Note: Well, here it is everyone, whether you wanted it or not: the sequel for Rewrite Reincarnation. I hope you will enjoy it and let me know what you think.
I do not own the characters of Haven, the people who created them do. I only own the characters I created.
Special thanks to TRDowden1 for letting me revitalized one of her stories!
What I did Over Summer Vacation
Dear Bridget,
Bet you thought they stopped making postcards, huh? How are you doing? How are Samiir and Dominic? I'm writing from a port on an island off of Canada. The island's okay; it's just like Haven . . . literally . . .
Ch. 1: Late Night Movie
Todd woke up feeling someone touching his face and saw Reinette pawing his face.
'Hun-gry!' Reinette meowed. 'Food, please!'
Todd grunted as he got up and dressed. He looked out of a porthole from The Cape Rouge, still amazed about his situation; never imagining his Summer Vacation would be like this. Three months ago, he was just an orphan kid, living with his adoptive parents, attending Patrick Danville Middle School, hanging with his friends. Then two months ago, a voice appeared in his head and he learned about Troubles, Haven, and he had a distant relative named Duke Crocker, who was the voice in his head. Duke was brought back to life and later, so was his girlfriend, Jennifer Mason. He helped his new friends he made in Haven, and they all saved the town from a sentient dimension, The Void. Now he's spending his Summer Vacation with Duke, Jennifer, and his cat, Reinette, exploring a changed world since the explosion of the Pellucid Aether Cores.
When Todd was ready, he headed for the kitchen and Reinette followed him. Jennifer was already there watching Duke make breakfast. Jennifer smiled when she saw Todd and Reinette.
"Good morning, Todd," Jennifer said.
"Morning," Todd said, getting cat food out for Reinette who happily meowed her thanks.
"Hey," Duke said, finishing cooking as Reinette ate.
"Hey," Todd replied. Duke then served breakfast as he and Todd sat down.
"So, what are we going to do today?" Jennifer asked as they ate.
"Just touring," Duke said. "This place has a lot of historic landmarks, including a movie theater, which holds film festivals; they're having one today."
"Can we see the film festival?" Todd eagerly asked and Duke smiled.
"I was planning to take you guys. We have to buy the tickets ahead, though; it's some sort of strange traditional custom they have where they have movie posters out for the different types of films they're showing," Duke said.
Todd and Jennifer were fine with that.
After they toured the town a bit, they headed to the movie theater to choose what film festival they wanted to attend.
"Hey! This one is showing Howl's Moving Castle!" Todd said, when he recognized the movie poster, and looked at the adults. "Did you ever see it?" Duke and Jennifer shook their heads. "It's one of my favorite movies! Can we see it?"
"The artwork is beautiful, but . . . I lived through fanciful adventures before," Jennifer said, then added under her breath, "and it ended badly." She then looked at Todd. "I'm sorry, Todd, I'm not in the mood for cartoons today."
Todd was disappointed, then Duke saw another movie poster.
"How about film-noir instead?" Duke said, getting the others' attention. Jennifer and Todd looked at the movie poster of Die, My Pretty Dove, Die.
"That looks like fun," Jennifer said, smiling. Todd looked reluctant, but agreed.
Duke noticed Todd's expression and messed with his hair. "You need to expand your horizons, kid. If you're not having fun, just let me know, and I promise we'll leave."
Todd had to smile and Duke purchased the tickets.
After making sure Reinette was safe and secure abroad The Cape Rouge, Todd, Duke, and Jennifer went to the film-noir film festival. The theater wasn't that crowded, only nine people attended, including them. Most of audience was senior citizens.
The lights dimmed, and the first movie, Die, My Pretty Dove, Die started up.
"I love these old movies," Jennifer whispered, leaning her head against Duke's shoulder.
"Yeah, me too," he whispered back. "I always thought it would have been cool to have lived back then," he sighed. "Seems like things were a lot simpler then."
"Yeah, like women being treated like second-class citizens," Jennifer jokily complained and playfully punched Duke in the arm. Todd covered his mouth, trying to keep his laughter low as he watched them.
Todd found himself starting to like the movie; however, soon, the movie screen went blank.
"Sorry, folks," an elderly voice said from the projection booth. "Just ran into a little snag; wait a few minutes."
After a while, though, Todd was getting restless.
"Maybe we should find an employee outside and let them know what happened," Jennifer suggested.
