The ambulance took Tracey all the way to the North Beach parking lot on Seabrook Island. On the way there, the paramedics gave him an IV and wrapped his wings.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoxFH6uRup
They were very busy in the back of the ambulance, and Dr. Johnson kept on telling Tracey, “Stay with us, kid. You’re going to be taken to a fairy hospital.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyiqCJ4EOa
He tossed another blanket over Tracey, and one of his partners dabbed his face down with a wet towel. “He’s got a pretty high fever,” she told Dr. Johnson, “We’ve got to bring it down.” While they were working, Tracey still dreamed about his parents, and it got better and better. He dreamt he gave them a tour of Merlin’s Island, and he showed them all the places he took Makenna to; Merlindial Falls, Coveline Cliff, and Rainbow Waters. In his dream, his wings weren’t broken. He was able to fly. It reminded Merlin’s young apprentice how beautiful his wings once were. After giving his parents a tour of the island, Tracey took both of them to the cliff that connected to his room, and they together sat on it and stared out to the sparkling, blue Atlantic Ocean. Tracey smiled, and his parents each rested a hand on each of his shoulders. Outside the dream, in his sleep, he lifted his hand and extended it. He was asking for someone to take it and comfort him. Dr. Johnson was the one who did.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ1wYhoQU7
He took Tracey’s young hand, rubbed it, and said, “You’re doing great, Tracey. Just hang on. We’re almost there. I promise. I promise we’re not going to let those wings give you any more pain. You can count on it.” In his sleep, Tracey thanked him. He actually cracked a feeble smile.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzpTGn01Rf
While he smiled, he next thanked Makenna in his head. “Thank you, Makenna,” he said in his sweet voice, “Thank you for helping me realize that not all humans are bad. Thank you for helping me understand that suicide isn’t the best mountain to climb. I promise we’ll see each other again. I just have to let these wings heal. Until we do, I’ll keep waiting for my parents to return to me. At last. You’ve become a good friend, Makenna. You’re the fairy friend I never had, and I appreciate it. Until next time, my friend, goodbye.”
Makenna followed him and the ambulance from above.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ2Sf2FlaE
While she flew, she suddenly got a call from Merlin the Great in her head! “Makenna!” he yelled.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG81xOtAxIS
Makenna gasped. “Merlin!” she yelled back through telepathy, “Merlin it’s you! You’re able to talk to me again through telepathy!”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3nSnGCkTA
“And it’s all thanks to you.” Merlin said back, “Thank you. Thanks to you, I’m able to call myself Merlin the Great again. When you transformed into a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy, admitting your mistakes, apologizing, and helping Tracey regain his confidence gave me my magic back. You deserve your new transformation, Makenna. You may not think you do, but you do. Selene even told me that she’s never met another fairy as exceptional as you aside from Tracey.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4JKLJrJNj
“Thank you, Merlin.” Makenna said back. She noticed that Caleb was smiling at her. He knew. He knew she was communicating with Merlin through telepathy.
Merlin continued the telepathic conversation. “But enough about me,” he spoke, “Let’s turn to Tracey. Are the human paramedics driving him to North Beach?”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKc6Ayx59g
Makenna nodded, “Yes,” and she reached for her temple, “How do you know though, Merlin?”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmmTssHh8m
“Your friend Raeven told me.” Merlin said.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXds2RvJKyx
“Raeven?” asked Makenna. She literally felt like she was skyping with Merlin through telepathy. She could literally see his face in her mind.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPs95x9Y809
She saw Merlin nod, and next, Raeven appeared in the image in Makenna’s mind, and he waved, saying, “Hi, Makenna!”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeCdb5NLII
Makenna feebly chuckled, “Hi, Raeven.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBgCck0TMU
Raeven hung upside-down in the image, “This is my thanks to you for saving my life. I flew back to Merlin’s Island and told him what had happened to Tracey at your school.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFffK6fDTsl
“You did?” Makenna asked. She couldn’t believe it. Merlin’s Island was where Raeven had gone!
