As Katie walked along the mall she noticed a strange store that hadn't been there before. It almost looked like a magic shop, with bric-a-brac, items, miscellaneous junk that no one would honestly buy. Normally Katie would not pay it any mind, but she felt a sudden surge from her new naval ring. It grew warmer and warmer the closer they got, almost like the feeling of being kissed that first time.
"What is this?" She wondered, approaching the door. The shop was open, and going inside she found row upon row of strange objects. Unfortunately, however, no one was at the counter.
"Hello?" Katie called out. "Hello?"
There was a rustle in the back and an old man in a long robe and flowing white beard came out. He looked exactly like a wizard. "Well! Its about time you showed up, I was beginning to worry. Come come, i haven't got all day. You are the one with the Ring of Age, aren't you?"
Katie nodded, stunned. "Uh. Yes. How did you know?"
"Oh well I sold it, by accident of course, to its original 'owner'. I see however you got a hold of it, and I think I can imagine the misadventures you've got into. Still...doesn't seem you've misused it. Indeed, seems quite happy from what I can sense, though I question the use of it as a naval ring....but you young people and your piercings."
Katie stared at him, "So this belongs to you?"
"No, my dear. It belongs to you. You took it from one who techinically 'stole' it from me. That makes it yours. By all rights at least. Of course, there are other wonderous things in this shop...but few as powerful and wonderful in their ability as that ring."
"Really?"
"Oh yes. I had one pair come in and turn into imps, another customer wanted to become rubber or latex. Still others have bought vials from me that can change many things. By all accounts, I have a menagerie of transformation."
"Who...are you?" Katie asked at last.
"Why, I am Merlin of course. The famous wizard. Haven't you heard of me?"
Katie nodded, gulping. "So, I'm not in trouble for using this ring?"
"So long as you don't misuse it or bring permanent harm to another, otherwise the ring acts and reacts, as I sense it did with a friend of yours. It doesn't take kindly to being stolen, or used for predatory means. Still, it would be nice to have it back."
Katie shook her head, "I ... I like it too much to do that."
"Oh I can understand but hear me out. There is one other thing here, more powerful than that ring. The power of ultimate transformation. It is the power that makes all these things, the power which only I possess."
"The power of ultimate transformation?"
"Oh yes, it was taught to me by my own mistress, Morganna Le Fay. And to her from her master and so forth and so on. I am growing old, child, and the powers of the ring of age don't work so well on me. At least, not as they used to. I would like to make a proposal. If you give me back the ring, I will take you on as my apprentice. I will teach you the powers of ultimate transformation, but in return you must work in my shop from now on. You won't be deprived of home or friends, of course, but, you will be my ... we shall say ... assistant."
Katie frowned weighing this option. The idea of different transformations was very enticing, and the ring didn't feel like it was jealous of her desire to try different things.
"I think..."