The Curse of Being Tiny
For a while now, Brighton was not very bright due to a lot of rain keeping everybody indoors. Luckily for Molly, her human best friend Libby had come to visit before the storm began. The two of them along with Molly's ghost best friend Scratch had just finished playing a board game in Molly's room.
"Yes. I win." Libby cheered.
However, Molly seemed to be a little out of it.
"Is something wrong, Molly?" Libby asked.
"Yeah, You're usually more energetic than this." Scratch said.
"Oh, sorry. I guess I just want something new to do." Molly said.
"I'm surprised you haven't tried to play in the rain." Scratch commented.
"I did that once." Molly said with a smile before frowning. "Then I got a cold the next day."
"I'm sure we can find something interesting to do." Libby said.
"Well I'm going to finish my snack stash." Scratch said as he shrank down to enter his personal house.
While the girls were putting the game away, Molly couldn't help looking at the house she gave to Scratch.
"Hey, Libby, do you ever wonder what it's like to be that small?" Molly asked.
"I've thought about it, but it makes me nervous." Libby said. "The idea of everything being out of your reach or even worse, getting stepped on is just too much."
"Well I think it would be lots of fun." Molly said.
Then she had an idea and quickly knocked on the roof of the dollhouse. Scratch instantly came out with an angry look.
"Don't do that!" he ranted. "It felt like an earthquake in there! Now what do you want?"
"Sorry, Scratch. I was just wondering if you would curse me again."
"What kind of curse are we talking about?" Scratch asked.
"I wanna be small enough to fit in your house like you." Molly said. "Just until the rain stops. Please."
"You know what? That actually sounds like fun. I'll do it!"
Scratch warped the room, became horrifying, and chanted his curse.
"AS LONG AS IT IS RAINING TODAY, YOU WILL BE NO BIGGER THAN THE DOLLS MEANT FOR MY MINIATURE HOUSE!"
Once the room and Scratch were back to normal, Molly felt funny. Then she slowly shrunk down, surprised by her own request. Soon enough, the shrinking stopped and Molly was now only a couple inches tall. She looked all around at her surroundings and was amazed by what she saw. The dollhouse looked like a real house, the floor was like a field of solid wood, and Libby looked like a giant in Molly's eyes.
"So, how does it feel?" Libby asked on her knees.
"It...feels..." Molly slowly grew a big smile. "AWESOME! You should try this, Libby."
"No thanks." Libby declined. "I'm fine just watching you being tiny."
"Haha, just call me 'Tiny McGee'." Molly said.
"Finally, an actual small person named Tiny." Scratch joked. "What a bunch of dumb parents. They don't know how to name anything."
Molly then ran to the dollhouse as excited as can be. She opened the door and went inside. Not much had changed on the inside since Scratch started using the house as his own private quarters. There were a few nautical decorations here and there and a picture of scratch on one of the walls. Molly sat on the couch and it was quite comfortable. Scratch then came in happy to see someone else in his gift house for a change.
"That's twice now that you've just barged into my home." Scratch joked again.
"Scratch!" Molly leapt up and hugged her spectral friend tight. "Thank you so much. I love this curse!"
"Of course you do." Scratch said with a smirk. "Wanna see the rest of the place?"
"Do I!?"
Scratch led Molly into the kitchen and dining room where a bunch of dishes had a spooky theme including his favorite coffee cup which read "If you've got it, haunt it". Then he took her upstairs where the bedrooms and bathroom were. Each room had a bit of his taste and was surprisingly tidy.
"Wow. You've been keeping this place clean." Molly said.
"I get bored sometimes, okay? Besides, I can't really take a bubble bath in a filthy tub."
Eventually, the tour ended in Scratch's master bedroom where Molly stuck her head out the window.
"Hi, bestie." she waved.
"Hi, Molly." Libby waved back.
Suddenly, a new idea popped into Molly's head. She raced downstairs and out the door all the way to right in front of Libby.
"Hey, Libby! Pick me up! Pick me up!" Molly said.
"Uh, okay." Libby placed her hand on the floor for Molly to get on.
"Not like that." Molly turned around and pointed to her back. "The way they do it in cartoons."
Libby found that odd, but she pinched the back of Molly's vest and lifted her up.
"Weeeeee! Hahahahaha. Ooh, now stand up and put me on your head."
Libby did as she was asked. Molly was amazed by her new point of view. The entire bedroom looked like a big valley from where she stood. Scratch then joined Molly atop Libby's head.
"Enjoying the view?"
