"C'mon, Ms. Evelyn, we have to go now," Paolo wheedled, tugging on her arm.
"Yeah, Evie, let's go!" Finn said from where he was perched on Paolo's head.
"Go where?" Phoebe asked, stepping up to them with the duck egg in hand.
Luke was thundering down the steps towards them, leaping down two or three at a time. "I heard it, too! I can't believe it worked," he bellowed.
Evie took the duck egg with the hand Paolo wasn't yanking at and smiled awkwardly at Phoebe. "I made a promise to Paolo. I should keep it. It won't take long."
"Yeah, 'specially since it's magic and timey-wimey stuff!" Paolo agreed. Evie tried not to groan, though her smile felt tight.
Phoebe glanced between them, eyebrows high and glasses slipping down her nose. "Sounds like a Doctor Who reference…?"
Evie barely kept from flinching, since she had used a Doctor Who quote to explain the magic to Paolo. "Yeah, it's– uh…"
"Yo! I can't believe it worked!" Luke repeated, throwing his arm around Evie's shoulder and thankfully cutting her off. She let out a wordless sound of disgust when water soaked through her shirt. "Oh, sorry! I forgot. Here, this is for you!" Luke held out the black pearl in his dripping wet hand to Evie with a face-splitting grin. "I snatched it before I came back down."
"Oh, wow, thanks, but… Phoebe, you should–" Evie tried, pushing Luke's hand towards Phoebe.
Phoebe huffed and shook her head. "I'm not much of a pearl person. Give me iron or copper any day. You keep it."
"But- what? Really? But I never could have made it all the way down there without you!" Evie said, eyes shiny and hands over her mouth. Phoebe looked away with a light blush and shrug before crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm sure you could've done just fine without me," Phoebe said. She glanced towards Evie and cleared her throat. "You're a constant surprise to us all."
Evie grinned and flung herself at Phoebe to give her backbone breaking hug. "Aw, thanks, Pheebs!"
"This is great and all, but who's taking this thing!?" Luke interrupted.
"Who cares about the stupid pearl! We have to go, Ms. Evelyn!" Paolo exclaimed, all but dragging her off Phoebe. Evie yelped and laughed.
"Okay, okay, we're going! Lu, you hold on to that for now. I'll find you later!" Evie told him. She clasped Paolo's hand and took off running. "C'mon, squirt."
"Hey! Only Toby gets to call me that!" Paolo objected, his short legs churning to keep up with her.
Phoebe and Luke stared after them, baffled. Luke scratched his head and then turned to her. "So… uh, drinks at the Bar?"
"It's barely noon, Luke," Phoebe said in disbelief.
"Lunch at Ocarina then?" Luke said with a laugh as he shoved the pearl in his pocket. Phoebe nodded and followed him towards the Inn.
…
Evie and Paolo raced into the Watery Cave, Finn a little ball of light dancing around them as they went. They had to slow down to pick their way across wet stones to the Bell and its Arch, but they were still holding hands, grips too tight and smiles too wide on their faces.
"Am I gonna see him for reals now, Ms. Evelyn?" Paolo whispered. His voice echoed off the cavern walls. In the gloom, the Bell gleamed bright, bright blue.
"Let's hope you believing is enough," Evie murmured back. She squeezed his hand once more and let it go to step up to the Bell.
"I'm sure you will, Paolo! You helped us," Finn told him, nuzzling under Paolo's chin and making him giggle.
With a quick, bracing inhale, Evie reached up and touched the Bell. "Ben?"
Blue light flooded the room, the gleam rippling like waves over a shore, foaming against every nook and cranny of the cavern. The walls, the puddles, the rocks, even her bare arms and legs shined like sapphires. With a pop, Ben appeared, shaking his muzzy head and wiping at his still puffy red eyes.
"E-Evelyn? Finn? You're back? And with a little boy?" Ben gasped, both his tiny hands covering his mouth as he stared at Paolo. Who was staring back, mouth dropped open and hazel-brown eyes wide in a way Evie hadn't seen before.
"You're Ben! I know your voice! I heard you weeks ago!" Paolo said in a voice breathy and thin with amazement, his shaking hands holding Finn close to his chest.
"You did? Oh my, you really did! Oh, Evelyn, how wonderful. The children are starting to believe again! Because of you!" Ben cried– actually wept as he smiled and clapped his hands.
Evie ducked her head and rubbed the back of her neck. "Nah, this is all on Paolo. He started to believe all by himself."
She and Paolo exchanged private smiles.
"But we're here to Ring the Bell! Paolo helped us find the Melody for you," Finn said quickly, patting at Paolo's cheek while his wings chimed gaily.
Paolo grinned. "Ms. Phoebe helped, too. She just doesn't believe in fairies like we do," he explained with a stout pride in his voice at the admission. Evie had to stifle any giggles behind her fist. It was just so cute to see a kid like Paolo being so proud of believing in fairies.
"You- You really found it? My Melody?" Ben asked, eyes bulging wide and hopeful.
Evie held up her phone and hit play. Ben buzzed closer and stared at the phone. Gently, his little hand reached out to touch the screen, mesmerized.
"Th-that's it! I remember it now! Oh, thank you, thank you!" Ben fluttered back to his Bell and cleared his throat. "Now! Watch this, everyone! Listen to the Blue Bell! Now, Blue Bell, may you play your melody! Melody of the Bell, may you Ring throughout the land!"
For a heart-stopping moment, nothing happened. And then–
The Bell twitched. Shuddered. Then, Rung.
