This file is fairly big...please wait until it loads completely for the full effect!

This work is the property of TSR and is posted without permission

---

Page 7

"Help, Hank!  It's almost got me!" you shout in terror, running away from the ogre.  "Presto, stop it with your magic hat!"

"What's after you, Bobby?  Where?"  Eric Cavalier's voice sounds muffled.

Suddenly, you feel someone shaking you.  "Hey, Bobby!  Wake up!"

You open your eyes and look into the freckled face of your sister, Sheila.

"Huh?  Where am I?" you ask, blinking.

"You were dreaming, Bobby," Sheila tells you.  Then she calls, "You can come out now, Eric.  Bobby was just having a dream."

"Dream?" Eric peers out from under his magic shield.  He stands up.  "I knew that!"

Diana giggles.  "Sure you did."

Rubbing sleep from your eyes, you ask, "Where's the ogre?"

"Ogre!" cries Hank as he comes rushing into camp.  His magic bow is out and ready.

"It's no big deal."  Diana points her acrobat's stick at you.  "Our mighty Barbarian was just scared by a bad dream."

"Just like a little kid!" Eric sneers.

"I was not scared!" you shout angrily.  "And quit calling me a little kid!"

You spin around and stomp away from camp.  Close at your heels gallops your little friend, Uni Unicorn.

"I'm tired of being teased because I'm the littlest," you grumble.  "Just once I'd like to do something to show them I'm just as good as they are!"

Suddenly, you hear terrible, booming laughter.  It's coming from behind you!

"Venger!" you cry, whirling around.  You hear your friends calling for help, and you run back to the camp.  But it's too late.

"Oh, no!"  Your eyes search the empty campsite for your friends.  "What happened?"

A voice floats down from above you:  "I'm afraid Venger, the power of evil, has captured your friends, Bobby."

Looking up in alarm, you see a little white-haired man in red robes sitting on the branch of a nearby tree.

"Dungeon Master!  Boy, am I glad to see you!  Let's go rescue the others."

Dungeon Master shakes his head.  "I cannot help your friends, Bobby.  But you can.  Venger holds them prisoner in the Tower of Midnight Dreams.  Go to the Tower.  There you will find something of great value that will help you rescue them."

Gulping, you stare at Dungeon Master.  "Tower of Midnight Dreams!  That sounds scary--like the dream I just had.  How will I find this thing of great value?"

"You will find it when you lose it.  Now, farewell, Bobby," Dungeon Master says as he climbs down and starts to walk away.  "And remember--he who faces his fears finds help.  He who runs from his fears finds trouble."  And he disappears into the forest.

"Face fears, find help.  Run from fears, find trouble," you repeat, puzzled.
 

"I've figured it out," you say finally.  "It means we have to face our fears and go on the quest.  Well, Uni, let's get started."  Click here.  (page 12)

"I don't understand this dumb riddle at all!" you say in disgust. "Let's go find Dungeon Master and ask him to explain it."  Click here.  (page 30)

"We're going to prove we're big enough to handle this by ourselves, Uni," you decide.  The little unicorn neighs and prances around you in excitement.

You pick up your magic club.  Together, you and Uni step into the forest.  Then, suddenly, you stop.

"Wait a minute," you say.  "Do you know where we're going, Uni?"

Uni shakes her head vigorously.

"Neither do I."  Your shoulders slump.  You stare around the forest.

It had been just an ordinary forest only a few minutes ago, filled with light and singing birds.  Now it has changed.  The birds have stopped singing.  The sunlight dims.  The trees lean over the path, their arms reaching down like grasping monsters.

"This is some great quest, Uni."  You shiver.  "We take three steps and we're lost.  Maybe the others are right.  Maybe I am too little to handle this alone."

You spot a nearby rock and sit down, feeling miserable.  "It was stupid of me not to ask Dungeon Master how to get to the Tower of Midnight Dreams."

"Yes, that was stupid," states a voice.  "And now you will pay for your stupidity!"

You jump up in fright.  Looking ahead, you see a great, dark shadow looming over the path.  It has a huge head and body.  Its large hand is stretched out toward you.

"Hand over your club and any money you have," orders the voice.  "I'll take that unicorn, too.  She'll bring a nice price in the marketplace.  Now, do as I say!"

