KRYSTYNN HERE! Melanie's still MIA. Someone send out a missing person report for her...like, I don't even know. I talked to her mom (my aunt) a few times, but can never seem to get Mel on the phone.
So for once I'm sticking to schedule! Or the schedule I told someone in a review...I can't remember. But it's been about a week and here's the big long chapter (well over 6,000 words XP ) that I promised. THIS IS THE CHAPTER YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. I was late to my Japanese mythology class just so I could finish it and get up today.
I realized I write these big long Author's Notes, but then I just delete them because I think no one really cares or reads them. This time, I decided I'm going to write one anyways, because I keep forgetting to respond to anonymous reviews and post announcements, etc. BUT I will save all of it for after so we can get to the chapter sooner.
A few warnings about this chapter. It has not been read or edited by Melanie AT ALL. I'm the only person that has ever read this so it's probably full of stupid errors and random stuff. Heck, you might even find a note in there with astericks or parenthesis that was meant for Melanie DX I figured you guys would appreciate any update, though. And, review with the mistakes and I'll just go back and edit later.
Seriously, though, read the bottom A/N, too. Please? :D
Oh, and we own neither The Sisters Grimm nor any of the materials we reference.
~M.K~
"That was the longest, most boring, cramped, uncomfortable, exhilarating, terrifyingly awesome, time ever!" Puck said, as he walked along the ramp from the plane to the gate.
"You sound conflicted," Jake said, distracted by the numerous brochures and maps he was flipping through.
"What do you expect? I've never been shoved inside a giant, metal bird before!"
Jake led the way through the terminal and out of the building. Thanks to Puck's magic room, they didn't have to get any checked luggage and, thus, didn't need to spend any more time in the airport.
~M.K~
"So, what are we looking for again?" Puck asked once they were in the parking lot.
"Well, at the moment, we're looking for a taxi. After that, our hotel, and then some place to eat. Tomorrow, we'll start looking for the compass. I have a few leads and, if tonight's plan works, we shouldn't have too much trouble." Jake folded up the maps and brochures, sticking them in various pockets in his coat.
"What's the big plan for tonight?"
"I'll tell you once we get to the hotel. Ah, here we go," Jake answered as a taxi pulled over in front of them.
They climbed in the car; Jake in the "shotgun" and Puck in the back.
"Y'all must be from up north with coats like that," the driver noted. "No bags?" he cocked an eyebrow.
"We packed light. What do you think all these pockets are for?" Jake replied smoothly.
Their driver shrugged. "Still don't see how you haven't taken the coat off yet. This Florida heat is bad enough in just a t-shirt," he mumbled before asking, "alright, where to?"
"What's the closest hotel to the marina?"
"Oh, so y'all are boatmen."
"Yeah, we're heading off to the Keys tomorrow!" Jake tried to sound like an overenthusiastic tourist. He turned to nudge Puck, but the boy had been picking his nose in the backseat and wasn't paying attention.
"Alright, here's a Hilton. The marina's just about a minute's walk that way." The driver pulled under the hotel portico. "Enjoy the Keys!"
"Thank you," Jake said as he paid the man.
"Okay, now can I hear this big plan of yours?" Puck asked as soon as they were out of the cab.
"First, we need to check in, and then take showers."
"Showers?! Why?" Puck's face looked panicked.
"Because we've just been sitting in a plane for over seven hours and we probably won't get another chance to shower for a very long time.
Puck was baffled. "And that's a problem because . . .?"
"Plus, we're going to a nice restaurant for dinner tonight," Jake continued.
"Aw, don't tell me I have to dress up, too," the fairy groaned.
~M.K~
Once they got to their room, Jake had Puck open his magic door so they could get their clothes.
"You go ahead and start taking a shower. Actually," Jake surveyed Puck, "you might want to take two. I need to check something."
Puck glared at Jake, but headed into the bathroom anyways. He emerged nearly an hour later, a towel wrapped around his waist, and shaking out his clean, but still wet hair.
