Mena watched helplessly as the Phantom Orchestrator took possession of Gemini’s body. “I have my hooks so deep in this sad clown,” the Phantom Orchestrator said, “That soon he will become my soulless puppet for this realm. Not only will Anguish’s greatest enemy be vanquished but I will be free to traverse this realm at my will!”

The Phantom Orchestrator let out several sick laughs, but a look of shock came over his face. Caligari refused to release Gemini’s body from her grasp. She spoke in her soft but deep voice. “I can’t just let you go, Gemini. You mean too much to me.”

Tears, something Mena never expected to come from such a stern, battle hardened professor, ran down her face. “You took me away from that land of endless torment where I grew up. You showed me a different world where people accepted me and didn’t fear me. And all the while, you never judged me for a second.”

The Phantom Orchestrator’s eyes shifted nervously as Caligari’s voice grew breathier with sorrow. “I wanted to get close to you. I thought the dance was the perfect opportunity, and I could tell you things I’ve always meant to tell you, but I always kept repressed deep inside me.”

Caligari, with eyes sparkling from tears, leaned in. Her lips were pursed and her voice low in the silence. “Gemini, I love you.”

As she moved in to kiss his lips, a white spirit emerged from her mouth, and encircled Gemini’s body. It entered his mouth, and he began to convulse violently again. “No! No! Noooo!” The Phantom Orchestrator cried as he was forcibly ejected from Gemini’s body. The wild haired phantom held his hand up and a portal opened in the darkness, and he disappeared down it.

Gemini’s eyes returned to the usual shade of rainbow, and he moaned weakly, “Caligari…I…”

The disturbing sound of a woman crying in pain quietly reverberated in the room, cut in half by a loud shriek. A slit-like void sliced through the air, unveiling a blood red eye that gazed at the three with nightmarish malice.

“I see you’ve defeated my Phantom Lord,” a desensitized female voice came from inside the void. Her voice caused every single hair on Mena’s body to stand straight up. She looked to Caligari and Gemini, and even they had a look of terror on their face.

“I’ve been watching and observing this entire battle transpire from the depths of the Nightmare Void. Out of all of you fools, the child witch is one who caught my eye.”

“W-what do you want with me?” Mena stammered, barely choking out the words in a near frigid temperate.

“The way you managed to outsmart an elite monster from the Void is truly impressive, little one. Your imagicnation will be a ripe harvest for me when the time comes.”

As the eye gazed at her with a demonic glare, Mena froze in place. Her bones were overcome with an inhuman chill. “Ripe harvest?” Mena gasped.

“My plans far exceed this Phantom’s petty plot,” Anguish said. “But unlike him, I won’t make them known to you. Just remember that the child, Grizabella’s niece, will be mine.”

The void flickered and vanished, leaving Mena, Caligari and Gemini in the dark. “Caligari,” Gemini responded nervously, afraid to talk.

“Yes, Gemini?” his loyal phantom professor replied.

“Can you please bring me a new set of pants.”

Their silence was interrupted by Rocksworth’s sophisticated accent.

“Oy, what’s going on?” Rocksworth cried, his arm still sticking out of the floor. “Can you let me out of the basement now? It’s bloody cold in here.”

***

Accompanying Gemini, Caligari and May to the infirmary, Mena held her hands to her mouth as she observed Janus in her bed. The young reaper’s skeletal frame was wrapped in bandages, but there was still life in her undead eyes. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Janus!” Mena said graciously.

“That Apo Carrie lives up his name,” Janus said with a wink. “He managed to find the perfect panacea for Woof Venom.”

“And that is?” Mena asked.

“Spinx Serum!” Janus exclaimed in her pixie-reaper voice. “By the way, I’m so glad you decided to stop in. It was getting lonely here.”

“Nobody came to see you?” Mena asked. “What about your father?”

Janus’ purple eyes looked away in sadness as her high voice spoke wistfully, “It’s probably better he doesn’t pay me a visit after my accident…if you know what I mean.”

“Oh right,” Mena responded, nodding her head and realizing how bittersweet that was. “Anyway, we’re here for you! Thank you for helping us stop Gaia.”

“Speaking of whom, what happened to Professor Gaia?” Janus asked.

Gemini gave a knowing smile. “We have found a nice asylum in Dula for him. Because of my phantom induced psychosis, I never realized how much of a danger he was to the world…and himself.”

“Does that mean,” Mena started. “We’re not having Apocalypse Studies anymore?”

