Chapter Text
Central Park was a beautiful place in autumn. Trees of red, orange, and gold lined the open grassy areas, and a slightly chilled breeze blew through the air, ruffling James’s hair. Beyond the trees and open grassy spaces, tall buildings reached toward the sky, a now familiar sight to him. And despite the busyness of the city surrounding the park, the place had come to be a peaceful home where he lived with his new family.
James usually spent his Friday mornings at school playing with the other children, but today all schools were closed for a holiday. And besides, he had an important mission. His family members were usually away at work during the early parts of the weekdays unless they happened to drop by during a break. And of course, each night Glowworm was busy lighting up the torch for the Statue of Liberty.
Today was different from the usual, however, as most members of the household were renovating the peach pit house and had just finished their recently dug basement. James, on the other hand, had something else to do before he could help them—something of utmost importance. It was for this very reason that on this fine Friday morning, he was walking through the park pulling a wagon stacked with boxes alongside Ladybug, who had offered to accompany him.
The breeze drifted past his face once more. He found the early autumn temperatures pleasant—cool but not yet cold. It was a nice change after the hot summer they had experienced, and he knew that he would appreciate the mild temperatures for as long as possible before the sharp bite of winter set in. Winter was nice when James was inside by the fireplace, but the snow and ice could be brutal. He recalled many winters during which Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker would force him to work outside even in terrible hail, chopping firewood for the warm fireplace they sat by all day. The memories were painful to recall, but he knew that this winter would be different. This winter, he had a new family.
As he mulled over the inevitable snowy weather, he glanced skyward and watched a few large clouds drifting overhead. They reminded him, as they often did, of what he’d encountered during his adventures on the peach. It was hard to believe that the masterminds behind terrible weather contributed to his awful years with his aunts; if it weren’t for them, the snow wouldn’t have frozen his fingertips, and the wind wouldn’t have stung his cheeks. He remembered the hailstones he had seen back on the peach, then the attempted violence, and the multiple close calls they had. At least here on the ground, far below, he was safe from their direct attacks...until the next blizzard.
“Whoops!” Ladybug gasped as James felt the wagon rattle.
A box thumped onto the ground behind him, which the red and black insect promptly collected and set back onto the wagon.
“Oh, thank you, Ladybug,” James responded, coming to a halt as she dusted her small hands together.
“Pleasure, dear,” she began, joining his side and glancing up at the stack of boxes beside her. “Are you sure you need so many of these boots?”
“Yes,” James affirmed, nodding eagerly. “I really want to make sure that all of my friends have a pair of boots for the winter.” He paused. “It does get really cold here.”
Ladybug produced a warm smile. “That’s very sweet of you, James.” She straightened one in the middle of the tower. “And you got all these from…”
“They’re from Centipede. He got them from the company he works at.”
“They let him take this many…for all the kids?” Ladybug asked, subtly skeptical.
“Yes,” James nodded cheerfully. “He said it was no trouble at all. And…Ladybug, can you help me sort them out?” He reached up to grab one of the boxes from the wagon, faltering with the weight of it.
Ladybug reflexively reached out to grab it, but resisted as James seemed to gain his balance. “Are you sure you can do this with only my help? Would you like me to grab someone else as well?”
“No, it’s okay,” James replied, grunting as he lowered the box to the ground. “They wanted to work on finishing the basement. I told them I would be all right.”
James removed the lid and went through the box, looking at the pairs of boots. They were very similar to the new ones Centipede wore, only bigger, as they were obviously made for human feet. James had wanted to make sure that they’d have enough for anyone who needed them, so he had asked Centipede for as many pairs as he could get.
The idea had come to him yesterday when he’d realized how chilly it was getting in the morning. Warm boots were one thing he remembered wishing he had had during the cold months when he’d lived with his aunts, especially during the days he was forced to work in the snow. He vividly remembered the paralyzing cold, and how inescapable it had been. He didn’t want anyone else to have to feel that way. And luckily, one of his friends happened to work for a company that made boots. James had told him that he wanted to do something nice for the other children, and Centipede had come back with more than enough sets of boots in many sizes. And although Miss Spider had requested Centipede’s help back at the house afterward, Ladybug had been eager to help James with his gift-giving. It meant a lot to him that Centipede and Ladybug were willing and able to help. His newfound family gave him more reasons to be grateful every day.
After they managed to sort the last few boxes of boots, they continued on their way to the meeting place. In the distance, James could see some of the children he had invited already gathering. He flashed an excited smile to Ladybug, who reflected the expression gleefully.
James could already tell it was going to be a good day.
