03: Willowbury Way

Chapter 3

Willowbury Way

Makayla and Ashley approached the rusty iron gates across the street. They entered the dead garden that surrounded the Victorian cottage. It looked like a house from a scary witch movie or a fable with the arched roof and dead willow tree. The house was painted in a grey colour scheme with a big window out the front, looking out onto the garden.

Ashley: “So, like, why is she called the Stinky-foot witch? Is she really a witch?”

They asked, observing their surroundings and noticing someone watching them from the window. Makayla chuckled.

Makayla: “Because her feet stink, sweetheart!”

She placed her hand on their shoulder. She stepped up onto the stone veranda and pounded on the black door.

Makayla: “Come out, Jaclyn!”

She commanded. Heeled footsteps stomped on the hardwood floors, getting louder as Jaclyn approached the door. The door opened to a crack that was filled by Jaclyn’s glaring face.

Jaclyn: “What do you peasants want?”

She hissed.

Ashley: “Do you know where Maxx went?”

They pressed her.

Makayla: “You have something of ours. Give it back.”

She glared at Jaclyn with accusing eyes.

Jaclyn: “What would a fabulous fashionista such as myself want with that clown varmint?”

She scoffed and laughed bitterly.

Makayla: “His money, duh.”

She huffed. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “What do you mean? I thought Maxx was broke and homeless?”

They gaped at them. Jaclyn threw her head back and cackled.

Jaclyn: “He may dress like a tramp in those garish clown garments, but those hideous clothes cost a fortune!”

She chortled and waved her hand.

Ashley: “Really?! But, if he has money, why didn’t he pay his rent?”

They tilted their head.

Makayla: “Because, he blew it all on that stupid cut-out of himself and some gold digger named ‘Jacky-babe’.”

She swung her glare to Jaclyn. Jaclyn’s jaw dropped.

Jaclyn: “How dare you! I am NOT a gold digger, and I wouldn’t dare touch him with a ten-foot pole! The clown always LIES!”

She snapped. Ashley pondered. He lied about the band, so maybe he lied about this, too? But then again, Jaclyn lied about her feet not stinking. Who and what do I believe? They wondered.

Jaclyn: “I didn’t peg that clown to be your type, Makayla.”

She scoffed and smirked. Makayla furrowed her eyebrows.

Makayla: “I’m NOT into that clown!”

She snapped.

Jaclyn: “Right, you have a different type…”

She smirked at Ashley. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Makayla: “You mean cutie pies? Yes!”

She cooed at Ashley. Ashley blushed and chuckled. Jaclyn rolled her eyes.

Jaclyn: “Interesting way of saying corpulent fools. But whatever.”

She scoffed. Ashley knit their eyebrows, and Makayla glared at her.

Makayla: “You’re so rude!”

She barked at Jaclyn, standing in front of Ashley.

Jaclyn: “My point is… perhaps one of your ex-lovers did this to spite you.”

Makayla froze.

Makayla: “No… he’d never do that to me!”

She pursed her lips. Ashley turned to her with curiosity.

Jaclyn: “I meant the other one!”

She hissed bitterly. Makayla paused.

Makayla: “That’s impossible! I made sure of that! …Unless you mean Madelyn?!”

She paused. Ashley’s eyebrows rose. Wow, how many ex-lovers does she have? They wondered. Jaclyn’s demeanor shifted when she mentioned Madelyn.

Jaclyn: “Oh yes, the idiot squatting in MY mansion on Willowbury Way!”

She scoffed and stroked her chin.

Makayla: “Your mansion?”

She scoffed at her. Ashley interjected with a gasp.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! I live on Willowbury Way! Are you talking about the haunted house?”

They chirped. They both turned to them.

Jaclyn: “It’s NOT a haunted house!”

She rolled her eyes.

Makayla: “Really?! You live on Willowbury Way?!”

She smiled at Ashley. Ashley nodded in confirmation. Jaclyn stroked her chin.

Jaclyn: “This has Madelyn written all over it. You know how she is with her foolish pranks.”

She scoffed. Makayla twisted her mouth.

Makayla: “Madelyn!”

She hissed and stamped her foot.

Ashley: “Madelyn?”

They tilted their head.

~

Makayla and Ashley pulled up at the mansion on Willowbury Way. Ashley studied it closely, feeling drawn to this place. I’m back here for a reason, they thought.

