When Video Games Come to Life

(20) When the Spell's Cast

-------Laura's P.O.V-------

I had to try really hard to stop the shock and fear from showing on my face. I wanted to help Bowser Jr., I really did. But I was scared to face Doctor Eggman to rescue Bowser. Who wouldn't be? I do, however, know that I will help. What, did you think I was just going to sit here while they did it all? Hahaha, I laugh! No, seriously, though, I'm going to do all I can. "Well, where is he now?" I asked Amy and Tails.

Tails started and looked at me. "Well, when we saw them, they were flying near the Pizza Hut beside the Sears. They were going really fast, however, and they are probably at the factory by now."

"Well, then we have to get there as soon as we can! C'mon, let's go!" Bowser Jr. Said with a dash towards the door.

Sonic intercepted him, and turned him around. "Not so fast. We have to find out what he's planning to do, first. We'll form a party and go out at night to try and figure out what Egg-Head is up to."

Bowser Jr. Let out an exasperated sigh, and headed into the kitchen.

We all shared glances with each other as we realized the despair he had written on his face. He may have been trying to hide his utmost sorrow, but it was still finding its way through the gaps.

Night time came before we realized it, and next thing we knew, we were organizing groups to go and look for the boy's stolen father. Meta and Ray had returned soon after Amy and Tails, and were helping post guards. Meta Knight would keep watch around us while we were spying, along with Globox, Tails, and Toadette; the Teensies, Knuckles, Kirby, Shadow, Cream (with Cheese), Big, Chuck, and Claire were all guarding and occupying the house, Silver, Toad, Bowser Jr., Wesley and I were going on the patrol to the factory, while Sonic, Chris, King Dedede, Rayman and Amy are all going on a second patrol, to watch and guard the area. We were all heading towards the door, getting ready to leave when suddenly we heard Cream shout to us. "Uhmm, your TV is glowing!"

We turned around to find she was right. It was glowing with an immensely strange static look/sound. Gradually it grew, until it became a blinding glow, with an earsplitting noise. Without warning, it became so bad everybody closed their eyes, and covered their ears. When it finally died down, and we dared look up, we saw, standing there, a teenage girl, with a red creature clutched in her arms. Once again, me, Claire, and Wesley were the only ones that recognized her. It was Ashley the witch, from WarioWare, with Red the imp held tightly in her arms. She glanced around a little bit, and when her gaze fell on Wesley, she held it there so intensely, I found myself  shuddering. I could see he was nervous also, as she glared into his eyes without speaking. But then, she finally did so. "Is somebody going to tell me where I am?"

"Err, I-I'm Wesley, this is Claire, and this is Laura... this is our house.."

She didn't look satisfied with that answer.

"You're not in Diamond City anymore... you're in the real world."

That seemed to be when it became clear to her.

"Wow, this is so cool! Isn't it, Ashley? We can meet all these new people, and go to all of these new places! We can-" Red began, then noticed Ashley's piercing gaze currently resting on him. "Ehh... anyway, I'm uh, I'm Red, I'm an imp, and this is Ashley, the witch..." He finished, rather uneasy.

King Dedede let out an amused snort, and pushed his way forward. "Oh, yeah, a witch. And I'm a wizard, too. Hah! What and who are ya really?" He crossed his arms and tapped his foot. 

I tried to cut in. "No, she really is a-"

King Dedede almost immediately rounded on me. "Stop lyin' and tell the truth!" After spitting out the words, he turned back to Ashley, who then held her arm out. Red started some strange transformation into her wand. He then, as her wand in her hand, started glowing. Ashley's hair turned white, and a gust of wind stirred around the room, as all the residents watched in awe. A beam shot out of her "wand" rather slowly, and she let out a very subtle gasp of surprise as it shot through the room, hit a mirror, and shot straight towards Sonic, who surprisingly for him, noticed too late to move. He closed his eyes, preparing for the impact, but the bolt just silently disappeared into his stomach with a glow. He slowly opened his eyes, and glanced at Ashley. "W-what's going to happen?.."

She didn't answer, but the wand turned back into Red, and, with a quick glance at Ashley himself, answered: "She doesn't know... she did the wrong spell."

Ashley punched him on the shoulder. "It doesn't appear that anything is going to happen."

King Dedede just stepped back a few paces, slowly hiding himself in the crowd. Well, Ashley had demonstrated that she's a witch... it worked. But she hit Sonic! I'm really scared. She says he's fine, but how do we know? I mean, I guess I believe her... I-I'm just worrying. Okay. Time to head out. I gathered all the patrols, and headed out. I just hope we can trust Ashley to stay in our home while we're gone... well, Claire's with her... whatever.

Once we got to the factory, the patrols split up. It was both easier, and more dangerous to be doing this during a full moon, and as we were beside the abandoned building, we were bathed in moonlight. Patrol number two was stalking around in alleys and down streets, to check for any more signs of the kindnapping process, and the look-outs, as far as we knew, were looking out. But, we had not made it far, silently glancing around the building in pursuit of the kidnapper, and kidnapped, when there was a scream from a nearby alley: "No, not again!". I could tell it was Amy's voice. I turned to face Wesley, practically frozen in fear. Then Wesley began directing them, as we were about to see what was happening. "Silver, Bowser Jr., and Toad, stay here. Hopefully we'll be back soon." And we set off, with a brisk pace, anxiety rushing us onward. We were looking down every alley in an attempt to find where the sound had come from, and finally, we rounded a corner, and stopped dead in our tracks as we saw the scene taking place in front of us. Amy had her hands over her mouth, King Dedede was looking around wildly, and the others were just staring on in utter shock, as we all saw a strange, ravenously imaged dog-thing in front of us. Sonic was nowhere to be seen. "Err... what's that?." Wesley questioned as we glanced at each other in shock.

Amy looked up. "It was that witch, I just know it!"

I had no clue what she was talking about. "Did she create this?" I asked, puzzled.

Amy gave me a look of confusion. "What?!" She began to look fired up. "How dare you?!"

I cast a quick glance over at the creature. It was just staring.

I put my finger on my chin, and pondered. I couldn't figure out why she was taking up for this... thing, let along get worked up over it.

Then all of a sudden, Bowser Jr. comes running around the corner. "Come quick, come quick, they have my Daddy all tied up, in a weird-looking cage!"

Oh, great... can't this wait? "All right, hang on a moment." I spoke.

He jumped onto my shoulder, yelling, "Now, NOW!"

"Hold on!" I'm losing my patience. Then Amy took a step closer. "Don't you see?! This is horrible!"

Bowser Jr. shook my head. "Come on, we have to move!"

Amy gave me a slight shove. "We have to help him!"

Wait, what?

"Now!" Bowser Jr. chanted.

Wesley tried to pull Bowser Jr. off of my shoulder, grunting, "Let go!" All that did was add more noise and chaos.

It isn't helping.

"Come on! My Daddy's in trouble!"

"Get that witch! Now!"

"Come on, let go of her!"

Suddenly Bowser Jr. was ripped off of my shoulder and hushed, Wesley was calm, and Amy just stared at me for a moment. Then she sighed, and spoke. "Don't you know what's going on? When Ashley's spell hit Sonic, it must have made something in him act up, and now he's a Werehog again.

This is Sonic."

A/N AAAAAAH! I've been meaning to write this chapter for so long, but Testing came around, then I ended up writing the rest of the chapter in my notebook between tests, so I got home today and typed it in, and AHHHH grand 20th! Party party, eh? Yeah! I hope you enjoyed this as the twentieth chapter of When Video Games Come to Life, YAY! ~Dustpaw.