Disclaimer: Since its development in 1983, the animated series Dungeons and Dragons has belonged to the following at some point: Marvel Productions, TSR, Inc., Wizards of the Coast, Saban Entertainment, (according to rumor) Disney, and possibly even others. I guess my point is, it does not (nor has it ever) belonged to me. Oh, well! This story, however, does! I hope you enjoy it!
Rating: PG-13 for some language and violent elements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LEGACYChapter 2 -- The Gathering
"Cassie, I'm home!"
Eric found the woman on the back veranda finishing a cup of coffee. "How did he do?"
Cassie looked up at Eric. During the time she had worked for him, the woman had begun to see the father of the boy she had been hired to care for as a type of adopted son himself. "He scored three goals," she said with a proud smile. "Didn't he tell you?"
"He was asleep when I went in," Eric replied as he eased down into a chair beside Cassie, tugging his necktie open and undoing his top collar button. "A hat trick," he mused, "Wow. You got pictures, right?"
"I did."
Eric ran his hand through his hair. "Thank you," he sighed, "I promise I'll make it up to him."
"I'm not the one you should be telling that," Cassie said frankly as she stared straight ahead and took another sip of her coffee. Eric glared at her. Most of his employees would fear for their jobs after making a remark like that. (Behind Eric's back, much less to his face!) Cassie Masterson was different, however. For as much as Eric needed her services, he needed her honesty more . . . even though he didn't always ask for it. When he made no verbal response, Cassie continued. "You work too hard, Eric."
"I explained to him about the reunion."
"That's different. And you know I'm not talking about tonight. Tonight wasn't work -- not all of tonight, anyway."
Eric sighed heavily. "I do all that for him, you know. Just like my father did. So he can have anything he wants."
Cassie shifted her stout form in the chair so she could turn to face the young man beside her. "You'll forgive my bluntness, Sir, but as a wise man once said: 'The words of the mouth often mask the truths of the heart.'"
Eric gaped at her blankly with eyes that didn't blink for a long time. "Come again?" he finally muttered.
It was Cassie's turn to sigh. "In other words, 'That's a load of bunk!'"
Eric was speechless. She was certainly on a roll tonight. Then he shook his head. "Did I ever tell you how much it creeps me out when you get all Confucius on me, Cass?" he grumbled, trying to change the subject. "It reminds me of--" He stopped.
"Reminds you of what?" the older woman pressed with an eyebrow arching high over one blue eye.
"Not 'what,' . . . who. Never mind," Eric replied dismissively. He didn't know what was worse: His son's nanny being almost painfully straightforward, or those puzzling pearls of wisdom that she would interject on occasion -- almost like she had a fortune cookie collection that he didn't know about.
Riddles. If there was one thing that drove Eric crazy, it was riddles!
"All right then," Cassie announced as she tried to redirect the conversation back to the original topic. "You are Eric Alexander Montgomery!" she reminded him, "If there's one thing you have it's money! And if there's one thing your son doesn't need, it's something that money can buy!" She paused for a moment and turned back to her coffee before adding, "Didn't you tell me that your biggest problem with your father was the fact that he was never around for you?"
"That was different!" Eric said, defensively finding his voice. "For a long time I didn't know whether or not my father even liked me. I tell John all the time that I love him!"
"Eric," Cassie asked more gently, "In all the years I've worked here, how many times have I told you how much I love you?"
Eric groped for an answer, his mouth forming words that weren't coming to him yet as he struggled to think of a time. "I . . . I don't know. But I know you do. I mean, why else would you put up with me?" He flashed a charming smirk at her.
"My point exactly," Cassie replied with a wise smile, "It's not the words that matter, it's the knowing. John has to know, Eric. You said that you and your father eventually came to an understanding. But you were 17 years old -- almost a man -- that's a bit late for the childhood bonds to take root. Don't let it be too late for you and John. I know you want to stay close with your own father now, but maybe the hours you put into your job are too much. Don't sacrifice your family for work. John's the only thing that really matters."
