Tracey saw her. Tracey saw Makenna. He saw her being carried on a surfboard, and the people carrying her were moving very fast. Tracey saw flashing lights. He heard sirens, ambulance sirens, and then, he heard someone give off an evil laugh. It was Peter Nelson. He gestured for the people carrying the surfboard to climb into his car. They did. The car began to speed. An ambulance followed it, as well as a police car. However, Peter and somebody else suddenly threw something at the tires of both the ambulance and police car and caused them to go flat. The last thing Tracey saw was the Ashley River, and something was falling toward it. He was witnessing another premonition, a premonition that would come true unless he went to Makenna. He was witnessing the premonition of Makenna Delling’s death. Throughout the entire image, he heard Peter’s evil laughter. Makenna was in grave danger. Selene was telling him she was. Tracey had to go to her! He had to! He had to hurry too before it was too late! Currently, this premonition was even scarier than the Octopus Man.
Tracey’s golden-brown eyes opened. He woke up from his terrifying nightmare. He was alive. “Where am I?” he asked in a groggy voice. It was Friday, Friday morning, around 8:00. It was the day of the Spirit Week Dance. It had been a week since Makenna was sent home early from school because of her crazy powers. A lot had happened in just one week, and a lot more was going to happen this day. Today was a rescue day! For a moment, now awakened, Tracey’s vision was blurry. Then though, it cleared, and he saw that Gina was hovering in front of his face. “Gina,” softly spoke Merlin’s apprentice. Since his magic level was back at base level this morning, he no longer wore the fairy oxygen mask. Merlin had been right and so had Selene. His magic level was back at base level by Friday. However, Tracey still had broken wings, and they still gave him a lot of pain. “My wings,” he mumbled, “What happened to my wings?” Tracey didn’t remember a lot. He remembered being hammered by an enormous wave in the Atlantic, but he didn’t remember anything after that, not even making Makenna a dress for the dance. His brain was fuzzy. He still didn’t feel all that well.
Suddenly, he heard the voice of Merlin,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNNNnK1euq
“Tracey!” and Tracey struggled to a sitting position. Merlin was hurrying toward his bed. He stopped at the side of it and grinned, “You’re awake! Oh, we were so worried about you! But you’re awake!”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nzhjs8JYu
“What happened, Master?” Tracey asked him. He searched the area, “How did I get here?” The mark of the Octopus Man had finally vanished from his arm, but it didn’t mean he was no longer under the spell. In fact, he was. Things would eventually become worse and worse again in the following year, but for now, everything was okay. Merlin looked Tracey in the eyes, and he explained to him, “We carried you here by stretcher yesterday morning. Makenna and I. You two got caught in a storm, and unfortunately, my young apprentice, the storm broke your wings. I have you on some pretty strong pain medicines, so you’re going to be feeling a little strange for a couple days.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGN1AOngBX
“My wings are broken, Sensei?” mumbled Tracey, “No, they can’t be.” His mind returned to Makenna and the premonition. How would Tracey save her if he couldn’t fly? There was a lump in his throat. “I’m so sorry, kid.” Merlin told him, “But it’s the truth.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf26YFFElCF
“Will they ever heal?” chokingly asked Tracey, “Please tell me they will!” He could feel the lump in his throat growing. Merlin hesitated. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevpLPAnXXO
Finally, he said, “Tracey, I know how you feel, but the thing is, you’re a pure magical being. You’re not like Makenna. Since she’s half human, her wings are strong, well stronger, like arms and legs.” Tracey really started to become choked up now.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1CYbYAsb8
The premonition replayed itself in his brain over and over again. “I’ve got to go after Makenna,” he said after a bit, “Please, Master. I’ve got to protect her from Peter Nelson. I’ve got a terrible feeling. I need to let her know that it was not her fault this happened.”
