward, Amity pushes a captive Hunter through the hole with her staff.]

Hunter: You can put down your staff. I won't run.

Amity: Too bad, because I don't trust you.

"Eh, fair," Hunter said. "You know I don't hold it against you, right? I was the enemy."

"Uh, thanks?" Amity said, feeling completely adrift. What the hell were you supposed to say in a situation like this?

Eda: [Looks at some mining equipment.] Huh, this stuff is old.

Hunter: Ancient witches used to mine the veins for Titan blood—

Amity: [Bluntly.] They're not paying attention.

"Well, that's their loss," Hunter said haughtily. "We should all become more aware of history. The Savage Ages are quite a fascinating period."

"Perhaps later you could tell me some more about them," Camila offered. She'd certainly subjected herself to many of Luz's infodumps in her day, and hearing about the history of the Demon Realm sounded quite fascinating, actually.

[They look at King sitting on a drill-like device as Eda stands in front of it.]

Eda: Go on, fire it. Maybe the adrenaline will kick in, and bam, Harpy Eda.

King: Sounds perfectly safe! [Activates the drill.]

"That does not sound perfectly safe at all!" Camila shouted. "I can't believe she's more irresponsible without you, Luz!"

Hunter: [Shouts.] Wait. Don't.

[But it's too late: the drill fires off a beam that bounces around the walls. When it heads for the teenage witches, Amity stops the beam using an abomination sphere.]

"So cool," Luz breathed.

[Eda and King stare at them.]

Hunter: This isn't a normal cave! These walls are made from the veins of the Titan. Any magic you shoot will bounce right back at you!

Eda: Huh, you must be fun at parties.

"I've never been to a party before," Hunter admitted.

"Well, we sure as heck are gonna have to change that!" Luz said. "Don't worry, Hunter. I've got some ideas percolating around the old noggin."

"Wonderful."

Hey, King, how about you use your new powers to echolocate the lake?

King: Haha, okay!

[King stops at a tunnel, takes a deep breath and lets a sonic wave out.]

King: Weh!

[A few moments pass until King looks at his companions and shrugs.]

King: Eh-eh.

Hunter: [Deadpan.] Those two are definitely gonna get us caught.

Amity: "Us"? There is no us. Now keep walking.

[Hunter shrugs and they move on.]

[Back at the Owl House, the three caretakers are in the kitchen: Willow's making a pot of soup while Gus and Hooty are sitting at the table.]

Gus: Hooty, we're not gonna make Luz listen to 24 hours of whale noises. What even is a whale? It looks terrifying.

"Actually, I really would have liked the whale noises," Luz admitted.

Hooty: Well, I've never heard of underground Korean hip-hop before.

Gus: It's human music, and it's soothing. [Hums music.]

Camila raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She wasn't about to chastise Gus for having a different – a radically different – taste in music as she did. She simply adored classical music, and was sure it was superior to all other genres.

[Hooty tries to impersonate a whale, moving to the music. As they go on, Willow starts to get annoyed.]

Willow: [Turns and shouts.] Will you guys please be quiet?

"Sorry for snapping at you, Gus," Willow said. "I guess I was a little more worried about Luz than I thought."

"No worries. I was being kind of annoying."

[Gus and Hooty silently stare at Willow.]

Willow: What if we play them at the same time?

Gus and Hooty: [Turn to each other with glee.] Ooh!

[Cut back to the mine where the group marches on.]

Eda: You know, Luz told me about a trip to Latissa where she met someone very interesting.

"Really? You thought I was interesting?" Luz shrugged. From a certain point of view, she supposed that was the truth.

Eda: A beat-up blonde with no magical powers. She called him, and these are her words, "a bad but sad boy".

"Really?" Hunter said. "I prefer the term bad but sad man, thank you."

[King bursts out laughing as Hunter turns pink.]

Hunter: [Angrily.] If I ever see that human again—

"Ooh, I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you," Gus said.

