WEAPONIZED: Book One

The World That Forgot Magic

CHAPTER ONE: Can of Woms

Senior year wasn't the easiest thing to handle for Austin Moon or Trish De La Rosa. Not having the opportunity to perform based on Jimmy Moon's ban may've helped Austin a little bit, but sometimes that was all he could think about. Luckily, he had the A&A Music Factory to distract him from going absolutely bonkers. Not to mention great friends.

Ally had no trouble balancing schoolwork, her own contributions to training kids to perform in front of live audiences, mostly coaching them in instruments, something she had been doing before the Music Factory had opened.

Dez was a go with the flow sort of guy, who didn't worry about schoolwork or anything. Which was why he had found it fun to give Trish his own version of The Lonely Maiden's Jounrey. He was thinking he might use his own version for a movie in the future when he had more clout as a director. After all, Austin loved his ideas.

Ally was working with a girl wearing all pink. Ally's chestnut hair glowed in the music factory's light, the amber highlights making them even cuter than natural.

Austin had gotten on the virtual concert stimulator goggles with another female student, a girl with long curly blonde hair even though she was only twelve years old. Both of them were performing virtually on top of a tall building in Tokyo, for dozens of screaming fans below.

Dez, wearing a red shirt which featured a popped popcorn on it with a face, which was conversing with a hot dog, also with a face. The popcorn's speech bubble said, "They don't even sell you at movie theaters."

The hot dog replied with its own speech bubble, "Eh, some movie theaters do sell me. But I'm sold as one and you're crowded with brothers and sisters."

"That is the tackiest shirt I have ever seen you wear, doof," Trish remarked, looking it over.

"I'll have you know I won this in a horseshoe game," Dez said. "And if you get lucky in horseshoes, you've got to honor that win."

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Trish said. She wore a blue vest today. "I've got a client to work with," she said, as a boy came in interested in becoming a manager, this was his third visit to the music factory.

"Sure, go and do that," Dez said, prancing over to the instrument carousel. "I'll just eat the sandwich I stored in this tuba three weeks ago."

Meanwhile, out in the mall, Piper was sick of being dragged around by her sister Carrie. She knew eventually they'd wind up at the place that had been Sonic Boom. Piper half wanted to go scream at Dez for breaking up with Carrie. Also, both sisters should've been in California now, not Miami, but Piper had desired to surf here this weekend, because the waves in California seemed different.

Piper didn't want to see Austin Moon, though. It made sense that he would like another girl. But that Dez, he deserved to pay for breaking her sister's heart.

However, she needed to plan the ambush. And for that, she needed to rest her heels a bit and get some nourishment.

"Hey, Carrie, how about we stop by the food court?"

"Hmmm, I guess, Piper, but we've got to hit up the Crab Bontique first."

Piper looked. There was a clothing store with pinchers at the end of dresses and stuff. Wow.

They ducked in and after twenty minutes, Piper suggested that they meet each other at the food court, which Carrie agreed to.

"You better remember and not expect to find me at the pet store or something like last time," Piper warned.

"Write it down my hand so I won't forget?" Carrie asked.

Piper sighed. Her sister was impossible sometimes, but she did just that.

Chuck also was shopping in the mall, at the magic store Trish had worked at quite a bit ago. He bought the tux with coattails, a bowtie, and a hat like the sort the new blonde chick working there wore. He and Dez were going to enter a magic competition and he planned to come in first.

Back at the A&A Music Factory, Dez had finished his sandwich, which had a bit of mold on the bread. It wasn't as bad as the lobster he had the week before though.

But as he watched his friends at work, he decided it was time to dowhat he had been yearning to do for a good while now. Open a can of worms.

Trish came over as Dez pulled an electric can opener out of his backpack. "What the heck are you doing?" she asked, as he popped into a couch.

"Opening a can of worms," he said, showing her the can. The label came with a warning. CAUTION: Can have dangerous side effects. NORTON ANGLER'S CORPORTION is not repsonsible for any injuries that will come from opening this can.