"What on earth are you doing?" he asked Jake, who was leaning over the sink in the kitchenette part of their room.
"I'm trying to check to see where the Andersen Triplets are, but this darn ball only shows the image as long as the water ripples. They're supposed to be docking at this marina and going to dinner somewhere nearby, but I don't know when . . .Hey! There's a restaurant sign. They must be getting there now. Darn! It's gone. Oh well, I need to go shower," Jake turned, the front of his shirt was sopping wet and he held a dripping golden ball.
"So when can I hear this big plan of yours?" Puck reminded Jake.
"Well, I haven't gotten all the details worked out yet."
"You don't have a plan yet," Puck smirked.
"I'm just waiting for a few more things to fall into place. Pretty much, we're meeting the Andersen Triplets at dinner and from there we get a boat to take around the Caribbean, which is the last place the compass was seen. Oh, and you still need to wear something nice for dinner."
"How do you define nice?" Puck asked, following Jake as he headed to the bathroom. "Because I think a mud-stained shirt is very appealing and ripped—"
Jake slammed the bathroom door on Puck's rambling and turned on the shower.
"This collar is tight," Puck tugged at his white polo. He looked like a typical beach tourist with his white collared shirt, khakis, dark brown loafers, and mop of blonde curls.
"Deal with it," Jake grumbled from the bathroom. He was having trouble with his tie. "Oh forget it! Do you think I need a tie?" he stepped out of the bathroom.
"I still don't see why you would want a tie," Puck responded. "It's like a leash girls use to control you."
"I'm sure Sabrina will appreciate that," Jake smirked. The smirk turned into a full-on grin as Puck glared. "Come on, let's get this room locked back up," he said to the fairy as he put his tie back in his bag and then tossed his bag onto the grass in the room.
"Don't leave anything here," Jake warned Puck. "If we're lucky, we won't be coming back."
"How is that lucky?" Puck asked.
"Because we'll be on a boat instead and everything will be going according to plan."
"The plan you haven't even come up with yet."
"I have the gist of it!"
~M.K~
"How many?" the hostess asked.
They had arrived at the restaurant to find it packed.
"We're, uh, just meeting friends here," Jake said.
"Oh, okay. Go on in, then."
"Look, there they are," Jake elbowed Puck and pointed.
"So now what?"
"I need you to make a distraction. Something magical so it will get their attention. Then, I'm going to get the keys to my boat while they're not looking.
"Any distraction?" Puck cocked an eyebrow.
"As long as it's magical. I'll wait for you by the door."
Puck chuckled mischievously and headed off towards the kitchens. It wasn't long before Jake heard a scream followed by maniacal laughter. He hid behind a booth as the triplets looked towards the noise.
"What was that?" Hannah Andersen asked her brothers, who shrugged in response.
"Ahh! It has wings!" A waiter screamed, running out of the kitchen.
"Mommy, it's a fairy!" the kid in the next booth was pointing.
"Maybe we should take a trip to the kitchen?" Chris Andersen suggested.
"Yeah, let's go check that out," Andy Andersen agreed. "Come on, Han."
They walked with forced calm, right by Jake's hiding spot. As they passed him, Jake swiftly grabbed the keychain sticking out of Chris's pocket. Feeling a tug, Chris turned, but Jake was saved from discovery when—
"It's a walrus—no, a tiger—a unicorn?"
And then the triplets took off running.
A few minutes later, a mouse came up to Jake and squeaked.
"Puck?" Jake whispered. The mouse squeaked again. He grinned at the fairy-boy-turned-rodent and scooped him up. As soon as they were outside, Jake put Puck on the ground and he quickly morphed back into a boy.
"Did you get the keys?" Puck questioned, trying to orient himself after being so much smaller.
"Yep," Jake jangled the keys. "A unicorn, really?" he teased.