That was a cutting blow, especially since Eric knew she was right. The boy was his last link to Denise. The most important thing in his life, in fact. But Eric was, and always had been, stubborn. The invisible shield that he used to defend himself remained raised, even now, long after he had put down the shield of the Cavalier. He rose off his chair with an aggravated shake of his head. "What do you want from me, Cass?" he asked. "I have responsibilities -- responsibilities that it took me a long time to learn about. And John's not my only one! I wish he was, but he's not! It's not like somebody can just drop their job on a whim!" He turned and left the veranda to head for bed.
Cassie continued to stare straight ahead as she sipped on the last of her coffee. "I did," she said in quiet response to Eric's last statement.
* * *
"They what?"
Sheila rushed turbulently throughout the house searching for her parents while Bobby fumbled along behind her explaining, again, that they had already gone. "I told you, they left early this morning," he insisted. "They were so happy to have you home that they didn't want to wake you. Me, however," he grumbled ruefully, "They got up at the crack of dawn!"
"They were so happy to have us home that they left?" Sheila wailed in dismay.
"Okay," Bobby groaned, "I'm supposed to tell you that they went upstate to some wine tasting thing that they like to go on, but . . . ." He paused as though deciding whether or not to actually tell her, "They really went to pick up Aunt Margie."
Some joy mixed with the frustration still present on Sheila's face. Margie was her favorite aunt -- her great-aunt, actually. The woman lived a good four hours away and, although she desperately loved Sheila and her family, refused to patronize any form of public transportation in order to visit them. She said they made her nervous. The only time Sheila ever got to see her was when the family drove out there.
"It was supposed to be a surprise," Bobby said. "They're bringing her back here to see you and Ayesha. But they won't be home until late tonight."
Sheila's face softened as she sank into a chair. She was thrilled to be seeing even more of her family, but now that put a damper on their plans for the afternoon. At the reunion last night, the whole gang had made plans to meet for the day to do even more catching up; away from the pull of other classmates and former acquaintances. It was also so Bobby could join them this time. Sheila had been counting on her parents to watch Ayesha.
"Mom!" the girl pleaded, "I'm almost 15 years old and I baby-sit all the time back home! I think I can watch myself for an afternoon!"
Sheila gave a thoughtful groan. She knew this was true, but she still worried. That was a trait that she never seemed to grow out of. Especially since Ayesha wasn't as familiar with this city. "I think she'll be okay," Bobby advised quietly as he nudged his sister. "Remember you were only a little older than her when you were out saving the world!" Sheila shot a glare in her brother's direction. This was different. This was her little girl. But Bobby did have a point.
"Look," Bobby offered as he took Sheila aside, "If it will make you feel better, I'll watch her for a while. I'll take her for an ice cream or something. Then, when Teri gets out of work, I'll leave the two of them together for some girl time. They can go to the mall, whatever -- Ayesha will never know she's being chaperoned!"
Sheila thought for a moment. "Are you sure, Bobby? I wouldn't want you to miss out on seeing everyone again!"
Bobby waved her off. "Hey, I'll meet up with you later after Ayesha and I find Teri. Don't worry! I wouldn't miss this for the world!"
Sheila gave her brother a kiss before heading upstairs to get ready and to tell Hank the plan. "Thanks, Bobby! We'll see you later, then!"
* * *
Diana was the first to arrive this time. Eric knew some people who owned a restaurant downtown and the six friends had decided to gather there on the afternoon following the reunion. Diana was shown into a posh back room reserved for the "Montgomery Party" and she walked around admiring the elaborate décor. Looking up, she noticed a detailed mosaic on the ceiling. It was a scene of the sky, a brightly-colored sunset melding into a twilight nightscape. As the scene darkened into night, the tiles of the mosaic began to break apart until they were sporadically distributed across the rest of the ceiling.
"Pretty, isn't it?"
Diana nodded before turning around to face Eric, who had silently entered the room. "It's very different," she said with a smile. "Where did your friends buy it? Or was it designed for them?"
Eric made a few paces through the room to stand next to her, joining Diana in staring at the ceiling. "Actually," he admitted, "They rescued it. From the old Havenford Hotel before it was torn down. Most of the mosaic was damaged or broken because the hotel had been condemned for years. But they collected the pieces that were intact and had them installed here."
Diana smirked. "I guess you can still get some nice things for free!" she mused. " I really like how some of the tiles are scattered. It looks intentionally unfinished. It's different," she repeated.
