Sonata Tailor was in its usual quiet state. From the shopping area, Shelly hummed along to an oldie's station and bustled about rearranging stock and double(thousandth)-checking inventory. At the dining table in the kitchen, Phoebe, Evie, and Candace all sat around the table sipping hot tea. Needles clicked as Candace knitted what was going to be a sweater– bright blue with bold gold stripes horizontal across the upper chest– and Phoebe was eyeing Candace's industry with something calculated in her gaze. Evie, however, was tipped back on her chair, eyes distant and thoughtful. She had a convoluted path ahead of her for the next two Bells. To get the Green Bell, she had to get the Blue Bell Rung, which was the only way to get the aqueduct working and therefore the lighthouse and the return of the ship to Toucan Island. But to get the Blue Bell, she had to figure out how to get all the components of the Melody Apparatus that actually had a chance of 1: not working, or 2: having nothing to do with the Blue Bell's melody at all. She was sure putting her trust in Paolo was the right thing to do. He was so close to seeing fairies, and had been almost totally included in the time-loop-thing of Ben's Bell spell. There had to be a reason… right?

Evie sipped at her tea, brows contracting. Obviously she'd have to go see the Harvest Goddess again. If only she could think of a good gift to give the Goddess as a thank you for helping with her leg…

"I'm a little worried," Candace broke the silence, amusement in her quiet voice.

Evie rocked forward, chair legs clunking down hard, and looked over at Candace. "What's up?"

"About you. You're too quiet," Candace teased, blue eyes dancing. Phoebe's reverie ended, too, as she chuckled.

"I can be quiet. You should see me with a book! Oh… no, I'm pretty loud reading books, too. I get invested and read aloud to myself a lot," Evie admitted sheepishly. Candace and Phoebe did not look surprised at that.

"Why are you brooding? Is this about the Apparatus?" Phoebe questioned curiously.

Evie shrugged, but took the out given to her. "Yeah, I guess. It's just… it's gonna take so long to get everything we need."

"With Mr. Fisher's notes, it shouldn't be too much longer. Just a day spent in the Cave and we'll have a black pearl. And all other kinds of treasures," Phoebe pointed out. She grinned eagerly at the idea of spending a whole day mining in the Watery Cave, of the new Wonderfuls and hopefully a new surplus of Rare Ore if rumors were right.

"Yes, but we have to wait for Thalia to grow big enough to lay an egg, too. It'll take forever," Evie groaned. She set aside her cup and slumped over the table.

Finn, casually sitting in the middle of the table, glanced up from the cookie he was nibbling. "It's okay, Evie. At least we know where the Blue Bell is! I'm more worried about the Green Bell. Poor Dara…" He licked at the crumbs on his face mournfully.

It really was too bad no one else could see him because that was the funniest, cutest thing she'd ever seen. Ever.

"Thalia is the duck, right?" Phoebe muttered under her breath. Evie rolled her eyes at Phoebe.

"There a festival coming up to distract you soon enough, Evie," Candace reassured her gently. "And Luke's birthday–"

"Lu-Lu's b-day?" Evie crowed in excitement, sitting up straight and auburn eyes gleaming.

"I don't think he'd appreciate that nickname any better…" Candace demurred.

"We have to do something… something awesome. We should do something Popeye themed. Wouldn't that be hilarious?! He'd love it! Too bad we don't have spinach…We can't do it without spinach. I'll think of something!" Evie chattered without even waiting for their input. Candace pressed her fingers to her mouth to keep in giggles.

"We could ask Yolanda to bake a decent cake for him, at least. Unless that's something you're good at?" Phoebe asked.

Evie blinked at her and then burst out laughing, almost knocking her forehead into the tabletop when she doubled over. "Oh, that's good. I can barely grill a fish. Cake, me, ha! I have to ask her about making bread, so I'll ask about the cake, too."

"It's the day after the festival. Maybe it should be… low-key…?" Candace offered softly.

Evie looked over at her, perplexed. Which only increased when she saw the dawning of understanding in Phoebe's eyes.

"I don't… get it? Does Luke strike you as low-key at anything?"

"No, definitely not," Phoebe snorted loudly. "But the festival is… hard on him."

"What?"

"It's the Firefly Festival. It honors our ancestors and… the recently deceased," Candace explained delicately.

"It's not exactly recent," Phoebe muttered.

"Oh," Evie gasped, eyes widening. "What a… difficult festival to celebrate the day before his birthday. An emotional whiplash, basically," Evie empathized sadly.

"Maybe low-key isn't the way to go…" Phoebe mused.