Duke and Todd agreed, and got up along with Jennifer.
Duke opened the door . . . and found that the outside world had faded into black and white.
Duke looked around, startled. He glanced at himself, surprised, seeing that his seeing his denim shirt and jeans had vanished and were replaced with a gray suit and tie.
"What's happening to me?" he asked no one. He whirled back around to go back through the door, to find that it had disappeared...along with the theater. Now he was standing in the middle of a drugstore, with a soda jerk giving him a funny look.
Duke spotted a mirror, and walked over to it. He was dressed in the style of the 1940's, complete with a fedora, and the realization sank in that he was still in the movie theater; only now he was in the movie.
He felt his suit pockets, finding a wallet with a paper driver's license that said his name was Jake Hargrove, along with a detective's license.
"I'm the guy in the movie," he said, still staring at his reflection. He racked his brains, trying to retrace his steps to figure out a way to get out of the movie – or how he'd gotten here in the first place.
Duke heard the drugstore's bell ding as the door was opened, followed by the sound of hurrying footsteps.
"Duke, what's going on with us?" Jennifer voice said from behind him.
Duke turned around and gawped at Jennifer and Todd's appearance Jennifer was now wearing a sweater with a plaid skirt, a flower-trimmed hat, short gloves, flats and was carrying a small clutch purse. Todd's clothes changed into a sweater vest over a plain shirt, short pants, knee-high socks, laced-up shoes, and a newsboy's cap.
Duke herded the two outside, and into a small alleyway.
"We somehow got transported inside the movie," Duke said to them. "I'm Jake Hargrove, a private investigator, Jennifer, you're Ellie Lawrence, Jake's . . . Girl Friday, and Todd, you're Buddy Key, an orphan who witnessed a murder and is now under Jake's protection."
"How do we get out?" Todd asked, wanting to get back to his own clothes.
"I don't know, but we need to escape before the movie ends," Duke said.
"Why? What happens in the end?" Jennifer asked, concerned.
Duke sighed. "Jake gets gunned down by the bad guys, trying to protect Ellie and Buddy."
Jennifer and Todd looked horrified.
"We have to get out before that happens," Jennifer said and Duke held her close.
"Don't worry your pretty head, doll, Jake's going to take care of everything," Duke said. Jennifer and Todd looked confused.
"Duke?" they chorused and Duke blinked as he let go of Jennifer.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Don't you remember?" Jennifer asked.
"I . . . called you 'doll' . . . like . . . like . . ." Duke then groaned and rolled his eyes. "Like in the movie."
"What does that means?" Todd asked and Jennifer held onto Duke.
"Right now I want to forget about the craziness of this world and just hold me tight," Jennifer said, then she blinked and backed away from Duke.
"It means the longer we remain here, the more we behave as the characters," Duke said.
"Gosh, minster! That sounds awful!" Todd said, then a second later, frowned at what he said.
"Is this a Trouble?" Jennifer said and Duke shook his head.
"Vince said because of what Todd did, every Trouble changed into a Favor," Duke said.
"Do they work here? In the movie?" Todd asked.
Duke thought it over. He then signaled Jennifer and Todd to follow him and he led them to a fountain in the middle of the park. Duke double-checked to make sure nobody was in sight and then made a small gesture with his hand. The water rose up and floated in a circle. They then heard a crash and saw a hobo dropping his bag, staring at the floating water. The hobo then looked at his other hand which held a paper bag containing a bottle.
"It has to be," the hobo said, watching Duke lowering the water back into the fountain. He gave the bagged bottle a dirty look and set it down on a park bench.
"It's gotta be the hooch," he grumbled before he picked up his bag and left in a great hurry.
After the hobo had gone, Duke turned to Todd and nodded.
'Duke, Jennifer, can you hear me?' Todd's voice said in their heads and the adults nodded back, which made everyone smiled.
"My turn now," Jennifer said and took in a deep breath. She looked around and found a closed store, and they all went over to it. She placed her hand on the door handle and concentrated on the movie theater. Jennifer opened the door and inside was a movie theater, but it wasn't the one they attended.
Duke sighed. "It's the movie theater from the movie," he said as Jennifer closed the door.
"Guess my Favor is limited to inside the movie," Jennifer said. "Sorry."
"Now what do we do?" Todd asked.
"Find our own way out of here," Duke said as he walked down the street and the others followed him.
