After the meal, the crew parted ways with the menfolk returning to the ship. Navi took Estelle and Revo on a walk.

“What’s going on, my baoshi?” Revo ruffled her hair fondly as they strolled down the front walk.

“Da,” Navi smiled, then gestured to Estelle. “Could you please take a look at Estelle? I need to know that I’m looking in the right direction for helping her.”

“Of course! Come on down to the workshop and we’ll have a look.” Revo led them across the way to his workshop, activating the light crystals lining the walls. “What seems to be the issue?”

Navi put a hand on Estelle, who was looking around with interest. “I am fairly certain she’s not a doll made like this. Someone took a living being and made her into this doll. That is seriously twisted black magic, right?”

“We’ll know when we take a look.” He turned to Estelle, gesturing to his work bench. “May I?”

“Of course!” Estelle hopped up and lay face down. Navi and Revo made quick work of the bolts. When he drew open her back plates, he took a sharp breath, muttering an oath.

Navi glanced at him in alarm. “Da? What is it?”

He stared a moment longer, then sighed. “This is beyond me as a mechanic, but it bears all the marks of alchemy. It would be amazing if it weren’t so horrific.” Together they sealed Estelle and helped her sit back up. Revo rubbed his shiny scalp. “Her soul is bound to these pieces. Even if you destroyed them in the Crevasse, she would become fragments, alive and forever bound.”

“So, destroying me wouldn’t help…” Estelle’s head dropped in defeat. “Forever bound…?”

Revo tipped Estelle’s head so that she focused on him. “I say that because I mean that you need something stronger than the elements to unbind you. Not that it is impossible to free you. It can be done, so you must not give up home. Not yet.”

“Okay,” Estelle whispered. “I’ll try.”

“Good girl.” Revo turned to Navi. “I hate to say this, but you’ll need an alchemist.”

Navi hissed a rather unladylike curse. “What if I had another magic user? Could they do anything?”

Revo shrugged. “It’s possible, but your friend here was bound with some acute scientific principles guiding the magic. That is right up the alley for an alchemist.”

“What wrong with alchemists?” Estelle asked.

Navi was tugging on her scarf, lost in thought. “The problem is that most of them are blasphemous charlatans!”

“Then why do we need one?”

“Because not all of them are.”

_____________________________

A sharp rap at the front door, disturbed the early morning quiet. Estelle was glad for it. Because she could not sleep, anything to alleviate the boredom was welcome. She made sure her veil was in place before cracking open the front door.

On the doorstep stood a tall, beautiful lady. She was elegantly dressed in a stunning gown of aqua blue with a stylishly feathered hat—all of which contrasted well with her honey-colored skin and ebony hair. She had peculiarly bright copper eyes which narrowed upon seeing the speechless doll.

“So, you’re the one causing the disturbances around here,” she sniffed, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “If you are going to be mingling amongst humans, the least you can do is take care of the reek of magic on you.” With that she swept into the house, seating herself gracefully on the cushions. “Where is Navi?”

Estelle, had her jaw moved, would have had it hanging. As it was, she froze, staring. When the woman had settled herself, she found her voice again. “Navi is in the shop. You…you know what I am?”

The woman, who was straightening out the folds of her gown, looked up in disdain. “I ought to know a being touched by magic if I see one. What is your name?”

“E-Estelle, miss. What is yours?”

“Most know me as the Lady Katarina Vivaldi, socialite, fashionista and lover of the fine things in life,” she said, stretching out an elegantly gloved hand. “But you may call me Ifanta.”

“Can you help me?” Estelle’s pupils had grown large as she clutched at Ifanta’s hand. “We need a powerful magic user! Are you powerful?”

“Ah, it’s you again.” Lamond had quietly come down the stairs to view the commotion, but he stopped upon catching sight of Ifanta. His tone was cool and he quickly turned to head into the kitchen. “Does Navi know you are here?”

