One In A Million - Chapter 3: The Carousal Of Life
by Annabelle

“I’m coming,” Melinda yelled as she rushed out of the kitchen to the front door of her house.  She had been baking a cake for Fi as a little pick-me-up surprise.  Melinda was very worried about her niece who now always seemed to be tired and did not go out anymore.  Sighing she smoothed the apron that she had on and turned the doorknob.  She before her stood young blonde man and a dark haired young woman.  “Can I help you?”

“Is this the home of Fiona Phillips the daughter of famous Molly Phillips?” The young man’s had a very official tone to it.

“I am sorry,” Melinda was not sure weather or not she should trust these people or not.  Thankfully they were not sales people, sales people don’t dress like they are extras for the some 1940’s movie.  The young man was dressed in a black slacks and a white semi-dress shirt with black suspenders and a tweed newsboy’s cap; and the woman wore a typical burgundy forties dress with scalloped neckline, cuffs and peplum and a bolero hat with an egg shaped brim.

The young man looked at her for a moment then shook his head.  “No it is I who should apologize, I have gotten head of myself.  My name is the Great Incanto and this lovely lady is my fiancée Raliana,” Incanto pushed forward Raliana and she bobbed her head a little.  “I met Ms. Phillips a few months ago in Missouri; she gave me a lift on her way to St. Louis.”

“And?”

“Well I knew that her daughter was staying here in Seattle and I had a gift to give to Molly but I did not know were to send it,” Incanto tried to explain but Melinda was not convinced.

“Please ma’am we mean her no harm,” Raliana spoke in a hushed calming tone that Melinda could barely hear.

Then something strange overcame Melinda and she felt all of her suspicions leave her mind.  Of course these people where here to give Fiona a gift for her mother, it made prefect sense.  “I am so sorry.  You must think me very rude,” She opened the door a little wider.  “Please come in and have a seat.  I will go get her.”

“Thank you very much ma’am,” Incanto said as he removed his cap and sat next to Raliana on a couch in the living room.

‘You goof,’ Raliana pathed to him.  ‘Did you really think that she was going to let you in just because you claim to know Fi’s mother?’

‘Well,’ Incanto thought about for a moment. ‘Yes I did.  But it doesn’t matter, you used your powers so it is all better now.’

Raliana shook her head and sighed.  Sometimes she thought being in human form made her fellow Feys a little bit more absent minded than usual.

Then Melinda came in the room with Fiona following her closely.  “Fiona this is Incanto and his fiancée Raliana.  They know your mother and have come to give you a gift that they have for her.”

Fi took one look at ‘Incanto’ and ‘Raliana’ and almost laughed out loud.  Not only because of their clothes but also because the poor excuse that they had come up with to get to see her.  She moved to shake their hands and the both stood up to greet her.  “It is a pleasure.”

“The pleasure is ours,” Incanto spoke for himself and Raliana while everyone took a sit.  “I am not sure if your mother every mentioned me because I was not around for very long but she did help me out a great deal.”

Fi nodded slowly, “I don’t believe she did but my friend Annie told me a bit about you.”

“Ah yes, sweet Annie.  She helped me more than your mother did,” Incanto wore a smile that almost went from ear to ear.

“I am afraid that my fiancé is forgetting that we do not have a lot of time here,” Raliana folded her hands neatly into her lap.  “There will be time for stories another time perhaps but for now our visit has to be brief.”

“Really,” Melinda’s voice had a sadness to it that no one could really explain, after all she had just meet these people.

Incanto shook his head, “I am afraid it is true.  So I will get straight to the point of my visit.  I have a two-fold gift for your mother Fiona.  The first part of the gift is this.”  He held out one hand and then waved the other directly above it.  Then a metal shield appeared in his hand.  At first it was small but then it grew and as it got larger one could start to make out the faded paint and metal etchings on it.  “This,” Incanto informed everyone as he handed the shield to Fi, “is your family crest.  I found it on one of my trips to Europe and because it was in such good condition thought it would be the prefect gift.  They say that the family crest not only protects but also brings power and good fortune to all in the clan.”

“Thank you,” Fiona took the shield and looked it over with her aunt Melinda.

“How did you do that,” Melinda looked in wonderment from the shield to Incanto.

“A magician’s never relieves his secrets dear lady,” Incanto chuckled slightly.  “Now the second part of this gift is that I am going to make it possible for you to give your mother this present tonight,” Incanto grinned even bigger than before but Raliana grimaced.

“Inky don’t,” Raliana warned him.

“I will.  Do you doubt me?”  Incanto sounded hurt.

“Well to put it nicely,” Raliana tried to sound sweet, “yes!”

“Woah!  Wait a minute,” Melinda was starting to get very confused and the suspicion that she had first had about this people was starting to return.  “I thought you said that you did not know where Molly was.”

“Ah, well it goes something like this,” Inky stammered.  “I wasn’t going to perform tonight but well you were getting Fi I received a phone call asking me to perform at a venue in Maryland.  I was going to ask you if it was alright to bring Fi with us to our next gig, which just happens to be in the same place were Molly is performing,” now that he had regained his composure he was able to add that Melinda was also invited in a more adult sounding voice.

Everyone sat in silence.  Mostly in shock because of what Incanto had just proposed.  Melinda was in the most shock because none of what was happening seemed possible.  Finally she spoke, “But like you said the Molly’s and your performance is tonight.  In Glen Echo, Maryland!”

