A/N: None up here. That is all. Enjoy.
-Fate of the Others-
Pop inserted the key and twisted it. A resounding click told her everything she needed to know. Taking a deep breath, the red Ojamajo turned the supernaturally cold knob and opened the door.
The room had the exact same chill that the knob had. It was dark, but that was to be expected. Stoves, ovens, and tables were present, confirming that it really was a kitchen.
I guess those Shadow Ojamajos knew where to put which rooms after all… Pop thought.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness. In an instant, Pop took a step back in surprise and shock.
The kitchen looked exactly like the kitchen that the Mahou Dou had back when it was a sweet shop. The tables, ovens, and stoves were all the same as back then. The only true difference was the presence of a door that was not in the original Sweet House Mahou-Dou. It had runes shifting on it.
Just then, Pop got a whiff of something. It smelled sweet, like cookies. Then she noticed the source: The oven. It had been running the entire time without Pop's knowledge.
"I was beginning to wonder when you would get here," a familiar voice said. It sounded ghostly. Pop quickly turned and found the source: It was not an arti-ghost, but it had the vibes of one. No, not "it", but "she". Her back was turned, but there was no mistaking her identity. She turned to face Pop. "Pop-chan- Whoa! Oh my god!"
Momoko dropped something in surprise. "Wh-what happened to you?"
"Long story, Momo-chan," Pop replied. She felt very uneasy around her older friend. "Though I could ask you the same thing."
Momoko had a yellow glow, complete with glowing yellow eyes. She was transparent and made no sound even as she walked around the kitchen. She wore her old patisserie uniform, albeit just as spectral as she was. There was no mistaking it.
Momoko was a ghost.
But that can't be right! thought Pop, Her body isn't trailing off into wisps!
Despite what she (thought) she knew, there Momoko was, walking silently and staring at Pop through her glowing eyes.
Momoko jumped in alarm and quickly ran to the oven. She opened it and took out a tray. Cookies were on it. It wasn't long before she had set it on the counter, where she pulled out a patisserie poron. She sprinkled the magic on top of it.
Pop took this time to scan her and at least try to get a description. It worked, and Pop quickly found her entry.
Momoko Asuka: One of the seven famous Ojamajos. She is good at baking due to her apprenticeship under the late Majo Monroe and used this skill to aid Doremi, Hazuki, Aiko, and Onpu with their attempts to impress the Witch Senate members who did not wish for them to become full-fledged witches. She isn't vulnerable to the light like regular fiends; you will have to use her weakness to remove her resistance. Her weakness is unknown.
Pop's heart skipped a beat. Eh? It's talking like I have to fight her! Pop shook her head. Why would I need to fight her? She's my friend!
"Whew! The cookies are ready!" Momoko called. She placed them on a napkin and the placed it on the table. "They're gonna get cold, Pop-chan! Especially in here!"
"Oh!" Pop said, snapping out of her stupor. She went over to the table and gave a hungry look at the cookies. They had red flags on them. "Why the odd colored shapes? Aren't they a little atypical of you?"
Momoko giggled slightly. "I wanted to try something new, so I decided to use flags!"
Pop was about to take a bite out of one when a thought struck her. "Momo-chan? Can you tell me how you became a ghost? I'm a little curious."
"Well, you do look like you've been through a lot," Momoko replied. A bit of stuttering could be heard. "Maybe you could tell me?"
You have no idea, thought Pop, "Tell me your side first and we'll call it even?"
"Oh, uh, Eh? Y-you wouldn't believe me even if I, uh, told you!" Momoko stuttered, giving a cheeky laugh.
Pop put the cookie back down. Something was not right here. Momoko would not have used that tone when she said that, and she would've said so right away.
She had made it even more evident that she was hiding something.
Pop turned and began trying to contemplate what was going on. Why was Momoko insisting on not telling? Why was she so off? It didn't make any sense.
"Uh, Pop-chan!" Momoko called, "Those cookies won't stay warm for much longer, so you better eat them right now!"
