Tracey flew Makenna back to his room and dropped her off on the floor of his loft.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdVXdZ674R
Makenna asked, “Tracey, why are we back here?” and she saw that the young apprentice was heading toward the curtains on his walls where Makenna felt the draft from before. “What are you doing?” was her next question.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi2fYbGMIN
“We’re going to exit Merlin’s Cave from my secret exit.” Tracey told her, and he rested his palm on the wall.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYzCtvHWr7
“Secret exit?” asked Makenna, “What are you talking about, Ninja Boy?” Tracey’s cheeks flushed. She called him Ninja Boy again! He was upset, yes, but he remained calm. He decided to ignore Makenna’s prissy, little attitude. He focused in on his curtains and lifted his left hand, grabbing ahold of them.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0g0R82ia4
Once he had a firm grip on the curtains, he turned his neck and head and said,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcFO9gI4aa
“Behold, Makenna, my secret exit!” With that phrase, he pulled the curtains aside, and Makenna gasped at what she saw.
Behind Tracey’s curtains, carved into the wall, was a secret tunnel! It was irresistible! The short tunnel was cylinder-shaped, it had no floor, but it did have a few unlit torches in it. Makenna could see the other side of the tunnel. She could see clouds, blue skies, and a bit of Merlin’s Island!
Amazed, she pushed by Tracey and peered into the tunnel, saying,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MwNvnD0tz
“Holy smokes, Tracey, it’s incredible.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQGQJ3ZsU2
“Yeah.” Tracey agreed. He nodded, “I call this tunnel my ‘Magic Clubhouse.’ Usually when Sensei assigns me a mission, I exit through this tunnel so I don’t have to go down the dark corridors.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFTbmd7Ix9
“Oh right.” Makenna said understandingly, “You hate the dark, Tracey. Wow, what a clever idea.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWreiKgMIU
“This tunnel also feeds out to a ledge that hovers right over the canopy.” Tracey explained, “Sometimes when I’m feeling down or lost in thought, I sit on the ledge during sunset with Gina and meditate.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuOaTRJYsV
“Wow.” Makenna whispered, and her eyes landed on the tunnel’s pitch-black pit. She gulped, and shivering, said, “That’s a long drop.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOrPAnBl8X
“Don’t worry, Makenna.” Tracey said. He gave her a thumbs up, “That’s why you have wings. The gift of flight is like the gift of invincibility. You can do anything with it. With the gift of flight, you can fly over the tunnel’s pit. I do it all the time.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3Bt0pnOTv
“That’s so cool.” Makenna said, and upsettingly, she slumped to the ground and hung her head, “If only I could fly.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuln2nlsB0
“You can, Makenna.” Tracey said, “You’re a fairy.” He took her chin, “You just have to believe that you can do it. Sensei once told me, when I was much younger, that ‘Flight isn’t earned by a strong heart but by a belief in yourself instead.’ Since then, I’ve kept these words in mind, and I always repeat them whenever I’m training.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnl4qbJRg5
“Okay, Tracey.” Makenna said, “I understand.” She stood up and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she added, “I believe I can fly. I believe I can find my brother.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq6JAJOMQt
“That’s more like it.” Tracey said, “I like that you’re starting to change your attitude, Makenna. This is Crystal Metamorphic Fairy behavior I’m seeing, and don’t worry, I forgive you for shoving me into the corridor last night. Now come!” He took her by the hand, “If you want to return home this evening, then we must go ahead and start the quest for Caleb. During our quest, Makenna, I’m going to teach you how to fly.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrsYl8gOhB
“Oh.” Makenna unexcitingly said, “Super.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcjhq1C25a
Smiling, Tracey pointed at the other end of the secret tunnel and said, “Brace yourself, Makenna, because we’re going to start the second we’re on that ledge.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH2S0U4Yaq
Makenna gulped. “We are?” she asked.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCFq5T79bb
“Uh huh.” Tracey said, “I call it full fairy power, Makenna.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTYfemzfNe
“Full fairy power.” Makenna repeated, “I like that.” She sighed, “Very well then, Tracey, I’m ready whenever you are.” She was not confident that she would be able to fly, but she could see that Tracey was. He flapped his wings, tugged her hand, and pulled her into the secret tunnel.
