Chapter 5: Island of Youth
Hey everyone, I'm back with a new chapter, glad to see you all are enjoying this story. Sorry about the lack of updates, life has been keeping me too busy to find time to write, but I'll still update when I can.
At the royal palace, Elena was gesturing for a servant to come over.
"The list you requested." He said handing her a scroll.
"Let's see. Party hats are good. Piñata, good. Chocolate fountain, great." Elena grins as Esteban walks in and notices her.
"Elena, is that something you need me to take a look at?" Esteban asks but Elena quickly hides it away.
"Uh no…it's all looked at," Elena said as the door opened revealing Armando.
"Princess Elena, we're waiting for you." He said but Elena cringed gesturing to Esteban. "Oh." Startled he closed the door.
"We're not. It's a…Princess matter." Elena said quickly making him frown.
"Oh, right. And I am only the chancellor. I'll be in the Royal Library collecting dust with all the old books." Esteban said.
"Perfect! Have fun!" Elena said going inside and closing the door.
"Ay-yi-yi. She has no idea today is my birthday." Esteban said to himself.
However, on the other side of the door, he could not have been more wrong.
"He has no idea we're throwing him a surprise party!" Elena said as Armando, Mateo, Luisa, Francisco, Caleb, Dante, Kir, and Isabel were inside.
"That was close," Armando said.
"I can't believe he bought it," Dante said.
"He's off to the library now, so we're in the clear, and I have a list of everything we need," Elena said.
"I'm going to bake Esteban's favorite Tres Leches cake," Luisa said.
"That reminds me of a story," Francisco said reaching for his guitar.
"Francisco, we don't have time for this." Luisa urged.
"When Esteban was a boy, he was such a picky eater. And you made him a cake for his birthday, but the only way to get him to eat it—" Fransico hints.
"Was to do. Here comes the Jaquin, flying into its nest," Luisa said, making everyone laugh.
"So what's the plan for the music?" Elena asks.
"My guitar is all tuned up," Francisco said.
"Can I play the birthday song with you?" Isabel asks.
"Of course, Isabel. It will be a beautiful duet." Francisco smiles at the idea.
"Great. Decorations?" Elena asks.
"I'm here to assist Armando and the others with that," Dante said.
"So how come you guys are here?" Armando asks.
"Two reasons. One free food." Dante counts.
"And second." Caleb holds out his hand revealing a bag of coins. "Elena is paying us to help."
"I trust they can be sneaky and quick enough to get things up," Elena said.
"Oh, believe me, we can handle this," Kir said.
"Great. And party tricks?" Elena asks.
"I've been practicing all week." Mateo reaches into his bag for his tamborita but ends up flinging it across the room.
"Well…that was definitely unexpected." Caleb cringed.
"Maybe practice some more," Dante said.
"That wasn't the trick," Mateo said going to pick it up. "Here it goes. Llevaluq!"
Casting his spell a gift floated in midair surprising everyone.
Little did Mateo know while all eyes were on the present there was a small scurrying in his bag. Popping its head out we see a small brown hamster with a little book in its hand.
Glancing at Caleb, the two lock eyes and Caleb signals for him and the hamster jumps out of the bag and runs into hiding.
"Bravo," Elena said.
"Thank you," Mateo said breaking his concentration causing the gift to fall and they heard a shattering noise.
"Oof that sounded expensive." Caleb cringed.
"My gift!" Armando panics.
Picking the box up he shook it. "Good thing I kept the receipt," Armando said.
"Sorry. I broke my concentration. I need to work on that." Mateo said.
"Well, you'll have to do it later. Right now, you, Caleb, and I have the most important task of the day." Elena states.
"What's that?" Mateo asks.
"Keeping birthday boy distracted so he doesn't find out," Caleb answers.
"Right of course," Mateo said walking out.
"We're taking him sailing," Elena said to her grandparents.
"Ooh, good idea. Esteban loves sailing." Francisco smiles.