Now she's insisting on me eating the cookies? Pop thought, She would never do that. She would only offer the cookies and wouldn't press anyone into eating them!
Pop glanced at the All-in-One, hoping that there were more entries to Momoko. The screen had a message instead.
Don't eat them! They're poisoned! Pop-chan!
Eh? Pop's eyes went wide. The message on the screen was frantic, as though someone was trying to warn her. The All-in-One never gave any like this.
Pop-chan!
Momo-chan?
Pop turned back to Momoko. "I'm sorry, Momo-chan. But I can't eat these right now."
"Eh?!" Momoko gasped, "But I made these especially for you! How can you turn them down?"
"Because you wouldn't just make these for just one person," Pop replied defiantly, "You would've made these for everyone!
"And I don't trust these cookies either! Something tells me they're not safe to eat!"
Momoko's jaw fell open. She was definitely shocked. Then her mouth curled into a smile, but not the same smile that Pop had seen so many times already. This smile carried malicious intent. Her glowing eyes now showed the light of madness.
Momoko's uniform reversed itself, but instead of changing into the Ojamajo's third uniform, it changed into the one they used nowadays. The ghostly yellow Ojamajo pulled out her jewelry poron. At the same time, Pop could feel the chill in the room intensify.
"All I wanted was to give you a taste of the joys of being a ghost," Momoko said, "But now I guess I'll have to do this the hard way, won't I?"
Pop took a step back and glanced back at the All-in-One.
For the love of god, Pop-chan! Get out of the way! I'm about to send stuff flying your way! Please! Pop-chan!
"It'll be over soon!" Momoko said cheerfully, "Then you can be one of us!"
Just as the All-in-One warned, pots, pans, utensils, the tray, and even the kitchen sink lifted up off the counters. Pop felt her legs shaking from the horror of it all.
"Momo-chan! Stop this!" Pop called, "This isn't you! Please!"
Momoko blinked a few times and then smiled once more. "Actually, it is me! And I've never felt better in my life!"
Pop pointed her flashlight at Momoko. The ghost of her friend stopped and burst into a giggling fit.
"Silly Pop-chan! Did you really believe a simple flashlight would work on me? Those wraiths I can understand, but come on! You're smarter than that!"
Wraiths? That's what the arti-ghosts are really called? Wraiths?
Pop-chan! Just get out of here! Save yourself! Please!
Pop suddenly felt her terror vanish. Her lips curled into a smile of their own, this one giving hints of aggression.
"Bring it on!" Pop said defiantly.
Pop-chan! NOOO!
"Kekekeke…Ok, Pop-chan!" Momoko giggled. She then burst into insane laughter as she sent everything including the kitchen sink at Pop.
Pop stood her ground.
Pop-chan…
In seconds, the items being thrown at her were sliced to pieces, baffling Momoko. When the dust settled, Pop was standing there with a tendril of water coming out of her hose. She had sliced the weapons up much like she had done in the past- No. Just like how Kyoko would slice things with her spear.
Momoko stood there, dumbfounded. "Wh-what? How did you-" Momoko shook her head, "So you got good at fighting all of a sudden. It won't save you!"
Momoko gestured towards the table. It lifted up and began hurtling toward Pop. But the red Ojamajo was ready.
"Tiro…Finale!" Pop shouted.
At once, she fired a blast of Fire and Sky energy at the table. In moments, it was blown to smithereens. However, the remnants of the blast continued, passing through Momoko's spectral form and blowing a massive hole in the wall. Momoko was surprised.
Amazing! Where did you learn that at?
"I see it's not just the water medallion you've found," the yellow Ojamajo said, "But even elemental energy doesn't work on me! Just give up and face reality already!"
She's right, Pop thought, Unless I can find her weakness, she'll eventually beat me. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head. But maybe I can-
"What do you think your weakness is, Momo-chan"? Pop asked.
Momoko grinned maliciously. "Now why would I tell you that? Isn't that what-" Her eyes went wide. "So that's how you found out about my poisoned cookies! Well, I'll just have to do something about it!"
