A/N: I had many things to work on before getting to this chapter. That is all. Enjoy.

-Looking up?-

Shadow Doremi paced before Doremi's portrait. She had a worried look plastered on her face and she was certain something had happened by now between Pop and the remaining ghosts.

She finally decided to cast a spell on Doremi's portrait. Once it was done, she pressed her hand on it.

"And what are you doing?" Shadow Aiko asked.

Shadow Doremi removed her hand form the portrait. "I used a spell to speak with Light Doremi," she replied, "But…"

"We've got telepathy," reminded Shadow Hazuki, "You can use that to broadcast her thoughts."

"I know…but that's what I'm afraid of."

"Why is that?" shadow Hana asked.

Shadow Doremi said nothing more and simply pressed her hand back on Doremi's portrait. Immediately, the pink Shadow began using her telepathy to transmit the trapped girl's thoughts to the rest of the Shadow Ojamajos.

Pop-chan tried to kill Hana-chan…Pop-chan tried to kill Hana-chan…Pop-chan tried to kill Hana-chan…

The Shadow Ojamajos -sans Shadow Doremi but especially Shadow Hana- gasped in shock. Doremi's thoughts carried a horrified tone, and the revelation that Pop had nearly killed Hana was cause for some distress amongst them.

"If I know Light Doremi," Shadow Doremi began, "It's that she would never joke about something like this…"

Shadow Pop looked at the portrait. "Light Pop…What's happening to you…?"

Shadow Hana brought her fist down on the table, striking hard enough to crack it. "DAMN IT! DAMN THIS PLAN! DAMN IT TO HELL!" she shouted, "IF I HADN'T HAVE TURNED LIGHT HANA-CHAN INTO A GHOST, THEN-!"

"Shadow Hana-chan! Calm down!" Shadow Aiko called. The white Shadow stopped shouting but did not settle down. "What's done it done and there's nothing we can do about it."

Shadow Hana looked at Shadow Hazuki. "Shadow Hazuki-chan?"

"Hmm?" Shadow Hazuki replied, turning her head to the white Shadow.

"I want…I want you to use the ghostifier on me…"

All of the other Shadow Ojamajos looked at Shadow Hana with looks ranging from shock to disbelief.

"A-And may I a-ask why?!" Shadow Hazuki demanded, her eye twitching as she did so.

"I…I need to know how Light Hana-chan felt…while she was a ghost." Shadow Hana looked down. "I know you've used it on yourself, Shadow Hazuki-chan, which is why I'm asking you to use it on me." She gave a deep sigh. "You're the one who knows how to use it best."

Shadow Hazuki found her words dying in her throat at Shadow Hana's request.

"…-chan?" called a voice.

Pop had no idea who it belonged to.

"Pop-…?" the voice called again.

Once again, Pop didn't know who it belonged to, though she was starting to get an idea.

"Pop-chan!" this time, the voice was louder.

Pop reluctantly opened her eyes and groaned. She wasn't in any dream, but she was laying on something comfortable. She glanced around the room she was in.

It was a little bright, but that was to be expected, given where she last was. Hana was looking at her through a large sphere…

Pop's eyes went wide as she violently woke up. She looked around the room in distress.

It was comparable to a medical ward, though it was clear the room had been modified to serve as such. Indeed, she was in the Magic Research Center, just not the main room. It did NOT explain why Hana was there.

It took her that long to realize that the Vac-Drive was no longer on her.

Pop was at a loss for words.

"Pop-chan! You're awake!" Hana shouted happily.

Pop still couldn't find the words. Instead, she decided to get a good look at Hana. From what could be discerned, Hana was still hurt from their fight. But now, those injuries seemed to have gotten worse. Ectoplasm was dripping from the strips that now hung from Hana's being and her form had become shriveled and aged. A look below showed that she was wallowing in a pool of her own ectoplasm.

"Majo Toron-san made this so that Hana-chan wouldn't fade out," the white Ojamajo explained. There was a hint of sadness in her voice. "Even after you captured me, Hana-chan continued to drip this stuff." Hana made her point by scooping up some ectoplasm. It was just as white as most of her clothing. "Oh! That's right! Majo Toron needs to know you're awake!"

