The Tree of Light

Following a storm that ravages Bright Tree Village, Chief Chirpa tasks Paploo, Weechee, Widdle, and Teebo with the mission of revitalizing the Tree of Light, aiming to shield the village from the Night Spirit. To aid them, Logray provides Light Dust for application at the tree's base, along with a magical lantern to guide their way. He also cautions them about both real and imagined perils awaiting them. Kneesaa, Wicket, and Latara also express their desire to join, but are turned down due to their age or gender. Despite Chirpa's steadfast adherence to tradition in denying his daughter's request, Logray acknowledges Kneesaa's bold spirit in challenging it. At Gorneesh's hut, King Gorneesh revels in the tempestuous weather, as he is a devotee of the Night Spirit. Another Dulok, bearing three scars on his abdomen, feigns enjoyment to appease his king, all the while shivering beneath a blanket. Scratch observes that the storm likely signifies the weakening of the Tree of Light, but King Gorneesh vows to obliterate it this year, citing Scratch's previous failure. Nevertheless, King Gorneesh assigns Scratch the duty of delaying the group of Ewoks who are determined to restore the tree, in order to grant the King sufficient time to destroy it.

During their expedition, the group ventures into a cave, inadvertently frightening away flying snakes as they proceed. Widdle eventually spots something behind him and, fearing a monster, flees in panic, triggering a collective retreat. Upon exiting the cave, they encounter a dilapidated and precarious bridge, which they cautiously traverse one by one. Widdle again perceives a sound and sprints past the others, causing the lantern to fall and roll away along the bridge. Suddenly, Wicket, who was responsible for the noises and had been stealthily approaching Widdle, emerges from the foliage and seizes the lantern just before it plummets off the edge.

Having regained their composure, they decide to allow Wicket to accompany them on their mission, despite the likelihood of him causing mischief. They stumble upon a maze, notorious for its reputation of ensnaring those who enter, leading Paploo to highlight the importance of the lantern. However, Weechee arrogantly strides into the maze, confident in his ability to navigate without assistance. At that moment, two Duloks, Scratch and a younger one, emerge from the bushes. Scratch anticipates that they will overtake the Ewoks within the maze, but the younger Dulok expresses doubts about their ability to avoid getting lost. Scratch dismisses these concerns and produces goggles of his own invention, designed to aid them in navigating the maze.

After countless hours of wandering aimlessly through the maze, the Ewoks begin to question Weechee's navigational skills. In response, Weechee requests Paploo to take the lead, who then proposes a game to determine their direction. Outside the maze, Kneesaa and Latara arrive at its entrance, but Latara questions whether they should have disobeyed orders. However, Kneesaa is determined to prove their courage and strength, so they proceed into the maze.

Weechee, angered by Paploo's claim that he can guide them out, mocks Paploo for his inability to locate the exit. Paploo once again selects the incorrect path, despite Wicket's attempts to warn him that the lantern is pointing in a different direction.

As they depart, Scratch and the young Dulok enter the same chamber. The young one attempts to warn Scratch about a rock, but Scratch stumbles and shatters his goggles regardless. Scratch reveals that he has a backup plan, which involves ensnaring the Ewoks in a net coated with Ganga sap. Just as the Duloks depart, Kneesaa and Latara also arrive in that chamber.

After a drop of sap lands on the floor, Latara claims to have heard Teebo, and Kneesaa teases her for her infatuation. Latara becomes excited and attempts to follow the sound, inadvertently running into the Duloks, with Kneesaa trailing behind her. Both flee from the Duloks, who pursue them with the net. Following a brief struggle, the Duloks become entangled in their own net. Witnessing this, Kneesaa taunts Scratch by referring to him as a rakazzak. As Latara congratulates her, the boys, having heard the commotion, arrive and inquire about their presence. Kneesaa resolves to reveal the truth, stating that they are there to prove themselves. The boys agree that they have succeeded by capturing the Duloks, and invite them to join. Wicket finally interjects and urges the others to follow the lantern.

Upon exiting the maze, they halt as they reach the Valley of Floating Trees. They improvise paddles and utilize a floating tree as a raft to traverse the misty valley. Kneesaa throws a rock to gauge the depth, and Wicket asserts that no one has ever reached the bottom. They arrive on the opposite side and spot the Mountain of Light. Initially, they believe the trees are following them, but they soon realize that Gorneesh and his Duloks are controlling them. The Duloks ram the Ewoks' tree and bind them.

Gorneesh seizes the vial of Light Dust from around Weechee's neck and returns to their own tree. Wicket begins to ferociously tear apart the ropes binding him with his teeth. He quickly frees Kneesaa, and they leap and secretly cling to the Duloks' tree as it floats towards the mountain. Latara, Paploo, Weechee, and Widdle untie their ropes, but discover that their oars have been shattered by the Duloks. Weechee proposes using their blankets as sails. Teebo positions himself at the front with the lantern to guide them through the fog. Unfortunately, Weechee neglects to consider how to stop their tree when desired, and they crash into the side of the mountain beside all of the Duloks' trees. However, while they are shaken by the collision, they are unharmed and proceed towards the tree.

At the summit, the Duloks have fastened ropes to the tree and are attempting to pull it down. Kneesaa lures Gorneesh into a cave, where Wicket ambushes him, obscuring his vision. Kneesaa attacks him and tackles him to the ground. They retrieve the vial of Light Dust from Gorneesh's neck, but Gorneesh regains his senses and seizes her. Kneesaa throws the vial to Wicket, who flees through the caves, with Gorneesh in pursuit.

The group of Ewoks finally reaches the summit and sees the Duloks on the verge of toppling the tree. Wicket emerges from the caves, and Gorneesh commands his men to seize Wicket. In the ensuing chaos, the Duloks end up in a dog pile, and Wicket reaches the tree trunk, where he shatters the vial open, and the Tree of Light is restored. The Duloks, who have adapted their eyes to the darkness of the swamps, are blinded by the light emanating from the tree. The barren summit of the mountain is suddenly covered in grass and flowers. The Duloks flee, and the Ewoks congratulate Wicket. At the base of the mountain, Scratch and the younger Dulok, still entangled in the net and attempting to warn Gorneesh about the approaching Ewoks, wonder why it is becoming brighter. Suddenly, they are trampled by their fellow Duloks.

Upon their return to Bright Tree Village, Chief Chirpa bestows four silver feathers upon Paploo, Teebo, Weechee, and Widdle for their bravery. He then prepares to punish Wicket, Kneesaa, and Latara, but refrains from doing so due to their bravery displayed during the mission, and awards each of them silver feathers as well, to the delight of the crowd.

• This episode had two separate VHS releases by j2 communications. It was released on a tape by itself, and on " Ewoks Volume 1" along with the episode " The Cries of the Trees ."
• CBS-FOX also released it on a VHS entitled " Ewoks 3: Wicket the Hero". The VHS also included several other episodes.
• This episode touches upon the sensitive subjects of gender roles and tradition. Princess Kneesaa requests to be the one to nourish the Tree of Light, but her father Chief Chirpa explains that only male Ewoks have done so historically. When Kneesaa argues for a change in tradition, Chirpa declines.