-ooo-
At the peach-pit house in the center of the park, things were bustling with activity. All morning, the various occupants had been rushing about, digging, cleaning, moving furniture, and organizing. Miss Spider had just finished carrying some comfortable chairs down into one of the brand new basement rooms, and had gone to help Centipede move a sofa. Earthworm and Silkworm were gathering a few smaller belongings and basic decorations to take down, some of which were specially purchased for the basement’s grand opening.
Somehow, the Glow-worm was managing to sleep through all the commotion, wrapped up in a blanket with her legs still clutching the ceiling. The others made a concerted effort to keep quiet around her, conscious that she would need to be back at her job at the Statue of Liberty that night. It was handy that Glow-worm had a talent for sleeping through excessive noise, although even she had her limits.
Centipede held the sofa with many of his legs, with Miss Spider holding the other end. As Centipede began carrying his end down the stairs leading to the basement, he felt his boots slip. He gasped as he lost his footing, the sofa faltering before he managed to steady it.
“Careful!” Miss Spider cried as she felt shock rake her skin. “The stairs are not quite…well…” She glanced to the side, viewing a small section of the steps past the sofa. “…even yet. We’ll have to do something about that.”
“Hey now, I dug them perfectly fine,” the Earthworm, looking up from what he was doing, protested.
“I’m sure you did,” Miss Spider replied, “but if we put tile or wood down to make it smoother-”
They were interrupted by the ring of the home phone, and, seeing that the others were busy, the Silkworm set down the photo frames she had gathered and made her way over to it. She picked up the phone and answered.
After listening for a bit, she called, “It’s for you, Centipede.”
Centipede and Miss Spider, who were halfway down the stairs with the sofa, paused. “Oh, all right,” the Centipede answered, and glanced to Miss Spider. “Erm…is it okay if I just—”
“Yes, of course,” she replied, followed by some sounds of uncertainty as the two attempted to set down the sofa in the middle of the stairway.
Once they were satisfied that it wasn’t going to slip, Centipede squeezed through the narrow space between the wall and the couch, and offered Miss Spider a smile before heading to the telephone. Miss Spider turned back to the sofa and secured it with her web in a few places to ensure it wasn’t going anywhere.
Centipede took the phone from Silkworm, who went back to her task. “Hello, Mr.-” An angry voice from the other end of the phone cut him off and immediately began shouting.
The Centipede flinched at the sudden verbal onslaught, and it didn’t take long for everyone present to stop what they were doing and turn their attention to the aggressive-sounding voice coming from the phone. After a number of seconds of trying to speak, Centipede finally got a word in.
“Okay, look, did I give away a bunch of our boots? Yes, I did. But is it cause for alarm? No. You see, James here said that-” His legs stopped mid-movement as he was again interrupted, then he rolled his eyes. “Yes, I know how much they cost. I’m the Vice President of sales. Believe me, I know.” He stopped again, turning around and shaking his head quietly. Miss Spider shared a look with Silkworm. “Don’t you think these children need them more than we need the extra money? You know as well as I do that this company’s profits have skyrocketed since I got here. You can’t argue with that. … I mean, you can, but you’d be wrong. You should talk to Earthworm. He’s wrong about pretty much everything. You’d get along.”
The Earthworm glowered at that, but it went ignored by Centipede.
The voice on the other end still sounded angry, but despite their excessive volume, nobody else in the room could make out specific words.
“I don’t see what you’re so upset about,” Centipede continued bluntly. “Because you see, humans only need one pair of boots. So I really did not give away that many pairs. If we’re thinking in centipede terms, it’s probably more like, oh I don’t know-yes, I know I’m exceptional but…yes, I can authorize that! You’re making this into a much bigger deal than it needs to be.”
Miss Spider glanced back to the Silkworm, who gave her version of a shrug.
“That’s not going to work on me,” Centipede scoffed, multiple legs folded and resting against his side. “I am very familiar with our sales numbers, and we can definitely afford it. … Okay, fine, fine! I’ll pay it back if it’s so important. Now get off my case already. More people are wearing our boots, which is free advertising for us. Isn’t that kind of the point?”
There was more incoherent rambling on the other end of the phone, causing Centipede to throw multiple legs in the air in frustration.
“I said I’d pay it back! Besides, what are you going to do? Fire me? Because I would love to see you try to find another giant centipede. I’m practically the whole reason this company is so successful. Where are you-” He stopped, pulling the phone away from his face to stare at it. “He hung up.”
Miss Spider and Silkworm shared another look.
“Well,” huffed Centipede. “And he chides me about being rude.”
