****
Pip found the both Johnny and Trent Williams in one of the studies in the Simple House, sitting at a table piled high with books and notebooks. Uncharacteristically they were actually reading them, the elf noticed, as he leapt atop their table. "Greetings, Mary's kin," he announced himself, as he endured a comradely pat on the back from Johnny that almost knocked him from the table.
"Where are Marge and Mary?" Trent asked immediately.
"Marge returns here safely using conventional human travel methods," said the elf. "A man named Ranger Rick is helping her. Mary is safe but badly injured by Witch Greble. I carry her with me and seek her dragon for her cure."
"How could you carry her?" asked Trent. "She is many times your size. Where is she?"
"I sense her inside the pouch attached to your belt," rumbled Grog, who had just appeared at the doorway. "Elf shrinking and protection spells?"
"Just so, friend Troll," said the elf, as he retrieved the pouch and gently retrieved its contents to show to the others. It was two-inch long Mary, laying asleep within a golden-glowing cocoon!
"It's her!" exclaimed Johnny. "It's Mary shrunk down almost to toy train size!"
"My God!" Trend exclaimed, as he slumped back in his chair. "This can't be happening!"
"I take her now to Narma to seek her cure," said Pip, as he returned her to the tiny box and placed it reverently back into his pouch.
"She's alive but injured you say?" Trent asked. "Can't you use your elf magic or whatever to help her?"
"Only her dragon can help her now," the mage explained. "She is the Chosen One of the dragon Jewel."
"What about human scientists or doctors?" asked Trent.
"Worse than useless," said the Troll. "That would only delay Pip's mission."
"I only stopped here briefly to inform her kin," said the Mage. "What do you do here in this Earthly elf library?"
"We have been studying Henry Simple's writings," said Johnny. "The ones that are in English, anyway."
"Though Johnny and I aren't bookworms," said Trent. "Most of these books are blank, but that makes the ones with stuff in them easier to find."
"Like me, old Henry had some doubts and questions about things," said Johnny. "Dad got lucky and found a recent notebook written in English that summarizes what Henry had been working on for many years."
"Nothing marketable, I'm afraid," said Trent. "Nothing but odd goofy stuff. The man had absolutely no interest in business."
"Summarize your summary for me quickly, Johnny," said Pip. "I must take Mary on to Narma and Jewel."
"In his notes Henry questions many things," said Johnny, "including what Evil is and the whole story line involving the Black and White Dragons. Basically according to elf legend the White Dragon is supposed to be able to triumph over the Black and then we all live happily ever-after. But like me he thought that story line might be too simple. Some things don't quite fit with it. For instance he questioned how Narma and Earth have survived for the last few centuries. If the Black Horde took over Narma centuries ago, then why haven't Narma and Earth been destroyed long before now? It's almost as if the bad guys have been holding back for some reason. And if that's true, then there's something going on that we don't understand: maybe something important!"
"Perhaps historian philosophers Kip and Belinda would be able to discuss such things with you," said Pip. "I'll remember your words, clever Johnny, but I'm an elf of action and must be off now on my quest to save your sister."
With that the elf mage that carried tiny Mary completely disappeared.
The mage very soon entered the Portal. In it time and space twisted, stretched, and swirled. If not anchored by elf magic spells powered by enchanted forests, there could be no such things as portals that could be used to reliably travel between parallel universes. This one successfully deposited Pip and Mary at a point deep within the great enchanted North Elf Forest on Narma.
"There you are, cousin!" said a familiar female elf voice. Belinda sternly stared at her cousin Pip. "We were just going to fetch you from Earth. Hopefully you have not done mischief there that can't be undone!"
"I have done heroic deeds there and need do some here!" said Pip.
"Your Uncle Farnmouth worries for you," young Pip, added Kip. "It is good that you have now returned to Narma alive."
"What?" exclaimed the astonished mage. "Farnmouth The Great lives? But I saw him destroyed at the hands of a witch in the remains of the Great Library near the Dark Forest! Uncle discovered that the old library was tainted with great Evil!"
"There was indeed a faint whiff of Evil in that place," noted Belinda.
"When we arrived there it was rank with Evil," said Pip. "That is what drew us there to investigate. But tell me more of Uncle. If not destroyed is he then well?"
"He is bespelled but very healthy," said Kip. "You impulsively ran off to hunt the Witch before seeing to him properly. You are overly impulsive, young Pip!"
The stunned mage sank down a couple of inches to his knees. "I am overjoyed to hear that he is well! But what has that to do with fetching me from Earth?"
"We discovered three reasons to seek you on Earth," said Kip.
"Which we thoroughly discussed and recorded, of course," added Belinda.
"Naturally!" said Kip.
"First, we are concerned that very serious events may be unfolding on Earth since our last visit there not so very long ago," said Belinda. "Here on Narma there have been reports of Horde dragons detected near the Portal. Second, we were disturbed to scry that against all official customs and directives you impulsively followed the Witch Greble to Earth. That is of course counter to policy. Determination of your punishment is ongoing. Third, Farnmouth urgently needs you here on Narma."
"That is of course but a brief summary that needs further elaboration," said Kip.
"We will elaborate as we whisk to where Farnmouth awaits you near the Dark Forest, and you must in turn tell us of your Earth observations and your doubtlessly heroic Earthly adventures," said Belinda.
"I agree," said Kip, as he made an annotation to that effect in his always present notebook.
"And what is that which you carry concealed in your pouch, young Mage?" asked Belinda.
White Dragon's Chosen Page 54