"Just make sure to have him back in time for the party," Luisa said as Elena walked out.
"Aye, aye abuela," Elena said leaving.
As Caleb, Dante, and Kir walk out, he opens the door for the hamster to run out.
"Okay guys, I know we're trying to find clues but for the time being lay low, decorate the palace, and don't steal anything," Caleb said emphasizing the last part.
"Awww." Both the kid and the bird frown.
"We're technically hired help for the day. The least we can do is not steal any treasure." Caleb said.
"What about food from the Birthday buffet?" Dante asks.
"Oh, of course, we're taking as much as possible," Caleb said fine with that one.
"You drive a hard bargain but okay," Dante said.
"Come on Caleb, we're on distracting," Kir said flying on Caleb's shoulder.
As the hamster ran down the hallway it saw Hamtaro waving at him from a corner.
"Heya Maxwell." Hamtaro greeted.
"Hamtaro, am I glad to see a friendly face after all this time?" Maxwell smiles.
"Caleb said he was having you gather information at Mateo's did you find anything?" Hamtaro asks.
"A few things. But—" Before Maxwell could finish his little tummy rumbled. "But can it wait until I get some food? I ate all my sunflower seeds."
"Don't worry Caleb just brought us a ton," Hamtaro said leading him away.
Leading him up the stairs and onto a high shelf in the library we see several other hamsters having a snack break.
Among them was Dexter, along with a white hamster with blue ribbons in her fur, one with cream and dark brown fur and a yellow hardhat on his head, a white and gray hamster, a brown and white hamster with a red loincloth, a hamster with a pink scarf around her neck, a brown baby hamster with a yellow blanket over her head. These were Bijou, Boss, Oxnard, Howdy, Pashmina, and Penelope.
"Hey guys, look who's here," Hamtaro said getting their attention.
"Maxwell. You're back." Oxnard smiles.
"You were gone for quite a while," Pashmina said.
"Yeah, Mateo doesn't come here as often as I would like," Maxwell said grabbing some seeds to eat.
"Alright guys, remember the plan. Caleb wants to be on the lookout for anything involving magic." Howdy said in a southern accent.
"No, he said, be on the lookout for anything that hints of magic." Dexter corrects.
"Either way we're looking for magic." Howdy glares.
"Guys, guys calm down," Hamtaro said.
"Oui. Caleb is counting on us." Bijou said with a French accent.
Hearing his name, both hamsters calmed down.
"Alright after we eat, let's continue looking." Boss said.
On the lower level, we see Esteban sitting in a chair.
"I cannot believe everyone forgot my birthday," Esteban said when Higgins blew a noise maker startling him and the hamsters upstairs.
"Happy birthday, Chancellor Esteban!" Higgins declares.
"Oh, Higgins. No one wants to pay any attention to me anymore. I'm just getting older, but I have nothing to show for it." Esteban said.
"That's not true, you have a lot of new grey hairs." Higgins points out.
"Getting old is no fun. Oh, how I wish I were young again." Esteban said looking at a framed portrait of him as a teenager. "Look at me, Higgins. Strong, handsome, adventurous. I had so many dreams for my life that were never fulfilled because people were always telling me what to do. First my grandparents, then Shuriki—" Esteban lists when the door opens revealing Elena with a captain's hat.
"Guess what, cousin?" Elena calls out.
"And now Elena." Esteban groans.
"You're taking us sailing today," Elena said putting the hat on his head.
"As much as I would love nothing more than to spend the day chaperoning three rambunctious teenagers," Esteban starts.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" Kir glares.
"Sorry, 3 teenagers and a bird, but I'm much too busy today. Right, Higgins?" Esteban asks.
"Actually, your schedule is wide open. Anchors aweigh!" Higgins said.
Annoyed Esteban shoves the hat on Higgins' head before bonking him on the head as punishment.
"The cruiser's all packed," Elena said.