You stare at the shadow.  It's huge!  It might be an ogre!...  It might be a troll!

The monster in your imagination gets bigger the longer you think about it.

"Still," you say, gulping, "it's only a shadow, after all.  What should I do?  Run away or stand up to it?"
 

"I'm not afraid of a shadow!" you yell, raising your club.  Click here.  (page 17)

"I think we ought to run away.  It might be something really awful!" you cry.  Click here.  (page 20)

"Come on out!" you yell bravely.  "If you want a fight, that's what you'll get."

"Fight?  You're going to fight the giant robber?  Ha-ha!"

You gulp, then leap forward toward the shadow, your club raised.

"Oh, no!  Wait!  Please, don't hurt me!" squeaks a voice.

You stop in amazement.  In front of you stands a man much smaller than you are!

"Where's the giant robber?" you ask, looking around.

"There, I'm afraid," the small fellow says.  He points to his own shadow.  "By standing in this patch of sunlight at the right time of day, I can cast a giant shadow.  Most people are so frightened they drop whatever they're holding and run away."

"You didn't frighten me...much," you say, but you keep your club raised as you look at the little man again.  "What are you?"

"I'm a brownie," the man replies.  "And, now that you've captured me, I must grant you one wish."

"Great!  Do you know how to get to the Tower of Midnight Dreams?" you ask eagerly.  "I want to go there.  That's my wish."

"And it's one of the dumbest wishes I ever heard!" cackles the brownie.  "That's a dangerous place.  Why not wish for something else?  You could have gold, jewels, a magic ring...."

"Magic ring?"  Your eyes widen.

"An excellent choice!"  The brownie whips out a leather pouch.

"The other kids will be jealous if I have a magic ring!" you say.  "I can't decide...."

"It's your choice," says the brownie.  "Either the magic ring, which I highly recommend, or I'll guide you to the Tower, which you'll regret."

"Well...."  You hesitate, then say:
 

"A magic ring could come in handy.  I'll take it."  Click here.  (page 43)

"Rescuing my friends is the most important thing.  I want you to guide us to the Tower."  Click here.  (page 22)

"Gosh!  That shadow's big," you say to Uni.  "It must be some giant troll--seven feet tall with green skin and red eyes.  I don't want to face it!"

"Give me that club!" the voice bellows.

"NO!" you yell.  Turning around, you make a run for it.  Uni follows, bleating wildly.

Suddenly, you see a figure standing in the path ahead, and you come to a screeching stop.  It's Dungeon Master.

"That was a short quest," he comments.

"There was this great big monster troll!" you say, gasping for breath.  "It scared us, so much that we ran away.  When it leaves, we'll go back and rescue our friends."

"That won't be necessary," Dungeon Master says.  "A gallant knight has rescued them.  He wasn't frightened of a shadow."

"Oh?"  You try to sound cheerful.  "Well, I'm glad they got away, but I wish I could have been the one to rescue them."

"Maybe next time," Dungeon Master says.  "But, for now, your adventure has come to...
 

THE END

"Come on, get going," you say.  "Take us to the Tower.  That’s my wish!"

Uni prods the brownie with her horn.

"All right.  All right," the brownie grumbles.  "If that's your wish, I must grant it.  But you'll come to a bad end."

"What's so awful about the Tower?" you ask the brownie as you and Uni follow him.

"All your dreams come true in the Tower of Midnight Dreams," the brownie hisses, "bad dreams as well as good.  The beings of your worst nightmares appear before you."

"I see," you say calmly, though his words make you shiver.

"And it's always night near the Tower," adds the brownie.  "Look--there it is!"

Suddenly, the forest ends.  Tall trees stand like soldiers around a crumbling gray tower, rising from a huge gray desert.

"That's it--the Tower of Midnight Dreams."  The brownie giggles unpleasantly.  "This, by the way, is as far as I go."

You lick your dry lips and stare fearfully at the frightening tower.

"Maybe you'd better turn back now," the brownie warns.  "Once you venture into the Gray Desert, the Watchers will see you."

"What Watchers?"  You turn toward the brownie, but he has vanished.

Again you stare at the Tower, which begins to gleam in the darkness.  You think of your friends, who are prisoners there.  And you're their only hope!

"Well, let's go, Uni."  You take a step toward the Tower.

