The blue fire stops. The spinning ends. For a moment, there is only silence. Then, a heavy thump echoes as four pairs of boots hit solid ground.
Everett opens his eyes. He does not see the green grass of the Miller's backyard. He does not see the wooden fence or the laundry line. He sees a world made of fire and stone. The sky above is a deep, bruised purple. The sun is a giant orange ball that hangs low over the horizon. The ground beneath him is cracked and red, like a dry riverbed.
"Is everyone okay?" Everett asks.
His voice sounds different. It is clear and strong. He looks down at his chest. He does not wear a t-shirt and a beach towel anymore. He wears a tunic of thick white wool and a heavy cloak of crimson velvet. On his shoulders, there are pieces of polished silver armor.
He reaches for his waistband. His plastic yellow sword is gone. In its place is a real sword. The hilt is wrapped in soft leather. The blade is long and made of shimmering steel. It glows with a faint blue light.
"I am... shiny," a voice says.
Everett turns. Audrey stands nearby. She looks like a warrior from a history book. She wears a suit of flexible chainmail that glints like dragon scales. Her denim vest is now a leather breastplate. She holds her garbage can lid, but it is not plastic or tin. It is a shield of solid oak with a rim of iron.
"Audacia," Everett whispers. The name feels right in his mouth. "That is your name here."
Audrey—now Audacia—swings her shield. It is heavy, but she moves it with ease. She looks at the red mountains in the distance. She looks brave. She looks ready to run a mile.
"Look at Robbie!" Audacia points.
Robbie sits on a red rock. He still looks like Robbie, but his clothes are sturdy and brown. He wears tall leather boots and a wide belt. His backpack—the Quest Pack—is now a beautiful leather bag with gold buckles. He holds his hands over his stomach. He looks a little bit sick from the fall.
"I am still Robbie," he says. He reaches into his bag and pulls out the Blue Ball.
The marble is much bigger now. It is the size of a grapefruit. It is heavy and warm. It pulses with a steady light. The iridescent colors swirl inside like liquid.
"And me?" Claire asks.
Claire stands under the shadow of a jagged rock. She is no longer the quiet girl with the cat notebook. She wears a long robe of midnight blue. The robe has stars embroidered on the sleeves that seem to twinkle. Her glasses are gone, but she sees perfectly. She holds a heavy book with a golden lock.
"Clara," Everett says. "The Wise One."
Clara opens her book. The pages are made of old parchment. The words are written in gold ink. She reads the first line.
"We are in the Kingdom of Valoria," Clara says. Her voice is calm. "This is the land of courage. It is the first of the four kingdoms."
"Why are we here?" Robbie asks. He stands up and puts the marble back in his bag.
"The Errante says we must save the world," Everett says. He draws his sword. The steel makes a beautiful *shing* sound. "We must find the Order of Chivalria. We must stop Egomania."
A hot wind blows across the red plain. It smells like smoke and spice. In the distance, a tall tower of black glass rises from the ground. It sits between two volcanoes. Red lava flows down the sides of the mountains like glowing ribbons.
"The Citadel," Clara says, pointing to the tower. "The Sword of Daring is there. We need it to fight the dragon."
Suddenly, the ground shakes. A deep roar comes from behind the rocks. It sounds like a landslide. A group of creatures steps out from the shadows.
They are tall and thin. They wear armor made of mirrors. Their faces are hidden. When Everett looks at them, he does not see a monster. He sees his own reflection, but the reflection looks scared and weak.
"Mirror-Knights," Clara warns. "They are the servants of Egomania. They use your own fear against you."
The Mirror-Knights move fast. They do not have swords. They have long, jagged shards of glass. They march toward the four friends.
"Back-to-back!" Everett commands.
The four kids form a small circle. They are small, and the world is very big. The knights of glass close in.
"Remember the rules!" Clara shouts. "Rule Number Five: A Knight never stands alone!
Everett grips his sword of light. Audacia raises her iron shield. Clara holds her magic book, and Robbie clutches the bag with the marble.
They are not in the neighborhood anymore. The game is over. The war for Blue Ball begins now.