Forbidden Quest

by Alaina Stanford

  "So we only get one chance?" Jack frowned, "Isn't that kind of harsh?"

  "It adds to the adventure. After all, in reality you only have one life there are no second chances. That knowledge will encourage you to choose wisely, instead of recklessly. You will resist the temptation to rush blindly into a situation you may not fully understand. Caution is the key word here. You must study your environment carefully. Take this adventure seriously and you will be rewarded beyond your expectations. "

  "If we feel uncomfortable with the adventure, you will stop the proceedings?" Sarah asked as she pulled the thin blanket Shala had given her up to her chin.

  "If there is a serious problem, I will bring the person affected out of the trance. However, this is an adventure. You must prepare yourself for excitement and danger. There will be battles, creatures lurking in the night, and clever enemies who will try to befriend you, attempting to dissuade you from your chosen path. Just remember, you are prepared. Stick together and you will not fail. Each of you carries a specific ability that will see the others through to your goal. If one of you surrenders and leaves the game the others will most likely fail."

  "What is our goal?" Nicole asked, kicking off her shoes and lying down.

  "There is a beautiful elf queen is imprisoned in the Cave of Sorrows. An evil elfin wizard cast a spell upon her, entombing her inside the crystalline walls of a cavern, deep in the bowels of the mountains. He has an army of evil elves who will be searching for you. They are ruthless and cunning. It is entirely possible you will find them guarding the entrance to the cavern." Dr. Strong's voice shook with excitement as the hall grew dark. "There is an ancient castle deep within the Valley of Tears in the heart of the mountains. There you will find an amulet that will enable you to release the Queen. The talisman can only be wielded by a being that possesses the ancient power of the mountains such as a fairy. Once Sarah brings the talisman to life it will shatter the queen’s imprisonment. Nicole you must strengthen the Queen with a healing spell. Jack and Hopper must protect you and Sarah from the wicked elves as you will be vulnerable while working your magic. Find the village near the glen when you arrive. A small boy waits there, in the stables. He will send you on your way. You will not return until your quest is completed, so do not fail."

  "How will we know which way to go?" Hopper asked, wiggling his feet as they dangled over the edge of the cot.

  . "You will lead using your Elf senses. They will warn you of danger. The boy will supply you with a map, coins and weapons." Dr. Strong answered calmly. "A word of caution; don't be fooled by the lies of your enemies. Stay true to your quest and you will triumph. Remember in the land of fantasy, things are never what they seem."

  Shala began to play a series of soft rolling tones on some sort of an ancient looking flute. The darkness filled with swirls of pastel shades. The adventurers could hear the doctor's voice softly in the background telling them to close their eyes and relax. Steadily, continuously, he lulled the tension of everyday life from their muscles. The music softened and grew faint. Dr. Strong's word grew jumbled and unclear. They felt themselves rising above their beds. The weightlessness was exhilarating. Jack extended his hands as if he was flying through the cool black air.

  A sudden sensation of descent frightened Nicole. She tried to open her eyes but could not. Without warning a storm of freezing winds and icy rain assaulted them. Todd heard Sarah scream and tried to reach for her, but the torrent froze his limbs to his side. He cried out to her as his body became wracked with incredible pain. He felt his body twisting and stretching. Then there was only pain.

  The warmth of the sun on his face woke Hopper. He jumped up from the grassy knoll where he lay and scanned the tall grass for Sarah. The trees that encompassed the hillock stood tall and protectively around them. Shining deep silvery green leaves sparkled delicately as the wind caressed them in the bright sunlight. Everywhere he looked, clumps of emerald green brush speckled with tiny flowers of pink and purple surrounded him.

  Spinning to take in the opposite side of the glen, Hopper saw the still form of a woman lying in the grass several meters behind him. Moving toward her, Hopper staggered in the tall grass and fell awkwardly. As his hands stretched out to catch his fall a massive, hairy hand with long black claws appeared before him. Hopper glanced down, and found an equally enormous pair of hairy legs ending in a huge pair of feet, hidden in dark fur covered boots.

