Disclaimer:
I own nothing. I am a poor college student. Please don't sue me! The
only thing I ask for is a little feedback. The characters from a Midsummer
Night's Dream are Shakespeare's and any reference to King Arthur comes
from the numerous authors that have previously written about him, there
are too many that I am using so I cannot name them all. I am just borrowing
these wonderful So Weird characters, they are Disney property. Please don't
hurt me! Feedback is the only thing I ask for. Please!
One
In A Million - Chapter 3: The Carousal Of Life
by
Annabelle
"I'm
coming," Melinda yelled as she rushed out of the kitchen to the front door
of her house. She had been baking a cake for Fi as a little pick-me-up
surprise. Melinda was very worried about her niece who now always
seemed to be tired and did not go out anymore. Sighing she smoothed
the apron that she had on and turned the doorknob. She before her
stood young blonde man and a dark haired young woman. "Can I help
you?"
"Is
this the home of Fiona Phillips the daughter of famous Molly Phillips?"
The young man's had a very official tone to it.
"I am
sorry," Melinda was not sure weather or not she should trust these people
or not. Thankfully they were not sales people, sales people don't
dress like they are extras for the some 1940's movie. The young man
was dressed in a black slacks and a white semi-dress shirt with black suspenders
and a tweed newsboy's cap; and the woman wore a typical burgundy forties
dress with scalloped neckline, cuffs and peplum and a bolero hat with an
egg shaped brim.
The
young man looked at her for a moment then shook his head. "No it
is I who should apologize, I have gotten head of myself. My name
is the Great Incanto and this lovely lady is my fiancée Raliana,"
Incanto pushed forward Raliana and she bobbed her head a little.
"I met Ms. Phillips a few months ago in Missouri; she gave me a lift on
her way to St. Louis."
"And?"
"Well
I knew that her daughter was staying here in Seattle and I had a gift to
give to Molly but I did not know were to send it," Incanto tried to explain
but Melinda was not convinced.
"Please
ma'am we mean her no harm," Raliana spoke in a hushed calming tone that
Melinda could barely hear.
Then
something strange overcame Melinda and she felt all of her suspicions leave
her mind. Of course these people where here to give Fiona a gift
for her mother, it made prefect sense. "I am so sorry. You
must think me very rude," She opened the door a little wider. "Please
come in and have a seat. I will go get her."
"Thank
you very much ma'am," Incanto said as he removed his cap and sat next to
Raliana on a couch in the living room.
'You
goof,' Raliana pathed to him. 'Did you really think that she was
going to let you in just because you claim to know Fi's mother?'
'Well,'
Incanto thought about for a moment. 'Yes I did. But it doesn't matter,
you used your powers so it is all better now.'
Raliana
shook her head and sighed. Sometimes she thought being in human form
made her fellow Feys a little bit more absent minded than usual.
Then
Melinda came in the room with Fiona following her closely. "Fiona
this is Incanto and his fiancée Raliana. They know your mother
and have come to give you a gift that they have for her."
Fi took
one look at 'Incanto' and 'Raliana' and almost laughed out loud.
Not only because of their clothes but also because the poor excuse that
they had come up with to get to see her. She moved to shake their
hands and the both stood up to greet her. "It is a pleasure."
"The
pleasure is ours," Incanto spoke for himself and Raliana while everyone
took a sit. "I am not sure if your mother every mentioned me because
I was not around for very long but she did help me out a great deal."
Fi nodded
slowly, "I don't believe she did but my friend Annie told me a bit about
you."
"Ah
yes, sweet Annie. She helped me more than your mother did," Incanto
wore a smile that almost went from ear to ear.
"I am
afraid that my fiancé is forgetting that we do not have a lot of
time here," Raliana folded her hands neatly into her lap. "There
will be time for stories another time perhaps but for now our visit has
to be brief."
"Really,"
Melinda's voice had a sadness to it that no one could really explain, after
all she had just meet these people.
Incanto
shook his head, "I am afraid it is true. So I will get straight to
the point of my visit. I have a two-fold gift for your mother Fiona.
The first part of the gift is this." He held out one hand and then
waved the other directly above it. Then a metal shield appeared in
his hand. At first it was small but then it grew and as it got larger
one could start to make out the faded paint and metal etchings on it.
"This," Incanto informed everyone as he handed the shield to Fi, "is your
family crest. I found it on one of my trips to Europe and because
it was in such good condition thought it would be the prefect gift.
They say that the family crest not only protects but also brings power
and good fortune to all in the clan."
"Thank
you," Fiona took the shield and looked it over with her aunt Melinda.
"How
did you do that," Melinda looked in wonderment from the shield to Incanto.
"A magician's
never relieves his secrets dear lady," Incanto chuckled slightly.
"Now the second part of this gift is that I am going to make it possible
for you to give your mother this present tonight," Incanto grinned even
bigger than before but Raliana grimaced.
"Inky
don't," Raliana warned him.
"I will.
Do you doubt me?" Incanto sounded hurt.
"Well
to put it nicely," Raliana tried to sound sweet, "yes!"
"Woah!
Wait a minute," Melinda was starting to get very confused and the suspicion
that she had first had about this people was starting to return.
"I thought you said that you did not know where Molly was."
