Chapter 11

---

Tabby was proud of herself. Not of the pose she currently held. That had been done by Debbie. Tabby was splayed on her dais in a display of wanton lust. Her legs spread wide to invite visitors to use her. No, what she was proud of was her current body.

It had taken quite a few rides on The Assembly Line to get it just right. Luck had been part of it. To pull the right cards on the random draw. She even had to engage in bartering with Debbie to get all she wanted. Anyone walking by might mistake her for a life-sized version of a porcelain doll. She even had ball joints. Moving them was quite a strange feeling. Her skin gleamed and was of a flawless white color that looked like painted ceramic. A neutral background that was ideal for the main draw of her built. Gemstones dotted her body.

It wasn't just her throat and nipples anymore that held these exquisite decorations. She collected similar cards until she was bedazzled from head to toe. Her face had dozens of small ones arranged in a pattern that mimicked the mask of a masquerade ball. About thirty tiny ones literally painted her lips the color of rubies. Curvennine had done her very best on Tabby's torso too. Here the gems mimicked lingerie. Giving the impression of a corset, panties, and garter. Fake stocking bedazzled her legs and her arms were encased in faux gloves.

The crowning joy of Tabby's body was her hair or the lack thereof. A nest of hexagonal crystals sprouted from the crown of her head. Pointing in every direction. They even glowed slightly. Giving Tabby even more of an inhuman appearance.

Maybe giving Curvennine permission to decorate her privates had been a mistake though. The many small gems that contoured her womanly folds, she could endure. But the large diamond encasing her clitoris had kept Tabby on a low level of horniness for hours now. It took all her willpower to keep the current pose and not furiously masturbate. She was, after all, right now a piece of art. And art needed to be displayed.

Distracted by her body, Tabby was slow to notice that Connie had walked into the Showroom. Her arguing with Debbie finally caught Tabby's attention. She could see Sindor enter the room just as Connie made her way over.

"It is time," the warrior said.

Tabby was confused. "Time? For what?"

Connie crouched down to be more on the same level as Tabby. She held out her wrist and Tabby needed a moment to recognize the bracelet worn there. The same bracelet she had in the storage compartment of her dais. They had gotten them in the Impish Armory and it showed the vague approximation of the current sun or moon phase outside of the dungeon. A red line had circled the bracelet to indicate the one-week deadline they had before they had to leave Shroom Dungeon or forfeit their original items. The same line had shrunk a lot.

"We have less than a day to get back to the Impish Armory," Connie explained. "So, come on. Up you go."

"Fine," Tabby replied. A little annoyance colored her voice despite trying to keep it neutral. Arriving late would make them lose all their stuff. Painful for her, Debbie, or Sindor. But nowhere compared to Connie's potential loss. She - well, Conway - had the hereditary family trait that all enchantments they wore doubled in strength. Hence, Conway ran around with a small fortune in armor pieces.

"Before we leave we should return all the modifications we got here," Sindor pointed out. "We lose them if we transition out from the golem for anyways and the other volunteers told me it is a pain in the ass to collect the discarded pieces when they are scattered all over the dungeon." He gave Tabby a pointed look. "Especially small gems."

"Aww." Tabby couldn't help but be disappointed. Just when she had managed to get her body to this stage of being perfect art. She had hoped to enjoy it for a few more hours. But she guessed it made sense. Especially getting rid of the diamond encasing her love button. That might drive her crazy on the long walk back to the entrance. "I know. I'll get it. How do we do that?"

"Ademsta has special potions," Sindor said and pointed in the direction of the Assembly Line.

"Then let's go," Connie decided. She sounded more like Conway again. More determined and in charge. Less like the happy-go-lucky Connie Tabby got to know in the last few days.

And while Sindor and Connie were quick to leave the room, Debbie and Tabby slinked after them more reluctantly.

"You are leaving?" Tabby heard Ademsta ask just as she entered his room. "What a shame."

"It is time," Connie repeated.

"Oh well." Ademsta produced vials of clear liquid. "Please step over here and drink them in turn."

Connie was first and it was strange to see all the fusions become undone at the same time. Nuts, bits, and bolts rained down with cogs and wheels. Connie truly had become part of the machinery. Sindor was the fastest. He hadn't gone for many modifications. Just a few bits and pieces. Tabby guessed he had more fun modifying others.

Debbie's had more to lose. She had collected every eccentric piece she could get her hands on. Strangest of all was her doubled-up waist. The inner one was so narrow it couldn't possibly contain more than her spine. The outer one was normal-sized and transparent. In between was water. And fishes. She ran around with an aquarium as a torso. Tabby seriously wanted to know who came up with that. That person needed help in her opinion.

