The sun rose higher, warming Coutarine Island.
Makenna walked on the edge of the reef before the camp and called for Tracey. "Tracey! Tracey! It's Makenna! Oh, Raeven, where could he be?"
Raeven reached for his head and frightfully answered, "He probably sailed beyond the reef, and the Octopus Man captured him! He's all alone! Oh, this is terrible!" Makenna tried to speak, but Raeven kept babbling. "It's your fault, Makenna Delling! You shattered his soul and dreams!"
"No, I didn't!" Makenna argued. She thought back to what she said to Tracey before he disappeared. "All I said was that he probably wants to run right back to the ocean, and… he's become a burden! This means, ah! It is my fault! I've ruined Merlin's apprentice!"
"Not only that," Raeven said, "but you also ruined Ash! You gave him a concussion last night!" Suddenly, he gasped and smacked his paws over his mouth.
"I what?" Makenna shouted. She jerked Raeven off her shoulder and held him before her. "I gave Ash a concussion? How? I didn't even touch him!" She shook Raeven. "Speak, you Megabat!"
"Don't ask me!" Raeven yelled. "Ask Merlin!"
"All right," Makenna said, dropping him on the sand. "I will. Come on, Silvey." Silvey trotted on her heel, and they together headed toward Merlin, who tended to Ash.
Ash did not look good. He must've hit his head harder than initially thought.
Merlin dabbed his temple with a wet rag and asked, "So, you really don't remember anything?"
Ash shook his head. "All I remember is touching Makenna's hand, and then everything went black." His voice was slightly slurred.
Makenna and Silvey appeared behind Merlin and stood at a distance. Makenna brought her hand to her mouth when she saw Ash.
Merlin put the rag over his forehead and stood from his seat, saying, "I've got to get you a doctor, Ash. I'm going to take a little trip to Hula Village."
Behind, Makenna spoke. "Is he going to be all right, Merlin?"
Merlin jumped and whirled around. "Miss Delling!"
Makenna nodded. "Yes, it's Makenna. Um, what exactly did I do to him?"
Merlin refused to answer, though. He shook his head and said, "I'm not going to tell you right now, Miss Delling. I'll tell you after you bring my apprentice back."
"Your apprentice?" asked Makenna. "I don't even know where he is!"
"Well, then, find him." Merlin sounded stern. "Follow your fairy instincts. Along the way, also find a way to get rid of those humans. I have to take a run to Hula Village, which is the closest village to here, to find Ash a doctor."
"But," Makenna protested. Hula Village sounded awesome. Makenna didn't mention it, though. She instead said, "Who's going to watch over him?" talking about Ash.
"Harmony will," Merlin answered. "After all, she and Ash are like family." He winked at Harmony, who winked back. "You, on the other hand, Miss Delling, have a mission. When you return, I expect Tracey to be with you. Got it?"
Makenna sighed. "Yes, sir. I'm sure he couldn't have gone too far. I also want to help Ash, Merlin. If I were the one who hurt him, it only makes sense that I should help. Is there anything I can get for him while you're in Hula Village?" She muttered her following sentence under her breath. "So awesome."
Merlin heard her and cracked a small smile. He thought for a moment and then said, "Well, actually, now that you mention it, do you think you can find a Crusha Fruit for me?"
"Crusha Fruit?" Makenna looked very confused.
Merlin continued. "The juice of a Crusha Fruit will help ease pain and calm somebody down. It's a perfect remedy for concussion victims or any type of trauma. However, it grows only on the tropical islands in the Magic World. Fairy doctors use the juice of the Crusha Fruit to calm down trauma victims in hospitals. Not to mention, they used it with Tracey, too."
Makenna looked even more confused and admitted, "I have never heard of it."
"Don't worry," said Merlin. He kneeled to Silvey and scratched her behind the ear. "Silvey knows where it is. She can take you to it. Her super sniffer can sniff anything out. Right, Silvey?"
Silvey smiled, and her big, bright blue eyes landed on Merlin.
"It shouldn't be hard for you to identify the Crusha Fruit," he explained. "It looks like a cluster of small, green bananas."
"Small, green bananas," Makenna repeated. She tried to picture that. "All right. I'll make you happy, Merlin. I promise."
Merlin placed his hands on his hips. "You will only make me happy, Makenna, when you bring my apprentice back and apologize to him. Understand?"
Makenna sighed and nodded, glancing at Silvey. "Are you ready, Silvey?"
Silvey nodded and started down the beach. She called for Makenna to follow her.
She huffed and glanced past Merlin to Ash. "Don't worry, Ash. I'll get the Crusha Fruit for you." She bowed to Merlin. "Goodbye, Merlin the Great."
Merlin shook his head. "No." He acted out the Coutarine Island greeting. "'Aluna, Merlin the Great.'"
Makenna again huffed. She feebly acted out the greeting, even though she still couldn't do it that well. "Aluna."
