Casanova Remix
*****

Jean was bored. Not that this was something new. It was another private lecture. Her family was prestigious and merchants for a few generations. As the oldest child, it was her duty one day to carry on the family tradition and their trade.

Hence the endless string of private teachers and tutors throughout her childhood. At first, she thought this lecture might be different but it was a rehash of something everyone knew.

The first time an "Heirloom Gems" - as they are commonly known - were created it was by a mage under duress. Later more were created because of their usefulness.
The gems could bond to a person. They then would gain knowledge and skill alongside their wearers. Once handed over to a new wearer they would gradually share their stored knowledge with the new bonded one.

Handed down from generation to generation these could acquire knowledge and power rivaling those of the biggest libraries and pass it on in just a few years or even month. Wielders of gems could become powerful fast. Maybe humankind was lucky that heirloom gems were still quite rare.

“Are you listening to me, young lady?” Huffed the old sorcerer the family hired for her today's lecture.

“Yes, Mister. Of course. I was only thinking of the implications. Please move on.”

The teacher looked as if he might not believe her completely. “Okay. Well. Where was I? Okay, now listen to me, young lady. There are some properties not everyone is aware. Did you know that Heirloom Gems can not only store knowledge but also behavior? No? Thought so."

The old man gave Jean a short smug grin before continuing. "Well, they mainly store knowledge and skill but the older a gem gets the stronger it is. Learning and sharing faster. For about two hundred years we noticed that old gems could store and share behaviors. Just now some academics claim that they see some of the oldest gems learn to store and alter body features. If true that could alter how we use these gems forever.”

The old guy droned on and on. Jean was in thoughts, though. About the implications of what she learned but also why would her parents hire someone to tell her about heirloom gems. As far as she knew her family didn’t own one. Her mind was racing. She couldn’t wait for the lecture to end.

*****

Jean waited patiently while the butler pulled back the chair for her. It was afternoon and she had joined her parents for tea. Taking a seat she endured all the procedures and normal fussing. When they finally were alone she couldn’t hold back anymore. “So what Heirloom Gem did we get?”

Her mother gave a smug look to her father. “Told you she would figure it out.”

Her father held back a chuckle and looked at Jean. “We don’t know princess. It is one of the lost gems. Sadly they don’t come with a manual. Could have belonged to an adventurer or to a sorcerer. But here is where you come in. As you learned today gems bind best to young people. We think we could build up the gem to support our family in the future generations. But it has to start somewhere. This it’s up to you. You learned today of the risks and we don’t know even know what gem we have. So think carefully.”

Jean nodded and the afternoon tea continued. Again Jean was deep in thought. The Gem could be a great advantage for her family. Not only could they transfer knowledge much faster from one generation to the next. Saving Jean's offspring the tedious hours of studies Jean herself loathed. It might also contain knowledge of past eras. But there lied also the danger. Unwanted knowledge and maybe even dangerous behavior. Jean decided that she shouldn't choose her path lightly.

*****

A few days later Jean joined her parents in the main office. Her father opened a small wooden box. In there a small teal gem gleamed. Without much preamble, Jean took it, unbuttoned her shirt and pressed the gem onto her chest. Slowly it sank half into her skin. Now it was time to wait and see what knowledge the gem would offer her. Hoping she hadn't made a mistake.

*****

Chloe was, as always, talking about boys. Jean listened only halfway. She tapped on the gem through her blouse like so often in the past days. A strange habit she developed. Every time she wondered if the gem would even work she slightly pushed it as if she wanna say come on hurry up and do something.

“How do you like guys who wear their hair in a ponytail Jean? I find them hot. Ya know like shoulder length and bound with a little string or bow. Like the Coldwater lad wears.”

That brought Jean back. Something picked her interest. She gathered her hair and tied it back into a ponytail. “Like this?” She asked.

“Ah, Jean stop teasing. And your hair's too long anyways” Jean was a bit miffed but kept the ponytail anyway.

*****

Later in the evening, Jean was before her mirror. She was fussing around with her clothing and her hair. Something isn’t right, but what?

Again she gathered her hair in a ponytail like Chloe had described. Idly she wondered how much Chloe really liked it on her. Shorter hair she had said. Jean didn’t really notice that she picked up a pair of scissor till she was holding its blades against her hair.

"I shouldn’t," she thought. Women wear their hair long and open in today's age. Going short would make her certainly stand out. And she wouldn’t like that right? The short sound of her scissors slicing through her hair brought her back.

"Oh my gosh, I really did it! What will my parents say? But I must admit it kinda looks better," she thought to herself.

She decided to just tell her parents something happened to her hair overnight and she had to cut it out. Again she started to fuss over her clothing.

She didn’t have big breasts, maybe B-cup, but suddenly she was worried that they might still grow. After all, she was only 16. She fussed around some more till she had an idea. She removed her blouse and pulled some white scarfs out of her dresser. Binding them tightly over her breasts flattened them good.

It was a bit tight but she could endure. She wondered if wearing the scarfs would hinder her breast growth. She again returned to the mirror and looked at herself.

"Better. Hmm, I wonder if Chloe would like me more now. Wait where did that thought come from?"

Shaking her head she got herself ready for bed. When she did fall asleep her hair was still bound, as were the scarves around her chest.

*****

It was a few days later that Jean was seeing Chloe again. Jean was really excited. In the past few days, she was busy, but also a bit naughty. Her wardrobe expanded by a few pieces stolen from her brother. She was caught by their young maid. Jean still couldn’t believe that a quick kiss on her lips and a “You won’t tell don’t cha?” worked.

So far the maid kept quiet. Though now and then Jean spotted the maid stealing glances at her and quickly the blushes that followed. Somehow Jean got excited by that.

Bringing her thoughts back to today she looked in her mirror. She wore her brothers pants and his shirt. Her tightly bound breasts were only barely to make out. Her hair was roughed out a bit and bound back. It surprised her still a bit but she had to admit she was resembling a handsome young man. "Maybe a bit on the androgynous side, but that makes me a bit more attractive too," she thought.

She exited her room and walked over to the nearby maid. Slowly she encased the maid's waist from behind and pulled her close. From behind she whispered into her ear. “When my family comes back tomorrow they won’t hear a thing from today right?”

The maid blushed deep red and gave a slight nod. Jean loved it. She didn’t know how, but she just knew how to press the buttons on the women around her. She rather liked the feeling.

“Be a dear and bring miss Chloe into the garden when she arrives.” Jean didn’t wait for the reply. Somehow she knew the maid would nod and blush more. If that was even possible. She walked onward to the garden and to prepare herself. It wasn’t long before the maid did lead Chloe out.

Chloe looked confused before recognition set in. “Jean? Wow, I barely ..” She stood speechless before Jean.

“Do you like it? Can I pass as one of your lads you lust after?”

Cloe still couldn’t talk, but gave a small nod. Her eyes widened and she blushed when she noticed that she had just admitted in a way to be attracted to Jean. She was about to clarify, but Jean quickly hushed her. Moving closer, she gently moved Chloe’s chin up just as she wanted to look away embarrassed.

"Now or never," Jean thought and moved in. Her lips meet Chloe’s. First tenderly but soon with passion. Chloe melted in her arms. She looked up at Jean with frightened eyes, but also a hungry need in it. Jean complied. With expert hands, she undressed her. She didn’t know how she was doing it so expertly but caught in the moment she didn’t care.

Her hands roamed Chloe’s body. Undressing her and caressing the smooth skin she exposed. Soon her hands found Cloe’s inner sanctum. She hadn’t much experience pleasuring herself, but with Chloe, she just knew what to do. Stifling her moans by pressing her lips onto Cloe just as she was climaxing.

Both caught their breath. Though every time Chloe started to talk Jean would cut her off with deep passionate kisses which lead to another round of steamy lovemaking. After the fourth time, they started to dress.

At last, Jean pulled her close and whispered. “Our little secret right?”

Chloe gave a shy nod and headed out. The blush never left her face. Jean grinned. She just had her way with her best friend of 2 years and it felt so good. Despite being the instigator she didn’t cum. Somehow the ‘conquest’ in itself fulfilled her more.

Whistling she headed towards her room but didn’t come very far. She spotted the maid hidden behind one of the big decorative pots. Jean smelt something that reminded her of the thrust with Chloe just now: arousal.

She moved close and neither of them said anything. She beckoned the maid even closer with a wink of her finger. Then she gave the maid a kiss while her hand snaked down quickly under the maid's skirt. Sure enough, the maid was soaking wet.

“Did you watch us?”

The maid gave a shy nod.

“Did you cum yet?”

The maid gave a slight shake of her head. Jean looked deep into the maid's eyes. “I can’t believe I failed for so long to ask but dear what’s your lovely name?”

The maid needed a moment to gather herself, till there came a hesitant “A-anna Miss.”

Jean grinned. Slowly her hand moved upward from the maid's lap. Tracing her silhouette up her stomach, then chest, handling her arm till she was holding Anna's hand.

“Well, Anna I think we should get to know each other a little better right?” Gently she did lead the maid to her chambers. "After all, you can never have enough conquests right?" Jean thought to herself.

*****

Down at the docks, a young man was getting drunk. He had lost it. The one and only heirloom gem named “Casanova”. Passed down from one player and womanizer to the next.

Not only was the Gem full of knowledge about how to seduce women. The person who handed him the Gem thought that the Gem had somehow developed a magical aura. Influencing women around it.

He had hesitated just long enough to fuse with the Gem to lose it.

Smooth Like Stone - Part 1

*****

Nia was scared. She was deep in the lair of the Medusa. The Medusa was old and quite cunning. She had already gotten the rest of Nias group.

"How could the Medusa even hunt?" she asked herself. The medusa had been hunted before. But the adventurer group back then had spared her seeing that the creature had blinded herself on purpose and never attacked anyone before.

That changed a few weeks back. No one knew how the Medusa could regain her eyesight and the ability to petrify her victims. Nia continued to explore the cave system she was in. Now in near darkness, it was like a labyrinth.

Just as she reached the mouth of a big cavern a noise startled her. Instinctively she looked only to freeze. Quite literally. She couldn’t move anymore. Was it the chill of the stone creeping up her limbs or the dreaded Medusa just inches away from her.

“What a fine prey I caught. I am looking forward to playing with you.” Nia saw the medusa moving away. With her, the rest of the lights faded. Unmoving she could only think about one thing.
"She was still blinded! How could she turn me to stone?"

