Chapter Text
Amity hadn’t been expecting anything too out of the ordinary to happen today.
Which in hindsight was her first mistake.
The only thing she knew for sure was that today was picture day. The day where Hexside takes intimate and private memories, turns them into pictures, and puts them on display for all to see (you know the more she thought about it, the more Amity realized how creepy that sounded).
She had done this song and dance before and nothing had ever happened as a result of it… aside from some minor humiliation from Ed and Em but that wasn’t important.
So when she had wandered by the classroom containing the memories she hadn’t expected to see anything out of the ordinary.
And then she spotted the Willow picture.
It was undoubtedly a memory from when the pair were younger… back when they had been close.
It was a remnant of a time when Amity had been happier before her parents had taken that happiness away.
It was a memory that was best left forgotten.
After managing to get away from Boscha and Skara, Amity approached the picture and prepared to burn it. She knew the dangers of such an action. That it could potentially lead to that memory being irrevocably damaged.
She didn’t care.
If it meant that Willow forgot about their friendship, and that evidence of it ceased to be.
Amity would go through with-it consequences be damned.
… At least, that had been the plan.
What Amity had failed to notice in her initial analysis of the room, it that some of the water from the buckets used to process the photos had spilled out onto the floor.
It was a small detail, but one that Amity completely failed to notice in her initial investigation of the room due to her attention being primarily focused on the photo of herself and Willow.
So when she approached the photo, flame already ignited, she failed to realize that she was approaching said water until after it was too late.
“GAH!”
Amity slipped up and was sent reeling into a nearby table.
“Ugh” Amity groaned as she rubbed her head.
As she rose from the floor, Amity's nose caught the whiff of a familiar smell.
‘Smoke…’
Spinning around revealed a scene of horror.
The flame that she had initially ignited had made contact with one of the photos of the table and was very quickly spreading to others.
“NO! NO! NO! NO!” Amity began to panic.
She began to blow on the flames in hopes of putting the fire out, but that only seemed to make things worse.
And then, as if the situation wasn’t already bad enough as is. Amity caught sight of a face in one of the pictures. A very familiar, black and white, HUMAN, face.
‘Oh Titan no!’
But there was no denying it. That was Luz.
Quickly redoubling her efforts, Amity tried her absolute hardest to salvage all the memories that she could, but her efforts were completely worthless.
‘Could this day get any worse?’ she angrily mused to herself.
“Of course this is YOUR fault.”
Amity froze before slowly, painfully slowly, turning her head to the entrance of the classroom.
There, by the doorway, stood three familiar faces.
The first was the Illusionist Gus that she often saw around Willow and Luz. He looked shocked, as if he had just witnessed Amity commit a murder.
The second, and the one who had spoken, was Willow, though it was a Willow that Amity was not familiar with.
Gone was the timidness that she had come to associate with Willow and in its place was a hardened, angry expression.
Whereas Gus looked like he had witnessed a murder, Willow looked like she was three seconds away from committing one.
Finally, her eyes settled on the final member of the group. The one she had avoided looking intentionally for fear of what she would see.
Luz.
The monochrome girl looked extremely unwell. She was being supported by Willow, and looked like a small breeze would be enough to knock her down. Her eyes had turned to swirls (something she still didn’t fully understand) and she swayed within the confines of Willow’s grip.
With all the eyes on her, Amity knew she had to say something.
“I-I can explain”.
---
Willow should have known something like this would have happened.
Things had been going too well for her lately, so she should have predicted that karma would show up to collect its due.
She just never imagined that it would happen like this.
Everything had been normal throughout most of the day. The only major highlight was that it was picture day. Naturally, Willow had some of her memories extracted and hung up for all to see.
There wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary. A few photos of her with her dads. A photo of her with her pet spider (rest in peace Tarry), and even one of her awkward hair phases.
Then the photo of her hanging out with Amity appeared. A dim reminder of what once was.
She had actually gotten rather lucky that Luz hadn’t had that particular class with her, as it meant that no one important had seen the photo.
Old memories aside, it had been a fairly normal day… Until lunch rolled around.
