Chapter 40: The Rescue
Art by Crash X Fusion: They need to save her. Otherwise, her fate will be in his hands.
The rescue team goes to save Luz and Eda from petrification knowing their decisions will change their lives...
Tropes that appear in this Chapter:
- Actually Pretty Funny: Ms. Traveler of all people chuckles after seeing Luz declare she's going to kick the Emperor's ass.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: Amber and Derwin-no, the Bards Against the Throne as a whole-debut in the Season 1 finale, "Young Blood, Old Souls", instead of Season 2's "Eda's Requiem".
- Apologetic Attacker: Both Amity and Warden Wrath really don't want to fight each other but for the sake of their goals (Wrath's job, Amity saving Luz), they have to. They both tell each other it's not personal.
- Armor-Piercing Question: Seeing all the petrified witches in the conformatorium's corridor, Amity asks Lilith if she would suffer the same fate just for not joining a coven and nothing else. Lilith concedes that she isn't sure and that she can't justify it anymore.
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Emperor Belos shows Anu Bist and Puck he's not one to be underestimated as he uses counter spells to have a speed advantage over them through their entire battle.
- Back for the Finale: Several characters return after prolonged absences including Brucy, Mattholomule, the Shadowy Secret Expozers and Webstor.
- Badass Boast: Luz gives one when Webstor allows her to say her final words which leaves everyone speechless.Luz: "I'm… going to survive. To me you're all just scumbags who came to watch some kid get punished for her mother's crimes, which just shows just how corrupt the coven system is. Sure, I'm not innocent. But I didn't do anything to deserve petrification! And neither did my mom! The only difference between us and the rest of you is that we refused to submit to the rule of a tyrant! This whole coven system is all about control. The only reason that my mom is a criminal was because the Emperor's Coven forced her to, because she decided to be her own witch. And that's all that my mom ever wanted for me, to be able to create my own destiny and choose to become my own witch no matter what anyone else says! And that's why… I've decided I won't die today! I'm going to escape and though it may not happen today or tomorrow, I will get stronger… and KICK THAT BITCH-ASS EMPEROR'S ASS! My name is Luz Clawthorne, daughter of Edalyn Clawthorne and the late Camila Noceda… and I will become the number one badass witch of both worlds!"
- Bad "Bad Acting": The first rescue team's plan to get into the conformatorium is to split up and create a distraction to lure the guards away. Anu Bist dresses as a sheep herder whose sheep Puck sets free gets the attention of the guards stationed outside the place while Amity pretends to be attacked by a wild witch (Lilith covered in abomination goo putting on a deadpan performance) to knock out the guards at the entrance to claim their uniforms.
- Baddie Flattery: Amity disspells Belos' illusions and he actually applaudes her for being strong enough to do so.
- The Bad Guy Wins: The Clawthornes may be free, but Emperor Belos still succeeds in ending Puck's life, he has the portal to the human realm and he severely injured Anu Bist in the process.
- Beyond the Impossible: Everyone who knew about Lilith being killed at the Golden Guard's hands are unable to understand how she's still alive, especially Hunter.
- Big Damn Heroes: The Bards Against The Throne arrive just in time to aid Amity in freeing Luz, Eda and the now captured King and Lilith.
- Bittersweet Ending: As per canon, Lilith splits the curse between herself and Eda which will affect their magic, Emperor Belos is still going through with "The Day of Unity", and the Clawthornes are now branded fugitives. Additionally, Amity is forced to join them in Self-Imposed Exile but earns Luz's forgiveness, Puck is murdered by Belos, who still has the intact portal but now lacks the key, Anu Bist has been severely injured and Boscha's got a lot of work to do to make up for her actions.
- Both Sides Have a Point: Doubling as Kid Has a Point. In arguing over how to stop the petrification ceremony, Gus says Luz would fight only for Willow to point out that Luz would prioritize her friends' safety.
- Bound and Gagged: Just gagged. Cat tapes Nicole's mouth shut to keep her from arguing against Willow's protest.
- Break Them by Talking: Along with illusions, Belos applies this to force Amity to stand down telling her that only he knows what's best for Luz and that she's out of her league against him. She refuses to listen and cancels out the illusions.
- Bridal Carry: Luz with Amity again, this time it's due to catching her while she's falling from the collapsing stage and carrying her back to the Owl House.
- Call-Back:
- Gus lists off the most important events of the last four chapters.
- During the rally, several students bring up many of Luz's accomplishments: saving Amity's life twice, helping the troublemakers study magic their way, aiding the Shadowy Secret Expozers and taking down Grom. Eda defeating the Greater Basilisk is also mentioned.
- Emperor Belos mentions his last battle with Anu Bist, which the jackal brought up in "I Ain't Troubled Yet!"