Tracey could not sit still. He tried to get out of bed, but Merlin said,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvkhaHsM4Q
“No,” and he grabbed his arms. Tracey flinched. Merlin was squeezing his right arm, his injured arm, pretty tightly. He tried to pull away, but he held him tight and added, “I’m not going to let you leave like last time. You need to take it easy. You just broke your wings. I want you to stay in bed for a couple days. I will then have to teach you how to walk.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9drSErPwo
“But, Makenna.” Tracey groaned. Closing his eyes, his head fell backwards. Sitting up too long made him a little dizzy. Merlin lied him back down and said in a stern voice, “Take it easy, Tracey. You shouldn’t have left in the first place. Not after just waking up from a magic coma. It takes about a week to fully recover from one. I was worried about you.”
Tracey gulped,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfjQXhUQvj
“Am I in trouble?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPxMVhoJCp
“No, no.” Merlin spoke, “Of course not. Just don’t do that next time, okay? I do not want you to leave, Tracey. I don’t think you understand how serious broken wings are. Here.” He reached over to Tracey’s dresser and picked up the pain medicines, adding with, “You need to take these. Do you want something to eat first though?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNSdO71gD4
“I’m not very hungry.” Tracey whimpered. He had still not gotten his appetite back. Gina landed next to him, and Tracey rubbed her on the back. “You’ve got to eat something.” Merlin told him, “How about I just get you some soup? I know you’ve lost your appetite, son but please.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbbRMlVrdi
“No, Master,” moaned Tracey. He feebly shook his head, “I don’t want anything to eat.” He continued to pet Gina.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfgxtGyAwv
“I’m getting you something to eat, my young apprentice,” voiced Merlin, “And no, if you think that if you eat something then I’ll release you to help Makenna, then you better rethink that. You are not leaving! Not in your condition! You need to rest! Understand?” He had raised his voice a bit. “Understand?” Merlin asked again.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDn6u6LEwtQ
“Yes, Master.” Tracey softly but chokingly spoke, and he shivered, “I am in trouble.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C56nxvB55
“No, you’re not. Don’t think that. I’m just stating facts. The doctor’s coming in later; I called him, and he’s going to make a decision whether to send you to the Coutarine Fairy Hospital or not. You’re not leaving this cave, Tracey. All right, I’m going to go get your soup.” Merlin patted Tracey’s shoulder and slipped out of his room.
Left behind, his young apprentice started sobbing.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcM7cHUcBOQ
“My wings,” he moaned, “Why did it have to be my wings?” He was in a lot of pain. “I can’t just lie here.” Tracey added with, “I’ve got to go to Makenna. She’s in danger. If I don’t get to her as soon as possible, her life is going to end!”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YB71TxR39
“Merlin told you to stay here!” Gina snapped at him, “And this time, if you sneak away, I’m not going to let you off clean like I did last time! Merlin will ground you from using magic if you do this again!”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJT3HOU3Bb
“I don’t care!” Tracey painfully spoke to his friend. He clenched his teeth, “I don’t care, Gina, but Makenna’s life is in danger! I’m going, and you and Merlin can’t stop me!”
Tracey bravely pulled off the covers of his bed and took the wet towel off his forehead. With clenched teeth, he got up shakily on hands and knees, but he slipped, fell, and rolled off the bed.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSdocjskHV
Unfortunately, he slammed down on his back, and flinching, Tracey yelled, “OW!” and he turned onto his side. He buried his face in his right arm, and with his left hand, he grabbed hold of his wings. “Ow,” he repeated.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9HIyZtG2H
“Tracey stop!” Gina yelled at him. She grabbed another one of his tufts of hair and started to tug on it. Tracey forcibly shook her off, and the tern went crashing to the ground. “Bee boop,” she spoke, kind of dizzy, and she fell onto her back.
