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Family on Six is the third episode of season 10, Misfits and Magic.
Synopsis[]
Arriving at their Applied Evocation class, flames burst the door open. The Misfits hear screams and laughter from within the classroom, and reflexively, Dream casts a spray of water in an attempt to put it out. However, still new to magic, holding onto her wand incorrectly, the spray only ends up dousing her and her friends, slamming them against the opposite wall. Jammer gets up to check in with his body and the others, finding them mostly uninjured.
They hear stomping from inside the classroom, and see something pass by the doorway. Evan, wet and unimpeded by flames, pops his head into the room to check on the situation, to find about a dozen Aqrabus students watching in various stages of fear and delight as a massive fire construct patrols the room, causing havoc as it goes. Reflexively, Evan casts a spell to discern the nature of what is going on, and realizes that the flame construct contains a scared student, seemingly trapped inside of it. Evan relays this to the rest of the Misfits, and the Aqrabus students, noticing that he can cast magic without a wand, teasingly ask “the dark one” to save them, and other students join in, astounded that wandless magic is possible.
The Misfits try to cook up a plan to rescue the student, Dream runs into the room and uses magic to try to contain the construct with tables, chairs, or any furniture she can push in front of it, and Evan joins her, physically pushing some. Axelby Killoran encourages Evan to use magic, which agitates him, and yells at Axelby to use his magic instead. Jammer joins in the fray, using his magic to chuck desks at it, while Sam tries to direct students away from the dangerous area. Evan, taking a moment to talk to the Aqrabus students, asks if they saw what happened that created the construct. The students casually tell him that is one of their housemates, Penfrew Lairmsbury. Evan asks what happened to Penfrew, and what happened to him. The Aqrabus students don’t give a helpful answer, so Evan clarifies, asking if Penfrew needs to be rescued. They posit that their friend is likely not enjoying his situation, and Evan, frustrated, takes his leave of them, although Axelby tells him that he would do well in “evil house.” This sets Evan off, who points out that Axelby knows nothing about him, and they’ve never interacted before.
Still in the thick of battle, Jammer, while throwing desks, reminds Evan not to let them get under his skin, and Dream encourages him to do some counting exercises. Evan, being taken over by his demons, starts counting in a voice that is not his. Meanwhile, the desks are being consumed by the construct’s fiery body, but they finally manage to build a wall around it. Dream, performing very well with her magic, begins to manifest a more pink and bubbly type of magic, voice pitching higher, and starts to sing, as the construct is charmed by her attempts, and Evan, possessed by his demons, begins to sing along. The construct sits down, surrounded by a structure that is suddenly very “cute” for a pile of desks and chairs. Dream and the other students are confused by what has just happened to her, and Sam asks if she rejoined choir. Dream denies this, and Sam says that it was beautiful, and Jammer says it reminded him of Frozen, which he has watched a bunch of times. Dream attempts to explain why the movie was problematic, but realizes she “cannot social justice right now.”
Evan, feeling better, walks over to the construct, and jams his hand into it, pulling Penfrew out of it. With Penfrew freed, the construct crumples. Evan tries to ask him if he’s okay, and Penfrew starts to scream, panicked by the situation. He then turns to the other Aqrabus students and chastises them for setting him on fire. He calms down, nodding at Evan in gratitude, then returns to his classmates and affirms that he didn’t appreciate what they did. Jammer, having cast a bunch of spells during the scuffle, sees that his wand has taken its final form: blue, with laces, reminiscent of a tennis shoe, bamboo, with a steel core. He has a quiet emotional moment, and Spaulding comes up and nudges him, and he picks him up to hold him. The students clap, and Axelby comments that it’s “first year,” but that it’s cool. Evan, upset with his condescending tone, begins to berate him, but is joined by the demons inside of him. Sam and Jammer cut in, trying to calm him down, and the other students react in delight at the shift in demeanor.
