The Chronicles of Sir William

Ch 9

Sworn to Valor (The Day of Unity)

OPEN ON:

INT. CATHEDRAL - DAY

William emerges from a featureless void of darkness, pacing

up to an altar illuminated by a shaft of sunlight. Waiting

for him is a tall, stalwart knight holding a staff with a

palisman shaped like a green dragon.

He wordlessly kneels before the knight, bowing his head.

SIR BOWEN

...A knight is sworn to valor...

WILLIAM

A knight is sworn to valor...

In the void behind him, we can see scenes of Sir William's

prowess in combat. William smiles, confident in his valor.

SIR BOWEN

...His heart knows only virtue...

WILLIAM

His heart...

(hesitating)

-knows only virtue...

His confidence falters a bit. We see scenes of his rancor

against the demon tribes and his hostility towards Raine

Whispers and the BATs.

PAST WILLIAM (V.O.)

(echoing)

...you monsters...! Hedonists and

dregs, all of them...

William swallows and maintains his bearing.

SIR BOWEN

...His blade defends the helpless...

WILLIAM

His blade defends the helpless...

He regains some aplomb. We see the scene of him rescuing

King from Chief Lykon's magic, helping the BATs escape from

Belos' castle, and protecting Luz in the heat of battle.

However, there is also one scene of his duel with Amity,

putting him on edge again.

SIR BOWEN

...His might upholds the weak...

WILLIAM

His might upholds the weak...

More scenes, this time with him training Luz in magic. He

smiles at the fond memory, but it fades when a scene of him

grandstanding in front of Willow appears.

PAST WILLIAM

...Ha-ha! Sure they don't call you

weeping Willow? They might after

today...!

And another of him making a snide remark at King.

PAST WILLIAM (cont'd)

...Should've sprung for a jester

costume...

William lowers his gaze in shame. The knight continues

administering the vows, expressionless.

SIR BOWEN

...His word speaks only truth...

WILLIAM

(emphatic)

His word speaks only truth!

He is more dogged this time, assured he has at least upheld

this vow. But a scene from the darkness proves him wrong.

One is shown of him swearing an oath to Eda when they first

met:

PAST WILLIAM

Fair Luz. Wise Eda. I vow to teach

you all I know of magic and to

oppose the usurper, Belos, at every

turn.

Another scene appears of him storming out of the BATs

hideout, refusing to cooperate with the bards.

PAST WILLIAM (cont'd)

Why should I trust you...?

Again, William hangs his head.

SIR BOWEN

...His wrath undoes the wicked...

WILLIAM

His wrath...

He trails off, uncertain. We see him defeating Chief Lykon

and pressing the screws to Vulgrim...but also preparing to

strike down Blue-fang the cyclops demon, an innocent if a

delinquent.

The collage of memories floating seems to

torment him, but they fade away. In their place, a single

image of Emperor Belos' glowing blue eyes dominates the

void.

William furrows his brow.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

(determined)

His wrath undoes the wicked...

LUZ (O.S.)

Am I interrupting something...?

SMASH CUT:

INT. BAT HIDEOUT - EARLY MORNING

Sir William is in the same pose, kneeling by his bedside

and murmuring his vows like a quiet prayer. Luz watches

from her bunk, just across from his.

WILLIAM

-Hmm?

LUZ

Sorry, I just...

She fumbles with her digital game device but stashes it

behind her back.

LUZ (cont'd)

-It's nothing.

WILLIAM

Luz, I am always here for you.

He paces across and sits beside her.

LUZ

I can see you're going through some

stuff. I don't want to bother you-

WILLIAM

(warmly)

No. Please. I miss your bothering.

Talk to me. How's your palisman

coming along?

EDA

Just waiting for the varnish to dry.

Eda appears at their bunk, carrying something wrapped in a

cloth. She uncovers it to reveal the palistrom wood, carved

in the shape of a large egg.

EDA (cont'd)

I thought you'd carve something

cute, like a tarantula. Why an egg?

LUZ

I got to decide what my future

looked like when I chose to be a

witch, and I want it to have that

option too. Until then, I'm willing

to wait.

EDA

(patting Luz's

head)

Aww, that's sweet. Try to play it

some music sometime. It can hear

you.

Luz holds her palisman and lightly kisses it.

LUZ

I love you already.

EDA

Come on. Raine wants to walk us

through their backup plan.

They get up and walk over to the planning table at the

center of the room. Raine and his BATs are there, alongside

Elder Tarak, King, Lilith, and Hooty.

RAINE

Okay. We have twelve hours until the

Day of Unity begins and Belos

activates the portal to the human

world.

To power the portal, he'll siphon

the magic from everyone marked with

a coven-brand. But, to handle all

that magic, he needs to channel it

through the Coven Heads first.

EDA

So, can't you just play hooky?

Worked for me at band recitals.

*snort*

RAINE

No. Belos made sure we each have

replacements. To shut down the

spell, we'll need you.

EDA

Me?

RAINE

Yes. Remember when we fought Darius

and Eberwulf?

Eda briefly flashes back to their duet.

EDA

Yeah, that's right! My curse corrupts

magic.

RAINE

You can derail the siphoning spell

by tapping directly into it...

Raine withdraws a small blue stone tied to a necklace.

RAINE (cont'd)

With this cloaking stone, you'll

disguise yourself as me and take my

place.

Raine demonstrates by squeezing the stone, transforming

into Eda.

EDA

Whoa! Looks almost as good as the

real thing! Hey there, good lookin'!

The illusory Eda smiles for a moment, but it quickly fades.

Raine pulls up "his" sleeve.

RAINE

There's one thing it can't fake,

though. I'm sorry, Eda...but you'll

have to be branded with the Bard

Coven's Sigil to be part of the

spell.

Eda looks shocked, as do the others.

LILITH

No. She isn't the only one with a

curse. I can do it.

She pulls up her sleeve and brandishes her Emperor's Coven

sigil.

LILITH (cont'd)

I already have a Coven Brand. We

just need to disguise it as a Bard

Coven sigil.

EDA

You haven't had your curse that

long. You don't know how it would

react.

LILITH

Eda, please. Let me do this for you.

I owe you-

EDA

Ep-Ep! Don't go noble on me now.

Besides, I know Raine better than

anyone, so who better to impersonate

him?

LILITH

But I know Belos. He'll see through

your disguise in a heartbeat.

RAINE

That could go either way. If it

does-

Elder Tarak steps forward.

ELDER TARAK

-Then we come charging in and meet

Belos' forces in battle.

LILITH

Belos' plans are diabolical, but not

overtly hostile. Even if we beat

him, we risk alienating the public

from our sympathies if we attack the

ceremony.

