The Past is Prologue

Chapter 21: The Quest of Carla and David

Sometimes you just have to hope, even if you don't have a reason, even if you've hoped in vain in the past. Shuriki was destroying Avalor. So when I was a girl, and a woman of the right age, with backing from Hectoria, came forth and claimed to be the long-lost Princess Isabel, I believed and joined her cause. And when she was revealed to be a fraud, I did not give up hope. So when years later a girl, far too young to be who she said she was and with no backing to speak of, claimed to be the long-lost Princess Elena, I believed and joined her cause. Only this time she was proved right." Carmen Guzmán, proprietor, El Restaurante Guzmán. A People's History of the Reign of Queen Shuriki, compiled by Professor Catalina de Torres

"It's official," David said glumly, sinking to the ground. "We suck at adventuring."

"Hey, speak for yourself," Carla snapped.

"I suck at adventuring," David amended. They'd been wandering through the region of Nueva Vista for four days now, and were no closer to finding the criminal Cristóbal than when they first docked. It wasn't like they could just walk up to random strangers and ask where the murderer was.

But if David was being honest (and he always tried to be), he wasn't really all that disappointed since it gave him more time to spend with Carla. He couldn't quite believe that this effervescent beauty wanted to help him. She was amazing! Still, he felt guilty that he'd dragged her into this mess. She must have more important things to do than go traipsing through the jungle with a lowly sailor.

"I'm sorry I got you mixed up in all this," he said for probably the hundredth time.

Carla stopped her pacing (she was always in motion, David had discovered), and knelt down beside him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I keep telling you, you didn't drag me into this. If anything, this was my idea. There's no place I'd rather be. We just need a bit of luck, that's all."

David froze, hoping Carla would keep her hand on his shoulder. "What sort of luck?" he asked. "Because I doubt an associate of Cristóbal's will just come traipsing through the jungle…"

"That went well," Tecolote hooted at Ash as the wizard made her way through the jungle.

"Well?" snarled Ash. "That…that… wizard boy destroyed my tamborita! Again!"

"Heh. That is kind of his thing, isn't it?" the chanul laughed. Ash was not amused.

"This is what comes from goodness," the malvaga grumbled. "I should never have gotten involved…"

"Do you really regret saving Olivia?" the owl spirit asked curiously.

Ash sighed. "No, I suppose not. It would be a shame for such magical talent to be wasted." Tecolote smiled wryly but said nothing. She supposed it was a bit much to expect Ash to admit to feeling compassion; it was enough that she'd felt it and acted upon it. "But I do regret being caught."

"But don't you see?" Tecolote said earnestly. "This is your chance to earn your redemption!" Ash harrumphed at that thought. "You must promise me, though, never to use that bracelet." The chanul inwardly shuddered at just how close Ash had come to not only ending her own life, but her husband's.

"I will have to use it at some point," Ash said. "If I die before I do, then I will spend eternity imprisoned in one of those dreadful huts. The Grand Macaw told me as much when he gave it to me."

"I've been thinking about that," Tecolote responded earnestly. "The Grand Macaw doesn't rule the Spirit Realm, only the dark side of it."

"Which is where I'll go when I die."

"Not necessarily. Not if you live your life in such a way that you won't be sent to the Dark Side."

"After everything I've done?" scoffed Ash.

"It would take some work…well, a lot of work," the chanul admitted. "Though you've already started down that path."

"You…you really think that's possible?" Ash's voice was doubtful, but…what that a hint of hope? Only a hint, buried under Ash's natural cynicism, but hope nonetheless. Tecolote could work with that.

"More than possible. Let's …" They both became aware of voices at the same time.

Ash ducked behind a tree. "Make yourself useful and see who is there," she whispered. Tecolote bit her spirit tongue at Ash's imperious tone. But at least she was willing to work with her chanul. Baby steps.

She nonchalantly flew to the clearing, confident in the knowledge that only Ash could see her. It was a young couple, sitting beside one another on the ground. Tecolote judged by their body language that they were romantically inclined toward one another but were early in their relationship. Were they about to kiss for the first time? How exciting! They were obviously no threat to Ash, so Tecolote saw no pressing need to hurry back to her charge. Chanuls lived vicariously through humans; it was part of the job description. Ash could just cool her heels while Tecolote got to witness a couple's first kiss. She flew around to get a better view…

…and noticed the tamborita holstered on the woman's back.

There were very few wizards in Avalor these days; so few that Tecolote, because of who her charge was, knew them all by name. She took a closer look at this woman, and then hooted in shock.

Carla Delgado?!

David looked into Carla's eyes which appeared almost purple. He'd never known anyone with purple eyes before. It was just one of the many unique features of a truly unique woman. During the four days they'd been traveling together, David had been scrupulously proper with Carla. He knew well the reputation sailors had among land-lubbers, which was exaggerated to a ridiculous degree. It was important to him that she didn't think he was loose in his morals or was the type to seduce and abandon women. In point of fact, David was rather shy and had never been with anyone before. But Carla looked at him like no one ever had and made him feel like he could do anything; be anything.

He felt Carla's warmth, she was sitting so close. Tentatively he reached out to touch her cheek, ready to back away at the slightest hint of hesitation or discomfort on Carla's part. Instead of pulling away she leaned closer and put her hand over his. Their lips were inches apart…

"Carla!"

Startled, both David and Carla turned to the stranger who had called out. A middle-aged white-haired woman in a white dress stood in the clearing, her hands outstretched. He was shocked to hear Carla whisper, "Mami?"