Gina, Tracey’s friend, flew as fast as she could through the corridor that led to his room. She had to hurry and find him! Finally, she made it into the young apprentice’s room and squawked. She started to hover, and as she hovered, she searched for Tracey. She couldn’t find him! Where was he? She was just getting ready to leave to look somewhere else when suddenly, she heard chuckling coming from the apprentice’s loft! Makenna and Tracey! That’s where they were! Gina seemed to smile. Then she zoomed up to the loft and froze right in her tracks when she saw the curtains of his secret exit pulled aside. Nervously, she pressed her back up against the wall and peered into the tunnel.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAZ8jrX1B7
There they were!
Makenna and Tracey were flying slowly through the tunnel, chuckling, and Gina could hear Tracey saying,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79uzMxK0if
“Whatever you do, don’t look down,” to Makenna. Gina pricked some goosebumps.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi8FnZZUPk
She was just getting ready to call to the young apprentice when suddenly, Merlin’s line revisited her head, “Gina, can you watch Tracey for me?” Merlin only wanted her to watch him. He didn’t want her to be right next to him. He just wanted Gina to be within flying range and not be seen. Gina nodded. She had to be sneaky and as quiet as possible. She flapped her wings as quietly as she could, and then, she too entered the tunnel. Once inside, she chased after the two fairies.
Within five minutes, they reached the end of the tunnel, and Tracey dropped Makenna off onto a rocky ledge.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIH4kl2sFU
For once, she landed on her feet, and peering forward, she gasped at what she saw, “Whoa!” Just like Tracey had said, the ledge hovered over the island’s canopy, and further away, Makenna could see the beautiful waters surrounding Merlin’s Island. The day was magnificent! It was much more beautiful than the day before. Makenna didn’t even realize how beautiful Merlin’s Island was. She said, “Wow,” and opening her arms, she let the sun’s rays wash over her, “It’s beautiful.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK3KUoOThz
“Yeah.” Tracey said, and he landed next to her, “It is. Poor non-magical beings can’t experience the beauty with us. All right, here we go.” Stepping forward, he kneeled, and his fingertips gripped the edge of the ledge. He peered down to the canopy and said, “Uh huh, this is the perfect place to learn flying. All right, Makenna, we’re all set.” He stood up and brushed his hands together.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNikZKplXu
Makenna gulped. “What do you want me to do?” she asked. She could feel her heart racing; she was so nervous. She sure hoped Tracey wasn’t going to make her do what she thought he was going to make her do. She was wrong.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhQghLHbQb
Young Tracey placed his right hand on his hip, and with his left index finger, he pointed down to the canopy,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWxjt8YKv1
“Drop, Makenna,” he said, “I want you to drop.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdvCbPN542
“Huh?!” Makenna asked. She took a step back, “Excuse me, Tracey, could you repeat that please?” She chuckled nervously.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YvjLuhL2S
“Certainly.” Tracey said. He pointed down to the canopy again, “I want you to drop. This is how Sensei taught me to fly.”
“Very well, Ninja Boy.” Makenna said. She manned up, “Stand back! Watch how the pros do it!” Closing her eyes, she marched toward the edge of the ledge and pulled Tracey behind her arm. He chuckled and crossed his arms. Makenna was totally unaware of how long the drop was. When she reached the edge of the cliff, she opened her eyes and peered down to the canopy. At the sight of the drop, she turned blue. Was Ninja Boy crazy?! No way was she doing that! Screaming, Makenna shouted, “NO! NO! I REFUSE!” and terrified, she leaped into Tracey’s arms and climbed onto his shoulders.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ozo93ajfw
Once on his shoulders, she hugged his face and upper body and shook with fear. “Makenna!” Tracey yelled, “Let go! It’s really not that complicated!” He pulled her off like duct tape and put her back on the ledge. Then, reaching out, he pushed her toward the edge of the ledge again.