"But, Hana-chan-?!" Pop shouted, finally finding her voice.

Nothing else happened.

"Just go and meet up with her, Pop-chan," Hana suggested, "Hana-chan'll be fine! Don't worry."

Pop took Hana's word for it and left the ward. To her surprise and convenience, the main chamber of the Magic research Center was right outside the door. Majo Toron and Shadow Ruka were waiting for her.

"It's about time you woke up, Light Pop," Shadow Ruka said with mock disdain. Pop could tell she was glad she was awake.

"How long was I out?" Pop asked. A thought struck her right then and there, causing her eyes to shoot open.

"About half an hour," Majo Toron replied, "Are you sure you've-?"

"WHERE'S THE VAC-DRIVE?!" Pop shouted in a panic, "WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS?! WHY-?!"

"Calm down, Pop-chan!" Majo Toron commanded, "The others are fine." She pointed in the direction of the portraits. "Dela came by while you were asleep and aided in turning them into portraits. She's already left to notify Jou-sama."

Pop calmed down after hearing what Majo Toron had to say.

"So…Dela came by…right?" Pop asked.

"That's correct," Shadow Ruka confirmed, "Her reaction to what's happened tonight is, well, understandable."

"But she helped you turn-?" Pop began.

"Yes, she did," Majo Toron replied, "I already told you that."

Pop sighed with relief. "But…now what? What's happening to Hana-chan?"

Majo Toron clutched her chin. "I have no idea what you did to her. Hana-chan says I shouldn't blame you for it, but…what exactly did you do?"

Pop looked down at the ground." Well…"

Pop proceeded to explain everything to the twosome. She included how she thought it wasn't the real Hana and how she felt afterward. When she finished, Majo Toron and Shadow Ruka were shocked.

"You…You actually tried to-?" Majo Toron choked out.

"I know," Pop replied glumly, "But…for some reason, I couldn't feel bad about it…I tried, I really tried…but I couldn't find it in me."

Majo Toron shook her head. "Well, all I can say is that Hana-chan's very being seemed to be trailing off. I feared that if nothing was done, her injuries would cause her to…fade away.

"When we extracted her from the Vac-Drive, a stream of her ectoplasm splattered all over the place…and then, well, you get the idea. She wasn't exactly much of a threat in her current state and even seemed interested in helping us to turn the other two into portraits."

"However," Shadow Ruka continued, "For obvious reasons, Majo Toron here didn't think she would survive the attempt. So, she enchanted a tub to catch the dripping ectoplasm and had her stay in it. She then made a device that she hopes will heal her…if eventually at least."

"And then Dela went to tell Jou-sama about this?" Pop asked.

"Yes," Majo Toron grunted.

"But now another question arises," Shadow Ruka pointed out, "Why are you awake so early?"

"Well, isn't it-?" Pop replied, but was interrupted.

"When I got to you, you were pretty badly injured AND unconscious!" Shadow Ruka eyed the red Ojamajo closely. "Yep. Healing magic."

"So then-!" Pop guessed.

It was the case. Hana had healed Pop while she was still sleeping, despite being trapped in a sphere. Either her magic really was that strong or the sphere lacked any means of blocking magic. Regardless, a look of worry crept back on to Majo Toron's face.

"She wasn't supposed to be casting any magic…not in her condition!" Majo Toron burst out, "If she dies like this, then-!"

"We'll just have to hope that your injuries weren't as bad as we thought," Shadow Ruka interrupted, addressing Pop.

Pop nodded and then stared back at the door to the ward. She was worried about Hana; more so now that she had finally been saved and was essentially bleeding to death. She was certain that she wouldn't be able to last in her condition, even with that tank to help hold her together.

"Maybe the ghostifier the Shadow Ojamajos have can…uh, can help?" Pop suggested.

"I just hope so," Majo Toron replied.

A knock at the door drew their attention. Majo Toron opened it with a snap of her fingers, revealing the person there to be Dr. Majo Heart. She nodded in thanks before coming in.

"Ah, good morning!" Majo Toron greeted.

Pop couldn't believe that it was morning already, but she had to save her surprise for later.

"So…Jou-sama sent you here?" Pop asked.