Paolo raced over to Evie, throwing his arms around her waist and squeezing his eyes shut as the magic rushed over them. Sweeping them out and away from the leaky little cavern into the air over the town. The little bit of tune became a song, twisting and dancing and wending its way to the ocean like a living thing. It was cool to touch, but warm, too. Like floating on the surface of water while the sun shined down. But cold, as chilly as the first rain of spring. It burbled and chuckled over stones like the little stream in Garmon, and roared and crashed down to the sea like the waterfalls, and ebbed and beat like the waves on the sand. She could see the inhabitants of Harmonica running outside to stare upwards, mouths stretched into incredulous smiles, eyes shining as they clutched each other close. The melody still streamed through Castanet, and the waterfalls roared louder, rainbows sparkling from their foam. The wheels of the waterwheels creaked and groaned and moved . With a strange crack, something broke open and water surged down the aqueduct, so fast some splashed and spilled over the sides and, for a moment, the Lighthouse light flashed, blazing white and shining, before fading under the afternoon sun. In the waters, Evie could hear them; the churn and wriggle of fish returning to the rivers and little bays of Castanet, called back by the power and magic of the Bell.
"Oh, wow," Paolo gasped just before his body went slack.
Evie barely managed to catch him, falling to her knees and out of what could only be some kind of spell. She blinked her way into full awareness with concern gripping her as tightly as fear. But Paolo was still grinning and breathing just fine, although his eyes remained shut.
"It was just a little too much for him. He doesn't have magic in him. Not like you do," Ben said reassuringly, his tiny hand patting to Paolo's forehead like a cat. Paolo frowned and his nose scrunched up. Slowly, he pulled himself back awake.
"Wh-Wha hap'n?" he slurred.
"You fainted, like a damsel in distress," Evie teased, helping him to his feet. Paolo stuck his tongue out at her woozily, making her laugh out loud.
Paolo looked around wildly and caught sight of the fairy still hovering closely by him. Relief had his shoulders slumping and a wide grin breaking across his face. "That was amazing. Awesome! You're the coolest, Ben!" he enthused to the little blue sprite. Ben blushed happily.
"You really think so?! You really do! You are the… the coolest, too? Although I fail to see what temperature has to do with anything, it sounds quite complimentary," Ben said with a chuckle, his wings buzzing and trilling much like Finn's.
"It is! I'll tell you what it means later, Ben. I'm so glad you're awake and not sad anymore!" Finn exclaimed as he threw himself at his big brother with a happy cry. Ben patted Finn's head awkwardly, but affectionately.
"I must go to Mother now. But thank you, Miss Evelyn, for returning and helping silly, forgetful me," Ben said gratefully while bowing cutely. Evie ducked her head bashfully.
"It's what I came for, right?" Evie joked. Paolo turned to her with surprise and knowing on his young face. She completely missed it and the following worry that crossed his face as she kept talking, "Tell Mother and the others we're already on track for the Green Bell. I know we'll find it soon."
"I would love to see Dara again. I won't be surprised if she didn't even notice the wait." Ben laughed to himself. "She loves to nap. Ring her Bell extra hard to wake her up good!"
"W-Wait! What about… will I see you again, Ben?" Paolo asked sadly, scuffing his shoe on the cavern floor. Ben blinked and blushed happily.
"You want to see me again?! Do you really?"
"Of course! You and Finn are the only fairies I've ever met!" Paolo said, expression earnest. Ben's wings chimed extra loud.
"Do you like science and math and reading?" Ben asked hopefully. Evie had to hide another smile behind her gloved fist.
"Yes! Of course! And physics and mechanics and fishing! I can show you the Apparatus we made to figure out your melody. It's in the Lighthouse," Paolo offered eagerly.
"Oh yes, yes indeed!" Ben cartwheeled through the air, then bobbed his head excitedly. "I'd love to learn with you, Mr. Paolo. Please, come again to my Bell and say my name. I'll come to see you immediately. Bring books. All the books you possibly can. I do love to read," Ben pleaded. Paolo grinned and gave the sprite a thumbs-up.
"I can do that," he said. Ben cheered and began to glow bright blue.
"I'll see you again, young Paolo! And you, too, hero of Castanet."
Evie blushed and waved as Finn flew to her neck to nuzzle close.
"You are the best hero, Evie," Finn murmured happily. Evie pffted and rolled her eyes, but rubbed her cheek to the top of his stocking-capped head.
"Hey, Ms. Evelyn?"
"Yes, Paolo?" Evie asked, looking down at him.
He frowned pensively up at her. "Did he say you were magic?"
Evie blinked. "Huh… did he?"
"Just what is going on here?"
Evie and Paolo and Finn shrieked and spun around all at once. At the entrance, a young man, maybe the same age as Evie, stood with one fist on his hip. His platinum blonde hair gleamed in the sunlight from outside, and Evie squinted to try to make out his face. He stepped further in; the new angle of light made it easier to see his classically handsome features, pretty even, but also rather snooty-looking. His sweater vest and perfectly creased trousers were not helping at discouraging the 'snooty' impression. His piercing blue eyes met Evie's, flickered down to Paolo, then up to the Bell behind them which was still faintly glowing. Though, maybe not to unbeliever's eye. Evie blinked in shock when his eyes widened. He looked to her once more, startled eyes twitching at the edges when his gaze fell on the tiny sprite huddled under her chin. He shook his head and met Evie's eyes squarely.
"Just what are you doing in this cave? It's dangerous. Paolo Fisher, you should not be here at all," the man scolded. Paolo blew a raspberry at the new person.
"You're not the mayor yet, Gill. My Da opened up the Watery Cave a coupla weeks ago for Ms. Evelyn," Paolo retorted with no reverence for the intruder whatsoever.
Gill? Evie wondered. There's no way he's… the mayor's… no way!
Those sharply assessing blue eyes fell on Evie and she barely kept from flinching.
"Evelyn. Evelyn Nimue Tallesin, age twenty-one, college senior, major in Classics. The woman who answered the advertisement," Gill listed with a great deal of interest on his face. "I must say, I was not expecting one such as you."
Evie blushed to her hairline. "I… What… Is that an insult?!" she gasped in bewilderment.
Paolo stepped in front of her, fists on his hips and a frown on his face. "It better not be, or I'll tell Toby. He's older'n you, and he'll tell you off," Paolo threatened.
