Amity swallowed hard as she began walking down the path away from her house. It was Saturday and she’d excused herself for the day to see Luz, perhaps the night too. All at Cluz’s demands which had been concerning, though seeing that the clone was doing better was nice. The clone had also broken out of the woods at such a dead sprint though that they hit the side of the house in their panic. That had given her very little time to say anything. Just that Amity needed to head towards Luz’s place, she should wear a little makeup and something casually pretty, and to be ready to possibly be gone for at least the rest of the day. Then Ed and Em had said something and Cluz had run away.

To say Amity was nervous was an understatement. Being told to go see Luz would have been one thing. Being told to go see Luz and expect to maybe spend the night was another. Being told to dress up and go was an entirely different matter. Not that it had anything to do. She wasn’t in a nice, soft purple sundress for anything that important. Hadn’t put on a bit of light blue eyeshadow or soft pink lipstick because she was looking forward to anything. Her heart totally wasn’t beating faster and faster with each step she took.

Fortunately? For her, it soon became obvious that Cluz had left The Owl House around the same time that Luz had since Amity wasn’t more than ten minutes from her house, if that, when she saw her crush walking towards her. The normally energetic girl had her cat hoodie on today and the hood crushed tight against her head as she kept looking around. Was she scared of something? Was something after her? Amity’s eyes slowly moved to the bag at Luz’s side and she wondered if that had anything to do with it. “Luz?”

The panicked human shrieked before leaping into the bushes beside the road. She then peaked out of her hiding spot and sighed in relief at the sight of Amity. “Oh, it’s just you. Sorry, I keep expecting Belos himself to somehow appear out of nowhere.”

Amity narrowed her eyes before summoning an abomination to her side. “Did something happen? Are you in trouble? How about Eda and Lilith?”

“No!” Luz waved her hands in front of her before looking at her bag. “It’s more just, well… I have something I shouldn’t. And it’s a lot to have it at all, let alone to be carrying it.” The nervous girl then looked at her bag and giggled nervously as she tried giving Amity a wide grin.

Amity frowned a little as she summoned a second abomination who held its hands out for Luz’s bag. “You remember what happened the last time you stole something, right?”

“I didn’t steal it!” Luz then covered her mouth as she looked around. “I mean, maybe who gave it to me did, but I didn’t.” She then tapped her bag and whispered, “Why is this so hard?”

Amity’s cheeks turned red before she paused. She then looked at the bag as her blood turned to ice. “Is… Did you find a way home?”

Luz was silent as she grabbed her arm. “I… I have. Someone somehow made a replacement of the portal Eda used to use.”

Be strong Amity. Be… Be strong. “I’m guessing you’re looking for somewhere safe to go home at then?”

“Um, no.” Luz scratched the back of her head before taking a long breath in. “I’m just planning to go visit, but while I’m excited to see my mom I’m also, well, scared. I haven’t quite told Eda and Lilith yet, just that they should be ready for something. I don’t really know what my plan was going to be when I got to your place actually…”

Amity blinked a few times as her heart began to race again and tears threatened to come to her eyes. “Wait, you said visit? That implies you’re coming back afterwards.”

Luz nodded, even as she failed to meet Amity’s eyes. “I got a message back from my mom with the portal saying that she was just happy that, well, I was happy. So I’m hoping, especially if I can show her how good the Isles can be, that she’ll be okay if I stay here most of the time and come over for the weekends to see her. That was as far as my planning went when I headed to grab you.”

Amity’s face felt so warm to the poor girl as she could barely breathe. “Wait, grab me? Like, grab me to go see your mom? Go home? With you? In this?” She then looked down and couldn’t believe she’d put this little effort in. She should be in a ball gown or something to see Luz’s mom!

Luz waved her hands in front of her in panic as she said, “That’s perfect! Mom and I have never been exactly formal after all.” She then turned bright red as she mumbled, “I don’t know if I could handle it if you looked better for meeting her.”

Amity’s ears burned so much that she was worried that for once she was going to manage to light her hair on fire like Luz sometimes did around Boscha. She covered her face for a second as she tried to bring herself down but something was poking at her brain. Something important. She peaked at Luz between her fingers before whispering, “So… So you want to be here? At least, usually.”

Luz paused before hanging her head down. “I… I love my mom but there’s simply more for me here. Sure, it’s dangerous, there’s no one like me,” she grabbed her ears and tugged on them for emphasis on what she meant, “and I’ve probably almost died a half a dozen times. But at the same time,” she said with a giggle, “there are people here just like me, I’ve almost died a half a dozen times, and some of the people I’ve met, well, might be close to being just as important to me as her…”

They were both quiet as they couldn’t look at the other. Both of their hearts were beating fast enough to make them think they would collapse at any moment from it all. But theoretically, they did have things to do. People to see. And for once, that was actually true. Amity gripped her arm before saying, “Um, if we go back to my place, Ed and Em are probably going to want to come too, but if we left now…”

“It would just be you and me.”