"I was under a lot of pressure!" Puck crossed his arms. "Now where is this stupid boat of yours?"
"Around back, in the marina," Jake led them behind the restaurant to the docks.
~M.K~
"So we're stealing this boat? I'm impressed," Puck said, standing in front of a small white boat labeled, S.S. Minnow.
"We're not stealing it exactly. It was mine. Then the Andersen triplets took it. Now I'm just taking it back," Jake explained. "But let's hurry and get this thing out to sea before they get back from dinner."
~M.K~
"This is so boring!" Puck exclaimed, leaning against the boat railing and staring out across the ocean.
They had been at sea for only a few days, but it was starting to show. Puck, usually so loud and wild, now had nowhere to expend his energy. And Jake, even though he had accepted Briar's death, he did not enjoy the endless time their journey provided to just sit and think about his fiancée. Both boys were suffering severe cabin fever and were, thus, irritable and melancholy.
"That's all you've said for the past hour," Jake grumbled from behind the steering wheel. "Why don't you stop moping and do something about it?"
"That's the problem! There's nothing to do!"
"When was the last time we checked the ball?"
"Like, two seconds ago," Puck glanced down at the ball that still sat in a net on the floor of the boat. Every few hours they would stop the boat and drop the ball into the water, asking to see the location of the compass.
"It was not two seconds ago," Jake snapped.
"Whatever. It still shows the same thing; just a waterfall surrounded by a ton of jungle. And we can't even figure out where the heck that is!" Puck snapped back.
"I'm still working on it."
They both huffed. A few minutes later—
"Why don't you drop the ball in and find us a port?" Jake said, taking a deep breath and turning the boat's engine off. "We'll ask some locals to see if they know of a waterfall," he explained as they waited for the water to calm down a bit.
Puck picked up the golden call and dropped it into the glass-like surface of the Caribbean sea. "I wish upon water to see an island with a port we can dock at."
"That's nearby," Jake added.
With a thunk, the ball fell into the water and the image of a large, green island rippled across the cool blue ocean.
"Alright, I guess we keep going until we get to it?" Jake suggested as Puck fished out the golden ball.
~ M.K~
"Hey! There's something! Maybe it's our island," Puck said nearly an hour later, pointing to a speck of dark green several miles off.
"Well, let's check it out," Jake turned to boat toward where Puck was pointing.
~M.K~
"Land!" Puck cried, practically falling out of the boat in his haste to get on the dock.
"Don't kiss the ground yet, I need your help tying up the boat." Jake tossed Puck the rope to tie to the post and dropped a small anchor off the back of the boat. Then they made their way to the tavern at the end of the dock.
Inside the tavern, it was dark and loud. Sailors sat around, drinking and noisily swapping stories about their travels. Jake and Puck walked up to the bar.
"What can I getcha?" the bartender asked.
"Rum and diet coke," Jake replied, sitting down at a stool.
"And the kid?"
"Just a regular coke."
As the bartender got their drinks, Jake asked about any famous waterfalls nearby.
"Not really here on the islands. There is a waterfall in South America that's pretty well-known. It's a bit inland—in Guyana, I think." He placed the drinks in front of them and leaned on the counter to talk to them better.
"I hear talk about a lot of things around these islands. No one's ever said anything good about Kaieteur Falls, though. And no one that's been has ever wanted to go back. They say," he dropped to a whisper and leaned in closer, "there's a witch living there."
Jake paled; he didn't have great experience with witches. But Puck's eyes lit up.
"Really?" the boy asked enthusiastically. "Does she eat people, too?"
The bartender and Jake just stared.
"I don't believe them. There's no such thing as witches, see?" the bartender paused. "But, something at those falls has these men spooked. And these men have seen everything—they're some of the toughest men in the world."
"Tough? And they're scared of a witch? Yeah, right. I'm the Trick—" Puck was cut off by a kick from Jake, but it was too late.
"You don't think these men are tough?" the bartender growled.