"And I found this old map in my grandfather's stuff," Mateo said blowing the dust off a map but when he did it glowed brightly surprising everyone.
"Whoa," Caleb said surprised.
"It must be magical. Look, there's the castle." Mateo said pointing to it and the map zoomed in. "And I can see my house."
Esteban however, was interested in something else. "Did you just see that? There. Tap on it. Tap on it. Tap tap tap!"
Gesturing to an island, Mateo taps it and zooms in.
"Is that—" Mateo gasps.
"The Island of Santalos!" Esteban said shaking Mateo frantically.
Grabbing his captain's hat, Esteban poses like in his portrait.
"What are we waiting for? Anchors aweigh!" Esteban declares.
"Elena, I think your cousin has been kidnapped and replaced with a body double," Caleb whispers.
"I believe you," Elena said.
After Elena changed into her travel clothes, consisting of a white long-sleeved sweater with red patterns and blue pants, they raced to the docks where the cruiser was.
"Come on, come on! We're walking. We're walking." Esteban said eagerly while everyone else followed behind.
"Why do you want to go to the Island of Santalos?" Elena asks.
"It is rumored to have a body of magical water called the Fountain of Youth. If you drink the water, you become younger. Or so the legend says." Esteban recites.
"But according to the myth, one day, it could be just off the coast of Avalor, and the next, it'll be on the other side of the world." Mateo points out as they board the ship.
"Caleb, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Kir whispers.
"Yeah, that map could be useful for us," Caleb mutters.
"Who cares about the map? I say we stock on that Fountain of Youth water. Imagine this beautiful face young forever?" Kir asks stroking his feathers.
"You mean you want to go back to being a talking egg?" Caleb smirks causing Kir to pause.
"Ok, maybe a small gulp." Kir corrected as they walked away.
"Do you realize what this means, Higgins? When I drink from the Fountain of Youth, I will be young and strong again. I'll finally start living the life I always dreamt about. Prepare to cast off, everyone! We are going to Santalos!" Esteban declares as they set sail.
At the palace, Luisa was in the kitchens preparing the cake while Francisco was adjusting his guitar.
"I'm ready to rehearse," Isabel said walking in with a strange-looking instrument.
"What is that?" Francisco asks gesturing to the instrument.
"A new instrument I invented. It's like an accordion and a guitar put together. I call it a guitardion," Isabel declares.
"Mmm. I see. Okay, I will do the first verse, and you can come in after me," He instructs strumming his guitar and creating a slow melody. "Today is your birthday. We're all here for you. So make a big wish. And it will come true,"
Joining in, Isabel's tune was more upbeat and loud.
"You're one more year older, and so we all say! We love you, Esteban! On your special day!" Isabel sang.
"Please, stop! Isa!" Francisco calls out.
When Isabel notices he isn't playing she stops.
"Why aren't you playing? I thought this was supposed to be a duet," Isabel asks.
"A duet is a performance where both people are heard. I can only hear that…that…" Francisco gestures trying to remember what it's called.
"Guitardion?" Isabel reminds.
"Yes, that. And besides, the birthday song is supposed to be a sweet, heartfelt song, not an assault on the eardrums," Francisco points out.
"I thought it would be fun to try something different," Isabel said.
"Either we play it the way it was meant to be played or not at all," Francisco states.
"But I like my way," Isabel said.
"I have an idea. Why don't you both play for the royal staff and let them decide which one should be played at the party," Luisa suggests.
"A birthday song battle? Okay by me." Isabel smiles.
"If a musical duel is what you want, Isabel, then a duel you will get," Franciso said as they shook hands sealing it.
"Hmm we should probably have a neutral party just to be safe," Luisa ponders when she notices Dante walking down the hall. "Dante! Come here!" Luisa calls out.
"Yes, ma'am?" Dante asks walking over. "You need me to decorate in here?"