“With your mom.”

“In my world.”

Amity stepped closer before smiling a little. “I think I like the sound of that, crazy as it may sound.”

Luz sucked in her lips before nodding. The two then ran off into the woods. They didn’t have to theoretically but both of them kind of doubted they’d get a third portal suitcase so it was best to be careful. They didn’t go too far though. After all, while nerves made them want to wait, there was also a hum of excitement in each. To go see this new world for Amity while for Luz she just wanted to see her mom again.

There was the hesitation of actually getting the portal open, but Amity just sat to the side as Luz put down the different sigils and said the corresponding words. Or, at least, until Luz said Blight, which caused poor Amity to turn bright red. “W-Why would my last name be a part of this?”

Luz scratched the back of her head before looking at the paper. “Well, um, the instructions actually say that only three people are able to use this apparently. You, me, and Boscha. I really wish I knew why, but the person who gave me it did so while I was sleeping and just left the note. So…” Luz shrugged before putting in the last sigil.

Amity nodded before they both recoiled at the thorns suddenly growing. The serious girl then grabbed Luz’s arm as she shrieked, “What are you doing?”

Luz blinked a few times before saying, “Following the instructions?”

Of course. “Let me do it. Blood Blossom thorns are dangerous because they can easily attach to someone, something you should know since that’s why it took so long to get you free before.” She then held her hand up to her shoulder before her familiar splashed itself over her hand. “I can use my abomination though as a membrane between me and the thorns. Though, uh, why do we have to stab ourselves?”

That was met only with a shrug. “The notes say that it’s the ‘second lock’ to the briefcase. That it will read our thoughts to figure out who we are and if we’re being forced to open it. If the first is right, but the second wrong, it won’t open. Apparently.”

Amity nodded before reaching forward, pausing at the last second, and then gripping the case tightly. The thorns weren’t long enough to draw much blood but she’d still probably want a bandaid for her palm afterwards. She must seem like such a worry wart to Luz. After all, the person who gave it to Luz had theoretically done her crush a huge favor already and from all outside observation, the briefcase looked genuine. That didn’t stop Amity from wanting to make sure neither of them got hurt though, especially if this was some sort of trap.

But, instead of the thorns suddenly growing much larger, they sank back into the handle before the back of the suitcase opened up. Amity let it go before it could try to yank her up with it and both of them watched as it unfolded into a door. A door that then swung open to show a sunny, clear path through a woods that was incredibly similar to the ones they were in. It didn’t look all that different.

And yet, it terrified both of them.

Amity swallowed hard before using an arm to gesture for Luz to head in. The human slowly nodded before taking a nervous step forward. She flinched as her foot crossed the threshold before nothing happened. She merely landed on the other side. Another step and she was out of the Boiling Isles. She was home.

Then she heard the door close behind her. For a second her heart stopped before she watched the door close. Close behind Amity. Close behind her crush, who had actually followed her. Who was now going to see her mom. It all suddenly felt so real and her chest tightened as it all hit her.

Amity was the one to clutch her chest though before she hit her knees. One of her hands then went to her head as she shut her eyes in pain. Luz was at her side immediately as she yelled, “What’s wrong?”

Amity opened one of her eyes briefly before she whispered, “It’s like this incredible pressure is in my skull while my heart struggles to beat from my ribs constricting it.” She shut her eyes tighter as she whimpered in pain. “I… I don’t know what’s causing it.”

Luz paled for a moment before whispering, “What if it’s being here? W-What if… What if witches can’t survive here?”

Amity then gasped as there was some sort of popping sound in the air. She panted as her hands slammed against the ground but she seemed to at least be able to breathe again. Luz didn’t dare move away though as she waited to hear anything from her. After all, if Amity’s heart was having trouble, it would make all too much sense with what happened when she tried to mix her magic with Luz’s.

Amity then looked to the side before slowly, carefully, making a dime sized circle in the air. The spell circle struggled for a second before becoming solid, glowing, and fading. Amity held out her other hand as it did so and Luz watched as abomination goo slipped into her hand. The serious girl then pulled out a small, glass case from her pocket to have the goo jump into while Luz asked, “What just happened?”

The witch didn’t reply until she was standing, albeit with Luz’s help. She took another few moments to lean on her crush before she stabilized enough to stand on her feet. “Magic… is… hard here. Even a small spell commanding the ingredients, not even properly making an abomination, took more focus for me than raising a fully formed abomination. I… I think that mixed with my familiar in a bad way.”

Luz blinked a few times before she pulled out one of her sigil cards. “That might explain why my sigils don’t work here. I can’t do anything about making the spell anymore stable,” she said as she tapped the card and caused it to burn away without effect, “like you can.” She then sighed before giving Amity a bright smile. “I’m just happy that it’s something as minor as that.”

