Mary and The Witch's Flower (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Madam Mumblechook's attitude shifts dramatically once Mary reveals that her magical abilities come from the fly-by-night flowers rather than being innate. When Mary also admits that Tib belongs to Peter, Madam demands to know Peter's location. This reveals that Madam has been secretly obsessed with obtaining the fly-by-night flowers, which she and Doctor Dee need for their forbidden experiments on transforming humans into witches.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the gardener mentions that witches covet the fly-by-night flowers for their magical properties.

• madam mumblechook
• end college
• fly-by-night flowers
• villain reveal

Mary discovers Tib (one of Peter's cats) leading her to a broomstick. When she accidentally breaks a bulb from a fly-by-night flower attached to the broomstick, the released magical energy animates the broomstick, allowing Mary to fly. This magical flight carries her directly to Endor College, a hidden school of magic floating above the clouds.

Foreshadowing: Mary's earlier discovery of the glowing fly-by-night flowers in the garden sets up this magical transportation.

• end college
• flying broomstick
• fly-by-night
• how mary flies

The fly-by-night are glowing flowers found in the countryside that possess magical properties coveted by witches. A local gardener explains that witches seek these flowers for their enchantment abilities. When the bulbs are broken, they release magical energy that can animate objects, in Mary's case, a broomstick capable of flight.

• fly-by-night flowers
• magic flowers
• witches
• enchantment

Mary's magical abilities come entirely from the fly-by-night flowers, not from any innate witch powers. When she breaks a flower's bulb while handling the broomstick, the magical energy enters her system, granting her temporary but powerful magical abilities. At Endor College, she can perform advanced spells like invisibility purely because of this flower's power, not because she's a actual witch.

• mary's magic
• fly-by-night
• not a witch
• temporary powers

Great-Aunt Charlotte was once a talented red-haired student at Endor College, just like Mary. She discovered the fly-by-night flower, which triggered a dangerous obsession in Madam Mumblechook and Doctor Dee to transform humans into witches. When their experiments failed, Charlotte fled the school and took the flower with her to keep it safe. She used a magical mirror to communicate with Mary and guide her during the crisis.

Foreshadowing: Mary's distinctive red hair is noted as a significant trait among powerful witches at Endor.

• great-aunt charlotte
• end college
• red hair
• former student

Mary returns to Endor College to rescue Peter, who is about to be transformed into a warlock by Madam and Doctor Dee. She delivers the spellbook she took from Madam's office, which contains the reverse transformation spell. Peter uses this spell to break free from his monstrous gelatinous form and dismantle all of Madam and Doctor Dee's research, ending their evil experiments.

Foreshadowing: Mary previously used a reverse transformation spell from the same spellbook to free the captured animals.

• peter rescue
• spellbook
• transformation
• warlock
• end college

After successfully rescuing Peter and defeating Madam and Doctor Dee, Mary chooses to discard her final fly-by-night bulb while flying home. This decision symbolizes her personal growth, she realizes she no longer needs external magical powers to be happy or brave. Her true courage came from within, and she values her friendship with Peter and her life with Great-Aunt Charlotte more than magical abilities.

• magic bulb
• choice
• growth
• happiness
• resolution

Doctor Dee conducts cruel transformation experiments on animals, including Gib (Peter's missing cat), turning them into bizarre creatures. He and Madam Mumblechook use these experiments to develop a method of transforming humans into witches, seeking to obtain permanent magical powers. When their attempt to transform Peter into a warlock goes wrong, it results in him being trapped in a monstrous gelatinous form.

• doctor dee
• experiments
• transformation
• animals
• end college

Mary's vibrant red hair is a significant trait at Endor College, as it's noted that powerful witches typically have red hair. This detail connects Mary to her Great-Aunt Charlotte, who was also a red-haired student at the school. The red hair serves as a visual marker linking Mary's lineage to the magical world and hinting at her potential, even though her magic ultimately comes from the flowers rather than being innate.

• red hair
• witches
• great-aunt charlotte
• appearance

Tib, one of Peter's cats, acts as Mary's guide into the magical world. After Gib disappears, Tib leads Mary to the broomstick that enables her flight to Endor College. Tib accompanies Mary throughout her adventures at the school, serving as her familiar even when Madam mistakenly believes Tib belongs to Mary. Tib remains loyal to Mary during the kidnapping, escape attempts, and final rescue of Peter.

• tib
• cat
• familiar
• guide
• pet