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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Oct 20, 2008 20:50:11 GMT -4
The cat starts to twitch even more, and more...and suddenly he shrinks in size, his fur turns dark grey and he starts to shift shape...into that of a...
"...Rat!" you say incredulously. You turned him into a rat.
He scurries from your hand, and runs away...you curse yourself at first, but you know it doesn't matter. you defeated his ego enough to subdue him for a while.
You then look down at your legs, still bound by magic.
Perhaps this power that surrounds you can help you out of this, you think to yourself.
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Post by littlefella on Oct 20, 2008 21:18:44 GMT -4
I realized I didn't have time to stop and gloat over Giovanni's transformation. Anzana could return at any time, there was still the screaching of the hawks in the distance, and who knew how Lord Hugo and the rest of his family were doing.
The first thing I had to do was try and see if I could remove whatever magic that was holding my legs bound. I tried focusing all my concentration on them, seeing if I could feel any kind of "force" that was surrounding them. It took several moments of keeping all my thoughts on getting my legs to move again. It wasn't easy, my head was still pounding from whatever potion Anzana had put in that apple. But then, I could feel it, the lines of force that I'd been looking for. I tried to picture them "peeling" off my legs. At first nothing seemed to be happening, but then, slowly, I could feel them "loosening" like a coil of rope. It was so much like a coil of rope that when they felt "loose" enough, I drew my legs up close to me, pulling them out of the magic. When I'd pulled my legs free, the magic just seemed to collapse and vanish.
With a shout of boyish glee, since I was now a 12 year old boy again, I jumped to my feet. But just as quickly my shout died away. What to do now? Did I have enough magic to turn myself into a hawk and join the fight with Sgt. Sedgewick and Gen. Van Horne? Should I try and find Patrick? I stood there my mind racing as I tried to figure out what to do next.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Oct 20, 2008 21:38:54 GMT -4
As you walk towards the door, you suddenly hear footsteps behind you.
"Well done. I sensed that you had some power about you, boy" says the voice of the witch...
"It's a shame you turned my friend into rat...had he not been that small, he would not have scurried onto a nearby hole, where he found...this"
She holds out a tiny cage, and inside is Patrick.
"Giovanni alerted me mere moments ago that he had something of importance. I wasn't so sure, until I looked into your mind and saw your fondness for this...thing"
"Run Dave, Run!" Patrick yells..
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Post by littlefella on Oct 20, 2008 21:50:28 GMT -4
I stared in horror at the cage. Seeing Patrick locked up in that cage held by that damn witch started my anger to rise again. In the short time I'd been here Patrick had become a close friend. I couldn't let that witch do anything to him, not if I had anything to say about it.
The anger was rising fast, if only I could get that cage out of her hands, just pull it right to me! Then, suddenly, with a sudden jerk, it flew out of Anzana's hands and was coming straight toward me! I held up my hands and grabbed it. I started to dash for the door. "Patrick, that's an excellent idea! Let's RUN!"
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Oct 20, 2008 22:10:31 GMT -4
The witch shrieks trying in vain to pull things down on top of you, casting spells here and there, trying to get you, but misses.
As you run you pass the rat who ratted you out, and you feel tempted to kick him, but for some reason you don't. Patrick however lets a vial of potion slip and crash on his head, reducing him to a baby rat in seconds.
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Post by littlefella on Oct 20, 2008 22:33:50 GMT -4
I giggle as I run past the youthening Giovanni, though my laughter is quickly stilled by another scream from Anzana. A charge of magical energy just barely misses me. It hits one of the hedges on the maze. A circle of flame bursts from the leaves and just as quickly dies away, leaving a wide, gaping hole in the hedge, just big enough for a small boy to jump through. Clutching the cage close to my chest I leap through the newly formed gap and start racing down the lane, taking turns left and right. Anzana's screams and howls are nearby at first, but slowly they get fainter.
I keep running as long as I can, but eventually I'm too exhausted to run any more. I stop and sink to my knees gasping for breath. As I set the cage on the ground, Patrick holds onto the bars and looks up at me. "Dave, you should have left me with her! You shouldn't have taken such a risk!"
