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Post by littlefella on Aug 24, 2008 20:12:25 GMT -4
I gave a little gasp of surprise, and clapped my hands when Patrick disappeared in the blink of an eye. "Wow, that was neat!" I said, my eyes wide with delight. Like my other transformations, while my mind might have been more adult, the emotions and nature of my young age were what came through most.
Lord Hugo smiled warmly down at me. "Oh, a simple trick, but thank you, my boy."
A sudden thought crossed my mind. "It didn't hurt Patrick to be magicked away like that, did it?"
"Oh no, not a bit, little one. I'd never do something like that, and certainly not to a fine chap like him," Hugo replied.
"That's good," I said, letting out a little sigh of relief. "He's a nice little mouse, and it's so neat that he can talk and do magic 'n' everythin'! And he saved me from that mean ol' cat! Patrick's neat!"
Lord Hugo nodded and grinned as he ruffled my hair again. "So, once again, my little friend, what shall we do now?"
I scratched the back of my head wondering what to do. At least a dozen possibilities danced through my mind, with another dozen right behind. Then, I realized one idea outweighed them all. "Lord Hugo, I'm thirsty."
Grinning, Lord Hugo reached for my hand. "Well, we shouldn't be too far away from a spot in the maze where we can get you a drink. Let's be on our way, little one."
We hadn't gone to far down the maze before I heard the sound of water splashing. "Oh! I hear a fountain!" I shouted in glee. Slipping my hand out of Lord Hugo's I ran down the length of the maze as fast as my little naked legs would go. Following the merry sound of the water, a couple turns and there, in a wide spot in the maze was a marble fountain. On a wide column in the center of the fountain there were sevaral statues of animals and children in various poses, spouting or pouring clear, crisp water into the fountain. With a clap of my hands and a shout of glee, and since I was already in my birthday suit, I quickly clambered over the edge and started splashing about in the water, laughing and giggling.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Aug 24, 2008 20:26:49 GMT -4
"Oh, oh dear...Dave! I'd watch out...that fountain, its only going to make you..." but that is all you hear as you dunk your head under the water, enjoying the cold refreshing feeling it gives.
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Post by littlefella on Aug 24, 2008 20:50:51 GMT -4
The water feels so cool and wonderful, and the taste is so clean and refreshing. I feel a wonderful tingle all through my body. It just seems to go so well with how good this water feels and tastes, that I don't pay the tingle much mind.
I finally bring my head out from under the water and shake it, water droplets flying everywhere. When I open my eyes, I'm surprsed to see that things look....bigger. I then take a look at myself. My eyes go wide at the changes. My arms, legs, torso, look like they belong to someone closer to three years old rather than 8. There's a small amount of baby fat showing on my younger body.
Looking back up at Lord Hugo, there's only one thing I can think to say, "I...I got widdewerer!"
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Aug 24, 2008 21:16:16 GMT -4
"That you are little one...now be careful, don't want to become too young now, do we" he says, walking over to pick you up when suddenly his foot catches on the cobblestone floor of the maze and he trips and falls directly into the fountain with you.
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Post by littlefella on Aug 24, 2008 22:20:00 GMT -4
I let out a squeal as Lord Hugo and I tumbled back into the fountain with a loud splash. Lord Hugo, in spite of his surprise kept his wits about him and avoid tumbling on top of me. Still, the tingle returned as we both swallowed more of the magical fountains waters.
Both of us were sputtering as our heads came out of the water.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Aug 24, 2008 22:22:26 GMT -4
"Well this was unexpected" says Lord Hugo, looking around age 18. You on the other hand are now around the age of two and still getting smaller.
