Boxed Set: Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood: [The 12 book 1st adventure + the series prequel]

by Robert Iannone

  “Exactly.”

  “But why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why are you here? I’m thrilled to see you, but you’re going right back aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “So why did you come? It’s not because you missed me.”

  “I did miss you . . . but you’re right. I came to ask you what the Tree meant. I had a dream and he said I could bring everyone back . . . just the way they were before they got hurt.”

  “Well, that’s fantastic.”

  “Yeah . . . but I don’t understand his instructions. I wrote them down so I wouldn’t forget.” And she handed her grandmother the piece of paper.

  Grammy read the message then said, “He certainly has a way with words, doesn’t he?”

  “Do you understand it?” Egg asked hopefully.

  “Well, it seems fairly clear. He’s telling you that if you dream about each sister, just change what happened. For example, dream that Sassi didn’t fall down the wrong chute . . . make your dream show her going down the correct one.”

  “That’s it? All I have to do is dream that nothing bad happened to them?”

  “Pretty much. But you have to picture it exactly as you wish it did occur. And you have to have a very clear image of your sisters.”

  “And the last thing first . . . does that mean I have to do Sassi then K’ssss then Aeri’elle then Bl’azzz and Soo’?”

  “Yes . . . you undo everything in reverse order . . . the last one first and the first one last.”

  “Oh, Grammy, you’re the best. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  “Sweetheart, that’s what grandmothers are for.” Then she handed Egg back the altered garment and the girl slipped it back on.

  “Grammy, there’s one more thing the tree said. He said there were seven sisters . . . not six.”

  “Maybe he was counting Dazzle.”

  “I asked him that and he said no.”

  “Very curious.”

  “Grammy what do you think he was talking about?”

  “Well . . . could it be a riddle or some kind of test?”

  “I don’t think so. At least I hope not. Grammy, do you remember a girl named Sylvia?”

  “Sylvia . . . no, I don’t recall that name. Why do you ask?”

  “I wrote the Tree’s words on that piece of paper. It was stuck in my diary. Look what’s written on the other side.”

  The older Eloise turned the paper over and read it. “That’s a very sweet letter. But, I don’t remember you talking about her. Did you go through the rest of your diary? Maybe there are some other entries about her.”

  “Oh, that’s a great idea.”

  “Here’s something else to think about. I can’t believe I would send you on this Quest by yourself. Doesn’t it seem reasonable that I would want you to take a friend?”

  “You mean this Sylvia?”

  “Maybe. And there’s one other thing. In each of the first six lands, one of you was injured or worse. But nothing happened in the seventh.”

  “So?”

  “So . . . maybe it did. Maybe the seventh sister . . . maybe this Sylvia . . . was with you and she got bitten by the tacky tick. Then she would disappear and you wouldn’t remember her.”

  “Oh, Grammy . . . that sounds perfect. You are the smartest grandmother in the whole world . . . including Aerianna.”

  “Thank you dear one . . . but I’m just guessing at this point. Remember, you are going to have to picture this seventh sister in your mind to bring her back. And you obviously don’t know for sure who she is. What’s worse . . . if we’re correct . . . she was the last sister to be injured. She’s going to have to be the first one you bring back.”

  “Oh my gosh, you’re right.”

  “My love, you need to get back and finish what you started. I want this adventure to be over as quickly as possible . . . so I can have you all to myself again. Selfish, aren’t I.”

  “I like that kind of selfish.”

  The older woman let out a deep breath of concern. “Please be careful. Oh, that’s such a fuddy-duddy thing to say. Of course you’ll be careful.” She gave her granddaughter a big hug and a kiss. You simply can’t get too many of those.

  “I will. And Grammy, thank you. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know what I would do.”

  “You would have figured out something. You always do.”

  “I’ll be back in a few days. I have a feeling it’s almost over.”

  “I hope so. And Egg, I am very proud of you. You are such a brave young lady.”

  “More like a brave, young girl.”