WILLIAM

If being free of Belos' tyranny

means my name will live in infamy,

then so be it. I will be dead before

he rules this land another day.

RAINE

So that all leaves just one thing...

Raine looks poignantly at Luz, the others following his

gaze.

RAINE (cont'd)

(diplomatically)

Luz, as it stands, Belos' portal is

your only way back to the human

world...

LUZ

Yeah, so? I doubt he's gonna let me

go waltzing through-

RAINE

So you'll be hiding in the crowd-

with your invisibility glyph if you

need to. In the time between when

the spell begins and Eda's curse

corrupts it, you'll need to bull-

rush your way through the portal...

It's your only chance.

LUZ

But...how will I get back...

Raine and the others remain silent. The implication sweeps

over Luz.

LUZ (cont'd)

(dismayed)

Wait...no. No! I can't just go

rushing through without a way back!

Eda, please!

EDA

Luz. *sigh* I don't see any other

way.

LUZ

We can FIND another way! This place

is MAGIC! Anything is possible!

EDA

Didn't I tell you? Magic doesn't

just come from nothing, and

nothing's all we got! No Titan's

blood-zilch!

LUZ

(desperate)

I can't leave now, I...I-

She takes the digital device from her back pocket and paces

worriedly across the room.

LUZ (cont'd)

I haven't heard back from Amity

since I was taken. I've been sending

her messages but she hasn't

responded. She could be in trouble!

Eda considers this, turning to the BATs.

EDA

Could we risk it?

Katya parts the curtains and looks out the window into the

sky.

KATYA

Belos has his sky patrols out in

force. Flying's a no-go.

WILLIAM

Then I'll take her. Portals should

be more covert.

Luz turns to Sir William, surprised at his volunteering. He

doesn't look enthused, but he is determined.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

I am at your service.

RAINE

We still have a few hours. Make them

count.

CUT TO:

EXT. BLIGHT MANOR - MORNING

The grounds of the Blight's palatial estate are patrolled

by abomaton guards. As one makes his rounds past the

garden, it is strangled by tangle of vines and dragged into

the foliage.

William, Luz, and King emerge from the hedges and make

their way toward the balcony to Amity's room. Luz smiles to

see the young Blight pacing around, gesticulating wildly.

AMITY

I can't believe Mom broke it!

She sits at her desk, poking the tattered remains of her

game device with a screwdriver. Ederic and Emira recline on

her bed behind her.

AMITY (cont'd)

Why won't she listen to me?!

EMIRA

The Day of Unity's really important

to Mom-to all of us.

EDERIC

Yeah, she says we'll live like

royalty after today.

AMITY

We already live like royalty! She

only cares about her bottom line!

So, you'd think she'd pay attention

to when she's getting scammed!

EMIRA

We believe you mittens...It's just-

AMITY

Dad would listen, I know he would...

(emotional)

Not that he'd do anything about it.

The human world-OUR world is in

trouble and no one will believe us...

(crying)

I just want to know that Luz is

safe!

Just then, Emira spies Luz ascending the balcony on a large

vine. With a knowing smile, she turns to Amity.

EMIRA

What do you think Luz would say to

you right now?

AMITY

Probably something dorky, but also

sweet. *sniff*

She wipes away her tears and smiles.

AMITY (cont'd)

Like how I shouldn't give up and

that anything is possible. Or she'd

say that I might be scared now but

to not let that stop me, because-

because every problem has a

solution.

As Luz opens the balcony door, Emira and Edric smile and

quietly slip out of the room.

LUZ

Whoa, you're right!

Amity gasps and looks over to see Luz standing in the open,

vine-covered window

LUZ (cont'd)

I would say all that.

AMITY

Luz!

LUZ

Sweet-potato!

They run towards each other and collide into a hug.

LUZ (cont'd)

Amity, before anything else happens

to me, I'm taking you out on a date.

No monsters. No mysteries. No deadly

duels.

It's going to be the most mundane,

slice-of-life date ever. And it's

going to be awesome!

AMITY

I know it will.

Much to Luz's surprise, Amity kisses her on the lips.

Afterward, the two are completely flustered. William and

King furtively watch from the balcony. King smiles, but

William seems crestfallen.

WILLIAM

(to himself)

"His heart knows only virtue..."

AMITY

Alright then, where are we going?

CUT TO:

EXT. SECLUDED LAKE - MORNING

Amity and Luz sit together by a tranquil pond under the

shade of a blossoming tree. Luz takes one of the flowers

and pins it above Amity's ear.

AMITY

Yup. Pretty mundane alright. It's

good for a change.

Luz chuckles, trying to remain chipper.

LUZ

I wish things would never change...

AMITY

Me too...

...So, what happened? Did you get

out of the castle okay?

Luz hangs her head, dreading having to explain.

AMITY (cont'd)

If you're not ready to talk about

it, I understand.

LUZ

No, it's alright. I have to tell

you. I don't have much time...

AMITY

"Much time"...?

Luz stands and paces by the edge of the pool, staring at

Amity's reflection.

LUZ

Do you remember when I told you I

could build a portal door and come

back whenever I wanted?

AMITY

Yeah...

She turns back to Amity with tears in her eyes, her lip

quivering.

LUZ

Well...it didn't work out that way...

We cut to William and King, arriving in the clearing with

Gus and Willow in tow. They arrive in time to hear the last

of their conversation.

AMITY

What do you mean "one-way trip"?

LUZ

I can't come back...no matter how

much I want to.

AMITY

That can't be it! I won't accept

that!

LUZ

I wish there was some other way,

but...

Luz's friends all gather around her. Upon seeing them all,

she breaks down and weeps.

LUZ (cont'd)

It's not fair. It's just not fair!

You're all the most incredible

people I've ever met. *sniff*

They all gather her in a group hug, joining her in shedding

tears. Only William stands apart, trying to stifle his own.

LUZ (cont'd)

(calming)

I never had this back home. Everyone

was too hung up on how weird I was

to be my friend *sniff*. This was

the only place I ever felt...

normal...

GUS

(chuckling)

Nah, you're still weird, even by our

standards. *sniff*

WILLOW

But we like you that way...

Willow takes notice of William's attempted stoic facade and

can see through it.

WILLOW (cont'd)

Come on. Let it out.

WILLIAM

(obstinate)

I took a vow. "His blade defends the

helpless. His might upholds the

weak".

GUS

Aw shut it!

Gus reaches out and pulls him into the group hug.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he lets a few tears slide down

his cheek. After a few more moments of embracing, Luz

breaks off and wipes away her tears.

LUZ

Alright. *sniff* That's enough

tears. Let's enjoy the time we have

left...