"Yeah, Luke isn't a person to dwell. If it seems like we are, it might actually make it worse. The bigger the better, I think," Evie decided with a firm, short nod. Candace hesitated, but nodded as well. "Let's make it a surprise party! At Ocarina Inn? Or should we do it at Brass Bar? Or my house? So many options!" Evie laughed.

"No, not at your house, Evie! If you have a big party where no one sees me, I'd like to go home and sleep. After cake. Cake first, then I can go home," Finn pleaded with big, watery eyes.

"Actually, I think my house is a bad idea. Too small and still kinda run-down. Who knows what shape it'll be in for his birthday," Evie backtracked with a quirk to the corner of her mouth. Finn gushed his thanks.

"You're right. Ocarina or Brass Bar would work best. We'll ask Kathy and Maya and see which one they prefer, since they'll know how their parents will feel about it better than us," Phoebe suggested wisely. "I have everyone's phone numbers, I can invite everyone and warn them it's a surprise."

"My Gra'mama has plenty of party favors and decorations. I'll spruce them up," Candace proposed, already contemplating just what she'd be doing. "Maybe Luna will be back by then. I'll call her and see. If she's back in time, maybe she can bring something fun from the city. She's very good at party planning."

"Oh, this is fun! A real birthday party! You should tell me your birthday, Candy, so I can plan a good one for you!" Evie enthused, clapping her hands together and grinning. Candy spluttered protests and blushed, but Evie was already rounding on Phoebe. Who adjusted her glasses and glanced away. "Since I missed out on someone's birthday already. You shoulda told me," Evie scolded with a squinty gaze. Phoebe huffed a laugh.

"You'd just broken your leg and we barely knew each other. Besides, I'd made those plans with my college buddies weeks ago," Phoebe explained, sweating lightly and gesturing awkwardly with her hands, as if trying to physically calm Evie down, but too polite to actually invade her personal space.

Evie crossed her arms over her chest, but shrugged. "You're right, but I still wish I'd known."

"My birthday isn't until winter, Evie. You can throw me a party," Candace offered gently.

Evie grinned and wrapped an arm around Candace's shoulders. "You're such a sweetie, Candy."

"We'll do a Doctor marathon really soon. As soon as you get a phone, we can make a plan, remember?" Phoebe hinted broadly. Evie smiled lopsidedly.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Let's write up some plans for Luke's birthday and then go up to Ocarina about cake. Also bread. Must ask about bread," Evie reminded herself sternly.

"I have a bread recipe. Did you need a specific kind of bread?" Candace inquired. Evie's eyes lit up.

"Nope, just regular bread! You do, really?"

"Yes, I do. I have herb bread and onion bread recipes, too. I'll write them up and give them to you. I've been trying to make corn bread, but it never comes out tasting… good," Candace confessed with a blush. Evie and Phoebe laughed.

"It took me forever to make good bread. I always wanted to experiment with different components and variables to make the perfect loaf. I can help you figure out cornbread," Phoebe promised. "It was one of the more intriguing bread challenges."

Candace smiled happily. "I'd like that." She hurried over to a cabinet and begin searching through for her recipes while Phoebe took a notebook and pen out of one of her many pockets.

"So, party list. I love lists. Dictate at your leisure," Phoebe announced, clicking her pen assertively. Evie grinned and began to dictate.

After a delicious lunch of spaghetti Bolognese a la Candace, Phoebe and Evie left for Ocarina. Candace waved to them from the doorway until Shelly called her back inside to take a phone call. Evie looked over the party list in Phoebe neat, precise writing, with her own messy addendum on the bottom- for shelly, green herbs and wool, ASAP. She folded it up and shoved it in her pocket. Apparently Evie made friends in all the right places, because Shelly's offer of a trade– those few supplies for mending her rucksack with some improvements– was pretty sweet. Having a bigger, sturdier rucksack with more pockets and loops for tools to hang from would make life even easier.

"Hello, ladies," drawled a smoothly accented and typical masculine voice.

"Oh, Dr. Jones!" Evie blurted, automatically smiling when she caught sight of his perfectly shining teeth and handsome grin.

"It's good to see you again, Fey-girl. And it's nice meeting you…?" he trailed off pointedly with a glance towards Phoebe.

"Phoebe Kettles, doctor. Nice to meet you, too," Phoebe greeted politely, hand held out to shake. "My mother told me you'd moved into Ocarina indefinitely, and I think I might've see you around the mines…?"

He nodded a bit and thumbed at his nose. "Yes, I thought it was you. Both of you, please, call me Cal. I'm only 'doctor' in the classroom," Calvin begged winsomely. They couldn't help but agree readily. "So you're a miner, Ms. Kettles?"

"Phoebe. And I suppose so. Recreationally. I'm a mechanical engineer. In other words, I fiddle with junk until it becomes something interesting," Phoebe joked.

