Make Way For Miss Nettle
Royal Prep's clock tower struck three. As the sound of the bell rang, elaborate clockwork models of the headmistresses and their students came out one door and into another.
The students poured out of the front door.
"Are you sure you don't want to join us, Amber?" Sofia asked.
"If you two want to learn how to grow flowers, go right ahead." Amber declared. "But digging around in the dirt is not my ideas of fun."
"What are you talking about?" James smirked. "That's the best part!"
"I'll have the royal carriage come pick you three up later."
"Okay." Sofia nodded.
"Bye, Amber." Madeline smiled.
"Happy gardening." Amber waved.
"Come on, let's go." James urged.
They made their way to Royal Prep's massive greenhouse. A timid-looking prince was ahead of them. As they entered, James sneaked up on him, and grabbed his shoulders.
"Hey, Desmond!" He yelled.
"Aaah!" Desmond yelped. "James, you scared me!"
"Sorry, Des." James smirked. "Just saying 'hi'."
The headmistresses came to meet them.
"Oh, good afternoon, children." Fauna greeted them.
"We're so pleased that the four of you have chosen to stay for our after-school gardening club." Merryweather smiled.
"And you're in for quite a treat." Flora added. "Because we have a surprise for you. You're not just going to learn gardening; You're going to learn-"
"Enchanted gardening!" Merryweather interrupted.
"That's right." Flora pushed Merryweather back. "We have a special guest her to teach today."
"A fairy who was once our very own apprentice." Fauna stated.
The kids looked at each other.
"So she worked for you?" James asked.
"Yes!" Flora giggled. "Without further ado, please welcome... Miss Nettles!"
A yellow-garbed fairy descended on them. The headmistresses clapped.
"Oh, thank you!" Miss Nettles smiled. "Thanks you for the kind applause! Keep it coming! ...Okay, that's enough. I don't want to tire your hands out. You'll be clapping much more once we get started!" She laughed. "I'm that good!"
Miss Nettles lightly pushed the headmistresses toward teh door.
"Thank you, ladies." She told them. "I've got it from here."
"Have fun, children!" Fauna waved.
"Now, in enchanted gardening, you grow plants that are extraordinary." Miss Nettles told the kids. "And there's nothing better then being extraordinary! So, how do you do it? Watch me!"
Miss Nettles flew over to her bag and snapped her fingers. The bag opened, and gardening gloves flew out, pulling themselves over her hands.
"You start with a magical flower bud." Miss Nettles declared, as a bud flew out of the bag. "Like this rising rose bud. Then you add just the right amount of magical plant food."
She sprinkled some over the bud.
"Voila!" She declared. "It grows into a great rising rose stalk! And why stop at great, when you can make it the greatest? Because there's no point in doing anything if you can't be the best!"
Miss Nettles gave the stalk more food, making it grow higher and higher, until it pushed upon the skylight.
"Wow!" Sofia and Madeline gasped.
"Mm-hmm." Miss Nettles smirked. "You can clap any time now."
The kids applauded.
"Oh, thank you." Miss Nettles smiled, picking two flowers out of the stalk. "Thank you for the kind applause!"
She placed the flower in Sofia and Madeline's hair.
Want more?" She asked. "of course you do!"
Miss Nettle conjured up a bunch of blue flower buds from inside her bag.
"How about some bouncing bluebells?" She asked, sprinkling more magic plant food on them.
The bluebells started bouncing across the room.
"Brilliant!" James smiled.
"Ah, watch out!" Desmond hid under the table.
"They're just flowers, Desmond." James said.
"There's nothing to be afraid of." Madeline assured him.
"There's always something to be afraid of." Desmond cringed.
"Now, are you ready to try some for yourselves?" Miss Nettle asked.
Sofia, Madeline and James answered positively.
"I guess so..." Desmond came out from under the table.
Miss Nettle started handing out plants.
"Here are some dancing daisies, and laughing lillies, and singing sunflowers." She declared, as the kids took their plants to the tables. "And here's some magical plant food, for you, and you, and you."
Miss Nettle threw the bags of plant to each recipent. Desmondfell trying to get his. Miss Nettle grabbed his singing sunflower and placed it on the table.
"Add the right amount of magical plant food; Four pinches per flower is a good start." She instructed. "And your little bud will bloom into something extraordinary. Now: grow, grow, grow!"
Sofia and Madeline added the food to their flowers, which started to dance.
"Oh, I made a dancing daisy!" Sofia smiled.