"Diana?" Eric said cautiously, turning to face her, "I'm really sorry. I wish I had known . . . about what you were going through. I know we kinda grew apart there for a while, but I hope you know that if you ever need anything . . . ."
Diana looked at him, her smile sad but bright. "Thanks," she said, "Same to you." She stepped forward and put her arms around him, and the two old friends hugged for a good long time.
"Ahem!" came a voice from the doorway as Presto announced his arrival, "Is this a private party, or can anybody join?"
"Hey!" Eric exclaimed, "It's the magician I hired!"
Eric and Diana walked to the entrance to greet Presto, who was followed closely by Hank and Sheila. Everyone was just as excited to see each other now as they had been last night. Eric looked past Sheila into the hallway beyond the private room. "Where's the twerp?" he asked with a broad smile.
"Careful, Eric," Sheila said slyly, "Bobby's not as short as he used to be! And he still packs just as big a punch as he did before!" She gave him a wink before adding, "He'll be here a little later. He's out with Ayesha until Teri can take over."
"Still worried about the little ones running off on their own, huh, Sheila?" Eric teased. Then shrugged. "That's okay `cause my son's out with his nanny, too!"
"Ooohh!" Diana warned jokingly, "I'm gonna tell Bobby the Barbarian you called him a 'nanny!'"
"Yeah," Presto agreed, "They're calling them 'child care engineers' now!"
"You know," Hank said a little later as they all sat down to eat, "We should arrange a day this week for our families to get together. I, for one, would love to see everybody's kids again!" He put an arm around his wife's shoulders.
"We can do it at my house," Presto offered, "Dinner. Lately, Maggie makes much more than the three of us can eat."
"`Course she's eating for two!" Eric jibed.
"Anyway," Presto continued with a roll of his eyes, "I don't know if it's some kind of nesting instinct or what, but she's been making enough food to feed an entire Orc army!"
"That sounds great, Presto!" Hank said, "And we'll all finally get to meet Varla!"
"Did you ever tell Maggie why you felt such a connection to Varla?" Eric asked as he went to take a bite.
"Of course I did," was Presto's nonchalant reply.
Eric stopped the fork halfway to his mouth and glared at Presto. He had been kidding. "Are you serious?" he asked.
"Yeah," Presto answered with a shrug, "We're married."
"You told her about the Varla? . . . And the Realm? . . . Everything?" Eric prodded, "And she believed you?"
Presto looked around at all of them. "Yeah," he answered, "Every word." He smiled devilishly. "She even made a replica of my old uniform. She really likes it!"
"Aw, MAN!" was all Eric could say.
Diana could only smile at her long-time friend. "I'm so happy for you, Presto," she said. "After everything you had to put up with in high school, to have found someone who truly understands who you are is just wonderful!" She raised her glass to him, and then to Hank and Sheila. "I only hope we can all be as lucky some day!"
* * *
"What's that, Uncle Bobby?"
Bobby followed his niece's finger in the direction of the bustle across the street. "That's the amusement park," he replied with equal parts disinterest and what sounded to be warning. He then tried to guide Ayesha in the direction of the ice cream parlor. Teri should be finished with work any time now and she was supposed to be meeting them there.
The teenager's interest, however, had been captured. "Do they have roller coasters?" she asked, "How high does their highest one go?" Bobby grinned in spite of himself. She really did remind him of himself as a child; bold, fearless and excited about everything.
"I haven't been in there since I was a kid, Hon," Bobby replied. "It's a rinky-dink local place. Not nearly adventurous enough for you!" he added with a wink. This seemed to appease the girl for a while.
When they got inside the ice cream parlor, Teri was already there. "Tell you what," Bobby said as he handed Ayesha several bills from his wallet and ushered her in the direction of the counter, "Get whatever you want. And get Teri and me a peanut butter milkshake. You can keep the rest for your shopping trip." Ayesha beamed as she strolled toward the bins.
Bobby sat down across from Teri at a booth in the front window. "How are you doing today?" he asked her.
"I was a wreck at work," Teri admitted. "My boss could tell there was something wrong, so I avoided him as much as possible." She pressed her fingertips into her furrowed brow. "I haven't had one of those in so long, I almost forgot how scary they can be."