Jammer approaches Axelby, who offers to set him on fire, and Jammer invites him to try, tapping him on the head, fully intimidating him on several levels, since British wizards do not touch each other. Axelby says they were making sure that Penfrew didn’t actually set anything important on fire, and Sam says that they had the option not to set their friend on fire. Axelby admits that they were all just trying to make things more interesting for the Misfits, since it was their first day of magical school, and Evan asks if they’re in this class together, which Axelby confirms, and Evan attempts to end the interaction. Axelby notes that he is very uptight for someone who seems to have demons in him, and Evan rebukes him, calling out his very obvious fear of Jammer. The Misfits go to find a table, and Jammer asks Dream if she wants to talk about her own magical transformation, but she declines. While she appreciates Teddy, she would rather be the one getting possessed with snake blood, and, as Evan just demonstrated, immune to fire. This prompts Evan to look down at his hand, unburned, but charred over, and he explains it’s not because he is supremely magical, it is because the forces inside of him refuse to let him die.
As they talk, six robed adults walk into the classroom, to a circle of carved sigils in the center of the room. Evan attempts to have a heartfelt conversation with Dream about self-acceptance, and while she doesn’t have to like the hand she’s dealt, if she actually does like it, the world would be a better place if there were more people sang songs and had pink magic. Dream admits that it might align more with herself than the goth aesthetic, but says that while Evan’s magic is terrifying, it brought them all together, and denying himself that might be just as bad as the voices in his head. They want to continue their heart-to-heart, but Jammer points out the hooded people, who have moved into ominous chanting, and suggests they might want to pay attention. They agree to resume the conversation at some other point, and after about a minute, the sigils light up, and Evan begins succumbing to his possession.
Before it can fully take effect, the spell finishes, and a ghost appears in the middle of the circle. The Misfits discuss amongst themselves, wondering if the ghost is their instructor. The ghost, Professor Criggle, tells them to ask the question, rather than talk about him as if he isn’t there. He explains that yes, he is their professor, but that tenure in the magical world extends beyond the grave, he can neither be fired, nor quit, and has another twelve years left on his contract. He says he’s fine with it, but notices Evan’s arm, and the general state of the classroom. Due to being a ghost, Criggle is also able to use magic without a wand, casting a spell to see a replay of what had happened in the room before his arrival, revealing that Axelby wasn’t the one to cast the spell on Penfrew. Criggle asks if Penfrew is okay, and sends Evan and Penfrew to the nurse. As the two leave, the professor begins his lecture on defensive casting, and the Misfits agree to take notes on Evan’s behalf.
The Nurse's Office[]
Walking with Evan, Penfrew introduces himself, and asks Evan if he’s okay. Evan asks if he’s okay, and apologizes that Penfrew’s friends do things that like to him. Penfrew asks if it’s okay to ask Evan about his magic, since it seems to upset him, but Evan argues that he doesn’t get mad when people treat him with courtesy. He further explains that he seems aggravated, but that not a single student at the school has bothered starting interactions with basic greetings, instead asking him about being “the dark one.” Penfrew agrees that sounds exactly like Axelby, and mentions that he’s a legacy student. Evan isn’t surprised by that information, and tells Penfrew to tell the other Aqrabus students not to mess with him and his friends, and that neither Jammer nor Evan need a wand to harm them. Penfrew says it’s not really common to interact with other houses anyway, but that there is gossip, although Evan isn’t usually keyed into such things, because he usually tries not to be perceived.
Penfrew attempts to say something, but is too intimidated by Evan, who won’t promise he won’t “hit him with a gas station,” to say it. Evan admits that he knows that when he shares stories about his life, people get emotional, but still won’t promise not to hit Penfrew. They arrive at the nurse’s office, and Penfrew disengages from the conversation. Evan waits for the nurse to be available, and Penfrew leaves with a jug of water, and thanks him for not fighting him as a construct. Evan encourages him to leave Aqrabus, but Penfrew says it’s not an option, and walks off. Nurse David Stitchnit inquires if someone else is there, and Evan introduces himself, saying that he burned his hand, and comes into the office. The two converse, and the Stitchnit examines his arm, and notes that Evan’s arm is different, not burned, but very hot, and wonders how this is even possible. As Evan explains, and begins to unload about the structural and procedural failings of the school, Stitchnit puts medicine on his arm, who seems sympathetic. Evan admits that he can’t answer “how” he is like this, simply that he’s been like this “forever,” and that throughout his life, bad magical situations have ruined most of his living arrangements.