His faith in his cousin was absolutely adorable, but Evie could not picture Toby telling off this man for anything. Though… the image of Toby's anger in the hospital room came to mind and had Evie blushing even brighter. Okay, so maybe he could…
Gill snorted softly, obviously agreeing only with Evie's initial thought. "Well. Welcome to Castanet. Please, do not lead our youth to mischief, Ms. Tallesin." He turned on his heel and walked right back out. Leaving Paolo growling, Finn grumbling, and Evie gawping.
"Wh-What just happened?" she asked Paolo.
Paolo huffed. "Gill likes to act like a mayor because he's the mayor's son. And he's probably a better mayor than Hamilton, everybody thinks so, but he sure is annoying."
Evie burst into chuckles at Paolo's grumpy explanation. "You have no respect for your elders at all, do you?"
Paolo grinned unrepentantly up at her, his irritation so easily and swiftly cleared away. "Sure I do! Sometimes!" he chirped.
Evie reached out to ruffle his cap over his head and make him squawk indignantly. "Let's go return you to your Da. I'm sure he's wondering where you went off to."
"And I gotta ask 'im if he heard the music! They all heard it, dinnit they?"
"Yeah, they sure did, squirt."
"HEY!"
…
Evie hummed happily as she gave Hera her brush down the next day, the last of her chores with her animals. The wind from the day before was gone, and– as if to make up for it– the morning was already sticky and hot, promising to get even hotter the further the sun rose. Yesterday had continued on a bit… awkwardly… She'd let Paolo run home and gone to the bar to find Phoebe and Luke. Only to find almost every single person her age standing outside the bar and chatting excitedly about the melody they'd all heard. Everyone had paused when she approached, staring at her, which of course had her self-consciously tripping almost right on her face. Only Phoebe and Kathy's quick reflexes had kept her from eating cobbles. Whatever they'd thought at her arrival had disappeared as they laughed at her expense and then flooded her with their exclamations over the melody and the aqueduct. Candace had been in tears, she had been so happy. Luke had been kinda hovering around the timid bluenette in a state of mild panic and trying to convince her not to cry whenever he wasn't shouting over Owen about what the Lighthouse working meant.
"I'm j-just s-so happy. L-Luna c-can c-come home a whole m-month early!" Candace had stuttered out between sobs.
"And Irene said Dr. Jin is going to come back, too! He finally finished his residency on Sunshine Islands and wants to come home, and now he can," Anissa had said with starry eyes.
"So many are coming back home. Maybe the tourists will start coming back, too!" Renee had exclaimed, brown eyes shining.
Back in the present, Evie patted Hera's rump and left the barn, her friends' relief ringing through her head over and over. She was making a difference in these people's lives. These people who had welcomed her and treated her with kindness and genuine warmth, she was somehow repaying every bit of kindness and then giving them hope. It was heady, intoxicating, and still so damn terrifying. She lifted her face to the air and inhaled deeply, the scent of cherry trees and fresh growing corn and tomatoes coating the back of her throat like a balm.
"Evie! Evie!" cried a voice. It was familiar, but surprise had Evie's eyes widening and her mouth falling open. She'd never heard that voice so loud before.
She looked towards the Harmonica road and saw Candace running up the path, dust coating the hem of her long skirt and sweat darkening her periwinkle hair, sticking her bangs to her forehead. She stared in amazement as Candace stumbled to a stop by the well, hands on her knees as she gasped and wheezed.
"Candy? Is everything okay?" Evie asked, hurriedly dipping her watering can into the cool water and using a bandana to patted at the back of Candace's flushed neck. Candace sighed and shivered, quickly straightening and swiping at her face sloppily.
"Yes, yes! Everything is w-wonderful!" Candace panted, eyes shining. Evie stared a little harder and Candace blushed. "It's the boat! It's coming!" She pressed the bandana back in Evie's hand with rushed thanks.
Evie's jaw dropped and her eyes immediately went towards the docks. She could barely see them, a tiny dark blur she could only spot because she knew where to look and with some very painful squinting, but there was another, paler, unfamiliar blur heading towards the harbor from the ocean.
"The boat!?"
"Yes, Gra'mama and I got the phone call last night. Luna is on it! Gra'mama heard from Ms. Irene that Dr. Wang is on it, too."
"Dr. Wang? I thought his name was Dr. Jin?" Evie asked in confusion.
Candace blushed. "Yes, Jin Wang. Everyone calls him Dr. Jin because he's so young and all the adults knew him growing up, but I c-couldn't p-possibly–"
Evie pulled Candace into a one-armed hug. "Of course you couldn't. Let's go meet your sister at the docks. I can't wait to meet her."
Candace's face shined with happiness. "I miss her so much, Evie. I'm so glad you finally get to meet her."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Evie, what about the Green Bell? You said today we'd go back to the Wizard to ask him about the hibiscus flower and give him the other ingredients!" Finn exclaimed, almost slamming into the back of her head in his exuberance. Evie jerked forward and grunted. "Oops, sorry!"
"Evie?" Candace asked in concern. Evie waved her off.
"Lemme put up my stuff. I'll be just a second."
"Okay... P-please h-hurry?" Candace pleaded, eyes darting towards the sea and back to Evie.
"Did you just tell me to hurry? Why, Candy, how bossy!" Evie teased as she jogged towards her house. Candace blushed tomato-red and shook her head silently. "I'll be right out."
"Evie! We have to go to town!" Finn said.
"I know that," Evie huffed. "But I have the Wizard's list in my diary. Let's look over it one more time."
Finn flung himself through the air while Evie put all her farming tools away. She turned to the bed to see Finn still wrestling to set the paper flat, and she barely hid a smile before kneeling on the floor next to the bed. Her finger tapped the last ingredient on the list.
"Hibiscus flower from Toucan Island. He said we could only go by boat and maybe it's that boat," Evie theorized, folding the sheet back up and stuffing it in her pocket. She grabbed her wallet and shoved a few things in her rucksack before hurrying towards the door.