“Yes that is true,” the magician agreed.  “However I don’t see that being a problem.  Thankfully the people at the park have not told Molly who is going to be opening for her.  I told them that I was an old friend and I wanted to surprise her.”

“Greenland,” Raliana muttered.  “I just know this going to end in Greenland.”

“Greenland?”  Melinda seemed more doubtful then before and gave Fi a worried look.

“It is just Raliana’s odd sense of humor,” Incanto tired to reassure everyone.  “I promise you that we will a travel to Glen Echo without any trouble at all.”

“But how,” Melinda’s head was starting to spin.

“Yes, Incanto,” Fi was trying so hard not to laugh.  “How is it possible for us to go across three time zones and the whole country?”

“Why with magic of course,” Incanto waved his hand in the air as he spoke for a dramatic affect.  Raliana rolled her eyes but did not say anything.

“I am sorry Mr. Incanto,” Melinda’s voice was laden with disbelieve.  “But I as much as I have been amazed by the talents you showed earlier I find it very hard to believe that you have the power to transport all of us from this house to Glen Echo, Maryland.”

“You are a very wise woman,” Raliana smiled at Melinda.

“Oh the amount of doubt in this room almost kills my spirits,” Incanto held his hand to his chest in mock pain.

“Does that mean that we are not going,” Raliana asked hopefully.

“No,” Incanto glared at her.  “Alright ladies get your things ready.  Fi I would suggest you bring, well everything you own.   You won’t be back for a while.  Ms. Melinda bring as much as you like, and ladies please do try to hurry a bit.  I do not want to be late.”

“He isn’t joking is he?” Melinda asked Raliana.

Raliana snapped her fingers and an old carpetbag appeared next to her on the floor, “Unfortunately he is not.  If you would like some help I can try to speed up the packing process for you.”

Melinda shook her head still not quite sure if she should believe what was going on.  She was not entirely convinced that she had not slipped on the way to answer the door and hit head as she fell to the floor.

“I wouldn’t mind some help if I am going to be taking everything,” Fi gave Raliana a goofy smile.

Raliana nodded and the three ladies walked to upstairs to pack.  Once Aunt Melinda was in her room with the door closed Fiona burst out into a fit of giggles.  She was laughing so hard she almost fell to the floor.

“What?” Raliana asked her truly confused as to what Fiona found so amusing.

“Rye, your clothes, the excuses, the names, well everything,” Fi managed to stammer between giggles.  “That and it is hard for me to think of you as anything but Rhylinye, Princess of the Fey.  Now you are Raliana, fiancée to the Great Incanto, it is just hard to sallow.”  Fi started to giggle again.

Raliana sighed, “Well on the plus side I have started to think of myself as Raliana and not Rhylinye.  Now come on.  I want to see you pack your whole room into this carpet bag,” Raliana/Rhylinye blinked and a carpetbag similar to the one she had downstairs appeared next to Fi.

“Less than a minute right,” Fi’s laughter was starting to die down.

“You read my mind,” Raliana smiled.  Fi merely sighed, closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and then when she opened them again the entire room was empty except for the furniture and bedding that had been there when she got there.

“Fiona do you need any help,” Aunt Melinda started to ask but then she looked at the barren room.  “Well I guess not.”

“Thanks anyway Auntie,” Fi gave her a sad smile.  “Raliana helped me pack.”

“You managed to fit everything into that bag?” Melinda stared at the bag that Fi held in her hands.

“Magic,” Fi told her.

Melinda shook her head, “That is some talent that you have Miss Raliana.”

“Thank you very much,” Raliana smiled.  “I will give you two a few minutes alone.  We will be waiting for you downstairs.”  Raliana turned and left the room.

Melinda walked to the center of the room were Fi was standing hold her carpet bag tightly in one hand.  She glanced around the room to and tried to picture what it had looked like just a few minutes before.  “This house already feels empty,” Melinda could feel the tears building up inside her.

Fi did not say anything; she could not find any words.  She just dropped her carpetbag and threw her arms around her aunt.  They stood like that for a few moments and then Fi pulled away.  “Thanks Aunt Melinda,” Fi’s voice was shaky.

“Oh honey, you are welcome anytime,” Melinda told her tenderly.  “The only question I have is what we are going to do about school.”

“I am sure we will figure everything out once was talk to my mom,” Fi laughed.  “I don’t think she would let me just withdraw from the wonders of higher education.”

Melinda laughed and then sucked in a breath.  “Well I guess we should get going?”

“Yeah,” Fi picked up her bag and grabbed her aunt’s hand.

When the entered the living room the saw Raliana and Incanto having a hushed conversation but they stopped and looked at the others.  “Well I take that you are ready to go?” Incanto half asked half stated.

“Yes we are Mr. Incanto,” Melinda put on a brave smile.

“Good, good,” Incanto moved closer to them.  “Now everyone stand close to me and hold on to your luggage tight.”

“Are you sure this is going to work,” Melinda’s voice of logic was starting to kick in again.

“Of course I am sure,” Incanto told her.  “Now just close your eyes and everyone picture Molly’s face and keep that image in your mind.”

They all did as they were told but everyone could hear Raliana mutter something about Greenland.  They felt a wind start to pick up around them and it grew stronger and louder.  Then when it felt like the wind was about to blow them and the house away it stopped.