Evan explains that he isn’t actually interested in studying at Gowpenny, but rather, that it’d been the first opportunity for him to speak to anyone that might possibly understand what is happening to him, rather than thinking he’s hallucinating. He tells Stitchnit that he would much rather be at a magical hospital, rather than a school, because he doesn’t want to control it, he wants it to stop entirely. Stitchnit puts on a pair of glasses, similar to the ones Philtrum had used when they met, inspecting Evan as his arm begins to go back to normal. Stitchnit can see what he’s talking about, and affirms that his feelings are valid, and that his experience of magic has been traumatic. He confirms that it’s possible to exorcise the demons from his body, and Evan begins to sob. Stitchnit offers Evan a drink, and noting that he’s American, offers him a soda, which Evan gratefully accepts. Evan is overjoyed that there’s an option to remove the demons, having been unaware this was a possibility before, although Stitchnit expresses hesitation, asking him to consider the implications. Evan insists that even if it was just for himself, he would want this, but it’s more than that, as he is concerned that if it goes on much longer, he will become the dark one that everyone already thinks he is.
Stitchnit asks if he can hug Evan, who accepts, and they hug, giving Evan a pat on the head. He laments that he reminds him of his daughter, Maddy, whom is also in Chimeron, albeit a fourth-year. At some point, she had expressed to her father that she needed help expressing who she wanted to be, and he starts to get emotional, with Evan affirming that it’s nice to hear that someone else understands. The nurse summons tiny Cokes for them to drink, and explains that he knows what they are because he’d spent some time out in the Namp world, looking up Namp medicine, including puberty blockers. He expresses to Evan that Namp medicine is actually much better than magic, and Evan agrees, and thanks him for being one of the only adults, along with Dr. Boodle, who has bothered to listen to him. Stitchnit explains that if he gets the magic exorcised from him, then he won’t be allowed to live in the magical world, or attend the school, which means that he won’t be able to see his friends. Evan explains that he nearly killed Sam earlier in the day with his blood, and she was only saved by her own magical ability, so it’s not an option for him to keep it. Stitchnit points out that Penfrew could’ve died from the fire construct, and that magic, and Gowpenny, is dangerous, and while his healing magic can fix a lot of things, it can’t fix everything.
Stitchnit reiterates that Evan will be forced to go home, and Evan doesn’t see why that’s necessary, given that he has been in plenty of dangerous situations before. Unfortunately, Stitchnit states that this is not how it works, although it isn’t fair, but he doesn’t want him to feel like he only has bad options; even though it is strange at the school, with a bit of instruction, Evan can learn to control his problem. He reveals that he and Dr. Boodle were the ones to advocate for the Pilot Program the most, and he wants to see Evan succeed. Not just him individually, but Stitchnit believes that the Namp world has a lot to offer the magical world, full of innovation due to their lack of magic, also revealing that he has a toilet now. Additionally, there is a lot of suffering in the Namp world that he believes could be alleviated by sharing magic, and that the Pilot Program could change the world. He admits that he didn’t know how “special” Evan’s case would be, since Philtrum picked the four students for the program, but that from what he’s seen, they seem like they’ve become friends. Evan agrees that they’ve become the best of friends, and that he watched Sam, Dream, and Jammer do amazing magical feats, but that nothing he could do is worth endangering them. Stitchnit points out that he’d spoken with Penfrew, and that Evan had saved his life, but Evan cuts him off, requesting the exorcism. Stitchnit agrees to set it up, and lets him go.
The Scuppers Field[]
With classes over for the day, Jammer decides to go check out the scuppers field, convincing the Misfits to join him. They manage to find the field, which resembles a soccer field, including goals, and get the sense that they are encased in a cube, but cannot tell why. Jammer sends a message to the Oggles, asking them to meet them there, and they both teleport there immediately. Jammer expresses amazement at the ability, and the Oggles say that it’s difficult to learn, but seem excited that they all want to join the team, since it’s ten people to a team. Jammer notes that even though they’re not all equally athletically talented, wizards in general do not seem very fit. This upsets Hoggle, but then quickly realizes Jammer is correct, and Jammer points out no one seems to know what a gym is, or even the concept of working out. He takes his broom out, and Hoggle says he will teach them how to ride them. Jammer gets it immediately, then helps Sam and Dream get their positioning right, getting them to fly as well, although Evan doesn’t manage it.
