Episode Thirty: All Boxed Up

That night Kali dreamed about a time when she was nearly 3. Mommy and Daddy had left with many of the other villagers to find out what was happening on the Ceremonial shore. Meanwhile a handful of children were left in the care of a single guardian. It became nighttime in her dream, and all the little children were gathered inside the Hut of Decisions to sleep. It was the only hut that wasn't destroyed after the Great Sea Monster tried to reach Baby Samar. Kali didn't like it in there, but she was cold and tired, so she followed. However, she couldn't sleep much.

It was the rainy season, and had rained so much that when the fire went out their guardian couldn't re-light it right away. The guardian told all the children that as soon as the rain stopped he would re-light it again. Soon after she fell asleep, little Kali dreamt about the little golden boy that the village saw in the Gong's cloud. She awoke when she heard a noise on the beach. Hoping that her parents had returned for her, Kali pulled her ragged blanket around her and sneaked around the side of the hut to see. She saw her guardian walk out to the shore to see what it was.

Her guardian was overjoyed to discover that it was a crate with food inside, since they were also low on food. He carried some of the crate's contents to their food bin and then returned to the shore. As he was picking up more food, he saw and reached over for a large vial of oily blue liquid, that was also on the beach. After he drank it, her guardian began stumbling around. Then he fell into the crate. Kali almost burst out in laughter. But then, he started changing. She saw that his hair turned from golden yellow to dark brown, and that he was getting smaller. Soon his clothes barely clung to him and he wrestled to get out of the crate before the next wave came in. Kali laughed out loud and thought this was the funniest thing she ever saw. But the rains poured down again, and before she could let out another little giggle, the lid of the crate fell down on the poor little man and a wave took the crate away.

Little Kali ran to the beach to help him, but she didn't know how to swim. She ran back to the hut and tried to wake up the others. They were fast asleep and wouldn't wake up for her. Finally, Kali went back to the ocean shore to look for him. When she couldn't even see the crate in the darkness of the night, she began to sob. "Don't go! I' sorry! Come back!" she cried quietly over and over for hours, "I' sorry I not help you! Come back Tofo! Come back!" But her guardian never returned.

Before the morning sun arose, she saw a pair of eyes looking at her from the ocean waves. "Don't be afraid, child." said the gentle voice from the eyes. "What is wrong?" he asked. Kali told him her story in the best words and gestures that she could put together. "I'm afraid that he has probably washed up on another shore by now. I'm sorry." said the voice in the water. The sound of his voice was warm and thoughtful. When Kali realized that it wasn't a man talking to her, but a fish, she wanted to see what he looked like. The great fish swam up as far onto the shore as he could, and as a gesture of kindness, he tickled her toes with his fins. Then he told her, "I'll try to get help. You and the other children shouldn't stay here alone."

Then the fish swam off to the south, and Kali went back to bed. In the last part of her dream, she dreamt again about the little boy who walked on the water of the Ceremonial Lagoon. She whispered in her young little heart, "Oh bright boy, please keep Tofo alright."


King Ipo was excited about finally arriving home. He ushered in Dodo, Samar, Jem and Piku into the secluded garden. As he walked up, he heard that Queen Iso was talking to Lakia.

"You are PRINCESS Lakia!" The Queen told her, and gave her a ruby ring for her finger. "You are my descendent."
"Really? How?" asked Lakia. But the Queen had turned to the group coming through the bushes. "And that is King Ipo." Queen Iso then realized that King Ipo was back to his old self and she rushed to him and greeted him.

Dodo rushed over and hugged Lakia. "Lakia! I've missed you so much!" Dodo told her. Together they both said, "You wouldn't believe the day I've had!" And then they both giggled.
"Oh, you have the other half of the medallion I'm wearing." Lakia said to Dodo. He looked at her puzzled.
"You can see the medallion?"
"Yes." Lakia smiled brightly. "I can see everything now."
Just then Jem came up to her and hugged her. "I'm so glad that you are safe! We have been so worried about you! But I knew there was something special about you." Jem told her. At that point, Lakia wondered why she had been chosen and not Jem. Why isn't the Queen coming over and calling Jem a princess also.

Around this same time, Samar and Hong found each other. Tears flowed out of their eyes as they talked about their lives. Hong told Samar about how he ended up on the little island. Paco was meaning to giving Hong a potion too, and possibly put an end to his whole family. Without the medallion, Hong would not have made it through. Blanne acted quickly to get him out of the storm, but could not find the medallion for years. It wasn't until King Ipo, as Biggles, found the cure, that Blanne also found the medallion. But lightning struck it before Blanne could give it back to him. It split into two pieces. Queen Iso said that the power of the medallion had been transfered to two others, and that Isola herself would give the pieces to them. When the time was right, Blanne knew who to give the pieces to. Then it was time to come home.

Piku, who was related to Tarik, the Highest Elder, saw all the meeting and greeting, and started asking why they had all been gathered together. King Ipo spoke up. "You have all been chosen by Queen Iso and myself, to complete a mission together. The balance of Isola has been upset, and needs to be put back into harmony. Paco needs to be defeated and the medallion brought back here to us. All the herbs need to be returned to their rightful places on the island, and someone to tend to them, and someone to teach others about medicine. And then..."

Before the King could finish his sentence, Paco showed up in the meadow. "And then what?"

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