Tracey lifted his head from his injured arm, with eyes closed, and he rubbed them, weakly saying,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Nr6VtKfyW
“I’m going. Makenna needs me!” Clenching his teeth, he struggled to his feet, still holding his wings, and stumbled in the direction of his room’s exit. The entire time he was stumbling, his eyes were closed, and he was holding his wings as tightly as he could. At one point, he tripped over his own foot and went crashing to the ground again.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJygmiTmrI
“Tracey!” suddenly yelled the voice of Gina behind him, “Tracey, the reason why you’re in so much pain right now is because you haven’t taken the medicine! It’s been a while since you last took it!”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlJUt05m2O
“I don’t need medicine.” Tracey grumbled, and he struggled to his feet again, “All I need is my confidence and willpower. Selene told me so. She told me I have just started a brand-new chapter of my story, and rescuing Makenna will go in the first part of it! I’m a ninja, Gina, and ninjas never stop themselves from accomplishing a mission all because they’re banged up! I’m a ninja, and I’m Merlin’s apprentice!” Gina stopped behind him, and she sighed. She doubted she would be able to stop her friend. He was so desperate to rescue Makenna. However, she did not want to leave him alone. She went after him. Tracey soon stepped into the corridor just outside of his room, and he stumbled toward a back entrance of the cave that wouldn’t require him to pass through the heart of Merlin’s Cave where Merlin most likely was. He was swaying though while he walked because the insane pain had made him dizzy. However, did Tracey stop? No. He carried on with his expedition through the cave, and the entire time, he was thinking about Makenna and repeatedly saying to himself, “I can do anything. I can do anything.”
Makenna Delling was in school, and she was sitting in Mrs. Hector’s homeroom classroom. She had brought Raeven with her, and she was hiding him in her desk. Raeven had come along because he wanted to know who Peter Nelson was, and he also wanted to get a feel for Makenna’s school. Makenna Delling was trying her best to keep him quiet so he wouldn’t be discovered, but it was difficult because Raeven was such a loudmouth.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsssPYKZrv
Jimmy Carter and Jessica, who were both sitting behind her, were staring at the Metamorphic Fairy, and nudging Jimmy, Jessica whispered to him, “What’s she doing?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MLD5HsaeV
“I’m not sure.” Jimmy whispered back.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGkPKdL0ff
Mrs. Hector was standing in front of the room, and she was explaining the schedule for the day, “All right, students, so today’s the big day. Today is the last day of Spirit Week and also most likely the most enjoyable day. It’s great to see that most of you have dressed out today.” It was Color Wars Day at Makenna’s school. Each grade level had been given a specific color to wear that day: freshmen wore red, sophomores wore blue, juniors wore white, and seniors wore all three colors of the American flag since they were seniors. Makenna, Jessica, Jimmy, and one more girl in the classroom, Natalie, the girl who had called Tracey Romeo before, were the only ones not dressed out. Makenna was dressed in her normal attire, the blue and white-striped top, etc., and the entire time Mrs. Hector was talking, her hands were in her desk, and she was feeling around for Raeven’s muzzle so she could shut him up. In the front of the room, Mrs. Hector continued, “We have a shortened schedule today so we can have the pep rally, and then tonight, starting at 6, will be the Spirit Week Dance. I’m sure you’re all excited for it. Am I right?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguzd9t6qrt
“Yes, ma’am!” announced the students, except Makenna.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUz3mDw5EO
“Yes, ma’am!” suddenly yelled the voice of Raeven from inside her desk, “We’ll be there no doubt about it!”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ26Zjaukr4
“Huh?” asked Mrs. Hector, “Who said that?” All heads turned toward Makenna Delling.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkAblepzD3
“Shh!” she whispered, and finally finding Raeven’s muzzle, she grabbed it and quieted him down, “Sorry, Mrs. Hector, I must have fallen asleep and slept talk.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vR7lHLlLu
“Well you made your voice mighty deep, Miss. Delling.” Mrs. Hector told her, “For a moment, I thought somebody else talked. Anyways, where were we? Oh yes! After eighth period, everybody will meet back here in their homeroom, and we’ll escort you to the courtyard where we’ll have the pep rally for the last hour of school. You’ll then go home, and all y’all coming to the dance will be able to get ready. Does it sound like a fun day?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn51i33KPk7
“Yes, ma’am!” again announced the students, including Makenna this time.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYti8lwBmD8
She blushed, and an image of Peter Nelson reentered her head. “I have a date,” she whispered to herself, “I really have a date with Peter Nelson! Oh, this is going to be so much fun! Something tells me that tonight is going to be one of the best nights of my entire life!” Makenna brought her hands to her lips, and she squealed into them. She was totally unaware of Peter’s evil plan.
