[King wakes up back on the boat, confused, gasping and breathing heavily. Luz has just awoken him.]
"Poor guy," Luz said. "He must have had some bad nightmares. Can't say I blame him. It was a lot to process."
Luz: Hey, sleepyhead. We're back in Bonesborough.
[King looks out from the edge of the ship and looks at the bones of the Titan, coming to terms again that he's one of them.]
"I have no idea what I'd do if I found out I'd been walking on my dad's corpse every single day of my life," Gus admitted. "Probably freak out a lot more than he is."
-THEME SONG-
[Luz waves and exits the boat and pulls out her little device. She's received a lot of texts from Amity. Hooty, still in his portable state, looms over her shoulder.]
Luz: Hmmm. "Mom took Pensta, but we're safe. We'll contact." Aww, she sent so many hearts! Hope she's doing okay.
"How did you devise such an intricate code?" Gus wondered.
"Sorry, Gus, but it's a Lumity trade secret," Luz said smugly.
King: Is that Amity? It's okay if you wanna check on her. I can get to the Owl House on my own.
"Luz, so help me, if you leave King alone just because you want to check up on me," Amity said menacingly.
Luz waved her arms around. "No, no! Of course I wouldn't do that! I'm not stupid!"
Hooty: Hey, look! Everyone missed us so much they put up pretty signs!
[Four wanted posted are displayed on the screen.
"He's actually right," Luz realized. "They are really pretty posters. I want one for my room!"
"How dare they only make your reward half of Lilith's?!" Amity shouted. "Don't they understand what an incredible badass you are?"
"Um…isn't that a good thing?" Vee pointed out, a trifle nervous about provoking Amity's wrath. "It means they won't be hunting her as much, right?" Amity scoffed.
One featuring a demonically drawn Hooty, another of Harpy Eda, then one with Luz casting a glyph spell with King next to her, and the last one featuring Lilith holding fire in her hand. Two witches growl at what seems to be Hooty.]
Luz: [Pulls her hood up.] Let's take the long way home.
[King, Luz, and Hooty retreat back to the Owl House. Upon sensing someone coming, Luz quickly activates an invisibility glyph as she, King and Hooty hide from two Coven Scouts.]
Coven Scout #1: Without that bird-tube, this place was wide open!
Coven Scout #2: I still haven't recovered from that tea party. [Takes a sip from a giant jug of Apple Blood.]
As much as Camila despised most members of the Emperor's Coven, present company excluded naturally, for their evil or at least collaborationist actions, she had to admit that having a tea party with Hooty sailed right past the line of cruel and unusual punishment. Not that she'd shed too many tears if he did it to Wrath, mind you. But certainly the rank and file didn't deserve it.
[Luz exhales once they're gone and the three walk into the Owl House. The place is deserted, ransacked, everything inside is confiscated and Eda and Lilith are nowhere to be seen.]
King: Do you think they were arrested?
[Luz finds a piece of paper on the ground that provides instructions on where they are. She activates a light glyph so she can seen the writing better.]
"Hmm. Surprisingly clever," Hunter said. "I guess they can be subtle occasionally when the situation calls for it."
Luz: No, they're hiding out on the Knee!
[Transition over to the Knee of the Titan.]
Lilith: Using my old keys, we'll travel through the service tunnels. From there, we initiate the security system and everyone including Belos will be trapped inside the castle. Boom! Day of Unity stopped!
"Yeah, it's not going to be that simple," Hunter pointed out.
Eda: You don't think they changed the locks after you got booted from the Coven?
"They definitely changed the locks," Hunter confirmed. "I know because I'm the one who changed them. Of course, maybe if they'd asked me, I could have told them the new combinations. But no, let's not keep Hunter in the loop! Never mind that I helped save the day at Hexside!"
Lilith: Well, at least I'm coming up with ideas.
Eda: Hey! I come up with some great ideas! [Puts a bag of Hex Mix over her head.]
Lilith: Putting snorse glue in the Emperor's shampoo bottle isn't going to save anyone's life!
"If anything, it's probably just going to get more people killed," Hunter pointed out. "Belos hates snorse glue."
[Lilith kicks a bag of Hex Mix on the ground.]
Lilith: This is just like you. You never take things seriously! At least Luz and King are far away from here.
"Actually, as it turns out…" Luz began.
Eda: Someone's tripped the booby trap.