“NO!” Makenna shouted again. She turned and pushed on Tracey’s hands, gasping when she saw that the ledge’s edge was coming closer and closer. “AHH!” Makenna screamed. She leaped over Tracey’s body and shoved him to the ground. Then, hurrying toward the secret tunnel, she leaped onto its rock face and wrapped her arms and legs around a sturdy rock that stuck out from it. She glued herself to the rock and started to shake again.
Tracey stood up from where he landed and said,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eBN2vpUZk
“Makenna, stop being such a chicken! Let go of that rock!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxihQ6NEz9r
Makenna, who was sweating, said, “Oh, I think I’m going to climb instead. Why fly when you can climb? Isn’t that the job of your legs?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBxk66y3vG
Tracey did a face palm and said, “Oh for the love of Pete.” He had to think of a way to make Makenna come down so she could overcome her fear. He started to pace, and as he paced, he tapped his chin. Gina, who had also finally made it to the end of the tunnel, peered out at him.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DisX9LwJr
For a little while longer, Tracey paced. Then, he thought of it!215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsmidnrKGp
Stopping, he said, “Hmm,” and scratched his chin. Then, smiling mischievously, he added, “Fear of bats? Fear of heights? Fear of being wrong? Huh, some Metamorphic Fairy you are, Makenna.” Makenna twisted her head and peered over her shoulder. Tracey continued, “You’re scared of just doing one simple wing motion. Whatever, you’re probably unaware that you’re hanging right in front of a bat-invested wall. Oh well, I’ll just leave you to them. I guess I’ll have to find your brother myself.” He shuffled in the direction of the ledge’s edge.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxAbTkzn87
“Wait, Tracey!” Makenna shouted.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1ySUM3ial
Tracey cupped his hands around his mouth and called, “Oh look at me! I’m getting closer to the ledge’s edge! Check it out, Raeven’s family!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ReoS2wlhm
Gina shook her head and squawked, “Oh, Tracey.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFjLBCwc2d
“Tracey!” Makenna yelled, “Stop! What do you mean ‘Raeven’s family’?!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ5YvptXhr
“I’m getting closer!” said Tracey.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoATINczXqM
The backs of his heels were hanging over the ledge’s edge, and he was keeping his balance by flapping his wings. “Tracey!” yelled Makenna, “That’s not cool, dude!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1A7p97Gwt
“This is how Sensei taught me.” Tracey explained, “When I first started flying, I was just as scared as you. Then he too started to torment me.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFJcmRZ6cw
“Shut up!” Makenna shouted, “I don’t want to hear any more about your so-called sensei!” She hugged the rock tighter. Then suddenly, from out of the secret tunnel’s exit, soared a horde of bats, and they zoomed past Makenna! Screaming, she let go of the rock and shouted, “I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE! I’M COMING HOME, MOM AND DAD!!” Hurrying to the ledge’s edge, she shouted, “TALLEYHO!” and held her arms out to her sides. She leaped over the ledge and started to fall!
The bats that had soared out of the tunnel circled Tracey’s head a couple of times, and winking, he said,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0tXKdP9cC
“Thank you, Raeven’s family. You did the same thing for me when I first started flying.” They nodded and zoomed back into the tunnel, passing Gina. She gasped and dove behind another rock sticking out from the wall.
Tracey was the next one to leap over the ledge.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ml5vcY9dm
He yelled, “Yehaw!” and jumped like a kangaroo. Like Makenna, he held his arms out to his sides, and then, he too, started to drop. He purposely wasn’t flapping his wings. He wanted to catch up with Makenna.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8Yhz6ZuEZ
She was falling headfirst toward the canopy, and finally, when she opened her eyes, she realized that she had jumped. “Oh no!” Makenna shouted, “Help! Help!” She reached for her head, “I’m too young to die!” Suddenly, she heard chuckling and asked, “What?! Is that you Tracey?!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnSn3mURgj
“It is!” said the familiar voice. He had reached Makenna, and before long, he was falling headfirst, upside down, next to her. As they fell, he announced, “Fly! Flap your wings!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39oj0xiptz
“I can’t, Tracey!” Makenna chokingly said, and tears streamed down her cheeks.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LqQ9ofGLY
“Yes, you can!” said Tracey, and falling faster, he began to leave Makenna, “Just flap them as hard as you can!” Makenna tried to, but the wings refused to flap.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpJY8Pgx2j
They were once again on their coffee break. “Help!” shouted the young fairy, and she started to flap her arms.