Earthworm shook his head. “…How have they not fired you yet?”
“How have they not fired you?” Centipede retorted. “You do the same commercial over and over again. ‘Oh look, this one’s set in some fake tropical paradise!’ Who cares?”
“Come now, you two,” the Silkworm said. “Don’t you want the basement ready by the time James gets home?”
“Well, that’s what I was doing before I was interrupted,” Centipede said, slamming the phone back on the receiver. He headed towards the sofa, and Miss Spider promptly began clearing her webs.
As if on cue, the door opened to reveal Ladybug and James, who both picked up empty boxes and dropped them inside. “It went great!” James proclaimed excitedly as he ran over to Centipede, who gave him a grin.
“James! You’re back,” he celebrated.
“You all should have seen how happy everyone was,” James beamed.
On the ceiling, Glow-worm slowly opened her eyes. “What is all this shouting about?” she murmured. “Is there a problem with the boots?”
“I think Centipede may have taken them without asking,” Silkworm said tiredly. “But I’m sure it’s all right now.”
“I did not take them without asking,” Centipede corrected. “I asked plenty of people and they all thought it was a grand idea. …My boss just wasn’t around at the time.”
“So does this mean Centipede is going to go to prison?” Earthworm asked brightly.
“No,” Centipede scoffed. “They need me. Besides, I told him I’d pay it back, so I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”
“And how much money would that be?” Earthworm queried.
“None of your business.”
“Well,” said Ladybug, having brought the last of the boxes inside, “I think it’s lovely that you and James did a good deed.”
Centipede turned to Earthworm. “See?” he said, grinning. “Besides, he can’t tell me what to do.”
“He’s your boss!” Earthworm cried.
James looked from Centipede to Earthworm and back again. “Are you…” he asked Centipede, his smile fading. “Are you in trouble at your job because of me?”
Centipede gave a nonchalant wave with a few of his legs. “Of course not. I’m sure he’ll forget about it in a day or two. Anyway, I was wondering if you had any great ideas for the basement. You’re always the best when it comes to ideas.” He gestured to the stairs, momentarily forgetting that a sofa was blocking the way. “Don’t worry about that,” he dismissed.
James’s face brightened at the thought, and he nodded. “Sure!” He pondered a moment. “How about a ladder that leads to the top of the basement? We could make a trapdoor that leads out the back!”
“An excellent idea,” Ladybug said happily.
The door opened again, and everyone turned to see the Old-Green-Grasshopper walk inside, looking cheerful. “My dear friends,” he said, giving a greeting nod. “How was your day?”
James brightened at the sight of his guardian. “Grasshopper!”
“Oh, been pretty good so far,” Centipede added. “Yours?”
“The concert last Friday went wonderfully,” Grasshopper said, smiling warmly. “I’m still feeling giddy about it. It’s just so wonderful to be able to share my music with so many people.”
“That’s wonderful, Grasshopper,” James answered, pleased for his friend. “And guess what! Everyone was so happy about their new boots.”
“Centipede’s boss wasn’t,” Earthworm pointed out.
“Oh, stop worrying,” Centipede dismissed, waving a boot in the air. “He’ll listen to James. He’s the most famous of all of us.”
James smiled awkwardly. That was still something he wasn’t used to. In a matter of days, he’d gone from being a nobody to being a well-known person with countless friends and admirers. It still made his head spin to think about it.
Grasshopper looked to Ladybug with a smile. “And I take it that the two of you were able to transport them there safely yourselves?”
Ladybug reflected a smile. “Yes, all went quite smoothly. Of course, a few parents inquired about, uh, the head of the fire department.”
“Ah yes,” Centipede chimed in, “the husband.”
“Incorrectly labeled husband,” Ladybug corrected, sighing. “I really do hope that rumor clears up soon. I had to clarify that Frank and I are just friends, and after that reporter misheard what I said during our interview for the newspaper, our relationship was published as something entirely different.”
“I imagine you have had to have that conversation many times by now,” Grasshopper speculated.
“Many times,” Ladybug affirmed.
“They’re fixing it though, right?” James asked.
“Yes, the newspaper will publish an amendment very soon, I hope.”
Grasshopper turned to James and gestured to the boxes just inside the doorway. “You did a good thing today, James.”
“Just wait until you’ve seen the good thing we did today!” Centipede interjected enthusiastically, followed by smiles and agreement from some of the others.
“I can’t wait to see it,” James answered, excitement filling his mind.
