A/N: It took a while longer for me to get started on this due to finally getting something back. I will not say what it is in any part of the fic. That is all. Enjoy.

-Terrible Misfortune-

Ghost Pop floated back and forth, taking glances at the door below. The runes were still on it and she didn't want to risk fighting the Witch, but this waiting was getting on her nerves and she feared that she wouldn't be able to hold back any further. She conjured a blade using the Dark energy she still had and began drifting down the stairs.

She was stopped when the shoulder part of her Wraith armor gently clamped down.

"Hmm?" Ghost Pop squeaked. She turned her head and saw part of the possessor wraith's head emerge. It shook its head and gave a look of worry. The one from her armored skirt reformed its hand and pointed upwards. "Ah, I see!"

Taking the cue, Ghost Pop flew to the third floor and passed through the door as the possessors returned to their armored forms.

She quickly found herself in a viciously familiar room. She chose not to take any guesses-

"What took you so long?" a voice asked, "I didn't think you would be transformed by now!"

Ghost Pop recognized the voice. "Uh, actually, let me-"

"Ew! Wh-what's that smell?!"

"Eh heh heh! Sorry, sorry!" Ghost Pop concentrated. "It's just something I picked up! Now can you please let me explain?"

"Okay."

Ghost Pop explained to the voice and told it everything that had happened so far. Once caught up, the voice sounded concerned.

"So you're only part of Pop-chan?" the voice asked, "And you don't know anything Pop-chan did after you were torn-"

"Sliced off," Ghost Pop corrected.

"Thank you. –sliced off?" the voice continued.

"Yes."

The voice sighed. "Then we'll just have to set a trap for Pop-chan then!"

"Eh?"

"It'll be easy! Just let me explain!"

Ghost Pop frowned. She did not like what this ghost had to offer very much.

Pop grunted as she was blown back. The Witch she was fighting, Cecil, the Witch of Taste, was proving to be much more of a challenge than she thought. The barrier was easy enough to traverse, but that all changed when she engaged the Witch. Already, Pop had several cuts and bruises and at least one entire section of skin torn off.

At this rate, Pop thought, I'm going to die for real. She looked up at the Taste Witch as it prepared for another strike. But… Pop took aim with her hose and fired a Fire, Sky, and Dark blast at it. "Tiro…Finale!"

The blast struck true and the resulting ball of fire fell to the ground. Landing at Pop's feet was the Grief Seed.

"Alright!" Pop picked up the Grief Seed and examined it while the barrier seemed to vanish around her. "One more bites the dust!" The red Ojamajo turned around and froze. The barrier vanished, but she was no longer in the mansion. In fact, she wasn't even in Majo Kai anymore. Instead, she recognized it as Mitakihara courtesy of the memories she had absorbed from earlier Witches. "What the-? What's going on here?"

A distorted giggle alerted the pink-haired girl to the monster's presence. She turned around and saw the Witch floating just above the ground and preparing another strike. In her hands, Pop felt the Grief Seed disintegrate. A small note fell out.

'Try again.'

Pop looked in disbelief. Had this Witch been toying with her all along? This is…This isn't the first time it's taunted someone like this. She had seen it do this right before-

Pop dodged quickly, narrowly avoiding being struck by its tentacle-like eye. She then quickly activated the Dark energy, formed it into a blade, and wasted no time in slicing the end of the appendage off.

The Witch recoiled from the attack. It took little to no time to for it to recover, but by then Pop had summoned her broom and flew up to the Witch's face and began slicing relentlessly. It wasn't doing the trick as evidenced by the Witch continuing to attack.

Pop drew back out of its reach and prepared another Fire, Sky, and Dark blast. The Witch made one final attempt on Pop's life just as she launched her attack.

In seconds, the blast enveloped Cecil in flames and darkness. Pop descended slowly as the Witch finally burned to death and dropped its real Grief Seed. The barrier surrounding Pop finally vanished...

"Everyone?" Shadow Doremi asked.

Shadow Doremi, Shadow Hazuki, and Shadow Aiko had been debating on what to do. They thought about simply turning themselves in and letting Pop suck them up, but with Black Queen confirming that she had her eye on them every other time, they had to find some other way.