"No, I need you and some Royal Staff to judge both birthday songs sung by Francisco and Isabel. The winner will perform for Esteban." Luisa explains.
"I'm really busy helping with the decorating and—" Dante starts.
"I'll give you extra cake." Luisa offers.
"Deal," Dante said instantly.
"Wow, that was fast," Isabel said surprised.
"I got a bit of a sweet tooth." Dante blushes rubbing the back of his head and making her giggle.
"Well, then you're definitely getting your money's worth with Abuela's sweets." Isabel points out.
Back on the ship, Esteban was eagerly searching for the island while Elena and Mateo were navigating.
Slowly, Caleb approached Elena from behind.
"So Elena, your cousin seems more enthusiastic than usual," Caleb points out.
"Yeah, it's kinda weird. He hasn't acted like that since we were little," Elena said.
"Little? But isn't he way older than you?" Caleb asks.
"It's a long story, but basically Esteban was forced to be Shuriki's advisor while she ruled," Elena states.
"Really?" Caleb said glancing at Esteban interested.
"According to the map, Santalos is supposed to be right here. I don't get it," Mateo said confused.
"I do. Your magical map is maybe not so magical after all," Esteban sighs.
Looking through her spyglass, Elena noticed something in the distance.
"Wait. I see something over there," Elena said before gasping. "It's Santalos!"
Laughing with joy, Esteban ran off.
"Santalos? We better drop anchor so—" Before Mateo could finish the anchor dropped causing the ship to shake and the three teens nearby fell over.
"Done and done," Esteban said dropping the lifeboat. "Guard the ship, Higgins. I'm going ashore."
"Wait up Esteban!" Elena calls out.
A few minutes later, they arrived ashore and Esteban eagerly tossed off his life jacket.
"You four stay here while I scout the area to make sure it's safe," Esteban said before grabbing the map. "But I will need this. Thank you!"
Running ahead, Esteban shoos away the seagulls.
"Where is he going?" Mateo asks.
"I don't know. But we have to get him back to the party on time, so we better not lose him." Elena said before noticing something. "Hey, where are Caleb and Kir?"
In the forest, Esteban had his eyes glued to the map.
"Now, let's find that Fountain of Youth," Tapping the map, Esteban scrolls through until he finds the directions. "Found you."
However, as he was looking at the map, he wasn't paying attention to where he was going and was about to fall into a gorge when suddenly a hand and claws grabbed his shirt and pulled him back.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Kir snaps.
"Huh?" Putting the map down, Esteban gasps seeing the gorge. "That's a long way down."
"If we hadn't run to catch up with you, you'd be at the bottom," Caleb said.
"Yes, well thank you I suppose," Esteban said.
"You need to be careful. There's a lot of dangers in forests like these. Especially for those who rush in unprepared." Caleb warns.
"I suppose." Pausing Esteban realized if Caleb was quick enough to catch up with him, he might be useful in helping him reach the Fountain.
"Caleb, how much would it cost for your assistance?" Esteban asks curious.
"Since it's your birthday I'll make you a deal. I help you over this and you just owe me a favor," Caleb offers.
"Get me over and it's a deal," Esteban said as Caleb grabbed some vines and threw them over a tall branch before Kir tightened the knot.
Grabbing it, Esteban tugs a few times before swinging across the gap. But when he landed on the other side, they heard a loud cracking noise.
"Oooh. That's gotta hurt," Kir cringed.
"Aaah! My hip!" Esteban cringed in pain.
"Uh…you okay?" Caleb cringed hearing that.
"I'll owe you two favors if you pretend you never heard that," Esteban offers.
"Heard what?" Kir asks playing along.
"Good bird," Esteban said running ahead.
"What? No, thank you?" Kir narrows his eyes.
Clearing some bushes, Esteban pushes several leaves away to see a large fountain.
"There it is. The Fountain of Youth." Giggling Esteban throws the map to the ground and runs toward the fountain.