She, Luz, and Gus had been talking about a rumor going around about the bloom of eternal youth.
“I’m telling you guys that sounds like a scam”. Luz huffed.
“But imagine if it’s real Luz, think of all the wonderful things you stayed eternally young” Gus exclaimed, waving his arms around as if they were idiots for not seeing the big picture.
Willow decided to add her two snails. “Sorry Gus, but I got to agree with Luz on this one. Even if it was real, I don’t think I like the idea of watching all my loved ones grow old around me all the while my appearance stays the same. That sounds like the plot of a horror novel.”
Gus eyed her with a freaked-out expression. “Holy Titan! Where did that come from?!”
Willow smirked. “I have hobbies outside of gardening,” she said, before turning to Luz.
“What about you Luuuuuzzzz…?”
Her mind stalled as she took in the sudden state of her human friend.
Steam was billowing out of her ears, and her eyes were doing that thing where they turned into swirls.
She also seemed to be extremely unsteady, and it was only thanks to Willow and Gus catching her that she didn’t immediately topple out of her seat.
“Whoa Luz, are you ok?!” Willow yelped, as she worryingly gazed at their friend.
“Ffffffeeeellll weiiiirrrrddddd, mmmmiiiiiinnnnnnddddsssss ffffffuuuuunnnnyyyyy!” Luz mumbled, not even looking at either of them.
Willow and Gus turned to each other in panic.
“Is this a human thing!?” Willow asked.
Gus waved his free arm in panic. “I don’t know?! Most of the knowledge we have on humans in the club is either vague or incorrect, but I don’t recall Luz mentioning anything like this whenever we spoke!”
Willow swore and began racking her mind for possibilities.
This clearly wasn’t the common mold; the symptoms didn’t match at all. At the same time though, Willow couldn’t think of any illnesses that would affect the…
‘Mind’
A horrifying realization filled Willow, and she turned to Gus with a newfound sense of urgency. “We need to get to photo class, NOW!” He exclaimed.
Confused but understanding that whatever Willow had realized required urgency, Gus helped her hoist up Luz, and together the trio made for the picture room.
Once they arrived, they opened the door… and beheld a nightmare.
Several pictures were on fire, and it didn’t take a genius to connect the dots as to whose photos they were.
And standing in the middle of the chaos was a face Willow recognized all too well.
Amity Blight.
“Of course this is YOUR fault!” She growled.
Amity’s eyes went wide and she raised her hands (both literally red from the flames). “I-I can explain”.
Willow grunted. “Oh, I’m SUUURRRREEE you can. I’m sure this was all an accident. You’re DEFINITELY not still butt hurt that you lost that witches duel, and you DEFINITELY didn’t take it out on my friend” Willow sarcastically bit out, eyes beginning to glow green in anger.
Amity’s face somehow managed to become paler than it already was. “Wait please. It really was an accident. I wouldn’t harm Luz! She’s been… nice, to me” Amity said, her eyes wavering as the gazed upon the human in question.
“hEH EvErYtHiNg FFFFFEEEEELLSSS FuuNY!” Luz giggled, head slumping down into unconsciousness.
At that, Willow's panic increased. She and Gus tried to shake her awake, but she was out like a light.
“We can argue later, but right now we need to help Luz. Does anyone know a solution for something like this?” Gus asked.
Willow swallowed down her annoyance and quickly began brainstorming, her mind trying desperately to think of anyone they might know that would have any idea on how to fix this mess.
Fortunately, or potentially, unfortunately, Willow knew just the person.
“Well, I’ve got one idea. But I don’t think they’re gonna be happy with us.” Willow said before leveling a glare at Amity. “Especially you!”
It took Gus and Amity a couple of seconds to clock on to who she was referring to, and when they did they both gulped in fear.
“Oh boy,” Gus muttered.
---
“YOU DID WHAT!!!!” Eda shouted in anger.
Despite the fact that only the Blight was responsible for this whole ordeal, all three of the kids flinched.
Carefully trying to restrain her anger (less her curse rears its ugly head) Eda let out a restrained growl. “Even minor damage to the memory can have huge effects and you’re telling me you lit her memories on FIRE!… Did I hear that right?”
