Song: "Charmix" - Kate Kelly

        In the driveway outside Peter's house, Tracey swooped into another tree and returned to his standard height. He watched Peter descend the front steps and approach Makenna, who clutched her arm in the center of the driveway. While he approached her, Tracey decided that he had enough.

He peered up at his wings and nodded. "It'll be okay." Tracey lifted his hand and rubbed his left wing. Then, dropping his hand, he focused on Peter.

Tracey closed his eyes. His body glowed green, and he lifted into the sky. Once airborne, he lifted his hands and started to twirl. Sparkles circled his wings.

Tracey! Pupil of Merlin the Great! Tracey announced in his head. The bottom of his ninja-style, tunic-like shirt shot up, and Tracey acted out a midair front flip. Then, turning his back toward Peter's house, he glanced at his wings and watched as they went poof! Disappeared. His wings were tucked in his long, tunic-like shirt. Their tips were visible but blended with his shirt.

When Tracey finished performing the spell, the magic surrounding him vanished. He stopped glowing and fell, landing on the branch with his body lowered and knees bent.

Tracey stood and clenched his fists. He watched Peter, and wind blew his long, black hair. Tracey said, "All right, this is it," and drew another ninja star. "No backing out, Tracey. You must protect Makenna." Bending his knees, he kneeled and focused on Peter's bicycle. Nodding, he aimed and lifted his star over his head.

Tracey took a deep breath and threw the star. It sailed through the air toward Peter's bike. When it reached it, it slashed the back tire and cut it open. A whistling of air was heard from the tire, and like a boomerang, the star turned and twirled back toward Tracey.

He caught it and snickered. "Hee, hee. This otta be a show." Quickly, he tugged on his hair and covered his left ear, which usually had hair pulled behind it.

Peter finally reached Makenna. "Makenna," he said.

Makenna, who had her eyes closed, felt his hand clamp her shoulder. "Peter." She peered over her shoulder at Pete.

"I know," he said, and Makenna turned to him. "He's a little—"

"Insane, delusional, horrible?" Makenna snapped.

Peter hesitated.

"Why didn't you warn me about how crazy he was?" Makenna strictly asked.

"Because you wouldn't have come," Peter explained, pulling her close. "And you're the only one who makes me happy." With that, he leaned forward and gave Makenna her very first kiss.

She gasped.

From where Tracey watched, he gagged and turned green. Clenching his fist, he reached for his mouth and puffed out his cheeks. "Oh, I think I'm going to be sick. How dare he kiss her! He's a monster!"

Makenna and Peter soon pushed their lips away from each other.

Makenna blushed and smiled so hard that her cheeks hurt. "Man," she said dreamily, "I love being fourteen."

Peter chuckled. He picked up her hand and asked, "Am I forgiven?"

"Yes!" Makenna yelped, bobbing her head up and down.

"Do you want to go for a little ride around the island?" was Peter's next question.

"Yes!" Makenna again yelped. She squealed and reached for her lips.

"All right!" Peter excitedly announced. "I'll go get my bicycle! You stay here. I'll pick you up, my fair lady." He kissed Makenna's hand, and she again squealed. Then, turning on his heel, Peter flipped his hair and headed toward his bicycle.

Behind, Makenna fell to her knees, placed her hands to her heart, and announced, "Yippee!"

Peter, who hummed, soon reached his bike. Gripping its handlebars, he snickered and rubbed his chest.

Tracey glared at him from within the tree he was in. Under his breath, he mumbled, "He's making my eyes bleed. I can't wait to see this. I'll show him not to mess with Makenna." He prepared his ninja star and rested his other hand on the branch.

Peter, still humming, hopped onto his bicycle and sighed, focusing on Makenna.

She had stood up and patiently waited for him.

Peter smiled. Then, picking up his feet, he rested them on the bike's pedals and peddled forward, starting down the driveway.

Right when he did, Tracey again chucked his ninja star toward him. It slashed the front tire of Peter's bike, and he yelped as suddenly, both tires went flat, and the bike turned over. He flew into a bush that rested beside the driveway.

The star returned to Tracey. Catching it, he nodded and slipped it into his back pocket.