“It doesn’t feel cold enough to be Greenland,” Raliana did not open her eyes; she just clutched her bag tightly to her body.

“Of course not,” Incanto almost ridiculed her.  “We are in Glen Echo not Greenland.”

“Fiona or Melinda would you please let me know for sure that we are in Glen Echo?” Raliana kept her eye closed stubbornly.

Fi and Melinda looked around the winter scene that they were and then Fi saw the sign.  She let out a little scream, which caused everyone to turn and look in the same direction that she was looking.  There in poster slot outside of one building was a picture of Molly Phillips with a yellow strip of paper going across the bottom right corner of the poster that said ‘Tonight Only’.

“I guess we are in Glen Echo,” Raliana let a goofy grin spread across her face.  “But where are we going to stay until later tonight?”  Everyone laughed and the walked toward the building with Molly’s poster on the side of it hoping to find someone who could tell them were they could go from there.

“Mom, Annie it is almost time to get going,” Jack yelled as he pounded on their door.

Molly opened the door, “We will be right there.  I promise sweetie.  Just wait one more second.”

Jack sighed and walked down the hallway to the main lobby where everyone else was waiting.  They all looked at him as he walked towards them with out his mom and Annie.  He held his hands up in defense, “They said that they would be here in just a second.”

“Look,” Carey pointed to the two figures coming down the hall.  “There they are now.”

“Sorry to keep everyone waiting,” Molly apologized for herself and Annie.

Jack did not really hear what his mom was saying; he was too busy trying to figure out what was different about Annie.  Then he felt an elbow gently shove him the back.  He looked to see Carey giving him a look that said stop-gawking.  Jack almost blushed but then he shook it off.

“Well come one lets get going,” Irene broke the silence that no one had really seemed to notice.  “We don’t want to be late.”

They walked out of the hotel to bus, which Ned had already started up so that it would be warm.  They boarded the bus and Molly and Carey sat towards the front doing some last minute practicing as they went on the short drive to the Glen Echo Concert venue.

Jack kept glancing at Annie every now and them.  She did not seem to notice because her head was in a book.  Finally when he looked down at the book to see what she was reading he noticed what was different.  Annie was wearing a small thumb ring with an engraving in it.  “Hey where did you get that from?” he asked her.  “It looks just like the one that Fi has.”

“Fi gave it to me when she left,” Annie answered straight away.  She had only been pretending to read.  She had actually been counting how many times Jack had glanced at her since they got on the bus.

“Really,” Jack took her hand in his and examined the ring more carefully.  “I’ve never seen you wear it before.”

Annie looked at his face.  He was not looking at her, he seemed to be entranced by the ring.  “I don’t wear it all that often,” Annie spoke but Jack’s eyes never left the ring.  “I usually keep it safe in a box of mine.”  Jack still did no look up from the ring.  “Jack?”

“In a box,” Jack repeated.  “Got it,” He withdrew his hand and stood up.  “Sorry about interrupting your reading.”  He turned and walked towards his room at the back of the bus.  “I got some studying to do.  See you later Annie.”

“Yeah see you later,” Annie mumbled and then once Jack had left the room she sighed and sunk deeper into the couch that she was sitting in.  What was wrong with her?  Of course Jack was interested in the ring, it was his sister’s, it wasn’t that he was interested in her.  Annie closed her eyes and book and waited for the bus to arrive at Glen Echo.

“Is everything ready?” Incanto asked the stage manager anxiously.

“Yes everything is ready,” the stage manager told him for the fifth time.  “Ms. Phillips will be here shortly.”

“And the sign.  What about my sign?” Incanto’s voice was reaching new heights of apprehension.

“Your sign?” the stage manager shook her head.

“My sign.  The one that says opening for Molly Phillips tonight The Great Incanto,” Incanto half yelled.

“There is no sign.”

“No marque?”

“No marque.”

“How is there no marque.  This is supposed to be a concert venue?”

“This is a folk concert venue, we don’t use marques.  If you want to have a sign hung up we can do that, but we do not do marques,” the stage manager’s voice was strained with annoyance.  She then turned and left.

Incanto just stood there with his mouth hung open staring at were the stage manager had once been.  Raliana walked about behind him, “Darling what is wrong?”

“No marque,” was all he was able to say.

“Dearest, I am sorry I do not understand,” Raliana looked at him with worry written all over her face.  “Please talk in full sentences.”

Incanto grabbed his shoulders with his hands, “She says that there is no marque,” he shook his fiancée with each word he spoke.

Raliana laughed, “Is that all?”

“Is that all?” Incanto hissed at her.  “Is that all!  As if there should be anything else wrong.”

“It is not a big deal,” Raliana mimicked him and shook his shoulders.

“Not a problem?  It is not a problem!” he was started to yell again.

Raliana shook her head and gave her hand a little wave, “There!  Now there is a marque, which says: Featured Tonight Molly Phillips with opening act The Great Incanto.  Happy?”

“Yes thank you,” Incanto sighed and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.  “Now what is that you are wearing?”

“Don’t you like it,” Raliana spun around in the odd looking flashy low cut dress.  “Fi picked it out for me.  She saw the picture online and said that it was the prefect thing for a magicians assistant.”