Amity wilted but nodded her head in confirmation.
“Unbelievable, UNBELIVABLE! I have half a mind to light YOUR head on fire and see how you enjoy it, but for some reason, the kiddo actually likes you, so I’ll restrain myself.” Eda said before narrowing her gaze at the Blight.
But you’re going to help fix the mess you caused. You owe Luz that much.” She said, pointing to the unconscious girl on the couch.
At that the three looked at her in hope.
“You mean there is something we can do to help her?!” Willow exclaimed.
Eda snorted. “Yeah, it’s highly illegal and a tad bit dangerous, but we haven’t got a choice really so you three had better not complain. GOT IT!?”
All three of them nodded in rapid succession.
“Ok here’s the deal, I’m going to send the two of you” she pointed at Willow and the Blight “Into Luz’s mind in order to fix all the damage that SOMEONE” She glared at the Blight “caused.”
At that the shorter one, (was it Goops? Eda didn’t entirely remember) frowned. “Hey, wait, what about me? I want to help Luz just as much as they do”
Eda shook her head in denial. “No can-do kiddo. I may not pay too much attention to who Luz hangs out with, but I know you and Willow fairly well by now, and I know you’re fascinated with human stuff. If I were to send you in there, can you honestly tell me that you wouldn’t get distracted by all the human realm stuff inside Luz’s memories?” Eda asked him.
The kid raised his hand as if to argue. “That’s…” he slumped over “Fair.”
Willow put an arm on Goops in reassurance before turning back to Eda. “Ok, so what do we do?”
Eda summoned a small spell circle beneath their feat, before summoning a bell into the hands of the Blight.
Ok once I send you in, and you’ve repaired all the damage, ring this bell twice and I’ll bring you back out.” She said before remembering something important. “Also be sure to keep an eye out for the ‘inner Luz’ . She's the gatekeeper of emotions and memory and might help you two out.”
Amity and Willow nodded in confirmation.
Eda smirked. “Ok then, good luck you two!” She said before bathing the pair in light and sending them into the unconscious form of Luz”.
Goops nervously tapped his hands together. “Now what?” He asked.
Eda sighed. “Now all we can do is wait.”
---
‘Bright!’
That was the first word that came to Amity’s mind upon regaining awareness.
The blinding brightness that overtook her practically welded her eyes shut. Thankfully, it only lasted for a moment.
After it died down Amity opened her eyes.
Then her jaw dropped.
Much like Luz herself the land was a monochrome mess of black and white. As she gazed around the area, she realized that she and Willow were standing in the middle of some sort of street. Though it wasn’t like any Amity had ever seen before.
“Holy Titan…”
Speaking of Willow, the plant girl was equally as awed as Amity was. Her eyes wandered over the various buildings, each one unlike any either girl had seen.
“So this is Luz’s mind” Amity muttered.
It was weird and certainly unique, but that only confirmed that it did indeed belong to Luz.
Before she could continue to marvel at the odd-looking buildings Willow grabbed her attention.
“We need to focus! Let’s walk around a bit and see if we can find the damaged memories as well as that inner Luz Eda mentioned” Willow said.
Remembering the reason for their presence Amity nodded her head and together the two set off.
As they walked, they scanned the various buildings and architecture. None of it resembled anything like what was on the Boiling Isles. Streets were lit up by these weird poll things. There were weird metal box looking thingies scattered about the street. And as she had mentioned before, absolutely everything was black and white.
It was all so bizarre.
“Hey check this out” Willow gestured.
Amity turned her head to where Willow was pointing and felt her heart skip a beat.
Standing before the pair was a burnt looking building with a small circular hole carved in the middle.
It didn’t take Amity and Willow long to reach a conclusion.
“The memory!”
Amity was willing to bet money that whatever fit in that hole would fix the burnt memory.
“Search around. Maybe it was just knocked loose!” Amity exclaimed.
Willow scowled at her before eventually nodding “You better hope that’s the case”.
The two split up and began to search the nearby area for anything that looked as though it could fit into the hole.
It took them a couple of tries but eventually, Amity found something.