They spend the day talking and laughing by the pond.

CUT TO:

EXT. BAT HIDEOUT, BALCONY - AFTERNOON

Eda guzzles down the last of a potion bottle, wiping away

some residual feathers from her curse. Eda and Hooty, both

disguised as coven scouts like the other BATs, take the

empty bottle away.

Raine then walks up and joins her as she solemnly leans

against the railing. They watch a parade of airships cruise

overhead, bearing dignitaries from the nine covens to the

ritual site.

EDA

Hey, I know that face!

She lightly punches Raine's shoulder.

EDA (cont'd)

I've got it all under control,

Rainstorm. Jealous that I may be a better

Coven Head than you?

(laughs)

I'll try not to impress everyone too

much.

RAINE

Are you really willing to get a

sigil? Even if your curse heals,

you'll never be able to practice

wild magic again.

EDA

Eh, my curse isn't going anywhere. I

can tell it's always gonna be a pain

in my feathers. But if I can do this

to help, why would I refuse?

Lilith looks at her guiltily, yearning to do something

more.

RAINE

Our contact should be arriving soon.

As he speaks, an empty airship bearing the Bard Coven sigil

alights next to the balcony and admits the disguised BATs.

Its pilot lifts his mask and winks.

STEVE

Your carriage awaits...!

Raine and Eda linger.

EDA

(worried)

Now, where are Luz and Prince Charming?

They should've been back by now-

A blue portal opens onto the veranda, Luz, King, William,

Gus, Willow, and Amity walking through.

EDA (cont'd)

*groan* Come on, twerps! This isn't

your fight. Your parents will-

GUS

(stern)

Save it! It's our futures on the

line. Our parents will have to deal

with it.

EDA

Pfft. Alright then. Welcome aboard.

They board the craft, with Luz sullenly trudging past Eda.

LUZ

(somber)

I'm ready. Let's get this over with.

Eda watches sadly as she suits up in a coven-scout disguise

and joins her friends on the zeppelin. William appears at

her side.

WILLIAM

Erm, Eda...A moment?

Eda pauses, looking back at him.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

I know we haven't always seen eye-to-

eye...but know that I will keep my

vow to you. "His word speaks only

truth".

EDA

I never doubted that. You really

came through for us back at the

castle-

(playful wink)

-Sir Smells-a-lot.

WILLIAM

It was my duty...and my pleasure...

They both smile and board the airship together.

STEVE

Ready?

The crew all don their disguises, Eda transforming into

Raine with relish.

EDA

(mischievous)

I wonder...

Eda grabs "her" head and detaches it, holding it up to a

horrified Raine.

EDA (cont'd)

Hey! It works!

RAINE

(nervous laughter)

Ha...weird...

Steve conducts the zeppelin into the afternoon sky, falling

in formation with the other airships. Steve then takes a

step away from the wheel and brandishes a branding glove.

STEVE

Hey, I brought the glove like you

asked. You sure about this?

EDA

Sure about sticking it to Belos one

final time? Heck yeah!

The glove lights up with the Bard Coven sigil as Steve

places it over Eda's forearm. Everyone looks at her

anxiously, their faces bathed in red light.

When the branding is complete, Eda looks at her new sigil

with a half-hearted smile.

EDA (cont'd)

(nervous)

Alright, let's do this.

She steps back in line with the others, taking a spot

beside Luz. She's still despondent, hanging her head and

absently shuffling in place.

EDA (cont'd)

Hey...Isn't it cool we get one last

adventure together?

LUZ

(pouting)

No, it's not...

EDA

(gently)

Come on. Let's not part ways like

this.

Luz begins sobbing again, hugging her mentor.

LUZ

I'm going to miss you so much.

Eda strokes her hair, tearing up as well. King joins in,

hugging Luz by the waist, Hooty coiling around them all.

KING

Thanks for being my boo-boo buddy.

HOOTY

(blubbering)

And thanks for warming my attic.

It's the closest spot in the house

to my heart. *wailing*

The zeppelin cruises along its path to the Titan's Head,

the sun just beginning to set over it.

CUT TO:

EXT. RITUAL SITE - DUSK

What was once a wild grove is now a grand arena, all the

Isles' denizens flooding in through a vomitorium and

gathering in different sections according to their coven.

In the skies above, the sun and moon are nearing an

eclipse. The Coven Heads all gather on the inner dais.

HETTIE CUTBURN

This will be an historic day! I can

hardly contain my excitement!

DARIUS DAEMONNE

(fanning his face)

It would be even more historic if we

weren't upwind of the masses! Eugh!

Eberwulf concurs with an annoyed bark, crinkling her nose.

OSRAN

Yes, a portentous occasion to be

sure.

(wary)

But something concerns me...

TERRA SNAPDRAGON

Bee in your bonnet, Osran?

OSRAN

When we arrive in the human world,

will it be first among equals...?

Osran, the Oracle Coven Head-Witch, conjures a magical

image with a spell circle, displaying footage of Adrian

Graye.

PAST ADRIAN GRAYE

"All the other covens think we're

weak-because that's what we let

them think! When really, we're the

most powerful coven of them all!"

The Coven Heads all glare at a mortified Adrian.

ADRIAN GRAYE

(nervous laughter)

Oh, come on! I was just

grandstanding for the kid. A good

spokesman's gotta embellish things a

bit, am I right?

OSRAN

(leery)

Or perhaps some of us are growing

too big for our boots...

ADRIAN GRAYE

You're one to talk! Just how many of

us are you spying on?

MASON

So, "most powerful coven of all",

huh? Typical.

The camera centers on Mason, Head-Witch of the Construction

Coven, and Vitimir, Head-Witch of the Potions Coven.

MASON (cont'd)

You bards and illusionists think

you're high-rollers while we're the

ones doing the real work.

(sour)

Who do you think has gotta build all

our new infrastructure in the human

world? Us. Will we get any credit?

No.

Vitimir nods in agreement. The tension rises all around.

DARIUS DAEMONNE

(flamboyant)

Yes, truly we are the cogs of

industry!

VITIMIR

(derisive)

So now you deign to mingle with the

commoners, Darius?

DARIUS DAEMONNE

Of course! Abominations are our key

labor-force.

(bored, examining

his fingernails)

Truly we are one with the

proletariat.

MASON

(whispering aside

to Vitimir)

They shoulda made Alador the

Abomination Head.

DARIUS DAEMONNE

(enraged)

Don't you mention that fraud's name

in front of me!

From there, they devolve into frenzied arguing. Suddenly,

the Emperor materializes in their midst, coalescing from

his sludge form.

BELOS

(slamming his

staff)

Enough!

