Flutterpage: You know what? I've been thinkin' 'bout all this, tryin' to make sense of it all.
Flutterpage: Grown-ups are always comin' up with fairy tales to make us kids toe the line. Not me, though.
Flutterpage: Witches by the pond, demons under the bed ... Once you've had a thought through all the "whys," it ain't hard to see they're just grown-up fibs.
Flutterpage: But this time, things are a tad trickier than usual.
Flutterpage: A world full of wonders, a best mate I could only dream of, a bunch of cheeky fairies, a terrifyin' monster, some magical trinkets. Overall, one heart-poundin' adventure ...
Flutterpage: All those fairy tale things appeared out of nowhere, right before me eyes, like an adventure book made special for me.
Flutterpage: If this were a riddle, what'd the answer be? That's what I was thinking about.
Lamplighter: ...
Lamplighter: So, do you know?
Flutterpage: Yes. You gave me a clue, didn't ya?
Lamplighter: Of course, we are! Critters have called this place home since before anyone can remember.
Lamplighter: Only thing is, it looks different to each person who enters it. Most folks can't manage to find their way into "this" Cross Street.
Lamplighter: And it's even harder if there's no one to guide you.
Flutterpage: Right from the start, I had a feeling the critters were a bit familiar.
Flutterpage: That tomb watcher fella, the lady and her flowers, them cheeky critters at the club, and that Packleader Girt ...
Flutterpage: That tomb watcher might seem big and tough, but he's softer than he looks. To him, being well-thought of by the others is what mattered most.
Flutterpage: He's just like my dad.
Flutterpage: What I said to the tomb watcher, it's really what I've been wanting to say to me dad. I've always wished he wouldn't care so much about what other people think.
Lamplighter: ...
Lamplighter is silent, watching Flutterpage as though encouraging her to continue.
Flutterpage: The lady in the garden, she's a bit like me mum. Though, let's be clear, my mum ain't near half as frightenin'!
Flutterpage: But she fusses over her weavin' just the same as that lady in the garden did her flowers.
Flutterpage: Mum's always knitting and weaving every day just to make ends meet, and all the while I ain't seen her smile over one thing she made, not even those cute little scarves.
Flutterpage: I always keep me distance, worried that she might bite my head off or somethin', but I know she's working herself to the bone for us and I just wish she could find a bit happiness in her work again. I guess what I oughta tell her is that those scarves of hers are beautiful.
Flutterpage: As for Girt, I know exactly who she is—my sister, Sarah.
Flutterpage: She's so bloomin' proud of herself, and everything's gotta go her way. And like Girt did with those pups, she always treats me like I'm just a kid. Sometimes that really ticks me off.
Flutterpage: If there's a chance, I s'pose I'll try to surprise Sarah and make her proud of me, just like how them puppies did with their boss.
Flutterpage gives a cheeky grin and makes a silly face at Lamplighter.
She achieves the desired effect, and Lamplighter laughs gently.
Lamplighter: How about the others?
Flutterpage: The rest? Well, them critters at the club are a bit like my schoolmates.
Flutterpage: Every day's the same with them, jabberin' about the same old rubbish. They all look and sound alike to me like they was just repeating each other. Drive me barmy, they do.
Flutterpage: But maybe I was wrong about 'em—like I was those critters. For all their chattering, that little stone really was their "dearest possession." Otherwise, the fireflies wouldn't have hidden there.
Flutterpage: And that library lady, the one who reckons she knows it all.
Flutterpage: Maybe she does got all the answers, but I ain't gonna go askin' her every little thing. And who's to say she ain't just feeding me a load 'o cobblers? I'd have no way of tellin'.
Flutterpage: I gotta figure these sorts of answers for myself. So ...
Flutterpage: I s'pose the Administrator's a bit like me, ain't she? I shouldn't be relying on people for everything. It's my job to find me own answers.
Lamplighter: Now that's a very interesting thought. So then who's left?
Flutterpage: The Bananach. Though I still ain't sure what it was, to be honest. But I've got a strange feeling about it.
Flutterpage: What a creepy thing—going after kids without names. It whispered all sorts of rubbish to me, like "give up," tryin' to make me "stay here forever" ...
Flutterpage: I guess that's got something to do with you, don't it?
Eyes slightly wide open, Lamplighter seems to have heard an unexpected answer. Flutterpage is also confused by her reaction.
Flutterpage: Oh? You telling me that ain't so?
Lamplighter: I'm just curious. Why you'd think it'd have anything to do with me?
