THE DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS CARTOON ON-LINE FAN CLUB NEWSLETTER Issue #6 May/June 1998 ****************************************************************************** ******** POLL RESULTS! POLL RESULTS! Weeelll, look at that! Where DID those poll results go? Oh, that's right -- my lovely computer ATE THEM!!!! AAUUUUUUUUGH!!!! I am very sorry to report that my dreadful, makes-an-abacus-look-like-a-state- of-the-art-device computer has messed up and completely corroded the file I was keeping all the poll results in. Therefore, I've had to go back and re- tabulate the entire thing rom the very beginning, which means that unfortunately, the poll results won't be listed until the next issue. Thanks again to everyone who wrote in with answers and responses -- I PROMISE I will have the results available for you in the next issue, which should be still going out on time at the end of next month. Sorry about the long delay getting this issue to you guys -- but I hope the great endings to Victoria Bishop and Mike Bugg's fan fiction stories in this issue help make up for its lateness. I'm sure you'll agree that they, along with Rhonda and Maureen's awesome continuing stories, will help make up for this issue being so darned late! See ya again in about 45 (days, that is!) Amy (IllyanaAM@aol.com) :) P.S. Be forwarned -- this issue is in six (ulp!) parts! If you are missing any, please let me know and I will send them again. ****************************************************************************** ******** D&D CARTOON FAN-FICTION CORNER! Seems like we keep getting more and more fanfiction with each passing issue. And all I have to say is -- HOORAY! It is such a treat getting these stories and reading all of them each issue -- I?m sure you?ll all agree. So here we go! We?ll start off with Part 3 of Rhonda Robinson?s ?Return of the Dreamer?! * The STORY is all mine, but only one of the CHARACTERS in it is mine, and you'll know which one. The rest all belong to TSR, Marvel, and whoever else had a hand in creating the long-lost Dungeons & Dragons cartoon. Rated--well, I don't think it's worse than PG. I'll try to keep it no higher than PG-13 at the roughest. (When I write fanfic, I try to keep it at the level of the original show, or at least close to it.) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Return of the Dreamer Part Three by Rhonda Robinson Sheila tumbled over and over down the steep slope, trying desperately to grab onto something--*anything*--to stop her fall. Had she been more observant as she passed a large crack in the mountainside, she would have seen two familiar "eyes" looking out. *Master Venger will have one less human to worry about,* Shadow Demon thought as the magic cloak dropped below his line of sight. Slipping silently from one shadow to the next, he flew up to the fortress to make his report. Although the others had frozen, Sheila's danger lent wings to Hank's heels. He quickly scrambled up to a nearby ledge wide enough to stand on, then shot two golden energy-arrows into the rocky slope below his friend. As they bit into the volcanic glass, a matching net stretched between them. Sheila landed in it a heartbeat later. The arrows bent and the net stretched under the force of her body, but both held. For a few moments, Sheila just lay in the net as if it were a hammock, trying to catch her breath and slow her racing heart. It wasn't until one of Hank's arrow-lines fell gently against her that she looked up at her friends. Hank was still on the ledge, and the others were carefully crossing to the arrow- line, which extended up the cliff as far as she could see. "You OK, Sis?" For the first time since the Dungeon Master had told them of Terry's plight, Bobby was concerned about more than her. What good would it be if someone got killed during Terry's rescue? "I'm fine! Thanks, Hank!" Sheila called up a bit breathlessly, reaching for the arrow-line. "If I'd thought of this sooner, you never would have fallen in the first place!" Hank berated himself. "But you *did* think of it," Diana responded, "and you saved Sheila." "Yeah, Hank, don't beat yourself up 'cause you're not perfect. Who is?" Presto declared. "You haven't made a single mistake we couldn't recover from," Sheila added as she began her climb. *Yet,* Hank added in his mind. *********************************************************** The last of Venger's spell-light faded from around Terry's head, but she had fallen unconscious long before. Venger gazed down at her smugly. "So, little warrior, you too have learned it is foolish and useless to oppose me." He snapped his fingers, and an orc soldier who had been waiting in the doorway entered. Venger pointed at the jewel in the ceiling, making it pull a section of its energy-bars inside itself so the orc could reach in and pull Terry out. "Take her to the dungeon and lock her in a cell alone," Venger ordered. "Keep watch over her, and when she awakens, bring her back to me." *I must test her power. My spells have never failed to force the growth of another's magic, but I have never tried to force the growth of psionic powers before. I must know if I have succeeded.