Chapter 5 - The long stroll

"We're here",Olly announced.I looked outside and saw a very large ocean.I was scared,I was a very good swimmer but I have never gone into a large body of water before.I swallowed and looked away.

"Uhm...are we gonna swim?",I asked.

"Nope",Olly replied.Cora didn't say anything,she just kept quiet and glanced at me once in a while,guiltily."I heaved a sigh of relief but a frown replaced it almost immediately.

"Then how are we gonna get to my family?",I asked again.

"You'll see",Olly answered and opened the car door."Here this is yours",Olly said and gave me the necklace before he glared at Cora.She looked away and opened the door on her side too.I opened my side and got out of the car.The breeze was cool and refreshing and it was quite because it was midnight but there were lights around so we could see perfectly and we were alone there.I was relaxed for a while and I brought out my bag.

"You won't need that,trust me",Olly said and winked.I creased my brows and he said again,"We're going shopping!".I burst out in laughter,"Where is the mall?",I said and looked around still laughing."In the sea",Olly said and smirked.I gulped and my laughter stopped abruptly."Don't worry,it's not too scary",he said and smirked again."Too scary?...so it's scary",I said,looking worried."Are you scared?...already?",Olly asked.He really enjoyed teasing me."What?,pfft...no way,me?scared?Nope",I answered trying to look brave."It's okay,we'll get you a teddy to hug at the mall",Olly said and patted my head."You're annoying"."Haha...I know.Let's go".

We walked on the beach for a long time and I enjoyed it but Cora just remained quiet and walked behind us while I and Olly talked about where he travelled to and his experiences.I glanced at her once in a while and she returned it twice with a smile but whenever she didn't,she looked sad.I looked at her again and she was looking at the sea this time but she was still walking.I told Olly to keep going and I went back to her.

"Hey",I said."Hi",she replied lazily."Uhm...are you okay?",I asked. "Sure...",she said again,not looking away from the sea once."Cora,we're partners...you came to help me so whenever you need my help I should be able to help,so tell me what's bothering you"."Fine",she looked at Olly and sighed."See Emma,uhm...I'm sorry I didn't give you the necklace before.It's true that Wanda wanted me to give it to you immediately I saw you but I saw this coming",she said."What did you see coming?"."You guys asking me to go once I finished my mission...then I'll be back to my lonely state,no friends,no family...just a master and I'm getting bored of running errands and even though I owe him my life,I'll like to live well,freely!",she ended and a tear escaped from her eye.I hugged her and told her not to worry."Don't worry,you've got a friend now"."Who?",she asked and sniffed."It's me!"."Oh sorry...really?",she said again."Of course!",I said and squeezed her shoulder."I'm your friend now,okay?,so stop crying.Tell me about yourself"."Okay",she replied.

In a cave,lit up by glowing green crystals...

"Arrgh,where did that little rat come from?,I thought she died during the last mission!".A lady yelled and flung the glass cup in her hand towards the cave wall ,it hit the wall and shattered into several pieces."The plan has been ruined!...but I'll fix it!,I'll think of something",she said again and started pacing up and down in the room.

She suddenly stopped and whispered to herself,"Rosaline!She could be of some help!Yes!".She turned towards the maid in the room and yelled at her,"What are you still doing there?!,go tell Hoga to invite Rosaline and if she doesn't agree,she should be brought forcefully...I'll need her for my plan".

Back at the beach...

"...and she was like ;'Oh my gosh, you're ruining my gown just give her the dumb crystal!'".

"She really was a spoilt brat ,even her maids hated her",Cora ended.

"Haha...so she surrendered her jewel shadow 'cos of her new gown, she's so..."

"Dumb?".

"Yeah!",Emma exclaimed and laughed.

Olly looked back and rolled his eyes,"Girl talk",he murmured to himself.

"We're here",he said triumphantly.

"You said that thirty minutes ago and we were not there yet.The amazing place is a toilet?",Emma said and nudged Cora thinking that she would laugh or back her up but she just cleared her throat and kept quiet.

"Right!",Emma said.

Emma held onto Olly's right arm and looked at him with cute puppy eyes.

"Olly...",she said and called it slowly. "What do you want?",Olly said smiling.

"I want Cora to stay",she said and closed her eyes waiting for his reply, disactivating the puppy eyes' charm.

"No!",Olly said firmly.

"But...". "No 'buts',no!",Olly said again, avoiding her eyes.

Emma let go of Olly's arm and went to Cora.

"Cora... explain it to Olly,what you told me".

"When we get to the Emerald castle,she'll do that,for now... let's go!",Olly said, looking impatient.

"Why are we going there?",Cora said,panic showing on her face. Emma understood so she also asked.

"Yeah...what are we going to do there?".

"See my dad",Olly replied and opened the toilet door.

Emma and Cora both looked at each other and whispered,"No way!".