"This wouldn't have happened if we saw Howl's Moving Castle instead," Todd grumbled.
Duke had to smile hearing Todd's complaint. "This could happen if we saw that movie as well, then where would we be?"
"We'll be in color."
"Actually, that would be an improvement," Jennifer admitted.
Soon, a vintage squad car pulled up alongside of them, and a uniformed officer got out.
"Got a few questions we need to be askin' ye downtown, Jake," the officer said, and once again, Duke didn't remember he was Duke Crocker anymore; he was Jake Hargrove, Private Eye.
"Who's gonna be doin' the askin'?" he questioned, as Jennifer and Todd looked concerned.
"Captain O'Hara. Now come along peaceful-like, an' me and the boys won't have to be so rough like last time," the cop told him.
"That suits me fine," Duke mumbled. "You boys play way too rough in your schoolyard."
Captain O'Hara then noticed Jennifer. "An' who's she, Hargrove?" the captain demanded. "She another one a' yer floozies? Is she in on the crime with you or are you coverin' up for her?" he pressed in his Irish brogue.
"That's no way to speak to a lady," Jennifer said as the persona of Ellie Lawrence took over her. "You may be a copper, but you have the mouth of a thug, and I know my man Jake and he's no criminal."
Todd became even more worried and tried something. 'Duke! Jennifer! Snap out of it!'
Both the adults blinked as Todd tried to reach their true selves, but in doing so, he lost his true self.
"Captain, what are we going with the kid?" a Sergeant asked, coming out of the squad car as Duke and Jennifer shook their heads, coming back.
"We'll drop the lad off at Ms. Pennybrooke's Boarding School," Captain O'Hara said.
"I ain't never going back to that place!" Todd, now as Buddy, exclaimed, and tried to run off, but the Sergeant caught him. "Oh, fiddlesticks!"
"Don't take the kid to that old hag's joint," Duke said, causing Todd and the officers to look at him, "you're gonna need him."
"And why might that be?" the Sergeant questioned.
Duke struggled to hold on to himself, but he had the feeling that if they were separated, they might lose themselves for good.
"Because he hired me to protect him," Duke answered, remembering the line from the movie. "He's a witness – he saw Argent and his gang pull that heist at the art gallery, and Argent shooting that artist."
The Sergeant looked surprised, and glanced at Todd, and Duke nodded.
"So until I can get him to tell that to a Fed, you can imagine why Argent would like to see Buddy meet with a tragic accident. The kid stays with me."
"I never heard the like," the Sergeant grumbled. "All right, everybody into the car."
Once Duke, Jennifer, and Todd were settled in the back, the adults looked at the boy.
"Todd?" Duke whispered as Captain O' Hara started the car. Todd nodded back and Jennifer and Duke were relieved as Todd used his Favor so they can talk in private.
'I think we should stay together to help each other remember who we really are,' Duke said and the others agreed.
'What happens if we all forget who we are at the same time?' Todd asked and Jennifer looked worried.
'Duke, tell us everything you remember in the movie,' Jennifer said. 'That way, if we are separated, we know where the other person is going to go.'
Duke nodded and mentally told Todd and Jennifer the plot of Die, My Pretty Dove, Die.
Todd and Jennifer waited in the police lobby as Duke was being interrogated by the police. Todd paced while Jennifer kept herself busy by going through her purse.
"Just sit down kid; you're making me queasy," an officer said. Todd frowned, but sat next to Jennifer.
"Do you see anything unusual or out of place?" Jennifer asked Todd, hoping to find a clue on how they got into the movie, but Todd shook his head and Jennifer sighed.
A few moments later, Duke came out, and Jennifer and Todd went up to him.
"Good to see you too, doll," Duke or rather, Jake, said. "Let's get outta here – it stinks around here."
Jennifer and Todd were worried.
"Duke?" Jennifer asked.
"Who's Duke? Is this a joke? Are you trying to be funny?" Duke said, coming closer to her. "That's one of the reasons I like being around you, Ellie."
"Duke?" Jennifer asked. "It's all right now, Duke, they can't hear us talking anymore," she told him.
"What are you talking about?" Duke, or rather Jake asked. "Did you fall on your head or something?"
"No! No, Duke, you have to remember," Todd urged, worried now. "Your name's not Jake Hargrove – it's Duke Crocker!"