Makayla: “She ditched me for Abigail’s stupid coven! They’ve always had it out for me!”

She pouted bitterly as she emerged from the Kingswood station wagon with Ashley.

Ashley: “I’m so sorry, Makayla! Wait… Coven?!”

They gasped and cupped their mouth.

Ashley: “Huh… is that why Blake told me to stay away from this house?! Was he keeping me from magic? ”

They knit their eyebrows, looking deep in thought. Makayla pouted and marched up the porch steps, creaking under her heavy footsteps.

Makayla: “Your brother sucks!”

She huffed and approached the stained-glass door, banging her fist on it, startling Ashley.

Ashley: “There’s a doorbell right here, Makayla!”

Ashley gently pressed the doorbell, which made a meowing noise.

Ashley: “Hehehe! So cute!”

They chirped. Makayla smiled at them.

Makayla: “Very cute!”

She cooed at them. Makayla impatiently tapped her foot and rang the doorbell again. This time it made a farting noise.

Makayla: “What the?!”

She furrowed her eyebrows.

Ashley: “Makayla!”

They gasped and laughed.

Makayla: “It was the doorbell!”

Ashley pressed the doorbell again, and it made a meowing sound when they pressed it.

Ashley: “Don’t lie, Makayla!”

They teased. Makayla pressed the doorbell again and it made a farting noise again.

Makayla: “Goddamit, she’s messing with me!”

She huffed.

Ashley approached the peephole on the door.

Ashley: “Hello! I’m your neighbour, Ashley! My friend, Makayla, wants to ask you some questions!”

They explained. Suddenly, the floor under Ashley’s feet caved in with a loud creak.

Ashley: "AHH! MAKAYLA!"

They yelped as they fell through the floor.

Makayla: "ASHLEY!"

She gasped and jolted, unable to move her feet.

Makayla: "What the?!"

She grunted, trying to kick her feet to no avail. The soles of her shoes wouldn't lift from the porch as if they were stuck there with an invisible glue.

Makayla: "God dammit!"

She huffed and thrashed around.

~

Ashley landed in a black room onto a pile of feathers, catching their fall. They panted and lifted their head, observing their surroundings. The room was dimly lit, with plumes of incense smoke and dark wave music droning in the background.

Ashley: "H-hello?"

They stammered. Suddenly, the blade of a black feathered sword waved in their face. Ashley swallowed hard and shivered at the sight of that feather. They flicked their gaze to see a woman standing over them. She was dressed in a black robe and had a black A-line bob haircut with a white ombre. The purple glow of the UV light cast an eerie shadow across her pale face and makeup resembling ‘Siouxsie Sioux’.

Dark-dressed Woman: "Well, well, looks like the black widow has caught herself some prey."

She held her hand to her face and chortled dramatically. Ashley swallowed hard.

Ashley: “I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to crash into your house! I’ll go!”

They stammered, scrambling to their feet. The woman bore her sapphire blue eyes onto them.

Dark-dressed Woman: “Oh, but I meant for silly little Alice to tumble down the rabbit hole.”

She smirked and pointed up at the trapdoor above their head.

Ashley: “Huh? My name isn’t Alice? It’s Ashley!”

They clarified. Ashley looked up at the trap door, feeling a mixture of relief that they hadn’t damaged her property, but an unknown sense of dread washed over them as this trap was premeditated.

Ashley: "W-Who are you?! What are you going to do to me?”

Their voice quavered.

Dark-dressed Woman: “I’m going to torture you, my dear Alice…”

She smirked menacingly, locking her violet eyes on them.

Cheerful woman: “WITH TICKLING!”

A cheerful voice interjected, and suddenly, Ashley was encumbered by a swarm of yellow feathers tickling them all over.

Ashley: “HAH AHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAAHAH AHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHEHEHEHEHEHE HAH HHOHOHOHOEHEEEEEEE!”

They squealed as soft feathers stroked their tummy, neck, and soles of their feet.

Dark-dressed woman: “Nooo! You’re ruining my menacing, mysterious vibe, Madelyn!”

She hissed at the flock of yellow feathers dancing beside her. Ashley froze and panted.

Ashley: “...Madelyn?!”

They gasped and looked in her direction.

Suddenly, the light flicked on, illuminating the room as a third woman entered. She had long, flowing crimson hair and wore a long, flowing white dress in a 60s chic model style. She had doe-like powder blue eyes with big lashes under her eyes.