[Lilith and Eda head over to the location of the trap and find their palismen looking at Luz (now wearing her fur hat, her fingerless gloves and a pair of white boots), King, and Hooty trapped inside it.]
"Hey, what can I say?" Luz said with a self-deprecating grin. "Eda's good at making traps!"
"Or you're just clumsy," Hunter suggested. Luz glared at him, but, Hunter noted, did not deny it.
Hooty: Hey, Lulu!
Luz: Hiiiiii.
[Later on, everyone is gathered around a Fire Bee pit while Luz explains what happened.]
Luz: It took awhile to figure out which town you're in from your map. I had to keep off the streets with all those wanted posters, but that's when we saw your Hex Mix trail and well, you know the rest!
Eda: What map are you talking about?
Luz: The one you left us, obviously.
Eda: Oh! [Stares directly at Lilith.] The one we left them!
"They…were just gonna run away and leave me?" Luz whispered.
"Oh, no, of course not, Luz," Camila hastened to assure her. "I'm sure they would have looked for you! It's just Eda probably didn't want to leave behind evidence that could lead the Emperor's Coven to their location."
"Yeah…yeah, that's got to be it," Luz said, not sounding entirely convinced.
Lilith: Well, someone had to bury our bones!
Hooty: Lulu! I got you a shirt!
[He throws up an orange t-shirt on her lap (to her disgust) that says "I was Sacrificed to the Grand Huntsman!", much to her and Eda's surprise.]
"That's disturbingly specific," Vee said. "And who would wear those shirts anyway? Wouldn't you be dead after they sacrificed you?"
"Maybe they bury people wearing those shirts," Willow suggested.
Lilith: [Reading the text on the shirt.] I was sacrificed to the Grand Huntsman?
Eda: What the-?
Luz: So... turns out King's letter was sent by a bunch of Titan Trappers. And they may have tried to sacrifice King to the Collector, who they worship.
Eda: Oh, so you found of a commune of [Glares at Lilith.] bloodthirsty fanatics in a place that was supposed to be empty!
"Hey, that's not her fault!" Amity pointed out. Even with them on the outs and not having spoken since before Lilith's defection, she still felt a need to defend her onetime mentor. "How was she supposed to know?"
Lilith: Well, they couldn't have been that scary without any Titans to trap!
Luz: Actually... [Looks down at King.]
King: Mhm..
Luz: King... is a Titan.
King: Looks like I'm... due for a growth spurt soon... heh, heh.
"Yeah, I was wondering about that," Camila said. "How long does he live? I presume he's going to outlive you by, like, a lot…"
"I…I don't want to think about that," Luz muttered. The idea of King outliving everyone who loved him made her profoundly sad.
Amity put her hand on Luz's shoulder. "Look at it this way, Luz. King will be able to look after our descendants."
"De – descendants?!" Luz stammered, her face heating up. "Ours?!" Amity smirked. Operation Fluster Luz To Make Her Forget About Her Sadness was a success, its lack of a catchy name notwithstanding.
[Lilith and Eda's eyes widen and they gasp in shock.]
[Scene transitions over to where King wraps a scarf around a snow bunny resembling Francois. Afterwards, King looks towards the scenery sadly. Seeing this, Hooty wraps himself around him to hug him.]
"He was really thinking he was going to be alone eventually, wasn't he?" Vee said. Luz nodded.
Eda: I can't believe that little guy is gonna turn into that big guy.
Luz: Certainly explains his strange new powers. He's just dealing with so much. I wish there was a way we could give him some comfort.
Lilith: I can't believe this! All this time you've had a Titan under your roof! [Gasps.] I've eaten ice cream with a god!
"Oh, boy," Camila muttered. Lilith's propensity to fall over the nearest authority figure was awakened yet again. And this time, it was over someone who may not have used his power responsibly like Luz had.
Luz: Just because he has tall genes doesn't mean he's a god.
Eda: And he falls into the toilet like once a day.
Lilith: Perhaps he's still too young. His powers haven't... awakened yet. But who knows how he can help us against Belos!
"He's a kid!" Camila shouted. "Kids should not be fighting against such horrific evil, god or not. And that goes for you all as well, though I know very well you're going to do it anyway." Luz's eyes widened in a faux-innocent gesture that almost convinced Camila. But she knew Luz better than that.
Eda: Don't worry Luz, we're not putting him in danger. [Scowling.] He's a Clawthorne and technically your nephew, remember, dear sister?