"That's cute, kid—trying to make me smile after a grilling from the cops," Duke grinned, ruffling Todd's hair.
"It's . . . it's your alias," Todd got out, and Jennifer chuckled, lost to Ellie once again.
"If Jake was gonna pick an alias, kid, I think he could do better than a name like Duke Crocker," she chided Todd affectionately, linking her arm with Duke's. "C'mon, let's grab something at Eddie's Place—he's still open."
"Good thinking, doll," Duke said, smiling at Jennifer before he looked at Todd. "You probably have an appetite waiting here. Meal's on me, kid."
'Duke! Jennifer! Come back!' Todd psychically urged, but he felt he hit a mental wall, blocking him to reach the adults' minds, which gave him a headache.
"You okay, Buddy?" Jennifer asked, seeing Todd rubbing his forehead.
"I got a headache," Todd replied.
"You're probably hungry; let's eat," Duke said, leading them out.
As Duke and Jennifer ordered their meal, Todd tried again, calling to them with his mind. This time, Duke hesitated in his order, but only for a moment before he went back being Jake.
"What's the matter, Jake?" Jennifer asked.
"Nothin', doll, nothin'," Duke grumbled, shaking his head. "My mind's playin' tricks on me."
Todd was not only worried, but scared as well. What happened if he started to believe he was Buddy?
"What's the matter, Buddy?" Jennifer asked, seeing Todd's sad expression when the waitress came back with their food.
"I got your favorite: hamburger, fries, and milkshake," Duke said.
"I . . . miss my family," Todd said.
"You had a family?" Jennifer asked, sympathetically.
"Yeah . . . I recently found out about a long-lost cousin . . . and he said I could visit him and his girlfriend over the summer," Todd said. "You both . . . remind me of them."
"What happened to them?" Duke asked. Todd thought he saw a flicker of recognition in their eyes and got an idea.
"They . . . both died trying to stop some bad guy," Todd said. "My cousin's girlfriend . . . she died in a lighthouse."
Todd then felt Jennifer coming back as someone picked a song on the jukebox.
"Excuse us, Buddy, I like this song, and I wondered if Ellie would like to join me with a dance," Duke said, and looked at Jennifer.
"Um, sure," Jennifer said as Duke took her hand and got her to her feet.
"Enjoyed your food, while Ellie and I talk about something important," Duke said and lead Jennifer to the dance floor.
Todd watched them for a minute before he tried the food. He had to admit the milkshake was delicious even in black and white.
"Du—Jake, there's something you should know—" Jennifer started to say as they began to slow dance.
"Don't say anything, doll, let me enjoy this moment," Duke said as they danced. "The way things are going down, I don't think I'll have a chance like this again."
"No, listen—"
"There's something I need to say, Ellie," Duke said, moving closer to her. "I . . . I think I've fallen in love with you, Ellie; your sweet face, and your caring heart looking after Buddy."
"But—"
"Shh, don't say a thing; just kiss me, doll," Duke said and kissed Jennifer.
Strangely for Jennifer, it didn't felt like when Tyler took control of Duke and kissed her; it felt like she was really kissing Duke. They broke apart when the song was done.
"Be right back, doll; look after Buddy," Duke said and headed for the restroom. Jennifer then went back to Todd.
"Todd, we need to get Duke back before the end of the movie," Jennifer said and Todd looked confused.
"What are you talking about, Ellie?" Todd, now Buddy asked.
"Excuse me," a new voice said behind her and Jennifer turned to see Laura Van Victor, the femme fatale. "What happened to that tall drink of water you were dancing with?"
"Oh, who?" Jennifer asked, she really had no idea what Laura was talking about.
"That dumb act ain't going to work on me, missy," Laura said. "Where's your boss?"
"No need to be mean, Laura," Duke said, walking up to them. "You want me, here I am."
"You're right about my boss, Jake," Laura said. "I'm ready to help you solve your case. All I want is protection from Argent."
"He won't lay a hand on you, Miss Van Victor," Duke said. "Now, do you have anything we can use against Argent?"
"He loves to look over his successful jobs, so he keeps a little black book full of what Argent and his gang stole and when," Laura said. "I know where it's hidden."
"Okay. Ellie, take Buddy to the police station for safety," Duke said to Jennifer. "We'll be back shortly, sweetheart."
"No, Du—Jake—" Jennifer started to say, but Duke kissed her and left with Laura.