"He just means we've seen a lot, too. I think we could handle whatever it is that's there," Jake replied cockily.
"If you want, I can introduce you to a guy that's been there. He'll be here tomorrow morning. I'd like to see what you think of him after you've met him," he glared at Puck.
"Actually, we weren't planning on staying . . ." Jake trailed off as the bartender turned his glare on him.
"What? You scared?"
"But we probably should—to get cleaned up and talk to that guy," Jake finished quickly. "Can you recommend a good place to spend the night?"
"Round the corner, there's a little inn."
~M.K~
It certainly was little. More like a three story motel than a hotel. They got a room on the second floor and, once they had showered and settled in, they began to discuss their next move.
"So a witch, huh?" Jake said nervously. He was sitting at the table with Puck, eating the dinner they had ordered from room service.
"If she's anything like Baba Yaga. . ." Puck swallowed a large mouthful of food. "Man, this going to be so cool!"
Jake looked grim. "Shouldn't we worried she might be dangerous?"
"Dangerous? I laugh in the face of danger!" Puck gave a malevolent laugh for emphasis.
"But what if she skins us alive or sucks the marrow from our bones?"
"That would be so freaking awesome! Oh, come on," Puck said as Jake turned green. "I'm an all powerful fairy and you have all those magical thingamabobs. We've totally got this."
~ M.K.~
The next day, they went back to the tavern. Being so early, it was nearly empty; however, there were a few people scattered around. Jake and Puck walked over to where the bartender sat talking to a very tan, burly man. Scars covered his arms and he had a tattoo of a Jolly Roger on his bicep. The bartender motioned for them to sit.
"So y'all want to go to Kaieteur Falls?" the man said in a gruff voice.
"Yeah, there's something there we're trying to find," Jake replied.
"I don't see why it's so important that you have to go there. Nothing is worth going back there," he shook his head at the thought.
"Can you tell us why? What was so bad?" Jake questioned the man.
"The falls are huge—magnificent, like something out of a fairytale."
Jake and Puck looked at each other.
"I had gotten shipwrecked while sailing along the coast so I knew that, if I traveled inland, I would eventually find help. On my way, I passed the falls. I decided to rest there a bit and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was surrounded by vines and an old woman stood over me. I just figured she was a hag who lived in a nearby village. I closed my eyes, hoping she would just leave until I heard her talking. Something about looking for magic and not finding it and needing a bite.
"Yes! She does eat people," Puck cheered.
"If I wasn't freaked out before, I was then. But I was not about to be eaten by some witch so I jumped up, hoping to take her by surprise and escape."
"But, you're okay now. She didn't actually do anything to you," Jake said hopefully.
"When I got up—this is the creepiest part of all—she just looked at me. She had crossed eyes that seemed to see more than just what was in front of her. It made me shake. I backed up, expecting her to fight me, but she just stared at me, if you can even call her crosseyes a stare. So I left, running as fast as I could as soon as I was out of her sight." He turned back to his drink as he finished his story.
Jake was a little pale.
"You look like you could use a drink," the bartender told him, pouring him a draft.
"I can't believe you didn't get her autograph," Puck said incredulously.
"My advice: stay here," the man broke from his memories and resumed speaking. "Whatever it is you're looking for, you don't need it that badly."
"Unfortunately, we do," Jake sipped his drink, still looking a little nervous. "There's some pretty dangerous stuff in this world and, without this one thing, I doubt we'll be able to find anything else."
"Some CIA something? What's with all the secrets and mystery?" the bartender asked.
Jake just shrugged, shaking off his nerves. He pursed his lips and put on a look of determination. "Thanks for the story, at least now we're prepared. We better get going."
"Well, if you're that set on it, let me at least give you a map. You don't need to deal with getting lost on top of a witch," the man said.
"This is going to be awesome!"
~M.K~
Jake sat on the bench in the back of the boat. He had the map open in front of him and the GPS next to him.
