Good luck, baby Willa.
Chili-chili-chila! Willi-willi-Willa!
Birthday chili brewed to perfection!
Ection, ection…
I'm so proud my birthday girl
ordered her dad's special chili for her birthday dinner.
-Wouldn't be my birthday without it. -Oh.
Now, I know you wanted a phone, but I think…
you're going to like this even more.
Come on, open it!
Whoa. "Property of Willow Ward."
Wow.
-It was your mom's.
She wanted you to have it when you were old enough to know what to do with it.
Now I'm no fashion expert, but I figured 12 years old,
you're old enough to know how to wear a necklace.
She used to pull my leg and tell me it was magic.
Your mom would always say,
"Believe in magic and life will be magical."
-Can you help me put it on? -Yeah.
So, how do I look?
As beautiful as your mom,
and she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
Thank you for trusting me with this, Dad. I'll wear it forever.
Happy birthday, sweetheart.
Chili.
Okay, birthday girl,
you better put on a jacket because this stuff is chili.
It couldn't be. After all this time.
Looks like they didn't leave it with great-uncle William.
Scratch another loser off the list.
Twelve years of searching and another dead end.
We'll never find it in time.
I don't know, Wilma.
Maybe if you chipped in and did a little digging, we might just find it, okay?
Oh yeah. Huh, that's a huge help.
Oh. Wait, wait, wait.
Was that…?
Could it be?
I think it was.
-It is! It's back in Winding Way.
I nearly blew off my perch. The amulet has resurfaced and you'll never guess where.
Does this mean we can stop digging?
Don't count your eyeballs before they blink, Sneak,
but, as they say, maybe.
You found the amulet?
Hey, what are you doing? Stop.
Uh-oh. Let's get out of here.
-So long, mortal.
I still can't believe it was under our noses this whole time.
Right there.
Like, right there, in Willow's very house.
-Bright side… -Hm?
-At least we found it. -Oh, is that the bright side?
-Yeah. -Is it?
Because we wasted, I don't know,
over ten years of our lives looking for it, so…
It's fine.
Sticky-Paws Fink,
tomorrow you do what you do best.
Whatever you need, boss. Fink will not let you down.
And finally…
the amulet will be ours.
Alright, let's go in.
I guess I'll just stay out here.
-Oh, hey, let's get this party started.
Sorry I'm late,
but coordinating for a slumber party requires a lot of planning.
Scout, you're not late. You're 30 seconds early.
Whew. You know I detest lateness.
-Oh.
Lucy!
Let the Willa Ward birthday bonanza begin!
-I couldn't find my bike anywhere.
-I had to use my little brother's.
Look Mr. Ward, can we cut to the chase?
Everyone knows in your line of business, your loot bags are the best.
It'd be amazing if we could break tradition
and get into them a little early.
Oh Scout, you know flattery gets me every time.
Hey, I didn't get into the candy business for nothing, huh?
-Let's go get some loot! Ha ha!
There we are.
-Dad, I think they know. -Come on, Willa.
-Ugh, fine. -Don't wanna waste it.
This is the best candy ever.
Your dad slays it with the loot bags.
Hey, girls. You sure you want to sleep up in the attic tonight?
Yeah, Dad. It's way more fun to tell ghost stories up here.
Okay. Well nothing too spooky, okay? And lights out by midnight.
Love you.
Love you, Dad.
Ready?
It was hers.
My dad wanted to wait until I was old enough so I could take good care of it.
Your mom had amazing taste.
-That is so vintage.
You never really talk about her.
I don't know much about her.
I would like to know more, but…
I'm worried it makes Dad sad if I'm always asking questions.
Besides, it feels like she's right here with us anyway.
What's taking him so long?
Never send a rat to do a cat's job.
He's probably messing up as we speak.
Come on.
Since Halloween is coming, this one is all about
the legend of the Three Witches of Winding Way.
You know that legend is totally made up, right?
Who says?
What was that?
Eek!
Oh, you were so not supposed to see me.
What? Did you just… talk?
Oops.
Sorry to interrupt. Pay no attention.
You, you go back to what you were… doing.
What's with all the screaming? You're scaring me.
Wait. He has my necklace!
Eek! Bye.
Where did it go?
-Ew. -Just forget I was ever here.
Why is it talking?
I am so not touching that thing.
No touching. Just…
Get my necklace back.