Merlin patted her back and gave her a soft push forward. "Now, hurry along, Miss Delling. Make Coutarine Island bueno again."
Makenna sighed again and turned on her heel. She chased after Silvey and caught up to her at the waterline.
Merlin waited until they disappeared down the beach before he left for Hula Village. When he did, he turned to Ash and told him, "I'll be back as soon as possible, Ash. I promise."
Ash tightly clutched his head and complained, "It hurts."
"I know it does," said Merlin, "but don't worry. Makenna's going to bring you that Crusha Fruit." He looked up at Harmony. "Take care of him, Harmony."
Harmony nodded.
Merlin scratched her nose and patted Ash's hand with his other hand. "Just keep that rag over your forehead and get some rest. Merlin, out. Off to Hula Village." He stepped away from Ash and decided to teleport to Hula Village. He lifted his wand over his head and announced, "Abracadabra!" Unfortunately, his teleportation spell didn't exactly work, and Merlin ended up turning himself into a fish. He flopped around in the sand and said, "Aw, rats." Turning back into a man, he sighed. "Looks like I'm walking."
Merlin moved fast. He hopped into the tropical jungle and changed his outfit into an explorer outfit. His wand changed into a sword, and he slashed through vines.
***
Ash was alone on the beach with Harmony. He refused to lie down on the job. Harmony was exhausted from the exciting night, so even though she said she would watch over Ash, she ended up falling asleep.
Once she snored silently, Ash made his move. He took the rag off his forehead and pulled his blanket off, preparing to get out of the hammock. Though he was hurting, he knew Makenna needed his help.
Ash crept to the edge of the hammock. Suddenly, though, it flipped, and he sprawled to the ground. Ash groaned once he hit the sand. He stayed on the ground for a few minutes, but then he got up on his knees and reached for his head again.
Ash stood up on his wobbly legs and feebly told himself, "You-You've got to do this, Ash. Ma-Makenna needs you-you. You-You've got to help her. This is a battle she can't win alone."
He reached for Crusader and picked it up. Ash held the sword over his head and let the sun's rays reflect off it. Green and blue fairy dust escaped the blade and twirled around him like a group of flowers caught in a blast of wind.
Once the magic left, Ash put his sword and shield on his back again and headed toward the edge of the shade. He nervously peered out at the sunny beach and took a deep breath. Ash stepped into the sun and was immediately blinded by it. His headache grew worse just seeing it. The pain was so bad that he fell to his knees.
Ash clutched his head and opened one eye. No, he had to fight this! He decided to look for Makenna in the jungle. At least from there, he would be in the shade.
Passing the hammock, Ash dove into the jungle and started his search for Makenna.
***
Makenna, Raeven, and Silvey were also in the jungle, but they were further away from Ash. Silvey's sniffer had taken them into the jungle on their search.
Raeven nudged Makenna and whispered to her, "Do you really think we can trust this dog, Miss Delling? What if she's pulling us into a trap? We're going to be blown to smithereens! Do you hear me, Makenna?" He grabbed Makenna's top and shook it. "We're going to be blown to smithereens!"
Makenna narrowed her eyes and shooed him away. "Shut up, Raeven! We can trust, Silvey! I know we can."
"If you say so," Raeven spoke in a sarcastic voice, rolling his eyes. "Girls."
After about ten more minutes, Silvey stopped and searched the jungle.
Behind, Makenna placed her hands on her knees and asked, "What is it, Sil? Have you found the Crusha Fruit? Or maybe even Tracey?"
The fairy dog barked and jogged to the right.
"Hey, wait!" Makenna yelled. "Silvey!" She ran after her. "Where are you taking us?"
Silvey led Makenna and Raeven to a section of the jungle near the beach.
Makenna swatted mosquitoes off her arms and shivered. She froze when she saw the place Silvey led Raeven and her to.
Silvey had escorted them to a waterfall. The pool the waterfall flowed into had the same bright cyan color as the reef, and numerous tropical green trees surrounded it. On every tree grew a different fruit. The Crusha Fruit had to be in there somewhere.
Makenna clenched her fists and said, "Look at all that fruit! This is incredible! Silvey, thank you!" She glanced into Silvey's own cyan eyes. "Is this where the Crusha Fruit is found?"
Silvey nodded.
"Are these fruits edible?" was Makenna's next question. "Do you think I can try a few while looking for the Crusha Fruit?"
Silvey nodded again.
"Awesome!" Makenna announced. She took Raeven off her shoulder and set him down on Silvey's back. To start her search for the Crusha Fruit, she jogged to a banana tree and repeated what the Crusha Fruit looked like to herself: "A cluster of small, green bananas." Makenna licked her lips when she saw bananas in a banana tree, and her tummy rumbled.
Silvey and Raeven watched as Makenna jumped and reached for the bananas, but she wasn't able to reach them. Ugh, if only she could transform into a fairy whenever she wanted to! Makenna tried to think of a way to get the bananas. After a bit, something came to mind.