Amity: [Points at Hunter.] Watch it.

Gus nodded smugly. He loved being right.

Hunter: At least I'm not delusional enough to think I can turn into a harpy.

[Eda stops to turn around and hiss at him.]

"Oh, yes, real mature, Eda," Camila said, rolling her eyes.

King: Hey. Come on. Give it a rest, you two.

Hunter: Yeah, listen to your rat.

"He's not a rat either!" Luz shouted.

[King makes an angry indignant noise and grabs Hunter's hair.]

Amity: Shh.

[They peek over a stone wall and find the scouting party has stopped.]

Kikimora: Why are we stopping? Is it the Golden Guard?

Guard Captain: No, ma'am. This is a dangerous area. We need to move carefully.

Kikimora: [Raving.] Careful takes too long. My butt is on the line, and so help me, Titan, if you ruin this, I will throw you off the tallest peak of the knee with a smile.

"Well, that was…interesting," Willow said carefully. Belos really put people through the ringer, didn't he?

Eda: [Watching in pity.] Oh, that poor girl is going through something.

"Sounds perfectly normal to me," Hunter said.

"Yes, I'm sure it does," Camila muttered, an undercurrent of disgust in her voice. Hunter shuddered. He was failing already! And he didn't even know what he did wrong!

Amity: She's also blocking the path to Eclipse Lake.

Kikimora: I can smell it, I can see it, I can see...

Hunter: [Quietly.] We should create a distraction.

Eda: [Loudly.] We should create a distraction! You kids wait for my signal. [Runs off with King.]

Hunter: [Leans on the wall, relaxing.] Huh, that was easy! When they're caught, you and me can take the Titan blood for ourselves.

"I mean, why let an opportunity go to waste?" Hunter said with a weak laugh.

"Don't think you won't pay for that, big bro," Luz said. "I may not have been a sibling for long, but I know all sorts of tricks to play on you…" Hunter gulped.

Amity: Stop talking like we're a team.

Hunter: We might as well be. The Owl Lady and her pet have nothing at stake, unlike us.

"It's not about what's at stake," Luz argued. "They want me to be happy! Eda knew if I got the blood, I might leave her for good, but she still went to the trouble of trying to get it for me, because that's what good parents do. She put my needs ahead of her own. And King is not a pet!"

"Well, he acts like one!" Hunter shot back. Something in Luz's statement had definitely struck a chord in him though. Had Belos ever put Hunter's needs – anyone's needs – ahead of his own? No. Camila had, however. She put herself at risk by taking in children from another world, of a different species that could have been hostile. In Hunter's mind, that made her better than Belos any day of the week.

Maybe it was true. Maybe she did love him. For now.

Amity: You have no idea what you're talking— [Her game device beeps: she briefly places her hand over her pocket.] I was gonna say you have no— [Game device beeps again.]

[Hunter gives her a look. Amity grunts, turns and takes out the device to check the messages. The device reads "U R RAD".]

Amity sighed. She couldn't believe she'd actually been dumb enough to think Luz, of all people, was threatening her.

Hunter: [Peeks over to look.] Oof. That doesn't look good.

Amity: [Points at him.] Stay back! [Hunter backs up. She pauses.] But what doesn't look good?

Hunter: Seems clear to me. Come back with results or else... You can figure out the rest.

"I'm so sorry I fell for his attempt at manipulation," Amity said to Luz. "I shouldn't have doubted you for a second. It's just…my only real example of what a relationship looked like was my parents, so…it took a while to adjust, know what I mean?"

"I was not trying to manipulate you!" Hunter protested. "I genuinely believed what I was saying."

"Oh my gosh, Hunter, that's even worse," Amity pointed out.

Amity: No, Luz wouldn't make that kind of threat. I'm an awesome girlfriend.

"And don't you ever forget it," Luz said with a kiss for emphasis.

Hunter: Has she told you that?

