It was over. The danger was over. He'd won. He'd WON!
Eric picked it Kelvin's Crystal of Transmogrification, breathing heavily and feeling shaky with relief. I wonder who Kelvin was...? And how, he thought, regarding the little critters around him, am I going to get everyone back to normal again?
As if on cue, the crystal began to glow in his hands. Perhaps, if he imagined the proper shape of each kid...but which one's which? He looked to Uni questioningly. She pointed her horn at the chipmunk first, stamping her feet with excitement. "Mbobby, Mbobby!"
Please don't let me screw this up...
Blue light crackled and spit and a few blinding moments later, Bobby stood beside them, grinning ear to ear. "YOU DID IT!" Eric grinned too, until Bobby threw his arms around Uni's neck. "YOU DID IT, GIRL! WAY TO GO!"
"AHEM!" Eric cleared his throat, and Bobby burst into boyish giggles, pointing at him playfully.
"What? WHAT?"
"Venger was going to turn you into a TOAD!" He gasped.
"Huh? How can you tell?"
"LOOK!" Bobby held up the shield so Eric could see the green warts on his own nose. "Guess you weren't quick enough, haaaa-haaaa!"
It was suddenly as if the entire day had never happened, and Eric felt his hackles rising again. "Now listen, you ungrateful little-what was that?"
They both turned in time to see a fat bat swoop down out of the rafters and snap up a squeaking shrew. There were several agonizingly nasty moments of shrieking and crunching up in the shadows, then silence. The two boys looked at each other, thoroughly grossed out. "Eewww!" said Bobby, "Was that...was that Kelek?"
"I think it was..." Eric said, panic in his voice, as an ominous rumbling grew and shook the ground around them. The panic was echoed in the squeaks and peeps and chatters from their transmogrified friends, who huddled around Eric's feet in terror.
"Kelek's castle is sinking! What are we gonna do? Uni can't teleport us out this time!" Bobby gauged the distance to the only doorway, which was still blocked by a portcullis and panic-stricken wolves. "Eric, think of something!"
"Get under my shield!" Eric shouted, yanking Bobby's arm and pulling him close as the world came crashing down around them.
Silence.
Pitch blackness all around, but for the faint glow of the magic shield, all that stood between them and the tons of rubble above them.
"E-eric?" came Bobby's small voice. "How are w-we gonna get out of this?"
"Meh?" echoed Uni.
"Give me a minute to think..." Eric's arm was starting to grow tired. We got this far...surely DM wouldn't let us die here, he'll rescue us, right? "Do you have your club?"
"No...it's buried somewhere..." Bobby sounded very scared. "With the rest of the weapons...we'll never get through all those rocks..."
Eric suddenly thought of something that could. "Hey kid...how would you like to be a dragon for a little while?"
"ALLLL-RIIIGHT!"
Eric switched positions, supporting the shield with his back, feeling as if the weight of the world rested now on his shoulders. His legs were beginning to tremble now, sweat beading on his brow. He held the Crystal with both hands, aiming at the little boy before him. "Just remember to watch where you step, squirt!"