Makenna turned to the waterfall's pool and picked up some water with her new powers. She opened her arms like a jaw, and the water took on the form of an arrow. Makenna launched it toward the bananas. It smacked them and snapped them off the tree.
The bananas hit the jungle floor, and Makenna grinned. She approached the bananas and plucked one. Makenna peeled the fruit and took a bite. Oh man, was it good! Coutarine Island bananas were delicious!
With a full mouth, Makenna mumbled, "Oh, they're so good!"
Silvey and Raeven chuckled.
Since Makenna was hungry, she finished her banana quickly. Immediately after, she tried the different fruits. Most of them were fruits she's never seen before. Some of them had magical effects.
Silvey put her nose to the ground. Her sniffer took her to a palm tree that had coconut-like berries on it, but they weren't coconuts. Since she had lived all her life on Coutarine Island, Silvey immediately knew they were the berries she wanted.
Her tall ears stood straight up, and she extended her two feelers. They reached all the way up the palm tree and plucked one of the berries off it.
Silvey pulled her feelers down and trotted to Makenna, who lay on the ground, crying. After eating one of the magical fruits, she lost the ability to speak clearly.
Nudging her, Silvey sat and offered her the fruit.
Makenna unburied her face from her hands, and her eyes landed on the dog holding the berry.
"Bwa, bwa?" she asked, pointing at the berry.
Silvey nodded.
Rubbing her eyes, Makenna reached forward and took the berry out of her feelers. She bit into it and waited for a bit. Once the berry's effect soaked in, she tried speaking. "He-Hello?" Makenna gasped. Her voice! Her voice was back! Silvey did it! Tears of joy ran down Makenna's cheeks, and she yelled, "Thank you!" at Silvey in a choked voice.
The fairy dog chuckled and closed her eyes.
Makenna crawled to her and pulled her into a tight hug. "You're a genius, Silvey! A genius!"
Silvey licked her cheek.
Raeven soon appeared beside Makenna and huffed. "Princess, what does that make me, then?"
Makenna didn't answer him. She instead asked Silvey, "Do you think you can tell me where the Crusha Fruit is, Sil?"
Silvey bobbed her head and pushed Makenna forward to the waterfall's cyan pool. Raeven landed on her back, and they together gestured at it.
"Wait a minute," said Makenna, gesturing at the water. "Are you telling me it's down there?"
"It is, Miss Delling," Raeven spoke. "The Crusha Fruit is very special. It needs to be protected at all costs, so it grows in a safe location. As long as you follow your fairy instincts, you'll find it no problem."
"Um, hello!" Makenna sarcastically admitted. "In case you have forgotten, Raeven, I can't breathe underwater!"
"That may be true," said Raeven, "but you can hold your breath for about an hour now. That's more than enough time to find the fruit. This is something you must do alone, though. Silvey and I can't accompany you. When you do find the fruit, bring it back to us."
Makenna groaned. "Man, you animals are trying to kill me. Ugh." She muttered to herself and pulled off her sandals. Makenna set them down on a rock and glanced back at Raeven and Silvey. "Just to let you know, I'm not good with these new powers of mine."
"You'll be fine," Raeven said. He and Silvey winked at each other.
"Oh, look at this water," Makenna grumbled while she slipped into the waterfall's pool. "I don't even want to think about how many fish peed in it." Her foot slipped, and she landed in the water with a splash. Hurrying to the surface, Makenna slightly screamed when she stood. The water reached her chest. "You two owe me," she growled at Silvey and Raeven.
Raeven shook his head. "You're hilarious, Makenn."
Makenna growled and stuck her tongue out. "When I die, you two will be responsible for dragging my carcass out."
"You're not going to die," Raeven said. "You're just going on a little adventure. Think about Ash. He needs that Crusha Fruit, Miss Delling. Without it, his concussion could get worse."
Makenna huffed. "Can't he snap his fingers and say, 'Oh, drat, magic, I have a concussion. Why don't you heal me?"
"Magic doesn't work that way," Raeven sternly explained, crossing his wings. "It's not like the magic you see in movies, Miss Delling. Only adult fairies can use healing magic, not underage ones like Ash. It takes many, many years for a fairy to perfect that skill."
"Whatever," Makenna scoffed. "I'll find that Crusha Fruit, but right now, I don't really care about Ash. I care about getting myself out of this garbage and back home."
Raeven closed his eyes and admitted, "Selfishness is another thing you need to work on. You will never become a True Metamorphic Fairy, Makenna, with this personality of yours. It's gotten a little better since last year—that's how you earned your third transformation—but it's not totally gone."
Makenna turned red. She had just been outsmarted by a bat! She said nothing more to the animals and dove underwater into the waterfall's cyan pool.
Once Makenna vanished from sight, Raeven opened his eyes and smiled at Silvey. "I handled that rather well. Don't you think, Sil?"
Silvey chuckled and told him through telepathy, "You sure did, Rae."