[Amity just grunts.]

"I guess I should have been more appreciative," Luz said glumly. "I had no clue what to do, Amity! I was flying blind! And Eda, for all her many good qualities, is not the person to go to for relationship advice."

"I'm glad you had the sense to know that at least." She shuddered to think of what sort of ridiculous ideas Eda would have come up with.

Hunter: We have a lot in common, Blight. We're both trying to show what we can bring to the table. And we can't fail, 'cause there's nothing worse than disappointing someone who thinks you're special.

"Heh, would you look at that?" Hunter said with a somewhat deranged laugh. "I thought Belos thought I was special! Cause I'm so difficult to replace! Isn't that just a hoot?!" He laughed even more insanely.

Camila looked at him with sadness in her eyes. "Don't," he snapped. "Don't pity me. I have enough trouble hating myself without you doing it too."

"Hunter, let me make one thing clear," Camila said. "I do not blame anyone but Belos for your upbringing. You will heal here. I will make sure of it."

"It's probably too late for that."

[Amity looks down sadly.]

Eda: Okay, watch this. [Pulls her hair over her face, makes it look like a different face.] I'll be the ghost of miner's past and spook'em out!

"Ay, you're really starting to rub off on her, Luz," Camila said.

King: You look like one of my hairballs. Let's just do the trench coat thing.

[A magenta fireball flies between them. They both scream. The fireball nearly hits Kikimora, causing the Abomaton to activate a shield to protect the scouting party. Eda and King rejoin Amity and Hunter, now making a break for the tunnel.]

Amity laughed nervously. "Yeah…you psyched me out a lot more than I gave you credit for," she admitted.

"Sorry," Hunter said. "I was just trying to help. How was I supposed to know relationships built on trust and mutual respect were a thing?"

Eda: Why didn't you wait for our signal?

Amity: We don't have time to play around. We are getting that Titan blood.

[As they go, Amity's game device falls out of her pocket without her realizing it.

"Oh, so that's when that happened," Amity said.

[Back at the Owl House, Luz is playing with the echo mouse's ears.]

Luz: [Sing-songy.] Little mouse, Owl House, frilly blouse. Boop.

"How are you even cuter when you're sick?" Amity demanded.

"I have no clue!" Luz said.

[Luz taps the echo mouse's head, and it starts showing the rest of Philip's diary entry on Eclipse Lake.]

Philip: My journey to Eclipse Lake has been a success, and yet, a tragic failure. The tunnels were filled with a substance known as Fool's Blood. It signifies a decaying vein. I was lucky to get out alive, my companions were not.

Luz scoffed. Luck had nothing to do with it. Knowing Philip's propensity for murdering his traveling companions, it was a pretty safe bet they did not meet a natural end.

[The projection ends.]

Luz: [Gasps.] Oh no. I gotta warn them. G-Gotta call.

[She reaches for the crystal ball, but accidentally knocks it over, breaking it.]

Luz: Dang it!

[In the kitchen, Willow, Gus and Hooty are wearing headphones connected to a sound mixer.]

Gus: These two are train whistles in a thunderstorm and soothing opera screaming.

[He plays it, and the mixer makes many noises, including the sound of train and thunder.]

"Well…whatever works for you, dears," Camila said with a slight grimace.

Luz: [Offscreen.] Willow? Gus? Hooty!

[It's no good: they can't hear Luz or even see the soup boiling on the stove. Gus begins to tear up from the music.]

Luz: Guys! [Falls, grunts.] I gotta reach Amity. [Gasps, sees her game device.]

[In the tunnel, Flapjack keeps trying to sit on Hunter's shoulder.]

Hunter: Hey. Find a different perch, bird.

"Sorry," Hunter said. Flapjack just waved his wing dismissively. Hunter just needed some time to get used to him. He wasn't going to hold it against him, not when he'd put his own life at risk to protect Flapjack's own.

[Amity and Eda gasp. They've found dark blue orbs.]

