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"If We Shadows Have Offended..." Tommy looked rattled, but Casey just smiled calmly. “I thought you were smarter than that,” Casey said. “You’re playing right into that moron Oberon’s hands.” “Explain yourself, boy?” Puck said angrily. “Look, you’ve beat us fair and square at every turn. You’re obviously a thousand times sharper than Oberon, yet he’s in charge,” Casey said. “And if you get rid of us, he’ll stay in charge, while you’re out there playing tricks on the yokels in my world. You could have all of Elysium under your thumb, with my help.” Puck snorted. “Nice try,” he said. “Do you really expect me to believe that you’d help me? Why would you do that?” “You and I have more in common than you might think,” Casey said. “You’re stuck playing second fiddle to that Oberon clown, while I’ve got to be a sidekick to this dumb jock.” He nodded toward Tommy. “Together, you and I could rule Elysium, and I’d never have to listen to Tommy blather on about soccer again. Sounds good to me.” Tommy figured Casey was up to something, but still he was laying it on a bit thick. “You’re very convincing, my young friend, but this change of heart is a little too convenient for my tastes,” Puck said. “I don’t think I can trust you.” “Who said anything about trust?” Casey said. “You’re the one with the magical powers – can’t you whip up some sort of truth serum?” Puck thought for a moment. “We do have something like that,” he said. “I’ll go collect some from the apothecary, but be warned – if you’re lying, I’ll devise a whole new set of punishments for the both of you.” After Puck had left, Tommy turned his head to face Casey. “What are you planning?” he asked. Casey kept his face turned away. “I’m planning to do exactly what I said – take over this place. And the fact that you won’t be around to annoy me will be a bonus.” “Casey, you can’t mean that–” Puck entered the room, holding a small vial filled with a greenish liquid. “Open up, boy,” he said, pouring the concoction down Casey’s throat. “Now, tell the truth – do you really intend to help me?” “Yes, I do. I, Casey Clarence Beck, hereby solemnly swear that I will help you take over Elysium, scout’s honor, no takebacks.” “And what about your friend here?” Puck pointed at Tommy, who could not believe what he was hearing. “I’ll help you get rid of him,” Casey said. “Then I can be the one true Champion.” “Casey, how could you–” “Oh, shut up Tommy,” Casey interrupted. “I can’t stand it when you whine.” Casey looked up at Puck. “Could you do me a favor, in honor of our new partnership, and gag his big mouth again?” “Happy to oblige,” Puck said. He pulled off one of Tommy’s athletic socks and shoved it deep into his mouth. He tied the other sock over it and knotted it behind his head. Puck then pulled a ring of keys from a nail outside the door and released Casey. “Now, how is this going to work?” Puck asked Casey. “As long as you’re in this world, you’re just a skinny teen-ager.” “I’ve been giving that some thought, and I think I have a way around it,” Casey replied. “You see, there’s some sort of mystical connection between me and this dumb ape, like a circuit. So I figure if we put Tommy in our world, while I stay here and say the magic word, it will let the magic flow through Tommy to me – sort of like grounding a wire.” “Then I’ll have access to all my Champion powers in this world,” Casey continued. He knelt beside Tommy and grabbed him by the hair. “You hear that, Tyler? I’m going to have all the power, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” “You are a very clever young man,” Puck said. “I can see why you would be bored playing hero alongside this callow oaf.” Tommy protested into the sock filling his mouth, but neither Puck nor Casey noticed. Tommy could not believe that Casey would double-cross him like this. Yet the truth serum had confirmed it. All those years, when Tommy thought Casey was his best friend, he was just kidding himself. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly. He would not give either of them the satisfaction of seeing him cry. “And what is to become of young Tommy here?” Puck asked Casey, with mock concern. “We would need to keep him around, in case I wanted to change back and forth again,” Casey said. “But once we take his voice, he’ll be harmless. You can consider him sort of a pet.” Puck clapped his hands. “Do you hear that, Tommy? We are going to have so much fun.” Tommy kept his eyes closed and muttered into his gag. Puck unlocked Tommy’s manacles, then pulled his hands behind his back and tied them with rope. He tied more rope around Tommy’s chest, knees and ankles, leaving him unable to move. “You’re not that dangerous in this form, but it’s safer to keep you secure.” Puck hoisted Tommy over his shoulder effortlessly. “Shall we proceed to the portal?” Puck asked. “Sure thing, but could I make one request first?” Casey replied. “Could I have some pants?” Soon they were deep in the woods, standing at the portal to the mortal realm that Puck had created. Casey, newly outfitted in some borrowed trousers that were almost his size, stayed behind while Puck took Tommy through to the other side. They emerged in a forest