“A pleasure to see you as well, young Master Sitara,” Ifanta ‘s smile was dazzling. She was unfazed by his greeting, seeming to relish his apparent discomfort.

“I do now,” Navi came through the door with Casey in tow. “And you’re just in time.” She stopped, taking in Ifanta and Estelle. Casey hid behind Navi, ogling the beautiful lady. “Oh good, you got my note and you’ve met. Can you help her?”

“I may or I may not be able to,” Ifanta waved at her breezily. “The bigger question is: what do I get out of this if I try?”

Navi raised an eyebrow. “You’re talking price after everything?”

“Everything has a price—even fairy magic, dear.”

“Fairy?” Casey crept out from behind Navi. “Are you the fairy? A real fairy? You’re so…beautiful!”

“Well, aren’t you just a darling?” Ifanta cooed, reaching out to stroke Casey’s cheek with a finger. “I think I want to keep you!” She turned to Navi, raising an elegantly-shaped eyebrow. “You told them?”

Navi gestured at Estelle and then Casey. “It’s hard to hide magic once it starts oozing from the woodworks.” She gestured first to Estelle, then to Casey. “This one is cursed to be a doll and that one has a possessed doll. What’s your price this time?”

“I want to be your personal stylist. That’s all.”

“You’ve got to be joking!” Navi’s nose wrinkled. “I spend my days in the heart of a machine. There is no place for style!”

“If I am going to be seen with you, you’ll have to look better than some common grease monkey!” Ifanta complained, gesturing to the mechanic. Navi was wearing a dark blue, high collared blouse with a bustier to keep it closely fitted. Instead of a gown, she wore a split skirt that doubled as pants with tight boots going up her calves. Over this ensemble, she wore her favorite thick, woolen scarf—not to mention fully loaded tool belts and her transmitter earring. “Let me style you in public, or I won’t go with you.”

“Fine. Help her, if you can.” Navi groaned, throwing herself back onto pillows. “But I’m not wearing anything if it looks ridiculous!”

“Whatever you say, dear,” Ifanta gestured to Estelle. “Sit, dear, and let me look at you.”

“Are we going to see some fairy magic?” Casey whispered reverently.

Ifanta winked. “You will as long as you believe you can.” She turned back to Estelle and took the doll’s face in her hands. “This may hurt.”

“Pain would be welcome,” Estelle said solemnly. “I’m ready.”

Ifanta closed her eyes. Suddenly, the tall, elegant woman vanished. In her place, hovering on red and black butterfly wings, was the same woman in miniature. The same black lattice work that covered her wings, also covered her cheeks. She was roughly a foot and a half tall. The seams along Estelle’s face began to glow. The doll began trembling, as though her hardware were malfunctioning. Ifanta started to grimace.

Suddenly, a blinding flash filled the room, then smoke and a loud “Boom” rang through the house.

Revo came running into the house, wielding a hammer. “What happened? Is anyone hurt? Navi? Lamond?”

The rest of the family charged down the stairs to be greeted with thick purple smoke billowing through the room.

“What happened?” Devria asked.

“Magic!” Casey cheered from somewhere in the room. “Navi, that was magic, right?”

“Right,” Navi coughed, crawling towards the front door. She flung it open and pushed Casey out onto the steps. She looked back at the smoke pouring from the windows and doors.

“Is everything all right?” The paperboy had stopped outside their house and was gawping at the spectacle. “D’ya need me to get the fire brigade?”

“No need,” Navi wheezed. “Just…bad cooking.”

“Oh, okay then.”

“Well, that was a failure.” Ifanta strode to the front windows, drinking in the fresh air. She looked back into the room which had started clearing of smoke. Everything looked the same save for the human-sized hole in the wall. “Oh dear! Are you all right, Estelle?” She gathered her gown and hurried to the hole.

“I’m all right!” the doll called, slowly climbing out of the imprint her body had made on the wall. “What happened?”