"Okay, so if we're at 10 , 20' latitude and -60 , 93', that means we have to travel 4 , 9' south and 75' east to get to 5 , 11' latitude and -59 , 28' longitude.
"That's a lot of numbers," Puck said, looking of to Jake from where he stood holding the steering wheel steady.
"It should take us an hour or so until we see land. Can you turn the wheel slightly to the right?" Jake asked Puck, putting the map away. "No, your other right," he corrected.
"I knew that," Puck readjusted the wheel. "I feel like I need a hat or something." He struck an" at-attention" pose. The wheel spun with the current, jostling the boat.
"Oh, just give me that," Jake pushed Puck out of the way and steadied the wheel.
"Hey! I had it under control!"
"No you didn't. You let go of the wheel."
"Well I don't need you butting in and taking control like you always do."
"How about butting in and saving your sorry behind?"
"I don't need you. I was doing perfectly find before you showed up." They weren't just talking about the steering wheel anymore.
"Because you could definitely take a room full of angry Everafters. I mean, you did so well with that Jabberwocky," Jake's voice was filled with bitter sarcasm.
"At least I didn't ditch my family for year, leaving them to fend for themselves while I went to pout and mope."
Jake's jaw dropped. "Yes! Yes, you did! You came to Ferryport Landing. You left Faerie."
"That doesn't count and you know it. They're hardly my family," Puck glared.
Jake opened his mouth to argue back, but stopped. He looked at Puck standing in front of him, a whole head shorter. Puck was just a kid—an annoyingly arrogant kid, but a kid nonetheless. A kid who had no one until Relda took him in. A kid who had been a son for her when he wasn't. His anger fumbled.
"You're right. I'm sorry," Jake conceded.
Puck looked back at him, startled. "I am? How—why?" he asked suspiciously.
"I did come in and kind of take over and I'm sorry."
Puck narrowed his eyes, still wary.
"I was mad," Jake continued. "I messed up by leaving. My mom needed someone and I wasn't there for her. You were a better son than I was. When I came back, it was like I had been replaced. I was," Jake bit his lip and gulped as if he had just drunk onion and banana juice, "jealous."
Puck stared at Jake, his mouth agape.
"So, uh, yeah," Jake rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess I just, um, needed to feel like I could still take care of people; like," he paused, "I could still be the hero."
"Well," Puck began, not one to dwell in awkward situations. "There's no need to worry about me taking that away. I'm a villain—"
"Of the worst kind," Jake finished for him. "So I've heard." He smiled wanly.
"Hey, land!" Jake said, jumping up.
"That must be it, then," Puck went over to the edge of the boat to look. "Now can I fly to check it out. No one's around this time."
"Except maybe a witch. No, we don't want to take any chances."
As they got closer, Jake checked the map and GPS again.
"There should be a river around here somewhere that will take us to Kaieteur Falls." He scanned the shoreline. "There! Behind those rocks."
Puck nodded, concentration on maneuvering the back around the rocks and then into the mouth of the river.
"So, do you really think there's a witch?" Puck asked once they were settled following the river's current.
Jake grimaced. "I hope not, but I can't see how it could not be. 'Magic'? Really? She must have the compass."
"How are we going to get it, then? Do you have a plan?"
"Uh, figure-it-out-as-we-go?"
"Great," Puck grinned, "my favorite kind."
~M.K~
"Alright, we're here," Puck said as they pulled into a large lagoon.
"Let's check the golden ball one more time, just in case."
"Oh, come on. Are you scared?" Puck smirked.
Jake glared at the fairy. "I'm an adult. I'm more rational than that."
"Ha!" Puck scoffed. "Just because you're grown-up doesn't mean anything. Look at your brother."
Jake snickered. "Henry does frighten easily, doesn't he?"
"You should have been there when we went to go see Baba Yaga—"
"I don't want to know," Jake cut Puck off. "The less we say about her, the better."