"Me too!" Madeline chuckled.
"Small ones, but yeah, you did it." Miss Nettle patted them both on the head.
"Mine isn't working." James grabbed the flower pot and started shaking it. "Come on, do something!"
The flowers puffed purple smoke into James face, causing him to laugh uncontrollably.
"Careful, careful!" Miss Nettle grabbed the pot. "Remember, that's a laughing lily. Get too close, and they'll spray you with their pollen. And... voila! You can't stop laughing."
"Is he going to be okay?" Sofia asked.
"Don't worry." Miss Nettle smiled. "It wears off."
James abrubtly stopped laughing.
"Yeah, I'm good now." He noted.
Meanwhile, Desmond had an array of spoons set before him.
"Okay, let's see." He sighed. "Tablespoon, teaspoon, smidgen, dash... ah, a pinch!"
Desmond pulled a tiny spoon out of his satchel, poured the food on it, then added to his flower, four times in a row. The singing sunflower quickly grew to an enourmous height.
"La-lalalalalala-la!" It sang, moving right into Desmond's face.
"Aah!" Desmond yelped.
"Ow!" The singing sunflower moved back.
"It's okay, Desmond." Madeline smiled.
"It's more then okay!" Miss Nettle declared. "It's the biggest, greatest singing sunflower I've seen... since the last time I grew one."
"How'd you do it?" James asked.
"I used my pinch spoon to get the perfect amount of plant food." Desmond boasted. "I like to be prepared."
"Good thinking." Sofia complimented him.
"Alright, my little enchanted gardeners." Miss Nettle smiled. "It's time for you to practice all the brilliant things I've taught you. I'll come back and check on your work later."
Putting her things back into the bag, Miss Nettle (and the bag) flew towards the door.
"Now: grow, grow, grow!" She declared. "And when in doubt... just do what I would do!"
Giving her students a small wave goodbye, Miss Nettle flew out the door, her bag right behind her. One of her glove fell onto the floor. Sofia ran and picked it up.
"Wait!" She called. "You forgot your glove! I'd better give this back to her."
"Not without me, you're not!" Madeline followed Sofia outside.
"We'll just be here." James called after them. "Gardening."
James threw the bouncing bluebell he was holding onto the floor, chuckling as it bounced all over the greenhouse.
"Yah!" Desmond ducked as it bounced close by him.
Meanwhile, Miss Nettle was searching through the drawers of the headmistresses' office.
"Where is that book?" She growled. "I must find it!"
As she continued her search, the headmistresses returned.
"Miss Nettle!" Flora gasped.
"What are you doing here?" Merryweather asked.
"I uh, lost a seed?" Miss Nettle chuckled nervously.
"In our office?" Fauna frowned.
"Oh, I find that very hard to believe." Flora declared.
"What are you really looking for?" Merryweather asked.
"Well, if you must know, I'm looking for your spellbook." Miss Nettle admitted.
"I should have known." Merryweather grimaced.
"Ah, but you didn't." Miss Nettle chided her. "You three think you're so much more clever and powerful then I am. You always have! But when I get my hands on your precious spellbook, all that will change."
Miss Nettle: Oh, it was many years ago
That I served as your apprentice
I worked my wings off every day
'til my magic grew momentous
Yet you never let me look
At your most wondrous possession
A secret book of spells
That soon became my sole obsession
Miss Nettle stole Merryweather's wand.
'Cause it was such a bore
Being fairy number four
You treated me like your old kettle
Flora and Fauna fired spells at Miss Nettle but she dodged them.
It'll be far more fun
Being fairy number one
So why not make way for Miss Nettle!
Using both wands, Miss Nettle trapped Merryweather in a bubble.
I'm like a pretty rose
But be forewarned
Mess with Nettle
And you'll get the thorn!
Miss Nettle stole Flora and Fauna's wands, using them in trapthem in more bubbles.
I'll be as famous
As Maleficent
But twenty-three times
More magnificent!
Using the four wands, Miss Nettle conjured pots of flowers all over the room. They began applauding her.
"Oh, thank you, thank you very much." She smirked. "You're too kind!"
Darlings, it was such a bore
Being fairy number four
And now I have a score
To settle
Miss Nettle combined the bubbles together in one, trapping all three inside. At the same time, Sofia and Madeline, alarmed by the commotion, peeked through the open door.
It'll be so much fun
Being fairy number one
Won't you make way for Miss Nettle
Everyone make for Miss Nettle!
"Ta-ta!" Mis Nettle left the room.
