It had been two days since Hannah tried to steal the Escapade. The whole town was talking about her. Sandy remembered the whispered conversations just after Hannah robbed the bank. People were worried she could copy anyone and do it all over again. But eventually, the tanuki faded from memory like anything else. When Hannah appeared again in the Gecko Tail and so brazenly copied Fable’s villagers to take what she wanted, the fear was twice as strong as Sandy remembered. Hannah was annoying before. Now Hannah was dangerous.
Kona was very happy to see Sandy had gotten her watch back. She already was a joyful person, but now she was “laying it on extra thick” for Sandy. The watch represented everything Kona was in Fable. It was her purpose. So to get the watch back meant that Kona could be herself again. She hugged Sandy so tightly with those giant hands that her back popped… along with other ominous crinkling noises. She promised on the spot she’d thank Sandy as best she could. And she was serious. Maxine gave Sandy a long weekend to give her some time to process what had happened. And Kona used that opportunity to teach Sandy how to fish.
You got’em!
Kona
Now pull!
Kona
Sandy
How hard? Will it break?
HARD AS YOU CAN!
Kona
Sandy gasped and pulled back as hard as she could! She screamed as the fish fought back and had to really yank to keep it under control! She thought it would be like picking up heavy laundry off the floor but it really wasn’t! Something on the end of the line fought her like it was tug-of-war and Sandy was struggling to keep the rod in her hands! Then, with the same sudden give as tearing a piece of paper, the line rose sharply and a glistening, slimy, striped fish of some kind flew out of the water and into view of a screaming Sandy. Not to mention Kona was so happy that she was bouncing right behind Sandy. They’d been at this for hours and Kona had to just let it all out.
HEEEEEEEY!
Kona
Look who just caught their first fish!
Kona
Sandy
Oh my gosh, finally!
Sandy
Get… get over… Uugh!
Sandy
It’s still dripping~
Sandy
Eeeugh…
I got it. I got it!
Kona
Hold it by the string like this. It’s tradition to hold it up and show off your catch!
Kona
Sandy
I can’t believe it! I caught a fish, Kona!
You sure did.
Kona
Sandy
How small is too small? Do we have to throw it back?
Nah. It’s just big enough for the pan. I’ll show you how to clean it later.
Kona
It is a little small to share, though. Let’s see if we can get a second one before we head back.
Kona
Sandy
A s-second one?
Sandy
Could you hold the rod this time?
Yeah, yeah. I got you. When you get your own rod we can both do it at the same time.
Kona
Make a bit of a competition out of it… Heh. Heh.
Kona
Sandy
Hehe… Maybe. I am glad we have something to do together now.
Sandy and Kona sat back down at the water’s edge and went silent for a while. Sandy’s back hurt a little bit from sitting and looking out at the sea for this long. But Kona had no trouble at all. She seemed at peace, happy with the day no matter how it went. Sandy was all nerves by comparison. The joy of her first fish left her quickly and she was hunched over after only a minute of silence. Kona noticed that quickly, despite not looking at Sandy too hard.
Something on your mind? I bet I know what it is. But still.
Kona
Sandy
Yeah. A lot of things.
Sandy
First… Wow, you were brave.
Speak for yourself! You’re the one who beat Hannah and ran off after her.
Kona
Sandy
I mean… I had to fight. But you were like, bouncing right up to her like it was a boxing match. It was really cool to watch.
Sandy
I wish I could be like that. And I simultaneously don’t.
Sandy
Do you know what I mean?
I do. Unfortunately life doesn’t just leave you alone.
Kona
Even if you don’t want to start a fight, you should know how to finish one.
Kona
And boy, can you! I need to talk to Liz about how to throw a kick like that.
Kona
They say you put Hannah right through some boards into the street!
Kona
Sandy
S-sorry… I don’t want to brag about things like that.
Sandy
I just had to get the watch back. That’s all.
I understand. You don’t need to explain. Do you think you’ll be okay?
Kona
Sandy
…
Sandy
I will after I tell you what happened at the train station.
Oh, you gotta tell me. I’m all ears.