*****

Nia had lost track of time. Frozen in stone and surrounded by darkness there wasn’t much she could do but to think. She did go through every spell she knew more than once. Well, actually more than a dozen times. None would help.

And if she was honest she wasn’t the best sorceress in regards to casting spells without incantation or gestures. Both taken away by her being stone.

But she had still hope. On her chest half buried in her stony flesh was a different type of stone: an Heirloom Gem. Passed time and time again, from Sorceress who mastered their trade to their apprentices. It was lastly bestowed upon Nia.

With time and luck, there might surface a spell to free her. But it was a faint hope. Sure there was a “stone to flesh” spell. The cure to the “flesh to stone” curse. Nia knew the spell. But everyone knew medusae used their own natural magic to trap their prey. Still, it was a thread of hope. Maybe one day she would learn a spell to free herself. Till then Nia could only wait and practice her incantation-less magic.

*****

Time flew by. Nia made progress. Now and then she could summon a magic light. The easiest of all spells. One day as one of her lights faded Nia was confused as she could still see slightly.

Her surroundings became brighter and brighter, till finally the Medusa and her light slipped into her view. “Hmm, I nearly had forgotten about you. What a shame that would be.” The medusa mused to herself.

Then the Medusa murmured something and suddenly Nia was cold. The chilly air caressed normal human skin. Nia was puzzled. Though she was freed she hadn’t moved at all. It took concentration but finally, she got her arm to lower and to drop the remains of the torch she was carrying. She looked slowly up and saw an equally puzzled Medusa looking back.

“You are a strange one, aren’t you? Normally when I release someone they try to charge me. Very curious.”

Nia heard but outwardly she didn’t show any sign that she did. Her body was still pretty much frozen only to be moved slightly by the sheer force of her will. Nia tried to answer but it was hard too. In the end, a barely breathed “How?” escaped her slightly moving lips.

“How what my dear? That you can’t move well? I don’t know. I have never seen something like that.”

Again Nia concentrated on pushing another word out:”Blind.”

The medusa furrowed her eyebrows but then looked delighted. “Ah! You want to know how a blinded one of my kind can trap someone. Oh dear, the answer is simple: magic! You see sometimes a medusa is born that can do more magic than the natural to their kind. They can learn spells of mankind. It was hard, I admit, but once I had my hands on a spell-book it was easier. But I needed time. I already knew I could see through magic. With my Gorgon Gaze making me a target, it became a liability. So I blinded myself and once adventurers found me it was easy to plead my innocence. From then on I could study in peace. My magic grew and eventually I learned a most peculiar spell: the flesh to stone curse. It took me a while longer but I learn the other way around too.”

Nia would have facepalmed herself. It was the normal one. She could have freed herself if she would have thought of it and actually tried to cast it. But outward she barely moved. It was as if her body thought she was still made of stone.

“Come now, my dear. Let's talk somewhere more pleasant.”
The Medusa started to move but as she looked back she saw Nia still standing still. Neither fleeing or following. “Oh right.” She muttered. “You have this little trouble moving right?”

She plucked Nia of the ground with surprisingly strong arms and carried her away. Nia couldn’t protest as she was still stiff as a plank even while being manhandled.

*****

Back in the part of the cave system that was the Medusa's lair, Nia was put down. Around her were a dozen of statues scattered around. Unmoving as she was she could have been one of them if it wasn’t for her flesh instead of stone. They continued their talk or what might count as such. The Medusa was delighted to have someone who wouldn’t attack her by first chance.

She was quite chatty. Nia, on the other hand, was still limited and barely gave now and then a word or two. She was still trying to figure out how she was free but still couldn’t escape.

After a while, the Medusa was getting bored. She moved over to Nia and started changing her pose. To both their surprise it was very easy and to Nia’s dismay she couldn’t fight it much. Barely at all. The medusa got more creative as she experimented on. Changing Nia’s pose time and time again. Sometimes they were normal. Other times it was a pose as if she was in the midst of a battle. Others were quite lewd or even outright scandalous.

At last, she found herself bent over with her hands between her legs and her fingers spreading her own nether lips. The shocked face she wore was more or less her own making. Before she could gather her mental strength to shift to a less lewd pose she heard the Medusa.
“I am getting tired. Let's play more tomorrow. Goodnight.”

Nia felt once more her skin as it turned to stone. She cursed as loud as she could. Mentally that is.

*****

The days flew by. But not in the way Nia was used to. Sometimes the Medusa would pose her over and over again. Sometimes Nia was caressed by her. Though she couldn’t tell what was more pleasant. To feel her fingers roam over flesh or over stone.

Other days the Medusa would simply stare at her for hours. Slowly Nia got used to it. Even the lewd poses. More so she felt a sense of peace to grow. She was clearly the center of the medusas collection. Cared for. Admired. It took some time but Nia got addicted. The thoughts about escape became fewer and fewer.

“Rescue” comes sometimes at those moments you least expect it. Or as Nia had to admit when you at least want them to happen. She had been awake when the adventurers found the lair. The medusa hadn’t.

It was over before it really started, and the Medusa was slain quickly.
She wanted to yell. She wanted to be free. But with a heavy heart, she had to admit she wanted the Medusa back. Her admirer. Her artist. And in some regard her lover. Though frozen as she was she couldn’t even cry and no tears did slide down her cheeks.

Helpless she had to watch it unfold. In the end, she and the other statues were transported away. For the first time in so long, she saw the sun. It didn’t last long.

She ended up in a big warehouse. Later she overheard workers there. All around her were statues. All of them victims of Gorgon Gazes. Again she cursed her silence. Days did go by and she was gathering dust. Finally, after a long time, she worked again on her skills to do magic while being frozen. If no one would free her then she had to do it herself after all.

*****

Days moved by. Years even. To Nia, it is just time. Something that doesn’t concern her. Now and then she gets dusted off. Not as carefully as by her Medusa. Oh, how she misses her. Then one day it finally worked.

She hadn’t really expected it to work this time. Though she could feel the cool air on her and the coarse fabric draped over her for modesty she still couldn’t move. It was hard. It took more concentration than before.

After a long day, she got slightly better. After so much training she was exhausted and wondered what to do now. Sleep standing up? A slight grin showed on her face. She knew what she had to do and she was well aware of the irony. It took her 3 tries but finally, it worked. Her skin once more smooth stone. Somehow relieved she drifted off to sleep.

*****

Progress. Every day a bit more. Her magic got better. Soon she didn’t need more that one tries to turn back. Her movement improved too. Was it a month later that she managed to move freely? But on the other hand, she still was a bit lost.

So long she dreamed of freedom. Now that she had it she didn’t know what to do with herself.
Day after day she brooded what to do. Sometimes in flesh. Other times in stone. But at least she could enjoy a few new poses.

It happened on one of those days the statues were dusted off. One of the workers noticed her changed posture. Quickly he scrambled off.

Smooth Like Stone - Part 2

*****

Jace was annoyed. He was an up and coming magician. And as it was custom, those who sought favors with the higher ups, took over projects no one else wanted. Like his current side posting in the project to cure Gorgon Gazes. Not that it would go anywhere. Everyone knew it was impossible to cure.

And now this one helper, a lad from a nearby village, swore one of the statues moved. What an absurd notion. But just to be sure he followed the agitated boy. Jace was taken by surprise. The statue in question was beautiful.

She clearly stood out. Around her, the other statues were in movement. Taken as scenes cut out of battles. But the beauty before him posed sensually. As if she hadn’t a care in the world. Jace knew at once he had to have her. Moving or not this pearl had to be rescued out of this dreadful warehouse.

“Lad you did well. I see no movement but potential I see. I will take her to my workshop and see what I can do.” Jace grinned. Maybe the day hadn’t been so bad after all.

*****

The workers placed the statue gently in Jace’s workshop. Between the beauty of the statue and that of his maid, he might have been invisible. He grinned as the worker was lead out. He knew too well what the worker would tell. That womanizer of Jace got a fitting statue to his ‘hobby’.

Jace didn’t mind as he carefully had cultivated this image. Though it wasn’t that far off. He really liked women, but a mage was always busy and sometimes his ‘hobby’ had to draw the short straw. So everything that might further his reputation was a plus.

Caitlin, his maid, returned. “Pretty. But how much did your eccentricity cost us this time?”

Jace grinned. She only talked like this when they were alone. To everyone else, Caitlin was just a beauty that Jace had conquered. Nothing could be further away. Caitlin was smart and had Jace respect. The only skirt he didn’t dare to chase. If she would have just a little more talent he would make her his apprentice. But still, in private he valued her and her sharp wit. And after all, he knew too well that men might lose their cool close to a pretty girl like her.

“I paid nothing, my dear. You see this damsel in distress is waiting to be rescued. She is an unfortunate victim of a Gorgon Gaze.”

Raising an eyebrow Caitlin got nearer and looked upon the statue up close. “She doesn't look like she is in distress to me. Where was she caught by the medusa? At a moonlight bathing?”

She patted Jace on the shoulder. “Well good luck curing her Gorgon Gaze affliction. We both know no one has done that before. Meanwhile, you can count on me to keep her dust free.”

Chuckling she headed off. Jace didn’t mind. He was used to her ribbing. In fact, it was one of the things about her he rather liked.

Turning back he studied the statue in detail. He traced every detail. One stood out rather quick. A slight bump on her chest. Carefully looking it over until he muttered to himself. “Could it be an heirloom gem? One of the lost ones?” His curiosity was caught. Quickly he headed to his library.

*****

Nia was furious. With whom she couldn’t tell. She was caught. Well more or less. And just when she was posing a bit more lewdly. What was she thinking?

Then there was this magician. Young he looked. And quite arrogant to boot. Her ‘knight in shining armor’. HA! That he had a sexpot of a maid didn’t help his image in her mind of him.

Well, she got out of the warehouse in a way. At least that was something. Not that she had been truly trapped there. However, once she was in his workshop she had to review her opinion.

The magician wasn’t as stupid as she first thought. And from the equipment around she gathered he was quite advanced. On top of it, the ‘sexpot’ of a maid didn’t act like one. Quite the opposite. She mused that in the past time she made quite a lot of mistakes and overlooked a lot. Recent was a good term. Nia couldn’t even say how old she was.

How many years or decades did she spend as a statue? Or had it been even centuries? And last, but not least, the magician needed one good look and saw her heirloom gem. She had all but forgotten about it as it was a part of her for so long. But now her mind raced.

It would explain so much. The time as statue had overridden much of the original gem. Imprinted was now the knowledge and behavior of a statue. How to be unmoving. How to feel to be admired. The need to be posed and to be left in stasis.