"Ah,
well it goes something like this," Inky stammered. "I wasn't going
to perform tonight but well you were getting Fi I received a phone call
asking me to perform at a venue in Maryland. I was going to ask you
if it was alright to bring Fi with us to our next gig, which just happens
to be in the same place were Molly is performing," now that he had regained
his composure he was able to add that Melinda was also invited in a more
adult sounding voice.
Everyone
sat in silence. Mostly in shock because of what Incanto had just
proposed. Melinda was in the most shock because none of what was
happening seemed possible. Finally she spoke, "But like you said
the Molly's and your performance is tonight. In Glen Echo, Maryland!"
"Yes
that is true," the magician agreed. "However I don't see that being
a problem. Thankfully the people at the park have not told Molly
who is going to be opening for her. I told them that I was an old
friend and I wanted to surprise her."
"Greenland,"
Raliana muttered. "I just know this going to end in Greenland."
"Greenland?"
Melinda seemed more doubtful then before and gave Fi a worried look.
"It
is just Raliana's odd sense of humor," Incanto tired to reassure everyone.
"I promise you that we will a travel to Glen Echo without any trouble at
all."
"But
how," Melinda's head was starting to spin.
"Yes,
Incanto," Fi was trying so hard not to laugh. "How is it possible
for us to go across three time zones and the whole country?"
"Why
with magic of course," Incanto waved his hand in the air as he spoke for
a dramatic affect. Raliana rolled her eyes but did not say anything.
"I am
sorry Mr. Incanto," Melinda's voice was laden with disbelieve. "But
I as much as I have been amazed by the talents you showed earlier I find
it very hard to believe that you have the power to transport all of us
from this house to Glen Echo, Maryland."
"You
are a very wise woman," Raliana smiled at Melinda.
"Oh
the amount of doubt in this room almost kills my spirits," Incanto held
his hand to his chest in mock pain.
"Does
that mean that we are not going," Raliana asked hopefully.
"No,"
Incanto glared at her. "Alright ladies get your things ready.
Fi I would suggest you bring, well everything you own. You
won't be back for a while. Ms. Melinda bring as much as you like,
and ladies please do try to hurry a bit. I do not want to be late."
"He
isn't joking is he?" Melinda asked Raliana.
Raliana
snapped her fingers and an old carpetbag appeared next to her on the floor,
"Unfortunately he is not. If you would like some help I can try to
speed up the packing process for you."
Melinda
shook her head still not quite sure if she should believe what was going
on. She was not entirely convinced that she had not slipped on the
way to answer the door and hit head as she fell to the floor.
"I wouldn't
mind some help if I am going to be taking everything," Fi gave Raliana
a goofy smile.
Raliana
nodded and the three ladies walked to upstairs to pack. Once Aunt
Melinda was in her room with the door closed Fiona burst out into a fit
of giggles. She was laughing so hard she almost fell to the floor.
"What?"
Raliana asked her truly confused as to what Fiona found so amusing.
"Rye,
your clothes, the excuses, the names, well everything," Fi managed to stammer
between giggles. "That and it is hard for me to think of you as anything
but Rhylinye, Princess of the Fey. Now you are Raliana, fiancée
to the Great Incanto, it is just hard to sallow." Fi started to giggle
again.
Raliana
sighed, "Well on the plus side I have started to think of myself as Raliana
and not Rhylinye. Now come on. I want to see you pack your
whole room into this carpet bag," Raliana/Rhylinye blinked and a carpetbag
similar to the one she had downstairs appeared next to Fi.
"Less
than a minute right," Fi's laughter was starting to die down.
"You
read my mind," Raliana smiled. Fi merely sighed, closed her eyes,
took a few deep breaths, and then when she opened them again the entire
room was empty except for the furniture and bedding that had been there
when she got there.
"Fiona
do you need any help," Aunt Melinda started to ask but then she looked
at the barren room. "Well I guess not."
"Thanks
anyway Auntie," Fi gave her a sad smile. "Raliana helped me pack."
"You
managed to fit everything into that bag?" Melinda stared at the bag that
Fi held in her hands.
"Magic,"
Fi told her.
Melinda
shook her head, "That is some talent that you have Miss Raliana."
"Thank
you very much," Raliana smiled. "I will give you two a few minutes
alone. We will be waiting for you downstairs." Raliana turned
and left the room.
Melinda
walked to the center of the room were Fi was standing hold her carpet bag
tightly in one hand. She glanced around the room to and tried to
picture what it had looked like just a few minutes before. "This
house already feels empty," Melinda could feel the tears building up inside
her.
Fi did
not say anything; she could not find any words. She just dropped
her carpetbag and threw her arms around her aunt. They stood like
that for a few moments and then Fi pulled away. "Thanks Aunt Melinda,"
Fi's voice was shaky.
"Oh
honey, you are welcome anytime," Melinda told her tenderly. "The
only question I have is what we are going to do about school."
"I am
sure we will figure everything out once was talk to my mom," Fi laughed.
"I don't think she would let me just withdraw from the wonders of higher
education."
Melinda
laughed and then sucked in a breath. "Well I guess we should get
going?"
"Yeah,"
Fi picked up her bag and grabbed her aunt's hand.
When
the entered the living room the saw Raliana and Incanto having a hushed
conversation but they stopped and looked at the others. "Well I take
that you are ready to go?" Incanto half asked half stated.
"Yes
we are Mr. Incanto," Melinda put on a brave smile.
"Good,
good," Incanto moved closer to them. "Now everyone stand close to
me and hold on to your luggage tight."