  “No, sweetheart. Not anymore. You are a young lady.”

  *****

  Egg returned to Aerianna, went right up to her room, and took out her diary. Then she started to go through it . . . page by page. If this Sylvia was the seventh sister, she was probably her best friend too.

  An hour later, she ran downstairs to find Bl’azzz.

  “I know who the other sister was.”

  “Really? Who?”

  “Her name is Sylvia Hampton; but I call her Ham. She and I started the Hameggattic Sisterhood and she’s my best friend. She’s also my Feminion.”

  Chapter 5 – Seven Silly Sisters

  “How did you figure it out?” said a very impressed dragon.

  “It was my Grammy who did. She’s just so smart,” said the younger Eloise with a voice that was dripping with love and pride.

  “That’s probably where you get if from.”

  “Don’t I wish. She also explained the rest of the Tree’s message.”

  “Really? Oh, wow. It’ll be so nice to walk again without all this p . . .” But she didn’t finish the word ‘pain’. She was embarrassed that she was complaining when her other sisters were in much worse shape. “. . . without limping,” she said instead.

  Egg wasn’t fooled; but she respected the dragon’s modesty by accepting her little white lie.

  “So don’t make me beg . . . tell me what your grandmother said.”

  “Oh yeah, sorry. First, she said that since each of us was injured in some way in the first six lands, it must also have happened in the seventh one. And what was the thing J’azzz-min . . .” (both girls involuntarily looked around to see if the irritating cat would appear . . . but of course she didn’t) “. . . told us was bad in the Never ’Glade?”

  “The tacky-toed tick.”

  “Right. So if Sylvia was with me . . . she must have been bit by the nasty little thing. And if she was . . . she would fade away and we would all forget that she ever existed.”

  “That sounds kinda right.”

  “That piece of paper I wrote the Tree’s words on . . . on the other side was a letter from Sylvia to me. But I couldn’t remember ever meeting her. So Grammy said to check the rest of my diary to see if I wrote anything about her. Sure enough, it was all there. We’re best friends; we started the Hameggattic Sisterhood in the attic of her new house. That’s where the name comes from . . . Ham, for her . . . Egg, for me . . . and attic, for the place where we held the first meeting.”

  “But you still don’t remember her?”

  “No . . . nothing. Luckily, there’s a picture in there of the two of us. It must be the one she mentioned in her letter.”

  “Weird, isn’t it?”

  “I’ll say. But there’s more. The diary said I made her my Feminion so she could come on the Quest. But, because she didn’t have Flying Girl powers, Grammy was afraid to let her go. So Dazzle put that special crystal in this ring . . . the one I made for her at camp.”

  “Well that makes sense. I couldn’t understand why the Princess would give you that ring . . . and the Flying Suit.”

  “Right . . . it was never meant for me.”

  “So how do you figure you got the ring?”

  “I gave that a lot of thought. I’m guessing that after Sylvia was bitten and she began to fade away, she gave me the ring so I would remember her. Anywa
y, that’s just a guess.”

  “It’s what a best friend would do.”

  “That’s what I think.”

  “So what about the Tree’s instructions?”

  “According to Grammy, all I have to do is dream about each of you. And in the dreams, I have to make something else happen . . . something that isn’t bad.”

  “So in my case, you could dream that the spider didn’t bite me before Soo’ did what she did.”

  “Exactly. But there are two more things. I have to have a very clear picture of each of you and what I want to happen.”

  “That’s sounds easy enough.”

  “And . . . I have to do it in reverse order. So I would have to bring Sylvia back first, then Sassi . . . and you and Soo’ would be last.”

  Bl’azzz hid a look of disappointment that threaten to take control of her face. “I guess that’s what the Tree meant about the last must be first.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Hey, it’s not your fault. Besides, just knowing that this leg’s going to get better soon makes me feel like dancing.”

  “Really? I didn’t know dragons could dance.”

  “They can’t. So anyway, when do you start?”

  “Dreaming? I guess tonight when I go to sleep.”