Hippie woman: “Aww, you’re tickling the ‘Alice’ without me?!”

She pouted. Ashley drank in their surroundings and was bewildered, but amused to see the cheerful woman, dressed in an elaborate duck costume, making their anxieties melt away.

Ashley: “Hahaha, that’s a way better duck costume than Jaclyn’s!”

They chuckled. The woman removed her duck head to reveal her shoulder-length blonde hair and purple eyes.

Madelyn: “JACLYN?!”

She laughed disbelievingly. Ashley nodded in confirmation.

Ashley: “You must be the 'idiot' squatting in her mansion on Willbury way.”

They said to her, echoing Jaclyn’s words.

Madelyn: “Thaaaaat’s me.”

She laughed bitterly, swinging her feathered arm. Abigail: “Over my dead body! It’s NOT her mansion!”

She growled.

Hippie Woman: “Her mansion? Oh, no, you must be confused and mixing up sisters! I’m Juniper Kovalenko, and she’s Jaclyn Kovalenko! The mansion is bound to me!”

She waved her wrists and smiled. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “You’re her sister?!”

They cross-examined her, noting the distinctive crimson red hair, heart-shaped face, and ice-blue eyes, and it clicked.

Juniper: “She’s my sister by blood, but my real sisters are Madelyn and Abigail.”

She smiled at the other two women. Madelyn smiled at her, wrapping her feathered arms around her.

Abigail: “That’s right, for we are a coven, and I am the head of the coven!”

She spread her cloaked arms out dramatically, around both women on either side of her. Ashley’s eyes sparkled.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! You’re a witch coven?!”

They beamed excitedly.

Abigail: “That’s right, and you’re our sacrifice.”

She smirked at Ashley, holding up her raven-feathered sword. Juniper pulled out a feathered wand, and Madelyn pulled out a multicoloured feathered sword.

Ashley: “...Sacrifice?”

They tilted their head and shifted their eyes with a laugh.

~

Ashley was tied to the thick trunk of a gum tree in the backyard, bound by black, purple, and red velvet rope. The bonfire crackled and burned brightly under the moonlight. Abigail stood before them, spreading her arms out, revealing red footprints on her cloak sleeves. She resembled a menacing villain from a cheesy horror movie.

Abigail: “Oh, tickle gods! Thou of primal laughter! Thou, who tickle in the depths of the bellies and under the soles of feet! Thou, who bestoweth the mother of laughter upon thy faithful, to laugh eternally in her keeping! Thou shalt be tickled at the stake, for your laughter shall bless us all with positivity!”

Madelyn shoved past her and cut in.

Madelyn: “Let's just tickle them already!”

She huffed, rushing in and tickling Ashley with her wand and feathered duck arms. Abigail glared at her.

Ashley: “HehehehEHEHEHEEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

They twitched and snickered, bursting into laughter. The group chuckled amongst themselves and surrounded Ashley, waving their feathered wands against their tiny feet.

Ashley: “HAHAHAH AHAHA HEEHEHEHAHAA AHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! HAHAHEHEHEHEEHEHH AHAHAH OHOOHOHOH ONOHOHOHO EHEHEHEHEHEHE!”

They squirmed in their ropes and scrunched their feet as their feathers danced along their bare skin like flames of fire.

Ashley: “HAHAAAAAAAHAHHAHAHAH A H AH HA AH HA HA AHA HA EHEHEHE AHAHAH AH HOOHOHHOHOOHOH OEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEEEEEEEEE AHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA A HAH AH HAH OHOHOHOHOHOHO EHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEHEEEEEE!”

They wailed at the top of their lungs as they tickled their soft tummy. The group chanted along with them, laughing along with them. Abigail spread her arms out, closing her eyes with glee.

Abigail: “O-oh yes! I feel the magic pulsing through me!”

She moaned and quivered all over.

Ashley: “HAHEHEHEHEHE HA HAA HA AHAAHAH H HA OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO HOEHEHEHEHEHEHEHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAAAAAAA AHHEHEHEEEEEEEE HEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA! HEEEEEEEEEEE!”

They screamed with intense laughter and tears streaming down their cheeks. Their screams echoed through the bushland.