As his thoughts turned back to the boots and the newly created basement, James found himself looking toward one of the house’s windows, where he could see the lush autumn foliage of the park. For a moment, he thought he caught a flicker of something bright and colorful – like a little bird, or maybe a large bug – zip past the window. But it was gone so quickly, he wasn’t quite sure he hadn’t imagined it.
-ooo-
After night had fallen, James walked to his room after having put on a fresh pair of pajamas. He couldn’t help but smile as he thought back on the day’s events. Not only had he and Ladybug successfully delivered all the boots, but the rest of his friends had worked hard enough to finish setting up the basement. James knew that they had worked for hours, and he had helped out when he had returned. Miss Spider and Centipede had brought down the sofa, and everyone had enjoyed a few rounds of a board game after dinner. Overall, James thought the day had been a big success.
As he climbed onto his bed, he kicked off his slippers and felt tiredness wash over him. He let out another yawn as he took a sip of water and grabbed his favorite stuffed animal to cuddle while he slept. Feeling a little chilly, he grabbed the extra blanket folded at the end of his bed. As he pulled his blanket up to his chin, he continued to reflect on the day, hoping for another great day tomorrow.
He had barely started to drift off to sleep before he jolted wide awake to the sound of a light but frantic tapping coming from his window. At first, he wasn’t quite sure whether or not he was dreaming, but when the sound persisted, he started to feel a bit uneasy. For a moment he was almost afraid, unsure if he wanted to see what was at the window, but he summoned his courage and looked toward the curtains where a soft stream of moonlight was filtering into the room. He could see a small shadow behind the curtains. He pushed them aside to reveal the strangest little bird he’d seen.
It looked completely out of place there compared to the other birds he’d seen in Central Park, or…well, just about anywhere. It was a bluish green color with a bright green underside, and long feathers trailed from its tail and curled from its head. It looked at him with an anxious gaze, but it didn’t seem afraid of him. In fact, it waited there patiently, as if it were expecting him.
James paused, afraid he’d somehow scare it away, but after the bird gave a few more frantic pecks at the window with its pointed yellow beak, James reached up and opened the latch. As soon as he did so, the bird ceased its pecking, standing still as James slowly edged the window open.
“Hello,” James told the little creature, who tilted its head and blinked back at him.
Then it spoke.
“Am…am I correct in assuming that this is the house of James Henry Trotter?” it asked, sounding rather polite, but nervous.
James was taken aback. It was one thing that the bird looked strange, like no other bird he’d seen, but hearing it not only talk, but say his name gave him a start.
He’d never heard normal birds talk, though he was sure they had their own way. But while he had heard of parrots that could mimic, he didn’t know of any birds that could communicate with people in their language like this. Unless, he thought, touched by magic. Had this bird also encountered crocodile tongues, like the ones that had affected his friends?
“Yes,” said James, pushing aside his unease. “That’s me.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” the bird said, ruffling its feathers before it flitted into the room, landing on the end of James’s bed.
James watched the little creature, still confused, but also curious. He remained unmoving as the bird blinked and tilted its head.
The bird paused as well for a few moments, then it gave a few small hops closer to James. “Please take the time to listen,” it stated, a sort of fear in its voice that told James it certainly wasn’t just mimicking. “A friend and I have a very important message for you. A call for help, actually.”
“Help? From me?” James asked, trying to think of what a bird would possibly seek him out for. He wondered, for a moment, if this bird was possibly the pet of one of the children of New York, someone who he’d missed when he was handing out boots? Or perhaps someone who needed something else. He hoped he hadn’t left out any child in need.
The bird gave a bobbing nod of its head. James then remembered something he’d read about how, in most bird species, it was the males who had brightly colored plumage. He figured, then, that this bird was probably a ‘he.’
“Yes,” the bird said softly, bobbing his head again. “You see, I come from an island quite far away, an island sustained by magic, and I’m afraid it is in grave danger.” The bird suddenly took on an even more worried look, ruffling his feathers.
An…island? That wasn’t at all what James had been expecting. “But…what can I do to help with something so far away?” he asked, leaning closer.
The bird flitted up and landed on James’s knee. He was incredibly light; James barely felt his weight at all. “As you may have guessed,” the bird said, “I am a creature of magic. And…with the nature of my island and the species on it, I can’t simply ask for help from anyone. It’s very important that my homeland stay a secret from most humans. But I do know that you and your friends have quite a bit of experience with magic. And that is why I was asked to seek you out.”
“Asked by who?” James said.
“A friend of mine,” said the bird, “who can take you there. To my homeland, I mean. To stop what is destroying it. I know it’s…a long way…but it’s the only safe home we have. And we’re about to be wiped out.”
“Wiped out?” James repeated, horrified.