At last, Tabby took the indicated place and drank her vial. It sounded like hail as hundreds of gems unfused, popped free, and rained down. Other modifications took longer. Her ball joints grew bigger and detached from the skin below. Now, Tabby could pull them off like sleeves. As Tabby stepped away, she left behind a small mountain of modifications.

"Let's get our stashes and head out," Connie decided.

They said their goodbyes and left the room. Just as they did, Tabby stopped to see three women arrive behind Admesta to help clean up the mess. It was Evennine, Halfennine, and Curvennine.

"What?" Sindor asked from beside her. "Did you fall for the old triplets-pretending-to-be-one-person-pretending-to-be-triplets scheme?"

"I mean- Yeah," Tabby admitted. "With names like that? It had to be fake."

"Apparently it is some kind of wordplay," Sindor said as they walked on. "Their original names, outside Shroom Dungeon, are Oddar, Fulldar, and Straighdar."

"Who names their children like that?" Tabby demanded to know. "I bet it was the mother's revenge for having to bear triplets."

Laughing, they moved on.

---

They were about two hours into their march back to the entrance when Connie stopped Tabby and motioned for her to be quiet.

"What is it?" Tabby whispered. Were they about to walk into an ambush? If so, Connie was perfectly fine letting Sindor and Debbie walk into it ahead.

"Give them a moment," Connie whispered back. Pointing to Debbie and Sindor walking hand in hand.

Tabby frowned. She couldn't make out what made this place special. Her friends were just about to walk into a junction where dozens of tunnels ran together. Nothing stood out to her from the dozens of dozens of junctions like this one before.

"It's here where they met," Connie explained. "It holds special meaning to them. Let's give them some space."

As Connie led her back to the last bent in the tunnel, Tabby looked again. She couldn't even make out any discerning features of the junction. But Debbie was leaning against Sindor and they certainly looked in a nostalgic mood. Connie was right. Tabby gave her friends the space they needed.

---

"Tabitha! Breakfast!"

The shout woke Tabby up. At once, she knew she was home. The room Tiberius had grown up in. No, not quite. It looked more feminine. More pastel colors and the wallpaper was lavender instead of the dark blue Tiberius had grown up with.

Pushing herself up, Tabby noticed her bed was huge. No, that wasn't quite right. She was small. Not a woman, but a girl. Walking over to her mirror, she guessed she was about four or five years old. That was strange. She could swear she had been older.

"Tabitha!" a woman shouted again.

On instinct, Tabby shouted "Coming!" back. Heading out, Tabby walked the familiar hallway of her family's home. Cutting through the large library they possessed as a shortcut.

"I told you to not get in there," a woman said that Tabby had never seen before. Yet she looked familiar. She reminded her of her father. No, of Tiberius' father. Right. Hadn't she been a boy once? A man even.

"Oh, cut her some slack, dear," a man said who sat at the table and was half buried in a newspaper. He looked strangely familiar too, but Tabby couldn't place him. But he seemed to know her as he gave a hidden little wink.

"Ravonsé!" The woman shouted out again.

Another shout came from behind Tabby. "Coming!" She turned around just as a boy around her age arounded the corner. He shoved her to the side as Tabby wasn't quick enough to step aside.

"Ravonsé!"

"She was blocking my way," the boy protested while taking his seat at the table.

"You are a year older than your sister," the woman insisted. "I expect you to act like it."

That boy was her brother? It struck Tabby as wrong. She had a sister. Ravea. Or, at least, Tiberius had.

"Come sit, Tabitha," the man said before burying his nose in the newspaper again.

Reluctant, Tabby followed the suggestion and climbed a chair that was taller than she remembered.

"Mushrooms? Again?" her brother asked. It only got a sigh out of their parents.

The plate in front of Tabby indeed offered mushrooms, but before she could dig in, something else drew her attention. Their dining room had large windows out to the city. It was the familiar skyline she remembered. Not quite. The houses looked strange. More as if they were built out of mushrooms. Or grown. And since when was her home city located underground. She could see a huge cavern instead of a horizon and blue sky.

"Tabitha."

Tabby frowned.

This wasn't right.

"Tabitha."

This was her home, but it was wrong.

"Tabitha!"

---

"Tabby. Tabby, wake up."

Tabby blinked and saw Connie leaning over her. Behind her was the familiar decor of a Harem's Sprawl. Sitting up from the daybed she had slept on, Tabby was relieved to be big again.