“It is awful,” Incanto looked at her in disgust.   He snapped his fingers and the dress was replaced with a modest V neck sleeveless silky red nylon jersey 1940's dress.  “There that is much better, isn’t?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Raliana looked down at what she was wearing and forced a smile.  “What are you going to wear?”

“This,” in a flash Incanto’s clothes changed into a black and white pinstripe vest with a white shirt and a black cape and a pair pinstripe pants.  “Classy, no?”

“Very,” Raliana smiled even harder.  “Well I am going to go check on Fi and Melinda.  Try not to worry so much while I am gone.  Everything will go fine tonight.  Remember you are not just the Great Incanto.  You a very special,” Raliana laughed a little.

“Please don’t remind me,” Incanto rolled his eyes.  “It is hard enough as it is to stay in person without having to think about everything else that we have to do.  Great now I am starting to sound like Incanto.  For the love of the great Lord, I just want to be Fey again!”

“All too soon darling, all too soon,” Raliana laughed again and then left him there to fuss over every other little detail that was suppose to happen that night.

“Alright everyone we are here,” Ned called out from the driver’s seat.  He had barely put the bus in park when his wife bounded off the bus and ran into the building telling everyone that she would be right back as she went.

“Thanks Ned,” Molly answered and then turned to Annie.  “Annie will you go get Jack and tell him it is time to go inside?”

Annie stood up from the couch and put on her happy face, “Sure thing Molly.”

After she had left Molly looked at Carey, “Is there something wrong with her?”

“Just the usually angst of being a teenager,” Carey replied as he put his guitar back in its case.

“Oh,” Molly thought about that for a moment.  “Teenage angst?  I didn’t know you could have that traveling on the road.”

“With the right people around you can,” Carey said mysteriously.

Molly was again puzzled by what he was saying then it hit her, “No.”

“Afraid so,” Carey shrugged.

“This is not good,” Molly stated.  “Not good at all.”

“Why not?” Carey did not understand Molly’s reaction at all.  He was not expecting her to be happy about the situation but for her to be outright upset about seemed a little over kill.

“Three words.  Small tour bus,” Molly told him in a very serious voice.  “I better talk to Jack.”

“Why don’t you wait awhile,” Carey suggested.  “Let them come to you.  You don’t want to seem overbearing, after all they are still just friends.”

“Reason number two talk to them now,” Molly was playing devil’s advocate.  “Annie goes back to her family at the end of the school year.  The whole thing is just a very bad idea.”

“What’s a bad idea,” Jack asked as he and Annie entered the room.

Carey thought quickly for a cover, “Molly and I were just talking about some new lighting for the show, but she is right.  Very bad idea to change the lighting right before a show.”

“Yeah,” Molly decided to agree with Carey because right now as not the time to be talking about problems of the heart with her two resident teenagers.  She had a performance to give.

“Come on people, let’s shake a leg here,” Irene shouted as she tucked her head back into the bus.

Everyone laughed as the started to march off the bus.  Then Annie stopped dead in her tracks as she looked at the concert venue.  Everyone else stared at her because they could not see what the problem was.

“Annie honey, what’s wrong?” Molly questioned.

“That marque wasn’t there early today,” Annie pointed to the marque that was now centered above the doors into the venue.

“That’s ridiculous Annie,” Jack said in his no nonsense matter a fact voice.  “You must have just missed the last time we were here.”

“Alright then,” Annie was starting to get into the mode where she had to prove to everyone that she was not crazy.  “Who here knew that Molly had an opening act tonight?”

Everyone looked at each other and then at the sign.  Sure enough it read that tonight The Great Incanto would be opening for Molly Phillips.  “How can that be?” Irene asked no one in particular.  “I was not told that there would be any opening act.”

“This is totally awesome,” Jack’s voice was full of elation.  “I wonder if Inky will remember any of us.”

“Well I guess there is only one way to find out,” Carey looked at Annie and then at Jack.

“Front row seats!” they all cried in unison and started to race to the building.

“Hey wait a minute you guys!” Molly called at to them and they stopped and turned around.

“Carey what about the performance?” Molly asked him.

“Oh please Molly,” Carey begged.  “I mean this is a one-time chance kind of thing.  Besides you know you want to see what he is gonna do.”

“Alright,” Molly smiled at them.  “Irene, Ned and I will talk with the stage manager for a minute and then meet you out on the floor.”

“Deal!” Carey agreed for himself and the others.

Once they were inside Annie, Carey, and Jack made their way to the front.  When they got there they saw that there were signs on some of the chairs that said reserved.  Just then an usher dressed in a red cap with gold lining that strapped under his chin and a red vest walked up to them, “Excuse me; are you with the Molly Phillips tour?”

“Well yes we are,” Jack answered.

“Good we have been waiting for you guys to get here.  These seats are yours.  It is Glen Echo policy to save seats for the performers and their entourage,” the usher told them.  “I hope you enjoy the opening act,” he removed the reserved signs from the seats and walked away.

“This is totally wicked,” Annie said as she took a seat in the cushy red velvet chair.  “This venue absolutely rocks.  It is like being in an antique theater.”

“I think it is an antique theater Annie,” Jack told her jokingly.  “Did you see the Dentzel carousel outside?  That thing is totally hand painted and hand carved.  I wish it was running now.  It would be kind of cool to go on.”