Flutterpage: I suppose ... because you said this thing was horrible, but it turned out ... Hmm, I guess I'm wrong. It isn't you, not exactly.
Flutterpage: Maybe it's those fears in your mind that you only think are scary. Uh, I'm not sure how to put it, but it's all those scary and annoying things we gotta face sometimes.
Flutterpage waves her arms in the air, hoping to find the right word for the strange entity, but nothing ever quite fits.
Lamplighter: Then you're saying I'm the one behind all this? I'm the big baddie?
Flutterpage: I didn't say nothin' like that.
Flutterpage: Because everything, everything here ...
Flutterpage flings her arms open, like she's drawing a line from one edge of the world to the other.
Flutterpage: None of it's real.
Flutterpage: C'mon, of course it's all made-up nonsense. Fun nonsense, but still. I'm eleven years old, ya know!
Lamplighter: So, then what is all this?
Flutterpage: That's the question I've been turnin' over in me head all this time.
Flutterpage: I'm thinking, when did all this start?
Flutterpage: It weren't on that strange Cross Street, and it weren't in the woods where the Bananach started chasin' us. It was right here.
Flutterpage: I suppose, maybe it's 'cause I opened this bag here. That's when all this started.
Lamplighter: You're saying it all started with that little pouch?
Flutterpage: That's what I reckoned at first, until I remembered that story about the lake.
Flutterpage: Sure are! 'Bout witches dragging people into the water, and fairies thieving stuff ... There are loads of them.
Flutterpage: But I remembered somethin'. Dad told me one of the saddest stories of 'em all.
Flutterpage: The tale says, years ago, there was a little girl—just about my age, and ... well, she went through a lot of horrible things.
Flutterpage: She was sad and disappointed, so off she goes to the lake, leavin' all the things what made her miserable behind for good.
Flutterpage: That's why the grown-ups don't want other kids coming 'round here.
Lamplighter: ...
Flutterpage: 'Cause that little girl was you, wasn't it?
Lamplighter: ...
Flutterpage: So, it didn't begin with the bag. It was me laying here, makin' that wish.
Flutterpage: I was down in the dumps back then, and made a wish to fly off to someplace different.
Liberti: I want to be like you, then I could fly, fly off somewhere else.
Liberti: Might be somewhere else. There's an exciting adventure waitin' for me, far away from all these worries.
Liberti: Could you take me there?
Flutterpage: You're here all because I made a wish.
Flutterpage: It was you that swiped my name, all so I'd forget the past and stay here with you, in this "somewhere else."
Flutterpage: Lamplighter. The last letter of my name ... you've got it in your hand, ain't you?
Lamplighter: ...
Lamplighter: That I do.
Lamplighter unclenches her hand, and the last lost flitter of light escapes.
Lamplighter: This is the last letter of your name. Take it, and you won't forget anything about yourself. You can go back to where you came from.
Lamplighter: But, is that what you really want?
Lamplighter: Your world isn't like this one. It doesn't hold the same kind of beauty. You've seen that by now, haven't you?
Lamplighter: There's a limit to what your winds can clear. You won't find an answer to every question.
Lamplighter: Flutterpage, my friend, I really like you. Stay with me, won't you?
Lamplighter: You'd never have a dull moment, I swear it. We'd be happy every day. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Flutterpage: No.
Flutterpage: Sorry. Thanks for the invite, and for answerin' me wish, but, I s'pose I don't truly wanna leave my home behind.
Lamplighter: Because of your family?
Flutterpage: Yes, they may drive me up the wall, but I still love 'em, don't I?
Flutterpage: But it's not just 'cause of them.
Flutterpage: When we met, remember me saying I couldn't wrap my head 'round Sarah's "There's no why"? I said, grown-ups musta known sometimes there weren't no why.
Flutterpage: But that's a load of rubbish. Truth is, I know the answer, only I've been hiding from it.
Lamplighter: So, what do you think the answer is?
Flutterpage: That is: there's no why without a reason why.
Lamplighter: ...
Lamplighter: Heh ...
Lamplighter: Hahaha! Your answer is even more of a tongue twister than the question!
Lamplighter smiles, not in the same dark way as before; it makes Flutterpage want to smile along with her.
And so Flutterpage chuckles along.
Flutterpage: Hehe, I know, I was thinkin' the same thing.
Flutterpage: But that's my answer, and I'm stickin' to it. I'm sure of that.
