Makenna, Gina, and Tracey hurried through the corridor. Tracey flew beside Makenna, Gina beside his cheek. He and the Metamorphic Fairy glanced at one another, nodding. Then, they focused forward again.

However, because Tracey was so fast, Makenna fell behind and began running out of breath. She had no idea where the ninja was taking her. She guessed he was following his so-called fairy instincts.

Tracey flew faster. Finally, he was so fast that Gina held his shirt collar. He led Makenna to a steep hill.

She yelled as she was forced to run faster. "Tracey! Slow down!"

Tracey flew toward a wall but didn't see it coming.

Makenna saw it, though. If Tracey crashed into the wall, he would break his wings, no doubt about it. Makenna didn't want him to, not after seeing how much they meant to him.

Still only a green blur, Tracey yelled, "I have to find Sensei before it's too late!"

The wall drew closer.

Gina saw it and squawked, pulling on the young apprentice's collar.

"Tracey!" Makenna yelled. "No!" She leaped into Tracey's back and knocked him to the ground.

Tracey yelled and closed his eyes as he and Makenna slid down the hill. When they eventually reached the end, they stopped an inch away from crashing into a rough, underground river. The wall that Tracey would've crashed into was directly before them.

Tracey struggled to his knees and shoved Makenna off, glaring.

She landed on her backside. When she recovered from her landing, she returned Tracey's glare. "If I didn't stop you, Tracey, you would've crashed into that wall and broken your wings!"

"Aw, shut up!" Tracey snapped. "I would've been fine! I have had it with you, Makenna! If I was in danger, you should've just told me! You shouldn't have knocked me out of the sky!"

"But you were flying too fast!" Makenna yelled. "I did tell you, but you didn't hear me! Ha!" She closed her eyes and stood, marching past Tracey. "Come on. Let's find your sensei."

Tracey continued to glare. He clenched his teeth and watched as Makenna made her way toward another tunnel. Standing, he glimpsed at Gina, who now rested on his shoulder. "She's sick, Gina."

Agreeing, Gina nodded.

Sighing, Tracey scratched her under the beak. Then, lifting into the sky, he hurried after Makenna. He landed behind her and crossed his arms, returning to his calm self.

They peered into the pitch-black tunnel Makenna had noticed.

Shivering, the Metamorphic Fairy asked, "Tracey, would you do the honors?"

Tracey peered into the tunnel and felt a draft. "Wait. I don't like this." He took a few steps back and dropped his wings behind him.

"Aw, come on, Tracey," said Makenna. "Where's your sense of adventure? I'll bet your so-called sensei is in this tunnel."

Tracey shook his head. "No, he's not. My fairy instincts are telling me so, Makenna. They're telling me that we must cross that river." He pointed at the river, and Makenna glanced at it.

She scoffed and said, "Oh, come on, Tracey. Stop being such a chicken. You're a ninja!" She pointed at the tunnel. "I command you to go into that tunnel!"

"And I refuse," he said. "You're not a princess, Makenna, so stop acting like one. You do not have the higher sovereignty. If I don't want to go in, I don't want to go in. I do not want to die until I find and help Sensei Merlin."

Gina nodded and jumped off his shoulder. She started to hover, and as she hovered, she blew Makenna a raspberry.

Makenna ignored her and turned red. Clenching her fist, she faced Tracey. "Do the honors of going into that tunnel, Ninja Boy, or do you want to do this the hard way?"

"No," he refused, crossing his arms.

"Do it!" Makenna demanded.

"No," he again repeated. "I refuse."

"All right, that's it!" Makenna shouted. "You leave me no other choice, Ninja Boy!" Rubbing her freezing hands, she reached out and shoved Tracey's back, forcing him into the tunnel.

His foot hit the smooth ground, and he yelled as it twisted his ankle. The young apprentice somersaulted down an even steeper hill than the one he and Makenna had first experienced. He shouted, "My wings!" for his wings constantly banged on the ground. Just before they broke with one last roll, he was thrown into the sky and crashed down on his back and head at the base of the hill. When finally, he stopped bouncing, he rested motionless on his back with his head tilted back, teeth clenched together, his knees bent, and his arms aside of him.