"Farewell old man," Esteban said to his reflection as he grabbed a handful of water.
But when he gazed at his reflection, he looked the same.
"No! I am still old! Maybe I need some more." Esteban said drinking some more water but still nothing. "Why is this not working? Perhaps I didn't drink enough."
As he gulped the water down, Mateo found the map on the ground as he and Elena finally caught up with Caleb.
"Here's the map, but where's—" Mateo starts before they notice Esteban by the fountain.
"Esteban?" Elena calls out.
"What?" Lifting his head, everyone gasped to see Esteban was now a muscular teenager.
"I don't believe this," Caleb said in disbelief.
"Well? What is it?" Esteban asks still having no clue.
"The Fountain of Youth myth is real!" Mateo declares.
Gasping Esteban looks at his reflection and smiles.
"Look at me! I'm a young man again!" He said flexing his muscles. "Oh, I've missed you, my friends."
"Oh man, the years were not kind to him," Kir shook his head.
"I must have more," Esteban said going back to the fountain for another drink.
"I'd go easy on the water. It is magical." Mateo suggests.
"Yeah, maybe less is more in this case." Caleb agrees.
"You worry too much. Worrying is for old people." Esteban said filling his canteen with water from the fountain. "From this day on, I will never be old again. All I need to do is keep magical water on hand, and at the first sign of a wrinkle, drink some more."
Once it was filled, Esteban ran up a tree and grabbed a vine.
"Where are you going?" Caleb asks.
"Wherever I please!" Esteban declares swinging away.
"What is with him?" Kir asks.
"I know. He's acting like a—" Elena starts.
"A teenager?" Mateo answers.
"Caleb, Kir, you gotta help us," Elena said.
"You hired us to distract him, not babysit him," Kir emphasized.
"Aww come on, please." Cupping her hands, Elena pleads.
"Well lucky for you, I can't resist a pretty face." Kir smirks but Caleb rolls his eyes.
"Alright, fine," Caleb said as the 3 of them ran after while Kir flew ahead.
Ending up near a waterfall, they looked for any sign of him.
"Where did he go?" Elena pants.
"I was sure he went this way," Caleb said looking around.
"We have to find him and get off the island by the end of the day or—" Mateo starts when Esteban lets out a Tarzan-like yell as he swings from vine to vine.
"Esteban, stop! This is serious!" Elena said running after him.
"Or what Mateo? What happens at the end of the day?" Caleb asks turning to him.
"The island teleports at the end of the day and if we're still on it, we go with it." Mateo declares.
"What?!" Kir snaps.
"That's why we need to get him back!" Mateo said.
"Then we better move," Caleb said helping Mateo up.
They were about to follow when they noticed a baby monkey pick a petal from a nearby tree but once it ate it, the monkey turned into an old monkey instantly.
"Are you two thinking what I'm thinking?" Mateo asks.
"Yeah, way to throw away your youth, banana brain." Kir mocks.
"Come on, we need to tell Elena," Caleb said as they ran off.
At the beach, Higgins was polishing the wheel.
"Oh, Higgins!" Esteban calls out.
Glancing to the shore, Higgins saw Esteban holding the rowboat high above his head.
"Hey, that rowboat is royal property! Put it down or I'll have you reported to my boss!" Higgins threatens unaware of who that was.
"I am your boss," Esteban said as his voice cracked.
Confused he put the boat down only to reveal he was shrinking.
"Esteban?" Finally catching up with him, Caleb, Elena, Mateo, and Kir saw Esteban had turned into a little kid.
"What happened to me? Why did I get younger?" Esteban asks.
"You drank too much water. I tried to warn you." Mateo points out.
"Wait. Does this mean he's going to keep getting younger and younger?" Elena asks.
"Possibly. He was gulping that stuff down." Caleb recalls.
"But I didn't wanna be this young. Now everyone will tell me what to do all the time. I wanna be a grown-up again." Esteban whines. "Ooh, seagulls."