“Nope,” Gemini replied. “The Lollypop Board of Education has decided that there’s no need for that hooey since it only appeals to those as looney as him.”

“Or the Tessellations,” Mena added.

“Aww, Mena,” Janus responded. “You don’t think they’re crazy anymore?”

“Miserable Magicaps,” Mena said, holding her head with a troubled expression. “What am I saying? My head’s been a mess ever since Anguish said the thing about me being a ‘ripe harvest’ for her.”

Gemini placed a hand on her shoulder. His face creased in a way that said both ‘it’ll be okay,’ while looking uncertain at the same time. “I know this is troubling for you, little witchy poo. But Anguish always seeks out young witches with minds full of imagicnation.”

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“But why?” Mena asked.

“Her brand of insanity feeds on the creativity and dreams of others. You’re not the first witch she’s sought out…”—Gemini’s eyes refused to meet hers when he spoke his final sentence—"There have been others before you…”

“But what can we do?” Mena asked, looking around at all her friends. Everyone, even Janus had a look of great concern in their eyes.

Gemini placed his other hand on her shoulder. He gave her a grin that brought warmth back into the room. “We’ll try our best to keep you on the right path. Every single one of us. Stellaris and Caligari and I have guided thousands of Groundborns, Solborns, Lunaborns and yes, Rainborns to success and we will do the same for you, witchy poo.”

“So will I!” May cried out. “You protected me from the Tessellations! We’re friends for life.”

“You really are worth fighting for, Mena” Janus said, giving a gentle smile from her bed.

Mena looked into the Clown Prince’s twinkling eyes, now set free from the eerie green glow of the Phantom Lord’s eyes and gave him a small smile. She was still worried about Anguish and her sinister desire to indoctrinate her mind, but with friends like these, how could she go wrong?

“We should probably give Harvestar a rest,” said Caligari suddenly. ” Let’s let that magic gauze do its job.”

“I’m so proud of you, Caligari,” Gemini said, “Finally caring for a student’s wellbeing.” Caligari blushed and everyone said goodbye to Janus.

As they headed outside, Caligari stopped Mena before they left. She made sure Gemini was gone before she spoke.

“Thank you so much for everything, Willow…I mean, Mena,” Caligari said. “We never would have stopped my father without you. Gemini has been talking of rewarding you in these coming days.”

“Ooh?” Mena asked. “How so?”

“He said, he’s going to have a little speech and ceremony for the three of you once Janus recovers.”

A ceremony?! For us?” Mena exclaimed, her eyes twinkling. “Wowie zowie!”

Caligari gave a small smile. “You earned it. I never would have thought when I met you that you were capable of such great feats of imagicnation. And how you summoned that golem…why, you must tell me how you did that!”

“I met him in a dream. Somehow I appeared in his dream and asked Sir Rocksworth for help.”

Caligari’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Mena…that’s something only a very powerful dream mage can perform. I can’t believe you’re capable of that.”

Mena held her hands to her cheeks. “I didn’t know that either! Wow…” Mena’s face quickly returned to a solemn expression. “I only hope Gemini will treat Rocksworth better now that he saved him.”

Caligari nodded. “That was more my father’s doing, trapping him in the basement. But since Sir Rocksworth can’t really fit anywhere else, Gemini has elected to do the next best thing for him.”

“What is that?” Mena asked.

“Finish the basement!” Caligari exclaimed. “The Lollypop construction crew are going to put carpets down there and a lava hot tub and spa specially designed for him!”

Mena was so excited she danced in place. “Yes! He deserves that and so much more!”

“And you’re free to visit him anytime,” Caligari added.

“Ok now that is truly magical!” Mena said with a smile and her eyes glinted. “One last question, how did Gemini take your confession?”

“Well…” Caligari stated, “He acknowledged it…and he decided he wants to get to know me better…on a personal level.”

Mena’s eyes sparkled deviously. “So, like a date?”

“Yes!” Caligari responded loudly. “A real date this time. Though he’s still a bit tentative…I don’t know why.”

“I hope it’s not because you had to kiss your father in order to kiss him,” Mena said laughing and Calagari’s eyes shot open. “Uh…” Mena said nervously. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, you saved him…”

Caligari’s eyes looked like they would roll back from repulsion. She shook a little. “Willow,” she growled.

“Uh…” Mena said, inching towards the door. I’ll catch you in our next class, professor! See ya later!”

Before Caligari could utter another word, Mena opened the door and bolted.

