Disclaimer: I don't own Hamtaro, but I do own the plot of this story and Lunette and Snuff.

A/N: Again, School has started and so that really slowed me down. Thanks to Katy-chan, Jade Stellar, Specularia whose kind reviews kept me going! And now...

Innocent Kiss Chapter five: On mage craft and Sorcery

Morning arrived and Travis stretched out and yawned. The young boy was human and home again, but his problems weren't over yet, not by a long shot. He still had to get Laura back home as well. Currently she was sleeping in Lunette's new cage. He shook his head on how everything was turning out. Getting up and dressed before Laura woke up, he gently tapped on the cage's roof. Laura sleepily turned over and rolling his eyes, he tapped on the cage roof again. Now if Hamtaro were there, he would have told Travis that it sometimes took Laura quite a while to wake up, sometimes causing her to be late. This morning the human turned hamster woke up with the second summons. She looked around surprised and confused, not knowing where she was until it all came back to her. She sighed and shook her head at the irony as Travis gently took her out of her cage, and put her in the new carrier he just got. He set out back to the animal hospital.

"Don't worry about a thing. When we get Lunette we can go to the clubhouse and see what we can do about changing you back," Travis encouraged cheerfully.

(How can he be so cheerful? I guess it's because he has a way of staying human,) Laura thought slightly depressed. Whistling a cheerful tune he arrived at the hospital and confidently stopped in front of the receptionist desk.

"Hi! I'm here to pick up a hamster named Lunette," He said to the young man behind the counter. He was asked to provide a bit of ID, then he was told to wait. About five minutes later, he was called to the front counter. He was lead back to where his hamster was kept, and it only took the work of a moment to transfer her to the same carrier he was carrying Laura in. The newly arrived hamster was surprised to see Laura so soon, but quickly got over it.

"So Travis took you with him?" she asked as soon as she got over her shock.

The brown hamster nodded then said, "I guess he didn't want to backtrack. So are you going to change me back today?"

"That's the plan! Unless something comes up, you should back to your old self by the end of the day."

"That's a relief as we have school tomorrow. Have you solved the small problem about me not having clothing?"

"Not quite yet." the sliver hamster answered nervously. -Kushi-Kushi- She nervously cleaned her fur. "But I'm working on it. At this time they had arrived back at Travis's home. The boy had to drop off the carrier since he couldn't just leave it in the park. Going up to his room he opened the door and both Laura and Lunette scampered out.

"I'll meet you two outside," he said leaving the room. Traveling out and around his house, he stopped in his backyard. After making sure no one was watching he concentrated and with a warm flash, he changed himself, clothing and all, into a hamster. (Getting better. but why am I not sure if that is a good thing are bad thing?) Lost in his thoughts, he almost didn't hear the girls coming.

"We're ready to go!" Lunette cheerfully exclaimed. So with that they headed out to the clubhouse. With Travis leading, it didn't take them anytime at all to reach their second destination. The three hamsters entered the tunnels under the park. -Ticky-Ticky- Lunette looked around curiously. She had never been here before and was somewhat impressed with the tunnel system.

"Do you know who made all of this?" She asked.

"I believe Boss did," Travis answered still a bit lost in thought.

"Wow, he must be very strong to be able to do all of this," she said admiringly. (I thought he was cute last night, but I didn't know he knew how do things like these tunnels.)

"Did he make the clubhouse too?" Laura asked also thinking about the large field hamster in a new light.

"I don't know. We can ask him when we get inside," Travis responded as the reached the wooden door to the clubhouse. Just as he was about to open the door it swung open startling all three of them. Inside of the doorframe was a large, mottled, grey and white hamster. He had a grey patch on his right ear, and matching patches on his nose, on his cheeks and on his legs. He was carrying a sunflower seed and was talking to someone just over his shoulder.

"...Don't think it's out here but I'll check anyway," he was saying. Turning he noticed the three newcomers and jumped back in shock. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"Whoa, Whoa! Calm down big fellow," Travis said to the almost panicking hamster.

"Oxnard? You're here too?" Laura asked recognizing her best friend's pet.

"Heke? Do I know you? You seem to know me," Sunflower seed carrying rodent asked.

"Well, if you would let us come inside, we could explain everything," Lunette kindly said.

"Oh, sorry. Hey everyone we have guests!" He shouted walking back inside. The other three shrugged and followed him inside. All of the ham- hams were present and looked up from their morning activities to see the three newest ham-hams entering the room.

