The Vision Pool

Rory! Storm!

-This isn't funny. -Rory!

- Storm? - Where are you?

They have to be out there somewhere. Keep looking.

Rory?

Oh, thank the stars.

Are you okay?

May have swallowed a magical fish or two, but otherwise fine.

Thanks for the save, girl.

-Oh. -That was amazing, Rory.

-Ow! -Don't ever do it again.

I'm so relieved you're all okay.

That was incredibly dangerous.

Which is exactly why we told you to stay at the school. You could've been killed.

But we weren't. And even better,

Rory and Storm got the grim magic out of the water and saved Starglow Lake.

And Unicorn Island.

And all the unicorns.

They're heroes.

Then I suppose congratulations are in order.

Oh, you know, just doing my job.

I mean, can it still be my job?

In light of your heroics, it's only fair.

You are officially reinstated to Unicorn Academy, Mr. Carmichael.

Really?

As long as you promise to take your time here more seriously.

Yes! Thank you, Ms. Primrose. I won't let you down.

I'm relieved to hear that, Rory.

-Now, if you could just… -Right.

You hear that, girl? We're back. Give me that sweet, sweet unicorn five.

Totally. We should celebrate.

I mean, "We Survived the Giant Grim Cyclone"

is a pretty good theme for a party.

Think the Dwerpins have stuff for a party sub?

We could put Rhapsody on jams, but I gotta talk to her about the playlist.

- -

You've done well.

And while freedom is delicious,

this isn't nearly enough.

I need to gather my strength.

Take me to them.

Sophia! Wait up!

I got up extra early to make you a special "I'm super glad you're okay" breakfast.

Thanks, Ava. This is really… nice?

No problem.

Just glad I could do something.

Especially since yesterday I was so worried about you,

but you didn't tell me where you were going or what you were doing.

You know, I totally would've helped if you did tell me.

I mean, I am your BFF, and we did make a promise.

Right. Uh, that's my bad.

I got a little carried away, and I figured I could handle it.

-With Rory? -To be fair, he just kinda showed up.

Okay, okay.

You're right. I'm sorry. I'll work on it.

I-I'm working on it. Okay, put away the eyes.

That's all I could ask for, bestie.

-Morning, Layla. - Morning.

So tell me everything that happened yesterday. Like, everything.

I-I mean, you know all the important parts.

-Well, uh, except for one thing. -Ooh!

Rory and I passed these weird talking trees.

I knew trees could talk. But they never answer me.

Well, these ones told me, "A vision awaits you beneath the water."

-Like, what does that even mean? -Did you say talking trees?

Those are called The Whispering Willows.

They did seem willowy. And they were definitely whispery.

The Whispering Willows are ancient trees

whose root systems extend through the entire island,

so they know everything that happens here, and they never forget.

-That's kinda creepy. -But also kinda cool.

They must've had something important to say to you.

But it didn't make any sense.

"A vision awaits you beneath the water"?

The only thing I saw in the water yesterday was grim magic.

Maybe they meant a different kind of water.

The island's got all sorts of magical mysteries. I'll look into it.

If I find your gross, sweaty boxing gloves in the common room one more time--

I put them down for two seconds to do burpees, Valentina. Chill.

Good morning, students.

Today we'll be going over some theories of fate fairy evolution.

Ah, Rory. Late again. Good to know that after everything you've been through,

you remain consistent.

Ah, thanks, Ms. Furi.

But I have a good reason this time. Uh, not that I didn't all the other times.

To commemorate me saving Starglow Lake, Unicorn Island,

and basically the entire world, I thought we should have a party.

Ms. Furi, you in?

I know there's a party animal deep down in there somewhere.

Deep, deep down.

I'll pass.

And I will remind you all that grim magic is still a threat.

Now, back to our lesson. While they all share…

Would you mind showing up early for the party?

You need help setting up, don't you?

Wow. Can I just say how impressed I am with your BFF mind meld?

And it is so nice of you guys to offer to help me like that.

Okay, fine. I'm in. But I'm not the best decorator.

Leave that part to me.

Aw, cool. Then Sophia can be on snack duty, and--

It would be a shame if you had detention on the day of your own party.

Right. Fairies. This is me learning the fairies.

Oh. Ravenzella's been gone a long time now, Ash.

Yeah. It's hard to do what she wants if she's not here to tell us what it is.

Which is why we need a new boss.

Someone even stronger, smarter, and scarier than Ravenzella.

Ooh, I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of responsibility, Crimsette.

I'm not talking about you.

I'm talking about me, dummy.

I'm gonna be the new boss. An even better version of Ravenzella.

Oh!

Then we're agreed. Now, applause.

- -Huh?

Uh…

Ravenzella, you're… You're… You're alive.

I mean, y-you're alive! I'm… I'm so glad.

Oh?

But you seemed to be doing so well without me.

Oh, thank you. I… I mean, no. Of course we're not fine without you.

We missed you so much.

Ash was just saying how it's been so hard without you around.

Then Crimsette said she'd be the better version--

And then I said we, your loyal servants, should always be here for you,

oh powerful and merciful Queen of Grimoria.

I'm so glad you feel that way. Because it's time to get back to work.

So, what's the plan?

Revenge.

But first, I need to regain my strength by finding my grim magic.

Sure, sure, sure.

But it's kinda been running loose all over the island since you left,

so how do we collect it all, exactly?

I need something very special.

Maybe we're too, too early.

-More like Rory's late. - He's definitely late.

While I've been waiting, I looked into what The Whispering Willows told Sophia,

and I think they were talking about the Vision Pool.

It's a magical body of water that provides clarity to those who seek answers.

This says it grants one vision to those who look beneath the water.

Beneath the water? That has to be what The Whispering Willows meant.

They also told me "he" had a message for me.

D-Do you think this vision is about my dad?

Uh, maybe.

You're the best, Layla. I've gotta check it out.

Uh, where is this Vision Pool?

Looks like it's in Hidden Forest past the Shimmerstone Wall.

So in a super hard to get to, totally off-limits part of the island.

Which is too bad, 'cause I'd like to see it myself.

According to this, there are all sorts of magical stones and gems in the cavern.

I'd love to study some of them.

Well, it doesn't look that hard to get to.

We could totally make it there and back in time for the party.

But the teachers are all over the place patrolling for grim magic.

And the last time they caught you sneaking over the Shimmerstone Wall,

you were expelled.

The island is trying to tell me something about my dad.

-I have to find out what it is. - I know.

It's just everyone's on high alert right now.

Once everything's safe, we'll go to the Vision Pool together. Promise.

You're right. I'll wait.

All right, decorations committee.

I grabbed everything, so I guess our theme is "everything."

-Go wild. -You got it.

Good idea.

We could tie some lanterns to these vines, and then… Ooh!

And we really should talk party themes. Obviously, I'm partial to flowers.

But there's also glitter or, like, under the sea. Leaf, is seaweed a plant?

Uh…

Yeah, we need some ice for the drinks. Wildstar and I will go get it.

But we have a unicorn with ice powers right here.

What? I said I would wait, and I waited. Like, almost a full minute.

Ugh. I know sneaking out again totally violates the friendship pact,

but if I told Ava, she would've wanted to come.

And she's right. We could get in serious trouble.

-But I've gotta see this through. -

These dreams about my dad, and now talking trees.

Something's going on, Wildstar.

And this Vision Pool might be the only way to get some answers.

Exactly. So it looks like it's just you and me on this one, girl.