"Do you think they'll still need me if Jake gets this book?" Todd asked, still thinking he was Buddy.
Jennifer tried to calm herself, thinking back on some of relaxation techniques that Duke had taught her. She hoped instinctively that she'd have better luck to get Duke to remember if she had Todd by her side instead of Buddy.
An idea occurred to her, and after she paid for their meal, she quickly led Todd outside and around to the back of the diner where the employee's entrance was located.
"What's going on, Miss Ellie?" Todd asked as Jennifer placed her hand on the doorknob and concentrated.
When she opened the door, it now led to Jake Hargrove's office, and Todd walked in, looking around in awe and confusion as Jennifer closed the door.
"Golly gee! How'd you do that, Miss Ellie?" Todd asked.
"It's my Favor and you saw me use it before," Jennifer said, rushing over to Todd and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Think, Todd! Remember! I need your help to get Duke back! You don't want to stay here! What about your parents? Bridget? Try to remember! Reinette will be heartbroken if you don't return!"
"Who's Reinette? I don't—" Todd blinked. "Reinette . . . she's . . . my cat . . . I . . . she can broadcast her thoughts . . ." He then looked at Jennifer. "Jennifer . . . we . . ."
"We need to find Duke before he gets himself killed," Jennifer said.
Todd nodded back. "Where are we in the movie?"
Jennifer thought back to their mental conversation in the squad car. "Okay . . . according to Duke, Ellie and Buddy were kidnapped by Argent's men as they were heading towards the police station . . . well, we definitely went off script."
"Since we—well, Ellie and Buddy are not kidnapped, we can find Duke and bring him back," Todd said. "Do you know where he is now?"
Jennifer nodded and they then left the office.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth. She saw someone grab Todd as a chloroformed rag was pressed against her face and everything went black.
Jennifer and Todd both woke up gagged, and tied together, back-to-back. It appeared they were in some sort of store room.
'Jennifer? Are you there?' Todd mentally asked and felt Jennifer's relief.
'I was worried that you'll wake up as Buddy,' Jennifer said.
'Me too; I was worried that you'll wake up as Ellie, and then I'll freak you out with my Favor,' Todd said. 'How did Argent's men find us?'
'We'll figure that out after we escape,' Jennifer said and she and Todd struggled against their bonds. 'We have to stop Duke from getting himself killed.'
'I don't get it. Why is so hard to bring Duke back?'
'Duke said he loved these old-time movies and he did say it would have been cool to live in this—that era,' Jennifer said, finding it hard to free herself. 'Maybe he lost himself in the movie. Am I making sense?'
'I still say we should have seen Howl's Moving Castle,' Todd said and Jennifer had to smile underneath her gag.
They then heard footsteps outside the door and tried to listen in.
"Looks like the boss was right to check out all of Hargrove's places, plus his people's."
"What I don't understand is how we missed these two; we were waiting outside of Eddie's."
"Who cares? After tonight, we don't have to worry about Hargrove no more."
'They're going to kill Duke?' Todd asked.
'Yes. In the movie, Argent kidnaps us—Ellie and Buddy—to trade with Jake for Argent's black book,' Jennifer remembered.
'How are we going to save Duke?' Todd asked.
'I have an idea,' Jennifer said, but then Argent's men came in and untied Jennifer and Todd and lead them out.
Todd and Jennifer were then shoved into the back of the car and Argent's men drove off and Jennifer mentally told Todd her plan.
When the car stopped at the harbor, Argent's men pulled Jennifer and Todd out and herded them towards some large crates where Argent was waiting. Todd and Jennifer noticed that Argent and his men were armed, ready to take out Duke/Jake. The fog began to roll in as Todd and Jennifer saw an oily-looking man waiting for them, and recognized him as Argent. Jennifer tried to move away as Argent went over to her and touched her chin.
"Relax, this will be all over shortly," Argent said.
"Argent," Duke's voice called out.
Argent nodded to his men and they herded Jennifer and Todd as they followed their boss. They soon stopped as Duke and Laura, who was carrying the black book, stepped forward. Todd tried to use his Favor to warn Duke, but Duke just frowned, confused.
"What's the matter, Hargrove? Trying to back out of our deal? This dame and kid mean nothing to you?" Argent said, getting Duke's attention.
"Just can't stand looking at your ugly mug," Duke replied and looked at Jennifer and Todd. "They better be unharmed."