Majo Heart shook her head. "I came here of my own accord," she replied, "Dela mentioned that Hazuki-chan used healing magic. I'm here to see if my new fears about her are correct."

"Dela witnessed-?!"

"We told Dela almost everything that had happened tonight, Pop-chan," Shadow Ruka interrupted, "Including how Hazuki-chan used healing magic."

"Oh."

"And I know what they're in now," Majo Heart added, "Where are they?"

"I'll show you," Majo Toron replied, "All you have to do is touch their portraits and you'll be able to speak to them."

Majo Heart nodded and followed Majo Toron to where the Ojamajos' portraits were.

Pop looked at the holo map to pass the time. On it, she saw that only three rooms were blacked out, neither of them being the third floor balcony. Shrugging, the red Ojamajo withdrew from the holo map just as Majo Heart and Majo Toron returned.

"I scanned Hazuki-chan," the Witch Doctor said, "Unfortunately, it was inconclusive. Getting a better read will just put all of us in danger."

"But what was the need for that spell?" Pop asked.

"She used it to determine which spells she used," Majo Toron explained, "But her being in a portrait interferes with it."

"Then I guess we're lucky that Hana-chan used healing magic on me and still isn't a portrait yet."

Majo Heart eyed Pop in suspicion. Her non-chalant remark struck the Witch Doctor as arrogant and spiteful.

"And where is she now?" Majo Heart inquired, not taking her eyes off of Pop.

"She's in the ward," Pop replied.

With those words, Majo Heart went into the ward and shut the door. Majo Toron and Shadow Ruka were looking at Pop, the former with worry and the latter with bemusement.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Majo Toron asked.

Pop shook her head. "When I…tried to kill Hana-chan, I didn't feel bad about it, even when I tried."

"So you fear you're turning into a sociopath?" Shadow Ruka snidely inquired.

Pop nodded. "If that's what that's called."

Majo Heart re-entered the room.

"I tried it on Hana-chan," she said gravely, "And it's as I feared."

"So that means…" Majo Toron replied glumly.

"Yes. If they ever return to the living, then those who used healing magic will suffer any and all injuries they healed all at once."

"But can something be done about Hana-chan?!" Pop half-shouted.

"If she weren't a ghost, then I would've had something by now." Majo Heart looked back into the ward, directly at Hana. "For now, all we can do is hope Majo Toron's device can heal Hana-chan's spectral form."

Pop's heart sank. The thoughts of her nearly killing Hana had refused to leave her mind every time she tried to forget about it.

The red Ojamajo shook her head. "I need to speak with the others!" she said suddenly.

Pop didn't wait for a reply, opting instead to go to the other Ojamajos. She made it there in moments and surveyed the portraits.

Hazuki's portrait showed her having clear glasses, a peaceful smile, and a single tear sliding down her cheek; the portrait itself was gold-rimmed. Onpu's portrait featured her sporting a thankful yet envious look while sitting down; her portrait was silver-rimmed.

Pop pressed one hand against each portrait.

"Hazuki-chan? Onpu-chan?" Pop asked.

The red Ojamajo felt two presences "turn" to her. She felt their sadness and relief.

Pop-chan? Hazuki's voice replied, You made it!

Yeah… Pop replied glumly, I really did…and I really could've done better too!

You did your best, Pop-chan, Onpu's voice replied, And you did better than I thought you would. You showed me that I was wrong to lose hope! I couldn't thank you enough for that!

But I-!

Pop felt something like. Something like Hazuki shaking her head in a soothing manner. She felt calmer immediately.

But…What happened to Hana-chan? Why was she so badly injured? Onpu asked.

Pop didn't voice her reply. Instead, regret and despair came out. The two imprisoned Ojamajos felt it.

Pop-chan-! Hazuki and Onpu gasped.

PLEASE! I've tried to feel sorry about what I did! But for some reason…for some reason…! It-It just won't come up! Pop mentally cried out, I…What's going on with me!? Why can't I feel the things I used to anymore?! WHY?!

P-Pop-chan! Please calm down! Hazuki urged, It's not your fault! If anything, it's our fault this is happening to you!

Hazuki-chan is right, Onpu added, We've all tried to kill you, and for that we're very sorry, but-!