"Are
you sure this is going to work," Melinda's voice of logic was starting
to kick in again.
"Of
course I am sure," Incanto told her. "Now just close your eyes and
everyone picture Molly's face and keep that image in your mind."
They
all did as they were told but everyone could hear Raliana mutter something
about Greenland. They felt a wind start to pick up around them and
it grew stronger and louder. Then when it felt like the wind was
about to blow them and the house away it stopped.
"It
doesn't feel cold enough to be Greenland," Raliana did not open her eyes;
she just clutched her bag tightly to her body.
"Of
course not," Incanto almost ridiculed her. "We are in Glen Echo not
Greenland."
"Fiona
or Melinda would you please let me know for sure that we are in Glen Echo?"
Raliana kept her eye closed stubbornly.
Fi and
Melinda looked around the winter scene that they were and then Fi saw the
sign. She let out a little scream, which caused everyone to turn
and look in the same direction that she was looking. There in poster
slot outside of one building was a picture of Molly Phillips with a yellow
strip of paper going across the bottom right corner of the poster that
said 'Tonight Only'.
"I guess
we are in Glen Echo," Raliana let a goofy grin spread across her face.
"But where are we going to stay until later tonight?" Everyone laughed
and the walked toward the building with Molly's poster on the side of it
hoping to find someone who could tell them were they could go from there.
******
"Mom,
Annie it is almost time to get going," Jack yelled as he pounded on their
door.
Molly
opened the door, "We will be right there. I promise sweetie.
Just wait one more second."
Jack
sighed and walked down the hallway to the main lobby where everyone else
was waiting. They all looked at him as he walked towards them with
out his mom and Annie. He held his hands up in defense, "They said
that they would be here in just a second."
"Look,"
Carey pointed to the two figures coming down the hall. "There they
are now."
"Sorry
to keep everyone waiting," Molly apologized for herself and Annie.
Jack
did not really hear what his mom was saying; he was too busy trying to
figure out what was different about Annie. Then he felt an elbow
gently shove him the back. He looked to see Carey giving him a look
that said stop-gawking. Jack almost blushed but then he shook it
off.
"Well
come one lets get going," Irene broke the silence that no one had really
seemed to notice. "We don't want to be late."
They
walked out of the hotel to bus, which Ned had already started up so that
it would be warm. They boarded the bus and Molly and Carey sat towards
the front doing some last minute practicing as they went on the short drive
to the Glen Echo Concert venue.
Jack
kept glancing at Annie every now and them. She did not seem to notice
because her head was in a book. Finally when he looked down at the
book to see what she was reading he noticed what was different. Annie
was wearing a small thumb ring with an engraving in it. "Hey where
did you get that from?" he asked her. "It looks just like the one
that Fi has."
"Fi
gave it to me when she left," Annie answered straight away. She had
only been pretending to read. She had actually been counting how
many times Jack had glanced at her since they got on the bus.
"Really,"
Jack took her hand in his and examined the ring more carefully. "I've
never seen you wear it before."
Annie
looked at his face. He was not looking at her, he seemed to be entranced
by the ring. "I don't wear it all that often," Annie spoke but Jack's
eyes never left the ring. "I usually keep it safe in a box of mine."
Jack still did no look up from the ring. "Jack?"
"In
a box," Jack repeated. "Got it," He withdrew his hand and stood up.
"Sorry about interrupting your reading." He turned and walked towards
his room at the back of the bus. "I got some studying to do.
See you later Annie."
"Yeah
see you later," Annie mumbled and then once Jack had left the room she
sighed and sunk deeper into the couch that she was sitting in. What
was wrong with her? Of course Jack was interested in the ring, it
was his sister's, it wasn't that he was interested in her. Annie
closed her eyes and book and waited for the bus to arrive at Glen Echo.
*****
"Is
everything ready?" Incanto asked the stage manager anxiously.
"Yes
everything is ready," the stage manager told him for the fifth time.
"Ms. Phillips will be here shortly."
"And
the sign. What about my sign?" Incanto's voice was reaching new heights
of apprehension.
"Your
sign?" the stage manager shook her head.
"My
sign. The one that says opening for Molly Phillips tonight The Great
Incanto," Incanto half yelled.
"There
is no sign."
"No
marque?"
"No
marque."
"How
is there no marque. This is supposed to be a concert venue?"
"This
is a folk concert venue, we don't use marques. If you want to have
a sign hung up we can do that, but we do not do marques," the stage manager's
voice was strained with annoyance. She then turned and left.
Incanto
just stood there with his mouth hung open staring at were the stage manager
had once been. Raliana walked about behind him, "Darling what is
wrong?"
"No
marque," was all he was able to say.
"Dearest,
I am sorry I do not understand," Raliana looked at him with worry written
all over her face. "Please talk in full sentences."
Incanto
grabbed his shoulders with his hands, "She says that there is no marque,"
he shook his fiancée with each word he spoke.
Raliana
laughed, "Is that all?"
"Is
that all?" Incanto hissed at her. "Is that all! As if there
should be anything else wrong."
"It
is not a big deal," Raliana mimicked him and shook his shoulders.
"Not
a problem? It is not a problem!" he was started to yell again.
Raliana
shook her head and gave her hand a little wave, "There! Now there
is a marque, which says: Featured Tonight Molly Phillips with opening act
The Great Incanto. Happy?"
"Yes
thank you," Incanto sighed and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.