Eda: Is this Titan's Blood?

Amity: [Looks at the map.] But Eclipse Lake is farther ahead.

King: Who cares? We did it.

Hunter: Stop! That's Fool's Blood. Don't touch it.

Eda: Oh, so you can keep it all for yourself? [Scoffs.] Hard pass.

"I warned them," Hunter said. "It was your own fault you didn't listen to me, Amity."

[Eda cracks open Fool's Blood, which cracks the floor. Eda chuckles nervously.]

Eda: Huh?

[The crack on the floor widens, and Eda and King fall into it, screaming.]

Amity: No! [Prepares to mount her staff.]

Hunter: Wait. Take me with you!

Kikimora: [Offscreen.] Yoo-hoo! Golden Guard!

[Kikimora's shadow is seen from the wall. Amity gasps.]

Hunter: At least untie me so I can escape.

[Amity hesitates.]

Hunter: Please. I don't want to be replaced.

"No one's gonna replace you, Hunter," Camila vowed. "I'll make sure of that. You're the one, the only, the irreplaceable Hunter Noceda."

Hunter smiled. "Thanks, mom." The word still felt strange and alien in his mouth, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling either.

Amity: Ugh. Fine. [Unties Hunter.] So, where will you go now?

Hunter: Now... [He knocks Amity down, causing her to scream, then grunt. He hops in a minecart.] ...I get to Eclipse Lake before anyone. Bye!

"Hunter!" Luz scolded him.

Hunter gave a nervous laugh. "Sorry?"

[Hunter heads down, Flapjack following him once again.]

Amity: That jerk.

[Her hand bursts into flames but before she can do anything, a shadow looms over her.]

Kikimora: Ooh. Would you look at this, Captain?

[Kiki's Abomaton grunts. Cut to a closeup of Kikimora.]

Kikimora: We found our little fire starter.

[Cut to black. Cut back to Kikimora pacing, the captain looming over Amity down on the ground.]

Kikimora: So... the Golden Guard is also looking for Titan's Blood, and he took off to Eclipse Lake. [Chuckles.] I knew it. That little snake is always making me look bad. Well, now I can get my revenge!

"You have issues," Willow said in a deadpan tone.

Guard Captain: [Clears throat.] Ma'am, what about the Titan Blood?

Kikimora: Oh, yes. I'll get that too.

"She's totally lost the plot, hasn't she?" Gus said. Hunter nodded.

[Kikimora claps her hands, and the Abomaton turns into a minecart she hops into.]

Kikimora: [Evil chuckle.] This is going to be a good day.

Guard Captain: What should we do with the girl?

Kikimora: Oh, I don't care.

[Kikimora and the Coven Scouts ride the minecarts down the shaft with glee. The captain turns to Amity.]

Guard Captain: So, uh, did you come with anyone else or...? Ugh. This is boring.

[The Guard Captain grabs Amity and throws her down the crack, tossing down her game device not long after.]

Luz shook her fist at the screen. "When I find out who you are, you are so dead, captain lady!"

"Oh, that's Captain Rhodes," Hunter said. "Lovely lady. I'm sure her wife will love you making her a widow."

"I…didn't mean that literally, you know, Hunter, right?" Luz said, concern filling her voice. Hunter tilted his head. Oh. He was still terrible at this sarcasm thing.

"At the very least, she should go to prison for trying to murder a child," Camila said. "I hope whatever happens, Belos's minions will be brought to justice when all is said and done."

Willow sighed. "The problem is, Camila, we were all his minions in a sense. We all participated in the regime to a greater or lesser extent. But, yeah, I hope people like Wrath are punished."

Hunter silently started panicking. Could it be possible that this whole adoption thing was a ruse to keep him complacent until they returned to the Demon Realm and Camila could throw him in prison? Was Camila cruel enough to dangle Hunter's greatest desire in front of him and take it away? His gut told him no…but it had told him that about Belos too.