“Jack you must be going through childhood regression,” Carey laughed at him.

“What?” Jack gave him a little glare.  “A guy can’t want to ride on a carousel every now and then?  Besides I remember when my dad, mom, Fi, and I used to go ride one just like that.  Well it was a replica but it was almost…  Well almost magically.  It is one of the few good memories I have left.”

“Well I think that is very sweet Jack,” Annie gave him a silly smile.

“You two just don’t understand the value of a good memory,” Jack sighed.

Before anyone could respond to his comment Molly, Ned, and Irene walked up to where they were sitting.  “Hey guys,” Molly greeted them, “I see you found the reserved sitting.”

“Yep,” Annie smiled.  “This usher dressed in a very traditional outfit told us all about it.”

“Mom,” Jack started, “everything here seems kinda traditional.  The outfits, the chairs, the whole decor.”

“Well Jack people here at Glen Echo really want to preserve what they have,” Molly told him.  “I know this place seems really folk but all sorts of things happen here and the place has a lot of history.  It is like an indoor Wolf Trap.”

“Hey Molly, how long do we have until Inky goes on?” Annie asked

“Not that long.  Apparently there is about an half an hour intermission in between when he gets off and I go on,” Molly told everyone.  They all noticed the groups of people that were starting to file into the theater.

“They want to make sure that the stage will be set right for Molly and do some sound checks.  While they do that food is served in just down the hall in this makeshift dinning hall,” Irene’s voice indicated that she could not really believe what she was saying.

“Wow,” was all Annie could think to say.  “This place is so different.”

“Yeah,” Ned told the kids.  “It carters to a much small crowds, but during the summer months there are a lot of concerts, demonstrations, workshops, and festivals which a lot of people attend.”

“If everyone would kindly start to move to there sits the first performance will be starting in just a few moments,” a voice spoke over the speaker system in the theater.

“Hey did you guys get to see Inky backstage by any chance,” Jack asked if this goofy look on his face.

“No, we didn’t actually,” Molly seemed a little perplexed.  “The stage manager said that Inky had been he had been bugging her since he arrived but she could not get a hold of him while we were back there.”

“Strange,” Carey commented and the others agreed with him.

Then the lights in the house started to flicker to indicate that everyone should report to their seats and get ready for the show.  The lights started to dim as the last people took their seats and then the voice from before spoke again.  “Ladies and Gentlemen for our opening act tonight the Glen Echo Theater is proud to present the magic happenings of The Great Incanto.”

“I wonder if he has any better control of his magic this time,” Jack whispered to Annie as the curtain started to open.

Annie giggled softly and then playfully hit him on the arm.  She signaled to him to be quiet as the waited to see what was going to happen.  The lights on the stages started to flicker blues and violets and smoke swirled around stage.  Then a tiny light started to shimmer in the middle of the air at the center of the stage.  The light grew bigger and bigger until it was about the size of a tennis ball.  Then it seemed to exploded and there standing at center stage was The Great Incanto.  Everyone gasped and then once they got over their shock the started to clap and Incanto took a bow.

“Ladies and Gentlemen thank you for you warm welcome,” Incanto spoke in a grand voice.  “Now if you would all be patient for just a moment my assistant will join us.”  Incanto produced a lovely red rose from his cape.  Then he placed the flower on the floor, as he did this the smoke that had been there seemed to clear instantly.  “I promise this will just take a moment,” Incanto reassured the crowd backing away from the rose a little.  He then held his arms out above the flower and started to wave them around but nothing happened.  “Sometimes she just needs a little extra push to come out onto the stage.  She is very shy,” he smiled at the audience and began again.

This time the flower started to grow much in the same manner as the light that Incanto had emerged from.  The rose was no longer laying flat on the floor it looked like it was upright with its steam just barely touching the stage.  Then a red glow started to take over the whole flower and it seemed to stretch out rapidly.  Once the glow was gone everyone could see a young woman dressed in red standing with her arms in the air making a slight V and smiling at everyone.  “Ladies and Gentlemen the beautiful Raliana,” Incanto introduced her as he took her hand.  He bowed as the audience cheered again and Raliana curtseyed slightly.

“I would say that he has improved a lot,” Annie whispered to Jack as she clapped and he nodded.

“Now I have decided to perform for you a trick that I have just recently started to work on,” Incanto looked over the audience as he spoke.  “Raliana will you please bring the box to the stage.”

Raliana stopped smiling at the crowd and looked at Incanto, “The box?”

“Yes the box,” Incanto kept smiling and did not break eye contact with the audience.

“We didn’t bring a box with us,” Raliana’s voice sounded hesitant.

“Of course we brought the box with us,” Incanto finally looked at her and everyone could tell that he was no longer smiling.  “I packed it myself.”

“I unpacked everything that we had for tonight and there was no box,” Raliana tried to sound forceful but she looked like she feared for her life.

“Raliana, I brought that box, I know it,” Incanto’s voice sounded condescending.

“Well,” Raliana looked down at the ground and then back at him.  “What did it look like?”

“It was the big blue box with stars all over it and had a whole on front of panel, it was on the left side of the panel, and was in the middle,” Incanto was starting to grimace.

“So it wasn’t this box,” Raliana pointed down stage and a yellow and green striped box appeared.

“No, it is not that box,” Incanto sighed.