  “You’re not tired now are you? How about a little nap?”

  “Sorry, Bl’azzz. I don’t usually nap.”

  “Maybe if you went for a swim . . . or ran a long way . . . you’d get tired?”

  Egg was about to shush her friend for such a silly idea. But, on second thought, she said, “I could use a good swim. I’m going upstairs to see if Dazzle has any bathing suits.”

  “You humans and your clothes; I’ll never understand.”

  “Live with it,” said Egg with a smile as she made for the steps.

  “By the way . . . your grandmother did a good job fixing your pajamas. You almost look like a warrior princess, yourself.”

  Egg stopped midway up the stairs to see if Bl’azzz was going to laugh at her own remark. When she didn’t, Egg threw out her chest, lifted her chin and continued on her way . . . with as much royal dignity as she could muster.

  *****

  “Aren’t you coming in?”

  “Oh, please. How many dragons did you ever see jumping in a pool for the fun of it? We’re creatures of the air . . . water is for fish.” She stuck her beak in the air when she said the last part.

  “I’m going to tell Soo’ what you said . . . after I fix her problem. She’ll probably grab you by your floppy wings and drag you under.”

  Bl’azzz gave that idea some serious consideration. “I’ll deny it. Yup, that’s what I’ll do . . . deny I ever said it.”

  “Ha. Who do you think she’s going to believe . . . Flying Girl or Frying Dragon?” teased Egg.

  Bl’azzz responded by pushing Egg into the pond. “Swim, Earthling. And don’t stop until you’re ready to nap.”

  As Egg treaded water, she had to have the last silly word in this foolish exchange. “I know . . . when I get around to dreaming about you, I’m going turn you into a flying fish.”

  “Alright, all ready. You win. Now . . . swim.”

  And so Egg swam . . .

  . . . and swam . . .

  . . . and swam . . .

  . . . and swam.

  “Hey Big Bird, I’m ready for a nap,” quipped Egg as she got out of the pool.

  “I know you’re trying to make fun of me, but I should tell you something. Every dragon wants to be as big as possible. The bigger the better.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s a sign of beauty and strength.”

  “Someday if you come visit me on Earth, I’ll show you a picture of Big Bird.”

  “Hey, could I . . . you know, visit you on earth. That would be so awesome.”

  “Well, I invited Sassi. So you might as well come too.”

  “You’re not such a bad person after all . . . for a human.”

  “You’re just jealous of us because we can wear clothes and you can’t.”

  “Don’t be silly . . . I have a hat.”

  “Oh yeah, I almost forgot.”

  “Enough of this childish chit-chat; off to bed with you.”

  “Okay, I’m going.”

  “Hey, Egg? What are you going to dream?” asked the dragon very seriously.

  “I think the place where the tick probably lived was the last thing I crossed. It was a boggy, swampy thing. So instead of being in front where I probably was, I’m going to walk behind her. And when the tick tries to bite, I’ll squish it.”

  “If that works . . . what’s going to happen? Will she just appear out of nowhere?”

  “I have no idea. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  *****

  She studied the photograph for the hundredth time . . . the one of her and Sylvia. The Tree said she had to have a very clear picture in her mind and that was going to be tough since she didn’t even remember the girl.

  When she was satisfied that she had memorized every last detail of the girl’s face, she closed her eyes . . . and fell asleep.

  And she was back in the Never ’Glade . . . .

  . . . but this time, she wasn’t alone; Sylvia was with her.

  . . . and they were at the very last part . . .

  “Well, let’s get past this water and we’re home free.”

  So they stepped into the boggy swamp and made their way across. It wasn’t deep, but the bottom was muddy so they had to go slow.

  Sylvia was in front, and Egg was just behind her.

  Egg heard a faint buzzing sound . . . the kind a mosquito would make.

  Then she saw it . . . about an inch in length. It was mostly yellow and completely ugly . . . the way bugs were supposed to be.

  Without hesitating, Egg picked it up and squished it.

  “I got it.”

