-A dead end?!-

Pop gazed at the foyer with uncertainty. She had remembered the last time she entered and felt traumatized from the experience. Even though she was prepared, she was still afraid of what was inside.

A strange shimmer hovering over the left stairs caught her attention. Pop turned to look, but the shimmer raced up the stairs and to the balcony above.

"Hey, wait!" Pop called out.

She rushed towards the stairs but was stopped by an abrupt noise. Turning back towards the sound, Pop saw its source: It had been the chandelier. Pop looked up towards the ceiling and noticed that there was a long chain –which she guessed was always part of it- holding it up. To her astonishment, the chain began reeling in, pulling the chandelier up with it. It was then that she noticed a diabolical part of the chandelier: She saw a long, sharp piece of metal.

Pop shuddered at the member; she could've been impaled on it, and then she would've never saved her friends. She looked down at the floor and noticed a small slot where the sharp metal could enter. Pop could've sworn she heard a high-pitched laughter when the chandelier finished returning to its usual spot.

I knew those Shadow Ojamajos had a sick sense of humor, but this is ridiculous! Pop mentally deadpanned, But I better avoid other traps like this one.

Pop shook her head and got back on track. She recalled that she was supposed to be following that shimmer. Unfortunately, by the time Pop recovered from the trap, the shimmer had vanished. Thankfully, she knew that it was near the balcony and proceeded there. She remembered the door and had a good idea of what to expect.

I will not let you scare me off! Pop mentally shouted, I promised myself that I would save them! If you want to stop me… "Then you will have to kill me first!"

Suddenly, a light filled the foyer. Pop turned around and could not believe what she saw. The chandelier lights had turned on. Pop felt the light comforting and reassuring, giving her confidence and reinforcing her desire to save her friends.

Pop wasted no time in turning the knob of the door. Once again, it creaked open…

Pop took a quick glance inside the parlor, sighing in relief when she saw no signs of the familiar that drove them out last time. To her dismay, the parlor was still dark. Pop got out her flashlight and began searching around.

It was no different than when she last entered; everything was in place as if nothing ever happened. Suspicious, Pop got out the Majo All-in-One Communicator and began looking around. She scanned the cabinets first.

Dust. Dust. More dust. Pop thought, May as well be named 'Dustville' here.

Pop wasn't surprised; the place seemed old enough to warrant having so much dust despite its true age. With another sigh, she turned to the purple candles and scanned them. She was fascinated by the results.

There's some kind of energy radiating from them. I don't like how this energy acts. Maybe if I put them out…

Pop swallowed hard and put her flashlight away. She then whipped out the hose of the Vac-Drive and began sucking in the air. The suction quickly blew out the candles, to Pop's lack of surprise. She was interrupted by what sounded like an alarm. She quickly put away the hose and took out the All-in-One.

Maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all…

Pop was startled by a bell-shaped arti-ghost appearing behind her. Pop dropped the All-in-One but quickly got out the flashlight. She turned around and stunned the arti-ghost just before it could wind up a punch. At once, she activated the Vac-Drive and began sucking.

Her three minutes of practice paid off slightly. Pop managed to not get dragged by it, but it still escaped from her pull. Pop gritted her teeth in frustration.

"This is going to take a while," Pop deadpanned to herself.

Several more of the bell-shaped arti-ghosts appeared. A few minutes later, Pop had successfully sucked them all up, and no sooner than she had the lights in the room turned on. Pop didn't question how or why, as long as the arti-ghosts were gone.

Seeing nothing more of interest, Pop decided to try the door at the far end. It wouldn't budge. She tried the key she got earlier…and it still didn't budge.

Don't tell me I need another key! Pop mentally berated.

Pop was about to turn and leave the room when she heard a small clang. Pop turned and looked on the table and saw it. It was a key, almost identical to the one she received earlier. Pop picked it up and immediately used it on the door. A resounding click marked the door unlocking. Pop twisted the knob and the door slowly creaked open…

The room was devoid of anything of interest aside from a table or two and a light fixture. It seemed to be an overly wide hall.

Anteroom? Pop mentally guessed, Can't these places be more interest-

Pop didn't get a chance to finish her thought when more arti-ghost sprung up. There were two bell-shaped ones alongside a pink one shaped like a gown. All three floated over to her with the blatant intention of throwing punches.

Is that all these arti-ghosts do?!

Pop quickly stunned them with her flashlight and quickly sucked them up. Unfortunately, the pink one broke free just after the two "bells" fell, causing Pop to lose her balance. Pop didn't have time to get back up when it appeared again. By the time she could get out the flashlight, the arti-ghost had already slugged her and sent her flying into the wall.

"Why you…!" Pop shouted as the pink gown vanished with a smirk. Pop felt herself all over. She wasn't bruised too badly, but she was still hurt a bit. She quickly got up and whipped out her flashlight. "When that thing gets back here…!"

