Chapter Text
Once upon a time, the realm of witches and demons changed forever when it received an unlikely visitor: a girl from the realm of humans.
Unable to find her place in her own world, this human decided to begin a new life in the world of magic.
She met a mentor who taught her the ways of witchcraft. She met new friends. She met the love of her life.
Together, she and her family fought and defeated a great evil that threatened the magic realm.
Together, they learned to trust and depend on each other, and bridged the gap between worlds.
So will their story live forever in legend.
But no story ever truly ends. And where one evil falls, in its place, another shall rise...
"So," Luz Noceda began, "you're probably wondering why we've gathered you all here today."
On a cold and gloomy January evening in Gravesfield, Connecticut, the living room of the Noceda residence had become an impromptu conference room awaiting a presentation. Matriarch Camila Noceda sat in the center of the faded green sofa, with Amity Blight, Vee, Willow Park, and Hunter surrounding her. On the opposite side of the coffee table, facing their captive audience with uncharacteristically serious expressions, stood Luz and Gus Porter — the masterminds of a bold new plan.
Gus snapped his fingers, and the lights in the room immediately dimmed. A glowing, screen-shaped illusion appeared in mid-air, displaying bold, purple letters against a blank white background:
SPRING BREAK
A modest but TOTALLY SICK proposal
by Luz Noceda and Gus Porter
Copyright © Owl House Productions
"Right now, it's late January, which means it's basically February," Luz continued. "After February is March, and the last week in March is our spring break. We know this to be true — an indisputable fact, like the existence of atoms, gravity, and silly hats."
For emphasis, she pointed to the Party City Willy Wonka top hat that rested on her head at a slight angle.
"Now, most American college freshmen on the East Coast might choose to travel to a popular destination for their spring break. Miami. Cancún. Perhaps even Long Island." Images of the scenic locations appeared on the following 'slide' as she listed them. "But those college freshmen are chumps!"
The words 'FOR CHUMPS' then flashed over the images, accompanied by an 'incorrect answer' buzzer.
"We, my friends, are not chumps. Why should we settle for any of these relatively boring destinations, when we can use the power of magic..."
She held up her hands and wiggled her spread fingers — again, for emphasis.
"...to instantaneously transport ourselves to the other side of the world? Distinguished loved ones, I present to you..."
A star-wipe transition to the next slide revealed the skyline of...
"Tokyo, Japan!"
...followed by a D.J. airhorn sound effect.
"Yes, Tokyo — a city where culture and tradition meet innovation and adventure! Where the attractions include..."
Pictures representing the attractions appeared on the 'screen' as Luz listed them off one-by-one.
"Food! Fashion! Museums! Temples! Gardens! Cherry blossoms! Tokyo Tower! Tokyo Skytree! Tokyo Disneyland! Anime! Godzilla! Giant rainbow cotton candy!"
Sculptures of bizarre, polka-dotted humanoid figures crawling on all fours.
"Whatever the heck these things are! But, most importantly..."
A jarring CGI explosion marked the transition to the next slide, which was text-only:
1 JPY = 0.0066 USD = 0.00066 Snails
(H*CK YEAH, MATH!)
"...an almost worthless yen, meaning we'll get way more bang for our buck. Bang for our 'bucks'? Nah, that doesn't sound right. But anyway, here's the plan."
The next slide showed a familiar round symbol.
"You may recall the teleportation spell that helped us save the Boiling Isles that one time," she continued. "Now, I know what you're going to say: 'But Luz, you devastatingly beautiful creature!'"
She batted her eyelashes for — yes — emphasis.
"'Isn't that useless now that the component glyphs have changed?' To which I say, 'nope' — because I've learned two of the new component glyphs in the past semester. So, to use the teleportation spell again, we only need to learn the fire component glyph in about two months. Given our previous track record, that shouldn't be an issue. Then, by using the spell, our group — me, Willow, Gus, Amity, Vee, and Hunter — can travel from here directly to Tokyo and back again. We won't have to worry about long flights, customs, weight restrictions, overpriced airport food, and germs from sick children. In conclusion..."
The final slide appeared, showing only a smiling emoji with sunglasses.
"This plan is one hundred percent foolproof."