After all these years something awoke in her nearly forgotten since her days as an apprentice: curiosity. Was it really the gem? She had to find out. A quick spell later and once again she was made out of flesh. The undoing of the fusing of the gem from her took longer than she had thought. For a moment it felt strange to be without it. Then she stared at the Heirloom Gem in her hand. Had it really been the gem that had doomed her? Or was it what saved her?

Her musing was broken by faint steps coming up the stairs. Quickly Nia posed herself. She straightened up and took a pose showing her proud. One arm raised and offering the gem. Just as the door open the last of her skin turned to gray smooth stone.

The maid didn’t step very far into the room. Nia had to once again to revise her opinion of the maid. She had quickly noticed Nia’s changed posture. But her reaction was curious. She wasn’t scared or the like. Nia felt how she was studied carefully from afar. The maid slipped out of the room as quietly as she had entered.

*****

“Jace the statue has moved.”

Jace chuckled when his Maid came into his library and opened with this one sentence. "You know the lad that found her told the same joke.”

“Jace,” Caitlin repeated slowly and seriously. “She has moved.”

Jace looked up as he heard the seriousness of her voice. In her pretty face was not a hint of humor. A split-second later Jace was up and running. Sprinting to his workshop. He burst through the door and immediately saw that Caitlin was right.

There she stood proudly and if she was offering something. As he stepped closer, he saw the milky gem that decorated her chest earlier in her hand. Curiously he tried to address her, but she neither reacted or talked back. Not even as he hesitantly took the gem she was offering.

When it got later he retired to his chamber. The gem still in his hand. He could feel the magic and power. Without a doubt, he knew he was holding an Heirloom Gem. With thoughts about its power, he drifted off to sleep.

*****

Nia knew she had to be patient. The mage and his maid did take their sweet time. He didn’t fuse to the gem right away as Nia had hoped. No, he rather studied the archives in hope to identify the gem first. After all, there were some gems who could be quite harmful.

Meanwhile, Nia had her fun. Each night, when no one was around, she changed poses. Sometimes playful ones, other times naughty one. But most often she had a teasing stand as if to say “Dude are you really fearing the gem?”

The magician was often not amused, but she caught him time and time again admiring her beauty. The maid, on the other hand, became Nia’s favorite of sorts. Her silky feathery duster was pure pleasure. Surely Nia didn’t have to be dusted off every day, not that she minded. Quite often she thought she could see a slight smirk on the maid's face. Betraying her and hinting that she was knowing well what she did to Nia.

*****

Jace was staring at the gem in his hand. Weeks of research but no trace of a milky white gem. Lost gem or not this gem surely would reveal itself only by being worn. Again he glanced over to the statue and yet another mocking pose. New determination filled him.

He shouted for Caitlin and when she arrived he said. “So yeah I'm gonna do it. I have to try this gem. We both know gems can be dangerous. If you see any behavior that might fit a harmful behavior tell me immediately. You should know as well as I that wearers of gems sometimes don’t even notice it until it is too late.”

Caitlin gave a silent and serious nod. Now it was the time of truth. Jace opened his shirt and fused the gem to his chest. Both looked as if anything would happen but only silence followed.

“Well ..” Jace finally said. “Gems are working slowly. We are probably expecting a bit too much right away.”

They both resumed their respective work, but Jace couldn’t help to sneak now and then a peak of the gem and his reflection in the mirror.

*****

Caitlin noticed a few changes pretty fast. For example that he spends so much time in front of the mirror. Sure he had always been vain, but now it was a bit more. Often she found him admiring his own reflection while barely moving. Was he striking poses? It was hard to tell.

Other quirks were even harder to notice. Was he shaving less often? Did he shake his hips a little more while moving? He also got quieter and more patient. Something that never had been his strongest side, to begin with.

And he looked younger. While no one could usually tell his age of thirty-five, now everyone would guess he was in his early twenties. But something was off. He looked softer than Caitlin remembered. His face maybe a bit rounder? His cheekbones a bit higher?

One day she noticed something was strange. Jace was standing yet again in front of the mirror. Unmoving. Caitlin could barely tell that Jace was still breathing. He had his shirt unbuttoned and was posed as if he found something confusing on his chest. As Caitlin looked as well she spotted 2 slightly butting breasts and nipples she was sure never were so puffy.

Something was wrong. She tried to speak but no words left her mouth. A curse of silence her mind noted. She tried to shake Jace awake but soft hands pulled her back. There behind her was the statue. But she wasn’t of stone anymore. A young beautiful girl pulled her back and patted on the bench behind them. Caitlin sat down beside the girl. The girl leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“It won’t be long now. She is so very close now. Can you tell? Watch.”

*****

Jace stared at his reflection. For how long now he couldn’t tell. It was strange. A puzzle in itself. He had noticed some changes about himself. But this was something new. Breasts. Without a doubt. Small still but growing. Was he becoming a woman? Why? Then his thoughts turned to the statue. How long had she worn the gem? How much had she imprinted it? Jace wanted answers. But he was afraid of them at the same time.

I should remove the gem now he thought. But his body didn’t move. Why was it so hard? Then a new thought made his guts run cold.
Did she imprint the Gorgon Gaze curse onto the Heirloom Gem too?

His mind raced. He needed a way out before the curse hit him. But without removing the gem he would turn to stone one way or another.

"That's it!" he thought. "If I am already stone the curse can’t affect me. And a flesh to stone spell can be dispelled. At least this will buy me time."

Jace gathered his magic and soon enough stone spread over his body. The crisis averted, for now, his mind finally found peace. His gaze was still on his bodies reflection. He didn’t know why but seeing himself as smooth stone turned him on.

"It’s okay to admire myself for a bit, right? After all, I have now quite some time."

*****

Caitlin gasped. “Why did you turn him into stone?”

Nia couldn’t help but smirk. “I didn’t. She did cast the spell herself.”

Caitlin was taken aback. Did he really? But another question escaped her mouth first. “Why do you call him a ‘her’?”

Nia didn’t answer at first. She stood up and gently pulled Caitlin to the statue. She then traced the budding breasts on Jace with her fingers. Chuckling she asked. “How many men do you know that grew breasts?”

Caitlin had more questions but she was gently shushed by Nia.
“Don’t worry. She will return when she is ready. For now, the best way you can serve her is how you cared for me. And believe me that duster of yours. She will love it. But for now, it’s time to wait.”

Nia quickly walked over to the place she spends so much time as a statue. She gave a last wink at Caitlin and once more turned to smooth stone.

*****

Jace was furious. That girl was alive. Well, he knew that before. But he saw her in the flesh. What nonsense she was spouting. But all throughout he was helpless. He sighed. Mentally that is. Days started to go by and Jace still wasn’t finding a solution.

Worse, while he stopped the Gorgon Gaze, his body still continued to change. Maybe even faster than before. He could see all the details as Caitlin had cut away all the clothing pieces. How his breasts filled out and his hips too. His waist that melted away and became smaller and smaller. His arms and legs as they became small and dainty.

But worst of all was his proud member. Slowly sinking away till it merged with him. Not long after his vagina formed. Reluctantly he had to admit he was a she now.

Now and then Caitlin did come by and disrupted her thoughts. She didn’t know if she should praise or curse that duster. It was oh so pleasant. Jace had to admit if Caitlin did hit her just right she got the most amazing orgasm. Though she luckily could only admit it to herself.

One day was different. Jace saw the girl and Caitlin before her. “Well, I don’t think we still can call her Jace. Thoughts?” she asked Caitlin.

“Hmm, how about Joyce? It’s still close to the original, but I kinda like it.”

“Joyce it is.”

"Great. They renamed me without my input. Hmm, Joyce. Yeah, I kinda like it," she thought to herself.

But this was only the first of many embarrassments. Her sweet torture started now in earnest. The girl quickly developed the habit to tease her every day. She would caress Joyce or would pose alongside her. Sometimes she turned to stone while she still played with Joyce. How delicious it was as the last feeling of her caress would linger. Joyce would surely be wet as the girl froze herself while kissing her nipple, hadn’t she been petrified herself.

*****

Day after day did go by, just as pleasure and frustration did too.
One day Joyce had enough. The girl was teasing her again.

"Soon she will turn herself to stone again. I know her antics well enough by now. Well, today it is my turn," Joyce thought.

She did strike while the girl was shifting positions. The flesh to stone spell caught her by surprise. Joyce was mentally patting herself. But not for long. Soon she was flesh again, smiling wickedly.

How could it be? It hadn’t been the Gorgon Gaze but the flesh to stone spell. Yes, she somehow had broken the gaze but why would it work on the spell too? Unless…

Joyce dispelled her own petrification. “It was never the Gorgon Gaze was it?”

Now the girl laughed. “No honey. It never was.”

Joyce couldn’t believe it. All this time lost. All the changes to her body. She let it be because of a flawed thinking. She facepalmed herself hard, only to be frozen as her hand hit her face.

“Ha! Caught ya back. Time to meet each other officially. I am Nia.”

Joyce unfroze herself again and rubbed her head. Then she shook the offered hand. “Joyce.”

“Duh silly. I named you. Remember? Well, Caitlin did.”

Both chuckled. “So what now?” Joyce asked.

Nia pulled her in close. “Now we enjoy ourselves."

*****

Caitlin blushed as she entered the workshop. In front of the mirror, two statues were caught in the heights of passion. Now and then one would turn back to flesh and to slightly shift a bit. Only to turn back to stone again a moment later.

Caitlin shook her head. "Well, at least mistress is moving again," she thought.

Over the next days, she witnessed the slowest love making two humans ever had. Often she had to excuse herself and vanished into her room to fulfill her own needs.

*****

Joyce was breathing hard, as was Nia. Both looked at each other.

“That was amazing," Joyce remarked.

“Yeah. So much better when you have a partner.”

“Hmm, why didn’t you tell me what was happening at the start?”

Nia didn’t think long to gather her answer. “Well, I had to figure it out myself too. So why should you have it easier than I had? And to be honest it kinda turned me on. You slowly changing. It was hot.”

That gave Joyce to think. How would it be to watch someone else to be ensnared by the gem. Her fingers moved up where the gem was still sunken in her skin. She slowly released it from herself. Staring at the gem in her delicate fingers she started to grin.

“Caitlin?” Nia softly asked. Joyce shook her head.

“I know her well enough. She wouldn’t. But I think she will help us. Come here and mirror what I do.”