Inside her desk, Raeven rolled his eyes and grumbled,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjhL644G9i
“Women. Men will never understand them. Personally, I think bats are better at love than humans are.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFBu0jdNn6
“Shh!” Makenna whispered, and she grabbed his muzzle again. Jimmy and Jessica were still staring at her. Makenna peered back to them and chuckled nervously, “I’m just practicing my acting.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl5r2DFT7R
“Since when do you act?” Jessica questioned her.
Gina was following Tracey. He had found his way outside and into the jungle at Merlin’s Island. He was stumbling through it, with his eyes closed, and he was heading toward the beach.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qt0xr0OjS
Gina had tried to stop him, but every time she made an attempt, Tracey always gave the same response, “I’m going. I have to save Makenna. It’s my job as Merlin’s apprentice.” He carried on with his hike through the island, even though he was in so much pain. Also, for being a little dizzy, he swayed and almost fell into some trees, but he managed to avoid them at the last second. He stepped over some Kudzu vines and made sure they didn’t wrap around him. In his hand, he held his ninja star. Tracey was ready for battle. He could feel the beach getting closer and closer.
Back in his cave, Merlin the Great had just entered Tracey’s room, and he was carrying a tray with a bowl of soup on it. “I’ve brought you some soup, Tracey,” he tiredly spoke, “Huh?” Merlin stopped. His eyes landed on his apprentice’s empty bed, “Tracey? Oh no!” Merlin’s eyes widened. He set the tray down on Tracey’s table where the medicine sat, “Dang it! I knew it!” Merlin closed his eyes and punched Tracey’s bed, “I knew that fairy wouldn’t listen to me! He can’t even sit still for five minutes! He’s gone off to find Makenna when he clearly has broken wings and is sick! What did I expect?! That’s what I get for training a ninja as my apprentice! Now I have to go out there and find him!” He searched the area, “Check it out! Gina’s gone too! Stupid! I’m such a stupid wizard!” A sudden blast of wind that blew in from Tracey’s jail-like, bar window blew his long white beard, and Merlin grabbed it to stop it from blowing away. Suddenly, he gasped, “AHH!!” and he reached for his head, “My powers! My powers are being drained!” The great wizard could feel his powers quickly being sucked out of him. He fell to his knees and collapsed onto his side. “My powers!” he repeated, “Tracey! Tracey, come back!” With his next sentence, he communicated with Tracey through telepathy, “Fine! If that’s the way you want to play the game, go ahead! Keep in mind though that I’m going to come for you, and I’m coming right now!” Merlin the Great groaned and struggled to his feet; however, he didn’t take his hand away from his head. He stumbled toward the exit, and his cloak as well as his hat grew pale. “I’m not going to let you leave this island!” he yelled at his apprentice through telepathy, “Mark my words!” Merlin was mad. He was super mad. Tracey almost never got in trouble, but when he did, Merlin gave him a good kicking. The last time he got in trouble was when he was eleven, and he accidentally covered Merlin’s room and the entire heart of his cave with paint because the Paintus Completeness spell went out of hands. For a couple weeks after that, Tracey had to help Merlin clean the rooms. When Merlin got mad, he got mad, and currently, he was furious.
Tracey heard Merlin’s telepathic message.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sZlrwMyjP
“Master!” he weakly yelled, and he turned his body back in the direction of Merlin’s Cave, “Oh snap, Gina, I’m doomed.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGRDiqi8KC
He pressed his palm up against his forehead. “Go, Tracey!” Gina yelled at him. She had also received Merlin’s message. She gently nudged Tracey forward, in the direction of the beach, and added, “I’m right behind you!” She had decided to help Tracey on his quest to rescue Makenna because she knew she would never be able to stop him no matter how hard she tried. Tracey was Tracey, and he did whatever his fairy instincts told him to do. “Go!” Gina yelled again, “Go, ninja go! We can beat Merlin to the beach! I promise!” 146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYo1ovSKIC
She and Tracey started forward, and Tracey again said, “Oh I’m doomed.”
