"Rescue From Extinction"
The koleapus was an equestrian-like creature. It had the body of a gazelle, the head of a zebra (only with a tan mane instead of black), the large tail of an anteater, and (as Rob had previously properly identified) the paws of a lion. As awkward as this may sound, it was a very elegant and graceful looking creature. He was galloping around as best as can be expected—for on his back was a giant. A juvenile giant; but a giant nonetheless.
This hideous giant was dressed like an oversized Peter Pan. He was about 12-years old. His face was ghastly with thick, bushy eyebrows (or should I say ‘eyebrow’ for he only had one). His nose was covered with hairy moles and his chin came to a stubby point and was wet with the drool that was running from his puffy and scabby lips.
“My god, he’s ugly,” said Lisa.
“He almost makes that late-ant Queen look half decent,” noted Cindy.
“Woba, is that the koleapus?” asked Melissa.
“It is!” he confirmed happily, “now what was his name?”
“Woba, was he always that big?” asked Lisa.
“No, he stood just a little bit taller than I did.”
“Then the giants must know the Enlargement Spell,” I said excitedly, “having that spell will save us a lot of trouble.”
“That must be what Cindy meant when she relayed the telepathic line about ‘...larger, larger...’,” recalled Lisa.
“Exactly,” stated Melissa, “that giant kid must have enlarged the koleapus so he could ride him instead of play with him like toy.”
“I’ve got it!” I blurted out, snapping my fingers. “The way to find out the Enlargement Spell is to cast the Reduction Spell on the koleapus and the kid. After they’re shrunk, I’m sure the kid will restore them both. Melissa, get the paper ready.”
“What if he uses that spell reversal instead of the Enlargement Spell?” asked Cindy.
“Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that,” I started, “It’s a chance we just have to take. You guys stay here. Melissa and I will zip over there, cast the spell and then after we’ve got what we want, we’ll zip right back.”
“Be careful,” said Lisa.
“We will,” I replied, “ready Melissa?”
She nodded and with that, we zipped over at Speed Level 2. Pulling out my new ‘cheat sheet’ I cast the Reduction Spell: Animate.
“I better reduce them to about 100 times their present size,” I noted:
“Lochnobe, Rishcanoze, Tichna, Boo, 100.”
The giant kid and the koleapus were immediately reduced to heights equivalent to about one-hundredth of their original size, which was still pretty big. The kid yelled something that I’m sure wasn’t very nice, then began wiggling his nubby fingers as I had learned to do. Fortunately for us, he did not use the Standard Spell Reversal. Instead, he repeated the much needed Enlargement Spell: Rochtobe, Enormloch, Grandeem, Tobin.
The two immediately shot back up to their original heights. The kid hopped off the koleapus and ran towards the Purple Palace, yelling something about someone named “Timmy” playing tricks on him again.
“Melissa, zip back and get Woba, quickly,” I said. She handed me the Enlargement Spell that she had so deftly written down.
As she left, I initiated a spell reversal on the koleapus, returning him to what I thought would be his normal height, which was about the size of a Shetland pony. Removing the Conveyance Spell, I walked slowly over toward him. He didn’t seem the least bit frightened.
Woba joined me and upon seeing each other, the koleapus ran over toward us. Woba and the koleapus started jumping up and down and prancing around each other.
“Woba! It’s so good to see you again,” said the koleapus in a soothing, but tired tone.
“Oh, my,” hesitated the embarrassed Woba, “it is good to see you, also. And you’ve remember my name after all of this time. How considerate of you.”
“That’s what my mother use to tell me,” replied the koleapus, “‘...Cleo, you are so considerate...’ she’d say.”
Woba’s eyes showed his relieve and delight in finally learning his best friend’s name.
“I hate to interrupt this joyous reunion but that giant kid isn’t going to stay away forever.”
“You’re right, he is so cruel. Let’s get out of here,” said Cleo.
I climbed aboard the womba and the three of us headed back over to where the others were waiting. From behind us, we heard the kid return from the Purple Palace. He was yelling for the koleapus and did not look very happy or friendly.
Arriving with the others, we quickly ran through the introductions. Upon meeting Cindy, Cleo knew immediately that she was the one he had been in contact with. Cleo asked her to ride on his back, which made Woba feel a little jealous, so he asked Lisa to ride on his back. I cast the Conveyance Spell for Melissa and myself and Rob engaged his flight sequence. Our little party quickly headed out of the courtyard, through the fence, and right to one of the edges of Giant Land.
Upon crossing the border of Giant Land, the bright colors and the smells of the flowers quickly disappeared. The sudden loss of the sights and sounds was immediately depressing. The stark black and white and the dead silence of this odd dimension once again returned to fill our senses with nothingness.
