PORTKEY TO THE REALM
A 'HARRY POTTER' (MARAUDER-ERA) &
'DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS' (CARTOON)
CROSSOVER FANFICTION
Disclaimer:
"Dungeons and Dragons" is owned by Marvel Productions, TSR Entertainment, Inc., and Toei Animation. "Harry Potter" (of course,) is owned by J. K. Rowling. I do not own any of the characters named in my story from "Dungeons and Dragons," "Harry Potter," or any of the other TV shows, or books, or movies, or games(!) referenced in this story. This is only a hobby that I am doing for fun.
I hope this is sufficient for a fanfiction disclaimer!
Historian's Note:
This story is set in Season 2 of "Dungeons And Dragons," after "The Traitor," and before "Child of a Stargazer," circa. 1985. It intersects with the "Potterverse," during the "Marauder Era," circa. June 1976.
Chapter One,
In which The Young Ones (once again,) almost get home.
"Well done, My Pupils," said Dungeon Master. The small wizard beamed with pride sprinkled with a touch of relief. "You have acquired the Traveler's Talisman, and now you have the means to return home! And do not worry about Uni. She shall have a good home in the Valley of the Unicorns thanks, in no small part, to you!"
"Well, it's about time, DM," said Eric. "And to think that we only had to deal with a castle full of vampires this time!" As soon as he spoke, Eric braced himself for one of Diana's trademark snarky comebacks, but it did not come. Instead, the Acrobat took a step closer to the Cavalier and gently touched his arm. That one bloodsucker nearly made a snack of Diana . . . .
"Thank you, Dungeon Master," said Hank. The blonde teenager studied the golden medallion that was their promised ticket home. "So this talisman only works once every three-hundred years?"
"That is correct, Ranger," said Dungeon Master. "Although, it would be more accurate to say that it works twice every three-hundred years. So as to give the current user a way "there," and a way "back." Should any one of you desire to return to The Realm . . . ."
"No thank you, Dungeon Master!" said Sheila. The Thief put her arm around her little brother's shoulder, and the Barbarian looked up at her, smiling. "I think that we've had our fun!"
""Fun" is not the word that I would choose to describe the last few years!" said Eric.
"So how do we use the Traveler's Talisman, Dungeon Master?" said Presto.
"You merely tell it where, and when you want to be," said Dungeon Master. "And it shall open the way for you! Simply hold it up, let it go, and request your destination!"
Hank held up the golden medallion as he would hold a steering wheel, and let it go. To everyone's wonder, it hovered in place where Hank had been holding it seconds before. "We want to go home," said Hank, clearly. "We want to go to Loonyland Amusement Park on Earth. The same day we first came to The Realm; an hour after the park closes for the day."
At Hanks instructions, the disk grew larger, producing a hole in the air big enough to walk through without stooping. And on the other side was the platform of the park's Dungeons and Dragons ride, where it had all began.
The park was quiet and deserted, though the lights were still on. It was exactly what Hank had hoped for. The last thing that he wanted was for everyone to suddenly appear through a hole in the air amid a large group of park goers. If all went well, the only people they would run into would be the maintenance crews cleaning up at the end of the day, or maybe a security guard on the lookout for "stragglers."
Hank allowed himself a smile at the thought of what the poor security guard's report would probably say, (". . . found six kids in "LARP outfits." Escorted same to exit.") "Alright, everyone," said Hank, taking a deep breath. "Let's . . . ."
"WAIT!!!" Dungeon Master did not expect or want to say the word that came out of him like a hiccup, surprising even himself. A change in the situation suddenly flooded his mind with images that spun and swirled before coalescing into a truly frightening vision of a newborn reality. "DO NOT STEP THROUGH! CLOSE THE TALISMAN!! YOU WILL STILL HAVE BOTH PROMISED USES IF YOU CLOSE IT NOW!!!"
Hank found his voice first. "What is it, Dungeon Master?"
"C-close the Talisman, Ranger . . . !" gasped Dungeon Master, his face ashen.
Hank obeyed, but not before taking one last look at home through the portal before it once again shrunk to its original size. Something was different. The ride platform was still there, but looked worn and neglected and the lights were all off . . . .
"OK, DM!" said Eric. "Why can't we go home this time, hmmmm? Does Venger want to throw us a going-away party? Does Tiamat want to wish us off?"
"Eric, please . . . ," said Diana, shaking her head in frustration.
"I am truly sorry, My Pupils," said Dungeon Master. He fought to get the necessary words out, fearful that he may accidentally reveal too much. "There has been a . . . change. A change in circumstances that I could not possibly have foreseen. A change that will profoundly effect both of our worlds, unless it is made right as soon as possible!"
"What kind of change, Dungeon Master?" said Hank.
But Dungeon Master seemed on the verge of having a seizure as he attempted to collect his thoughts and present them in a manner that would not make a bad situation even worse. "Two more young ones . . . like yourselves, but not like yourselves . . . ."
"Aw, man!" said Eric. "Here come the riddles!"
"ERIC!" said all the others simultaneously. The Cavalier immediately shut up, though his scowl remained.
". . . have arrived in The Realm by accident!" continued Dungeon Master. "And before you are able to return home, you must aid them in returning home as soon as possible! For you may not return home yourselves until they have gotten home first!"
"That doesn't make any sense," said Eric, unable to remain silent any longer. "Not to mention being incalculably unfair!"
"Eric's right!" said Bobby, fighting back tears. The Barbarian threw down his club in frustration, making the ground shake. "They just got here and we gotta get them home first. B-but we've been here for so long!"
"Bobby's right!" said Sheila. "This isn't fair!"
"Please try to understand," pleaded Dungeon Master. "If only there was another way that you could go home now, I would not have stopped you! It is imperative that they go home before you do!"
"Can't we take them home with us?" said Presto.
"They must return the way they came," said Dungeon Master, weighing his words carefully. "But you must help them find it. Then, you are free to use the Traveler's Talisman to return to your own home. It remembers the instructions that you gave it, Ranger. And will open to that very place the next time you invoke its power."
"Can't you just give us a straight answer, for once?" said Eric. "I say that we should just go home now and let these "New Ones" find their own way back!"
"If you do that, Cavalier," said Dungeon Master sagely. "Then you will find, to your dismay, that you shall return to a world that is no different from the world that you are trying to flee!"
"What's that supposed to mean?!?!" said Eric.
"What do we do, Dungeon Master?" said Hank
"Help the New Ones find their way home!" said Dungeon Master. "But make haste! Venger knows that you have the Traveler's Talisman, and he has sent a patrol of orcs to find you, and stop you! Unfortunately, the orcs have found the New Ones instead! And no harm must come to either of them, especially the girl! Now hurry! The New Ones are on the other side of that hill!"
Hank turned to look at the others, silently polling their expressions. And when he turned back to where Dungeon Master had been, the small wizard was gone.
"C'mon!" said Hank. He gestured with his bow, and the others followed him to the top of the hill.