"So after you meet Candace's sister, does that mean we can go?"
"Yes, Finn, as soon as it's possible, that means when it's not impolite, we'll jump on the boat and go," Evie explained, leveling him with a look.
Finn pouted, but nodded. "All righty."
"Good, hop a ride, Tinkerbell. Let's get going before Candy leaves without us!" Evie said. Finn fluttered to her breast pocket and grumbled to himself.
…
Candace fidgeted and paced in Evie's yard. She should've just called, but she'd been so excited she hadn't been able to stay still that morning. It was very unlike her, perhaps she'd been spending too much time with Evie? But Luna was coming home at last! After a whole four years of only fuzzy telephone calls, glitchy Skype videos, and irregular letters (Candace's letters were, of course, very regular, but Luna had always been a poor letter writer), Candace was aching to see her baby sister again. Although Candace wasn't unused to long periods of time without seeing her baby sister, she'd missed Luna's bright, take charge presence. They were almost four years apart in age, and only half -sisters through their shared father, but Luna had often come to Castanet as a child to visit with Candace during her summer vacations. More often, Candace had gone to visit to her at their father's home, though. Until Candace's mother had died, Luna had started coming much more frequently, and for longer periods of time.
She'd been fiercely protective and sharp-tongued in Candace's defense during her visits, only showing her softer more caring side to Gra'mama and Candace. They adored one another, honestly, but when Luna had graduated from high school (a private, very expensive one) a year early, she'd gone into university for a business degree and devoted the next four years to her studies, giving up the short vacations with her sister and Gra'mama in order to be valedictorian of her graduating class with a myriad of internships and experiences behind her (including a couple semesters and summers abroad).
Gra'mama and Candace had spent almost an entire year arguing with Luna's plan to move to Castanet for an indefinite and lengthy amount of time, perhaps even for good. They pointed out that it was tiny and remote and cut off from so much, she'd be settling for less than what she'd deserved. But Luna had been adamant about returning after graduation to help make Sonata Tailoring 'great'. Only the programs with transportation had been a problem, though Luna had well been on her way to get her things and herself shipped there on a bus within the next month after she'd come back from her winter in South America.
As much as she had fought it, in her own timid, quiet way, Candace was ecstatic that Luna was coming back to live in Castanet forever. She didn't care how big or 'great' Sonata got, she just wanted her wonderful, amazing, baby sister to be home. Home in a way their father's giant house, his strict wife, Luna's demanding mother, and that bustling, unsympathetic city had never felt to the timid, wallflower Candace.
She was actually tapping her foot in impatience while waiting for Evie. She looked at this little farm, unconsciously viewing it with Luna's eyes (as she'd been doing all morning) and winced. With a mental note to keep Luna as far away from here as possible– at least until Evie renovated the rundown home that Luna would whet her sharp tongue on– Candace rang the bell for the animals to come out to give her hands something to do. A door shutting caught her attention and she smiled in relief seeing Evie jog towards her.
"Aw, thanks, Candy!" Evie said, gifting Candace with yet another friendly hug.
It was so nice to have friends that nicknamed her and embraced her, that the immediate discomfort was swiftly brushed aside to enjoy it.
"O-Of course, Evie. If we hurry, we'll make it," Candace said, eyes flicking towards the boat that just a short ways off now.
Evie chuckled. "Sorry to keep you waiting. How about we just walk fast instead of running?"
"Yes!" Candace exclaimed, in relief for both the fast pace but without the running. She was still a little winded from her run up here.
They walked quickly, Evie even forgoing her usual trip to the beach for shells and the like. Candace couldn't help but beam at her in gratefulness, though Evie had just blinked back obliviously. Of course. By the time they made it to the dock, the boat had pulled in and a tall, weathered, older man in a captain's hat was throwing a huge rope towards Ozzie. A large crowd of people, almost everyone who lived in town, were gathered and murmuring in excitement. Even Irene, who always looked so severe and serious, was soft with smiles and anticipation. Her grandson was the doctor, after all, and was supposedly arriving on this boat. A flash of pink caught Candace's eye and she gasped.
"CANDACE!" shrieked a voice from the boat.
"Luna!" Candace called back, lifting her hand.
The pink hair she knew so well streamed through the air as the short, slender figure raced down the deck of the boat. Candace barely even noticed the taller, black-haired figure walking onto the deck, she only had eyes for the young woman. She was racing along the dock, Evie at her side, and her hand still waving stupidly. The pinkette on the deck barely dithered a moment before the captain set the gangway down and she was leaping past him, laughing in excitement.
"Candace!"
Candace already had her arms up as her beautiful little sister threw herself at Candace. They only stayed on their feet thanks to Evie quickly grabbing Candace's shoulders even as she laughed at the two of them.
"I missed you! I didn't think I could possibly miss this podunk nowhere town, but I did! Where's Gra'mama?" Luna said, her wide blue eyes– bright and clear and beautiful unlike Candace's darker, muddier blue– scanned the crowd and settled on Evie. "Who the hell are you?"
"Oh, Luna!" Candace gasped.
"I'm Evie. Well, Evelyn. I'm the newbie 'round here. Candy's been so excited she told me to hurry my butt up today."
"N-No, I d-didn't– Evie!" Candace protested in dismay. Luna only snickered and reluctantly released Candace to hold out a dainty hand to Evie. College had given Luna even more confidence and grace; Candace's heart almost burst with pride seeing her.
"I'm Luna Snyder. Candace mentioned you in her letters. Did you say Candy? I love it! Candy! How cute! Why didn't you tell me your new friend gave you such a cute nickname?" Luna asked Candace with a wicked little smirk. "And why didn't I think of it?" she demanded with a cute pout.
Evie grinned. "You just don't love her like I do."
"How rude! I take it back, I don't like you at all," Luna said with an affronted gasp, but the twitching at the corners of her mouth gave her amusement away.
"Oh, d-don't fight!" Candace urged. Both women turned and smiled at Candace. Relief had her sighing.