We have to find it.
Bless you.
Thanks.
-Found him!
-Corner him! -Ha! Trapped like a rat.
That is my mom's necklace.
-Drop it.
-Oh, no. Uh-oh. That's not right.
I dropped it already. I dropped it.
Uh…
Whoa.
What is happening?
Willa!
Stop, broom.
Stop!
What was that?
I have no idea.
Terrifying is what it was.
Look out!
Uh-oh.
I gotta get out of here.
-See ya later, kids. -No!
-Gotcha.
Huh? No?
Nothing? How about this?
Nope, nope, nope.
-Come on, let me out! -Let's hide.
You give me back my necklace, I'll give you back your freedom.
Uh, look, I wish I could, but it's a long story. Trust me.
Then you'll have to stay in this jar forever,
and soon, you'll get really hungry.
-So, do we have a deal? -Oh, alright, you got a deal.
-Who are you anyway?
Fine. Don't tell me.
But you're lucky I love animals,
or tonight wouldn't have ended so well for you.
Oh, Willa. You're just like your mom. Heart of gold.
Wait, did you just say I'm just like… my mom?
Fink, what's taking so long?
Gotta go, Willa. Uh, I mean, uh, whoever you are.
What do you know about my mom? And how do you know my name?
Is it safe?
Where did my mom get this?
Where is he?
-I'm here, I'm here, I'm here.
Finally!
First, the good news: we've definitely found the necklace.
-Amazing work, Fink. -Great work.
The moldiest cheese for your dinner tonight.
I was starting to think we couldn't count on you, but you proved me wrong.
You sure did, you little rat-Fink,
stinky-eyed, poop-breath, nonsensical, cat-fish whispering nightmare of a rat!
Hand it over.
Uh, you might want to save the compliments for after the bad news,
w-w-which is, um…
She has it.
Okay, you know all those compliments I just gave you? I take them all back.
She?
-No. -You don't mean--
Yep. Willa Ward has the necklace.
I just had the craziest dream.
I don't think it was a dream.
You mean, you actually rode a broomstick?
And there's actually a talking rat?
Are we actually losing our minds?
Today, schoolgirls fly on brooms,
and confide in talking, jewelry-stealing rats
on a very special episode of
Adventures of a Middle Schooler Gone Mad.
Definitely not your everyday necklace.
What isn't your dad telling you?
Let's go find out.
Dad, you'll never believe what happened last night.
I woke up and a talking rat had my necklace.
-Uh-huh. -Did you hear her say talking rat?
We were chasing it with brooms, and out of the blue,
the brooms started flying everywhere.
No way!
Flying brooms and talking rats. What a night.
Yeah. Willa flew right out the window.
And the rat said I look like Mom.
Well, they're not wrong there. Beautiful inside and out.
You know, maybe I should speak with this talking rat that knew your mom.
We could swap stories.
Isn't that crazy?
Crazy, man!
You don't believe us, do you?
I believe that too much candy and spooky stories make for wacky dreams.
I ate five chocolate bars before bed once, and I woke up
convinced that I rode a hippopotamus across the moon
to meet the marshmallow queen
so we could eat a rocket ship made out of Jell-O
and then play tic-tac-toe.
-Dad. -Yeah?
This really happened.
Hey, could you guys get me one of those flying brooms?
Could help me clean up the shop better. Alright. Dig in.
-Speaking of cleaning up…
-Nothing like my necklace anywhere. Hm.
Should we try that weird bookstore with all the crystals and stuff?
-Good idea.
-Oh shoot. I'm late. -To be continued?
We'll get to the bottom of it. Until then, just don't touch any brooms?
-Bye. -Bye.
We only have one month left till Halloween.
Oh, what are you doing reading that book?
I had a brainwave. What if we had a summon-the-necklace spell?
Uh, we probably would have used it already if we did.
I'm just thinking out loud.
Still gonna look.
Okay, will everyone please just stop talking
for one minute so I can hear myself think?
Thank you very much.
I need to concentrate. We need a plan.
I suggest a potion to turn the girl into a baby bunny.
-Clever.
Stupid.
Then Claw could go catch her and bring her up here.
First we mix the fingernails of a rabid mountain squirrel with the--
Why don't we just invite her for tea? Who doesn't like tea?
-Um, 12-year-old girls.