~

Meanwhile, Blake lay asleep in his bed. His bedroom was dark with its midnight blue walls, neatly painted over the canary-yellow walls he loathed. The moonlight shone through a crack in his curtains, highlighting the minimal objects in the room, contrasting with Ashley’s decorative clutter. His bedroom consisted of a simple queen-sized bed with black covers, a dresser, a wardrobe, and hand-crafted shelves on the walls. Ashley’s laughter seeped in through the window, bouncing off his ears and making him snap his eyes awake.

Blake: “Ashley!”

He groaned and threw off his black doona covers. He barged out of his bedroom, marching over to Ashley’s door.

Blake: “Keep it down, I’m trying to sleep-”

His heart sank when he opened the door to see that their bed was empty.

Blake: “What the–”

He heard Ashley’s laughter again and turned in the direction of the sound. It was coming from outside the window.

Blake: “Ashley?”

He marched to the backyard to investigate. Blake looked around the backyard, but Ashley was nowhere to be seen. He heard their laughter again, coming from within the bushland. Blake marched through the bushland, following Ashley’s laughter. It grew louder as he drew closer to the old mansion on the hillside.

Blake: “ASHLEY!”

He hollered out for them, marching towards the property. His heart sank when he saw Ashley tied up, surrounded by a group of cloaked women.

Blake: “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

He bellowed and went to intervene when, suddenly, another figure approached the group.

Makayla: “HEY! Get away from them! Don’t worry, Ashley! I’m here to save you!”

She interjected.

Ashley: “M-Makayla?”

They beamed and glanced up at her.

Madelyn: “So, you broke free of my magical glue, huh?”

She laughed bitterly at Makayla, glancing down at her bare feet. Makayla glared at them all.

Makayla: “You little thief! You took my sweet Ashley AND my clown leverage!”

She seethed. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “...M-my sweet Ashley?”

They gasped and redenned. Madelyn paused and turned to Ashley.

Madelyn: “...What?”

She gaped at Makayla.

Ashley: “Oh! Maxxy Malone! Do you guys know where he is? Or his cardboard cut-out?”

They elaborated on Maxx.

Juniper: “Oh, my sister’s boyfriend! Nope! He’s not here, and we never saw that!”

She chirped. Ashley tilted their head. Huh, so Makayla was right! Jaclyn is a liar, they thought.

Abigail: “You shouldn’t be here either, Makayla. You’re forbidden and bound from entering this property! You can’t step another foot closer.”

She smirked at Makayla. Makayla glared at her.

Makayla: “Maybe not, but you can’t silence me! You can’t stop me from rescuing my sweet Ashley!”

She spread out her arms under the moonlight. The sky was starting to get lighter as the sun was about to rise.

Makayla: “As the moon reflects on the water like a mirror, I deliver onto you threefold!”

She sang in a sweet voice that tickled against the soles of their feet and Madelyn's tummy. The three women collapsed to the ground with laughter.

Madelyn: “OH DUCK! HAHAHAHAHEHEHEYYYHAHAHAHAA! NOHOOO! MAKAYALAAHAHAHAHA! I’LL GET YOUOOHOHOHOHOHOHOOH!”

She wailed and rolled around on the ground.

Juniper: “HahaahahahHHAHAHAOHNOHOHOHOHO! HAHAHAH THAT TICKLEEEESSS!”

She squealed.

Abigail: “ARGH! NOOOOhahahahaha! FUCK OFF!”

She rasped and seethed. Ashley’s jaw dropped, and they smiled at what they saw.

Ashley: “OH MY STARS! It's tickling magic!”

They gasped and smiled up at Makayla as the sun rose behind her, casting a glowing light around he, resembling an angelic being.

Ashley: “She's like my guardian tickle angel witch…”

Makayla smiled down at them adoringly.

Blake interjected, clearing his throat like a record scratch.

Blake: “What the FUCK?”

He marched over to them. Ashley's eyes widened when they saw Blake. The women were still laughing in the background.

Ashley: “B-Blake?!”

They gasped and swallowed hard. Oh no, I'm toast, they thought.

Blake: “What the hell is going on?!”

He pulled out his pocket knife and cut Ashley’s ropes, freeing them. Ashley stumbled to their feet, dusting themself off.

Makayla: “I was saving them from the dark sorceresses!”

She declared, putting her arm around Ashley. Ashley reddened.

Ashley: “That’s right! She saved me from the duck sorceress! Magic is real, Blake!”

They beamed excitedly. Blake furrowed his eyebrows.

Blake: “We're going home NOW, Ashley!”