"Is that my grandbaby? All grown up and ladylike?" Gra'mama interrupted, her voice thick and trembling with joy.
"Gra'mama!" Luna exclaimed, throwing herself at their grandmother with the same exuberance she'd shown Candace. The fact they didn't actually share blood had never mattered and still didn't.
"Where are her bags at? She seems like the kinda person who carries an entire truckload with them wherever they go," Evie whispered to Candace. Candace giggled despite herself. It was too spot-on.
"I guess they're still on the boat," Candace murmured back.
"I'll go grab 'em. You all stay out here and cuddle and kiss and love each other," Evie suggested.
"Oh no, you shouldn't– we can–" Candace tried to protest, stuttering into silence when Evie winked and loped away. She was up the gangway and shaking the hands with the doctor and captain before Candace could come up with a better response.
"Hey, Candace! Candy, get in here. I'm feeling very unloved," Luna ordered primly. Candace smiled and joined her grandmother and sister in a tight group hug.
"We're both so glad you're back," Gra'mama said, wiping at her eyes when they finally broke apart.
"And you are so loved," Candace said ardently. Luna smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder, though her cheeks looked pink.
"I better be. I also better go get my bags. Where's your loud, rude friend?" Luna asked, tsking as she looked around. "She looked burly enough to help."
"Sh-She isn't r-rude or b-burly!" Candace argued, wringing her hands. Luna snickered behind her hand.
"Look at you, sticking up for people. Maybe I should leave for another four years and you'll actually ask for things without stuttering," Luna said, pinching Candace's cheek like they were little girls again. Candace blushed to her hairline.
"Now, now, stop that teasing, you," Gra'mama said briskly. Luna stuck out her tongue, her elegant metropolitan polish cracking already. "Miss Evelyn is a gift from the Goddess, she is. And she's been a real good friend to our Candace."
"Sh-she w-went to g-get your b-bags already," Candace said quietly. Luna blinked in shock, then propped tiny fists on her narrow hips.
"Oh really? Well, I'll have to get a better idea of who's been taking my place. I can't have just any ragamuffin being an influence on you. I'm impressed with her initiative, at least," Luna noted with a satisfied nod. Candace frowned and shuffled uneasily.
"Evelyn, let me help you," said a man's voice behind them. Candace immediately recognized Toby's voice and concern creased her brow at the words.
The threesome turned to see Evie with probably every single one of Luna's luggages piled in her arms, or hanging off her shoulder and elbow, while slowly making her way down the gangplank. Ozzie, the captain, and Toby were all rushing to help her.
"What a buffoon," Luna said with a snort, sauntering towards the boat with her yellow lacy skirt snapping around her knees.
"Oh dear!" Candace and Gra'mama gasped, though Gra'mama sounded like she was trying not to laugh.
"I got it! Really! I got it! It's not so bad!" Evelyn was protesting loudly as Toby managed to move swiftly to get up the gangplank first and meet her halfway.
"You're going to break another leg," Toby retorted, snatching the top two hatboxes and frowning when he realized how light they were.
"Give those here and take something else. And you, new girl Evelyn, if you pitch my very expensive trunks into the ocean, I'll charge you!" Luna scolded, snatching the hatboxes from Toby.
"I wouldn't! I'm a lot stronger than I look," Evie replied, her face finally showing over the top of her haul when Toby took the top box. Candace blinked when Toby actually grunted and took a step back to balance himself, while Evie still held three different baggage items. "I think that one has shoes. I think all this gorramn luggage has shoes," Evie said apologetically to Toby as they made it safely to the dock.
"Just two. I do not put shoes in the same suitcases I put my clothes," Luna said with a haughty sniff.
"Luna," Gra'mama said warningly. Luna rolled her eyes.
"Thank you for helping," she tacked on carelessly.
Candace rushed forward to take one of the bags off Evie's shoulder. The rancher smiled over at her appreciatively.
"It's no problem. I figured the faster all your stuff got off the boat the better. Plus, Captain Pascal said he'd take me to Toucan Island once everything's off!" Evie explained cheerily.
Luna's perfectly groomed eyebrow rose. "So… you're just being selfish. I didn't have to thank you at all."
Evie laughed out loud while Candace sighed and dropped her head in distress. Gra'mama was groaning somewhere out of sight.
"I think it was kind," Candace told Evie as they made their way towards the Tailor shop.
Evie grinned. "Nah, Luna's right. I was rushing 'cuz I'm excited about getting over to Toucan."
"For the fishing?" Toby asked from her other side. Evie shook her head.
"I might do some while I'm over there. But I have to get a hibiscus flower for the Wizard."
Toby and Candace exchanged equally perplexed looks. Although, Candace blushed and quickly looked away. Eye contact was still so… intimate for her. It still warmed her right down to her toes to have shared a moment like that with someone else. A friendly sort of commiseration and understanding over another mutual friend. Who would've thought even a few weeks ago she'd lay claim to so many relationships with such wonderful people?
"Why are you getting a flower for the Wizard?" Toby asked, incredulity obvious in his voice.
"A spell!" Evie chirped happily.
"Why are you dawdling? I'd like to unpack before dinner time," Luna demanded waspishly from ahead of them. Evie picked up her pace while Gra'mama groaned again.
"Luna, my dear, you're not exactly being grateful."
"Your sister is kinda prickly, isn't she?" Evie said quietly. "If I hadn't seen how much she adored you and your gramma, I woulda thought she was a total b… cakesniffer."
"A what?" Candace blurted, giggling in confusion. Toby was red-faced, his mouth a tight line to keep from laughing.
"I heard that," he muttered to Evie, who flushed bright red.
"I didn't say it, that's all the counts," she retorted. Candace was still giggling over cakesniffer; she really should be offended on Luna's behalf at Evie's almost slip of the tongue, but… cakesniffer? What ridiculous thing would Evie say next?