From the mouth of the tunnel, Makenna peered into the pitch-blackness. "Tracey, what do you see? Is your sensei down there?" When Tracey didn't answer, she and Gina became nervous. Suddenly, a surge of energy electrified Makenna's body, and she started to sweat. "Oh no! What have I done? Tracey! Tracey, are you all right?"

Gina squawked. Turning to Makenna, she angrily pecked her.

Makenna repeatedly yelled, "Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" Finally, with her hair in snarls, she pushed Gina aside and again peered into the tunnel. "Tracey! Tracey! Oh no! I think I hurt him!"

With her foot, Gina did a facepalm.

Makenna didn't waste any time. She turned her body and rapidly searched the area. As she searched, tears flickered in her eyes. "Tracey! I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me. Don't worry; I'll find a way to get you out. I promise!" Her eyes fell upon a single lighted torch hanging from a wall. "Perfect!"

Hurrying to the torch, Makenna jumped and tried grabbing it, but the torch was too high up, and she was too short. Makenna, however, did not give up. She refused to give up. She was the one who had hurt Tracey.

Gina watched her struggle to get the torch and closed her eyes. She wanted to help Makenna, but at the same time, she didn't want to. She turned to fly away but was forced to stop when she noticed that blue magic was starting to surround the Metamorphic Fairy. She was lifted into the sky.

Continuing to sweat, Makenna reached for the torch and said, "Almost got it!" Her fingertips brushed the torch, but she still could not yet grab it. "I'm coming, Tracey!" Makenna yelled. "I'll do whatever I can to become a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy to save you, Caleb, and Merlin, and these wings, along with this personality, will not get in my way! I believe I can do it!"

After she said that bold statement, her tiny wings flapped.

Makenna grabbed the torch. "I've got it! Cool, I knew I could do it!" She peered down and gasped when she saw that she was hovering. "Whoa! I'm flying! I'm actually flying! Holy smokes, this is huge!"

And it was.

Makenna wanted to try flying around the room, but then she decided that right now, she had more pressing priorities rather than the fact her wings were letting her somewhat fly. She had to find Tracey and help him. Then, she would have to find Merlin and help him as well.

Holding up her arms, Makenna landed on the ground and dropped them, focusing forward on the tunnel.

Gina, who seemed to smile, approached her and sniffed her Level One wings. She circled her a few times, and when she finally stopped to hover, Makenna chuckled and asked:

"See, Gina? I told you I was trying to help, and look what happened to me!" She acted out a few twirls. While she twirled, her tiny wings gave off a blast of blue fairy dust. "I flew! I literally flew! Come on." She gestured at the tunnel with her head. "Let's go get your friend."

Gina slowly nodded and landed on one of Makenna's bare shoulders, folding her wings.

The Metamorphic Fairy immediately became serious again. With the torch held tightly in her hand, she hurried forward until she shone it down the tunnel. "Tracey? Are you all right?" Taking a deep breath, she ducked into the tunnel and stopped when she saw the drop Tracey had fallen down. "Oh no!" Makenna said. She stepped back. "I didn't realize this tunnel dropped! Tracey, Tracey, can you hear me?"

Once again, she received no response.

In terror, Makenna clenched her teeth. How would she explain her foolish mistake around Tracey? He would never forgive her.

Slowly and carefully, Makenna made her way down the steep hill but slipped—it was so steep. Fortunately, she caught herself and sighed.

Gina leaped off her shoulder and called to Makenna.

The Metamorphic Fairy turned her head. "What's up, Gina?"

Gina nudged her wings.

They flapped slightly, urging her to fly, but Makenna said, "Are you crazy, Gina? I may be able to fly now, but even if I do, I still don't know how to get in control of these wings! I thought I would learn flying from Tracey if he's all right." She peered down the continuous hill again. She could feel the tears flickering in her eyes for the second time.

"Oh," Makenna added. "What have I done?" She continued on her way and held her arms out to her sides. At the thought of Tracey all alone, she really began to tense and sped up. However, like Tracey's, Makenna's foot slipped, and she slid down the drop like she was on a slide. She yelled, and Gina chased her.

When Makenna stopped at the bottom of the hill, she said, "Oh!" when she saw dirt on her Level One attire. She jumped up and shouted, "Look at this!" rubbing herself down. "My transformation's ruined!"