"What a weird dream," she murmured while rubbing her eyes.

"What?" Debbie asked from nearby while slipping into her high heels again. "Did you defeat something other than a Lich this time?"

"No," Tabby admitted. "It was strange. I dreamed I was young again. But not as Tiberius. As Tabby. And I was home. But also in Shroom Dungeon at the same time."

"Just your mind processing what happened in the last few days," Connie remarked. "A lot happened. I think you learned a few things about yourself, didn't you? It takes time to process all that."

"Yeah," Tabby agreed. Still, something wasn't quite right. A little thing was bouncing in the back of her head and she couldn't quite put a finger on it.

"Come on," Connie urged again. "We have to go. Time is running out."

After hours of marching, they convinced Connie of all of them to take a short nap. It appeared they had overslept a bit.

"I wanna sleep more!" Debbie mewled. "Sindor! Carry me!"

"Nope! Get your lazy butt up. I want to see it sway as you walk ahead."

Whatever romantic mood they had shared, Tabby reasoned it was over. Sindor and Debbie were back to their usual banter and teasing.

Tabby got up and grabbed her stuff. Not that there was much left. Only her whip and circlet. Didn't she have a tunic at some point? And shoes? The last few days had been a whirlwind of activity and new impressions. Tabby thought Connie was right. There was a lot to process. And quite a few memories she would cherish forever.

---

"Cutting is close, are we?" Mistress Alune asked as the group dragged themselves into the Impish Armory. "And here I thought I'd get a shiny new set of enchanted armor."

"There is still time," Connie said while walking closer and tapping on her bracelet. "See? There is still red."

"That? That's hardly anything," Alune exclaimed. Then she broke out in a smile."Alright. Alright. I am joking. No, we haven't raided your lockers yet. Your stuff is still all there. Girls! Make way."

The fake demonic girls that helped Mistress Alune out sprang into action. Landing them further into the armory and to their lockers. Now, thinking back, Tabby was amused at the memory not quite seven days old. What a prude Tiberius had been. How eager to vanquish evil here. And now? Tabby walked around practically naked and had done debauchery Tiberius hadn't even been able to imagine.

"Alright," Mistress Alune spoke up. "Now for the hardest part. Pony up the loot. I know your very instinct is to keep it, but it wouldn't do you good on the outside. Unless you need dust. Because that's what mushrooms turn to."

"My beautiful heels," Debbie lamented, but dutifully stripped them and the rest of the loot she had.

Tabby had no problem letting go of her whip. At first, it had been fascinating and new. By now she had seen way crazier applications of magic and the weapon had lost its appeal. The circlet was harder to let go of. Yes, she hadn't used it much. But it stood for something. She might have protested out loud, but part of her liked to be called princess or queen. To be shown respect.

"Most of you know what comes now, but you still have a newbie in your group, so I will explain again." Alune led them to booths clad in heavy black fabric. Not unlike the curtains that prevent sunlight from coming into Shroom Dungeon at the entrance. "Inside, there is a small box that contains a sunstone. A gem with the property to store and release the light of the sun. Please make sure the curtains are closed before you open the box. It should undo your transformation in all but a few moments. Then close the box and step out. We will then lead you to your locker."

This was it. The end of Shroom Dungeon. Debbie, Sindor, and Connie were quick to enter their booths. Tabby was more reluctant. At last, she stepped into the booth. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to open the simple wooden box. If she opened it, there would be no more Tabby. At least, for the foreseeable future. It would be back to Tiberius and exploring normal dungeons. Once, that thought had been intriguing. To explore new things. least to him given that these dungeons are often centuries old. Now, it all paled to the wonders she experienced as Tabby in Shroom Dungeon. She had no doubt that she hadn't even seen half the wonders it offered.

But maybe even more surprising was how much she had discovered about herself. Conway had warned her it would happen. No, there hadn't been some big epiphanies. More like small little details here and there. Quirks she didn't know she or Tiberius had. For that matter, how much she liked being Tabby.

Tears started to dwell in her eyes. This wasn't fair. She wasn't ready yet. There was still so much to explore. Within herself and outside in Shroom Dungeon. She just couldn't. The thought to return to being Tiberius now filled her with dread. The wooden box loomed before her and she took a step back. Then another and another. Until she pushed through and the fabric took the box from her sight.

"Tabby, what is wrong?" Strong hands gripped her shoulders and gently turned her around. It was Conway. All male again. Connie was just a memory now until they came back to Shroom Dungeon. "Talk to me."