Lilith: Right, of course. [Runs off.] I'm a god's aunt! But is he a gentle god or an angry god?
Luz: So? Fill me in! How are we gonna defeat Belos and his draining spell?
Eda: Uh, right. Well... it's a secret!
Camila sighed. She had a good idea of what the secret plan was. Eda's curse seemed to have an entropic effect on magic from what Luz had told her. Eda was no doubt planning on sacrificing herself to nullify the draining spell, something that would almost certainly cost Eda her life either in of itself or at the hands of Belos's forces. No wonder she didn't want to tell Luz.
[Luz pouts.]
Eda: Just for now. I'll fill you in closer to go time!
No doubt Eda was planning on only telling Luz when it was too late for Luz to interfere, Camila decided. Obviously Luz would try to stop her if she knew, and rightfully so. Sacrificing oneself solved nothing.
Luz: Ah, so if I'm captured I can't give anything away! Smart thinkin', Owl Lady!
King: [Finishes building a snow bunny.] There! All done! Nice to meet you Fran-snow...ois. [Arm of the snow bunny slips off and he becomes dejected.]
Luz: Aw, King, let me help with that.
[Luz walks off. Later, Luz makes an ice arm using an ice glyph.]
Lilith: [Shouts.] And King deserves our praise! [Eda glares at her.]
"Yep, there she goes again," Hunter said. "Titan, she's so annoying."
Eda: Alright, kids! The uh... plan isn't gonna be ready till tomorrow, but if you could do anything if you could do anything in the world today, what would it be?
King: Thanks, Eda, but I just want things to be normal right now.
Luz: Well, I wanna go on a heist!
"Oh, come on!" Camila complained. "Seriously? You're just gonna put yourself in more danger? What, for kicks?"
"No, to help King!"
"King wanted things to be normal," Camila pointed out.
"Putting myself in horrible danger and conducting ill-advised heists is normal for us," Luz argued. Much to her horror, Camila didn't have a comeback for that.
Eda: Of course you do.
[Scene transition to Eda and Luz riding on the former's staff.]
Luz: I saw scouts taking boxes from the house. They're probably holding everything at the Bonesborough Precinct, Francois included.
"See? I'm running a heist to steal a child's toy," Luz said nostalgically. "Just like old times!"
Eda: Are you sure you wanna do this for a stuffed toy? Wouldn't you rather, oh I don't know, have a beach day?
Luz: Maybe if we had time for 20 more adventures, but we don't.
Luz had a sudden and inexplicable urge to curse the echo mouse, which made absolutely no sense whatsoever. She hadn't even seen the echo mouse in…
"OH MY GOD, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ECHO MOUSE?!" Luz shouted, sitting bolt upright. "Oh, gosh, they could have killed him!"
"I'm sure they'll find him eventually," Camila said soothingly. "By the way, what brought this on?"
Luz furrowed her brow. "I don't know…I just felt a sudden, inexplicable hatred for him. Which was really weird, because what does he have to do with this?"
"Maybe we should take a break?" Camila suggested.
"No, no, we're so close to the end," Luz said. "I really want to get this done."
Besides, this is for King! He needs his buddy.
[Luz and Eda land in between two buildings and watch mysterious cloaked people walk while holding candles.]
Coven Scout #1: Ugh, I hate double-shifts. Can't wait for the day after the Day of Unity. Know what I mean?
"Ha, joke's on you," Hunter said with a slightly crazed laugh. "You'll all be too dead to do anything then!"
Coven Scout #2: Sure, but, I'm racking up OT like crazy!
"Wait, you guys got paid?" Hunter said. Everyone looked at him with a great deal of concern.
Luz: [Gasps.] There, look! [She points at a box holding Francois.] Francois! Let's pounce!
Eda: Hold up! If we're gonna do this we gotta do it right. Belos isn't taking any more chances with us after your little trip into his mind. If we wanna stay alive we have to be inconspicuous.
[Eda and Luz suddenly burst inside the building, disguised as Coven Scouts.]
"How the hell is she not dead by now?" Camila demanded. "Does she know the meaning of subtlety at all?"
"Yeah, like you've got room to talk," Luz retorted playfully. "'Oh, the president's calling!'"
"I'm gonna get you for that, mija."
Eda (disguised): [In a fake voice.] Take me to my... I mean the Owl Lady's confiscated junk!