"That's quite impressive. You should definitely show me some of your interesting junk one day. I don't want to keep you two, however," he said politely. His bright eyes landed on Evie then and she barely kept from starting on her feet. "When you have some free time, Evelyn, I would like to speak with you."

Evie's face paled and she slapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh! I never gave you back the tablet!" she whispered, horrified. He chuckled warmly.

"There is that, yes, but more so, I wanted to discuss borrowing a book I've come to learn is in your possession. 'The Legend of the Bells'?" he queried with a quirk of an eyebrow. Evie frowned, but forced her expression to clear. He was a professor who came here to study the legends; he'd even gifted her with a tablet even older and most likely more valuable than a book that seemed to be public domain for this town, anyway.

"Yeah, I have that still at my place. I guess Hamilton told you about it?" she asked a little leading and pointed. That blinding smile returned before Calvin answered easily,

"He did, at that. I had hoped to borrow from him but he said I must ask you first since he lent it indefinitely to you."

Evie smiled and shook her head. "It was an interesting read. I really should've returned it weeks ago, though. Why don't you just come to my house, so I can give back the tablet, too. I'll be busy tonight with planting, but if you come, maybe between eight and eleven? I'll be sure to be ready for you," Evie suggested after a moment's thought.

He doffed his hat and smiled. "Sounds ideal. I'll see you in the morning, fey-girl. I'll see you in the mines again soon, Phoebe?"

Both women nodded and he stepped to the side to let them pass. He continued on down the road and they both sneakily peeked over their shoulders for one last glimpse. Absolutely worth the slight guilt. Evie caught herself first with a quiet snort as she knocked her shoulder against Phoebe's.

"Like what you see?" she teased. Phoebe blushed and pushed her glasses up her nose.

"You were looking, too!" she hissed, flustered and off-balance.

Evie grinned and winked. "Don't be embarrassed, he's good-looking. I'm pretty sure there's a saying about a nickel and bouncing it off–"

"Please, just stop," Phoebe implored Evie with a hand to her heated forehead. Evie laughed harder. "Aren't you and Fisher…?"

"Doesn't mean I can't look~" Evie sang, pushed the door to Ocarina open and gesturing Phoebe to proceed her. Phoebe sighed, mouth twitching, and did as bid.

"Good afternoon, Pheebs! It's been forever and ever~" Maya called out in excitement, flouncing towards them, a speedy mass of pink, white, and carroty-gold hair. "Oh, it's Evelyn, too! How fantastic!" She clapped and smiled giddily.

"It's good to see you, Maya," Phoebe agreed with a smile.

"How's it been?" Evie greeted.

"Oh, super super great! Now that the fires are back, my gramma's been cooking and baking up a storm. And Chase comes here almost every day and learns a bit before going to work. My gramma says he's the best protégé she's ever had, maybe enough to be better than her one day! Isn't he just the best?" she gushed, eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed. Evie diplomatically kept her mouth shut.

"I'm sure he is. Speaking of Yolanda, where…?" Phoebe prompted. Maya gasped and her eyes widened.

"Oh, of course, I'll go find her. You two don't leave! I have some yummy things for you to try!" She scampered off in a whirl of lace and eagerness.

"If she cooked it, don't eat it," Phoebe warned intensely, grey eyes boring in Evie's and her face ashen. "I was sick for a week the last time."

"Okay… wow… Noted, so noted." Evie grimaced in sympathy.

From the other side of the main room, a door swung open and Colleen entered. She held a large basket of clean linens looking beautiful and graceful as always. Instead of her usual contented humming and smiling, Colleen was looking… befuddled, and even a little anxious. With the fires burning at full strength, a new occupant providing steady revenue, and better, fresher produce coming from both Evie and Marimba, it was strange that Colleen looked more anxious than she had the first time Evie had met her. The older woman halted just a few feet from them, and her pretty, perfectly-darkened lashes fluttered over crystalline blue eyes in surprise. A heartbeat later, Colleen smiled sweetly and graciously.

"Why, hello there."

"Hello," they chorused, sharing a quick, amused smirk at their unintentional echo.

"Are you all right, Mrs. Taverns? You look a little… worried?" Evie asked uncertainly.

"I suppose I do," Colleen admitted. Her grip adjusted on the basket, propping it up on one hip so her free hand could press to her cheek. "It's… well, it's my dear Jake."

"Your husband? Is he sick?" Phoebe asked, concern leaking into her own voice.

"Nooo," Colleen replied slowly with a perplexed frown marring her normally seamless brow. "He's… oh, this will sound so silly. He's been so attentive lately. He seems to know what I want before I even ask for it. I wouldn't think anything of it, but sometimes it's for things I never would have asked for out loud. It's as if he's reading my mind. It's just so… disconcerting," she trailed off, eyes distant and unseeing, lips pursed.