Puck grinned, seeing an opportunity. "So, I shouldn't mention the book she has made of human skin?"
"No!"
"What about her jar of pig intestines?"
"Puck," Jake threatened.
"Or the toe-necklace she wears?" Puck only grinned wider.
"Poor Sabrina. She much feel like this all the time."
Puck chuckled. "Yeah, but her reactions are funnier."
Jake rolled his eyes. "Okay, let's go then."
Grabbing the rope, Puck jumped from the boat to the ground and tied the rope around a tree. Jake picked up the golden ball and joined Puck on land.
"Find the witch, find the compass, huh?" Puck said, taking the ball from Jake and tossing it in the lagoon. "A hut in the middle of a grove of palm trees. Shouldn't be too hard to find."
Jake only grimaced in response.
~ M.K~
"So here's the hut. . ." Jake said as they walked into a small clearing.
"Thank goodness! We've been walking for forever . . ." Puck complained.
". . .But where's the witch?"
". . .I need to sit down." Puck made his way over to a stump.
"Wait," Jake warned.
"What, do you think she's going to jump out from behind it?"
"No, I think it could be a trap."
"A magical trap?" He laughed cockily as he sat down. Immediately, branches erupted from the stump and wrapped around Puck. Vines sprung out around Jake's feet, encircling him and causing him to fall to the ground.
"Magic, yes. Lots of magic," a voice cackled. A tree nect to the hut glowed and shrank, transforming into a small, hunched over woman. She had matted, straw-like hair and skin that resembled wrinkled leather. Her most shocking features, though, were her eyes—her crossed, bloodshot, so-dark-they-looked-black eyes.
"And some nature magic, too. Like mine." She pushed the branches away to look at Puck's face.
Puck spit leaves out of his mouth. "Oh, you are hideous," he said gleefully. "Can I take a picture with you?"
"Pu-uck," Jake struggled to talk against his bindings, "d-don't make her ma-ahd."
She turned to Jake, pulling him up against the stump with supernatural strength. "Why have you come?"
"Oh, we're just lost tourists," he breathed heavily, leaning back on the stump. "Nothing dangerous. Nothing worth hunting or eating."
"Liar," she stated. "That one," she pointed a gnarled-finger at Puck, "is magic."
"We picked up some tourist knick-knacks in the Caribbean that are supposedly magical. You must just be sensing those."
"No, magic fills his being. Not a human harnessing a bit of an ancient power. You are surrounded by man-made trinkets you call magic." She turned back to puck. A faerie—the essence of nature magic. It's been a long while since I saw magic in its true form. Why have you come?" she repeated.
"We're looking for a compass," Jake answered, still a little miffed by her insults.
"I would think you'd be able to find plenty of those in the Caribbean. They are popular tourist knick-knacks," she said, returning Jake's icy tone.
"Not any compass; a compass that points to the holder's greatest desire."
"The Compass of Desire. I have collected it, yes. Magic always comes with a price, though. Are you willing to pay it?"
Jake winced. "What's your price?"
"An orange."
"An orange?" Puck asked incredulously. "Don't you have plenty of those here?"
"Just as you require an extraordinary compass, I require an extraordinary orange."
"Do you know where it is?" Jake asked.
"Not exactly; however, you have the means to find out. My eyes don't see what is in front of me; they see magic. And they can see that you have a device that will show the location of a known object." She held out her hand to Jake. Begrudgingly, he pointed to a particularly large pocket on his coat and she pulled out the golden ball.
"Interesting," the witch muttered as she examined it. Then she turned and went into her hut. Jake and Puck tried to look at each other dumbfounded, but their restrainsts wouldn't let them. Soon, the witch reappeared from her house. She waved her hand and the branches and vines fell away from Jake and Puck.
"The orange can be found on the island of Cuba," she said, handing the ball back to Jake. "It may only be picked by someone who has come to terms with, and accepted their own memories. Return with it, and I will give you the compass and allow you to go free," her tone threatened unknown power and malice.