In the image, Merlin pushed the bat aside and said to the Metamorphic Fairy,176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdbr9J4xZZ
“He did, Makenna. I must say, your friend Raeven is quite the character. He gave me all the details about what happened. I called the fairy paramedics, and we’re waiting with them at the North Beach parking lot.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQw9VYVD4I
“Fairy paramedics?” Makenna asked, “You mean, they’re such things as fairy paramedics too?”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaSOdbxoK1
“There are. Don’t worry though, the human paramedics know about them. I called the dispatcher and told her to tell them.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXcZLy2u7c
“You’re amazing, Merlin.” Makenna admitted, “Thank you. Do you by any chance want me to come to the Coutarine Fairy Hospital with you?”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSPVIyLNbM
“That’s your choice,” said Merlin, “Raeven and I can handle Tracey from here, but if you feel that getting yourself and Caleb home may be best so you won’t worry your parents, you can. I know you’ve had a really rough day, Makenna, and I know both you and Caleb are tired.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapeplHKoZ1
“Yeah.” Makenna said. She glanced at Caleb who was falling asleep, “We are. We’re exhausted.” She sighed and made up her mind, “All right. I think I may stay behind, Merlin. Something tells me I’ll go to Coutarine Island one of these days. Just promise me you won’t let Tracey die.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ov9gmsuOo
“Are you kidding?” asked Merlin, “I would never do that! He’s seventeen years old! He’s my apprentice, and he’ll stay my apprentice for as long as I live! You’ll see him again, Makenna. I promise. You just need to let him recover. The wings are going to come off though. It’s just for the sake of making sure he’s not in pain for the rest of his life.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf04VZNRMS
“I know.” Makenna said, “I don’t want to get in the way. Tracey’s back where he belongs – that’s the most important thing, and he doesn’t have to worry about Peter Nelson bothering me anymore, nor bullying him. Well, thank you, Merlin. Raeven?”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2CfIHHRTX
“Yes?”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlKUkH37oB
Raeven flew in front of Merlin, and the image’s camera focused in on him. “Please come visit me sometime.” Makenna begged, “I’m sorry I was such a jerk to you when we first met.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZudRuwV8tk
“That’s all right,” said Raeven, “It’s not everyday someone meets a talking bat. Especially a bat as handsome as me. Mwah.” He shook his fur and groomed it.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcOENbwVd7
Makenna chuckled. “Thank you for helping me earn my third transformation,” she said, “If it wasn’t for you, Raeven, I don’t think I ever would’ve had the guts to go to the dance in the first place. All that’s left now is saving Tracey and defeating the Octopus Man so he can be freed from his spell.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxJsiNVljZ
“We’ll focus on the Octopus Man some other time.” Merlin told her. The image’s camera next zoomed in on him, “For now, we just need to let Tracey take it easy for a while. When he’s strong enough again, you two will work together to defeat the Octopus Man and learn the secrets behind your long-lost family member.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPTeuYFp0q
“My long-lost family member.” Makenna said.
Momentarily, she left the telepathic conversation because she thought she heard something in the real world. She thought she heard chuckling. Makenna stopped flying, and both she and Caleb focused their attention forward on some marshland. A figure had appeared above it.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqmm9ngjFw
It showed a yellow and orange, fairy-like figure, and she chuckled. “My long-lost family member.” Makenna repeated. The fairy-like figure soared to her and Caleb and started to circle them. They watched every movement she took. “Don’t worry, long lost family member.” Makenna told her, and she watched as she danced and started to soar away, “One of these days, I will find you. One of these days, you will return to the land of the living.” After she said that, the fairy-like figure stopped and glowed a bright, orange and yellow. Makenna and Caleb closed their eyes against the light. When they opened them, the fairy figure had vanished, and the sky was empty all over again.