“Hey Willow, over here!” Amity yelled”.
Willow dashed over to her. “What is it? What did you find?”
Amity grabbed the strange object and held it up for Willow to see.
It was a weird disk thingy with six holes in it. Taped on the front of it was a strip of paper that displayed the number #1. It had also been covered in a heavy layer of soot which Amity had brushed off.
“What’s the one supposed to mean?” Willow asked.
Amity shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure. Maybe it’s Luz’s favorite memory. Like her number one memory?”
Willow considered that before throwing out a suggestion of her own. “Maybe… or maybe it’s her first memory from when she was a kid”.
Despite being at odds with each other, both Willow and Amity broke out into grins at the possibility of seeing what Luz was like as a kid.
“Well come one. Put the disk in the hole and let’s see what happens” Willow prompted.
Amity nodded before carefully taking the disk and inserting it into the charred hole.
Once she finished placing it inside, the disk began to rotate. It started slowly at first before quickly picking up speed, and soon enough it was moving so fast it began to emit a light that once more caused Amity and Willow to scrunch their eyes shut.
Once the light died down, both girls opened their eyes.
“Oh wow”
The once burnt building had been restored and now looked just like the rest of the odd-looking buildings in this place. Additionally, where the hole had once been now hosted a screen that seemed to be projecting something similar to how a crystal ball would.
“This must be the memory!” Amity muttered.
Willow nodded in agreement before her eyes went wide. “Maybe we’ll get to see kid Luz” Her eyes sparkled.
Amity tried her best not to let that thought fill her with too much warmth (she failed). “I wonder what she was like?” She mumbled.
The two leaned in and watched as the memory began to play out.
It began with an empty looking street, there didn’t appear to be anyone present at first.
However soon enough a figure emerged onto the scene.
One whose appearance threw both witches for a loop.
“What the Titan is that thing?” Amity yelped in shock.
Willow was similarly shocked, and began rambling “There’s no way that’s a human… It almost looks like a demon! But I thought the human realm didn’t have magic so how…?”
Amity turned to Willow in confusion. “Did Luz ever mention knowing any demons before?”
Willow scrunched her eyes together and thought before slowly shaking her head. “I don’t think so… she’s mentioned her friends plenty before but with how surprised she’s been by everything on the Boiling Isles, I thought she was unfamiliar with magic, witches, and demons.”
Before their conversation could continue a voice interrupted them. A rather familiar voice at that.
“Whoa! You must be that darling devil fellow I’ve heard so much about!”
Eyes widening both rapidly, both Amity and Willow swung their gazes towards the screen.
Sure enough, there she was. Luz the human…
Looking the exact same way she did today. Same look. Same clothes. Same happy go lucky grin.
She was a dead ringer for the Luz that Amity and Willlow knew.
Willow’s brow rose in confusion. “Maybe this isn’t a recent memory. She looks just as old as she does now.”
Amity shrugged. “Maybe I was right and it’s just a favorite memory of hers.
They turned back to the screen reluctantly and continued to watch the memory play out. Both feeling a tad uneasy.
Bendy nodded and held out a hand.
“Ah I see! Well, it’s nice to meetcha Bendy, I’m Luz!” Luz beamed at the weird looking demon, before shaking his hand happily.
Willow choked on the air. “THAT’S BENDY!?”
Amity was similarly shocked.
“THAT THING??!?”
They had both heard of the mysterious Bendy before. At times it seemed like Luz couldn’t go one conversation without dropping that name.
Both girls had tried to picture what this friend of Luz’s would be like, but this was NOT what either of them had in mind.
“Did she say anything about being friends with a demon?!” Amity nervously asked.
Willow frowned and slowly shook her head. “I… I don’t think she did. She mentions Bendy all the time but she never specified what he looked like.”
As the memory came to an end, the pair found themselves left with more questions with answers.
“I… guess that means it's fixed?” Amity shrugged, her mind nervous and uncertain.
Willow just continued to squint at the memory before eventually nodding her head, even if reluctantly.
“I guess so” she said, turning and gesturing for Amity to follow. “C’mon, let’s go fix the rest.” She said.