"Laura!" Hamtaro exclaimed breaking from a checkers game with Cappy and running over to greet his owner and best friend. "How was your night away from home? I was worried about you."

Laura gave her friend a small smile, touched by his concern. "I was fine. Travis was a perfect gentleman."

"So you had the young lady all to yourself? Pretty slick there my man," Stan slyly said as he walked up the group. Travis blushed and was about to respond, when Oxnard spoke up confused.

"Um... Hamtaro, did your owner buy another hamster named after herself?" He asked looking back and forth between Hamtaro and Laura.

"Oxy that is Laura. A sorcerer changed her into a hamster," Hamtaro answered his best friend. The larger hamster nodded, seemingly calm, then he completely freaked out.

"HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?" He shouted.

"Well, see it goes like this... " Lunette said, grabbing his right paw and leading him over to the table. While she explained, Laura took a better look around. The last time she was here she was slightly panicky, plus this might be the last time she could see it as she was going to be changed back today. Shortly everyone ended up around the table. It was time to get to work.

"Now that everyone is up to speed, let's discuss what we are going to do today," Boss said in his gruff voice.

"Well, like I said last night, I think I can change Laura back. But I need Travis's help and I need to do some research to overcome that one little problem," Lunette said. "I should be ready by noon."

"Why don't we just use the clothing Laura left behind?" Hamtaro asked.

"But my parents or Kana would have noticed it as you left it in the front yard," Laura commented.

"Not if Brandy moved it into his dog house," Hamtaro said.

"That was rather clever of him," Maxwell said.

"So, I guess we can change Laura back as soon as we get to your house Hamtaro," Pashmina suggested.

"Why didn't you mention that last night?" Howdy asked.

"I didn't think of it until I came home last night," Hamtaro said rubbing the back of his head nervously.

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Stan exclaimed. With that they all rushed to Hamtaro and Laura's house. The Ham-hams arrived in a short amount of time. When everyone cleared the tunnel Panda spoke up.

"So now that we're here, what do we do?" He asked.

"Follow me!" Hamtaro exclaimed. The orange and white hamster ran over to Brandy's doghouse and jumped on top of the dog's head. Brandy sleepy opened his eyes and looked at the hamsters that had gathered in front of him. "Brandy do you remember what you did with Laura's clothing yesterday?" Hamtaro received a massive yawn, which cause him to tumble off of Brandy's head. Brandy blinked and stretched as he stood up. The brown and white dog plodded over and looked down at Laura, who took a step back. The small dog sniffed her once, and then gave her a huge lick that bowled her over.

"It's nice to see you too," She said once she righted herself. The dog barked once then turned back inside of his wooden home. Using his teeth he quickly carried out all of Laura's clothing. "Well they're a little ruffed up, but they'll do." She said after examining them. "So now what?"

"Now turn you back to the way you were," Lunette said determined. "Laura stand inside of your shirt, and Travis stand next to me," she ordered. The other two complied, and she nodded when she saw they were both in position. "Alrighty! Travis, let's begin." Travis wordlessly took her right paw and placed his left on Laura's clothing covered head. Shortly both Lunette and Travis started to glow white. And like the last time with Jingle, the glow transferred to Laura. But unlike last time, the glow started to change to the color black. Travis and Lunette both looked like they were struggling to continue. The glow intensified, then in a flash Laura was back to being human. But both Travis and Lunette were out of it... The now human girl slowly kneeled making sure the dizzy hamsters didn't fall off her stomach by picking them both up.

"Well I'm back, but why do I feel so tired?" She said looking down at the rest of the ham-hams. Of course she couldn't understand any of the comments they sent her way now that she was human. "Never mind... Listen I'll see you guys later, because right now I just remember I was going out with Kana before all of this happened. Can you take care of Travis and Lunette?" She asked placing them both down in front of the ham-hams. Boss nodded to her and Hamtaro waved her off. The brown haired girl gave them a thankful smile, and then raced off into her house. Just before the ham-hams left, she looked back out and said, "Oh yeah, Hamtaro, don't forget to be in before sunset, I don't want anything to happen to you!"

"Alright," Hamtaro answered back, a bit worriedly. (I hope she doesn't restrict me going to the clubhouse. I'm not sure what I would do then.)