Sofia and Madeline hid behind the door as she passed.
They then entered the office.
"Miss Flora, miss Fauna, miss Merryweather!" Sofia gasped.
"How can we get you out of there?" Madeline asked.
Sofia ran and got a broom. She and Madeline tried popping the bubbles, as the fairies tried to tell them what happened.
"What?" Madeline asked. "We can't hear you!"
Flora open and closed her hands.
"Oh, you're trying to tell us something?" Sofia realised. A book?"
"A spell book?" Madeline joined in.
"Your spell book?" Sofia asked.
Flora pointed to something on the floor.
"Miss Nettle's glove?" Madeline guessed.
"Oh, Miss Nettle wanted to get her hands on your spell book?" Sofia suggested.
The fairies started marching around.
"Why are you marching?" Madeline asked. "We don't understand."
"Don't worry." Sofia declared. "We are going to find a way to get you out. We promise."
Sofia and Madeline ran back to the greenhouse, where James and Desmond were playing catch with a bouncing bluebell.
"James!" Madeline yelled. "Desmond!"
"What is it?" They chorused.
"It's Miss Nettle." Madeline told them. "She wants to steal the fairie's spell book!"
"They tried to stop her, and she put them in a bubble!" Sofia added.
"Whoa." James gasped.
"A bubble?" Desmond asked. "What kind of bubble?"
"I don't know." Sofia shrugged. "Some kind of magic bubble!"
"And we have to find a way to get them out of it!" Madeline declared.
"Wait, why us?" Desmond asked.
"Because we're the only ones still here." Madeline pointed out.
"There has to be someone else." Desmond insisted. "Professor Popov always stays late!"
"He's right." James nodded.
"Great." Sofia smiled. "Let's go!"
"Um, I'm gonna stay here, if that's okay?" Desmond said nervously.
"Good plan." James said. "You can keep a lookout for Miss Nettle."
James tossed the bouncing bluebell to Desmond, who looked even more nervous.
"On second thought, wait for me!" Desmond followed them out.
Professor Popov was in the dance studio, practising his moves.
"...And for the big finish... hoo-ha!" He pirouetted.
The kids ran in.
"Professor Popov!" Sofia called.
Popov fall to the floor.
"What is the meaning of this interruption?" He said haughtily.
"The fairies are in trouble." Madeline told him.
Popov spun back to his feet.
"What kind of trouble?" He asked.
"Big trouble." Sofia declared.
Popov walked down the corridors with the kids.
"Ooh, if there is one thing I can not stood, it's evil fairies!" He fumed.
"Wait." Madeline whispered, pointing through an open door. "It's her. She's in there."
"Stand back, children." Popov instructed. "I will take care of this."
Popov pirouetted into the room.
"Stop!" He yelled, "Right where you are."
"Or instead, you could stop right where you are!" Miss Nettles countered, trapping Popov in a bubble.
"Run!" Sofia yelped.
Desmond stayed where he was, paralysed with fear.
"Come on!" Madeline pulled him away.
They ran outside, hiding by the main staircase.
"What are we gonna do?" James asked.
"I say we hide." Desmond suggested.
"We can't do that!" Sofia retorted.
"Sure we can." Desmond pointed to a nearby tree with a large gash in it. "That tree can hold all of us."
"We're going to have to help the fairies." Madeline stated. "On our own. There's no-one else left."
"But... what can we do?" Desmond asked.
"Well... we can find the spell book before Miss Nettle does!" Sofia decided. "There must be a spell in there that can free the fairies!"
"I bet you're right." James agreed. "But that book could be hidden anywhere. Where do we even start looking?"
"You could start by looking in the library, and looking at a map of the whole school." Desmond suggested. "Then you can see every room, and every possible hiding place."
"Great idea, Desmond!" Madeline smiled. "Let's go!"
"No, no, wait!" Desmond stuttered. "I mean, you could do that. I'm going to hide."
"But we need you." Sofia declared.
"Yeah, you're the smartest kid in school, Des!" James added. "We don't stand a chance against Nettle without you!"
"I don't wanna wind up in a bubble!" Desmond cowered behind the tree.
"Desmond, the fairies are counting on us." Madeline followed Desmond as he shuffled around the tree. "They're counting on you."
"Okay." Desmond sighed.
"Thank you." Madeline smiled. "Now, come on!"
Soon after, they were in the library, looking at the map.
"If you were the fairies, where would you hide the spell book?" Sofia posited.
