On Falling In And Out Of Storyside...

Part 6

            20 minutes later, Jerry was being tossed into a cell. He couldn't believe the day (or was it night?) he was having. He'd gotten past the idea that he was dreaming 10 minutes beforehand when the captain of the guard had decided he was a bit too impudent for a pint-sized human and had dealt him a solid backhand with a glove made of gold chain mail. No one, he realized, passes out from pain if they're already asleep. After he'd woken up, he'd found himself being dragged downstairs, feet first, to the cell he was now in.

            "I see they hit you," came a male voice in the darkness.

            "You see better than I do," Jerry replied, peering around as his eyes adjusted. The meager light that filtered in through the small food service slot in the door, however, wasn't enough for him to see the speaker by. "They hit you, too?"

            "No, they put me to sleep," the voice returned.

            "Wish they done that to me," Jerry groaned, holding his face.

            "No, you don't. It's a highly overrated experience."

            "I could've handled it better."

            "I doubt it," the voice said. "Humans tend to have a lower magic tolerance." There was a noise in the far corner, as if someone were getting up. "Here, let me see if I can be of assistance." Jerry could hear someone crossing the stone floor to him, then felt a smallish hand on the side of his face.

            "Ow!" he winced.

            "Hold still," came the stern voice. Jerry could feel the side of his face getting warmer and the pain and swelling slowly faded. The hand moved away from him and it all disappeared entirely.

            "Thanks," he said, rubbing his face gingerly to check the damage (or lack thereof). "So this is a magic world, huh?"

            "In comparison to what?"

            "In comparison to the place I live in," Jerry returned.

            "Most likely," the voice said. "Few humans, unless they have studied magic, really have much to do with it in their normal element...I'm guessing this is not your element?"

            "This ain't even close to my element," Jerry agreed. "I'm Jerry, by the way. Who are you?"

            "Ah, I have neglected to introduce myself. My name is Magbert and this is..." Suddenly, a weak voice in the corner, much like a little girl's, said,

            "Mommy? Where are you?"

            "Just a moment," said the voice, who Jerry now knew as Magbert. There was a quick scurrying sound as Jerry's new friend rushed off to help the person. "It's Daddy, Mia," he said. "Are you alright?"

            Mia and Magbert, Jerry thought. Don't I know those names from somewhere...?

            "My head hurts," the child he'd called Mia answered.

            "It'll stop in a while," said Magbert in a soothing tone.

            "Where are we?" Mia asked.

            "We're waiting to talk to the fairy people, dear. It shouldn't be too long now."

            "It's dark and scary in here, Daddy."

            "I know, we should be out soon."

            "Uh, I hate to break up this touching moment," said Jerry, "but I kinda need to get back home now. I don't suppose you know a way out of here?"

            "Not at present," Magbert responded.

            "Who's that?" asked Mia, sounding frightened.

            "Don't be scared, kid," Jerry said wryly. "I'm not even scary when I'm normal sized."

            "A friend, Mia," Magbert answered. "No, not anything that'll help." he directed to Jerry. "The cell is magic-proof all the way around. I can, however help shed a little light on things."

            Suddenly, the room was filled with a bluish light. The light was above the head of a small man in the corner, obviously Magbert, who was holding a girl in his lap, obviously Mia. She had wings, too, but these were smaller than the ones Jerry had seen on the fairy guards earlier.

            "You're a dwarf," said Jerry.

            "I'm a gnome," replied Magbert.

            "And you're a fairy!" Jerry added, pointing to Mia.

            "I'm a sprite," she returned.

            "Like there's a difference!" he exploded, irritably. He hadn't meant to get upset, but he was. His recent snap out of dreamland into reality had forced him to accept this world as a permanent situation. Of course, being trapped like he was with no clue on how to escape and certainly no magic of his own was not helping his generally easygoing demeanor, either. In other words, Jerry was getting pissed.

            "Actually, yes," said Magbert. "Fairies have a double set of large decorative wings, like butterflies, while sprites usually have one set, smaller and less glamorous."

            "Sprite wings are better for real flying," said Mia defensively.

            "Ohhhh," said Jerry sarcastically, "then I'm terribly sorry. Please excuse me for not finding the whole wing dilemma not nearly as important as being yanked out of 20th century America to be shrunk and thrown in a fairy prison!!!"

            "I can see how that would be disturbing," nodded Magbert. "However, you should try to see the bright side."

            Jerry looked around him in exasperation. "What bright side???"

            "You weren't killed," came the Stoic reply.

            Jerry raised a finger as if about to respond, then closed his eyes and turned away from Magbert and Mia, muttering, "I gotta get outta here, man..."

            "As do we," said Magbert to Mia. "Unfortunately, we can't do anything until we get out of this cell. Some powerful magic is hindering my rune castings and I can't seem to fight it. I was hardpressed to conjure up this light orb and the bit of healing I did on your face."

            "Fairies are used to people trying to use magic to escape," sighed Jerry. "We'll probably have to try something non-magical."

            "Such as?"

            "The door, I guess." Jerry walked over to it and began pushing. "Surely a door this thick wouldn't need any magic on it to keep it closed."

            "Actually, the door isn't that thick, it's magically..." began Magbert, but he stopped in shock as the door swung open, dumping Jerry on the ground. "...sealed," he finished.

            "I don't believe it!" smiled Jerry. "I was actually right! They knew we'd think the door was a given barrier, so they never bothered to even lock it or magic proof it!"

            "Yes, they did!" gasped Mia. "Daddy, you said the whole room was..."

            "It wasn't important, Mia, let's just get out of here," interrupted Magbert. He carried Mia out, giving Jerry a slow thoughtful glance as they entered the torch lit corridor.

            "But what about Naomi?" Mia asked.

            "That's right, I nearly forgot our purpose," Magbert said. He pointed up the corridor and spoke to Jerry. "That way will lead you to the upper level of the castle and perhaps to freedom, if you can outwit the guard, friend. Your assistance was greatly appreciated, but we must help a friend of ours before we can leave."

            "Well, wait," Jerry said. "Maybe I can help you, too. I mean, I've got no pressing business right now and there's no sense in my trying to get out alone, especially if you might be able to use that magic of yours to help us all out of here."

            "Actually, I think you're better suited to such a task," murmured Magbert.

            "Huh?"

            "Never mind, let's see if Naomi is in here somewhere. I gather from the way the guards were talking that she, too, had been taken into custody somewhere."

            "So let's start checking rooms," Jerry shrugged, strolling down the hall and peering through food slots.

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