He grabbed Ashley’s arm, pulling them away from her and dragging them out into the bushland.

Ashley: “H-hey!”

They pouted and protested.

Makayla: “Hey! Wait up!”

She hollered and followed them towards their house. Blake turned to gape at her.

Blake: “What do you think you're doing?”

He said sharply, holding his hand up and entering the gate into their backyard.

Makayla: “Can I come with you, Ashley?”

She smiled at Ashley. Ashley smiled back at her.

Ashley: “Of course you can!”

They beamed. Makayla smiled at them. Blake furrowed his eyebrows at her.

Blake: “NO! Stay away from Ashley!”

He hissed at her, shutting the gate in her face. Ashley knit their eyebrows and rushed to her.

Ashley: "B-But, Blake! She saved me from them! She's my guardian, tickle angel witch!"

They protested, opening the gate for Makayla.

Blake: “No, she's not. There's no such thing.”

He scoffed. Makayla stood at the gate, pouting.

Makayla: “May I enter, Ashley?”

She asked them.

Blake: “NO!”

Makayla: “I wasn’t asking you, I was asking Ashley!”

She glared at Blake and turned to Ashley.

Ashley: “Of course you can!”

Makayla smiled at Ashley and entered the property with them. Blake furiously marched up the porch steps towards the door.

Ashley and Makayla headed towards the door when Ashley paused and turned to Makayla.

Ashley: “Wait! Hold on, Makayla!”

They held their hand up firmly.

Makayla: “...What is it, Ashley?”

She smiled. Blake’s harsh features smoothed over. Oh, Ash came to their senses and they’re gonna tell her to fuck off now? He thought.

Ashley: “No shoes allowed inside! Please take them off!”

They said firmly, but gently, with a smile as they slipped off their sandals. Blake pouted and removed his boots.

Makayla: “I’m not wearing shoes, remember?”

She gestured down at her socked feet. Ashley’s eyes widened when they remembered.

Ashley: “Oh yeah!”

They laughed and scratched their head.

Makayla: “So, can I enter now, Ashley?”

She smiled at them. Ashley tilted their head and chuckled. Aww, she’s so polite to ask, Ashley thought. Blake quirked an eyebrow at her.

Blake: “NO! We just got rid of ONE clown! We’re not having another one!”

He snapped. Makayla glared at him.

Makayla: “I’m nothing like that clown!”

Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “You never let me have any friends! You never let me do anything!”

They cried out in protest.

Makayla: “Yeah! Let Ashley speak and make their own choices!”

She wrapped her arms around Ashley, holding them close.

Blake: “Not when I know those choices are bad.”

He glared at Makayla.

Ashley: “That’s not fair! You’re allowed to make bad choices like drinking coffee instead of tea, so why can’t I make bad choices too?!”

They cried.

Blake: “You only drink coffee if it has ice cream in it. That’s not coffee!”

He argued.

Ashley: “Yes, it is! It’s called an affogatto!”

They explained.

Blake: “Affogato. Not gatto. That’s a cat, not a coffee.”

He corrected them.

Ashley: “Meow.”

They pouted and folded their arms across their chest.

Makayla: “Awww, that’s so cute! You’re so cute, Ashley! You’re such a pretty kitty! You can have all the ice cream you want!”

She cooed at Ashley, cupping their chubby cheeks. Ashley brightened and smiled at her. Blake rolled his eyes at Makayla.

Ashley: “Makayla isn’t a bad choice! She’s kind to me and I had the most fun I’ve EVER had in my life tonight!”

They added, smiling at Makayla.

Makayla: “That’s right! Ashley was the life of the party! They baked cookies!”

She cooed at them. Blake paused.

Blake: “...You went to a party?!”

He twisted his mouth.

Ashley: “I was trying to help Maxx with his bandmates, and they were having a trash metal party! Plot twist: They weren’t his bandmates at all, and now we have to find him and his cardboard cutout of him–”

They explained. Blake cut them off and interjected.

Blake: “...YOU went to a THRASH METAL party?!”

His voice rose to a shriek. Ashley nodded.

Ashley: “YES! Thrash metal! That’s the one!”

They laughed.

Blake: “You could have gotten HURT, Ashley! Hurt in the mosh pit… or worse!”

He snapped and glared at Makayla.

Ashley: “Well, I didn’t, Blake! I’m fine and I’m finally happy for the first time in my life since we left Sunshire! Don’t you want me to be happy?!”