"Well, there's the stables... nah, too dusty." Desmond mused. "Or the hall of armor... that'd be too noisy. Or the clocktower?"
"Or where no-one would ever find it?" James groaned. "We're doomed!"
"Wait, Desmond!" Madeline gasped. "Go back to the clocktower. I think that's it!"
"What?" Desmond gaped.
"When the fairies got trapped, they were marching all around." Madeline recalled. "I knew they were trying to tell us something, but I had no idea what. But what if they were marching like the figures in our clock?"
"Because they were trying to tell you the spell book was in the clock tower?" Desmond smiled.
"Exactly!" Madeline nodded.
"Good thinking, Maddie." Sofia smiled. "now, let's get to the clocktower before Miss Nettle does!"
As they raced to the clocktower, the kids stopped when they saw Miss Nettle through a window, searching a classroom.
"Uh-oh." Desmond gulped.
"Okay, now we can hide." Sofia declared.
They all ducked below the window.
"Where is that book?" Miss Nettle grumbled as she left the room.
"She's gone." Madeline noted. "Come on!"
They resumed their run to the clocktower.
"Um, where are the stairs?" James asked as they entered.
"There aren't any." Desmond told him. "The fairies don't need them."
"Of course." Sofia nodded. "They can fly up."
"But we can't." Desmond sighed.
"We could if we got a flying horse from the stables." James suggested.
"Nah." Desmond shook his head. "A horse wouldn't fit through the door."
"Hmm..." Madeline thought. "Desmond, do you have any magic plant food left?"
"Let me check." Desmond opened his satchel. "I have four and a half packs."
Madeline placed the flower in her hair on the floor.
"Can you grow this into a rising rosestalk, big enough to reach the top of the tower?" She asked.
"Well, let me see." Desmond mused. "I could do some quick calculations..."
"Or you could just use it all and see what happens." James suggested.
"I could do that, too." Desmond nodded.
Desmond emptied a whole pouch onto the flower, which gew all the way to the top.
"Brilliant!" James smiled.
"Desmond, you did it!" Sofia beamed. "Now, let's climb."
"Um, guys?" Desmond asked. "I just remembered something important."
"What's that?" Madeline asked.
"I'm afraid of heights." Desmond admitted.
"Are you afraid of everything?" James smirked.
"No." Desmond retorted. "Just... most things."
"It's okay, Desmond." Sofia consoled him. "Everyone is afraid of something."
"Not me." James boasted.
"Look out, ogre!" Madeline pointed.
"Where?!" James trembled.
"See?" Sofia told Desmond. "So Desmond, tell us what else you're afraid of."
"Mean fairies who put you in bubbles." Desmond said as he started climbing.
"Uh-huh." Madeline nodded. "Anything else?"
Snakes." Desmond said "Red ants, black ants, my aunt Nadine..."
"Can you come a little closer?" Sofia asked. "We can't quitehear you."
"I'm also afraid of big dogs." Desmond kept climbing. "And tiny moths. Puzzles with one missing piece, puzzles with more then one missing piece, running out of cake at birthday parties, falling in the moat, wet socks, and being put into a bubble."
"Well, I know one thing you're not scared of, Desmond." Madeline smirked. "Climbing rosestalks."
"What?" Desmond gasped.
"We're at the top." Sofia told him.
"Good job, Des." James smiled.
"I did it!" Desmond beamed.
"What is all that?" James pointed above them.
"Those are the gears that make the clock run." Desmond declared.
"The spell book must be hiding in there somewhere." Madeline mused.
The gears started turning, and the figures started moving.
"The clock's moving!" Sofia yelped.
"Wait!" Madeline pointed at a book held by the Flora figure. "Look at that book!"
"What if it's..." Sofia gasped.
"The spell book?" Sofia and Desmond said together.
"Stop that fairy!" Madeline yelled.
James leapt onto the track. As it moved outside, he caught a glimpse of how high up he was. Shaking it off, he grabbed the Flora figure, aided by Sofia and Madeline.
"Stopping... fairy!" He grunted.
As the figure went back inside, Desmond grabbed the book.
"Got it!" He smiled.
Desmond handed the spell book to Madeline.
"So, is it the spell book?" James asked.
"It sure is!" Madeline smiled.
"Bravo." A familar said from behind them.
Turning, the kids saw Miss Nettle.
"You've done all the hard work for me by finding that book." She smirked. "Now you get to do the easy part: hand it over."
"No, Miss Nettle." Sofia refused. "We won't give it to you.