Suddenly, the ground under his boots gave way, and both he and Gina peered down.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r6dQbFge9
Then, Tracey fell right into a hole, and he yelled as he landed in a smooth, slide-like tunnel and started to slide down it on his front, with his legs pointing toward the ceiling and his fingertips pointing toward the continuous tunnel. “Whoa!” he shouted, and suddenly, he cracked a small smile, “No way! It can’t be! I’m in the Tunnel of Rambuka! Inconceivable!” Merlin’s seventeen-year-old apprentice peered behind him, and his body did a slow but comfy 360. Before he knew it, Tracey was facing forward again, and his golden-brown eyes scanned every inch of Rambuka. He was totally blown away! He really was in the Tunnel of Rambuka! The Tunnel of Rambuka was a secret escape route on Merlin’s Island that fairies and animals could take to the beach if they didn’t want to hike through the jungle or if the jungle ever caught on fire and they needed to get underground. Since Merlin had once worked in a fairy hospital, he wanted to make sure everybody got out safely in case they ever found themselves in an emergency situation; for example, if the volcano ever erupted and set the jungle ablaze. The Tunnel of Rambuka was literally a smooth rock slide, numerous rock slides that extended under Merlin’s Island and went in every direction. It always led to the beach. Merlin had told Tracey the story of the Tunnel, but for a long time, he didn’t believe it. He didn’t believe that the Tunnel of Rambuka really existed, but now he knew that he was wrong! He knew because he was sliding on it, literally sliding on it!
Gina had followed the young fairy into the Tunnel, and she called,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmtRAxuURX
“Tracey!” through telepathy. She flew to a flat, loose piece of rock hanging from the wall that was surfboard-shaped, and she pushed it with her webbed feet. The rock was released; it was so loose. It crashed down on Rambuka’s floor and slid toward Tracey. “Heads up!” Gina yelled at him, “Watch your wings!” The surfboard-like rock slid by Tracey, and Merlin’s apprentice saw it. Clenching his teeth, he reached forward and grabbed the rock, pulling it to him. Ignoring the pain in his wings, he hauled himself onto it and focused forward on the continuous tunnel. Tracey was in pain, yes, but this Tunnel looked pretty enjoyable, and he needed some enjoyment in his life after having a really rough week. Believe it or not, but he, like Makenna, also liked to surf! To him, the Tunnel of Rambuka looked like a really enjoyable area to do land surfing because he was moving quickly and because the Tunnel was smooth.
Tracey made up his mind. He got up on his knees on the rock and announced,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiM30H2cbU
“All right, Tracey, you’ve got this! I’m coming, Makenna! Hang on for just a little bit longer!” After saying that last phrase, Merlin’s ninja-like, young apprentice stood up on the rock, in a surfing position, and held his arms out to his sides. Tracey focused his attention forward. Then, he steered the board forward and started to tread the tunnel. He scaled up the walls of it, scaled the ceiling, and acted out numerous tricks. The entire time, he was yelling, “Whoa! Wicked! I like this tunnel!” Tracey leaped into the air, and with his feet, he twirled the rock and landed back on it. He acted out an Air Reverse and grinned, “Yoo-hoo!” After a bit, Tracey came upon a fork in the tunnel. One path went straight, and the other path went left. “Gina!” called the young apprentice, “Which way?” He examined each passageway.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJC7ntER0M
Through telepathy, Gina yelled, “Straight! No! Left!” Tracey nodded and steered the surfboard-like rock to the left. He entered the passageway and turned the rock. He was now treading backwards, but he was unaware that he was coming straight for a sudden hill that went almost straight down! Gina had told him to go into the passageway that was more dangerous than the other one! Gina saw the drop, and her eyes widened. “Tracey!” she yelled, “Look out!”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0z2qF5K3D
“What’s wrong, Gina?” he asked. Tracey turned the rock so he was now facing forward. At the sight of the drop, he said, “Oh snap! No, no, no!” He hit the drop, and before he knew it, he was sailing almost straight down, and he was heading toward a crash landing below. “Go left?!” he yelled at Gina, “You’re crazy, woman!” With each passing second, he went faster and faster, “What should I do?! I do not want to hurt my wings again! Argh, I wish I could fly!”