"You wound me, Hargrove; you know I don't hurt women or kids just to get my point across," Argent said, then sinisterly smiled, "unless they have it coming to them."
"All right, enough with the yapping; how are we going to do this?" Laura asked.
"On three, we trade," Argent said and Duke agreed. "One . . . two . . . three . . ."
Argent's men pushed Jennifer and Duke forward, and they walked over to Duke, while Laura went over to Argent.
"Nice to see you sometimes play by the rules, Hargrove," Argent said, then signaled to his men and they drew their guns at Duke, "'cause I don't."
However, Duke looked calm. "Now you wound me, Argent. You see, I do know you, and I knew you were going to pull a fast one on me."
Suddenly, lights shone in their direction as police sirens were heard.
"It's the cops! Scram!" one of Argent's men panicked and they ran off.
Argent growled and tried to shoot at Duke, who was escaping with Jennifer and Todd. They stopped behind some crates so Duke could untie them and remove their gags.
"You all right, doll? How about you, kid?" Duke asked, once they were freed. "Are you hurt?"
"We're fine, Du—Jake," Jennifer said. "But we need—"
"No time to talk, sweetheart; we need to move," Duke said as they heard Argent screaming.
Duke led them to a pier where they saw Captain O' Hara waiting for them.
"Now, listen, doll, I need you and Buddy to leave, while I clean up my mess," Duke said to Jennifer. "Captain O'Hara is going to look after you and the kid."
"Hargrove explained what he was doing to protect you and Buddy . . . I had no idea what he went through for your safety . . . I hope you can forgive me for my language earlier," Captain O'Hara said to Jennifer. "You'll both be staying with my mother for the time being; we'll be taking the ferry there. We should get going."
"Wait a minute, Captain, I'd like a minute alone with Ellie," Duke said and took Jennifer over to the side. "I have to stay to make sure Argent's reign ends once and for all; I rather go on that ferry with you and Buddy, but I ain't the selfish type. Just one more kiss, before you go . . ."
Duke leaned in and kissed Jennifer and she winked at Todd. Todd rushed over to Jennifer and held her hand and using his Favor, she and Todd transmitted their memories of Duke to him: his first encounter with Jennifer, finding out Todd's Trouble, Duke asking Jennifer to stay, Duke teaching Todd how to dance, their memory of sailing out on The Cape Rouge, together.
They then heard Argent and his men heading to their direction as the ferry pulled up.
"Sorry, lass, we have to go now," Captain O'Hara said, pulling Jennifer away from Duke, who looked dazed.
Captain O'Hara dragged a protesting Jennifer and Todd away and onto the ferry. Just as the ferry pulled out from the pier, they saw Argent and his men surround Duke, ready to fill him with bullets. Argent tried to shoot at Duke, but he dove into the harbor.
Argent's men opened fire on the spot where Duke had gone in, the water churning furiously from flying lead before the police overran them.
From the deck of the ferry, Jennifer and Todd could see Argent and his men being arrested, but neither took their eyes from the water, hoping for some small sign that Duke was all right; but there was nothing.
Todd put his arms around Jennifer and they held onto each other as they cried, their hearts breaking.
Jennifer sobbed hysterically, not only for Duke's loss, but that his death had been so pointless. And if he were gone, did this mean that she and Todd would now be stuck forever in the movie?
Footsteps approached, and Captain O'Hara walked up to them.
"I know you and the lad have plenty of reasons to be sad, lass, but crying will not help you in the long run; you'll give yourself a headache," Captain O'Hara said. "Jake meant a lot to you, didn't he?"
"More than you'll ever know," Jennifer said through her sobs as Todd wiped away his tears.
"That Hargrove sure got on my nerves, but he really was a good man," Captain O'Hara said.
"Did I have to die so you can say something nice about me?" a familiar voice asked.
Captain O'Hara, Jennifer, and Todd looked to see who was speaking, and saw, dripping wet, Duke!
Jennifer and Duke rushed up to him and surrounded him in hugs.
"Duke?" Jennifer whispered.
"I'm back, Jennifer," Duke said a low voice that only Jennifer and Todd could hear and they smiled, happy and relieved.
"Saints be praised! It's a miracle!" Captain O'Hara cheered, once he was close. "Jake, how did—"
"I'll explain everything once I get into dry clothes," Duke said, grinning.
