Chapter 9:
Soon the kids stood before their families.
"Hey, mom.", Ricky said to his mother.
"Oh! My poor little, Ricky!", Helen Smith said as she knelt down and hugged her son tight.
"Mom! I'm okay.", Ricky said as his mother continued to hug him. "I'm still a teenager. I'm just my body that changed."
"I'm sorry honey.", Helen said as she stopped hugging her son. "It's just that seeing you like this has me worried about you."
"It's okay.", Ricky said. "Not to sound rude, but why are you here anyway?"
"Well, John called me and told me that something happened.", Eric Smith said. "So I got your mother, brothers, and grandfather and came to his place through a fold."
"Once we got there, Mr. Vanders told us what happened.". Hank Smith. "I still find it hard to believe."
"Tell me about it.", Ricky said.
"Well the I see it, I'm the big brother now, little bro.", Luke Richards said with a grinned as he ruffled Ricky's hair.
"Hey!", Ricky said as he pushed Luke's hand away. "Knock it off, Luke!"
"Quit picking on your brother, Luke.", Charlie Smith said.
"Yes, sir.", Luke said as he saw the stern look his grandfather gave him.
"Thanks, Gramps.", Ricky said.
"Anytime, buddy.", Charlie said with a wink as he patted his grandson on the head, which was something Ricky kind of missed when he was younger.
"Hey guys.", Sho said to his family.
"This is just weird.", Mai Ling said as she looked down at her brother.
"Tell me about it.", Sho said. "I'm just glad that Mr. Vanders had some clothes that fit."
"Don't worry, son.", June Ling said as she knelt down to face her son. "I'm sure that you'll be back to normal soon."
"Well, we're hoping that when we transform again, it'll reverse all of this.", Sho said.
"Well until then, take some time to relax and have some fun.", Yoh Ling. "One doesn't get the chance at reliving there childhood."
"Never thought about it like that.", Sho said.
"Well, no matter what happens, you're still my big brother.", Mai said as she hugged her brother.
"Thanks, Sis.", Sho said as he returned the hug.
"Scott!", Julie and Jeff said as they hugged their brother.
"It's okay you two!", Scott said as he was being hugged by his little brother and sister. "You can let me go now!"
"Sorry.", they said once they saw they were hugging him to hard.
"Are you going to like this forever?", Julie asked.
"I don't think so.", Scott said. "We'll find a way to get back to normal.
Jeff then looked to see Taranee standing with her parents.
"Is that you, Taranee?", Jeff asked as he walked up to her.
"Hi, Jeff.", Taranee said with a small wave.
"This is wierd.", Jeff said.
"On that we both agree.", Taranee said.
"Well, at least your kids and not babies.", Tim O'Flannery said.
"I hear you there.", Scott said.
"Me too.", Carol O'Flannery said. "Cause I wasn't in the mood for changing diapers."
"You know you would of brought them if we needed them.", Kevin O'Flannery laughed.
"Oh hush, you!". Carol said as she playfully slapped her husbands arm.
"Any idea how long it will be until, you all can transform?", Rosseta Fernandaz asked her little brother.
"No idea.", Tommy said. "But when the time comes, we'll be ready to go kick Targas's butt!"
"Well, be careful when you go after him.", Maria Fernandaz said. "I want you back in one piece."
"Your mother's right, Tommy.", Roberto Fernandaz said. "We don't want to lose you."
"I'll be careful, dad.", Tommy said. "You and mom raised me to well."
"That we did, son.", Roberto Fernandaz said with a proud smile.
Maria then knelt down and hugged her son.
"I love you too, mom.", Tommy said as he returned the hug.
As they pulled away from each other, Tommy turned to watch what Cornelia and Lillian, hoping that everything would be okay.
"So can you and Sho really make flower grow?", Lillian asked as she looked at her sister.
"Um... yeah.", Cornelia said with a small smile. "I can move the earth, rocks, sand and anything else that involves the earth."
"Wow!", Lillian said. "So, how long are you going to be like this?"
"I don't know.", Cornelia asked. "But once we can transform we'll go kick Targas's butt and undo what we did to us."
"Oh.", Lillian said with a sad look on her face.