Gina gave him orders,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZzK8hfyMZ
“Quick, Tracey! Perform the Shrinking Spell!” 146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMaWbixTNn
“The Shrinking Spell?” asked Tracey, “Why?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5VWmtfJke
“Just do it!” Tracey jumped,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimkWWnPMc2
“Yes, ma’am.” He closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and thought about being small. The crash landing was getting closer and closer now. The Tunnel of Rambuka had suddenly gotten very violent. However, Tracey did not give up on the Shrinking Spell. Before long, he shrunk down to two inches tall and yelled as he fell from his rock and started to fall toward the crash landing. Since his wings were busted, he couldn’t catch himself and fly. Above, Gina folded her wings and stooped down toward him. She caught Tracey on her back just before he could hit the ground, and his mouth fell open. Gina turned her body and quickly soared out of the way of the surfboard-like rock. It smashed into the ground, and pieces of rock went flying all over the place.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8f692zAMY
Gina dodged every single one of them. “Lift!” she yelled, “I need lift! Sorry, Tracey, but I’ve never been in this tunnel before either! I just know that usually left is the best path to take.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlHgY0PURG
Tracey fell onto her back, on his front, and he hugged her. “We’ll make it out of this, Makenna!” he painfully spoke, “I promise! Gina and I will not let your life end! Gina!” He closed his eyes, “My wings! My wings are starting to hurt again!”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE8TDdqxQ7
“Hang on, we’re almost there!” Gina flew faster, “Heave, heave! Toot, toot!” She was now soaring her fastest through the Tunnel of Rambuka. Before she knew it, she came upon another fork in the path, and this time, she took the passageway that went straight. After flying for a little bit longer, with injured Tracey groaning on her back, she suddenly saw a bright light in front of her! It was the tunnel’s exit! “The exit!” Gina shouted, “I see the exit!” She hurried toward it, and the entire time she was flying, she was screeching and squawking. In three, two, one, BOOM!
Gina popped out of the tunnel, and both she and Tracey were thrown forward, and they landed face-first in the sand on Merlin’s Island’s Beach! They landed not far from Makenna’s surfboard. Bright sunshine shone down on them, and the Tunnel of Rambuka’s exit slipped back in the sand and vanished. Sand piled on top of it. Tracey returned to his normal height, and he groaned from where he landed.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg9Bx09MSA
Gina soon stood up, and she shook sand off her feathers. “Whew,” she said, and she started to groom her wings, “Well, that’s one way to get to the beach. Yowch.” She shook her head, “Are you all right, Trace?” Tracey didn’t answer. He was lying on his front in the sand with his arms aside of him and with his eyes closed. His teeth were clenched together, and he was shaking slightly. Gina fluttered to him and landed next to him, saying, “Catch your breath, Trace; you’re just a little shaken up.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLmKLHJUbs
“Sensei’s going to kill me,” mumbled Tracey, “I’m going to spend the next month or two in the Box of Despair.” With his eyes still closed, he slowly lifted his head and propped up on his elbow, and with his other hand, he grabbed hold of his wings. Gina rubbed up against it, but then, her eyes landed on Makenna’s surfboard further down the beach. There was the unusual object she saw before! Gina’s beak dropped open. “No way,” she spoke. She slowly started to approach the object. “Remarkable.” Gina added, “It’s the unusual object from before.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLnFGJd4SD
“Unusual object?” asked Tracey, “What unusual object, Gina?” He opened his eyes and turned his head. He saw the surfboard, “What the? Is that a surfboard?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRFdrX62lk