[Amity screams until she's caught by something, narrowly catching her device. It turns out Eda caught her, and she and King stopped falling after jamming her staff against the walls.]

Amity: [Climbs up.] Guys, you're okay.

Eda: Oh, just barely. Owlbert's knocked out, so we can't fly.

[Sure enough, Owlbert's got swirls in his eyes. Beat.]

King: I'm just, like, throwing it out there, but this would be a great time to bring out Harpy Eda.

Camila nodded eagerly. It totally had nothing to do with how beautifully, attractively primal Eda looked in that form. She was just curious…scientifically. Yes, she had a scientific curiosity. That was all.

Eda: I don't know how! I've tried yelling at it, scaring it.

[Owlbert hoots in pain, he's starting to crack.]

King: Did you ever think about talking to it?

Eda: Ha! I—I guess I didn't but it—it's a wild animal.

King: You thought I was a wild animal once.

[Owlbert cracks even more.]

Eda: Okay, I'll try. Just... [Groans.] ...give me a second.

[Eda shuts her eyes. A few seconds pass.]

Eda: What? You wanna make a deal? Wait. I—I don't know if I can.

[Owlbert hoots again, cracks spreading further.]

Eda: [Sighs.] Okay, okay. I'll do it. Just change now!

[Eda transforms into a Harpy and flies out carrying the kids in her arms and her staff with her foot.]

Camila stared at the screen, her eyes utterly transfixed. Eda was so strong!

Harpy Eda: Aha! Yes!

King: What did you promise to do?

Harpy Eda: I don't wanna talk about it.

[As they go, Owlbert detaches from the staff and flies into Eda's hair.]

King: I can't wait to see a real life minecart chase.

All: Huh?

[The scouting party's minecarts have crashed. Kikimora grunts, then faints. Everyone winces.]

Harpy Eda: Ooh.

King: Guess minecart chases are a lot more dangerous than video games make'em seem.

"I showed him a lot of fun games to distract him from the internet," Luz explained. "You were right, mami. The internet was not ready for King. Or vice versa."

[As King speaks, Amity spots and reclaims her confiscated staff. She also spots a sign marking the entrance to Eclipse Lake.]

Amity: [Points.] There it is!

[Eda flies towards the tunnel, but an Abomaton grabs her by the leg. The captain is standing spear in hand.]

Guard Captain: [Grunts.] I don't know who you freaks are, but that blood belongs to Kikimora!

"HEY!" Luz shouted. "They are not freaks! You're the freak!"

[With a surprised yelp, Eds gets flung to the ground. Everyone recovers.]

Harpy Eda: Get to the lake, I'll take care of— [Eda is is flung into the wall by the Abomaton. She gasps and grunts.]

King: Eda!

[Amity grabs Kings and runs ahead. The Guard Captain throws her spear at them, but Harpy Eda catches and breaks it.]

"Whoa," Camila whispered.

Harpy Eda: All right, Owl Beast. Let's see what we can do!

[Harpy Eda flies above the captain, and performs a drill spin on her. Amity and King reach Eclipse Lake. Amity checks the map (sporting an image of Luz in the lake) and lowers it to look at Hunter digging with a puzzled expression.]

Hunter: [Resigned.] Don't worry. I won't pick a fight. There's no Titan Blood.

Hunter winced. Well, this was it. This was either going to go very badly or very, very badly. Surely Camila had no use for a son who was so incredibly broken.

Amity: Then why are you digging?

Hunter: [Slightly unhinged.] Oh, it's simple really. Belos needs Titan blood to make a new portal key. Can't get to the Human Realm without it!

"You were looking for blood in the ground?" Camila asked with bewilderment. Hunter shook his head, unable to bring himself to explain. She'd see soon enough.

Amity: [Realizing.] There's blood in the key?

[Amity clutches the key, which she brought with her.]