As Tracey fell, he tilted back his head and asked,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0CdsaFMXv
“Hm?” when he saw that the canopy was getting closer and closer, “All right!” Excitingly, he turned his body so now, he was right-side up. With fire burning in his eyes, he jumped to his feet in midair and stretched out his right leg, flapping his wings slightly. When he reached the canopy, his foot broke through the leaves and tree branches of the tallest tree, and he landed on the canopy’s bed, on his feet. The second he landed, branches and leaves fell aside of him. “Yes!” Tracey said, and he clenched his fists, “I did it!” From up above, he heard Makenna screaming and tilted back his head.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprA07wF9Gr
She bounced through the tree branches and yelled as she escaped them and started to fall right toward Tracey! “Help!” she screamed.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpXssV82xk
“I’ve got you; I’ve got you!” said Tracey. He opened his arms and planted his feet.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD02NxJ0G3u
Makenna landed in his arms, and Tracey stumbled, but he didn’t fall. “Oh.” Makenna said. She peered into his face, “Why thank you…,” Tracey smiled. “you doofus!” Makenna added with. She slapped him in the face and jumped from his arms, landing on the canopy’s floor, “Are you mad?! Are you trying to kill me?!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN7V75ROZZ
“No!” Tracey said, and he massaged the cheek that had been slapped, “I’m just trying to teach you how to fly! Believe it or not but dropping the baby bird is the way a bird learns how to fly. Fairies are like birds, Makenna. Merlin taught me to fly by forcing me to drop.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5LFFNoTCg
“You’re crazy, Ninja Boy!” Makenna shouted, “I hate you! I hate you!”
Tracey groaned, but then he said,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKroMRi0m8
“Come on, Makenna, if you want to return home, then we must move forward and find your brother.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsqngtvYK6
“Nah-hah.” Makenna said with a shake of her head, “I’m not exploring this island after what you did to me, Ninja Boy, and dropped me into Bat Territory!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0iswLbuT0
Crossing his arms, Tracey asked, “Are all girls like this?” and Makenna answered,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv7pB0Qots
“No, they’re not, Ninja Boy, but I am! I despise bats! I refuse to move from this spot! I’ll patiently wait here until a ship comes and picks me up from this torture chamber!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd7unNOdE6
“It’s not a torture chamber, Makenna,” said Tracey, “It’s Merlin’s Island. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the entire world, and your brother is counting on you to find him. Please, Makenna, trust me. I’m sorry I scared you. I’ll think of another way to teach you flying. Deal?” He offered his hand to the petrified, newborn fairy, and she examined it. Gina, who had also made it to the bottom of the canopy, peeked out from a leaf at them. Makenna continued to examine Tracey’s hand. She peered into his face. Oh, how did he do it? He was so trustworthy and innocent. Sighing, Makenna reached out and took his hand. She gave it a small shake, and Tracey returned it. Lifting into the sky again, he hovered in front of her and smiled, “Makenna, I promise that when you get in control of those wings, you’re going to love flying as much as I do. Come on, let’s find ‘Where the water meets your wings.’” Flying forward, he gestured with his hand for Makenna to follow, and sighing, she did. They had officially started their journey across Merlin’s Island to find “Where the water meets your wings.”
The first place Tracey led Makenna to was a large, rocky hill that led to a cliff. He soared up the face of it with his arms out to his sides, and Makenna had to climb up after him. She slipped, but just before she could fall, Tracey caught her by the hand. Makenna thanked him and continued her climb. When eventually, she reached the top of the hill, she joined Tracey at the edge of a cliff and glanced at him.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7EWP4OAyJ
He nodded, and taking her by the temples, he turned her head, and Makenna gasped when she saw that she and Tracey were standing over a beautiful cove, and there was the ocean! “Wow,” she whispered. She took a step forward, and her eyes focused forward on the rays of the sun that were scanning the ocean’s surface.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BKjkBz0Bl
Tracey took her by the shoulder and winked, saying, “This place is called Coveline Cliff.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv13f4PIWl
“Coveline Cliff.” Makenna repeated. Tracey let go of her shoulder and held his arms out to his sides. He took a deep breath. Then, he dropped. Nervous, Makenna got down on her knees, and with her fingertips gripping the edge of the cliff, she watched him fall. She said, “Oh goodness, Tracey.”