~M.K~
"So this is the magic orange?" Jake asked, looking up at the tree full of fruit.
"I guess so," Puck shrugged. "This is the tree the golden ball kept showing."
"I wonder what it does."
"If it's dangerous, maybe we shouldn't give it to her."
"How are we going to get out of this, though? I'm pretty sure she'll find us. And we need that compass."
"Alright," Puck reached to grab the orange, but pulled back quickly. "I can't touch it."
"What? Here, let me try." Jake tried to get the orange. "That's weird," he said when his fingers hit the invisible barrier.
"Now what do we do?"
"Let me think. . .wait, didn't she say we had to come to terms with and accept our own memories before we could pick it?"
"Yeah, but what does that mean? I've accepted all my memories."
"Sure you have," Jake smirked. "What about your memories of Sabrina?"
"There's nothing memorable to 'come to terms' with!" Puck cried.
"Because that's not denial or anything," Jake teased. "No unrequited feelings, no guilt for leaving her in New York, nothing you wish you have done differently. . .you don't even miss her?"
"That's—what?!—not even—none of your—completely untrue!" Puck sputtered. "What about you?" he countered. "Why can't you touch it?"
When Jake didn't say anything , Puck seized his chance.
"Still haven't accepted Briar's death? Or have you still not dealt with the fact that you released a monster in Ferryport Landing, which ended in your father's death?
Jake looked as if he had been punched in the gut and, instead of responding angrily, he collapsed on a rock. Puck still seemed to be processing the words that had just come out of his mouth. Sock and regret transformed his features as he realized what he had said. He opened and closed his mouth dumbly before speaking.
"I. . .I didn't mean that. Jake, I'm sorry. . ."
"Don't be," Jake said after a while, his voice hoarse. "You didn't—it's just—yes. I can't deal with the fact that, if that day with the Vorpal Blade had never happened, our lives would be so much happier. My dad would be here, Henry would have stayed, the girls wouldn't have gone through so much, even mirror might not have turned evil."
"You can't know that. Mirror still could have turned evil. Knowing Grimm and Marshmallow, they probably would have gotten into plenty of trouble anyways. And I probably would never have moved in with the old lady."
I. . ." Jake stared up at Puck.
"No need to say anything. I know; my counseling powers amaze even me sometimes."
"I wouldn't go so far as to say they're amazing. But, I guess we would have missed out on a lot of good things, too."
"What do they call it—a blessing in demise?"
"Disguise," Jake corrected, rolling his eyes. "Yes, where would the Grimm family be if they had never met the Trickster King?"
"I don't think you'd want to know," Puck replied, ignoring the sarcasm. "You should be counting yourself lucky that my dad banished me."
Jake paused, while Puck continued talking.
"So now that we've fixed that and everyone's feeling all mushy inside, can you just pick the orange?" Puck started to get up and leave.
"Nuh-uh-uh. Now we get to resolve your backstory."
Puck groaned and sat back down on the rock.
"So, which is it? Your banishment and daddy-issues, or 'Brina?"
"I don't have daddy-issues! And it's not that I don't want to deal with my supposed 'feelings for Grimm'," he emphasized with air-quotes. "I just don't know what to think, and I don't really need to. I'm only a kid, I can figure it all out later."
Jake looked at him suspiciously. "No daddy-issues, are you sure?"
Puck nodded and rolled his eyes. "That was all fixed back in New York."
"We will talk about Sabrina later, though."
The boy shrugged. "Something about this puberty virus makes me think that one day I'll want to talk about her," he shuddered.
"Look at you growing up and getting mature," Jake grinned. Puck stuck his tongue out at the man.
"Let's get these oranges, then. I think we should get two just in case."
"Why? If it's dangerous, isn't giving her one bad enough?"