…
Evie bounded towards the ship– Castanet Clipper– a while later. After helping lug all the baggage to Sonata, Luna had unceremoniously kicked Toby out and recruited Candace and Evie into helping her unpack. Mostly to give both of them the third-degree on all the happenings of Castanet. She soaked up every tidbit of information like an eagle-eyed sponge, grilling them on gossip neither considered important, and shrugging off the big information with a disinterested 'hm'. She then railroaded Candace with grand ideas of websites and online catalogs and shipping fees and extra charges for handmade items. Evie found out somewhere in the middle that Luna had a second degree in Fashion Design and Candace had always had an eye for it, with plenty of sketchbooks filled with her own doodles and ideas of different outfits Luna was set on getting created. Evie had eagerly jumped in and supported Luna's idea, promising to buy the very first outfit Candace designed and put on the shelves.
Luna's look of satisfaction had Evie preening and then wondering how the hell the firecracker of a twenty-year-old had managed to imprint on her like some sort of alpha leader.
Evie had also been mindblown when Luna called Candace her big sister.
–"Wait, how old are you? I thought you were, like, nineteen!" Evie had gasped. Candace had blushed beet-red and shook her head as Luna crowed with laughter.
"Twenty-four. I'll be twenty-five this winter," Candace had corrected gently. Evie had literally sunk to the nearest bed and gaped. Luna had continued to laugh herself sick.–
Captain Pascal was smoking a pipe and chatting amiably with Ozzie outside the Fishery when Evie bounced up with a grin on her face.
"Nice t'see ya again!" Evie greeted jovially.
"That it is, Ms. Evelyn," Pascal said, tapping the ash from his pipe.
Ozzie thumbed towards the Fishery at his back. "Toby's inside with Paolo. Irene put in order for fresh caught and filleted sea bream."
Evie froze in place, her blush covered her head to foot. "N-No, I'm not – I mean, I came for Captain Pascal."
The sea captain was chortling as he stuffed his pipe away. "Young miss here is headin' on t'Toucan Island."
"If you have time, I don't know if your boat has to… rest… or something?" Evie mumbled, ducking her head. The old man laughed and Ozzie's broad, callused hand clapped her shoulder.
"Take the afternoon to rest over there, Rancher Girl. You seem like to you need it."
"It's a good place for it, too. I'll be back 'round eight pm, Oz. Thanks fer havin' me," Pascal told him with a tip of his hat. Ozzie just shook his head.
"We've all missed more than just your boat, Pas. You're always welcome in my house," he said sincerely, clapping Pascal's shoulder much like he had to Evie, before heading into the Fishery. Pasal tilted his head towards Evie and they began the short walk to the boat.
"So I have until eight at Toucan?" Evie asked, barely managing to keep from running ahead of the leisurely walking captain.
"Yes, miss. If'n you decide t'leave a mite earlier, just lemme know," Pascal agreed.
The boat ride to Toucan wasn't that long. Less than thirty minutes after the little boat chugged away from the Harmonica docks, the blurry mass of land that was Toucan was on the horizon. Ten minutes after that, they were disembarking, Evie eagerly giving Pascal a hand in tying up the boat to the dock. Pascal led Evie towards the single house on the island, made of what looked like palm tree wood and palm tree fronds for thatch.
She had no idea where to find a hibiscus, if they grew wild or if there were a flower shop somewhere, but it was a small island with a single family living on it that Pascal had told her about. Surely, she'd find one quickly. Finn buzzed over the fragrant grasses and spiky bushes and plants. Everything smelled… lush, and palm trees swayed in the summer breeze. Even though it was even hotter and more humid over here, the aromatic wind was refreshing and cool on her sweat-sticky skin. As they approached the only building in sight, two middle-aged adults walked out, shading their eyes and their faces in matching expressions of incredulity.
"Them be the Toucans, Sue n' Samson. Their daughter is 'round here somewhere," Pascal told her, nodding to the couple.
"Pas? Pascal Seaworth? Is that really you?" the woman– Sue– asked in delighted surprise.
"Aye, it is, ma'am," Pascal agreed with a wink.
"Well, I'll be tarred and feathered." The man– Samson– laughed, clapping his knee.
Sue rushed down the stairs and clasped hands with Pascal, smiling brightly, Samson right on her heels. The broad-shouldered, if short, man tugged the tall, wiry captain into a back-slapping hug while Sue, a tall, whip-lean woman with kind eyes in a determined face, eyed up Evie.
"You're a new face. I don't s'ppose it says much, since we ain't had any visitors in a year, but it's a Goddess-blessing to see you both," Sue greeted, holding out her hand to shake.
"That's a really sweet thing to say, but wow, a year?" Evie gripped Sue's hand, noticing calluses and faint scars on her knuckles and hands, very similar to the Fishers'. "Oh, sorry, I'm Evelyn Tallesin. I just moved to Castanet this past spring," Evie hurried to introduce.
"I'm Sue, and this here is my husband, Samson. Sammy, come meet this sweetheart. Where's Selena?"
"Sulking in her room, where else?" Samson joked, guffawing at his own joke and shaking Evie's hand in two of his. "Evelyn, was it? Welcome to Toucan Island, our own little bit of paradise."
"It's beautiful," Evie said in a slightly breathless voice. A door snapped open and Evie jumped in shock.
"It stops feeling like a paradise pretty fast."
They all turned to look as a young, gorgeous woman, barely older than a girl, sauntered her way down the steps. She sneered at her father and flipped her rusty red hair over her mostly bare shoulder. A lot of her (and her folks) was pretty bare, showing off perfectly smooth, tan skin and curves that Evie was jealous of. This girl had the effortlessly Hollywood good looks and hourglass figure that girls in the city spent hours trying to copy. She was pretty sure she knew girls back in her college that spent all morning trying to achieve that winged, sooty eyelash look that Selena had almost naturally (there was a bit of help from makeup to emphasize, but not very much). It was like seeing a shipwrecked starlet walking towards her.
The girl propped her fists on her hips and looked Evie up and down.