"Oops," Pop muttered.
"Perutan Petton Palalila Pon!" Momoko chanted, "Pin Pop-chan to the door!"
Pop was caught off guard by the spell. In an instant, she found herself stuck to the door to the dining room, unable to move much outside of her arms. She struggled furiously.
"It's no use, Pop-chan," Momoko taunted as she floated over to the red Ojamajo, "I've got you right where I want you." Momoko punctuated her point by slapping the All-in-One out of Pop's hand. Pop caught only one word: "Majo". "It'll all be over soon. Just hold still, would you?"
Pop felt a massive wave of cold wash over her. She then felt the area around her heart grow cold. She looked down and saw that Momoko's hand had passed through her. She felt her clench her fist- No. She wasn't clenching her fist, but grabbing hold of something.
Momoko then began pulling out whatever she had grabbed. There wasn't much out yet, but Pop could tell exactly what it was: It was her soul. Immediately, the red Ojamajo hastened her struggling.
"This'll be far less painful if you just hold still, Pop-chan!" Momoko chided, "Why do you have to struggle so much anyway? It's not like you'll be losing anything."
Pop grit her teeth. "I've already lost too many things I hold dear tonight! I'm not losing anything else!"
With that, the red Ojamajo activated the Dark energy and used its blade form. She then sliced off the part of her soul that Momoko had already pulled out. Momoko flew back from exerting too much force while the part of Pop's soul that wasn't sliced off retreated back into her.
"Oh!" Momoko groaned, "What am I supposed to do with this! It's only a small part! I need the whole thing!"
Pop felt her breathing intensify. "I won't let you turn me into a ghost…Momo-chan!"
"But it's so fun being a ghost! We have it all!" Momoko pleaded, "Just give it a chance!"
A thought clicked in Pop's head. "And what would Majo Monroe say if she found you doing this!?"
Suddenly, Momoko fell silent. She still held the chunk of Pop's soul in her hand, but her expression made it clear that she was trying to process Pop's words. She finally managed to speak up.
"M-M-M-Majo Mo-Monroe!? B-but, I, uh, eh," Momoko stuttered.
Pop took a gamble and shined her flashlight on Momoko. In an instant, she was stunned. At the same time, the spell keeping her pinned vanished altogether. Shaking off the bewilderment, Pop activated the Vac-Drive.
"Wha- NO!" Momoko screamed.
Immediately, she fled from the Vac-Drive's suction, and just like with the arti-ghosts –or wraiths, as Momoko called them-, the suction zeroed in on her and caused her to drag Pop around the kitchen. She yanked hard repeatedly, trying to drop her resilience as fast as possible. Then she yanked too hard, allowing Momoko to break free and dropping Pop to her back. The yellow Ojamajo gave a look that screamed "I'm not amused!"
"That…was a low move, Pop-chan…" Momoko seethed, "That's it. No more Ms. Nice Ghost!" Momoko whipped out her poron. "Perutan Petton Palalila Pon!"
Pop scrambled back to her feet and made a dash for the All-in-One. She made it just before a beam of yellow magic could destroy it. At once, she looked to see if it had any more messages.
Majo Monroe won't leave me vulnerable now. You'll have to find someone else who is similar! Please!
"I will, Momo-chan," Pop replied, "And I think I know who to mention!"
Thank you. Good luck!
Pop turned around long enough to see the now-fuming Momoko preparing to blast her with her magic.
"You know, I was just going to give you a firsthand feel of how good it felt to be a ghost," Momoko said through her teeth, "But since you're gonna act like that, I think I'll just kill you instead!"
"Majo Monroe loved you, Momo-chan," Pop retorted, "And Majo Vanilla admired you through her! Are you going to betray her, Momo-chan? You know what'll happen if you do!"
Once again, the words struck like ice-cold daggers. Momoko froze in the shock of it all.
Last chance! Thought Pop, Better make this count!
Pop shined the flashlight on Momoko, stunning her once again. Immediately, she began sucking her in.
"Wha- NOT AGAIN!" Momoko screamed.