I KNOW! Pop mentally shouted.

With that, Pop removed her hands from the two portraits. She then slammed her fists onto the hard floor. Tears streamed down her face as she got up and ran out the door in anguish.

"Is this all you were able to discern?" Jou-sama asked.

"Yes, Jou-sama," Dela replied.

Dela had arrived a few minutes prior and alerted the Queen of the Witch World to the crisis at hand. After she finished explaining everything she knew, the Queen's expression turned into an unforgiving grimace.

"I have good news though: Pop-san has remained free and has even managed to save Hazuki-san, Aiko-san, Onpu-san, Momoko-san, and Hana-chan!" Dela added, "But now everyone's worried about Pop-chan."

Majorin, who had been standing by Jou-sama's side, turned to the Tax Collector. "If Pop-chan is suffering greatly at the hands of the Shadows, then I feel one of us should continue in her stead."

"But would you suggest that?" Jou-sama asked.

"I think I can shed some light on that," Dela replied, "When I was at the Magic Research Center, I actually paid Pop-san a visit. She was still sleeping, of course, but…my god." Dela shook her head before either Jou-sama or Majorin could ask anything. "Something happened to her and now she's been aged a few decades; Majo Toron theorizes that it may have been because a part of her soul was ripped out!"

Jou-sama closed her eyes. This isn't good. I know my Super Witch form and its upgraded version are capable of amazing feats, but… Jou-sama shook her head as her eyes shot open. "Ultimately, things remain the same: Black Queen has gone too far this time," Jou-sama declared, "When the time comes, I will punish her for what she has done tonight."

"You might want to rethink that," came another voice. Jou-sama and Majorin recognized it immediately as its source made its presence known. They knew him as Kada. "There are bigger things going on around that mansion that even your powers might not be able to deal with."

Kada was not alone. By his side were his Shadow, Skaj, and Shadow Tourbillon. Jou-sama eyed them with suspicion.

"Why are you people here?" Jou-sama inquired.

Pop hadn't said a word to anyone ever since her meeting with Hazuki and Onpu. There she was, lying on the cot beside Hana's sphere, crying tears of anguish, fear, anger, the list went on. So many emotions roiling about and not a single one that could truly describe what she was going through.

Twice, Hana had tried to reach out to the tormented young girl, and twice she was turned away. She dared not try a third time on the thought that it would be the charm; if Pop wanted to be alone, then she wanted to be alone. If that was the case, then why is she here in the ward with Hana despite knowing good and well that she would try to reach out to her? Hana wanted to know and wanted to get her friend out of the turmoil she was in but feared what would happen if she tried.

Ultimately, she decided wait until Pop had released all of the emotions before making another move. She guessed that hanging out with Shadow Hana had taught her how to wait for the right time instead of jumping in right away. Even so, she admitted that her own Shadow may have been a bad influence on her.

Finally, Pop got up, having finally let out all of her anguish and sorrow. She dried her tears and turned to face the white ghost Ojamajo. She stared back with eyes that showed concern and a level of relief.

"Hello, Pop-chan," Hana managed to say.

"Hana-chan…" Pop muttered. To her shock, Hana's ghost had become even more shriveled. It's not working…?! she thought. At the same time, the white ectoplasm that she had been pretty much bathing in had deepened. "Hana-chan…! You're-You're-!"

"Don't worry about me, Pop-chan. Hana-chan will be fine!"

Pop shook her head. "No. You won't be fine!" The red Ojamajo was beginning to shake with horror and guilt. "The damage I did to you…Hana-chan. You're dying! For real!"

Hana could only give a sad smile. "I know. But Hana-chan has already accepted it. I…I just didn't want you to worry." She closed her eyes, a single tear of white ectoplasm dripping from her eye as she did so. "Just…Tell everyone that…that they were the best friends and mamas anyone could have…"

Pop clenched her teeth in defiance. "No! I won't let this happen!" She drew her poron, to Hana's shock. "Pippito Purito Puritan Peruto!" Pop chanted, "Heal Hana-chan's wounds!"

Hana's eyes went wide. "Pop-chan! Please wait! POP-CHAN!"