"Reading your mind… why does that sound…" Evie scowled, racking her brain for why it seemed so… familiar. She gasped the same time Finn did. "Oh!"

"The crystal ball! It has to be the crystal ball!" Finn squawked, arms and legs flailing.

"I'm sure it's nothing, Mrs. Taverns. Maybe you just don't recall talking about it?" Phoebe was currently saying to Colleen.

"I could talk to him, if you'd like?" Evie offered quickly. Colleen and Phoebe turned to her in surprise. She blushed lightly. "I don't mean to overstep, but perhaps if someone could discreetly try to hint that maybe he's trying a bit too hard, it might help?"

"I couldn't ask you to intervene. I'm sure he's just trying to be so… so loving because our anniversary is coming up soon," Colleen reasoned, though her eyes were still wary.

"Please, let me talk to him. Sometimes a little outside perspective is just what the doctor ordered," Evie insisted as unassertively as possible.

"If you're sure," Colleen wavered, betraying just how unsettling her husband's behavior had become.

"Yup! It's no problem at all! Where is he now?"

"He's in Calvin's room at the moment, clearing out trash and such."

"Great!" Evie rushed towards the door Colleen had just entered through.

"Oh, she's going now?"

"She doesn't like waiting around, that girl," Phoebe sighed.

The door swung shut behind her and Finn, cutting off the rest of the conversation.

Hopefully she could get this done quick and go finish her business with Yolanda. What had to be Calvin's door was still left ajar, sunlight streaming from the room into the hallway and making the floorboards shine gold. She skidded over slick, polished wood and peered into the room. Sadly, he was not hunched over a crystal ball and cackling like an evil villain. No, Jake Taverns, normal every-day, nattily dressed, and handsome in that classic old movie protagonist way, was merely dusting the room and humming what sounded like… Katy Perry (?!) under his breath.

"Excuse me, Mr. Taverns?" Evie spoke, clearing her throat. His head jerked up quickly in shock.

"Oh my, Miss Tallesin, you quite startled me. How can I help you?" he questioned with an amused huff and a hand pressed to his heart.

"Well, I was wondering… I lost something of mine, maybe a week or so ago? I think that's right. It's pretty valuable and I was hoping someone had found it and given it to you or Ms. Colleen," Evie made up on the spot, internally pretty proud of herself.

"I don't think anyone has handed anything in… but my wife may have taken it in. If we don't have it, perhaps the Mayor would," Jake mused in his way of being helpful.

"Well, just in case, it's a perfectly round sphere and pretty heavy," Evie described innocently, eyes wide and guileless. She had to fight to keep from smirking at Jake's immediate reaction– the slight jump, the guilty shift of his eyes, the firming of his mouth. "It's made of something that like looks very much like glass, but if you look into it, you'd see the strangest things. It was a gift, and they swore up and down it was magic. Isn't that just wild?" Evie laughed.

"Evie, what are you doing!? Why not just ask him if he has it?" Finn demanded, bewildered.

"I've never seen anything like that! Magic, stuff and nonsense you mean!" Jake sputtered, his high cheekbones ruddy.

"Oh, really? Not at all?"

His mouth worked furiously for a moment. "Er, yes, really. Now I have a lot of chores to get done before we close tonight. Try asking the Mayor. There's nothing like that here," Jake told her pointedly. "Remember, we close at ten. Don't come poking around looking for it while we're heading to bed, understand?"

"Crystal!" Evie saluted. Jake frowned. "Sorry to keep you up. Thanks, Mr. Taverns!" She whistled as she bounded away.

"Why are you acting so happy? He doesn't have it! The least you coulda done is talk to him like you told Colleen," Finn scolded.

"He doth protest too much, methinks," Evie quipped. "We're gonna help Colleen out, you'll see. And the wizard, little Toto."

"Why are you calling me Toto again? I'm Finn!"

Evie snickered. When she got back into the main room, Colleen was already gone, but Maya had returned, her grandma with her, both of them chatting animatedly with Phoebe.

"I'm sure I could put something together," Phoebe was saying as Evie stepped up. The jade-haired woman turned and lifted a brow. "How'd it go?"

"Swimmingly~" Evie lilted happily. "Hello, Ms. Yolanda."

"Just Yolanda, dear, please. Phoebe here said you had a request for me?" Yolanda encouraged genially. Evie laid out the birthday idea, pausing to invite Maya and endear her to silence, and it was accepted readily.

"A good party is exactly what you young people need. Sign me up! I'll write up a few ideas and you come by and pick the one you think is best tomorrow. How does that sound?" Yolanda offered genially. Evie grinned in relief.