The screen then disappeared in a puff of smoke, and the lights in the room returned to full brightness. "So, what're we thinking?"
While most in the audience were smiling, one person in particular had wide, incredulous eyes.
"You two... really thought this through, huh?" Camila said, as if amazed yet slightly terrified at Luz and Gus's effort.
Luz beamed. "Yup! Two great minds together make a brilliant plan even brilliant-er."
"I designed all the transitions," Gus chimed in, clearly proud of his work on the presentation.
Luz gave him an enthusiastic two thumbs up. "Dude, that part with the explosion was so cool."
"And you just had to use Comic Sans for the font, huh?" Hunter said with a smirk, crossing his arms. "Cringe."
"It's called 'artistic expression,' Hunter," Luz sarcastically responded through a toothy grin, before returning her attention to the group as a whole. "But it'll be fun, right? Something new and different."
"I'm in," Amity said.
"Me, too!" Willow added.
"No disagreement here," Hunter said.
Vee vibrated in anticipation. "I'm so excited!" she practically squealed.
"Wait a moment, mija." Camila's voice was tinged with appropriately motherly concern. "Flight or no flight, you still have to account for hotels, restaurants, entry fees, medical emergencies... Even with the exchange rate, all of those add up, you know."
"I know, Mamá," Luz said, "which is why I've been saving up from those gigs and part-time jobs I told you about. Last I checked, my account was at fifteen thousand snails; the trip shouldn't cost more than a couple—"
"Fifteen thousand?!" Camila interrupted, exclaiming a bit louder than she probably intended. "For part-time work?"
"Turns out, most employers in the Boiling Isles can afford to pay gig workers a living wage and then some," Luz said, grinning ear to ear. "Who knew?"
"Don't worry, Mrs. Noceda," Gus assured Camila. "Like Luz said, our plan is one hundred percent foolproof."
"...Ay Dios mío," Camila muttered under her breath. "Just when I think I've figured things out, you all keep surprising me."
"Ssssoooo we're all good for Spring Break: Tokyo Edition, then, right?" Luz clasped her hands in front, and looked at her mother with puppy dog eyes — trying to say 'Pwetty pwease~?' without actually saying it.
Camila sighed in defeat, though she nonetheless smiled. "Well, you're eighteen, so you really don't need my permission, but yes, you can go to Tokyo for spring break."
Luz pumped a fist into the air. "Yessss! Score."
"Alright, let's bring it in, team," Willow said, and the group moved closer together to stack hands. "Hexside on three. One, two, three!"
"Hexside!" all cheered in unison as they lifted their hands.
"To Tokyo!" Luz triumphantly bellowed. "In like two months."
On the outskirts of Bonesborough, the Boiling Isles. February 14.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now."
Amity did as Luz instructed.
In the cold, faint light of early morning, upon the snow-dusted lawn of the stately Blight Manor, Luz had laid out a small tarp with a circular design covering most of the surface. While Amity's eyes took a moment to adjust to the dimness outside, she soon recognized the completed form of the teleportation spell, despite its new component glyphs.
"It's done? When did you learn the fire glyph?"
"A few days ago," Luz replied. "I was at the Owl House teaching King how to cook, spaced out, and burned the griffin eggs that we were making; then, we saw the glyph in the, uh, remains."
Amity pouted — half seriously, half just-to-look-cute. "Luz, you need to be more careful about that," she said.
Luz rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. "Heh. Sorry. But hey, it worked! Never mind that, though." She held out her hand for Amity to take. "There's somewhere that I want to show you."
Amity took Luz's hand without hesitation, and the two walked into the center of the large glyph. Luz then tapped the glyph with her foot to activate the spell, and it quickly engulfed the two in brilliant light.
When the spell's magic faded, they found themselves in a familiar place: atop a small rock formation near the abandoned ruins of the Witch Arena, upon the cap of the mountainous Knee. They faced eastward, away from the Boiling Isles, and towards whatever parts unknown lay thousands of miles beyond the horizon. Even with a clear view from such impressive heights, the Boiling Sea seemed to stretch forever across the world.
"I know we've been here before," Luz said, "and I know you've seen sunrises before — but I figured that you haven't seen..."