“How about this one?” this time Raliana made a black box with gold stars appear but there was no hole on the front of it.

“Nope.”

“And you are sure it is not this one,” Raliana replaced the black box with a sliver one.

“Raliana it is not any of those,” Incanto pointed at the box.  “It is this box,” and as he pointed at where Raliana’s box was a blue box with stars all over it and a hole appeared on stage.  Everyone erupted into applause for the magician and is helpful assistant.

“Now please tell me you have the black velvet hand,” Incanto half begged her.

“Right here,” Raliana replied as she produced a fake hand that had a wooden peg at the end of it.

“Good,” Incanto let out a sigh of relief.  “Now we can begin.  Ladies and Gentleman this particular bit of magic has no name to it just yet, however I will need a volunteer from the audience.”

“Go on Annie,” Jack smiled at her.  “Volunteer.”

“I will,” Annie said definitely and raised her hand.

 Incanto looked out over the crowd and saw that Annie had her hand up and smiled at her.  “Raliana will please help that young lady in the front row to the stage?”  Incanto asked his assistant and she nodded and walked off the stage to collect Annie.

“Now many of you might not know this but this young lady is very special.  Her name is Annie Thelen and she has a wonderful singing voice which she is developing with the help of tonight’s featured performer Molly Phillips,” Incanto took a breath so that he could continue with his speech.  “All of you are wondering how I know this, well I meet Annie a while back in St. Louis.  However this is the first time I have seen since then and we have not spoken at all today, right Annie?”  He looked at Annie who had now made her way onto the stage with the help of Raliana.

“That is correct.  I haven’t seen or heard from you since when we dropped you off in St. Louis a few months ago,” Annie affirmed his statement.

“And you would not lie to this people would Annie?”

“No of course not,” Annie sounded slightly appalled at the idea that she would lie to anyone.

“Good, good,” Incanto smiled at her.  “Well it is good to see you again Annie.  Now could you tell me something about that ring you have on your finger.  I don’t remember seeing the last time when we meet.”

“Well I don’t wear it all that often,” Annie told him and the audience.  “My friend Fi gave it to me before she went to stay in Seattle with her aunt.”

“And where is she right now?” Incanto asked her.

“Well she is still in Seattle; she will be there for the rest of the school year.  I just talked to this morning,” Annie smiled but there was sadness behind her smile.

“What would you say if I told you that I could bring her here right now but that I would need the use of that ring that you were wearing,” Incanto pointed to the ring.

“Wow!  That’s so wicked!”  Annie exclaimed.

“Now before I attempt this great feat of magic I need you to do a few things for me,” Incanto waved to Raliana and she stepped forward with the black velvet hand.  “The first thing I need you to do is to examine this hand and tell everyone if there seems to be any hidden compartments or anything like that on it.”

Annie took the hand and looked it over, “It’s made out of wood and there is velvet glove over it, but it does not seem to be any tricks to it.”

“Very good,” Incanto took the hand back from Annie.  “Now I need you too look over the box very careful and tell us if there is any secret doors to the box and to assure everyone that is empty.”  As he spoke Raliana pushed the box closer to him and Annie.

Annie looked over the box and walked around it.  She knocked each side of the box and ran her hand over it.  Then she pulled the box door open and stepped inside looking for anything that might be suspicious.  She stepped back out, “There doesn’t seem to be anything there.”

“Alright then would you now please do me the favor of placing your ring on the hand,” Incanto held the hand out toward her.  “Please put it on the same finger that your friend wore it on.”  Annie nodded and took over her ring and placed it on the thumb finger of the hand.

“Raliana,” Incanto called forth his assistant.  “Please place the hand in the whole on the box.”  Raliana nodded and did as she was told.

“So are you ready to see your friend Annie?”  Incanto looked at Annie.

“Totally,” Annie beamed with excitement.

“What you audience?  Ready for some magic?”  Incanto glanced over the crowd as they all clapped and cheered.  “Very well, let’s get started.  Annie and Raliana if you would please step back and stand a good three feet away from the box.”  The young women stepped back and watched.

Incanto stretched out his arms again hand wiggled his fingertips a bit.  Then the box started to spin slowly clockwise.  Incanto thrust his hands towards the box and it spun fast and kept going faster until it was just a blur of blue and gold.  Suddenly the box halted and panel with the velvet hand faced out towards the audience.

Annie looked at the box and then at the hand and she noticed that the hand moved.  “The hand, it moved!  I swear it!”  Annie pointed at the hand, which was now clearly flexing its fingers.

“Would you like to open the box Annie?” Incanto asked and with out answering Annie ran over to the box, flung the door open, and gasped.

Everyone in the crowd looked on in amazement.  There standing in the box was a brown haired girl wearing the black velvet glove with the ring on top of it.  Molly was in totally shock; she could not move or speak.  She felt Jack’s hand on hers but she did not take her eyes off the girl in the box.  There at center stage stood her daughter Fiona Phillips smiling at everyone.

“Fi,” Annie flung her arms around the girl.  “This is totally awesome.”

“Hi Annie,” Fi hugged her back.

“Hold it,” Incanto stopped everyone in the middle of their rejoicing and applauding him.  “Fiona isn’t there someone in Seattle who will worry if you are gone?”

“Well yeah,” Fi’s voice had guilt in it.  “My Aunt Melinda.  She will worry because I am gone and didn’t tell her or leave a note.”

