The Candy Shop War, Vol. 2: Arcade Catastrophe (44 page)

His stomach grumbled. It had been a long while since they had fed him. Had they forgotten about him? What if Jonas White had already gotten Uweya? What if the evil mage and his underlings had simply abandoned Arcadeland? Pigeon stroked his stomach. What if he and his friends were doomed to slowly starve in their cells?

The lock jiggled. Pigeon sat up straight. Was it mealtime? At least that would help take the edge off his misery.

The door opened. Mozag entered, wearing his Cubs hat.

“Mozag!” Pigeon exclaimed, standing up.

One of the Battiatos loomed behind him, looking beefy as a bull. A glance at the neck told Pigeon that it was Ziggy.

“Pigeon, good to see you!” Mozag said. “Your friends came through. Jonas White has been neutralized. I paid him a visit to be sure. Some of his people haven’t gotten the memo yet, but this affair is basically over. Want to help us get out of here? Ziggy brought some treats.”

“What do you have?” Pigeon asked.

“Let’s see,” Ziggy said. “I have a biscuit that would make you a shark. Or Shock Bits. Or Moon Rocks. Or Peak—”

“I’ll do Shock Bits,” Pigeon said. “They’re good in close quarters. Do you have lots?”

“Plenty,” Ziggy said, handing over the candy.

Pigeon followed them out into the hall. Trevor came up to Pigeon. He was the same color and texture as the concrete floors and walls—his face, his hair, even his clothes.

“What happened to you?” Pigeon exclaimed.

“Tallah gave me a couple of sweets she cooked up,” Trevor explained. “Camouflage Caramels and Spider Bites.”

“I guess the caramels make you like a chameleon,” Pigeon said.

“And the Spider Bites let me climb walls and spit webs,” Trevor said. “They make my throat feel kind of phlegmy, though.”

Ziggy and Mozag unlocked a neighboring door. Ziggy went in. When he came out, he had shrunk back to his regular size and was accompanied by his twin brother.

“Where’s John?” Pigeon asked.

“He went ahead with Tallah to clear the way,” Mozag said. “I almost feel bad for any hirelings who resist. It has been a long while since I’ve seen John in a mood like this.”

“Should we blow this joint?” Victor asked.

Mozag gave a nod. “It’s time.”

*****

When Nate reached Arcadeland, the first person he noticed was Summer flying above one of the miniature golf courses. Nate glided over to her, and she paused in midair to greet him.

“You’re here!” he exclaimed. “You’re flying!”

Summer grinned. “Tallah escaped with jet and racer stamps. She’s double stamping anybody who shows interest. She’s over by the Eiffel Tower.”

“How are Pigeon, Trevor, and everyone?”

“All free. Mozag, John, Victor, Roman, the Tanks, the Racers, the Subs.”

“What about Jonas?”

“Mozag took care of him,” Summer said. “We’re just finishing up with his employees.”

“And the regular customers?”

“Most of them have been blinded by the cheese. I guess alarms were going off, and people assumed it meant a fire. There are some folks out front in the parking lot. Otherwise we’re all clear.” Summer looked past Nate to Lindy and Risa. “Where’s Chris?”

“He’s making sure the bad guys at Mt. Diablo don’t cause any more trouble,” Nate said.

“I see my dad,” Lindy said.

Nate looked to where an ice cream truck had rammed through one of the side fences. It currently sat idle near the Taj Mahal hole on the miniature golf course. Mr. Stott was behind the wheel.

“Go,” Summer said. “He’s been worried.”

Lindy sped off in that direction.

Nate turned to Risa. “Can you help Summer? I’m out of Peak Performance, so I might as well go add a racer stamp.”

“Go for it,” Risa said.

Summer nodded toward the ice cream truck. “Mr. Stott insisted on coming. He seemed especially anxious about Lindy.”