"It's not for her; it's for us," Jake explained. "To counter the one we give her in case something bad does happen.
"Oh, that makes sense," Puck mused.
They each grabbed an orange from the tree and began the hike back to the boat.
~M.K~
"Here's your orange," Jake said, holding the fruit out to the witch.
"And it better be exactly what you wanted because that was a physically and emotionally exhausting trip and I do not want to repeat it!" Puck exclaimed.
"Yes, this is it. One bite will bring it back," Crosseyes crowed.
"Bring what back?" Puck questioned.
"Where's our compass?" Jake asked.
"Patience, my good travelers," she cackled. "Peel it for me while I retrieve your reward." She turned back and went into the house.
"What?!"
"We just want the compass!"
"Here, you peel it," Jake shoved the orange at Puck.
"No, that's work! You know I'm allergic."
"You'd probably just end up squishing it," Jake grumbled.
"The Compass of Desire," the witch said, exiting the house and presenting a worn, wooden box. She took the orange from Jake and lifted it to her lips, about to take a bite.
"Wait!" Jake cried. Crosseyes paused.
"What will happen? Will you get extra powers?"
"Oh, no. Don't be ludicrous. This orange just allows one to relive memories as if they were really happening. So I can go back and experience a time when magic was pure and valued. You might want to try it with that extra orange you have there in your pocket. Just take a bite and think of the memory. . ." With that, she turned back to her orange, but not before giving them a small smile and quick wink.
~M.K~
Because Melanie and I have been depriving you guys of updates for so long, I'm going to give you a special gift! BONUS CHAPTER! It should be up within the next few days or up to a week. It'll be short, titled "Memories", but I'm not giving away more than that.
And I'm super excited right now because I'm actually posting a substantial chapter and I have two more chapters in progress (well, I have one and Mel has one and I have no clue what's up with hers) XD
Okay, now onto important things. . .
Anon Reviews:
PenguinLoverGurl- Yes! The reference from chapter 3 was sound chakras. You can stick with the cookie (it's Zuko shaped ^^) or, shoot me a PM and you can get a spoiler or sneak-peek. YOU HAVE ALL MY LoK SHIPS! Finally, someone who understands that Korra and Makko SHOULD NOT be together DX He didn't even officially break up with Asami yet. Oh yeah, and the B-O-R-N-G thing was something from one of the books when Puck tried to spell it, but couldn't.
Rayne- Sorry, you were from forever ago (like Chapter 2)! I'm super-duper sorry! Anyways, thank you very much! And, if you're still reading, you'll find tons more A:TLA references to come XD
GallifreyenGal- We're definitely a "y'all" born and raised in Alabama :D And I hope the above chapter qualifies as "Jakes perspective".
Announcements:
REVIEW! (durrr...)
A quick reiteration about the reference thing, which goes for all of our chapters-if you find a reference in one of the chapters, review and you will get either a spoiler or a sneak-peek (your choice) sent via PM. So, sorry anons, if you don't have an account, you can only get Puck or Zuko shaped cookies!
Shout out to SweetShireen to send me a PM so we can discuss what I reviewed on her story, "Cold Feet"!
Random facts about this chapter:
It took forever to write because I'm a shell void of all emotion and I HATE mushy, gushy, feeling-sharing moments.
Puck and Jake may seem OOC at times because Michael Buckley NEVER WENT OVER THESE THINGS IN THE BOOK AND HE LEFT A HUGE MESS OF UNRESOLVED ISSUES FOR ME AND MEL TO DEAL WITH! DX
Writing this took up 28 pages of my composition book.
There are 11 Zutara hearts doodles in the margins.
Two Zutara fics are mapped out in the margins; however, they will be written far, far later in the future.
I have been writing this since I was in the plane to Italy, which was entirely too long ago.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND STICKING WITH THE STORY. It really means a lot to me (and probably to Mel, too, if she's not lost in the desert somewhere or stuck in a hole or anything. . .) XD