THE CAVE OF THE FAIRIE DRAGONS
SUMMARY
The kids are having some fun by taking a swim, jumping off rocks and horsing around. In the mists of their fun Dungeonmaster appears with news of a way home.
He tells them: “When all seems lost, seek that which reflects what you are, and what you desire most. But a giant sacrifice may be required to save a tiny friend.”
The others get dressed as Eric marches around complaining, but then some Giant Ants break out of the rocks nearby. While they look for a way to get out, a voice calls them, from the waterfall and they find a way behind it and to safety.
Inside the cave behind the waterfall there is a little “baby” dragon. Her name is Amber, and she’s not a baby but a Fairie Dragon. She quickly becomes friends with Presto, and moves into his Hat and shows them the way out.
At the end of the tunnel they meet another Fairie Dragon. He’s in a panic, and tells Amber that Queen Tasmira has been captured by King Varen’s men!
King Varen is after the legendary treasure of the Fairie Dragons, and will only release Tasmira when he gets the lot!
Hank offers to help rescue the Queen, so Amber shows them the way.
They managed to sneak in, and start searching the dungeons. Hank finds Tasmira, but their weapons don’t work.
Worse, Varen appears and locks them all in the cell with Tasmira. Only Amber is able to slip out of the door without anyone noticing and goes for help. She is seen trying to get back to the caves and tries to loose the guards.
In the cell the Queen tells the kids about the Fairie Dragons’ quest to find a new home at the Forest at the edge of the World. As they sit, wondering what they will do, Presto realises that though magic won’t work inside, it can work outside, so he holds the Hat out of the window and casts a spell. The door is eaten by magic termites and they can all escape.
Amber has managed to get back to the caves, unaware she was seen at the very end. As she explains to the other Dragons what happened, just as the kids and the queen reappear.
The Queen thanks the Young Ones for their help, and shows them the treasure in the treasure room, in the deepest and safest part of the caves. There are crowns and jewels and plates and a chest and a mirror at the back, as well as lots of gold. She offers them some treasure as way of thanks, but they refuse (even Eric!).
Presto is missing, he is practicing a new spell with Amber to make rocks fly!
Just as they regroup, news comes that Varen is attacking, and they all flee to the treasure room. They close the door but there is no other way out! All is lost, “so where’s home” says Eric, and the amusement park shows up in the mirror behind him!
They didn’t know it could do that! But the kids realise that’s the way out.
They ask it to show the Fairie Dragons’ new home, and they scoop the treasure through as the Fairie Dragons escape.
The guards are at the door, and the kids don’t get the chance to use the mirror to get home. The guards break through, and Hank turns the mirror so they won’t know what it is. But Eric has to break it, so no one else can use it.
They are marched to Varen and questioned, as he knows they know where the treasure is.
Presto comes to their rescue, making the king and the guards float like balloons so they can make their escape.
Disheartened at the loss of another way home, they console themselves with the thought that they are no further away. Dungeonmaster is listening discretely nearby, and says that they are closer than they think “home is a reflection of the heart, a reflection you are now beginning to understand”.
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INTERESTING INFORMATION
Scatter Count - 0
Presto’s Hat produces – floating rocks and floating people!
Goodies – The Fairie Dragons Amber and Tasmira
Baddies – King Varen
Walk-ons – Flar the Fairie Dragon
Monsters – Giant Ants
Groovy Objects – The magic mirror, the legendary treasure of the Fairie Dragons
Named Places – Forest of Mists; the Forest at the Edge of the World, Varen’s Castle
Starwars References –
Other References – “It’s Them!”
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The pool and waterfall look great!
Colour co-ordination in the swimwear!! But Could Presto really not get a matching outfit for poor old Diana, who would have to wander around in soggy furs ALL DAY?? (Thanks Kimmy!)
News of a way home - “At last” Presto – does that mean they’ve been waiting a long time??
“When all seems lost, seek that which reflects what you are, and what you desire most. A giant sacrifice may be required to save a tiny friend.” Dungeonmaster’s riddle
“The smallest deed may yield the largest reward” Dungeonmaster.
Others get dressed as Eric marches around complaining.
‘It’s, it’s Them!!’ Presto.
Diana tries to ride an ant.
How does Dm always know when to leave?
Eric can get changed v quickly if he puts his mind to it.
Fairie dragons have wings like a butterfly’s, and this one is bright orange.
Amber likes Presto (and she gets on ok with Uni too). She likes his hat! And moves in.
The other Fairie Dragon is called Flar and he’s green.
Presto almost falls, Sheila and amber help. Sheila calls to Hank.
King Varen wants the Fairie Dragon treasure.
Amber knows where Varen is.
Eric and Uni remain outside on watch as the others go inside and search for the queen.
Hank finds Tasmira first.
Wizard constructed the room where she is, magic won’t work!
Eric is thrown in and amber sneaks out.
Hank and Sheila sit together.
The Caves aren’t their home, they are searching for a new one. Natural home was in the forest of mists, but that was destroyed by a volcano.
They were told we could make our new home in the forest at the edge of the world – have been journeying there for many generations.
“How can you loose a creature that shade of orange!” Random Guard – one of my fav lines :)
Tasmira uses her magic to send the other guard to sleep.
They march out disguised as prisoners. – why would prisoners be going out of the gates anyway? (it was Sheila ‘s idea)
“Anything in this room is yours!” Tasmira.
They don’t want it, but Eric does hesitate!!
There are crowns, jewels, plates, a chest, a mirror at the back, and lots of gold.
Presto is practicing a new spell with Amber. “Make this rock fly!”
Varen has arrived, widening the entrance, by blowing it up (perhaps lessons from Venger!).
Eric rushes forward knocking some Guards out of the way.
Hank fires and makes a glass pane (?!?!) to slow them down for a while.
Home shows up in the mirror behind Eric. He leans through it – they didn’t know it could do that! It reflects what they desire most.
They seem to be lacking a few fairies Dragons at that point!
The guards break through, and Hank turns the mirror so they won’t know what it can do. But Eric has to break it, so no one else can use it.
“Arrest these children” Varen.
Presto uses the Hat to help - “Make this king and his soldiers become balloons!”
“And if we never save tiny friends, where would you be!” Eric, to Bobby.
“At least we are no further from home.” Eric
“You are closer than you think. Home is a reflection of the heart, a reflection you are now beginning to understand.” Dungeonmaster.
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ALTERNATIVES
What were they doing to deserve a swim?
Have they been waiting a long time for Dungeonmaster to appear – cf Presto’s comment “At last!”
“The smallest deed may yield the largest reward” Dungeonmaster.
Them! Does Presto like fifties SF by any chance?
How does Dm always know when to leave?
How does Amber know her way around so well?
Why does Sheila hang around with Eric at the doorway?
What happened when Varen caught Eric?
What would have happened if Varen had taken their weapons anyway?
“They were told we could make our new home in the forest at the edge of the world” – who told them (as if we didn’t know)
Have been journeying there for many generations! Really?
Hank fires and makes a glass pane (?!?!). since when did the Bow do that!
How did does the Mirror activate?
What if Eric hadn’t destroyed the Mirror?
What if they hadn’t been able to escape from Varen?
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FANWORKS
Chib Fairie Dragon (with Cloud Bear) Colour Version by Tann
Originally done for the DDCC06
Fairie Falls (photomanip) by Wolfman
Post-swim (photomanip) by Sealgirl
The Final Scene (photomanip) by Sealgirl
Varne's Castle from above (photomanip) by Sealgirl
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Previous Episode - The Winds of Darkness
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