I must be Fred

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 119523

Lord Fred's heart was pure, so the little cherub said with resolve, "Change me back. I want nothing more than to save my kingdom."

"Hm," said Sapien, not sounding particularly moved or invested. "If that is what you wish."

For at least the fourth time, Angelina - Fred - felt herself - himself? - changing, though it wasn't quite as quick or painless as the previous times. She grew out and up very rapidly, and felt muscles piling on, certain parts of her body vanishing and others growing back in. Her hair shortened, her face reformed, and her chin prickled as a beard grew in. And at last, albeit unclothed - with the only option for a full ensemble being a suit of armor fit for a female - Lord Fred found himself back in his rightful form. He flinched a bit, feeling a pain across his back, and he touched it lightly, finding it tender.

"One memento remains of your previous form," explained Sapien. "A mark like wings emblazoned across your back. A reminder - perhaps it shall help you stay humble as you move forward... or perhaps it will lead to pride that will bring your downfall. That is up to you."

Fred nodded, finding this change acceptable, as opposed to all that came before. "Thank you," he said, relishing the feel and sound of his old voice rumbling in his throat.

"We shall see," replied Sapien, ominously, and he stepped back into the darkness, being swallowed up at once.

Fred was left in silence. He grabbed up the scant cloths available to him and at least fashioned a loincloth for himself, and went to retrieve the sword he'd wielded as Angelina, though it was smaller than he was used to. All the while he thought of Sapien's words. He was tentatively very glad to be assured of his success - apparently contingent upon his humility - but could this entity be trusted? Was it possible he was, somehow, being manipulated?

It didn't really matter. He was never going to abandon his quest, and he was ecstatic to be back in a form that would facilitate its pursuit.

He turned away from the fountain, not even wanting to look at it, and set off to find a way at last out of these caves and back into the open air.

  1. Days passed. Fred found pools of water here and there from which he tentatively lapped, but he was growing very weak without any food. Eventually he stumbled out into the evening, but he would need to find help quickly to survive.
  2. After several hours, Fred encountered another traveler in the caves.
  3. After several hours, Fred encountered another unknown entity in the caves.
  4. When Fred emerged at last a day or so later, he beheld a vast and rolling countryside. He was still unsure where he was, but a land like this should have plenty of game - he could survive until he could orient himself.
  5. When Fred emerged at last a day or so later, he beheld a distant fire with the dragon flying overhead! Though he could never get there in time, he set off sprinting at once.

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