Hunter did a slow, sarcastic clap. "Well done."
Luz (disguised): Nice save.
[Later, none of the Coven Scouts notice a still-disguised Eda and Luz.]
"This is just appalling," Hunter complained. "There's no discipline whatsoever. Those costumes are ridiculous. At the very least, they should have been made to show ID!"
"That's…a bad thing?" Camila asked, highly confused.
"These people used to be under my command," Hunter explained. "Their slovenly behavior is a reflection on my performance."
Luz (disguised): I would have appreciated some kind of reaction. These were hard to get.
Eda (disguised): Hey you, fellow guard! We just found a lot of illegal Hexes Hold'em cards. Can we get the key to the warehouse?
[The Coven Scout gives them the key. Luz and Eda enter an elevator by using the key.]
Eda (disguised): Why's everything going our way now?
Luz (disguised): Maybe our luck's finally turning!
"Maybe it's a trap!" Hunter suggested hopefully. "Yeah. That's probably it. Or maybe discipline just plummeted in my absence without me to provide an example of excellence. That works too."
[They enter the warehouse and start to look around.]
Eda: Woo, boy, we're gonna need to split up if we want to find Francois.
[The two take off their disguise helmets.
"I really don't think that was a smart move, Luz," Gus said. "What if someone saw you?"
Eda gives Luz her staff.]
Eda: If things get hairy, you fly out of here as fast as you can. Hey! Don't give me that face, just say okay, okay?
Luz: Okay.
Eda: Oh, and if you find a box labelled, "Eda's Longest Toenails", grab that, too.
Camila grimaced and felt her stomach churn. "Oh, for the love of God, please don't tell me we're gonna see that."
Luz smirked and rubbed Gildersnake's heads, one after the other. "Oh, I don't know, mom. You might enjoy it."
Camila looked at her with horror. "Have you taken leave of your senses?"
"Her senses left long ago," Hunter snarked. Luz just scoffed, deciding not to dignify his comment with a response.
Luz: [Chuckles.] Ew.
[The two walk off in separate directions. Later, the Guard Captain is talking to Raine over a crystal ball.]
Guard Captain: Head Witch, I'll do all I can to find the Owl Lady. You have my word.
Raine: Your word doesn't count much without results. Just go.
So this was Raine in the flesh, Camila thought. Well, maybe not flesh. She had to admit, she could see the appeal. They were very attractive and she did appreciate their commanding presence.
[The call ends and the Guard Captain leaves. After she does, Eda then emerges from an invisibility glyph inside the room. She reactivates the call with Raine.]
Raine: [Rubbing their eyes.] Captain, I thought I told you to- [Gasps.] Eda?
Eda: Please, just give me a minute. I'm not trying to stir trouble.
"Wow, if she thought they'd fall for that, she really must have lost her touch," Amity said.
Raine: [Scowling at Eda.] You're wearing a stolen uniform.
Eda: And I am [Flings her hair.] working it!
"She's really not," Gus said.
Listen, I don't know what you're hiding, but I do know that somewhere deep inside you still care about me, otherwise you wouldn't let me walk free at the Coven Parade. [Stops, then continues.] Raine, I know about the Day of Unity and the Draining Spell.
[Raine's emotion shifts and they look away, but not before Eda spots it.]
Eda: Nope, I, I saw that expression! It is that bad, isn't it?
Luz frowned. Did Eda…doubt her? Did she think Luz had just imagined it?
Camila could tell by the look on Luz's face what sort of thoughts were running through her head. "Oh, sweetie, it's not that she doubted you," Camila assured her. "It's just, even for someone opposed to Belos's reign, it was probably a difficult thing to realize he wanted everyone dead."
"Not to mention, Belos could have lied to you," Amity pointed out. "But Raine was in close with him, so they provided an outside perspective."
Luz nodded. "Thanks, everyone. I just…this episode kind of brings my old insecurities to the forefront. You'll see why later."
That's why I... [Sighs.] I need your help.
"Yeah, that must have been hard to admit," Luz realized.
Raine: There's no time for your schemes, Eda. [Is about to end the call when Eda stops them.]
Eda: Wait! This is for my kids. They can't be around during the Day of Unity. Put them in a castle, bunker, get them on an airship, I don't care, just, just, keep them safe! If you do, I'll give myself up right now.