Just before the young ninja could hit the cove’s sand, he flapped his wings and turned his body, shooting out toward the ocean. As he flew, sand blew up from under him.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggXfie5jrB
From the cliff, Makenna jumped and yelped, “Yikes!” However, as she watched Tracey zoom all over the place, her smile gradually turned into a grin. Wow, he really did love flying. Just watching him gave her an urge to try it herself, but when she saw how long the drop was, she backed out. When Tracey finished his flight, he shot back up to the cliff and landed next to Makenna. The second he did, he laughed and spun in a circle.
After twirling, he focused in on Makenna’s face and asked,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0rh897pUm
“Well, are you ready to try it, Makenna?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ889g1sM7NY
“No!” she said in a loud voice, “Please don’t drop me!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAdr2rIUCE
“Don’t worry,” said Tracey, “I’m not going to force you to drop again, Makenna. How about this? You tell me when you’re ready to give it a go.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3m7sfdOqd
“Okay.” Makenna nervously said, “I will, Tracey. For now, can we just find my brother?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmy2aCmnSP
“Certainly,” said the young ninja, “Let’s go.” With that line, they continued their journey. Tracey helped Makenna back down the hill, and when they reached the base of it, they took off.
The next place Tracey took Makenna to was a small lake in the very heart of Merlin’s Island, and in the center of the lake, rested a tiny island.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXnIs4AATZ
At the sight of it, Makenna’s eyes sparkled, and putting her hands together, she said, “It’s beautiful, Tracey.” Tracey smiled. Then, peering down to his feet, he kneeled and picked up a few flat stones. Makenna watched him carefully.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzGw8Krfi1
Tracey stood back up and showed her one of the stones, asking, “Makenna, do you know how to skip rocks?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaunsE9Ct7P
“I do, Tracey.” Makenna said with a nod, “Why?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1veqcsX1I
“Well,” Tracey added, “have you ever skipped rainbow rocks before?” Makenna stared at him confusingly.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXJMpxzWFd
Then, shaking her head, she said, “No. What the heck are rainbow rocks?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lcDkCIHSy
“I’ll show you.” Tracey said, “Feast your eyes.” He turned to the lake, and with one of the stones in his right hand, he brought back his arm. Gina, who was spying on them from behind a medium-sized rock resting on the ground, turned red. She was slightly jealous. When Tracey was ready, he said, “Fire!” and tossed the stone forward. It hit the water and started to skip. Amazed, Makenna gasped. Whenever the stone hit a section of the water, that section glowed up all the colors of the rainbow! The color vanished when it moved on to a new section, and the pattern continued.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITUtRCwCFe
Tracey’s stone skipped seven times before it hit the water and sank. “Holy smokes!” Makenna said, “Amazing!”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKoR5CSKQu
“Now you try.” Tracey told her. He offered her a stone, and smiling, Makenna took it. He stepped back and watched as she too tossed the stone forward, and it hit the water, creating the rainbow color.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf78h5VL6a5
Makenna watched it skip along, and excited, she lifted her hands over her head and said, “Yoo-hoo!”
Her stone skipped six times before it sunk.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4GPwkqPW4
“Not bad,” Tracey told her, and he handed her another stone. This time, they together tossed their stones forward, and together, they watched as the water came to life with the rainbow colors. “This place is called Rainbow Waters.” Tracey explained, “This is one of my favorite places to come whenever I have free time.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyrU4L27x6
“I can see why,” said Makenna, and she tossed another stone forward.