"You bet I am. I dub this rock 'Mount Libby'!"
"Very funny, Molly." Libby said. "Can I put you back down now? You're starting to give me an itch."
"Oh, sure."
Libby raised her hand and this time Molly stepped onto it. Molly enjoyed the ride down as Libby lowered her hand to the floor. Molly hopped off and spun on one foot.
After scratching her itch, Libby giggled and said "I have to admit, Molly, you sure make that curse look like a lot of fun."
*GASP!* "Does that mean you wanna join?" Molly hoped.
"Um, well..." Libby stuttered.
"Well is close enough to a yes." Scratch said.
"What? Wait! No! Don't you dare!"
Scratch wasn't listening, so Libby tried to run. She wasn't fast enough.
"I HEREBY CAST THE EXACT SAME CURSE ON YOU, LIBBY STEIN-TORRES!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo..."
Just as Libby was about to reach the door, she shrunk down to Molly's current size. Then she looked around in horror, filling up with fear. She was so overwhelmed by how huge everything was that she could only do one thing.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Scratch!" Molly scolded.
"What? She was gonna take too long to make up her mind." Scratch defended.
Molly ran over to Libby to calm her down.
"Libby, it's okay. You're not in any danger. You're just small for a while. I'm right here. Just take a few deep breaths."
Libby listened and obeyed, calming down shortly afterwards.
"Thanks, Molly. I guess I'll just wait in the dollhouse."
"Nonsense. You said this looked fun, so let's have fun."
"How?"
"Follow me." Molly led Libby and Scratch to the side of her bed where a sheet was placed sloppily. "Good thing I forgot to make my bed today. Now let's climb."
Molly went first and made her way up with ease. Libby hesitated, but she started climbing too. She tried to catch up with Molly, but half way up, her hands slipped and she fell.
"Ahhhhh!"
"I gotcha!" Scratch caught Libby and carried her the rest of the way onto the bed where Molly had just arrived at.
"Thank you, Scratch." Libby said. "Now what, Molly?"
"Now we bounce." Molly jumped and when her feet landed, she sprang up again.
Libby understood and did the same thing. Even Scratch joined in on the fun. Over and over, the three of them bounced on the bed. It was like they had found the world's biggest trampoline meant only for them. For a while, that was all they did. Then Scratch's stomach growled.
"Chow time. Later, girls."
"Wait, Scratch!" Molly said. "Can you take us to the kitchen with you?"
"Sure thing." Scratch wrapped an arm around each girl, magically opened the door, and flew them out of the room.
Libby was nervous, but happy while Molly was having a ball. They flew past the other McGees and into the kitchen. Scratch put the girls down on the counter and phased into the fridge to raid it again. Molly and Libby explored the counter in the meantime. There were several dirty dishes, bowls, glasses, silverware, and other stuff on the counter and in the sink waiting to be washed. The girls ventured around them and found a bag of chocolate chips that somebody forgot to put away. Molly pulled out a chip and it looked like it was the size of a head of lettuce.
"Want one?" Molly asked.
"Sure." Libby pulled out a chip as well.
They both took a bite and enjoyed the amount of chocolate in their mouths. After their little snack, they waited for Scratch who was still in the fridge for some reason and talked.
"Still think being tiny is scary?" Molly asked.
"Yes, but I'm actually having a good time." Libby admitted.
"Haha! I knew you'd love it. I just wish Scratch hadn't forced it on you."
"Don't worry, I'm not mad at a...ah-Ah-AH!" Libby stuttered and her eyes widened with fear.
"What's wrong, Libby?" Molly asked.
Libby pointed and Molly turned around. She was then afraid too, for at the edge of the counter heading their way was a tarantula at least twice their size.
"It's Heidi! Run!" Molly screamed.
The girls ran for their lives, trying to lose Heidi in the piles of dirty dishes. Try as they might, Heidi was able to follow them anywhere on the counter. Soon they reached a dead end in the corner with Heidi closing in on them. Molly desperately looked around for a way out of this. Then she spotted a fork and grabbed it to use as a spear. It turned out to be a little heavy, so Libby helped hold it up. Together they kept Heidi at bay, but didn't know what to do next. Suddenly Molly realized what she should've done in the first place.
"SCRAAAATCH!"
Then she remembered that she can't summon Scratch anymore. It looked she and Libby were doomed until...
"I knew there was one last yim-yum in there somewhere." Scratch said as he finally came out of the fridge. "You girls want any... uh, where'd you go?"
He looked all over the counter until he heard a scream.
