Maya – Fionna!!! Are you okay? Fionna!!!
Maya looks to the side and sees Fionna unconscious.
Maya – I warned you… no way, no way… What did Rod say again? How many times was I supposed to knock? Five or six? Let's go with six.
She props Fionna up against the wall and walks to the door.One, two, three, four, five, six knocks.
An elderly lady opens the door.
Old Lady – Hello there, dear. Everything alright?
Maya – Uh, yeah! I was just passing by and thought I'd visit some old friends.
Old Lady – Oh, really? But I don't know you. Am I one of your friends?
Maya – No! The name was something like… Obtuso?
Old Lady – Oluso! I'm from the Oluso family. I'm Dolores Oluso. This whole street belongs to our family Francisco Oluso lives down the road, Valéria Oluso and her brother Rodolfo live next door, and
Maya – Wait. What?
Old Lady – What is it, child? I'm just explaining
Maya – Rod said you'd help us… I mean, me.
Old Lady – Are you in trouble, dear? What happened?
Maya – Your brother, Rod
Old Lady – My brother? He died in 2124. Flávio went to fight in the Tessela War.
Maya – Flávio? No! ROD! ROD!!
Old Lady – I don't like your tone, young lady.
Maya – Sorry, I think I got the wrong address.
Old Lady – That makes sense. No manners in this house!
She slams the door. From inside, Maya can hear her mumbling: Old Lady Kids these days, no respect for their elders… If this were my time, her parents would've taught her a lesson!
Maya sits beside Fionna, sighs, and looks across the street.
Maya – Fionna, I know you're out cold right now, but wow, you're so heavy… I can't carry you. But I know one of these houses must belong to that sister Rod mentioned.
Fionna (weak, trembling voice) – I'm not that heavy...
The house of Rodolfo and Valéria is next door. The woman from earlier was Mrs. Zelda Oluso.
Maya – You were awake this whole time?
Fionna (coughing) – No, I just… (coughs) didn't tell you everything… (coughs) That power I used it's a curse. Actually, it is a curse. Hydrangea cursed me.
Maya – I know that name...
Fionna (weakly) – Let's go to Rodolfo and Valéria's house, then I'll...
She faints again.
Maya – Oh, damn it. I should've used the power again. Sorry, Fionna. I know your clothes are all white, but I'm gonna have to drag you.
Maya grabs her by the arms and drags her to the next house.
Maya – How many knocks did he say? Four? Five? Whatever. Valéria knows Fionna.
She knocks three times. A young woman opens the door.
Girl – Can I help you?
Maya – I need your help.
Girl – Sorry, the help center is down the street. Should I call someone?
Maya – NO! It's that Fi...
The girl steps back, uneasy.
Girl – I don't want trouble. I'll just close the door, okay?
Fionna (weakly) – Valéria… I...
Valéria – Fionna?! Are you alright? Hey, come on, help me get her inside!
Together, they pull Fionna in.
Valéria – Girl, why didn't you just say what you wanted?
Maya – I… couldn't.
Valéria – It's fine. Let's take her to the guest room.
Maya looks around an unfamiliar house filled with photos and artifacts from all over the world.
Valéria raises her hands over Fionna and whispers incomprehensible words.
Valéria – She fainted from exhaustion. Did she teleport you here?
Maya – Yes, from KeySands.
Valéria – I see. Then it's not that bad. We'd better move her to the attic.
Maya stands dazed, looking at the strange decorations.
Valéria – Hey! Shut the door and help me!
Maya – Oh, right!
They carry Fionna upstairs and lay her on the bed.
Valéria – Damn it! What happened this time?
Maya – Your brother told us to come. Fionna was supposed to explain everything, but she...
Valéria – Got it. Then we'd better hurry. She needs rest. Let's go downstairs, we'll need
Two days later...
Valéria – Watching you around here, you seem capable. You've probably been through a lot.
Maya – Eh, not really, I just
Fionna (weakly) – I hope you're not talking about me.
Valéria – Ha! Don't flatter yourself, starlet. You're not the main character here.
Fionna – You wish. Maya, how are you?
Maya – Fine. I got you here, like Rod said.
Fionna looks toward the window.
Fionna – Is it morning already?
Valéria – Yes. Why?
Fionna – How long was I asleep?
Maya – A day and a half almost two.
Fionna tries to stand but collapses back into the chair.
Maya – You're too weak. Your life energy's still low. You can't go anywhere.
Fionna – Then we're screwed.
Valéria – What do you mean? What did you get yourselves into this time?
Fionna coughs hard and spits a bit of blood.
Maya quickly raises her hands, and the same luminescent glow surrounds them.
Fionna – Thanks, Maya. The problem is... Maya might be the reincarnation of Princess Hydrangea.
Valéria – But you're her reincarnation!
Fionna – No. Everyone thought so, even I did. But I was wrong.
Maya – Wait reincarnation?! What are you saying?
Fionna – I told you I'd explain. And judging by my state, we're not going anywhere. Valéria, call Becca. Tell her to meet us here.
Valéria – Seriously? You want to drag her into this now?
Fionna – I have no choice. She's the smartest one of us.
Valéria – Fine. Give me a minute.
Valéria leaves the room. Fionna looks at Maya.
Fionna – You remember the story of the Five Kingdoms and the War of Unification?
Maya – Of course. They hammer it into our heads at school.
Fionna – And the Empress of Fusco?
Maya – Annora.
**Fionna – That's her. She committed terrible crimes in the war. Out of spite toward King Harlen, who refused to have a child with her, she cursed the land with chaos.She died in the process but she possessed one of the Sources and begged to be reborn. Her wish was granted.
Four years after the war, the kingdoms of Luzidio and Esh annexed Fusco. Harlen's wife, Emma, gave birth to their daughter, Hydrangea the heir of Luzidio.
At 17, her father died of old age. Her mother ruled for five years before passing, and Hydrangea became Empress at 22. Her reign lasted five hundred years.**
Maya – Five hundred?!
Fionna – Yeah. No one understood why she never aged, never got sick, never tired easily.
Maya – That's… suspicious.
Fionna – Exactly. Eventually, the High Court declared her a witch who'd made a pact with the other side.
Maya – What happened to her?
Fionna – She was beheaded.
Maya – So she died?
Fionna – That's what they thought. But generations later, a distant descendant of Harlen gave birth to a girl named Heleanor with Hydrangea's exact face.She lived quietly for 150 years… until the Tessela War.
Maya – She was there?
Fionna – They say she died 23 years before the war but she was the one who started it.
Maya – So the blame
Fionna – Maya...
Maya – The blame for all the misery around me… it's because of some spoiled queen who couldn't handle rejection?!
Fionna – That's not what I'm saying.
Maya – Then what?! That the universe just lets bad people cause pain because they're bad?
Fionna – NO. I'm saying you might be her next reincarnationthe cycle of Annora, Hydrangea, and Heleanor reborn.
Maya – No, that's not
She faints.
[To be continued...]