"Now what is that you are wearing?"
"Don't
you like it," Raliana spun around in the odd looking flashy low cut dress.
"Fi picked it out for me. She saw the picture online and said that
it was the prefect thing for a magicians assistant."
"It
is awful," Incanto looked at her in disgust. He snapped his
fingers and the dress was replaced with a modest V neck sleeveless silky
red nylon jersey 1940's dress. "There that is much better, isn't?"
"Yeah,
I guess," Raliana looked down at what she was wearing and forced a smile.
"What are you going to wear?"
"This,"
in a flash Incanto's clothes changed into a black and white pinstripe vest
with a white shirt and a black cape and a pair pinstripe pants. "Classy,
no?"
"Very,"
Raliana smiled even harder. "Well I am going to go check on Fi and
Melinda. Try not to worry so much while I am gone. Everything
will go fine tonight. Remember you are not just the Great Incanto.
You a very special," Raliana laughed a little.
"Please
don't remind me," Incanto rolled his eyes. "It is hard enough as
it is to stay in person without having to think about everything else that
we have to do. Great now I am starting to sound like Incanto.
For the love of the great Lord, I just want to be Fey again!"
"All
too soon darling, all too soon," Raliana laughed again and then left him
there to fuss over every other little detail that was suppose to happen
that night.
*****
"Alright
everyone we are here," Ned called out from the driver's seat. He
had barely put the bus in park when his wife bounded off the bus and ran
into the building telling everyone that she would be right back as she
went.
"Thanks
Ned," Molly answered and then turned to Annie. "Annie will you go
get Jack and tell him it is time to go inside?"
Annie
stood up from the couch and put on her happy face, "Sure thing Molly."
After
she had left Molly looked at Carey, "Is there something wrong with her?"
"Just
the usually angst of being a teenager," Carey replied as he put his guitar
back in its case.
"Oh,"
Molly thought about that for a moment. "Teenage angst? I didn't
know you could have that traveling on the road."
"With
the right people around you can," Carey said mysteriously.
Molly
was again puzzled by what he was saying then it hit her, "No."
"Afraid
so," Carey shrugged.
"This
is not good," Molly stated. "Not good at all."
"Why
not?" Carey did not understand Molly's reaction at all. He was not
expecting her to be happy about the situation but for her to be outright
upset about seemed a little over kill.
"Three
words. Small tour bus," Molly told him in a very serious voice.
"I better talk to Jack."
"Why
don't you wait awhile," Carey suggested. "Let them come to you.
You don't want to seem overbearing, after all they are still just friends."
"Reason
number two talk to them now," Molly was playing devil's advocate.
"Annie goes back to her family at the end of the school year. The
whole thing is just a very bad idea."
"What's
a bad idea," Jack asked as he and Annie entered the room.
Carey
thought quickly for a cover, "Molly and I were just talking about some
new lighting for the show, but she is right. Very bad idea to change
the lighting right before a show."
"Yeah,"
Molly decided to agree with Carey because right now as not the time to
be talking about problems of the heart with her two resident teenagers.
She had a performance to give.
"Come
on people, let's shake a leg here," Irene shouted as she tucked her head
back into the bus.
Everyone
laughed as the started to march off the bus. Then Annie stopped dead
in her tracks as she looked at the concert venue. Everyone else stared
at her because they could not see what the problem was.
"Annie
honey, what's wrong?" Molly questioned.
"That
marque wasn't there early today," Annie pointed to the marque that was
now centered above the doors into the venue.
"That's
ridiculous Annie," Jack said in his no nonsense matter a fact voice.
"You must have just missed the last time we were here."
"Alright
then," Annie was starting to get into the mode where she had to prove to
everyone that she was not crazy. "Who here knew that Molly had an
opening act tonight?"
Everyone
looked at each other and then at the sign. Sure enough it read that
tonight The Great Incanto would be opening for Molly Phillips. "How
can that be?" Irene asked no one in particular. "I was not told that
there would be any opening act."
"This
is totally awesome," Jack's voice was full of elation. "I wonder
if Inky will remember any of us."
"Well
I guess there is only one way to find out," Carey looked at Annie and then
at Jack.
"Front
row seats!" they all cried in unison and started to race to the building.
"Hey
wait a minute you guys!" Molly called at to them and they stopped and turned
around.
"Carey
what about the performance?" Molly asked him.
"Oh
please Molly," Carey begged. "I mean this is a one-time chance kind
of thing. Besides you know you want to see what he is gonna do."
"Alright,"
Molly smiled at them. "Irene, Ned and I will talk with the stage
manager for a minute and then meet you out on the floor."
"Deal!"
Carey agreed for himself and the others.
Once
they were inside Annie, Carey, and Jack made their way to the front.
When they got there they saw that there were signs on some of the chairs
that said reserved. Just then an usher dressed in a red cap with
gold lining that strapped under his chin and a red vest walked up to them,
"Excuse me; are you with the Molly Phillips tour?"
"Well
yes we are," Jack answered.
"Good
we have been waiting for you guys to get here. These seats are yours.
It is Glen Echo policy to save seats for the performers and their entourage,"
the usher told them. "I hope you enjoy the opening act," he removed
the reserved signs from the seats and walked away.
"This
is totally wicked," Annie said as she took a seat in the cushy red velvet
chair. "This venue absolutely rocks. It is like being in an
antique theater."