Laughing kid Esteban chased after the seagulls.
Looking at the sky, we see the sun going down.
"It's getting late, and we have to get off this island before the sun goes down, or we'll vanish along with it." Mateo points out.
"But we can't take him home like this, can we?" Elena asks curious.
"We can but you're gonna need a new council member because you'll be too busy babysitting your old one." Caleb points out.
"Good point," Elena gulps not liking the sound of that.
"But maybe we don't have to." Mateo points out.
"What do you mean?" Elena asks curious.
"We saw a baby monkey eat a flower petal and it turned old instantly," Caleb explains.
"There's a magical flower that makes you older? Where? I want it!" Esteban said eager to be older again.
"We saw it by the waterfall," Kir said as Mateo took out the map.
"There." Mateo points.
"I'll go get it," Elena said only for Esteban to take the map.
"No, I will!" Esteban said running off with the map.
"No wait!" Mateo called out as they ran after him.
"What will happen if he eats too much of the flower?" Elena asks.
"Same thing that if he drank too much water." Caleb points out.
"We have to stop him!" Elena said as she and Caleb ran ahead with Kir flying above them.
In the back, Mateo was panting heavily. "I should have brought running shoes,"
At the palace, Dante sat with Armando and the other staff as Francisco and Isabel had their contest. First up was Francisco.
And so we all say
We love you, Esteban
On your special day
As Armando was sleeping Dante elbows him waking him up and he instantly applauded.
"Not bad, very classical," Dante states.
"Thank you. Your turn Mija." Francisco bows gesturing to Isabel.
Strumming her guitardion, an upbeat tune fills the room waking everyone up.
Today's your birthday, we're all here for you
So make a big wish and it will come true
You're one more year older, and so we all say
We love you, Esteban
On your special day
Bursting into cheers all the staff applauded her.
"I think we have a clear winner." Dante declares much to Francisco's disbelief.
"Sorry, mi amor. It looks like they prefer the new way," Luisa said as Francisco sighed in defeat.
"The people have spoken," Frowning Francisco walks out.
As all the staff cheered, Isabel watched her sad grandpa walk out. She wanted to reach out to him but all the staff wanted an encore.
Returning to Santalos, the three teens and the bird were chasing after the little kid.
"Esteban, stop!" Elena calls out.
"No way!" Esteban said running ahead at full speed.
"Look out!" Mateo said noticing a big puddle of quick sap.
"I can jump it," Esteban assures leaping into the air.
"He's not gonna make it!" Elena gasps when Kir swoops in.
Grabbing Esteban by the shirt, Kir frantically flapped his wings keeping Esteban airborne long enough for Caleb to grab him and pull him to safety.
"That was close." Caleb pants.
"You…you saved me?" Esteban said.
"Of course, I wasn't gonna let you sink." Caleb smiles.
"Wow Caleb thank you so much," Elena said grateful.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" Kir asks.
"You too Kir." Elena giggled as Mateo took the map back.
"How far are we from the flower?" Esteban asks.
Opening the map, Mateo taps on the flower icon.
"It's over here. Right through those trees," Mateo points and Esteban immediately ran ahead.
"Not again!" Caleb groans.
"Ugh, my wings." Kir groans tired. "Saving this bonehead is exhausting,"
Helping Kir onto his shoulder, they chased Esteban to the waterfall where the flower was.
"Wait!" Elena yells at her cousin. "Don't eat too much."
"I'll eat as much as I want, and you can't stop me." Esteban declares.
"Cousin, give me the flower," Elena said lunging at him but Esteban dodged her.
Thinking quickly, Caleb needed to distract Esteban, but what can distract a little kid? Pausing Caleb reached into his bag having just the thing.
"Hey Esteban, wanna see something cute?" Caleb calls out.
"Cute? I don't want cute. I want cool." Esteban said as Caleb reached into his bag.