"You are quite the toddler, you know"
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Post by littlefella on Aug 26, 2008 19:44:54 GMT -4
I gaped wide-eyed at myself, my plump little arms and legs, my rounded little tummy. Giggling and clapping my hands I look up at Lord Hugo with great glee. "Me widdle boy!" I then realized I was still getting younger. "Wa-wa, still makin' me widdle!" I said as I toddled toward the edge of the fountain. As wonderful as the tingling and regressing felt, I had to get out of that water, and fast. I managed to reach the edge still able to walk on two legs, if only just barely, but I'd now was around 18 months old. Struggling, I tried to lift myself over the edge.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Aug 28, 2008 14:16:44 GMT -4
The now teenaged Lord Hugo pushed you up over the age, making sure you were out of the Water. He then stepped out himself...
"Now that was an adventure, wasn't it, my boy"
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Post by littlefella on Aug 29, 2008 16:43:59 GMT -4
By the time I was out of the fountain and back on the ground I'd regressed another couple of months, making me only 16 months old. This was amazing! Even with all that had happened so far, I could scarcely believe I was now a baby. While I tried to stand on my plump, wobbly, little legs, I soon tottered and fell back on my bare bottom. It was a surprise, and I let out a little gasp, then giggled and clapped my chubby hands. "I baby!" I squealed happily in my squeaky voice.
Looking up at the teen-aged Lord Hugo, I grinned and nodded. "Dat fun! Aven-choor gweat! I so widdle!"
Lord Hugo chuckled and nodded. "I'm glad you liked it, little Dave," he said as he conjured up a couple of towels, a big one for himself and a smaller one for me. Bending down he wrapped me up in it and then lifted me up in his arms. It was still a little disconcerting being small enough that he could easily hold me, even after having been small enough for him to hold me in the palm of his hand.
It felt good, though, being held so securely in his arms, looking up at his youthful face as he dried me off. I took another look down at myself, again taking stock of the changes. Baby fat made my short arms and legs plump, as well as my tummy. Everything looked so pink and soft. My tummy wasn't round enough that I couldn't see the changes in my maleness. It was now a tiny, pink little nub. Grinning and shaking my head in wonderment I looked back up at Lord Hugo and grinned. "Dis so coo!"
Giving my soft downy hair another rub, Lord Hugo smiled and nodded. "Ah, it is indeed a treat to regain one's youth. But it does make wandering about the maze a little more difficult. Are you ready to grow up again. Or perhaps you'd like to just grow to a slightly older age. It's your choice, my boy."
What did I want to do? While it was great being so young, Lord Hugo was right, it would be slow going if I had to crawl around to a different part of the maze. It also didn't seem right to have Lord Hugo carry me about in his arms. But if I didn't have to grow back up to my right age, why not enjoy being still somewhat young for awhile longer. "Me wan' gwo up, but nawt gwow to my wight age," I replied.
"So, going to enjoy some of your refound youth for awhile longer, well that sounds just fine," Lord Hugo said as he gently rocked me in his arms. "How old would you like to be?"
I'd been thinking about that and so I came right back with my answer. "Me wanna be twelf!" I said with a wide smile while I clapped my small hands.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Aug 31, 2008 12:54:09 GMT -4
Lord Hugo produced a vial of liquid from his baggy wet clothes and pours it on your head, making sure to stop when he had poured just the right amount.
"Then Twelve, you shall be!"
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Post by littlefella on Aug 31, 2008 22:22:40 GMT -4
The potion begins working instantly. Giggling and clapping my hands again, I start growing in Lord Hugo's arms. "Ah, you youngsters do grow up so fast these days," he said as he set me still wrapped up in the towel back down on the ground. "Why you look like you're four years old already."
"Yeah, I'm gettin' to be a big boy fast!" I said as I easily stood on my chubby legs. They seemed to be growing the fasted, changing and slimming as I soon reached 6 years old. My arms were not lengthening quite as quickly, but catching up. My torso was another matter. I was looking a little compacted, but another moment and it too lengthened to match my current age, as it moved up to 7, and then 8.
I continued my growth spurt a few seconds more before finally stopping at age 12. The towel now hung about my shoulders. Pulling it off and placing it on the branch of a nearby tree, I looked myself over. Where just a couple minutes ago I'd been a happy, healthy, chubby baby of 16 months, now I was a skinny 12 year old, just barely 5 feet tall. My body skinny and angular, my arms and legs quite thin. While my maleness was no longer a tiny nub, it was only the size of a small twig now, and, completely smooth.