"Evelyn is not a Castanet name. Sounds like a city name to me," she said, some interest lighting up her smoky purple eyes. Eyes like Elizabeth Taylor. Seriously, the only person who could even compare to this girl was Anissa.
How'd all these gorgeous people spring up in this little corner of nowhere?! Evie thought in amazement.
"Yeah, city. I'm from the city," Evelyn said, a little tongue-tied. She shoved out her hand like a clumsy dork. "Most everyone in Castanet calls me Evie, though."
"Evie." The girl made a moue of disgust. "What are you, some Pokemon? Evelyn is much nicer."
Evie blinked. "Uh, thanks?"
"Introduce yourself. Don't you have any manners?" Sue sighed. The girl rolled her Elizabeth Taylor eyes.
"Right. I'm Selena Toucan. These hermits' daughter. I'm a dancer," Selena announced proudly, chin tilted up.
Evie replied, "Really?! I can't dance to save my life. I don't have any rhythm at all." She chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck. Selena smiled sweetly and almost shyly.
"I want to be a dancer, but so far I only dance for me." She shot an acidic look at her mother that Evie winced at. "Before you leave, come find me. I'll show you my most recently finished set. I'm pretty good, I think. When you're done with these old geezers, I'll be over there by the little bay," she explained, pointing in the direction. She smiled up at Pascal. "Nice to see you again, Mr. Seaworth." Then, she sashayed away.
Sue and Samson both sighed gustily. "That's our Selly," Samson said, somehow proud and weary at once.
"She's been pulling on the line since she turned eighteen, hasn't stopped fighting the reel in the year since," Sue told Pascal, shaking her head.
Pascal smiled encouragingly. "It's the right age fer it. The year o' being cut off from the rest o' the world didn' help, I reckon."
"Definitely not." Both parents said together, dry and tired. Evie had to stifle a giggle behind her fist.
Finn tugged at a stray curl of Evie's hair. "Psst, Evie, the flower!" he whispered.
"Oh uhm! Mrs. and Mr. Toucan?" Evie said. They turned to her, surprised.
"Please, sweetheart, just Sue and Samson."
"Oh, right, um, thanks, Mrs– uhm, Sue," Evie stammered. Sue nodded encouragingly. "I was wondering… where could I find a hibiscus flower?"
Samson and Sue looked at each other. "You came all this way just for a flower?" Samson asked. Evie blushed.
"It's not that far from Castanet! But someone in town really needs one," Evie hedged anxiously.
Samson scratched his cheek but gestured her up towards the building. "I've got a little shop in the front of the inn. Come take a look at what I've got, and I'll find you a hibiscus."
"Oh thank you! That's awesome!" Evie exclaimed, jumping up the stairs after him.
"Take care, sweetheart, and don't forget to say good-bye before you leave!" Sue called after her.
Evie left the inn shop with her wallet significantly lighter and her rucksack a little heavier. She just couldn't help but buy a bunch of new foods to take back. There were fresh chili peppers! She wasn't a spicy sort of person, but Toby was, and he'd been worried about his dwindling supply of peppers and curry powder. Renee and Luke also loved spicy, and had complained a few times that they hadn't had a good curry in months. Sadly, the only cocoa they sold were in seeds, and were out of season, so she couldn't grow her own. Her wallet was thankful for it, though. She found hibiscus seeds on the list as well, and had stared at the amount of days it would take to grow, crestfallen. Until Samson had come out of the back room and given her a fully bloomed hibiscus for free. A welcome to Castanet gift, he'd said with a kind smile.
She cradled the beautiful flower in her hands, treating it even more gently than she did the eggs on the farm. Finn hovered over her hands.
"It's so pretty! I can't believe he gave it to you for free," Finn exclaimed happily. "They're nice people here. I like this place!"
"Yeah, me too. Let's have a look around for those wild fruits Samson told us about, then say a quick good-bye to Selena and Sue. I wanna get home as soon as possible. Once that corn is ready, we'll have cornmeal, and Hera's milk has been nothing but perfect for days. We'll be ready for the Wizard in no time!" Evie said giddily.
"I still don't know what kinda spell he needs just to find the Witch. Why can't he just use a fellytone?" Finn grumbled, but was cheerful and smiling a second later.
Selena was standing on the beach, staring over the little inlet when Evie approached. The teenager turned and blinked in surprise seeing the rancher walking up to her.
"I thought you would've forgotten me," Selena admitted, a slight rouge tint to her tanned cheeks.
"Of course not! I'd love to see your dance, or at least say good-bye," Evie replied. Selena smiled, pleased and delighted.
"You really wanna see me dance?"
Evie nodded. "Of course."
Selena hurried to pull out her phone and searched through her music. "Here, hold this."
Evie fumbled with the phone and the flower, then sat down to watch. Selena posed and, once the music began to play, danced. Evie didn't know much about dancing, but surely this was good dancing? She started off a little shy, but seemed to forget Evie was even there after a while, falling into the music with half-lidded eyes and a secretive little smile on her face. Her style was somewhere between belly-dancing and hip-hop. The bangles on her wrists and the little bells on her waist jangled and chimed mesmerizingly, and Evie was entranced within moments. She couldn't help but blush at each seductive roll of Selena's hips and belly, the movements of Selena's arms and hands were intent and beckoning, making Evie want to get up and dance with her. When the song ended, and Selena stood in a pose, a little sweaty and panting slightly, Evie jumped up to clap thunderously, still blushing lightly. Finn took the hibiscus and fluttered away to keep it safe.
"That was wonderful!" She ran up to hand over the phone and Selena shoved it into a pocket negligently.
"Really? You think I'm good?" Selena asked, purple eyes shining and young face beaming.
"Definitely! Are you going to go to school for it?" Evie questioned eagerly. Which was the wrong thing to say, as darkness clouded her features.