I smiled at him. "I---I couldn't do---that---Patrick," I said, panting. "You've---become such---a good friend," I added as I opened up the cage and held my hand down for him. Patrick put a tiny paw up to his eye and rubbed it before stepping onto my palm. As I lifted him up to my face he squeaked, "Dave---the feeling is mutual. I owe you my life, my young friend." I smiled at him as I held him close to my face and rubbed it against his muzzle.
"Much as I'd love to do this some more," Patrick squeaked, "we've got to move fast if we're going to defeat Anzana and save Lord Hugo." There was another screach from the hawks. Patrick turned away from me to stare up in the sky and that's when I finally saw that his tail was nearly gone! "Patrick!" I cried. "What hapened to your tail?"
Patrick waved a tiny paw in dismissal. "Oh, it's nothing, Dave, it just got stepped on. I'll tell you what happened later, but don't worry, I'll be able to restore it."
I nodded, but still worried over what had happened to my little friend. There was another cry from the hawks. "Oh damn, in all this commotion, I nearly forgot, what about that antidote for the hawks?"
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Oct 21, 2008 2:17:15 GMT -4
"Dave, it's too late. Sedgewick and Van Horne were captured. Van Horne was..." he gulps, not able to finish the sentence "...and Sedgewick has been taken captive. We must focus on Lord Hugo now. It's our only chance."
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Post by littlefella on Oct 21, 2008 19:51:30 GMT -4
I gasped at the news about Gen. Van Horne and Sedgewick. While Patrick hadn't finished the sentence, I could only assume the worst. My lower lip started to tremble and I could feel the tears forming. Everything seemed to be going wrong, what with Lord Hugo, his family, Anazana, the mansion. Even with an adult mind, I was very much feeling like the young boy that I was.
I felt a tiny paw gently patting my cheek. "There, there, Dave. We'll be all right," Patrick squeaked. "I know how bleak things look, but Lord Hugo's a lot craftier than Anzana realizes. I'm sure he's got something cooked up for her. But we still have to get him to where he can use his powers again. And with all the guests around here, we're bound to be able to do that. Anzana's not good enough to get all of us." I looked at the tiny mouse in my hands. He was grinning at me, looking full of self-confidence. I don't know if he felt as assured as he looked, but it was enough to lift my spirits. I smiled back and nodded. "But what can we do?" I asked, completely at a loss as to what to do next.
Patrick scratched his chin. "I'm not sure. I have a few ideas, a few transformation spells, and there are certain potions that I could brew up that would be helpful..." he said, his squeaky voice trailing off.
"How long would it take you to make them? Turn me into a mouse and I'll help you make them in your lab," I said.
Patrick shook his head. "I don't have the recipes."
"You don't?" I exclaimed. "Then how are you going to make them?"
Patrick looked a bit uncomfortable at that question. "Well....I...I might have spent some extra time in Lord Hugo's private magic library when he thought it was locked."
I gave the mouse a puzzled look. "But how did you do that?"
Patrick rubbed his paws together, looking extremely embarrassed. "Wellllll, I might have gnawed a small hole in one of the corners of the room."
I couldn't help but grin at the mouse's indiscretion. "Patrick," I said as I lifted his chin with my fingertip, "Maybe you shouldn't have done that without Lord Hugo knowing, but if this can help save him, his family, us guests and the mansion, I don't think he'll mind." Patrick grinned, looking a little reassured. "But how are we going to get to the mansion? I've no idea where we are in the maze," I said.
"Not to worry, my young friend," squeaked Patrick. "I'm as familiar with the routes of this maze as I am the back of my paw. Between my memory and my sense of smell, I'll have us back at the mansion in no time." He then lifted his head and sniffed the air, turning around in my hand. He then stopped and pointed toward the far end of the lane we were in. "That way," he squeaked.
I took off at a run, Patrick's s arms wrapped around my thumb. He'd sniff and then guide me down the various left and right turns of the maze. I tried to remember all the twists and turns, but there were so many of them that I soon just gave up.
We finally arrived at the exit of the maze, the mansion seemingly looking as peaceful as always. I started to continue on to the mansion when Patrick let out a sharp squeak. "No, Dave! Don't go any further!" "It's too dangerous for you go as a human. You're too big, you'll be spotted easily," Patrick replied.
I grinned, expecting what Patrick had in mind. "Time for me to turn into a mouse again?"