Behind Conway, Tabby could see Debtar and Sinea back to their original gender. They looked concerned too. Would they understand? She had to try.

"I can't leave. Not yet." Tabby hunted for words. Her throat threatened to close up and fresh tears started to roll. "It's not enough. I just got here and- I am learning things that I thought wouldn't be possible. About myself. The world. Magic. How can I walk away now?"

Conway smiled. It was a reassuring smile Tiberius had often seen. In a way, Conway had been more a mentor to Tiberius than Debtar or Sinea combined. Or any professors at her former university. The same smile usually marked the beginning of a lecture.

"We understand. Believe me, we do." Conway pointed behind himself at Sinea. "She spent years here as Sindor. Sometimes, you've got to follow your heart. If you aren't ready yet, then stay. You can explore Shroom Dungeon on your own or you can volunteer."

Sinea stepped closer and gave Tabby a firm hug. "Stay. It is the right thing to do. And we'll be back. By then maybe you are ready. Maybe not. Just know we'll always have a spot for you in our group."

"I don't know," came from Debtar. The three turned to the rogue who looked deeply concerned. "This isn't the Tiberius we know that we leave behind. We are talking about Tabby here. I'm just saying, has anyone thought about if Shroom Dungeon is ready for her?"

A stifled laugh burst out of Tabby. Followed by more she couldn't suppress. Her friends fell in. And it was good to laugh. To clear the heavy atmosphere. But Debtar wasn't finished.

"In all seriousness," the rogue continued as they had calmed down. "Knowing you, things will change around here. I have a nose for that. Ideas are floating behind your eyes and I, for one, can't wait for what you have in store for us. I doubt, the next time we visit Shroom Dungeon, it will be the one we know. So, give them hell girl, you hear me."

"Deal." Tabby shook her friend's hand. Now she couldn't simply back out. There was work to be done.

The next few minutes went by fast and with more lividity. There was joking all around as her friends collected their gear and got dressed. Of course, Sinea had to point out that Tabby couldn't help checking out her friends. Conway's body was pure muscle all over and Debtar had a nice athletic and nimble body. And she had a slight crush on Sinea even before Shroom Dungeon. Tiberius might have been mortified ogling his friends. But Tabby didn't care anymore.

Their goodbyes were heartfelt and probably way too long. Still, Tabby would see them again. She was sure of it. And knowing this made it less painful.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Alune asked.

Tabby looked a little lost at the mistress of the Impish Armory. She hadn't thought that far ahead. Or at all. She only knew she wasn't ready to leave Shroom Dungeon yet. Exploring Shroom Dungeon was an option, but without her friends, it wouldn't be the same. Maybe she should volunteer somewhere. She had the invitation to stay at The Barnyard. Maybe even to claim it as her own. Now that her friends were far away and couldn't mock her, she had to admit to herself she liked it when they called her queen or princess. Someone of authority. It made her feel special.

Thinking of her friends made her recall Debtar's words. Could she add to Shroom Dungeon? The possibility sounded intriguing. And someone had to, right? All these districts had to be the brainchild of someone? Probably more than one person. Didn't her friends say Shroom Dungeon is over a century old?

"I'd like to know how it all works," Tabby said as she made her mind up. "All the work in the background. The magic. I want to understand it. And maybe I can help to grow Shroom Dungeon."

"Ah." Alune nodded seriously. "A mage, right? We certainly can use you. It is always a struggle to get academics to stay. Well, in this case, you need to go to Shroom City." She looked around and then waved one of the Impish women over. "Desmodia. Come here."

Sin pressed in corporeal form walked over. Or so would have Tiberius thought. Tabby certainly appreciated the Succubus facsimile, but her worldview had been screwed with. After a few things she had done, she wondered if any real Succubus still could tempt her. Not that she really wanted to find out.

"Desmodia", she introduced herself before giving Tabby a deep curtsy. Tabby nearly laughed. It looked so tame compared to a few things she had witnessed or even done herself.

"This is Tabby. She'll be joining us not just as a volunteer, but as a researcher," Alune explained. "Could you please take her to Shroom City and get her situated. Maybe even find her a mentor."

"Of course," the Succubus purred.

Again, Tabby had to stifle a grin. For a wannabe demoness, Desmodia acted way too polite. Not that Tabby really minded.

Desmodia offered her hand and led her to the backrooms. "You can stay naked if you want, but if you see something you like, you can adorn yourself with it. These baskets are filled with the loot and spoils that adventurers leave behind when they exit Shroom Dungeon. Here, we clean them and bring them back into circulation."