* "Yes, Master," the orc responded, scooping Terry up and flinging her over his shoulder as if she were no heavier than a rag doll. The orc left the chamber just as Shadow Demon entered, and if both had been solid they would have collided. "Master, the Thief is dead," reported the living shadow. "Dungeon Master's pupils were climbing the mountain when she fell. I can take a few orcs to recover her body and the Cloak of Invisibility." "Do it," Venger ordered, "but summon Fo-Ne first. With his help, the other Weapons of Power will be mine before you return." *********************************************************** "You're *sure* you saw Shadow Demon heading this way, Eric?" Hank asked as he helped Sheila up the last of the slope. When she let go of the arrow-line, it and the arrow stuck in the ground at the top of the mountain vanished. "You think I don't know that creep when I see him?" Eric was indignant. "I saw him, and I don't think he saw Sheila hit your arrow-net. With any luck, he'll tell Venger she's at the bottom of the mountain." "Then here's a plan for getting inside to rescue Terry." Hank outlined his thoughts, and Diana added a few suggestions as Presto collected the protective boots and gloves and put them back in his hat, then pulled out the kids' normal footwear. The others discussed the plan, Bobby a bit impatiently, and by the time they were ready to go again, they all knew what to do. *********************************************************** Word of Sheila's fall had gotten around the fortress quickly, so when orc watchers at the fortress battlements saw five young humans and a baby unicorn trying to sneak up, none of them wondered where the sixth one was. Instead, an orc captain sent a lieutenant and some soldiers out to capture them. Not truly understanding humans, the orcs didn't suspect anything when all it took to capture them was surrounding them and threatening them with their swords. They thought it was perfectly normal for the Cavalier and Magician to be terrified and the Ranger, Barbarian, and Acrobat to show helpless anger as their weapons were taken away and stowed in a sack the lieutenant had brought. They never dreamed that the little unicorn's escape attempt, which ended when a soldier grabbed her long enough for the lieutenant to slip a teleportation- blocking collar around her neck, was anything less than genuine. However, wrapped in her cloak and hidden nearby, Sheila winced at her friends' overacting. When the orcs and their captives headed back to the fortress, Sheila followed silently, careful not to get too close. Luck was on the kids' side that day. Once in the fortress, just inside the heavy oak-and-iron door of the dungeon, the lieutenant dismissed his soldiers, eager to prove to Venger that he deserved a promotion and feeling that he could get one by locking up his master's worst enemies (barring only Tiamat and the Dungeon Master) by himself. "You don't need us?" one asked. "For five weaponless humans and a powerless unicorn? The lowest soldier could take them to their cells with no trouble! How can they get through *this* door?" Sheila slipped inside, behind the orc's back, as he argued with his soldiers, then got behind him again as the door shut and he turned to face the other kids. "Try to attack or escape, and the nearest one dies! Forward!" he ordered his captives. When they reached an intersection, Sheila attacked, knocking off the orc's helmet. Before he could react, she smashed a heavy rock over his head, then ripped the bag from his hand as he sank to the stone floor, unconscious. "Way to go!" Bobby cheered as Sheila gave him his club. Hank took his bow and fired an arrow at Uni's collar, shattering it, then fired another arrow at the lock on a nearby cell door to open it. Eric and Diana dragged the orc into the cell. Once they were back in the corridor and had closed the door behind them, Hank relocked it. "Sheila, you, Bobby, and Uni keep going straight ahead. Diana, Eric, take the left corridor. Presto, you're with me. We'll meet back here, hopefully *with* Terry." Hank struck off down the right corridor as the others obeyed. *********************************************************** Yet another iron-bound oak door flew into splinters and metal dust with a single blow from Bobby's club. Bobby called into the doorless cell, "Terry! It's us!" When he got no response, again, he entered the cell while Sheila and Uni waited outside to watch for guards, only to come out alone, again. "Where is she?!" Uni nuzzled the angry Barbarian, and he petted her, but still frowned. "Calm down, Bobby." Sheila's voice was soothing. "Just because *we* couldn't find her doesn't mean anything. Hank and Presto may have found her, or maybe Diana and Eric did. Come on, let's get back to the meeting place." *********************************************************** Hank and Presto were approaching a corner when Hank abruptly pulled Presto up against a wall. "I think I heard something. Quiet!" They edged along the wall until they reached the corner, then cautiously peeked around it. There they saw a single orc guarding a cell door, grumbling to himself. After studying the situation, they retreated down the corridor for a hasty strategy session. "Can you make him fall asleep?" Presto swallowed nervously. "I'll try, but you'd better be ready to stun him if my spell fails." They returned to the corner, then Presto crouched down to give Hank a clear shot if necessary. He took off his hat and edged around the corner in time to see the guard yawn. *Perfect! This'll make it easy!