"I think
it is an antique theater Annie," Jack told her jokingly. "Did you
see the Dentzel carousel outside? That thing is totally hand painted
and hand carved. I wish it was running now. It would be kind
of cool to go on."
"Jack
you must be going through childhood regression," Carey laughed at him.
"What?"
Jack gave him a little glare. "A guy can't want to ride on a carousel
every now and then? Besides I remember when my dad, mom, Fi, and
I used to go ride one just like that. Well it was a replica but it
was almost… Well almost magically. It is one of the few good
memories I have left."
"Well
I think that is very sweet Jack," Annie gave him a silly smile.
"You
two just don't understand the value of a good memory," Jack sighed.
Before
anyone could respond to his comment Molly, Ned, and Irene walked up to
where they were sitting. "Hey guys," Molly greeted them, "I see you
found the reserved sitting."
"Yep,"
Annie smiled. "This usher dressed in a very traditional outfit told
us all about it."
"Mom,"
Jack started, "everything here seems kinda traditional. The outfits,
the chairs, the whole decor."
"Well
Jack people here at Glen Echo really want to preserve what they have,"
Molly told him. "I know this place seems really folk but all sorts
of things happen here and the place has a lot of history. It is like
an indoor Wolf Trap."
"Hey
Molly, how long do we have until Inky goes on?" Annie asked
"Not
that long. Apparently there is about an half an hour intermission
in between when he gets off and I go on," Molly told everyone. They
all noticed the groups of people that were starting to file into the theater.
"They
want to make sure that the stage will be set right for Molly and do some
sound checks. While they do that food is served in just down the
hall in this makeshift dinning hall," Irene's voice indicated that she
could not really believe what she was saying.
"Wow,"
was all Annie could think to say. "This place is so different."
"Yeah,"
Ned told the kids. "It carters to a much small crowds, but during
the summer months there are a lot of concerts, demonstrations, workshops,
and festivals which a lot of people attend."
"If
everyone would kindly start to move to there sits the first performance
will be starting in just a few moments," a voice spoke over the speaker
system in the theater.
"Hey
did you guys get to see Inky backstage by any chance," Jack asked if this
goofy look on his face.
"No,
we didn't actually," Molly seemed a little perplexed. "The stage
manager said that Inky had been he had been bugging her since he arrived
but she could not get a hold of him while we were back there."
"Strange,"
Carey commented and the others agreed with him.
Then
the lights in the house started to flicker to indicate that everyone should
report to their seats and get ready for the show. The lights started
to dim as the last people took their seats and then the voice from before
spoke again. "Ladies and Gentlemen for our opening act tonight the
Glen Echo Theater is proud to present the magic happenings of The Great
Incanto."
"I wonder
if he has any better control of his magic this time," Jack whispered to
Annie as the curtain started to open.
Annie
giggled softly and then playfully hit him on the arm. She signaled
to him to be quiet as the waited to see what was going to happen.
The lights on the stages started to flicker blues and violets and smoke
swirled around stage. Then a tiny light started to shimmer in the
middle of the air at the center of the stage. The light grew bigger
and bigger until it was about the size of a tennis ball. Then it
seemed to exploded and there standing at center stage was The Great Incanto.
Everyone gasped and then once they got over their shock the started to
clap and Incanto took a bow.
"Ladies
and Gentlemen thank you for you warm welcome," Incanto spoke in a grand
voice. "Now if you would all be patient for just a moment my assistant
will join us." Incanto produced a lovely red rose from his cape.
Then he placed the flower on the floor, as he did this the smoke that had
been there seemed to clear instantly. "I promise this will just take
a moment," Incanto reassured the crowd backing away from the rose a little.
He then held his arms out above the flower and started to wave them around
but nothing happened. "Sometimes she just needs a little extra push
to come out onto the stage. She is very shy," he smiled at the audience
and began again.
This
time the flower started to grow much in the same manner as the light that
Incanto had emerged from. The rose was no longer laying flat on the
floor it looked like it was upright with its steam just barely touching
the stage. Then a red glow started to take over the whole flower
and it seemed to stretch out rapidly. Once the glow was gone everyone
could see a young woman dressed in red standing with her arms in the air
making a slight V and smiling at everyone. "Ladies and Gentlemen
the beautiful Raliana," Incanto introduced her as he took her hand.
He bowed as the audience cheered again and Raliana curtseyed slightly.
"I would
say that he has improved a lot," Annie whispered to Jack as she clapped
and he nodded.
"Now
I have decided to perform for you a trick that I have just recently started
to work on," Incanto looked over the audience as he spoke. "Raliana
will you please bring the box to the stage."
Raliana
stopped smiling at the crowd and looked at Incanto, "The box?"
"Yes
the box," Incanto kept smiling and did not break eye contact with the audience.
"We
didn't bring a box with us," Raliana's voice sounded hesitant.
"Of
course we brought the box with us," Incanto finally looked at her and everyone
could tell that he was no longer smiling. "I packed it myself."
"I unpacked
everything that we had for tonight and there was no box," Raliana tried
to sound forceful but she looked like she feared for her life.
"Raliana,
I brought that box, I know it," Incanto's voice sounded condescending.
"Well,"
Raliana looked down at the ground and then back at him. "What did
it look like?"
"It
was the big blue box with stars all over it and had a whole on front of
panel, it was on the left side of the panel, and was in the middle," Incanto
was starting to grimace.