"Not a bad idea," Tabby agreed. Stepping closer, she was a little disappointed. The basket containing things for the Flower Basket district was empty. Probably already whisked away. So much for her beloved circlet. She wouldn't have minded having the whip back too.

Tabby walked along the other baskets until she spotted something out of the Red Flame district basket. A pair of high heels. Unlike the ones that Debbie had, these had a closed leather shaft that probably reached up to Tabby's thighs.

"You can walk in these?" Desmodia asked. Skepsis colored her voice. "I admit every time I try one of these, I'll fall flat in seconds."

"Oh, I doubt I will fair better," Tabby admitted. "But ever since- Our rogue, Debbie, found a pair in the Flower Basket district and the way she walked. The further we headed in, the more I wanted to try them too. I was half-minded to ask her to borrow them, but- Yeah. Me falling on my face would be just another reason for needling and jokes. I would rather try them now. And maybe you can help me a bit?"

Desmodia shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"

Sitting down on a chair, Tabby slipped them on her feet. Whoever wore them before had been smaller, but the enchantments placed on the pair adjusted them just fine. Lacing them up took a while, but with each eyelet Tabby pulled the string through, the leather continued to hug her skin even more. At last, she finished and slowly managed to stand up while grabbing Desmodia's arm.

"Not as bad as I feared," Tabby said after balancing on the spot for a few moments. Then she tried to take a step. Thankfully, Desmodia was right there. Else, Tabby might have made intimate acquaintance with the floor. It took a few tries until Tabby was able to walk alone. Even if it was only with mincing steps.

"I think you need a little bit more than the heels," Desmodia suggested once Tabby managed a slow circuit around the room on her own. "How about-" She rummaged in the basket again and pulled out a leather body. It was ripe with cutouts that were overlaid with a lattice of leather strings.

"Might as well," Tabby agreed. Reaching for it was nearly her undoing again. How did Debbie make walking in these look so effortless? Once she was clad in even more leather, Tabby looked around what else might be good to take. Her eyes fell on a pot full of Shroomcubus mushrooms. "Uhh, can I try these?"

Desmodia gave a laugh. "Sure. They are here for the volunteers after all. And we have plenty."

Tabby dug in at once. Without all the modifications, the golem form was rather boring. She was glad to have the opportunity to switch to something else. Being a Succubus? Why not? Tabby remembered all too well how Debbie had teased her as one. She especially looked forward to the prehensile tail. She had been on the receiving end of one and now, she could experience the other side.

When Tabby had her fill, she wasn't nearly as far along as Demodia was. Her new guide had crimson skin, large horns, and a very long tail. Even wings. There were no wings for Tabby and her skin had faded from a deep bronze tone to her usually pale skin with a tinge of pink in it. She had small nubs of horns and her tail barely reached the ground. Still, it was enough.

"I think I am ready," Tabby concluded.

"If you say so," Desmodia remarked with mirth in her voice. "Then follow me. Shroom City awaits."

Tabby had problems keeping up. Her mincing steps were ways slower than Desmodia's casual gait. At least, she didn't fall. Her new tail actually helped to keep her balance. She caught up to Desmodia at a small intersection.

"Alright. Here we have the stairs to Shroom City. It takes forever and no one uses these. Usually. And I am not taking you along that path while you are slower than a snail. Thankfully, there is an alternative. A fun one."

Her guide walked into a small room that was mostly featureless, save for a large horizontal pipe with a cutout so big, they could easily step into it. Desmodia walked to the side where two levers were recessed into the wall. One was marked "one seat" and the other "two seats". Desmodia pulled the latter. A large thud could be heard and then a wooden sled slowly came into view. Set inside the pipe. It had two seats.

"You can take the front seat, Tabby," Desmodia offered. "My guest of honor."

"Sure," Tabby said despite thinking this might be some kind of trap. Sitting down revealed that the sled was nearly flat-bottomed and appeared to mimic the curvature of the pipe. Below, Tabby saw a small stream of water rush by. "Is this some kind of boat?"

"Yeah. Let's go with that." Desmodia gave her a wild cheeky grin as she took a seat behind Tabby. "Hold on tight!" She released the brakes and the sled slowly took up speed.

For the first few seconds, it only had the speed of a fast-paced walk and Tabby wondered why Desmodia was so excited. Then she spotted the drop off of the pipe ahead. Maybe she should brace after all. Frantically looking, she found two handlebars each to the side of her. She grabbed them just in time.

