There and Back Again
Henry was pissed. He had been back in this world for months, but his ire never really faded. Swept away to help save a magical world just to get dumped back “home” after the war was won. He didn’t think there was anyone out there liar enough to say he was any formed of pleased.
True, he was grateful to see his parents again; he missed them, but. That was just it; everytime he took solace in reuniting with them, he was stopped by the wish to be elsewhere. He wasn’t going to be winning any child of the year awards anytime soon. Still, he loved his parents, and he’d freely admit to crying when seeing them for the first time after a decade, for the first time since he was eight and now eight again. Of course, they were both very confused at the tears in his eyes and the sudden, dramatic shift in his personality. It had only been ten years for Henry in that magical world, after all.
Henry would have gone mad if he were the only one who went to that world, but all twelve of them seemed to have returned- even the three who died. They, at least, understood how jarring the world was, but it wasn’t the same. They hadn’t spent more of their lives, their formative years, in the magical world. He grew up there; it became his home, and now he was here.
A miracle happened the previous week. If Henry were to be honest, he would have to admit that he never thought he’d see anyone from that world ever again; if he were to be even more honest, Henry knew there wasn’t a single thing that could stand in Gardrin Bonnaire’s way. Even if she had never been to Earth before, it wouldn’t stop her from going there for the first time. She was never going to let him live down how happy he was to see her. Henry was vindicated, even if it was tainted with bitterness, by the fact that she suffered the de-aging as well.
Gardrin was going to do what she wanted, and she decided to make sure her closest companion didn’t leave that easily. So, she looked into interdimensional magic, got her responsibilities covered for temporarily, and brewed up a potion that dropped her off right in Henry’s yard. Now, she was staying at his house; his parents insisted she couldn’t just go off alone.
Henry had sat, stewing, on an outcropping in the woods that served as his backyard for some time. His brooding was interrupted when Gardrin decided she wanted some company.
“Hey,” she plopped down next to him, “I see you’re still a champ at moping.”
Henry sighed, “Hey, Gar. You commune with the plants to find me?”
“I don’t think your trees like me all that much, but I can’t say I much care. I’m still trying to figure out how to actually make them useful in one of my potions, but I’ve got no basis to work with.” the girl pouted.
“I have no doubt you’ll figure it out, even if it means you tear every plant in the vicinity apart.”
“Please, I’m not wasteful. It’s not like I’m low on supplies, anyhow. You don’t have to worry about me demolishing your precious woods.”
“How much can your brew from what you have on you?”
“Enough Stranger’s Tongue to become fluent in about five languages.”
“First of all, isn’t Stanger’s Tongue super dangerous? Why aren’t you just using Traveler’s Translator? Secondly, I was thinking more along the lines of the dimensional potion that got you here in the first place.”
“Traveler’s Translator doesn’t actually teach you languages and is known for being faulty. I know how to handle my mixes well enough that Stranger’s Tongue won’t hurt me; frankly, I’m insulted that you would insinuate otherwise.”
“My apologies, great potions mistress. Daresay, I know you are skilled in your art better than any other. Please, grant me your forgiveness,” the sarcasm that fell from Henry’s mouth was practiced at this point, but Gardrin still gave a smug smirk.
“I suppose I can forgive you just this once, but don’t do it again.”
“I would never. Seriously, though, what about that dimensional potion?”
“You seem desperate for that information.”
“Do I now?”
Gardrin rolled her eyes and turned to face Henry fully.
“Yes, you do. Tell me, what’s bugging you, Henry? Can’t help if I don’t know what’s up.”
Henry pursed his lips, a scowl forming on his brow.
Finally, he grit out, “Did I ever tell you what this place means to me? This outcropping specifically.”
“No, in fact- as I recall- you only ever talked about your parents when you talked about where you from. I’m going to go out on a limb and say if you haven’t told me, then you haven’t told anyone at all.”
“Well, look who’s clever. I guess I haven’t mentioned it to anyone.”
“Don’t leave me hanging, Henry.”
“This is where I was swept away. I always thought it would be the last place I’d ever be on Earth.”
