"And I'm Puck," the fairy said. His big pink wings popped out of his back and lifted him several feet off the ground. He put his hands on his hips and grinned broadly. "Taa-daa!"
"Now I know this is a joke," Sabrina said, spinning on the fairy. "Everafters don't grow old."
"Not true, Sabrina. An Everafter can grow old if he wants. Most don't because they don't have a good reason," Puck said, sharing an affectionate look with the woman claiming to be Sabrina. The fairy had a gold ring on his left hand that was identical to one the older Sabrina wore.
Daphne squealed. "You mean... you and Puck... really... married!"
The older Sabrina grinned bashfully, then looked at the fairy. "He gets a little less annoying as he gets older."
"But only a little," the fairy said with a laugh. He rubbed the top of Sabrina's head. "We should introduce our guests to the general."
They walked to a tent at the center of the camp. Charming pulled back the flaps and ushered the girls inside. The older versions of themselves and Puck followed. Inside, Sabrina saw a queen-size bed. Two adults lay on top of it, sound asleep.
"Mom! Dad!" the girls cried, and rushed to their side.
"They're still asleep," a voice said from behind them. It was old and crackling, but oddly familiar. Sabrina turned around and saw an old woman in a wheelchair in the door of the tent.
"Girls, I'd like to introduce you to the general," Charming said.
Sabrina studied the woman closely. She wore a bright yellow dress and a matching hat with a sunflower applique at its center. Trotting around her chair were four Great Dane puppies. She was incredibly old, but her eyes still had a youthful glimmer.
"Granny Relda!" Daphne cried as she raced across the room and wrapped the old woman in a hug. Sabrina followed more slowly, shocked at how old Granny looked.
"There's a name I haven't heard in many years," the old woman said. She studied the girls' faces and then turned to their older counterparts with a confused expression.
"It's a long story, old lady," Puck said.
"Well, I suppose you better start telling it," Granny replied.
*
The group shared a meal of potatoes, venison, and black bread while the recent events were explained to the future version of Granny Relda. During the meal she studied maps and reports provided to her by soldiers who waited for her orders, then ran off to perform their duties. Sabrina watched the old woman closely, noticing the deep lines in her face and the trembling, arthritic hands.
Some time during the meal, a little man wearing a crude military uniform emblazoned with dozens of bright badges and medals came over to the table. He was the same man they had spotted training soldiers. He saluted the old woman with great respect. They briefly discussed the forces at the riverside and agreed on the best strategy for attack. When the conversation was over, he saluted Granny Relda again and then disappeared. It took Sabrina several minutes to realize who he was.
"That was Mr. Seven!" Daphne said.
"Actually, we call him Captain Seven," Granny Relda replied.
"Captain Seven is a great leader and demands quite a bit of respect around here," Charming explained. "He's been responsible for many of our army's successes."
"Why do you need an army?" Sabrina asked.
"To fight the Scarlet Hand, of course," Granny said as she tossed chunks of her dinner to her four impatient puppies. "Since the Master rose, we've been one of the main fronts in the battle for human freedom. There are other units scattered around the world, and I've been leading the charge. That's how I got my little nickname. Truth is, without Seven and the brave members of the army we wouldn't stand a chance. The Master and his Hand are relentless."
"But how did it get this bad?" Daphne asked as she glanced around at the rough camp.
"They plundered the Hall of Wonders," the grown-up Sabrina explained. "They opened every door and took anything of value. What they didn't take, they set free. There were horrible things behind some of those doors. It threw the town into chaos."
She shared a knowing look with the old woman.
"One of them tried to barbeque you earlier today," Puck added.
"Why didn't we stop it from happening?" Sabrina wondered.
"What were we supposed to do, Sabrina?" Granny Relda said, before breaking into a coughing fit. When she recovered, she continued. "What could an old woman and two little girls do?"
"You're forgetting Elvis," Daphne said.
"And we must not do that. He was a brave soul. These four pups are his great-grandchildren. Let me introduce you to John, Paul, George, and Ringo."
The dogs raced over to Daphne and sat with begging eyes until the girl surrendered her venison steak.
"Yep, they're related," Daphne said as she hugged them all.
"What about Uncle Jake?"
The old woman shifted sadly in her chair.
"He was arrested and put into the Ferryport Prison," she said softly. "They gave him a trial and sentenced him to life, but he tried to escape and he was killed."