"Wow, what a dramatic label," Trish said, passing it back to Dez. "What's it for, though?"

"Back in California, I met with this rabbi guru who told me that the best way to perform a magic act is to open a can of worms before praticing it. And I've got to beat Chuck in the upcoming competition."

Trish sighed and shook her head. "Why does it always come back to Chuck?"

"It just does. I've got to beat him at something. Well, I won a couple of competitions but he always bugs me," Dez said, pressing the can lid to the cutter portion of the opener and turning it on.

"What the heck is that noise, I can't hear the instruments!" Ally said, prancing hwere Dez sat. Her pants were pink and very cute while she had on a yellow T-shirt.

Trish tried to tell her but Dez's can opener was so loud. Also Trish was eager to see if worms would actually emerge from it. and the lid was almost off…

Brown worms did in fact poke their head out over the top of the lid, which made Trish smile, she was thinking of gravbbing some and tossing them down Dez' back. But suddenly the music factory was surrounded by swirls of color. Trish's teeth started chattering as she tried to say, "What is happpening?" Austin had just tossed down the virual simulator goggles and he got sucked toward the vortex as well.

"I guess this is what they meant by claiming they're not responsible!" Dez said as best he could, but then he dropped the can and flew up in the air, the vortex spinning him around like a whirlpool before sucking him down.

All four of them-Austin, Trish, Ally, and Dez-got sucked into the vortez and their heads smashed against one another until a huge gust lifted and sucked them down into a new world, or across, or diagonal, it was hard to tell the actual direction as they pinged through…

They weren't the only ones sucked in however, the can of worms bounced along out of the music factory past the lobster fashion store and sucked in Carrie to the vortex, with her shopping bags which she clutched extremely tightly, and then it danced along to the food court where it sucked in beautiful Piper, but did not take her tray of French fries, and then noseyed along to the magic store where it nabbed a surprised Chuck, who didn't understand what was going on.

However, the can of worms seemed to have a mind of its own and dumped the sister in one spot, the foursome from the music factory in another, and Chuck in another.

The foursome were asleep behind a truck parked to block off an alley for awhile, until Trish awoke to find a dog or something licking her.

"Stop it!" she said to the creature, but she had to rub her eyes after she got a good look at it because for some reason it appeared to be green.

It wagged its tail then scampered off under the trunk. Trish figured she must be dreaming, though in all her recollection, she had never had her three friends sleeping in her night visions. Well, if you could call Dez a friend. Whatever he was.

Ally woke up and stretched, then screamed. "Um, Trish, do you know how we got in this filthy alley?" Then she laughed. "I just said my name but as a word, always cracks me up."

"Yeah, I know I'm dreaming, you never make cracks like that when awake," Trish remarked.

"If you're dreaming, I must be too," Ally said, wide-eyed. "So we're having the same dream…"

Austin yawned and stood up to strech his legs. "Anyone got a batch of pancakes made yet? I'm a trifle hungry."

"Austin, look we're we are," Trish said. "Then again, it's normal for him to not recognize our surroudnings, especially in a dream. Heck we could be at a lake in a few seconds."

"I am under the impression that this is no dream," said Dez, who had just woken up himself but caught the last words Trish had just spoken.

Something was rustling in the dumpster. It poked its head out and where the three expected a raccoon, they saw a unicorn instead.

Austin wasn't paying attention but doing a jig with his shoulders and fancy dance moves in the corner.

The unicorn leapt down from the dumpster, caroted around them, and darted under the truck before diappearin.

"This is a very weird dream, something that acted like a dog but resembled a dragon was licking me a bit ago."

"I'd like to transfer to that lake you were mentioning now," Ally muttered.

"Think I can control stuff in my dreams? You're crazy, Ally."

"What's that? I hear voices. Are there people in that alley?"

Ally giggled uproariously. "People inside me, that makes no sense."

Someone climbed into the truck and it was driven forward. Now the path out of the alley was no longer blocked.

