Makenna and Jessica finally reached McKevlin's Surf Shop. They had to cross the road to get into the parking lot.
McKevlin's Surf Shop was a long, yellow building on wooden beams with a brown roof. Under it were boards with paintings of pirates and surfers.
Makenna pointed at the shop and said, "There it is, Jessica!"
"Awesome!" Jessica announced. "Hey, Makenna, check it out! McKevlin's got a new accessory!" Her eyes had landed on the boards with the pirate and surfing paintings. "Get my picture!" Jessica begged. "Please get my picture!"
"Sure." Makenna reached into the pocket of her beach dress and drew her iPhone. She turned it on and scrolled to the camera. Once the camera was up, she gestured for where she wanted Jessica to stand. "Stand there, Jessica, beside the two surfer dudes heading out to the ocean. There you go." Makenna had Jessica right where she wanted. She stood before a painting of two surfer dudes, holding surfboards, who ran toward the sea. "Now do a pose," Makenna told her friend. "Pretend you, too, are running out to sea."
"Awesome." Jessica clenched her fists and struck a running pose parallel to the surfer dudes. "How's this, Makenna?"
"Perfect. Now hold it." Makenna held her phone close to her eyes and double-checked to ensure Jessica was where she wanted her. "All right," Makenna added. "Here we go. One, two, and—"
However, just before she took the picture, a large, furry face appeared before her phone's lens. "Hi." The face belonged to a bat, a Megabat.
"Ahhh!" Makenna screamed. She dropped her phone, turned on her heel, and sprinted away. She dove behind a jeep parked in the parking lot and pressed her back against it, breathing heavily.
"Makenna, what's wrong?" Jessica asked. "Did you get the picture?" However, her own eyes caught the Megabat hovering over Makenna's phone, and she, too, screamed. "Ahhh! Bat!" Jessica quickly let go of her pose and dove behind the boards.
From where he hovered, the bewildered bat shrugged and glanced in each direction the girls hid in. "Was it something I said?" He focused on Makenna's hiding place and shook his head, saying, "Oh, what a strange, little machine."
The bat soared to the jeep and landed on its hood, putting his paws together. "Makenna? Makenna, are you there? Don't you recognize a bat when you see one? It's me! Raeven, the notorious, phenomenal, handsome Megabat! Not to mention, I did get my fur groomed at Bat Central, so I'm even more handsome than the last time you saw me."
Where Jessica hid, she peered up from behind the boards, and her blue eyes landed on Raeven. "That dawg gone Raeven!" she groaned, letting her arm dangle before the boards' paintings. "I'm gonna have to put him in a bubble!"
Makenna, still hiding behind the jeep, soon recognized Raeven's voice and asked, "Raeven?"
"Correct, Miss Delling." Raeven blew her a kiss. "Mwah."
Makenna stood and rested her arms on the jeep's hood. "Raeven!" she said, but the hood was hot, so she removed her arms from it. Her eyes landed on the Megabat. "What's wrong with you? You nearly gave me a heart attack! Don't do that!"
"My apologies, Miss Delling, but you should at least give me some credit for the fact that I flew all the way here from Merlin's Island to seek you out."
Jessica had now tiptoed out from her hiding place and slowly started approaching the jeep. She stopped over Makenna's phone and picked it up. Jessica brushed it off, seeing that the phone's screen had cracked. "Uh oh," she whispered.
Where Raeven and Makenna were, Makenna immediately jumped into questions about Tracey: "Well, Raeven, how is he? How's Tracey?"
"Much better," he answered, seeming to smile. "Although there are still times when his back tingles, and he's still receiving therapy, he's doing much better. Just the other day, he rode Gina up to the ledge at Merlindial Falls. He meditated under the water. Makenna Delling, I think we have our Tracey back! But wait!" Raeven did a face palm and began to pace. "He's still under the Octopus Man's spell! Oh, this is horrible, horrible, horrible! Just when we think we have Merlin's apprentice back, he's going to be stripped of magic all over again! Yikes! What if we can't save him this time? This is a big problem! A huge problem! A big, big, big—"
Makenna closed his muzzle and forced him to shut up. "Enough, Raeven," she said, tightening her grip on his muzzle. "Don't think that. We'll find a way to break the spell. I promise." She released Raeven, and he rubbed his muzzle. "Currently, though, that invitation to Australia is the first bullet point on my list. I must win today's meet. When I do, then I'll consider helping Tracey. He's well enough now that I can finally see him again, right?"