But Uni shakes her head and tugs at you.

"I don't want to cross the Gray Desert either especially after hearing about the Watchers," you say, then pause.  "Maybe we should try to find Dungeon Master--he'll know another way to get inside the Tower!"

Uni nods enthusiastically.
 

"No," you decide.  "We can't waste time looking for help.  We'll try to get in by ourselves," you say.  Click here.  (page 26)

"Let's try to find Dungeon Master," you tell Uni.  Click here.  (page 30)

You and Uni stare across the Gray Desert at the Tower.  Though you stand in daylight, the sky above the Tower is black as night and filled with stars.  You shiver.

Then you say firmly, "Our friends need my help.  I'm going in there."

The unicorn whimpers and draws back.

"It's all right."  You pat Uni on the head.  "You don't have to come with me."

The unicorn shakes her head and paws the ground with a hoof.

"Then we stick together."  You grin.  "Come on.  I think that brownie was lying about the Watchers.  There aren't even any windows in that Tower.  In the darkness, no one can see us sneak across this desert."

You step cautiously onto the Gray Desert.

"Hey!  What's happening?" you yell.  It's not desert at all--it's fog!  You and Uni sink down and down through the clouds, until you hit the ground with a slight thump.

"Wow!" you say, standing up.  You flap your hands, trying to clear the fog away from your face.  "I can't see a thing!  I wonder which way we should go?"

You walk forward--thump--right into a huge boulder.

"I guess that's not the way, Uni."  You rub the unicorn's soft nose.  "Keep near me."

Uni bleats and nods her head.  Together, you and the unicorn step carefully in the fog.  The mist swirls and dances in front of you, curling around your feet.

"One good thing," you say, clutching your magic club.  "No one can see us."

"Did you hear that?  No one can see him!"  Horrible chilling laughter fills the air.

"Yeeeeee," Uni squeals and rears up on her hind legs.  You drop your club and throw your arms around the unicorn's neck.

Now you notice them.  Eyes!  Staring at you out of the fog.  Eyes with no bodies attached.  Terrible, unblinking eyes.

"The Watchers!" you whisper.  You turn.  More eyes.  Eyes behind you and above you.  Eyes below and beside you.

"Welcome, little Barbarian."  The voice is deep and hollow.  "Welcome to my Tower of Midnight Dreams."

"Venger!" you breathe, recognizing his voice.  You sink to the ground, your arms still around the unicorn.  "I wish I were with my friends!"

"Ah!  Now that is one wish I can make come true!"  Venger laughs wickedly.

Suddenly, there is a blinding flash.  The next thing you know, you are in a cold, dark dungeon.  A torch flickers high overhead.  The only way out is through a heavy door with iron bars across it.

There, in the prison cell with you, are...
 

Please click here.  (page 32)

You and Uni run through the woods, searching for Dungeon Master.  But the strange little fellow is nowhere to be found.

"Oh, Uni!" you say, shivering.  "This part of the woods is awfully dark and creepy.  Let's turn back."

But the path has vanished, and a huge swamp has appeared in its place.  "Oh, no!"

"This is the Traveling Bog, where I live," hisses an evil voice.  "And I am the Shambling Mound.  I roam the world and bring to Venger all the magical things I can find."

You watch in horror as a plantlike monster with a gaping mouth rises from the Bog and reaches out for your magic club!

"No!" you yell, backing right into a tree!  The Shambling Mound comes closer.

"What are we going to do, Uni?" you cry.
 

You pick up Uni, grab a vine, and try to swing past the monster, hoping you won’t slip off.  Click here.  (page 47)

You throw your magic club at the Shambling Mound.  Click here.  (page 44)

...your friends!

"Bobby!" they say in amazement.  "What are you doing here?"

"I came to...uh...rescue you guys," you say miserably.  "I wished that I was with you, and my wish came true!"

"Oh, thanks a lot!" Eric moans.  "Why didn't you wish us all safely out of here?"

"Gee," you say.  "I just wanted to find you and prove that I wasn't a helpless kid."

"It's okay, Bobby," Hank says.  "I think it's great you wanted to rescue your friends."

"And we're sorry about the way we teased you this morning," Sheila says.  "You and Uni were brave, coming alone to rescue us."