Joyce kneeled down and spread her legs slightly. Nia followed. Then Joyce slid beneath Nia so both would scissor each other. With her right hand, she pulled Nia at her waist close and felt Nia’s left hand do the same. Then she moved her left arm up as if she was offering the gem to someone. As Nia mirrored it Jayce moved her left arm closer and the gem was now resting on both palms of the girls together.

“Not yet," Joyce whispered.

She started to slightly grind her pussy on Nia’s leg. Nia didn’t hesitate long and started as well. Both soon moaned in delight. Nia was the first who came. Quickly Joyce petrified her. She too was close and ground herself more against the cold smooth stone between her legs. Just as the orgasm took her over she too turned to stone. Nia had found just the right moment as well.

*****

Caitlin couldn’t believe her eyes. In the workshop, both her mistress were petrified in throws of passion. They were kneeling and yet grinding at each other. Or had, as they didn’t move anymore.

What scared, but also excited Caitlin was the offering. On the palms of both girls was the heirloom gem. As if it was waiting to be picked up. Caitlin knew though she wasn’t ready yet to join her mistresses.
Yet every time she entered the workshop they were still there. They hadn’t moved at all. They were waiting after all. Caitlin knew she needed a plan or soon the urge might get too strong. Luckily Caitlin was a smart girl and a plan formed.

*****

“So I get it all that for free?” the young male mage asked.

“Of course” Caitlin replied.

“It was written in my late master's will that I was to pass this abode and my service on to a young mage that showed promise.”

Smiling she leads him on to the workshop. The young mage's eyes nearly popped out as he saw the lewd statues entwined.

“My late master had a bit of a ‘wicked’ taste,” Caitlin explained.

Then the young mage noticed the gem and picked it up. “Is this an Heirloom Gem?”

“It sure is. It contains all his knowledge. Are you ready to follow his footsteps?”

As the young mage fused them gem onto him both smiled. Although for quite the different reasons.

Claimed by Fire

*****

Sonlas smirked. He just had broken into the most secure place in the academy: the vault. It had been easier than he thought it would be. It was in the center of one of the most influential academies for magicians. To his surprise, he found many traps magically frayed. It was if someone wanted him to break in.

He didn’t have to search long. In a small wooden box, he found the gem he was looking for. What it did he didn’t know. But he had overheard some teacher saying it was powerful and dangerous. The gem was warm in his hand. It was kinda pretty too. A soft amber color. Quickly Sonlas fused it to his chest.

"That would teach them," he thought. He knew he was supposed to be expelled tomorrow. For a soon to be dropout he was proud that he managed to sneak into the most secure area. Hastily he made his exit. As much as he wanted to see their dumb faces when they realized what he had stolen. He didn’t plan to stay long enough to find out.

*****

The first thing that Remus heard, when he entered the vault, was the bickering of old Wizards.

“Must have been a mage of the enchanted lakes. Only they are deviant enough to pull something like this off.”

“Oh don’t make me laugh. Those aren’t much more than street magicians. No, it was the witches of Ember Cove. I am sure of it.”

Remus ignored them all. Instead, he carefully examined the few traces of once powerful protection magic. Below it all nearly lost in the white noise of the common ebbs and flows of the normal magic, he found traces of the perpetrator.

His gruff voice cut through the gaggle of the gathered Wizards. “It was dispelled from within. No doubt about it.”

A storm of questions broke forth. Soon to be silenced by the dean of the school. “Remus, what makes you say that? What did you find?”

Remus straightened and looked the old man in the eyes. “Oh yes. Someone broke in. A student of this school. I think Sonlas is his name.”

“Impossible! That boy has neither the skill nor magic. A few more hours and we would have kicked him out.”

Remus ignored the outburst of an old teacher. “He had help. And as I said it came from within this room.” He raised his hand to stifle more protests. “It was the gem. Much like it’s bearers it wants to be rescued. If it takes too long it gives ‘fate a little push. In this case, it shredded most of the protection magic. I take it only the gem is missing?”

The Dean put a hand on Remus shoulder. “Yes, old friend. You know what must be done, right?”

“All too well. I will start my hunt immediately.”

Remus left with a swiftness. Behind him, he heard a few more arguments. “If it’s the Gem why don’t we just wait near the dragon caves. It will come to us.”

“Oh don’t be a fool. How much chaos will it leave behind?”

Remus shook his head. Once again he had to track down this cursed gem. He just hoped he would catch up before the time ran out and another circle completed.

*****

It was 2 weeks later and a lot of lands traveled when Sonlas had to admit he was in trouble. A number of problems of his were staggering. Nearly broke, his voice sounded weird, his ass expanded as if stuffed, his chest has this 2 puffy areas that rubbed against his shirt and now someone mistook him for a girl.

He was furious. Angered, he returned to his rented room. Probably his last time for a while that he could afford one. He stomped over to the polished silver mirror to find out just how stupid someone had to be to mistake him for a girl. What he saw in his reflection, it shocked him. He barely recognized himself. Staring back was less his own and more the face of a young woman. No wonder he was mistaken as a girl. Stunned he sat down on his bed and wondered what to do.

*****

Another two weeks later he was still doing good. By now he was utterly broke, but that didn’t hold him back. He quickly discovered that his new female face was one of those, no one could say no to. A little pale with a few slight freckles. A nice pouty mouth and deep blue eyes. Surrounded by his quickly growing strawberry blond hair.

As much as he was displeased over his changes, he had to admit he liked the attention that it brought. And with it the free stuff. He had gotten 3 more days in the inn by pouting at the innkeeper.

An older wealthy woman took pity and offered him a place in her carriage. That gave him 8 more days of easy travel. Right now he was sitting beside an elderly farmer and enjoyed the warm soup his wife made. They only knew him as Mary-Ann.

He quickly developed a game. Find a new name for himself. It had to be female and delicate. But most of all it had to sound innocent, as to match his pretty face. He didn’t mind too much that his body became more and more female too. In fact, he kind looked forward to it. It certainly would make his hustling easier.

*****

"Lea?" she thought. "Or maybe Diana?"

It was a month since she left the farm and since yesterday she couldn’t pretend otherwise. Her body was now all female. Not the most voluptuous or sexy one. It was rather young and lithe. Fitting her innocent face. So this time it wasn’t a game. She had to find a name for real. Idly she wondered if her mind became more innocent too.

Yesterday she was tempted to play with her new body, but just couldn’t make herself masturbate. It frustrated her to no end. She needed the high but just couldn’t taint herself like that. Cursing under her breath she tried again to find a name.

Then she was suddenly distracted. She was sitting in an alcove in a tavern. It would be a dark corner if it hadn’t been for the candle on her table. The flickering of the flame now caught her eye. It was a small flame, though somehow it promised a warmth that she hadn’t known before, yet now desperately needed.

Slowly her hand reached out, inching towards the flame. Her hand pulled back of sudden pain, but even more for a strange feeling: pleasure. Raw and yet pure. It filled her for just a moment. The pain slowly vanished and she saw the slight burn marks simply vanish.

Intrigued she reached out again. Again it burned. Pain coursed through her but slowly faded. But the pleasure was rising. Until a sudden moan starlet her. A moan she had made herself.

With a guilty look and a strong blush on her face, she withdrew her hand. She knew she had been close to a shattering orgasm. Oh, how she wanted more. She waited till her hand had healed and then bit her lower lip. A devious look on her, oh so innocently looking face.
"If I play a damsel, afraid of the dark, just right the innkeeper might give me a few more candles," she thought.

She looked around for the innkeeper, but her gaze stopped on a familiar figure at the other end of the tavern. He slowly moved towards her. Her mind raced. She had to find a way to get out. She couldn’t be caught.

*****

Remus sighed and took a swig of the thin ale before him. It had been weeks since the Heirloom Gem was stolen. He tracked the thief as best as he could. Never quite catching up. He often ran into dead ends and had to backtrack. That cost him days. His task also made harder by the fact that the gem slowly would change its host. By now, Remus was sure, the thief's body was that of a young innocent looking girl.

He knew only vague details by now. She was blond and blue eyed. That fits a lot of girls around these parts. For all that he knew, the girl on the other end of the tavern could be the thief. She looked as lost as Remus felt. Starring absent minded into a candle.

He was about to avert his eyes when something curious happened.
The girl slowly reached for the candle. Or, to be more precise, the flame. The look of shock was quite normal as the candle burned her young flesh. The look of pleasure that followed not so much.

She reached out again and at once Remus knew he had found the thief. Maybe luck was finally on his side. He stood up and slowly made his way towards her. He didn’t come very far. She had looked up and a moment later her gaze riveted on him. He had been made.

Again he was moved towards her. The girl jumped up and sprinted to a group of drinking men. He heard hushed talk and the men stood up. He was close, but not close enough to grab the girl.

“You leave her alone you creep!” yelled one of the drunken men.
Remus muttered a curse. Followed by a spell or two.

After a few heartbeats, it was over. All men around him unconscious or asleep. Remus was a formidable wizard. Even when he was slightly drunk.

He looked around the mess he had made. Bodies laying all around him. He looked at each of them but didn’t found the one he was looking for. The girl was gone. He muttered a curse again and sprinted out of the tavern. Maybe she hadn’t been gone too far. Just maybe he still could catch up.

*****

Today she was Erin. Yesterday it had been Chloe. And before were so many other names. Erin loved her life. Roaming from place to place felt somehow right. She didn’t know why or what, but she was missing something. And she was happy to search for it.

She also became very good at playing the damsel in distress. Someone who needed protection. She usually never traveled alone. A prince charming, heroic protector or another benevolent person could be most often found by her side.

It also helped her to blend in. To be one step ahead. Now she knew she was hunted and if she was right it was the most skilled tracker her old school had.

Today, however, she traveled alone. Sometimes she needed space. As much as she valued the persons she took advantage of, they very much came into the way of her secret vice. Fire. She was drawn to it. She needed it. More and more. This led her today to the clearing of the nearby woods.

She piled firewood higher and higher. Her shaky hands needed a few tries before her flint and steel ignited the wood. Just as quickly as the flames leaped up she undressed. Then she let herself fall onto the pile. Pleasure gnawed at her. It ate itself through her flesh. Reduced her body til only passion remained. She lost herself in it. Time didn’t matter anymore.

Then she grew cold. Looking around she noticed the ash that covered her and her surrounding. Below the dark grime, she could see the last of her flesh heal. It should have frightened her, but it didn’t. She needed more.

She looked through her clothing till she found the flint and steel. Nothing more. She didn’t need anything else. It was as if the last act of her depravity had reborn her. But it still was not enough. She walked away. Searching for something.