- The Cavalry: Both rescue parties serve as this.
- The Cameo: Those watching the news broadcast include the Blight family, Boscha, a laid-up Mattholomule, and Ms. Traveler.
- Can't Kill You, Still Need You: Belos admits to Amity he isn't actually going to have Luz petrified, as she's too valuable to his plans. After seeing Amity's strength, he states she may be useful herself.
- Character Development: Realizing that the coven system is too unjust, Amity foregoes her dream of joining the Emperor's Coven and decides to find a better way to make life fair for wild witches.
- Chekhov's Gun: The Emperor utilizes several iron blades against Anu Bist.
- Chekhov's Skill: If you thought Amity's use of illusions were a big help against Dolly (and against Warden Wrath here), her ability to recognize and disspell them really helps her out when fighting against the Emperor.
- Continuity Nod: The act of "pulling a Houdini" is mentioned.
- Crazy-Prepared:
- King kept a light spell tucked under his collar to snap Eda back to her senses.
- In preparation for his fight against Anu Bist and Puck, Belos set up several countermeasures to slow them down so he could have the advantage.
- Cringe Comedy: Warden Wrath is labeled "cringe incarnate", given how his idea of coping with Eda's future death is by writing self insert fanfiction of them.Hunter: ...you are cringe, you know that?Wrath: I'm a lonely and single father, I can't help it!
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Where to start? First, the rescue party takes out several coven guards in order to sneak in to the Conformatorium, then Lilith and King take on Warden Wrath, Kikimora and a thrown off Golden Guard in a fight and win, Belos' preparedness helps him mop the floor with Puck and Anu Bist, and the BAT's keep any approaching guards at bay as they free the Clawthornes.
- A Day in the Limelight: Sure, Luz returns after her cameo last chapter but it's Amity who's the central focus this time. Luz just happens to be the secondary protagonist.
- Dead Serious: Belos makes it clear in killing Puck that the fae have no place in the Boiling Isles and he'll make sure any more of them that come will suffer the same fate.
- Declaration of Protection: Amity makes it her mission to save Luz and Eda, to the point of sacrificing Phil as well as her future.
- Disappointed in You: Belos attempts to exploit this twice.
- First, he chides Lilith for double-crossing him and dragging Amity into helping her with her "underhandeness" again only for Lilith to defy it by pointing out how he used her.
- Then he invokes Amity's fear of her parents by saying they won't be happy with her disgracing their family name. She also defies his attempt to break her.
- Dramatic Drop: Upon seeing Amity at the petrification ceremony, Odalia drops the teacup she was holding in shock.
- Dressing as the Enemy: To infiltrate the conformatorium, Amity and Lilith use stolen coven guard uniforms.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Despite the overdose of hardship, there's some light for the end of the season: Amity earns Luz's forgiveness, Lilith is allowed to stay at the Owl House at Eda's request, and Luz learns she'll develop a bile sac, so her dream of becoming a witch is truly valid now.
- Extremely Short Timespan: As Gus points out, this chapter along with the last four take place over the course of a single day.
- Eye Color Change: The chapter ends with Luz's eyes turning blue one last time. Surprisingly enough Amity's eyes flash purple, too.
- Face Death with Dignity: Having been impaled at Belos' hands, Puck accepts his fate saying "death is an awfully big adventure."
- Family-Unfriendly Death: Belos stabs Puck in the chest with his own dagger...
- Forced to Watch: ...with Luz and Amity too far away to do anything but witness their friend's death.
- Forgiveness: After seeing Amity risk everything for her family, Luz invites her to stay at the Owl House (with Eda also welcoming her with open arms). As for Lilith, Eda makes it clear she hasn't forgiven her yet but would like her to stay as well to build up to it.
- Frame-Up: Belos strikes Puck (who's currently a dragon) with spells that make it look like he's intentionally attacking him to convince the citizens the fae are a danger to the Isles.
- The Ghost: Jerbo, Camila, Dr. Bride and Hooty are merely mentioned.
- Grew a Spine: Being forced to petrify Luz and Eda invokes this in Webstor, and he takes a stand.
- Heroic Bystander: Like canon, Willow and Gus. But now they're joined by Viney, Skara, Barcus, Amelia, Simon, Bo and the Shadowy Secret Expozers.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Following her "Reason You Suck" Speech, Amity takes full blame for Luz ending up imprisoned and calls herself a horrible girlfriend. Luz, unable to let her final moment with Amity be watching her cry, wipes away her tears.
- Hero Killer: Belos killing Puck labels him as such. At least to the actual heroes, everyone else believes his lies.
- How Is That Even Possible?: Everyone's confused as to how Lilith could've possibly cheated death. She isn't sure herself, but she's not going to let her second chance go to waste.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Belos stabs Puck in the heart with his own dagger (which is made of iron, his weakness), saying it's time for the fae to die.