Nate watched as Lindy reached the ice cream truck. She flew inside, and Mr. Stott clasped her to him. The old mage’s eyes were closed as he held her. Even at a distance Nate could read the relief in his expression.

“I guess I should go get that stamp,” Nate said.

“There may not be much else to do,” Summer said. “This is over.”

Nate smiled. “Then I’ll get it for fun.”

Epilogue

Breakfast for Dinner

Later that evening, everyone gathered at the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe. With the store closed, they had pushed the furniture together to form a single massive table where they could all sit and converse. Nate sat toward the center of the long table. Summer, Pigeon, Trevor, and Lindy occupied seats nearby. Chris and Risa had joined the meal as well. They had tried to talk Roman into coming, but he had chosen to sulk instead. The Battiatos were present, as was John Dart. Ted and Celia Graywater had agreed to attend, and although William had declined his invitation, he sent along his gratitude to Nate.

Mr. Stott and Mozag had spent all afternoon whipping up food for the meal. Nate could hardly believe the variety of treats—banana pancakes, caramel waffles, ebleskivers, toasted bagels, English muffins, omelets, scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, fruit smoothies, hot chocolate, milk, juice, various syrups and preserves, margarine, butter, honey, dulce de leche, and fresh whipped cream all vied for attention.

Standing at the head of the table, Mr. Stott tapped a fork against a glass to summon attention. “I’d like to welcome everyone out to our impromptu victory feast.”

The statement drew a noisy cheer.

Mr. Stott held up his hands. “When a crisis is averted, it is indeed cause for celebration. I’m profoundly impressed with your efforts to keep our world safe. I believe Mozag would like to share some words with you.” Motioning to Mozag, Mr. Stott sat down.

Mozag stood. He wore his Cubs hat and munched on a fat, crisp strip of bacon. “I have been a mage for a very long time. Only an extremely large birthday cake would accommodate the necessary candles. On occasion, I have been asked the secret of my success. My automatic reply is, ‘Surround yourself with good people.’” He gestured around the room. “Tonight I am surrounded by good people. Thank you for rescuing me, and thank you for protecting all of humanity from Jonas White.”

They all applauded enthusiastically.

“I’m grateful to Sebastian Stott for hosting this gathering,” Mozag continued. “He is not only a fine mage but also a fine cook. Tonight we will feast as the kings of old could only have dreamed, although I’m a little disappointed that some of you neglected to take me up on my more exotic offerings.”

“We want it all,” Victor said. “The stuffed figs taste amazing. The huevos rancheros look perfect.”

“I can’t wait for the Salmon Benedict,” Ziggy said.

“I found some truly fine smoked salmon,” Mozag confided.

“With you as our employer, we would work for food,” Victor gushed.

“It was a rough week, but after tonight we’ll call it even,” Ziggy enthused.

Mozag gave them a grateful nod. “Always helps to bring your own cheering section. In all seriousness, the people at this table, especially the children, went above and beyond to keep our world safe from harm. You all deserve my protection, my gratitude, and my goodwill. Call upon me for favors and you will not be refused. But one of you deserves special recognition. Would Nathan Sutter please come forward?”

Nate looked up and down the table. He hadn’t expected this. “Everyone helped,” he said. “Trevor, Summer, and Pigeon all took huge risks. Chris, Risa, and Lindy came with me after Uweya.”

“And they all have my thanks,” Mozag said. “Particularly Lindy, who handled the revelation about her past with grace and maturity. Like some of the best people I employ, she understands that she need not be defined by her past. We are who we choose to become.”

Lindy wore a faltering smile. Nate felt bad for her. She had been quieter than usual since they had left Arcadeland. Right now it looked like she wished she could crawl under the table and hide.

Mozag was still talking. “Many contributed in valuable ways, but I’ve pieced together all you did, Nate, and it merits extra recognition. Come stand beside me.”

“Get up there,” John Dart ordered.