Mere seconds after Luz's sentence trailed off, the orange light of the sun began to creep over the horizon — and with it, the water of the sea and the snow covering the land both began to sparkle as if the entire world were covered in diamonds. As a gentle wind blew through the trees, their red fronds flickered like fires against the light shining through them.
Amity's smile grew brighter just as the world around her did. "It's beautiful, Luz."
"Happy Valentine's Day, batata." Luz opened the duffel bag that she'd brought with her, and pulled out an instrument case — from which she in turn produced a tenor ukulele covered with various stickers. "I hope I practiced this enough."
Amity was breathless as Luz began to play and sing a familiar tune:
Saying "I love you"
Is not the words I want to hear from you
It's not that I want you
Not to say but if you only knew...
Amity's voice then joined Luz's; the song went on without either singer missing a beat.
...How easy
It would be to show me how you feel
More than words
Is all you have to do to make it real...
Neither Luz nor Amity were trained musicians. They weren't entirely on-beat or on-pitch. But it didn't matter. The feelings behind their voices were absolutely genuine — and that was more than enough.
...What would you say
If I took those words away?
Then you couldn't make things new
Just by saying "I love you"
When the song finished, Amity wrapped Luz in a tight hug, and buried her face into Luz's shoulder.
"I love you, Luz," she softly whispered. "So much."
Luz wrapped her arms around her beloved in return. "I love you too, Amity."
The two stood still in each other's embrace as the sun warmed them with its glow. If they could have, they would have held onto each other forever, never letting go.
Blight Manor. February 15. 1:24 A.M.
She stirred when she felt an empty space next to her where someone else should have been. Her eyelids barely began to peek open as she realized her special person's absence; then, they opened further when she heard the muffled sounds of heaving and gasping in the distance.
She sat up in bed, and noticed a faint light from beyond the door, which was ajar. Shaking off her sleep as best she could, she rose to her feet and, with quiet steps, crossed the bedroom into the hallway.
The sterile white light came from within the nearby bathroom, its door also ajar. Wary of the hinges creaking too loudly, she very carefully pushed the door open to see...
"...Luz?"
Luz was kneeling on the bathroom floor, hunched over the toilet as if she were about to be sick. Her face had lost much of its color, and sweat dotted her brow. She turned to look at Amity with a weak smile, trying and failing to hide her discomfort.
"Heya, sweet potato," she croaked like a frog. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
Amity entered the bathroom and sat on the floor next to Luz, resting her back against the sink cabinet. "There's nothing to be sorry for. What's wrong?"
"Oh, you know, just..." She took a pause to breathe, seeming hesitant to say the reason out loud. "...A nightmare."
Amity gently placed her hand on Luz's shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"...No," Luz answered after a pause, sounding like she was only a few seconds away from breaking into tears. "Not really."
"It's okay," Amity said, stroking her thumb against Luz's shirt sleeve. "I'm here."
Luz's muscles relaxed with Amity's touch, and her breathing slowed.
"You don't have to tell me about them," she said, not making direct eye contact, "but do you get nightmares, Amity?"
"I do, sometimes," Amity replied. "About different things."
Luz swallowed an empty mouthful. "...I don't have them all that often, but I feel like they're getting worse when they do happen."
She pulled away from the toilet to look Amity in the eye.
"That's kind of why I wanted to go to Japan, you know? Maybe, if we went somewhere new and different, I could... I don't know, reset my brain, or something."
"I think I know what you mean." Amity then rested her forehead against Luz's. "Hey. We're going to have a lot of fun in Japan, and we'll make a lot of good memories together. Yeah?"
Luz exhaled, and smiled with pursed lips. "Yeah. Thank you." She closed her eyes, letting one small tear run down her cheek. "I know I say this all the time, but I really love you, Amity."
"I love you," Amity said, "and I promise that you — that we — won't have to go through anything alone. I promise."
The University of Wild Magic. March 19. One day before departure.
"And you're sure you don't want to come with?"
"I mean, of course I do," the University of Wild Magic's Headmaster, Eda Clawthorne, replied to Luz from across her office desk. "But honestly, I'd probably be passed out for the whole week. I wouldn't be any fun — which, I know, doesn't sound like me." She sighed.