Patrick chuckled and nodded. "Go to the head of the class, my boy. For that you get a piece of cheese." Patrick seemed to pull a hunk of his special brand of cheese from nowhere. I picked up the slice, lowered Patrick to the ground, and popped the hunk of cheddar into my mouth and swallowed. There was the familiar tingle, and in no time at all I was soon shrinking and growing a nice coat of light brown fur, whiskers, and a long tail. I was soon no bigger than Patrick, in fact a little smaller than him, due to my being a young mouse, having just been a young human.
Patrick and I ducked under the hedges and peered around cautiously. It seemed that all was clear, no sign of anyone. With a squeak, Patrick rushed out from under the hedges, making a dash for the mansion, with me right behind him.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Oct 24, 2008 12:43:26 GMT -4
Meanwhile, Anzana picks up the rat and hisses through her teeth.
"Well, It looks like you've been a world of help to me, Giovanni. Currently your dis-loyalty to the Prosperio's is the only reason I haven't done away with you myself. I want you to find them...and take no prisoners...KILL THEM!
She threw him into the distance, and stared into the sky.
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Post by littlefella on Nov 3, 2008 21:01:05 GMT -4
I followed closely after Patrick. Even though the grass was cut short, it did get in the way of my view of the mansion, especially since we were both running on all fours in order to go as fast as possible. I would guess that Patrick and I were halfway to the mansion. We didn't dare stop, we just ran as fast as we could, not daring to stop until we'd reached the relative safety of the Lord Hugo's home. We were both panting heavily, intent on ourir goal when suddenly from overhead came a tiny, squeak that rapidly came closer and closer. Patrick and I both stopped short, as the squeak came to a sudden and abrupt halt when Giovanni thumped on the ground.
We stared in shock at the baby rat that lay scant inches from us on the ground. Patrick and I stood stock still, both of us ready to pounce in case Giovanni tried something. Even if he was a baby rat, we were certain he was still plenty dangerous. We weren't at all sure what he still might be capable of, even if he was so young. Still, Patrick was apparently as disgusted as I was at Anazana's treatment of him. "That cruel bitch," Patrick muttered under his breath. "Throwing a baby animal like that, even if it is Giovanni."
Giovanni had remained still, the only sign of movement that we could see was coming from his tiny chest as it rose and fell with his breathing. I was about to ask Patrick what we should do with the little rat when we both hear a very, tiny, sob. "It not fair!" squeaked the young Giovanni. "I twied, I did twy. But Anzana no good. She wied to me, she not care foah me. I was wong to twust her. I was wong to betway Ward Oogo. Now I just widdle wat, and I can't make potions, and I, I miss Cindy!" Giovanni gave into his sobbing as he lay on the grass.
To be honest, I couldn't help feel sorry for the little guy, even after nearly getting eaten by him. But he looked and sounded so pitiful it just about broke my heart. Could he have really changed, I wondered. I looked over to Patrick. It was tough reading his expression. "Well, what do you think?" I squeaked.
Patrick was silent for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders. "Damned if I know for sure, Dave. I'd like to believe him, but..."
I nodded as we both looked at the still sobbing baby rat. "Yeah, I'm not sure either. But what do we do? If he's telling the truth we just can't leave him here. One of the hawks is liable to get him."
Patrick looked around. "Hang on," he squeaked as he took off racing toward a nearby rose bush. "I've got one of my potions nearby here. We can make him a little easier to take care of until all this is settled with Anzana, and then figure out if he's really changed his ways."
"But what if he tries anything?" I squeaked as Patrick was just about to disappear into the bushes. "What do I do then?"
"Whatever it takes!" He squeaked from the bushes.
I looked back at the tiny rat that lay scant inches away from me. "Whatever it takes," I muttered, feeling a cold chill in my blood. "That takes in a lot of options." One in particular sprang to mind, one that I didn't like at all.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Nov 8, 2008 21:56:30 GMT -4
"You must believe me..." he says, somehow sounding convincing, despite your heated past with the former cat. "Getting involved with Anzana was a large mistake, I see that now!" he squeaks.
You stare at him, your eyes judging every single inch of him, trying to decide what to believe.
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Post by littlefella on Nov 10, 2008 21:02:04 GMT -4
I made no reply, not knowing whether to believe the little rat or not. After a moment Giovanni turned his face back to the ground, and his tiny, muffled, squeaky sobs started again.
"You tried to eat me," I finally said after a few seconds. "It makes it tough for me to believe you."
