Theo eased back into his chair as the book in his hands closed.
"Well, another series down and out.", he said to himself as he observed the book fly up to the shelf it came from.
The book slid back into the shelf, but Theo saw the shimmering title of the book before it vanished away.
"A Tale of Two Outcasts.", Theo said to himself recalling the adventures of Cole and Balto as he looked out into the vast emptiness of Subspace, "Okay magic bookshelf, where am I going to go now?"
He took a moment to observe the book on the stand near the fireplace alongside the DVD case both shimmering in the flame's glow.
"So much travel, so much lives met.", Theo told himself as he recalled the stories he had travelled through and saw the last part of the gem on the book's cover still dull, "Just one more to go, but where will it be?"
Theo got up and walked over to the stand. The flame's warmth licked his sides, but his mind wasn't in it as he took up the DVD case and opened it to see the shining disks as he went through each one.
"Wish Dragon, a collection of altered horror stories, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, then Elemental.", he said sighing as he closed the case and set it back beside the book, "Just need one more story for the books, but where can I find one?"
Just then, a brief breeze caught his attention and he looked out into Subspace to see something floating around in the void.
"Now what?", he asked.
As the object got closer, Theo noticed it looked like a letter. He reached out as it flew close to him and landed softly in his hand.
"Something for me?", Theo wondered as he noticed his name on the envelope.
He went back to his chair and slit the top of the envelope open before sitting down and unfolding the letter that was in it.
"Theo, I've been reading about your adventures and was wondering if you could write one for me. The tale of you interacting with that wish dragon, the singing crocodile, and even the monster wrestlers couldn't help but peak my interest. I hear you keep a special object in your archives. A magic board game that has a story behind it. I'd really like to hear your version of the tale if you know it. Retro Mania."
Theo raised an eyebrow as he took his eyes off the letter.
"I wonder who that is?", he questioned looking thoughtful, "But it can't be worse than the tale about my adventures with the enchanted princess. Still, it wouldn't hurt to recall the events that had unfurled when I obtained such an addition to my collection."
Theo got up again and looked out into Subspace smiling.
"Well, you want me to tell you a tale about the board game eh Retro Mania?", he asked as if the person who wrote the letter was just a few feet away, "Well, challenge accepted."
/
Theo then went over to the trunk by the fireplace and lifted the lid to reveal the stairway that led to his collection of artifacts and mementos from his travels. It was pretty dusty along the stairs, but the flickering lanterns made it possible to walk down without incident.
"Man, I need to clean this out more often.", Theo thought to himself before he sneezed from the dust, "Yep, definitely more cleaning."
He soon came to the door and after a bit of working the old-fashioned doorknob, got it open. The door creaked as it opened to reveal the glass cases which Theo wandered among.
"Well, this brings back a familiar feel.", he said to himself, "Kind of feels like the time I visited the realm of Altered Horrors."
He chuckled as he recalled the time and saw the case with the seven magic dice which helped him recall the people he had interacted with.
"Princess, Quinten, Visitor, Overlord, Vincent, Ted, Junior and Hyde.", he stated rubbing his hand across the case, "I wonder how they're doing right now."
Then he had a thought.
"Well, they're probably trying to keep whatever sent those demo things at bay and whatever is controlling them under control.", he said to himself, "I wonder if they've met the so called "party" from that place Star Court came from."
He shivered at the thought.
"Man, I'd really not like to be in the same room as that if the demo things are enough to freak me out for a week or so.", he tensed before relaxing, "Well, can't let that keep me from going back down memory lane."
He then strolled over to another case where a seemingly ordinary board game was displayed. Most would disregard it, but Theo knew better.
"So much history, so much behind the tale.", he said as he turned to leave, "Of course there was also the powerful and very . . . . unfortunate circumstances that were needed for me to possess it."
Theo sighed as a glow made him turn to see the game glowing and the sounds of drums started to play.
"No, I'm not going to play you.", Theo said firmly as if the game itself was able to hear and understand him, "You've already caused so much trouble for so many people. The constant danger they were in, the obscured landscaping that the magic you wielded did to bring your world into another, that was not very nice of you to do."