Gina rolled her eyes. She turned her head and squawked when she saw that Tracey was lying on his back, still unconscious, further away. Gina screeched again and hurried to him.

Behind, Makenna asked, "What's wrong, Gina?" She turned and yelped at the sight of Tracey. "Tracey! Oh no!" She slapped her hands over her mouth, "What have I done?" and plopped her torch into a torch rack she found. However, when she thought the day couldn't get any worse, the ground under her feet began shaking.

Makenna gasped and peered down.

Stones popped up.

Gasping again, Makenna peered up at the ceiling. She jumped when she saw hundreds of stalagmites dangling from it. "Earthquake!" Makenna yelled. She screamed and dodged some of the stalagmites that began to fall.

Gina squawked and leaped behind Tracey's shoulder.

Makenna hurried toward him, yelling, "Tracey!" Reaching him, she fell to hands and knees and flung herself on top of him. She yelled, "Don't worry, Tracey, I'll protect you!" She closed her eyes as the stalagmites continued to fall. There was a blast of wind, and Makenna shouted. The torch went out.

Makenna clenched her fist, and the back of her hand glowed blue. Her necklace pendant also started to glow. Then, out of nowhere, a blue bubble appeared and surrounded Makenna and Tracey.

Makenna closed her eyes tighter. The stalagmites continuously crashed into the bubble, but they merely bounced off every time and landed beside Makenna, Tracey, and Gina.

Eventually, the earth calmed. The stalagmites stopped falling, and everything was quiet again. The bubble surrounding Makenna, Tracey, and Gina vanished, and Makenna coughed and sneezed through the dust. When the dust cleared, she hugged the unconscious Tracey a little bit. Then, letting go, she got off him and took his shoulders. "Tracey," Makenna begged.

Gina popped out from behind the boy's shoulder and squawked sadly.

Tears formed in Makenna's eyes. Turning away, she buried her face in her palms and started to sob. "Oh, Tracey," she said. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. Please forgive me."

Gina rubbed against the apprentice's cheek.

After a few more moments, Tracey stirred. Eyes still closed, he lifted his hand and reached for his forehead, moaning.

Makenna heard him. Gasping, she unburied her face and turned, yelling, "Tracey!" when she saw him struggling to sit. She threw back her hand and accidentally slapped him in the jaw.

"Ow!" Tracey yelled, reaching for it.

"You're all right! You're all right, Tracey!" Makenna shouted. She tried to hug him, but he pushed her away.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Let go, Makenna! Let go! Yeah, I'm all right. I'm just a little sore."

Makenna backed up and watched as Tracey struggled to his feet.

While attempting to stand, he reached for his tummy. Once standing, he opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and asked, "What happened?"

Makenna fluffed her hair and blushed, waiting for him to thank her for coming to find him.

Tracey didn't say anything. Instead, he turned on his heel and cupped his hands around his mouth, calling, "Sensei?"

Makenna fell to the ground. She looked up and asked, "Tracey, you understand I came here to save you, right?"

"Not now, Makenna, " Tracey said. "I understand you did—thank you—but for now, I must find Master Merlin."

Makenna furrowed her brows. "Cheapskate," she whispered.

Tracey opened his wings and leaped into the sky, but ten seconds into his flight, he yelled and fell back to the ground, landing on his front.

Makenna gasped. She jumped to her feet and questioned, "Tracey, are your wings all right?"

Gina grabbed a tuft of Tracey's hair with her beak and pulled him up.

Once standing, he shook his head and wings and answered, "Yeah, Makenna, they're fine. They're just a little sore."

Gina let his tuft go and landed on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Tracey," Makenna said in a choked voice. "I don't know what got into me. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please forgive me."

"It's okay, Makenna," Tracey said. "Listen." He took her shoulder. "You're still a new fairy. You don't know Merlin's Cave as well as I do, so you didn't know what was on the other side of the tunnel. I'll admit—I was the chicken here, Makenna. You see..." He hesitated. "I hate the dark. That's why I have lots of lights in my room."

"You hate the dark?" asked Makenna. "But you're-you're a-a-a...!"