“Surfboard?” Gina questioned. She didn’t know what a surfboard was. Tracey slowly rose to his feet, but he reached for his head. He shook it out and dropped his hand. His eyes again landed on the surfboard. Together, he and Gina approached it, and they stopped next to it. Together, they examined it up and down. “How strange.” Gina told Tracey, “I don’t see things like these getting washed up on Merlin’s Island.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkdbJ9cLFP
“I wonder who it belongs to,” spoke Tracey, “Buddy, stay calm, for I’m just trying to figure out who your owner is.” He kneeled to the surfboard and grasped it, flipping it over. Gina landed on his head and examined it with him. Her eyes landed on the surfboard’s three fins, and she asked, “What are those?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGBw3hZyQa
“They’re fins.” Tracey answered, “Gina, this is a surfboard.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uHwXO7jVR
“Surfboard? What’s a surfboard?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhvBKqMfSZ
“It’s a board surfers use to ride waves out in the ocean,” explained Tracey, “The rock you gave me in the Tunnel of Rambuka represented a surfboard. It was just made out of rock. Let’s see, who is its owner?” The young apprentice continued to examine the surfboard. Then, he flipped it back over, and he ran his hand across its surface. His eyes landed on a name carved in small letters at the surfboard’s front. Tracey read it, “Makenna Delling.” He gasped, “Wait a minute, this is Makenna’s?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4s1tUDRnB
Eyes widening, Gina said, “Plot twist.” Tracey moved his eyes up, and he peered up at her resting on his head. “How strange.” Gina added, “How did it get here?”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpenx9MnXEB
“I’m not sure,” slowly answered Tracey, and he peered down on the surfboard again, “But we can’t just leave it here! We have to return it to Makenna! I know how much she loves to surf! She’s probably wondering where in Sam heck her surfboard is.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeguI9a927Z
“Well if we’re going to go to Seabrook Island,” voiced Gina, “then we have to go right now.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaGs1U1LzT
“Yes, Gina, we do. We also have to save Makenna. We’re wasting time.” Tracey struggled to his feet again, and he picked up the surfboard, tucking it under his arm. Gina continued to stand on his head. She looked adorable up there.
Tracey headed toward the ocean, with clenched teeth, but just before he could reach the shoreline, suddenly, from the ocean, there was a splash of water, and a blast of water, fifteen feet tall, shot out of the ocean and covered Tracey and Gina in shade! Tracey yelled at the sight of it. Gina did too.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg2UoaeRyB
At the same time, they shouted, “AHH!! IT’S MERLIN!!” Indeed, it was Merlin. He had the power to make himself larger or smaller. Making himself larger to stop Tracey and Gina from leaving the island was one of the last spells he could succeed in using. His others went totally ballistic on him. Gina fell from Tracey’s head, and he fell onto the sand next to her on his backside. Both she and he focused forward on the waterfall-like blast of water. Merlin emerged from it. He was fifteen feet tall, and his eyes were full of anger. He looked very scary. “YOU FOOL!!” he shouted at Tracey, “HOW DARE YOU DISOBEY ME!!” Tracey was shivering on the ground.
Gina glanced at him and tried to play along with Merlin so it would look like that she hadn’t agreed to help him although she had.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxFYx7WCrj
“Yeah, Tracey!” she told her friend, “I told you not to leave! Bad Tracey! Bad Tracey!” Lifting into the air, she flew to Tracey’s head and gave it a few pecks.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1q1gkdDIW
“OW!” he yelled, “Merlin please!” He grabbed Gina and pulled her out of the sky. Starting to stroke her back, he focused his attention on fifteen-foot-tall Merlin and added, “I have to go. If I don’t, Makenna’s going to die. Besides, I have to return this surfboard to her. It’s hers.” Tracey removed one hand from Gina, and with it, he patted Makenna’s surfboard that had fallen when he fell. Stroking Gina again, he continued, “I know you’re worried about me, Sensei, but I promise that when I return from helping Makenna, I’ll take it easy. I promise. We’re good friends, and good friends never leave each other hanging. Please let me go, Sensei. I’m begging you.”
