TAoP Chapter 26

Unexpected Visitor

Penny looked back and forth between Jayden and his dad. They looked completely different from each other. Jayden's father wore all black, making him a black mage, if she remembered right. His eyes were a flat brown compared to Jayden's sea blue color. The only thing they really shared was the brown hair, but even his father wore it differently. It was long and pulled into a pony tail with streaks of gray in some areas.

The shock disappeared from Jayden as he asked another question, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on Montressor?" He stood stiffly as Illiana and Max exchanged nervous glances. Penny just looked confused.

What's going on? She asked holding on to Midnight.

I'm not sure. Have you ever met this man before? I don't remember seeing him, Midnight said feeling the tension in the air.

No never. I would definitely remember this guy.

"The King and Queen asked me to drive these two to your last known location. I was more than happy to accept. I wanted to see how you were doing," he looked around at Illiana and Max. "And how are you?"

"We're fine, sir. You?" Illiana said, being polite.

"Never better." His eyes rested on Penny. Even though his tone was friendly, Penny couldn't help moving closer to Midnight. His eyes seemed cold. "And is this the girl I've been hearing about?"

"Penny," she said bluntly before anyone else. "I'm Penny. Not girl."

Jayden's father blinked in surprise, but smiled to cover it up, "Of course, how foolish of me. Then, Penny, my name is Fredrick." He put his hand out for her to shake it, but Penny merely nodded and looked back at Jayden. His face was unreadable.

"Well, now that pleasantries are done, we need to talk," Fredrick said after an uncomfortable silence.

"Alright, about what?" Max asked.

He didn't answer, but stared at Penny. Illiana got the message, "Umm Penny, why don't you go down to eat? You must be starving."

"I want to eat with everyone. Besides, I want to hear," Penny pouted.

"This is not for a child's ear," Fredrick said, slightly losing patience.

"Penny's not a child! She has proven herself to be great warrior. And she is part of the team," Jayden argued back.

Donald finally stepped in, "Sorry Jayden, but we think this is for the best."

Jayden glared at them, but they didn't move. Finally, he sighed, "Fine." He turned Penny to him, "Sorry, but you're gonna have to go down below."

"But…" she looked at the trio.

"Not now Penny. Why don't you practice some magic?"

She gave them one last look and headed down to the sleeping quarters. None of the hammocks were up, so this was the biggest space available. She snapped her left hand about five times to get some light in the room. She then lit the lanterns to make the room brighter.

I wonder what they are talking about, Penny said as she stretched her left arm. It had started to tense up.

I was wondering that myself. Midnight laid down by the doorway watching her. And what was up with Jayden's dad?

He seems…cold. Did you see the way Jayden froze? I don't think I like him.

Neither do I. I can kinda see why he doesn't talk about him much.

Yes, it was strange all together. Alright, time to work!

Penny stood in the middle of the room, breathing deeply. She had wondered if she could just use the water in her hand for magic instead of having it come from a different source. The only problem would be the glove. She had to get around that somehow. But if I can do it with fire, I should be able to it with water.

Taking in a deep breath, she snapped her right hand. Nothing. She snapped it harder, willing the water to come out. Still nothing. She snapped her left hand this time and got a fireball sitting on her palm. Penny closed her hand, extinguishing the fire. Okay I can do this. Concentrate.

Keep your mind focus purely on the water, Midnight suggested. He turned one ear to the stairway, where the voices above deck got louder.

Right before Penny could do anything, the yelling interrupted her.

"SHE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" Jayden's voice echoed down below.

Penny and Midnight looked at each other and flew up the stairs. They found everyone in the same positions, but her friends looked troubled. Illiana scared, Max frowning, and Jayden furious.

"It's not your decision!" Fredrick said back.

"It's not yours either! She's our teammate," Max said, gripping Jayden by the shoulder.

"Son, we think it's for the best. By the reports we get from you and Minnie's concern, we must do something," Goofy tried to calm everyone down.

"We've been doing fine with her. The King trusted us to take care of her. We've been doing our job," Illiana stepped in.

"Yes, by letting her get away from you can letting your emotions get in the way of your job," Jayden's father's eyes flashed in her direction. Illiana blushed and glared at him.

"It wasn't her fault. It was mine. If there is anyone to blame, it's me. You have no right to talk to her that way," Jayden retorted.

"Enough!" Donald said before anyone else. "Now, we have to settle this like grown-ups. Let's talk calmly."

"Don't I have a say in this?" Penny called over softly. They all turned to her in shock.

"Penny," Illiana walked over to her. She put her hand on the water arm, "Sorry did we disturb you? Or was it your arm?"

"It's a little sore, but that's not important. Don't I get to decide whether I leave or not?"

"Of course not. You're a child. Let us adults handle this," Fredrick said.

"She's not a child! She can handle anything on her own! You should've seen her against the Shadows or…or with the Nyght-creature," Max said and instantly regretted it.

"Nyght-creature! When did this happen?" Donald demanded, tapping his foot impatiently.

"It was going to be in our next report. There was a Nyght-creature in Tarzan's world. We handled it," Illiana explained as she examined Penny's arm.

Donald sighed, "Did Penny get hurt?"

"Yes, it scratched her. I can't heal it all the way though."

"Let me take a look at it."

Penny stood still as Donald examined to wound. All that was left was a nasty scar that went from her shoulder all the way to her wrist. She didn't mind the scarring; she just wished she had full usage of her arm again. Before Donald could place his hand on her arm, she backed away. He gave her a confused look.

"Hang on a sec, I run a hotter temperature on this arm than the other one," Penny explained, concentrating on the fire. She lowered the heat as far as she could. "Alright, it might be good now."

Donald took out his staff and begun the healing. Goofy came over to them.

"Since this is about you, why don't you tell us what you want to do?"

"Sir Goofy, I must protest this—" Fredrick began.

"I agree with Goofy. As did the Queen," Donald said still concentrating on the healing. "We just wanted to explain the situation with them."

"What situation?" Penny asked, wincing at the healing. She can feel her own power draining from keeping the heat back.

"Like how you were never to take your gloves off, but you did."

"I did it to protect the Heart."

"Where were the others?" Goofy asked.

"They were searching for any Darkness activities. I stayed behind because Belle asked me to."

"What about the beads? Minnie got worried when she couldn't sense you for a whole night."

"That was my own fault. I promise not to do it again," Penny said, thinking that she has made a lot of promises on this journey.

"Okay, I believe you." Goofy smiled at the girl. Penny grinned back as Donald backed up.

"Alright, that's healed up! I tried to get rid of most of the scarring, but couldn't get all of it."

"Thank you!" Penny looked at it and immediately tried it out. She did flips and rolls and back flips to test its strength. She climbed the rigging and walked on her hands. It was truly healed; no pain can be felt. "Good as new!"

"Excellent! I guess I should study more healing," Illiana said as she watched Penny play around.

"I wish to test her," Fredrick announced suddenly.

Jayden looked at him like he was crazy," What? Why? What for?"

"To see if she is learning properly."

"Shouldn't Donald test her then? He is the master mage," Max pointed out.

"Test me?" Penny came back into the conversation. She cocked her head in confusion.

"To see how well you are learning your magic," Donald explained. "But the King asked Fredrick if he could test her," he looked at Jayden when he said it.

"You can't just test her like this! Her magic is different from ours! If something were to go wrong—" Jayden said before he got interrupted by his father.

"Nothing should happen if you had been training her correctly."

Jayden flushed in anger, but something touched his shoulder. It was Penny holding him back. She smiled her big grin and turned towards Fredrick.

"Alright, I accept this test."