When Genesis left the time portal, she couldn't believe what she saw.

It was her old elementary school, Hammerhead Elementary School, exactly as she remembered it from when she was a (boy) kid. There was a marque out front with announcements about the start of the school year and a mural painted on a wall. There was even the old statue of a hammerhead shark in front of the cafeteria. The sight of it shocked Genesis. She used to walk by it every day-until it was taken down halfway through her Fifth Grade year. Yet here it was in all its former glory.

"Wow," said Genesis. "We definitely went back in time."

Charlotte looked around. "Where's Megan?" she asked.

"I don't know," said Genesis. "But if she's looking for little boy me..."

"Then we have to find you," said Charlotte.

"Hm..." Genesis tried to remember her first day of Third Grade, which was the day that they'd gone back to. Gene's mother had dropped him off at school before going off to her job, and then Gene had gone to Ms. V's class for the first couple hours of the school day. Then they'd had snack recess, then another hour and a half of class, then lunch, then another couple hours before they could go home. "What time is it?"

"We should go to the office," said Charlotte. "Maybe they can help us."

Genesis led Charlotte to Hammerhead Elementary's office. There, they saw that it was 11:45 AM-right about the time lunch recess started. Sitting at the front desk was the school secretary Mrs. Gilmore. "Hello," said Mrs. Gilmore. "May I help you?"

"Hi," said Genesis. "I'm looking for Gene Rookwood." It felt so weird to be asking for herself.

Mrs. Gilmore frowned. "What do you need him for?" she asked.

"I'm...his sister," Genesis lied. "He has a dentist appointment that got rescheduled for today at the last minute. So my mom asked me to come pick him up to drive him to the dentist's office."

Mrs. Gilmore's eyebrows drew together in suspicion. "Is that so?" she asked. "If it is, then your mom should've called us to let us know."

"Well, my mom is pretty neglectful," Genesis said bitterly. "That's why she sent me to pick up my brother instead of doing it herself."

"That is unfortunate," said Mrs. Gilmore. "But Gene needs a parent's permission slip to be excused from school early." She looked at Genesis like she was some kind of child predator.

Fortunately, Megan had taught Genesis a trick. "No, he doesn't," she said. She snapped her fingers and willed Mrs. Gilmore's mindset to shift.

Mrs. Gilmore's expression softened. "No..." she said, as if in a trance. "I...just remembered....your mom did email me....you can go ahead...."

"Thank you," said Genesis.

Just then, the lunch bell rang. "Oh," said Mrs. Gilmore. "That's the bell."

"The bell?" Charlotte asked.

"Yes," said Mrs. Gilmore. "You'll probably find Gene in the cafeteria."

"Got it. Thanks," said Genesis. She and Charlotte left the office and made a beeline for the cafeteria.

"Nice going," said Charlotte. "I thought she was going to kick us out."

"Good thing Megan taught me a mind-wipe spell," said Genesis. But when they got to the open area between the office, cafeteria, and parking lot, she froze in her tracks. She'd noticed a girl about her age with flaming red hair marching in from the parking lot.

"There she is," said Genesis. "Megan."

Charlotte's face went pale. "Uh-oh," she said. "Do you think she knows where you are? Like, the past you?"

"I hope not," said Genesis. "You go find me. I'll keep Megan busy."

"Good luck," said Charlotte.

***

Charlotte didn't want to leave her friend at the mercy of a homicidal witch, but she knew there was no time to argue. She entered the cafeteria and looked for little boy Gene. However, as she scanned the faces of the many kids in the cafeteria, she realized she didn't even know what nine-year-old Gene Rookwood looked like. She'd sort of pictured him as a younger, male version of Genesis-but there were just so many kids in the cafeteria, it was hard to single out just one.

Charlotte turned to a nearby cafeteria lady. "Hey," she said. "I'm looking for Gene Rookwood."

"Gene Rookwood?"

"His sister and I are here to pick him up for an unexpected dentist appointment," said Charlotte. "And I-"

"I think that's him over there," said the cafeteria lady. She pointed to the other end of the cafeteria where a nine-year-old boy was leaving the food serving area with a tray of food. With a start, Charlotte realized it was exactly who she was looking for. It was the young Gene Rookwood! For a minute, Charlotte forgot why she was even there. It just felt so weird seeing the little kid version of her best friend that she didn't even know existed. Since Charlotte had been subjected to Mirna's mass memory altering spell, she only remembered Genesis as a girl-not that it mattered, since she never met her until high school. But still.

Charlotte snapped back to attention when Gene ran into a taller, beefier kid. "Hey Gene," the bigger kid-who must've been in fourth or fifth grade-said. "Where's my milk?"

"Milk?" Gene asked.

"What's the matter?" the big kid asked. "Did you forget over the summer? Every lunch period, I have to get a milk carton from someone in your grade. And today, you're the one who's gonna be giving me my milk."