Camila flinched. While she understood – and commended – Eda's desire to keep Luz safe and out of the fighting, she could only imagine what this would have seen like to Luz. Luz was obviously watching this, otherwise they wouldn't be seeing it. The poor girl must have thought Eda was abandoning her, that she hated her, even though the exact opposite was the case. Was that what she thought when Camila had sent her to camp? She probably had, now that Camila thought about it. There was so much work to be done to repair their relationship, and not all of it was going to be on Luz's end.
Raine: I- [Their sentence is interrupted by Terra when she enters the room.]
Terra: Come along, sprout. Places to be, hedges to trim!
Hunter laughed so hard, he erupted into a fit of violent coughing a few moments later. "Worth it," he decided. "Hedges to trim! Priceless!" They all stared at him. "What? It's not my fault your senses of humor are pedestrian! Look, I know very well Terra is evil. She just happens to be absolutely hilarious as well."
"She's really, really not," Willow said, more than a little freaked out.
Eda (disguised): [Salutes.] Awaiting further instructions, Head Witch.
Raine: Stay put. I'll send someone to receive the package.
"I'm not a package," Luz said sulkily.
Terra: Your uniform looks outdated, captain. Looking like a pile of compost.
"Compost," Hunter said, slapping his knee from sheer, concentrated mirth. "Did you hear that, Willow? COMPOST! Oh my Titan, I'm gonna miss her jokes when she goes to jail." He tilted his head. "Maybe we can start up a King/Terra/Luz comedy hour!"
"Not just no, Hunter, but hell no," Luz said firmly.
[The call ends. Eda removes her mask and sighs in relief. However, much to her surprise, Luz speaks up from behind her.]
Luz: Eda? Are you sending me away?
"You can't do this to me!" Luz shouted. "Don't send me away! I can be good! You can give me another chance!"
"Luz, I gave you another chance after the spiders. After the audition. You've run out of chances."
Luz could feel herself crying. "I just…I just wanted to impress you." Mom, you won't have to worry about me ever again… "I thought if I could show you my weirdness could be applied in an academic context…"
"Impress me?!" Camila shouted. "Was I supposed to be impressed by the snakes that bit your principal? By the explosives you illegally acquired and brought to school?! What part of that was supposed to impress me, Luz?" She forced herself to calm down. "Camp will be good for you. It'll teach you how to make friends and make you a better person."
"If people can't handle me at my craziest, they don't deserve me at my best!" Luz shot back and stormed upstairs to her room, tears spilling down her cheeks.
[Eda is silent, not knowing what to say.]
She was all alone now, Luz realized after she'd cried for the better part of an hour. She didn't have her mom in her corner anymore. No friends. No family. No father. She clutched the book she was cuddling like it was a stuffed animal. Well, at least she still had Azura.
Luz: You're... you're sending me away? But I can help! Why don't you get that yet?
"Please don't send me to camp," Luz begged Camila on the night before she was supposed to leave. "I…I can do better! I can show you! I'll be responsible. No more snakes! I swear. I…I won't even touch any more wild animals for the rest of my life. Just…don't give up on me…"
"Oh, Luz," Camila said. "I'm not giving up on you. I'm doing this because I love you."
"No!" Luz shouted. "You don't – you can't! This isn't right. I'm being punished for who I am. Dad would never have done this."
Camila's jaw hardened. "Don't try to bring your father into this. You're not being punished for who you are, Luz. You're being punished because you put your classmates in danger. Consider yourself lucky you didn't end up in juvie."
"I'll never forgive you," Luz hissed at her, her voice filled with hatred. "Never. Not as long as I live."
Luz: Call Raine back! Tell them there's no package to receive! I'm not going anywhere until Belos is defeated!
"Well, if that's the price I have to pay for your happiness…then so be it," Camila said, her voice as hard as stone. And the two of them didn't speak a single word for the rest of that night.
Camila shook her head to ward off the memories. She looked over at Luz, who looked just as distraught as she was. "I shouldn't have said that to you," Luz whispered, no doubt referring to the exact thing Camila was remembering. "I do…I forgive you."
"It's…it's okay," Camila said. "I understand. You don't need to forgive me. I don't need your forgiveness."
"You were right to send me to camp," Luz admitted. "I was out of control. Losing touch with reality. I almost got eaten by Adegast because I didn't have any perspective. And even if I stayed, someone could have gotten to me in the same way. I should have trusted you more."