It was too late. Pop's spell passed through the glass and into the chamber Hana was inside of. In seconds, the white ghost Ojamajo found herself becoming lesser and less shriveled as the pool of ectoplasm she wallowed in seeped back into her being. Once it had all vanished, Hana's ghost was as if she had never been injured.

No sooner was Hana's ghost healed did Pop feel the repercussions of her spell. In seconds, she was wracked by a sudden and seemingly malign chill running all over her body. It seemed to come from her very soul.

Pop knew that healing magic was forbidden, and she knew the reason for that was because wounds that are healed that way are transferred to the caster. However, she knew of no cases where the soul was damaged, so she took a chance, anticipating no injuries.

She did not receive any. That is, not any physical injuries…

She writhed on the cot in sheer agony. She was using all of her strength and willpower just to bite back the pain. Her breath was misty, despite the temperature of the room being above what was needed for that to happen. From Hana's viewpoint, she could see that Pop was rapidly aging again, if only by another decade.

Pop settled down within a few minutes, but quickly burst into a coughing fit during which she coughed up what seemed to be gray ectoplasm. She looked as if she felt light-headed. Finally, as suddenly as it began, she stopped coughing. How she managed to stay conscious was beyond her…

"Pop-chan…?" Hana muttered, "Why…? Do…Do you know what you've done to yourself?"

Pop turned to Hana. "I…I took your wounds…your wounds that I did to you…" she explained, weakly, "I…I couldn't let you die like this. What if even Jou-sama's Super Witch Form couldn't bring you back if you…if you truly…died like that?"

"It was something Hana-chan was willing to risk! You still have to save Doremi-mama and retake your Ghost Half!" Hana's glowing eyes shot open. "W-Wait! You think that retaking Ghost Pop-chan will heal your wounded soul?"

"It's worth a shot." On those words, Pop got off the cot and headed for the door. "I'm heading back to the Mansion. And I won't let anyone stop me from doing so."

Before Hana could say anything else, Pop left the room and went to retrieve the Vac-Drive. She did her best to conceal her fresh injury, but her labored breathing foiled that. Regardless, she insisted she was good to go and left for the Mansion. Once she did so, Majo Toron and Shadow Ruka went to the room Hana's ghost was, hoping to find answers.

"Hana-chan?" Majo Toron began. She quickly stopped when she saw the young ghost girl in a stabilized condition. "You've…you've recovered? My machine worked?"

Hana shook her head. "Pop-chan used magic to heal Hana-chan," she replied, sadly.

The Mansion was just as foreboding as it always was. Pop clenched her teeth and entered back through the door, intending to track down her Ghost Half and take her, by force if necessary. But the ghost's location was another story altogether…

Again, Pop found herself having to dodge the chandelier dropping on her head.

By now she had grown to outright hate that trap and how it simply resets itself every time it's triggered. Recovering from the shock and surprise, he red Ojamajo drew her poron with the intention of destroying it once and for all. By the time she could, the chandelier had already withdrawn to its position at the ceiling. Pop ultimately decided not to waste magic on it.

In the end, she chose to leave it be this time and kept going, passing through the door.

"Ghost Pop!" Pop called, hoping to attract her ghost self's attention, "Come out and face me!"

No answer.

"Ghost Pop!"

Again, no answer.

She shook her head. The red Ojamajo should've known her ghost self wasn't going to appear in response to something like that. She was, after all, her. At least, how she would be if she were an insane ghost.

Sighing, Pop trudged on.

"Shadow Hana-chan! Get down from up there!" Shadow Hazuki ordered.

At the ceiling, Shadow Hana, having been ghostified by the device, was hovering above everyone's heads and tantalizing the orange Shadow by dangling her glasses just out of her reach. Shadow Hazuki was not amused, though Shadow Doremi and Shadow Pop were.

"If you say please!" Shadow Hana replied, grinning. Her voice carried a ghostly echo. "Then I'll think about it!"

Shadow Doremi was laughing as though she had played a particularly cunning prank. "That's one way to show her!" she said, laughing.

"Keep going, Shadow Hana-chan!" Shadow Pop chortled, "Shadow Hazuki-chan's gonna pop a vein!"