At the edge of the forest, something caught her eye. A barn filled with hay. With resolve, she walked towards it. Ignoring the shouts of nearby farmers. She didn’t care. Arriving in the barn first she quickly barricaded the doors.

Her eyes did fell on a nearby pile of hay. She gently laid down on it. Her hand fidgeted again but soon her flint and steel helped her again to find pleasure. It quickly surrounded her. Played with every part of her body and being. She didn’t notice or cared about the inferno around her. The cracking of woodwork around her nothing but noise. The collapsing roof gave the fire and her passion only more food.

*****

Hours later the farmers looked at the smoldering ruins. Nothing could have survived it. Yet they still found the girl. They couldn’t believe their eyes as her skin was unblemished. She was breathing but no attempts to wake her bear fruit. In the end, she was picked up and carried to the locals healer's hut.

The healer tried his best. But he was at a loss what might have befallen the girl. She showed no injury. The only thing he saw out of the ordinary was the gem sunken into her chest.

“I really wonder how she could have survived the fire. It was so hot, only dragon fire is hotter," he murmured to himself.

Did her eyes just flutter? In the end, he thought he must have imagined it.

*****

Erin didn’t move. She didn’t care enough. The pleasure had been breathtaking. There couldn’t be anything better. And yet, she needed more. It just wasn’t enough. Then her ears picked something up. Dragon fire. She knew it was the solution. The epitome of her longing. How she didn’t know. But what could be more fitting as a damsel in distress to be offered as a sacrifice to a dragon?

The thought alone made her wet. Pretending to be asleep, she waited till she was alone. Quietly she slipped outside and headed back to the woods. She retrieved her cloth. With new determination, she returned to the road. She ignored the stares of farmers and peasants along the road.

*****

Remus cursed. Another few days lost on a dead end. Then there was the news of a burned down barn and a tale of a miraculous surviving girl. As fast as he could he made his way there.

As he arrived his fears were validated. She was gone again and she had taken to the next act in the Heirloom Gems playbook. To be burned by fire. To seek pleasure in it.

Remus wasn’t sure if he still could save her. Still, he moved on. Even if it was too late for her he had to retrieve the gem. Before someone else falls victim to it.

*****

3 month later she finally found one. A dragon cave. She followed the stone trail up to the mouth of the cave. All her feverish dreams will be soon coming true. She was so close. Then she spotted the hooded figure. Squarely standing in the entrance to the dragon's lair.

“You! Why can’t you let me be? Just why do you stand in my way towards happiness?” she wailed in despair.

The figure removes the hood. Below it, she sees the man that had hunted her down for last months now. Although she knew him she never had noticed how old and weary he looked.

The man gave a deep sigh. “My mission is not to capture you. It is to retrieve the gem. But I admit that it deeply saddens me to see you here. I tried so hard to save you too.”

Her hand came up towards the gem, fused onto her below her collarbone. She could see it now. It all had started with the gem.
“The past month I had been so often the damsel in distress. No matter how often someone came to my help. I always left. It took me a while, but I know now. I don’t want to be saved. Not by you or anyone.”

“I know. It’s the gem talking. Or had been. By now its claws and magic are too deep within your soul. You aren't the first one to wear it and not the first one I had the displeasure to hunt. I have yet to save one of you.”

He gave another tired sad sigh. “You don’t need the Heirloom Gem anymore. Give it to me.”

“Will you promise to let me pass?”

He gave her a serious nod. Her hand moved upwards to the Heirloom Gem again. It only took a moment and it rested in her palm. The tracker took out a small wooden box and held it open to her. She remembered it. The same one she had stolen the gem from all these months ago. Gently she returned the gem.

He stowed away the box and slowly stepped aside. “Are you sure? This time you won’t survive the flames.”

She gave him a genuine smile. “I am. Don’t be sad. I am not afraid and I do not dread what’s to come.”

“I heard that before. What does the Heirloom Gem do to you that makes you throw away your young life.”

“The gem. It does nothing but leads you to an epiphany.” She gently placed her hands on the sorcerer's shoulders and leaned in, to give him a kiss on the cheek. “You fear death. We all do. I did once too. Not anymore. One day, when you find yourself old and weary, you will lose that fear too. When that day comes, then you will lose the fear of this gem. That day you can find out why.”

Silently she slipped away. Her left hand the last to leave the connection between him and her. She didn’t look back. There was no need. He didn’t follow.

It was dark and she had to use the wall to guide her. Then the tunnel opened to a cavern. There was the hoard. Slightly glowing as many magical artifacts were scattered amidst the gold coins. On top of it, the dragon rested. Big golden eyes stared at her. Swallowing she cleared her throat. With a voice close to breaking she shouted: “Please. Take me. Let me be a sacrifice to you. Burn me till only my ashes remain.”

The dragon slowly lifted himself up. Moving closer, something pulsed deep below the neck of the beast. Suddenly white hot flames traveled from him to her. It enveloped her in a split second. Her mind burst in an orgasm never felt before. It was the last thing she ever felt.

*****

Weary Remus listened. First, the soft steps as the girl walk deeper into the cave. The echo of the girls shouting. The roar of flames that even at the mouth of the cave was still deafening. Then there was only silence.

Sorrow overcame him for the lives lost. The girl had been the fourth he couldn’t save. No matter how hard he tried. The gem had run its course. Just like it had been taught. He knew the sad past. A few hundred years ago a small kingdom had been tormented by a dragon. The only thing that stifled the rage of the beast was the sacrifice of a young virgin maiden.

Of course only rarely one would volunteer. One day the king ordered his court mage to create an Heirloom Gem that could withstand dragon fire. The magician obliged. It was then the gem was thought. Virgins would be sacrificed wearing the gem. Drugs and magic obscured their thinking. Promises of pleasure and to be honorable by being sacrificed.

Girl by girl. The gem grew in strength and soon enough all it took was for a girl to wear it. She would sacrifice herself soon after. Eventually, the dragon was slain. With the gem obsolete, they tried to destroy it, but all the dragon fire had hardened it too much. So it was hidden. But now and then a foul would get his or her hands on it. And the gem would do his grim duty again.

Remus turned and started his long journey back. To return the gem to its prison. How long would it take to free itself again? He hoped he would never find out.

Druid wanted, Druid needed.

*****

Leanora just couldn’t understand humans. A druid once tried to teach her about many things. Human language, culture, and history. Of all that only the skill to speak remained with her. The rest just was confusing.

Like the battlefield before her, just past the outskirts of her woods. She just couldn’t understand why they killed each other with such passion. It wasn’t for food. Not one of them had teeth marks. Not that Leanora really cared.

The humans wasted even their dead. She, however, chose not to. One by one she dragged the dead into her woods. At least here they would serve as fertilizer. All the while she thought about the druid who tried to teach her. Was he dead by now too?

Sometimes she wished the druid would come back. Though she wouldn't mind other druids as well. At least they respected nature. Sighing she continued her work. It was one of the last ones that dropped something that caught her eye. It was a clear gem, one without color and it sparkled in the afternoon sun. Curious she picked it up.

It was no ordinary gem she noticed. There had some kind of human magic on it. She wasn’t good at the magic of the unnatural kind. So it took her a while to figure the gems aura out. It was a gem that could learn. Not just that. It could teach its owner too. Leanora did think for a while. If I wear the gem and teach it about nature, then the gem could teach someone else.

"I do not need another druid. I just need a human and the gem would teach them the ways of nature," she thought.

Grinning at her cunning plan she lifted the gem to her chest. It sunk into her green succulent skin. With lifted spirit, she continued her work.

*****

Seasons did go by, but still, no human visited her garden, home, and woods. She rubbed the gem on her chest. A habit she picked up quite a while ago. Humans would say something about 1 or 2 decades. To Leanora, it was just time.

Peeking down she saw the gem half sunken into her skin. It had become a deep green over the many past seasons. One might mistake it for an emerald.

Then, one morning, she spotted on the fields nearby that another battle had taken place. Cautiously she moved closer. No sound, save for the wind was heard, as she reached the about dozen corpses.

Sighing and muttering about stupid humans, she once again started to drag the bodies to her glade. It was the third that gave her a fright. Just as she touched the body it moved. Did draw in a painful sounding labored breath.

Recovering quickly she came closer. It was a male, maybe 50 cycles of seasons old. Blood clung everywhere to his armor. Deep gashes were seen at places where weapons had pierced armor. Surely he was close to dying. All Leanora had was to wait for it a little.

Instead, she helped. She had been too long without company and as much as she pitied humans it would have to do. Her magic was strong but meant to heal wood or foliage. Used on a human it barely was enough. Soon he breathed deeper and a little color returned. Leanora didn’t care about the other bodies anymore. Carefully she dragged the wounded man to her glade.

*****

It took several days of careful nursing and healing till the stranger awoke. His first instinct was to sit up. Leanora had to gently push him back. Not that is was hard as fatigued as he was. He tried to talk but his voice was barely heard. Seeing what he was trying to ask, she headed out to gather some nectar and the last of the morning dew. Returning she carefully let it drip into his mouth. A weak “Thank you” was all she got before the men drifted off to sleep again.

The next time he was awake he looked and felt better. Spotting the dryad he spoke. “My lady, have my thanks for rescuing me. You did go through great trouble rescuing me. My name is Sir Theodore.”

For a moment his face showed pain. Not from physical injury but from a wounded heart. “Well, maybe not Sir anymore. My lord was slain before my eyes. My title and holdings were taken. I have nothing left but my life, thanks to you I have at least that.”

Leanora waited. Humans always had so much to talk. Even when they were wounded and still weak. “Forgive me, lady. How rude of me. May I ask your name? And I am at a loss. I never did meet someone of your species. What do you call yourself?”

Leanora had to smirk. Finally, he did shut up. But then again she wanted company, right? Can’t fault a human for being a human.

“I was given the name Leanora by the last druid. And he called us dryads. Though my kind normally doesn’t use names.”

Slowly an uneven conversation blossomed. Theodore did most of the talking, while Leanora parts were short and precise. Coming dawn they talked about the future.

“Not much now anywhere for me. I owe you my life but yet I do not know what to do with it now.”

It was the opening Leanora had waited. “You could stay here and become the next druid for this dale.”

Theodore saw the hope in her eyes. It pained him to reply. “My dear. I do not know the ways of the druids and I feel I do not have the years left to learn. I am sorry.”

Leanora, however, didn’t give up. “Do you see this gem? It can teach you. It won’t take long. Please.”