Giovanni nodded his small head. "I know. I sorry, Dave. I...I know I a bad cat. I...I just so jealous of Patwick. I let it get to me. Dave...I really am sorry!" His sobbing increased.
If he was acting, it was one of the best jobs I'd ever seen. Yet, all he was doing was sobbing, no sudden moves, no attacks. Maybe he was telling the truth? Or was this a distraction? I tore my gaze from Giovanni's sobbing form and looked around nervously. Nothing, not even any unusual sounds. I turned my attention to the baby rat, still not sure what to believe.
"Well, did he try anything?" Patrick squeaked as he returned, running. The mouse was panting heavily as he carried a small bottle of some potion, and a very small plastic bottle with several small holes in it. A loop of string was tied to the top of it.
"Not a thing," I answered. "I'm just as puzzled as to trust him as I was when you left. What'd you find?"
"Something that should at least keep him from causing trouble if he hasn't changed," Patrick said as he cast a glance Giovanni's way. "I found this shrinking potion, like I'd hoped I would, under the rose bush. This will make our little friend here the size of a little bug. When he's shrunk, I'll place him in this bottle, and keep it around my neck."
"Where'd you find it?" I asked, pointing to the bottle.
"Under the rose bush as well. A mouse sometimes like to drink water from a container, you know."
I didn't, but it didn't seem worth mentioning to Patrick, at least not now.
Giovanni had looked up at us. There was no look of panic, no attempt to make a break for it. If anything, he looked resigned to being made even smaller. "Go ahead," he said with a tiny sigh. "Shwink me. I deserve it."
Patrick and I looked at each other in amazement. Then, pulling out the stopper, Patrick poured the contents over the baby rat. Instantly Giovanni started to shrink, and in seconds he wasn't much bigger than an ant. Carefully Patrick lifted Giovanni up by the tail and then put him into the bottle. Closing it, he slipped the loop around his neck. "Okay, that's done. Come on, Dave, now we really have to haul our tails!"
We both dropped to all fours and again started running as fast as we could toward the mansion.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Nov 10, 2008 22:22:11 GMT -4
Elsewhere in the Maze, Anzana felt a disturbance, something in the air.
"That little rat...he's betrayed me!" she shouts.
----
As you ran to the mansion, you run through a hedge, only to be stopped cold by a brick wall. Patrick gasps.
"She's closed off the maze. The inhabitants are trapped!"
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Post by littlefella on Nov 13, 2008 21:06:23 GMT -4
I stared at the wall. It was solid brick, with not a crack that small enough for a flea to get through. Though if there was, I wouldn't have been at all surprised if Patrick had a potion that could turn us into fleas. But in any case, that would not have done us any good.
"What do we do now?" I squeaked to Patrick. "We've got to get in there! Lord Hugo's in there somewhere. We have to get to his library and find some magic that might free him."
Patrick didn't reply. He just stared at the maze, lost in thought. Then he slapped his tiny paw to his forehead. "Damn! How could I have been so foolish!" he squeaked. "That bitch must have Lord Hugo somewhere hidden deep within the maze. She probably thinks that's his source of power," Patrick said as he dropped back to all fours and started racing down one of the maze lanes.
"Is it?" I squeaked as I likewise dropped to all fours and ran after him.
"No idea," Patrick replied as we ran through the grass. "Not one of those things I felt I could ask Lord Hugo, and he's never told me."
We ran down several lanes, turning left and right. I was completely baffled where we were going. After a few minutes we finally had to come to a stop and get a chance to catch our breath. As we stood panting I looked at the small bottle holding Giovanni. He seemed perfectly fine. It was hard to read the exrpression on his face, he was so tiny, but it seemed he was as anxious as Patrick and I to get to Lord Hugo.
Finally having enough breath to speak again, I asked Patrick, "Just where are we going?"
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Nov 18, 2008 21:40:47 GMT -4
"This way, Grasshopper." he says jokingly as he scurries, the tiny rat bouncing on his chest. The hedges fly by as you run through them until you reach the foot of a very large man.
"Figured I'd find you here!" Patrick yelled up.
"Ah, Patrick, my boy. It's nice to see you again..." says the kind voice of...Jonathan Prosperio.
"and who is this?" he says referring to you.
Patrick elbows you "No need to be shy."
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