Captain O'Hara nodded and left to find some clothes. Jennifer and Todd looked at Duke.
"When did you—" Todd began.
"I came back after you two boarded the ferry," Duke explained. "I used my Favor to stay underwater, so Argent believed he got me. I found out because of my Favor, my swimming speed increased, and that's how I caught up."
Jennifer and Todd smiled. "I'm just glad you're alive."
Duke smiled back. "Me too; now then . . . kiss me, sweetheart."
Jennifer giggled, then she and Duke kissed.
Todd, however, looked confused. Right in front of Duke and Jennifer, were the words 'The End.' Then there was a flash of light.
Duke, Jennifer, and Todd found themselves standing in a vast grey place.
"I'm sorry," a meek voice said, and an old man stepped forward, looking guilty. "I didn't know you might be killed."
"Who . . . you placed us in here?" Duke said.
"You're the projectionist," Jennifer said, recognizing the voice, and the man nodded.
"Why did you do it, Mr.—" Todd began.
"Oh, call me Pops; everyone who works here does," Pops said. "People nowadays like action and lots of special effects in their movies; they've forgotten the effort people made in the past to make a movie. I . . . thought you folks got impatient waiting for the movie to be fixed . . . and I wished your generation could be involved in old movies with the same enthusiasm as modern movies . . . then next thing I know . . . I don't care what you think of my explanation, but I'm sorry what happened."
"We do believe you," Jennifer said.
"We've actually had experience with something like this before," Duke told him.
"Um, when can we get back being in color?" Todd asked and Pops had to smile.
There was another flash of light . . . Duke found himself stumbling into the movie theater, followed by Todd and Jennifer. Duke saw the movie, Die, My Pretty Dove, Die, was over as Todd cheered he was back in his clothes.
"There will be a break before we go on with the second film," Pops said from the projectionist booth. "Now is a good time to stretch your legs."
Most of the movie-goers did so.
"I don't remember Die, My Pretty Dove, Die ending like that," they heard an elderly woman said to her friends.
"Maybe they recovered a director's cut version!" her friend said.
"All I know that movie rekindled my crush on the actor who plays Buddy Key," another one of her friends said. "What was his name again . . .?"
Duke and Jennifer smiled when they saw Todd blushed and tried to hide in the shadows.
When the last person left, Todd stepped out as Pops entered the theater.
"Can you help me?" Pops asked, and Duke nodded.
"Only if you don't mind us going home afterwards," Jennifer answered, smiling. "I think we've had enough of the film-noir experience for one day."
Pops was fine with that and they all sat down and talked.
Later on The Cape Rouge, Jennifer was cooking dinner and Todd was setting the table. Duke was out shopping for supplies.
"Hey, Jennifer," Todd said.
"Yes?"
"What Pops did . . . it was almost like a Trouble . . ."
Jennifer sighed. "I know, but there shouldn't be any Aether in this world anymore."
"What if—"
Duke then showed up, carrying bags. He then kissed Jennifer after he placed the bags down as Todd removed Reinette from one of the bags.
"Got everything?" Jennifer asked.
"Yeah, and something extra special," Duke said. "I got us a movie—"
Jennifer and Todd protested and groaned.
"—we can watch after dinner," Duke finished and as he took out the movie and gave it to Todd. "I think this will be something we'll all enjoy."
Todd's eyes widen when he saw the movie. "You got us Howl's Moving Castle?"
Duke grinned. "I figured, since I gave you a film-noir lesson, you should give us an animation lesson."
"Thanks, Duke!" Todd said, smiling.
"You can thank me by feeding your cat, so she could stop helping me unload the groceries," Duke said as Reinette pulled out a bag of bagels.
After dinner, Duke, Jennifer, Todd, and Reinette watched Howl's Moving Castle together. Jennifer snuggled closer to Duke as the movie reached its end.
"It's beautiful, Todd," Jennifer said and looked at him. "I can see how—"
Duke and Jennifer saw Todd was already asleep, curled up with Reinette. The adults smiled and just enjoyed the ending song as Todd dreamed.
In Todd's dream, he ran around the outdoor garden of The Cape Rouge as the flying ship sailed in the sky. He laughed as he played with Reinette. He looked up at the crow's nest-balcony to see Jennifer and Duke, looking at each other. They then kissed.
Note: Hey, everyone: if you have an idea or request for a chapter, let me know and I'll try to write it out. Thank you!