- In Spite of a Nail: Eda still loses her magic, Lilith splits the curse between the sisters which weakens her own magic and Belos acquires Eda's portal, cutting off Luz's access to Earth.
- Internal Reveal: Everyone at or watching the petrification ceremony (at least everyone who isn't Willow, Viney, Boscha and Ms. Traveler) sees Luz in her cambion form for the first time.
- Jaw Drop: Nearly everyone watching the news does this when Luz curses the Emperor.
- Karma Houdini: Belos after killing Puck and making him look like the villain. Nicole accuses the Clawthornes of this.
- Killed Off for Real: Puck, at Belos' hands. Phil also ends up being petrified.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: When the keyboardist attempts to attack Belos upon seeing him, Raine reminds him that their objective was freeing the Clawthornes, so they need to retreat.
- Laser-Guided Karma:
- Lilith manages to get payback on the Golden Guard by knocking him out in a rematch before he can even cast a spell.
- Acting as Karma Houdini Warranty, Nicole is gagged by Cat and puked on by an airsick King with the crowd recording it.
- Last Words: Webstor allows the Clawthornes this before he petrifies them. Since Eda has fallen back into the owl beast mindset, Luz takes the mike and gives off a Badass Boast.
- Let's Get Dangerous!: Everyone who participates in the rescue attempt.
- Living Shadow: Somehow, Amity has gained one.
- Love Overrides the Law: Zig-Zagged. Amity decides to free Luz and Eda, only to face Belos who tries to dissuade her from doing so under the threat of being branded a wild witch. Once Puck and Anu Bist give her a chance to escape, she goes through with it.
- Make Up or Break Up: At the end of the chapter, Luz decides to make up with Amity, wanting to face the future side by side with her. However, this doesn't give a clear answer about whether that means they got back together...
- Mugged for Disguise: To infiltrate the Conformatorium, Amity and Lilith steal some coven guard uniforms to enter under the excuse of delivering King into custody.
- Multi-Part Episode: The third and final one continuing from the last two.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Seeing that there really is a fae in Bonesborough, Boscha says part of this when she realizes Luz and Amity were telling the truth.
- Never My Fault: Belos "claims" he's trying to stop Amity from throwing her life away and says she's forcing him to attack her.
- No Body Left Behind: Puck's body disintegrates into ashes after Belos kills him.
- No One Could Survive That!: To reiterate, Lilith's death at the Golden Guard's hands raises many questions as to how she survived taking a blast that left a hole in her stomach.
- Not Afraid to Die: In a way, Puck seems to accept his death as a new adventure to be had.
- Now or Never Kiss: Portrayed as a Last Kiss, Luz and Amity end up sharing one just before the elevator Luz and Eda's cages are on starts rising.
- One-Winged Angel: In a last ditch effort to push back Belos, Puck turns into a dragon. All he succeeds in doing is damaging the Conformatorium.
- Parting-Words Regret: After returning home Luz, saddened by Puck's death, realizes she'll never be able to make amends with him now.
- Point of Divergence: The Bards Against the Throne make an early debut and they have a fifth member who wields a keytar in battle.
- Politically Correct Villain: The Emperor's Coven doesn't discriminate against witches with dwarfism, as noted when a guard questiones a disguised Amity if she's a little short to be a guard only to be reprimanded by his partner.
- The Power of Love: This is everyone's motivation for freeing the Clawthornes with special mention going to Amity, as Luz says she must truly care about her to face the Emperor.
- Precision F-Strike: Overwhelmed by Luz telling her to escape and leave her to die, Amity cusses out the Emperor's Coven for their treatment towards wild witches and declares she's done hoping to join them. Hearing her say that takes Luz by surprise.
- "Ray of Hope" Ending: Despite how everything's turned out, Eda tells Lilith she wants to properly forgive her one day, Luz learns she'll be able to create her own natural magic soon, and she & Amity agree to face the future together, no matter what.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Amity's response after Luz tries to get her to escape before the EC catches her?Amity: Fuck the Emperor's Coven! Fuck them for punishing you and any other witches who doesn't agree with their system! They have no right to petrify both of you just because you won't join a coven! After what I've seen and everything that's happened, I am never going to join the Emperor's Coven!
- Redemption Equals Death: Puck ultimately loses his life fighting against the Emperor to free his friend.
- Reduced to Dust: Once Puck is dead, his body dissolves into dust.
- Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: Luz, Eda, Kikimora and especially the Golden Guard are flabbergasted to see Lilith is still alive.
- The Reveal:
- Mattholomule has taken quite a beating from Bria since we last saw him, getting multiple bruises and a broken arm.