But when the dude who drove the truck off stepped into the alley, he looked shocked. Trish felt it confirmed her dream theory even more though.

"Isn't it a little early for Halloween?" Ally asked the creature, who was green and had boiled on his face and huge teeth, two of them from his lower jaw, sticking out of his mouth as he surveyed them. He wore clothes though. A baggy shirt and beige shorts.

"Hey, Mr. Ogre sir, nice to meet you," Dez said.

"What the heck are all of you? Elves who had your ears trimmed? And who painted your skin odd colors? Or mermaids who replaced your tails with legs?"

"Um, that makes no sense," Trish said. "But then this is a dream."

"Well, I don't know what you are, but don't cause trouble now."

The ogre started to leave but Austin gave a running kick, hitting him in the back.

"Ow! What's with that one?"? the ogre asked, whirling about and pointing at Austin.

"He hasn't had his pancakes yet," Trish said. Then she put her hand in front of her mouth. In most dreams, she couldn't control what she said, but she could in this one? Weird stuff.

"You should all try Gremlin's Breakfast and Diner, just three or four blocks thataway. But you're lucky I can take a hit, if your amigo kicks anyone else, he'll probably be in deep trouble."

"Got it," Dez said. "We'll keep him in line."

Trish stared. "It's like in my dream, you all have different personalities or something."

They went in the direction of the breakfast place, Trish noticing that her stomach was growling. This was definitely the most interactive dream she ever had.

Some weird pink creatures with wings flew toward them. "Hey you ridiculous clowns, stay out of our flight path!"

Ally burst into another fit of giggles. "That thing called us clowns!"

"I think something's weird with Ally," Dez remarked.

"It's the dream effect," Trish said. "People don't act exactly as they do in real life all the time in dreams."

"No, that's not it," Dez said, putting a finger to his chin as they reached the end of a sidewalk path and waited for a light to turn from red to green.

The dirvers were creatures of such strange sorts. Mostly green or purple or pale pink. Though Trish also saw a centaur canter across the field, wearing a policeman's vest.

They finally arrived at Gremlin's Breakfast and Diner, a red building that stood alone. A very strange van with a pegasus painted across its side was parked in a space and caught Ally's eye, she pointed at it and giggled nonstop till they were at the front of the line in the breakfast place, and Austin asked her what she wanted.

"I don't know what your creeps are, but business is business," said the gremlin creature behind the cash register, with yellow teeth and wide wings. "That'll be four eighty."

Austin passed the gremlin a five-dollar bill, surprised that breakfast was so cheap for four people."

"What is this? Monopoly garbage? I realize you are clowns, but you ask for a meal here, which means you should pay with actual money."

"This is real American cash," Austin Moon said. "It's more than what you said the meal is worth."

HIs cheeks were flushed red with irritation, Trish got the impression he could blow his top and scream at the gremlin any second now, or depending on how the creature responded.

Real-life Austin never acted like that, his face was controted into a grimace.

Trish felt that she at least was herself, she wasn't sure about Dez yet. But that made since after all, if this was a dream right?
"I'll pay for this lot," said a voice. It belonged to a dude with a hint of a goattee, a blue elf, pointy ears and huge muscles.

He passed some coins over to the gremlin, having stepped around the bar. Some of the coins were purple and others brown, the brown ones were equilateral triangle shapes. The purple coins resembled buttons, though they clanked like metal on the counter.

"Fine," the gremlin said. "But get that blond clown over there to stop grimacing at me, it's getting on my nerves."

He scooped the four purple coins and eight brown ones into the cash register.

"Come have breakfast with me," the elf said. "Also, why is that girl laughing?"

"You're an elf," Ally said, chortling.

"She's a little flaky right now," Trish said. "I'll be fixed when she's had food." At least she hoped so. Or she'd wake up.

The elf indicated a table, where a centaur had her back legs crossed on a chair. She was black with heavy makeup, and she wore an orange blouse. She was looking down at a magazine. Atop her head were curls, also black.

"Yo, Brittany, mind if this hodgepodge of clowns join us?"