"So
it wasn't this box," Raliana pointed down stage and a yellow and green
striped box appeared.
"No,
it is not that box," Incanto sighed.
"How
about this one?" this time Raliana made a black box with gold stars appear
but there was no hole on the front of it.
"Nope."
"And
you are sure it is not this one," Raliana replaced the black box with a
sliver one.
"Raliana
it is not any of those," Incanto pointed at the box. "It is this
box," and as he pointed at where Raliana's box was a blue box with stars
all over it and a hole appeared on stage. Everyone erupted into applause
for the magician and is helpful assistant.
"Now
please tell me you have the black velvet hand," Incanto half begged her.
"Right
here," Raliana replied as she produced a fake hand that had a wooden peg
at the end of it.
"Good,"
Incanto let out a sigh of relief. "Now we can begin. Ladies
and Gentleman this particular bit of magic has no name to it just yet,
however I will need a volunteer from the audience."
"Go
on Annie," Jack smiled at her. "Volunteer."
"I will,"
Annie said definitely and raised her hand.
Incanto
looked out over the crowd and saw that Annie had her hand up and smiled
at her. "Raliana will please help that young lady in the front row
to the stage?" Incanto asked his assistant and she nodded and walked
off the stage to collect Annie.
"Now
many of you might not know this but this young lady is very special.
Her name is Annie Thelen and she has a wonderful singing voice which she
is developing with the help of tonight's featured performer Molly Phillips,"
Incanto took a breath so that he could continue with his speech.
"All of you are wondering how I know this, well I meet Annie a while back
in St. Louis. However this is the first time I have seen since then
and we have not spoken at all today, right Annie?" He looked at Annie
who had now made her way onto the stage with the help of Raliana.
"That
is correct. I haven't seen or heard from you since when we dropped
you off in St. Louis a few months ago," Annie affirmed his statement.
"And
you would not lie to this people would Annie?"
"No
of course not," Annie sounded slightly appalled at the idea that she would
lie to anyone.
"Good,
good," Incanto smiled at her. "Well it is good to see you again Annie.
Now could you tell me something about that ring you have on your finger.
I don't remember seeing the last time when we meet."
"Well
I don't wear it all that often," Annie told him and the audience.
"My friend Fi gave it to me before she went to stay in Seattle with her
aunt."
"And
where is she right now?" Incanto asked her.
"Well
she is still in Seattle; she will be there for the rest of the school year.
I just talked to this morning," Annie smiled but there was sadness behind
her smile.
"What
would you say if I told you that I could bring her here right now but that
I would need the use of that ring that you were wearing," Incanto pointed
to the ring.
"Wow!
That's so wicked!" Annie exclaimed.
"Now
before I attempt this great feat of magic I need you to do a few things
for me," Incanto waved to Raliana and she stepped forward with the black
velvet hand. "The first thing I need you to do is to examine this
hand and tell everyone if there seems to be any hidden compartments or
anything like that on it."
Annie
took the hand and looked it over, "It's made out of wood and there is velvet
glove over it, but it does not seem to be any tricks to it."
"Very
good," Incanto took the hand back from Annie. "Now I need you too
look over the box very careful and tell us if there is any secret doors
to the box and to assure everyone that is empty." As he spoke Raliana
pushed the box closer to him and Annie.
Annie
looked over the box and walked around it. She knocked each side of
the box and ran her hand over it. Then she pulled the box door open
and stepped inside looking for anything that might be suspicious.
She stepped back out, "There doesn't seem to be anything there."
"Alright
then would you now please do me the favor of placing your ring on the hand,"
Incanto held the hand out toward her. "Please put it on the same
finger that your friend wore it on." Annie nodded and took over her
ring and placed it on the thumb finger of the hand.
"Raliana,"
Incanto called forth his assistant. "Please place the hand in the
whole on the box." Raliana nodded and did as she was told.
"So
are you ready to see your friend Annie?" Incanto looked at Annie.
"Totally,"
Annie beamed with excitement.
"What
you audience? Ready for some magic?" Incanto glanced over the
crowd as they all clapped and cheered. "Very well, let's get started.
Annie and Raliana if you would please step back and stand a good three
feet away from the box." The young women stepped back and watched.
Incanto
stretched out his arms again hand wiggled his fingertips a bit. Then
the box started to spin slowly clockwise. Incanto thrust his hands
towards the box and it spun fast and kept going faster until it was just
a blur of blue and gold. Suddenly the box halted and panel with the
velvet hand faced out towards the audience.
Annie
looked at the box and then at the hand and she noticed that the hand moved.
"The hand, it moved! I swear it!" Annie pointed at the hand,
which was now clearly flexing its fingers.
"Would
you like to open the box Annie?" Incanto asked and with out answering Annie
ran over to the box, flung the door open, and gasped.
Everyone
in the crowd looked on in amazement. There standing in the box was
a brown haired girl wearing the black velvet glove with the ring on top
of it. Molly was in totally shock; she could not move or speak.
She felt Jack's hand on hers but she did not take her eyes off the girl
in the box. There at center stage stood her daughter Fiona Phillips
smiling at everyone.
"Fi,"
Annie flung her arms around the girl. "This is totally awesome."
"Hi
Annie," Fi hugged her back.
"Hold
it," Incanto stopped everyone in the middle of their rejoicing and applauding
him. "Fiona isn't there someone in Seattle who will worry if you
are gone?"