"So what do you think, my boy?" Lord Hugo asked, breaking my fascination as I checked out my youthful body. "This is so cool!" I said, jumping up in the air, and pumping my fist. My voice was now out of squeaky infant pitch and into the youthful soprano range, only just a slight hint that it might crack.
Lord Hugo smiled at me as I landed back on the ground. "Well, glad to hear you like it. I suppose now that you're older you'd like to put something on?"
"Yeah, I would. Much as I like runnin' around in my birthday suit, it would be nice to wear something." I replied.
Nodding, Lord Hugo made ready to conjure up some clothes. "Okay then. Anything in particular that you'd like?"
I scratched my head as I thought it over. "Well, since I didn't grow all the way up this time, I'm kinda feelin' like Peter Pan...."
"So a pair of green tights and a shirt to match?" Lord Hugo asked.
I grinned and nodded. "And a pair of shoes, please, but ya can skip the hat."
"Then hold out your arms my lad," Lord Hugo said, as he gave a snap of his fingers.
I held them out just in time. As soon as he finished snapping the tights and shirt appeared, folded neatly atop my arms, the shoes resting on top of them. Almost as quickly I'd wriggled into the tights, had the shirt pulled over my head, and the shoes on my feet. I checked myself out. The tights were formfitting, of course. The shirt came just down to my waist. The shoes narrowed slightly at the front end, and only reached my ankles. "This is nice! Kinda fits the magic of this place too. Thanks, Lord Hugo!"
Lord Hugo gave a warm smile. "Not a problem, my lad. Now, would you like to continue your Maze journey?s
"Yep, let's get exploring!" I said with a big smile.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Sept 1, 2008 14:00:08 GMT -4
You turn and look at Lord Hugo, and to your surprise, he is gone, leaving you alone...but it's okay. You can explore by yourself. You turn the next corner in the maze and see a strange machine...it looks like some sort of scientific thing, but you aren't sure.
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Post by littlefella on Sept 3, 2008 23:44:54 GMT -4
I was puzzled at Lord Hugo's sudden disappearance. While his other comings and goings were sometimes quick and sudden, something about it just didn't feel right this time. I couldn't place my finger on what was wrong about it, but something was odd. I was sorry that Patrick wasn't around. Since he knew Lord Hugo better than I did he might be able to ease my concerns.
Still, this wasn't the first time I'd found myself alone in the maze. So far it had already been quite an adventure with plenty of excitement, what with nearly getting eaten by a cat. Nearly eaten by a cat. Yeah, I was realizing even more how nice it would be to have Patrick with me. Even if he was a mouse, he did have those potions. More importantly, just having someone around might help ease the ill feeling I was having about things. I wasn't quite so sure that being aged to 12 years old might was such a good idea. Maybe I should have had Lord Hugo return me to my right age of 35.
A chill wind came down the length of the maze and just as quickly blew through. I shivered, now thinking maybe the tights and short-sleeved shirt wasn't such a good idea, after all. Well, not much I could do about that now. Anyway, the wind was calm once more, and I did like the outfit. It just seemed right for such a fantastic place like the Mansion and the Maze, what with all the magical transformations, right out of some fantastic fairy tale.
Taking a deep breath, and trying to put my worries aside, I gave a tug on the waistband of my tights and headed down to the end of this length of the maze. Turning the corner I stopped and stared. There, sitting smack dab in the middle of this path was a machine that seemed a mix of Victorian and science fiction. It was housed in a cabinet made of carved oak. Mythological creatures of all sorts were carved along the edges, There were centaurs and satyrs, gryphons and nymphs, dragons and elves. Yet instead of the usual depictions of them cavorting about in wild abandon, most were shown in deep study, or peering through microscopes, or examining test tubes. Mind you, there were several spots in the carving where they were indeed behaving like the healthy, sensuous creatures that they were. Even if I wasn't truly 12 years old, I still couldn't help giggling like a boy who was getting a look at something most adults would not want him to see.