Makenna soon returned to the telepathic conversation with Merlin and Raeven and asked them,176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0M4OP9tth
“What was that?”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl40Kb8CHAk
“You just saw your long-lost family member.” Merlin told her, “She just told you that she knows you’ll find her one of these days. She has no doubt that you will eventually become a True Metamorphic Fairy.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxRJ6XEwqb
“Wow.” Makenna said, “Well, I should best get going, Merlin and Raeven. Goodbye. I hope to see you again.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNVD1dPxG6
“You will,” said Raeven, “Don’t worry, Makenn. I’ll visit you every once and a while.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPmmMxvoEK
“And I’ll keep you updated on Tracey,” said Merlin, “I give you my word, Makenna.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkrCCrHdYe
Makenna nodded. “Goodbye,” she said, and slowly, Raeven and Merlin’s images vanished, and she returned to reality.
“That was so sick, Makenna.” Caleb told her. Makenna glanced at him and feebly smiled.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYbyXeS5qb
After a bit, Gina gave off a tiny squawk, and leaping from Caleb’s shoulder, she hovered in front of Makenna and Caleb’s faces. “What is it, Gina?” Caleb asked.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Rf6pQlFTa
Gina squawked and pointed in the direction the ambulance had vanished in. “Do you want to be with Tracey?” asked Makenna. Gina nodded. Immediately, Caleb’s face drooped. He liked Gina. Makenna sighed, “I understand. Well, thank you, Gina. You’re a true friend to Tracey. You’re probably the truest friend a fairy could ever have. We’ll miss you.” Makenna sniffed, as did Caleb. Gina noticed this. She didn’t like to see them upset. To say a true goodbye, she flew to the fairy and her brother and hugged them each at the same time. Makenna and Caleb teared up and hugged her back. For once, Gina didn’t peck Makenna. She really liked her now.
While they hugged her, Makenna told the tern,176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFejceCoLFw
“Gina, tell Tracey this. These are life lessons from Makenna Delling. This is what I learned in the past week. Tell him, life’s a climb. You’re always going to have to climb over a mountain. There’s always going to be some sort of struggle you’ll have to overcome. Tell him though, in the end, he will succeed, as long as he keeps his faith. Tell him that he’s only started a brand-new chapter in his amazing story. Broken wings are not the end of the world. It’s only the beginning.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OVUuZgbHr
“I will, Makenna.” Gina told her through telepathy, “I promise.” She released herself from Caleb and Makenna and turned to fly away. The siblings pulled each other into a hug and watched Gina. She turned back to them and seemed to smile. Makenna and Caleb did too. They nodded at her. Gina nodded back. Then, with a flap of her wings, she soared after the ambulance and in the direction of her best friend. Left behind, fourteen-year-old Makenna Delling and eleven-year-old Caleb watched her leave. Makenna held her new wand tightly in her hand, and she thought back to everything that had happened that week. Memories of the past week exploded in her brain.
Makenna remembered when she first met Tracey. She remembered seeing him up on the tree branch when her wings saved her from almost crashing into the rocky, rough river. She remembered him teaching her how to fly. She remembered working together with him to open the secret passageway when they searched for Caleb and had to find “Where the water meets your wings.” That was a memory she would never forget. She would never forget hers and Tracey’s wings meeting and opening the secret passageway. Makenna remembered her first flight and how Tracey flew next to her. The memories went on and on. More memories she would never let go of – memories she would never forget – was when Tracey broke his wings and when she first met Raeven face-to-face and actually talked to him. And of course, she would never forget the time when she first transformed into a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy.
The memories faded and turned into ash. Makenna smiled, as did Caleb. She knew Tracey was going to be okay. Her fairy instincts told her so. She knew she would team up with him again.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9SyII1lY4
Makenna peered forward, in the direction the ambulance had disappeared in, and for the last time, said, “Life’s a climb.” She turned to Caleb, and he rubbed tears from his eyes. Makenna took his shoulders and pulled him into a hug. Caleb closed his eyes. He knew he was no longer turning into a fairy, but he didn’t care. As long as he had his sister, parents, Tracey, and chemistry, he didn’t need wings to make his life perfect. He wasn’t the true carrier of the Metamorphic Fairy power. Makenna was, and she had proven it. Caleb closed his eyes and hugged her even tighter. “I love you, Makenna,” he whispered.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsxkYu8oLd
“I love you too, Caleb,” Makenna said back, “And I promise I’ll become a better teenager and fairy.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkhMrJRHBC
“You already have.” Caleb admitted. He and Makenna hugged for a long time.