The Coven Heads all fall silent and bow. Belos paces

between them, eyeing them all severely.

BELOS (cont'd)

You are setting a poor example. We

cannot afford division on this day

of unity.

(pacing)

I designed the Coven System so that

no one Coven would stand above the

others. We all depend on each other.

Do not resent this fact, embrace it.

(menacing)

Or do you doubt my grand design?

OSRAN

(cowed)

N-no, my liege...

BELOS

Good. Then let us prepare.

Belos strides away to confer with his coven scouts. Despite

his tone of finality, some of the Head-Witches silently

glare at each other with hostility.

DARIUS DAEMONNE

Speaking of, where is that bed-

wetter of a bard?

TERRA SNAPDRAGON

(doting)

Oh, of all the days to be tardy,

sprout!

EXT. ARENA

The Bard Coven zeppelin moors outside of the arena. Eda,

disguised as Raine, stretches and hops off the airship.

EDA

Whoo! That last stretch was a long

one!

RAINE

(worried)

Hey, pay attention. The cloaking

stone won't cover your voice, so

make sure not to speak. Also-

EDA

The curse will do its thing. I got

this, Rainstorm. Don't worry.

RAINE

(vexed)

Don't...

Raine grabs Eda's arm rubbing the Bard Coven Sigil and

clasping her hand.

RAINE (cont'd)

Don't tell me not to worry.

Lilith runs up and hugs Eda tearfully.

LILITH

Edalyne, please be careful.

EDA

Don't worry, Lily. With this spell

declared, I promise I'll be back.

LILITH

(chuckling)

That's not a spell. Doesn't even

rhyme.

Raine looks down at Luz's friends.

RAINE

Go and wait with your families. When

the time comes, you'll know.

They give Luz one last hug before departing. Amity leaves

her with a final kiss, almost unable to let go of her hand.

Luz watches them go mournfully. Raine then looks at Luz and

King with a stern glance.

RAINE (cont'd)

You two stay with us. We'll blend

into the crowd. No matter what

happens, don't go until we give the

signal.

(serious)

Don't be a hero. Promise?

Luz returns his stern look.

LUZ

So long as you promise to keep Eda

safe.

Raine smiles at her chutzpah.

RAINE

(winking)

Promise.

Luz follows Raine and the BATs into the crowd. William

pauses and nods to Tarak, he and his warriors disguised in

rough-spun cloaks. They return his nod and likewise

dissolve among the spectators.

INT. ARENA

Gus and Willow join their relieved families among the

crowd. Meanwhile, Amity demurely paces up to hers.

ODALIA BLIGHT

(affronted)

There you are! Just where did you go

gallivanting off to?!

Amity tries to respond but is talked over.

ODALIA BLIGHT (cont'd)

Oh, never mind! Just stay put and

pretend to be a daughter I can be

proud of!

Amity barely restrains her hurt and rage, silently falling

in with her siblings. Her father, Alador, consolingly

clasps her shoulder.

ODALIA BLIGHT (cont'd)

And yes, in whatever glittering

paradise awaits us, you are all

still grounded.

Emira and Ederic sigh in disappointment.

Meanwhile, "Raine" paces up the stairs of the central

platform.

TERRA SNAPDRAGON

There you are, sprout! I was getting

worried.

DARIUS DAEMONNE

About time you showed up! Get into

place, the ceremony's about to

begin.

"Raine" wordlessly takes a spot next to Darius in the

circle. Belos strides to a plinth at the head of the circle

and projects a large illusion of himself to address the

crowds.

BELOS

Children of the Isles. Welcome to

the fiftieth annual Day of Unity!

The crowds cheer with excitement.

BELOS (cont'd)

For half a century, we have gathered

here to tithe our unused magic to

the Titan, so that he might use it

to make the Boiling Isles a better

home for us all.

Belos accompanies his illusion with other images of his

many achievements.

BELOS (cont'd)

Its power has brought peace between

witch and demon...

We see a scene of Belos taking the tithed magic of the

isles and using it to transform a vicious demon into a

docile creature. In a somewhat saccharine display, it

gleefully celebrates and plays with some witchling

children.

BELOS (cont'd)

-Banished wild witches from our

land...

Another scene plays of Belos heroically driving off a gang

of bandits with the artificial magic of his staff.

BELOS (cont'd)

-And brought order to our society

with the Coven System...

Another cartoonish scene of witches switching their grimy

medieval tunics for brightly colored tabards and gleefully

celebrating.

While the crowds cheer, both "Raine" and Sir William scoff

at these romanticized depictions of Belos' rule.

BELOS (cont'd)

Among many other achievements that

make life, as we know it, possible.

And so we gather here again. But

this Day of Unity is special, for

the Titan has revealed to me a way

we can further improve our lives.

As Belos pontificates, Luz and the BATs furtively move

among the crowd, trying to position themselves closer to

the dais.

BELOS (cont'd)

(muffled)

Regrettably the Titan's own natural

powers, the miasma of wild-magic

seeping from its decaying body, make

it difficult to channel your magic

effectively.

Luz spots a large object concealed beneath a curtain behind

Belos' podium. Squads of coven scouts busy themselves

readying it. Reasoning that it must be the portal, Luz

continues plying through the crowd to get closer.

BELOS (cont'd)

(muffled)

Only on rare occasions, like this

eclipse, does wild-magic adopt a

convective property that allows me

to harvest your magic for the

Titan's use.

In her haste to reach the portal, Luz draws more attention

from the crowd-goers, accidentally shoving or stepping on

toes.

LUZ

Excuse me.

SPECTATOR

Hey, watch it!

LUZ

Sorry!

The commotion draws the attention of some coven scouts who

come to investigate. Luz tries to hide her face as they

pass by, the tension mounting.

One of the guards almost looks right at her, but he takes

only a cursory glance before returning to his post.

BELOS

But suppose we weren't confined to

one day a year to make these

wondrous changes? Imagine the

heights we could reach!

(dramatic)

This is the future promised by the

Titan-the destiny that awaits us in

the human world!

With a flourish, he motions for his guards to unveil the

portal. The crowd gasps in awe and excitement, mixed with

confusion.

BELOS (cont'd)

Yes, only in the human world, devoid

of corrupting wild magic, can our

civilization reach its full

potential. There we will be starting

afresh...

(solemn)

But for this endeavor, we must put

our best foot forward. Only the

worthy may join us in this utopia.

The crowd murmurs with uncertainty and fear.

BELOS (cont'd)

"What makes one worthy?" you might

ask. You, my children, will supply

the answer...

Belos waves his staff over the crowd. Just then, everyone's

coven brands start glowing.