Atop the cabinet was a variety of dials, buttons, switches, gages and a keyboard. No digital readouts on the gages, just needles and numbers. On the front part of the cabinet was a cloth covered speaker. From the thin crack between the edges of the cabinet came a soft amber glow, as if from old vacuum tubes. Gingerly I placed my hand on the cabinet. A gentle warmth came from it, the heat no doubt coming from those very same tubes.
"Ah, welcome, my good lad!" came a gentle, masculine voice from he speaker. I jerked my hand back and let out a high pitched yell as I jumped back, surprised at suddenly hearing the voice. Unfortunately, I lost my footing on the grass and fell backward, landing on my rear. "Oh, I beg your pardon, my boy! I didn't mean to startle you."
I took a deep breath and nodded as I stood up, rubbing my sore behind. "That, that's okay." I looked more closely at the machine trying to see if there was some small camera lens on it, wondering how, whoever it was, was able to see me. "Lord Hugo, is that you?" I asked.
There was a deep sigh from the machine "No, it's not, and I wish I knew where he was." the mysterious voice replied.
"Then who are you?"
There was no reply for a moment. "I can't tell you, my boy. All I can ask is for you to believe me I'm someone you can trust. Right now Lord Hugo is in serious danger. He's in desperate need of help."
Again I felt a chill, only this time it wasn't because of the breeze. "Lord Hugo's in trouble? What's wrong? What's happened to him?"
"I'm not sure, all I'm certain of is that he's in trouble.
It didn't seem possible. How could someone of Lord Hugo's ability be in danger? Still, this could explain why I felt so uneasy. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I hope so, my lad. It's fortunate you came down this path first. There's someone, maybe even more than one person, who's captured Lord Hugo. I need someone to scout around and find out what's going on."
"Ok, I can do that," I said. I started to turn to head back down the maze.
"Wait!" the machine cried out. "You can't go like that!"
I looked down at myself. "What, you mean the way I'm dressed?"
"No, as a human!" the machine said. "You must let me change you into something smaller, that can hide more easily and won't be noticed."
"Something smaller? Well okay, I don't mind being turned into a mouse again."
"No, not a mouse. I need a more expert tree climber. Here, eat this walnut," the machine said. It started to glow brighter and then there was a clattering from deep inside of it. A small door opened up at the base of the cabinet and a small tray slid out of it. Sitting on the tray was an unshelled walnut.
I took the walnut and stared at it. What if this was all some deadly trap? But if Lord Hugo truly was in trouble.... I stood there for several moments. The machine remained silent. After a couple moments I knew I had to take my chances and eat the walnut. I couldn't risk not helping Lord Hugo. I popped the nut into my mouth and chomped down on it. A second later and once again I started to feel very strange.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Sept 5, 2008 2:38:37 GMT -4
You feel yourself shrinking again, this time the sensation of getting smaller is teamed with the sensation of fur sprouting from your skin, covering it in a brown mass.
"Ah, good. It worked" said the voice, almost surprised.
You are now around the size of a toddler, and you feel everything about the shape of your body changing...you are becoming a squirrel!
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Post by littlefella on Sept 5, 2008 23:56:03 GMT -4
I look over my now squirrel body, looking back at my big, bushy tail. At the sound of surprise in the machine's voice, I snap my head back up to look at it. "What's the matter, you didn't think it would work?" I asked, as I finished shrinking to squirrel size.
"Well, to be honest, I wasn't sure," replied the mysterious voice. "The first time I tried using a magic walnut, the fellow who tried it, well, he, he turned into a walnut."
I gasped. "A walnut!? That...that walnut that I just ate...that...that wasn't...."
"Oh, no no!" the voice cried out. "Lord Hugo turned him back."
I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Then, I realized I still didn't know who this voice belonged to. "So wo are you now, anyway?" I asked.
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