Makenna had reached the top of the larger rock she had climbed and was shaking, as if she were cold.
The Octopus Man's arm shot forward, aiming for her chest.
Makenna screamed and closed her eyes. However, just before the Octopus Man caught her, Ash suddenly appeared before her. With his shield and a sword in hand, he glared, yelled, and slashed the Octopus Man's arm with his sword.
Makenna opened her eyes and looked up. "Ash! Where did you come from?"
Behind Ash came Raeven, who yelled, "Makenna!"
"Raeven?" Makenna smiled. "Raeven!"
Raeven appeared beside her and started to hover.
Makenna glanced at him. She and Raeven then studied Ash, who slashed the Octopus Man's arm again. He kept up the pace until Poseidon finally retreated, overpowered.
He slipped his Kraken-like arm back into the ocean, and all was silent again. Waves sloshed against the rocks and sprayed Ash and Makenna.
Ash relaxed his face, put his shield on his back, and slipped his sword into a scabbard on it as well.
Makenna noticed it sparkling a bit. Hm, she wondered. Ash was one of the few people who wore his sword on his back rather than his waist.
He turned to Makenna and asked, "You all right?" His Scottish accent still sounded as cool as ever.
Lost for words, Makenna nodded. "A-Ash? Wha-What are you doing here?"
Ash gestured at Raeven and explained, "Raeven told me you were in trouble. He thought about getting Tracey, but then he concluded he was too far away and that he wouldn't make it in time."
"Bu-But," Makenna stammered, "where did you come from? Who are you?"
Ash glanced at Raeven, who gestured with his claw. "Makenna," he explained, "Ash, here, is a Wizard Fairy."
"Wizard Fairy?" Makenna could finally talk again. "Sorry, Raeven, but I've never heard of that. I've heard of Metamorphic Fairy, duh, but not Wizard Fairy."
"As you should know, Miss Delling," Ash explained, "there are five types of fairies in this world: the Earth Fairies, the Fairy Sprites, the Metamorphic Fairies, the Apprentice Fairies, and the Wizard Fairies. As Raeven said, I'm a Wizard Fairy. Wizard Fairies are top-notch fairies that can use really insane magic. Part of our job is to protect both the Human and Fairy Worlds from dangerous threats. We're also known as Knight Fairies."
"A Wizard Fairy, Makenna," Raeven elucidated, "is what Tracey is training to become. Each fairy has a different style of fighting, and each one also has really high expectations. Since it's tough for someone to become a Wizard Fairy, it is wise that they have a mentor to train them, sometimes as early as five or six. Most people become Wizard Fairies between the ages of sixteen and twenty, but because Ash did so well with his training, he became one at fourteen."
"Whoa," Makenna stammered. "That's amazing. Um, Ash..." She gulped and met Ash's eyes. "Did you know?" Makenna studied her wings.
"Yes, I did, Makenna," Ash answered. "I immediately knew you were the fairy I wanted the second I laid eyes on you at the pier. You can thank me later, but I was also the one who relieved you of the Octopus Man's trance. Yes, I know about the Octopus Man. My master taught me everything I need to know about him, you, and Tracey. I hope you don't mind me saying, but you have a very nice Crystal Metamorphic Fairy transformation. What does your friend think about it? Where is your friend?"
Makenna gave him a funny look. "Do what?" She didn't fully understand him because of the way he talked.
Ash tried again in a clearer voice. "Where is your friend?"
Makenna finally caught that and answered, "Oh," shrugging. "She should be at the beach. She stayed there with my family during the surfing—"
A sneeze came from the other end of the rocks. Makenna, Raeven, and Ash turned their heads toward it.
Ash reached for his dagger and drew it.
Makenna glimpsed at him and flapped her crystal wings. She lifted off the rock she had been resting on and checked to ensure there were no boats in sight.
Ash did, too. After a bit, he leaped onto the rock Makenna used to rest on and followed her toward the end of the rock line.
It was weird to Makenna. If he were a fairy, how come he wasn't flying? Where were Ash's wings? Were they hidden behind his shield and sword case?
Raeven soared into Makenna's face, hugging it. She tried pulling him off, but he held her tightly.
Once Makenna and Ash reached the end of the rocks, they heard the sneeze again, much clearer now. They then made out the form of a figure pinned against them. A broken surfboard was beside her.
It was Jessica, but something was wrong. Soaking wet, tears streamed down her cheeks, and she clutched her wrist.
Ash reached the rock behind her and stood straight, his dagger still in hand.
Makenna pulled Raeven off her face and hovered. Blue and pink sparkles escaped her wings, and the rainbows in them shimmered.
Makenna's eyes widened at not only the sight of her best friend injured, but also her surfboard crushed. What on earth happened to her?
Jessica soon lifted her head, and her eyes landed on Makenna and Ash. At the sight of Ash carrying his dagger, she rubbed her eyes and begged, "Please... Don't hurt me."
Ash studied his dagger and inhaled. He lowered it and slipped it back in its case.
Makenna continued to stare at her friend.
Jessica sneezed one more time and hid behind one half of her surfboard.
***
Makenna and Ash grabbed Jessica and pulled her and her surfboard halves onto the rocks. They immediately tended to her.
Makenna created a blanket with a wave of her hand and put it over her friend's shoulders, while Ash cared for her injured wrist.
"I can't believe the Octopus Man did that to you," Makenna told Jessica.