Merlin had not spoken. He was just staring at his desperate apprentice.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfNY8PjmFx
Finally, he nodded, and Gina and Tracey watched as he shrunk back down to his regular height and landed in front of them. “I understand your concern, son,” he spoke, “but the thing is, your wings are broken. I don’t want them to get even more hurt than they already are. Besides, you gave Gina and me quite the scare yesterday. You literally almost did die! I was frightened I had lost you. I don’t want to lose you. You’re my son.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurGsgiBne8
“Don’t worry, Master.” Tracey told him, and he set Gina down on his right wristband, “As long as Gina’s with me, I’ll be okay. I also have a feeling that Makenna’s going to become a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy very soon, so I want to help her earn it. Once she earns it, she’ll be able to save you and the world of fairies. Everything will be balanced again after waiting for seven long years. You’ll be known as Merlin the Great again.” Right after he said Merlin the Great, Merlin’s entire face turned blue. He became very depressed. Like before, he sunk to the ground and curled in a ball, with his back facing Tracey.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Cq46uKKX2
“Merlin?” asked his young apprentice, “Aw man, I forgot.” Gina hopped off his wristband and approached Merlin’s back. With her wing, she comfortably rubbed his pale, blue cloak. From where he sat, Tracey sighed. Closing his eyes, he lowered his head and begged, “Please, Master. Please let me go. Makenna needs me. Ugh.” Moving around a lot had again made him a little dizzy. Bending his knees, Tracey buried his face in his arms, and the exposed bones of his wings skimmed the sand.
After a few more moments, Merlin slowly got up on hands and knees, and both he and Gina focused their attention on young Tracey.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PfIj3EBBO
Merlin sighed, “I don’t know, son. I just don’t know. You still don’t feel good. I’ll be honest, what happened last night with you was just as scary as what happened to Anne on that tragic night. I don’t feel comfortable about you leaving.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lVydOfHgl
“Please let him go, Master Merlin.” Gina told the old wizard. She met his eyes, “I promise I’ll take care of him. He just wants to help his friend. Even though she is sometimes considered a jerk, I do too. We’re begging you.” Merlin took a deep breath. He made up his mind.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR7JufzE1k
“Very well, Gina,” he spoke, “You and Tracey can go to Makenna.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCX0b9TrEX
“Seriously?” Tracey dizzily asked. He lifted his head and gazed upon Gina and Merlin.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtMN7vs5Rp
“Can you not go right this second now though?” asked Merlin. He stood up and approached Tracey, kneeling to him. Taking his shoulder, he added, “Can you rest for at least an hour, Tracey? Then I’ll let you go.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j2Du708Sy
Tracey cracked a small smile, and he nodded, “Sure, Master.” Merlin also smiled.146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAEwOlBv47
He helped Tracey down on the sand and glanced at Gina, asking, “Gina, can you do me a favor and fly back to the cave? We need to give Tracey the medicine. I don’t want him to return to Seabrook Island if he’s in a lot of pain.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbhBrPgBPx
“Yes, sir.” Gina said, “I totally understand, sir. I’ll go right now. I don’t want him to be hurting either.” She flapped her wings, and Merlin watched as she soared back into the jungle. Then, focusing in on Tracey, he asked him, “How did you guys get here? I didn’t see you at all when I was coming to the beach.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV7cR2KjxI
“Sensei,” Tracey weakly spoke. He looked up at Merlin, “you won’t believe it, but Gina and I got here by taking the Tunnel of Rambuka.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujz2xcY045
“Tunnel of Rambuka?!” Merlin asked amazed, “Really?” Tracey nodded,146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A5omQWGxo
“Yes, sir. You were right. It really does exist. Not that we didn’t mean to take it. We just sort of fell into it.”146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08ITyoa9Fm
“Remarkable.” Merlin spoke, “Absolutely remarkable. Tracey, I have to admit, you’re an amazing fairy. I’m proud to call you my apprentice.” Tracey’s eyes drooped. “Thank you,” he said in a soft voice, “I’m proud to call you my sensei.” With that, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Merlin’s Island was quiet.
146Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzBO0iufdn
End of Part Three: Broken Wings
Current Word Count: 163,000
ns 15.158.61.6da2