***

Mena spent the rest of the night relaxing in peaceful slumber. Her classes had been cancelled tomorrow so everyone could nurse themselves over the wild night they had. Mena was awoken the next day by May standing over her.

“Ah!” Mena screamed as May stood extremely close to her bedside.

“Sorry,” May said, turning a ripe shade of red. “I didn’t know how to wake you without being rude.”

“It’s okay,” Mena said, breathing hard. “What’s up?”

“Janus is all better and we’re supposed to meet her at in the dining hall for a big ceremony!”

“Wow!” Mena exclaimed. “Janus is better already?”

“To be fair,” May said, “Janus doesn’t really have skin to heal!”

“That’s excellent,” Mena said. “Let’s get down there.”

As Mena washed herself in Shelia the Shower, her heart thundered excitedly. What kind of ceremony could Gemini have prepared for her? She dried herself off, threw on her rainbow robe and exited the bathroom, heading down the cloud wall to the tunnel. As she walked through it, she passed Ashlan and the Tessellations. Ashlan slowed down and walked alongside her. Her cat-like emerald eyes gleaming in the dark.

“Hey,” she said softly.

“Oh hey,” Mena responded.

Ashlan looked aside, “I heard you…saved the school. Good job with that.”

“Thanks,” Mena said, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Ashlan’s eyes met Mena’s, and for a moment, they remained locked with each other. “You’re a good kid, Mena, and I also wanted you to know…”

“Oi, Ashlan,” Laetitia shrieked with indignation, “Are you coming? There’s no need to talk with zis smelly peasant girl.”

Mena gave a hostile glare at the elves causing Marie to flinch and hide behind Laetitia, possibly remembering the double duck curse she inflicted on her. The silver haired elf put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes.

Ashlan turned to look at the elves, and her demeanor changed when her eyes returned to Mena.

“And remember,” Ashlan said, her voice growing haughtier and her eyes closing pridefully.

“You may be a Rainborn, Rainy, but I’m going to outperform you in every way. Don’t forget that,” she said and she hurried to accompany the Bourgelves.

As Mena watched Aslan’s backside, there was a pang of sadness within her. She wished the gilded door could have made the dream of their time at the Sunset Lake a reality. Mena’s sad trance was broken by May. “Mena, are they gone?” her bespectacled friend asked Mena from the end of the tunnel.

“Yes, May,” Mena said with a sigh. “She is.”

Mena and May entered the dining hall to see the clouds arranged in a different way. The clouds were all lined up parallel, like an auditorium or a concert hall and every student of the Sunbeam and Nightdream Academies sat beside each other. The teachers stood at the far end on their clouds, standing beneath the giant window that reflected a deep blue morning sky. Janus was with them. Mena’s heart pounded even faster when she realized they were all awaiting her. May and Mena hopped on a cloud and made their way to the front of the room.

As they traversed the room, Mena saw Tal with his dark locks swooped over his left eye but a few bruises on his scarred face. He was smiling when he saw Mena. “Thanks for banishing the Phantom Lord,” he said to her.

“You’re welcome, cutie pie,” Mena responded with a wink.

“But more importantly,” Tal said, a look of bold confidence on his face. “Thanks for keeping him alive. Next time, he’s mine.”

Mena’s face blushed bright red. Tal was surprisingly manly when he swore absolute vengeance on someone who did him and his family wrong. She hid her face and turned aside as she reached the front of the room. There they were greeted by Caligari, Stellaris, Carrie, Electra and Gemini. “It’s about time, lazybones,” Janus said in a chipper voice.

“Great,” Gemini said, “Now we can begin!”

Gemini raised his hands the sky. “Students. I am proud to announce to you that the Phantom Orchestrator who plagued our school has been vanquished…At least for the time being!”

Gemini paused to add, “Thanks to a couple of nosy students and one courageous teacher.”

Everyone cheered and hollered to the heavens. Excitement and happiness rushed through Mena’s body, realizing that everyone was cheering for her and her friends.

“May Cumberson, Janus Harvestar, and Mena Willow. They may be basic witches in their second year, but even basic, ordinary witches like them can accomplish the extraordinary. All it takes is a little nerve and a lot of imagicnation!”

Everyone applauded loudly. Mena’s braced teeth flashed in a wide grin. It seemed only a few weeks ago, she was living with her auntie, but now, she had found Nightdream Academy and become a hero. But not even her wild imagicnation could fathom the thrilling adventures she might have for the rest of the semester and beyond it.