"What's wrong, Lillian?", Cornelia asked her sister.
"Weeeeell, I was hoping that we could have a tea party.", Lillian said as she pressed her index fingers together.
"Hmmm.", Cornelia said pretending to think. "I think we can have a nice little tea party."
"Really?", Lillian questioned being hopeful.
"What do you say, Elyon?", Cornelia asked her best friend.
"I think we arrange a little something.", Elyon said with a smile.
A bright and happy smile grew on Lillian's face as she jumped up and down.
"Tea party! Tea party! We're gonna have a tea party!", Lillian sang.
"Calm down, Lillian.", Elizabeth said with a grin as she placed her hands on her daughter's shoulder. "Let's wait and see who else wants join in as well."
"Okay.", Lillian said.
"Let's wait and see what happens between Irma and Chris.", Cornelia said. "She may need some support if things go wrong."
Nodding in agreement, Lillian and Cornelia looked towards Irma and Chirs as they stood there looking at each other neither saying a word. Until...
"So does this make me the older one now?", Chris asked.
"No!", Irma said. "I'm still older than you!"
"But I'm taller!", Chris countered.
"So!", Irma said. "I'm still a teenager! It's my body that was made younger!"
"Oh boy!", Tom said with a tiring sigh.
"I was afraid this was going to happen.", Anna said.
Again there was silence between the two. But then Chris remembered what he was told about his sister.
"So can you really make ice?", he questioned being a bit skeptical.
"Yes.", Irma said. "But seeing as I'm like this, it's not going to happen."
"Can you really fly?", he asked.
"Yes, but only when I transform.", Irma said. "You know, I'm amazed that you haven't tried to pick on me, seeing as I'm like this."
"Dad said not to.", Chris said.
"That's good.", Irma said. "Cause I'd kick your butt if you tried."
"Would not!", Chris said.
"Would to!", Irma said.
"Would not!", Chris said as they faced each other.
"Would to!", Irma said as they were face to face.
Chris then grabbed Irma in a headlock and began to give her some noogies.
"Let go!", Irma yelled.
"Say I'm tougher!", Chris demanded.
"NO!", Irma yelled as she punched Chris in his stomach making him release Irma from his headlock.
"This is about to get good!", Ricky said.
"Oh yeah!", Scott said.
Irma and Chris glared at each other as they stood a few feet away from each other. Anna, knowing what was going to happen next, decided to end this.
"Christopher and Irma Lair!", Anna yelled. "You two stop this ri..."
"Let them go, Anna.", Tom said as he placed a hand on her shoulder."
"But...", Anna began to say.
"You and I both know that this has been a long time coming.", Tom said. "Might as well be now, then when they're both adults and may end up in jail for what ever damage they may cause."
"Aaaaaaah!", Irma yelled as she ran at Chris.
"Aaaaaaah!", Chris yelled as she ran at Irma.
And that's when the fight between the two Lair children began as they tumbled around on the ground punching and kicking each other.
"Wow!", Cornelia said as she watced the fight go on. "I knew it was bad between Irma and Chris. But not this bad."
"Yeah.", Lillian said in agreement as she watched the fight.
"We should of gotten this on camera!", Angelo said.
"Totally!", Will said in agreement.
Suddenly, Irma bit Chris! Seeing this made Hay Lin gasp as she put her hand over her mouth.
"Ow!", Chris yelled. "You bit me!"
"So!", Irma said as they tumbled around.
Chris then bit Irma back!
"Ow!", Irma yelled as they kept on fighting. "Why you little brat!"
"You're the little brat!", Chris yelled as he and his sister continued their little bout.
"It should be over soon.", John said.
"How can you tell?", Elyon asked.
"Well, for one, they kids.", Kevin O'Flannery said with a grin.
"Plus, they're about to tire themselves out, from all the fighting.", Tom said with a grin of his own.
And you know what? He was right. Chris and Irma were laying on the grass with their arms and legs spread out panting heavily, and sweating.
"I would of... beaten you, but... I was holding... back.", Irma said between pants.
"Same... here.", Chris said between pants. "You're... my sister... after... all!"
"Oh brother.", Anna said while rolling her eyes.