"Peter!" Makenna shouted, reaching for her lips. She sprinted toward Peter, who sat in the bush and spat leaves. "Peter!" Makenna yelled again. However, she stopped when a green blur appeared from nowhere, and Tracey landed before Peter.

"Who are you?" he asked calmly but sternly.

Peter gasped.

Makenna did, too. "Tracey!"

"What in the name of—?" Peter shouted, staring at Tracey. "Where did you come from? Who are you?"

"My name is Tracey," Tracey explained, glaring. "And I would appreciate it if you release Makenna from your web."

"What are you talking about?" shouted Peter, who struggled to stand. "How do you know Makenna? Where in the name of—you just appeared from out of nowhere! Were you the one who slashed my bike tires?"

Tracey nodded. "I am, but keep in mind, mister, that was the only way I could get Makenna away from your clutches. You have another bike. Just use that one. That one was trash anyway."

"Trash?" Peter asked, approaching Tracey. He grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him close to his face. "You're going to pay! I will break your jaw, baby, and I will break it good! No one takes my girl!"

"She's not your girl," Tracey calmly stated. He released himself from Peter's grasp. "She's your slave. I see right through you, sir. This is all a game."

"Ugh," groaned Makenna. She reached for her forehead and shook her head. Boys. Releasing her head, Makenna shouted, "Enough!" at the arguing boys.

Peter jumped and turned to her, but Tracey calmly turned his body.

Makenna lowered her voice and cleared her throat. "Peter," she said, gesturing at Tracey, "this is Tracey. He's my friend from um"—she thought momentarily—"surfing lessons. Tracey, this is Peter. He's my friend from school. Come on now, shake hands."

Tracey and Peter gagged. They glared and shook hands. Lighting flashed behind each of them, and fire burned in their eyes.

"I hate ninjas," Peter said. "So, you're the ninja Makenna talked about today at school. Your hair is stupid, and you smell weird."

"You have a lousy sense of humor," said Tracey, forcing his hand from Peter's. "I'm just trying to protect Makenna. I promised Master Merlin I would—"

"Tracey!" Makenna interrupted.

Tracey glanced at her. He scoffed, "Whatever," and closed his eyes, slipping his hands in his pockets.

"Peter," Makenna said to Peter, approaching him. "Sorry about the inconvenience. I didn't know that he was out today. I'll pay for your bike. I promise. Why don't we go to the crab dock and North Beach? That will lighten your spirit."

"Fine," Peter angrily spoke. "I'll go get my other bike." Huffing, he turned and stormed toward his bicycle. Picking it up, he rolled it toward the garage.

Makenna waved at him. "Don't take too long now, darling!" When Peter disappeared, she sighed, closed her eyes, and lowered her head. Then, lifting it, she focused on Tracey, who watched her and immediately broke into a grin. "Tracey!" Makenna yelled. She hurried to him, and she and Tracey hugged.

"Makenna. I'm so glad you're all right," Tracey said.

"I was so worried about you," Makenna mumbled. She released herself and met Tracey's eyes. "You survived! You survived the magic coma!"

"I don't even remember being put into one," admitted Tracey. He reached for his forehead. "Although, it's strange." He dropped his hand and shivered. "I feel weird. I don't feel like myself. I hear sirens in my head."

"Sirens?" Makenna asked, grasping his arm. "You're probably still recovering from your magic overload and unconsciousness, Tracey. Merlin told me a magic overload sickens a fairy. Here, sit down." She helped him on the driveway, and Tracey thanked her, sitting cross-legged. Makenna blushed. She then sat beside him and started playing with an ant and stick.

For a few moments, there was silence between the two fairies. Then, Makenna broke it.

She glanced at Tracey's back and asked, "Tracey, where are your wings?" in a slightly alarming, whispering voice.

"Better question," he replied, scanning her up and down. "Where are your wings? You go first."

"No," Makenna said, shaking her head. "You go first."

"No," announced Tracey. "You go first. I have no qualms about that."

"You go first!" was Makenna's reply.

"No, you go first!"

"You go first!"

"Fine!" Tracey finally agreed and peered down at his tunic-like, ninja-style shirt. "My wings are still here, Makenna. They're just under my shirt. See?" He lifted the shirt and pointed at his wings hiding inside it. "I just performed the Hidden Identity Spell. It allows an Apprentice Fairy to hide their wings in their clothing. It comes in handy when you find yourself in a world as crazy as this one. It also allows me to call my wings back whenever I want to, so I don't have to wait until sunset for them to return. All right." He gestured at Makenna. "Now it's your turn."