Amity raised an eyebrow back, even as she smiled herself. “Oh, yeah, I’m just now struggling with something I have had my entire life, nothing major like breathing.”

They both giggled for a second before Luz came close to Amity. “Do you need my help getting to my place? It’s not far from here,” she said before pausing to glance around them. It looked like the forest near her home, and the creepy, abandoned house was familiar enough, but she still had to admit, “I hope.”

Amity shook her head though. “You want me to represent the Isles. I want to make sure your mom knows it’s strong. That I’m strong. That,” she said as she placed a hand on Luz’s shoulder, “we’ve made you stronger.” She then blushed a little as she mimicked the other girl with, “I hope.”

Luz only took it as a chance to flex one of her noodly arms as she smiled bright enough to fight the sun. “Are you kidding? If my mom could watch me casting magic, there’d be no question!”

Amity chuckled a little before they both began moving through the woods. The nerves for Luz were so bad at this point that she slowed down as her chest felt tighter and tighter with each step. After all, what if her mom changed her mind once they saw each other? Demanded that she never go back? She wasn’t sure she could tell her no if she did that, even with Amity there. Especially with what Amity had said only a little while ago about being willing to let her go. But… Was she ready to let go of her crush?

Amity, meanwhile, slowly calmed. Or, appeared to as she matched Luz’s pace. Her face went to its neutral with half closed eyes while her arms stayed at her side. Her back was straight, her gaze forward, and in general she gave off the sort of aura that reminded people at school who they were talking to. It was a feeling that Luz commonly forgot since she got to see her crush at her warmest. The only times she felt so solid was when Luz needed her most, something the energetic girl wished she could do for Amity.

But there was only so much forest to cross. Only so much time left to think before the small, suburban home came into view. Amity tilted her head as she thought about how it reminded her of Boscha’s house, simply more vertical than horizontal. If she thought her family’s money would work here, she’d possibly offer to pay for an expansion. Then again, much like with Boscha, it only had two people living there usually. Unlike her friend’s home though, this one felt much warmer to look at, though that could simply be because of who she was with.

Luz kicked at the ground for a little bit before whispering to Amity, “Hey, you could knock first. Make this all dramatic as you introduce me as I jump out of the trashcan next to the bus stop.”

Amity merely turned to the other girl before saying, “I am not having your mother’s first impression of me as a fakeout for you.” She then slipped her hand into Luz’s. “Besides, I can’t imagine that she’ll be anything other than happy to see you.”

“But I ran away…”

“And you had planned to come back on time if you could have, right?”

Luz met Amity’s eyes before sighing. “Okay. I’ll… I’ll go.”

They let go of each other but Amity stayed in lockstep behind her crush with her short heeled shoes making enough noise to constantly remind Luz that she was there. The energetic girl needed it, especially as she stood in front of the door. As she stared it. All it would take was a few knocks and that’d be it. She’d be home. Properly home.

Knock knock knock.

There was no response as the two stood there. Luz looked back at Amity, who gave the nervous girl a slight smile, before looking back to the door. Was she at work? It was possible. Maybe even likely. Should she use the key under the mat to go in and surprise her mom when she got home? Or should she show Amity the neighborhood until she knew her mom would be home?

Or should she just try again?

Knock knock knock.

Luz then paused before saying, “Mama? Estoy en casa.”

There was silence again until Luz put her ear against the door. She heard something now. Slow footfalls as they came down the stairs. She was home. And she was coming. She was coming. Oh no, she was coming. Luz became rigid as she moved back to standing away from the door, even as every nerve in her body wanted to run for her life.

And then a spectral hand gently gripped Luz’s shoulder. The energetic girl looked back to see Amity still smiling before the magical hand faded away as the click of the door made both of them jump.

And then the door slowly opened as a very tired Camila asked, “Luz?”

The two then just stood there. Camila had been up almost the entirety of last night as she went over the scrapbook over and over and over again. She’d missed work from sleeping in, though the hospital had been mostly understanding of her needing some time off right now. When she’d heard Luz’s voice, she’d thought she’d imagined it. Or that it would be that stranger again.

But no, it was her little girl. “M-Mija?”

Luz fidgeted for a second before rushing forward and hugging her mother as tightly as she could. The moment she was in Camila’s arms, her fears washed away. The voices telling her everything would go wrong melted away. The warmth, the comfort, the care was all she could feel now, even as they both burst into tears “I-I’ve missed you.”

Camila squeezed her little girl tighter, keeping her there until her tears finally at least slowed. “I… You… You look healthy.”

Luz smiled a little before pushing her chest out as she said, “I mean, when you’re constantly putting monsters in their place, you gotta toughen up!”