  “What . . . happened?” Hopper stammered, gasping at the sound of his booming voice. It echoed through the clearing unnaturally deep in tone. Reaching for his face, Hopper found his head had grown to five times its natural size. A huge protruding nose hovered above a large, wide mouth filled with long jagged teeth.

  "Hopper?" Jack's amused voice came from behind him. "I thought elves were short little guys in green tights."

  "Jack?" Hoppers deep voice bellowed as he swung around to face him.

  Nicole sat up in the grass a short distance behind Jack. The pair both wore dark green leather body armor, consisting of short, thick, leather-like vests covered in dark sparkling metal links. Jack wore a long pair of tight dark brown trousers and Nicole, a nearly nonexistent dark green skirt. Physically, Jack appeared much the same as before except his hair was much longer and his muscles more pronounced.

  Jack stared up as Hopper approached, shaking his head in disbelief. "Don't tell me, you've had a fetish about monsters all your life and it's chosen now to surface? You must be at least 8 feet tall."

  "Where's Sarah?” Hopper growled.

  "And you've got Satan's voice." Jack grinned wickedly, then added gazing past him, "Turn around. Dr. Strong goofed again. She doesn't look like a fairy to me. "

  Turning back to the still form in the grass, Hopper gawked in amazement as Sarah rose from the grass. Her short golden hair had been replaced by long, curling, crimson locks. The startled blue eyes that met his were indeed Sarah's, but the tall athletic form cloaked in a dark sparkling sapphire robe wasn't.

  "Sarah?" His deep voice asked.

  “Todd? What happened to you?" She rushed toward him.

  "The same thing that happened to you!" He stepped back from her, feeling clumsy and awkward for the first time in his life.

  "Me?" Sarah stammered, not able pry her eyes away from the hulking monster

  before her that was supposed to be her handsome elfin warrior.

  "Something must have gone wrong." Nicole's soft sultry voice floated across the

  glen toward them. "Sarah, you've got my robes on."

  Turning to look at her, the others froze in amazement as they stared into a pair of glowing emerald eyes. Nicole practically floated across the grass toward them. Her short brown hair was replaced by long shining locks of such a deep black, the sun reflected a satiny blue hue. Her tall slender form had transformed into a petite hourglass figure nearly completely hidden by the thick layers of hair that reached past her knees.

  "Hopper, you look terrible." Nicole's grin was so sincere and carefree it caused

  Jack to step backward a pace.

  “I think he’s an ogre.” Sarah managed, turning her attention back to Todd.

  “He’s a troll.” Nicole countered softly. “Ogre’s don’t have claws that can slice a man in half.”

  “How do you know that?” Sarah asked frowning at her.

  “I have no idea.” Nicole shrugged her shoulders with and smiled in delight. “I guess it comes with the territory. Hopper’s a troll, you’re a wizard and Jack’s definitely a barbarian.”

  “And you’re an elf,” Jack said “ A scantily dressed one at that.” He added as he stepped forward and tugged gently on a lock of Nicole’s hair. “I’m the only one that turned out right.”

  The group stood and stared at each other for several seconds before Nicole started to giggle and said, “I always suspected becoming a Hockey star war going to give you a big head Hopper.”

  “And what did you have to do to get that shirt stuffed so full?” Hopper
countered, motioning to Jack who leaned forward and deftly undid the top button of her skimpy vest.

  Nicole’s hand flew to her chest as the lessened support nearly exploded the tiny vest. Yet instead of redoing the button, she simply smiled and shifted the vest into a more comfortable, and revealing position, one that nearly cause Jack to lose his footing.

  “Caution, Barbarian.” Nicole stared at him. “You don’t want to give in to those urges . . . just yet. Unless you’re interested in discovering just how much stamina you truly possess. Or is that what you sacrificed in order to become so robust?”

  "My 'stamina' has never been in question." Jack met her challenge with surprising gusto. "I'd be happy to demonstrate if you'd care to . . ." Jack's answer was cut short by a quick slap on the back from Sarah.

  "Let's not start anything we can't finish." She shook her head at them like they were a quarreling pair of siblings.