"Not helping!" Shadow Hazuki griped.

"That's enough fun for you, Shadow Hana-chan!" Shadow Aiko half-yelled, stepping in, "Damn you!"

She grabbed the Ghostifier and, after pressing one of its two buttons, blasted the white Shadow with it. The stream from device encompassed the white Shadow, returning her to normal. At once, Shadow Hana fell to the floor and landed with an audible thud.

"Ow~!" Shadow Hana groaned, "Ehheheh…sorry?" Grinning sheepishly, she offered Shadow Hazuki her glasses back. She yanked them back and in a huff. "You don't have to be a jerk about it. I was just having fun."

"Enough," said Shadow Doremi, "As much as I love seeing people get trolled, let me remind you lot about why Shadow Hana-chan was turned into a ghost." She then turned to the white Shadow. "So…how did it feel?"

"Like I could take on anything," Shadow Hana replied, "Like my worries were gone. That I was free of all pain! Aaaand that's with only a short time as a ghost…"

"No doubt a long term ghostification would eventually lead to insanity as you also would never be able to enjoy the pleasures life has," Shadow Hazuki added, "So it would be a real shame if this was destroyed…"

"Please don't' tempt fate, Shadow Hazuki-chan," pleaded Shadow Pop, "You'll jinx it and it will get destroyed!"

The rooms remained dusty, though that was to be expected since nothing had come by to clean them since the place was first seemingly conjured. That, and because it had obviously been conjured that way in the first place.

Pop nevertheless took her time walking down the halls. She still felt the fell chill in her being and she wanted some respite from it. Her rest earlier did not help in the slightest, but then she recalled that fire could repel the cold.

On that thought, she headed to one of the outside areas. More specifically, she went to where Uhrmann's barrier once was and used the dog house present as fire wood. Once there, she ignited it using the Fire Medallion's power to accomplish it. Despite the heat of the fire, she still felt the chill…

"Why…?" she asked herself, "Is it…Is it because my soul has been damaged…?"

The truth evaded her for the moment. The fire still burned, but it could do nothing to drive away the chill. That much she was certain of. Thankfully, there was still one being to hunt down: Ghost Pop. And she needed to reunite with her now more than ever. But how?

On that thought, she quickly began trekking back inside, intending to find the wayward ghost. With all eight Medallions on her and the Magical Spheres that were left over, she was certain she could take her ghost self on and win even with those Possessor Wraiths that were her minions.

"Ghost Pop!" Pop shouted, angrily. She was on the third floor now and hell-bent on finding that hiding spot she was certain Ghost Pop was using. "I know you're here! Come on out so I can…uh, reunite with you…?"

She face-palmed. She herself would never fall for such an obvious trap, so why would-?

"Can you quiet down?!" Ghost Pop shouted, coming out of the wall, "I'm trying to see what those familiars are up to on that balcony!" She was still wearing her Wraith Armor…and each pair of eyes from each of the six Wraiths used to make it shot deadpan and annoyed looks at the red Ojamajo. "Something really tells me something bad is about to happen!"

"Walpurgisnacht?" Pop guessed. Ghost Pop shrugged. "I…I need to reunite with you," Pop choked out as she began shivering again, "If you need to know why, then can you use your magic to look at my soul?"

The red Ghost gave a sly grin. "I would prefer to yank the rest out, but okay," she replied. She then whipped out her poron. "Pippito Purito Puritan Peperuto! Reveal Living Me's soul!"

Pop braced herself as the spell encircled her body. A red glow emanated from her and revealed several things. In the middle of it all was a gray mass that seemed cracked and bleeding.

Ghost Pop was shocked, to say the least. "Oh my God…! Wh-what did you-?"

"I healed Hana-chan's ghost. That's why my soul looks so damaged…and why I've been feeling this chill…"

Ghost Pop floated aghast. "Okay. Fine. But to decide how we will finally unite, we'll have to fight. If you win, I will unite on your terms. Of course, if I win…"

"Don't go making any double dealings, Ghost Pop!"

"Oh, I believe that won't be possible." Ghost Pop giggled. "You win by sucking me into the Vac-Drive. I win by tearing our soul out of your body!" She then backed away from her living half. "I will decide where we battle: Meet me in the music room down on the first floor!"