Bobby shook his head. "You don't know that it was anything," he said reassuringly. "You said yourself you haven't had one in years. Maybe it was just a nightmare."
Teri's eyes bore through him. "Nightmares you can forget," she said. "I remember every detail. How it felt, what I saw, even how it smelled. It was so real, Bobby. And it's got me scared to death. If you have to go back--"
"Hold it right there!" Bobby cut her off. He took her hands firmly from across the table. "Nobody's going anywhere! Not today! Not ever! And especially not there! Now, come on. You haven't had a true dream of the future for almost 16 years!"
Teri nodded her concession, but added, "I haven't had a dream like that since after you came back from the Realm. Maybe if I'm having them again that means--"
Teri's words stopped as a large styrofoam cup was placed between them. "Your shake!" Ayesha announced with a mischievous grin, "And two straws!"
Bobby looked up at her. "What did you get?" he asked lamely, surveying her empty hands.
"I haven't decided yet," the girl shrugged, her voice a playful sing-song. "I'll be back, you two! And don't worry, I'll take my time!"
When she reached the counter again, Ayesha kept glancing over at her uncle and Teri. They seemed engrossed in conversation and she wondered what it could be about. She hadn't been able to hear any of it when she went over before. Whatever it is, it must be serious! Maybe he was finally asking her to marry him! Ever the romantic, like her mother, Ayesha giggled excitedly at the prospect -- and managed to accidentally scatter some of the change she had been jingling in her hand on the floor at her feet.
She bent down to pick it up and, in rising, bumped her head against something. "Ouch!" she muttered as she rubbed the top of her head.
"Oh, God, I'm sorry!" a voice said from above her. Ayesha looked up into the deepest, darkest eyes she had ever seen and was immediately struck dumb. The chocolate-skinned young man in front of her didn't seem to be having the same problem, however. "That'll teach me to put my elbows in the wrong place!" He bent down to pick up the remainder of Ayesha's change. He handed it to her with a smile. (God, his teeth were perfect!) "I didn't knock something loose, did I?" he asked, trying to invoke a response.
Ayesha suddenly became aware of the fact that she hadn't said a word yet. She felt her face get hot as she struggled to save herself from embarrassment. "N-no," she replied with a nervous smile, "Thanks for picking these up for me." She jingled the change again.
The boy turned back to the counter and accepted the ice cream he had ordered. "I've got hers, too," he said to the vendor. "What are you having?" he asked Ayesha.
"Oh, no, that's okay," she declined.
"Come on," the young man insisted, "It's the least I can do for nearly giving you a concussion!"
"No, really," Ayesha said, "I got money from my Uncle Bobby." She cringed. Money from my Uncle Bobby?!? What was she, five years old?
Thankfully, the boy hadn't seemed to notice her maturity blunder. He was now looking over at Bobby. "I know that guy!" he exclaimed. "He works at the university with my grandfather. He coaches baseball, doesn't he?"
Ayesha nodded happily. Sports. Now that was something that guys loved to talk about, didn't they?
"My grandfather teaches astronomy there," he said before turning back to her. "What's your name, anyway?"
"Ayesha." A suddenly shy smile. "Ayesha Tennyson."
"Nice to meet you, Ayesha. My name's T.J. Beckett, but most people call me Toby." He reached forward to shake her hand. "I think your family is good friends with my Aunt Di."
Ayesha grinned excitedly. She knew "Di." Diana Beckett-Vaughn was her mother's best friend. She took great delight in relaying that information to Toby. "No kidding!" the boy exclaimed. "Wow, small world!" He looked back into the ice cream bins. "Look, are you sure you don't want one, on me?" he asked. "I'd be happy to buy you one before I go."
"Where are you going?" Ayesha asked, unconsciously sounding almost disappointed.
"I'm meeting some friends over at the park across the street," Toby replied. "Hey! You know if you don't have to hang with your uncle all day, you're welcome to join us! I can swing you back to your house later!"
"Wow, that'd be great!" Ayesha exclaimed. "Are you sure you wouldn't mind?"
"Nah! The more the merrier!"
"Awesome!" Ayesha said. "I mean, don't get me wrong. I love my uncle, but it's nice to be able to hang out with people my own age!"