Camila hugged Luz. She was shaking in Camila's grasp. "Luz, sweetie…maybe I was right to send you to camp and maybe I wasn't. But either way, I should have listened to you more. I should have seen your side of the story. Losing him was just as hard on you as it was on me. I should have understood that."
"Well…we do now, right?" Luz said, offering a weak smile.
"Yeah. Yeah, I think we do."
Eda: No.
"I couldn't believe it," Luz said. "It was happening all over again! She didn't want me around!"
"Luz, Eda didn't try to send you away because she hated you," Camila said. "She tried to send you to safety because she loves you."
"Just like you sent me to camp because of that," Luz said quietly. Camila nodded. She could not deny it. It was much the same. "Well, it didn't feel that way. Besides, nowhere on the Isles would be safe after the Day of Unity. Belos would have stopped at nothing to kill me."
Luz: After everything we've been through, I can't believe you're still underestimating me. Fine. Let's just get back to King.
[Eda turns into Harpy Eda and blocks Luz while walking down the stairs.]
Harpy Eda: You're going with Raine. They'll keep you safe!
Camila shook her head in dismay. As well meaning as Eda had been, it wasn't right for her to use her harpy form as a means of intimidation against Luz.
Luz: You can't make me. [Holds up an ice glyph.]
Harpy Eda: Yes, I can.
[Luz places the glyph on the ground and activates it, triggering a bulk of ice that almost hits Eda in the eye.]
Camila let out a gasp. "You could have killed her, Luz!"
"She was fine," Luz said, trying to keep her voice light and casual, an effort belied by the way her hands kept on shaking continuously. "She…she was fine."
Luz flies over some boxes with Owlbert to escape Eda.]
Harpy Eda: Owlbert! [Owlbert leaves his staff form, leading to Luz falling.]
[Eda almost has Luz until she grabs a light glyph and shines it in Eda's face, stopping her in her tracks.
Everyone watched the screen with dismay and a small amount of horror. Luz and Eda had seemed completely inseparable, with an unbreakable mother/daughter bond. And now they were battling. It was sheer and utter tragedy playing out before them.
The past was prologue, Camila thought bitterly. Once more, Luz was facing down a mother who just wanted the best for her daughter…and completely ignored what Luz wanted in the process.
Luz gets away for a short amount of time with an invisibility glyph, but Eda spots her again and stops her.]
Harpy Eda: Luz, please!
[Luz refuses to listen and places down another ice glyph, using it to make a sheet of ice where she slides directly under Eda. However, she smashes the ice, leading to Luz falling again.]
Harpy Eda: Raine will be here soon. I'll have King join you afterwards.
Luz: But I can help with your plan!
Camila sighed. Little did Luz know that the last thing Eda would have wanted was for Luz to be around when Eda sacrificed herself.
Harpy Eda: It's time to go.
[Eda suddenly gets struck with a magic beam.]
Guard Captain: Hands up, Owl Lady!
"Thank goodness!" Hunter said. "At last someone shows a modicum of professionalism!" They all glared at him. "Which is bad. Oh so very bad."
[Eda rushes towards the scouts and attacks them. Luz attempts to join but gets trapped in a net.]
Luz: Eda! [A scout traps her in a magic net.]
[Eda tries to fight the Abomatons, but she also ends up getting trapped in a net.]
Guard Captain: Lock 'em up, and use the heavy duty stuff this time. [The Abomatons begin to drag a trapped Eda and Luz away.
"I hate my mom so much now," Amity muttered.
Later, Eda and Luz get thrown inside behind bars.]
Guard Captain: [While reading a clipboard.] An envoy from the castle is coming to collect the human. The Owl Lady is to be taken to the Conformatorium for petrification. A real one this time.
Eda: Why don't you just save yourself the trouble and put me down now.
Luz: You happy now? This way, neither of us can stop Belos.
[Eda looks away guiltily.]
Luz: Why couldn't you just let me help with your stupid plan? Is it 'cause I'm a kid? Do you think I'm still that weak? Well?
"I think I have a right to be able to decide what kind of person I want to be!" Luz shouted at Camila in her memories. "I don't want to be just another cog in the machinery of society! I want to bring light to this world!"
"You're just a kid, Luz," Camila snapped, cursing herself even as she said the words. "Sometimes, kids need help to learn what's best for them."
Eda: [Snaps.] It's because there is no plan, okay?!