"No I'm not," said Gene. "I already gave you my milk three times last year."

"I already don't care," said the bully. "Give me my milk!"

"Never!"

"Fine." The bully reached out and snatched the milk carton from Gene's tray of food.

"Give that back!" Gene protested. He grabbed at the milk carton, but the bully held it out of reach.

"No way," said the bully. "My parents can't afford to give me milk money. I've gotta get my milk somewhere."

"That's not my fault!" Gene dropped his tray of food and charged at the bully like a football quarterback. The bully easily sidestepped it and popped the milk carton open. He took a swig of milk before balling his fist. When Gene came back at him again, the bully socked him hard in the face.

"Hey!" one of the cafeteria ladies shouted. She ran up to accost the bully that had punched Gene.

Another cafeteria lady went to tend to Gene. "Are you alright?" she asked.

Gene sat up. Already, a bruise was forming around his eye. "Leave me alone," he said. He got up and left.

Right out the cafeteria door.

"Oh no!" Charlotte groaned. She started after Gene, but she wasn't looking where she was going. Without warning, she slipped on a napkin somebody had dropped and fell flat on her face.

"Oh, Gene," Charlotte sobbed. She was too late. She wasn't going to get to keep Gene safe from Megan.

***

Genesis and Megan both approached each other like wrestlers in a ring. "Well, well, well," said Megan. "You actually followed me here."

"You're the one who left that portal gun behind," said Genesis. "Besides, did you really think I'd let you try to wipe me from existence?"

"Did you really think I'd forget that you tried to rape me?" Megan shot back. "And that it ruined my life for years to come?"

"Megan, I was wrong to do that," said Genesis. "I'm sorry."

"Oh, NOW you feel some remorse!" Megan snapped.

Genesis sighed. "Look, I know it was traumatic for you," she said. "But you have to let it go."

"You expect me to let something like that go?"

Genesis thought of everything that had happened since she was turned into a girl-joining the cheer squad with Ramona, having many fights with her stepsister before finally reconciling, getting an internship at Pride Laboratories and then discovering Lucas' true colors, going down to Georgia while having Lucas stalk her, watching Ramona get lung cancer, and getting tricked into burning bridges with her boyfriend. So many hardships, yet she'd survived all of them. "Things happen," she said. "They can't be undone, but that doesn't mean you have to hold on to it forever. You've gotta keep moving forward in life. And if things are bad, you make them better."

Megan slowly nodded. "Yes," she said. "By doing this!" She threw a bolt of red energy at Genesis, who just barely dodged. She picked up a rock and threw it at Megan. Megan summoned a magic shield that deflected the rock.

The two witches then planted their feet and shot beams of magic energy at one another. The beams met in a flash of bright light. Genesis and Megan both pushed against one another, each hoping to overpower each other's magic. For a second, Genesis felt like she might buckle under Megan's magic. But then she thought of what would happen if she lost today. Megan would kill Genesis' past self, and she'd cease to exist. She'd never have a chance to reconcile with Jesse or Ramona again.

Genesis summoned the last of her strength and pushed her spell against Megan's. Megan took a step back as she started to buckle. Genesis kept pushing, and Megan finally lost their little duel. Genesis' bolt of energy hit Megan, and there was a blinding flash of light. When the light cleared, Megan was gone. And in her place was...

"A spider?" Genesis asked. She'd turned Megan into a spider? Only now, she realized she wasn't actually sure what she wanted to do with Megan. She just wanted to hit her with a magic spell and win the fight. But now she'd turned Megan into an arachnid.

Genesis was just starting to wonder if Megan still had magic powers as a spider when the cafeteria door burst open. A nine-year-old boy with a black eye sauntered out of the cafeteria with tears forming in his eyes. Before Genesis could say anything, the boy came up to the spot where Spider Megan was standing and, without even realizing it, stepped on Spider Megan. When the boy walked off, all that was left of Megan was a tiny patch of goo on the ground.

Genesis didn't know what was crazier-the fact that Megan had been killed by a random boy, or that she recognized the boy. It was Gene-her past self! And the craziest part was that she knew exactly what had happened. The school bully, Ricky Fox, had stolen Gene's milk again, and when Gene tried to retaliate, Ricky punched him in the face. Gene had been so upset, he went outside to cry.

"Oh my gosh..." said Genesis. She watched as her...self went up to the curb by the parking lot and sat down to cry. She thought back to when she was in that same position, and she'd felt so sad about the fight. Gene had been so tired of Ricky Fox picking on him, and he was already dreading the upcoming school year. He'd cried for a minute before an older girl had come up and talked to him.

Genesis looked around. Where had that girl come from again? She seemed to recall her walking up from behind and sitting down next to her on the curb. But when she looked around, she didn't see any other girls in the vicinity.

Wait...did that mean...