You might want to try a soda, a juice box, mocha frappuccino…
I mean, hello!
How should I know? I detest children. They make me break out in hives.
Yeah, right? It's like…
Alright, let's go with the dumb tea party idea.
-Yay. What should we wear?
I don't know. Something gross?
Cat amulets… No…
Nothing.
Maybe in here.
Zilch.
-Mom?
This is a real mystery.
Special delivery for Miss Willa Ward.
Another talking animal?
-How do you know who I am?
-Wow.
"Dear Willa Ward. We've just moved back in town after being away for some time."
"We knew your mother well,
and would love to tell you all about her and her magical necklace."
"Please join us after school for tea and treats."
"With love, Wanda and Wilma."
"P.S. We live in the old house at the top of the hill…"
Oh, good morning, Kingsley Jenkins. Nice to see your face.
Oh! Good morning, Willa Ward. Welcome to class.
-A new day of adventure. -Morning, Ms. Juniper.
Um…
May I ask…
Where did you get that necklace?
Why?
Oh, no reason exactly. Just curious.
It was my mom's.
-Oh.
Great! Good chat.
Okay.
Nice necklace!
You getting ready for Halloween?
Going as…
a fashion disaster?
Oh, wait.
I guess that wouldn't be a costume.
Since jealousy is actually a compliment, Blaine, I'm simply going to say thank you.
I love it too!
Secret stair spot.
Meeting at lunch. Super important.
Where is it?
"Please join us after school for tea and treats."
"With love, Wanda and Wilma."
-What? -What?
I know. What?
Are you going?
Of course she is. You're going, right?
Of course I am. They said they know about my mom, and this necklace.
You're brave to go up there alone. You know, I would never go up there.
You do know the stories, right?
-That's why I'm not going alone. -Who are you going with?
I'll pack some snacks. Nothing too sugary. The last 24 hours have been weird enough.
Definitely.
Remember, I have to be home by dinner to babysit Sawyer.
It shouldn't take too long. It's just tea, right?
Come on, let's do this.
Do what?
-Nothing. -Nobody.
Hey, Wyatt.
You guys up to something exciting?
No. Totally boring.
Boring.
Speak for yourself, Lucy. I'd call it intriguing.
-I mean-- -Be quiet.
Yep. Boring. So boring.
Ugh, bummer. I was looking for something fun to do after school today.
See ya.
A talking crow is so not boring.
Hey, Willa. What are you doing here?
Hey, Dad. Just wanted to let you know I'm going to be late today.
-I'm going to tea with, um, uh-- -Oh, okay, Willa.
Hey, little guy. I'll see you at dinner, right?
-Okay, bye. -Don't worry, they're just eyeballs.
Ready?
Why are we taking the spookiest possible route to get there?
You know, the legend says these woods are the Haunted Hills,
cursed by the three witches of Winding Way themselves.
I heard that witches have lived in that old house for centuries.
Well, it's a good thing we're brave, right?
Come on. None of that is real.
-Besides, this isn't that spooky. -Yeah.
They're probably just old ladies
who happen to live in a really creepy old house.
Just that right there sounded like the setup for a spooky movie.
Yeah. What could go wrong?
Famous last words.
Defs the beginning of a spooky movie.
Well, no time like the present.
-Hello?
Hello?
Is anyone home?
I hope you don't mind. I brought my friends.
-Willa! So nice to see you again.
Again?
We knew you when you were just a baby.
Oh, such a cute baby, with the skin, and the teeth, and the hairs, and things.
And Lucy, Scout.
-Welcome.
How did you know…?
Oh, just a simple seeing spell, nothing fancy.
-Spell? -Ix-nay on the agic-may.
Please, sit down.
So, you knew my mom?
Oh! Knew her?
Knew her?
She was, uh, we were like…
That. We were best friends. We were just real close.
-You couldn't keep the three of us apart.
Well, until Neil--
Until nothing. Until nothing.
She was a real sweetheart, you know, heart of gold.
Don't be shy.
Well, this isn't much of a tea party, is it?
Kind of a stinker, eh?
Kidding.
No, because there are no treats, and, um, no tea.
But I can change that, so I'm going to. Alright?
-Poof! -Whoa!
-Amazing.
What are you doing?
You know that children love candy, so just play along.
-Whoa!
-What's happening? -Now what is happening?
-Isn't this fun?
So much--
So much fun.