"How old are you?" Toby asked.
"Fifteen," Ayesha fibbed slightly. It would be true . . . in a couple months. "Let me just tell him I'm going."
Ayesha waved her arms in the air to get Bobby's attention. He looked up from his intense conversation with Teri, but only shot Ayesha the occasional look between words to his girlfriend. His niece made several hand gestures in the air: a spiraling circle, a point toward the door, a gesture toward the young man next to her. Bobby gave a dismissive nod and a wave of his hand before turning back to his conversation with Teri.
"All set!" Ayesha announced as she shoved the money that Bobby had given to her into the pocket of her jeans. She would rather spend that in the amusement park than on an ice cream any day. Bobby had said that the park wouldn't be exciting enough for her, but she figured that that was just his way of saying he didn't feel like going. Now that she had a friend to go with, he didn't have to worry. Besides, she thought as she and Toby left the ice cream parlor, He and Teri look as though they want to be alone!
* * *
". . . Teri, listen, I don't want to tell you that you're wrong. But when your ability went away, it went away gradually. If, for the sake of argument, it is coming back, maybe it's coming back the same way . . . Gradually! On the first night, you don't actually think that--"
Teri had stopped listening to Bobby and had started looking around the ice cream shop. "Bobby, where's Ayesha?"
"What do you mean 'Where's Ayesha?' She's right--" Bobby stopped to look around as well. His niece was, indeed, gone. "Where the hell . . . ?"
"Bobby?" Teri asked frantically, "When did you last see her?"
Bobby tried to think. "She was up at the counter with a kid who looked a little like Diana's nephew, then she gave me one of these . . . ." Bobby mimicked the hand gestures that Ayesha had demonstrated earlier: The spiraling circle, the point at the door, the motion toward the person next to her . . . .
"My God, Bobby! She must have been asking to go to the park! What did you say to her when she did that?"
"I nodded!" the young man admitted defensively. "I didn't know what the hell she was asking me! I don't know sign language! What's this supposed to be, the international sign for roller coaster?" (He again performed the spiraling circle.) "I thought she wanted to order a swirly cone and eat it outside with that kid!" Bobby and Teri locked eyes for a moment before simultaneously stumbling out of their booth, spilling their milkshake everywhere and making a mad dash for the door.
* * *
"This place is really cool!" Ayesha exclaimed as she looked around the park, "You're so lucky to be living in the same town that has one!"
"Yeah, it's pretty fun," Toby agreed, "It's usually where all the guys go to hang out. It's kind of like our special place, you know. It's been that way for a long time, too. I know that my dad and my Aunt Di used to come here . . . probably even your folks too!"
"Wow," Ayesha mused, "To have a whole amusement park as your own place to hang out! We get chased away from loitering in the Burger King too long in my town! And the only time I get to go to an amusement park is if my class goes on a field trip." She looked around at the surrounding attractions. "So, when are your friends getting here?"
"Actually," Toby responded, glancing at his watch, "I have no idea. There're four of them, but my buddy Bryan is also bringing his girlfriend. Get the two of them together and you know they'll be late! That's why I was killing time in the ice cream place. They not might even get here for a while. We always end up playing 'hide and seek' on each other here because they're never on time and they're never where I'm supposed to meet them! What do you say we look around and maybe try some rides while we're looking?"
"Sounds cool to me!"
The two walked through the many themed "lands" of the park, stopping in Fantasy Land so Ayesha could look at some of the souvenirs. She found herself bumping hands with a girl who was admiring something on the same cart.
"Ooops! I'm sorry!" said the girl, who looked about a year or two younger than Ayesha. "Is this what you wanted?" The girl handed her a small version of Excalibur, which Ayesha guessed was probably a letter opener.
"Thanks," Ayesha responded as she inspected it. She graciously attempted to reach whatever it was the other girl was going for. She put her hand on several items before the girl nodded her head to the one she had been trying to reach. It was a pointy magician's hat that looked as though it would only fit a doll.
"Thank you," the second girl said in return, "My mother thinks I'm riding the bumper cars, but I wanted to buy a gift for her new baby. This park is the only place I know that sells things like this." She held the green hat in her hands before giving it to the vendor to put in a bag for her. "Magic's like a thing at our house," she further explained, "It seemed like a neat gift."