"I don't want to go to school. I want to just dance. I want to travel the world and learn to dance from the people I meet and the different countries I go to! I've been wanting to go all year, but Mother won't let me, and Father says we can't afford it anyway. But I don't want money! I just want to go!" Selena snarled, stamping her foot and rubbing at her gleaming eyes. "Mother almost tied me to the bed when I told her that."
"It's… It's a little dangerous, especially if you're young and alone," Evie pointed out delicately. Selena sighed roughly.
"I don't care. Do you know what it's been like here? Stuck on this paradise?" Selena retorted, throwing out her arm to gesture to the island around them. "You can walk the whole island in an hour. The internet is crap and it's only us. The tourists stopped coming even before Pascal did! No one gives a crap about us and my parents don't understand why I don't love this place as much as they do. They don't understand that it's just a pretty cage to me!"
Selena wheezed, even more winded by her outburst than by her dance, her face red and tears filming her eyes. Evie walked up and carefully laid her hand on Selena's shoulder.
"... I dropped everything, gave up everything everyone thought I wanted, to come to Castanet. It stopped feeling right in the city, in university, and Castanet has come to feel more like freedom than I'd ever expected it to. I wish I could help you somehow, but, if it's any consolation, I'm sure they love you and that they'll understand one day," Evie said, feeling lame and useless.
Selena threw herself at Evie and wept against the older woman's neck, dramatically and genuinely at once.
"Thank you! Thank you for saying that! I don't know if Mother will ever agree, but you understand! Thank you, thank you!" Selena gasped.
"Um… it's all right?" Evie said awkwardly, patting Selena's back.
After a few noisy sobbing moments, Selena pulled away and wiped at her eyes. Evie dug in her rucksack and found a bandana Luke had lent her that she'd never given back. Selena took it with a grateful, wobbly smile and wiped her eyes.
"Sorry to throw myself at you. What a terrible first impression."
"It's fine, really. I wish I could do more."
"You do?" Selena asked, something sly and cunning flashing through her eyes. It was gone in a second, making Evie frown and wonder if she'd been seeing things.
"Uh, yeah, of course. Just let me know, and I'll do my best. I'll come back as much as I can, too," Evie saied. Selena nodded, already looking away. She handed back the dirty bandana and Evie shoved it in her pocket with a grimace.
"I'll remember that. How much longer will you be staying?" Selena asked absently curling her hair with a long, slender finger.
"Not much. I wanted to do a run around the island and then go. Your dad said there are wild pineapples and bananas growing around here, so I thought I'd find some," Evie answered blithely. "Did you wanna come with?"
"Oh, no, I think I better go clean up before my father sees me. He gets so motherhennish. I'll see you soon, Evelyn."
She sauntered off and Evie frowned after her.
"That was weird…" Evie muttered. Finn dropped onto her head, hibiscus still safely clutched in his little hands.
"Was it? I think she's always weird."
Evie laughed and began her quick jog around the island. As she came back with her rucksack full of bananas and coconuts and pineapples, she swore she saw something on Pascal's boat, but Pascal himself called out to her and she hurried over to him and Sue. A couple quick farewells and Evie was on her way back to Harmonica. It was strange that Selena had refused to come out to say good-bye, but Evie made a mental promise to come back as soon as this Wizard request was finished.
She didn't bother going below decks, wary of motion sickness, and just sat on a bench bolted to the deck and watched the sunset. Evie jumped off the gangway around forty minutes later, pausing with a whoa when the ground wobbled under her. Pascal laughed and clapped her shoulder on his way to tie the ropes a little tighter.
"You'll get your land-legs back soon 'nough, miss. Give it a mo'," Pascal said, still chuckling as he walked off. Evie huffed and patted her thighs encouragingly.
"Come on, now," she hissed with a self-deprecatingly little laugh. Suddenly, the sound of bells and bangles met Evie's ears and she tensed up all over in shock.
"Finally! That took much too long. I thought I was gonna be sick for a moment there," said an upsettingly familiar girl's voice just behind Evie and Finn.
Evie spun around and gawked at Selena as she all but danced her way down the gangplank. A small ivory-colored rucksack covered in a pink rose design was over one shoulder; the smile on her dark face wide and excited.
"Wh-What are you– what?!" Evie gasped.
Selena bounced on her toes and giggled like a giddy little girl. "I snuck on board! I was a stowaway! Like in those silly romance novels. How fun!"
"D-Did you… Do you parents know?!" Evie asked stammeringly. Selena wrinkled her perfect, Hollywood nose.
"I'm nineteen. I don't need their permission. Now, where's the inn?"
"Uh. Um. That… way?" Evie gestured vaguely. Selena raised an unimpressed eyebrow at Evie. "But uh… can you afford a night at the inn?"
Selena blinked in shock. "I guess not. I don't have a lot of money. You'll let me stay with you, right?!" the islander asked eagerly.
Evie dropped her face to her hands. "How about we go to the Bar? I need food for this."
Selena's laugh rang out, pretty and unabashed. "Yes! I want to meet all your friends."
She linked her arm with Evie's and tugged her along– despite not actually knowing the way. Luckily, there was only one street and Brass Bar was easy enough to spot even from the docks.
What is my life? Evie internally bemoaned.
A/N: I'd firstly like to apologize. Twice. The first time: for not warning you all that I'd be taking a hiatus for NaNoWriMo! I'm so sorry! I spent all of November working on an original novel that was going to be a fantasy AU of HM, but I realized it would be too massive and too AU to really be called an fanfic AU, so I decided to go full original with it, lol. Lots of dragons and magic and pirates and girls loving girls, which I honestly don't write enough, shame shame.
Second time: for not updating here when I started updating on AO3 again. I'm the worst.
In other news, I've caught up with myself. (sobs) I will be updating here every couple days or so until you've caught up with AO3. And then, my updates will be every 3 weeks to give myself time to write a new chapter and give my beta enough time to, well, beta. lol So all chapters after ch26 are coming up fresh! (creysalothowdidIgetherecreys)
See you on Monday or Sunday with the next chapter! :) I'm really so sorry I left you guys hanging over here!