Amity slowly nodded, and together the pair set off. Their previous animosity and curiosity gone and replaced with uncertainty of what was to come.
---
After walking by a series of memories that seemingly weren’t subject to the fire. Willow and Amity came across their second unusual sight.
This one not in the form of a memory but in a change of scenery.
At the end of the street was a park. One whose entrance somehow… fused with the end of the street creating this off-putting mashup of scenery.
“Must be a mind thing” Willow mumbled.
Amity pretended like that made sense and reluctantly followed Willow as the pair entered the park.
Immediately Amity spotted a discrepancy.
“That tree over there is burnt. Might be one of the memories”
Following her gaze Willow nodded and the two approached the tree.
Sure enough, just like the building from earlier the tree was a charred mess, containing a circular hole in the center.
Quickly splitting up, the two began searching the area for any signs of that disk thingy they had found earlier.
“Found it!” Willow yelled.
Amity glanced over at Willow and sure enough, there it was. Another of the weird disks.
After wiping of the ash and soot, Amity and Willow were able to make out the number #9.
“This has to be an order thing,” Amity muttered.
Willow’s brows furrowed “Yeah… Must be”.
Hesitantly, Amity carefully placed the disk into the hole.
Just like the first time around, the disk began to spin. It started slow before picking up speed and eventually it emitted a bright light before once more becoming a screen for Amity and Willow to view.
This time around the memory began in a park that mirrored the one Amity and Willow were currently in. Luz and her weird demon friend Bendy were gathered around a picnic basket and were currently eating a pair of sandwiches.
“I gotta say Bendy, these sandwiches are aces! Boris makes the best stuff, don't you agree?”
Bendy nodded in agreement. His eyes lit up in mischievous glee, and then faster than Luz could blink, swiped what remained of Luz’s sandwich straight from her hands before quickly scarfing it down.
“Bendy!” Luz yelled in offense.
Willow hummed “That wasn’t very nice.”
Bendy fell over in laughter causing Luz to let out a begrudging laugh.
“Fine you can have that one. I’ll just Boris for another once he’s back.” She huffed.
As if on que, Luz perked up and started to wave. “Oh hey, there he is. Boris over here!
What walked into view was, much like Bendy, certainly not human.
“ANOTHER ONE!” Amity yelped.
Willow was gazing in similar shock at the beast before her mind recalled a previous conversation she had shared with Luz.
“Wait, there’s a big dog coven?” Luz snorted.
“Yeah, at that booth over there. Why? Do you like dogs?” Willow asked.
Luz turned to Willow with a knowing grin. “Yup! Heck, one of my best buddies Boris would probably love that coven.”
‘So that’s what she meant’ Willow realized.
Boris slumped down next to Bendy and Luz before grabbing his own sandwich and was about to chow down before Luz .
“Uh, Boris, could I have some?” Luz questioned as she tapped her fingers together.
Boris turned and stared at her… before eventually breaking his sandwich into half and offering her one.
Luz’s eyes sparkled with glee. “Your amazing Boris!!! Thank you very much!” She praised before chowing down on her half of the sandwich.
Boris nodded and went to take a bite of his own… Only to notice it was now in the hands of a certain darling devil.
Bendy scarfed down the other sandwich half before grinning as if he’d done nothing wrong.
Boris began barking at Bendy all the while Luz looked on and laughed.
And that’s where the memory ended.
Willow frowned. “This Bendy doesn’t seem very friendly”
Amity on the other hand was focused on something else that was bothering her.
“Do you also find it odd how Luz seems to be the only one talking and yet she seems to know exactly what they’re saying?” Amity asked.
Willow’s frown depended.
Now that Amity brought it up, it was… strange. Willow was familiar with witches who communicated via sign as opposed to talking, she did have one in her plant class after all, but neither Bendy or Boris seemed to be communicating via signs or signals.
It was all so very… off.
Before the conversation could continue Willow caught sight of something glowing by one of the other trees.
“Wait what’s that?” She pointed.
Amity followed her gaze, and soon enough she saw it.
“I don’t know… maybe it’s another memory? Or maybe even the inner Luz?” She suggested.