All color in Camila’s face drained away until a pale hand gripped her little girl’s shoulder. Amity then came around to Luz’s side. “And statements like that are why I make sure she knows to ask me for help before she does something too reckless.”

Camila blinked a few times before extending her hand to the witch. “Amity, correct? Luz’s message said you were her best friend…”

Amity’s cheeks burned slightly before she brushed some of her hair behind an ear to help collect herself. She then shook Camila’s hand as she said, “Yes.” She then curtsied to the older woman and bowed her head. “And it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Noceda.”

Camila blushed slightly before saying, “Please, you don’t need to be so formal. Just call me Camila.”

Amity nodded as she stood back up before Luz almost knocked her over as her crush wrapped an arm around her neck. “See? How do I describe that? She’s the coolest, most collected person I’ve ever met! And one of the smartest, strongest, and-”

The serious girl placed a hand over Luz’s mouth before her crush made her head start steaming. She was trying to be all of those things for Camila after all. “And your daughter is one of the most interesting, exciting girls I’ve ever met, as well as understanding and kind in ways I didn’t think existed.”

Luz, lacking any chill, swayed a little as steam came off of her head. Camila looked between the two of them before sighing as tears came back to her eyes. It was only a little in pain though. After all, a part of her still wanted to beg Luz not to leave. To stay with her where she’d be safe. Seeing her daughter in love though… “Mija, I need some time to wake up. Would you care to show Amity around while I start lunch?”

Luz blinked a few times before saying, “Why don’t we help you? You, um,” she sucked her lips in as she stopped herself from commenting on how exhausted her mom was. Healthcare work wasn’t easy after all and she knew her mom usually felt better if Luz didn’t point out how much it took out of her. She could only imagine what bringing it up right now might do. “A-Amity can show you her cooking skills.”

Amity turned to Luz before bluntly saying, “Luz, I’ve cooked for you once and you got food poisoning after I made charcoal.”

Luz turned green at the memory while Camila took in a happy sigh. The older woman then put a hand on the young witch’s shoulder. “It happens sometimes, especially if you’re cooking bread.”

Amity’s ears burned a bit as she whispered, “It was soup…”

“That was supposed to be soup!?”

Amity covered her face in order to try and hide her blush but then peaked between her fingers as she heard Camila simply laugh at the incident. It wasn’t exactly the proudest moment for the Blight after all and she’d have preferred that Camila didn’t know her weaknesses right now. Only her strengths.

The blushing did help give Amity that chance as the older woman looked at her. Camila paused for a second before whispering, “So, you’re a witch?”

For a second, Amity went to cover her ears. She hadn’t even thought about it before now that she should have been hiding them. But Camila already knew what she was so there was no point. In fact, there was no reason not to prove it.

The young witch extended her hands before using both to create a more stable spell circle in front of her. She could feel that pressure on her heart to pull the energy out of her, before her head hissed slightly in protest to the focus that was required to not allow the circle to even spark. She wasn’t trying to cast anything large though. She merely wanted to make sure that she put enough energy into it that when she compressed the circle and eventually closed her hands around it, it didn’t waver. That Camila had no reason to doubt her abilities.

She then opened her hands to show the fire that burned above her palm with no fuel to speak of to feed it. “Yes, I am.”

Camila blinked a few times before placing a hand on her chest. “Oh mi.” She then smiled at Luz as she said, “You truly did find a fantasy world then, didn’t you?”

Luz nodded before moving to her mother’s side and gesturing at Amity. “But she’s proof that it’s not fantasy. It’s reality, just not our reality. Or… Wasn’t our reality.”

Camila sighed before gesturing for Amity to finally come in. “Please, come in. There’s no reason you should just keep standing there. Now, what would you like to eat? I made sure to be ready to cook all of Luz’s favorites so you have plenty to choose from.”

Amity smiled first at the older woman before looking over to Luz. Her crush smiled back, even as tears came down her cheeks and she whispered, “She likes you. She actually likes you…”

The serious girl was having similar thoughts herself but she knew it would only make her crush burst into more tears. Instead, she placed a hand on her chest and turned her head up and to the side. “Of course she does. I’m Amity Blight after all.”

Which only led to more tears as Luz tackled Amity into a hug. Camila poked her head out of the kitchen to see the two blushing and holding each other before sighing. She would still ask for Luz to maybe stay for a week before going back, but there was simply no way she could keep her little girl here. She was simply growing up too fast. Camila simply wished she’d been there to see it all. But if she had, her little girl wouldn’t have met Amity. Wouldn’t have found somewhere to be happy.

She’d hoped that the scrapbook had been her putting a brave face on for her mami, but no. Her mija must have meant every word and she would need to accept that, as well as everything that came with doing so. But, one more look at the couple as they entered the kitchen was all she needed to be okay with it. At least, for her little girl.