“You ruined my closet is what happened!” Nani exclaimed, peering into the wall. “What were you girls doing this early in the morning?”

“My apologies, ma’am. This was magic recoil,” Ifanta took Nani by the hand. “I will pay to have your wall repaired, Mrs. Sitara, Please don’t worry.”

“Are you paying with actual money?” Lamond snorted.

Ifanta glared at him. “I don’t trick my friends.” She turned to Estelle. “I’m afraid your binding magic is too strong and convoluted. That is the work of a master alchemist, I’m afraid.”

“Again with the alchemists!” Navi threw her hands up. “Fine! We’ll go look for one in between jobs. Will you be ready to leave by 10, Ifanta?”

“Of course!”

“She’s coming with us?” Lamond groaned.

“Leave?” Nani exclaimed. “But you just got here!”

“Can I go too?” asked Hakeen.

“Good. Yes. I know and no!” Navi replied, answering each question in order. She hugged Nani. “We’ll be back soon though, I promise.”

                                    ________________________________

He lounged in the comfortable dark of his room. His fez was tipped over his face, creating a comfortable, dark space. No one dared to disturb him. He had a reputation that kept the curious away. Even the streetwalkers would stay on the other side of the street. So, it was a surprise to him when a timid knocking sounded on his door.

"Sir?" the innkeeper's whiny voice piped up. "You have a visitor."

"Did I, or did I not, give orders not to be disturbed when I am in my quarters?" His thumb pulled the safety off the large, custom-made gun he wore by his side. He could envision the fat innkeeper on the other side of the flimsy partition.

"You did, sir, but she would not be dissuaded. Please don't kill me!" the man begged, knowing that even if he ran, death would follow. "I would never have disturbed you otherwise! Please, sir!" He heard the sound of blubbering. It was only a matter of moments before the man would soil himself.

He smiled at the thought then grimaced. The last thing he wanted was the stink wafting into his room. Besides, that old fool knew better than to cross him. “…Fine.”

The door swung open on silent hinges, then closed. He did not even look up at his visitor. His senses were so acute that his weapon was trained on where they silently stood before the door. He knew that he could shoot the eye of a bird on the wing blindfolded.

"State your piece, then say your prayers. I have strict rules for this establishment and no one--absolutely no one—is exempt," he said, casually laying his gun on the table before him. The sounds of the innkeeper crying outside continued.

"You have a reputation, Mr. Deeds," a woman's voice finally spoke up.

He did not look up from his fingernails. "Great. You've seen me. Your friends will believe you when they are shown your corpse. You have one minute to talk before I shoot."

"Oh, but you won't kill me,” she stated.

He looked at the woman from the corner of his eye. Her form was hidden in a cloak.

"Give me three reasons why I shouldn't," he said.

"I have a job for you."

"And?"

"I will pay you handsomely."

"And?"

"You will have complete immunity from the upper gentry."

He flipped the gun up and fired. The bullet, carefully aimed, whipped the hood off her head. She was a looker—definitely upper class.

"Hello..." He kept his eyes trained on her. "Sit," he gestured with the still smoking gun towards the chair opposite him. He kicked his feet up.

She had not moved, even when he shot her hood off. Without a word, she slipped into the proffered chair.

"You’re no streetwalker."

"And you’re not a fool," she was smug. “Good.”

"Feisty. Good. Gutter trash is too easy." He walked to her side of the table to took a seat leaning forward and lifting her chin. "Not bad," he said turning her head. She slapped his hand away.

"Wish I could say the same," she sat back in her chair. "I am not part of the commission."

"A man can dream," he grinned, showing a fine set of teeth. "What’s the job?"

"I need your expertise as a hunter to find a particular automaton—a doll—for me." She leaned forward until their faces were inches apart. Her voice had dropped to a throaty whisper. "Is that something you think you can handle?"

He smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Lady, that ain’t much of a challenge."