With that, the ghost vanished through the floor, leaving Pop standing there with her jaw wide open.

"I can't believe I let her do that…!" she berated herself.

Well don't just stand there gawking! The voice of Kyoko shouted, Go get her!

"Oh! Right!"

Pop hurried over to the music room, using her broom to hasten her approach. When she arrived, she discovered the room to be truly dark despite the light being on. The seven pairs of glowing red eyes told her why.

"I didn't expect you to come here so fast," Ghost Pop remarked, "Even I would've taken my time!"

"Enough talk!" Pop shouted, "Let's do this."

Rather than use some witty one-liner, Ghost Pop immediately channeled some of her dark power to her hands and launched a ball of pure darkness at the red Ojamajo. Pop was quick, evading the attack like a pro. In response, the young girl switched the Vac-Drive to use the Medallions' power; more specifically, the power of Light, channeling it again into a blade. One swing sliced the attack in half.

"Ok," Ghost Pop remarked, "Just ok."

The fight continued on for several minutes. Neither Pop nor Ghost Pop gave any letup, and the room was swiftly torn apart even more so than it already had. Despite this, the red Ojamajo feared that the fight would take too long. It had to be at least 3 or 4 in the morning…

Finally, Pop ran out of Light energy and her blade automatically withdrew. She was going to have to try and find the time to get a spell off that would extract more energy from the Light Medallion. Thankfully, she was able to suppress Ghost Pop's movements somewhat using the power of the Fire Medallion. The light it gave would work, but only for so long…

"Pippito Purito Puritan Peperuto!" Pop chanted, "Recharge the Light meter!"

Her spell did the trick. Energy from the Light Medallion once again flowed into the Vac Drive, refilling the specific meter. Just in time too, for Ghost Pop just smothered the flames with her Dark-based powers.

"How about this!" Ghost Pop shouted. Her Possessor Wraith gauntlets extended into tentacles that extended to try and grab Pop.

Pop ignored the banter and simply took advantage of the opening to shoot a powerful Light attack at her ghost self. There would never be enough time to dodge it, and the beam impacted the powerful ghost. At once, her Dark-based powers evaporated, her minions separated and lost their Dark-based powers as well. The lights returned to their full strength, stunning Ghost Pop and her six Wraiths.

Pop immediately activated the Vac-Drive, sucking in the six helpless Wraiths with no resistance at all. She then turned to her ghost self, expecting some more witty banter. Instead, she was met with a defeated look; the phrase "Now to suck me in there too…" or something along those lines.

She had accepted her defeat for real this time.

Before the red Ojamajo could begin sucking her in, a severe shaking rocked the room, causing the lights to dim considerably for a brief moment. Ghost Pop was able to move in that moment.

"The third floor balcony!" she warned. Right then and there, another shaking dimmed the lights again, prompting her to vanish through the floor.

Pop couldn't be bothered with her ghost self at the current moment. She was instead making haste through the mansion, trying to get to the balcony before it was too late. She did not know how much time was left.

At the door to the area, Pop found the path blocked by a barrier made of ice. Cursing to herself, she used the power of the Fire Medallion to melt the barrier and burst through. Outside, a new storm had begun brewing; lightning seemed to spiral around in the air above the building as dark clouds continued billowing up.

On the balcony itself were things that would normally be on a balcony of this size. A pair of alicorn statues, pots holding rotted plants, and thick railings was just some of the items present. In between both statues, fifteen Grief Seeds floated, fourteen of which orbiting one that was topped by a gear-like crest. All of them were pulsing with a fell magic completely different from hers.

"No…!" Pop gasped.

Suddenly, the middle Grief Seed was encompassed by a sphere of darkness. Within moments, that sphere expanded to cover the others present. Once it did so, the sphere raced for the skies.

Pop could only watch in horrified anticipation as the Grief Seeds merged into one and prepared to give birth to the Witch she was dreading for the longest time…

A/N: It's shocking how long this chapter took to complete. Then again, I was also on other projects and couldn't deal with this one. But now, I would like to see everyone's reaction to what I have in store next chapter.

How many of you are making predictions? And what might those predictions be?