BELOS (cont'd)

These coven marks are more than

symbols of your devotion. They

actively monitor the spells you cast

and for what purpose you cast them,

sending the data to our hall of

records.

The crowd gasps, many people shocked or alarmed.

BELOS (cont'd)

It is with this information that we

determine who is worthy to make this

great journey with us.

(rapturous)

Let those worthy be known!

Among the crowd, the coven sigils of some witches blink out

and turn dark. There are many gasps and wails of anguish as

families and friends are divided. Parents from their

children. Lovers from their spouses. Only a lucky few

remain whole.

Odalia and Alador Blight look at their sigils, both still

glowing, and sigh with relief.

ODALIA BLIGHT

*sigh* Thank goodness.

(giddy)

Come along children. Paradise

awaits!

She shepherds her children toward the procession of coven

scouts escorting those with glowing marks to the central

dais. Upon seeing Gus, Willow, and the Blight children, the

guards stop them.

GUARD CAPTAIN

Halt!

ODALIA BLIGHT

Is there a problem?

The captain holds up a clipboard bearing the likenesses of

the children, all marked with the words DELINQUENT in red

ink.

GUARD CAPTAIN

Your children have been found in

contempt of the law. They will be

remaining here.

The Parks, Porters, and Blights all look shocked.

ODALIA BLIGHT

(stunned)

W-what...?! N-no...

(desperate)

I can straighten them out, I swear!

GUARD CAPTAIN

The Emperor's decision is final.

Her mascara running with tears, Odalia turns to her family.

ODALIA BLIGHT

I...I can't believe this...I thought

I brought you up right!

(sobbing)

What heinous things did you say

about our Emperor that he would do

this to us?!

EMIRA

Mom! We only-

ODALIA BLIGHT

NO! I don't want to hear your sorry

excuses...!

She takes a cosmetic cloth and wipes away her streaming

mascara, making herself presentable. Swallowing deeply, she

turns to the guard captain.

ODALIA BLIGHT (cont'd)

We'll be ready in a moment, Captain.

Come along, dear.

ALADOR BLIGHT

(aghast)

Odalia! You can't be serious!

ODALIA BLIGHT

I may be a failure as a mother, but

I will not fail our leader! Are you

coming or not?!

ALADOR BLIGHT

(defiant)

...No! I'm staying with our

children!

Alador clasps his children and holds them close, giving the

coven scouts a defiant glare. The Parks and Perry Porter do

the same with their children.

ODALIA BLIGHT

(trembling)

So...this is it...? This is

goodbye...? Fine then...You're all

fired.

With a stubborn pout, she turns and marches off with the

coven scouts.

ODALIA BLIGHT (cont'd)

(over her shoulder)

And don't expect a severance

package!

What remains of the Blight family watches her leave with

loathing and betrayal.

All around them, similar scenes play out. We see the Ex-

Warden wrath, his Coven Sigil dormant while his son,

Braxas, has one glowing brightly.

WRATH

(blubbering)

G-go, son...You owe it to yourself.

Y-you deserve a better father than

me.

BRAXAS

(sobbing)

But I don't wanna go without you,

daddy! *sobs*

Some who are worthy refuse their call and stay behind. Some

go gladly, having few ties to the Boiling Isles. Others go

reluctantly, their well-meaning friends and family wanting

a better life for them.

But, no matter the circumstance, there is sorrow and heart-

break all around. The Owl House cohorts can barely hide

their shock and disgust. Eda clenches her fist behind her

back.

EDA

(under her breath)

This is sick...

TERRA SNAPDRAGON

Hmm? What was that, sprout?

Belos stands on his plinth, looking down on their sorrow

with disdain.

BELOS

(chiding)

Now, now! I will hear no moans-no

heavy sighs. Those of you not

joining us have no one to blame but

yourselves.

You will remain here, under the

stewardship of my aide, Kikimora.

May she succeed with you where I

failed...

Kikimora waits in the wings of the ceremony, her usual

stoic self, but unable to suppress a giddy, sinister smile.

The worthy are all gathered into columns, assembled and

waiting to proceed onto the central dais. The coven-scouts

have their hands full trying to suppress the malcontents in

the crowd, rioting to be let through.

BELOS (cont'd)

The worthy shall proceed to the

Titan's Skull and enter its sacred

caverns. It shall be our vessel...

RAINE

(shocked)

Wait, what?!

Raine watches dumbfounded as the columns of chosen witches

are marched out of the arena and into the cavernous maw of

the Titan.

BELOS

Prepare the gates!

Belos' guards nod and pull a series of levers attached to the

portal. The portal door at its center dissolves into gold

energy and flows around the struts as crackling lightning.

The portal frame then separates into sections that hover

and extend out into the sky. Forming a giant ring of

energy, they all distend in formation behind the Titan's

skull.

BELOS (cont'd)

Now, the time of our ascension is at

hand!

Belos beckons to the sky, darkening with the eclipse. The

chosen witches eagerly raise their arms, their magic

flowing from their coven sigils and up into the sigils of

the Head-Witches gathered on the platform.

Many of the forsaken witches left behind refuse to raise

their arms and tithe their magic out of spite...yet don't

seem to have a choice. Those who protest find their arms

being yanked aloft by an unseen force, their sigils seeming

to have minds of their own.

Like it or not, their magic is absorbed into the ritual.

Once the Head-Witches have absorbed all the peoples' magic,

Belos holds his staff aloft and lets it flow into crystal

sphere mounted on its top.

From there, Belos channels it into the segments of the

portal gate, creating a massive portal large enough to

swallow the entire Titan's Skull. Now fully activated, it

begins to inch forward and do just that.

RAINE

He's taking the ENTIRE SKULL to the

human world?!

(dreading)

This is bad...

KING

Bad? How bad?

RAINE

We have to call off Plan B! If Eda

corrupts the portal while it's

encompassing the skull, all those

people could be killed!

KING

Oooh, that's bad. Really bad!

LUZ

So, what's the plan now?

RAINE

(determined)

Plan C.

He lets out a sharp whistle. Hearing the signal, Sir

William draws his sword.

WILLIAM

Warriors! Attack!

The barghest warriors all whip off their disguises and

enter a melee with the coven scouts guarding the arena.

Raine and the BATs do likewise, surging for the center

platform to rescue Eda.

While the crowds panic and disperse, Belos looks on all the

bedlam, amused.

BELOS

Tut-tut. Some people never learn.

EDA

Yeah. You!

The Head-Witches all look at "Raine" with surprise. Eda's

sigil flickers with black energy, polluting the stream of

magic with corruption. Before it can corrupt the whole

spell, she yanks her hand away from the stream.