The centaur looked up and showed a row of very white teeth with her grin. "Not at all, Barley, but you've got to sit next to me."

"Hum, I don't even know your names," Barley said, as the foursome took seats.

"I'm Trish, and these are Austin Moon, Ally Dawson, and Dez, don't know what his last name is."

"Actually, it's-" Dez started to say, but their order number was called and Trish jumped up along with Barley, who offered himself to help carry the trays.

Ally was on a giggle fit when they returned. "Can you believe...this girl...has the bottom and legs of a horse? She's even using her front hooves to use her fork!"

The centaur, Brittany, looked like she was ready to scream, obviously she didn't appreciate being laughed at.

"I'm sorry, Ally's not usually like this," Trish said, apologetically.

"Barley, give me the keys. I"m going to go finish my French toast and sausage in the car."

"Fine, Brittany, but I can't spend all my time with you, ya know?"

"You spend plenty of time with your brother," Brittany said, taking his keys and clopping out of the restaurant, her tail swaying.

"She's not fond of being laughed at," Barley said. "Also this was our first date in three days. But you people look so strange, I couldn't let Grulsmad just kick you out."

Barley wasn't going to let them know but he had a feeling this lot were another portion of the second layer of magic, he needed to introduce them to his brother. Well, he wouldn't mention it yet, because it might scare them off.

"I don't appreciate the way your girlfriend responded to mine's fits and giggles. Ally can't help it, she's never seen a centaur before," Austin said, snarling. His ears were crimson and he looked ready to punch Barley's lights out. Or at least attempt it, Barley had some thick biceps so he's probably handle Austin in a fight with ease.

"Calm down, man. Ally's actions were untoward," said Dez, thumping Austin on his back.

"So um, your name's Barley?" Trish asked the elf.

"Indeed," he said, putting down his half-eaten hashbrown. He took a sip of soda. "Also, I have a brother I really want to introduce you to later, if you don't mind."

"Um, I guess we don't have anything planned," Trish said. Except waking up.

"Great," Barley said. "But you've got to stop Mr. Temper from explodion, Ian's not used to deal with angry dudes."

"I don't know what's wrong with Austin," Trish said. "Or Ally."

Dez put his chicken biscuit down and put his chin and his hands, smiling, but then stopped after a few seconds. "You didn't mention me."
"You're always off your rocker," Trish said, which caused Dez to grimace, but he didn't say anything.

Barley bit into a sausage patty, then put his fork down. A green creature hissed at them as she waddled past, she was quite on the short side.

"I've been meaning to ask, but what exactly are you?" he asked. "For risk of being rude."

"Humans," Trish said.

"That's funny, I never heard of a human before," Barley said. "Is that from a Middle East country? Or even South America? In all honesty, I'm more interested in the history of magic than other parts of the modern world."

"Uh, we're from America," Trish said.

"Huh, must be a secret like that Area 51 thing. It's weird though, I'd have thought humans would've come up in the game Quests of Yore. I mean, what would your magic have been before the Industrial Age swept in and changed everything?"

"You keep saying magic," Trish said. "Is that a metaphor for something?"

She found her labile senses were on fire from the waffles and spicy bacon she had ordered. This never happened in dreams, but also in addition to tasting the delicious food, she could feel the atmosphere of the diner and even beyond that, her dreams weren't continuous without random stuff, of course there were people who had dreams like this, but Trish wasn't one of them.

Barley noted that the gypsy mermaid he had seen at the carnival had precited this with her crystal ball, or her hoped this is what she was talking about. "Creatures you've never seen before and who will be the true to key to the magic, to unlocking it even more powerful than it used to be, all over the world...these creatures will lead you on a perilous quest, one with dangers and which will quench your thirst for adventure while you improve yourself."

Ian didn't believe the gypsy's gibberish, or that's what he referred to it as, but Barley had faith, as he chewed on hasbhbrowns and scrambled eggs, that these four individuals could be the key to unlocking that quest. Only time would tell, though.