  "Who said sex wasn't allowed?" Jack bellowed, lunging for Nicole. Nicole let out a squeal of laughter as the pair hit the ground. Hopper and Sarah quickly joined them as the giant troll tackled his girlfriend, wrapping his huge body around her and rolling in the grass. Soon the adventurers were laughing and pointing out each other's most ridiculous feature. Then each in turn stretched out on the tall grass, gasping for air.

  Each, except Nicole; Nicole couldn't stop laughing. Slowly her laughter increased, escalating into hysterical howls, then screams of laughter. Nicole gasped for air as tears streamed down her face. Jack stared as her laughter turned into sobs of anguish then screams of horror.

  "What's going on?" Hopper's booming voice called out as they backed away from Nicole's wild thrashing. Nicole's still glowing green eyes grew wild with fear.

  "I think she's having some kind of seizure." Jack said reaching out for her. "Nicole, it's all right. As soon as Strong realizes he put us into the wrong characters he'll set it straight."

  Shoving him away, Nicole ran down the grassy slope to the center of the glen screaming with rage. She couldn't stop; it was as if Nicole was watching herself from afar, unable to react, unable to control what was happening. Nicole fell down on the grass, kicking and screeching in horror feeling as if every fiber of her intellect was fighting desperately to survive.

  "How do we stop this?" Hopper asked running after Jack and Sarah as they rushed to Nicole's side.

  "I don't know! I've never seen her like this." Jack shouted over Nicole's screams,

  looking to Sarah for advice.

  "Dr. Strong!" Sarah screamed toward the sky. "Stop the session!"

  There was no reply, no change in their surroundings, only the sound of Nicole's terror. Jack knelt in the grass beside Nicole and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Nicole, stop it! You’re going to hurt yourself!" Jack pleaded.

  Nicole shoved him from her, rose and screamed in horror as the emerald glow from her eyes spread outward and enveloped her completely. All at once she stopped suddenly, turned to stare at Jack for one brief moment before collapsing, unconscious on to the grass.

  "I think she had a nervous breakdown." Hopper's deep voice said quietly as the

  three of them stood staring down at Nicole.

  "Why didn't Dr. Strong bring her out of it?" Sarah asked kneeling down to check

  Nicole's vitals. "He said he would bring us back if anything went wrong. She's still breathing, but her heart is racing."

  "Maybe this is an expected reaction." Jack offered. "Some people react badly to drugs. Maybe that sedative didn't sit right and gave her some kind of a bad trip."

  "Or maybe she just reacts badly to hypnotism and Dr. Strong had to let her ride out the storm." Hopper added.

  "That's absurd." Sarah answered, annoyed at their ridiculous explanations. "Dr. Strong's a professional. He said it was mild."

  "We're only trying to help.” Hopper said reaching out to touch Sarah's hand then pulling it back quickly remembering his sharp claws.

  "l'm sorry, I guess we're all a little upset." Sarah smiled up at them as she grasped Hopper's clawed hand and squeezed it gently.

  "Okay then, let's get her out of the sun," Jack said as he scooped up Nicole with surprising ease and carried her into the shadows at the edge of the clearing. He lowered her gently onto the flower speckled grass then turned to Hopper, "See if you can find a village or cottage nearby. She could use some water . . . or whiskey, I'm not sure which."

  Nodding Hopper trotted off into the woods. Nicole stirred and opened her eyes just as he disappeared into the trees. The dark glow had vanished leaving her with eyes the same deep emerald color of the grass and brush around them.

  "Nicole?" Jack whispered leaning forward.

  "What happened?" Nicole sat up and rubbed at the ache in her temples.

  - "You . . . were hysterical." Jack searched for the right term, "Then you passed out. Are

  you all right?"

  "A little tired, but otherwise I'm fine." Nicole sighed feeling as if the weight of the world had somehow lifted itself from her shoulders. Her carefree smile returned as she found great amusement in the two concerned faces that stared at her. "Where's Hoppy monster?"

  "Todd went to find you something to drink." Sarah frowned at Nicole. "Are you sure you're all right? You're acting strange. Do you feel lightheaded, dizzy or confused?''