Now what is your favorite treat in the whole wide world?
Cotton candy.
Yum.
-Whoa.
Edible chair? What? This might be the best day of my life.
Lucy, what would you like to have at tea for three?
Well, I've always dreamed of it raining chocolate.
-Oh, no.
-Whoa!
Delicious!
-Delicious! -Whoa!
-Wow!
-Ugh.
-Urgh.
Now Willa, what about you, my dear?
I want to know about my mom,
so maybe we could have more talk, less treats.
-Willa, are you crazy? -Speak for yourself.
She's here. What are we waiting for?
Let's get that thing off her.
Well, um, you know, maybe we should just give them a moment to enjoy the tea party,
for-for a moment.
Fink, Sneak, shut up!
Wait a second. That's that rat from last night.
Uh, I think we should go.
-No.
Let's cut to the chase, shall we?
We want your necklace.
I know it would be nice for you to have it, but what good is it to you, really?
I mean, whereas to us, getting it back would be,
I don't know, Wilma, what would you say?
Like, um, magnificently splendorifically terrifical?
-Yes, I'd say exactly that. -Mm-hm.
No. It was my mom's and she wanted me to have it.
You invited me here to tell me about her, and I haven't heard one thing.
So, we're leaving.
Uh, no you're not.
Sneak.
Aw, that's a shame, because there was an easy way to do this,
and now, what do you know, there's a hard way.
I mean, we didn't want to have to play the witch card,
but you've kind of forced our hands.
-Witches!
See? I told you those stories are true.
You want to know something about your mom?
She was too trusting.
Just. Like. You.
-Over here!
-Oh, no. Um, here. Hide. -It's time! Witches coming for ya!
-Whoa!
Oh, girls?
We just want to talk to you.
They're coming.
Hide. In here.
-Girls! Where did you go?
-You can run, but you can't hide.
This way.
Some kind of potion room.
I'm calling my mom. I don't care if I get grounded--
Forever. There's no signal.
Lucy, your face feels more bony than usual.
-You're not touching my face, Scout. -Sure I am.
That's your cheek, and now I'm sticking my finger into your eye--
Into your eye?!
-Oh, girls? -Oh no.
Find a potion!
-Do something!
Nope. Upside down potion.
Flying potion.
Hiding potion! Aha!
Here.
Uh…
"When ye wish to hide From the troubles on the outside
Drink this potion with open mind And ye shall be the… feline kind?"
Wait. Does that mean…?
-Oh no.
-You're-- -I have paws.
Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.
And a tail!
Yoo-hoo! Girls.
Run!
Run? I have to learn to walk with four legs before I can run!
I won't let them get away.
-Where did they get to now? -Sure are slimy little things.
-Quick. Under here.
I've looked everywhere. They're gone.
And I looked everywhere you looked right after you did,
just to be sure.
You know how cats can fit into the smallest places?
You want us to go in there? Look at the size of that spider.
I'll stay here and meet my fate, thank you very much.
Shoo, you big, hairy spider.
We're coming in.
Come on, Lucy. We don't have time to be scared.
Ew…
Where are they?
A tail.
A tail. That means they've gotten into the hiding potion.
-We need to go outside! We need Claw!
-Claw! -Claw!
We have to keep moving. We cannot be scaredy cats.
I am a scaredy cat, though.
Claw!
-Oh, hey! How's the party going? -They snuck out in the drain.
Let us know immediately if you see them, okay?
-Uh… sure? -Do not let them get away.
As the crow flies, they can't have gone far.
You're a crow, so you should know. Okay, stop looking at me.
-Fly!
-Yes. Wilma? -Yes?
Warm up the cauldron.
Now?
Yes, Wilma, now.
Cat respect meter just went way up.
That was so claustrophobic.
And filthy. Ew.
-Here, kitties, kitties, kitties!
Well, I spy with my little crow eye…
It's that creepy crow!
Shoo! Go away! Leave us alone!
Not until you hand over the amulet.
Run!
-Yes, yes, yes…
Oh yes, oh yes!
Claw's got them. Wilma! Claw's got them!
We got 'em!
Fog and bog and city smog And nice little families out for a jog
Envelop the children who are now cats And, oh, they'll be scared like, like rats
Okay? Mm-hm. Ooh.
Meow! It's foggy, I can't see.
It's really working, Wilma, it's working!