“A-and if you need proof that I am what I say I am, just look.” The bird hopped down from James’s knee and raised his wings.
James watched in astonishment as bits of ice began to appear on his blanket, spreading out from around the bird. It was a small amount, but it looked startlingly real. He reached out and picked some of it up. It was no sort of illusion, but clearly real ice that melted a bit in his hand as he held it.
What the bird was saying was true. James had known there was more magic out there. He had just never thought he’d encounter it again so soon.
James glanced down at the bed, his thoughts racing. His hands clenched as he felt an overwhelming wave of empathy wash over him. All the while, the small bird watched him expectantly, hopefully. He barely noticed as he turned back to the window, too distracted trying to take in everything the little creature was telling him. Saving some magic island that he had never heard of? That seemed pretty hard. What if it was far away, or dangerous? He wasn’t sure how confident he was that he could do it, even with the help of his friends.
“You wouldn’t be going alone, of course,” the bird said quickly, sensing his unease. “I want all of your friends to help too.”
“I do want to help,” James said slowly, leaning down toward the bird again. “And I’m sure they would too. But…I don’t know what I can do to help an entire island.”
“At least meet my friend,” the bird pleaded. “He can tell you more, and from there you can decide.”
James had to admit he did feel curious about what this was all about, as well as concerned. “Who…is this friend of yours?” he asked.
“His name is Atlas,” the bird replied, “and he owns a great airship. It’s hidden along a beach not too far away. And don’t worry, Atlas won’t harm you. He…couldn’t, really. I’d really appreciate it if you took all your family to meet him. Please. At least consider.”
‘An airship?’ James wondered. He had seen pictures of such things in books, but the only thing he’d ever flown on was the peach. The thought of an airship like those he’d seen in stories seemed kind of fantastical, even otherworldly.
The bird gave a few hops over to James, ruffling his wings. The little creature seemed so frightened, so helpless. “Okay,” James answered. “I’ll tell them in the morning.”
“I can show you where the beach is, if you give me something to write with,” the bird stated.
Surprised, but intrigued, James reached over to his desk and picked up a sketchpad and some pencils. He set them on the bed before the bird. He watched with fascination as the bird carefully chose a blue pencil and grabbed it in his beak, maneuvering it so that he could grip it in one of his clawed feet. The bird then, quite skillfully, drew out a map on the pad of paper. James was astonished at the level of detail he managed.
When he was finished, the bird set the pencil carefully back down and looked up at James. “Just follow this map exactly,” he said. “The ship will be there. It may have drifted a bit, but it will be there.”
“But why would…Atlas want to keep his ship a secret? Is it because of the island?” James asked. He had to admit that it felt strange to seek out a ship without telling any of his new school friends where he was going. Yet he got the feeling, when looking at the little bird, that the creature was telling the truth. That the others of his kind were in danger.
“Like me, Atlas has a strong connection to magic,” the bird said. “And like my home island, it’s best kept a secret, for the protection of my kind. I’m…not sure what would happen if the whole world knew.”
“I suppose that makes sense,” James said. He figured that, if a new species of bird was discovered, let alone with some sort of magical power, there could be people who would want to capture and sell such birds to zoos or private collectors. He couldn’t exactly promise that the little bird would have the same warm welcome his new family had.
“Thank you for being so kind and hearing me out,” the bird said, hopping closer again so that James could carefully pet his head with his fingers. “Please think it over, talk with your family, and see what Atlas has to say. Our entire ecosystem is at stake, and we can’t reveal our location to the world. They would…see us as things to use rather than equals like your friends.” The bird turned his head downward. “My kind are dwindling. We really need your help.”
“I’ll talk to the others first thing tomorrow,” James promised. The bird's eyes lit up at his words, and he snuggled closer to James, his feathers fluffing up. He gave the boy another look of gratitude.
“Thank you very much,” he said, taking to the air and flying in slow circles around James’s room. “I will make sure to be there to check up on you throughout the journey, should you choose to take it. I wouldn’t just leave you and your friends alone.”
The bird landed at the window, and James carefully opened it wider for him, watching him take off into the night. The bird chirped a few more pleasant words at him before turning and heading back out into the park. James considered getting up and waking the others right then and there, but he decided instead to wait until morning; they couldn’t get going right away anyway, and Glow-worm was still away at her job.
He sat back on the bed, peering out the window long after the small shape of the bird had disappeared. Magic had been what had saved him from a terrible life and led to him meeting his new family. If there was really an island out there full of magical creatures, and it was in danger, he wanted desperately to be able to help. Especially if there was something about his and his friends’ experiences that could make a difference. And there was also a big part of him that wanted to have another adventure.
