The Castle of Games

**The Castle of Games** is an episode of The Owl House.

## Synopsis

Amity, Emira and Edric go have a sibling bonding day as they go into a castle where the King of Games forces them to be players for a chess-like board game. Meanwhile, Luz, Willow and Gus go to the same castle as part of a bet Gus made with some students.

## Plot

The episode starts off at the Blight mansion with Amity, Edric and Emira doing a workout together.

(Full Plot)

Within the Blight Mansion, the nostalgic tunes of the 90s softly echo. Amity initiates the fitness regimen, exclaiming, "And a one, two, one two three! Go!" They then commence the workout routine, encompassing push-ups, pull-ups, curl-ups, and a vigorous treadmill session.

"Hey, Mittens, mind if we step outside for a bit?" Edric panted, clearly worn out from the exercise. "Caught some news about this 'Castle of Games' event. Sounds interesting, don't you think?"

Amity shot him a stern look, "What's the plan, Ed? You and Em going to create chaos as usual? Don't forget what mom warned us about."

Emira fired back quickly, "Yeah, yeah, 'Stay away from ancient witch grounds, behave like proper upperclassmen, and set a positive example for Belos so we don't end up suffering like those commoners', I know. But, Amity, I'm growing tired of mom's rules too. Plus, the last thing I remember is you smooching Luz Noceda, an apprentice of a wild witch, right on her cheek. So, let's not be hypocrites. Let's just go."

With a grumble, Amity snatched her bag, quickly changed into outdoor attire, and stormed out the door, announcing, "Fine, we're going!" A smirk appeared on both Edric and Emira's faces as they rushed to keep pace with her.

\*\*\*

At Hexside, Luz strolled down the hallway with Gus, shaking her head, "Gus, I've told you before. Stop trying so hard to prove you're more than just an 'illusionist'."

Gus shot back, "But that's just it, Luz. I've advanced two grades. What's the point of being skilled if I can't do anything meaningful with it?"

Willow chimed in, "Well, there are tons of possibilities. You could use it for party tricks, staging grand shows without having to hire actors, playing pranks on people. And, if ever me, Luz, or anyone else happens to disappear, you could create the illusion of that person instead. Just imagine the possibilities!"

Gus managed a weak smile, "I guess you're right—" His words were abruptly interrupted by the loud bang of a student slamming a locker shut nearby.

Seeing the student who slammed the locker, Gus's expression changed slightly. "Speaking of proving myself... I might've made a small wager with some of the other students."

Luz and Willow turned to Gus with surprise. "What kind of wager?" Luz asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Gus grinned sheepishly, "Actually, I may have left out a detail... The bet's a little more specific. I told them I'd head to the 'Castle of Games' and try to survive. Sounds crazy, I know," He leaned closer to Willow, whispering, "But the rumor is that it's an ancient temple devoted to the Titan and other gods."

Luz and Willow exchanged wide-eyed glances before turning back to Gus, their expressions filled with a mix of trepidation and reluctant excitement. "Alright Gus, we're in. But we do this together, okay?" Luz asserted, setting the tone for their impending adventure.

With that agreement in place, the trio embarked on their journey. They ventured towards the Right Armpit of the Titan, making their way to a coastline. There, the turbulent waves of the boiling sea lapped restlessly against the shore, setting the stage for the thrilling quest that lay ahead.

\*\*\*

Amity sketched a spell circle in the air, conjuring a purple and white flame that provided a flickering source of light. With a nod, she motioned for her two siblings to follow her down the ancient staircase.

Suddenly, a deep voice reverberated throughout the chamber, "Sooo, you've come to partake in my games, have you?"

"No," Amity retorted flatly, her voice echoing in the vast chamber.

Emira playfully nudged Amity. "Come on, Mittens. This could be fun. Besides, it's not like there's going to be a million games... probably just three. Can't you loosen up and enjoy life for a second?"

To their surprise, the voice echoed in agreement, "The girl speaks the truth. Only three games will be played this time." As the voice faded, three golden arrows materialized on the stone floor, guiding them into a sparse room where a lone cube sat at the center.

Edric reached out to touch the cube and was instantly enveloped by a transparent, black bubble. Startled, he stammered, "Um, what just happened?"

Amity shot a scolding glance his way, "EDRIC! WHY MUST YOU ALWAYS TOUCH THINGS? YOU'RE GOING TO GET US KILLED!"

"Hold on," Edric said, adjusting a layer of the cube. As he did so, a corresponding layer of the wall slid into a new position with a soft grinding sound. His eyes widened with realization.

Edric proceeded to shift each layer of the cube, causing the walls of the room to follow suit. Amity and Emira scrambled to dodge the moving obstacles. "Edric! Would you stop moving the walls for just one second?!" Amity huffed in frustration. Ignoring her, Edric successfully completed the cube puzzle, and with a low rumble, a previously unseen door swung open.

Later, Luz, Willow, and Gus approached the imposing Castle of Games. As the ancient drawbridge creaked open, the trio cautiously ventured inside. Suddenly, the floor gave way beneath them; they tumbled down a trapdoor and landed in a hidden chamber. Here, they were confronted by a demon garbed in a track suit - the notorious Dancing Demon.