"Aw! Your mom had a baby?" Ayesha questioned, "Boy or girl?"
"I don't know," the red-headed girl replied, "She hasn't actually had it yet. So I have to choose a color that would fit both. My name's Valerie, by the way, but everybody calls me Varla."
"I'm Ayesha. And this is Toby."
Toby looked at Varla with a hint of recognition. "Aren't you in the junior high at my school? I thought I recognized you. You were new this year, weren't you?"
"Yeah," Varla said, "I only started living here a little over a year ago, and . . . oh, shoot!" Varla ducked behind Ayesha and Toby, clutching her bag.
"What's wrong?" Ayesha whispered down at her.
"That's Mag-- . . . well, . . . my mother!" Varla whispered back.
"Where?" Ayesha asked, scanning the crowd. Almost a minute later, a very pregnant Maggie Myers stepped out of the ladies' restroom. Ayesha was curious as to how the girl knew Maggie was there before the woman even appeared. "She thinks I'm on the bumper cars in another section of the park!" Varla continued.
"I can see why she wouldn't want to join you on that ride!" Toby joked.
"Do you mind if I lay low here for a few minutes?" Varla asked. "I kinda wanted this hat to be a surprise."
Toby shrugged, indicating that it was okay with him, and even helped the espionage along by sidestepping across the town square of Fantasy Land, keeping Varla behind his back until Maggie was out of sight. As he turned to announce that the coast was clear, he stumbled into someone else.
"Hey! Watch it!"
"Sorry," Toby laughed, "I seem to be running into everybody today!" He turned to face the scowl of a young boy. The kid had dark brown hair and stood in front of Toby, arms crossed, with a haughty expression on his face. For as young as he was, not more than 11 or 12, the boy's demeanor gave the impression that he owned the whole place.
"For future reference," the kid said, "Walking involves one foot in front of the other. And the chances of tripping are smaller if you actually look where you're going!"
"Sor-reee!" Toby repeated, a bit more sarcastically. Who did this kid think he was anyway?
"Hey, John," a voice said from behind Toby.
"Hey, Varla," John greeted her in reply, "You might want to stay away from this guy or you might get stepped on! Oooh, wait! There's a thought!" he further mused aloud, "If you were to ever break something who would take care of you? Your father the doctor or your father the magician?"
Ayesha beamed, ignoring John. Magician. "Omigod! I thought that woman looked familiar!" she exclaimed to Varla. "You're Presto and Maggie's daughter!"
Toby, on the other hand, wasn't as enthused by John's comment. "Look!" he said. He had instantly had about enough of this arrogant kid.
"He's okay," Varla said softly, placing a hand on Toby's arm. "His dad and my dad are, like, best friends."
Toby didn't care if that was the case or not. One more sarcastic word and this punk was getting an earful. In the grand tradition of all Becketts, Toby wasn't afraid to tell it like it is. "Listen," he said, trying to put his aggravation in check, "John, is it?"
"John Harlan Montgomery," the boy announced.
Toby smirked. No wonder the kid acted like he owned the place! He probably did! "Listen, Young Master Montgomery," Toby jeered with mock reverence, "Why don't you . . . ."
"Hey, you guys!" Ayesha tried to interrupt and settle things. Like her father, she always tried to be the peacemaker.
"Why don't I what? I don't have to do anything . . . ."
"Hey! Come on, guys!"
"Give me a break, kid!"
"Hey, guys, look! A Dungeons and Dragons ride!" In her attempt to end the pointless bickering, Ayesha had given up on trying to reason with the two boys and instead resorted to distracting them with a change of subject. She called attention to the first thing her eyes settled upon -- a coaster that looked older than they were.
"Oh, please! That old thing!" John groaned.
"Yeah," Toby agreed, "I don't even know why it's still here!"
Ayesha smiled. At least she had gotten them to agree on something. She decided to keep the momentum going. "Oh, come on, boys! It'll be fun!" She grabbed Varla by the arm and took a few steps toward the coaster before turning back to the other two. "Don't make us go on the antique alone!"
Toby shrugged. "After you, Johnny Boy!"