Raeven nodded. "I believe so, Miss Delling, but keep in mind that he may not recognize you. After all, you only knew him for six days, and then you haven't seen him since last April. It's been about a year and two months since you last saw him."
Makenna's jaw dropped. "Aw darn it all." She propped up her chin. "This is going to be tough."
"We'll figure something out," spoke Raeven. "I promise. After all, this is Raeven the Megabat you're talking to! Remember, we're mega, mega awesome, and we do everything in our willpower to help our mega, mega awesome friends!"
"Makenna?" Jessica had just reached the jeep.
At the sound of her voice, Raeven yelped and leaped ten feet in the air. He ended up falling over the jeep's hood, but caught himself on the tire.
"Raeven!" Makenna gasped and glanced at Jessica. "What was that for, Jessica?"
"Sorry," Jessica apologized, "but um, you see ... your phone... Well..." She shrugged and held Makenna's phone out to her.
Makenna stared, and then she slowly nodded and admitted, "That's okay, Jessica. I'll ask my grandma to buy me a new one." Reaching out, she took her phone back and peered down at it. "That's as if she ever comes back to life."
Jessica inhaled. She and Makenna turned their heads toward Raeven, and Makenna slipped her phone into her beach dress's pocket.
"Raeven!" she said after a bit, and she and Jessica approached him.
"I live!" he announced. "Hallelujah! But, OMG, how much longer is this going to last?" Raeven wrapped his wings around his body.
"Hm," said Makenna, pointing at him, "something tells me Tracey isn't the only reason why you've come to me today, Raeven."
Before Raeven could speak, a new voice chimed in behind him, Makenna, and Jessica. "Ah, well, if it isn't Makenna Delling and Jessica Hughes!" The voice belonged to the owner of McKevlin's Surf Shop, George McKevlin. He was an older man, maybe in his mid-fifties, with a few strands of hair starting to gray.
Makenna and Jessica heard him and whirled around.
Makenna said, "Mr. McKevlin!" and, as an attempt to hide Raeven, leaped before the jeep's tire.
Mr. McKevlin stopped before her and shouted, "Ah, my favorite customers! You made it! I knew you would!" He originally was from Sydney, Australia, so he had an Australian accent. "Good news, surfies, I've got a bundle of new surfing supplies for you to look at! Flash sheilas like you ought to come check them out!"
"Awesome, sir!" Makenna announced. She couldn't help but smile. "Why else do you think we came? Of course, we want to check out what's new in stock. Right, Jessica?"
"Hm?" Jessica asked. "Oh yes." She, too, smiled. "Lead the way, Mr. McKevlin. We're right behind you."
Mr. McKevlin cheered and announced, "Good on ya! Follow me, loves!" And with that, he marched toward his shop and started to climb the stairs.
Makenna and Jessica inhaled and turned their heads to Raeven.
He now sat on top of the tire and met Makenna's eyes.
"Now, Raeven," she spoke, picking him up, "you have to promise me you won't make a peep. The last thing I want is to get chased by the police because I have a talking bat. Do you think I can slip you into Jessica's bag and have you be quiet? Can I trust you?"
"Oh, absolutely, Miss Delling!" Raeven chimed. "I'm willing to do anything to help a fairy such as yourself!"
"Shh!" Makenna snapped, bringing her finger to her lips.
From the top of McKevlin's Surf Shop's staircase, Mr. McKevlin asked, "You coming, mates?"
"Yes, sir!" Makenna stuffed Raeven into Jessica's beach bag, which she wore over her shoulder. Surely he would be comfortable in there. "You have to promise you'll stay as unnoticeable as possible!" Makenna snappily ordered Raeven.
"Fine," the bat said. "If that is what you desire. I shall make your dream come true." And just like that, he slipped his head and body into Jessica's bag, and she zipped it up.
She and Makenna met eyes and crossed their fingers.
"Come on, Jessica," Makenna said after a bit. "We have to make this fast, so we don't keep Mom, Dad, and Caleb waiting any longer." She took Jessica's shoulder and led her to McKevlin's staircase, where they soon faced Mr. McKevlin himself. While they stood at the base of the stairs, he stood at the top.
Makenna smiled and said, "We're here, Mr. McKevlin." She nudged Jessica's bag because Raeven squirmed a bit inside.
"Wonderful, loves!" announced Mr. McKevlin, clapping. "All right, now follow me!" He opened the door to his store and slipped inside.
Makenna and Jessica followed, but Makenna fell behind Jessica because she thought she saw something in the sky: a sparkle. Hm, could it be? Makenna had to figure this out! "Jessica," she whispered, retaking her shoulder.