-ooo-
“So…you’re saying that if we follow this map, your bird’s...friend will be waiting in a hidden…airship?” Grasshopper said, setting down his cup of tea. He sounded a bit confused. Or perhaps skeptical. James wasn’t exactly sure.
James looked up from his plate and nodded. “Yes. He said there was a whole island that needed our help. And that we could ask…Atlas…to explain more.”
The whole family was seated at the table eating breakfast. Most mornings, Grasshopper was the first to rise, and tasked himself with preparing a light spread for his companions. This morning was no different, and the second James had opened his eyes when he woke, he knew it would be the perfect time to bring up the previous night's events with the others.
James had laid the map that the bird had given him on the middle of the table after explaining to everyone what he had learned. Most of the others had listened quietly and hadn't yet voiced their thoughts. Grasshopper leaned over and picked up the paper again, giving it yet another look as the others discussed.
“Oh, that sounds exciting!” Miss Spider exclaimed, pausing in the middle of a mouthful to look at the paper in Grasshopper’s arms. “If there’s really a ship there, perhaps-”
“It sounds dangerous, that’s what,” said Earthworm, blowing on his cup of hot tea. “How do we know this bird was telling the truth? Or even knew what he was talking about for that matter?”
“Oh, come off it,” Centipede said from where he sat at the end of the table. “Do you have to see the bad side in everything?” He had finished eating before the others and was now in the middle of polishing his boots. Centipede set the boot he was working on down and picked up the next one. “If James believes him, why shouldn't we?"
“Because we don’t know anything about this…this ‘Atlas’ or his ship,” Earthworm said, picking up his cup of tea with his tail. “Or if there is anything we could do to help some faraway creatures anyway.”
"James believes we can,” Centipede replied. “And who came up with the brilliant seagull plan? That's right, it was James. We need to trust him.”
Earthworm paused mid-sip. “Wait…are your boots on the table? Get your boots off the table!”
“And put them on the dirty floor?” Centipede responded. “I think not.”
“It’s not dirty,” Earthworm protested.
Ladybug looked over from where she was pouring more tea. “Now how could an airship be hidden on a beach?” she asked James. “It would have to be rather big. I’m not sure how one could hide something like that.”
“Can’t we just go to the beach and see?” James asked. “The little bird really wanted our help, and if there is an island of magical creatures out there that needs us, I don’t want to leave them in trouble. We should at least see what we can do.”
“I agree, James,” said Miss Spider, “I want to help as well.”
“But do they really need our help?” Silkworm asked tiredly from her place at the table.
“I suppose we could go…see what this is all about,” Grasshopper said. “There’s no harm in that. We can always come back if things don’t seem right.”
“Do you really think we can just…leave?” Glow-worm said nervously. “Travel across the ocean again?”
“Of course we can!” Centipede cried, sitting up straighter. “There are all sorts of places and things waiting to be discovered! Why not an island of magical creatures? And if James thinks we should go on this journey, I’ll stand by him the whole way!”
“The bird really thought we can help,” James said. “I saw him do magic himself. I think he’s telling the truth. And I think we should do something.”
“I certainly believe you, James,” Ladybug said, “I’m just not sure what we can do.”
“He said he will explain more when we find the ship,” James replied.
“And what if it’s some sort of trap?” Earthworm said. “What if that creature only wants to lead us into something terrible?”
“And why would a bird want to trap us?” Centipede asked.
“Well, that’s quite easy for you to say,” Earthworm snapped. “You didn’t have hundreds of seagulls trying to take a bite out of you!”
“Well,” Grasshopper said, looking again at the drawn map, “it says for us to go right to a beach that is well known and out in the open. It’s not far from some of the beaches we’ve visited.”
“I saw how worried the little bird was,” James said. “I know he wasn’t lying.”
“We believe you, James,” Ladybug said. “This is just…quite a strange request. Then again, this is certainly not the first strange thing that has happened to us. But if you think we should go and see this strange ship then we shall be here with you.”
“Yes, I believe what this bird was saying,” Glow-worm added. “And I trust James. And after all, it does make sense that a creature of magic would ask for help from someone who has had their own experience with it.”
“Yes, that is true,” Ladybug said.
“I know what it’s like to be trapped,” James said, “and thinking there is no hope. If these creatures think we can help, then I think it’s important we try.”
There was a momentary silence as Ladybug took the map from Grasshopper and studied it. “You’re right, James,” she said after a moment. “If we really can be of help, it’s the right thing to do.”