Sam manages to see the threads connecting them all, growing stronger, not flickering away like they did before. She explains what she’s seeing, and begins to put together what she’s seeing, and instructs Jammer to say something encouraging to Evan, every kind word he says increases the strength on Jammer’s side, but not on Evan’s, and Sam tells Evan to say something nice to Jammer as well. Evan admits that Jammer is his best friend, and the tether between them is solidified, with Evan continuing to talk about Jammer’s effortless support of him. Sam still can’t quite figure out what’s happening, and Dream tries to brainstorm with her, and can suddenly see what Sam is seeing, and they realize that Jammer has a natural magical ability to connect people through teamwork. Evan pulls Jammer aside to talk to him, and informs him that in case something happens to him, that he heard an odd voice coming out of Dream’s phone, and it should be investigated at a later time even if he's not around. Jammer tells Evan that he doesn’t have the option to leave, and that anything weird that happens, they will handle together. Jammer says they will get to the bottom of it after he’s figured out scuppers, and they put hands in, chanting “goat house” and “family,” which Sam and Dream notice increases the light from their connection.
Dream and Sam inform Jammer that they think he has the natural magic to inspire people, and make them feel welcome. Hoggle, who’s been watching, tells Evan to try flying again. Evan tries, and he is so distracted by thinking he cannot, and explaining that it’s alright that it won’t happen, that he doesn’t notice that he’s been flying the entire time. He rambles, touched by Jammer’s words, then lightly hits the top of the cube that they’ve been contained in, realizing that he’s flying, stunned that his push broom is even magical at all. He begins flying in earnest, remarking that this seems to be unambiguously fun. Dream starts flying as well, and is bothered when a flock of starlings begin to follow her, and her voice reverts back into soft and bubbly. Sam notes that the birds seem to be in a synchronized flying pattern around her, and Evan declines to get closer, to prevent the birds from vomiting blood.
Some time after this, a letter appears under Evan’s pillow from nurse Stitchnit, informing him that his exorcism appointment has been set for five weeks later.
The Scuppers Game[]
A month later, the four are now on the team, although they haven’t practiced too much, as wizards don’t understand the concept, and the rest of the team declined. They are in a match against Hercinil, with Khanh and The Trio on the opposing team. Evan, who has refused to cast magic with his wand this whole time, is the goalie, considering it the position he can do mostly with physicality. Sam goes for a ball, and Tallulah sends up a bunch of turf to block her, grabbing the ball Sam was going for, before saying, “stay away from Fergus,” and flying away. Tallulah and her fellow players cast magic to set their armor on fire and head towards Evan. Dream, playing defense, casts a spell to give herself mist armor, which comes out as a sparkly pink mist, and goes to knock Tallulah’s formation out, and manages to extinguish their fire, and take the ball Tallulah had been holding. Jammer takes the ball, passing it back to Sam, who is now fully able to see the tethers between the players on her team, able to grab them to redirect their attention to Jammer. They all manage to get balls into the goal, gaining them many points. Dream’s familiar, Teddy, has painted this face with little horns in support.
Evan sees that Digsby and Fergus have picked up balls and are headed towards him, their teammates flanking them to assist their offense. Evan and Jammer look at each other and affirm goat house, “Eat trash, beat trash.” Evan decides that in the face of magic, he’s going to hit them with his broom, given that they likely cannot withstand a lot of pain, and his broom is far cheaper so he doesn’t care about damaging it. He manages to knock them out of the air, taunting them for their spells taking too long to do in the face of his physical attack, which makes the crowd go wild. Dream notices Tallulah try to cast a spell at Evan, and attempts to shield him with a spell on herself, since the rules of the game prevent her from casting magic on him. Unfortunately, Dream’s spell doesn’t work, but she still manages to throw herself into the path of danger.
Evan feels a sudden sense of dread. The voices warn Evan that something terrible is about to happen to him and Dream and beg to help. After Evan agrees, Dream's pinkness turns dark and both her and Evan disappear, and a dark blue bolt shatters one of the edges of the goals.