“Hmm,” Incanto thought for a moment.  “You don’t have anything that happens to be hers do you?”

“No,” Fi seemed a little confused but his question.

“Alright we are going to have to do this the hard way,” Incanto looked at Raliana.

Raliana started to shake her head, “Oh no you don’t.  You couldn’t pay me to go inside that box.”

“Raliana,” Incanto warned her.

Raliana sighed and stepped into the box, “I just know something bad will come of all this.”

“Girls if you would please move three feet away,” Incanto gestured to them.  Then he closed the door to the box and pulled at tab, which caused the hole in the box to be sealed off.

“Hey what are you doing?” Raliana yelled frantically, her voice muffed because of the box.  She started to pound on the walls of the box.  “Let me out of here!”

“Just relax Raliana,” Incanto spoke in a soothing voice.  “Nothing will go wrong.  I promise.  Just keep taking deep breaths.”  As he was talking Incanto produced a large shimmering blue cloth from out of nowhere, or so it seemed.  “Fi I am going to need you to picture your aunt in your mind.”  Fi nodded and closed her eyes.

He then threw the cloth over the box and began to count.  Then he grabbed the edge of the cloth from the floor and tugged at it.  As the cloth came away from the box everyone noticed that the figure of the box disappeared from underneath and once the cloth was fully removed there stood a woman holding a black cat.  The woman was older than Raliana and looked a little bit like Fi.

“Aunt Melinda!  You are here,” Fiona could not hide her excitement.

“Where is here?” Melinda looked very confused.  The cat she was holding started to twist in her hands so she put it down.

Incanto looked at the cat, “Raliana?”

“Meow!” responded the cat.  Then it hissed at him.

“Oh I am sorry Raliana,” Incanto told the cat.  “Just give me a minute and I will fix this.”  He pointed at the cat and it turned into a white peacock.

“That is not right,” Incanto looked thoughtfully at the peacock that flared up its tail feathers.  Everyone in the audience let out a little sigh because of the beauty of the bird.

“Let me try again,” Incanto pointed to the bird.  Its tail feathers seemed to flop over the rest of its body.  The feathers appeared to turn into a white silky fabric and when the fabric flipped itself up there stood Raliana dressed similarly to what she had on early but now it was white and had a train.  Raliana smiled for everyone as they clapped and the show continued.

After the curtain had closed backstage went into totally chaos.  Molly, Jack and the others rushed back stage to join Fi, Melinda, and Annie.  Some tears were shed, smiles were abundant, and everyone was hugging each other.  Incanto and Raliana watched in the background and smiled, they knew that they had done the right thing.

Finally once the excitement had died down a bit Molly turned to the magician and his assistant, “I don’t know how you managed to do this but thank you so much!”

“Think nothing of it,” Incanto waved her thanks off.

“Easy for you to say,” Raliana replied.  “You weren’t the one changed into a cat and then a peacock!”  Everyone laughed.

“But really Inky, how did you do this,” Jack asked curiously as he kept his arm drooped around his sister’s shoulders.

“Well I was in Seattle early today and then Raliana reminded me that I had a gig here at Glen Echo tonight.  So she suggested that I give the gift that I had for Molly to Fi,” Inky started.  “Then I thought of an even better idea.  I would bring Fi, if she wanted to come, with me to visit her mother and of course her aunt too.  I can’t have any law suits.”

“So you bought four plane tickets to get here from Seattle.  That must of cost you a fortune,” Irene tried to calculate the price in her head.

“No,” Incanto shook his head.

“If only,” Raliana sighed.  “Then I would have been sure that we ended up here and not in Turkey.”

“Huh?” Carey was totally lost just like everyone else.

“I poofed us here,” Incanto told them proudly.

“Poofed?” Jack questioned

“Yes poofed,” Inky restated.  “Or you could call it transport.  Magic, it is the only way for penniless magicians and their entourage to travel.”

“You used magic to get here,” Jack was in totally disbelief.  Then he chuckled, “That is a good one Inky.”

“No he really did,” Aunt Melinda told her doubting nephew.  “One minute we were standing in my living room and the next we were here.”

“Wicked!” Annie exclaimed.

“Yeah,” Raliana spoke with exasperation.  “Once you get the spell down pat.  I have been to Turkey, Greece, Spain, and Greenland.  Don’t even ask me how many times I have been to Greenland; it has almost become a second home.  All because he did not have the targeting aspect of the spell down.”

Incanto glared at her.  “Well because you have decided to become so vocal, let me properly introduce you to my friends.  Molly, Jack, Annie, Carey, Ned, and Irene this lovely lady is my fiancée Raliana.”

“You guys can call me Rye if you like,” Raliana smiled as she shook all of their hands.  “Everyone does.”

“Nice to meet Rye,” Molly smiled at the young woman who could not be older than Carey.  “Thank you too for helping bring my baby to me.”

“Mom,” Fi complained.

“I am sorry sweetie,” Molly hugged her daughter for the millionth time that night.  “I have just missed you so much.”

“Well you don’t have to miss me anymore,” Fi stated proudly.  “If you’ll have me I would love to come back.  On one condition.”

Molly laughed, “Well I am sure we can work something out.”