Then, after they did, they returned home to their two-story house on Jenkins Point. Once they got home, before heading inside, they together sat on the bench in their backyard and used Makenna’s surfboard as a blanket. Makenna let Caleb hold her wand. She lifted her arm and wrapped it around his shoulders. He soon lowered her wand and wrapped his own arms around her. Together, the two fairy siblings stared at the marsh, and they smiled.
After a bit though, Caleb thought he saw a shine in the sky. A ball of green light was coming toward them.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSBrIvDOWj
Caleb’s eyes landed on it, and he gasped, saying, “Makenna, look. There’s something in the sky.”176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmI7s5RIvP
“Do what?” Makenna asked. She kept her arm wrapped around Caleb’s shoulders, and she stared confusingly into his face. Caleb lifted his hand and pointed to the glow coming toward him and Makenna. The Metamorphic Fairy peered up, and her eyes widened when she saw the strange glow. “What is that?” she asked. She took her arm away from Caleb’s shoulders, picked up her surfboard, and put it down on the grass. She then hopped off the bench. Makenna watched the glow creep closer and closer, and she held her hands out to it.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKixQXyx65Y
Caleb recognized the glow’s color, and he said, “It’s a gift from Tracey.” The glow landed in Makenna’s open palms, and she lowered her hands, examining it. Soon, the glow faded and metamorphosed into a small, light blue box with a pink M and ribbon on it. Makenna stared at it. She sat back down on the bench, and Caleb peered down on the box with her. “Oh, isn’t that just sweet?” he asked.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4qTXkzNWu
“I wonder what it is,” said Makenna.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbSFdWBj4W
Caleb nudged her, “Open it.” Makenna nodded. She slowly lifted her hand and slid the ribbon off the box. After doing that, she took the top off and pulled out blue and pink tissue paper. Makenna offered it to Caleb, and he took it. She then peered into the box, and her eyes widened. Makenna gasped.
“What is it?” Caleb asked again. Speechless, Makenna reached into the box, and from it, she pulled out her blue, horse head shaped necklace! It was her necklace! She stared at it. Caleb did too. He too was overwhelmed. Makenna couldn’t believe she was looking at her necklace, her necklace which she had dropped when she saved Tracey after the Octopus Man broke his wings! Caleb peered into the box again, and nudging his sister, he said, “Makenna, there’s a note in there too.” Makenna looked down. Caleb was right. In the bottom of the box was a small note. She reached inside and took it out. Tracey had written in green ink, and he had beautiful handwriting. Makenna read it to herself, and while she read, Caleb did to.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxvwSBUSmi
The note read:
176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x3wBHpchk
I found this when Gina and I flew to Seabrook Island. Try to be a bit more careful next time.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9CIO5b46C
176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO4rOaumOj
Tracey176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrqrNTGAzC
176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LboxrPl9M
P.S. Thank you for everything you did for me. You’re the first true fairy friend I have.
176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBFXZgReyV
Makenna covered her mouth with her hand, and tears appeared in her eyes. She blushed.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtkAaxjEiW
Caleb reread the note and said, “I think he likes you, Makenna.” Tears of joy ran down Makenna’s cheeks. After rereading the note three more time, she set it back in the box and put the top over it. She slid the ribbon back over it and stared at the M on top of the box. Makenna hugged it to her chest, and she leaned back on the bench. Her blue fingernails turned pink. Caleb picked her surfboard back up and set it down across his and Makenna’s laps. Then, he wrapped his arms around his sister again. Makenna clipped her horse head shaped necklace back around her neck, and she gripped it with one hand while her other one kept the box pressed up against her chest. Together, she and Caleb fell asleep on the bench. A warm spring breeze rushed through the area and ruffled each sibling’s hair. While they slept, they dreamt about the amazing week they had, and they knew that even more amazing weeks were to come.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG7sLTaiRY
176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP2FMDirsN
End of Part Four: A Crystal Metamorphic Fairy
Final Word Count: 212,000
ns 18.68.41.148da2