Theodore only now noticed the gem on her chest. After all, she was a young looking woman and appearing nearly naked. He was raised too strictly and had tried his best not to look or stare.

Now that he saw the gem he got the feeling there was something magical about it. Unbidden a memory surfaced. He had been young and one of his teachers had taught them about special gems that could teach you things. He thought the name for them was Heirloom Gems. As he looked up he saw the hope in Leanora’s eyes. How could he say no to this beautiful creature that had saved his life?

“I can’t promise you anything other than I try to give my best. I swear to you on my honor.”

The happiness that appeared on her was like a blossoming flower. As it spread it transform her face from pretty to stunning. It filled his heart with new light and hope.

“Thank you,” was all she said before she gave him a deep passionate kiss.

For the first time in a long time, he felt something special: serenity.

*****

Theo looked down on his chest. It had been a few days since Leonora had given her gem to him. Now the deep green gem contrasted against his old worn out skin. It astounded him how far he had come the past few days. His injuries were gone. Nothing remained, but scars. And even those started to fade to his amazement. He felt at least 10 years younger and if he could trust the reflection in the lake his body tried to match it.

To him, it was all Leanora. She gave him new hope and stirred feelings he long had forgotten. They spend most of their time together. Every day they did take long walks. She would tell him about the plants around and their deeper function. What animals were around and how they contributed. Lately, he often knew about it before she told him. "Must be the gem," he thought.

But he never interrupted her, as her voice was a music he couldn’t get enough. Smiling he continued onward. Today, she was not by his side.

Leanora was hiding somewhere. He was supposed to find her just with his newfound knowledge of the woods. A challenge and game they recently came up with. In that moment he truly enjoyed his life.

*****

Theo did stare again at his reflection in the water. He looked so young. As if he was in his early thirties. He clearly was getting younger. And he truly felt great. Absent minded he wondered when it would stop. He didn’t mind getting his youth back, but he was less eager to relive his puberty.

He already thought that his beard was thinning. Though his body was in peak condition he noticed that some of his muscles developed a bit back. Not all, though. His thighs and buttock were getting more pronounced. He blamed his nightly ‘training’ with Leanora.

They never told it each other, but they had become lovers. Maybe he didn’t tell her it yet because he too developed the trait to only speak about this that really needed to be told. And it was evident enough for both of them.

Though a bit of sadness crept into his mind. Summer was over and it was already past mid-autumn. Soon, like all dryads, she would return to her heart tree and sleep through the winter. He surely would miss her.

Pushing his sad thoughts to the side he returned to his original objective for today. Leanora had her heart tree but he needed something more than the rudimentary hut he had built so far. After that, he needed to gather a few more roots and other food that won’t spoil easily. Eagerly he returned to work. The sooner he was done the sooner they could spend a little more time together.

*****

Their parting had been bittersweet. He already missed her. But all around him, the first snowflakes were making their way down from heaven to earth. It had been time and they both knew it. But before she did go she showed him where her heart-tree had its roots. It was a great honor and a sign of trust.

Each day he visited the small clearing, walked up to the single mighty tree in the middle, and gently patted the bark. He would wish her pleasant dreams and a good sleep. He too was feeling tired lately. Was it just his melancholy of being without her? He didn’t know. But he was just happy enough to sleep the time away. Bridging the time faster till he finally could see her again.

*****

It was getting longer and longer. He guesses that his last rest had taken 2 or 3 days. He now barely moved. His hunger was getting smaller. A bad sign he knew. Although Leanora had shown him how to build a shelter that would keep him warm he felt as if he was freezing all the time. He already noticed that he was growing weaker and thinner by the day. Wondering if he would survive the winter and see her again, he drifted off to sleep.

*****

He looked at the moonlight above him. His hand, that pushed aside the cloak to his entrance, looked weak and slender. A full month he realized. He really had slept away a whole month. He could tell by the position of the moon above him. How could he have survived it? Sinking back to his bed he wondered if that miracle would repeat itself. He certainly hoped so as he was already drifting back to sleep.

*****

Sunshine woke Leanora. It was a slightly rainy morning. The dew was still dripping from the leaves of her heart tree. She looked around, eager to greet her lover. Yet he was nowhere to be seen. She didn’t mind it much. It gave her the opportunity to surprise him.

As she came near the hut, she was shocked. The roof had fallen down. From the looks of it, it wasn’t recent. Had Theodore abandoned her? Had his yearning for human society grown stronger than his love for her.

Saddened, she moved closer. She still could see tatters of his cloak and a few bits and pieces of his belonging. Though rotten she found most of his food too. Then suddenly she saw an alone patch of skin, peeking through a patch of moss that covered the area, where Theo’s bed had been.

Carefully she came closer and started to remove more moss and roots. Soon his legs were exposed. Though colder than they used to be they were still warm. Eagerly she removed more moss.

Now she remembered. Some druids, the older ones, could survive by nurture of nearby plants. Had he already learned and mastered the skill? She removed wide patches. His waist was exposed. It looked so small now. His arms. They had lost definition and like the rest of his body were slightly discolor by the moss.

As she wanted to rip the big piled chunks of moss from his chest she suddenly noticed resistance. Carefully she peeled away a thin membrane of the moss and exposed two mounds of flesh. Next, she removed what covered his face. It certainly was not the Theo she remembered. If it wasn’t for the aura of his soul, she might not have recognized him.

Now he only needed to wake up. She waited patiently but he didn’t move for a while. Then he started to toss and turn. Something was wrong. Did he need the moss now? Had she made it worse for him by removing it?

Carefully she started to examine him. It was when she was uncovering his feet that it all made sense. Small tendrils were growing out of the sole. Roots. But they didn’t touch the ground yet. She knew now how to help her beloved Theo. Carefully she lifted him up. It was easier as it should have been. But not only had he lost weight, he had shrunk too.

She dragged him all the way to her clearing, to her heart tree. Then she did measure with care a few paces. Digging a small hole, she got Theo and placed his feet into the hole and covered it with dirt. Next, she lifted him up so that it was appearing as if he was standing. Now she had to wait.

Luckily dryads had lots of stamina and she wouldn’t have to sleep for a while. By nightfall he stopped shivering. 2 days later bark covered him up to his knees. She slowly let go of him. Although sleeping he still stood firm.

Next, she lifted his arms up. It only took a day till they did stay up by themselves too. The bark had crept up to his waist by then.

By now she did let go. Every day she spends a few hours before him. The bark was covering more and more. His body grew longer. The arms reaching more and more to the heaven. Soon they were branching out. When all the other trees started to blossom his first leaves sprouted. His legs grew strong and snaked themselves as roots deep into the earth. All too soon all one could see was a young tree. But Leanora saw with the eyes of a dryad. She knew her lover was still inside.

*****

5 years. 5 long years. Leanora was standing again before her lover. The tree before her had grown nearly as strong and big as her own heart tree. She nearly missed it. The slender hand that slowly pushed out of the tree’s trunk. Then the wrist came followed the forearm.

Leanora got up and gently took the hand in her own. She didn’t pull. She knew it needed time. Suddenly a second hand shoot out and covered hers too. Then a face appeared. A gorgeous one. Deep green eyes. High cheekbones. A small nose and a slightly pouty mouth.

A chest followed with magnificent but not too big breasts. A smallish waist and shapely legs followed. Suddenly the newborn dryad plopped free. Panting she did slide down her own trunk. Leanora did crouch down beside her and planted a kiss on her lips. “Welcome back lover.”

*****

“Welcome back lover.” were the first words Theo heard in a long time. What he saw though was so much more than the gorgeous shape of Leanora. Theo saw life. In her, the grass, trees, and everywhere plants grew. Looking down there was life too. In a lithe body of a dryad.

"I have become like her. I am a dryad now!" her mind concluded. Finding in herself a resolve blossoming she said one word.
“Thea”. More wasn’t needed. Leanora just nodded and kissed her again.

*****

Their lovemaking was much more intense now. Both had the ability to see how life twisted and turned in each other. It made them both experts by birth. Nonetheless, they did ‘train’ multiple times a day. They certainly felt closer too. They shared now everything. Their love, the clearing, and the woods. Happiness found each day anew.

Time lost meaning. Seasons did come and go. Still, Thea’s and Leanora’s love stayed unwavering and strong. Then one day Thea spotted a young hunter traveling through their woods. She quickly showed Leanora.

“Do you sometimes miss humans and their society?” she was asked.
Thea shook her head. Then she took Leanora’s hand and lead her to their clearing. She concentrated on her heart tree. After a moment the bark parted and the gem appeared. Gently she picked it up.

“Sometimes though I wonder why you were so eager to find a druid for your woods…”

Thea held the gem up and raised her eyebrows in question. Leanora smiled. She gave her lover a deep hug. Then they did set out to see if the hunter was still close by. Looks like Thea was about to find out.

The price of vanity

*****

Cherry looked down on her mother's deathbed. She had lasted long but in the end, her ailment had won. It filled Cherry with sadness. Sure she had lost her mother, but the way how filled her with dread. Her mother had once been beautiful. She did know it too. Everyone murmured how vain she had been.
For good or bad Cherry took after her mother in both ways. Not only did she match her mother. She beat her too, as she was more beautiful but also vainer. Seeing her mother die like that, skin dried out and ugly, she vowed to never end up like her. But she knew, sickness might be avoided, but everyone aged. Well, as far as she knew. After her mother's funeral, she would spend some time and money to find out. After all, with her mother gone and her father died in battle a few years back she was a duchess now. And a rich one at that.