The drums started to sound louder and faster as if the game was trying to get Theo to change his mind. Still, Theo wasn't budging even as the glass case rattled as if some unknown force was fighting to get out.
"There's no use fighting it.", Theo said firmly, "That case is enchanted to hold you specifically no matter how much you train against it."
The game's glow began to dim and the drum playing started to grow dim as if the game was admitting defeat. Theo looked upon it and rolled his eyes comically.
/
"No need to feel blue, a tale retold will see you through.", Theo said as he observed the game, "Was that a good rhyme or what?"
The game suddenly opened as the case was large enough for it to do so and the green sphere in the center lit up with an emerald light as gold words began to form.
"An evil comes while you wait, but can you avoid being the bait?", Theo read looking confused for a moment but then smiled, "It's nice to see you haven't lost your sense of humor even after three thousand years."
The game closed as if it was understanding and Theo observed the name across the cover.
"A very unusual name, but then again you weren't any ordinary person living in the jungle realm from which you came from.", he said as he recalled the time he visited, "Shall I recall the set of events that occurred?"
The game shivered as it shimmered a couple times, even so, Theo knew what it ment.
"Great, just let me get the book that was written to document the occasion."
Theo headed out and was soon at the door again, but as he gripped the doorknob, an ominous feeling came over his back like an unwanted tap on his shoulder. He turned sharply and saw the game's case even at a distance shake.
"What have we just discussed?", he asked sharply.
The game didn't answer and Theo suddenly felt a queer sense of danger as he hurried to the case which had begun cracking.
"That's not right!", Theo said with alarm.
He quickly raised his hands and with some quick movements, the magical sparkles began forming as the cracks got bigger. Theo directed the sparkles turned into magical lassoes that circled the case and tried sealing the cracks.
"In the name of Subspace and myself, let the case retain the magical force or repel the magic that threatens the bindings be reversed!"
There was a very strong pull as Theo's magical lassoes gripped the case as Theo tried to keep himself steady as whatever was working on the case seemed to be fighting back just as hard. Still, Theo didn't give up so easily either.
"In the name of Subspace and myself, let the case retain the magical force or repel the magic that threatens the bindings be reversed!", Theo called out again firmer than before.
The ribbons buckled and shook with the case as Theo felt a major strain on his form. He looked up to see some form of dark eyes looking in and then he grew angry.
"You have no power here servant of evil!"
Then the whole room shook and the glass cases around Theo shook like the one the game was in. Still, Theo didn't give up and soon, the eyes faded and were gone making the room grow still again. Theo relaxed as his ribbons gave way to reveal the glass case restored as it had been before.
"Note to self: do a thorough sweep of Subspace for evil forces.", Theo huffed as he got to his feet.
And then he turned to the game and saw the game . . . was not there!
"Where did it go?", Theo asked in alarm, "That was one of a kind! It took me so much just to get it!"
He then noticed the game sitting up against the stand the case was on and Theo reached down and picked it up.
"Whew, I thought I'd lost it."
He carried it to the case and with his free hand, tapped the glass twice. The side opened and Theo slid the game back into the case. Once he pulled his hands back, the glass that had opened up closed leaving it as it was before the whole crazy thing happened.
"I better get Retro Mania's request over with so I can focus on that disturbance that invaded.", Theo told himself as he headed back to the door although slowly from using so much of his strength, "Also, I'm going to need some rest."
/
Theo managed to stagger up the stairs, but with each step, the strain reared its ugly head again.
"I'm really pulling myself hard.", he said to himself, "It's going to take a lot of time for me to recover what I used up back there."
He managed to somehow get to the top of the stairs, but paused at the door to take a couple deep breaths.
"Well, there's just a bit further til I can relax.", Theo strained.
Theo felt like his arms were filled with lead as he managed to get the door open. He then climbed out of the chest and closed it behind him which wasn't much trouble. As he got to his chair, he fell into it and sighed as his fatigue began to grow faint.