"Yes, Makenna?" asked her friend.
Makenna continued: "I'll meet you and Mr. McKevlin inside in just a sec. I have to take care of something. May you make sure Raeven stays quiet?"
Jessica nodded. "Sure, Makenna. Don't take too long now, though, okay?"
"I won't," Makenna promised. "I promise." She and Jessica shared a quick hug.
After the hug, Jessica waved and sauntered up the final few steps. She, too, disappeared inside McKevlin's Surf Shop, and Raeven was with her.
Makenna sure hoped he wouldn't cause a ruckus, but she didn't know for sure.
When she ensured the coast was clear, Makenna scurried down the staircase and leaped into the parking lot again. Her blue eyes peered into the sky, landing on the sparkle she saw. She wasn't crazy! She did see something!
"Tracey?" Makenna asked after a bit. "Tracey, is that you?" She followed the light, but stopped when it began flickering.
Before Makenna knew it, the light flashed and floated down toward her. "Uh?" she inquired, a little nervous. "Tracey?" Makenna stepped back and watched as the light drew closer. While it did, she next heard a voice, and it came from the light. It sounded old but wise, and Makenna immediately recognized it.
"Makenna Delling," spoke the female voice, "it is time."
"Selene?" gasped Makenna. "Selene! Oh man, it's been so long!" Sure enough, the voice in the sparkle belonged to Selene, the wisest, oldest fairy in the world. While she wasn't exactly with Makenna right now, she communicated with her through telepathy and the sparkle.
Makenna held her hands out to it.
The sparkle flittered to her palms and hovered over them, and Selene's voice added, "It is time for you to return to Merlin's Island and meet back up with Tracey."
"Tracey?" Makenna asked, blushing. "Is he really that much better? Has he asked about me? I mean, has he mentioned me at all? Aw man, those mean the same thing." Makenna blushed harder.
Selene chuckled. "Sorry, Makenna," she said after a bit, "but he hasn't mentioned you at all."
Makenna turned to stone. "Uh?" was all she could say. Oh no, her first attempt at love flushed down the toilet! Makenna lowered her head and added, "That's okay, Selene."
"Hey, don't worry," Selene comfortably told her. "I'm sure he'll remember you the second he sees you again. Keep in mind, my dear, he's had a very rough fight. The Octopus Man is growing stronger, and you have to hurry and break the spell cast upon Tracey before he strips him of magic all over again."
Makenna nodded understandingly. "I understand, Selene, but I can't go to Tracey right now. I have to win this invitational to Australia first. Besides, bear in mind that I can't fly until sunset."
Selene sighed. "I am well aware. After all, I am just the messenger. However, please promise me, Miss Delling, that you'll fly to Merlin's Island as soon as possible. Tracey needs you."
Makenna chuckled. Her braces shimmered in the sunshine. "Don't worry, Selene. You can trust me. I'm not the girl I was before. I promise I will never abandon Tracey like that again. He didn't deserve to be treated like that."
"That is the attitude of a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy," said Selene, and the sparkle started to twirl. "Thank you, Makenna. I shall inform Merlin on Coutarine Island."
"Coutarine Island?" Makenna asked. "Why is Merlin on Coutarine Island, Selene?" Coutarine Island was another enchanted island not far from Merlin's Island. It was inhabited by fairy sprites (small fairies) and also home to the Coutarine Fairy Hospital, where Tracey went after his accident. Was he okay? Did Raeven tell Makenna the truth?
"Is Tracey okay?" was her next question for Selene. "Please, Selene! Don't tell me he's in the hospital again!"
Selene quickly calmed her down. "Oh, don't worry, my dear! Tracey is fine! He's wonderful! Merlin the Great went to Coutarine Island for a very urgent mission."
"Urgent?" Makenna questioned. "Uh oh." She gulped. "Is it the Octopus Man again?" Right after she asked that, Selene's sparkle expanded. Before Makenna knew it, it took on a holographic form of the elderly fairy. Now Makenna could see her.
Selene was small, for she had performed the Shrinking Spell, and had a fairy godmother-like appearance to her. Her hair was pulled back in a bun, and she wore a long, green cloak, a dark green cape pinned with a purple heart, and green shoes. In her hand, she held a purple wand that could change from a wand into a cane and back into a wand. Her wings were purple and relatively small, but they were a good size for her.
She curtsied to Makenna and explained, "Let's just say the mission is vital. However, if you don't mind, Makenna, could you do Merlin and me a favor?"
"Sure," said Makenna. "What do you want, Selene?"