"I know all of this was part of the job when I got started, but jeez, I haven't had to do this much reading and writing for... Titan knows how many years. Math! That's another thing! Ugh." She rubbed the bridge of her nose with her non-hook hand. "But, I guess that's the price I pay for having this sweet office."
"To be fair, it is classy." Luz then bounced up and down on her seat cushion. "And cushy. Who'd you have to kill to get these chairs?"
"Eh, some random loser named 'Belos' or something like that," Eda said, prompting the two to share a short chuckle together.
"Well, hey, if you change your mind, you know where to find us," Luz said as she stood up to leave. "Rest easy, Headmaster Clawthorne."
Eda snorted. "Hah! See, when you say it, it sounds weird. Not that I really mind. Take care, kid. And be sure to bring back some human junk for me."
Luz winked and pointed a finger-gun at her mentor. "Oh, you know I will." She opened the door to the campus outside, but before stepping across the threshold...
"And remember to drink water! Apple blood isn't a substitute for that!"
"You can't tell me what to do, that's my job!" Eda playfully called to Luz as the door swung shut.
"Ah, little Luz is almost all grown up now," she wistfully said to herself once silence fell. "I guess we both are."
After reminiscing for a moment, she stretched her arms above her head. "Now, to finally finish this paperwork—"
Before Eda could finish her sentence, a puff of magic suddenly filled her previously empty desk inbox with a fresh, inches-high stack of paper documents. Her expression immediately soured.
"...Ugh. I changed my mind. I don't want to be an adult today."
March 20. 3:49 P.M.
Classes for the quarter had concluded, and so was Spring Break: Tokyo Edition about to begin.
Luz, Amity, Willow, Gus, and Hunter, with their luggage and Palisman staves in tow, stood before the front door of the Owl House — Eda's home, and a beacon of hope and good vibes for all of Bonesborough. In moments, they would be ready to step through into the human realm and begin their adventure, but before then...
"Last check for concealment stones and prescriptions," Willow announced to the group, "or anything else that you can't live without for a week."
The four witches checked to make sure that they were all wearing their matching concealment stone necklaces; with the stones' spell active, the witches' normal pointed ears appeared round and human like Luz's. Luz, meanwhile, checked her various pockets for her phone, wallet, and — most importantly for the teleportation spell to work — the vial of Titan's blood that King had graciously given to Luz for Christmas. Once certain that they all had their necessary items, no one said anything more.
"Guess we're golden," Luz said, before turning to the three people who were present to see her group's safe departure. "Well, we're off; wish us luck!"
"Have fun, everyone," Raine Whispers said with a smile and a wave.
"Take lots of pictures with yourselves in them so we can make fun of you when you get home," King added. "And I mean that in an endearing way!"
Luz stifled a laugh. "Wouldn't expect it any other way! I'll bring you back some souvenirs!"
Hooty, cheerful as he usually was, opened his beaked mouth to give his own well-wishes to the travelers — but instead of actual speech came a noise that sounded like a heavily distorted recording of yodeling played in reverse.
"...Um." Understandably confused and possibly frightened, Luz looked at Raine and King for some kind of explanation. "Is... is he okay?"
"He might have eaten something he shouldn't have," Raine said. "I'm sure it's fine." They did not look sure.
"...Okay, well," Luz said to the incomprehensible tube-owl demon through an uneasy smile, "good luck with that, Hooty... I think."
Hooty, for his part, seemed to respond with favorable words.
"Well, we're going to head out, then!" Luz said, trying not to dwell on the bizarreness of Hooty's situation. She placed her hand on the golden star design on the Owl House's front door, and the white light of the interdimensional portal began to glow from the other side. Luz pulled the door open; beyond its threshold, where the house's living room would have normally been, was an expanse of green forest an entire world away.
"¡Vamonos, mis hermosas brujas!"
The so-called 'beautiful witches' carried their bags and staves through the portal into the human realm, and Luz soon followed after them with her own.
"See you in a week-ish!" She waved once more to Raine, King, and Hooty before shutting the door behind her.
Little did anyone know that, hidden within the shadows of the Boiling Isles' wilderness, something — someone — had been watching them with cruelty and malice in their eyes...