"Hey could you give me a hand here!" Boss shouted picking up a dazed Travis. With a muttered apology, Hamtaro ran over and helped the hardhat wearing hamster. The ham-hams departed for the clubhouse while indoors, Laura changed her outfit, and made a phone call to her best friend. The fifth grader had a story to tell.

Fifteen minters Travis woke up on the top of a shredded pile of newspapers. He was momentarily disoriented. Then he remembered what happened. His face registered shock, and he rushed out of one of the back rooms of the clubhouse to look around. The first thing he noticed was that Lunette was awake, and currently staring at Boss from a corner of the room, blushing heavily. Both Sandy and Bijou were trying to encourage her to say something to him, but she was just too shy.

"Come on girlfriend, just said good afternoon and go on from there," Sandy said.

"But what if I say something stupid? I'm good when it comes to magic, but in everything else I'm get all confounded," the poncho-wearing hamster said.

"Do not worry, it will be OK. Just follow your heart," The elegant French hamster said.

"Bijou's right. If you follow your heart things will work out," Pashmina said, coming into the conversation.

"Ookyoo," Penelope said from her friend's side.

"Your all right! I'll do it! I'll have courage and I'll go talk to him... one day," she whispered the last part. The other four ham-girls blinked, then face faulted. Picking themselves up, they were about to say some more things, but at that time Travis arrived. "Oh your awake!" Lunette exclaimed. "Now we can discuss that 'problem'."

"What are you talking about," Pashmina asked. The pink scarf-wearing hamster was confused. She, like the rest of the ham-hams thought all of their current problems were solved.

"We couldn't permanently change Laura back... and we need to find a way soon or we won't ever be able to change her back. Her curse is stronger then mine was and it didn't help that it took us so long to counter it," Travis said with a serious expression.

"What! You're kidding right?" Dexter asked entering in on the discussion.

"Nope. That's what caused us to collapse earlier." Lunette said. "But luckily, I may have a solution!" She pulled off her hat, and placing a paw inside, she searched around for something. After a few moments, she found what she was looking for. Pulling her paw out, she showed them a black covered book. It was unremarkable, save from the gold type on the cover. "This is the most powerful book of magic in the hamster world, The Magus, so there must be an answer in here."

"Like wow, how did you do that?" Sandy asked in awe.

"Well, there are three types of magic, change, control, create, in the order of the most powerful, to the least. This was a demonstration of create magic. I just made a small storage space in my hat, which I can pull anything I put in, back out. Travis is a demonstration of change magic, and for control." She let go of her hat, and it flew back to the top of her head on its own, landing perfectly.

"Very good!" Bijou exclaimed clapping her paws.

"So what's the difference?" Maxwell asked, overhearing the last part.

"A Change spell alters things from what they are, so it's the most draining. The more drastic the change spell, the more powerful the magic. Control can only do just that. Using it you can only push things to their natural limits. So I could cause you to run into a wall, but that's only because you could have done it on your own power. And lastly a create spell just makes something. But once you make it, it exists apart from you, so you have to be careful. Also the bigger the thing you create or the greater the number of it, the more draining it is. There are spells that cross categories, but most of the big ones are just in one." The sliver- grey hamster explained adjusting her hat.

"That's very interesting," Boss said, commenting on her little speech. Lunette blushed heavily again when she realized all of the Ham- hams had stopped to listen to her. She grabbed Maxwell and motioned for Travis to follow as she quickly moved off. A group 'heke' sounded at her surprising behavior.

"I need to talk to you. I have a favor to ask," She said to the book- loving hamster.

"What can I do for you?" Maxwell asked amiably.

"I need your help translating some of this book... I can't read all of it..." Lunette asked.

"So what about me?" Travis asked confused.

"I need to teach you more then the basics, and this is the perfect time to do it..." She answered. The girls had explained to the others what Lunette said about the change being temporary so the other ham-hams didn't disturb the three in their work. About an hour later, Panda was pulled in and they commandeered the chalkboard. Thirty minters later, Maxwell had pulled some key books from his library, and Travis had left and returned with some paper. Part of the clubhouse had books, papers and writing material lying around. On the chalkboard a complicated diagram was drawn, with calculations and incantations written on it.

"Hey I think that this will work!" Panda exclaimed.