Irma and Chris then sat up and turned to look at each other. They both had a few scratched here and there. Their hair was a mess, and their clothes were dirty. After seeing the state they each were in. They could do only one thing. They both smiled at each other. They then began to giggle a little. The giggling soon turned into laughter. Seeing this made Tom and Anna smile, happy that things were okay. Soon the laughing died down as they looked at each other.
"Truce?", Irma asked as she looked at Chris.
"Truce.", Chris said as they shook hands which soon turned into a hug.
"Aaaaaaaaw!", everyone said as they watched the scene between the two siblings.
"Aw, shut up!", Irma and Chris said as they stood up.
"I'm glad you two got that out of your system.", Tom said. "Hopefully you two will learn to get along better."
"Yes, sir.", Irma and Chris said smiling.
"Look at you two.", Anna said as she tried to brush some of the dust off of their clothes. "Your clothes are all dirty and wrinkled."
"Allow me Mrs. Lair.", Elyon said as she walked up to them.
Elyon then pointed her finger at Irma and Chris and shot a beam of energy at them. Seconds later their clothes were clean and wrinkle free and their hair wasn't a mess.
"That should do it.", Elyon said.
"Thanks, Elyon.", Irma said.
"Remember when Angelo and Will got into fights?", Susan asked John.
"Do I?", John said with a grin. "I remember one time when Will gave Angelo a black eye."
"No way!", Cornelia said smiling after hearing what John said.
"Get out!", Ricky said.
"Will gave you a black eye?", Irma questioned. "Bwa, ha, ha, ha!"
"Hey!", Angelo said. "It was a lucky punch!"
"Lucky my butt!", Will said with a smirk. "I decked you head on! And I can do it again!"
"Bring it on, Red Pest!", Angelo said as he turned to face Will.
"You're going down, Angel-Not!", Will said as they both took a fighting stance.
"Looks like we get to see another fight.", Scott said.
But before Angelo and Will could do anything, John grabbed Angelo, while Susan grabbed Will.
"Chill out you two!", John said.
"Yes, sir.", Angelo and Will said with their heads down.
"The last thing we need is another fight!", Susan said as she let Will go and John let Angelo go. "Now with that settled, I suggest we have some fun."
"What kind of fun?", Hay Lin asked with a raised eyebrow.
Susan smiled as she pulled out a digital camera. Seeing that made the kids groan with frustration.
"We can take all kinds of pictures!", June Ling said happily.
"And this baby can take a lot of pictures.", Susan said which made the mothers smile.
"Looks like you were right, Irma.", Scott said.
"Wish I wasn't.", Irma said with a heavy sigh.
"What did I tell you.", Ricky said as he threw his hands up.
"You called it, Ricky.", Taranee said.
"Might as well go along with it, kids.", John said as he saw that they didn't want to do it. "Think of it like this. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll get done."
"He has a point.", Angelo said.
"Then let's get this over with.", Scott said.
"Besides, it might be fun!", Hay Lin said with a smile as she grabbed Angelo's hand and pulled him along.
The others soon went along with it, knowing it would make their parents happy. But as that was going on, Targas was in the Shadow Realm finishing making the last of his Shadow Creatures that would attack Meridian.
"And with this one done, I'm ready to attack Meridian.", Taragas said. "And if my plan works, there will be no one around to protect those little brats!"
Taragas then opened a fold to Metamoor and went through it along with his Shadow Creatures. Once through the fold, Targas looked down at the village that was close to the palace.
"This will do nicely.", Taragas said as his forces continued to come through the fold. "And with the extra surprise I added to my Shadow Creatures, the queen will have a hard time heading back to her palace to help her friends."
Targas then stood there and waited for the right moment to strike. For he had to do this right, if he wanted the power he wanted.
"Soon, Kandrakar shall be all mine.", Targas said as a smirk played to his face. "And with that the Known Worlds shall be mine!"
Targas then let out a sinister laugh thinking his plans would bring him the power he craved.
A/N: Let's be honest folks. That fight between Irma and Chris was a long time coming! But in the end, they got a little closer. Now the parents want to take pictures of the kids. That should be fun. But Targas is on the move! And that spells trouble for our little heroes! Let's hope that the Council of Kandrakar can finish what ever it is they're doing in time.
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