"It was like he craved power," Jessica said. "I paddled out here, Makenna, to come get you, but ran into him on the way. He summoned an enormous wave, and that was what swept me up here. And now, my poor surfboard"—she studied it—"is crushed!"
Makenna dropped her wings. "I'm so sorry, Jessica. I'll buy you a new one."
"No, it's okay," Jessica mused. "I shouldn't have paddled out here in the first place. This was my fault." She observed Ash, who wrapped her wrist in a bandage. "Thank you, Ash."
Ash smiled and nodded. "No problem." He gently patted Jessica's wrist. "Your wrist isn't broken, Jessica. It looks like it just may be sprained. If I were ya, I would get it checked out by a doctor when you return to Folly."
When Jessica spoke again, Makenna noticed she sounded a little dreamy. "I'll do that." She blushed, and her blue eyes met Ash's. Jessica squinted and studied them. "Does anyone ever tell you, Ash, that you have beautiful eyes? I think they're even prettier than mine." She reached for her cheek—she blushed so hard.
Ash shook his head and answered, "Not often."
Jessica sighed and added, "Well, you do. Not to mention, your accent is cool, too."
Ash smiled again. "Thank you. I got my eyes from my mother, and my blonde hair came from my father. I was born in Scotland."
Jessica chuckled and brought her hand to her lips. "So, are you really another fairy, Ash?"
"I am, Jessica," he answered.
"Forgive me for intervening," Makenna spoke before they could say anymore, "but I've got a question for you, Ash. If you're a fairy, then where are your wings? My wings are right here, but where are yours?" She lifted her crystal wings and flapped them slightly.
For a minute, Ash hesitated. He then said, "Um," and peered back at his shield, "they're um... Well…" He shrugged. "They're hidden under my sword and shield. I usually don't like to fly when I travel to the Human World. I don't want to get locked up in a laboratory." He smiled feebly. "Yay. Now, girls, excuse me, but I think it's time I took my leave."
"Leave?" Jessica yelped. "No, Ash! You can't! Don't leave us! Please!" She fell onto her front and grabbed Ash's ankle with her good hand. "What if the Octopus Man returns? What if you get hurt? What if we aren't there to look out for each other? Please, Ash, don't leave."
"Sorry, Jes," Ash spoke, releasing his ankle, "but I have to go home. Harmony is probably wondering where I am. Besides, Makenna needs to get ready for her journey to the Bermuda Triangle."
"What the—?" Makenna gasped. "How do you know about the quest? There is no way I am going to the Bermuda Triangle! I'm going to get trapped out there! What will happen, then, huh?"
Ash shrugged again, "Well, I guess you and Tracey will have to decide which one of you the other will eat."
Makenna scoffed. "Uh! That's not funny, Ash! Who said Tracey was coming? How do you even know him?"
Ash didn't answer, immediately returning to his carefree self. "Oh, come on, Makenna! There's no need for you to be worried. Be excited. You get to travel to Bermuda and become a Merfairy! You also get to travel to Atlantis! I wish I could do that."
"Are you hoaxing me, Ash?" asked Makenna. "There is no such thing as Atlantis. It's a myth!"
Ash reached his left hand back and grabbed the hilt of his sword. "Yeah, I'd check the facts on that. You know nothing about the ocean, Miss Delling. I bet ya didn't know that Tracey can become a Merfairy, too."
"Merfairy?" questioned Makenna. "What are you talking about, Ash?"
Ash shrugged. "Ya like Tracey, right?"
His question made Makenna blush. "Um," she stammered, hiding behind her wand, "in a friendship sort of way, yeah."
"And ya do want him to be able to fly again, right?" Ash asked next.
Makenna nodded.
"Well, then," Ash continued, "travel to the Bermuda Triangle. I expect we'll meet again soon, Miss Delling, so goodbye for now."
"Wait!" Jessica held her hand out to him, but Makenna pulled her back.
Raeven landed on her shoulder pad and wrapped his wings around her.
Ash drew his sword and stepped closer to the ocean. However, his foot slipped, and he slid down the rock, landing with a splash in the sea.
Makenna and Jessica bent their knees and watched the water together. They waited for a bit, but Ash did not return to the surface. That made the two girls nervous, especially Jessica.
Makenna finally called, "Ash? Ash!"
"Makenna," Jessica spoke in a frightful voice, looking at her, "I'm scared."
Instantly, Makenna stood and pulled Raeven off her shoulder. She dove off the rock into the ocean.
Water sprayed on Jessica, who clutched her injured wrist.
Underwater, Makenna opened her eyes. They stung, but she searched for Ash and didn't see him. Where was he? Not again!
Makenna swam a bit further down to see if he had sunk, but sure enough, there was no sign of him. It was the most bizarre thing.
Finally, Makenna returned to the surface and burst her head out.
Still sitting on the rock, Jessica jumped and retreated a few steps.
Makenna swam to it and explained, "He's gone! He's nowhere to be found! All I can assume is that he performed a teleportation spell or something. I mean, I trust he can take care of himself."
"Aw-w-w." Jessica groaned. "No fair!" She plopped down on her butt. "I wanted him to stay!"
Makenna smirked and told her, "Something tells me you like him, Jessica."
"I don't!" But Jessica reddened again." I mean, as a friend, sure, but the other thing... Uh—no!"
Nonetheless, Jessica, Makenna, and Raeven's eyes landed on the ocean, and they watched as it danced in the rays of the sunset.