This time, Pop made sure not to yank too hard. Momoko still put up a fight, but the red Ojamajo wasn't letting go this time. With the earlier attempt adding to Momoko's exhaustion, Pop was having an easier time. Finally, Pop gave one final yank, and immediately Momoko tripped up and began to be sucked into the Vac-Drive, screaming.
"No! NO! NO! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!" Momoko's scream was cut off just as she vanished into the Vac-Drive.
In that instant, the lights came on, revealing the mess she and Pop had made of the place. The rose-haired Ojamajo looked at the All-in-One's screen again.
Thank you, Pop-chan! ThankyouThankyouThankyouThank you! But I have something to tell you. Everyone else. They're ghosts too! You have to save them! Please! Especially Ai-chan! Please! I know what I said while attacking you, but being a ghost is horrible! We're all suffering- Why is Shadow Onpu and Shadow Momoko in here- Nevermind! Please! You have to-
The message cut off right then and there. Pop looked at it in despair.
The All-in-One can connect to the minds of ghosts and show their thoughts as messages, Pop mentally surmised, But it doesn't last long and cannot allow for telepathy. Pop wiped a tear from her eye. Momo-chan was trying to tell me something, but because of that limitation, I couldn't read the rest of it!
Pop kicked over a chair in anguish.
At least I can tell Majo Toron of this. That much I can do. And don't worry, Momo-chan. I'll save Ai-chan!
Pop activated the transceiver on the All-in-One. Majo Toron answered it.
"Pop-chan!" Majo Toron called, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Pop said. A hint of sadness was evident in her voice. "I have some bad news."
Pop explained everything to Majo Toron, up to and including how she had to fight Momoko and the All-in-One's ability to read the minds of ghosts. Majo Toron was shocked at the turn of events.
"It's worse than I thought," Majo Toron said gravely.
"But, there is a way to change them back, right?" Pop pleaded.
"Not without using magic to bring back the dead."
Pop bit her lip. That kind of magic was forbidden for a reason. Many a witch had died bringing back a loved one. Momoko even tried it on Majo Monroe, despite knowing full well what would've happened if she succeeded.
"There has to be another way!" Pop shouted.
"I'm afraid there isn't." Majo Toron got a thought. "If it's any consolation, you have proven that the powerful ghosts present are indeed the Ojamajos. Aiko vanished somewhere two rooms ahead of your location, so I bet she's waiting there for you."
Pop took a look at the door. The runes had not vanished since she got there. Then again, why would they? Pop hadn't killed the Witch yet, but with her new found skills and determination, it shouldn't be too hard.
"I'll go to where Ai-chan is," Pop spoke up, "Momo-chan wanted me to save her and she's the closest."
"Very well. I'll keep a sharp eye out. Good luck!"
Majo Toron clicked off on her end. Pop did the same, faced the door, and gulped.
"I hate those memory surges," Pop muttered. She grabbed the knob and turned despite the rush of memories boring into her head. The door opened and Pop entered the barrier…
"Take this!" Pop shouted. She brought her Sky energy blade down on the Witch. She had long since read the runes in the barrier and her entry.
Uhrmann
UHRMANN: The canine Witch, with a craving nature. She has taken the form of a dog in the vain hope of being loved by all. Humans who enter her barrier can't help but embrace her in concern. One hoping to defeat her can do so by feigning love.
BARTELS: The canine Witch's minion, whose duty is interior design. They have no will and are simply mannequins who revolve in place. A canine Witch, unloved by anyone, was unable to create minions with free will.
The blade struck true, slicing the dog-like witch down the middle and causing the barrier to vanish. The area was the outside place that had the doghouse that Pop saw earlier. The red Ojamajo didn't bother to reminisce and simply wasted no time in retrieving the Grief Seed.
"One more down," Pop said, "Now I gotta go and save Ai-chan."
Pop checked her meters and gasped at how low her energy was.
"Pipitto Purito Puritan Peperuto!" chanted Pop, "Refill the meters!"
