Katie sighed as she walked arm and arm with Josh out of the mall wishing she wouldn't have to worry about anyone and could focus on Josh for the afternoon. The wish itself was not age related but just the longing of a college girl with a handsome and nice guy. As the two strolled towards the exit Katie gave a furtive glance backwards. She would text Mary shortly to let her know what was going on in the mean time she was going to enjoy an afternoon with Josh.
Unknown to Katie as she walked with Josh was an old man watching her from the store he had recently "opened" in the mall. Merlin smiled as Katie walked out. The wizard had crafted the Ring of Age centuries ago and had wondered what had happened to it since Bobby had taken it some months ago. Merlin had knowledge of all the "choices" and possible outcomes that had come from the ring. Some of those choices were interesting to say the least thankful he now seemed to find himself in a reality where the choices had turned out pleasantly. What would happen now though would be interesting.
Merlin turned towards the front of the shop as Mary, Sammy, Mika, Claudia, Tricia and Karen entered the store. The two high school girls separated from the college girls who were making there way towards the counter. Merlin smiled impishly as Mary, Sammy, Claudia and Mika approached the counter. Jake had decided to stay behind at the movie theater to wait for Kelly and Judy. "Welcome ladies," the shopkeeper said. "I've been expecting you although I must say I thought Katie was going to be with you when you came."
The group stopped short and gaped at the old man. "Do we know you?" Mary asked. "Yes and no," Merlin said. "My name is Merlin and I'm the reason you've all recaptured your youth."
The girls looked nervously at each other before turning to to Merlin. "How do you know about that?" Claudia asked nervously. "I'm the one that created the Ring of Age Claudia," he said.
The girls looked at the old man in shock, while they knew that the ring was magical they never would of believed that they would ever find the man that created it. As the girls were about to ask Merlin a series of questions the old man out up his hand and smiled. "I already know you have a lot of questions, " he said. "I've seen some of the other choices that have been made so I know there are going to be lots of questions. I'm just glad that bobby lost the ring, wasn't a fan of his choices."
"What do you mean?" Mika asked as the other girls came up behind Mary. "Just a little fourth wall talk," he answered. "Anyway let me catch you girls up. You already know about the ring how it changes ages and how quite a few of you decided to relive your childhood. The good news is that I've seen the future for you and it's promising all of you turn out great, at least in most of the futures.
"Unfortunately there are a couple of side effects to the ring, as you found out. One of them is that the first person that uses the the ring has a subconscious influence on the people it's used on."
"What exactly does that mean," Sammy asked.
"It means that Katie was an innocent seven year old when she first used the ring her innocence is rubbing off on you when she makes changes to your ages." Merlin stated. "You all become more innocent and child like while she becomes more of an adult."
"So what," Claudia asked. "Does that mean were turning into kids?!"
"No, no, no," Merlin exclaimed waving his hand. "Your actually getting the better part of the deal. Katie is beginning to think more like an adult. She is exploring more adult, shall we say, adult situations."
The girls gave Merlin a confused look causing Merlin to sigh. "Katie is growing up too quickly," he sighed. "She just ran off with that boy from the party and turned the ring into a belly button ring."
"What!" Mary exclaimed. "That's crazy. Katie would never do anything like that."
"Well she has," Merlin stated. "She also allowed you to fulfill your deepest desires. Mary and Mika wanted an opportunity to change there lives for the better that's why you decided to become children and redo your life. Even you Samantha wanted a second chance."
The girls stared dumbfounded at Merlin' as they took in what he had to say. "That's crazy," Sammy said. "I made this decision myself, I did it for me and Jake. As far as Karen is concerned we don't even know her, when we turn back she's our fifth grade teacher. I think you got this one wrong Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore," Merlin huffed. "That hack wishes he had my magic. I've got more magic in my big toe than he has in his whole body."
"Sorry about Sammy Mr. Merlin," Mary apologized. "She has a tendency to spurt things out without thinking."
"Don't worry about it," Merlin said. "But I do know that Samantha hasn't told you everything about her reasons for returning her and her husband to childhood."
The girls slowly turned to look at a dumbfounded Samantha. The brunette stared in shock at the old man, her eyes glistening with tears. "How do you know," she stammered. "I'm a wizard my dear I know these things."
"Sammy," Claudia questioned. "What is he talking about?"
Samantha sighed and glanced at her friends. "I've shared everything with Jake. I lost my virginity to him, married him, had his children. When we became teens I was able to share a first kiss."
"What else," Merlin asked.
"He," she stammered. "He was dying, cancer. Somehow when we kissed I had a vision of our future if we returned to our old ages. Jacob would only live for another few months before passing away. I couldn't bare the thought of living without him so i made my wish to have more time with him."
The girls looked at each other and pondered what they had just heard. Hearing that Samantha had made her choice based on saving her husbands life was beautiful yet overwhelming at the same time. "I think I need to sit down," Claudia said. Merlin smiled waving his hand and causing an chair to appear behind Claudia. Taking a seat she now looked at the wizard with a look of concern. "So what about me," she asked. "Am I going to want to relive my youth again? I don't want to be a kid again, I'm Mika's guardian I can't be a kid again."
Merlin chuckled as he gazed at Claudia. Like I said Claudia the ring fulfilled your deepest desires." he said. "So tell me what did you want most?"
Claudia paused before glancing over at Mika. "I wanted to be a mom again," she stated breathlessly.
"Well," Merlin stated. " I think the ring granted your wish."
Claudia looked to Mika and smiled. "Yeah," she said. "I guess it did." Mika hugged her now college age guardian tightly. "And I couldn't ask for a better mom."
"That just leaves Tricia and now Karen," Merlin exclaimed. The four college age women now turned to gaze at the two high school girls browsing the store.
"Tricia has been lonely since Samantha made her choice," he said. "Thats where Karen comes in. She was fated to join the group she too desires to have a second chance. She retires from the thing she's loved the most for the past 40 years."
"Does that mean she wants to be a kid again too?" Mary asked.
"Thats hard to say," Merlin stated. "The future is hard to piece together. In some realities her and Tricia become children. In others they stay the same age but become close friends. Either way you can expect Karen to become a regular part of the group."
"So she's going to remember what happened," Mika said.
"She will talk with Katie about her experiences after this weekend. Karen never had a lot of friends growing up and the chance to be part of this group will be too much to resist. By thanksgiving Karen will be your newest friend."
"Well that doesn't sound so bad," Claudia admitted.
The wizard nodded. "As it is though, there is one problem. Katie may have the intelligence and maturity of a grown woman but she is still just a child. She is going to need your help in maintaining her innocence. I am willing however to help you all out. I can give you items to help Katie remain true to herself and not be overtaking by the ring. All I ask is that one of you become my apprentice, and that the rest promise to purchase something from my store at a later date."
"What would becoming your apprentice mean?" Claudia asked.
"It would mean devoting yourself to the study of magic. It is quite difficult and requires a great deal of time and energy. Whatever you had planned for the future would come second from now on."
The girls looked at each other and pondered a decision that would affect them for the rest of their lives.