At the same time, Shadow Hana and Shadow Pop were busy adding their input thanks to their telepathy. They had suggested ideas on what to do but always found themselves at the same impasse that the others were at: Black Queen's occasional surveillance.

"If it's about going up to Black Queen-sama and asking her to stop spying on us, then forget it," Shadow Aiko spat, "She isn't doing it."

And I really don't want to feel guilty anymore! Shadow Hana cried.

"I think we know you're guilty after the millionth time, Shadow Hana-chan," Shadow Hazuki deadpanned, "Can you please stop going on about that?!"

Sorry…

"Shadow Hana-chan? Shadow Pop-chan?" Shadow Doremi addressed, "Do you know how Light Pop is doing?"

We don't know! Shadow Pop replied, Last we saw of her, she was running down the hall…and then we had to run when that Witch got out of her room!

Shadow Doremi frowned, especially since she had the feeling that Black Queen had resumed her surveillance. "Keep an eye on Light Pop. We can't make the same mistakes as our Light Halves."

"And we won't," Shadow Hazuki said defiantly, "They're loose-cannons right now anyway. Why would we repeat their mistakes?"

Pretend to make them but spite them instead? Shadow Pop joked.

All of the other Shadow Ojamajos face-palmed.

Pop stood in the now-brightly lit room. The she was still in the room gave Pop a moment of peace; she was still in the safety of the lit areas and away from her undead friends and ghost half, but now wasn't the time to relax. She had to see to her wounds and continue trekking on the next floor; and with the Light medallion, she was going to capture her ghostly other and figure a way to become whole again without resorting to being ghostified or magic.

The red Ojamajo gave the room one last look and decided to use it as a base within the mansion. She smiled and left out the door. Moments later, she was going through the ruined door that now led up to the second floor. She took a deep breath and entered the dark hallway, wasting no time in activating her flashlight and going on the defensive.

She came to a door; more specifically, the same door she passed on her first trip on the second floor. Pop took several glances before reaching into the bag and pulling out some keys. One by one, they failed to open the door. She was down to one left when she felt the air grow unnaturally cold. The pink-haired girl quickly put the bag and keys away and braced herself. No one was there when she turned.

"Over here!" Ghost Pop playfully called. Pop turned her head in the direction of the voice but saw nothing. "Oh, sorry, Living Me!" At once, Pop felt several sets of eyes on her back. She turned around and saw her floating right in front of the door to the stairway. Her right armguard was missing. "That was a pretty low move you did there, Living Me! You could've killed me!"

"I know," Pop replied, "And I'm sorry. I feared you were going to be eaten by that Witch."

"Well, I guess I can forgive you since you expressed regret for unleashing that thing." Ghost Pop waved her unarmored hand, gesturing to her minions. They separated from her and returned to their usual forms. "These five are the only ones left; Possessor Misaki died giving me a boost to escape." Ghost Pop gave a sad frown. This was mirrored by her minions. "You see, I didn't just make my minions look like our boyfriends."

Pop only stared in disbelief at what she was hearing. What does she mean 'didn't just make them look like our boyfriends'?

"When I made them, I used my memories of our boyfriends to give them shape and personality. All of it was based on what we knew of them. They're not just mooks to me…they're all we can have now and I wanted some way to remember them. But Misaki-kun is gone and there aren't any more wraiths for me to catch and transform…

"And I think you've got the Light medallion now and, since we're Dark-based, we won't stand a chance. My minions and I are ready to be sucked up."

Wow. This easy? Thought Pop, Must be my- Wait! This is too easy. In fact, this is EXACTLY the kind of plan I'd use! Pop gritted her teeth. "What are you trying to pull?!"

Ghost Pop tilted her head quizzically but quickly developed an angered expression. "Nothing. Why do you ask?"

Pop aimed the Vac-Drive at Ghost Pop and her minions and prepared to activate her new Light energy. "Get ready, Ghost Me!" Pop said defiantly, "I'm going to-"

Pop suddenly noticed the Vac-Drive take on a dark aura. She threw it off in a panic and stared at it with horror as it began moving on its own. At the same time, the Possessors returned to being Ghost Pop's armor. The red ghost gave a smug grin.