  “Got what? Not the Tack-Toed Tick?”

  “Yeah . . . it was the tacky-tick. And now it’s ticky-tacky bug jam.”

  “Thanks. If it had bitten me, I’d be gone and you’d be all alone.”

  Egg shivered. “What would I do if you were gone?”

  “Without your best friend and Feminion . . . you would have to get Zeke to help you.” She laughed when she said it.

  “You’d like that wouldn’t you? Well, forget it . . . it ain’t never going to happen. You’re not going anywhere.”

  *****

  Egg woke up at the sound of a girl screaming. She got out of bed and ran downstairs. And there in the middle of the living room was Bl’azzz, breathing fire like she was a . . . well . . . a F’yre dragon.

  And off to one side was a girl.

  A human girl.

  An Earthling.

  It was Sylvia.

  And she was screaming louder than Egg had ever heard her scream.

  “Syl . . . stop it. What’s wrong?”

  The girl suddenly went very quiet . . . because she had fainted.

  “Bl’azzz, stop with the fire breath. You’re going to burn down this place. What happened? Why was she screaming?”

  “I have no idea. I came out of the kitchen and there she was . . . Sylvia. How the heck did we ever forget Sylvia? Anyway, I started to run to give her a hug . . . and she screamed. It scared me so much . . . I burped fire. Then she screamed again. And I burped again. And she screamed louder. And I burped louder . . . well, you know what I mean.”

  Egg had reached her best friend and picked up her head and placed it on her lap. She stroked the girls face and said softly, “Syl, it’s me. Wake up. Syl . . . everything’s okay now. Come on, wake up.”

  The girl moaned and opened her eyes. “Egg . . . where am I? What was that thing?” Then she saw the creature . . . Bl’azzz . . . and started to scream again.

  “Come on Sylvia . . . stop screaming. It’s me . . . Bl’azzz.”

  What Sylvia heard was incomprehensible dragon squawk. Her translation crystal was in her ring. But her rin
g was on Egg’s hand. And without her ring, she not only couldn’t understand the dragon . . .

  . . . she had no memory of Flying Girl or Aerianna or Bl’azzz or the Quest. All she knew was that somehow she had awakened in a strange castle . . .

  . . . and there in front of her was a dragon . . .

  . . . and it started to breathe fire.

  So she did the only thing she could think of . . . scream.

  “Egg . . . Egg . . . it’s a dragon.”

  “It’s Bl’azzz, silly.”

  “What?”

  Then it dawned on Egg what the problem was. “Fiddlesticks, I have your ring.” She pulled it off and slipped it on her friend’s finger . . . and counted to three.

  The fear in Sylvia’s eyes faded away . . .

  . . . and she smiled. “Oh, it’s you Bl’azzz. Sorry about that.”

  Egg helped her friend to her feet. “You okay now?”

  “I’m fine. But for a minute, I didn’t recognize Bl’azzz. It scared the heck out of me.”

  “That’s because I had your ring . . . so you forgot everything about Flying Girl and our Quest.”

  Sylvia touched her ring and asked, “Why did you have it?”

  “You gave it to me . . . just after you were bitten by the Tack-Toed Tick.”

  “Oh my gosh . . . I was? How come I didn’t fade away?”

  “You did. I brought you back.”

  “Sit down, you two. I’ll make some food while Egg explains the whole story.”

  “Thanks, I’m starved. I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”

  “That’s about how long you’ve been gone.”

  *****

  That night she stared at the sketch of Sassi that was in her diary. Naturally, it wasn’t as clear as the picture of Sylvia, but it was more than enough for her to visualize her pretty sister.

  She was just about to turn off the lamp by her bed when there was a knock on her door. “Come in, Syl.”

  “How did you know it was me?” said her friend as she opened the door.

  “Bl’azzz doesn’t knock . . . she pecks.”

  “Oh yeah . . . I didn’t think of that. Anyway, is there anything I can get you before you go to sleep?’

  “No, thanks. I’m good.”