James and Desmond got in front of the two girls.
"Yeah." James said. "We need it to free the fairies."
"Well, I'll make you a deal." Miss Nettle offered. "If you give me the book, I'll free the fairies."
"Hmm, I don't know." Madeline held the book tightly.
"I put them in the bubble, so I can easily get them out of it." Miss Nettle declared. "And all you have to do in return is give me that one little book. Oh, it's a great deal, if I do say so myself. And it's so much better then being put in a bubble."
"I don't want to be put in a bubble." Desmond trembled.
"You should listen to your friend." Miss Nettle sneered. "Before I change my mind. So, do we have a deal?"
"...Alright." Madeline finally decided, handing the book over.
"Yes!" Miss Nettle cried. "The most powerful spell book in all the world is mine! The only question is: what spell do I do first? Conjure a dragon, make myself as strong as a giant... Oh, no! I'll make an enormous golden carriage! Because the greatest fairy in the worl deserves the greatest carriage in the world!"
Miss Nettle opened the window with her magic.
"Wait!" Sofia called. "First you'll free the fairies, right?"
"Oh no, I can't do that." Miss Nettle declared. "If I let them out now, they'll just come after me."
"But we had a deal." Madeline reminded her.
"Oh, alright." Miss Nettle sighed. "I'll let them out of the bubble after I've learned every spell in their book, and become the most powerful fairy in the world!" She laughed wickedly. "Oh, I just can't wait to get started!"
Miss Nettle flew out of the window.
"She tricked us!" Sofia groaned.
"Yeah, and I don't think she's ever gonna let the fairies out." Desmond added.
"We really blew it." James sighed.
"Ah, so many spells, and so much time to do them!" Miss Nettle's voice could be heard through the window.
Looking out the window, Madeline saw flashes of magic from inside the greenhouse.
"She hasn't left yet." She noted. "She's in the greenhouse, doing a spell!"
"So?" James asked.
"So there's still time to get the spell book back!" Sofia realised. "We have to try!"
The kids rushed back to the greenhouse, hiding behind the staircase.
"Okay, now what?" James asked.
"Remember what the laughing lily did to James?" Madeline recalled. "We can do the same thing to Miss Nettle!"
"I don't know." Desmond shrugged. "You'll have to grow a lot of them to stop her. And big ones, too."
"It's a good thing the best enchanted gardener in the school is right here." Sofia smiled.
"Who?" Desmond asked.
"You." Sofia pointed.
"Me?" Desmond gasped. "You want me to do it?"
"We'll do it together." Sofia declared.
"Uh-uh." Desmond shook his head. "No way. She's too scary!"
"The fairies say that we should always be royal." James reminded him. "And what's more royal then being brave?"
"But I'm not brave." Desmond sighed.
"Yes, you are, Desmond." Madeline insisted. "You said you were afraid of heights, and you still climbed all the way up that rosestalk. That's being brave; When you're scared of something, and you do it anyway."
"Okay, I'll do it." Desmond smiled.
"James, can you distract Miss Nettle while we grow the lillies?" Sofia asked.
"You got it." James gave a thumbs-up.
Looking over the side, James spotted a bouncing bluebell.
"I think I know just the trick." He smiled.
"Perfect." Madeline grinned. "Everyone ready?"
"Yep." James nodded.
"Nope." Desmond cringed.
As they snuck into the greenhouse, Miss Nettle was reading a spell from the book.
"From this one pumpkin, still and quiet, bloom into-" Miss Nettle was interrupted by James throwing the bouncing bluebells at her. "Oh! What is going on?!"
The bluebells bounced all around Miss Nettle.
"Stop that!" Miss Nettle yelped.
"Okay, now's our chance." Sofia whispered.
"We'll get the flower buds, you get the plant food." Madeline told Desmond.
Running under the tables, they got what they needed, then, crawling under the tables, got behind Miss Nettle. Sofia and Madeline put the buds on the ground near Miss Nettle, while Desmond sprinkled the plant food. On the second time, Desmond sprinkled more then he meant to.
"I sprinkled too much!" He hissed loudly.
Miss Nettle quickly turned around.
"You!" She growled. "I'll get you-"
The laughing lilies sprouted all around her, spraying their fumes in her face. Miss Nettle started laughing uncontrollably.
"Stop it!" She giggled, as more sprays came. "Stop, wooh!"
Miss Nettle let the spell book slip from her hand.
"She dropped the spell book!" Desmond pointed.
Madeline rushed over and picked it up.