The pipe had been at a declining angle in the single digits when Tabby had entered. Now, it went to ten, then twenty, and then dropped to about forty. More water rushed by underneath them, but the sled was rapidly accelerating to match speeds. Wherever Shroom City was, at their new pace Tabby reasoned they would be there in no time.

And then came the first curve-

The sled banked hard as their speed pushed them up the side of the pipe. Tabby's stomach had barely settled down when the next curve came up. Desmodia behind her was screaming loudly and in excitement. After a few more curves, she tapped Tabby on the shoulder. "Brace yourself, now comes the best part."

As it turned out, it was the start of the worst part. More curves came in rapid sequence, followed by one that surely must have corkscrewed them down for a few spins. Her stomach did a flip as they rushed through a part that might have been a looping.

Tabby got a short break as the pipe turned straight. The top half turned transparent as a huge cavern filled with lights stretched open to Tabby's sights. Just as she tried to make out details, their sled plunged into the next chapter of their ordeal.

More twists and turns assaulted Tabby. Flinging her left and right. Her hands turned white grabbing the handrails of the sled with all her might. At last, the angle evened out and the sled bled off speed.

"Wasn't that the best? I love our waterslide." Tabby didn't answer Desmodia's question. She was busy dragging herself on all four to a nearby trash can. Hurling out her last meal as soon as she reached it. Only now Desmodia caught up. "Uh, right. You just ate. I should've thought about that. We volunteers kind of get used to the slide and-"

"Are you sure-" Tabby broke off to take a few more gulps of air. Her heart was still racing. Only when it slowed down, she tried again. "You sure you aren't a real fiend? Maybe snuck in here and prey on easy targets."

"Oh, shush you," Desmodia waved her off. "Your compliments make me blush all red."

Desmodia was already red, but Tabby didn't point it out. Instead, she motioned for Desmodia to come over. "I think I need help standing up. Now, more so than before."

Snickering, Desmodia did just that. With Tabby leaning heavily on her, they made their way out of the waterslide station. The minute they did, the largest cavern yet opened up before Tabby. Buildings hundreds of meters high hugged the even higher cavern walls. A large bazaar spread out before them and beyond, she could see gardens and large plots of farmland. In all, she recognized thousands of mushrooms in motifs or incorporated into the architecture.

"By Coleburn and Mezzestos," Tabby gasped. "I've never seen anything like this." Yet her dream came back unbidden. A skyline made up of buildings shaped like mushrooms. It had been the last view inside her dream.

Desmodia looked at Tabby quizzically. "Are you sure you haven't volunteered before? That saying-"

"Oh, my parents used to say it all the time when I was young," Tabby explained. "I sort of picked it up. Why?"

"I think I have to show you something." Desmodia helped Tabby to reach a large plaza with a fountain that surrounded two large stone sculptures. One handsome man on the left and an alluring Succubus to the right. Desmodia pointed at the man first. "Tabby, meet Jennos Coleburn and that's his partner, Alestia Mezzestos."

Tabby walked a few steps closer. Embossed below the statues were the names Desmodia had just mentioned.

"I don't understand." Tabby frowned. "Why would my parents mention them?"

"They are famous around these parts!" Desmodia gushed. "I mean, Coleburn was the mind behind Shroom Dungeon. Yes, caverns and the mushroom existed before, but it was he who had the idea for districts, volunteers, and altering the transformation properties of the mushroom to various effects. And Mezzestos - such a beauty - was the genius who made it all possible. She pioneered the breeding and magical alterations of mushrooms and it was she that laid the foundation for all the transformation and effects you see today. No wonder your parents knew them. Every volunteer does."

"My parents? Volunteers? Here, in Shroom Dungeon?" Tabby shuddered. "Oh, no. They're boring professors at a university. Yes, they do some research, but nothing like this. No, you must be mistaken."

"If you say so. Speaking of research. Listen, you need a mentor. Someone who teaches you all this stuff. Where do you want to contribute? It could give us a hint about who would be best for you."

Tabby scrunched her face. "I don't exactly know where. You see, I ran into this gelatinous girl transformation and-"

Desmodia groaned. It was followed by a wince. "I know exactly who you need to talk to. They are a bit- Eccentric."

"I think I can handle that," Tabby boasted.

"Your funeral. Follow me. Any other questions I can answer?"

"Not so fast," Tabby complained as Desmoria started a fast pace through the Bazaar they arrived at. Momentarily, Tabby was distracted. Dozens of vendors offered mushrooms in all shapes and colors. Yet she saw no prices to them. Even the equipment was put out and had no tag. "With what do you pay around here? Normal coins?" Not that she had any. The small sum of money she had was left behind in the locker Tiberius had filled and never emptied.