"Absolutely awesome. Thank you."

"I almost forgot! Parties!" Maya exclaimed before Evie and Phoebe could say their goodbyes. They froze and looked to Maya expectantly. "Renee just called, it's what took me so long getting gramma! Renee says she and Kathy want to do something tonight! An emergency party. I think it's for Kathy, but I don't know why… it's not her birthday is it?"

"It's not today, no. It is soon. Are you sure they said tonight?" Phoebe asked. Maya nodded adamantly. Yolanda turned to busy herself at her stove, though Evie was pretty sure she was leaning towards them to listen in 'discreetly'.

"Is it at Brass Bar?" Evie was already planning how she'd sneak away just long enough to catch him in the act.

"Actually, Renee wanted me to ask if we could do it at your house." Evie barely kept from sighing, so much for that plan. "Something about a 'girl's only' sleepover, if you'd be okay with it. Oh, do say you'll be okay with it! It's been such a long time since I've had a slumber party!" Maya pleaded, hands clasped in front of her chest.

"Girls' only night?" Phoebe repeated, brows rising.

It wasn't like Renee to exclude Luke or Toby, both of whom were such close friends of theirs. But the idea did have appeal. And hopefully, with so many girls all crowded together in her tiny one-room house, Evie could use the excuse that she needed some air to get away. Still a salvageable night, then.

"Yeah, I can do it!" she told Maya stoutly. Maya jumped up and down on the balls of her feet, clapping as she cheered. Even Phoebe couldn't help the small smile on her face. "I better run to Marimba to get my first summer seeds bought and planted before everyone shows up. I'll make sure to invite Anissa while I'm there, too. Ooohh, girls' night means playing with each other's hair a least a little, right? Cuz I would love to learn how to do those pretty crown braids Anissa's got," Evie proclaimed starry-eyed and fervent.

"I'll make sure Candace knows. You go ahead and start running, Evie," Phoebe urged. Evie nodded and thumbs-upped.

"Rightio! See you tomorrow, Yolanda!"

"Indeed you will. You make sure not to run yourself ragged, child."

Evie just laughed and waved. "I'll do my best. See you two ladies tonight!"

"I'll go call Rey-Rey back right now!" Maya squealed happily.

Evie climbed up onto her dining table just as the sun was sinking over the horizon. Finn had grumbled, but took off towards the Goddess Spring. There were just too many people, and sleeping on the bookcase to stay outta the way of flailing legs and arms was not a comfortable solution. They'd agreed to meet up much later that night for the crystal search, though. Evie cleared her throat and tapped an imaginary fork to an imaginary champagne glass. A few chuckles and eye rolls responded from the raised faces of the women around her.

"Every eligible young woman is now crammed into my house, so the party will soon begin. But first, Kathy has an announcement we've all been dying to hear. Except Renee, because she already knows, the secretive jerk," Evie joshed with a faux-glare in Renee's direction. She only giggled and shook her head.

Kathy leapt easily onto the table, bowing to the cheers. Evie hopped down and flopped onto her bed next to Candace. For a moment, Kathy looked around at the faces and anxiety flickered over her pretty face. Then, she squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and grinned wolfishly.

"Some of ya been thinkin' that me n' Owen have been datin'. But, well, it's all been a lie," Kathy started off. Anissa's eyes widened and Maya almost fell over in shock. Next to her, Evie heard Candace's short, sharp inhale. "I'm gayer'n Neil Patrick Harris on a unicorn ridin' a rainbow." She said this fast and sure, jaw stiff and gaze steely. Completely at odds with the actual words coming out of her mouth.

Evie's shoulders jerked, her stomach lurched, and a tiny choked sound escaped. She slapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. Raucous laughter was bubbling out of her, so hard she shook with it and it hurt her belly.

"S-Sorry, it's… he w-was a w-w-womanizing dick in that m-movie! He was the opposite of gay," Evie blurted as laughter spilled out of her like water rushing past cracks in a dam.

Kathy squinted narrowly at Evie, until she gave herself away with a twitch of her lips. She doubled over right on the table and laughed. "I didn't even think of that! Oh, wow!" Kathy admitted, tears forming at the corner of her eyes as she guffawed. Phoebe snorted loudly, then erupted into laughs that had her head tilting back and chest heaving.

"I don't understand! What movie? Was Kathy joking? What's happening!?" Maya wailed, baffled and upset.

"I-I'm sorry, Maya. I ain't jokin'. I like girls, I always have. The way you like Chase," she clarified when Maya opened her mouth, still puzzled. The confusion cleared and her mouth formed a perfect 'o'. Kathy hopped off the table, still chuckling.

