Understanding the reality of this situation

"Well, hello there," the Professor says, as the fairy fluttered up from the mouth of a bag and lit on his outstretched hand.

Definitely a Fred analog like many of the other Freds,I think to myself with a touch of consternation, Anyone else would have been out for hours after having fainting like that after all they'd been through, but the dragonslayers I know of get special training (psychological as well as other) to become what they are.

"Of course there is the one special question to prove beyond a doubt that shall be soon asked," I say softly to myself.

Shan't be me, for I am not the first to utter it.

"Hello," the small woman says back softly, "Who are you people ? Last I remember I was in a cavern full of women's clothing......and you!"

The fairy had been looking around at us all as she was speaking, having first started on the Professor and ending looking upon the very face that seemed to have shocked her back to a more human frame of mind. Speaking with Gilmuriel, we learn that indeed that this fairy woman has a similar tale as several others we've recently met, with the tale of Ama'lis Silverheart D'Honaire being the closest to this small fairy woman's tale.

There are differences, of course. While both are fairy women, the one before us is half the size of Ama'lis (different subspecies of pixie). There are others, obviously, but one item in particular is MOST worrisome.

See, there is a time factor here that we are running against here. This Fred (what a rough sounding name for such a now petite female) seems to have not yet succumbed to the final key of her transformation. As I can see from a small examination (via magesight) and the way she keeps having to force herself to answer (and call herself "Fred"), there is a subtle compulsion upon her in addition to her burgeoning fairy nature. It's a compulsion to answer to another, more fey name. If she does that or castes a spell (all fey folks can), then the transformation will be irreversible. That's not necessarily bad, but not something one would like to happen to oneself! It's very....disturbing, I've been told by those who've undergone it. They adjust well enough, those who spoke with me.....including my analog brother, Demifox Sigin.....but there is very REAL danger of permanent insanity if one cannot adjust by fighting the internal mental changes that occur along with the physical changes. Oh yes, one cannot become another species entirely (to such a deep level) and remain for long, mentally, their old species.

Gilmuriel and E'eysha used to be human, but while they still have some human quirks (and can explain human quirks to other elves)....at the bottom of it all they now think, act....and are elves.

As of yet, I have yet to have meet a Fred who had suffered that fate.....but I can tell that this particular Fred....would not make the transition with sanity intact. I fear that this stubborn fairy woman is still very much set upon somehow fulfilling his quest to slay a dragon in his...er....her Southern Cavern. That and I fear that she's just too set in her ways, wanting to be a man (and a human one at that)......

I and the others would very much like to rush off to help this fairy woman...but we have several problems here. One is that we have those &*($ Daleks to deal with, who'd be most upset if they don't get their Hand of Omega...and will take it out on a London and the rest of that particular London's world. Oh, they won't be able to change the course of Dr. What's universe (London never got destroyed)....that one "safeguard" of being a Champion....but instead the offending Daleks and such will be teleported to another universe entirely......quiet swiftly and unknowingly.....and the clueless Daleks will instead destroy an innocent Earth. As much as it rankles we must take care of that before tackling this other problem. We also have the problem of not knowing just which reality she's originally from..... Finally, we have the task of finding some way of reversing the transformation before it is too late.

Only thing we can do for her, I fear, is to put her into a state near death that shall slow the process on her. Thus, we shall have more time (hopefully enough time) to take care of this most pressing matter...and maybe pull something out of thin air for some kind....... Some kind of miracle.....

"Of course," I sigh (shuddering slightly), "The only person with a working Crystallic and the means of finding such answers lay within a man named Zerm. Wherever he is right now."

That shall be a miracle in itself, finding him....

That's my understanding of this reality we face, I add glumly to myself.

The one known as Ace, meanwhile, seems to have a question. Since the Doctor is taking care of that nosy proprietor (fainted when he'd seen the fairy woman....poor chap) and the others are taking care of other business, I am the one who shall answer her question.

1. "Who's Zerm?" Ace asks me, "Some kind of fellow 'Dragonmage' friend of yours like you?"

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