Kona
Sandy
Har. Har.
Hehehe… Anywho. Lay it on me.
Kona
Kona scooted up to Sandy and created the kind of closeness that said she cared. Sandy giggled brightly when she saw Kona’s thick fuzzy ears turn toward her like flowers that had found the sun.
Sandy
Wow. You really were waiting for this.
I bet the whole town is! They saw you run off and come back with my watch!
Kona
And if I may add, you took it back from someone who laid out the whole town. How can I not want to know?!
Kona
Sandy
Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Hannah got to the train before me and tried to leave.
Sandy
It’s just that… The train didn’t go anywhere when she asked it to.
Sandy
So that was that. She was crestfallen and I sat there and talked to her a bit.
Huh.
Kona
My train didn’t listen to her?
Kona
That does kinda make me feel warm inside. Maybe there’s more to it.
Kona
Maybe it knew the watch was stolen and-
Kona
Sandy
I don’t know.
Sorry. Keep goin’.
Kona
Sandy
I got a chance to talk to Hannah. She’s looking for her missing parents and tried to steal the train so she could find them.
That’s… Well that’s a thing.
Kona
Makes sense if they’re not from here. But why didn’t she just come to us?
Kona
Sandy
I didn’t ask. But I don’t think Hannah trusts anyone at all.
Sandy
She’s out there, right now, completely alone…
She attacked us twice, Sandy.
Kona
Sandy
Because she thinks she has to. I don’t think she knows any other way to deal with people.
…
Kona
You sure she didn’t tell you a sob story because the jig was up?
Kona
Sandy
I saw her when the train didn’t do what she was hoping it would. The wheels started backing up and she looked like she was going to die. I’ll never forget it.
Well… I guess there’s more to Hannah than we know. I wish she had a better way of expressing herself, I’ll just say that much.
Kona
Sandy
I promised I’d help her.
Whaaaaat…
Kona
Oh, dang it. That sounds like something you’d do.
Kona
Sandy
I asked for the watch back and I said help her find her missing parents.
Sandy
I’m thinking about it all the time. Like how I’m going to find them even if the train can’t. Or if Hannah can’t, for that matter.
Sandy
And then I don’t have any ideas and I go back to my nice life with my friends, all while Hannah’s out there hiding in the woods all alone.
Sandy
I can’t stand it.
Well, when you put it like that. It makes sense you’d want to help.
Kona
You let me know if I can help and I will.
Kona
Sandy
Thanks, Kona. But I knew you’d understand.
Sandy
It’s Miko I’m worried about.
…
Kona
Oof.
Kona
Sandy
I don’t know how to tell her yet. And the town’s not going to be sympathetic since Hannah stole all their money and wrecks anything in her way. What should I do?
Tell Miko as quick as you can. She’s level-headed. But there’s no reason to let it sit.
Kona
Sandy
Yeah… Yeah. That’s what I thought.
Heck. Maybe if Miko helps you find Hannah’s folks, then maybe-
Kona
… Wait a sec.
Kona
Something you said just caught up with me.
Kona
Did the train move at all?
Kona
Sandy
Huh…?
Like, did it stay there like a rock when Hannah told it to go somewhere? Or did it try to leave and then came back?
Kona
Sandy
Well… It made the portal as if it was going to leave, raced up to it, and then backed up away from it.
Oh jeez…
Kona
My train did listen to Hannah when she stole the watch!
Kona
Sandy
I beg your pardon?
I had it do that to me a couple of times when I screwed up and said “Take me to Fable!”
Kona
You know… when I was already there.
Kona
Sandy
…
Sandy
!
Sandy
Oh my gosh! It means Hannah’s parents are already here!
Yeah… Or…
Kona
Sandy
Or…?
They’re nowhere.
Kona
Sandy
…
Sandy
I’m still going to try.
You did make a promise. And I’ll be right there beside you if you need me.
Kona
Sandy
Thanks, Kona.
No, thank you!
Kona
You’re making it your business to help as many people as possible.
Kona
And that’s the kind of person I want to help.
Kona
Sandy
Awww…