Flutterpage: I ain't saying Sarah and the others are lying. "There's no why" might well be her answer, but that don't mean it's gotta be mine.
Flutterpage: Nothing will stop me finding the answer myself. I'll keep thinking and asking questions, even if no one can answer me.
Lamplighter: That is a wonderful answer.
Lamplighter: You've really surprised me, Flutterpage.
With a soft chuckle, Lamplighter finally lets the firefly stumble its way over to Flutterpage.
It settles on Flutterpage's shoulder and blends into the moonlight, lighting up the lingering darkness in the girl's heart.
Lamplighter: My friend, Liberti Grove, you did it.
Flutterpage: ...
Lamplighter: You've chosen a difficult path, one I couldn't choose for myself.
Lamplighter: And I ... I'll respect your decision, and I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart.
Lamplighter: It's alright. This is just a parting of ways. I've grown used to it.
Flutterpage: Lamplighter, I ...
Lamplighter: Don't make that sad face, Liberti.
Lamplighter: After this, you'll forget all about me and what happened here, and then you'll meet new friends and go on new adventures.
Lamplighter: But that's only fair. You're a sweet girl, and you deserve to have many more friends.
Flutterpage: Hang on! New friends or not, you're still my best mate! I'll never forget you.
Flutterpage's frantic words fall on deaf ears as Lamplighter offers nothing but a smile. A silent, broken smile.
Lamplighter: It's time.
She raises her stick again and strikes the ground.
Though she does so gently this time, the sound of the staff striking the ground rings deafeningly in Flutterpage's ears.
The lamp in Lamplighter's hand erupts with light, casting a brilliance far surpassing anything before it.
Flutterpage: This is ... the sun, it's risin'!
Lamplighter: Yes. It's time to awaken from your dream.
Flutterpage: No! I still have more I want—
Flutterpage: ... to ... say ...
Lamplighter: Goodbye, my friend.
???: Liberti.
Liberti: zzzZZZ
???: Liberti!
Liberti: Not now ... Ollie ...
???: Oh ...
Sarah: This ain't a chicken coop, and I'm not your bleedin' rooster! Now get up, you little so-and-so!
Liberti: Whoa?!
Liberti: Sis? I'm ...
Sarah: Sent you out for a bit of shopping, and instead you stay out all night?! All 'cause you got a scolding, you decide to turn into a little runaway riff-raff?
Sarah: Have you any idea how long we've all been searching for you? You're in for it now!
Liberti: What? I didn't ... Wait. I've been gone a whole night?
Indeed, the morning light shines warmly, but for Liberti, the events of the previous night have faded into a blank haze.
Sarah: Was it the sweets? All this on account of me saying I wouldn't let you get any?
With a sharp frown, Sarah fishes out a handful of candies and slaps them into Liberti's palm.
Sarah: There you go! And here I thought I was teaching you about the value of money. We're not made of the stuff, but we're not penniless either! If you're so desperate for a bit of candy, speak up instead of pulling stunts like this.
Liberti: ...
Sarah: What? Not enough for you? Let me tell you right now, don't you dream of expecting an apology from me.
Liberti: I didn't have me hopes up or nothin'. Still, thanks, sis.
Liberti puts the candy in her pocket and discovers something else hidden within.
Liberti: Did—Did I fold this?
Liberti looks at the bird, and a faint memory surfaces. She set this bird free, letting it fly into the sky.
And at that moment, in her memory, someone else was there with her.
A sensation lingers in Liberti's heart, leaving her feeling as though she has lost something. She unfolds the paper bird in her hands.
Liberti: Potatoes, bread, three cans o' beans, cabbage, carrots, and ...
Liberti: And ...
Her eyes lock in place.
At the very bottom of the shopping list, a line of elegant handwriting stands out from the scrawl above it.
Sarah: "Flutterpage" ... What's a "Flutterpage"?
Liberti: It's ... It's ...
Bird: Chirps.
Liberti: It's you!
The familiar bird from before returns.
It lands on Liberti's shoulder, tilting its head as its shining eyes meet hers.
Like a spark cutting through the fog, a vivid memory leaps to life in Liberti's mind.
Liberti: This is a name.
Liberti: My other name.
Though her recollections are still hazy, an inexplicable feeling reveals the answer to her.
It is a gift, sent to her from her mysterious friend, wrapped in the most beautiful of blessings.
Bird: Chirps.
The little bird flutters its wings and alights from her shoulder.
It glides up over the eaves and soars above the streets of London, riding the wind into the distant horizon.