Evan and Dream appear in the Chimeron common room. Evan's wand reaches its final form: dogwood, with a parchment core, appearing to be made of bone and muscle tissue. The back half of Evan's body is pure darkness, and where Evan's shadow meets the natural shadows, it goes black and leaks black oil and water. Tendrils stretch across Evan's face, his skin loses moisture and turns pale, while something stretches across Evan's chest, trying to pull him back towards the darkness. The shadow tells Evan he has no choice, his friends will die with or without him, but offer him the strength to help them. Evan asks the demons if he is the threat.
Beside him, Dream has fully transformed, leaving behind her dark edgy appearance for a fully transformed, pink, rosy and sparkly. Evan apologizes for not being very "softboy" in the moment, they have a heart-to-heart. Evan shares that what Dream finds attractive are some of his least favorite things about himself. Dream concedes that she's been romanticizing the wrong image of him, but says she's made a breakthrough by accepting herself more. He says that she doesn't need to hide any part of herself, and she says that he's brave and kind, and maybe they can start again, appreciating each other's strengths.
Meanwhile on the field, Headmistress Philtrum stops the game. Hercinil is declared the winner, the staff tear things down and begin to search for Evan and Dream. Jammer and Sam compose themselves, and decide "they gonna catch these hands" later. Jammer sends enchanted messages to Evan and Dream, intending to follow them, but he and Sam notice that the teams are shaking hands, so they decide to say hi to Fergus and Khanh. They convince the Oggles to bottle down their anger for later. Jammer and Sam talk to Khanh and Fergus respectively, and get them to agree to future dates. Sam notices Fergus growl something at Tallulah, but can't hear what it is. Sam and Jammer celebrate their romantic success. As the staff escort students off of the scuppers field, Sam and Jammer receive a note back from Evan and Dream that says "Common room."
The Common Room[]
Sam and Jammer catch up with Dream and a possessed Evan. Dream brings up Evan's state, and he feels that something must happen, or something is going to happen to him. Evan learns from Jammer that they lost the game on a technicality and grows angrier. He tells his friends to contact Nurse Stitchnit about moving up his appointment. Evan intermittently loses control and the voices speak through him, and Dream tries to catch the other two up on the situation. Dream attempts to look up anything on the internet that might tell them about what might be possessing him, but comes up short, and the demons taunt her.
Sam attempts to charm the voice coming from Evan's mouth and her eyes are able to see six faces in total, Evan's included. Sam asks the voices to give Kelmp back, and the voice answers that they chose Kelmp, and he was promised to them. As Sam talks one of the voices is convinced to leave. Evan reaches a hand out of the darkness towards Sam, while she continues to use her charm to convince the voices to leave. Jammer tries to grab Evan's hand but misses. Sam continues charming the voices. The voices mention that Evan chose to allow them control in order to save Dream but Sam retorts that any contract would be invalid because he is a minor. Another one of the voices is destroyed, leaving four voices plus Evan. Sam, Dream and Jammer see one of Evan's hands but it is quickly pulled back and covered by blackness.
A new voice introduces itself as Grasphlax and then starts bickering with another one of the voices, who says it's scared. Grasphlax is the one holding Evan's wand now and he claims that the main guy left. Sam tries to get their attention and the scared voice recedes back to the darkness, leaving three voices plus Evan. Sam proposes that it leave as the others did, and Dream also asks Grasphlax to leave, cupping Evan's face with her hands and freezing them. Dream and Evan admit their feelings for each other, the beings look at Sam, Dream and Jammer in horror, as Evan is slowly restored, and then Jammer grabs him and pulls him out of the darkness he was in. The shadows disappear.
Evan expresses his gratitude and explains the shadow has always existed, but he realizes that it's not present at that moment. Dream runs up to Evan and they kiss, they confess their feelings for each other. Nurse Stitchnit clears his throat and Jammer mentions that Evan wanted his appointment moved up.
Locations[]
Characters[]
The Magical Misfits[]
New[]
Returning[]
- Theodore
- Spalding
- Coggle and Hoggle Undergus
- Tallulah Jillymont
- Digsby Cooper
- Fergus Ponst
- Headmistress Boudicca Philtrum
- Khanh Nguyen
- Grasphlax
- Terminator 2
Mentioned[]
- Maddy Stitchnit