"Thank you for telling us," Candace finally managed to say. She was blinking rapidly, obviously off-put by the wild laughter and utter seriousness of the situation happening at once.

"Ah, Candy, you always say the right things," Evie gasped, wiping at her face. "But, really, what she said! I'm glad you included me in this, too. Even though I'm new here."

"You're not new anymore, Evie," Renee assured her.

"Yeah, Dr. Calvin is!" Maya chirped.

"I had no idea. I'm so sorry you felt like you had to hide it from us for so long," Anissa apologized, clearly regretful. She got up and gave Kathy a warm, lingering embrace, no awkwardness or hesitance. "I'm so proud of you for telling us at last."

"Nissa," Kathy breathed, eyes wide in shock. She darted her gaze towards Renee, who looked happily and totally unsurprised. Before Anissa could pull away, Kathy returned the embrace fiercely. "Thanks."

"I think this is a hugball moment," Evie whispered loudly.

"Must we?" Phoebe sighed.

"Yes! Let's!" Renee agreed. She jumped up and threw her arms around Kathy and Anissa. "It's the perfect hugball moment. We love you, Kathy."

"Yes! Of course! I love you lots and lots! I think it's great you like girls. That's one less pretty girl to steal Chase away!" Maya giggled, wriggling underneath Anissa and Kathy's arms. Kathy laughed, raspy, hoarse, and grateful. Candace, Evie, and Phoebe joined in last, all murmuring their own support.

"Okay, okay! I get it, y'all love me! Let's have a party! Please tell me you have fun games to play, hostess!" Kathy exclaimed, slightly too exuberantly and surreptitiously wiping at her eyes.

"I've got lots of games!" Evie replied, her own eyes shiny and her grin wide. "So, there's the oh-so-classic game of Cards Against Humanity, the extended version, which means I've basically bought every deck ever. This Jenga game that's got a bunch of dares for every block you pull, and I'm pretty sure a bunch of them have 'strip off something' on them," Kathy whooped and the rest laughed. "And then, the ever more classic Twister."

"And I brought some movies," Anissa offered. "We can't have a girls' night without 'Legally Blonde' or 'Sweet Home Alabama', which is a better 'Notebook' in my opinion," Anissa stated without remorse.

"Anissa, did you just diss the Notebook!?" Maya exclaimed, bright blue eyes wide.

"I personally feel that Deadpool is a better love story," Evie laughed as she set the boxes of games on the table.

"Deadpool is the best love story," Kathy agreed, reaching over a hand for a high-five. Evie gamely complied.

The party devolved into fights over movies, what music to blast, and which game to play first. With the background noise of Lynard Skynard and Reese Witherspoon country-twanging, they played the Jenga game first, cheering on every lost sock or shirt. The other dares were mostly silly or ridiculous, like drawing an obscene word on a hard to hide body part, forbidding everyone in the group from using the words 'I' or 'you', hold hands with the person on your left and you can't switch hands or let go even while pulling blocks, and so on. Kathy made everyone cocktails jokingly stating it'd make the dares "easier", though Evie and Anissa both declined and Candace sipped her single glass the whole night. With half the room tipsy, they moved onto Renee's iPod– surprisingly full of rap and hip-hop– and an increasingly hilarious game of CAH. While Kathy and Evie did overall well, Anissa actually stole the game with some of the most breathtakingly offensive and filthy choices. Even Evie was gaping at a few. Poor Candace was blushing neck to hairline the entire time– especially since she'd been the unluckiest one at Jenga having pulled every 'strip' block in the tower, with her cardigan, her blouse, and both socks missing. Twister was basically a game of who fell the fastest, since Evie was the only sober one on the mat by the time they set it up, and Anissa and Candace chose to spin the arrow. Phoebe and Maya were surprisingly flexible, but their balance was shot to hell. The clock struck midnight and limbs untwisted from the giant pile of laughing women. Renee wriggled her way free the fastest and tripped her way towards Anissa's overnight bag.

"We have to watch 'Legally Blonde'. Before it gets too late," Renee begged, waving the disc sloppily through the air. She was flushed and clumsy from her raspberry cocktails, but otherwise pretty much herself.

"Yeah! I wanna! Reese is my supermodel," Maya hiccupped and giggled.

"Role model, darlin', role model," Kathy corrected, patting Maya's head affectionately.

Evie chugged down a bit of raspberry juice, which she was sharing with Candace and Anissa, and her eyes widened. It was the perfect time to go check on Ocarina Inn and she'd told Finn she would be heading over there about now. If what was going on really was going on, then midnight probably would be the safest time for it to happen. Almost everyone else in Castanet was passed out by now.