* * *
Bobby and Teri met up in the center of Fantasy Land. "I didn't see her anywhere," Bobby panted as though he had been running the whole way. "Maybe they didn't . . . ."
"Hey, Uncle Bobby!"
Bobby's heart jumped into his throat as he spun around in the direction of his niece's voice. He saw her tiny hand waving at him from a distance away as she and three other children were nearing the front of the line -- a line that Bobby knew all too well. A nightmare that he had never forgotten.
In a flash, he was up and running; so quickly that Teri didn't even realize what was happening. When she did, she sprinted after him, calling his name.
Bobby looked back over his shoulder. "FIND HANK AND SHIELA!" he cried as he hurdled the railing that led to the line just as the four kids boarded the little red car. He pushed past the ride's operator, whose mind didn't quite register what was happening at first. No one had ever been so eager to get on this ride.
"Bobby!" Teri screamed again as the roustabout came to his senses in enough time to prevent her from going any further. "BOBBY!"
"Hey, pal!" the operator could only call out, "Get outta there! The ride's movin'!"
Bobby sprinted alongside the moving coaster car, much to the shock of his niece. The speed with which he moved was enough to impress, but the desperation in those movements was enough to frighten. Her previous jovial smile melted into a grimace of panicked confusion as the young man took wide strides to reach the side of the car.
Bobby raced neck-in-neck with the moving vehicle as it neared the dragon-mouthed tunnel, just as Eric had once done all those years ago . . . the time they had almost made it home for good. Bobby made a jump for the back of the car just as it began to pick up speed.
"UNCLE BOBBY!"
He could hear Ayesha scream as his body jarred against the rear bumper of the coaster. His hands latched onto the back seats and he struggled to pull himself up and into the car. For a split second, his mind toyed with the idea of simply letting go. If he were to fall onto the tracks, the operator would have no choice but to stop the ride -- and that was exactly what Bobby wanted. But if the old man wasn't fast enough to get to the controls, especially now that he was struggling with Teri, these kids would be on their own.
A few seconds later, Bobby's mind was made up for him as two sets of hands wrapped around his wrists and started to pull him into the rear of the coaster. He used his own strength to lift himself up as he scrambled into the seat between Ayesha and Toby. He could hear a young boy's voice calling from the front seat, "Are you crazy?!"
Bobby turned around to lock eyes with the ride's operator as the car entered the tunnel. "Stop this thing!" he yelled even though he knew that, by now, it wouldn't do any good. "STOP THIS THING RIGHT NOW!"
"BOBBY, NO!" Teri screamed again as the coaster vanished into the gullet of the dragon. After a second, she broke away from the grip of the roustabout and began running for the park exit.
Once inside the ride, everything was eerily familiar: the dragons, the Orcs, the fire-breathing pyrotechnics. Bobby wrestled with his seatbelt. "Everybody, hold on," he ordered.
"What is it, Uncle Bobby?" Ayesha asked.
"Yes, Uncle Bobby, O Jumper of Moving Vehicles!" John shot out sarcastically. "If my father ever knew . . . !"
Bobby, for as inappropriate as it was at the moment, couldn't help but roll his eyes at the fact that this had to be Eric's kid.
Varla looked around from her spot beside John in the front. "This is kinda neat," she ventured in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Oh, please!" the young boy beside her groaned.
Bobby shuddered at the familiarity of it all -- like history repeating itself -- and yet, nothing else was happening. Maybe Teri's dream had been wrong. Maybe there was nothing to worry about. Maybe . . . .
"Uncle Bobby?" Ayesha's panicked voice broke through his thoughts. "What's happening?"
Bobby glanced up to see the creatures ahead of them start to swirl into each other, creating the beginnings of a silver spinning vortex. As the car progressed through the tunnel of light, an even brighter glow appeared at the end. The coaster began to shake as it picked up speed, careening toward the blinding light. Bobby could feel himself suddenly lifted out of his seat.
. . . oh, shit . . .
* * *
"I don't understand what happened to my brother," Sheila said as the five friends left the restaurant. "I know he wanted to be here."
"Maybe he couldn't find his viking hat!" Eric offered, which prompted an elbow-jab in the ribs from Diana. Just like old times!