"I have here an extremely important parcel." Selene waved her hand, and a box-shaped, medium-sized parcel wrapped in brown wrapping paper and strings appeared before Makenna's face.
Makenna's mouth gaped open. "What is this?" she asked Selene, accepting the parcel.
Selene explained, "This extremely important parcel contains urgent supplies for Merlin to use for his mission. You must deliver this to Coutarine Island as soon as possible. The supplies in it are very fragile. Whatever you do, don't you dare tip over this box."
Makenna shook her head. "I don't understand. You want me to go to Coutarine Island?"
"Yes, Makenna Delling. Take Tracey with you."
"Tracey?" asked Makenna. Her mind bubbled with questions. "Wait a minute! Merlin didn't take Tracey to Coutarine Island with him?"
"I'm afraid not, Miss Delling," elucidated Selene. "You see, Merlin wanted to bring Tracey along—he really did—but then he concluded that he isn't strong enough yet to act in an urgent mission unless somebody is with him—somebody like yourself. You see, Makenna, Tracey is in deep danger. He's now very vulnerable, which makes him a much easier target for the Octopus Man. The broken wings were only the beginning. So please, Makenna, I'm begging you. Take Tracey and this parcel to Coutarine Island. There, you shall learn from a friend of mine, a young wizard, a little bit about your next quest: your journey to the Bermuda Triangle."
"Whoa, what?" Makenna yelped. Her eyes widened. "What are you talking about, Selene? The Bermuda Triangle? I'm not going to the Bermuda Triangle! Sure, I'll deliver Tracey and this extremely important parcel to Merlin, but no further than that. The Bermuda Triangle is also called 'Devil's Triangle'. It has 'Death' written all over it! Remember what happened last year with Joaquin?"
"If that is what you desire," Selene stated. "I won't force you, but let me inform you that the Bermuda Triangle may be your last chance to save Tracey once and for all. Choose wisely, Makenna, and make sure that parcel gets to Merlin."
Makenna lowered her head and, taking one hand off the parcel, reached for her horse head-shaped necklace pendant. She said nothing more to Selene. Her words, "The Bermuda Triangle may be your last chance to save Tracey once and for all," struck her like a bullet severing her flesh.
While she didn't say anything, Selene did. "I hope to see you again, my dear, at my sailboat before your water self takes over." And just like that, her image faded, and the mysterious sparkle vanished in a blast of light.
Makenna was left behind, troubled, but she tried to calm herself. "Calm down, Makenna. Selene's just trying to scare you. The invitation to Australia will lift your spirits. Hm, I wonder what's in this." Makenna gripped the parcel on either side and looked it up and down. She remembered Selene telling her not to tip it over and wondered why.
Makenna turned back toward McKevlin's Surf Shop and tried to think of a place to hide the parcel. She couldn't just waltz inside and announce, "Hey, sorry I took so long! I was talking with the wisest, oldest fairy in the world, and she gave me an extremely important parcel to deliver to Merlin the Great."
Makenna soon decided to slip the parcel under McKevlin's staircase for now. It would be safe there.
Once Makenna did that, she jogged up the stairs and opened the door to McKevlin's. She smiled the second she stepped inside.
McKelvin's Surf Shop was a cheerful little place. It was cluttered but in a nice way. Surfboards and surfing supplies surrounded the young fairy, and surfing music played from the radio.
Makenna saw Jessica and Mr. McKevlin.
They stood by a surfboard, and Mr. McKevlin smiled at Jessica. He then noticed Makenna and gasped. "G'Day, love! We were getting worried!" He approached Makenna and grasped her shoulder. "Can I interest you in a chili dog, or perhaps a new pair of sunnies?"
"No!" Makenna quickly spoke, releasing herself. "Sorry I took so long, Mr. McKevlin, but I received a call from my friend Tracey."
Jessica gave her a funny look.
"Tracey?" asked Mr. McKevlin. "Is this Tracey another surfie?"
Makenna didn't mean to, but she shook her head and answered, "No, he's a fair—" However, she quickly realized what she was about to say and changed her words. "I mean... Yeah! Tracey is another surfie! He and I are in the same surfing class." She took a deep breath. That was too close.
"Ta!" shouted Mr. McKevlin. He lifted his arms over his head. "Awesome! Mates, why don't we work together to discover the mysteries behind what's new in stock today? Who knows, we may even find something for your other surfie friend, Makenna."
Makenna smiled nervously. "I sure hope so. All right, Mr. McKevlin, lead the way."
Mr. McKevlin grinned and started the tour.