Everyone let out a gasp. Eda normally had a snappy plan, involving plenty of larceny most of the time, for every occasion. To hear that she was out of tricks was profoundly shocking, especially for Camila, who realized she had gravely misinterpreted the situation.
[Luz gasps in shock.]
Eda: Me and Lilith don't have magic and we don't have allies, we're useless. We have you and King. So, I was gonna do anything to make sure that you were safe. But now... [Turns away.] it's all over.
[An Abomaton enters the room, putting them into a locked carriage.]
Luz: Let go! Belos is a witch hunter! You, you have to listen! Ah!
"Yeah, I should have known that wouldn't work," Luz admitted.
[She gets thrown inside the vehicle.]
Luz: Eda? Eda, can you hear me? I'll listen to you know, I'll do whatever you say, just fight back! [Eda gets thrown into a different carriage.] Please! Eda! [The window on her vehicle closes.]
Luz felt the tears roll down her cheeks at seeing one of the lowest moments of her entire life on the screen. The moment when she really thought she was going to have to lose Eda. Even though she knew otherwise, the memories of the painful emotions she had experienced back then were deeply unpleasant.
[Later on, a vengeful Luz is seen on the carriage. Once the ride stops, she growls furiously and bursts out of the carriage. Abomination goo then grabs her.]
Luz: [Shouts.] Where is she? Take me to Eda! [She is now hanging upside down.] If you touch a single feather on her head, I'll... I'll...
Eda: Luz, [Laughing.] Luz! It's okay.
[Luz opens her eyes to find Eda, Lilith, Hooty, King, Raine, the BATS and Steve in front of her.]
"That's Steve, Lilith's friend," Luz said, pointing at him. "He and King were having some sort of bonding B-plot during this. I'm not too sure on the details. It sounded like something he wanted to keep private." She pointed at the BATS. "And those are Raine's rebel friends: Amber, Katya, and Derwin." She pointed at each of them respectively.
"Isn't Katya that fanfic writer you broke out of prison?" Amity asked. Luz nodded.
Darius is revealed to be on top of her carriage, with Eberwolf accompanying him.]
Darius: I'm going to set you down, please try not to bite anyone. [Slowly lets her down.]
Luz: What's going on? [The BATS and Steve wave at her.] Who are these people?
[Eberwolf uses their teeth to bite apart Luz's handcuffs.]
King: Luz! [Hugs her.]
Luz: King! [Hugs him back as Raine walks towards them.]
Raine: So, you must be the famous human witch. Eda's been bragging about you for hours. I'm Raine.
Luz beamed. She loved having a mom who liked to brag about her exploits. As much as Camila appreciated her in person, she couldn't envision her bragging about Luz to her friends.
"Please, that's nothing," Amity said. "I could brag about you for days." Luz planted a kiss on her cheek in response.
Luz: Oh my gosh, [Squirms happily.] I can't believe I'm actually meeting you in person! I heard all about you adventures with Eda, and how you became Head Witch of Bard Coven, where you're secretly a spy! A-And then you and Eda played that duet and, [Gasps.] and then you got captured.
"It was so tragic," Luz sobbed.
King: And your memories got all scram-jambled.
"That's a word!" Luz protested.
"Pretty sure it's not," Vee said.
Raine: Actually, when Darius captured me, he was really protecting me.
Darius: I thought I was the only one who found this Day of Unity junk suspicious. [Hops off the carriage and walks towards Raine.] When I heard Raine was causing trouble, I had a feeling they'd know more. You would've been locked away if it weren't for me.
Raine: And a little less bruised! You could've let me in on things before attacking me!
Darius: You're a horrible actor! I had to make it look real!
Hunter rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but grin a little. He missed Darius so much and he was really excited for him to meet his new mom. He was certain they'd get along well. Maybe too well. Thank the Titan Darius was only interested in men. Hunter would probably not be able to handle it if Camila and Darius dated.
Raine: Ugh, this is just like Hexside.
Steve: [To Lilith.] Did you know of any of this stuff when you were in charge?
Lilith: I'm... starting to think I wasn't very good at my job.
Hunter sighed. "Well, I guess that's one thing we have in common."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore, mijo," Camila told him. "Right now, your job is just to be a normal teenager and heal."
Eda: [Walking towards Raine.] Raine, why didn't you tell me anything? I could've helped.