Willow hummed to herself. “Either way, I suppose we should check it out,” She remarked.
Amity nodded, and the pair silently approached.
What they found was… enlightening.
The source of the glow was a glowing green orb of light. It was very tiny and seemed to drift here and there like a leaf in the wind.
“Pretty” Willow mumbled.
The orb then stilled in the air before approaching the pair. It seemed to bob and weave around them, earning a small giggle from Willow and tiny yelp from Amity.
Finally, the orb flicked ever so slightly before floating further into the park, stopping briefly as if waiting.
“I think it wants us to follow it,” Willow mumbled.
Amit turned to her skeptically.
“What makes you so sure?”
Willow shrugged. “Not like we have very many options”
Amity scoffed a tad before reluctantly nodding.
Then the pair were off. Following the tiny green orb towards the unknown.
---
As they followed the orbs through the park, the pair encountered two other displaced memories. Numbers #13 and #15.
#13 contained a memory of Luz and Bendy fishing at a pond alongside Boris. There wasn’t anything majorly noteworthy in that memory other than Bendy nearly getting pulled into the water by a giant-sized fish (though it did worry the pair that rather than help, Luz laughed as if that was normal).
#15 was similarly normal, with Luz singing alongside what appeared to be some sort of quire. Amity and Willow were just barely able to make out Luz grumbling about how dumb she was for letting “Alice” talk her into this… whoever that was.
Finally they seemed to arrive at the end of the park. Beyond the exit was a building titled Butchers’ shop.
Just like at the entrance, the park's exit seemed to merge with the building's entrance, creating an unnatural scene for the pair of young witches.
Not deterred in the slightest, Willow and Amity opened the door to the shop and entered inside.
Entering inside revealed a surprisingly simple looking establishment… though evidently one that had been impacted by Amity’s fire.
Luckily for the pair, due to the small nature of the shop, and the orbs guiding light. The pair were easily able to locate the disk, this one simply marked #17.
Once they placed it back into the hole, the pair were treated to a scene that seemed to be taking place in a replica of the shop they were in right now.
What immediately caught the attention of two witches were the three rough and burly looking men gathered around the counter.
“They don’t look friendly!” Amity shivered, earning an unconscious nod of agreement from Willow.
“Yeah…” She mumbled, before her eyes locked on to the smallest of the group causing her to almost do a double take. “Wait, is that a spider?”
It seemed that just like Bendy and Boris, these three weren’t entirely what Willow and Amity expected. Still, the pair continued to watch the memory play out.
The trio seemed to be grouching about something, before a bell rang out, signaling the arrival of someone.
“Uh hello? The sign said you were open, but I wasn’t sure.” Luz said
The three turned to her, each with a calculating look, before the small one approached and leaned in with an intimidating look.
“Ever washed a dozen dirty dishes!” He asked.
“Uh, yes?” Luz remarked.
Another one approached her, this one wearing a sailor’s cap.
“Can you stand the smell of rotten fishes?” He challenged.
Luz finally began to smirk. “Definitely.”
Finally, the last one approached and towered over Luz.
“Can you stomach that which WE deem delicious?”
Luz swallowed before nodding. “Yes sir”
The trio turned to each other and grumbled some more before finally turning back to Luz.
“Good, you’re hired.”
Luz blinked. “Wait what?”
The biggest one nodded as if it was a done deal. “Yup, you're now under the ‘generous’ employ of the… Butcher gang” He chuckled.
Luz blinked in confusion before eventually shrugging her shoulders. “Ok, aces! When do I start?”
And that’s where the memory stopped.
Willow and Amity were both highly unnerved.
“I’ve heard Luz mention the Butcher gang before, but I didn’t think they’d be so… brutish looking” Willow said.
Amity barely heard her. She was too busy processing what she’d just seen.
“I’ve seen my parents conduct job interviews before and that wasn’t like any I’ve ever seen,” Amity said.
“Yeah, it almost looked like Luz was forced into the position…” Willow trailed off before turning to Amity.
“Was she even looking for a job in the first place?”
Amity had no response to that.
At that moment, the tiny green orb the pair had been following began floating towards the back of the shop.
