Zann stared in horror as the energy flowed toward a wormhole blinking in the corner.
Through the opening he caught a glimpse of the rough bark of the ancient Wormwood tree.
It was too late—Magica was about to be destroyed!
Suddenly Zann had an idea. He turned to the queen.
"Your Majesty, summon all the wormholes!"
For a second the Roodian queen looked confused. Then her eyes widened.
She raised a hand, and the air buzzed with new energy.
"What are you doing?" Morb snarled, still weakened from the mice's feeding.
Suddenly the room was flooded with thousands of wormholes!
Morb looked stunned. "What—how—" he stammered.
Zann held his breath, hoping he was right about what would happen next.
If he was wrong, he might have just destroyed not only Magica, but also every other world.
He glanced through a nearby wormhole. In a world he didn't recognize, a funny-looking dragon was nibbling on a tree.
Bzzt! A tiny spurt of energy snaked in and fizzled out against the dragon's scaly side.
Zann spun around and spotted the rough seas of Skellia through another wormhole.
Bzzt! A gulper leaped up and swallowed a small blob of energy hovering over the waves.
Everywhere he looked, Zann saw bits of energy fizzling out harmlessly in various worlds.
"It worked!" he cried. "The energy got divided into so many different worlds that it became completely harmless!"
"But how did you know that would happen?" Perda asked.
Zann shrugged. "It was what Morb said about how something that's powerful in large amounts is harmless in small amounts."
Morb gnashed his teeth. "I should have killed you when I had the chance!"
"But you didn't." Wyssa stepped forward and snapped her fingers.
Instantly Morb was shackled to her. Then she pointed at the contraption and muttered a few words. Both horns exploded into shrapnel.
Zann and the others ducked, covering their heads until the dust settled. Then Venna stood up.
"Now what are we going to do with Morb?" she asked. "There will have to be a trial."
"Agreed," Zann's mother said. "Nax and I will have plenty of evidence to present."
Zann's father nodded. "I imagine the Red Council will banish him to the Wastelands forever."
Wyssa scowled. "I'll save you all the trouble."
She yanked at Morb, who struggled weakly.
"No!" he cried. "Don't let her take me!"
Zann winced, remembering what Wyssa had said about feeding Morb to a scatter beast.
Then he looked at his parents. Because of Morb, Zann had almost lost them all over again.
Still, did even Morb deserve the fate Wyssa had in mind for him?
"Wait!" Gliss stepped forward. "After you're finished with him"—she glanced at Morb— "will you do something else?"
"What is it, girl?" Wyssa sounded impatient.
"We visited a world called Skellia," Gliss said.
"The waters were rising, and the people were scared. Can you help them?"
Wyssa raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I know Skellia," she said.
Her voice softened. "And yes, if the Skellians are ready to leave, I can help."
Darb stepped forward too. "Also, can you return this mibbit to Pax?"
"Of course. The Paxians must be worried about him."
Wyssa waited while Darb rubbed the creature's ears before handing it over.
Then she glanced around. "Any other errands you need me to handle for you?"
Her tone was sharp, but Zann caught a twinkle in her eye.
"I think that's it," he said, "but . . ." He hesitated, staring at Morb.
"What are you going to do with him?"
"Only what he deserves." Wyssa gave a jerk on the shackles.
"I'm sure the queen can help direct you all home. Good-bye."
Dragging Morb, Wyssa stepped into the wormhole.
The evil villain cried, "No!"
"Are we there yet?" Zann joked as he and his parents walked toward their house.
Zing was circling overhead, whistling joyfully.
"You tell me, son," his father joked back. "I've never been here before."
After Wyssa had departed with Morb, the Roodian queen sorted through the wormholes.
First she located the one leading into Wormwood, which Venna used to return to First City.
Then, after a long search, the queen found the one leading into Swamp Bottom.
"I can't wait to see what Boz has done with the interior," Zann's father said when they stopped in front of their house.
His wife chuckled. "Don't expect too much," she warned.
"My father was never much of a decorator."
They headed inside. There was no sign of Boz.
"Look!" Zann's mother exclaimed. "Those are the blink images from our trip to the Flower Forest."
She and Zann's father hurried over for a closer look.
Meanwhile Zann heard footsteps. A moment later his grandfather burst into the room.
"Zann!" Boz exclaimed. He rushed over and hugged Zann tightly.
Then he gently shoved him away and glared.
"Where in all the worlds have you been?
I've been worried sick! The Directory showed nothing of your whereabouts, and every spell I tried was—"
Zann's mother stepped up behind Boz.
"Hello, Dad," she said. "Did you miss me too?"
Boz's jaw dropped. "Asta?" he whispered.
Then, his nose quivering wildly and his eyes widening, he spun around.
"And Nax too! What—how did you . . .?"
Zann laughed. "We'll tell you all about it!"
That night Zann fell asleep happy. At one point, in the middle of the night, he was awakened by a terrible dream.
Morb had escaped! And Zann's parents were in trouble . . .
But as Zann looked around, he remembered where he was.
He was back in his own bed. His parents and Boz were nearby.
Zing's fiery breath was warming his toes.
For the first time in four years, Zann felt content.