"Oh, no. This isn't really a market. More like a warehouse," Desmodia corrected her. "Volunteers can come by to stock up for their districts. Or if you are a free agent, fill up a bag and scatter them in the many chests that pepper the hallways of Shroom Dungeon. It is also a good stop if you want to play a roaming monster and slip into a specific form. Having it all out like this makes it more fun."

"I see. Hmm, where do volunteers sleep?"

"Ah! Good question." Desmodia practically beamed. "There are lots and apartments. Plots and farms. You register at the city hall and you get the closest one to your desired spot that is free. Most of the inner city is taken up by long-term volunteers. I am speaking of people who stayed here for years. But sometimes, you get lucky. No need to pay rent or so. Shroom City is very communal and there are volunteers who just do maintenance instead of going up to the districts."

It sounded to Tabby as if all her basic needs were covered. As if all the volunteers pulled on the same rope to make Shroom Dungeon a possibility. In a way, it was inspiring to her.

They had nearly reached one of the buildings that hugged a cavern wall when Tabby had her next question ready. "What's the oldest district? Or the first."

"Oh, that's easy," Desmodia said as she pushed the call button of an elevator. Impressing Tabby in turn. Elevators were rare, as they used a lot of magic, and weren't cheap to maintain. "The first district was the Impish Parlor. You see, Mezzestos wanted to be a Succubus. And Coleburn - her lover - built her a playground."

"Was?" Tabby dug deeper.

"Well, Shroom Dungeon grew steadily. The Impish Parlor became sort of the landing point for it." The elevator arrived and both entered. Only then, Desmodia continued. "As the function changed, it was renamed to the Impish Armory. If you disqualify it because of the remodeling, then I think the red flame district. That's where Mezzestos and her fellow imps moved next. But it is hard to tell. There was a big land grab at that time and Shroom Dungeon grew fast. It then slowed down for a few decades as the districts really came to be into themselves, you know?"

"I guess," Tabby offered.

"We are here," Desmodia said as they exited the elevator. A window clued Tabby in that they were high up. While Tabby contemplated that she might be in the highest building she had ever been in, Desmodia knocked on a door close by.

They heard steps and a moment later an old man opened the door. It was the most buff elderly Tabby had ever seen. The muscles were bulging and it was easy to do, as the man wore no shirt or tunic.

"What?" he demanded.

Before Tabby could say anything, Desmodia pushed her a step forward. Nearly making her stumble. "New trainee for you. Have fun. Bye." And she was gone. Desmodia didn't even bother with the elevator. Rushing down the stairs two steps at a time.

"So, a new trainee, eh?" The man leaned back and muscles under his skin moved like lumbering giants under the foliage of a forest. "Come in. At least I can hear you out."

She was led to a lounge that had a fantastic view of Shroom City through a floor-to-ceiling panoramic window. There, she was offered a seat.

"Now, tell me, what brings you here?"

Tabby swallowed. For an old man, he looked imposing. "Well, my name is Tabby and I was referred to you because- I saw this form multiple times in my journey that intrigued me. A gelatinous cube, but in the form of-"

"Of course!" The man jumped up. "My slime girl. Over a decade in the works. Now, finally perfected and the Jellyshroom is ready to be farmed in quantity. Such an achievement. I'd say even Mezzestos would congratulate me, Berasius the magnificent, if she were still around. And now, you came to learn from the best. Is that correct?"

"Well-" Tabby wet her lips. There was no easy way to say it. "I actually wanted to use it as a base for a modifi-"

"What? You dare say my slime girls aren't perfect yet?" For a moment, Tabby feared Berasius would get violent. Instead, he paced the room. "Years of research. Do you know how hard it was? Make all the icky human organs disappear? To create transparent skin. The ability to morph. To adjust the shape. Blasphemy, I say. There is nothing to add. They are perfect. Perfect I say. What possibility was there that needs modifying?"

"No. No. It is fine," Tabby was quick to add. "Lovely, really. Would love to try out being a slime girl myself, really. Just hadn't the opportunity. But, you see, I met this other form, whose traits equally intrigued me. They are called Saucy and-"

"The Saucy?" Berasius waved her off. "That old form. Granted, I looked into it for my slime girls to produce more slime. Just like the Saucy's use mana to replenish themselves. No, the only halfway decent trait is-" He stopped. His eyes narrowed. "Their internal spatial transition that- Genius!" All anger had vanished from his face or his body. Instead, he walked calmly over to Tabby and offered his hand. "Tabby is it? I think we will work out just fine."