Hunter: Since I failed my last mission, I thought, "Hey, a chance to make up for it." But I can't go back empty-handed. [Laughs hysterically.] Not again. Long story short, this is my grave.

Hunter winced. Well, that was that. Camila wasn't going to stand for a weakling like himself as her son. He broke at the first sign of trouble. Belos didn't tolerate any emotional outbursts in his presence. (Naturally, his own outbursts were just a symptom of the curse.) There was no way Camila would be any different, no matter how much she pretended to be. Or even how much she thought she was.

He stood up and at attention, waiting for the blows to come. Instead, something very odd happened. Camila wrapped her arms around him with a hug.

"Oh, you poor thing," she whispered in his ear. "It's fine now. It's gonna be fine."

"I don't understand what's happening," Hunter said, his voice sounding desperate. "Why are you not angry at me?! I'm being weak! Pathetic! And that's not even getting into the fact I was trying to get the blood you needed to get in contact with your daughter!" He started crying, much to his horror. "Just what the hell is your game? What's the catch?! You're too good to be true!"

Camila stroked his hair. "Mi cazador, there's no catch," she said gently. "I know it's hard for you to trust. The one person you thought loved you betrayed you. That's hard to overcome. But not everyone is like him. Belos is the outlier, not me. Most parents really do love their children, Hunter. Just like I love you."

"I…I just don't understand," Hunter admitted, wiping away his tears. "What's in it for you?"

"I just want to help you," Camila said, unable to offer a better reason than that. She wished she knew what to do, how to summon the exact words necessary to reassure this poor, broken soul. "I know you don't understand. But in time, I'm sure you will."

Hunter nodded and sat back down. "I'm sorry…I won't show weakness like that again."

"Hunter, no," Camila said. "Showing your emotions to me is not a weakness. Look…for now, whatever your uncle told you, just do the opposite, okay? We'll sort out the rest later, but for now, that seems like a good rule of thumb. And relax, honey. We're all here for you."

Camila is good! Flapjack chirped. You can trust her!

"Well…Flapjack likes you," Hunter said. "I think that's good enough for me for now."

[Happily.] Want me to make you one too?

"Were you really digging a grave, or was that just hyperbole?" Vee asked. She knew the answer to the question, of course. She just wanted Hunter to say it.

"Of course I was," Hunter said. "I'd rather have buried myself alive than have the only person I ever loved kill me."

Camila felt a spike of anger towards the Collector. How dare he kill Belos and deprive Camila of a chance to make that monster suffer?

King: This is really bumming me out.

Hunter: That's just life, rat. Everyone has a use, and if you don't... [Blows raspberry.] ...bye-bye. Your friend gets it.

King: [Looks at Amity.] What's he talking about?

Amity: [Takes out her device.] Luz has been sending me these strange human codes. I don't understand all of them but this one seems pretty clear. Come back with results or we're done.

King: Nyeh! [Rotates the device 90° clockwise.]

"I guess I really screwed up when King could figure it out," Amity admitted.

"Hey, King's smarter than he looks!" Luz protested. "I mean, you didn't screw up!"

Amity: [Reads.] "U-R-RAD." [Clicks the next one.] "FOOLS-BLOOD-BAD. U-OKAY? COME-HOME?" [Chuckles.] Of course. This is Luz we're talking about.

Hunter: Hey!

[Hunter is lying facedown in the dirt. Flapjack is tugging on his cloak.]

Hunter: Go find a better witch to be with.

"Thanks for not listening to me," Hunter said. Flapjack let out a chirp, not saying anything in particular, just a general sound of support.

[Hunter sadly groans as he gathers dirt on his head. Amity kneels near him and once Flapjack notices her, he flies onto her shoulder.]

Amity: You know, you were right. We do have a lot in common. I grew up thinking everything was an opportunity to justify existing, but there are people out there who won't make you feel worthless. You just have to let yourself meet them.