"Got it!" She declared, as Sofia and Desmond ran to her.
"Hey, you give that back right now!" Miss Nettle cackled. "I mean it!"
The three of them ran over to James.
"Come on!" Sofia yelled. "We got the book!"
"Alright!" James cheered.
"Now let's save the fairies before she stops laughing." Madeline declared.
The kids rushed back to the headmistresses' office, showing the trapped fairies their spell book.
"They found it!" Fauna gasped. "They found the spell book!"
Sofia was saying something, but the fairies couldn't hear her through the bubble.
"What is she saying?" Merryweather asked.
"I don't know." Flora replied. "But we have to tell them how to find the spell to break the bubble!"
"Ooh, how are we going to do that?" Fauna inquired.
"Oh, they can't hear us!" Sofia sighed.
"What are they doing?" James asked, as Fauna opened her hands and Flora and Merryweather held up their open hands.
"I think they're trying to tell us what page the spell is on." Madeline suggested.
"Ohh." James started counting. "One, two, three..."
"Twenty-four." Desmond stated.
"Boy, you count fast." James noted.
Sofia opened the spell book to the twenty-fourth page.
"Found it!" She took a deep breath and started reading. "Okay, 'with these words, I end your trouble'-"
The fairies held up their hands to stop her.
"What?" Sofia asked.
Flora mimed the shape of a stick, and waved it.
"You need a wand." Madeline declared.
The fairies nodded, and the kids started to search the room. Desmond looked back at the bubble, and Flora pointed to a flower pot, where a wand lay nearby.
"Here." Desmond handed Sofia the wand.
"Thanks." Sofia took the wand and started reading again, waving it as she did. 'With these words, I end your trouble. Rupto sudso, pop that bubble'!"
A stream of magic came out of the wand and struck the bubble, popping it.
"Ah, thank you." Flora smiled, as the fairies floated down.
"Oh, you're our heroes!" Fauna gushed.
"Now, where's Miss Nettle?" Merryweather took her wand back from Sofia, waving it menacingly.
Shortly after, the fairies burst into the greenhouse, followed by the kids.
"She's gone!" Madeline gasped.
"Hopefully, forever and ever." Flora declared.
"To a place far, far away." Fauna added.
"Not that far away!" Miss Nettle called.
They all turned towards the doorway, where Miss Nettle floated.
"She's back!" Sofia frowned.
"Uh-oh." Desmond gulped.
"Miss Nettle, I insist you leave her at once!" Flora stepped forward.
"Oh, I couldn't possibly leave without that spell book, Miss Fora." Miss Nettle smirked.
Desmond stood in front of Sofia and Madeline, arms open in a shielding pose.
"I guess I'll just have to make one more, extra-large, bubble!" Miss Nettle declared.
Desmond leapt at Miss Nettle, knocking her outside.
"Desmond!" Madeline called.
Desmond, trapped in a bubble, floated back in.
"Oh, no!" Merryweather gasped.
Smirking, Miss Nettle made to cast another spell, but realised her wand was missing.
"My wand!" She shrieked.
Desmond held up Miss Nettle's wand.
"Yes!" Sofia cheered.
"Nice job!" Madeline smiled.
"Way to go, Desmond!" James added.
"'With these words, I end your trouble'." Flora waved her wand. "'Rupto sudso, pop that bubble'!"
The bubble popped, and Desmond landed on the floor. Miss Nettle tried to lunge at him, but was forced back by Fauna and Merryweather, who held her at wandpoint.
"Well done, prince Desmond!" Flora smiled. "Now Miss Nettle, you are no longer our special guest. It's time for you to leave Royal prep."
"And never return!" Merryweather added.
"Okay." Miss Nettle sighed. "Um, can I just have my wand back before I go? Please?"
"I think we'll hold onto it safekeeping." Flora declared.
"Now, scoot!" Merryweather barked at Miss Nettle.
"Huh!" Miss Nettle flew away.
"Desmond, you were amazing." Sofia smiled.
"Quite right, Sofia." Flora agreed. "I've never seen such bravery."
"Me neither." Madeline smiled.
Desmond chuckled bashfully.
"I was pretty brave, too." James piped up.
"Yes, you all were." Merryweather nodded.
"Wait!" Sofia suddenly gasped.
"What is it, dear?" Fauna asked.
"I feel like we're forgetting something." Sofia mused.
"Professor Popoff!" The kids chorused.
As they exited the greenhouse, they saw Popoff floating by in his bubble, and gave chase.