*****

“What about salt-spider venom?”
The gathered men cringed and avoided her eyes. They were all scholars of some kind. Many of them mages. Finally one was brave enough to answer.
“Those only paralyze muscles in the face. They do not give back youth. It merely appears like that.”
Cherry screamed in rage. Her temper got the best of her again. She knew some servants joked behind her back that she should have been named ‘rose’. Because behind all her beauty was sharp thorns. Brooding she calmed herself and stared at the men. Soon enough another one found the courage to speak. A young one. An apprentice of a mage she recalled.
“What about Heirloom Gems?”
That earned him a slap from his teacher. Angry shouts came from the others. Cherry quickly cut in.
“What about those gems? What makes them so special?”
Quickly the teacher replied.
“They have been outlawed, Duchess. In this kingdom and their neighboring ones. They were meant to pass down skills from one generation to the next. But the stronger they became the stronger the side effects.”
Cherry looked over to the apprentice.
”How would knowledge help me to stay young?”
Glancing to the other men he explained.
“It is about those side effects duchess. You see powerful gems do imprint more than knowledge. If many of their wearers do share the same trait that trait might imprint too. That could be behaviors or body characteristics.”
“Is that so? Well does one exist that might fit the bill for me?”
The men began to murmur among them. Ideas were thrown in and tossed out again.
“The warrior princess's gem?”
“Good luck acquiring that one.”
“Wasn’t there some gem in east Inoba that made beautiful young maiden?”
“Yeah along with a death wish for Dragonfire..”
On and on they went. In the end, each viable gem was crossed off the list or was lost. Getting a headache she sends anyone out. They all shuffled out, but when she looked the apprentice was still there.
“What?” she harshly demanded.
“There might be yet a way to acquire a gem perfect for you.”
He looked expecting to her. Dutiful but annoyed she motioned for him to continue.
“I found the way to make heirloom gems in a book from my master's library. I could create one and then we just have to teach it.”
Cherry was intrigued, but she found a flaw.
“Didn’t they say it takes generations to imprint one? I’d be dead ten times over.”
The apprentice, however, didn’t let go.
“I think I can expedite it. A gem learns depending on how much magic the wearer has. It is my belief that by choosing a person with a lot of magic it might learn faster. I even think simply placing enchantments on someone would make it stronger. Though these have to be carefully chosen as they too might be learned by the gem. But if it would be one for example like good health… “
This is at least an option she thought.
She dismissed the apprentice for now. She was deep in thought. If that was a viable option she needed viable candidates to teach the gem.

*****

It was late and a week later that Cherry was found by the head nursemaid in the nursery. The castle had a room just for newborns and their own healers. An idea by Cherry’s grandfather to reduce the high child mortality rate. It worked and keeping it running made a lot of goodwill with the peasants. She often found herself here when she needed to think. Being surrounded by babies somehow always soothed her. Though sometimes she had to admit to herself that she was jealous of their youth.
“Can’t sleep again?” the head nurse inquired.
Cherry only nodded.
“I find it relaxing too. Watching them sleep. They are so full of potential. They are still unwritten pages to be filled. It fills me hope.”
Cherry nodded. She was only half listening. But something the nursemaid said provided fuel to her thought. She was silent for a few minutes as her mind raced. Finally, she said.
“I think my grandfather didn’t go far enough. I am thinking of hiring a mage to do some enchanting on the babies. Some for health and against sickness. Might be a bit expensive, but I am a bit more worried that the parents would object. What do you think how they would react?”
Smiling, the nurse took Cherry’s hand and led her over to a crib.
“That’s Maya. My own daughter. One day, when you have your own child, you will know that parents would do a lot for them. All because they care. I’d be happy to keep my daughter safe by allowing those enchantments. And I know other parents would be too. I think it’s a good and thoughtful idea. Especially if it would be your first big act as the duchess.”
Cherry smiled.
So far so good.
“Yes, I thought so too. I spoke recently with one of those apprentices and he told me it would be possible to create a gem that would monitor those enchantments. Just to make sure that they really work. Though it would have to be fused to one of the babies. Temporarily of course.”
The head nurse smiled again.
“A wise precaution. I’d be honored if my child would wear it.”
Cherry excused herself politely and headed to her chambers. It was a stroke of genius in her mind. Babies. What do they know? Nothing. So an heirloom gem would have nothing to learn but their youthfulness of their bodies. And her slight deception she came up with would keep her plans secret. Tomorrow she would have to speak to the apprentice again. Smiling she headed on.

*****

20 years. 20 long years. Cherry looked into the mirror. To her, every year could be seen on her face and body. She hated it. For being 38 years old she looked fine to everyone but her own critical eye. Her mood wasn’t the best at good times and servants did avoid her if possible when she was at her worst. Like right now. For that matter alone it was strange that someone knocked at her door.
“What?!” she shouted agitated.
A young girl slipped into her chambers.
“You left orders that we should inform you when something is amiss in the nursery.”
Huffing she stood up.
“Show me.”
Though her faults everyone knew she had a thing for the nursery. She knew the servants were talking behind her. Speculating why. Was it because she never married? Never gotten an heir? She didn’t mind as long no one guessed the real purpose. She followed the girl down the hallways and stairs. Servants and underlings scattering left and right. Cherry still hoped the heirloom gem might work out. The many other things failed miserably. Entering the nursery she looked around. Nothing looked amiss. The girl moved over to a crib.
“I am worried about this baby girl Duchess. Uhm, how old does she look to you.”
Curiously she walked over.
“Looks like a healthy 6-month-old to me.”
The nursemaid nodded. “Yes. But she is actually 13 months old. Something is holding back her development. We never had anything like that before. Uhm, my mother, the previous head nurse told me about the gem. You know the one to monitor the enchantments. As luck would have it his baby is wearing it. I was wondering if you could check the gem if it caught something?”
Cherry could hardly wait for the girl to finish. It worked. She had all but lost hope. She took a few more moments to calm her nerves. She gently undressed the baby and removed the gem.
“I will look into it.” she promised.
Cherry was elated. 20 years. 25 hosts for the gem to learn. She barely could contain her good mood. With eager steps, she returned to her chambers. She practically tore the dress from herself. The gem felt warm on her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was the magic or still the heat of the baby. She didn’t care enough to find out. With a push, the gem fused with her. Now she had to be patient a few more days. At least she hoped it would be only a few days before the first signs showed.

Her subjects knew something was up. Cherry was in a good mood. That was rare enough. But her good mood lasted now for days. Today she noticed that the claw feet around her eyes vanished. That had quickly pushed the strange event out of her mind that happened shortly before. Rummaging in one of her jewelry boxes she was suddenly fascinated by the sounds of her jewelry clang at each other. Rattling had been even more fun.
Pulling her mind from the strange event she concentrated on the coming meeting. She knew she sometimes had a horrible personality, but she never let it interfere when it came to governing her duchy. Well almost never. Today was about some mining rights. Boring but necessary. Arriving with her consultants she greeted the traders. The talks and with it the back and forth started.
Two hours into the talks, she suddenly felt something wrong. She felt panic coming up but quickly fought it down. She postponed the meeting and dismissed her consultants. Citing some reason, flimsy as it was, helped to get them out. Only when she was sure that the room was empty she stood up. Making absolutely sure that no one was around she touched her chair. They were warm and soggy. Panic came up again as some tears. What was she to do? She had peed herself and she hadn’t noticed till it was way too late. Worse yet was that she couldn’t stop her bladder to empty itself till it was empty. Embarrassment colored her cheeks red.
Still, she gathered her wits. The chair landed a moment later in the flames of the room's fireplace. Looking at her backside she noticed the dark spot on her long skirt. 2 hairpins folded the excess cloth over it. She hoped this was enough so no one would notice. Arriving in the safety of her room the dress and underwear landed in a fireplace too.

Next time it was worse. It was shortly before her postponed meeting. She had yet again admired her reflections in the mirror. Suddenly there was wetness. Worse yet her bowels emptied too. She tried to stop but it just wouldn’t. She felt so helpless that she started to cry.
Only when all tears were shed she could think clearly again. Quickly she undressed. Looking around she nearly panicked again. Her fireplace was cold and even if it would be lit it wasn’t a good option. One such event might be explainable by her often aggravated moods. Two not so much. Stripping naked she did what she could for now. Cherry bundled everything up and hid it. Quickly dressing a new she headed to the meeting and prayed that not any more accidents might happen.

The meeting lasted till the late evening. Luckily without further accidents. Finally, in her room, she thought about how to get rid of the evidence. Looking at the hiding place she found it already empty. Again she had to fight back tears. Her hands moved to the gem on her chest. It was the only thing that could explain it. How she had been a fool. She saw it now. Yes, babies didn’t learn anything yet, but that didn’t mean they were without behavior. After all the years of waiting. The money she spent. It was suddenly clear to her that the price for her returning youth was much steeper than she had thought. Still, she hesitated to remove it. Her mind was whirling. Maybe she could find ways to hide it. First, she needed to make sure that further accidents would be contained. Quietly she exited her room and headed to the nursery. She was well aware of the irony of sneaking through her own castle. Good thing it was late at night and not many were around anymore. Finally, she made it. She slipped into the utility closet rifling through the stacks of cloth for diapers. Suddenly a voice startled her.
“I wouldn’t take those.”
With a guilty face, she looked who was speaking. It was the maid who alerted her of the gems behavior. She wanted to slap herself for her own foolishness. Of course, there was always a nursemaid around. The babies were never to be left alone. Before Cherry could speak up the maid sauntered over. Pulling a basket from the shelf she showed her Duchess the content.
“We use these as inner linings as they are softer and those in your hands we use as outer lining.”
A nod was all Cherry could manage. For every other purpose, she was frozen. Her mind was in panic unable to come up with an explanation. Even for her, it would be strange to get the urge to reapply a diaper for one of the babies in the middle of the night. She was once again cut short by the maids speaking.
“I heard today the most curious story. The chambermaid for your room found one of your dresses hidden away and soiled. Of course, she had to spread the news and wild rumors. Luckily I caught her early. It was obvious to me that someone played a prank on you and I told her as much. I further advised to keeping it silent as if you might find out about the prank. Certainly, no one wanted to invite your wrath after all. Right? Besides, rumor spreading such a disgusting thing. Hardly ever some truth to it.”
She stopped speaking and looked down where Cherry still was holding the diaper cloth. In a gentle voice, she asked.
“What happened.”
Cherry broke out in tears, suddenly unable to hold it back. Bawling like a small child she told the maid everything. It felt strangely good to let it all out. Telling her story while she was being held by the maid who made quite relaxing cooing sounds.
When it was all out Cherry stood embarrassed like a small child caught stealing cookies. Finally, the maid spoke.
“I should be quite angry with you. Using children, babies, for your own gains. But listen to me. My name if you didn’t know is Maya. I am the daughter of the head nursemaid in charge when you started your business with the gem. But more so I was the first one to wear the gem. I grew up healthy and was never sick in my childhood. And so did all the other children who spend time in this very nursery. For that, you have my thanks and my help. Now. Let's head back. I will come soon as my shift is over in a bit. Oh, and let me take these. It’s less conspicuous if I carry around the diaper cloth."
Cherry hadn’t to be told twice. She headed out fast. While walking back she idly thought if she could really trust Maya.
Impatiently she waited in her room, till a knock startled her. Shortly thereafter Maya slipped into her room. What followed was an embarrassing hour for both women. It turned out it was much harder to diaper a grown woman than a baby. In the end, Maya took charge and it was done. Not that Cherry could tell. Halfway through the stress of the day caught up and she did fall asleep.