What is this place?
Super creepy, that's what.
In case we don't make it back, I just want to say
that I was 100% right about the witches this whole time.
Where's all this fog coming from?
I can't see my paws in front of my face!
This is so not fun anymore.
Honestly, it really hasn't been fun since the candy part,
and even that felt a tad unsanitary.
-Hello, girls.
Nice work, Claw.
An extra portion of kitten stew just for you!
Aha! Hello, kitten stew.
One thing you three might have overlooked.
Witches love eating cat stew!
Especially on a stormy night.
Eat someone else then, because we're out of here.
-Run! -I am not a snack.
I forgot how slippery cats are.
But not how tasty.
-Whoo! -You go that way.
-Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.
Where could they be?
Don't move a whisker.
Oh, no, guys. I have to…
-Please don't sneeze.
-Please, please hold it in.
Hold it in.
-Bless you. -Thanks.
-We need to get out of here. -Now's our chance.
Lucy, wait!
Boo.
Not so fast this time.
Now the hiding's said and done Return the form that they came from
We're human again. We're human!
-Hey, hi. -Yes!
Still dangerous witches, not so happy.
Looks like you girls have been rooted out.
And it's going to be a lot harder for you to escape
now that you're just "pesky little girls" and not cats.
Oh, I have an idea. Why don't we call this whole thing off,
and you just, I don't know, hand over the necklace.
Just grab it.
You know as well as I do, it needs to be given, not taken.
Well, in that case, hand over the amulet. Now!
No!
My mom would never want it in the hands of you bad witches.
Ooh.
-I'm gonna get my dad and he'll--
Did you hear that, Wilma? She's going to get "Neil" to come help.
-Neil!
My mom was right. Chocolate alleviates stress.
Good thing I loaded up at the tea party.
Seriously? You're eating candy right now?
Candy?
The candy!
They can't stand candy. Literally!
Take that!
Let's get out of here, fast.
-Ooh! Oh no. Burning!
-Stop!
We made it.
-Oh my goodness. -Hey! Alright, I got a signal!
Oh, good.
Okay, I am so grounded.
So much for those stories being made up, huh, Scout?
I mean, no 11-year-old really believes in witches.
How was I supposed to know?
I have a feeling that's not the last we'll be seeing of those two.
As scary as tonight was, it was also pretty cool to be a cat.
-Think we can do it again?
Seriously?
-Too soon? -Yes!
And there's no way I'm going back into that house to get more potion. Except…
Wait a second. I forgot to put it back on the shelf.
I think seventh grade just got a lot more interesting.
Hey, guys? Thanks for being such great friends today and sticking by me.
You guys are like the sisters I never had.
The Sisters of Winding Way! Whoo…
-Wisters!
The Wisters of Winding Way!
-The Wisters! -Come on.
Heyo.
Dad!
What would you say if I told you I got chased by witches today
and turned into a cat?
Well I would say, sweetheart,
you don't have to make up stories to get my attention.
You always have my attention.
Thought it would be something like that.
-Do you know where Mom got this?
No. She just always had it, ever since I knew her.
She used to say she was a different person before she and I met and we had you.
Maybe she got it from one of the witches of Winding Way.
Bedtime.
You want the lights on or off?
On.
Okay. Love you, kiddo.
-Whoa.
What?
"Dear Willa."
"If you're reading this, that means you have my necklace,
and I think you're probably wondering if I was a witch."
"I was."
I was a witch, Willa.
And if I know my curious…
pure-hearted, beautiful baby girl…
…I know what you're thinking.
"How could my mom be a witch, and does this make me a witch too?"
Just because you are mine…
"…doesn't make you a witch."
"Believing in magic does, and you can be a witch."
A good witch,
if you choose to believe in the values of courage,
kindness, and wisdom.
"Magic can be used for bad things,
but it can also be used for very, very good things."
You taught me that, Willa.
And now that you have my necklace, you have that choice.
There is something very important you must do, though.
"In order to harness the power of the amulet,
and keep yourself safe…"
…you will need my secret witch book.
I hid it for you in case this day ever came.
There will be obstacles along the way to finding it…
"…to make sure it ends up in the right hands."
Your hands.
I love you…
with all that I am.
"And I am always with you."
Closer than you know.
"Take good care of Dad."
You are my heart.
"Mom."
Whoa.
Wow.