"Maxwell nodded then said, "Everything checks out, so now the only thing to do is test the theory. Travis, could you take Hamtaro and get Laura? According to what Lunette has told us, she should change back anytime now. The black hamster nodded and was about to leave, when the door to the clubhouse was kicked in. A furious Laura was standing there.

"HEY! WHAT WAS THE BIG IDEA NOT TELLING ME THAT I WOULD CHANGE INTO A HAMSTER AGAIN!?" She shouted as she stomped over to Lunette, eyes flashing with lighting.

-Kushi-Kushi- "Um... -Kushi-Kushi- I didn't know until we actually tried... -Kushi-Kushi- after that I was out cold... -Kushi-Kushi- and then I couldn't tell you because humans can't understand us... -Kushi-Kushi- and I had to find a way to prevent from happening again because if you're a hamster for much longer you won't be able to become human again..." Lunette said in a rush. "Don't hurt me... -Kushi-Kushi-"

"Oh... did you find something then?" Laura asked, now eerily calm.

"Sure did!" Travis exclaimed with artificial cheer. (Note to self: never make Laura angry... she's scary...)

"So when can you do it? Kana is waiting for me outside," Laura asked now really calm.

"Tonight, during the full moon, when I'm at my strongest," Lunette said. "This little interference has weakened the curse, so it should be no trouble breaking it, if nothing else goes wrong."

"I have a totally great idea, since we have to wait for tonight let's, like go and show our new friends Acorn Mountain," Sandy said, winking at her brother. Stan's eyes widened as he remembered the 'plan' and a sly smile crossed his face.

"That is such a good idea. It'll be so cool and it'll totally cause time to fly by," He said walking up to the group.

"But what about Kana... won't she feel left out?" Oxnard asked about his human.

"Wellll..." Lunette said with a sly smile of her own.

"Wait... you wouldn't..." Oxnard stammered as he figured out her plan.

"Oh I see... Do it, because I KNOW she'll have fun," said the glasses wearing girl's best friend.

(Note to self: Laura can be evil... so treat her very nicely) Travis thought as he saw her wicked smirk. Lunette nodded then she and Laura ran out. Five minutes later... they both walked in with another hamster, who was looking a bit annoyed. She was slightly over seven cementers tall, about the same height as Pashmina and Laura. Thin-framed glasses that magnified her brown eyes were on her face, she wore a yellow short sleeve jacket, and her fur was a rich chocolate brown color.

Oxnard was almost afraid to ask, but he did. "Kana is that you?"

"Yeah it's me... This one thought it would be fun if I joined her for the afternoon," she said, playful punching Laura on the arm.

"It is just temporary right?" Her hamster asked worriedly. Lunette nodded, putting some of his concerns to rest.

"Um... you're taking this better then both Laura, and me" Travis said to Kana.

"You're right, he does make a cute hamster," She commented to Laura, who blushed. "But to answer to your observation, Laura explained everything earlier and I saw her change. So this isn't as big as a shock as it could have been."

"Enough talk, ladies. It's time for fun," Stan said placing his arms around both Laura and Kana. Oxnard moved over and gently removed Stan from Kana and Laura.

"If they have fun, it won't be with you..." he muttered as he dragged him away.

"Hey! Hey! Only Sandy can do this!" He exclaimed as he was removed from the presence of the ham-girls, who watched with sweat drops.

"My wayward brother does have a point, let's get ready and go!" Sandy exclaimed. And the ham-hams did just that. Boss was in the lead as they headed out. The others followed in this order: Cappy, Bijou and Pashmina, Penelope and Lunette, Dexter, Panda and Howdy, Maxwell, Travis and Hamtaro, Laura and Kana, Oxnard and lastly Sandy and Stan. Everyone was talking and happy to be in each other's company. Bijou, Pashmina, and shortly Lunette and Penelope were discussing the boys, and by the amount of blushing and/or giggling going there was planning going on. Sandy and Stan also were whispering their own plans, actually mirroring each other in smiles when any of the ham-hams looked in their direction. Travis was extolling the glories and subtleties of Soccer to Hamtaro, who was adding his thoughts on the subject. Maxwell soon turned and joined in on that conversation. Panda was telling Howdy about his new project, and the shrewd hamster was calculating the cost for him. Dexter was engaging in his favorite hobby, Pashmina watching. Cappy was helping Boss navigate, using this time to learn more field hamster lore. Oxnard was curiously watching his owner while lost in his own thoughts. Finally Kana was having a blast seeing the world through her beloved pet's perspective with her best friend by her side. When they reached their destination, Boss called them all together.