- Apparently, Luz knows Braxas is Warden Wrath's son.
- Dr. Bride's letter to Luz tells her that she'll develop a bile sac and thus, innate magic. The doctor also mentions with no known records of cambions, she'll be doing research on the subject.
- Rocky Roll Call:Lilith: (coldly) Kikimora.Kikimora: (surprised) Lilith!Wrath: (confused) Amity!?Amity: (awkwardly) Mr. Wrath...
- Say My Name: Seeing Amity disrupt the ceremony gets Willow and Skara to simultaneously do this.
- Season Finale: To the main story of "Hexside's Number One Delinquent Witch".
- Self-Imposed Exile: After being seen publicly freeing the Clawthornes and facing the Emperor's Coven, Amity resigns herself to staying at the Owl House now that she's been branded a criminal.
- Sequel Hook: As Luz learns from Dr. Bride's letter, her cambion form will grow stronger so she'll have to learn to control it and since there's no record in how to do so, the doctor will continue to search for more info. And most surprising of all, Luz will develop a bile sac soon, meaning she'll be able to use magic of her own.
- Shattering the Illusion: To disspell Belos' illusions, Amity spreads the fire spells in her hand across the room.
- Shout-Out:
- The illusions scene is based on the one between Spidey and Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Puck being framed as a villain also references the post-credits scene.
- When Webstor refused to petrify the Clawthornes, his exchange with a coven scout is a variation of the one between Anne and Sasha when the former stood up to the latter.
Coven scout: What do you think your doing?Webstor: I'm doing what I should have done a long time ago! Standing up for myself!- The ending song is "No Matter What" from Steven Universe: The Movie.
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: Cat tells Nicole to "just shut up already" after gagging her with tape.
- Sissy Fight: King Vs. Kikimora. In a swatting match.
- So Proud of You: Principal Bump admits he's proud to be Luz's principal after seeing how far she's come.
- Tears of Remorse: Amity ends up crying when she apologizes to Luz for withholding everything about her deal with Lilith under the belief she got her into trouble.
- Uncertain Doom:
- No one is certain whether or not Anu Bist escaped the Emperor's castle. The girls believe he got out because they refuse to consider the alternative outcome.
- Webstor is detained by several EC members and taken away after refusing to petrify the Clawthornes, his fate also left unknown.
- Villainous BSoD: Hunter briefly shuts down after seeing Lilith's still kicking.
- Villain Respect: Kikimora gives hers towards Hunter for killing Lilith while Belos gives his to Amity after seeing how powerful her magic is, saying she'll be more powerful than Eda and Lilith combined one day.
- Voluntary Shapeshifting: Puck shapeshifts into a dragon as a last resort to take down the Emperor.
- Vomit Indiscretion Shot: King gets airsick and although he isn't seen throwing up, his puke ends up covering Nicole from head to toe.
- Wham Episode: Puck is killed by Belos while Anu Bist is injured, Lilith splits the curse between her and Eda, Amity and Lilith are taken in by the residents of the Owl House since they'll be branded traitors, Luz forgives Amity, the former learns she'll be able to perform magic naturally soon and the latter gains a Living Shadow.
- Wham Shot: Amity's shadow moving on its own, Phil achieving sentience, Puck being impaled by Belos and Amity's Eye Color Change.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: There's a few things about certain characters that haven't been answered by the end of the chapter, although some are answered in the following epilogue:
- What became of the remaining muggers?
- Besides Kitsuni and Oberon, who else is part of the Order?
- Who is the mysterious benefactor working with the Blind Eye Society?
- How did Jenny Porter end up in the human realm?
- What became of William Wittebane?
- What punishment will Dolly and Tyler serve for helping Boscha?
- Did Emperor Belos capture Anu Bist or did he manage to escape?
- Would Hurt a Child: Emperor Belos carries this over from canon: although he says he doesn't want to hurt Luz or Amity, he still ends up doing so and doesn't do much to stop members of his coven from doing the same.
- You Can't Go Home Again: Part of Belos' strategy to dissuade Amity from freeing Luz and Eda is to point this out, saying she'll be branded a wild witch and unable to return home for turning on the Emperor. She still goes through with it and acknowledges this when all is said and done.
- Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: Hunter doesn't take it well when Kikimora shows him her respect for taking down the Clawthornes.
- Zero-Approval Gambit: Despite her initial hesitance and Belos' attempted manipulation to stop her, Amity willingly sacrifices her home life and public status to save Luz and her family, even though it brands her as a wild witch.
I know we've been through some tough times, but that doesn't take away from the great times we've had, too. It hasn't been easy for you, it hasn't been easy for me. But I don't think what we had was a mistake. And with everything that's happened, all that we went through and still have to go through, I want to go through it with you.