"And that's what I did," Hunter said, smiling at Willow and Gus, who smiled back at him.

[Amity reaches out her hand to Hunter. He looks at it only to notice the portal key. He gasps and slowly gets up.]

Amity: [Confused.] What are you...

[She realizes his intention and gasps. Hunter lunges at her attempting to grab the key, but misses when she dodges.]

Amity: Oh, come on. Being nice usually works for Luz.

"Actually, normally it blows up in my face," Luz admitted. "You were one of the few exceptions."

[Hunter tries again, only for King to scream at him with Flapjack blocking the sonic wave in staff form.]

"Thanks, buddy," Hunter said, ruffling Flapjack's feathers.

[Hunter grabs him and tries to teleport but barely moves much.]

Hunter: [Surprised yelp.] Real staffs are weird! Ah!

[Amity ties Hunter up but he makes a few escape attempts before succeeding. He fires several energy blasts from the air, causing Amity to dodge using her staff.]

"Impressive!" Willow said, clapping her hands. Hunter blushed.

"Willow! You're supposed to be rooting for me!"

"Sorry," Willow said, not feeling sorry at all. Hunter needed an ego boost more than Amity did right now.

[Hunter appears behind her but King tackles him. Hunter teleports around Amity three times, but she blocks him with abomination goo. By the fourth time, she anticipates where he'll pop up and jabs with her staff before punching him with an abomination gauntlet.]

Luz grabbed a tissue from the box next to her and wiped away some drool from her lips. Willow's foresight was legendary!

[She proceeds to make a spell circle to summon an abomination behind Hunter that envelops him.]

"I have such an awesome girlfriend," Luz said in awe.

[Amity gets on her staff to put some distance between them, grabbing King along the way. However, Hunter manages to escape by going underground and punching them with a stone fist sending them in the air.]

"Hey, not so powerless after all, are you?" Willow said. "Good job!"

"Again, stop rooting for the person who's trying to kill me, Willow!"

[King lands with his horns lodged in a vein while Amity lands using her goo. Hunter appears behind her again.]

Hunter: You really wanna help? Then give me that key!

[He uses his staff to yank the key away, but Amity grabs it as Hunter pins her arm to the wall, with her keeping a goo spike at his neck. The two glare at each other, Hunter panting.]

Hunter: [Worn out.] Listen, you're strong, and I'm tired. If this continues, you'll probably escape, but here's the thing: We know where to find you—and your human.

Hunter put his head in his hands. "I'm sorry, Camila. I'm so sorry. I…I was just so desperate…"

"I understand, Hunter," Camila said. "You thought it was the only way to help your uncle. And I told you before, call me mom." Hunter could not help but smile a little. Maybe everything was going to be okay.

[Amity gasps.]

Hunter: So... just hand over the key.

[Amity squeezes the key so hard, a crack is heard.]

"You're so clever," Luz said. "I'm so proud of you." Amity beamed.

Amity: [Defeated.] Fine. Just stay away from Luz.

[Amity drops the key into Hunter's hand.]

Hunter: [Walks off.] Appreciate it. I, uh, mean that, too.

"Right, like that was a consolation," Amity muttered.

[Amity says nothing as he flies out on his staff. Harpy Eda flies in.]

Harpy Eda: Ha-ha. Yes. I heard fighting. I'm ready to go. Where's that nerd?

Hunter shrugged. Better a nerd than a brat. At least he'd earned his title of nerd.

[She sees King trying to get out of his position while Amity sits on her knees wearing a grim expression.]

Harpy Eda: Oh. Dang it.

[Cut back to the Owl House, where Luz has fallen asleep.]

Luz: [Snores.] Huh? [Sits up, pillow falls off her head revealing several mushrooms on it, pats face.]

"Oh my lord!" Camila said with a gasp of horror.

"Oh, relax, mom, it didn't hurt a bit!" Luz said. Honestly, Camila was really overreacting in her opinion. People got sick all the time.