They countered. Blake paused. Makayla froze and turned to Ashley.

Makayla: “...That’s terrible, Ashley!”

She wrapped her arms around them, stroking their sunshire tattoo. Ashley reddened.

Blake: “Of course I do, but I don’t want you getting hurt!”

He said firmly, glaring at Makayla with distrust.

Makayla: “Don’t worry! So long as I’m around, Ashley will be safe! They will never end up a waif!”

She sang softly, draping her arm around Ashley. Ashley redenned and chuckled, endeared by her whimsical singing.

Blake: “Um, what is this? What are you doing?”

He hissed irritably. Makayla flicked her gaze to Blake.

Makayla: “I promise you won’t be sorry! I won’t reject them, for I will protect them!”

She wrapped her arms around Ashley.

Ashley: “Aw, that’s sweet!”

They blushed and beamed.

Blake: “This isn’t a fucking musical! This is real life!”

He groaned at her.

Ashley: “Aww, come on, Blake, where’s your sense of whimsical wonder?”

They sighed.

Blake: “I live in the real world.”

He groaned, folding his arms across his chest.

Makayla: “You have NO idea about the real world.”

She sang back to him with harsher vocals and she gazed into Blake’s eyes.

Makayla: “Come on, Blake. Let Ashley make their own choices.”

She sang firmly to Blake.

Blake inhaled deeply and exhaled.

Blake: “Fine. Do what you want!”

He threw his arms up. Ashley’s eyes widened and their face lit up.

Ashley: “R-really?!”

They beamed. Makayla smirked.

Makayla: “So, Ashley, can I come in?”

She sang to them playfully, placing her hand on their shoulder. Ashley glanced down at her hand and looked up at her.

Ashley: “Come in, Makayla!”

They sang back playfully, opening the door and gesturing for her to step in. Makayla beamed at Ashley and entered with them.

~

Ashley led Makayla inside the house as she followed them into the living room.

Makayla: “Wow, your house is so cute!”

She beamed at Ashley.

Ashley: “Thank you!”

They smiled and sat down on the couch underneath their family portrait on the wall.

Ashley: “So, uhh, what’s the story with the duck sorceress?”

They chuckled and scratched their head. Makayla’s smile faded.

Makayla: “DARK, not DUCK! She just happens to dress like a duck sometimes.”

She laughed bitterly.

Makayla: “Madelyn used to be so sweet like you, Ashley! But then she got corrupted by Abigail and Juniper! They took her from me and poisoned her against me in their little cult!”

She sighed and bowed her head. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “R-really?! They seemed so nice!”

They chirped. Makayla frowned.

Makayla: “Don’t be fooled by their nice facade, Ashley! That’s how they lure you in! They’re dark sorceresses and you should stay away from them!”

She warned them. Ashley tilted their head.

Ashley: “Oh, then why are they scared of you?”

They looked down at her bare feet, thinking of how they glued her shoes to the porch to keep her away. Makayla laughed.

Makayla: “Because I know who they really are, and they don’t want that getting out. That’s why they want to silence me and keep me away from you! You could have been their next victim, but I put a stop to that!”

She assured them, placing her hand on their shoulder.

Ashley: “Oh dear!”

They cupped their mouth.

Makayla: “Don’t worry, Ashley, I won’t let anyone get to you.”

She assured them, stroking their head. Ashley smiled a bit.

Ashley: “Thanks, Makayla…”

Makayla’s eyes widened when she saw the vase of sunflowers glistening under the morning sunlight.

Makayla: “...Are those sunflowers?”

She pressed them. Ashley turned to her and smiled at the vase.

Ashley: “Yeah! I lost my magic when we left Sunshire…”

They sighed, glancing down at their tattoo.

Ashley: “But I think it’s coming back now! I’ve been dreaming about Sunflowers and they keep appearing on my doorstep, like I’m sleep-casting or something, haha!”

They beamed with hope.

Makayla: “Oh, really now? So, you really are a sun-wielder then?”

She smiled at them. Ashley froze and turned to her.

Ashley: “...Sun-wielder?!”

They gasped.

Makayla: “Don’t worry, Ashley, I will help you harness your true power again!”

She smiled at them, placing her hands on their shoulders. Ashley redenned and swallowed hard.

Ashley: “R-really?! Thank you, Makayla!”

They beamed.