Raine: Is it so unbelievable that I wanted to keep you safe? But, in typical Eda fashion, [Eda looks towards Luz and King, who are hugging.] you're not gonna stop until you make things right.
"Yep," Luz said. "They got it in one."
Eda: [Smiles.] I guess not.
Lilith: Things aren't hopeless! They have a plan to stop Belos and the Draining Spell!
Luz: [Gasps.] Really? Wait, wait, before you get into that, please tell me you have a cool rebel name!
Raine: Actually, we do. Allow me to introduce... [Begins walking around the group.]
Darius: Wait, hold on.
Raine: The Covens Against the Throne...
Luz flapped her hands in excitement. Wait until Camila got the acronym!
Darius: We talked about this, you promised!
Raine: AKA...
Darius: [Furiously.] I did not agree to this name!
Raine: The CATS! [The group hisses.]
"Oh, how adorable!" Camila said. "I love it!" Next to Amity, Ghost's meowing indicate that she liked it too.
Luz: [Pulls on her hoodie.] Everything's come full circle, baby!
[Scene switches to the secret base of the CATS. The group is gathered on the table. Hooty and Lilith have fallen asleep beside it. Luz, Eda and King are sitting on the bunk bed. Eda opens her bag and brings out Francois.]
"Mission accomplished," Luz said smugly.
King: [Squeaking happily.] Francois! [Hugs him.]
Eda: [Brings out a cardboard box.] Look what else is in here.
[The box is labeled, "EDA'S LONGEST TOENAILS (DON'T OPEN!)"
"I CAN'T LOOK!" Camila shouted and covered her eyes.
Luz gags in disgust and opens it hesitantly, but gasps in surprise to find the palistrom wood given to her by Eda and King after her adventure with Hunter.]
Camila tentatively risked a peek at the screen and laughed out loud when she saw what was before her.
Luz: It's... palistrom wood.
Eda: I thought you'd wanna carve your palisman. What do you say? [Brings out a chisel from her hair.]
"Of course she just happened to have a chisel in her hair," Willow muttered.
Luz: I shouldn't. The Day of Unity is in two days, I have to focus o-on stopping Belos, and- [Gets cut off by Eda hugging her.]
Eda: You goob. Hey, this isn't all on you.
"Listen to your mother, Luz," Camila said. "She can be very wise at times. Well, occasionally."
King: Yeah, we have teammates now. Meow, meow!
Luz: What if the palisman doesn't like me?
"Well, that's the most preposterous thing I've ever heard," Camila said. Though Luz could not communicate with Gildersnake with words, the sudden hug he gave her and the emotions she was getting through their bond of sheer love spoke louder than any word could.
King: By my count, you've befriended more enemies than I have claws on my paw.
Amity and Hunter, two of the enemies in question, grinned at Luz, who smiled back at them.
Eda: [Releases her from the hug.] Plenty of witches would've ditched this rock already. But you keep learning and you keep fighting... what's not to like, huh?
Camila hugged Luz tightly. "You're such a good person, Luz. I'm so proud to know you."
[Luz is red on the face and looks like she's about to cry herself, touched by Eda's words.]
Luz: Thanks, Eda. [Sniffles and grabs the box.] I think I'm ready to carve. [Chuckles.] Um, you're gonna show me how to do this, right?
Eda: Oh, duh. My dad taught me the ropes. Here, let's make sure we have some space. [Takes the wood and sets it upwards.] Lay the wood here...
King: [Eagerly.] Are you gonna carve me?
Luz stroked Gildersnake. "No offense, King, but I'm pretty happy with this little guy."
Eda: [Chuckles and takes the chisel.] Calm down, King. [Luz sets the box aside.] Now, let's take it slow. We've got all the time in the world.
"I'm just glad you and Eda made up," Camila said. "I hated seeing you feel like another parent was giving up on you."
"I should have known better," Luz admitted. "I know Eda just wanted to keep me safe. It's just…it just hurt, that's all. After all I've done, after all I've seen…"
"That's why she wanted to keep you out of it," Camila explained. "Luz, what you've gone through, any person, even a full grown adult, should never have had to experience. You should have been kept safe. But you were right. Nowhere was safe with Belos out to get you." She sighed. "Please tell me the next one isn't quite as upsetting."
Luz gave a huge grin. "Actually, I think you're gonna enjoy the next one…cause it's where Amity and I had our first kiss!" Camila let out a loud, high pitched squeal of excitement.