"Thanks," you say, feeling better.  "Now, let's use our magic weapons and--"

"What magic weapons?" Eric interrupts.  You look around and notice for the first time that Eric doesn't have his shield or Sheila, her cloak.  Except for your club, all the magic weapons are gone.

"Venger took them away and locked them in the cell next to us," Sheila explains.  "But maybe your magic club can get us out."

Proud that you can do something to help, you step over to the cell door.  Swinging your club, you strike it against the door.  It makes a ringing sound, but nothing happens.

Hank moans.  "It must be magically locked."

"Why not try breaking the wall between this and the next cell?" Diana suggests.

Looking at the great stone wall, you feel hopeless but swing your club anyway.

BAM!  The stone crumbles at the touch of your magic club and leaves a hole in the wall.

"Hooray for Bobby!" everyone cries.  They rush into the cell to get their weapons.

"Maybe my magic hat can get us out of here," says Presto.  He reaches into his green cloth hat and chants:  Shaza-bang, Shaza-bing.  Get us out with any old thing!"

"No, you idiot!" Eric yells, waving his arms wildly.  "Wish for the key!"

Too late!  You all watch as Presto pulls something from his hat.  It's soft, round, furry, and--bright purple!  The creature giggles wildly, rolling around in Presto’s hand.  Presto drops it in disgust.  "What are you?"

"I'm Thing.  Magic Thing!" it answers, winking one of its large eyes.  "I will grant your wishes if...if I get a good laugh out of it!"  Thing rolls around on the floor.

"I don't believe this!" Eric snaps.  "If you're magic, I demand that you open the door!"

"Okay!" Thing says.

You see the door swing open just a crack!

"There," says Eric, looking smug.  He walks over to the door.  Suddenly, you see a bucket of water balanced on top of the door.

"Wait!" you cry, but it's too late.

Eric jerks the door open, and the bucket of water falls right on his head!

"Help!" he yells, his voice muffled by the bucket over his head.  You and the others giggle as Eric pulls it off.

"I say we get rid of this Thing right now!" he insists angrily.
 

"No," you say.  "Eric should have asked nicely.  Let's keep Thing.  It might help us."  Click here.  (page 39)

"Eric's right.  We don't need a practical joker.  Put Thing back in your hat, Presto," you say.  Click here.  (page 38)

"We don't need you!" Presto says as he shoves Thing back into his magic hat.

Then, in a swirl of smoke, you're all back in camp!  But your magic weapons are gone!

"Oh, no!" you moan.

Then Dungeon Master appears.

"How'd we get out of the Tower?" you ask.

"Thing rescued you," he replies.

Then you remember his riddle:  "'You'll find it when you lose it.'  Friendship was the thing of great value, and now we've lost it.  Thing wanted to be our friend!"

"I'm afraid so," says Dungeon Master.
 

THE END

"All right.  Thing can stick around," Eric says, glaring at it.  "But no more jokes!"

Before any of you can move toward the open door, Venger steps through!

"So, you thought you could escape!" he sneers.  "And I see that you have your magic weapons!  But not for long."  He reaches for your club.

As you step backward, Thing on the floor catches Venger's eye.  "What's this?"

As he picks up frightened Thing, you swing your club and shout, "Leave Thing alone!"

"Guards!" roars Venger.  Pig-faced orcs rush into the cell.  "Get those weapons!"

"No, you don't!" you cry, smashing the wall of the cell with your magic club.

"Seize him!" Venger shouts furiously.  But before the orcs can grab you, Sheila confuses them with her magic cloak.

"Now you see me...now you don't!"

"Come on, pig-face!" Eric calls from behind his magic shield, while Hank fires energy bolts from his bow to keep the orcs away.

The door is blocked, so you grab Thing from Venger and run to the back of the cell.

You duck as a lightning bolt from Venger's hand sizzles past you and right through the Tower wall.  You can see outside!

"This way!" you yell, running through the hole, and the others quickly follow.

Safely outside, you bang your magic club on the ground.  The Tower of Midnight Dreams comes crashing down, burying Venger!

"Someday, you and your weapons will be mine!" he howls.  As you look at the crumbled Tower, you see the form of Venger ooze out of the rubble and float away into the sky.

"Whew!  What a nightmare!" you say.

"Now you know why it was called the Tower of Midnight Dreams," you hear a voice say.