Tabby had her doubts but shook the offered hand anyways. It looked like she had found her new home for now. All she had to do was to finish her work before her friends came back to Shroom Dungeon. Hopefully, she wouldn't need a decade or more to do it. And she looked forward to the challenge.

The end.
(For Tabby's arc)

---

Epilogue

---

Chalmis took his time buttering his bread. As usual. Brunch in their household could take a while. His wife Helna hadn't even started yet. Her bigger appetite was for knowledge and her nose was buried deep in this weekend's newspaper. With a small sigh, he placed his buttered bread on her plate and grabbed a new one for himself.

The clicking of small kitten heels alerted Chalmis that they weren't alone anymore. One of the maids was hurrying over. Chalmis raised an eyebrow as he noticed the maids shorter skirt. Once, their maid's skirts had reached down to the floor. But since their children had moved out, the maids skirts constantly grew shorter. Now, it barely covered their knees.

The maid stopped in front of his wife and bowed deeply. "A letter arrived for you, Mistress."

Helna looked annoyed as she folded up her newspaper. She regarded the maid for a moment before taking the envelope. As the maid curtsied and walked away, Chalmis spotted his wife staring after the maid and her shapely legs.

Chalmis took the strawberry jam and started to spread it on his bread. "You are fucking her," he said casually, without looking up.

"Of course, I do." Noticing the buttered bread on her own plate, Helna was quick to act. Switching it with Chalmis completed one without a hint of shame. "If you would hold fewer lectures and be around more, I wouldn't need to step in as much. Or are you jealous? Does Crystal want to come out to play?"

Chalmis knew better than to be baited by his wife. "What does the letter say?" he asked while grabbing the jam again.

"It says, husband in urgent need to be fucked by wife's strap-on." As Chalmis didn't even flinch, Helna sighed and opened the letter. It must have been a short letter as Helna leaned back shortly after and regarded the letter quite contemplatively. "Say, honey, why did we leave Shroom Dungeon again?"

Chalmis nearly dropped his knife. "Because we both agreed it would be no place to raise our children."

"Well, both our children have left the nest," Helna pointed out. Then took a big bite. It didn't stop her from talking more. "Nothing stopping us from visiting. Come on. We both know you want to be Crystal again. To be ravaged and pimped out by your husband, Heltor. We might even find a few new things to explore."

Despite his heart beating faster, Chalmis schooled his face. When he knew he could trust his voice again, Chalmis when for a distant mood to inquire more. "It may have crossed my mind. But love, we have responsibilities here. Students to teach. Maybe over summer break. Which one of our old friends reached out?"

Helna gave him an insufferable sly grin. He knew he was in trouble. "None of them." She raised the envelope. "Our daughter managed to reach Shroom Dungeon."

"Ravea?" Chalmis dropped any hint of cool detachment. "That's horrible. She got a stick up her ass a yard long. What chaos has she caused?"

"Honey. Stop." Helna offered up the letter. "Our other daughter."

Momentarily confused, Chalmis took the letter. It was indeed short. For anyone without knowledge of Shroom Dungeon, it might even sound cryptic.

Dear parents.

I'll be staying in Shroom Dungeon for a while.

In love, your daughter Tabby.

Chalmis leaned back with a lazy grin. "Looks like Tabitha found her way home. You are right. It is time to return to Shroom Dungeon. A little family reunion is long overdue."

"Right." Helna beamed at the prospect. Then sobered up quickly. "Without Revea, right?"

"That goes without saying," Chamis agreed. "How did we manage to raise such a self-righteous prude? If she ever finds Shroom Dungeon, it might just be the end of it."

"No, Revea," Helna agreed and slightly slapped the table to underline the point. Then the naughtiness returned. "What about taking the maids?"

"The maids?" Chalmis grew even more serious. "You didn't tell them about Shroom Dungeon, did you?"

"Of course, not," Helna insisted. Clearly feeling offended by the notion. "But while you were out lecturing young minds about magical harmonics in low entropic magic fields, I taught our maids how to wield a strap-on. And I believe it is an excellent transferable skill."

For a moment, Chalmis eyes clouded with a daydream. Heltor and three young studs? Of course, Crystal could not say no to that. "And I believe we both have to leave the semester early. Family emergency."

"Now we are talking," Helna agreed. "I'll let the maids know. It will be good to be back."

Chalmis nodded. "That it will."