Energy from the Medallions flowed into the Vac-Drive, refilling Pop's supply and allowing her to brace herself better. She then mounted her broom and flew over the fence and into the graveyard beyond it.
It was everything she expected, right down to the tombstones and bent trees. She had seen it from the balcony above earlier that night, giving Pop a not-so-nice feeling of short term nostalgia. The supernatural chill that was present in the kitchen was here too, alerting Pop to Aiko's presence.
She wandered through the graveyard with the intent to find Aiko for what seemed like hours. The area was small, so Pop should've found her by now. She was about to leave when three wraiths appeared. They seemed to have skeletons inside their transparent bodies.
Just what I need, Pop mentally deadpanned, A slow ambush.
Pop dove to dodge and got behind a tree. She read the new entry.
Gravesoil: A fiend animating a skeleton. It attacks by throwing bones and striking with its claws and uses the very skeleton it possesses to guard itself against light. The skeleton acts as an Earth-based core, leaving it vulnerable to Sky energy. Any fiend that has an Earth-based core can regenerate it without the use of the Earth Medallion. In effect, you have to be quick to defeat it.
And I have just what it hates, Pop thought. She smiled as she got her hose ready and activated the Sky energy. She then burst out of hiding.
"Pameruka Raraku Laliloli Poppun!" chanted a familiar voice. Three beams of blue magic struck the Gravesoils and knocked them down.
Pop looked to where the source was. Standing before the largest tombstone was Aiko herself. She had a blue glow and glowing blue eyes, just as Momoko had a glow of her own. She was also transparent and made no noise when she moved about.
Pop scanned Aiko and read the entry.
Aiko Senoo: One of the seven famous Ojamajos and one of Doremi Harukaze's closest friends. She is very athletic and is easily physically the most powerful Ojamajo. She is also a bit rude and has a bit of a temper, but will do everything to help her friends. She was one of the first three to become Majo Rika's apprentice. She isn't vulnerable to the light like regular fiends; you will have to use her weakness to make her vulnerable. Her weakness is unknown.
Pop stared at Aiko in worry and determination. Deep down, I was hoping that you weren't really a ghost, despite what Momo-chan and Majo Toron told me. Pop perked back up when Aiko began approaching. But I made a promise to Momo-chan and I will keep it!
"Pop-chan! Thank goodness!" Aiko said in concern, "I thought ya'd be beaten to death by those wraiths!"
Pop shook her head. "Do you like being a ghost?" Pop asked gloomily.
"Uh, well, yes!" Aiko replied, "But, didn't you speak to Momo-chan yet?"
Pop took a step back. "You can drop the act, Ai-chan. I know you want to turn me into a ghost."
Aiko's eyes went wide in shock. Her lips then curled into a smile. The same smile that Momoko gave.
"I see you figured it out, Pop-chan. Ya always was pretty wise, after all." Aiko drew her poron. "So, shall we do this the easy way or the hard way?"
"I won't become a ghost." Pop took aim with her Vac-Drive. "I don't even deserve it…not after capturing Momo-chan."
The smile on Aiko's face vanished. Moments later, she balled up her fists and began breathing through her teeth.
"You. Did. WHAT? !" Aiko shouted.
"I had no choice, Ai-chan. She was trying to turn me into a ghost against my will. I then made a-"
"SHUT! UP!" Aiko's anger began causing the existing chill to intensify. "She only wanted to give you a taste of what it's like to be a ghost. And this is how you reply?!" The Gravesoils got back up just as Aiko began rising into the air. "Forget turning you into a ghost. I think I'll just kill you right here and now! And don't even try leaving." Aiko's smile returned even more unnerving than ever. "I've got that covered!"
A darkness spread all over the graveyard. Once it cleared, Pop found herself in a circular area surrounded by an endless expanse of gravestones. Pop looked at the All-in-One to see if Aiko was giving her messages. To her relief, the connection was still strong, allowing her to read what Aiko had to say.
You shouldn't have revealed that ya saved Momo-chan. Now I really can't hold myself back from hurting you. I'm sorry. I'm pretty sure ya can't hear me, but I want you to know that I'm not doing any of this willingly. I'm a prisoner in my own soul.