"I almost didn't think you would fall for it," Ghost Pop giggled.

"Tell me, Pop-chan: What happened to the wise and mature girl whom your class admired?" asked another voice.

Pop recognized that voice and, after putting two and two together, realized why she had fallen for it. She spun around to the source and found herself facing someone who she now did not want to face. Floating before her was the ghost of Onpu Segawa, and like her friends, she too sported a glow with a brighter pair glowing eyes; her case, purple.

"Pippito Purito Puritan Peperuto," Pop chanted under her breath.

"I admit, I did aid your ghost half in formulating this, but I have to ask: What's happened to you to cause this foolishness and-?" Onpu glanced at Pop and then at Ghost Pop. "Never mind."

"I'm not saying anything! Time stop!" Pop shouted.

To Ghost Pop's and Onpu's surprise, time froze. Pop had only a moment to look at their looks before realizing she didn't have long to escape. Wasting no time, she guessed that the door she blew open earlier was her only way out and went around Onpu straight towards that room. She made it in seconds flat, but found it full of chairs, recliners, and sofas.

Pop nearly gave up hope when she noticed the charred frame of another doorway. The door was still there, but there was the chance she would be able to send it plummeting into the other room…thereby allowing her to return to the safety of the first floor. Once again, Pop made haste and set about kicking at and tackling the door.

She succeeded, but no sooner than she did, her spell wore off. The door fell off its frame and landed with an audible thud. At once, Pop summoned her broom and flew straight down and made it to Hazuki's still-lit room just before Onpu and Ghost Pop could catch her. She breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"That…was too close!" Pop remarked.

"Oh, Living Me," Ghost Pop began. The room suddenly began to darken, forcing Pop to the door in a panic. "Did you really believe this floor was safe?"

Feeling her heart skipping a beat, Pop immediately opened the door and fled just as Ghost Pop fully entered Hazuki's room and plunged it into darkness. Pop immediately headed for the double doors but chanced a glance back. Behind her was a rapidly encroaching wall of darkness, the only thing visible in it being several pairs of glowing red eyes and one pair of glowing purple eyes. At once, Pop went through the doors and flew up to the balcony overhead. She opened the door and then closed it just as the parlor beyond started darkening.

She wasted no time in going to the short hallway and entering the far room. She quickly mounted her broom once more and prepared to blow through the glass window. The room darkening right before her eyes forced her to take the chance before she was truly ready. She took several new cuts from the broken glass and very nearly tripped, but she made it. At once, Pop descended and entered the remains of the kitchen and made haste toward the dining hall and finally out into the lit hallway. She took no chances and entered the indoor swimming pool and then made her way into the storeroom.

This is it, Pop thought as she slid into a narrow hole in the crates, If they find me in here, then...forgive me, everyone…

Pop waited for the inevitable. It didn't take long as the room darkened and the temperature plummeted.

"Okay, where are you?" Ghost Pop asked.

"I keep telling you, Pop-chan, "Onpu replied, "Your living half has escaped us for the moment."

Pop heard her ghost half groan. "But she has to be in here!"

"Let it go, Pop-chan. Just let it go." Pop bit her lip at Onpu's statement. "I'll rendezvous with Hana-chan and then we'll free Hazuki-chan. Ok?"

"Do you know what she tried to do to…them?" Ghost Pop cried, "I won't forgive her for this!"

"She'll be willing to apologize for her mistake, Pop-chan. You will just have to roll with it."

"But-!"

"Think about it, Pop-chan: With all four of us after your living half, and how small and linear this mansion is, we'll have her before you even know it!" Onpu's tone was very sinister. Pop had to hold her breath in to avoid gasping and revealing her location. "I'm leaving now, Pop-chan. Take care."

Pop didn't know if Onpu had really left or not. For all she knew, the purple ghost could very well still be in the room, aware of Pop's presence and but simply toying with her. Indeed, had Onpu and Ghost Pop skipped the chit-chat, she would've lost for sure. The thoughts hurt a lot, but they were starting to seem like an ever worsening nightmare that was becoming more and more real by the moment.