* He waved his free hand over the open end of his hat and whispered, "Time for you to count some sheep, Guarding orc now go to sleep." A barely-visible ripple, like the shimmer of heat waves rising from scorching pavement, floated out of the hat and encircled the orc's head. The already- sleepy humanoid didn't last long. In a minute or two, his eyes closed and he slumped against the wall, sliding down it until he hit the floor. A snore rose from his lips. "Nice work, Presto!" Hank led the way to the door, then knocked on it quietly. "Terry?" "Is that you, Hank?" The young voice was full of hope. "Yes, and Presto's with me. We're getting you out. Stand back!" Hank fired an arrow into the lock, melting it. The door swung open of its own weight, but it was barely open far enough before Terry dashed out, obviously delighted to see them. "Your clothes...." Presto's voice trailed off in surprise, and Terry looked down at her armour. "Oh, these! My school clothes changed into them when I got back here. Where's everyone else?" Hank recalled that both he and Presto had worn green T-shirts to the amusement park that long-ago day they'd taken the ride that had brought them to the Realm, and they had become his studded leather armour and Presto's robes. But why had Terry still been wearing Earth clothes the first time they met her in the Realm? "In other parts of the dungeon, looking for you. We've got a meeting place. Come with us." *********************************************************** Diana yanked Eric back into the shadows. "Look up ahead!" Eric followed her gaze and saw an orc soldier standing near a cell door, looking away from them. "I'd bet my entire trust fund he's guarding Terry." "Get down!" Diana hurled her staff like a javelin, striking the orc in the back of the head. He fell flat on his face and didn't move. The two teens dashed up to the door, leaping over the fallen guard, and Eric used the point of his shield to cut through the wood surrounding the lock. They stepped into the doorway as the door swung open. "Terry? Are you in there?" A figure huddled in the corner of the cell farthest from the door lifted its head, revealing frightened eyes in a pale face. "Who's there?" "It's Diana and Eric. Are you all right?" "Am I ever glad to see you!" The girl leapt to her feet and dashed to her rescuers. Once in the corridor again, Eric and Diana looked at Terry. Her blouse and jeans were torn and dirty, part of her hair had escaped from its ponytail elastic, and one of her sneakers was missing its lace, but other than that she looked all right. Terry looked around, and jumped back at the sight of the orc. "Where are the others?" "Looking for you somewhere else," Diana replied. "Come on, let's get back to the rendezvous point before pork-belly here wakes up," urged Eric. *********************************************************** Bobby kept pacing back and forth between the two corridors the others had taken, pausing briefly at the mouth of each to peer down it in the hopes of seeing his friends with Terry. Uni trotted behind him, while Sheila leaned against a wall and watched him, keeping an eye out for guards at the same time. Finally she said, "Bobby, you're wearing yourself out! Come on, take a break. You won't get them here faster this way." Reluctantly, Bobby headed for Sheila. "The sooner Terry's safe with us the happier I'll be!" "Then start cheering up!" Bobby turned to see Eric, Diana--and Terry! "You found her!" "If they found her, who did we find?" Bobby, Sheila, and Uni looked back and forth between the two corridors, not believing what they saw. Hank, Presto, and another Terry were approaching. The only difference between the two Terries was in their clothing: one wore Earth clothes, the other wore leather and steel armour like a Roman gladiator. Earth-clothed Terry stopped in her tracks and pointed an accusing finger at armour-clad Terry. "You tricked me, you phony! You took Bobby's form and lured me here! You won't fool anyone else again!" "YOU'RE the fake! Venger made you bring me here so he could make me tell him what was going to happen to Bobby and the others!" "Don't listen to it!" Earth-clothed Terry pleaded with the kids. "I'm the real Terry! Remember how I was wearing normal clothes? Look!" She gestured to herself. "I WAS wearing those clothes to school when that--shape-shifting THING showed up pretending to be you, Bobby!" insisted armour-clad Terry. "When it tricked me into coming back here, my clothes changed the way yours did when you got here! I'm the real Terry!" Both Terries tried to attack each other, forcing Hank and Diana to pin the identical girls' arms behind them. They struggled to break free, each demanding to be set free and accusing the other of being Venger's servant in disguise. "Who's who?" wondered Presto. Uni looked from one to the other and back, then gave a puzzled bleat. "Wait a minute!" Hank had to shout to be heard over the racket. Both Terries fell silent. "Remember the Dungeon Master's riddle?" Bobby's eyes lit up. "Yeah! He said 'the touch of the heart will reveal the truth'!" He reached under the criss-crossed leather straps over his chest and pulled out a familiar heart-shaped locket. "This'll settle it!" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * End Part Three Thanks again to Vic for the ideas and help! What do you think about it now? Send your comments to rosrobin@ab.imag.net--I'd like some feedback. ******************************************************************************