"Dungeon Master!" cries Presto.

You turn and see the little fellow.

"Did you learn the answer to the riddle, Bobby?" Dungeon Master asks you.

"Yes," you say.  "It's friendship.  It wasn't until I lost my friends that I realized how much I need them.  Friendship is the thing of great value!"
 

THE END

"We can find our own way to the Tower, Uni," you say.  "I wish for the magic ring."

The brownie reaches into the pouch and pulls out a gold ring with a large gem.  "Here, mighty Barbarian, is your magic ring."  And he quickly disappears into the forest.

You slip the ring on your finger.  "Gee, I wish I could show my friends--"

A flash of light blinds you for a moment--and you are in a damp, dark dungeon!  Flickering torchlight shows you there are no windows.  The only way out is through a heavy wooden door with iron bars across it.

And there, in the prison with you are...
 

Please click here.  (page 32)

"Don't come any closer!" you shout as you throw your magic club toward the Shambling Mound.  You hope it will scare the creature away.  But as soon as the club leaves your hand, you realize your mistake.

The Shambling Mound reaches out with one vine-covered arm and easily catches your club as it sails through the air.

"Thank you, Barbarian!" the monster says with a sneer.  "Venger will be pleased to add this to his collection of magic objects."

Then the creature gurgles horribly as it sloshes deeper into the Traveling Bog, clutching your magic club in its leafy arms.

"NO!" you cry, running forward.  But as you do, your feet sink into the muck of the swamp, and the creature moves away, laughing.

Uni helps you pull yourself onto firm, dry land.  And it's not a moment too soon, for in the very next instant, the Traveling Bog disappears, taking your magic club with it!

For you, this is...
 

THE END

"Hang on, Uni!" you shout.  Holding onto the vine, you swing out into the air--right over the outstretched arm of the horrible Shambling Mound!

Landing on dry ground, you shout, "Hooray!  We made it!"  Behind you, the creature roars in disappointment.  Then it and the Traveling Bog disappear as suddenly as they came!

"Whew!" you say.  "Let's rest a minute under this tree."  You lay your magic club down next to you and close your eyes.

Suddenly, Uni bleats angrily.  Your eyes fly open.  She is jabbing her horn into the hand of a dwarf, who's trying to steal your club!

"Stop that!" you yell at the little man.

"I'm sorry," the dwarf mumbles.  "If you get this unicorn away from me, I'll give you a present."

"All right, Uni," you say.  The unicorn backs up with a growl and waves her horn.

The dwarf trembles as he reaches into a sack and pulls out a purple ball of fur with two big eyes.  One of them winks at you!

"What is that thing?" you cry.

"That's a good name for it--Thing!"  The dwarf laughs nervously.  "I got it from a wizard.  It's magic!"

"If it's magic, why are you giving it to me?" you ask suspiciously.

"There's one problem with it--" he explains, "it loves practical jokes."  And with that, the dwarf drops the fur ball into your hand and disappears into the brush.

You study the furry purple Thing for a moment.  Then you decide to ask, "Thing, take us to the Tower of Midnight Dreams."

"How borrrring," Thing answers.

"Boring?"  You scratch your head.  "Maybe we shouldn't let this Thing help us.  After all, it might take us to the Tower and dump us right in Venger’s lap.

"Of course, I could ask it to get us inside the Tower without someone seeing us....

Finally, you say:
 

"All right, Thing.  Get us into the Tower before we're spotted."  Click here.  (page 50)

"I don't need any help from this Thing.  I'll get us there by myself.  I wish I'd never seen this Thing!"  Click here.  (page 54)

Suddenly, the forest vanishes.  You feel a tickling sensation all over your body that makes you laugh so hard tears fill your eyes.  Then you find yourself in a cold, damp room carved out of rock.  High above, gray light filters in through a barred window.

"Where are we?" you gasp, still feeling ticklish.

"You're in the Tower."  Thing chuckles.

"What's so fun--" you start to ask, but then you see purple spots all over Uni.  Looking down at your arms, you see that you are covered with large purple spots as well!

Thing rolls around on the floor, laughing wildly.  "You're in the Tower before you were spotted!" it manages to say.

You look at your spots and suddenly realize that this is Thing's idea of a joke!  "Get these purple spots off us!" you yell.