The Demon's grin broadened as crimson magic erupted from his fingertips, the energy crackling like electricity around Luz, Willow, and Gus. Their feet began to move without their command, dancing the salsa together in a rapid, synchronized rhythm.

"Dance is the joy of the heart," the Dancing Demon teased, his red eyes gleaming with mischief. "Feel the rhythm, embrace the beat."

Magic spiraled from his hands, electrifying the room. Energy pulsed from beneath them, a living current that forced the trio to move to its compelling rhythm.

"Welcome to my grand ball, dear guests," the Demon chuckled, his hands clapping in time with the music. His voice echoed ominously through the chamber, bouncing off the stone walls. "After all, you're in the Castle of Games!"

He began to tap his foot, setting the rhythm, his laughter a haunting echo. His movements were crisp, swift, yet surprisingly graceful.

"In this dance of chance, you have no choice but to follow my lead," he declared, executing a flawless mid-air twirl. "So let's get started... or should I say, let's sway."

Despite their fear, Luz, Willow, and Gus found themselves dancing the salsa in step with the music. Their movements were swift and graceful, but their eyes betrayed their terror. Trapped in the Dance of the Dancing Demon, the combination of the eerie luminescence of the chamber and the throbbing rhythm of the music spiked their adrenaline.

"Not bad," the Demon commented, his voice harmonizing with the music. "But can you keep up? The Dance of the Dancing Demon has only just begun!"

\*\*\*

Luz jerked awake from her mindscape, her body now moving with a purpose of its own. Her friends were still entrapped in the Demon's dance, their faces stricken with terror. Yet, as Luz moved, she was no longer bound by the rhythm of the Demon. Her dance had become a warrior's stride.

She lunged at the Dancing Demon, gripping his right arm firmly. The sigil in her hand glowed with an intense, otherworldly light as she pressed it against the demon. The sigil hummed with power, and a brilliant yellow beam shot out from it, connecting with the demon. A terrible, soul-shattering scream filled the chamber as cracks began to spider across the demon's body.

Luz didn't waste any more time. She grabbed Willow and Gus, pulling them from the dance floor and towards the exit. As they ran, the Demon's screams echoed behind them, growing weaker and weaker until they were consumed by a deafening silence.

The trio burst from the Castle of Games, gasping for breath under the moonlit sky. The castle doors creaked shut behind them, the once imposing structure now quiet and still. As they stood there, panting and exhausted, they could only stare at each other, relief and disbelief clear in their eyes.

They had survived the Dance of the Dancing Demon and Luz had saved them. The night was quiet again, save for their heavy breaths and the distant croaking of frogs. They were safe... for now. Meanwhile, Amity, Edric and Emira enter another room which contains a chest-like board game as the King of Games uses his magic to cause green cuffs to appear on their wrists so he could control the Blight children, forcing them to play in his board game. Eventually, he uses his magic to bring Luz, Willow and Gus back into the castle again. Afterwards, he forces the trio to sat down in chairs and forms a spell that binds them to their seats unless the Blight children win the game against him. Luz tries to help Amity, Edric and Emira, but couldn't get off her seat, not even lift her arm off the arm rest.

Willow had manage to to use plant magic to summon some flowers to release a sleeping mist to subdue the King of Games. Concurrently, Amity was engaged in her own magical endeavor, her hands dancing rhythmically as she drew circle upon circle of a petrification glyph, crafting them into a formidable magic beam. The beam lashed out, disintegrating the Castle of Games stone by stone.

As the castle was slowly being consumed, Luz, alongside Edric, Gus, Willow, Amity, and Emira, made their escape. When they had put a safe distance between them and the vanishing fortress, Luz initiated her next move. With precision, she began setting up an Anti-Magic glyph. The elaborate construction consisted of seven Ice glyphs, seven Fire glyphs, and seven Plant glyphs, supplemented with four additional Fire glyphs strategically placed in a diamond pattern.

A circuit leading to Luz's feet bore the inscription "Connect Any Palisman Here". Without hesitation, Luz connected Owlbert to the circuit. As she did so, the castle started to emit a peculiar glow. Yellow essence of magic began seeping out into the air, thickening the tension. Suddenly, the castle exploded in a burst of unrestrained energy.

After the dust had settled, the group of friends stood solemn, facing the remnants of the Castle of Games. They pledged an Everlasting Vow, a unanimous decision never to return to that place again. And with a heavy heart, each went their separate way. Later in the debris of the castle, it's revealed that the King of Games and survived and plays to rebuild his castle while the Dancing Demon comes out from a hidden entrance.

## Characters

* Luz Noceda
* Eda (cameo)
* King
* Hooty
* Gus Porter
* Willow Park
* Amity Blight
* Emira Blight
* Edric Blight
* King of Games
* Dancing Demon

## Trivia

* The giant board game is similar to the giant Flip Wart game from Amphibia episode 64, The First Temple.