"I can't hear you, but I can still read you," Pop said reassuringly, "I'll find a way to defeat and save you, Ai-chan. If I don't, then I'll be letting Momo-chan down!"
Suddenly, Pop saw Aiko descending from the sky, but it wasn't quite her. No, it was definitely Aiko, but she had combined with the Gravesoils and turned them into some kind of armor for herself. The look of pure rage and murderous intent was as clear as day in her eyes.
Pop heard a beeping and saw that the entry for Aiko had expanded.
Aiko Senoo –Fiend Armor-: Aiko has merged with three Gravesoil fiends and transformed them into a type of armor. This has given her increased resilience and an Earth-based core. Sky energy can weaken her, but it will not allow her to be sucked up. Her weakness will have to be discovered and used against her.
"Well then Pop-chan," Aiko seethed. Her voice had taken a demonic undertone. "How do you want to be killed?" Pop took aim with her hose. Aiko laughed mockingly at her. "You really think that that hose will work on me?"
"I gained a way to read thoughts, Ai-chan," Pop replied, "And you don't like being a ghost as much as you're forced to say."
Eh?! You can read my thoughts? YES! Pop-chan! You can make me vulnerable by blowing off my armor! But, eh, uh, I don't know how you can do that. Sorry! I wish I could help more!
"Don't worry, Ai-chan. I have a way to blow them off." Pop once again took aim at Aiko.
"I already told you: Your hose won't work on me-"
Aiko was cut off by a blast of Sky energy. It did the trick and Aiko's armor was blown off, leaving her stunned. Pop immediately activated the suction.
"Eh? NO!" Aiko screamed.
At once, the blue Ojamajo began fleeing the suction, dragging Pop along for the ride. The red Ojamajo yanked periodically, drawing Aiko closer and closer. Pop was doing good until Aiko began chanting and fired a beam of magic at Pop, forcing the suction to end.
"I won't make this mistake again!" Aiko seethed, "You three. To me!" At once, the Gravesoils, which had reformed, spun around Aiko, restoring her armor and once more letting her resist Pop. "Try this on for size!"
I'm about to try and impale you with spikes! You have to keep moving, Pop-chan! Please!
Pop didn't have time to summon her broom. Aiko drove her bony claws into the ground. Moments later, massive earthen spikes sprung up. Pop managed to dodge them but suffered numerous scrapes.
"I'm not finished yet!" Aiko again drove her claws into the ground.
This time, spiked earthen tentacles sprouted and began trying to impale or wrap around Pop. The red Ojamajo used the Dark energy and sliced tentacles wherever possible while dodging others. Her movements were starting to get sluggish in that she wasn't able to get by with as few scrapes. She even got a rather deep cut on her arm.
Finally, Pop managed to summon her broom and take flight. Aiko pursued her and quickly slammed her bony fists into the red Ojamajo, knocking her off her broom and sending her plummeting to the ground. She landed with a thud and felt a limb or two snapping. She tried to get up, but her leg was again broken. She tried to move her arm, but it had been broken too. Aiko gave a toothy grin and charged the injured rose-haired girl.
Pop-chan! Pop-chan! Get up! Please! Pop-chan!
I can't, thought Pop, But I can- "ARGGHHH!"
"Had enough yet?" Aiko taunted, "Too bad! I'm just getting warmed up!"
With that, Aiko began slashing away at Pop. She then struck her with her fists and slammed her to the ground repeatedly. The wraith-armored Ojamajo picked Pop up and prepared a final blow.
"This is the end for you, Pop-chan!" Aiko smirked, "Have nice death!"
Suddenly, Pop blasted Aiko with another blast of Sky energy, knocking her armor off and stunning the blue Ojamajo.
C'mon! Make this count! Pop once again activated the Vac-Drive. The suction zeroed in on Aiko.
"Eh?! NO! NOT AGAIN!" Aiko screamed and began flying away from Pop.