She then crushes the cloaking stone in her hand and assumes

her harpy form with relish.

EDA (cont'd)

I was hoping I could crash your

party myself, but this will have to

do instead. Later, losers!

She soars into the air before the coven guards can

apprehend her.

EDA (cont'd)

(laughing)

BY-EEEEEE!

Eda laughs and somersaults with glee, but suddenly she

lurches in midair. She turns to see the sigil on her arm

dragging her back toward the ground.

BELOS

Ah, Eda, the Owl Lady! It's so good

to see you've finally chosen a

coven!

Despite Eda's struggling she is slowly towed toward Belos'

outstretched hand.

BELOS (cont'd)

And a wonderful choice by the way. I

had a feeling that pusillanimous

bard couldn't be trusted-

(throwing shade at

Terra)

-even despite my best efforts...

Terra Snapdragon nervously averts her gaze. Meanwhile, Eda

continues to struggle, but realizes she is left with one

option...She transforms out of her harpy form and lets her

forearm be ripped from her body.

She is now free from Belos' grasp, but trapped in free-

fall.

LILITH

Eda!

Lilith takes to the air on her staff, Hooty snaking out and

catching Eda in mid-air.

HOOTY

Gotcha!

Hooty then deposits her on Lilith's staff which she clings

to with her one remaining arm.

EDA

Phew! I knew you two would have my

back!

LILITH

(smiling)

Always.

Together they swoop down into the battle below. Meanwhile,

Belos examines Eda's arm, her coven sigil once glowing a

blackened shade of gold but now seeming to be purified

after separating from her body.

BELOS

Hmm. This will do.

He hands her arm to a coven scout captain and beckons him

into Raine's place in the circle. The Captain nervously

holds her hand aloft, channeling the magic in her stead.

BELOS (cont'd)

(to the Head

Witches)

Keep in position. We will be moving

forward as planned.

He then paces to the edge of the dais and addresses the

panicking crowds.

BELOS (cont'd)

My children! Be not alarmed! The

path of the righteous is not without

travails.

Into the skull, quickly!

Any coven scouts not busy fighting hurriedly shepherd the

last of the chosen witches into the skull.

BELOS (cont'd)

For those of you that remain, this

is your chance for absolution! Repel

these malcontents and you will earn

a place in our great journey!

Many of the forsaken witches light up with excitement and

vigor, joining the coven scouts in battle. Where the barghests once had the upper hand, they are now overwhelmed.

Hoping to tip the scales, Luz ruses to help them. She's a

stone's throw from their ranks before being hemmed in by

her mean-spirited schoolmates from Hexside.

BOSCHA

You're not going anywhere, freak!

LUZ

Out of my way, Boscha!

BOSCHA

You're not ruining this for us!

LUZ

Ruining what? If you got left

behind,

"you have no one to blame but

yourself"...

BOSCHA

SHUT UP!

Boscha and her posse viciously attack Luz. She dodges their

attacks, but she eventually stumbles and falls. Boscha

looms over her with a fireball in her hands.

BOSCHA (cont'd)

(sadistic)

You like this place, don't you? You

think you're really something here,

but you're not! Even here, you're a

wannabe, lame-o freak!

AMITY

And still a better witch than you!

Luz's teenage friends and allies charge to her rescue.

Amid them fighting off the bullies, Amity helps Luz to her

feet. They don't have much time for flustered blushing

before a squad of abomatons lumber into the arena to

restore order.

On queue, Alador appears at Amity's side.

ALADOR BLIGHT

Let me handle this, dear.

He takes a remote and presses the kill switch, but it seems

to have no effect.

ALADOR BLIGHT (cont'd)

(astonished)

She changed the command codes on me

already?!

(deadpan)

Typical...

AMITY

We can still beat 'em!

(nodding to Gus and

Willow)

Come on, we have a plan!

Gus conjures images of wild witches attacking the abomatons

and fleeing. As the abomatons follow them, their paths

intersect and they stumble across each other. Willow then

conjures some massive vines to further trip them up.

With Alador using his abomination tendrils to boost them

up, Luz and Amity are propelled into the air where they

decapitate the abomatons with blades of ice and clay.

In their celebration, they almost don't notice a remaining

abomaton flanking them. Intercepting it is Wrath,

unleashing a torrent of flame on it. The abomaton's clay

slowly dries out, leaving the creature to crumble into a

pile of dust.

Elsewhere, Raine and the BATs rush to the aid of the

beleaguered barghests. They play their instruments with

vigor, casting a glowing aura around the exhausted demon

warriors. It gives them enough strength to trounce the

elite guards or burst out from beneath the forsaken witches

trying to dog-pile them.

From overhead, Lilith rides her staff, using Hooty as a

mortar for explosive potions to disperse the crowds of

forsaken witches. Eda joins the fray as well, saving Raine

from a guard captain by carrying the bard away in her harpy

form.

Meanwhile, Sir William cuts a swathe through both the

guards and forsaken witches. When they attempt to mob him,

he repels them with a bubble shield and a fusillade of

sound-wave and lightning attacks.

WILLIAM

BELOS!

He implacably marches for the center plinth. The Head-

Witches move to bar his way, but Belos waves them down.

BELOS

Maintain the circle until the portal

is fully charged. I will handle

this.

William paces up the steps of the dais.

WILLIAM

Or should I say...Philip...

Despite his bellicose approach, William seems to calm,

lowering his sword. He almost seems civil.

BELOS

Sir William Reinhardt. Welcome. You

have my thanks. I owe all this to

you.

William raises his eyebrow, but otherwise retains his

aplomb.

BELOS (cont'd)

After all, you practically handed me

the throne. The Boiling Isles

wouldn't be what it is today without

your blunders...

Despite the acrimony in Belos' tone, William doesn't seem

phased.

WILLIAM

Well...that is comforting then. I

couldn't agree more.

Though Belos is hard to read behind his mask, he is silent.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

(candid)

I must give credit where it's due.

You've created a truly wonderful

world, Philip...

(reproachful)

And now you're destroying it to hide

from your mistakes.

BELOS

-To rectify them...! But I suppose

you'd know of mistakes.

Belos dissolves into sludge and disappears. William readies

his sword.

BELOS (cont'd)

Where would we be with you as King?

Still butchering demons?

Belos bursts out of hiding, swiping at William. He blocks

with his bubble shield, sending him bouncing back into

hiding.

BELOS (cont'd)

Still living in hovels?

Belos reappears and blasts him with a beam of red energy.

William deflects it with his sword.

BELOS (cont'd)

Still cringing in fear of the magic

that is our birthright?

He disappears again, but this time quickly reappearing with

multiple clones surrounding William.

