21. A successful rescue and a surprise
"Bobby!" "Sundance!" Firefly and Sheila called into the dark cave.
Bobby and Sundance listened. They still had crouched on the ground of the dungeon and cried quietly together until then. "Hey, Sundance, did you hear that? There has anybody called for us!" Bobby turned to Sundance. She opened her eyes. "Oh! What do you think who it is? I'm sure that will be Tiamat! Oh no, now she certainly wants to begin with this ritual and needs me for it... I'll die right now..." "No, Sundance, calm down! I guess that wasn't Tiamat..." Bobby got up and went to the bars.
"Hey? Is anybody there? We're here in the back! Help!" he shouted. "Are you crazy? Why are you leading that one, who comes there, to us? And what is, if that maybe is another monster that's perhaps hungry for a little boy and a pony?! And we're trapped here and couldn't defend ourselves!" Sundance jumped up with fear.
Bobby glanced at her and shouted again, "Hey? Who's there?" There he heard his name again and short time later fast footsteps. Steps of horse shoes and a human!
Bobby and Sundance looked at each other. "Sis? Sis, is that you? Sheila, I'm here! We're here in the back!" Bobby yelled excited. Sundance stepped hesitated to Bobby but a few steps behind him. There they could see shadows. They held their breath.
Then they realized who came there: Firefly and Sheila! "SHEILA!!!!!" Bobby shouted overjoyed when he saw his sister. "Bobby! Oh my god, Bobby!" With tears in her eyes she came at the bars and took the hands of her kid brother, who almost cried for joy, too.
"Sundance! Good gracious! I was very worried about you!" Firefly said, stepped beside Sheila and nuzzled Sundance, who came close to the bars as well. "Firefly! I'm glad to see you!" Sundance replied. "Please, let us out before Tiamat appears here!" Bobby said. "We drove Tiamat out of here! The weapons didn't work and there the Rainbow of Light has chased her away!" Firefly replied.
Sheila looked around searching for a key but couldn't find any. "How we should let you out without any key?" But there the others came up. They were also glad to see Bobby and Sundance safely.
When Sheila informed her friends that they hadn't got a key, Twilight came to the bars, lowered her head and held her shining horn at the lock. The lock flew open immediately and Bobby and Sundance were free.
Bobby hopped out cheering and was suddenly embraced by his sister. He allowed it for a moment and then he meant, "Aw, Sis, that's enough with this sentimental stuff!" That was the same old Bobby again! The Young Ones laughed.
So every one of his friends embraced Bobby and even Eric embraced him, though only short, but still friendly. Bobby stood there very surprised as Eric embraced him. Then he smiled and returned the embrace. When Eric let Bobby go he said as excuse, "Well, erm, that was just because all have done it! That doesn't mean anything else, got it?" "Sure, Eric!" Bobby replied with a grin.
Sundance, who came out of the dungeon a little bit reserved, was also greeted by her friends. Her best friend Firefly greeted her stormiest. Firefly came first to her and snuggled her head up to Sundance's and said to her in soft voice, "I've really missed you terribly! And I was very worried that this odd dragon could hurt you!! I won't lose you as my friend, Sundance!" "I'm back again with you and the others now! Tiamat is gone! So she can't do me any harm and use me for the ritual, how ever it was meant. But I don't like to know that exactly!" So the two friends nuzzled. Then Sundance was nuzzled by the others.
When they all had greeted each other and the first joy about the succeeded expulsion of Tiamat and the liberation of Sundance and Bobby calmed down, Gingerbread asked, "Well, and what are we going to do now?" "Well, let's go home, or what else are you thinking about?" Sweet Stuff meant to her and winked. "Have you planned to sleep here in this cave tonight?" she asked giggling. "I'm quite sure that I won't do that!" Gingerbread replied.
"Ok. Let's go back to Dream Castle. That was a very hard day, wasn't it?" Firefly turned smiling at Sundance. "You bet!" she replied with a smile. And Firefly already turned to the direction of the exit when she stopped in the middle of a step.