Springtime was always wonderful and for Eminent Evergreen Quandary, that spring was especially nice. He was able to sit down and breathe for the first time in a while. He didn't have dark colored birds of prey swooping in to deliver cursed mail and he didn't have to worry about 'accidents' happening to him that weren't his fault. Despite being a decent 11-year-old wizard, Evergreen was still quite clumsy. It was something that he hoped would diminish with age. There was for hoping!
Upon Evergreen's telling Dad about everything that happened, Dad was more excited than he was concerned. It was 'like the good ol' days' he said. Apparently in Oz, he and mom had been involved in several situations where lives hung in the balance and according to him, you only feel the most alive when your life is threatened. However, he did council Evergreen about being careful. 'Know your limitations' and 'trust in someone else's skill sometimes.' This made sense to the young wizard. He was only a kid, after all.
When school resumed, apparently, the idea that Evergreen's mom was Glinda of the Quadling Country, the Good Witch of Southern Oz was spread somehow like wildfire. There was whispering behind his back and a few people actually asked him to sign their copies of The Art of Defense which he thought was weird but didn't have the wherewithal to deny the requests. His friends didn't treat him differently, but there still was some uncomfortable energy between Beatrice and the rest of his friends, which was understandable.
"… and then you freaking exploded the wand?" Link asked for the umpteenth time at lunch on that first Monday back.
"Yes, and then everyone was freaking knocked out. We've been over this, Link."
"Have you started embellishing, yet?" came a voice from up the aisle.
They all looked up to see Beatrice. Her hair was done up into two long braids that she had draped down her chest reaching nearly to her waist. The black mark looked especially prominent against her tanned, yet otherwise acne free and scarless complexion. When Evergreen saw her, his face broke out into a smile, she did the same. When she saw the stern expressions on Evergreen's friends' faces, her face fell, a blush reddening her cheeks.
"Hey Diva." she began, "Sorry I was a jerk before. My ma and pa didn't raise me like that. I'm awfully ashamed."
"Beatrice…" Diva managed.
"To be honest, I'm glad that Evergreen threw Denyen Flax around like a rag doll. Merlin knows he deserved what was coming to him, the creep. I guess I kinda got a taste of my own medicine though, he had been trying to be handsy with me until he got thrown out."
So, he was expelled, then. Good. That's one less thing to worry about, going forward.
"Beatrice," Diva interrupted. "It's okay. I'm over that time in the library. However, Evergreen does have a detention there because of you, FYI."
"Well, then I'll be there with him. It's the least I could do after the mess that I made of things."
At this, Diva's face broke out into a smile and the blush on Beatrice's face seemed to change from red-hot, to rosy which was quite becoming, Evergreen thought. She didn't wear any makeup, but she would probably look like a movie star if she did, like a young Judy Garland. Oscar nominee of Me and My Gal from when Evergreen's grandparents were young. That just gives an idea about Beatrice. It's not that Evergreen had a crush on her, that would be ridiculous right away, but he was just then realizing that she was actually kind of a looker when she wasn't mad at him.
"Thanks, Beatrice. How good are you at charms?" Evergreen asked.
"Better than you'd believe. Why?" She replied quickly, in a friendly way.
Seta also had been different since returning from death's door. Not only did the Marina family sigil get permanently printed upon his forehead, but his eyes that were previously ruby red had been also affected to appear royal purple with a golden halo within each. He was stronger, faster, and full of a seemingly endless amount of energy. Evergreen wasn't really concerned at any of the changes though, he was just glad that he had his friend back. Seta was, after all, his first ever friend in the magical world.
As promised, Evergreen and Beatrice found themselves in the library that evening repairing books. They actually started a friendly competition to see who could repair the most books the fastest. It was silly, indeed, but they were enjoying being kids. They also sang a few songs together that they both knew because Evergreen's grandfather was raised right next door to Kansas in Oklahoma, so many of the songs that he grew up with Beatrice's family quite enjoyed.
They spent a few hours, under the watchful eye of Mrs. Montgomery fixing up a pile of books that Mrs. Montgomery had found for them to repair. Evergreen thought for a place so full of magic, one would imagine that the books could be enchanted to not have to deal with all this normal wear and tear. Apparently not. Even in the magical world things like death and decay still exist after all. Such things perhaps just take a bit longer because of the magic.
Not only did they sing funny little frontier songs, but they also talked about those things that they discussed in the hospital room the week before. Beatrice was still resolute in her desire to help Evergreen find mom. Even though she was pretty sure that her ma still had the ruby slippers that allowed her to exit Oz, Beatrice had no idea where they would be, if they worked the other way, and if she just up and asked her ma, she knew that she would tell her to stay out of it and likely go off herself, thus pushing Evergreen completely out of the equation. They knew that to do this right, they needed to find a way, together to find the individuals that the Scarecrow was seeking so that with their collective help, they could storm the dark place that held Evergreen's mom and be the most victorious. That was the idea.
The last few weeks in the term flew by. Evergreen studied harder than ever and was even able to make a strong draught of living death in his potions final and he remembered the names of the first wizards in the New World for his history final and timeline project. The pukwudgie that Miss Agatha promised for their class was none other than Waldon, who was over 150 years old, so he had many stories to tell. Plus, Evergreen managed to make the two bananas dance in his charms final much to Link's and Professor Delacroix's amusement.
Professor Park let it slip that she was going to have another special play for both Evergreen's grade and for the new sixth graders that next year. He thought she mentioned something about Italy, but he couldn't be too sure. It seemed indeed that she and Woods were instrumental in building up his confidence and teaching him how to stand up on his two feet. Evergreen knew that he still had a long way to go, though.
Regarding the wicked, red winkie, MACUSA got a hold of it and was trying to get some answers. According to the Salem Starr, the local newspaper, it wasn't going well. All they could gather was that it was a creature of another world and that it was following orders for a 'glorious purpose'. Yeah, doubt it, thought Evergreen.
In the final week of school, Headmaster Washington-Frost spoke to the school and addressed some of the rumors that were circulating. He also spoke about the importance of doing everything with an open mind because things are often not always what they seem. Many in Evergreen's circle thought that such a message was timely, all things considered.
School let out at the end of the second week of May and Evergreen felt somewhat bittersweet about it. He will be leaving a wonderful place of magic, but he will also be able to spend more time with Dad. He was happy though, as the Ilvermorny Pacific boxcar pulled into Union Station in Portland.
"We will get together at least once a week, okay?" Link said, as they exited the train.
"Okay. Okay." Evergreen replied. "And your dad will fix up our travel."
"I can be pretty convincing." Link said with a sly grin.
"Oh, I know. I've seen your work firsthand." he replied with a laugh.
At the platform, both Dad and Mr. Blackguard were waiting for their boys. They were just chatting amicably about something when they were met by their sons.
"Hi Dad." Evergreen said.
"Hey E.E. How is it going?"
"I'm doing okay."
"Are you ready to go home?"
Evergreen responded in the positive. He loved magic and all the adventure that came with Ilvermorny, but he was looking forward to the mundane everyday things that came with their quiet, non-magical neighborhood for the next few months. He knew that soon, things would likely become wilder and more dangerous, but it was the sort of thing that he knew he could face. With his loyal friends and his loving family, he knew that he could move mountains or dry up rivers if needed, but most importantly, he knew that he had so many people in his corner, so he would not need to do any of it alone.
A/N: And that's a wrap! I came up with this idea on a whim and I have had so much fun writing about it! Thanks for reading and for reviewing. Be on the lookout for part 2 "Evergreen Quandary and the Land of the Banished". Until then!