The same story as before, just revised and improved.

Jacqueline really loathed these daily patrols. Nothing ever happens while they were protecting the country side. Even if there were rumors of people and animals behaving in strange ways in this area, today was a slow day.

"Did you find anything Ramon?" Jacqueline asked, remembering to lower her voice. Because of the strange rumors, Captain Duval had requested that all four friends patrol together in hopes of finding anything useful.

"No, nothing. Though I saw D'Artagnan a few minutes ago, and he said that he thought he saw something. He hasn't reported back, so I would guess he didn't find anything either," Ramon spoke.

"Hey everyone, I think you might want to take a look at this!" They heard D'Artagnan's voice a little ways off. Heading off in the direction of his voice, they wondered what their comrade had in store for them.

"I just found him, lying by the side of the road. He's unconscious, but his breathing and heartbeat seem normal," D'Artagnan said from the ground, cradling an old man's head in his lap. The other musketeers gathered around, trying to assess what was wrong with the man.

Suddenly, his eyes opened wide. He stared at the group of men, then became almost mesmerized by Jacqueline. She looked back confused, feeling almost as if the man could see into her soul. Then he opened his mouth, and a raspy sound came out. "Niag an amo wae botwoh reh ach et regn uo yeht mor fngiht onr ebm eme rl liwu oye getnes erp ro uyot nru ter uoyd luohs sya de erferac otnrut erregn uo yemo ceb nem gnuoyn oisufn ocdnar aef fom itciv reht onaha." The musketeers stared in confusion.

"What did you say?" Ramon asked, as his voice cracked. His beard began to get progressively thinner, until it disappeared all together.

The old man was ignored as the musketeers stared at their comrade. "What's happening to you?" D'Artagnan asked his friend, his voice significantly higher than normal. He also noticed that the ground seemed to be coming up to greet him.

"I think the old man put some sort of spell on us," Siroc inferred. His clothes were hanging off of him as he grew shorter and smaller.

"Sorcery! Witchcraft!" Jacqueline shouted, still the same as she was earlier. She scanned the area, looking for the man, but he had managed to disappear without a trace. When she turned back to her companions, she was shocked at what she saw.

D'Artagnan struggled to lift his sword, now twice as tall as him. Ramon looked at around quizzically, his thumb in his mouth, holding his jacket to him like a lifesaver. Siroc examined himself and his child-like comrades, still trying to unravel this mystery.

"Jacques, why aren't you little too?" Siroc asked the young woman.

"Uh, well..." Jacqueline didn't have a reply for the child inventor.

"Hungwy," Ramon said around his thumb. Jacqueline looked at the children in slight fear. What was she going to do? Captain Duval would be furious if he found out his best musketeers were now barely old enough to lift a sword.

"Jacqueline, can we go back home now? I'm tired," D'Artagnan gazed up at her, not realizing what he said.

"Jacqueline!" Siroc looked shocked. Ramon just looked at Jacqueline with his head tilted slightly to the side.

Jacqueline sighed. This was going to take a lot of explaining. "Well, yes. I am a woman. But now, the more important thing is for you three to find a place to hide. Captain Duval won't be happy with any of us until we get you back to normal."

"I'll get started right away with an antidote," Siroc replied. "To the garrison!" Then Siroc tried to mount his horse, but it was no use when he could barely reach the horse's back, let alone climb onto it.

"Here, let me help you." Jacqueline got young Siroc and D'Artagnan situated on their horses, then looked at Ramon. "I think you are a little too young to ride by yourself," she determined.

"Up." Ramon lifted his arms into the air, indicating he wanted to ride with Jacqueline. She sat him in the saddle, then climbed up next to him. As she grabbed her horse's, as well as Ramon's horse's, reins, the toddler snuggled down into Jacqueline's lap. "Mama," he whispered.

Jacqueline was startled, but gave a slight smile. Maybe this could be fun after all.