"Well
yeah," Fi's voice had guilt in it. "My Aunt Melinda. She will
worry because I am gone and didn't tell her or leave a note."
"Hmm,"
Incanto thought for a moment. "You don't have anything that happens
to be hers do you?"
"No,"
Fi seemed a little confused but his question.
"Alright
we are going to have to do this the hard way," Incanto looked at Raliana.
Raliana
started to shake her head, "Oh no you don't. You couldn't pay me
to go inside that box."
"Raliana,"
Incanto warned her.
Raliana
sighed and stepped into the box, "I just know something bad will come of
all this."
"Girls
if you would please move three feet away," Incanto gestured to them.
Then he closed the door to the box and pulled at tab, which caused the
hole in the box to be sealed off.
"Hey
what are you doing?" Raliana yelled frantically, her voice muffed because
of the box. She started to pound on the walls of the box. "Let
me out of here!"
"Just
relax Raliana," Incanto spoke in a soothing voice. "Nothing will
go wrong. I promise. Just keep taking deep breaths."
As he was talking Incanto produced a large shimmering blue cloth from out
of nowhere, or so it seemed. "Fi I am going to need you to picture
your aunt in your mind." Fi nodded and closed her eyes.
He then
threw the cloth over the box and began to count. Then he grabbed
the edge of the cloth from the floor and tugged at it. As the cloth
came away from the box everyone noticed that the figure of the box disappeared
from underneath and once the cloth was fully removed there stood a woman
holding a black cat. The woman was older than Raliana and looked
a little bit like Fi.
"Aunt
Melinda! You are here," Fiona could not hide her excitement.
"Where
is here?" Melinda looked very confused. The cat she was holding started
to twist in her hands so she put it down.
Incanto
looked at the cat, "Raliana?"
"Meow!"
responded the cat. Then it hissed at him.
"Oh
I am sorry Raliana," Incanto told the cat. "Just give me a minute
and I will fix this." He pointed at the cat and it turned into a
white peacock.
"That
is not right," Incanto looked thoughtfully at the peacock that flared up
its tail feathers. Everyone in the audience let out a little sigh
because of the beauty of the bird.
"Let
me try again," Incanto pointed to the bird. Its tail feathers seemed
to flop over the rest of its body. The feathers appeared to turn
into a white silky fabric and when the fabric flipped itself up there stood
Raliana dressed similarly to what she had on early but now it was white
and had a train. Raliana smiled for everyone as they clapped and
the show continued.
*****
After
the curtain had closed backstage went into totally chaos. Molly,
Jack and the others rushed back stage to join Fi, Melinda, and Annie.
Some tears were shed, smiles were abundant, and everyone was hugging each
other. Incanto and Raliana watched in the background and smiled,
they knew that they had done the right thing.
Finally
once the excitement had died down a bit Molly turned to the magician and
his assistant, "I don't know how you managed to do this but thank you so
much!"
"Think
nothing of it," Incanto waved her thanks off.
"Easy
for you to say," Raliana replied. "You weren't the one changed into
a cat and then a peacock!" Everyone laughed.
"But
really Inky, how did you do this," Jack asked curiously as he kept his
arm drooped around his sister's shoulders.
"Well
I was in Seattle early today and then Raliana reminded me that I had a
gig here at Glen Echo tonight. So she suggested that I give the gift
that I had for Molly to Fi," Inky started. "Then I thought of an
even better idea. I would bring Fi, if she wanted to come, with me
to visit her mother and of course her aunt too. I can't have any
law suits."
"So
you bought four plane tickets to get here from Seattle. That must
of cost you a fortune," Irene tried to calculate the price in her head.
"No,"
Incanto shook his head.
"If
only," Raliana sighed. "Then I would have been sure that we ended
up here and not in Turkey."
"Huh?"
Carey was totally lost just like everyone else.
"I poofed
us here," Incanto told them proudly.
"Poofed?"
Jack questioned
"Yes
poofed," Inky restated. "Or you could call it transport. Magic,
it is the only way for penniless magicians and their entourage to travel."
"You
used magic to get here," Jack was in totally disbelief. Then he chuckled,
"That is a good one Inky."
"No
he really did," Aunt Melinda told her doubting nephew. "One minute
we were standing in my living room and the next we were here."
"Wicked!"
Annie exclaimed.
"Yeah,"
Raliana spoke with exasperation. "Once you get the spell down pat.
I have been to Turkey, Greece, Spain, and Greenland. Don't even ask
me how many times I have been to Greenland; it has almost become a second
home. All because he did not have the targeting aspect of the spell
down."
Incanto
glared at her. "Well because you have decided to become so vocal,
let me properly introduce you to my friends. Molly, Jack, Annie,
Carey, Ned, and Irene this lovely lady is my fiancée Raliana."
"You
guys can call me Rye if you like," Raliana smiled as she shook all of their
hands. "Everyone does."
"Nice
to meet Rye," Molly smiled at the young woman who could not be older than
Carey. "Thank you too for helping bring my baby to me."
"Mom,"
Fi complained.
"I am
sorry sweetie," Molly hugged her daughter for the millionth time that night.
"I have just missed you so much."
"Well
you don't have to miss me anymore," Fi stated proudly. "If you'll
have me I would love to come back. On one condition."
Molly
laughed, "Well I am sure we can work something out."
