There was no denying it. James had turned Becky into a newt.
Where the tall, pretty brunette had until moments ago been stood glaring disapprovingly at James now sat a small and sad looking brown and orange salamander just as he had silently specified. Even with everything that had already happened that day he couldn't believe what he had just been able to accomplish. In amongst his feelings of excitement and wonder was also more than a hint of guilt. He really hoped he would be able to reverse this spell as he had been promised.
"I can turn her back any time right?" he asked Alcuin a little nervously.
"Of course!" Alcuin smiled "But not here?"
"What?"
The old wizard chuckled at the sudden trepidation in James' voice "I'm sending you both back. There is no point keeping you with me any longer, but your powers over your friend will remain. Call it compensation for your inconvenience. I realise this doesn't work out so well for Becky, but I gave her the same chance as you to take this gift"
James was about to say something but Alcuin raised his hand to stop him.
"There will be no more questions. Farewell"
Alcuin chuckled to himself again in a way that convinced James the old wizard was not finished with him or Becky yet, but there was no time left to argue. Everything quickly went fuzzy and the next thing James knew he was stood back in the tent where he had met Kayla earlier that day next to a pile of his discarded clothes. James quickly dressed and poked his head out of the cave entrance to check nobody had seen any of the crazy shit that had just happened. Fortunately, people just seemed to be going about their business as normal. Everything was fine now except - shit! Becky!
James spun around and to his relief spied a familiar looking newt staring at him from a small bowl which had appeared on a table nearby. James carefully freed his companion from her glass prison, placed her on the floor and shut his eyes. When he opened them again a naked Becky was lying face down on the floor in front of him, propping her upper body up with her outstretched arms. His relief was short lived when he saw just how mad she was.
"Find me some clothes. Now!" Becky demanded, rising to her feet.
James quickly scoured the tent but could find nothing other than the outfit Kayla (who was now nowhere to be seen) had been wearing, a sparkling silver leotard that left very little to the imagination once Becky had grudgingly put it on.
"I can't believe you did that" Becky scolded James.
"I didn't really have a choice. It worked out though" James spoke quickly to placate his friend "And Alcuin said that.."
"I heard. I was there remember?" Becky sneered.
"Oh, I wasn't sure you could understand as you were, you know..."
"A newt!" Becky almost spat the words out "Why that of all things? Why not a kitten or a pony?"
"You know, Monty Python. It just came into my head" Becky stared at James' weak explanation blankly "I didn't think it would work anyway"
"Well, I assume that you don't intend to use your powers now we're away from that insane place?" Becky challenged. James hesitated just a moment too long to placate her "You are? Wow. Just wow."
"Hear me out" James began. He was in something of a dilemma. He knew transforming Becky was morally wrong but it had been such a buzz. He desperately wanted to do it again, but preferably with less guilt attached this time.
"I'm listening" Becky raised an eyebrow cynically.
"This could work out well for both of us. We could become a magical double act. I can turn you into literally anything and nobody will have a clue how we're doing it. We can be rich and famous!"
"I didn't do a degree to become a magicians assistant thanks" Becky sneered "Any other bright ideas?"
"I could turn you into something rare or extinct, sell you for a fortune and then turn you back?" James suggested hopefully.
"That would make us con artists" Becky countered "And would leave me having to escape from a zoo or some rich strangers house stark naked. Next."
"Um, we could just experiment and stuff. You know, in the interests of science?" James offered weakly.
Becky let out an exasperated sigh in place of an answer as she waited for her companion to decide on his next move while inwardly cursing herself for not having taken the stupid power when she'd had the chance.