Reluctantly dropping the conversation, the pair began making their way towards the back of the shop.
Following the orb led them to a back exit where upon opening the door, the pair were once again treated to the sight of a street.
This one contains a sign labeled ‘Main street’.
“This looks just like the first place,” Amity said in confusion.
“Mindscapes are weird.” Willow said.
As the pair followed the orb they came to a stop by a burned looking door.
A quick scan of the area revealed the disk they were looking for; however Amity noted something… odd about this particular disk.
“That’s odd.” Amity said.
Willow turned to her. “What?”
“This one is blacked out,” Amity said, turning the disk for Willow to see.
Sure enough, the area that usually contained a number was completely blacked out making it virtually impossible to tell what number this disk may have contained.
“Could it be more soot?” Willow asked.
Amity tried wiping off the disk, but that proved futile.
“No luck… Maybe this is how it’s supposed to be?” She suggested.
Unsure of what to make of this strange disk, Amity decided that the best course of action was to simply place the disk into the slot and let the memory play out.
After the usual blinging light died down. Amity and Willow opened their eyes and were greeted to a truly bizarre sight.
The door had been restored to its former appearance and just to the side of it was the screen where the memory would normally play out…
However curiously, the screen was entirely blacked out.
Amity grew nervous. “That’s not right.”
Willow was equally unnerved. “Creepy…”
The memory didn’t last long, and before the pair could process what they had seen, the door they stood in front slowly swung open, revealing nothing but blackness on the other side.
Amity and Willow shivered.
“Do we have to go… in there?” Amity nervously asked.
Willow shivered.
“I don’t think we have a choice.”
Sure enough, the green orb flickered slightly, before slowly floating inside the door.
Swallowing their nerves, the pair slowly followed the orbs' lead and entered inside.
As the door ominously shut behind them, the pair were bathed in blackness. The only things they could make out were themselves, and the orb.
Speaking of which, the orb slowly floated upwards, before its light began to grow brighter and brighter, until Willow and Amity were forced to cover their eyes lest they risk being blinded.
When the glow died down the pair opened their eyes… and their jaws dropped.
“Wait, isn’t this?” Amity choked
“Yeah! It definitely is!” Willow responded.
The Owl lady’s tent.
While Amity had only vaguely seen it before, Willow recognized the interior from her various visits to Luz while she was working.
It helped that unlike all the other locations they had visited, this one actually contained color.
As the pair's gaze wandered they both eventually settled on one final screen.
As she tried to wrap her beyond blown away brain around everything, she failed to notice two things.
Firstly, the door she’d come through had vanished, and secondly, she had unknowingly exited the odd enclosure she’d entered on a whim.
When she finally realized she had departed the tent, she took in her surroundings hoping for some familiar sights.
“WHA-AAAAAAAAAAA”
What little stability and sanity stored safely in her noggin shattered under the sight of her new surroundings.
The buildings and land were like something out of a nightmarish fantasy. Monstrish sights and smells mixed together with the brightness to create a spectacle far beyond anything Luz had ever imagined.
Even the people looked unusual. Some had ghoulish features. Some had additional limbs. And the pointy ears were the icing on the crazy cake.
It was all too much for Luz to handle.
However, before she had time to fully process everything she was seeing, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Hey you!! What were you doing snooping around in my tent?”
And then the memory ended.
It took Willow and Amity a moment to realize what they had witnessed, but eventually Amity pieced it together.
“This must be when she first came to the Boiling Isles” She uttered.
Willow had seemingly reached the same conclusion. “Whoa…”
It was an almost reverent moment. The reality that this was the moment that their friend had first come into their lives. It was enough to momentarily silence the pair
Finally Amity broke the silence. “I don’t see the orb anywhere… Do you think that means we’re done?”
Willow slowly nodded. “I-I think so,” she said.
It was weird. Both witches had come into this whole experience with mixed emotions, and yet now as their work was seemingly concluded, their emotions only seemed to be even more mixed.
Sighing Willow brought out the bell.
“Well then, if we’re done here”.
Amity nodded. “Go ahead”.