"Hey, 'm gonna go take a walk, stretch out a bit. That game of Twister got me feelin' claustrophobic," Evie excused herself with a self-deprecatingly duck of her head.

Everyone chorused their protests, but Evie got to her feet and laughed them off.

"I won't be gone long, promise. I don't wanna miss the whole movie. It's definitely a fave," Evie assured them with hands raised in surrender.

"I could come with you?" Candace offered. Luckily, she interrupted herself with a sleepy, jaw-cracking yawn.

"I'll be fine. Set up beds and start the movie. I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone," Evie vowed while shoving her feet back in her boots.

"Don' f'get yer shirt, gurl," Kathy called over, slightly slurred and muffled from where she was snuggled with Maya.

Evie barked a laugh and grabbed her top as she threw open the door. She'd actually forgotten she'd taken it off when Candace lost her blouse as a gesture of camaraderie. The door clicked shut behind her while she dragged her shirt over her head. It actually kinda sucked leaving while, really, one of her top five favorite movies played and all her friends were lying around her house. But, well, she'd promised and almost forgotten about that crystal ball, and she had promised Colleen she'd help her, too. Evie rubbed her face and began to long jog towards Harmonica. The quiet tinkling of bells was her first warning, and then a tiny ball of light bounced along next to her shoulder. It faded into an adorably yawning Finn.

"Why couldn't we have done this earlier?" Finn asked, teary eyed and wobbly. She scooped him out of the air and cuddled him to her cheek. He giggled and nuzzled back.

"Because we have to catch him at it. Colleen probably stays up for an hour or so after closing, and then he probably waits to make sure she, and Calvin, and Yolanda are all deep in sleep, and then he uses it," Evie explained simply. Finn blinked sluggishly up at her.

"Wha?"

"Jake has the crystal ball, Finn. He was lying, I'm sure of it. You really think he'd just give it up if I asked nicely?"

"… yes…?" Finn replied slowly.

"Ha, no. When humans want something really badly, we lie, Finn," she giggled and imagined him in a cute little FBI costume and trenchcoat. "Plus, it's magic and powerful. Power tends to corrupt even the nicest people. He probably doesn't even realize how badly he's acting."

"You're sure?"

"Pretty tootin' sure. We'll just sneak in, and give it a quick peek. If I'm wrong, and nothing weird is happenin', you can say 'told you so' and go straight back to the Goddess."

"All right," Finn conceded doubtfully as he cuddled closer to her warm palms.

Ocarina Inn was dark when they reached it. Finn perched in her breast pocket, eyes slightly more alert. She placed her finger to her lips, and he nodded fervently, before she tiptoed around the back of the building. Sure enough, one of the back vacant rooms was lit up. Finn flittered towards the window, gripped the sill, and peeked through the glass. He gasped, wings buzzing they were flapping so swiftly, then hurried back to her.

"He's using the crystal ball in there, Evie! I saw it! He looks really creepy," Finn shuddered.

"That's what happens when you use magic for unintended purposes," Evie declared stoutly. Obviously fantasy books and TV shows had been leading her to moments like these.

She crept back around the Inn and tried the front door. For a moment, she knew it was locked and it fought against the pressure of her hand. In the next, the doorknob twisted smoothly, without any fuss, and the door slipped open. Cautiously, she tiptoed into the main room and gently pushed the front door to barely ajar. She read 'Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe' enough times to know not to close it, even if it wasn't a magical wardrobe door leading to a mystical land. It felt like hours to creep silently towards the back rooms, carefully avoiding chairs and counters and getting around doors (well, one more door). She reached the room at last, eerie blue light spilling out the cracks around it. Warily and wincing, she pulled the inn room door open.

Inside was the scene she'd jokingly envisioned earlier that day. Jake, eyes intense and pupils blown, hunched almost Gollum-like over a glowing crystal ball. His hand caressed its surface lovingly as he crooned and whispered.

"Yes, I can see everyone… I can see everyone's mind!"

"Yikes! It's the crystal ball!" Finn exclaimed, hands and legs flailing.

"I can see that," Evie hissed, eyes wide and thoughts tumbling over themselves. What was she– crap! Jake turned, crystal ball glowing an ominous dark blue, and saw her.

"Evelyn! What are you doing here?"

Evie gave it up for broke and stepped forward. "You need to give me the crystal ball back, Mr. Taverns. The wizard asked me to find it."

"Give it back?" Jake gasped, eyes wide and almost fearful. "I'm not going to just give it back. It's mine! I found it!"

"This isn't kindergarten, Mr. Taverns. There's no such thing as finders-keepers," Evie said a little too irritably if the instant look of rage on Jake's face was anything to go by. Right, good job, Tallesin, goad the possessed dude, she thought with an inner groan.