Genesis took a deep breath. The idea that had occurred to her was too insane for words, but if it was true, then she had to do this. Trying her best not to freak out, she walked up to where Gene was crying and sat down next to him. "Hey," she said, trying to sound calm despite the circumstances. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Gene sobbed.

"Are you sure?" Genesis asked. "Did something happen?"

Gene wiped a tear off his cheek. "I just got beaten up by Ricky Fox," he said. "Again."

"Who's Ricky Fox?" Genesis asked, even though she already knew.

"He's the school bully," Gene answered. "He steals kids' milk money and beats them up. And he...he just beat me up again."

"I'm sorry," said Genesis.

"Why does no one love me?" Gene asked. "My mom hates me, I never get to see my dad, and I don't have any friends at school."

"Well..."

"I'm a bad kid," said Gene. "I'm worthless."

"Hey," said Genesis. She remembered this day like it was yesterday, so she knew exactly what to say. "You're not worthless. Nobody is."

"Really?"

"Of course not. Sometimes bullies like that Ricky Fox kid try to make you feel worthless, but they're wrong. Everyone has a place in this world. Everyone. Even you."

"You think?"

"Of course," said Genesis. "If you make your way through school, and college, you can do anything you want. And when you get a job as a policeman, or a garbageman, or anything, you'll get to show everyone your true worth."

"My true worth..."

"Yes," said Genesis. "Trust me. I know."

When Gene didn't reply, Genesis looked directly into her past self's eyes with all the sympathy she could muster. "I know it may not feel like it now, but everything will get better. I promise."

"You promise?"

"I promise," Genesis affirmed. "Just know that you are loved, and that you are special. You're a good kid, and you have a bright future ahead of you." She wrapped her arms around Gene and hugged him.

"Thanks," said Gene. "Thanks so much."

A teacher Genesis recognized as Mrs. V came up to them. "Gene? Are you okay?" she asked.

Gene got up. "Yes," he said with a straight face.

"Come on," said Mrs. V. "Let's get you back to lunch."

Gene gave one last thankful look at Genesis. "Thank you," he said.

"Good luck," said Genesis. She smiled and waved at Gene, imitating what she remembered seeing the girl that she now knew was herself doing.

As Gene went back into the lunchroom, Charlotte came out. "Genesis? What happened?"

Genesis smiled. "Our work here is done," she said.

***

One week later...

Genesis sat with Charlotte, Ramona, and Jesse in the Rookwood/Dunbys' backyard. After Genesis and Charlotte came back from the past, they immediately set to fixing the mistakes they'd made. Genesis went to Ramona in the hospital and, using her magic, made the tumor in her lungs disappear. Then, after much persuasion, she got Jessie to let her turn her back into Jesse. Now the four of them were hanging out at Genesis and Ramona's house.

"Well, I'm glad you changed me back," Jesse said to Genesis. "And I'm glad we're together again."

"Me too," said Genesis. "And Ramona..."

"I'm sorry," said Ramona. "For everything. I know Megan was the one who gave me that tumor, but you were right. I should never have smoked that cigarette."

"It's okay," said Genesis. "Now everything's better."

"It is indeed," said a new voice.

"Who said that?" Charlotte asked.

"I did." In front of them, a misty, ethereal spirit faded into existence. It took a minute for Genesis to realize that it was Mirna!

"Mirna?" Genesis gasped.

"Yes," said Mirna. "After this conference, I will not be able to appear to you anymore. But I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you."

"You are?"

"Yes. You trained hard to be a witch, and you overcame your mistakes. And, of course, you inspired your past self."

"What-you mean-you saw-"

"I did indeed," Mirna said with a smile. "Genesis Rookwood, I am very proud to call you my successor. What you said to yourself, about just how special you are...you could not have been more right."

"She's right," said Jesse. "You're the most amazing girl I've ever met."

"I couldn't have done it without any of you," said Genesis. "It's too bad we're gonna graduate pretty soon..."

"Don't worry," said Charlotte. "We'll stay in touch."

"You think?"

"Of course."

Mirna smiled. "I must go now," she said. "But you have done well. You truly are worthy of my gift."

Genesis smiled. "Thank you, Mirna," she said. "Thank you so much."

***

Whew. That took a long time to write. I started writing this chapter at, like, 11, and now it's almost 1AM. Wow. But at any rate, this is the end of Rebirth And Retribution. I never thought I'd make it this far, but I did. It's funny that, when I wrote The Most Extreme Punishment, I wasn't intending to extend it for as long as I did. But some people commented that there was potential for Genesis' story to continue, and that planted the seeds in my mind. Now I've given Genesis a boyfriend and some magic of her own.

As always, I'd love to hear what you have to say about my story now that it's finished. But I also want to thank everyone who's made it this far. Most especially, I want to acknowledge joannebarbarella, who's commented on nearly every chapter of the serials chronicling Genesis Rookwood's adventures. Your devotion to following my story is much appreciated, and I'm glad to see your investment in my characters. Thanks for being a fan.