Willow let out a small breath before ringing the bell twice.
---
After nervously waiting for what felt like ages Eda finally heard the telltale ringing of a bell.
‘About time!’ She thought to herself.
Channeling her magic, Eda successfully pulled the two witches out of Luz’s head.
“You took your time,” Eda said, gesturing to the window outside. “The sun's nearly down. You kids should probably get going. Last thing I need is your parents banging down my door” Eda muttered.
The Blight and Willow protested. “But-”
“Nope, you can talk to the kid tomorrow! For now, she just needs some rest to recover from everything. I imagine after…whatever you two went through in there, you’re both probably exhausted too, so shoo.” Eda ordered.
Willow opened her mouth.
“I already sent Goops home”.
Willow closed her mouth and humphed.
The Blight took a step forward, eyes betraying her nervousness.
“Can you at least tell her that I’m sorry, and that we hope she feels better?” She asked.
Eda eyed her for a moment, before giving Amity a small smirk.
“Sure kiddo, now scram.”
Nodding respectfully, Amity and Willow reluctantly departed from the Owl House.
Once they were gone, Eda turned her head to the still unconscious form of her apprentice.
Being careful not to wake her, Eda grabbed a nearby blanket and covered her apprentice with it (pretending not to notice King cuddled up to her side) before tiptoeing up to her room.
Eda was admittedly curious about what Willow and the Blight had seen while they were in there, but at the end of the day, that wasn’t any of her business.
Hopefully, the kid would be right as rain come tomorrow.
As Eda slowly succumbed to her exhaustion, she faceplanted into her nest before finally falling asleep.
Completely unaware that her apprentice’s weird color patches were glowing slightly.
---
As Amity and Willow continued their trek home, Willow decided to speak up.
“Can I ask you something?”
Amity turned to her.
“Why? Why did you burn her memories in the first place?” Willow asked.
Amity winced. She really didn’t want to say the real reason why… but she owed it to both Willow and Luz to fess up.
“I originally just wanted to burn one memory, it wasn’t even one of Luz’s.” She said before looking Willow in the eyes.
“It was one of yours. The one that had the two of us at… THAT party”.
Willow’s eyes widened in shock, before narrowing. “Why? Couldn’t stand the reminder that you used to associate with me?!” She bit out.
Amity sighed, before slowly shaking her head.
“No… I couldn’t stand the reminder of how I hurt you.
Those words caused Willows' mounting anger to halt.
Amity continued, the truth spilling from her lips. “My mom wanted me to cut ties with you. She told me that if I didn’t… she would make sure you were never admitted into Hexside.”.
Amity rubbed her arms together. “I know it’s no excuse. For the bullying, the teasing, all of it… but I am sorry” she said.
Willow stared at her in silence. She seemed to be taking in all that Amity said.
Finally, she spoke.
“I wont forgive you for everything you’ve done…” She said.
Amity closed her eyes and nodded her head.
“… But I suppose it’s a start.”
Amity’s head rose in hope.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Willow nodded. The pair continued their walk in silence until Amity had a startling realization.
“Hey wait, speaking of parents… did you Luz’s at all in any of the memories we saw?” Amity asked.
Willow racked her mind trying to remember only to come to the startling realization that no… no they hadn’t.
“I-I don’t think we did.”
Neither girl said anything for a while. Their minds were too busy trying to make sense of what they had seen.
Eventually they parted ways and continued home.
It had undoubtedly been a long day for both witches.
They had journeyed through Luz’s mind, and managed to finally begin the process of patching up their friendship…
Yet as both girls arrived home and settled into their beds to sleep.
They both wondered about everything they had seen...
And why it all felt so… unsettling.
Voice of
???
“Here’s your schedule for the day Mr. Drew. You have a meeting scheduled with the animation team at 9:15. A meeting with ‘BP’ about project Bendy land at 10:30. You're apparently supposed to meet with ‘CN’ for lunch at 12:30. You then have a budgetary meeting with ‘GC’ at 2:45. And last but not least, you need to meet with ‘SL’ in the music department regarding some frustrations of his at 4:00. Quite the busy day Mr. Drew. Quite the busy day…”