Unfortunately, she was dragging Pop along as well, causing even more damage to her already. The red Ojamajo yanked as hard as she could, but her broken limbs complicated things and she was forced to let Aiko go. The blue Ojamajo turned back to Pop with a look of rage.
"Why you little-!" Aiko fumed. She was suddenly cut off and somehow stunned.
You have to suck me in! Hurry! I can't hold myself back much longer! Pop-chan! Please!
Pop nodded and quickly activated the Vac-Drive. Aiko broke free from her being stunned at that instant.
"No! NO! NO! I won't let you do this!" Aiko screamed.
She dragged Pop around the area, hoping to force her off. This time, Pop's determination won out. With one final yank, Aiko tripped up, screaming as she vanished into the Vac-Drive.
Pop-chan! Pop-chan! Are you okay? Pop-chan!
I'll be fine, Ai-chan. What matters is…you're saved.
Pop-chan! If you're okay, then thank you. I almost didn't think you could do it. Can you ever forgive me for doubting you? And yes, I'm with Momo-chan now, but we can't really speak to each other. And why is-
The message cut off then and there. Pop felt her strength leaving her. Moments later, she lost consciousness…
When Pop came to, she was back in the graveyard. She got up, quickly realizing she had been healed once again.
"Whew!" Pop panted, "I thought I was done for." She shook her head. "But that doesn't matter now. I saved Ai-chan-"
The transceiver began beeping. Pop answered it.
"Pop-chan!" Majo Toron shouted, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Pop replied, "And I got Ai-chan!"
"That's a relief." Majo Toron turned around and then turned back to the screen. "If I may, I'd like you to return to the Center. Shadow Ruka and I have made some developments that should prove useful in finishing off the mansion."
"Ok!" Pop quickly shook her head. "But first, I'd like to bring something for you to study. I know it might not seem like anything, but it was made by magic and I think you should have a look at it."
Majo Toron sighed. "Very well. Just don't take too long."
"Okay!"
The transceiver shut off. Pop turned back to the large tombstone and saw a key and a coin at its base. The key was gold colored and had a diamond on the handle. The coin was brown and had a mark representing Earth. There was no mistaking it: The key would open a new area and the coin was the Medallion representing Earth. With high spirits, Pop left the graveyard and went back into the mansion.
Pop was back in the replica of Hazuki's room and standing before the ruined mirror room. She picked up the fallen knob and put it away before leaving.
I want to know why these surges keep happening, thought Pop, If these knobs can allow this, then I want to know how to stop them!
With those thoughts, Pop left the mansion for the Magic Research Center.
The five remaining Shadow Ojamajos were again seated at their table. They watched on their map as Pop left the mansion and vanished.
"Well, I'm out of ideas," Shadow Pop snorted, "She beat our secret weapon and even took another Medallion!"
"Oh, come on!" Shadow Aiko fumed, "It's not that bad! All we have to do is out maneuver her and take her by surprise!"
"Because those never fail, Shadow Ai-chan," Shadow Hazuki deadpanned, "This is bad. We lost two of the Light Ojamajos in less than twenty minutes." She straightened her glasses. "We need to think of something else besides these weak plans!"
"Or it's on our heads," Shadow Hana shuddered.
Shadow Pop smirked. "Since our secret weapon failed, I'd like to double team her with Shadow Hana! It'll be easier than if we went against Light Pop one at a time!"
"You know the risks involved there, Shadow Pop-chan," Shadow Doremi interjected, "If Light Pop beats both of you, then what else can stop her?"
"I think I have a theory as to what makes Light Pop so resilient," Shadow Hazuki said.
"Oh really?" Shadow Aiko replied, "Care to explain?"
"Why, certainly." Shadow Hazuki's glasses gained shimmering glare.
"If it can be dealt with," Shadow Doremi began, "Then we better deal with it right now if we are to have a chance."
"Agreed," the remaining Shadow Ojamajos replied.
A/N: Anyone who has been following the hints and has read "Sweetie's Mansion" will have seen the plot twist coming a mile away.