"Oh, all right," Thing says grumpily.

"I don't think that was very funny," you grumble as the spots disappear.  "But at least we're in the Tower of Midnight Dreams."  You look around and see a large, comfortable-looking bed in the room.

"Boy, am I tired."  You yawn and stumble toward the bed.

"No!  You mustn't sleep!" Thing shouts in alarm.  "Bad dreams!"

"Just a short nap, Thing...."  You crawl into the bed.  "Wake me in an hour, Uni."

Suddenly, you feel something wet and slimy on your arm.  "Yuck!"  You jump out of the bed and throw back the covers.

"Ribbit," croaks a large green frog.

"Hee, hee!" Thing giggles uncontrollably.

"You put a frog in my bed!" you shout at Thing.  "That does it!  I'm getting rid of you!"

But to your surprise, Uni rushes forward and stands in front of Thing.  She bleats and points her horn at the bed.

"You think I was falling under a spell, Uni?" you ask, understanding her.  "Then Thing saved me.  Still, no one likes a practical joker who doesn't know when to quit!"
 

You point at Thing.  "I wish I had never seen you!"  Click here.  (page 54)

"Okay, Thing.  You can stay with us.  But no more jokes!"  Click here.  (page 56)

There's a flash.  You blink and look around.  You and Uni are back in camp with all your friends!  And they're all staring at you.

"I thought I was going to get us to the Tower by myself," you say, confused.  "What are you guys doing here?  Where’s Venger?"

"What?  Where have you two been, Bobby?" Sheila asks.  "We've been worried about you!"

"Dungeon Master sent me on a quest.  I was going to rescue you from the Tower of Midnight Dreams!" you tell your friends.

The others grin and nudge each other.  You can tell they don't believe you.

"What a baby!" says Eric scornfully.

"Why don't you go on a quest for supper so you can rescue us from Presto's cooking?" Diana asks, chuckling.

"But I really was going to the Tower when this Thing--"  You stop, remembering that you wished you had never seen Thing.

"Thing took me back in time before I met the dwarf--before I met Dungeon Master.  Now I'll never be able to prove what happened."
 

THE END

"You can come with us, Thing," you say.  "But let's go, Uni.  I'm feeling sleepy again."

You pull on the door, and it opens easily.  Uni picks Thing up in her teeth and gently sets the purple fur ball onto her back.  Together, you peer out the door.

A long, narrow hallway runs past the room.  It is lit only by an eerie glow.

You look left and right.  The hallway disappears into darkness in both directions.

"What's so bad about this Tower?" you whisper.

"Dreams..." Thing purrs.  "Creatures from your worst nightmares come alive."

You gulp.  "Well, which way do we go, Uni?"

"Left," Thing says.

"I don't trust you," you grumble.  "I think we should go right."

"Left!  Left!" Thing screeches.
 

"Oh, have it your way!" you say.  "We'll go left."  Click here.  (page 72)

"No!  I say we're going right!" you tell Thing.  Click here.  (page 66)

Tiamat circles still closer.  One of her five heads draws in a deep breath to send down a killing flame on you.

"Thing!  Help!" you cry.

Terrified, you shield your eyes.  Then you feel something tickle your arm.  The air is filled with a white powdery substance!

"Snow?" you say in amazement.

Suddenly, the dragon closes all ten eyes.  All five mouths open wide.  "Ahh...ahhh...KA-CHOOOOOOOOO!"  A gigantic dragon sneeze blows you off your feet.

"Ha-choo!" you sneeze as you land.

"Ker-choo!" Uni snuffles.

"That's not snow!" you gasp.  "It's..."

"Sneezing powder!"  Thing is laughing so hard it can barely get the words out.

"KA-CHOOOO!  KA-CHOOOO!"  Tiamat's five heads are all sneezing at once.  Finally, the dragon soars away across the sky.

"Whoopee!" you cheer, hugging Uni.  "That was great, Thing.  You're a real friend--"

Laughter interrupts you--booming, deep, terrible laughter.  You grab Uni, afraid to turn toward the voice.  Thing crawls up your arm and hides behind your hat.

"Well done, little Barbarian," the voice roars.  "I haven't had such a laugh in centuries!  You have driven off Tiamat and even brought me your magic club."

"Venger!" you mutter.  You spin around, clutching your magic club tightly.