Pop didn't have long to wait. The rose-haired Ojamajo spun around and managed to stun the pink gown with a direct beam. She instantly started sucking it in; this time, it fell, and the lights came on.

What's with these things and punching? Don't they have other, more creative, ways to attack? Pop face-palmed. Even though she was now in the comforting light, she was still frustrated. And I'm willing to bet that that door is locked too! Pop decided to test her theory out and tried the knob. The door creaked open. "Oh! Well, nevermind!"

The next room Pop entered had several dressers and hangers with clothes on them. It wasn't as simple as the anteroom, but it was still simple nonetheless. The far end had yet another door.

Wardrobe room, huh? I guess the Shadow Ojamajos wanted to dress in style then.

Pop got out her flashlight. She knew arti-ghosts could jump out at any second and therefore wanted to make sure she wasn't caught off-guard. And just like that, one of them appeared. It was tall and green and resembled a trash can.

Speak of the- Pop didn't get a chance to finish her thought when her hair spiked and her breathing seized up. GAAAAHHH!

Pop wasted no time in returning to the anteroom. She was clutching her nose in disgust.

"Oh god why!?" Pop shouted, "IT REEKS! IT REEKS! IT REEKS!"

Pop turned and looked back at the door. She knew she needed both hands to use the Vac-Drive and that the stench would overpower her the moment she stopped holding her nose. Unfortunately, she didn't want to waste magic on something this trivial.

I can't even shrug off the worst-smelling artificial ghost in existence, Pop mentally lamented, I can't save them like this.

Pop turned around and began towards the parlor's door. It was then that she noticed the shimmer. In an instant, it passed through the door.

"Wait!" Pop called, running and opening the door. She was too late. The shimmer had vanished, leaving Pop even more dejected than ever. "I guess I was never meant to save them. Hmm?" Pop noticed a few napkins on the table. They were dusty, but Pop got an idea and wasted no time.

After Pop flapped one around for a bit, she tore it in half, rolled up the two pieces, and carefully placed them in her nose. She then returned to the wardrobe room.

Absolutely nothing had changed about the wardrobe room. Pop braced herself and waited for the trash can arti-ghost. She waited…and waited…and waited.

Where the hell is that thing?! Pop mentally thundered, "I know you're here! Show yourself!" No answer. This thing just loves getting on my nerves, doesn't it?

Pop continued to wait, but nothing appeared. Before long, the lights inexplicably turned on. There was no reason whatsoever for the occurrence. Pop was speechless.

What?! Pop mentally exclaimed. I prepare and wait for an arti-ghost that has the worst stench EVER and all I get is NOTHING?! Pop wandered over to one of the dressers. Seriously?!

Pop slammed the dresser in frustration, causing something on top to fall off. Pop picked it up and realized it was yet another key. She then turned to the door at the far end.

Well, I guess not having to fight anything is worth it.

Pop went over to the door and inserted the key. It would not turn. It wouldn't even go in all the way. Pop, frustrated again, removed the key.

"Why does this key not go anywhere?!" Pop demanded to no one in particular. She tried the knob anyway and found that it turned. The door creaked open. "I find a key and the door is open anyway?" Pop grumbled again as she went through.

It wasn't a room that Pop entered; it was a small balcony overlooking the dark forest.

I guess a door wouldn't be locked if all it led to was a small balcony, Pop mentally deadpanned.

The rose-haired Ojamajo decided to have another glance around. Below her was what appeared to be a small yard with a doghouse. It seemed blurry for some reason. Farther away and separated by a fence was what Pop assumed was a graveyard.

Why would this place have a graveyard? A dog I can understand, but that? What are those seven up to?

Pop heard something appear. In an instant, she turned and saw it: The trashcan arti-ghost. Pop recognized it as the same one that drove her out with its stench. Feeling more than a little angry at it for making her wait, Pop stunned it with the flashlight and began sucking it in.

The arti-ghost was powerful, more so than the orange bells and pink gowns that had assaulted her earlier. It didn't take long for it to start dragging Pop along. Unfortunately, small balconies were small and Pop quickly found herself nearly falling off the edge of the railing. She had to stop sucking it in just to save herself. The trashcan arti-ghost escaped instantly.

"I have to be more careful out here," said Pop. The red Ojamajo saw the light above the balcony turn on. "Eh? But I didn't-! Oh forget it."

With a sigh, Pop returned to the wardrobe room. What she wasn't prepared for was the sudden changes that took place while she was outside; the entire room looked as though it had been made from some bizarre collage, areas of which resembling a rose garden, where everything was both 2D and 3D. Strange runes were present on the walls.

At the center of it all was a creature that looked as though it had sprung right out from the collage. It had several eyes on its head and floated on a pair of butterfly wings. Its lower body trailed off in a cone-shaped insectile abdomen. To Pop, the most striking feature was its thick mustache.

