Epilogue:

“Oh my magicaps” ! Mena exclaimed with her hands to her cheeks. “How is it the end of the semester? We were only in there for a day or two.”

Gemini gave an avuncular laugh and rustled Mena’s hair. “You know what they say, time flies when you’re in other realms…but listen I…”

Ashlan turned pale “We missed a whole semester? My grade point average is probably in the pits.”

The lioness’ whole body trembled, and she dropped to her knees. “I’ll never be Valorwitchtorian now!”

“Shush, you beast,” Gemini hollered. “I really need to…”

“Mena,” a deep but still quite girlish voice exclaimed. Mena looked up.

Floating up in a magic wheelchair was her dear friend, May. Looking a bit sore, but otherwise alright, tears of joy streamed down May’s eyes.

“May!” Mena shouted, causing Gemini to shush her. “May,” she whispered, “You’re ok.”

May puffed out her cheeks in triumph. “It’ll take more than a few ogres to stop me, Mena and I…” But May was interrupted by a loud screech from Mena.

Standing behind May, in a frumpy witch’s hat and gown, was none other than Mrs. Cumberson.

“Relax,” May said, now with a surprisingly confident swagger. “This is my mummy. My real one.”

“And I am so proud of my daughter,” Mrs. Cumberson gushed. “I used to think my little Maylene was a cauldron short of a few bubbles, but now I see, she is truly a hero.”

Gemini clapped his hands and loudly snapped, “Yeah yeah, that’s nice and all, but I must fill our dear witchy poo on what’s gone on in her absence.”

“Well for one,” May said, and floated up close to Mena. “The witch’s plot was exposed. They arrested Toila and all of the fake moms.”

“That’s good,” Mena responded. “What’s wrong about that.”

“Here’s the cinch, witchy-poo,” Gemini whispered harshly. “Law Pops was so concerned about the school being breached that he ordered a lockdown until further notice.”

Mrs. Cumberson lowered herself down to Mena’s level. “And knowing that you are the ambassador of dreams, the one destined to protect this world and others from Anguish, Law Pops want to have you under constant surveillance. It’s all so Anguish will not be able to reach you.”

Mena placed her hands to her cheeks. “Oh nosies,” she cried. “I don’t want to be the government’s pet.”

“Exactomundo,” Gemini responded with a flick of his finger. “As a student of mine, I will stand for no such thing.”

Gemini held out his hand to reveal a tiny house in his palm. It was small, but cozy looking farmhouse on top of a grassy hill. “We are sending you to a place that old Law will never think to look.”

Mena did a double take. “Wowie zowie. Is that Deidre’s new bakery…but…” She looked at Janus, May and Ashlan. Her lip trembled. “What will happen to all my friends?”

“Everyone,” Gemini started, putting his hands on the backs of Ashlan and Janus. “Will be returning home. But worry not,”—Gemini said, turning his head to a slightly convulsing Ashlan. “I’m sending Learn Gnomes to all of your homes for summer schooling. They’re like lawn gnomes, only edumacated”

“Learn Gnomes?” Ashlan gulped. Mena thought she was about the faint. “For someone of my IQ? What will my father think?”

“Witchy poo,” Gemini smiled and stepped aside. “I’ll give you some time for a proper goodbye.”

Mena huddled close to her friends. Tears formed in everyone’s eyes but Janus, whose tears ducts were as dead as her skin.

“This was the happiest, most fantastiwastic school I’ve ever been,” Mena said, forcing a smile through her tears. “Least not because of you all.”

Mena turned to May. “May, you are my fellow romance connoisseur. Please may I borrow the final book for the summer. I didn’t get to finish.”

“Of course,” May said with a red dimpled smile. “I’d be sad if you don’t know the latest twist in Fabias’ tryst.”

Mena wiped her face, smiled, and turned to her reaper friend. “Janus, I’m sorry you didn’t find the true love you were looking for.”

“Not to worry, my friend,” Janus said dreamily. She seized Mena’s hand between her cold, clammy fingers. “I’ve got much longer than a human lifespan to find said love. In fact, I’ve got my whole deathspan, and that’s nearly forever.”

Janus let go of Mena’s hands who gave a brisk shiver before she turned, at last, to Ashlan.

“Rainy…” Ashlan said softly. The lioness pushed her fingers together. “I hope you didn’t mind me sending you on this crazy adventure.”

“Sunny,” Mena said, returning the nickname. “Without you, we would have never solved the mystery of the Unwritten Kingdom and restored New Brushwick to its rightful place in Dula.”—Mena bobbed her head forward with a smile. “I thank you for that…”

“Err…” Rainy,” Ashlan said, turning rosier than the color she turned over the Learn Gnomes.

“Gemini,” Law Pops caustic voice chimed as someone much larger pounded on the door. “A word with you.”

“Hate to break up this tender, teeny bopper farewell,” Gemini cawed. “But it’s time for Miss Witchy Poo to head down to her tiny country home. I already packed your bags and Straw Woman.”

Gemini’s bent down and observed Mena eye-to-eye. “Trust me, it’ll be nice to take a vacation from her.”

“Sunny,” Mena said, as tears lined her friend’s emerald eyes. She placed a paw on Mena’s hand and smiled. “I’m happy to have had one last adventure with you, Sunny. That makes it all worth it.”

Before Mena could speak, Gemini snapped his fingers and her body revolved in a purple and green vortex. Once she shook off the dizziness, she found herself standing in front of Deidre’s new country cottage. She could have sworn she saw the Dream Castle hovering in the sky, but when she blinked, it was gone.

“See you next semester,” Mena sighed to herself. “I hope.”