And there stands the towering, black-robed figure of Venger!

"I believe I'll take this, too."  Venger stretches out his hand to grab Thing.  "I find it quite amusing."

The purple fur ball gives a startled squeak and is torn from its hold on your hat.  Too frightened to cast any magic, the little creature shivers in Venger's hand.

"And what can I do for you, little Bobby Barbarian?"  Venger takes a step toward you.

"You can't do anything for me, Venger," you gasp, scooting backward.

"Come, now," Venger says, bending down.  "I have nothing against you humans.  In fact, I'd like to get to know you better.  Give me your magic club, and I will be your friend."

Venger holds out a gloved hand.  "Your other friends don't appreciate you.  But I can make all your dreams come true."

"What should I do?" you mutter.  "It must have something to do with Dungeon Master's riddle.  If only I could remember it...."
 

"You're right, Venger!  My friends think I'm too little to be their friend--but not if you grant my wish."  Click here.  (page 71)

"I know the answer to the riddle!  And I'll get my friends back if it's the last thing I do!"  Click here.  (page 73)

"I'm not afraid of you, Tiamat," you shout, more to give yourself courage than to scare the dragon.  The five heads of Tiamat laugh thunderously.  Raising your club, you swing it over your head.

The dragon dives straight at you.  Though you're terrified, you stay where you are and bring your club down on the Tower wall, smashing a hole through it.  A stone breaks loose and strikes one of the dragon’s heads.

The injured head blinks groggily, and you scramble under the rubble from the smashed wall.  Even as you do, the other heads see you, and the dragon flies over to where you are hiding.

"I know you're there!" Tiamat calls furiously.  "You can't stay there forever, but forever I will wait, if I must."

"Thing!  Do something!" you shout, crawling deeper under the rubble.

"You told me no tricks," Thing says, sulking.

"I take it back!" you yell.

Will Thing rescue you?  Click here.  (page 57)

Raising your magic club, you take a deep breath, give a mighty shout, and rush around the corner.

There, you make a sudden stop as you come face to face with...

A mouse!  It stares at you with its beady little eyes.  Then, it gives a terrified squeak, turns, and runs off down the hail.

Thing laughs and laughs, rolling around on the floor.

Uni just snorts in disgust.

"You really looked funny!" Thing whoops.  "Raise club.  Big shout.  Scare little mouse!  Ha-ha-ha!"

"I ought to use this club on you!"  You shake the club angrily at Thing.  "Now that you've had your little joke, we're going back my way!"

You stomp angrily back up the corridor to your right.  Uni follows close behind you.  And Thing giggles wildly at its joke as it sits on the unicorn's back.
 

Please click here.  (page 66)

You walk and walk down the passageway heading toward your right, until you wonder if you are going in circles.  Finally, you know that you are lost.

"We'll never find our friends," you say, discouraged.  Uni whimpers in sympathy.  Thing giggles.

"I don't think it's very funny!"  You glare angrily at Thing and walk on.

Then the corridor begins to slant upward, and it grows brighter.  You sniff.

"I smell fresh air!" you say excitedly.  "There must be a doorway up ahead!"

You run along the corridor.  Rounding a corner, you see a large archway before you.  Moonlight streams through the arch and across the stone floor.

"This is the way!"  You run to the archway, stop, and peer out cautiously.

Before you, stretches a narrow walkway surrounded by high stone walls.  Looking up, you see nothing except the starlit sky.

"Wow!" you breathe.  "We're at the very top of the Tower.  I'm going out there.  You stay here, Uni.  You, too, Thing.  And no magic tricks!"

Clutching your magic club tightly, you step through the archway and over to a stone wall.  Peeking over the edge of the wall, you see nothing below but a gray fog.

"I was right," you whisper.  "I am at the top of the Tower."

Suddenly, a dark shadow blots out the moonlight.  You look up and see a huge dragon flying above you.  Terrified, you step backward and slam into the archway.

"Tiamat!" you yell.

The five-headed dragon seems to fill the sky.  Spotting you, she swoops down, each of her five mouths gaping wide open.

"I either have to face this dragon myself or ask Thing to fight it magically," you tell yourself.
 