"Over here!"
*GASP!* Scratch saw Heidi going after the girls and took action. He got between them and took the form of a nightmarish bird, scaring Heidi into retreating.
"You girls okay?"
They nodded.
"Good." Scratch returned to his usual form and size and caught Heidi by using his hand as a cage. "I'll be right back."
He left the kitchen with Heidi and shouted "Darryl! Your stupid spider got loose again!"
Molly and Libby dropped the fork and sat down near the sink to relax, the former almost hyperventilating.
"You were right, Libby. Being this small can be scary."
"You were right too, Molly. There are some fun things about this size."
Then out of nowhere, repetitive loud noises seemed to shake everything.
"Earthquaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!" the girls hugged each other tight.
It turned out to be the McGees running into the kitchen.
"Scratch told us what happened!" Pete said. "And yet seeing you two like this is still surprising."
"Are you both alright?" Sharon asked.
"Yup, thanks to Scratch." Molly assured.
"I am so sorry about that." Darryl said. "I really need to get a new cage for Heidi."
"Scratch, why did you shrink Molly and Libby in the first place?" Sharon asked with a hint of annoyance.
"It was Molly's idea." Scratch said.
"It's true. I wanted to see what it was like to be this little." Molly explained.
"And I was reluctant at first, but I'm glad I got shrunk too." Libby added.
"Okay, so now what?" Pete asked.
"Well the curse only lasts until the rain stops, so maybe there's still something we can do at this size." Molly said.
"I think I have an idea." Darryl said.
A few minutes later, they were all in the living room and four toy cars were on the floor. Pete and Sharon sat on the couch while the kids and ghost got ready.
"Ooh, I like where you're going with this." Scratch said.
He waved his hand and three of the toy cars started glowing.
"There. All we have to do is steer and use the pedals just like a real car."
"Are you sure you don't want to race at our size, Darryl?" Molly asked.
"Yeah, I'm good." Darryl said with a remote control in his hands.
After the girls were given toy helmets to wear upon Sharon's request, they and Scratch each got in a car. Scratch took the blue one, Molly took the yellow one, Libby took the green one, and Darryl was in control of the red one. Then Pete spoke.
"Here are the rules. You start at the coffee table, race into the kitchen, circle the dining room table, come back to the living room, drive around
the backs of the chairs, and go back under the coffee table. The first one to come out from there, wins. And no cheating."
"On your marks." Sharon said. "Get set... GO!"
And off the toy cars went. Darryl's car was in the lead even though he had to run behind all of them. Scratch and Molly were fighting for second with Libby close behind them. When they reached the kitchen, Libby turned slightly and went straight while the others made an S-shaped turn, putting her in front of them. Then they went around the dining room table and Scratch drifted all the way, taking the lead as they all began their return to the living room. As they turned while entering the hallway, Molly drove around Darryl's car. When they re-entered the living room, she managed to pass Libby. Then they went around the chairs and Scratch drifted again, only this time so did Molly. By the time they reached the final leg of the race, Darryl and Libby caught up and now they were all neck and neck. They drove under the table and the first one to come out was...
...Molly!
"Woooo!" she cheered.
"That was awesome!" Scratch said.
"I'll say." Darryl agreed.
"For a moment, I thought we were gonna crash, but that was a great race." Libby said.
"Congratulations, Molly!" Pete said. "If we had a trophy, I'd give it to you."
"That was fun to watch." Sharon said. "And it looks like you finished just in time."
Everyone looked out the window and the sky was clearing up with no more rain. Molly and Libby quickly got out of their cars, took off their helmets,
and ran to a more open part of the room. Then the sunlight shined into the house and the girls grew back to their normal sizes.
"Thanks again, Scratch." Molly said. "You really helped make today more exciting, but it's good to be big again."
"No problem, Molls." Scratch replied.
"Well now that the storm's over, I should head home." Libby said. "See you tomorrow."
"Bye, Libby." Molly said with a hug.
Libby left the house and walked home. Molly and Scratch stepped outside to enjoy the fresh air. When Molly looked up, she saw a rainbow and was instantly reminded of an old saying. For every dark cloud, there is a silver lining.
Author's Note: You gotta admit, this is one of the more likely curses to happen in the show considering the many times we've seen tiny Scratch. I really feel like I got something right with this one should it actually happen. Maybe not the race part, but Molly and Libby's reactions to being shrunk and the part with Heidi make sense to me. It might take a while for my next curse story, sorry. Next time, a curse will be experienced somewhere besides home.