Magic is Complicated 4
"Really? King Tut gave the okay?"
A week later Larry was satisfied that Jedediah had recovered enough to allow him to drive the RC again. At the same time Ahkmenrah has given Mau good news.
"Yes, Ahk thinks enlarging you and Octavius using the amulet won't be harmful."
"He thinks it won't?" Octavius was of course reluctant because of the few occasions spells had gone wrong.
"Octy, it won't be like the spell castin' we did before. We just hold on to ya and grow back to our normal size. It's as easy as fallin' of a log." Skye said comfortingly to his boyfriend.
Jed drew himself up and put a hand on Octavius' shoulder, "Tell ya what… I'll go first just to show ya it's safe."
"Jedediah…"
Jed already stepped back and took Mau's hand. Before Octavius could object further she was already growing back to her normal size with Jed steadily growing as well, once Mau was her normal height she let go of Jed's hand. It had worked except…
Jed was still growing in height rapidly.
In a short time his head was already touching the ceiling. It was clear in his eyes he was alarmed as he had to bend over to keep his head from being pressed against the hard surface above.
"Dang it! Stop this or I'll be crushed to death by the roof over my head!"
Mau grabbed his leg shrinking back down to miniature size. Jed began to shrink down as well, all except for his clothes. Jed stopped shrinking at a normal human size of about 5 feet, 10 inches but he was buried in a mountain of clothes, topped off with his own hat.
"I have changed my mind… I don't wanna be a giant if I gotta put up with this craziness." The cowboys' dignity was ruffled by the sounds of laughter.
"Jed, I think I know what I did wrong." Mau pulled helped him out of the piles of clothes, keeping on his over-sized blue shirt to maintain some decency. "Go to the men's restroom. I will resize your clothes and you can redress."
After a few minutes they returned to Octavius and Skye who waited close by on a bench near the lobby.
"So what do ya think went wrong?" Asked Skye as he looked up at Jed and Mau.
"When we normally change size we just do it with what we have at hand concentrating on just changing size. I may have been focusing on Jedediah too much rather than size which may have confused the amulet."
"Sounds plausible and Jedediah is unharmed by the venture. I shall… Give it a try." Octavius reluctantly took Skye's hand.
"You don't have to ya know? If it makes ya feel uncomfortable…"
"Go ahead, my love. If Jedediah can endure the process then so can I." The Roman General smiled weakly but was clearly nervous.
With a sigh Skye began to focus on just growing in size as Mau said as he did they held onto each other as though they might be ripped a part. He stopped when he felt they were the right size, noticing Octavius also came out to 5 feet, 10 inches. Jumping off the bench all four walked out into the lobby.
"So this is what it's like to be a giant." Jed mused as he ran up and jumped onto Rexy's pedestal.
"I frankly see no purpose to being bigger Jedediah. If anything I find it disconcerting."
"That's where your wrong, Oct." Mau interjected. "After these attacks by Kahmunrah I realized that if he tried to return to the world of the living he might return here at the museum. We may have a battle on our hands if he does. That means it may help if some of the miniatures could be bigger."
"Ahh…"
"Also we can better protect our girls!" The blond leaped from the pedestal and scooped up a protesting Mau in his arms.
"I used to be a Roman soldier. I can protect myself!" Trying not to giggle as he kissed her neck and just behind Mau's right ear.
"A man shouldn't feel helpless when the one he loves is in danger." Supplied Jed sagely, ignoring the stares people gave up until someone said their names.
"Guys… Why are Jed and Octavius larger?" It was Larry, probably looking for Skye to find out why he wasn't helping keep an eye on the museum.
"Uh-"
"It is okay, Larry. I told them it was safe." Ahkmenrah was close having just returned from talking to the Huns about the up coming soccer match.
"That doesn't mean it's okay! I should have been told you were doing this."
"I'm sorry, Larry. We just thought it Kahmunrah attacked in full force we could use the help." Skye said, stepped forward to take the blame off the others.
"Yeah, well you know what? It may be a great idea but it was a bad idea that you didn't tell me. What if went wrong and I didn't know? Huh, did you think of that if your all so smart?"
They all shook their heads, they hadn't thought of the need to tell Larry.
Larry sighed, "Yeah, well now you know. Now you're going to return them to their normal size and return them to their dioramas. Octavius and Jedediah you two are to remain in your own dioramas for the next three nights. Mau and Skye you are banned from visiting the hall of miniatures for the next three nights."
All four gave Larry a dejected look, Jed putting Mau down knowing as the night guard he was entitled to punish them if they over stepped boundaries. Mau and Skye took their boyfriends' hands and shrunk them back down then returned to their own normal size to carry the two men back to their dioramas.
"I believe this what they call being 'grounded' is it not?" Octavius asked as he stepped down into Rome.
"Yes, it is Octy. It could have been worse though. Three nights a part will just make bein' together again all the more sweeter." Trying to be positive and romantic was a challenge for Skye but it still made the little General smile.
"Hey, I just remembered." Pulling something tiny from her pocket Mau handed tiny flowers to Jed. "We found some plastic flowers when we moved into the apartment left in a closet. Thought you could use them to decorate your new house."
"I'm supposed to be the one givin' ya flowers."
"Jed, in a normal relationship maybe you would be the one to give the flowers. But we have to make do with what we have and they were free. I would argue the point further but I think I hear Larry waiting outside. See you in a few days."
)*()*( NATM )*()*(
Mau quietly sulked as she stared at a few plastic flowers she kept turned real by the magic of the tablet.
They needed to know more about what the amulet could do anyway even if Larry objected. Because she just couldn't see why Kahmunrah had it made in the first place. It was meant to compliment the tablet's powers in some way according to Ahk but even he didn't know in what way.
When sunrise was about to come she went outside to wait for them to finish their shift and swore. In leaving the museum she was so caught up in her thoughts she forgot the flowers would turn to dust as soon as the sun rose. It was clearly too late as the first rays shone over the trees. Soon the plastic irises woul-
The sun touched the flowers but they remained the same, whole and still very much alive as the morning sun continued to shine on her and the flowers. It was suddenly so much clearer to Mau.
The amulet was not just for casting spells; it was so anyone brought to life by the tablet could walk in the daylight.
The End