This was Carla's mother? Carla's infamous, dead mother?

They both scrambled to their feet and David was shocked to see Carla draw her drum wand and point it at the woman in white.

"I thought you were dead," Carla snarled.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Carla's mother asked in exasperation. "Mi hija, it is so good to see you. I've missed you so." She extended her hand towards her daughter.

"Stay back!" Carla warned. "I'm much more powerful at magic than the last time we met."

"I have no doubt you are," the woman responded, smiling but with tears in her eyes. "I did not think I'd find you in Nueva Vista."

"So sorry to disappoint you," Carla responded in an icy tone.

"No," the woman protested. "I am happy to see you. This is a milagro! I would have sought you out in Avalor City…"

"But you'd be arrested on sight," Carla sneered.

"I would have found a way," Carla's mother answered quietly.

David felt a lump in his throat. The mother and father who raised him were gone, and the godmother he loved turned out to be his real mother. He knew love, loss, and the feeling of betrayal. He understood perfectly well why Carla did not trust her notoriously criminal mother. But it made him sad to see this woman's pain. Unbidden, he wondered if Scarlett hurt like this. For the first time since learning the truth he felt a pang of guilt. No, he shouldn't feel guilty. He wasn't the one who lied.

Carla's mother took another step forward and Carla raised her hand menacingly over her drum wand. The woman in white stopped.

"Mija," she said, "twice I have had the opportunity to use magic against you, and twice I have not. When I fled the Avaloran guards and wanted you to come with me and you refused, I could have compelled you. You know that. And yet I did not. The choice was yours to make. Then when our paths crossed again you were fighting alongside the princess I sought to overthrow; you raised your tamborita to me and I lowered mine. I could never fight my own daughter. I would not have done that for anyone else in the Everrealm. You do not need to fear me, child." Trembling, Carla slowly lowered her drum wand. David let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Where have you been all this time, anyway?" Carla demanded.

"In the Spirit Realm. I only recently escaped."

"So you were dead, then?" Carla sounded as confused as David felt.

"No…it's a long story," Carla's mom smiled. "What brings you to Nueva Vista?"

Carla returned her drum wand to its holder on her back and said with determination, "That Cristóbal Castillo has escaped from prison and we're going to bring him to justice."

"That sounds…dangerous," Ash frowned. "Doesn't Elena have guards to do that sort of thing?"

"It's personal," Carla said coldly. David was surprised and touched to hear that, since he knew it was only personal for him and not for her.

"Still, should you not go back to Avalor City, or better yet Córdoba, where you will be safe?" This Ash sounded like any mother concerned for her child. Perhaps Carla had misjudged her? If so, was he misjudging Scarlett?

"Since when do you care about my safety?" Carla demanded hotly. "You didn't when you left me when I was only seven."

Ash closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again she said quietly, "I left to become a powerful malvaga so I could protect you from any threat. I never meant to be away for so long…"

"Ten years, mamá. You left for ten years."

"Five." When Carla started to protest, Ash held up her hand. "I returned home after five years, querida. But when I got there, you and your father were long gone. I had no idea where Victor had taken you. I didn't even know what kingdom my daughter was in!"

"We went looking for you, mama," Carla said. "When we couldn't find you, papá told me you were dead." She sounded close to tears. Then her voice hardened. "Twice I've mourned you. I won't make that mistake again."

"You…mourned me? Even though we were enemies?" Carla's mom seemed – pleased? Was that even the right word?

"My daughter," Ash continued, "I never stopped loving you, even when you sided with my enemies. I've thought of you every day for the past two years. Won't you come to me, child?" She held her arms out.

With a cry, Carla ran to her mother and they embraced. Seeing the joy of the reunion of mother and daughter, David found himself tearing up. He was truly happy at their reconciliation. Then he saw Ash's expression change as her glance fell on Carla's drum wand. The look on her face could only be called wicked.

"Uh, Carla…" he tried to warn her, but as quick as thought the evil sorceress snatched up her daughter's drum wand, struck it once, and called out, "Cochimoc!" David knew no more.

"What have you done, Ash?" Tecolote cried out. One second, Tecolote had been witness to a reconciliation between Ash and Carla, and in the next, the malvaga had stolen her daughter's tamborita and cast a wicked spell.

"I did what I had to do," Ash responded coolly. She was cradling Carla's inert body in her lap, having caught her before she fell to the ground. The poor young man with Carla had unceremoniously dropped where he stood.

"But why?" The chanul hooted. She did not understand.

Ash smiled thinly. "Perhaps I seized the chance to get a tamborita, and power, again. Perhaps I didn't want Carla to get herself killed by going against Cristóbal. Or perhaps I simply did not want to be too predictable. You do not know me, Tecolote!" Instinctively the owl spirit flew back from the venom in her human's voice. "Now be gone. I wish to say goodbye to my daughter in peace." She began to sing a lullaby to her unconscious child.

Tecolote did leave then, back to the Spirit Realm as quickly as she could. She'd been so hopeful for Ash's future. Now she felt as if her spirit heart would break.

AN: A story cannot contain a song, of course. But if you would like one, imagine this: Ash singing a lullaby to Carla. It's the same lullaby she sang to Olivia, but she is far more emotional now. When she is done, Ash gently lays Carla on the ground and then bangs the tamborita while chanting, "Chiufeti!" She turns and walks away, and does not look back.