Tracey chuckled, but then, all of a sudden, his smile vanished, and grabbing hold of his arm, he lowered his head. His wings dropped behind his back.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8gcxTkEEA
Makenna noticed his sudden shift in attitude and asked, “Huh? Hey, what’s wrong, Tracey?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sfSzXiDyg
“Makenna,” he upsettingly said, “I’m sorry I pushed you before.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77YN85aD2t
“Do what?” she asked. She turned to him.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IlloPn49H
Tracey continued, “If you didn’t knock me out of the sky, I definitely would have crashed into that wall. Please forgive me.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuL7hvdA4L
“Aw, don’t feel bad.” Makenna said, “I’m sorry I hurt you. I don’t know what came over me.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLeqYmKf5q
“It may be because we’re still young fairies,” said Tracey, “Sensei told me once that a fairy’s brain isn’t fully mature until they reach the age of twenty-eight or thirty. He said that it’s common for an underage fairy to make a mistake and not even know why they made that mistake.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRu1ZS8a74
“Wow.” Makenna said, “So fairies age slower than humans?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bezEHHpsv
“They do,” said Tracey, “In fairy years, a fairy isn’t an adult fairy until age twenty-one, which in fairy years, is the age of majority. Any fairy under the age of twenty-one is considered an ‘underage fairy.’ Underage fairies aren’t allowed to use adult fairy magic because it can hurt them. So, you see, Makenna, Merlin’s taught me a lot, but he hasn’t taught me everything.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcU9BLaJ90
“Because you’re underage,” she said.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jUMQK1g8I
Tracey nodded. “That is correct,” he said, “and you are too, Makenna.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabZ4q4DSP6
“Wow.” Makenna said, “That’s so cool. I like this world of fairies, Tracey. Ahem!” She cleared her throat and added, “What place are we going to visit next?” She was getting really excited. She was dying to see the rest of Merlin’s Island, and who knows, while exploring, they may actually get lucky and find “Where the water meets your wings.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIAXKEwaJO
Tracey’s smile returned, and he said, “Follow me.”
The next place he took her to was a beautiful meadow that was just behind the beach. As Makenna ran through the flower-covered meadow, Tracey flew in in front of her.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZijGWNli5g
Excited, she acted out a twirl and announced, “Amazing! I feel like I’m in Narnia!” She flopped down on her back, and her eyes landed on cumulus clouds drifting across the sky and creating shapes. Tracey soon joined her. He too flopped down on his back, and the top of his head touched the top of Makenna’s head. Together, the two teens closed their eyes, placed their hands on their chests, and let the warm air wash over them. It was like Makenna was in a dream world. She sighed, and Tracey did too. “Feel that zephyr,” she told the ninja, “Isn’t it wonderful?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMEk2EDXhp
“It is, Makenna,” agreed Tracey, “It’s wonderful and somewhat hypnotic.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT0PmUFmoU
“Mmm.” Makenna said, “If only every day was like this.” She and Tracey stayed at the meadow for a little while longer. Then, they continued their journey.
Tracey next took Makenna down to the white, sandy beach, and together, they dove into the warm water and started to play. They splashed each other with water and laughed. Gina, who was getting really tired of following them, watched from a log. She yawned. Makenna splashed Tracey one last time.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYTnfd7w1P
Then suddenly, she stopped, lost her smile, and peered out to the ocean. “What’s up, Makenna?” Tracey asked her.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTos57Ffq5
“Shh!” Makenna said, and she placed her index finger to her lips, “Did you hear something, Tracey?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmS36KgXaF
“Hear something?” asked Tracey, “What are you talking about?”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxBr4E3O6j
“Well,” Makenna said, “I thought I just heard laughter. Deep, evil laughter.”215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWdV3T4hjh
“Evil laughter?” Tracey asked, “You were probably imagining it, Makenna.” However, then he too heard something. It was faint, and yes, it did sound like laughter. “Huh?” asked the young ninja.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYfv8rrofe
He and Makenna turned, and Makenna asked, “Now do you believe me, Tracey?” Tracey nodded.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEYcjG9Kgt
Lifting into the sky, he hovered over the water and said, “Something’s out there, Makenna, but what?” The laughter was heard again, but this time, it was louder. Something was coming toward the two, young fairies. Something big. Gina, who had now also heard the laughter, lifted her head and peered out to the ocean. She gasped at what she saw. Further out in the ocean was a swirl of dark blue water! It almost looked like a whirlpool, and it was heading straight toward Tracey! Gina gasped again. Oh no! “Hey, check that out, Makenna.” Tracey told Makenna. He pointed out to the approaching swirl of water, “It almost looks like a whirlpool.” He put down his foot, “I’m going to go check it out. Merlin’s Island usually doesn’t experience a phenomenon like this.” Makenna heard the laughing again. Then, she realized what the whirlpool was.
