"I wish time would stop for everyone but Ashley and I." Noelle was starting to notice the ring would grow warm when she called upon it's powers. It was past time she tried to find out what it's limitations were, but she was busy.
She pulled Ashley away from Diane. "Hey, are you ok?"
Ashley looked up at Noelle with concern. "That's what I should be asking. Oh baby, you got a handprint on your cheek!"
Noelle helped Ashley to her feet. "It's ok. I barely feel it."
"Not even when I touch it?" Ashley reached up, but Noelle easily evaded her, being a foot taller and all.
"None of that, Ash."
Ashley pouted, then smiled. "I'm glad I was nearby when this happened. You were really defending me. You were awesome!"
"Of course I was defending you, you're my friend." Noelle gave Ashley a hug.
Ashley hugged her back. "But I don't want you fighting my battles for me, especially if you're going to get hurt."
"I'd like to think I was fighting _our_ battle."
"Yeah, by yourself. Unacceptable. You need to be more careful." She set her jaw, giving Noelle trademark stubborn look.
"You forget, I have a magic ring. Which I'm about to use on these three, as soon as I figure out what to do to them."
"Oh, can I choose? They're my friends, even if they're being jerks, so I don't want to do anything too horrible to them." The stubborn look was replaced by the dreaded 'puppy dog eyes'.
"Are you sure about them being your friends?" Noelle looked dubious.
"Yesterday morning, you weren't my friend. Power of friendship, I'll win them back with the new and improved Ashley." She smiled confidently.
Noelle rolled her eyes. "Ok, ok, sure. What do you want me to do to them."
"Well, I want to be creative. Turning them into little girls sounds fun, for example, but we've done that."
"We could shrink them down to size?" Noelle offered.
"Oh you'd like that, I bet. You like small girls. No way, I'm the only girl you're allowed to shrink." Again with the stubborn look.
"I'm 'allowed', huh?"
"Any time you want. You could even do it now." She smiled.
"I wish Ashley were two inches shorter." Noelle grinned.
Ashley shrunk slightly, her clothing becoming a little loose. "Only two inches?"
"Hey that makes you like 4' 3", right? You still have to deal with Debbie."
"Ah. Yes. Good call." She frowned, but then brightened. "So what to do with these three..."