Gardrin paused, “Technically, I have enough on me to make four batches on the potion, one batch per person. However, I’m not sure how to brew it for others yet. It‘s part of what this trip is for. I can’t get you back there, Henry.”
Henry slumped. He took a deep breath and swallowed his frustration. Gardrin waited for him. Eventually, he leaned back, facing the nearly clear sky.
“I guess I shouldn’t be expecting you to fix everything after you already did so much to get here.”
“You really shouldn’t. It’s not fair of you.”
“Life’s not fair.”
“I didn’t realize your ego was that big.”
“Life hasn’t been fair to me.”
“I know, but you’ve been given back some of things it stole from you.”
“Yeah, by having something more important taken away.”
“Deal.”
“You think I haven’t been.”
“I think you’ve been moping on a bunch of rocks hoping to be swept away again. What a great display of effort into your return.”
“There hasn’t been anything I can do!”
“And you aren’t even trying to appreciate what you have here, are you? Oh, but woe is you.”
“I know it isn’t right, okay. I know more than anyone, but-”
“You’ve got an excuse? Please, share.”
Henry rose from the outcropping and leveled Gardrin with a glare. She crossed her arms, face adorned with something close to amusement.
“I used to be the greatest, but now I am smaller than the smallest! Forgive me if I’m having trouble adjusting!”
“Well, you are pretty small. Guess that’s what happens when you lose ten years.”
The boy looked away; his fists clenched at his sides. A breath stuck in his lungs. His critic just tilted her head and let the shadow of a smile grace her lips. Henry exhaled harshly, tension suddenly releasing.
“I’m taller that you, at least.”
“Not much of an accomplishment, I’m afraid.”
“I- I miss it. I miss who I was there.”
“What was so different about you there?”
“I was a hero; I had an army. I was skilled in so many magics that I nearly lost count. I was an adult. I’m not any of those things now.”
“That sucks.”
“I know I need to be trying harder here, but every time I try I just-”
“Remember everything you miss.”
“Yeah, that.”
“Just like you did every time you tried settling in when you first landed in my home.”
“Did I?”
“You just thought you’d never be able to return.”
“I suppose, I actually did my best to accept the loss.”
“But here I am.”
“And I don’t have to accept anything.”
“So long as I stay.”
“You’d leave?”
“Probably not.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“Probably.”
“What do you think I should do?”
“Do whatever, but I don’t think you’re looking at the full picture.”
“Enlighten me.”
“If I can get my potions to work, you can return.”
“You know I know that.”
“You can also come back here.”
“That’s not exactly the problem here.”
“No, but it was. Now, I’m here with the best possible gift in your life, and you’re ignoring half the benefits.”
“Elaborate. Please.”
“You won’t have to give anything up this time. Not a single thing. You should appreciate that.”
“I appreciate everything you’re giving me.”
“Then why aren’t you reaching out to your parents.”
“What?”
“Well? You don’t have to give up a relationship with them. Why aren’t you trying to build one?”
“I’m not- I don’t have a relationship with them anymore. I spent ten years away, and it wasn’t even an hour for them.”
“Fix it.”
“I’m not sure how.”
“Remind me, how did you get an army again?”
“You were there.”
“If you can’t even reach out to your parents, how in the world did you manage to gather a group loyal enough to die with you? At least a quarter of them hated you at first.”
“It’s different.”
“So?”
Henry sighed. He took his seat next to Gardrin. A small smile slowly bloomed on his face.
“So, I guess I better get started. Thanks, Gardrin.”
“Well, when you’re this great, you just have to share some of your wisdom with those in desperate need.”
“Right, of course.”
Gardrin snorted, and both kids started snickering. The two looked out at the sunset before them.
“Never seen a sunset with so much red before.”
“That’s because Earth’s atmosphere isn’t soaked in magic.”
“I noticed. Guess I’ll just learn to deal.”
“Not leaving then.”
“I suppose.”
The two lapsed into silence as the first stars began to reveal themselves. Eventually, Henry’s mother called them in. Gardrin shoved Henry off of the outcropping and gave him a pointed look before rushing inside. After a beat, Henry raced after her, giving his parents a quick hug after reaching them.