BELOS (cont'd)

I am ten times the ruler you ever

would have become.

They all attack him with multiple beams. He leaps clear

just in time, responding with a tidal-wave swipe that

destroys them. Belos is left standing alone, having flash-

stepped out of range.

WILLIAM

Maybe so...*pant* But there's

something I can do that you can't.

BELOS

Oh, really? And what is that?

Belos blinks away again, disappearing from his view.

William turns but can't see him anywhere. Time seems to

slow. His eyes widen in realization.

WILLIAM

I learn from my mistakes...

William tucks his sword under his arm and makes a blind

leap backward. He collides with Belos just as he reappears

behind him, impaling him with the tip of his blade.

BELOS

GAAARGGGH!

Howling in pain, Belos shrinks away, barely able to hold

his human form. His visage becomes monstrous as he clutches

his wound.

WILLIAM

(grim)

"His wrath undoes the wicked..."

Dismayed at his pain, Terra Snapdragon glances at the

portal, halfway through engulfing the Titan's Skull. The

power level gauge on its central console reads an almost

complete charge.

TERRA SNAPDRAGON

It's far enough along! Help him!

The Head-Witches break from the ritual and form a defensive

circle around Belos. Hettie Cutburn attempts to tend to

him, but he simply dissolves and retreats into the mortar.

BELOS

(gurgling)

DESTROY...HIM...

Eagerly complying, the Head-Witches attack Sir William.

Cutburn and Snapdragon send vine and linen tendrils. He

cuts through them. Darius and Vitimir send globs of sludge

and acid. He blocks them with his bubble shield. Eberwulf

leaps on him and tries to claw at his face.

William throws her off, but it's enough of a distraction

for Mason to trip him with a shockwave of flagstones and

Osran to attack his mind with a spectral hand.

The rebel witches have almost managed to disperse the

crowds of forsaken witches and rout the coven scouts.

Looking over, his closest allies see William being

overwhelmed and rush to his aid.

Raine and Eda manage to draw away Terra Snapdragon.

TERRA SNAPDRAGON

I'm so disappointed in you. You

could've been a glorious bloom, only

to choose to be a weed!

RAINE

I'm not your crop to harvest!

Beside them, Darius duels with Alador and Amity. Despite

both being powerful, Darius shows why he is the coven head

with unparalleled grace.

DARIUS DAEMONNE

Not so formidable without your wind-

up toys to help you, Alador? You

never had my talent, admit it!

AMITY

My dad's leagues better than you,

you pompous peacock!

Darius sweeps her leg with a tendril, sending her

staggering back. Alador catches her.

DARIUS DAEMONNE

A Blight is calling me pompous? Ha!

That's one thing you've got on me,

Alador.

Darius turns and sees Terra struggling with Raine and Eda.

Bored with the Blights, he slides away to help her.

DARIUS DAEMONNE (cont'd)

Let's pick this up later. Ciao!

He reappears and attacks Raine. The bard deftly dodges his

swipes and whistles over his body.

DARIUS DAEMONNE (cont'd)

What are you...?

He pauses, realizing his fluid form is transmuting into

Jell-O.

DARIUS DAEMONNE (cont'd)

(enraged)

WHAAAT?! GELATIN! YOU DARE TURN ME

INTO-NO...NOOO!

He helplessly dissolves into a puddle of the sugary

confection, only his head retaining its shape. Unable to

fight, and morbidly curious, he takes a nibble of himself.

DARIUS DAEMONNE (cont'd)

(dejected)

Hmm. Lime. My favorite.

Meanwhile, Eda struggles to dodge Terra's vines, swooping

around in her harpy form. Willow steps in to help her. As

Terra's vines loom over the young witch, they suddenly

halt, softening as if tamed. Willow gently strokes them.

TERRA SNAPDRAGON

Wha-what's this?

Terra pets her vines as though coaxing a reluctant pet.

TERRA SNAPDRAGON (cont'd)

What's wrong dearies? Won't you

fight for your mummy?

WILLOW

They're not sure who they should

listen to...A gentle caretaker like

me-

(pouting)

-or a mean old crone like you!

TERRA SNAPDRAGON

(aghast)

"Old Crone"?! You little brat!

She whips her vines into a frenzy. In the confusion, they

tangle around Hettie Cutburn's linen tendrils as she's

fighting off Elder Tarak.

HETTIE CUTBURN

Ugh! Drat! I see you cast your

spells as gracefully as you age,

Terra.

TERRA SNAPDRAGON

SHUT UP!

Meanwhile, Lilith and Hooty are fighting Vitimir. He lobs

potion flasks at them, but Hooty manages to swallow them

before they can strike the ground.

HOOTY

Gulp! Gulp-Gulp! Mmm!

Vitimir looks at the demon bird with horror. Smiling, Hooty

regurgitates the potions back at him in a hail of alembics

and decanters.

HOOTY (cont'd)

Blaughlaughlaughaugghg!

The flasks explode, sending Vitimir flying into a far wall.

As that's happening, Eberwulf and King tussle around in a

ball of fur and fury. King manages to peel her off and aims

a resounding howl at her.

She goes flying off into the nearby woods, squealing and

whimpering like a frightened dog. Elsewhere, Gus and Adrian

Graye square off.

GUS

Let's go! Just you and me in the

astral plane! Let's see who's the

better illusionist!

His eyes glow a fierce blue.

ADRIAN GRAYE

(rolling his eyes)

I'm a Coven Head, kid. Don't tell me

I got you going on a power-trip

trying to recruit you.

Despite his derision, Graye's eyes light up as well in a

show of acceptance.

GUS

Why don't we find out how deep the

rabbit-hole goes...?

They stare each other down, unleashing tendrils of energy

that connect above the battlefield. The tendrils wrap

together and coalesce into a beam, uniting them in a cosmic

battle...

But from the outside, it appears like they're just standing

around squinting at each other with glowing eyes. Their

allies on both sides just shrug and continue fighting.

Elder Tarak gives a good account against Mason and Hettie

Cutburn. Although, despite Tarak's fearsome size, Mason and

Hettie work like a tag team of wrestlers to bring him down.

During all of this, Luz helps William to his feet.

WILLIAM

Ungh! I'm fine. There's more

important things to worry abou-

Luz turns to see Belos reconstituting on the platform near

the portal console, panting and wheezing with effort.

LUZ

You're right! It's Belos! I'll take

him down!

She rushes off to attack Belos, leaving William leaning on

his blade.

WILLIAM

No, Luz! Wait!

She goes rushing in, preparing her glyph spells. A pair of

guards manage to break from the surrounding fighting and

intercept her. She slides past them, pummeling Belos in the

back with torrents of fire and ice.

