With his friends placed into the sleep of the ages, by Fintan Mac Gabhann, a minion of the mischievous Goban Saor, Gwri is forced to serve them in their plot to strike back at Brarn the Reaver. Set before him was six tasks to gather six items. This is the tale of the fourth of those tasks.

Edited, as always, by the fantastic Gabmeister

Somebody once said that this couldn’t happen by accident, but then I suppose that all depends upon the circumstances of the accident doesn’t it?

I’ve looked up the definition of the word ‘accident’, and according to the information I’ve found, it goes as follows:

I can’t honestly say what follows was entirely accidental because it had been planned–I just didn’t know that at the time. However, it was what followed the part that had been planned, which is really what I define as accidental.

Whatever, it’s the nearest thing I can think of that can possibly explain how I came to be in the predicament I was in, suffering the mishap if you will and looking back, the memories of that holiday leave me with a certain warm fuzziness, but that’s not how it felt at the time…

...He'd spent a lot of time thinking about the sorts of things that he'd seen the other students do during their team exercise and had more than once wondered what it would be like to join them. He'd had his doubts about whether or not his powers were even in the same league as theirs, but today's events had proved that he really could do it.

...He found it really odd but also quite exciting that the guys knew he wasn't really a girl, but still reacted towards him as if he was. It was a different kind of attention that he was completely unaccustomed and unprepared for, but it also felt really nice too.

Badger's Set by Tanya Allan

 
Lee and Leanne were twins, but as a young baby, Leanne dies, leaving her twin with the firm belief that part of her remained with him for always.

As Lee grew in an unhappy home, struggling with a gender identity problem, events occurred that enabled Leanne to come alive again, in more ways than one.

Leanne got a job in a classy cocktail bar, called Badger's, that turned away hundreds for every one that was accepted.

She was a unique girl...

"Life is never simple, child," said Ororo. "The other students here at the Institute know that better than most. You will find all of them to be very understanding and accepting of you -- no matter which gender you appear to be."

Chapter 11: Bobbie’s golf skills garner national attention, some of it not what she really wanted when a picture of her and Cindy dressed in revealing bikinis surfaces. Bobbie is invited to compete in a women’s professional tournament as an amateur, and after a slow start, does very well. Cindy and Donna go to a summer camp for athletes so they may refine their skills. Cindy is just glad to be with Donna, as Donna is glad to be with her. Cindy realizes there is something bothering Donna; however, she respects Donna’s privacy and doesn’t ask what it is. Then Donna disappears, never to be seen again. Needless to say, Cindy is nearly destroyed with grief as she finds out Donna no longer exists in their universe. The whole thing reeks of magic gone wrong, and The Wizard admits her existence has been terminated. He doesn’t seem to be too concerned. And, what’s this about ducks?

An Apprentice Needs Help

by Wannabe Ginger

Chapter 8

We walked away from the nail salon on the morning of the Hairstyling competition, Ginger and I, like two window shoppers with no cares in their minds. Indeed, there was no care in my mind at all. I had just finished an hour or more at the hands (quite literally) of an attractive young woman.

...Xavier stayed up for awhile longer to think about Chris McGee.

Chapter 10: Cindy and Donna’s love for each other is stronger and stronger, and out in the open. There are some disappointed boys. Bobbie’s golf skills are remarkable and she wins her Country Club’s match play and stroke play championships — against the men! Myrna confronts Cindy about what happened to her sister and Dave Growell. Cindy realizes that Myrna needs to know about her and Bobbie’s powers. They give Myrna a special gift purchased at the SRU Shop.

...He knew that he was supposed to be changing around this time in his life and he had expected a voice change... but he was pretty sure that his voice was supposed to go deeper in pitch, not softer and slightly higher! None of his changes so far were anything like what he'd been taught in Health class to expect. He gave a slight shake of his head and watched as his hair bounced with a bit more body than he thought there should be.

Chapter 8: Friendships continue to be solidified. Cindy, Randi, Bobbie, Andy, and Derrick (Andy’s brother) go to the mall to see Santa. They find out why The Wizard had kept reminding them to go. This chapter has a bit of a different look at a story presented as a stand alone story (“Cynthia and the Christmas Gift”).

Chapter 9: Winter turns out to be rather nasty, but the friends make the best of it. Maddy has a plan, and brings in the neighborhood cats, both domestic and feral, to help her with its execution. Cindy has known for a while that she feels very strongly about Donna, but it takes the catalyst of a major early spring snowstorm to encourage Cindy to take the final steps. Strangely, Cindy’s mother knew all along.

"You okay John?" he asked worriedly as he sat next to me on the couch.

I nodded weakly, "Yeah, I guess so. I just didn't really think I'd get away, you know? I keep expecting her to show up and drag me back there..." I shuddered at the thought and winced from the pain that caused in my chest.

"Who drag you back where?" he asked, confused. I mean she, argh! I still couldn't believe this pretty girl sitting next to me was my best friend Mark. And to think when I was pounding on his door I was worrying about how he'd react to me!

The Rats of Hell by Tanya Allan

 
In a Galaxy, far, far away, there was a peaceful planet called Devia. On this planet lived a young man called Carl and his family.

This planet was invaded and overwhelmed in a surprisingly quick time by an army of sinister humanoid warriors. Leaving a devastated landscape and the civilisation in ruins, our young man is herded by the soldiers, with thousands of others, into an enormous transport ship. Men and women were segregated for an unknown, but ominous purpose.

With all other members of the family missing, believed killed, Carl and his mother have little time left together. On the urgings of his mother, he assumes the appearance of a girl in a vain attempt to remain with her.

The invaders seem to believe it...