Makenna stared at him. "Oh, Tracey," she happily said. "You're all right. Anyways"—she cleared her throat—"surprise, Tracey, I have the Sunset Delay spell on me."

"Ah," chucked Tracey, "I thought so. So, Makenna, I understand Sensei successfully teleported you and Caleb back here?"

Makenna nodded. "He did, Tracey."

Tracey rubbed his nose. His face drooped. "He also told me—" Tracey lowered his head. "Ah, never mind."

"What are you doing here, Trace?" Makenna asked. She wanted to keep the conversation rolling.

"I was worried," he admitted, reaching for his forehead again. "I couldn't help but feel like... you're in danger, Makenna."

"Danger?" she inquired, pulling her knees close. "What danger? I'm in no danger, Trace, honest. What gave you a crazy idea like that?"

"I don't know," he admitted, shaking his head in an attempt to rid singing sirens from it. "I guess the whole reason I came, Makenn, was so that I could help you on your search for Selene. When Sensei and I first learned about you seven years ago, I promised him and that necklace you wear"—he pointed at Makenna's necklace—"I would do everything in my willpower to help you become a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy."

"My necklace?" Makenna asked. She clutched her necklace pendant.

"Yes, Makenna," explained Tracey. He moved his hands toward her necklace. However, for a second, he stopped and asked her, "Uh, may I?"

"Sure," Makenna spoke. She undid her necklace and offered Tracey her palms.

He removed the necklace and held it before his nose. "Nice to see you again, partner."

"Huh?" Makenna asked, watching as the ninja-like fairy rubbed her necklace's pendant down. "Partner? What do you mean, 'Nice to see you again,' Ninja Boy?"

"Tracey," he corrected. "Because, believe it or not, Makenna, I was the one who delivered this necklace to you seven years ago. It was the night Caleb lost his tooth, and you both thought the Tooth Fairy left it."

Makenna's eyes widened, and she froze.

Tracey continued: "I was in the room when you had that strange, magical phenomenon. Do you remember that phenomenon?"

"Hm," said Makenna. She lifted one hand from the driveway and scratched her chin. She tried to think back to that day seven years ago.

Tracey finished polishing the necklace pendant and set it on his lap. He crossed his arms and focused on Makenna, who was still thinking.

Finally, to help her understand, he held the necklace before her. "Do you know what this is, Makenna?"

Makenna shrugged. "Sure. It's a magic necklace."

"It's a Metamorphic Necklace," Tracey corrected. "And yes, it is a magic necklace. The Metamorphic Necklace is to be worn only by a Metamorphic Fairy. It helps the fairy grow properly. If you didn't have this necklace, Makenna, you wouldn't be able to transform into higher fairy forms. Without the necklace, the Metamorphic Fairy would grow to be very weak. It helps the fairy go through Metamorphic Fairy puberty and helps them become a full-fledged, powerful fairy. While it is helping the fairy grow, it will attack anybody who is not a fairy and gets too close to it. Also, until the fairy comes of age and grows their real wings, it will never allow them to take it off. Rumors say that if you force a Metamorphic Necklace off too early in the stages of fairy puberty, it could harm them and, in some cases, kill them. It's a very powerful necklace."

"Wow," Makenna whispered. "So cool."

Tracey handed her the necklace.

She thanked him and examined it. There was a moment of silence, and then Makenna said, "Hold on, Trace." She looked her friend in the eyes. "You're the one who gave this to me?"

Tracey nodded. "I am." Uncrossing his legs, he bent his right knee and clutched it.

"Seriously?" Makenna gasped. "You were in the room with Caleb and me that morning seven years ago?"

"Yes. I was hiding. With my very two eyes, I saw the proof Merlin and I needed that you are, indeed, a fairy, Makenna." Tracey's voice was shallow. He sounded a bit tired. He looked a bit tired.

The sun sank lower into the sky, but Tracey and Makenna hadn't noticed it yet. The day was winding down.

Makenna carefully unclipped the necklace and put it back on, clipping it again. The pendant now hung loosely over her chest, and a zephyr blew it.