similar to the one that they had left, but something in the air told him Tommy that he was back in his own dimension. If he could just say his magic word, he would wipe that smirk off of Puck’s face. Casey’s, too, the traitor. As if reading his mind, Puck said, “You’re just burning to say that magic word right now, aren’t you? It must be maddening, being so helpless. And to think, your best friend in all the world put you in this predicament.” He pushed Tommy up against a tree and began tying him to the trunk. “Don’t worry too much about Casey, though. He’ll get what he deserves. Once he’s helped me take over the kingdom, I’ll use the Orb of Titania on him. He won’t be very threatening once I’ve turned him into a ferret.” Puck checked the knots holding Tommy to the tree, then turned and jumped back through the portal to rejoin Casey. “All systems go, as your people say,” Puck said. Casey shouted the magic word, and after a momentary delay the magic flowed through him, filling him with the power of Kid Champion. “At sundown, we’ll storm the castle,” Puck said. “Oberon will be there with the orb. I’ll seize it while you take care of the guards.” “Just taking care of the guards? Isn’t that kind of a waste of my powers?” Kid Champion said. “Well, one of the guards is a dragon, so I think you’ll have your hands full,” Puck answered. Just after sundown, Puck strode defiantly into Oberon’s private chamber. “Your reign is over,” he declared. “Even as we speak, my champion is destroying your defenses. Surrender the orb peacefully, and I will spare your miserable life.” Oberon did not look frightened – or even surprised. “So you have a champion, do you?” the king said. “Doesn’t everyone?” From behind a tapestry stepped the Champion, grinning widely. “Th-that’s impossible,” Puck sputtered. “I left you tied and gagged – you couldn’t have gotten loose.” “Casey neglected to mention something,” the Champion said. “Because of this connection between us, if we’re touching when one of us says the word, we both transform. So when he changed, so did I. Then it was easy enough to cross back through the portal and come see my new friend King Oberon.” “Yes, the Champion had many interesting things to tell me, Sir Robin,” Oberon said. “You should expect to be banished to the dark realms for the next thousand years or so for this latest treason.” Puck was still flabbergasted. “That still makes no sense – Casey wasn’t touching you when he said the magic word. He wasn’t even in the same universe as you.” Puck heard someone entering the chamber behind him and turned to see Kid Champion. “That’s where you’re wrong, Puck old buddy,” Kid Champion said, holding out his hand. He was holding several strands of blond hair. Kid Champion looked over at his friend. “Sorry for yanking out your hair back at the dungeon, but I figured it would do the trick.” Puck was trying to slink out of the room, and the Champion held up a hand. Instantly Puck was motionless, encased in blue energy. “You stay there,” the Champion commanded. “I’ve had enough trouble out of you to last me the rest of my life.” “One thing I still don’t get,” the Champion said. “How did you lie to Puck after he gave you that truth serum? Was it past its expiration date or something?” “One word – iron,” Kid Champion answered. “You don’t see very much of it around here, because it disrupts faerie magic. They only use it when they absolutely have to – for things like manacles.” Puck shrieked in frustration. “How could I have missed that? You were wearing iron chains. Of course the potion wouldn’t work on you.” “It sounds like you’ll have about a thousand years to reflect on your mistake,” Kid Champion said. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, Puck.” Puck continued howling as King Oberon’s guards dragged him away. The king thanked the two young heroes profusely. “You may have any reward that is in my power to grant,” Oberon said. “Well, there is one thing, your majesty,” the Champion said, blushing. “It’s a little – well, you see when I change back into Tommy, my clothes stay the same, so I’d sort of like-” Kid Champion interrupted. “What my friend is trying to say is – could we have our pants and shoes back? Puck sort of swiped them. They should be in his room.” Oberon laughed. “I’ll go find a page to retrieve them for you,” he said. Kid Champion placed his hand on the Champion’s shoulder. “Tommy, I’m sorry I had to say those things. But, let’s face it – you’re a great person but a lousy liar. I had to make you believe that I was turning on you, or Puck would never have bought it.” “It’s ok,” the Champion said. “I’m just a little ashamed that I did believe it. I should never have doubted you. You’re my best friend.” “What can I say?” Kid Champion said. “I’m just too good an actor. But next time, let’s just wallop the bad guys the old-fashioned way. Even pretending to be buddies with a creep like Puck makes me feel like I need a shower.” “Just don’t use up all the hot water,” the Champion said. “I’ll race you back to the dorm.” He sailed out the window and into the air, with his friend flying right behind him, laughing as they soared through the cloudless sky. The End
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