  "I'm fine, Sarah." Nicole turned to smile at her. "Wow! Look at you! You're gorgeous. Dr. Strong must really have taken a shine to you. He turned you into a scarlet haired temptress." Nicole winked at the bewildered Sarah then rose onto her knees and reached out to squeeze Jack's muscular upper arm. "The barbarian motif suits you, but the name Jack doesn't fit anymore."

  "I'm keeping it." He smiled, relieved she was all right. "Aren't you the least bit angry about being turned into a pointy eared elf instead of a powerful sorceress?" Jack asked. He gently brushed her blue-black hair behind an ear.

  "Are they really pointed?" Nicole asked. Touching her ears, she squealed with delight. "This is incredible! They feel so real and I think I can even hear better." A glance down at her vest induced another peal of laughter. She took hold of a breast in each hand and added, "I never dreamed that I'd have such a large set of. . . " She paused, listening. "Hopper's coming back."

  Turing the trio looked up the small rise to find Hopper's hulking form trotting toward them. "Nicole, you're awake and smiling." His deep voice caused Nicole to giggle. Taking his offered hand, she jumped up and hugged him.

  "Hey, where's your club?" she asked, suddenly turning serious.

  "My what?"

  "Trolls carry clubs, their choice of weapons." Nicole explained glancing around for a suitable piece of wood.

  "Cut it out, Nicole." Sarah snapped. "This is all wrong. What's going on here? What's wrong with you? Where is the old Nicole, the bitch we've all grown to tolerate?" Jack couldn't help but grin at that remark as Sarah continued. "The old Nicole would have given Jack a black eye for even thinking of diving on top of her and rolling around in the grass. Instead you laughed yourself into a coma that we're just supposed to forget about because you smile and say your fine!"

  "There is nothing wrong with me Sarah." Nicole's smile finally vanished.

  "All right then, what about Todd? He was suppose to be an elf warrior and he's some kind of monster." Sarah glanced at Todd with a sympathetic frown for a brief moment before continuing. "Nicole, you're the lawyer do something! Threaten to sue Dr. Strong if he doesn't deliver what he promised. This is not the adventure we paid for. If he can't control it I say we call the whole thing off. This is all your fault. We trusted you; you said you checked him out. You said he was completely capable of delivering the type of adventure he advertised."

  "Maybe he has," Nicole smiled wickedly at them. "Maybe this is his way of telling us to lighten up. Maybe he went over our profiles last night and decided to make a few changes. After all Jack's personality is completely different from Tom's. Tom is a very serious concentrated individual. Jack is light-hearted and unfocused. Maybe he ju
st shuffled us around a bit to make it more interesting and to teach us a few things about ourselves."

  "Oh so now you're telling me this has turned into some sort of self growth bullshit. “Sarah snapped.

  “Look at you, Sarah. You're more confident, more in control and you've said more in the last two minutes than I've heard you say in the last five years. The silent wallflower has died."

  "And you've had a mental collapse.” Sarah retorted, she wasn't about to admit she found herself just as Nicole described.

  ''The only thing wrong with your theory, Nicole is that Jack didn't change." Hopper stepped in between the women trying to turn the conversation.

  "Look, we've only got so much time here. Let's stop the analysis and make the most of it." Jack declared, ending the discussion. "Hopper, what did you find?"

  "There's a small village through the woods about a mile from here. It's got a stable and an Inn not much more,” Hopper answered, then grinned through a vicious set of fangs.

  "How'd you find it so fast?" Jack asked with a quick glance at Nicole, realizing her eyes were tracing the outline of his leathery vest and pants.

  "I started jogging. These long legs can cover a mile in record time and I didn't even break a sweat. Maybe being a troll isn't going to be so bad?" Hopper turned to Sarah, "How about a kiss?" She screamed and tried to escape his grasp to no avail.

  "Okay you two love birds let's get moving." Jack said heading to follow Nicole who was already eagerly moving up the rise.

  Chapter Three

  A large gray hawk kept constant vigil over the small group as they moved through the thick layer of trees and silvery brush toward the village. Two white squirrels hopped from branch to branch, scurrying close to the adventurers before turning to dash back into the brush. A few paces away a large antlered deer boldly stopped to stare as they paused just inside the tree line and examined the small cluster of rustic buildings.