After a few more minutes of sitting, Tracey told her, "Come on, Makenna, let's not waste any more time." He stood and offered Makenna his hand. "We must get out of here and out of Peter's clutches."

"What?" Makenna asked, taking Tracey's hand. "Why, Tracey?"

Tracey pulled her up. "Because I don't trust him."

"What are you talking about?" Makenna added. "Peter is a wonderful boy. He asked me to go to the dance on Friday night! Eee! He's my boyfriend!"

"Boyfriend?" Tracey asked, pulling hair behind his left ear again. "You're even more clueless than I thought, Makenna. He's not your boyfriend. He's playing with you. He's pretending he loves you. Trust me, I know about these things."

"How so, Ninja Boy?" Makenna asked him. She had raised her voice. She was starting to yell at Tracey again. "Peter is not that kind of boy! He gave me a bouquet! He's amazing!"

Tracey crossed his arms. "Your lack of knowledge about boys disgusts me, Makenna. You're accepting Peter's love way too fast."

Makenna blushed. Looking forward, she gasped and shouted, "Peter Nelson!" He was heading up the driveway, steering a new, shiny, red bicycle. He held Makenna's bouquet in one hand and appeared slightly upset. "Out of the way, Ninja Boy!" Makenna shouted at Tracey. Spit sprayed into his face. "Don't you dare come between Peter and me!" She shoved by Tracey and knocked him to the ground.

He landed hard on his back in the driveway and groaned when a sharp pain engulfed his wings.

Makenna hurried to Peter. She soon walked beside him. "Hey, Peter," Makenna squeaked. Her eyes landed on his new bicycle. "Whoo-wee, that's quite the bike you've got there. I'd totally choose this bicycle over your other one."

"Thank you, Makenna," Peter said. "Here." He held out the flowers. "You forgot these inside."

Makenna grinned. "Thank you, Peter." She accepted the flowers and sniffed them.

Peter chuckled, but then he noticed Tracey. "Ugh!" he said, tightening his grip on his handlebars. "Why is he still here?" He gagged and clutched Makenna's wrist. "Come on, Makenna."

She blushed and reached for her cheek.

Peter helped her onto the handlebars of his bicycle and added, "Let's go to the crab dock and North Beach. Where do you want to go first?"

"Hm," said Makenna, tapping her chin. She thought momentarily.

Peter patiently waited for her answer.

Makenna remembered the voice she heard at school that day. It told her to travel to a so-called shipwreck on North Beach. "North Beach," Makenna told Peter, dropping her hand from her chin. "Let's go to North Beach first, Pete."

"As you wish," Peter said, politely dipping his head to her. Lifting it, he gripped his new bike's handlebars and peddled toward the end of the driveway. "North Beach, here we come!" Peter excitedly announced.

Makenna whooped.

Tracey, still resting on the ground, lifted his hand and said, "Dead boy on the ground here! Anybody?"

On the bicycle, Peter scoffed and passed him.

"Oh please, Pete," Makenna begged, forcing him to stop his bicycle. "Can't we let him come along?"

Peter studied Tracey, who struggled to his knees. Scoffing, he closed his eyes and said, "Fine," beginning to peddle again. "That's as if he can keep up with me."

A grin stretched across Makenna's face. "Tracey!" she called to Tracey, and Tracey fixed his eyes on her. "We're going to North Beach! Meet us at North Beach! Let's race to see who can get there first!"

"A race, huh?" questioned Peter. "Very well, but I already know who will win. Buckle up, Makenna. We're going to go faster than the speed of light!" He started peddling quickly, and the bike shot forward like a rocket.

Makenna laughed as the wind blasted and massaged her face.

Tracey soon stood and groaned. He watched as the bicycle disappeared, and when it did, he clenched his fists and announced, "I'll show him speed!" Tracey checked his surroundings to ensure the coast was clear. Once he did, he dropped his fists, closed his eyes, and again glowed.

Tracey lifted into the air, and the bottom of his tunic-like, ninja-style shirt shot up again. He turned his back to the road and peered over his shoulder. Before long, his wings popped out of his back, and he flapped them.

Tracey grinned. The magic surrounding him died, and he hovered over Peter's driveway. Without another thought, he shot into the sky, held his arms out to his sides, and hurried toward North Beach.