I feel great. [Sees and touches the mushrooms.] I wonder if this is permanent. [Gasps.] I gotta find everyone.

[Luz charges out of her room shaking off the mushrooms

"See?" Luz said. "It's all good!"

only to bump into Willow, the bowl of soup she's carrying flies up and is caught by Hooty.]

Hooty: Safe!

[Steam rises from him, which causes Gus to cringe.]

Luz: Have the others returned?

[They run to the living room, where King and Amity are trying to pull Eda through the door as Ghost walks off with Owlbert on its head.]

Harpy Eda: Ow, ow, ow! Just get an elixir. I got into harpy mode and now I can't get out.

King: [To the kids.] She also ate, like, nine voles on the way home.

Harpy Eda: Hey, I had to keep up my end of the bargain.

"Well, as long as they weren't sentient, I suppose that's okay," Camila said. "They weren't sentient, were they? Never mind, I don't want to know."

[They finally pull her in, but fall to the floor.]

King: Oof!

Amity: [Holds her head.] Ugh...

Luz: Amity! [Happily hugs her.] I'm so glad my awesome girlfriend is okay.

[Amity's look of surprise turns into a blushing smile.]

Amity: Me too. [Hugs Luz back.]

King: No King hug? What is this? [Points at Amity.] You are a swindler and a thief!

"And you stepped on his cupcake," Hunter reminded her. "You're just lucky he didn't remember that." Amity gave an unimpressed look at him.

Luz: Come here, buddy. [Hugs King tightly.]

King: I regret this!

Harpy Eda: [To Amity.] Do you wanna break the news or should I?

Amity: News?

Harpy Eda: [Counts off.] The empty lake, the Golden Guard, losing the portal key. [Scoffs.] Today was a disaster.

Amity: Actually, we might be okay.

[Amity looks at her glove now stained with Titan's blood.]

"Thank you, Amity," Luz said. "I don't remember if I told you that then –"

"You did."

"But I'm so glad you went there to help me," Luz continued. "I'm really lucky to have you in my life. When I think about what you risked – your life, your reputation, your parents finding out…"

Amity went pale. The idea of Odalia finding out had never occurred to her, which was a very good thing, as Odalia would have gone utterly ballistic if she had found out.

[Fade to the portal key, cracked and leaking blood as Hunter holds it up. Flapjack flies up and chirps.]

Hunter: Oh, hey. You stuck with me the whole time, huh, bird?

And I always will, Flapjack swore.

[Flapjack chirps.]

I'm Flapjack, Hunter remembered him saying. And if you'll have me, I want to be your palisman.

Hunter: I think I understood that! I-Is that your name? Can you say it again?

[Flapjack chirps.]

Hunter: [Chuckles.] Weird. Can you say other things?

[Hunter begins to walk down the slope with Flapjack, who continues chirping.]

"So everything worked out in the end!" Camila said, trying to keep her voice perky. It didn't seem to be helping Hunter, who just looked morose.

Willow sat down next to him. "Hey, Hunter," she said quietly. "Wanna talk about what you're feeling?"

"Not really."

"That's okay," Willow assured him. "We can just sit here. But first…you have a little something behind your ear." She conjured a flower behind his ear and showed it to him. Hunter's face didn't even crack.

It was time to bring out the big guns. She concentrated her magic and flowers started appearing throughout the room, beautiful flowers in all the colors of the painbow. They came out of the walls, the ceiling, the floors. Hunter finally cracked a smile.

"You're so strong," Willow told him as she got nearer to his face. "You're just like one of these flowers. You were growing in the wrong soil, with a bad gardener. But now…now you can blossom."

"Willow…" Hunter said and then he realized how close they were to each other. If he wanted…he could just reach out and kiss her. And even though that was a ridiculous idea, he puckered up his lips to do just that. Inch by inch their lips got closer to touching.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"

Everyone turned to see Masha standing at the foot of the stairs.