"I'm going to face this monster on my own.  After all, I did tell Thing no more magic."  Click here.  (page 62)

"I'll ask Thing to help."  Click here.  (page 57)

Remembering how your friends teased you, you say to Venger, "I'll show them!  Can you really make my dreams come true?"

"That's what friends are for, isn't it?" Venger says with a half-smile.

"I want to be grown-up so my friends won't dare laugh at me," you say.

"No sooner said than done!"  Venger claps his hands three times.

You begin to grow, and soon you're a man!  Your magic club looks like a toy in your hand.

"I don't need this anymore!" you say proudly, handing the club to Venger.

"Indeed you don't!" Venger laughs wickedly.  "Not where you're going, SLAVE!"

Two pig-faced orcs grab you and Uni.  "Oh, no!  I thought I was your friend!" you cry.

"I don't need any friends!" Venger says.  "Take him to work in the mines!"

As you and Uni are dragged away, you suddenly know the answer to Dungeon Master's riddle.  "Friendship," you say sadly.  "I didn't find it until I lost it."
 

THE END

Together, you and Uni--with Thing on her back--tiptoe down the shadowy hallway.  The strangely glowing walls give off a pale, ghostly light.  Shadows lurk in corners, and there is a constant sound of dripping water echoing through the corridor.

You pass other rooms, but their doors are all closed and barred.  Suddenly, you come to a corner.  The hallway makes a sharp turn to the left.

"I wonder what's around that corner," you say nervously.

"Danger!" Thing squeaks.  "Monster!"

"Monster!"  You gulp and back up.  "Let's go the other way!"

"No!  Let's scare it!" Thing says eagerly.  "Maybe it will run away."
 

"I'm not facing any monster!" you yell.  "Let's get out of here!"  Quickly, click here.  (page 66)

"Okay," you say bravely.  "We'll face the monster!"  Click here.  (page 65)

You look at poor little Thing as it shivers in Venger's gloved hand.  Suddenly, the answer to Dungeon Master's riddle is clear to you.

"The answer's friendship!" you cry.  "I didn't know I had it until I lost it.  I've lost my friends, and now I've lost Thing."

You shake off your sadness, determined not to make the same mistake again.

"I can't help my friends now, but I can help Thing.  You don't have any friendship to offer, Venger.  It's only one of your nasty tricks!"

You turn your back on him in disgust.

"Clever, aren't you, Barbarian!" Venger sneers.  "Too clever for your own good.  Very well.  Since you refuse my offer, you must pay the penalty all pay when they come into the Tower of Midnight Dreams.  You must fight your worst nightmare!"

Spinning around at Venger's words, you see a light beaming from his eyes at the stone floor in front of you.  Uni cowers at your side.  You don't know what to expect.

The light beam grows brighter and brighter until a large shape slowly shimmers into view.  For a moment, you can't make out just what it is.  Then...

"Oh, no!" you cry, horrified.

It's the giant ogre you had dreamed about!  Only here before you it is taller and uglier and much more frightening than it was in your dream!

"The boy is yours!" Venger says to the ogre.  "Do with him whatever you will.  But the magic club is mine when you've finished with him!"

"Yes, master," the ogre growls.  The beast leaps toward you.

For a moment, you're so frightened you can't move.  Then Uni runs out in front of you and jabs the ogre in the toe with her horn!  The ogre roars in anger and lifts its huge foot to crush the little unicorn!

Seeing your friend in danger makes you forget your fear.  "Run, Uni!" you yell.  You lift your club over your head, then bring it down SMACK! on the floor in front of the ogre.

The stone floor begins to split open.  A great crack forms beneath your club and spreads rapidly across the stone floor, running right under the ogre’s feet!  The startled monster loses its balance and, with a great roar, tumbles backward into the crack.

Then you see the crack running right toward Venger--and Thing!

"Thing!" you cry out in warning.  "Work your magic.  Don't be scared anymore!"

But Venger falls into the crack, taking Thing with him.

For a moment, you think that Thing's magic has failed as both Venger and the little furry creature vanish through the stone floor.  Then there is a flash of purple, and Thing springs out of the crack.  Sailing through the air, it lands right on your horned helmet!

"You have defeated me now!" Venger's voice floats up out of the Tower floor.  "But we will meet another day!"

"Don't pay any attention to him!" you tell your new friend and Uni.  "Let's go rescue our other friends!"