* * * *
We proceeded in the direction that Cleo indicated. Rob had been instructed to give us lifeform readings whenever they appeared. After about a half hour, he did just that...
“Lifeforms: bearing 270 and closing,” he reported.
“Identify.”
“Lacertilia.”
“Melissa?” questioned Lisa, half knowing the answer wasn’t going to be good.
Melissa nodded, “Lizard Land.”
There was period of silence as we all pondered the implications and tried to individually form plans of action.
“But what a minute.,” I said suddenly, “Rob said they’re closing. How large a group are we talking about?”
“Thirty-two. In a formation, possibly a military formation.”
“But the lizards never leave Lizard Land,” stated a puzzled Cleo.
“Never?” I questioned.
“At least not in large groups. There is a conference every now and then, attended by delegates of all of the different lands, but even then they only send an emissary, usually accompanied by two or three others.”
“What would make these lizards travel in such a group?” asked Melissa.
“A migration of some sort?” suggested Lisa.
“Possibly. Our history books only mention two other times when lizards have ventured out in such numbers. Both were during periods of great conflict,” stated Woba.
“War?” asked Lisa. Cleo nodded.
“Could it be an army heading toward Living Land?” asked Cindy.
“From the direction that this marvelous creatures states,” marveled Cleo, patting Rob on the leg with his paw, “yes.”
“Then the Green Devil must have already struck,” said Lisa, “and the lizard army is heading out to help.”
“Not likely,” said Woba, “if I remember correctly, the lizards only help themselves. The Green Devil must have done something to them first and now they’re chasing him in retaliation.”
“Rob, distance to lizards?”
“1.8-km.”
“Any other lifeforms?” asked Lisa.
“Negative. VI now available.”
“Forget the VI,” said Cindy excitedly, “look!” she pointed at the horizon.
We couldn’t make it out clearly, since there was still no color to aid us, but what we did see was a group of creatures that appeared to be moving steadily. Rob printed out a VI anyway, so we gave it a look.
On the sheet of paper we could plainly see lizards in formation. There was a General-looking lizard in the lead and behind him were two musician lizards: fife and drum. Between them was a flag bearing lizard and then came the 28 lizard troops; in four columns of seven. All were walking upright as the ants had done. And as the ants before them, they wore no shoes. They did have swords at their sides and what looked like little rifles flung over their shoulders. They also wore little caps on their heads.
“Rob, how large are these lizards?” asked Melissa.
“Approximately two meters.”
“We’ve got to get him converted out of metric,” said Lisa, “I never did remember metric conversions.”
“It’s about six foot,” said Cindy.
“Cleo, are they a threat to us?” I asked.
“No. They do have a superiority complex though, but they are not inherently evil.”
“Then we should join with the lizards,” I said, “ we didn’t tell you this before, Cleo, because we didn’t want to scare you, but Lived Neerg, the Green Devil, is after you.”
“Me?” he said sadly, “my kind have been hunted for as long as I can remember.”
“Are you the last koleapus?” asked Lisa.
“I believe so,” Cleo said.
“Hey, I think I’m the last womba, too,” realized Woba.
“I almost wish my ancestors had made themselves more visible,” stated Cleo, “then maybe all of these silly myths wouldn’t have gotten started in the first place.”
As we proceeded on an intersect course with the lizard army, Cleo told us all about himself. He said that the other koleapus’ had disappeared long ago, usually captured by other multi-dimensional beings. He had lost all track of time and had no idea either how old he was nor how long he had been the ‘last koleapus.’ He also told us that he only vaguely remembered his parents; their memories dimming over the deefons.
Woba added that the koleapus was a shy creature, trapped by its own myth. Since there were always so few of them to start with, they were rarely seen. For a period, no one knew for sure whether they existed or not.
Cleo confirmed that the koleapus originally had some limited magical powers, but over the deefons, much had been forgotten and worse yet, exaggerated upon. Legend had built him up to be a far more impressive creature than reality had actually made him to be.
He had been living quietly and happily in Living Land when a giant had come across what he called the ‘flatlands’ and captured him. He had been given to the younger giant as a present until we came along and rescued him.
“Cleo,” I started, “will the lizards recognize you?”
“Recognize him! They’ve practically made him a god,” stated Woba.
“Oh, that’s just a fable,” said Cleo.
“Fable or not, if they worship you, then we’ll have no problems joining them.”
“I hadn’t thought about that. Why don’t I gallop on ahead and get us properly introduced.”
“Not with me on you back,” added Cindy, “I’m not to keen on lizards.”
“All right Cin, let me hop on,” I said.
I removed the Conveyance Spell from myself and then cast it on to Cindy’s feet. Having instructed the others to continue on the intersect course, Cleo and I galloped ahead to meet with the lizards.
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