"You
let Inky and Rye travel with us," Fi stated. Before he mother could
protest, "They have their own bus and everything. They could join
the tour with us and we spilt everyone up between buses. Have a girl's
bus and a guy's bus. Please mom!"
"You
guys have a bus?" Jack looked doubtful.
"Well
we will after tonight," Inky had goofy smile on his face.
Raliana
rolled her eyes, "He is working for a bus. Not for money, but for
a bus!" Everyone laughed.
"Well
honey," Molly looked at her daughter. "Irene, Ned and I will have
to think about it. But like I said I am sure we can work something
out. But before we do that, is there anyone who would protest at
having Inky and Rye join us?"
"No,"
everyone spoke in unison.
"Well
then I guess we have to figure about something out," Molly smiled.
Then she turned to Melinda. "Thank you so much for taking care of
Fi."
"It
wasn't a problem at all," Melinda smiled back. "She was a joy to
have around. I am gonna miss you a lot Fi," Melinda hugged her niece.
"However there is still the matter of her school work."
Fi groaned
and the others laughed at her. So after Molly had given a great performance
the rest of the night was spent talking about travel plans, school work,
and living arrangements. Well the adults talked everything the teens
decided to go explore the rest of Glen Echo. The park manager told
them that it would be okay as long as they stayed in well-lit areas.
"Jack
look at that carousal," Fi pointed to unlit ride. "Doesn't remind
you of something?" Annie and Carey started to laugh. "What?"
Fi questioned.
"Oh
Jack remembers something," Carey stammered out as he laughed.
"Yeah
I do," Jack frowned at Carey. Then he turned to his little sister,
"I remember riding on one just like it with you, Mom, and Dad. It
was a very long time ago but it was just before Dad…"
"I kind
of remember it," Fi did not finish Jack's sentence. He would learn
soon enough what really happened to their father. "It is all fuzzy.
Come on lets get closer you guys."
"Wait,"
Raliana stopped them. She closed her eyes for a moment and a slight
wind blew up and cleared the ground around the carousal of the old snow
that was on the ground. Then lights of the carousal flickered on
and they all could hear faint music coming from it. "Okay now we
can go."
Everyone
laughed as they ran towards the now working carousal and they started to
chase each other around it. They ran in between the wooden animals
and ducked around the little wooden carriages. They were having so
much fun and then Inky decided to that it was time to out do his fiancée.
"Alright
everyone hop on an animal. This ride is about to start up," Inky
laughed as everyone scurried to sit on a lion, rabbit, or horse.
"Here we go," Inky's voice joyful told them as the carousal started to
move.
"Won't
the park manager notice that the carousal is on and running," Jack's logic
started to kick in.
"Don't
worry about it," Rye told him. "We know the guy personally.
As long as we leave everything just as we left it everything will be fine."
So they
all treasured the ride as the snow started to fall around them. Jack
looked up at the night sky and thought about the snow for a moment.
When something good seemed to be happening to him now a days it was always
snowing. He laughed while he watched the flakes fall to the ground
and enjoyed the magnificent feel of being on the carousal and let the memories
of happy times in his life wash over him. Things were getting better
now, his sister was back and now everything felt right again.
Fi laughed
at Jack as he stuck out his arms and pretended that the animal he was on
was flying. It was good to be back with her family again. She
knew that Jack was happy to have her back and that he would enjoy having
Inky and Rye around. She also knew that everything was going to work
out just as she wanted it to, her magician friends saw to that. There
was something else though, something that she had not counted on.
She had noticed the way that Jack had been looking at Annie earlier.
There was something different there but she was not sure she wanted to
guess as to what it was. If what she was seeing was really there
and Annie felt the same way it could mean big trouble. Rhylinye had
told her something about the Fey culture that still disturbed her, but
she had decided not to worry about because she was not affected by it.
Now though it looked like Jack might have some problems dealing with the
fact that he would have to leave certain humans behind. Fiona sighed
and pushed the troubling thoughts to the back of her mind and decided that
she would just enjoy the rest of evening and everything that happened after
that and not worry about anything until it became a problem. She
was safe now and so was her family and just knowing that made her a very
happy halfling.
'You
are not a Halfling!' Rye shouted to her in her mind.
Fi smiled
and shook her head. Halfling or not she was happy and she was not
going to let anyone get in the way of her enjoyment for the next few days.
'Thank you Puck! Thank you Rye!' She pathed to her friends and started
to giggle because Jack was starting to goof off again.
In the
shadows a dark figure watched the happy group with disgust. 'You
have failed me wisp,' the overbearing figure pathed to the ball of light
next to him.
'I am
sorry my Lord,' the wisp was fearful of what his Lord would do to him.
'It will not happen again.'
'No
it won't,' the figure turned away from the group and walked deeper into
the shadows. 'It is time to try a different tactic wisp. Come,
we have much to plan.'
The
wisp followed his master into the shadows but turned back for a moment,
'Watch out little duck. Nothing will stop us now.' The wisp
chuckled and faded into the shadows with his Lord.
Author's
Note: This is the first So Weird fan fiction that I have written. I
hope everyone likes it. I will try to update as much as possible, but just
to warn you, I am slow writer and I am working three different stories
right now. There is one trick into getting me to write fast though. Feedback,
I live on it. Feedback is a drug for me. Hope to give you more to read
soon! Oh yeah, English is not my first language so please forgive any spelling
and grammar mistakes.
Updates
show up here faster:
http://members.fortunecity.com/annabellefic/