Gasping, she whispered,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00qTfaUc8e
“The Octopus Man. Oh no.” She glanced at Tracey, “Tracey, wait! Don’t go near that whirlpool!” Jumping, she grabbed Tracey and again knocked him out of the sky. The two fairies crashed into the ocean with a heavy splash, and standing on Tracey’s back, Makenna yelled at the approaching whirlpool, “Octopus Man, leave us alone! Go away!” Gina flapped her wings and hurried toward her. Makenna suddenly felt movement under her feet, and she gasped when she realized that she had pinned Tracey underwater. Quickly she got off of him, reached under, and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the surface.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWmrPI90cd
The second his head broke out of the water, he coughed and inhaled breaths of air. “Makenna!” he shouted, “What’s going on?!” Gina reached Makenna and squawked.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8XkFD14QO
Hearing her, Makenna turned and said, “Gina! Thank goodness you’re here! Quick, we have to get Tracey out of the ocean!” Gina nodded, and her claws grabbed another one of Tracey’s tufts of hair. She started to pull. Suddenly, the current picked up, and Makenna yelled, “No!” She tightened her grip on Tracey’s hand. The current was trying to pull him away from her and toward the whirlpool instead. Makenna and Gina did not give up. They were getting closer to shore. The closer they got though, the more the current pulled them. Makenna turned to the whirlpool and announced, “Ha! Ha! Take this, Octopus Man!” She reached out her left hand to shoot a spell, but the only thing that escaped her palm was a blast of smoke. “Aw come on.” Makenna said.
Gina snorted and started to laugh. Then she squawked when she saw that coming toward them, which appeared from out of nowhere, was an enormous, fifteen-foot wave! Makenna and Tracey soon saw it, and they yelled. Gina quickly let go of Tracey’s tuft and got out of the wave’s path. It crashed down on the two fairies, and they were thrown underwater!215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd7i4rBlx3
Makenna lost Tracey’s hand, and underwater, she shouted, “Tracey!” Tracey, who was spinning all over the place, was thrown toward the whirlpool, but then, he stopped suddenly. He opened his eyes underwater and gasped at what he saw. Directly in front of him was the shadowy figure of a large, fifty-foot-tall man! Instead of pupils and irises, his eyes were nothing except terrifying, glowing blue scleras. He had eight, massive, Kraken-like arms and tentacles that had spikes on them, and in his hand, he held an enormous, golden trident. Tracey had never seen something as scary as him. He screamed, and turning, he tried to swim away, but the shadowy figure pointed his trident at him. From the trident’s points escaped strings of gold lights, and they circled the young apprentice, catching him by the wrists, legs, and ankles. Tracey struggled to release himself, but he was running out of air.
At the ocean’s surface, Makenna was swimming toward the whirlpool, yelling,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyEdTiUDS1
“Tracey!” She coughed, and ocean water sprayed on her face. She searched for Tracey. Underwater, where the young apprentice was, he yelled, and his entire body glowed up green. Then, like with the Kudzu vines, a great blast of magic escaped his hands, and it smashed into the Octopus Man! The Octopus Man stumbled backward, and this gave Tracey time to release himself and swim to the surface. He flapped his wings and leaped out of the ocean, coughing. Then, closing his eyes, he fell back toward the ocean headfirst. On his upper, left arm appeared a black pattern of the Octopus Man’s trident. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared.
Makenna saw the young apprentice falling, and gasping, she yelled,215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQS1js8hmw1
“Tracey!” She caught him, and the second she did, another huge wave crashed on them. This wave threw them out of the ocean, and the two fairies went hurtling toward the beach! They together crashed onto the warm, soft, fluffy sand, and the second they did, the ocean calmed down, and the Octopus Man’s whirlpool vanished. Tracey had scared him away, but as the Octopus Man left, Makenna heard him laugh one last time.