"Ok, here's the plan. We'll stick together and look for nuts and acorns. That way it will take less time to meet up for the picnic," He said. When he opened his eyes after this little speech, only Cappy was still there listening. A sweat drop ran down the back of his head. "Or we can just split up like normal... "

Sandy and Stan had roped Travis and Laura into accompanying them, and had got Oxnard and Hamtaro to distract Kana and Lunette. The twins were planning on playing matchmaker. Sandy kept Laura's attention on herself by asking her questions on rhythm gymnastics and school, while Stan engaged Travis on the topic of winter sports. Nether human turned hamster noticed how they were both steered away from the others.

"So that's what you really learn at school? Max didn't have us do that," Sandy commented after Laura finished telling her about her math class. "What point does any of that have?"

"I suppose it will help us when we get older. Most of human technology is based on mathematics. So it's fairly important," The brown hamster answered thoughtfully. "Why what did you learn when you made your own school?" She asked. While Sandy answered, Stan and Travis approached from the other direction. Stan was showing various ways to find nuts, and showing off doing it. Of course, Travis good-naturedly joined him.

"Here's a fun way to get the high ones," Stan said. The tiger stripped hamster dashed up a tree and with out slowing down jumped from the trunk to a branch. The shock shook the tree limb causing a rain of nuts to fall down. Stan however kept running along the shaking branch, and just as he reached the end, he ripped off a leaf and jumped off. He used the foliage to parachute to the ground. Travis was impressed, to say the least.

"Let me give it a whirl," He murmured when Stan rejoined his side, carrying all of the nuts he had shaken loose. Travis scanned the trees in the forest around him, and selected a likely looking target. Gathering his courage, he ran toward it and using his new hamster body's abilities, scaled it with out losing too much speed. Following Stan's example, he leapt on a branch. However he found himself losing his balance of the shaking bough and had to jump off earlier. Luckily he managed to find a leaf like Stan and float gently to the ground. Laura and Sandy saw the last of the feat, and in a show of concern, the human turned hamster ran over to her secret crush.

"Are you Ok? Why would you do something like that, you could have been hurt!" She exclaimed.

"Well, I guess it was kind of reckless. But it sure was fun, and look at all of the nuts that fell down," he said nervously.

"I don't care about your nuts, I care about you!" Laura said. Unknown to both of them, Sandy and Stan both had backed away from them.

"You care about me?" Travis asked softly. Laura was shocked speechless at what she had just said. Blushing furiously, she slowly nodded. Travis gave her a warm smile, and opened his mouth to say something when the unthinkable happened. With a frightening yowl Snuff pounced both of them. Travis on reflex jumped clear, but Laura froze instead. Travis stood in horror as the cat held a shivering Laura under a clawed paw. Sandy and Stan both quickly moved to his side, and the black hamster gave them a quick glance of thanks.

"So little interfering one, we meet again. And I see that you have your allies with you. Don't think I forgot them either," The grey and white tom said glaring first at Travis, then at Stan who gulped and backed up a step. He turned his gold eyes and glanced at the rest of the ham-hams who showed up. "If any of you attempt to do anything, I'll end her life." He dove that statement home by pressing down harder on Laura, who could only make a frightened whimper. The brown hamster closed her eyes as she felt the claws of the predator press into her fur. They hadn't penetrated her skin yet, but with a little more pressure... Kana, Lunette, Hamtaro and Boss, who were about to rush forward, halted.

"What do you want Sorcerer?" Lunette spat out. Her hat and poncho blew in an unseen wind as she prepared herself for a battle.

"I want you and these interfering ones to meet me tomorrow at noon at this address," he calmly stated. A piece of paper appeared and floated to the ground in front of Travis. The black hamster picked it up and glanced at it. On it was a map to a certain house in a more affluent neighborhood. "ALL of you must attend. Please don't be late, as I would hate to make her suffer longer then necessary." With that he gently picked Laura up with his mouth and walked off, the ham-hams helplessly watching.

"I know I'll be there, you mangy feline... " Travis muttered glaring after the cat.

(Hold on Laura! We won't let him hurt you!) Hamtaro thought with an equally angry expression. While they were surprised this day, the Ham-hams would be ready for the next encounter, and they wouldn't lose...