James beamed, and most of the others responded with smiles of their own. He was happy and humbled that his friends trusted him, and wanted to stay by his side and help. Although objections had been raised, in the end, everyone had listened, and all were willing to drop everything to fight for a cause that was important to him.
“So you will all help?” James asked.
There was a resounding exclamation of agreement from the others at the table. Almost everybody looked intrigued or excited.
Earthworm sighed. “Well, I suppose if we must look,” he added, and although James knew he was attempting to appear resistant, he knew that Earthworm, too, was in favor of the quest. At this final confirmation, James's heart filled with gratitude.
-ooo-
A few long taxi rides later, and the whole group arrived at the beach marked on the bird’s map. During the trip, James had kept most of the others enthralled with his descriptions of the fantastical island of magical birds, and the mysterious airship, although he could tell that a few of his friends had reservations about the whole thing. He didn’t worry about it too much; the idea of being able to undertake such a journey and make a real difference to an endangered, hidden species made him feel excited and hopeful. And in just a short time, he would be able to find out exactly what the bird had so desperately wanted to show him.
It looked like an ordinary beach, with sandy shores and a few rocky outcroppings; there was no sign of anything unusual at all, least of all an airship. The beach was mostly deserted, likely due to the fact that the weather had started to get chilly. There certainly didn’t look to be any place that could hide an entire ship. James wasn’t outright worried; he always loved coming to the beach, and the mere sight of it relaxed him.
“I don’t see anything here,” the Old-Green-Grasshopper said, scanning the sandy shoreline.
“He did say it was well hidden,” James explained again. “And look, there he is now!”
The others followed James’s line of sight to see the green winged form of the small bird, who was circling toward them.
“Oh thank goodness you came!” the bird called down to them, looking visibly worried but relieved to see them there.
“Oh, hello!” Miss Spider called with a wave. “James told us about your…predicament.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re here,” Earthworm said with suspicion. “Now we need more answers.”
“Is there really a ship hidden here?” Glow-worm cried, her normally shy voice full of excitement.
“Why, there must be!” Ladybug said. She turned to the bird. “And I’m honored you came to us for help.”
“Yes, thank you so much,” the bird told them. “Now hurry please, we don’t have much time!”
“Now wait a minute,” Grasshopper said. “Where exactly are we supposed to go? I’m not certain it’s safe to go crawling through caves or any sort of-”
“No caves,” the bird chirped back quickly. “In fact you’re very close! It just a short ways away.”
“Well let’s see it!” Centipede cried. “Show us the ship!”
“I’m still not convinced this is safe,” Earthworm groaned. “What if the ship is dangerous or something?”
“I still think we should listen to James,” Silkworm said. “He’s a good judge of things like this.”
“Can we go there now?” asked James, and without answering, the bird flitted off.
James took off after him as the bird headed out over the waves toward a rocky outcrop jutting into the sea. James carefully picked his way over the wet rocks, the wind picking up the salty tang of the sea. The other members of his family followed closely behind, most of them having an easier time with the rocks. At the end of the outcrop of sea rocks, the tiny bird was perched on the driest spot.
“It will probably be best if you could fly up there,” the bird pointed out.
“Up there?” James repeated, glancing toward a sky that looked no different than it had on the shore.
The bird nodded and turned to Ladybug. “I know ladybugs have wings, don’t you? You can send down the rope ladder, which should be above these rocks, and the rest of you can climb up.”
“I suppose I could do that,” Ladybug said. “Where exactly is one supposed to board this…ship?” Looking around, she still couldn’t see any sign of where it was.
“Don’t worry about running into it. You’ll be able to see it when you’re up close,” the bird explained. “You’ll be inside the range of the cloaking mechanism then. To your friends on the beach, it will look like you disappeared!”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Earthworm said.
“It’s harmless,” the bird replied. “Look, I’ll show you.” Before waiting for an answer, the bird flew out over the waves, then circled back above the rocky outcropping.
“I can’t see it, you know!” Earthworm called after him.
Ignoring him, the bird then angled his wings and turned his course upward, and, just as he’d said, suddenly vanished.
James looked on in astonishment as the bird came into view again afterward, cruising on the ocean air back down toward him and the others. He landed lightly on the rock again, looking up at them expectantly.
“You see?” the bird said. “That’s all there is to it. Just be careful flying until you can see the ship.”
“And why would the ship need a cloaking mechanism?” Earthworm said suspiciously.
“I-I thought James would have explained that to you,” the bird said, looking flustered. “Can you imagine what people would do if everyone saw it? We’d never make it to my island! Someone else would claim it and do whatever they wished! Or they might take it apart and put it in a museum or something.”