Pop got out the All-in-One and scanned the runes.

ADELBERT

Pop grit her teeth. So this is why that trashcan wasn't there; it was running from this thing! Pop had no time to react. The familiar sounded an alarm that was comprised of a ringing bell. It then wasted no time in rushing up to her for its attack.

Pop dodged it, barely, but the thing was still coming. At once, the rose-haired Ojamajo made a break for the door and got to the anteroom beyond it. It looked normal…until the scenery began changing into the same bizarre collage again as the familiar entered. Pop tried to dodge it again, but the familiar was too fast and head-butted the red Ojamajo.

Pop tried to get back up, but the familiar continued to head-butt her, doing so with gusto. Finally, Pop rolled out of the way and got to her feet. She then side-stepped another head-butt and activated the Vac-Drive.

To her horror, the suction didn't zero in on the familiar. It wasn't even affecting the bizarre monster.

Majo Toron's words echoed through Pop's mind. "They are immune to the Supernatural Vac-Drive and easily shrug off our magic. If you run into one, run. Don't ask questions, don't look back, just run."

Just had to forget that, didn't you Pop? The red Ojamajo mentally berated to herself. She turned tail and ran towards the door to the parlor. Pop shut it behind her, but, just like last time, it did absolutely nothing to stop the familiar. She was cornered. Further away would lead her back to the foyer. And she was certain the door to the outside was locked and sealing her in again.

More of Majo Toron's words echoed in her mind. "But have you tested it out on the familiars?"

"I haven't had the chance."

"Then maybe if-" Pop dodged several more head-butts while activating a secondary switch on the Vac-Drive. The familiar rushed her again. But this time, Pop expelled a blast of Dark energy from the hose. The familiar, too close and too invested in attacking to dodge, was hit. The blast ended up knocking it away.

It works! Pop thought triumphantly, But I have to kill this thing before I tell Majo Toron!

Pop began firing one Dark energy blast after another. Unfortunately, her aim faltered and the familiar managed to get off one successful head-butt after another, knocking Pop to the ground. She rolled out of its way and saw that the meter on the Vac-Drive was running low on Dark energy. Gritting her teeth, Pop took aim and fired one last shot.

The blast hit the familiar directly in the head. The last thing Pop saw of it was the monster turning into what appeared to be balls of fluff with eyes on them while its wings fluttered off and vanished. No sooner than the familiar fell did the parlor return to normal, much to Pop's relief. However, the room had suffered from the fight: Cabinets were blasted and smoldering, fine china was scattered all over the floor, and torn pages were strewn everywhere.

Really need to work on my aim, Pop deadpanned to herself, Time to give- Pop didn't get a chance to finish her thought when she was struck by pain. I guess that thing got me more than I thought. Pop fought back against the pain from her injuries and pulled out the All-in-One. She activated its transceiver and immediately got Majo Toron.

"Have you found anything, Pop-chan?" Majo Toron asked.

"Not yet," Pop replied, "But I did –ow- defeat a familiar!"

"Eh? You did?"

"Yeah! I used the Dark Medallion's power to do it!"

"So the Medallions can be used against the familiars?" Majo Toron breathed a sigh of relief. "But have you found any more of them?"

"Eh heh heh, no, not really."

"Pop-chan! This isn't a time to relax!" Majo Toron took a deep breath and calmed down. "I forgot to tell you this, but the mansion and the forest surrounding it will vanish at dawn! If you take too long, then…I don't want to know what happens if they're still trapped in there!"

Pop's eyes went wide. She was in a race against time. "S-s-sorry! I'll stop chatting and get back to my goal!"

"Good luck, Pop-chan!"

With that, the transceiver clicked off. Pop left the parlor and into the foyer and took out the key.

"Maybe it goes to that door below?" Pop guessed. She went down the stairs but found the area to be nothing but solid wall. "Nevermind."

Pop was about to try calling Majo Toron again when she saw the shimmer again. It was hovering to Pop's left above the balcony. Pop wasted no time in ascending the stairs, but the shimmer quickly moved away. It stopped before another door at the beginnings of a hallway. Pop eyed it carefully as it phased through the door.

Cautiously, Pop approached the door and tried turning the knob. The door wouldn't move.

Why do you keep following me? Why do you keep running when I get close? Why can't you just give it to me straight? Who are you?

Pop suddenly felt a warmth in her pocket. At once, the red Ojamajo reached into it and found it to be the key itself. She inserted it and turned. A resounding click told her that this was where the key went.

"ACHOO!" Pop was caught off-guard by her sneeze. She then saw the pieces of napkin she once plugged her nose with. How did I forget about those? Pop sighed. I guess they don't matter anymore anyway.

Pop turned the knob once again. The door creaked open…