"... a ninja," Tracey finished. "I understand, but it all goes back to when I was four." He released Makenna's shoulder, and a bright ball of green magic appeared in his other hand.

"Wow," Makenna said, amazed.

"When I was four years old," Tracey explained, "I got lost one day while exploring this cave. I stumbled into a corridor much like this one. I had never been so scared in my entire life."

Makenna listened carefully.

"Just when I thought I'd never get out," continued Tracey, "Merlin spoke to me through telepathy. I explained what happened, and he told me to follow my fairy instincts and believe I could get out. I eventually managed to find the exit, but that was after experiencing an earthquake in pitch blackness and getting chased by a flock of bats. Since then, I don't like going somewhere dark unless somebody's with me. That's why Gina and I are best friends. She always makes sure I'm never alone in the dark." He stroked Gina, and she purred like a cat. "She's a true friend," Tracey said. "Anyway"—he shook his head—"my point is, I refused to fly in here unless you were with me. See?" He waved his hand. "I'm a chicken."

"It's all right, Tracey," said Makenna. "I'm not too peachy keen about the dark either. You're not alone."

Tracey smiled, his eyes sparkling. He nodded and said, "Right."

Makenna sighed dreamily. Then, she snapped out of her doze and asked, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's find your master."

"Good idea," Tracey said. He shivered. "It's nippy in here!"

Makenna chuckled and let her palm hover over her lips. She dropped her hand, and together, the two fairies trekked down the corridor and called for Merlin. The ball of light Tracey created was their only source of light.

As they walked, the ninja-like fairy confusingly stared at the stalagmite-trashed room. "What happened here? It looks like another earthquake struck."

"One did," Makenna whispered. "Wait." She shivered. "Another?" Flashbacks of the earthquake reentered her head, and she gulped.

She and Tracey soon stepped into a new, torch-lite room, and the ball of light in Tracey's hand vanished.

Shivering, Makenna said, "It's freezing down here!"

Tracey landed beside her and glanced forward, gasping. "Oh no! Sensei!" Leaping into the sky, he zipped forward, and Gina followed him.

"Sensei?" Makenna asked. She, too, peered forward and gasped. "Oh no! It is your sensei!" She started to sprint.

Sensei, it was. Merlin the Great was before the two fairies, lying passed out on the floor. His wizard hat rested beside him.

Tracey and Makenna reached him. They kneeled and dropped their wings.

"Oh," Tracey whimpered, "Sensei."

Makenna picked up Merlin's hat and held it in her left hand. She and Tracey lifted their heads and met eyes. Tracey's palm rested on Merlin's back.

Gina rubbed against his thigh.

"It's his powers, Makenna," Tracey explained. "My master is dying, and you're the only one who can save him."

Gulping, Makenna pointed at herself. "Me?"

Tracey nodded. He and Makenna continued to stare at one another.

***

The following day came. Morning sunshine washed over Merlin's Cave, but it was still dark inside. Makenna and Tracey had dragged Merlin out of the cave depths where they found him and brought him back to the heart of it because his bed was there.

The two fairies were fast asleep. Makenna rested on a mat with a blanket over her, and Tracey had fallen asleep with his arms crossed while resting on a chair he had pulled up to the side of Merlin's bed. Gina was asleep on his shoulder. Beside Makenna, sleeping peacefully, was a young bat who had been interested in her.

Makenna slept peacefully for a couple more minutes, then stirred and opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the bat.

At the sight of it, Makenna froze and turned blue. Then she screamed, and the entire cave shook.

Hearing her scream, Tracey snapped awake and yelled, falling out of his chair.

Gina squawked and jumped from his shoulder.

Tracey leaped to his feet and drew one of his ninja stars, hurrying toward Makenna, who was on her feet. "Wha-what's wrong?" he asked, rapidly searching the area. "Who's attacking?"

"What is this bat doing sleeping next to me?" Makenna shouted. She pointed at the bewildered bat.

"Hm?" asked Tracey, glancing at the bat. "Oh." He chuckled. "That's Raeven, Makenna. He's a curious little bat who, when he likes someone, likes to sleep beside them."

"He's disgusting!" yelled Makenna. She fell to her knees. "Get him away from me! Get him away from me! I hate bats!"