"Well, that's a shame because my little buddy might want to meet you," Caleb said holding something in his hand.
Curious Esteban walks over to him and Caleb opens his hand revealing a brown hamster sleeping in a sock.
"Awwww!" Both Esteban and Elena said with cute big eyes.
"Is that a hamster?" Mateo raises an eyebrow not expecting this.
"He's adorable," Elena said.
"Wait…is he dead?" Esteban asks noticing he isn't moving.
"This is Snoozer, and no he's just asleep," Caleb assures. "Say hi Snoozer."
Slowly Snoozer lifted his head revealing he was alive and breathing, but immediately lay back down.
"You want to pet him?" Caleb offers.
"Can I?" Esteban smiles.
"Give me the flower and you can pet him." Caleb offers.
At first, Esteban holds it out for him but at the last second Esteban throws it up atop some rocks.
"Ha! Nice try!" Esteban said lunging at Snoozer but Caleb grabbed Esteban with his other hand stopping him.
"Give me! Give me! Give me!" Esteban yells flailing his arms, but Caleb is unfazed.
"Caleb!" Elena glares.
"What? He was trying to steal from me." Caleb said.
"Is this really necessary?" Elena gestures.
"At least I got the flower out of his hands." Caleb gestures.
However, before they could get it Esteban shrank again turning into a baby.
"He's a baby now?" Elena said in disbelief.
"I don't care how much money you offer me; I am not changing any diapers," Kir emphasizes.
As baby Esteban started to cry, Caleb wasn't sure what to do when Snoozer crawled out of his sock and nuzzled the baby.
Briefly stopping his tears, the baby looked at the little hamster and rested his head against his stomach.
Giggling Esteban hugs Snoozer close.
"Well, I'll be, that little furball is useful after all," Kir said impressed.
"Any chance I can buy that hamster off you?" Elena asks.
"Not a chance," Caleb said almost instantly.
"Elena, sorry to interrupt, but look up. The island is disappearing!" Mateo gestures.
Looking up, they saw the tall island cliffs were beginning to disappear.
"We need to go now!" Kir panics.
"What about the flower? We need it for Esteban." Elena reminds.
Looking up the flower was atop a tall boulder.
"Kir?" Caleb glanced.
"Don't look at me, my wings are still sore from saving that little brat," Kir said
"We'll never climb it in time," Mateo states.
"There has to be another way," Elena said picking up Esteban.
"Hmm. There is one." Mateo said taking out his tamborita.
"What are you doing?" Caleb asks.
"Getting that flower, I hope. I haven't done this spell on anything bigger than a present, and you saw how that went," Mateo said nervously.
"The floating spell? But if it doesn't work, you could get hurt," Elena warns.
"I just have to concentrate, that's all. Wish me luck, just not out loud." Mateo urged. "Llevalug!"
Smacking the tamborita, Mateo coats himself in the spell and floats up towards the flower.
"Come on, concentrate," Caleb urged.
Closing in, Mateo was about to grab it when seagulls flew past him breaking his concentration and making him fall.
"Mateo!" Elena panics covering Esteban's eyes.
"Hurry! Cast the spell again!" Caleb said tucking Snoozer into his pocket.
"Llevalug!" Smacking the tamborita just before he hit the ground.
Taking a deep breath relieved, Mateo floats back up and grabs the flower with no distractions this time.
"Thanks," Elena smiles taking a petal.
"Best give it to him now. It'll be easier if he can run on his own," Caleb suggests.
Nodding, Elena tried to feed the petal to Esteban but the baby refused.
"What are you doing? You have to eat the petal." Elena urged but Esteban refused to eat it.
"Ugh, now what?" Kir groans.
"Your grandparents did say he was a picky eater as a child," Mateo points out as more of the island began to vanish.
"Now is not the time to be a picky eater," Elena growls before getting an idea. "Wait. Here comes the Jaquin flying to its nest."
Feeding Esteban the petal, she puts him down and he instantly transforms back to his original age.