*****

Cherry was woken by rays of sunshine. A bad sign as they only found their way into the room at early noon. Quickly noted that yesterday wasn’t a bad dream. Her bottom wrapped in tight cloth was a good sign. The filling of them also told her that her bowels had emptied again. Strangely the diaper was the only thing she was wearing. Maya must have undressed her further. Cherry was thinking about how to inconspicuous call for Maya when a knock was heard.
“My lady. This is Maya. I am here for the report about the nursery you wanted?”
Relieved Cherry ordered her in. Soon the deed was done once more. These 'reports' quickly occurred daily. Then even twice daily. If anyone noticed them especially them, they at least didn’t tell Cherry to her face. But other concerns grew in her. About 2 weeks later she confided to Maya.
“I am worried a bit. It gets harder.”
Dutifully Maya asked.
”What gets harder?”
Cherry looked upset. But her tantrums had gotten a lot less. Quietly she spoke on.
“Everything. I sometimes have problems walking. With my hands I get clumsy. And sometimes I can’t speak. Like I … I still think clearly. But my mouth doesn’t find the words. And when they do..”
“Yeah, I noticed the slight lisp.”
“I worry Maya. I don’t think I can hide it much longer.”
Maya looked away for a moment but then looked Cherry in the eyes.
“They already know. Not all. But servants love their rumors. They noticed things and their guessing comes closer and closer.”
“I feared as much. Maya, I have come so far. Look at me. I look seven years younger already. But I fear how much influence the gem will hold till my body has its youth back. I think I need a regent. Someone I can trust. Someone who cares when no one else does.”
“Should I get one of your consultants?”
Cherry smiled.
“No. It’s you who I trust. Please. I don’t know anyone better.”
Maya did raise some concerns. Like that, she wasn’t trained for it. But Cherry assured her that teachers were already hired. It took some time but in the end, Maya signed some documents, leaving her as regent as long as Cherry was wearing the gem.

*****

Cherry was laying on her bed. Looking up to the big mirror on the ceiling. A present from Maya on her last birthday. 39 years old but looking up she saw a beautiful girl of maybe sixteen or seventeen. That the girl there was nearly naked didn’t bother her as much. By now she had gotten used to it. Cherry smiled a silly grin. She had finally done it. She had her youth back. Over the past month, she had sacrificed so much. She couldn’t walk anymore. Crawling was all she managed. Her hands all but useless. She had to be fed as she couldn’t will her body to hold cutlery anymore. Her mouth all but useless anyway. Now and then she got a word out but it was hard.
But that was all over now. Pawing at her chest she tried to get a hold on the gem, but her hands always slipped. She tried again and again. Upset she started to cry. While her mind was still clear her emotions were rawer and often got the better of her. She looked up as she heard cooing noises. Maya was here and was patting her head.
“What’s wrong little one?”
Cherry pawed at the gem again.
“Oh, Sweety. Wait a moment I have something for you.”
Maya stood up and took something from a nearby shelf. She returned with a few scarfs. She quickly balled one up and pressed it into the palm of Cherry’s hand. Then wrapped another one around her hand and tied it off. The hand was effectively made useless. Maya repeated it on the other hand even with Cherry struggling.
“Now Sweety you won’t do something naughty with your hands. Like removing the gem. Oh, don’t look so hurt. I simply follow the rules you set in the documents. Not my fault that you forgot to write into it the documents when the gem is to be removed. But it clearly states that I am responsible for you and that I have to prevent anything from changing that. In that case you. Yes, I am interpreting that quite freely. You see I do thank you for the changes in the nursery. But in pursuit of your vain goal, you recklessly endanger every child in there. I think it’s time you spend some time there to really learn to value it.”
Maya left over the loud crying of her charge. It felt good to not to pretend anymore. To take down this stuck up bitch was really worth the patience.

*****

Cherry had a hard time keeping track of time. Often she didn’t even care about doing so. Like right now, as she sucked on a nipple. Her mouth pressed against a warm breast. Right now she didn’t even care that it belonged to the cursed Maya. She just enjoyed it. After all, she couldn’t do much else. The gem had finished its work. Cherry guessed it was 2 years ago that her body truly became that of a baby. Though it might be 3 years too. Hard to tell. Around her there were voices.
“Is that her?”
Voices she hadn’t heard before.
“We are just saying that it might the time to remove the gem.”
Maya's voice cut in.
"Absolutely not. I know her better than you do. This here is what she wanted. Believe me. Her instructions were that the gem was only to removed when I couldn’t perform my duties anymore.”
The voices droned on. Cherry didn’t care. She couldn’t tell them that Maya was lying anyway.

*****

Maya was cursing her body. 51 years old. For that, she was holding herself good. Lately, she often visited the nursery. She hadn’t been here in so long. She guessed since her body refused to produce any more milk. Natural or with magic. She was simply too old. Lately, her conscience was bothering her. She looked down on Cherry sleeping peacefully in her crib. Maybe three decades were punishment enough. Gently she took hold of the gem and removed it. Walking to her office she was in thoughts. Maybe I can raise her to be a better person than her mother had. It’s certainly worth a try.

*****

Maya sat down to rest. She was exhausted. Keeping up with the duchy was one thing. Keeping up with a six-year-old on her birthday. A whole different matter. The little Cherry never showed any signs that she remember anything from before. But when she did run around and be hyped about all and everything it certainly was taxing on Maya.
"As if she wanna kill me by stress," jokingly she mused to herself.
Looking around she noticed she couldn’t see her anymore. Probably doing some exploring with the Harding twins again. Her self-proclaimed bodyguards. Maya wasn't worried too much. For all her energy Cherry was still a good kid. Obeying every rule and generally doing what was told to her. Now if Maya could actually keep track of the whirlwind.
"Was I ever so full of energy too?"

*****

Maya was smiling proudly. She did lean heavily on her cane, but seeing her charge in the nursery gave her a bit of energy.
“You know. One day you will have your own.”
Cherry looked over to her protector.
“I know I know. It is my duty to make an heir. But that is still so far away.”
Maya chuckled. “Maybe. Sometimes time goes faster than you think.”
For example the last twelve years. Maya looked over to Cherry. Only 6 more years and she will be 18. The time she could finally retire as regent.
I am sure this time she will do better.

*****

“How are you?” Cherry asked.
Maya was resting in her bed. She felt quite old. With nearly 70 years it was a wonder that she was still alive.
“I am fine my dear. Now that I am retired. Finally some peace and quiet.”
Her birthday had been yesterday. Maya was pretty proud. Cherry did grow up to a pretty but responsible young woman. The only ‘childish’ thing that remained was the Harding twins that still followed her around. Though now they were her official bodyguards.
“Well, I have a retirement present for you. But I wanted to wait till we were in private. Though I only give it to you when you tell me what you taught me about gifts.”
Maya sighed with a grin.
“Okay. Okay, young miss. Always value a gift even if it isn’t the one you wanted. Everything else would be rude.”
Cherry clapped happily and did run to one of the twins to get something. She then placed a ball of knotted scarfs in Maya’s hands. With dread she unwrapped it. Sure enough, the heirloom gem was in the middle.
“How did you get it?” she asked bewildered.
“Fouled you good, right? I remember everything. All those thirty something years as a baby. While I could only act as a baby my mind stayed clear. You often opened and closed your safe with me on your arm. It was quite easy to memorize the combination.”
“And now you want revenge?”
“Oh no. Far from it. I do not seek revenge. True. For a while, I hated what you did. But time gave me perspective. Now I see it as a gift. Years of peace and without worry. And then when you finally allowed me to grow up I had nearly the perfect childhood. I didn’t remember much from my first one. But this time I remember it clearly. Better yet this time I savored it. And you might not want it now, but maybe one day you will. Just like I did. But there is another reason. A reason you taught me. It is my duty to get an heir. Who would be better to become one than the person who taught me what values I should teach her? Nobody will be surprised when I announce you passed away of old age. Then in one or two years, I will reveal you as my own offspring. I planned everything out. Don’t worry I will take good care of you. As you did of me.”
On her sign, the twins gagged and bound Maya. But only after the gem found its place on her chest.

*****

Cherry could tell that this was the day. Yesterday her daughter Maya, named after her guardian, reached the age of eighteen. It had been nearly twenty years since she put the gem on her. Everything had gone along her plans. She married the second son of another Duke. He was just a decoy of course. He and his male lover could live out their love here without judgment, though still as a secret. Maya was their child, officially at least. The circle of person who knew was small.
The start was rough. Maya was a rowdy child. A rebel to show Cherry that she too hadn’t forgotten. Not that Cherry minded much. She still tried to give her the best childhood she could. It took a few years but when Maya was ‘around ten years of age’ she stopped fighting and it looked like she enjoyed her second childhood. Of course, Cherry wasn’t fooled. Still, she played her role as Maya played hers. A creaking noise broke her reminiscence and alerted her that a door was opened. It was Maya of course. Behind her stood two young lads. Not twins but the purpose was clear.
“Oh, mother. Good that I find you here. I have a gift for you.”
Cherry simply answered, "I know.”
That broke Maya’s stride for a moment. However, she quickly collected herself and came closer with more confidence.
“You knew I wouldn’t forget right?”
“Of course my dear. In fact, I counted on it.”
That again puzzled Maya.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, my dear Maya. I noticed the gem missing from my safe last night.”
“So you set a trap?” she asked and looked wearily around.
“No nothing of that sort. Let me explain. My first childhood, I barely remember. I know I was a chore to my mother. She mostly ignored me and I thought if I become more like her she would notice me more. My second childhood was better. And I thank you for it. But there is one thing I deeply regret. You did it to me out of spite. Out of hatred of what I once was. You were a regent and custodian to me. But not the one thing I hoped you would be. Giving the gem to you. Rising you as my child. That was my way of thanking you. I hope you had at least some fun along the way. I wanted to leave the hate between us behind. And I do hope you see that.”
Maya was quiet but finally nodded. Cherry took it as a sign to continue.
“But now you are here. And I guess you have the gem with you right? Maya. I ask you to please forgive me. But more importantly, I ask you to give me the one thing I longed for the most: your motherly love. Maya, please. Will you be my mother?”
Tears started to pearl down Maya’s face. Silently both of them hugged for a long time and as they separated the gem was once again on Cherry’s chest. Maya gave a weak smile.
“Maybe this time I will get rid of your mischievous nature. I will try my best to do so, as your loving mother.”