Just then, the door behind Evie clicked open, causing her and Jake look over to it. The wizard walked in, face blank but stern. "I knew I felt my crystal ball close by. I heard Evelyn say my name in its presence and was finally able to see it."

"Wizard! You're here to steal this from me, I can hear your thoughts!" Jake snapped, tugging the ball close to his chest. The rage in his eyes snapped towards Wizard, and Evie was heartily glad his attention was on Wizard now. Jake spun away from them, curled around the crystal ball as if to protect it with his own body. "I won't give it back, even if it is yours. It's… It's my precious."

Silence grew in the room, thick and tangible. Then, Evie snorted. Wizard glanced her way, eyebrow curving up, while Evie shoved her fist in her mouth, red-faced and barely able to hold back the giggles. It was a serious situation, but she couldn't help it.

Finn shivered under her chin. "Why are you laughing, Evie?" he whispered, terrified and bewildered.

The Wizard sighed and returned his attention to Jake's back. "Fine, if you really feel that you are the one who deserves it, it is yours. It is not something to be fought over," he finally conceded, weary and resigned. Evie gaped at him, giggles dying instantly.

"Wizard, what are you– you can't just give it up!" Evie protested in shock.

Jake gasped, turning slowly and looking absolutely wretched. "Oh no. Wizard, I can feel your thoughts…" he trailed off and gazed down into the ball. Evie shivered and hoped the Wizard's were louder than hers. The idea that someone could see into her head was ridiculously disturbing. It was cool in comic books, not real life. "I can feel how important this crystal ball is to you," Jake continued sadly. He slowly extended his hands and held out the beautiful, innocently glittering ball towards the wizard. "It… it belongs to you. I'm sorry."

The wizard gently took the crystal ball, cradling it a moment in his dark hands like it was fragile and precious, then placed it in a velvet cloth bag hanging from his belt.

"I'm so sorry for the trouble I caused. It took a strange hold over me," Jake told the wizard, hand over his heart and the other shakily smoothing over his brow. He looked younger and relieved, as if he'd taken a weight off he'd been carrying that was much too heavy for him. "I just… I just wanted to make my wife happy. But then I couldn't pull myself away. I wanted to read everyone's mind. You're the only one who could handle that thing! I could tell when you walked into the room." Jake smiled apologetically at Wizard. "I can make my wife happy without it."

"The crystal ball has much power and magic of its own. Your intentions were good, Mr. Taverns, or else you would've done much more damage, or even become violent to defend it. Thank you for returning it to me," the wizard granted graciously. "It's hold on you will diminish quickly."

"Thank you for forgiving me," Jake exhaled roughly. He ran his hand over his forehead again. "Ms. Tallesin, would you forgive me, as well? I'm afraid I was quite rude to you. I know now you were trying to help."

"I was being kinda sneaky about it," Evie shrugged, with a wincing sort of smile. "I'm just glad we figured this all out."

"If you both would excuse me, I really must lie down. Could you show yourselves out?" he asked, looking ashen and faint. They quickly acquiesced and he left, his blue eyes darting towards the crystal ball's bag one last time, before he shuddered visibly and walked out.

"Evelyn," the wizard stated. She started slightly and turned to him in question. "Your efforts in locating my crystal ball is what brought me here. Allow me to repay you."

"N-no, really! It's nothing! We're a team, and maybe friends?" Evie objected quickly, offering her hand to shake. He took it, pressing their palms together firmly, and dropped his hand away.

"I am not a very… friendly person. But I appreciate the sentiment and accept," he replied with a tiny quirk of the corner of his mouth. Evie grinned widely. "Please come by my house someday soon, though. I would like to repay you in some small way."

"Okay… thanks. I will, 'cuz you insist," Evie decided. He nodded and took his leave.

Finn yawned hugely. "Does this mean we can go now?"

"Yeah. Definitely."

Evie carried Finn all the way to her house, before he took off, woozily flying towards the Spring. Evie paused a moment, lifting her face towards the gentle night breeze, and frowned slightly. The idea of Jake using a ball to see into his wife's mind, even if it was to make her happy and he just loved her so much, was still pretty… creepy. Jake was a nice enough man, and he'd given it up pretty easily, but she still couldn't help but shiver. Returning to the crowd of women in her house was a relief, and not just because she managed to catch the epic ending of one of her favorite movies.


A/N: Yay! Two chapters at once! But only because I messed up on AO3. Remember how I said last chapter was actually a separate part? I forgot to warn AO3 readers that it'd be uploaded separately, so me, and my beta, made sure to post both up this week. Next update will be another timestamp, but luckily for readers, it doesn't make much of a difference for you, lol.

Next update is a TIMESTAMP: 7/6/2017