"Oh, Makenna," said Tracey, slipping the ninja star back into his back pocket. "You're scared of just one little bat?" He kneeled and picked up Raeven. Makenna shivered as he stood back up. "Go on, Raeven," Tracey said. "Go find your friends. I apologize about her." He tossed Raeven into the sky, and he took off in flight. Tracey waved goodbye.

Continuing to shiver, Makenna rubbed herself down and said, "Bats. Anything but bats. Hm?" She turned her head, and her eyes landed on Merlin, who shuffled in his bed. "Hey, Tracey, I think your sensei's waking up."

Tracey turned and gasped when he saw Merlin attempting to sit. "Master!" Jumping into the sky, he flew to him and landed beside the bed. Dropping his wings behind his back, he took him by the shoulders. "Just take it easy, Master. You've had a rough night."

Merlin opened his eyes and gasped. Startled, he shoved Tracey to the ground and yelled, "Don't you dare take my apprentice back to the Bermuda Triangle with you, Octopus Man!" He shook his head and said, "Oh," when he recognized the area and saw Tracey on the ground, "it was just a dream. Hello, Tracey." He nodded at Makenna. "Makenna."

Makenna jogged to the foot of the bed and focused on his face.

Tracey stood and brushed the dust off of him. Then he, too, focused on Merlin's face.

The wizard looked very confused. "Huh? How did I get here?"

"Tracey carried you here on his back," Makenna explained. "We found you unconscious in a dark room in the underground."

"What happened, Master?" Tracey asked. He crossed his arms. "Why were you down in the deep underground of the East Wing?"

Merlin turned on his thinking cap. "Hm, I don't remember. All I remember is stumbling into a deep corridor and being drained of power. I felt as if every bone in my body was breaking. Next thing I knew, my world went black."

"I felt that pain, too," said Tracey, "and Makenna and I hurried to find you."

Makenna raised her hand. "I saved him from crashing into a wall." She curtsied. "You're welcome, Merlin the Great."

"Ahh!" said Tracey. "Wait, Makenna, don't mention 'great'!"

Makenna gasped. "Oh no!" She smacked her hands over her mouth.

Merlin exited his bed and curled into a ball again on the floor. "I am no longer great. This hurts like a train smashing into you."

"Don't worry, Master," said Tracey. "We're going to help you."

"Oh, thank you," Merlin said. He stood back up. "I need you guys to help me to continue being Merlin the G-r-e-a-t. I don't want to lose that position."

"But," said Makenna, "why are you losing your powers, Merlin? I still don't know why I'm a fairy!"

"You will soon, my child," Merlin said. "But that will be after you find your brother. This morning, you and my young apprentice will travel to 'Where the water meets your wings'. There and only there shall you find your brother."

The two fairies nodded. "Yes, sir."

Tracey turned to Makenna and excitedly clenched his fist. "So, we're off to find your brother, Makenna!"

"Correct, Tracey," Makenna said. "But wait." She turned to Merlin. "'Where the water meets your wings'? What's that supposed to mean?"

"I can't answer that, Makenna," said Merlin. "You must find out yourself. 'Where the water meets your wings' is my clue."

Tracey crossed his arms and closed his eyes, huffing.

Makenna suspiciously glanced at him.

Tracey asked Merlin, "Will you be all right, Master Merlin?"

"I will be, my young apprentice," said Merlin. "Don't worry. You take good care of Makenna, all right? Take good care of yourself, too."

"I will, Sensei," spoke Tracey. "I promise I will not fail you."

"You never do," Merlin said. "You're a true apprentice, Tracey." He and Tracey put their hands together and bowed to one another.

Afterward, Tracey turned and reached out his hand to Makenna. She took it, and he lifted her into the sky.

As they flew away, Tracey waved goodbye to Merlin. "See you later, Sensei!"

"Goodbye!" spoke Merlin. "Good luck! Be careful out there, young'uns! See you this afternoon!" Chuckling, he dropped his hand and watched the two teens exit the room. "Teenagers. They're always looking for an adventure. Gina..." He turned to Gina, who hovered beside his head. "Can you watch Tracey for me? I feel like the Octopus Man is nearby, and I don't want him to catch him. I hope you understand."

Gina nodded. She flapped her wings and chased after the two fairies.