“You let Inky and Rye travel with us,” Fi stated.  Before he mother could protest, “They have their own bus and everything.  They could join the tour with us and we spilt everyone up between buses.  Have a girl’s bus and a guy’s bus.  Please mom!”

“You guys have a bus?” Jack looked doubtful.

“Well we will after tonight,” Inky had goofy smile on his face.

Raliana rolled her eyes, “He is working for a bus.  Not for money, but for a bus!”  Everyone laughed.

“Well honey,” Molly looked at her daughter.  “Irene, Ned and I will have to think about it.  But like I said I am sure we can work something out.  But before we do that, is there anyone who would protest at having Inky and Rye join us?”

“No,” everyone spoke in unison.

“Well then I guess we have to figure about something out,” Molly smiled.  Then she turned to Melinda.  “Thank you so much for taking care of Fi.”

“It wasn’t a problem at all,” Melinda smiled back.  “She was a joy to have around.  I am gonna miss you a lot Fi,” Melinda hugged her niece.  “However there is still the matter of her school work.”

Fi groaned and the others laughed at her.  So after Molly had given a great performance the rest of the night was spent talking about travel plans, school work, and living arrangements.  Well the adults talked everything the teens decided to go explore the rest of Glen Echo.  The park manager told them that it would be okay as long as they stayed in well-lit areas.

“Jack look at that carousal,” Fi pointed to unlit ride.  “Doesn’t remind you of something?”  Annie and Carey started to laugh.  “What?” Fi questioned.

“Oh Jack remembers something,” Carey stammered out as he laughed.

“Yeah I do,” Jack frowned at Carey.  Then he turned to his little sister, “I remember riding on one just like it with you, Mom, and Dad.  It was a very long time ago but it was just before Dad…”

“I kind of remember it,” Fi did not finish Jack’s sentence.  He would learn soon enough what really happened to their father.  “It is all fuzzy.  Come on lets get closer you guys.”

“Wait,” Raliana stopped them.  She closed her eyes for a moment and a slight wind blew up and cleared the ground around the carousal of the old snow that was on the ground.  Then lights of the carousal flickered on and they all could hear faint music coming from it.  “Okay now we can go.”

Everyone laughed as they ran towards the now working carousal and they started to chase each other around it.  They ran in between the wooden animals and ducked around the little wooden carriages.  They were having so much fun and then Inky decided to that it was time to out do his fiancée.

“Alright everyone hop on an animal.  This ride is about to start up,” Inky laughed as everyone scurried to sit on a lion, rabbit, or horse.  “Here we go,” Inky’s voice joyful told them as the carousal started to move.

“Won’t the park manager notice that the carousal is on and running,” Jack’s logic started to kick in.

“Don’t worry about it,” Rye told him.  “We know the guy personally.  As long as we leave everything just as we left it everything will be fine.”

So they all treasured the ride as the snow started to fall around them.  Jack looked up at the night sky and thought about the snow for a moment.  When something good seemed to be happening to him now a days it was always snowing.  He laughed while he watched the flakes fall to the ground and enjoyed the magnificent feel of being on the carousal and let the memories of happy times in his life wash over him.  Things were getting better now, his sister was back and now everything felt right again.

Fi laughed at Jack as he stuck out his arms and pretended that the animal he was on was flying.  It was good to be back with her family again.  She knew that Jack was happy to have her back and that he would enjoy having Inky and Rye around.  She also knew that everything was going to work out just as she wanted it to, her magician friends saw to that.  There was something else though, something that she had not counted on.  She had noticed the way that Jack had been looking at Annie earlier.  There was something different there but she was not sure she wanted to guess as to what it was.  If what she was seeing was really there and Annie felt the same way it could mean big trouble.  Rhylinye had told her something about the Fey culture that still disturbed her, but she had decided not to worry about because she was not affected by it.  Now though it looked like Jack might have some problems dealing with the fact that he would have to leave certain humans behind.  Fiona sighed and pushed the troubling thoughts to the back of her mind and decided that she would just enjoy the rest of evening and everything that happened after that and not worry about anything until it became a problem.  She was safe now and so was her family and just knowing that made her a very happy halfling.

‘You are not a Halfling!’ Rye shouted to her in her mind.

Fi smiled and shook her head.  Halfling or not she was happy and she was not going to let anyone get in the way of her enjoyment for the next few days.  ‘Thank you Puck!  Thank you Rye!’ She pathed to her friends and started to giggle because Jack was starting to goof off again.

In the shadows a dark figure watched the happy group with disgust.  ‘You have failed me wisp,’ the overbearing figure pathed to the ball of light next to him.

‘I am sorry my Lord,’ the wisp was fearful of what his Lord would do to him.  ‘It will not happen again.’

‘No it won’t,’ the figure turned away from the group and walked deeper into the shadows.  ‘It is time to try a different tactic wisp.  Come, we have much to plan.’

The wisp followed his master into the shadows but turned back for a moment, ‘Watch out little duck.  Nothing will stop us now.’  The wisp chuckled and faded into the shadows with his Lord.

Author’s Note: This is the first So Weird fan fiction that I have written. I hope everyone likes it. I will try to update as much as possible, but just to warn you, I am slow writer and I am working three different stories right now. There is one trick into getting me to write fast though. Feedback, I live on it. Feedback is a drug for me. Hope to give you more to read soon! Oh yeah, English is not my first language so please forgive any spelling and grammar mistakes.