"Well, time to whip up something to help me regain my strength.", Theo told himself as he waved his hand in the air.
Nothing happened and Theo figured that he must still be tired from what happened before. He settled into his chair and after a bit more time, he tried again and a plate appeared with a fresh steak and green beans on it. There was also a tall glass of juice which was grape alongside it.
"Nothing like a meal before a tale to set the mood.", Theo told himself as he helped himself to the steak.
There was a pause, but then a book on Theo's shelf began vibrating. He paused and it floated off the shelf and came to him to show it was "Theo in the Realm of Altered Horrors" book which made him forget his meal for a moment and open it to show Hyde on a phone and smiling his way.
"Hey Theo, what's new?", he asked cheerfully.
"I'd ask the same thing to you.", Theo answered, "I had a bit of a break-in here, but I think it's gone now."
Hyde looked concerned.
"Man, that's got to be pretty powerful to get into your joint.", he said before smiling again, "But I doubt they'll try that again soon."
Theo couldn't help but smile as well.
"You know me.", he admitted, "So, how is everyone doing in your cozy corner of the multiverse?"
Hyde paused a moment, but didn't look worried.
"Well, Princess is still watching over the part she lives in, Quinten is still trying to hook up with Stephanie, and Visitor is having quality time with Ben."
"And the rest?", Theo questioned.
Hyde shrugged.
"No idea. I bet Overlord and Vincent are having a rematch again to see who's better than who again."
"Hyde, who are you calling?"
Theo saw the book's view open enough to see Junior come into the shot and look his way.
"Oh hey, it's Theo."
"Nice to see you Junior.", Theo answered, "Are you behaving yourself?"
Junior looked a bit nervous.
"I'm . . . trying.", he stated, "But hey, I gotta have my meat."
"Just as long as it's not human.", Theo told him, "I don't want you getting blown up again."
Junior flinched.
"You had to bring that up huh?", he countered before looking cheerful again, "So, what are you up to now?"
"I got a letter asking me to tell the story of one of my achieved objects.", Theo told him.
"Which one?", Hyde asked.
"The magic board game.", Theo told him, "That has a lot of lore to it."
/
Junior looked a bit confused.
"You mean the game that trapped a player for twenty-six years before he got out and had to finish it?", he asked, "Been there heard that."
Theo frowned.
"Actually Junior, my version begins long before Alan Parish.", he said before easing up, "Long before the two other players buried it and tried to forget about it."
Now Hyde looked interested, but then Ivy's voice broke in.
"Hyde, where's that vacuum?"
Hyde turned away as if to address Ivy.
"It's in the closet by the stairs honey!", he called before returning to Theo smiling a bit embarrassed, "Sorry Theo, I got to go. Ivy has me cleaning again."
Junior shrugged.
"I'm also helping him out in case he needs it.", he added.
"Thanks guys.", Theo said thankfully, "And don't worry, I'll be okay. Let me know if anything bad comes up."
"Will do.", Hyde answered.
Then the book went blank as if a phone was hung up and the book went back into the shelf. Theo then felt he was back with enough strength to finish his dinner which vanished as he then walked over to the shelf and took a dark green book from one of the lower shelves and noticed the vines and jungle animal designs across the cover and title.
"Jumanji Retold.", Theo told himself as he settled into his chair again, "How well it remembers when I visited. Luckily I picked up a little trick that has the book tell the story while I sit back and listen."
He chuckled at his own comment and had a plate of brownies appear on a stand by his chair which he could snack on while the story told itself.
"So, was this my second or my third artifact retrieved from reality?", Theo found himself asking, "Well, I don't think it matters anyway. May as well get the show on the road so I can get to seeing what that force that disturbed me was."
Theo braced himself as he wasn't used to not being sucked into the book and interacting this time, but the time he did rang out perfectly in his mind. He raised a hand and after a moment's pause to eat a couple brownies, tapped the cover three times and the book flipped open as if he had done it himself.
"So, it begins.", Theo said to himself, "The retelling of Jumanji and myself. And it all began, when I arrived."