"Well, I guess that's that then, huh guys?" Ghost Pop said aloud. Her talking snapped Pop out of her stupor. "Onpu-chan is right; we would have more luck with all four of us hunting her down. But first, we're going to have to free Hazuki-chan and then-" Pop waited to hear the rest of it. The fact that it was still dark in the storeroom proved she was still there. "Misaki-san. Misaki-san. Misaki-san! Gaaahhhhh I can't believe it! He's all by himself up there and we ditched him!"

Pop blinked twice. She's bursting out over leaving one of her minions?

"I just hope he'll forgive me for leaving him like this…" Ghost Pop said sadly.

The temperature began returning to normal right when the light returned to the room. Sure enough, Ghost Pop had left, leaving the red Ojamajo free to get out of her hiding spot. No sooner than she did, Pop hastily went over to Hazuki's room and got out the All-in-one. She knew she had to give Majo Toron the bad news one way or another.

She did. Majo Toron was shocked and horrified about the turn of events. Without the Vac-Drive, Pop stood no chance against any of her ghostified friends or the Witches. At the same time, the Shadow Ojamajos could simply waltz on in and capture her just like she did with Shadow Onpu and Shadow Momoko. Fortunately, Majo Toron was able to lighten the mood by giving Pop the information she got from the two captured Shadows.

"So they used a device they took from Majo Isabelle to turn my friends into ghosts?" Pop asked.

"You heard me right, Pop-chan," Majo Toron replied, "And if I can figure out how to reverse it, I can probably turn them back to normal!" Majo Toron gave a depressed sigh. "But you'll have to get the Vac-Drive back first or you'll never defeat them."

Pop's heart sank. That device her Shadow was holding back when she first ran into them in the mansion was the key to her friend's fate. If she had realized its importance then and there, knocked that device out of Shadow Pop's hands, and sucked it toward her, she would've been able to have Momoko and Aiko back for sure.

"I…I will get it back…somehow," Pop finally said, though her words were dripping with fear and doubt.

"I hope so, Pop-chan. Majo Toron, out," Majo Toron replied. True to her word, the communicator clicked off.

Pop crawled dejectedly onto the bed and allowed her tears to stream. In her mind, it was utterly hopeless. The Vac-Drive was in their possession, the lit areas could do nothing to stop Ghost Pop, and the Shadow Ojamajos could simply come in and kill her. She still had her magic, but she was of a lower level then they were and there was only one of her against the four of them. Finally, he Shadow Ojamajos were still at large; they could come in at any time and turn her into a ghost if they so pleased.

"I…I don't think…I don't think I can win like this…" Pop muttered sadly to herself, "Everyone…Onee-chan…I know I've said 'I failed' before…but this time, it's for real…

"Majo Toron can't act easily with a broken leg and Shadow Ruka only has so much strength…but they'll be massacred if they come in…Nobody else even knows what's happening here…so, no one is coming…

"I'm all alone here…at their mercy…with no way out…"

Pop buried her head in the pillow before finally crying out.

"Why?! WHY?! WHY DOES EVERYTHING KEEP GETTING WORSE?! WHAT DID I DO TO DESREVE THIS?!" Over the edge of the bed, Pop noticed the mirror she used to fight Hazuki with. It was shattered. "Seriously? It can't be just that!" Pop got up and whipped out her poron. "Pippito Purito Puritan Peperuto. Repair the mirror."

Pop's spell did the trick, but it did nothing to lift her spirits. All she saw was her reflection staring back. It reflected an aged and battle-scarred young girl who had been through far too much already. The fresh cuts were evident and the older ones were quite likely going to leave scars. She set it on the countertop.

"What's the use?" Pop asked herself, "I'm by myself, I can't fight them too well like this, and I can't beat the Shadow Ojamajos…Maybe it really is best for me to become a ghost?"

"Even though you'll be throwing away everything you've worked for?" a voice asked.

Pop's eyes went wide with shock. She did not know who this voice belonged to. Yet, it sounded so familiar. Why?

A/N: I really got into this chapter. And once again, I have taken a page out of "Sweetie's Mansion" with the turn of events.

Some of the scenes here were intended for earlier chapters.