Feeling self-conscious, Nate pushed his chair back and walked over to Mozag. The old magician shook his hand. “Nate not only destroyed Jonas White’s Source, making our revolt possible, but he also dismantled the most powerful simulacrum on the planet, which happened to be a simulacrum of the planet. We owe Nate our lives, and the world owes Nate for salvation from a long-buried threat.”

Everyone applauded.

Nate wasn’t sure how to react. He smiled and gave a little wave.

Mozag cleared his throat before continuing. He held up a gold medal with a black ribbon. The Battiato brothers gasped in unison. John Dart leaned forward with a small smile and a twinkle in his eyes. “In recognition of your extraordinary courage in protecting the world from the forces of magic, I induct you into the Order of the Unseen and offer you our highest commendation, the Medal of Valor.”

“Impossible,” Mr. Stott murmured.

Victor and Ziggy looked thunderstruck.

Mozag patted Nate on the arm. “The Medal of Valor can only be awarded after a unanimous vote by the Unseen Magi. It has been awarded a mere three other times in the past hundred years. The existence of Uweya has long troubled the Magi, and this medal is a token of their sincerest gratitude.” Mozag pinned it on Nate, muttering strange words as he did so. “In the magical community, you now have friends in very high places.”

As everyone clapped again, Nate returned to his seat, trying not to blush. His friends patted him on the back and crowded around to see his medal.

Mozag held up both hands. “With that bit of ceremony behind us, I would also like to mention that you’re all free to sleep well tonight and for many nights to come. Some of your loved ones will experience withdrawals from the cheese Jonas shared, but they will be back to their old ways before long. Jonas White and all of his major apprentices and assistants have been taken into custody. Thanks to Ziggy Battiato’s communication skills, I now have several of my other operatives in town. While they deal with unpleasant matters such as holding areas, trials, and sentencing, we get to feast! Dig in!”

Before long, Nate had too much syrup on his hands, so he got up to use the restroom. While he washed off the stickiness, he admired his medal in the mirror. On the way out, Mr. Stott was standing there.

“A word, Nate?” he asked.

“Sure,” Nate said, pausing as he wiped his damp palms against his shirt.

“I need to ask a favor.”

“Anything.”

“Keep an eye on Lindy for me over the coming days.”

“No problem.”

Mr. Stott looked a little uncomfortable. “Mozag has expressed some concerns. She reacted admirably when confronted with her true identity, but Mozag fears this may not be the kind of matter that can be resolved in a moment, and I tend to agree. Lindy will be dealing with that knowledge during the coming days, weeks, months, and even years. She’ll probably be coping with it to some degree for the rest of her life. I just want to make sure she gets the support she needs.”

“I’ll do everything I can,” Nate promised.

“Mozag shared one other unsettling tidbit,” Mr. Stott said, stroking his beard. “There is a third White sibling—Camilla, the youngest, and undoubtedly the wildest. He’s had her under surveillance. She recently left her lair in Brazil to visit a lair in Italy, and then went on to a lair in Portugal. Could mean nothing. But Mozag promised to pay special attention to Camilla and to keep me posted.”

“Thanks for telling me,” Nate said. “I’ll watch for anything suspicious.”

“I’ll keep you informed as I learn more,” Mr. Stott said. “I wish I could promise that your troubles are over forever, but I’ve been around a long time. Not as long as Mozag, but long enough to know that once you get involved in the magical community, it’s hard to break away completely.”

“I don’t want to break away,” Nate said.

“Nor do I,” Mr. Stott said, “which is probably part of the problem. You did well, Nate. You’re an outstanding young man. Keep your wits about you and you’ll go far. Shall we return to the feast?”

“Definitely.”

Nate soon got lost in the joyful atmosphere and the delicious food. In between chatting and joking, he managed to eat until he felt ready to burst. When the meal finally ended, full and happy, he reflected on the power of good food and good company to wash away trauma and injuries, and even wondered whether there might have been a touch of magic involved.

Note on Locations