He roars with pain and reels on her, sending her flying

back with a massive ground pound from his eldritch fists.

Luz quickly recovers, but the coven guards flank her and

manage to subdue her.

Panting with exhaustion and fury, the monstrous Belos

marches up to her.

BELOS

*panting* You could have been a part

of this, Luz...But now you're stuck

here...*pant*

You will never see your home again.

Belos then turns to see the portal almost completing its

envelopment of the Skull.

BELOS (cont'd)

(smiling)

Or the wonders I will work in it...

(to his troops)

My children. Retreat!

His remaining coven scouts turn to him in surprise.

BELOS (cont'd)

Leave them in this squalor if they

like it so much!

His soldiers obey and run for the Skull, filing in with the

last of the chosen witches. His Head-Witches turn and look

at him pleadingly.

BELOS (cont'd)

Paradise waits for no one. If you're

not in that Skull when the portal

closes...

He trails off, letting the implication sink in. The Head-

Witches fight hard to defeat their opponents. Despite their

ardor, the fight winds down in favor of the rebels.

Alador and Amity help trim back Terra's vines with their

clay blades and slime shut her carnivorous blooms. Hooty

wraps himself around Hettie and Mason. An amused harpy Eda

holds Eberwulf up by the scruff of her neck, gnashing and

biting.

An exhausted Gus nonetheless remains standing while Adrian

is curled in a fetal position, crying.

ADRIAN GRAYE

(crazed)

I don't like these memories. Make it

stop!

It seems like the Head-Witches are defeated until Osran

reappears from hiding. With a swipe of a spectral claw, he

severs Gus' connection with Graye, sending the young witch

reeling in pain.

Helping Graye to his feet, the oracle then unleashes a

swarm of spectral demons across the arena to screen their

retreat. In the confusion, Vitimir is able to rush over to

Darius and reconstitute him with a few drops of potion. He

also aims an acid spit at the abomination clay holding

Terra. They then retreat as well.

Eberwulf wriggles from Eda's grasp and sinks her fangs into

Hooty, making him release Hettie and Mason. All the Head-

Witches rush into the portal behind Belos, sheepishly

avoiding his stern gaze. The Emperor then turns to the

guards holding Luz.

BELOS

Leave her.

They push her back across the pavement and rush into the

portal as well. As Luz struggles to her feet, she sees

Belos stepping into the now shrinking portal, lingering to

taunt her.

BELOS (cont'd)

Goodbye, Luz...I hope you made the

right choice...

William comes running over, throwing his sword in a last-

ditch attempt to stop him. Smiling, Belos ducks into the

portal just as it shrinks into nothingness. The sword goes

clattering past the terminal.

Its function complete, the segments of the portal fuse back

together and come to rest in their brackets. The machine

powers down with a humming decrescendo. Osran's spectral

spirits dissipate as well, leaving them all in an eerie

silence.

Stunned, Luz gets to her feet and absorbs the aftermath.

The arena is almost empty, save for a few wounded

stragglers. There is a massive crater in the terrain where

the Titan's skull used to be. All her friends and allies

are exhausted and bruised...

And Belos has won.

LUZ

(shaking her head)

No...NO!

She sinks to her feet. They all hang their heads in

despair. Meanwhile, William looks at the deactivated

portal, some residual energy crackling around its frame.

LUZ (cont'd)

(disconsolate)

We've lost...

He then looks down at his armor, an idea forming in his

mind. He walks over, retrieves his sword from the ground

and aims its tip at the center of the portal frame.

WILLIAM

No...Not yet.

As he focuses, his armor and sword all glow a bright blue,

humming with tremendous energy. Suddenly a beam of

bluish light erupts from his sword and courses into

the frame of the portal.

Awed, Luz and her friends gather around.

LUZ

What's happening? What are you

doing?

He has to raise his voice and almost shout over the sound

of the energy thrumming into the portal, the wind whipping

at his hair.

WILLIAM

My armor and sword are all made from

Titan-blood ore. It may be a risk,

but I can channel their energies

into the portal.

I might be able to get it large

enough for you to slip through, Luz.

Luz looks hopeful, yet conflicted. She looks back at her

friends, still unable to bear the thought of leaving them

behind. Her eyes streaming she turns back to William.

LUZ

I...I don't know if I can do it.

*sniff* I can't just leave you all

behind...*sniff*

They all look at her, just as torn to see her go.

WILLIAM

Luz, you must! You can't let Belos

do to your world what he did to

mine...!

She still can't stem her tears. William manages to pry a

hand away from his sword and cradle her cheek in it.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

(comforting)

Shh. Listen...Repeat after me...

...A knight is sworn to valor...

She wipes away her tears and follows his lead.

LUZ

(weakly)

*sniff* "A knight is sworn to

valor..."

WILLIAM

...Her heart knows only virtue...

LUZ

"Her heart knows only virtue..."

WILLIAM

...Her blade defends the helpless...

LUZ

(growing

confidence)

"Her blade defends the helpless..."

WILLIAM

...Her might upholds the weak...

LUZ

"Her might upholds the weak..."

WILLIAM

...Her word speaks only truth...

LUZ

"Her word speaks only truth..."

WILLIAM

...Her wrath undoes the wicked...

LUZ

(determined)

"Her wrath undoes the wicked..."

WILLIAM

(proud)

There. Now you are a knight. Go and

uphold your vow.

The beam of light from his sword manages to open a small

pinprick of a portal that slowly grows. Luz looks fondly

into his eyes, just managing to smile.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

(emotional)

This world may have forgotten me,

Luz. But I'll make sure it never

forgets you...

She gives him one final, tearful hug. Tearing herself away,

she then paces up to the growing portal. She turns and

takes one final look at her friends.

LUZ

(ardent)

I will be back. I swear to all of

you, some way-somehow I'll be back!

We WILL see each other again!

AMITY

(softly)

I know we will...

With a heavy heart, Luz faces the portal. It stutters and

shimmers, William struggling to maintain a size large

enough for her to squeeze through.

Forcing shut her streaming eyes, Luz ducks into the portal,

disappearing behind the wall of light.

With a final heave, William rips his sword away. The

kickback from the massive energy surge sends him staggering

back. Tapped of their power, his armor and sword all

crumple in on themselves like aluminum.

William screams in pain but before long both the sword and

armor begin crumbling into fine ash and dispersing with

the wind.

Lilith and Eda rush to his side and help him to his feet.

WILLIAM

(panting)

...I hope we trained her

well...*pant* It's all up to her

now...

They all stare at the empty portal, breathing a silent

prayer for their lost human friend...

END OF SEASON

2