"I'm going to call him," Sheila said, taking her in-case-of-emergency cell phone out of her purse. "I hope everything's--"
"SHEILA!"
Sheila's eyes shot across the street at the sound of someone screaming her name. The five looked to see Teri sprinting in their direction. "SHEILA!"
As the girl spotted them, she willed her legs to pick up speed, not even looking as she neared the busy intersection.
"Teri!" Hank cried as he, too, raced forward, "Look out!" The two collided in the middle of the street and Hank half scooped, half pushed Teri back onto the other side, out of range of the car she had run in front of. They landed together in a heap on the grass. Once the traffic was clear, Sheila and the others sped over to where they were. Teri was crying.
"My God!" Sheila breathed desperately, "Teri, please, what happened!? Are you all right?"
Teri clung to Hank for dear life, sobbing, not only in sadness, but in terror. "You have to help them! Please, Sheila! They're gone!" she cried, "He's gone! I've lost him . . . again!"
* * *
It was all just a bad dream. It had to have been. That's all it was. Bobby's eyes opened slowly and he could see that he was still wearing his polo shirt and jeans. The last time he had had on this god awful fur loincloth with leather straps. But now he was still in his street clothes. It had to be a dream. Bobby groggily rolled over onto his back. Thank God!
"Uncle Bobby!"
At the panicked sound of his niece's voice, Bobby's eyes flew open. Upon fully regaining consciousness, his body immediately became sensitized to where he was lying. He was on a hard, rocky ground and he could feel the gravel scrape across his arms as he struggled to lift himself. As his eyes fully regained focus, they found the frightened face of Ayesha.
The girl was seizing, shaking so badly that Bobby had to drag himself to her and clutch her tightly to control it. He could hear her whimpers of hysteria in his ear as he held her to him. "It's okay! It's okay!" he said as soothingly as possible as he glanced around at the other children. They weren't doing much better, but at least Toby was keeping his head and helping to keep everyone calm.
"Uncle Bobby?" Ayesha finally asked quietly, "Where are we?"
"Where are we?!" John bellowed before Bobby could answer. "I'll tell you where we are! We're in the Twilight Zone! That's where!"
Toby placed a comforting hand on the young boy's shoulder. "Calm down, okay, buddy!"
"Calm?" John growled. "I'll get calm when I get answers!" That was a line he had heard Eric use many times while on the phone in his office. John turned to face the jagged walls of the canyon that surrounded them. "Do you hear me?!?" he yelled to the air. "DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO MY FATHER IS?"
"Indeed, Young One. I do."
Bobby's head turned slowly and his stomach twisted as he recognized the voice -- the deep reverb and the otherworldly echo. He knew it too well. He rose to his feet and instructed the others to get behind him.
"But, Bob--" Toby started.
"I said get behind me!" Bobby was not about to be argued with. Not right now.
The silhouette of a towering figure appeared before them. The intense brightness created by the four suns in the sky made it only possible to see his outline. But somehow the children still recognized it . . . although they couldn't fully explain why. Perhaps it was through stories told to them countless times by their families. Stories that were told before bed. Stories that they passed off as fairy tales. Stories that, occasionally, kept them from sleeping due to figures like this one that would haunt their dreams.
Bobby knew this better than the rest of them. He knew because, even now, he still had those nightmares. He knew because he had lived through those so-called fairy tales. He knew because they were real. And now . . . they were back . . . in the Realm of Dungeons and Dragons.
Bobby could feel Ayesha's grip on his arm tighten as the figure came closer. It stopped just a few yards short of them. "Welcome back, . . . Barbarian," it said.
Bobby panted in fear shrouded by anger and pushed the four children farther behind him. "What do you want from us, Venger?" he demanded. This exchange frightened Ayesha even more. They knew each other! Uncle Bobby knew this . . . thing!
"Only to welcome you back," the figure replied. "But the title with which you address me has gone unuttered for a very long time. For the past two hundred years, to the inhabitants of the Realm, I have been known as . . . Dungeon Master."
* * *
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes: An extra, extra special "thank you" to Lain for those amazing pictures of the new "Dungeon Master!" In case I haven't told you enough how much I love them, how about one more time: I love them!!