Ollie was sure he was dead. He just couldn’t figure why there was a small wooden Zozo head directly above him, with the tip of the scorpion tail between its eyes. He turned and saw Billy stood next to him, holding a spear thing. On its end was the splintered wooden Zozo head.
Then he looked over and saw Zozo, the real Zozo, in his monster machine. But Zozo wasn’t looking at him, he was looking up. And so was Billy. Ollie’s gaze shifted to the same direction.
It was the fireflies. More fireflies then he had ever seen. Thousands of them. Brighter than he thought possible. They were swirling, coming together into a sort of shape. A familiar shape.
Ollie scooted out from beneath the pierced spear. As he stood, the battle came to a halt. Everyone was transfixed by the sight of the fireflies.
The fireflies drifted closer and closer together until the shape they were forming grew unmistakable. It was the face of Nina the dancer doll, but as a thousand blinking points of light. Their glow filled the dock with a strangely comforting wax and wane of light.
And from it came a voice, a voice almost chime-like. Nina’s voice.
“Stop, Zozo. There is no need for worse,” she said. “These toys have done you no wrong.”
Zozo said nothing.
“I never forgot you, Zozo,” the dancer doll continued. “I was your favorite and you were mine. But I became a favorite to a child and lived a long and generous life. And when that child loved me to pieces, I became a spirit. A guardian spirit who watched over another favorite, the toy called Ollie.”
Ollie turned to face Zozo.
“I’m not your enemy, Mr. Zozo,” he said.
Zozo looked grimly at Ollie, then questioningly at the vision above him. His hate continued to ebb, but he uttered not a sound.
Nina grew brighter. “He’s telling you the truth, dear Zozo. The bell was mine. You remembered its sound well. It was Billy’s mother who favorited me. She kept that bell and placed it in Ollie when she made him. But dolls and bells aren’t enough. I could not come back to you until the hate left your heart.” She grew brighter still. “Zozo,” she beseeched, “you were once a king and did your best to comfort all. Remember. Remember. Please remember.”