“Even with…Atlas on board?” Grasshopper asked.
“Especially with Atlas on board,” the bird said gravely, but he didn’t elaborate. He turned once again to Ladybug. “I’ll lead you up there, if you don’t mind.”
Ladybug smiled and looked at James, who gave her an encouraging nod. She then gave the little bird a nod of her own and took to the sky after him. The rest of them watched as the two neared the space over the rocks, flying upward and then vanishing, just as the bird had earlier.
They waited, then suddenly, as if dropped from the sky, a rope ladder tumbled down, unfurling as it went. The end rungs thudded against the rocks and it hung there, half out of sight. It looked bizarre; the top half simply faded into thin air, but the lower half looked solid as anything. The bird reappeared, perching on one of the lower rungs and looking at them expectantly.
James eagerly started to make his way over, but the Old-Green-Grasshopper put a hand on his shoulder, holding him back.
“Let me go first,” Grasshopper said, carefully making his way over the rocks. “Just to make sure it’s all right.” The others watched as Grasshopper climbed up the ladder without incident.
James watched as he vanished too, and climbed up the ladder after him, with Centipede following behind. The ladder swung in the breeze, but James didn’t feel afraid as he climbed. He watched his hands as he neared the place where the rope ladder vanished, and in spite of knowing what was going to happen, he was astonished when the rest of the ladder suddenly became visible, and with it, the underside of a huge wooden vessel that blocked his view of the sky. He paused, unable to see the whole of the ship so close to the hatch over his head, but the sight still took his breath away. In the opening in the ship’s underside, Ladybug waved to him encouragingly, and the little bird flitted anxiously up beside her.
James reached the hatch, and Ladybug carefully pulled him up into the ship. One by one, the rest of his friends followed, Earthworm weaving in and out of the ladder’s gaps. Soon they had all climbed up into the wooden interior of the ship. James looked around; the room they were standing in was massive, bigger than their house back in the park, and there were doors leading off to other rooms on either end of the vast space. Along the walls without doors were round windows, showing blue sky and deep clear waters.
Around the room there was old furniture scattered here and there; a few tables and chairs and even a stove and oven against one wall. There were also shelves that looked bolted to the walls, and several of them were filled with thick heavy books coated in dust.
That’s when James realized that something felt odd. It wasn’t just the bookshelves that were dusty; everything was. The tables and chairs were coated with the stuff, as was the stove and the cabinets and even the windows. James looked down at his feet, realizing that his shoes had tracked a small path in the dust, which looked like it hadn’t been disturbed for years until they’d come aboard.
If anyone had been here, it was a long time ago.
He looked to the little bird, who seemed undisturbed by all of this, acting as if nothing was amiss.
“Oh, good,” the bird was saying as he looked over the group of new arrivals. “Hurry, please! You’ll need to get this ship moving as soon as possible!”
“I…I thought your friend Atlas was on this ship,” James said.
“Oh, he is,” the bird replied. “In a way of speaking.”
“I don’t like this,” Earthworm was muttering, “I don’t like this at all.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Centipede said. “We could see the world in this ship!” He ran over to one of the windows and peered out.
“Oh, will someone please pull the ladder up?” the bird said nervously. “We don’t want anyone to find this place.”
Grasshopper obliged, pulling the ladder up and back through the hatch as the others wandered slowly around the large room.
“It does look quite remarkable,” Ladybug said. “I wonder how such a ship was built. Have you ever seen anything like this before, James?”
The boy shook his head.
Glow-worm walked up one of the walls and onto the ceiling, where she lit the end of her tail to give the others some more light. Silkworm crawled over to one side of the room, examining some of the shelves stacked with dusty books. Earthworm stayed put near the hatch, looking shaken.
“Oh, cheer up, Earthworm,” Miss Spider said. “We are the ones this bird said could help, and it could be quite a grand journey.”
“We already had a grand journey,” Earthworm protested.
“The place could use a bit of touching up,” Grasshopper remarked, looking down at the grit-covered floor. He wiped a bit of dust off one of the nearby chairs.
Miss Spider walked over to the table, where, at some point, a cup had rolled off and hit the floor. She picked it up, noticing that it was cracked and missing a piece. “And Atlas doesn’t need to use any of this furniture?” she asked.
“Well, you see-” the bird began, but something cut him off.
There was a crackling sound coming from a line of speakers along the walls near the ceiling of the room. Then, loud and clear, a voice called out from them.
“Welcome, my friends,” it said, “to the Fortune’s Rise.”