"Why am I sucking my thumb? And where are my pants?!" Esteban asks realizing his pants are gone.
"Long story, we can explain on the boat! The island is about to vanish!" Elena said.
"The boat's this way! Come on!" Mateo said leading them away.
As Esteban was about to follow, he noticed his canteen was gone.
"My water? Where did it?" Esteban asks confused.
"Esteban!" Elena grabbed his hand and they ran for their lives.
Jumping over the gorge, Caleb, Mateo, and Esteban cleared the jump but when Elena jumped, she slipped on the end causing her to dangle for her life.
"Esteban! Help me!" Elena screams.
Turning around, Esteban gasped and ran to her before she lost her grip.
Grabbing her hand, Esteban pulls her up.
"Esteban, you saved my life." Elena smiles.
"It was the least I can do since you saved mine." Esteban smiles and Elena immediately hugs him in thanks but he thinks it is awkward.
"Can you two save the family moment for later?!" Caleb calls out.
Seeing that the island was about to disappear they sprinted to the lifeboat.
"Get in!" Mateo said pushing the boat.
"Ah! My hip!" Esteban cringed jumping in too quickly.
Pushing the lifeboat, they made it off just seconds before the island disappeared.
"That was way too close," Kir said relieved.
"This is true." Esteban agrees.
Setting sail back to Avalor, Elena looks out at where the island was with Mateo.
"I wonder where the island is now?" Elena asks.
"I'll check the map," Mateo said feeling around only to find nothing. "Oh no. I must have dropped it back there,"
"I guess I'm old for good," Esteban sighs as Elena approaches him.
"Personally, Esteban. I like you better this age," Elena smiles.
On the upper deck, Caleb was looking out at the sunset holding Esteban's canteen as Kir flew back with Mateo's map in his claws.
"Nice grabbing, Kir," Caleb smirks loading the map into his bag.
"So Caleb, you gonna share any of that?" Kir asks.
"Nah." Opening the lid, Caleb pours the contents into the ocean.
"What?! Why did you do that?!" Kir snaps.
"Kir, if I drank this. I'd doom myself to nothing but nightmares. Being forced to outlive you, Dante, and anyone else I might bond with and worse I'd never get to see my parents on the other side," Caleb declares with a smile.
That night, they returned to Avalor only to find the castle dark and empty.
"Where is everyone?" Esteban asks as Caleb turns on the lights revealing everyone.
"Surprise! Happy Birthday!" They all cheered surprising Esteban.
"I thought you forgot," Esteban said speechless.
"Of course, we didn't forget. Elena planned the whole thing." Luisa gestures.
"Anything for my favorite cousin," Elena smiles.
"Elena, I'm your only cousin," Esteban reminds.
"Oh just be happy you big baby," Caleb urged making Elena snicker.
"And now, Isabel will play your birthday song," Dante declares as Isabel nervously steps forward.
"Uh, I can't do it," Isabel said before turning to Francisco. "Unless Abuelo joins me,"
"What? But I don't know how to play your way," Francisco points out.
"We won't play it my way or your way; we'll play it our way," Isabel suggests.
"Oh," Liking the sound of this, Francisco was handed his guitar while Isabel grabbed her guitardion.
Today's your birthday, we're all here for you
So make a big wish and it will come true
You're one more year older, and so we all say
We love you, Esteban on your special day
As everyone enjoyed the party, Caleb and Kir met up with Dante.
"You know, it's been a while since we've been to a birthday," Caleb smiles.
"Any chance I can get a party for mine?" Dante asks.
"I think something can be arranged, just do me a favor, little buddy. Don't be in a hurry to grow up," Caleb urged.
"Huh?" Dante asks confused but Caleb just ruffles his hair.
"Guys come on! Abuela is about to bring out the cake!" Elena calls out.
Not needing to be told twice, the three of them went for a slice of Tres Leches cake.